Articles (2020)

Introduction

Origo multi-function watches are manufactured in China and distributed in the US by NA Gear. They are available in four different series – each basically providing time, barometer, altimeter, and digital compass functions – but differing in size, feature set, finish, and display type. The Rendezvous Peak series is a low-profile watch with a myriad of features, and is available in six combinations of finish and display type. The basic questions that come up when considering the purchase of a multi-function watch are: how easy is it to operate, how accurate is it, and how useful is it? This review explores each of those areas for the Rendezvous Peak.

What’s Good

• Fairly compact and lightweight, for a multi-function watch
• Flexible, comfortable, durable band
• Easy to read
• User interface is consistent and fairly easy to learn
• Myriad of functions
• Time, chronograph, and temperature functions are easy to use and quite accurate
• Chronograph and countdown timer are full-featured

What’s Not So Good

• Barometric altimeter is cumbersome to set, but reasonably accurate
• Alarm is high pitched and not loud enough
• Digital compass is accurate but cumbersome to lock on a bearing
• Barometer and Weather Forecast functions provide only general weather change information

Specifications

Performance

With the miniaturization of electronics, outdoor multi-function watches are getting smaller and lighter. The Origo Rendezvous Peak at 2.5 ounces is smaller and lighter than many multi-function watches, but not the lightest around. For comparison, the popular Suunto Vector weighs 0.6 ounce less and costs $30 more.

Overall, the watch is full-featured and has most every feature one would want (except specialized things like heart-rate monitoring or nautical information), comes with clear directions on how to use each function, and its user interface is consistent and generally easy to learn, use, and remember. It’s also quite durable and comfortable to wear, and is not overly bulky.

The watch has 10 basic modes: time, temperature, compass, barometer, altimeter, altimeter data, chronograph, chronograph data, alarm, and countdown timer. Each mode is feature rich, and there is one-step access to several features. For example, you can jump directly from the time mode to the compass mode, or jump from any mode to the time mode.

Each user will likely have different needs – depending on whether you are a backpacker, distance runner, triathaloner, orienteer, or whatever – so the importance of different functions will vary tremendously. I will touch on each mode with an emphasis on evaluating usable features, ease of use, and accuracy.

Time

The time mode is exactly as expected. It allows you to monitor the time in two zones. The display in this mode gives the time to the hour, minute, and second in large numerals, day and date, current weather icon, temperature, and alarm setting. I found the time function easy to set and very accurate. The time is also given (in a smaller font) at the bottom of the display when the watch is in several of the other modes.

Temperature

As with any other multi-function watch, my body heat caused the temperature function to read too high, so the only way to get an accurate measurement of air temperature is to remove the watch. Even so, it required about 15 minutes to equilibrate to the ambient temperature, which was painfully slow (but not unusual for a multi-function watch). I compared its temperature readings with a mercury thermometer, and found them to agree within 2 °F, which is close enough for me. On my backpacking trips, I typically took the watch off at night to monitor the temperature. The watch does not have any database to store temperature readings or create a temperature graph.

Digital Compass

A digital compass is generally not quite as accurate as a magnetic compass, but is accurate enough for ground navigation. I found that the Origo’s digital compass agreed closely to a magnetic compass (both compensated for declination). For orienteering, the general procedure is to align a topographic map to North, determine a bearing (in degrees clockwise from North) to a target location, set the compass for that bearing, then follow that bearing using the compass. The Origo allows you to lock in a compass bearing and adjust it on the fly, but the procedure is cumbersome and difficult to remember. The main disadvantages of a digital compass are that it needs to be kept level and routinely recalibrated in order for it to be accurate.

Barometer

To calibrate the Origo’s barometer, I needed to set the current weather (by choosing an icon) and set the Sea Level Pressure (the equivalent pressure at sea level for any given location). The instructions were deficient on how to determine the Sea Level Pressure for my location, but I Googled it and figured it out. Once set, the Origo watch generally displayed changes in atmospheric pressure and weather, which were useful enough to determine whether a weather change was imminent. The weather forecast is no more than an icon indicating the expected weather. The watch displays a graph of barometric pressure changes for the past 30 hours. The graph was useful because it provided a ready indicator of changing weather and how much the calibration of the barometric altimeter had drifted (see next section).

Barometric Altimeter

The Origo watch (or any multi-function watch) by itself does not automatically know the altitude. The altimeter function must be calibrated to the barometric pressure, which changes with altitude. Any change in atmospheric pressure causes a change in the altitude reading. The watch works by sensing the current barometric pressure and applying an algorithm to distinguish altitude change from weather change. As you would expect, this is a very complex process and most multi-function watches only come close to getting it right. Thus, the watch must be recalibrated to a known elevation almost daily, sometimes several times a day, to maintain accuracy.

When I followed the instructions for setting the watch to a known elevation, it simply did not work. I consulted with Origo technical support and was told that I needed to calibrate the altimeter by setting the Sea Level Pressure in the Barometer function. That was a trial and error process, requiring 10 button presses each time, and three to five iterations (switching back and forth between Barometer and Altimeter) to get the altitude correctly set. I got used to the process, but I consider it to be unusually cumbersome.

After calibrating the watch’s elevation, I checked the watch’s elevation reading on many outings, using either a known location on a topographic map, a GPS, or a Kestrel 4000 Pocket Weather Meter. I found the altimeter to be reasonably accurate (within 50 feet), provided it is calibrated frequently. Depending on weather stability and frequency of calibration, the watch’s elevation reading was off from 25 feet to 100 feet. This is sufficiently accurate for most navigation and information purposes, but it is a high maintenance feature that requires frequent calibration to achieve acceptable accuracy.

Chronograph, Countdown Timer, and Chronograph Data

The Chronograph function worked exactly as expected, and was easy to learn and operate. I used it for all types of timing applications, including running, fitness hikes, measuring stove performance in the field, and timing meal cooking. It worked great. The countdown timer function simply times an event in reverse; you set a desired time, and it counts down to zero. The Chronograph Data function allows you to log data for up to 99 timing events.

Alarm

The watch allows you to set two different alarm times, and is easy to set. The alarm worked fine in principle and sounds for 30 seconds. My wife could hear the alarm across the room, but my ears could hear the high pitched sound only 1 foot away! Obviously age has something to do with this, but the alarm function would be better if it sounded at a lower pitch, and sounded louder and longer. Note however, that a lower pitch and higher volume means more battery drain.

Assessment

I found the Origo Rendezvous Peak multi-function watch to be solidly constructed and comfortable to wear with an easy to understand user interface. Some functions are very straight forward and simple to use (time, temperature, chronograph, and alarm for people with good hearing). Other functions (compass, barometer, altimeter) are more complex to use and require more maintenance to get good performance. I can easily get the former functions (except temperature) in an inexpensive chronometer watch from a discount department store. The latter functions are sufficiently accurate for outdoor navigation provided you carefully maintain their calibration. The Origo multi-function watch (like many of its peers) is not a “set and forget” gadget, rather it requires that you master its controls and frequently check its calibration in order to obtain good performance.

What’s Unique

Nothing really.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Improve the calibration procedure for the altimeter function so it is easier to set, and improve the algorithm to convert barometric pressure change to altitude change.
• Simplify the procedure to lock on a bearing in the compass mode

Introduction

The La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX are ultralight mountaineering boots that do well in snow and ice. They accept hybrid or strap-on crampons, have sticky rubber for sure-footed grip on rock, and are completely waterproof. They weigh much less that leather or plastic mountaineering boots but also lack insulation, making these better in some conditions than in others. Are they warm enough to tackle glaciers in above-freezing conditions?

What’s Good

• At less than 3 ¾ pounds for a size 12, they are extremely light for capable mountaineering boots
• Sole is very stiff front to rear, making these boots comfortable for front pointing sessions
• Boot is more flexible side to side, giving flexibility for using French technique
• Vibram sole provides good grip on rock, dirt, and snow
• Accepts most strap-on and hybrid crampons
• Gore-Tex liner is waterproof and never leaked during field testing
• Comfortable for long approaches so only one pair of boots is needed
• $285 price is expensive but reasonable when compared to other mountaineering boots

What’s Not So Good

• Doesn’t accept step-in crampons (other Trango models do but they’re heavier)
• Minimal insulation means that the range of conditions is limited
• Cordura and Lorica uppers are tough and light but not as tough as plastic or full grain leather

Specifications

Performance

The La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX boots are the lightest mountaineering boots offered by La Sportiva and among the lightest full-shank boots on the market. There are a total of five boots in the Trango line including women’s, ice-climbing, and insulated models. This is the lightest of those and is the least insulated.

At just over 1 ½ pounds each for my size 12 boots, the Trango S EVO GTX are some of the lightest mountaineering boots on the market. This weight savings is very noticeable when hiking long distances or kicking steps on long glacier routes. I felt much more nimble on my feet with these boots than with heavier leather or plastic mountaineering boots and was less fatigued at the end of the day.

The Trango S EVO GTX is constructed with three main materials in the upper. Lorica synthetic leather is used in high-stress areas such as the laces and for the main pieces that wrap around the foot. Waterproof Cordura is used in the upper boot for flexibility. A rubberized fabric called FlexTec2 is found in the lower tongue and along the sides for combined abrasion resistance and breathability. The upper is lined with Gore-Tex which ensures that the boots are waterproof. Gore-Tex linings in footwear allow some breathability and help a great deal in retaining warmth – important in an uninsulated boot that will be used on snow and ice.

The upper remained waterproof through water crossings and slushy snow and the waterproof Gore-Tex lining kept feet warm and relatively dry from sweat with its limited breathability. The upper provides enough flex to be comfortable when kicking steps in steep snow or bend them over when using French technique on steep ice. The Lorica synthetic leather is very tough and resists stretching. I have a pair of mountain bike shoes that are constructed of Lorica; after years of hard use, the fabric has never stretched and shows little wear – it’s tough. Despite many miles on the trail, rock, and glacier, the variety of robust fabrics used the upper show very little wear.

The Trango boot has a Trangoflex insole with an integrated nylon shank. This gives them very little flex in the front and I found them to be very comfortable in extended kick-stepping and front-pointing situations on moderate ice. The upper is flexible enough to make them very comfortable when using French technique as well.

The removable footbeds of the Trango are fairly standard, offering limited arch support and padding. As with most boots, I quickly replaced these with Superfeet (and then traded to Sole footbeds) which greatly improved the comfort of the boot. Cheap footbeds are standard in boots but I would sure like to see more advanced models in boots of this quality.

There is just enough rocker and flex in the boot to make them comfortable on extended approaches as well. I used these boots exclusively in training for a Rainier climb and put over 100 trail miles on them in addition to glacier work. While not as comfortable as flexible running shoes when day hiking, I found the La Sportiva boots to be surprisingly comfortable when hiking and I never experienced a single blister or hot spot. I wish I could say that about my leather mountaineering boots!

The Gore-Tex lining holds in some warmth and not an excessive amount of moisture. For alpine environments, the compromise of warmth from a limited moisture barrier and the limited breathability is a great application for a Gore-Tex liner.

The outsole of the Trango boots is comprised of polyurethane (PU) in the forefoot, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) in the rear, and a Vibram Mulaz sole. The boot does a good job of absorbing impacts when hiking and hasn’t shown any wear in the outsole. The Vibram sole is a good compromise: it is tacky enough to provide good grip on rock without getting chewed up by crampons, the elevated arch provides control when plunge stepping in crusty snow, the moderate lugs provide excellent traction in mud and rocky soils, and a smooth “Climbing Zone” at the front gives solid purchase when edging rock. I found the sole and shock absorption to be nearly perfect in a climbing boot.

The La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX offers limited insulation, limiting their application in very cold mountaineering settings. However, by using thicker insoles and an insulated vapor barrier sock by RBH Designs, I was able to push these boots well into below-freezing temperatures without getting cold. While these aren’t extreme high altitude or extreme cold boots, by using a warm sock combination, I’ve found them to be warm enough for three-season mountaineering as well as winter backpacking at lower elevations in the Pacific Northwest. Other boots in the La Sportive Trango line offer increased insulation for colder environments.

The Trango S EVO GTX boots are compatible with most strap-on or hybrid crampons. Because they don’t have a front crampon reinforcement, they are not compatible with full step-in crampons. For step-in crampon use, other models in the Trango line are suitable (although with a weight penalty).

At $285, the Trango boots aren’t cheap but are comparable in price to other boots in their class. They are very lightweight, offer excellent durability, and will last many seasons, making them an excellent value.

What’s Unique

The La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX is a very lightweight mountaineering boot that doesn’t compromise on stiffness or durability. It is well thought-out and adaptable to a wide variety of settings from trail and off trail hiking to glacier and rock climbing.

Recommendations for Improvement

These La Sportiva boots are excellent and performed beyond my expectations. My only gripe is that they come with footbeds that are only slightly thicker than the standard and don’t offer much support. I always trade “throwaway” insoles for better models from Superfeet or Sole, but in boots this expensive, I wish better footbeds were included.

Introduction

The Wingnut Adventure 2006 is a pack designed for adventure racing. Low slung and centering weight on the hips, it is ideal as a cycling pack and pretty good for hiking and backpacking. With a high-capacity integrated hydration system, multiple pockets, and tough, waterproof materials, this pack is ready for multi-sport abuse.

What’s Good

• The low-slung Lowrider harness sits on the hips, making it stellar for cycling
• Truly a multi-sport pack – especially for adventure racing
• Constructed of super-tough Dimension-Polyant fabrics
• Padded mesh backpanels allow for airflow
• Separate bladder pocket makes refilling bladders quick and easy
• Sidewing pockets are spacious and put more weight on the sides of the hips
• Very water resistant with waterproof fabric and zippers

What’s Not So Good

• The low-slung Lowrider harness is less comfortable for hiking than cycling
• When Sidewing pockets are full, they affect arm swing somewhat when using trekking poles
• Optional outside pocket gets in the way of the main mesh pocket
• Not the lightest at 25 ounces for a 1600 cubic inch pack

Specifications

Performance

The Wingnut Adventure 2006 is a pack designed for adventure racing where you are as likely to be on a bike as hiking or running. While typical hiking packs ride too high for cycling, the Adventure 2006 features the Lowrider harness system which allows it to be adjusted to mid-back for hiking or lowered to the hips for cycling.

To fully test this pack in both sports, I used it for ultralight backpacking trips as well as extended mountain biking and short runs. The real test of the pack came when mountain bike touring the 81 mile North Umpqua Trail in Oregon, which included highly technical mountain biking and many extended hike-a-bike sections.

The Adventure 2006 is ideal when cycling. By centering the weight on the hips and away from the head and helmet, it stays completely out of the way, even when riding very technical steep rocky sections. When used for hiking, the Lowrider harness can be adjusted to make the pack ride higher on the back – much better for upright backpacking. When adjusted to its highest setting though, the shoulder straps are pulled somewhat together, causing some minor pinching at the shoulders. To remedy this, I adjusted the pack about one inch below its maximum setting but this did put the pack a little lower than is ideal for hiking. The compromise made it the ultimate mountain bike pack, a great choice for adventure racing or hike-a-bikes, but not ideal for backpacking-only.

When running, the pack stays centered and doesn’t move around much and the compression system keeps the load tight against your back.

The Wingnut Adventure 2006 is a panel-loading pack. The main compartment is large enough for a low-volume sleeping bag, food, and clothes for a multi-day trip or race. A separate zippered hydration pouch that is accessible from the outside of the pack makes for quick water refills. The entire pack is constructed out of Dimension-Polyant X-Pac fabric which is waterproof, lightweight, and extremely durable. Despite crashes onto rocks, the pack shows no wear at all. The waterproof fabric and zippers make the pack extremely water resistant; when riding in a downpour, I put waterproof items at the top and they were only slightly damp – everything else was dry.

The backpanel has four large padded sections that allow for some airflow to the back. The extra ventilation kept my back cooler than normal during long hikes and rides in hot weather but still provided enough cushion for 20-25 pound loads.

The Adventure 2006 is a frameless pack and I found that I could comfortably carry 20 pounds all day when hiking or 25 pounds when cycling. An optional delrin rod is available to add more load-carrying capacity but I did not test this option. The waist belt is 1.5-inch nylon with a heavy duty quick release buckle. The ¾-inch sternum strap features an ITW Nexus integrated whistle/buckle that is the same as those used in Gossamer Gear and Osprey packs – an excellent choice that takes care of a standard safety item (and an adventure racing requirement).

The Wingnut pack features a wide variety of storage options. A front mesh pocket is large enough for a self-inflating sleeping pad and clothes, the external bungee system can easily accommodate jackets, a helmet and other items, and a bottom flap guarantees that larger items won’t fall out. An additional pocket on the left shoulder strap fits an energy bar or two energy gel packets while the right shoulder strap has a slot and grommet designed for a two-way radio. While on a three-day mountain bike tour, I used a Motorola radio constantly and it never fell out of the slot, even during a nasty crash.

A unique element of the Adventure 2006 is the Sidewings, which are large lumbar pockets. The Sidewings can easily accommodate a first aid kit, a handful of energy bars, or a 0.5 liter mini-kettle. Side entry mesh pockets with one-handed adjusters are also found on the Sidewings and can be easily accessed without removing the pack. The Sidewings are only sewn to the main pack in one vertical seam, allowing the wings to better contour to the hips and additional items to be tucked behind them. The Sidewings focus this extra weight on the middle of the hips while allowing a full range of movement.

A downside of the Sidewings is that my arms occasionally brushed them when using trekking poles. However, this was merely annoying and only slightly affected arm swing.

Being an adventure racing pack, extra attention was paid to the hydration system. The Wingnut pack has a large outside pocket that easily holds a full 3-liter hydration bladder (not included). It has a clip at the top to keep the bladder upright and has a total of four ports for the drinking tube. Two of the ports are along the side of the pack, allowing the tube to be fed up the shoulder strap and avoid the need for a 90 degree bite valve. Two upper ports allow for traditional over the top tube routing on either side. Despite all of these options, I found that it was easier to refill my Platypus bladder with a non-removable hose by feeding the hose out of the zipper of the hydration pocket so I didn’t have to reroute the hose each time. Used this way, the system was excellent for quick refills along the trail.

The Wingnut pack comes with a removable Mobile Pack that attaches above the outside mesh pocket. This pack offers additional storage and helps to compress the top of the pack. However, it also limits access to the large mesh pocket and has to be unclipped to fully unzip the main pocket; I didn’t use the Mobile Pack much during testing.

At $130 for a pack of this quality, the Adventure 2006 is an excellent value that will last through many races or adventures.

What’s Unique

The Wingnut Adventure 2006 is a very unique pack. While most adventure racing packs sit high like backpacking packs, the Adventure 2006 can be adjusted to sit very low. This makes it ideal for cycling, especially in technical terrain, while still being comfortable for use when hiking or running. It is extremely durable, has a multitude of usable pockets, and has a well thought-out hydration system.

Recommendations for Improvement

I can offer the following recommendations for improving the Wingnut Adventure 2006:

• Change the attachment points for the suspension system to the shoulder straps to increase comfort when using the pack at its maximum height.
• Look carefully at the pack to eliminate unnecessary weight. Lightening items such as the attachment points for the Mobile pack, a few rarely-needed attachment points, and heavy nylon webbing behind the Sidewings could drop a few ounces off of the weight.
• Enlarge the hydration ports so it’s easier to remove and replace the hydration tubing.

Introduction

Western Mountaineering introduced the Summerlite sleeping bag to the US market in January 2006. With features focused on three-season performance and light weight, it instantly drew attention from ultralighters. The Summerlite is the lightest fully baffled bag in Western Mountaineering’s lineup. It has a full-length zipper, insulated draft tube, 4 inches of double-layer loft and weighs 1 pound 3 ounces for the regular length. The long length bag has a specified weight of 1 pound 5 ounces (1 pound 5.4 ounces as measured). The Summerlite is part of the Extremelite series and uses a 0.9 oz/yd² Extremelite shell fabric. In 2007, Western Mountaineering will offer a new short length version designed for people 5 feet 6 inches or less. This version will likely come in near a scant 1 pound 1 ounce. I used the Summerlite for 6 weeks on the Pacific Crest Trail this summer and have some strong opinions about its combination of features and performance. The picture at right was taken on a winter trip in Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona.

The Summerlite has an interesting history as described by Gary Petersen, Production Manager for Western Mountaineering. This bag was originally developed at the request of a European dealer who is a long time customer of Western Mountaineering. The dealer approached Gary in 2002 with a request for a very specific bag – a 32 degree F bag (0 C), in a narrow mummy configuration with a full-length zipper and a target weight of 1 pound 3 ounces (550 grams). They initiated production of the bag in 2003, but did not make it available worldwide until January 2006. It was immediately popular and is already one of the top ten selling products for Western Mountaineering.

What’s Good

• 1 pound 3 ounce sleeping bag with three-season warmth
• Full zipper is convenient and improves versatility
• Baffled construction, an unusual feature at this weight, reduces cold spots
• Narrow mummy configuration with hood
• Stuffs into 12 by 6 inch stuff sack

What’s Not So Good

• Might be a little narrow for some

Specifications

Performance

The Summerlite is intended to provide the most efficient warmth possible in a full featured three-season sleeping bag. It offers a full zipper to help regulate temperature on those warm summer nights, but with a full hood and insulated draft tube, is still efficient when pushing the bag’s performance into colder temperatures. I used my bag in a broad range of three-season conditions; winter nights in the desert, warm summer nights in the desert and foothills, and cold, wet alpine camps. I found the Summerlite to have a well chosen combination of features and efficiency. I have not developed a liking for top bags or quilts, and the Summerlite is the lightest and most versatile mummy bag I have used – and it can be used in the vast majority of conditions that I encounter.

The Summerlite is the lightest baffled bag made by Western Mountaineering. The baffles are continuous and wrap around the bag. With a little practice it is possible to move more down onto the top side of the bag, improving effective use of the down. This is easily done by unzipping the bag and pushing the down along the tubes from one side to the other. The baffled construction is a real advantage over sewn through construction, reducing cold spots and improving overall warmth. The baffles on the Summerlite are spaced 5.25 inches apart.

The Summerlite is cut in what Western Mountaineering refers to as a narrow mummy configuration. The internal girth dimensions are listed as 59 inches at the shoulder, 51 inches at the hip and 38 inches at the foot, for the regular size bag. These dimensions are identical to those on the Highlite and Ultralite models; two of the other lightweight bags offered by Western Mountaineering. I am used to mummy style bags and found the Summerlite to offer plenty of internal room. But I am also more lean than most. The Summerlite fits the description as a narrow mummy – if you aren’t a fan of mummy bags, the Summerlite may not be the best choice for you.

The exterior shell on the Summerlite is Western Mountaineering’s Extremelite fabric. When developing the Extremelite fabric, Western Mountaineering looked for a combination of light weight, strength and uniform yarns that would make the fabric as downproof as possible. This fabric is a 0.9 oz/yd² Pertex Quantum which has been calendared (heated and pressed between rollers or plates to smooth and glaze the fabric) on both sides. This sacrifices some breathability, but also reduces down leakage. According to Gary Petersen, uniform yarn sizes reduce down leakage since any junction where yarns of differing diameter meet is a likely spot for leakage. Ripstop fabrics have regular intervals with yarns of larger diameter, which improves strength, but can lead to leakage. That is why Western Mountaineeing has both sides of the exterior fabric calendared. The interior fabric on the Summerlite is a plain weave with uniform yarns (taffeta). By design it is more downproof, and is therefore calendared on only one side. It is likely that Western Mountaineering will use up their current supply of shell fabric and switch to new shell fabrics sometime in 2007. Any new fabrics will have similar construction and characteristics as the current fabrics.

Over the course of the summer I have spent more than 50 nights in the Summerlite and I have experienced almost no down leakage. The shell fabric is very light and I treat it carefully, especially if I drape the bag over bushes or grass to dry it out. I make sure to pay attention when I remove the bag from these situations, not dragging it across branches where it could get snagged or torn.

Missing from this review (and for all sleeping bag reviews published here, for that matter) will be an assessment of whether or not the sleeping bag performs adequately at temperatures near its manufacturer-reported temperature rating. Click here for the complete Backpacking Light Position Statement on Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings.

What’s Unique

The Western Mountaineering Summerlite is a top quality, 19-ounce (regular size), 32 degree traditional mummy sleeping bag with a full zipper, draft tube and continuous baffles. No other bag on the market offers this combination of features and light weight. The Mountain Hardwear Phantom 32 and The North Face Beeline are similar (and a little less expensive) but the Phantom has box baffles and a three-quarter zip, while the Beeline has no zipper except for a foot vent. Nunatak presents a third option in the Alpinist which has a half-length center zip and 2.5 extra ounces of down for an extra $100.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Summerlite hits the mark for a very lightweight yet versatile three-season bag. Western Mountaineering has sacrificed some breathability to reduce down leakage by using Extremelite fabric. If they can find a fabric that combines improved breathability with similar downproof performance, the Summerlite could take another step forward.

Introduction

The durable 60 Liter WorkSack is currently the largest pack CiloGear makes; with the extension collar loaded it can hold up to 90 liters. Removable straps allow the pack to be compressed down to a 28 liter volume for overnighters or day hikes without all the excess slack and weight in straps. And with further stripping of removable components, it can be reduced down to a 30-ounce frameless pack. The pack has some good characteristics but there is a steep learning curve to mastering strap use and some useful features are missing.

What’s Good

• Durable for all types of use
• Many adjustment options
• Removable straps, framesheet, hipbelt, and top pocket let you reduce weight
• Hipbelt + top pocket convert to a fanny pack
• Foam backpanel doubles as a short sleeping pad
• Hydration compatible

What’s Not So Good

• Removable adjustment straps are confusing and hard to adjust
• No side pockets
• No hipbelt pockets

Specifications

Performance

The CiloGear 60 Liter WorkSack has a strap system I’ve never seen before. I spent some time trying to figure out the different options available. There are three different types of straps that come with the backpack, for a total of ten straps. There are many places on the backpack where you can place the straps, with no directions on the manufacture’s website or included with the pack on how to use them. Quite a bit of time is required initially to strategically place the straps to best suit your needs.

Once the straps are installed, the pack has a 60 liter volume with compression options. The extension collar lets the pack expand up to 90 liters. To make a 28 liter volume pack, remove the adjustment straps and clip the side buckles together. The option of having a smaller pack without the weight or extra length of the straps is nice, but it also means you can’t compress the load since the straps are removed. CiloGear mentions you can have one side of the backpack with straps and the other side with no straps for a 43 liter pack, but this causes the pack to be asymmetrical and I don’t see any advantages to this option.

The pack comes in three different torso sizes, small, medium, and large. The hipbelt is removable and attached by Velcro allowing further adjustment for different size torsos. The hipbelt is made of foam that is a little over ½ inch thick. The top lid has a smaller zippered pocket in the inside and a larger zippered pocket on the outside. The lid can also be removed and attached to the hipbelt to make a fanny pack for short hikes around camp.

The harness system includes load lifter straps to pull the top of the pack in closer to your back. The shoulder straps are curved and include an adjustable sternum strap. The shoulder straps have foam padding that is a little under ½-inch thick.

The backpanel is made up of a single aluminum stay, plastic framesheet and a closed cell foam pad folded in half that can double as a small (18 inches by 24 inches) sleeping pad.

The inside of the bag has some reflective material sewn into one side that brightens up the interior of the pack, making it easier to spot items you’re searching for. There are two ice axe loops and one outside pocket on the pack.

The CiloGear 60 Liter WorkSack performed well in the field with loads up to 30 pounds. The shoulder straps are sewn into the pack at a right angle so they are close to my neck and rub against it with loads over 30 pounds. On most packs the shoulder straps angle away from each other slightly giving your neck a little more room. 

The diameter of the pack is smaller at the bottom and gets larger towards the top, with the collar having the largest diameter. This is good for throwing in some extra food near the top or stuffing in a jacket, but if your sleeping bag is large it might not fit in the bottom of the pack – although my three-season down bag fit just fine. The backpanel pad, framesheet and stay, top lid, and hipbelt can be removed to save some weight and turn the pack into a frameless backpack. The stripped pack weighs only 1 pound 14 ounces.

Assessment

The CiloGear 60 Liter WorkSack is durable and can stand up to abuse in the field. I’m not afraid to bushwhack or scrape against rocks with this pack like I am with some other lightweight packs. It is capable of carrying a variety of loads with comfort and is well made. The pack is not user friendly at first and it takes some time to get used to the strap system. There are no side pockets and one front pocket so you’re limited to using the front pocket for a water bottle holder if you don’t use the hydration bladder option.

At 3 pounds 9 ounces, the 60 liter WorkSack is about 8 ounces lighter than the popular Osprey Aether 60, but lacks side pockets. It weighs about the same as the new Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian and GoLite Quest, but does not have nearly as nice a feature set as those packs. The main reasons for considering the CiloGear 60 Liter WorkSack are its superb durability and volume adjustment, which make it a good choice for mountaineering applications.

What’s Unique

The removable backpanel pad that can be unfolded and used as a sleeping pad along with the interchangeable and removable compression straps are a unique combination.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Make it easier to adjust the straps or scratch the idea of removable straps
• Add side pockets to hold water bottles
• Add hipbelt pockets
• Slightly angle the shoulder straps away from each other

Addendum to CiloGear 60 Liter WorkSack Backpack REVIEW

December 21, 2006

Our statement in this review that there are “no directions on the manufacture’s website or included with the pack on how to use them” is incorrect. A detailed manual is available on the CiloGear website. We apologize to Graham Williams of CiloGear for this oversight. – CC

Introduction

Part LED headlamp and part button-cell minilight, the PETZL e+LITE offers more features and flexibility than is typical with either form. With both white and red LEDs, a detachable lamphead that can clip to a hat, a rotary switch and a handy storage case, never in the history of flashlightdom has 1 ounce provided the user with so many choices.

What’s Good

• Miniscule size and weight
• Flexible, adaptable design
• Useful, adjustable output
• Night-vision friendly red mode
• Brilliant switch
• Screw-free battery change
• IPX6 waterproof rating

What’s Not So Good

• Fleetingly brief initial bright output
• Minimal difference between high and low modes
• Competitive price?

Specifications

PETZL threw out the book of headlamp design creating the e+LITE; it’s as though they held a design competition fueled liberally with Burgundy and espresso. Whatever its genesis, the resulting e+LITE blazes a lot of new ground.

What It Is

The e+LITE is a button-cell flashlight. But unlike other such lights, it sports multiple LEDs (four, total) in two colors and a lever-operated rotary switch instead of a pushbutton. The e+LITE is also a true headlamp, with a detachable elastic strap that threads through the lamphead base. The lamphead attaches to the base via a ball-and-socket joint, which gives it unlimited tilt and swivel. The base also features a metal wire clip that can anchor the lamphead to a cap bill or hat brim, sans strap. Versatile.

The e+LITE has a triangle of three white 5 mm LEDs that operate on high, low and flash. A single red LED centered inside the white trio operates in steady or flash. All modes are accessed using a lever switch that rotates through a 180-degree arc, with click-stops at each of the five modes, plus “off” settings at either end and a lock setting that folds it flush, protected against accidental operation. The sequence is lock, off, low white, high white, flash white, flash red, steady red, off. Clever; different.

The e+LITE comes packed in a plastic two-piece lozenge case that’s held closed by an o-ring. A belt loop on the case allows the e+LITE to be stowed on a packstrap. Handy.

What It Isn’t

The e+LITE isn’t a substitute for a multi-AA or AAA-powered headlamp. The miniscule button cells simply can’t match the staying power of their much larger cylindrical cousins. But, thanks to the latest generation of high-efficiency 5 mm LEDs, the e+LITE does provide very useful campsite light for a multi-night backpacking trip. While fresh batteries light up a trail enough to walk with confidence, extended nighttime navigation isn’t the e+LITE’s forte because the initial output’s duration is brief.

Why consider an e+LITE instead of an advanced microlight such as the Photon Freedom? In addition to the obviously greater feature set and the brighter, broader beam, there are the batteries. Instead of the typical two CR2016s, the e+LITE uses two CR2032s. These are twice the thickness and more than twice the capacity of the 2016s: 225 versus 90 mAh, each, which translates into a significantly extended useful life. The weight difference? About a gram, each. (All button cell lights should switch to CR2032s. Despite the minor increases in thickness and weight, they’d gain greater capacity.)

Performance

Output testing reveals the e+LITE’s strengths and weaknesses. Initial high-level output is a fleeting 300 lux, with an exact reading impossible because it drops so rapidly during the first fifteen minutes. After this initial plunge, high and low mode outputs show no appreciable difference, as the convergent curves show.

The white beam is reminiscent of other multi 5 mm white LED lights: an indistinct pool of light with a brighter purplish center. The beam diameter is about nine inches at two feet. The red beam is narrower and dimmer than the white, but bright enough to be useful.

Wearing and Operating

The 1-ounce e+LITE is certainly easy to wear, and is basically not noticeable once the strap is adjusted for comfort. Clipped to a ballcap the 17-gram lamphead is likewise unnoticeable, and the stout wire clip is reassuringly tenacious. Backscatter is eliminated using the cap option, and wasn’t bad using the strap. The ball-joint allows limitless aiming, and at least for our test remained stiff enough to hold its setting.

The switch can be operated wearing gloves, as long as it’s first taken out of the locked position. I sometimes overshoot my preferred position and have to back up because it’s difficult to feel the click stops through gloves.

Assessment: Toy, or Tool?

Implicit in the e+LITE’s packaging and indeed its name is to serve as an emergency headlamp. The case can be threaded onto a packstrap, well protected and ready for quick access. I believe it can fill that role quite adequately. The bright initial output can resolve typical nighttime puzzles; it’s just not a light that’s going to support an unplanned all-night march.

Whether it can become your sole backpacking headlamp depends on the use. As a campsite light the e+LITE works well. I quickly learned to primarily use it on low, reserving high as a boost mode like that provided on Petzl’s XP-series headlamps. The red mode is a great option for those interested in preserving night vision, and the switch allows switching it on directly to red to prevent dazzling the eyes. Because button cells have a solid rebound after resting a few hours, even worn cells provide 200-300 lux for at least a minute or two, which is adequate for brief technical navigation or stringing a bear bag line. With prudent use it can certainly support a weeklong backpacking trip, and toting a few extra grams in spare batteries would assure weeks of use. They’re also gratifyingly easy to swap, with the headstrap toggle substituting for the coin you might otherwise use to open the battery cap. It’s a thirty-second task.

Buying button cell batteries can be an experience. Despite being widely available, CR2032 prices vary hugely. I paid as much as four dollars each during this test, but have found them on-line for as little as thirty cents, in bulk. Because they have a long shelf life, shopping the sales and keeping a supply handy seems like the way to go.

Idle Speculation

Could the e+LITE represent a test platform for design elements that might migrate to other headlamps? If so, we say “heap them on,” especially the switch, the red light option and the robust IPX6 waterproof rating.

Value

For a somewhat princely thirty bucks, the e+LITE isn’t everyone’s impulse, gotta-have-it purchase. The same amount can buy a “serious” headlamp such as one of Petzl’s Tikka models or a small fistful of generic button-cell lights. Serious nighttime navigation requires more light than the e+LITE can muster, but little 1-ounce wonder will give enough hands-free light to operate easily around camp, with the added benefit of night-vision-friendly red.

Compared To

Compared to the Photon Freedom, the brightest single-LED button cell light we’ve tested, the e+LITE’s beam is broader and more useful in all applications. Both are similarly affected by rapid drop-off with time, although the Photon’s continuously variable output allows more flexibility in matching output to task. Interestingly, the two miniscule lights offer what no popular “regular” sized headlamp does: the ability to switch on directly to low.

What’s Unique

Nearly everything about the e+LITE is new and fresh, from the modular form to its white-and-red LED array to its rotary switch to the storage capsule. The e+LITE is also the only immersible Petzl light we’ve tested.

Recommendations for Improvement

Low mode could be lower for more distinction from high. Add regulation circuitry.

Question for Down the Trail

Will the ball-and-socket retain adequate tension with extended wear?

Introduction

Following its justly popular EOS, Princeton Tec offers the four-LED Quad in a very similar package. The Quad’s wide beam is very useful in camp and still supports nighttime travel. The Quad is light, affordable, waterproof and has an easy-to-use power switch. The Quad’s current regulation offers extended periods of steady output in the low and medium modes, but not in high mode.

What’s Good

• Bright, wide beam that’s the best of any 5 mm headlamp we’ve tested
• Waterproof to 1 meter
• Easy-to-use power switch
• Low battery indicator
• Tilting lamphead
• Light and compact
• Solid build and materials
• Affordable
• Lifetime warranty

What’s Not So Good

• Current regulation not effective on high
• Beam exhibits the familiar purple artifacts typical of white 5 mm LEDs
• Loose tilt ratchet on our sample

Specifications

Overview

The Princeton Tec Quad demonstrates the continued viability of multi-5 mm headlamps in a marketplace being quickly dominated by high-output 1-, 3- and even 5-watt Luxeon LED headlamps. The Quad is surprisingly bright for a small, four-LED headlamp and casts a relatively wide and even beam. This is good news for those who don’t care for blazingly bright pencil beams that illuminate a trail 100 feet ahead but aren’t so nice on the eyes in camp. The Quad is small, light, waterproof, frugal and features regulation for extended stretches of steady output.

Compared To

The Quad is a close cousin to the 1-watt Luxeon EOS, a light we’ve extolled at Backpacking Light for its stellar performance, light weight and affordability. We’ve also been fans of the Princeton Tec Aurora in the past, but it’s astonishing how superior the Quad is to the Aurora for small increases in weight and cost. Several recently upgraded Petzl 5 mm LED headlamps compete with the Quad, including the Tactikka that features a night-vision preserving flip-down red lens. None of the Petzl lights match the Quad’s regulation and waterproofness rating. Black Diamond’s Cosmo is their closest equivalent, and it also lacks regulation and immersibility.

Design and Construction

Controls and Operation

The lone combination power-mode button is located atop the Quad’s lamphead. This large button is operable wearing heavy gloves and mittens, and is the best we’ve yet used. Controls follow the typical high, medium, low, flash, off operating sequence. No mode memory on power-up means the Quad always starts on high, a trend we’d like to see eliminated on all flashlights (either start on low or the last mode used). A 1.5-second pause in any mode means the next push turns the light off, eliminating the need to roll through all the modes.

Lamphead

The Quad’s LEDs are arrayed four-across behind a protective lens. The lamphead’s eyebrow shape reduces glare and backscatter. Its angle adjusts from straight ahead to a downward tilt of ninety degrees. Upward tilt from horizontal isn’t possible, but as with any single-band headlamp, invert the Quad if an upward tilt is needed. Our sample has a rather loose ratchet, meaning the angle can be knocked from the set position. (This could be sample variation, as store copies I’ve checked have stiffer and more reliable ratcheting, but potential buyers have no way to check out a packaged sample in the store beforehand.)

Battery Power Meter

When the batteries are nearly dead, a red LED battery indicator a little below the LED array blinks when the light’s off. Also, the main LEDs will blink upon switching on a Quad with very worn batteries.

Battery Compartment

The hinged battery compartment is integrated to the Quad’s lamphead. It’s o-ring-sealed and held closed by a captive, slotted and knurled thumbscrew. The headband buckle serves as a screwdriver for opening and tightening. Batteries access is easy and correct battery alignment is obvious – a safety feature for the headlamp itself. Batteries are secured tightly enough that they’re unlikely to fall out inadvertently. Princeton Tec claims IPX7 water resistance for the Quad – immersible to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Our dunk test confirms this spec.

Headstrap

The simple 1-inch wide headband is soft and comfortable. It’s long enough to fit a climbing helmet and the strap guides are notched for easy removal and replacement, making it easy to wash the strap if so desired.

Performance

I measured beam intensity and width at all output levels from our standard 2-foot distance. Effective beam control tames the four white LEDs into a wide and even beam with a good amount of beam “spill” for peripheral lighting. The beam center has the familiar purple tint generated by seemingly all white 5 mm LEDs, but not so pronounced and annoying as with many earlier lights. The LEDs are a big improvement over their predecessors, both in brightness and color quality, and likely represent the latest evolutionary wave from the electronics wizards. It’s not possible to ascertain whether the Quad’s reflector-like bezel has a positive effect on the beam pattern, although I suspect it’s likely.

With fresh batteries the Quad is very bright for a four x 5 mm LED headlamp. As a point of comparison, our test Princeton Tec Corona isn’t as bright with eight LEDs. The Quad’s initial high mode output was 630 lux. There’s an ovoid center spot – purplish in hue – that averages about 8 inches in diameter at 2 feet distance. Rather than a sharp cutoff at the bright spot’s edge there’s a gradual transition to a much larger and somewhat whiter area, perhaps 18 inches in diameter. In sum, the Quad provides a very wide and useful beam pattern.

Our experience is that low and medium are satisfactory for all camping and a certain portion of trail activities, and high supports nighttime navigation of fairly sketchy trails. The relatively wide and even beam illuminates a wider swath of the trail than a typical Luxeon light. This is sometimes preferable, for example, if you’re following a path and looking for blazes.

I performed run-time tests on the Quad in high and medium modes. Review of the graph reveals my biggest Quad qualm: there’s not much evidence of effective regulation in high mode. Intensity dropped by about a third in the first fifteen minutes, then by half from that point over the next four hours. It reached the initial medium equivalent at about four hours and initial low equivalent at nine.

Medium, by contrast, shows effective regulation – providing very steady output for almost eight hours, then a gradual decline for several hours more. Medium crossed the initial low equivalent at about twelve hours, and eventually matched the high output curve at about twenty-four hours.

Princeton Tec advises that the battery power meter activates when batteries are near the end of their functional life. Our tests seemed to verify this, as the signal first appeared near the end of each battery run at roughly 30 lux (about 5% of maximum brightness). The miniscule red LED blinks only when the light’s switched off, and seems primarily aimed at the grab-and-run crowd who wouldn’t bother to check their flashlight before taking off with it. Additionally, the Quad switched on with nearly dead batteries blinks the main lights several times to alert the user of their status (in case the very dim output isn’t evidence enough). This occurred well after the red signal first activated in our tests.

In the Field

The Quad proved effective and comfortable in varied nighttime situations. In camp it’s an ideal headlamp – the bright, wide, smooth beam is great for setting up, cooking, organizing, or hanging a bear line. Most of the time, the low setting serves up enough light. As a trail light the Quad might even be better than a brighter pencil beam on easy trails by lighting up more of the border and reducing the need for head swiveling. Even with the wider beam spread it’s still effective for sketchier paths. Of course, sometimes there’s no substitute for “horsepower” and focused 1 and 3-watt Luxeon lights are simply better, but perhaps my biggest surprise with the Quad was that those times are less common than I’d expected. I suspect this is mostly due to the Quad’s being far brighter than other 5 mm lights I’ve used, combined with its well controlled beam pattern and more neutral color.

The lamphead extends far enough to reduce glare off of glasses. The strap is comfortable and holds without cinching it tight, so it can be worn for hours if necessary. The angle ratchet doesn’t hold as well as I’d like and as noted earlier, might be defective on ours. While not a balanced designed with batteries in back, the Quad is sufficiently light that it doesn’t seem front-heavy. Of course, no batteries in back make it great for reading while lying on one’s back.

Batteries, and Realistic Run Times

Three AAA alkaline batteries provide good life at 35 grams per set, while a 23-gram set of lithiums will last longer and significantly boost cold-weather performance. It’s certainly the case that with prudent use, the Quad can provide many, many nights of service on a single set. Use our runtime chart as a rough guide for projecting your likely use. Even when the batteries are all but dead they’ll continue for hours, perhaps days longer at a very low level. At a measly 10 lux there’s enough light to dig items out of a pack or even cook, but not enough light for nighttime travel, at least for those of us not blessed with owl eyes.

Assessment

The Quad almost single-handedly reinvigorates the multi-5 mm LED headlamp marketplace, giving those who don’t like 1-watt Luxeon headlamps a legitimate 5 mm alternative for technical nighttime travel. Most similar headlamps are, generally speaking, suited only for walking on clearly delineated trails; however they, like the Quad, are superior to most Luxeon-only headlamps for camp chores and reading.

Clearly based on the EOS, the Quad’s general design and construction are also simple, robust and now proven. In fact, the Quad power switch is better than that on the EOS. Like the EOS, the Quad is compact and lightweight, making it a pleasure to carry and wear. Since a single battery set can last a good many trail days, most users will be freed from carrying spares.

Value

At $30 the Quad is a very good value. It’s aggressively priced in a very competitive market segment, while providing a unique feature set and packing Princeton Tec’s reputation and lifetime warranty.

What’s Unique

Very bright for a 5 mm headlamp. Effective regulation on medium and low. Great switch. Immersible.

Recommendations for Improvement

Effective regulation in high mode would improve the Quad, even if it came at the cost of lowering initial output some (there’s little benefit to gaudy output that lasts five minutes). Reverse the mode sequence to begin on low or provide mode memory. Incorporating an always on “find me” feature to the power meter, similar to Black Diamond’s Zenix IQ, would extend its value, as would a two-stage power warning (e.g., stage 1 at 50%, stage 2 at 10%). We’re presuming our sample’s loose ratchet is an anomaly, and not representative of most Quads.