Articles (2020)

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW

GoLite makes some significant improvements on an old favorite – without increasing the weight!

Introduction

GoLite has redesigned their entire pack line for 2007, replacing 28 previous packs with a new line consisting of 9 packs. And all but one (the Ion) are available in men’s and women’s specific sizes. The Jam2 pack is the midsize model in their new Venture Series of frameless backpacks, and is an upgrade of the very popular Jam pack. What are the changes, and is the Jam2 really better than its predecessor?

What’s Good

  • Large front pocket with water-resistant zipper
  • Slightly more volume than the Jam
  • 3-liter hydration sleeve
  • Side compression straps connect to opposite side
  • Lightweight durable fabrics make it suitable for bushwhacking
  • Transfers weight to the hips very well

What’s Not So Good

  • Heavier than a silnylon or spinnaker pack with the same volume
  • Side compression straps do not connect in the middle to attach gear to the front of the pack

Specifications

  Year/Model

 GoLite 2007 Jam2

  Style

 Frameless, top loading, drawstring and rolldown closure with top compression strap

  Volume

 Size L tested 3200 ci (52 L)

  Weight

 1 lb 6.1 oz (627 g) measured weight, size L; manufacturer’s specification 1 lb 5 oz (595 g), size M

  Sizes Available

 Men’s M,L; Women’s S,M

  Torso Fit Range

 Men’s M fits 17.5 to 19.5 inch torsos, men’s L fits 19.5 to 21.5 inch torsos; women’s S fits 15.5 to 17.5 inch torsos, women’s M fits 17.5 to 19.5 inch torsos

  Fabrics

 210d Dyneema Gridstop polyurethane-coated nylon

  Features

 Large gusseted fabric front pocket with water-resistant zipper, two side stretch nylon/Spandex side pockets, two compression straps on each side that connect to the opposite side, 3-liter interior hydration sleeve, 9-inch extension collar, two bungee tool loops, Compaktor System for volume reduction, two ice axe loops, haul loop, sternum strap

  Volume To Weight Ratio

 144.8 ci/oz size M/L (based on 3200 ci and a measured weight of 22.1 oz)

  Comfortable Load Carrying Capacity

 20 lb estimated comfortable load for an average person carrying the pack all day

  Carry Load to Pack Weight Ratio

 14.5 (based on 20 lb and a measured weight of 1.38 lb)

  MSRP

 $100 US

Performance

There’s an old saying – don’t mess with success – and GoLite recognized that with the Jam when they consolidated their backpack line. They renamed it the Jam2 and gave it a number of upgrades that make it even better than the original. And (just for us) they kept the weight the same – it still weighs 21 ounces in size Medium.

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 1
Manufacturer photos of the original Jam pack (left) and the new Jam2 (right).

The more significant changes in the new Jam2 pack are as follows:

  • 250 cubic inches more volume (size M is now 3000 cubic inches)
  • Internal 3-liter hydration sleeve with two hose ports
  • Side compression straps have quick release buckles and are longer so will accommodate a rolled foam pad, and they will connect to the opposite side
  • Shoulder straps have an angled attachment, and are more contoured and padded with spacer mesh
  • Slightly taller and longer hipbelt wings
  • Side pockets are a durable stretch nylon/Spandex fabric and angled for easier access with the pack on
  • Bungee tool loops replace the Velcro loops
  • Water-resistant zipper on the front pocket
  • Compaktor System to reduce pack volume to 1300 cubic inches

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 2
Views of the Jam2. The front of the pack (top left) is dominated by a huge fabric pocket with water-repellent zipper. Each side (top right) has two long compression straps and a stretch pocket. Shoulder straps have an angled attachment (bottom left). The top (bottom right) is a simple drawcord and roll-down closure with a compression strap.

Suspension System

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 3
The shoulder straps (left) on the Jam2 are mounted at an angle at the top, and are more contoured and better ventilated than the previous Jam. There’s a removable 0.25-inch thick closed-cell foam pad behind the backpanel. The hipbelt (right) is a simple fabric wing and webbing belt.

The Jam2 in size Large fit me (6 feet, 170 pounds) very well. It’s shaped to fit the contour of my back and is remarkably comfortable to carry with loads up to 20 pounds. Although I personally did not find the shoulder straps to be adequately padded to comfortably carry loads over 20 pounds, hikers with stronger shoulders might. With the pack stuffed full to create a virtual frame, I am impressed by how well the Jam2 transfers weight to the hips. The simple fabric hipbelt wing and webbing belt are perfectly comfortable, without the need for extra padding.

Features and Utility

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 4
GoLite’s new Compaktor System is a novel idea to adjust pack volume. By connecting a pair of clips to loops at the bottom of the pack, the volume can be reduced to 1300 cubic inches. Remarkable!

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 5
Four side compression straps (top left) serve to further adjust pack volume and stabilize smaller loads (shown here with the Compaktor System hooked). Further, the side compression straps have quick release buckles and the straps are long enough to connect to the opposite side (top right). This creates a straight-jacket compression system that seriously compacts and stabilizes the pack. The long compression straps will accommodate attaching larger items to the side of the pack (bottom left), like a full-length RidgeRest pad. However, the gender on the buckles does not work out to connect in the middle (bottom right) to attach gear to the front of the pack. Reversing the gender of the buckles on one side would enable the connection.

The side pockets are a durable stretch nylon/Lycra fabric, and are angled for easier access to water bottles with the pack on. However, the compression straps immediately above the side pockets interfere with re-inserting a water bottle (see photo below). A simple solution is to unclip the compression strap.

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 6
The Jam2 adds a 3-liter interior hydration sleeve with two hose ports (left). I personally prefer to use the hydration sleeve for my sleeping pad and carry a short 2-liter Platypus hydration system in a side pocket (right), which is more convenient to access than the interior sleeve.

Unlike other ultralight frameless backpacks, the Jam2 is made of durable Dyneema Gridstop fabric and has durable pockets, which make it suitable for bushwhacking. It’s also very water-repellent (except for the side pockets), which I tested in rain and snow showers in the field. The large gusseted front pocket is advantageous over a mesh pocket because it keeps your gear dry, and has a full-width water-resistant zipper to provide easy access.

GoLite Jam2 Backpack REVIEW - 7
To find out how water-repellent the Jam2 is, I tested it under the shower. The water-resistant zipper and PU coating on the inside of the fabric stopped most of the water, but the front pocket leaked a little through a gap between the two zipper pulls and the side seams leaked some. The latter can be eliminated by seam sealing. The fabric surface, shoulder straps, and webbing straps wetted, so the pack did gain a little weight.

What’s Unique

The Jam2 is a 3200 ci pack weighing less than a pound and a half with a wonderful large gusseted front gear pocket that is highly water-resistant and easy to access. Also GoLite’s new Compaktor System is simple and elegant, and works very effectively in combination with its four side compression straps to reduce pack volume and stabilize smaller loads.

Recommendations for Improvement

Reverse the gender of the compression strap buckles on one side so they can be released and connected at the center with the straps on the other side. This would add utility by allowing larger gear items to be attached the front of the pack.

Catoma Outdoor Twist and Worm Tents Set Up at the Drop of a Hat (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007)

New manufacturer of tents with potential for lightweight backpacking, if they make the tents available with lighter fabrics.

Overview

You likely have not heard of Catoma Outdoor. They are a small company in Montgomery, AL that started out making specialized tents for US Forest Service fire fighters. Responding to requests from customers, they came out with a line of lightweight tents for the domestic market that include the Worm, Twist, Limbo 1, and Limbo 2.

Catoma’s tents are currently made of 40d PU-coated ripstop nylon, with a mesh inner tent, and DAC FeatherLite poles. They are already light, but they begged the question: “Why not make them out of sil-nylon or sil-polyester so they would be really light?” The answer was – they’re working on it. For now, we wanted to give our readers a heads up on this new company and their innovative lightweight tent designs.

The Worm is a hooped bivy shelter that sets up at the drop of a hat. As shown in the attached short digital movie, all you have to do is take it out of its bag and release it. It has a peripheral thin fiberglass rod that makes it open up by itself. Coiling it back up involves a certain sequence of folds that the user needs to master (as shown in the video). The zippered entry door is a waterproof/breathable PU laminate. Each end has a canopy that can be tied out to expose a mesh panel for ventilation. The inside length is 82 inches, which means that a regular length sleeping bag will brush against the tent at both ends. Overall, it’s quite roomy inside for a bivy shelter. The trail weight is 2 pounds 5 ounces and MSRP is $155.

The Twist is basically a solo tent of the same self-opening design as the Worm, only it has a mesh inner tent and a fly supported by a single ridge pole. The pole and fly can be set up as a fast and light option. Trail weight is 2 pounds 14.5 ounces and the MSRP is $185.

Catoma Outdoor Twist and Worm Tents Set Up at the Drop of a Hat (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 1
The Catoma Twist double wall solo tent has a self-opening inner tent with mesh walls and a fly supported by a single ridge pole. There are vents at both ends of the fly.

The Limbo 1 as the name implies is a low 1-person double-wall tent. It has a side entry and vestibule. The floor measures 36 inches wide by 96 inches long, so it’s a great solo tent for a tall person. To minimize weight, it’s only 30 inches high. Trail weight is 2 pounds 15 ounces and MSRP is $219.

Catoma Outdoor Twist and Worm Tents Set Up at the Drop of a Hat (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 2
The Catoma Limbo 1 is a low (30 inches high) double wall solo tent with a side entry vestibule.

The Limbo 2 is a taller (40 inches) 2-person double-wall tent with end entry and vestibule. The floor measures 56 inches wide by 86 inches long, which is fairly roomy. Trail weight is 3 pounds 15 ounces and MSRP is $279.

Catoma Outdoor Twist and Worm Tents Set Up at the Drop of a Hat (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 3
The Catoma Limbo 2 is a double wall 2-person tent with an extended entry vestibule at the end.

The Catoma tents definitely have potential for lightweight backpacking. The present construction using 40d ripstop nylon is certainly durable, and the tents are solidly built. However, we are mainly thinking of the Catoma Tents in terms of their POTENTIAL if the weight can be brought down through the use of lighter fabrics.

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit

Several lightweight, well-designed, multi-purpose products to aid the lightweight backpacker, while reducing our environmental impacts.

Overview

Sea To Summit (STS) has a knack for developing products that are truly useful for lightweight backpacking. On our visit to their booth, their representative Patricia Smith showed us several new products of interest.

Ipood! STS claims that this 2.6-ounce camp trowel is the lightest in the world. We know that many UL and SUL backpackers pooh-pooh carrying the extra weight, but for LW backpackers at least, this is definitely a product worth considering. The Ipood! Is made of 6066-T6 alluminum alloy, collapses to a small size, and the handle is hollow to hold toilet tissue. It retails for $16.95. STS definitely came up with a clever name for this product; their tagline is Ipood! And I’m Proud!

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 1
The Ipood! is a collapsible backpacking trowel that holds TP in the handle.

Pocket Shower Another clever idea is STS’s 4.2 ounce Pocket Shower, which is actually a dry bag with a nozzle on the bottom. The nozzle twists to turn off and on, and its 10-liter capacity will last 8.5 minutes when fully open, longer at a slower trickle. What we really like about this type of product is that it’s multi-purpose and can be used as a stuff sack, dry bag, pillow, water bag, shower, or bear hang. It’s black so it heats up quickly in the sun, and comes with a 20-foot cord. From past experience, we have found that we can easily get two or more showers from this amount of water if we wet, wash, then rinse. The MSRP is $24.95. Way cool product!

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 2
The Pocket Shower is basically a dry bag with a shower nozzle on the bottom. You twist the nozzle to regulate the flow.

Pocket Towel STS’s version of a camp towel is made of really light microfiber that wets easily, so it’s quite large for its weight. It comes in two sizes; size small weighs 1.5 ounces and size large weighs 3.9 ounces. Of course it’s a good companion to the Pocket Shower, but it would also be very handy for wiping condensation from the inside of a single wall tent and for use as a dish towel. The MSRP is $14.95 for the small towel and $22.95 for the large one, which is a bit expensive.

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 3
Sea to Summit’s lightweight Pocket Towel is made of microfiber and is very absorbent.

Pocket Soap Here’s a convenient way to take soap on a backpacking trip. STS’s Pocket Soap comes as small leaves of pure biodegradeable soap that are so light they don’t register on a postage scale. Half a sheet is enough for one hand washing, and you can take only the amount you need on a trip. MSRP is $4.95 for a packet of 50 leaves.

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 4
The Pocket Soap is biodegradable and you can take only what you need on a trip.

Trash Dry Bag STS’s dry bag designed to hold trash can be useful in a variety of situations. It has an extra lip around the dry bag closure that allows the bag to be lined with a kitchen trash can liner. It’s available in 10 and 20 liter sizes weighing 3.5 and 4.7 ounces. I won’t get into the potential uses for waste, but I do want to note that the same bag is perfectly usable as a normal dry sack.

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 5
A Trash Dry Bag may be very useful to contain messy trash on a group backpacking trip or a canoeing trip.

Pilbara Hat We also discovered that STS has several hats that are nicely designed for hiking and backpacking. The newest one is the Pilbara, which has a wide brim, is sun and water resistant, and has loads of ventilating mesh in the crown. We also liked the skirted Mullet Cap ($29.95) for the above reasons, and because the skirt is attached with simple Velcro patches to make it easy to remove and replace. They also have a Gore-Tex PackLite cap ($39.95) and some wide-brimmed Gore-Tex hats. All of their hats are really lightweight and definitely worth considering.

Useful New Products From Sea To Summit (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007) - 6
The new Pilbara Hat is very lightweight and has lots of mesh area on the sides for extra ventilation. It’s also very attractive.

We certainly appreciate Sea To Summit’s contributions to the Leave No Trace cause, while providing truly useful products for backpackers.

Company Addresses Needs of Hunters and Mischievious Youth with Ultralight Weaponry

Guns, fire, merge into new innovations at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007.

Few ultralight manufacturers address the core needs of folks that go huntin’, so check out the ultralight Doubl’Barr’L that tips the scales under a pound and can singe the tailfeathers of a bumblebee at ninety millimeters.

With a barrel length of 30 cm and simultaneous firing of both chambers, this powerhouse is a weapon that should incite fear and repentance in anything an eight year old would find fun to burn up.

Innovative, petroleum-based molded materials house a butane chamber that brings new meaning to the ultralight hiker’s claim, “I’m packing some ultralight heat.”

“It’s just plum perfect for barbecues, frat parties, and singing the ends of Spectra cord,” says Kentucky thru-hiker Mitch, who goes by the trail name “I’m Mitch, ya’dummie, ‘already told ya that.” Mitch also brought up a wealth of other applications, most of which were illegal and he respectfully requested that he remained off the record about them, in case his momma was readin’ this.

When we tested the weapon, it misfired at first. To see if the choke is all plugged up, Mitch peered way down into the barrel and squinted while we fired it up again. Whoo-wee, Mitch, gotta watch those eyebrows next time, provin’ the theory we done proved time and time and tiiiime again that ultralight gear comes with an education cost.

The Doubl’Barr’L conceals nicely into the front of your pants, and rolls up all cozy in your foam pad too. We like it slung through a webbin’ loop on the shoulder straps of our rucksack. Mitch clipped his right into the suspender buckle on his Dickies. Talk about systems integration.

Hey, so check out the Doubl’Barr’L Facts ‘n Figures:

  • Not sanctioned by the California EPA
  • Not made with recyclable materials
  • Not saleable to people who don’t have a cousin named Raymond
  • Manufacturer: We dunno. We asked Mitch and all he said was, “It’s a conspiracy.” The he winked. Scary.
  • Weight: Lighter than a good coon gun, that’s for dang sure
  • MSRP: worth hagglin’ over if ya got the time…

Photo: Backpacking Light Sales Manager and Montana resident Joel Walthall lines up the Doubl’Barr’l. When we asked him what he had in his sights, he said, “Comp’nies that make gear that’s just too dang heavy.”

Snow Peak Giga Power LI Stove, Metal Crab

Another entry into the expanding remote canister stove market featuring support for canister inversion.

Over the past year we have seen the introduction of a few remote canister stoves from various manufacturers. Most of the offerings simply move the canister away from the burner (e.g., MSR WindPro, Primus Gravity MF) move the canister away from the stove but leave it standing upright. A small set of stoves are designed to work with the fuel canister in an inverted position (e.g., Coleman Fyrestorm which also supports white gas) which improves stove performance especially under colder conditions. While other remote canister stoves could be modified to work with their canisters inverted (see Roger Caffin’s article Do It Yourself Projects to Reduce Canister Stove Weight) the number of available stoves that are designed with this functionality specifically in mind is still vanishingly small. Snow Peak is about to help change that.|

Snow Peak has made the Giga Power LI Stove Metal Crab. This is a remote canister stove that includes an adapter that lets you invert your fuel canister. The stove weighs 14.5 ounces which appears to be about on par with some of the other stainless steel and brass remote canister (multi-fuel supported) we have seen. This stainless steel and brass stove supports pots on three stout looking legs with six pot support arms. But it folds down to 2.6″ by 3″ and the canister holder neatly fits inside the bottom of small fuel canisters. The power output of the Metal Crab is 8,400 BTUs. MSRP is $159.95.

Snow Peak Giga Power LI Stove - 1



Snow Peak Giga Power LI Stove - 1

Snow Peak LandBreeze Solo Original Tent

This two-pole, wedge, solo, double wall tent is quite something at 4 pounds.

The world of tents can be a daunting one. Tents come in so many types and sizes that it can be hard to keep up. That world grows a bit more with Snow Peak’s latest entry. The LandBreeze Solo Original should give consumers quite a bit to think about.

The LandBreeze Solo Original tent is a double wall tent with floor space of 6.75′ by 3.25′ and ceiling of 3.3′. The wedge shaped design opens up the interior volume quite a bit making this feel, in a quick sit down test, like a quite roomy 4 pound tent. The inner tent is made of 20 denier nylon mesh and 40 denier ripstop nylon with a PU coating that is water resistant up to 1800mm of pressure. The fly is made of 30 denier PU coated ripstop nylon with a water resistance rating of 1500mm. This is a minimalist tent with one large front door and no vestibule.



Snow PeakLandbreeze - 2



Snow Peak Landbreeze - 2

Wild Things Introduces Cuben “Lightweight Bivy Shelter”

Weighing in at just 3.8 ounces, it’s a smart application of ultralight Cuben fabric to alpine-style emergency shelters.

The Wild Things Lightweight Bivy Shelter is an alpine-style shelter that a group of up to four could pull over their heads to hunker down against a storm or strong winds, or that an injured skier or climber could use as an emergency shelter to conserve warmth.

Unique to Wild Things’ implementation is the use of super-light Cuben fiber-reinforced spinnaker fabric, bringing the weight of the shelter to a scant 3.8 ounces (108 grams), and allowing it to pack into a fist-sized ball.

Construction is simple – the shelter is essentially a large bag to pull over occupants, with a single vent opening and four small cord loops sewn into the bottom perimeter of the shelter for anchoring. I noted that the vent was not completely sealable, and that the loops appeared big enough for a pole, stake or cord, but not skis or ice tools; however, the design is still being refined.

Though the price will give some pause, the Lightweight Bivy Shelter’s minimal packed size and weight make it a very appealing addition to the winter emergency shelter arena.

Specifications and Features

  • Manufacturer: Wild Things
  • Fabrics: Cuben
  • Weight: 3.8 ounces (108 grams)
  • MSRP: $225
  • Available: Summer, 2007

Note: Wild Things also makes a $150 blaze orange Silnylon Bivy Shelter that’s slightly larger, has a tunnel vent with mesh and drawcord, and weighs in at 13 ounces (369 grams).

New Lightweight Ti Ice Axes from Simond

10.6 ounces (300 grams) for the 54 centimeter B rated model.

Simond, a Chamonix-based climbing hardware company, is introducing its updated line to the U.S. market. Included is a lighweight ice axe with a forged titanium head, weighing in at 300 grams (10.6 ounces) for the 54 cm length.

The ice axe is of a minimalist design: the head has a serrated pick and simple spade-shaped adze, and the spike is simply a sliced-off hollow aluminum shaft with a bushing. The axe has a CE B rating.

Also of note: a T rated, bent-shaft model with a more traditional spike and rubberized coating on the lower half of the shaft, weighing in at a scant 420 grams (14.8 ounces). Both models are shown in the first picture at right.

As an interesting aside, Simond is leveraging the abilities of its parent company Wichard, which creates high-quality medical forgings.

I found both axes well-balanced and solid feeling – they exude quality. The lighter model should be an interesting option for climbers and hikers looking for a non-technical ice axe that’s stronger than the other minimalist versions currently available. The other is the first T rated titanium ice axe on the market, and provides an intriguing new choice for climbers who need the bent shaft style.

Specifications and Features

  • Manufacturer: Simond
  • Sizes available: 54, 60, 68, 75 centimeter straight shafts
  • Materials: Forged titanium, aluminum alloy
  • Weight: 10.6 ounces (300 grams) for 54 centimeter model
  • MSRP: $259
  • Available: Late Spring, 2007

Big Sur Bars Big on Taste

These energy bars are EXACTLY like something your Momma would make.

One of our staff described the Big Sur Bars as a, “dense brick of tasty calories.” These 5 ounce bars boast over 600 calories each. The ingredient lists for the three flavors look like a cookie recipe, and indeed, the Big Sur Bars are huge baked cookies with fun, crunchy ingredients piled on top. They are fresh baked and last about two weeks. If you can wait longer to consume these delicious bars, store them in a freezer. Our staff loved the three flavors – Blind Date, Original and White Zest – and said one bar kept them powered for hours.

Nothing passes Ryan’s test unless it remains chewable when frozen. So, Ryan put a Blind Date in a 15 deg F hotel freezer (don’t take that one out of context) for 24 hours and it emerged chewable and tasty.

Big Sur Bars are available online at http://bigsurbar.com for $2.65 – $2.75 per bar.

G3 Spadetech and Ortovox Polar Snow Shovels

G3 and Ortovox reveal clever new snow shovel designs.

A plastic Snow Claw, while very light and versatile, is not the appropriate tool for all winter applications. Backcountry skiers on avalanche prone terrain above 33 degrees slope angle need a shovel that can penetrate consolidated snow and avalanche debris for safety reasons. A properly designed snow shovel with a handle can provide the leverage to penetrate and dislodge hardened snow.

The 22 ounce (claimed) G3 Spadetech shovel combines a telescoping handle with a relatively small, aluminum, low angled blade with a rounded leading edge designed to penetrate consolidated snow and ice. The main advantage of a spade shovel like this is in how you dig. You don’t have to scoop like you would shoveling a sidewalk, but rather you can jab it aggressively down into hardened snow and pull back using leverage from the handle. That’s also the big advantage of the handle-free Snow Claw design which can move large amounts of snow very quickly…if the snow is not too hardened. The Spadetech looks to be designed to jab, lever, and pull, repeatedly moving small chunks of hard snow over and over to rapidly move material. Note that the small blade of the design is key to making this work, as a larger blade would require too much strength with each stroke.

While perhaps not as suitable for professional guide and rescue use as the Spadetech, the Ortovox Polar snow shovel offers backcountry skiers a remarkably compact package in an unfortunately heavy 22 ounce (claimed) Lexan bladed shovel with a telescoping aluminum handle. The shovel can be quickly deployed just by pulling the handle – there are no separate pieces to assemble. While there are certainly lighter snow shovels available, the Polar’s compact stow size may allow a skier to bring a smaller pack and achieve an overall weight reduction over a bulkier shovel/larger pack system.

Big Agnes Three Wire Bivy Sack

Big Agnes shows an eVent hooped bivy.

The Big Agnes Three Wire Bivy Sack is squarely aimed at the Integral Designs Unishelter. Both are made of three-layer eVent fabric, and both have claimed weights of 31 ounces. The Three Wire Bivy Sack uses a two-pole design very simlar to the 26 ounce (claimed) Black Diamond Lightsabre, but is made of fully-waterproof and highly breathable eVent fabric rather than the lighter, but water resistant EPIC fabric used by Black Diamond. The two-pole design provides more head room and potentially offers increased stability and wind resistance when compared to the single-hooped Unishelter, but the Unishelter offers more ventilation options with its tunnel vent.

The debate as to which is better – eVent or EPIC continues to rage. Three-layer eVent is fully-waterproof, but heavier than the lightest EPIC fabrics. In the fabrics used in currently available bivy sacks, EPIC is more air permeable, but has a lower moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) than eVent. EPIC’s breathability can suffer at temperatures just below freezing. Which is better depends on the intended use – for shower protection at above freezing temperatures, or deep winter use, an EPIC bivy will save you weight; an eVent one (properly designed and seam-sealed) will provide greater protection against sustained rain and condensation in sub-freezing conditions.

Three Wire Bivy Sack Features

  • Trail Weight of 31 oz
  • eVent top fabric – fully seam taped
  • Nylon ripstop bottom fabric (presumably with a waterproof coating)
  • Mesh bug netting closure
  • Peaked visor and zipper flap over head opening
  • Available June, 2007
  • MSRP $299

Snowshoe Maker Crescent Moon Goes Eco-friendly…

…and saves weight in the process.

Overview:

Boulder-based winter gear manufacturer Crescent Moon has modified its snowshoe construction and production techniques to use ecologically friendly, recycled, and recyclable materials.

President Jake Thamm said switching to recyclable polyurethane decking materials not only eliminated PVC materials from the company’s snowshoes, but cut out more than half the weight contributed by the older material. Modifying cutting patterns to reduce waste allowed the new material to be used without increasing the cost of the snowshoes.

Crescent Moon is also using recycled stainless steel for crampons and recycled aluminum for frames and rivets; approximately 95% of the components of the snowshoes are now recycled or recyclable. The company also is recycling scraps and rivet pieces left over during production.

In addition, Thamm showed us a prototype using a magnesium frame along with the new recycled materials. With this lighter frame, the model he showed (which appeared to be an update to the Gold Model 9) will weigh less than a pound and a half per shoe. It’s in testing right now and is hoped to be available for the 2007-2008 Winter season.

While several outdoor companies including Patagonia have been promoting a more eco-friendly, sustainable approach, Crescent Moon is the first I’ve heard that has also created a lighter-weight but equally durable product in the process — good news for all of us.

Image: Crescent Moon President Jake Thamm showing some of the new magnesium frames. Photo courtesy of Janet Reichl.

Axis Outdoor SmarTube Drinking System

The beauty of the SmarTube is that it enables you to use an ordinary (free) PET water bottle (or other plastic bottle) as a hydration reservoir.

Overview

Granted, a flat reservoir such as a Platypus flask is lightweight and fits into a hydration sleeve just fine, but the beauty of the SmarTube is that it enables you to use an ordinary (and free) PET water bottle (or other plastic bottle) as a hydration reservoir. A Nalgene bottle for example weighs about 6 ounces, while the same size plastic soda bottle weighs about 1.6 ounces, a big difference. The SmarTube Drinking System works especially well from the side pocket of a pack.

The SmarTube Drinking System comes with a couple of different bottle cap sizes, a 1-liter plastic tube, tube clamp, and bite valve. The weight is 2.5 ounces. A variety of optional cap sizes are available. It works by inserting a draw tube into the bottle down to the bottom and inserting the bottle upright into a pack pocket.

I personally like to put a hydration system such as this in a side pocket because it’s a lot more convenient to refill compared to using an internal hydration sleeve. It is also easily transferable from one bottle to another of the same type.

Specifications and Features

  • Manufacturer: Axis Outdoor (distributor)
  • Sizes: Various cap sizes available to fit different plastic bottles
  • Includes:2 bottle cap sizes, 1-liter plastic tube, tube clamp, Velcro strap attachment, bite valve
  • Weight: 2.5 ounces
  • MSRP: $15.99