Articles (2020)

GoLite Phantom Rain Jacket REVIEW

The GoLite Phantom Rain Jacket weighs less than 12 oz yet provides full weather protection and good breathability with Gore-Tex Pac-Lite III fabric. This is a full-featured shell providing parka-length coverage, pit zips, and generous pocket space.

Overview

At 11.8 oz (335 g) the GoLite Phantom is one of two Gore-Tex jackets in our reviews to break the 12 oz (340 g) barrier. It is the only Gore-Tex jacket with both pit zips and large mesh-backed front pockets for ventilation. For high aerobic activity, our reviewers believed the combination of breathable PacLite III fabric and excellent ventilation features make the GoLite Phantom the best jacket at minimizing moisture buildup of any we’ve reviewed. With additional finishing touches such as a wide, wire stiffened hood brim, lightweight waterproof zippers, and dual single hand cord-locks on both hood and hem, the Phantom might be considered a feature-rich bargain at its $229 price. Part of the Phantom’s low weight is due to the new PacLite III fabric, which is 2.6 oz/yd2 (88 g/m2), or about 12% lighter than the previous generation of the lightest PacLite. The rest of its low weight comes from careful design and addition of features that offer plenty of function for little weight. It’s hard to find fault with the Phantom, and its primary limitation lies in its hood: while the hood has a nice wire stiffened brim, it lacks a rear adjustment, and it is not helmet friendly.

Specifications

  • Garment Style – Hooded Jacket
  • Fabric Class – Waterproof breathable – polyurethane laminated PTFE
  • Fabric Description – 2.5-layer Gore-Tex PacLite III 2.6 oz/yd2 (88 g/m2). Outer shell, mini-ripstop nylon. Inner shell, nylon tricot.
  • Breathability Specification – Maximum Ret of 60, ISO 11092 Test
  • Weight – 11.8 oz (335 g) (measured Men’s M); 13.0 oz (369 g) (manufacturer claim for Men’s L)
  • MSRP – $229

Features

Graded subjectively on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).

Ventilation Options (5.0)

The GoLite Phantom has four large core vents: two dual slider pit-zips and two large mesh-backed chest pockets. In addition, it has a full-length front zipper and elastic and Velcro cuff closures, a drawcord hem, and roomy hood opening. Can you ask for much more than that?

Usability (4.5)

The GoLite Phantom’s hood has face aperture elastic draw cord with single-hand operated cord locks on either side. The brim is large with a nice wire stiffener- a boon for eyeglass wearers. There is no secondary rear adjustment on the hood. Fortunately, the hood is snug and fits quite well without it. A Velcro tab stows the rolled hood effectively at the back of the jacket’s collar, and is not difficult to use while wearing the jacket. The Phantom has two large mesh-backed chest pockets with water-resistant zippers, solid fabric storm flaps (rear), and zipper garages. Pockets are strategically positioned to miss both the shoulder straps and hip belt on a pack. A single inside storm flap backs the single slider, water-resistant front zipper. The jacket’s hem has an elastic draw-cord with single-hand operated cord locks on either side. We found the PacLite III fabric to be a bit stiff and crinkly, relative to the more supple 2-layer polyurethane garments available.

Sizing (4.5)

Climbers may want a trimmer fit, but backpackers rejoice: the GoLite Phantom has a roomy fit suitable for layering over a lightweight high-loft synthetic insulating jacket without compressing that loft – even in the sleeves. The jacket has a medium to short hem that comes to between the belt and crotch on our 5’8” reviewer. The hood fits a bare head well and layers effectively over a beanie cap or thin balaclava but was a little confining when layered over an insulated parka hood or a 200 weight fleece balaclava. The hood does not have enough room to accommodate a climbing helmet.

Fit (4.5)

The GoLite Phantom’s hood has good head-turning mobility while wearing a pack. Surprisingly, the understated single aperture draw cord was sufficient for adjustment and has given us cause to rethink some of the more complex hood adjustment designs on the market. The Phantom’s sleeves are long enough, and the hem did not lift, nor were our writs exposed, when raising our arms above our head. There is ample room to withdraw the hands into the sleeves. There was no binding in the shoulders when crossing our arms across the chest when the jacket was layered over a mid-weight fleece sweater.

Field Performance

Graded subjectively on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).

Storm Resistance (4.5 )

With all zippers and pit-zips locked down we had no problems with leaks in the Phantom, even in heavy sustained rains. The water-resistant chest zippers on the mesh-backed torso pockets have a solid fabric “storm flap” backing to minimize leaks. The zipper garages prevent leakage at the zipper slider. Obviously there is a bit of room for water to leak in around the side of the hood in a driving rain and if you fully open the pit-zips to vent you’re liable to get some water in at your elbows and along your sides. The dual sliders on the pit-zips allow one to partially close them and still vent during heavy rain.

Breathability (4.5 )

With all zippers and vents closed, the Phantom proved to be breathable enough for moderate exertion but not enough for sustained high aerobic activity. We hiked uphill with a pack on for an hour at 32 °F (0 °C). We were breathing hard for much of the hike. At the end, our baselayer was fairly wet. It was drier than with most polyurethane laminates we’ve tested, but not as dry as an eVENT or Propore shell. At moderate exertion levels, hiking with a 20 lb pack on level ground at 3 mph at 40 °F (5 °C), we stayed comfortable, with minimal moisture buildup.

Ventilation (5.0)

With all zippers and vents open, the GoLite Phantom provides excellent ventilation for more aerobic activities. Our reviewers felt that it accumulated the least moisture of any jacket we’ve tested. We hiked uphill with a pack on for an hour at 40 °F (5 °C). At the end, our baselayer was damp but not soaked – and much drier than with most polyurethane laminate jackets we’ve tested. On examining our baselayer, we could clearly see the drying effect of both the pit-zips and vented front pockets. At moderate exertion levels, hiking with a 20 lb pack on level ground at 3 mph at 45 °F (7 °C), we stayed comfortable, with minimal moisture buildup. Most of this was due to the backpack limiting breathability and ventilation of the back and not the jacket’s fabric.

Durability (4.5)

With its 2.6 oz/yd2 (88 g/m2) fabric Gore-Tex PacLite III the GoLite Phantom offers reasonable durability for rain jackets we test. It sufficiently dealt with scraping while bushwacking, sitting on rocks and logs and the usual abuses of moderate off-trail travel. It may not be up to heavy duty bushwhacking or long scrapes against granite. We’d have some hesitation on taking the Phantom on a serious climb.

Value (4.0)

At $225, the GoLite Phantom is no cheap raincoat, at least when compared to similarly featured polyurethane jackets like the Marmot Precip. However, the GoLite Phantom offers excellent storm resistance and its resistance to moisture buildup during aerobic activity is second to none. Other Gore-Tex jackets typically cost more and do not offer the ventilation of the Phantom for this weight class. With a list of almost every feature one would want on a rain jacket the Phantom should be considered a high-performance bargain with an oustanding performance:price ratio.

Recommendations for Improvement

We wish the hood on the GoLite Phantom’s was a bit larger to accommodate a climbing helmet, or at least the hood of an insulating jacket like a GoLite Coal. A second rear/crown adjustment for the hood might need to be added in response to address the greater volume and improve fit. An inch or two more of hem length would be nice for those of us that leave rain pants at home for our summer trekking adventures. Finally we’d like to see a dual slider for the front zipper so we can unzip the bottom for increased ventilation.

Outdoor Retailer News

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2004

Dispatches New Products Trends & Perspectives

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2003

(Archived) – BearVault BV100 Review

About this Archived Gear Review

This product reviewed in this article has been discontinued and replaced by the BV500. See our latest BearVault 500 (BV500) Review for updated info about this product.

Overview of the BearVault

The BearVault is a “7-day” bear-resistant food canister made of transparent polycarbonate – and you will immediately see its resemblance to a bigger, fatter, Nalgene bottle. The BearVault is easy and efficient to pack, and for $80 and considering that it’s SIBBG-approved, it’s the best sub-$100 canister available.

Performance Review

Opening and closing the lid. The BearVault’s primary ‘technology feature’ is its lid. Akin to the childproof tops of pharmaceutical bottles, the tightened BearVault lid won’t turn counterclockwise until you apply downward pressure on it. The technique isn’t difficult to learn in the warmth of your home, but we found that using cold, dry hands on an extended trek made opening the lid a little tough. Our solution? Use a glove or mitt with a grippy surface, and all was well.

The BearVault lid is engineered with some key features in addition to the one-way rotation. When closed, the lip edge of the lid remains recessed in a well-fitted groove of the main container, making it impossible for a bear to hook a fang or claw underneath the lip and crack it. Smart engineering! In addition, the lid seals well and we had no problems keeping our food dry when the BearVault was left outside in a heavy rain, regardless of its orientation. Water resistance (and presumably, some odor resistance) is achieved by a softer inner gasket that seals the threads.

The only serious problem we had with the BearVault was the condition where the threads become wet from rain, and then froze overnight. The canister was impossible to open the next morning. Fortunately, it withstood some thawing over our stove and the situation did not evolve into a crisis. Lesson: keep the threads dry on cold nights.

Odor Resistance. We slathered a 12×15 Aloksak in the BearVault with honey, sausage, and kibbles, closed it shut, and washed the outside well in soap and water, and then placed it in a dog kennel for the Black Lab sniff test (not a standard method). The curious lab batted the BearVault around the kennel a bit, got bored, and went back in her dog house. We repeated the same test – sans Aloksak – and the dog tried to lick her way through the polycarbonate (uh, yeah, that would be an indicator that the canister is not odor proof). For the record, canisters from Garcia and Bearikade have also failed the test. Lesson: consider lining any bear canister, or storing your food in, odor proof storage bags. Conflict of Interest Disclaimer: We like Aloksaks, obviously, because we sell them in the store, but if you are wholly opposed to being tainted by this pitch for them, order some catheter bags from a medical supply house. That’s what we used for years. And, yeah, they work!

Usable volume. This is where the BearVault really shines. A wide opening that is 85% of the inside diameter means that you can efficiently pack food inside with little lost volume. With proper food planning (high density foods), repackaging, and careful packing, you can expect to pack 6 to 8 days of food (2,500 calories per day).

Long term durability. After a few hundred miles of hard use, the BearVault looks like a weathered Nalgene bottle – heavily scratched with a dulled surface. Is this surprising? Should anybody really care about cosmetic appearance? We see this as a benefit, actually: rapid cosmetic wear accelerates your reputation as a hardcore user.

Of more importance is the consequence of having grit entrapped in the threads of the lid. We accidentally (and then purposefully) closed the canister lid with some sandy soil in the threads, and then tightened it shut. The consequence of this the next morning was a maddening effort to unscrew the lid. The sand grains had evidently entrapped themselves in the soft plastic threads of the lid, making opening difficult. Only with one set of grippy mittened hands holding the canister and another set of grippy gloved hands trying to unscrew the lid were we successful. Lesson: keep the threads clean.

We do not anticipate durability problems with the BearVault. We packed ours with 12 pounds of food and tossed it down a 75 foot limestone cliff. It bounced a few times off the rocks, a few more times on impact, and came to rest with only a few deep scratches in the polycarbonate. The same test with a Garcia Backpacker’s Cache caused that canister to crack on impact.

Strapping to a pack. The BearVault has a series of raised dimples, on each end, around one-fourth of the circumference, used to keep in place straps used to fix the BearVault to the backpack. Dimples are spaced 1″ apart, so naturally, 1″ wide straps work the best. Of course, 1″ wide straps are also heavy, and lightweight hikers will prefer to use a thinner strap (or even nonelastic cord). Unfortunately, the dimples are not very effective at keeping thinner straps fixed if hiking is rough. The straps work loose (a natural consequence of stretching or sliding through buckles, especially in rain), and slip over the dimples. In addition, the dimples only decorate one-fourth of the circumference, and we had the BearVault rotate over the course of a long day to the point where dimples were no longer keeping thin straps in place. In fairness, we had no such issues when using 1″ straps, and thus, recommend them and remind you that some straps must be included as part of the weight of the canister if you expect to strap it to the outside of your pack. Lesson: use a pack large enough to put the canister inside – it will improve your load distribution anyways!

BearVault Specifications

  • Capacity (measured): 380 (+/- 0.5%) fl. oz. (11.2 L)
  • Weight (measured): 38.8 oz (1.01 kg)
  • Outside Diameter (measured): 8.7 in (22.1 cm)
  • Inside Diameter (measured): 8.5 in (21.6 cm)
  • Length (measured): 12.5 in (31.8 cm)
  • Material: polycarbonate
  • Color: transparent blue body, opaque black lid
  • Lid Closure Type: “Childproof” screw-top
  • MSRP: $80

Certifications

As of February 2004, the BearVault has received certification from the Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG). Certification is pending for grizzly bear resistance.

Product Comparison

The BearVault’s closest competitor is the Garcia Backpacker’s Cache (Model 812). The BearVault has a slightly higher volume-to-weight ratio (9.7 fl. oz. / oz., vs. 7.7 fl. oz. / oz.). Plus, the BearVault offers more usable volume with a cleaner design that allows you to pack food more efficiently. In spite of the fact that the BearVault is only 10% larger than the Backpacker’s Cache, the more efficient design means a full extra day of food for most hikers. We could easily fit 8 days of high density foods (meusli, gorp, dry meats, pastas, soups, etc.) in the BearVault vs. about 6.5 days of the same type of food in the Backpacker’s Cache.

BearVault claims that their canister is easier to strap to the outside of a pack with the built in (dimpled) strap guides, while the Garcia Backpacker’s Cache requires an additional carrying case. For most conditions, this is a valid claim, but the dimples could benefit from being somewhat larger – we lost our BearVault down a talus slope on a fall when the canister worked its way loose from thin straps.

The BearVault’s biggest disadvantage is its size. At 12.5″ in length, it can be a tight squeeze in today’s lower volume ultralight packs. Strapping the canister to the outside of internal frame packs is a poor choice for load distribution, and we’d prefer a canister that was just a tad smaller – 8″ in diameter and 11″ in length would have been ideal – and certainly better suited to the weekend hiker with a smaller pack.

Our favorite feature: a lid with an opening diameter that is nearly the same as the canister! One of the most miserable experiences in carrying the Garcia is dealing with the small opening and trying to efficiently pack food along. For this reason alone, the BearVault should earn your attention – it’s just plain easy to use.

Summary

The BearVault is a solid-performing food canister that overall, exceeds the performance of its primary competitor, the Garcia Backpacker’s Cache. We do wish the canister was slightly smaller (or that there was a smaller weekender version), and opening the lid with cold dry hands while trying to grip the canister wearing slick pants is tricky. Don’t get water in the screw threads on freezing nights, and keep the lid out of the sand, too. These faults aren’t going to earn the canister any editor’s choice awards from us, but the overall design, quality, and packing efficiency is superb, and the BearVault belongs on the short list of any hiker traveling to wilderness areas with truly habituated bears (California), or national parks featuring sensationalized media attention (Northern Rockies).

McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon First Looks (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

McMurdo claims that they manufacture the smallest and lightest personal locator beacon (PLB). The McMurdo Fastfind personal locator beacon weighs 9 oz (255 g) and measures 6 x 3 x 2.1 in (15 x 7.6 x 5.3 cm) with a -4 F (- 20F) battery pack. With the addition of its lanyard and neoprene storage case the PLB weighs 11 oz (312 g). A -40 F (-40 C) battery pack (optional) slightly increases its size and bumps its weight to 14 oz (397 g).

If the manufacturer’s claimed weight is correct, the McMurdo FastFind personal locator beacon is 3 oz (85 g) lighter than the ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

The McMurdo FastFind personal locator beacon appears to have all of the same features and functions of the ACR TerraFix 406. Such features include a 5 W satellite broadcast on the 406 MHz signal as well as an earth homing signal at 50 mW at 121.5 MHz. Like the ACR unit there are two versions of the PLB: 1) the FastFind “standard” that does not have GPS (and no provision to interface with an external (user provided) GPS unit), and 2) the FastFind “plus” which has a built in GPS receiver.

Both PLB’s will locate a user within a 2 mile radius on the first satellite pass and to within a 0.5 mile radius within three satellite passes (typically 40 min/satellite pass). The Fastfind Plus with a GPS fix will broadcast the user’s GPS location within a 100m radius on the first satellite pass. The Fastfind has a flat, stainless steel antenna that stores folded in the unit’s case. It deploys when the activation switch safety cover is removed. Status LEDs are also visible once the unit’s safety cover is removed.

The McMurdo FastFind PLB is similar in size to the ACR Terrafix 406. The FastFind with its internal antenna storage has fewer features to snag and catch on its surface. The McMurdo FastFind has been in production since July and McMurdo claims that the US Coast Guard has ordered large quantities of this unit to equip its personnel. The FastFind Plus costs $259 more than the similarly-GPS-equipped ACR Terrafix 406.

Specifications of the McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon

  • Size: 6 x 3 x 2.1 in (15 x 7.6 x 5.3 cm)
  • Weight: 9 oz (255 g)
  • MSRP: FastFind $649 without integrated GPS, FastFind Plus $999 with integrated GPS

Jetboil Stove (Personal Cooking System) First Looks (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

Overview of the Jetboil Stove

Tucked in the back corner of the industry’s largest trade show is a closet booth rented by a tiny company with big aspirations to revolutionize backcountry cooking. With the longest lines at the Outdoor Retailer show, the Jetboil booth was buzz central – with good reason – we’ve been waiting a long time for this hyped product to hit the market. So, when we snuck to the front of line and were given our review sample, we quietly slipped out the side curtain to escape the mob of retailer buyers asking “When? WHEN?”

The Jetboil stove (“Personal Cooking System”) is a completely self-contained canister stove and cookpot unit. The 14 oz unit consists of the following components:

  • A molded plastic lid with a drink-through pour spout that snaps tightly to the cookpot lid during cooking and storage.
  • A one liter hard-anodized aluminum cooking cup surrounded by a neoprene insulating cozy (with a webbing handle). The bottom of the cup contains a permanently attached heat exchanger and rim that locks the cooking cup into the burner base.
  • The burner base interfaces with a fuel canister (with the 3.5 oz / 100 g net weight Jetpower fuel canister optimized for storage in the unit) and includes the burner head, piezo ignition, and molded plastic shroud (for unscrewing the cooking cup from the burner base when the unit is hot).
  • An 8 oz / 250 ml capacity companion cup (plastic) provides an additional drinking mug and snaps onto the bottom of the cooking cup during storage.
    •

    Claimed Specifications:

  • Weight of package: 14 oz
  • Boil time (2 cups): 90 seconds
  • Fuel efficiency: 12 liters with 3.5 oz net weight Jetpower canister
    •

    Jetboil Stove Personal Cooking System First Looks Review – Features and Boil Time Performance

    We brought the Jetboil back to our hotel room and took it for a spin. The ooh and ahh factor is there – the design and manufacture of the unit are well-executed and the compact package of stove, fuel canister, and cookpot is impressive.

    Once the unit was assembled and filled with 2 cups of cold (50 degree F) water from the hotel room bathtub, we fired it up. Like most stoves with piezo ignitions, the Jetboil stove piezo is no stellar performer and was as finicky as most piezo lighters. Once the stove was burning, we eagerly watched the stop watch, with excitement building as the numbers increased onward to the 90 second magic mark that has been the hallmark statistic in manufacturer marketing materials that have generated so much craze over the stove.

    30 seconds.

    Immediately, we noticed that very little heat spills out the side of the stove burner – we could easily hold our fingers only an inch from the burner head and they did not get hot. This is a testament to the effectiveness of the heat exchanging unit. This had us very excited – clearly, the stove is conserving fuel and channeling its BTU’s right into the bottom of the cooking cup.

    60 seconds.

    We are eagerly anticipating the boil, with full expectations of steam rolling out the lid’s pour spout very soon!

    90 seconds.

    No boil yet. OK, that’s fine – after all, we were using cold water, right?

    Two minutes.

    Everything seems to be working as it should! But no boil.

    Jetboil Stove Personal Cooking System Three minutes.

    Still no boil. By now our attention deficit has been overspent and we decided to watch a little CNN, keeping a lookout on the Jetboil out of the corner of our eye.

    Four minutes.

    The pot is creaking and moaning and the unit has grabbed our attention again, so we fight for the best viewing position, anticipating an event rivaled only by the overdue eruption of Old Faithful.

    Four minutes, fifteen seconds.

    We got boil! Steam is rolling out, we are cheering, and hail the stove as a raging success, temporarily forgetting the fact that boil time is two minutes and forty five seconds overdue. But, the fact that the unit is sitting in our posession, and even works, is exciting in and of itself.

    We can’t say that the 4:15 boil time is definitive. This was hardly a controlled test. It hasn’t been repeated. But clearly, it’s a far cry from the 90 second claim. Further, we honestly don’t care what the boil time is – as long as claim and reality merge within shouting distance. Boil time is simply not important criteria for assessing the Jetboil stove’s performance. More important is how efficient the stove is – can we get more mileage (water volume boiled) out of a canister, and can we do so to the extent that the Jetboil is worth the weight? That question will be answered in our upcoming comprehensive performance review of the Jetboil stove.

    Jetboil Stove Personal Cooking System Advantages and Disadvantages of the Jetboil Stove Personal Cooking System

    So, for now, we’ll comment on what we see are significant advantages of the Jetboil stove.

    First, the package is very compact. Its stored dimensions are 4.1″ / 104 mm (diameter) x 7.1″ (180 mm) in height. Second, it’s a very simple design – no moving parts (except the piezo ignition button and burner control knob). Third, it’s a technological achievement – incorporating a heat exchanger that appears to be very effective into a canister stove unit is a market first.

    The drawbacks? The Jetboil stove can’t be considered a product that has reached its full technological potential. In order to reach a price point that was suitable for a commodity product for retailers, the Jetboil forgoes the use of ultralight metals like titanium in construction of the cooking cup, burner head, and wind screen. Addition of the piezo ignition adds weight and will most certainly cause problems for users, as they have in nearly every other piezo-ignited canister stove, and is not intuitive to remove from the stove. Further, removal of the piezo leaves an option for lighting the stove with a lighter or external sparking device difficult due to the heat-preserving design of the windscreen, which offers little access to the burner head.

    Conclusion

    Overall, the Jetboil stove meets our expectations. It will likely be a solidly-performing product. For design innovation, it deserves tremendous merit in a market (canister stoves) that has now seen few major innovations since Snow Peak introduced the Giga Power series. And for those reasons, it deserves consideration by lightweight backpackers and mountaineers who perceive its ease of use and simplicity – and possibly, its fuel efficiency – to be worthy of its 14 ounce weight.

    However, we can’t ignore the fact that there are equally functional (although perhaps, not as efficient) systems as light as 10 oz for boiling a few cups of water:

    • 4 cup titanium pot with lid, 5 oz
    • 1 cup titanium cup, 1 oz
    • lightweight canister stove with piezo ignition, 3 oz
    • homemade partial-enclosure canister stove wind screen, 1 oz

    So, the real question becomes one of efficiency. Can the Jetboil’s design efficiency compensate for its added weight? At an MSRP of only $79 for the complete setup, price alone will drive sales, and we give the stove extremely high praise for its high performance-to-price ratio.

    The manufacturer tells us that the Jetboil stove will be available at REI and other major retailers in March, with wider distribution in October 2004.

    MSRP $79

    OR News – Day 2 Dispatch: January 31 (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

    Daily Feature: JetBoil Stove (Personal Cooking System)

    A 14 ounce self contained canister stove system that employs an integrated heat exchanging unit to squeeze 12 liters of boiled water out of a 3.5 oz net weight fuel canister. The manufacturer claims a boil time of 90 seconds for two cups. Did they do it?

    M Click here for a first looks review of the Jetboil Stove Personal Cooking System

    Daily Feature: McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon

    The hype surrounding yesterday’s exciting, press-rich release of the 12-ounce ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 Personal Locator Beacon was quieted today by the more humble presence of the McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon. Already approved by the FCC as of July 1, with simpler activation, a more comfortable form factor, and yes, quite a bit less weight!

    M Click here for a first looks review of the McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon

    Tents

    The Integral Designs’ eVENT MK1 Lite is attracting a lot of attention at the Winter Market, and is being measured head-to-head with Black Diamond’s EPIC First Light. Neither has been on the market long enough to make an objective statement about their performance, but we’ve had the MK1 Lite in the field long enough to know that eVENT is a marked improvement in breathability over Integral Designs’ TegralTex fabric. The US Army Natick Lab has published data suggesting that eVENT beats EPIC in terms of breathability, and we all know that EPIC is notoriously ‘leaky’ when it wets out. Initial usage reports from other sources about the First Light indicate positive performance, but we’ll reserve a fair comparison pending completion of our review. Expect some battles to be waged this spring between these two products.

    The Lightest Freestanding Tent on the Market…?


    Sierra Designs Lightning

    Or so says the marketing copy writers at Sierra Designs about their new Lightning double wall tent. The tent is light for a freestanding double wall tent – we won’t argue that point. It weighs 3 lb 15 oz for the body, fly, poles, and four tent stakes. the Sierra Designs Lightning (MSRP $249) offers 30 square feet of rectangular floor space with 10 square feet of vestibule storage. Technology shines in the Sierra Designs Lightning with Easton’s latest offering in the Easton Graflite Carbon Poles, which claim 20-25% weight savings than standard Easton 0.340 aluminum poles and multi-layer wrapped construction that increases strength over previous carbon poles from Easton.

    Does Sierra Designs make good on their claim to have the lightest freestanding tent? Nope, sorry guys – you’ll have to settle for third place. Check out the Big Agnes Seedhouse line.

    Big Agnes Seedhouse Superlight Tents


    Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1

    Big Agnes introduces a pair of new tents that they call ‘crazy light’ and it’s hard to argue that claim. The Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 is a 20 square foot freestanding solo tent with a rectangular footprint that weighs only 2 lb 8 oz. Its bigger, but not much heavier, brother (the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2), weighs only 3 lb 3 oz but offers 28 square feet of floor space and 5.5 square feet of vestibule space. Big Agnes achieves the light weight without using carbon poles – the Seedhouse SL series tents use 8.84 mm Easton DAC Featherlite poles, polyurethane and silicone-coated 30D nylon bathtub floor and rain fly, and an all-mesh inner body.

    Sleeping Bags


    Big Agnes Lost Dog

    The Big Agnes Lost Dog (18 oz regular, 20 oz large) uses Primaloft Sport insulation in their signature top bag design in a warm weather overbag rated to 50 degrees F that provides big room (for big guys, of course, with this semi-rectangular design). And for little big guys, the Big Agnes Little Red gives kids a 15-degree rated top bag for little campers less than 48 inches tall. The Big Agnes Little Red uses a short-staple fill Big Agnes calls M3 and costs only $89.

    Western Mountaineering upgrades existing fabrics in their microfiber-shelled bags with a lightweight 20d microfiber taffeta (“Microlite XP”) that saves 4-8 ounces per bag with a 400 thread count fabric. To see the weight savings of the new microfiber, consider that the Western Mountaineering Dakota Super Microfiber (7.5″ of loft and -5 degree F rating) now weighs only 2 lb 13 oz.

    The new Western Mountaineering AlpinLite, modeled after the popular Western Mountaineering UltraLite, offers more girth (64″/55″/39″) while retaining 5″ of loft and weighing only 1 lb 15 oz. And, don’t forget about the Western Mountaineering VersaLite Super, which has been upgraded to a 10 degree F rating, 6 inches of loft, and still weighs only 2 lbs.

    One Watt LED Headlamps

    More one-watt LED headlamps are trickling into the market this year.


    Mountain Green 1-Watt LED Headlamp

    Essential Gear and Mountain Green both offer 1-watt LED headlamps that weigh about five ounces and are powered by two 123 lithium photo batteries (Essential Gear) and 3xAAA batteries (Mountain Green).


    Essential Gear LED Headlamp


    Princeton Tec Corona

    Another new headlamp, the Princeton Tec Corona, takes a different approach: eight wide angle LED’s powered by 3xAA batteries result in a terrific flood pattern for task lighting and medium range navigation for 40 to 500 hours. The Princeton Tec Corona weighs about 8 ounces and offers two power levels (low and high, with voltage regulation) while selecting 1, 3, 5, or 8 LED’s at a time.

    Apparel

    The Moonstone Cirrus Jacket has been revived – sort of. The Moonstone Ultralight Cirrus Jacket weighs 13.4 ounces, has a 15d nylon ripstop shell (1.4 oz), and is filled with 80g DuPont ThermoLite Micro. The Cirrus line includes a women’s version, and standard (not ultralight) Cirrus Jackets – a 26 ounce hooded version for men and a 17 ounce jacket for women.

    Patagonia joins Lowe Alpine with body mapping base layer technology (see yesterday’s dispatch) with body-mapped Midweight Stretch Capilene. Patagonia Capilene gets a new and possibly less smelly little sis – the Patagonia Axuawool base layer garments have a wool inner face in a predominantly Capilene construction (6 oz per sq yd, 74% polyester, 16% wool, 10% stretch synthetic fibers). In reviews of previous blends, “a little wool is usually not enough” so don’t expect an odor management miracle. The Patagonia R2 fabric seems to be getting lighter, or so they say – it’s 20% more compressible. Reported garment weights, including 13 oz for the jacket and 8 oz for the vest, are not appreciably different from their older cousins. Patagonia has a short term exclusive on the fabric that gives them two more seasons to try to put it in garments that actually do weigh less. Also new from Patagonia is the Patagonia Down Sweater, which weighs only 10 oz, is filled with 700 fill power down, and uses a 15d nylon.

    Ibex is offering wool liner gloves, a lofty woven wool vest, and a ribbed zip-t made with 4.5 oz per square yard fabric that brings the shirt weight down into the 6-7 ounce range. Icebreaker Merino purchased lots of floor space this year and has plenty of products to keep lifestyle retailers entertained, but we had a hard time sorting through things to understand its technical vision, a stark contrast to Smartwool, who is reviving their technical base layer apparel line with easily understandable product stories – Microweight, Lightweight, Midweight, and their most styled option that hit the market with great success last year, Versaweight (which actually lies between light and midweight). Look for the Microweight wool category to evolve over the next few years as Smartwool builds upon boxer and t-shirt core pieces released at this Winter Market.

    An Icelandic company, 66° North, has a simple message to the American ultralight community: “Iceland is cold. Iceland is wet. We like to be warm and dry. What the hell is wrong with you people?” Fortunately, they haven’t left us out of their product focus, and they give us a great rain jacket. The 66° North Glymer Jacket is an eVENT shell with mesh-backed torso (core) vents. This is the only hooded and well-vented jacket that we know of using eVENT fabric. The jacket has all the features one would normally want as well as large inside storage pockets. We expect its weight to fall in the 16 to 18 oz (450 to 500g) range. Lighter rainwear using Entrant DT fabric also caught our eye, as did wool base layers and Powershield soft shells.

    And Finally…


    Ibex Windfront Briefs

    Ibex Windfront Brief. Keeps willy wind chill to a minimum with an ultralight willy wind shirt face and a cozy willy wool interior. Sorry, we couldnt’ resist.


    Squeaky Cheeks

    Squeaky Cheeks. Yep, those cheeks. Keep’em from squeakin’ with this absorbent cornstarch and clay powder with a touch of slippery little elm bark thrown in for chafe comfort. Comes in a convenient and highly entertaining five-ounce SANITARY SQUEEZE pouch which, we’ll uhhh, review later.

    Deuter 250,000 cubic inch Alpine Ultralight Pack for Big German Guys, 122 lbs

    ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) First Looks (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

    Smaller and lighter, the ACR TerraFix 406 will garner more attention for its decreased weight and size.

    Overview

    ACR announced its new Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) the Terrafix 406 GPS PLB. At 12 oz (340 g) the Terrafix is smaller and lighter than the units that have been in production for 7 years. ACR claims it is the smallest most functional PLB that can be carried in a pack or pocket and is ideal for hikers, skiers, climbers, kayakers, etc. The Terrafix is 5.6 oz (160 g) lighter than its predicessor, the ” GyPSI 406 MHz PLB.” Most of the weight of the unit is the battery pack. By specification, PLB’s have to broadcast at high energy levels for 24 hours in -4 F (-20 C) temperatures. Until battery technology improves one may not see huge gains in weight savings. The lithium battery unit has a 10 year life and cost $75 to replace. ACR recommends you replace it every 5 years.

    The unit retains all the functionally of its predecessor, including a 5 W satellite broadcast on the 406 MHz signal as well as an earth homing signal at 50 to 100 mW at 121.5 MHz. There are two versions of the PLB. The Terrafix I will interface with an external (user provided) GPS unit. The Terrafix IO has a built in GPS receiver. Both will broacast the user’s GPS location within a 100m radius. Without GPS assistance the PLB will locate a user withing a 2 mile radius on the first satellite pass and to within 0.5 mile radius within three satelite passes (typically 40 min/satelite pass). The Terrafix has an innovative, flat, stainless steel antenna that stores wrapped around the unit’s case. It easily springs out when you’re ready to activate the unit.

    ACR Electronics Terrafix 406 Personal Locator Beacon Our first impression of the Terrafix is that it is definately smaller, and more functional than the old GyPSI 406 MHz PLB. It actually is a handheld unit (see picture). We especially liked the LEDs that tell you the status of the units transmission. We also appreciated the multiple attachment modes of the unit. You can clip it to a carabiner, or attach it to the webbing on packs and vests.

    The list price for the Terrafix I is $640.00 and the Terrafix IO is $740.00. An upright floating storage pouch is available as an option.

    Specifications of the ACR TerraFix 406

    • Size: 1.74 x 5.71 x 3.03 in (4.4 x 14.5 x 7.7 cm)
    • Weight: 12 oz (338 g)
    • MSRP: $640 without integrated GPS, $740 for version with integrated GPS unit

    ACR Electronics Terrafix 406 Personal Locator Beacon

    ACR Electronics Terrafix 406 Personal Locator Beacon

    OR News – Day 1 Dispatch: January 30 (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004) – PUBLIC VERSION

    New products announced today at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.

    Today’s Market Overview – Outdoor Apparel (Public Version)

    Some great new products were unveiled at the Outdoor Retailer 2004 Winter Market today. Leading the way in technology innovation, with smaller lighter packages is the Suunto X9 GPS-on-a-wrist unit from the navigation wristwatch gurus and the ACR TerraFix 406 personal locator beacon designed specifically with backcountry users – rather than oceangoers – in mind. Stay tuned tomorrow for our hard goods lineup, but for now, keep an eye out for new trends in outdoor apparel, including multi-function outerwear featuring head and hand insulation and softshell insulating wear.

    GoLite

    GoLite continues to expand its synthetic insulation line with the M GoLite Whisper Sweater and GoLite Rumor Vest. With Primaloft insulation and ultralight lining and face fabrics, this new line of insulating clothing is worth watching.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the GoLite Whisper Sweater and GoLite Rumor Jacket

    The M GoLite Karma Jacket is a new Schoeller Dryskin full-zip shell that takes the Cloudveil Serendipity head-on. It comes in lighter than the Cloudveil’s signature piece, offers better styling, and a more versatile fit. Low pockets make the GoLite Karma slightly less suitable for the “tech crowd” who likes their pockets to ride above their harness.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the GoLite Karma Jacket

    The M GoLite Momentum Jacket, using Powershield Lite, or Powershield Micro, or Powershield Feather (or whatever the heck you want to call it – at 166 grams, it’s the lightest Powershield flavor available), is a full-zip soft shell positioned as more weather resistant than Schoeller Dryskin / Dynamic apparel, but still breathable for cold weather motion sports. We are thrilled to see the Powershield category evolve – the lightest weight versions of Powershield offer outstanding soft shell performance for lightweight backpackers looking for serious weather protection without the clamminess of waterproof-breathable shells. GoLite continues to do a fine job in this product line and the GoLite Momentum Jacket will be a product to watch closely.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the GoLite Momentum Jacket

    GoLite has finally put their abysmal Go-Dri waterproof-breathable (?) fabric to rest. It was sorrowfully sweaty and a branding disaster, akin to a “toy” fabric belonging to a company trying to position itself as the leader in high performance ultralight apparel. And so, they replace it with the much cooler named and far more breathable Alchemy 2- and 3-layer fabrics. Alchemy is featured as an upgraded in several existing shells in the GoLite line, and is highlighted in the new M GoLite Wizard Jacket. In the GoLite Wizard, we are treated to full-service integration of inclement weather apparel: hide-away knit cuffs roll out to become warm mittens, and an integrated knit balaclava mates well with the GoLite Wizard Jacket hood to bring new meaning to multi-use apparel. The jacket is still too heavy to have wide appeal, but it makes a bold and promising statement about the direction that inclement weather apparel may offer for the future.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the GoLite Wizard Jacket

    Less exciting developments are occuring in GoLite’s down insulation program with the introduction of their much-awaited M Cumulus Down Jacket and Cirrus Down Vest. The jacket’s loft hits a sweet spot for three-season backpacking, but the overall weight is not competitive with the lightest offerings from Western Mountaineering. And so, Western, Feathered Friends, and Peter Hutchinson Designs (UK) retain their crowns, despite the fact that the lightweight community is looking to GoLite to leverage their marketing engine to be a technical leader in what seems like an obvious category in which to do so. Don’t get us wrong – the Cumulus and Cirrus are solid designs and will find their appeal to U.S. customers, and they’ll certainly cater to the functional demands of overseas markets for downwear (a massive lifestyle category in Asia), but they won’t earn high praise from the bleeding edge of the ultralight community here.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the GoLite Cumulus Jacket and Cirrus Vest

    Lowe Alpine Warm Zone Top and Ninja Hoody

    OK, I know, get past the product name for just a minute. This is a great design. The basis behind the warm zone is fabric construction tailored precisely such that breathability is enhanced where you tend to sweat the most. Synthetic base layers get smart with Lowe Alpine Warm Zone apparel. And, fine tune the top further with reversibility. Truly innovative.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the Lowe Alpine Warm Zone Ninja Hoody and Warm Zone Top

    Cloudveil Zero-G Jacket

    Now for something completely different: soft shell stretch woven outer shell, highly breathable nylon woven inner lining, and yes, synthetic high-loft insulation. Just when we thought apparel categories had been beaten dead, the M Cloudveil Zero-G Jacket smashes the box with something new.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the Cloudveil Zero-G Jacket

    Mont-Bell Torrent Flier Jacket

    Although the M Mont-Bell Torrent Flier Jacket was announced last summer, it goes through an important change and features the lightest Gore-Tex fabric available anywhere.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the Mont-Bell Torrent Flier Jacket

    Mont-Bell Clima Air Jacket

    With fleeces getting lighter and warmer (and thanks to the popularity of Patagonia R2 Regulator fleece), they are grabbing attention back from lightweight backpackers who appreciate more breathable insulation. The M Mont-Bell Clima Air Jacket is similar to the Patagonia R2 but better.

    M See the Member’s Dispatch for Photos and Specifications of the Mont-Bell Clima Air Jacket

    Suunto X9 GPS Watch First Looks (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

    A complete navigation solution in a wrist sized package.

    Suunto X9 Features

    Navigation

    • Navigation on routes: distance, direction, and time to next waypoint
    • Shows estimated time of arrival (ETA)
    • Calculates data for your current status such as present heading, remaining ascent, and time to finish, ascent to next waypoint and your drift from the planned route
    • Tracks back to the start of the recorded track
    • Waypoints with alarm radius

    Activity

    • Displays speed, distance, and time from start
    • Records up to 25 tracks in the log book
    • Log recording controlled with simple Play, Stop, and Pause symbols
    • Offers log summary data with a press of a button: Max and avg speed, total ascent and descent, highest and lowest altitude and number of runs

    Compass

    • Triaxial electronic compass
    • Works also in tilted position
    • Bearing tracking
    • Automatic and manual declination setting

    Altimeter/Barometer

    • Altitude and vertical speed
    • 6-hour barometric trend graph
    • 7-day weather memory (pressure and temperature)
    • Altitude and weather alarm
    • Weather tracking (even while climbing)

    Time

    • Time, dual time, and calendar
    • GPS time synchronization
    • Stopwatch with 29 split times
    • 3 daily alarms
    • Settings for units and GPS coordinate format

    Special Functions in All Modes

    • Mark home/find home – takes you back home wherever you are
    • Marking of memory points – store a location and name it from your custom name list

    Click here for a comprehensive field performance review (July 2004) of the Suunto X9 GPS Watch

    Overview

    GPS for the lightweight backpacker may have finally arrived.

    Suunto released its wrist mounted global positioning system today.

    At 2.7 oz (76g), the Suunto X9 may be be the lightest and most portable GPS unit on the market. Despite the size, the Suunto X9 is a full featured, 12 parallel channel GPS with an integrated loop antenna and plenty of waypoint storage and management features for useful backcountry applications.

    In addition to the global positioning system functions, the Suunto X9 has the compass, altimeter, temperature, barometer, and time/stopwatch functions of the Suunto X6, which has already achieved status as the standard of excellence in backcountry navigation watches.

    The Suunto X9 offers 232 KB of memory, enough to store 500 waypoints and 8000 track points.

    The Suunto X9 interfaces with a PC for uploading and downloading routes and waypoints with PC-based GPS/Mapping software. The Suunto X9 is powered by rechargeable Li-ion batteries and has a battery life between recharges of 4.5 hrs to 2 months (depending on the extent of GPS use)(with 500 manual GPS fixes it lasts about 2 weeks).

    The Suunto X9 can store 25 GPS tracks into its logbook. The watch offers route navigation functions with distance, direction and time to the next waypoint. The Suunto X9 displays speed, distance, and time from start. Log recording stores max speed, average speed, total ascent and decent, lowest and highest altitude and number of runs. In short, the Suunto X6 provides all of the basic capabilities of a very useful GPS unit with few functional compromises.

    Another nice feature of the Suunto X9 is its triaxial compass, which offers tilt compensation that alleviates the need to level the unit for accurate readings.

    The Suunto X9 does not feel unwieldy like the Garmin Frontier, a much larger wrist-mountain GPS unit. Where the Garmin Frontier is impractical wear under apparel (including jacket or shirt sleeves), the Suunto X9 is small, reasonably thin, and very comfortable on the wrist, and wouldn’t attract unusual attention if you wore it in public.

    We are impressed with the Suunto X9, and will be providing a more detailed performance review of the watch this spring.

    Suunto X9 GPS Wristop Computer at Backpacking Light

    Specifications of the Suunto X9

    General

    • Weight: 76 g / 2.7 oz
    • Water resistance: 100 m / 330 ft
    • Mineral crystal glass watch face
    • Rechargeable Li-ion battery, lifetime 4.5 hr (1 sec GPS fix rate) / 12 h (1 min. GPS fix rate) / 2 wks (manual GPS fix, > 500 locations) / 2 months (in time and alti-baro modes)
    • Battery recharging performed with 100-240 VAC charger or a 9V battery
    • Cigarette lighter charger (12V, optional)
    • PC interface with RS232 serial connection (separate adapter needed for USB)

    GPS

    • 12 channels, integrated loop antenna
    • Supports WGS84, UTM, 220 local map datums, and 10 national metric grids
    • 232 KB memory for 50 routes (max 50 waypoints per route, total 500 waypoints), and 25 tracks (8000 track points)

    Barometer

    • Display range 300-1100 hPa / 8.90 – 32.40 inHg, temperature compensated

    Altimeter

    • Display range -500 to 9000 m / -1500 to 29500 ft

    Thermometer

    • Display range -20 deg C to +60 deg C / -5 deg F to +140 deg F

    Compass

    • Tri-axial, tilt-compensated

    MSRP: $725

    OR News – Backcountry Base Camp Dispatch: January 29 (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

    New products: MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes, Ground Zephur Jacket, and Neos Trekker Overshoes

    The Outdoor Retailer 2004 Winter Market starts tomorrow, but we spent today at Backcountry Basecamp, a backcountry ski and snowshoe demo day held at Brighton Ski Resort.

    We had the opportunity to try new telemark and randonee gear, avalanche probes, transceivers, shovels, snowshoes, poles, and other snow gear.

    Some of the product highlights today include:

    • M MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes. MSR launches a beautiful and lightweight snowshoe design that capitalizes on innovative engineering with a vertical rail design that offers agressive traction well suited to icy traverses while being light enough for powder snowshoeing on rolling terrain.
    • M NEOS Overshoes. Overshoes have historically been a hard sell for lightweight backpackers. NEOS finally breaks through the barrier with a fully waterproof (think: stream crossings and wet slush), lug-soled overshoe that has a full-height gaiter, adds tremendous warmth to a running shoe for cold and snowy conditions, and weighs less than a pound on each foot.
    • M Ground Apparel Powershield Micro Zephur Jacket. With a seemingly saturated technical apparel market, it would seem overwhelming to break into it with anything less than an outrageous design. Ground, a new company offer premium fabric brands in smart and technical apparel designs, adds exceptional styling. A weak branding strategy means they’re not going to become a household name anytime soon, but don’t overlook the quality of their designs – some of them truly set the standard in technical apparel. Case in point: the Ground Zephur Jacket, made with Powershield Micro, is the lightest Powershield soft shell on the market and features remarkable simplicity in a well-fitting design perfectly suited for lightweight backcountry enthusiasts.

    NEOS Trekker Overshoes (Outdoor Retailer 2004 Winter Market First Looks Review)

    NEOS introduces its Trekker Overshoe, designed to slide over running shoes or lightweight boots to provide completely waterproof protection with a treaded sole in a high-gaiter design.

    We’ve been hard pressed to get excited about NEOS Overshoes for winter backpacking, but after wearing the NEOS Trekker in the snow and slush all day, these lightweight overshoes have caught our attention. For ultralight hikers who want running shoe comfort with completely waterproof protection for hiking in mud, muck, and even wading shallow streams, the NEOS Trekker might be their ticket.

    For winter hikers and snowshoers, the uninsulated NEOS Trekker adds a surprising amount of warmth to running shoes for snow and slush walking. Weighing only a pound per overshoe, but providing a snow-worthy outer sole and a 20″ high seam-taped 160d pack cloth upper, we think lightweight hikers finally have an overshoe worth pairing with their lightweight footwear for enjoying snow sports.

    MSRP $100.

    Ground Zephur Jacket (Outdoor Retailer 2004 Winter Market First Looks Review)

    Arc’Teryx launched the Powershield craze with the Gamma MX product line, GoLite lightened Powershield with their Kinetic Jacket, and a new company with an ambitious apparel line has finally made Powershield sexy.

    Ground (Ground Wear, Ground Gear, Ground Clothing, or is it just Ground? see GroundWear.com) is a young company with TNF expatriates who clearly know what they are doing: Ground’s designs are well-executed blends of materials and function, with a focus on product development with both premium branded fabrics (eVENT, Powershield, Schoeller, Primaloft) and "proprietary textiles" used in their lower price point product lines.

    In a crowded apparel market, however, Ground differentiates themselves with a refreshing focus on supreme styling and fit. Just when we thought Patagonia and Arc’Teryx had set the standard of outdoor technical styling, Ground ramps it up with technical clothing that truly looks and fits astonishingly well.

    Our favorite piece is the Ground Zephur, made with Powershield Micro. Excellent styling, fit, and design simplicity are married well to Powershield’s lightest fabric, in a hooded jacket design that is very light (14 ounces, perhaps, although we couldn’t verify it) and functional as an outer shell. Stay tuned for a review of this product at Backpacking Light.

    Ground has obstacles to overcome, and time will tell whether or not the company achieves success. Working against it, perhaps, is the company’s branding strategy – "Ground" conveys so little identity uniqueness in a market that thrives on branding that it will be difficult to get the brand name rolling off people’s tongues. In addition, a complex product story that is not obvious unless you spend some serious time investment understanding it will turn off customers who are searching for products having a specific function for a specific activity within their line. Because of this, and the fact that Ground has rolled out with a lot of SKU’s means that they will have to spend great efforts educating retailers in a merchandising strategy in order to effectively compete with more well-known brands.

    On the surface, the merits of Ground’s products are not obvious. But dive in, try them out, and understand how well designed the pieces are, and you could tap into a refreshingly new concept in technical apparel.

    MSRP: $249

    MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes

    MSR launches a revolutionary new snowshoe design in the high-end MSR Lightning Ascent series. The MSR Lightning Ascent will be available in both men’s and women’s specific shapes (and colors), and two sizes (22" and 25"), with a weight range of 3.1 to 3.6 pounds. A heel elevator and a very agressive traction design for icy conditions positions the MSR Lightning Ascent as a premier option for alpine climbers and those craving technical snowshoes that perform well in a wide variety of conditions.

    MSR Lightning Ascent SnowshoesThe snowshoe frame is made with water jet-cut aircraft grade aluminum, formed in a vertical rail design (not unlike some ice climbing crampons), and riveted in the rear. High strength carbon steel cross rails and crampon make the MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoe as practical for steep and ice traverses as well as rolling hills of powder. An upgraded binding now sets the standard in ease of use with mittens, requiring no "threading" or other fine motor skills.

    We had the chance to take the MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes out for a spin in the Brighton backcountry at the Backcountry Basecamp events today. Results were impressive – the snowshoes felt light on the feet, and the narrow deck design was shaped for efficient walking while providing reasonable flotation. Although they did not glide as well as tubular-aluminum-frame Northern Lites in deep powder, their agressively cleated rails and crampon provided outstanding bite on steep and ice slopes.

    MSR Lightning Ascent SnowshoesOur favorite feature was the heel elevator. Unike MSR’s Denali Ascent, the heel elevator was very easy to both engage and disengage with mittened hands – or a ski pole – and was the right height to relieve calf strain on steep climbs.

    MSR Lightning Ascent SnowshoesWe give the MSR Lightning Ascent Snowshoes a "first looks thumbs up" and think they will hit the market strong as a solid product as a light and comfortable snowshoe capable of both technical climbing while being comfortable enough for touring.

    MSRP $249.

    OR News Pre-Show Dispatch – First Looks at New Products for Fall 2004 (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

    Featuring new products from Essential Gear, Princeton Tec, ACR Electronics, Suunto, Smartwool, Marmot, GoLite, and Bemis.

    The Outdoor Retailer 2004 Winter Market is only a few days away. With the introduction of hundreds of new products and technologies, we are getting excited to once again report to our readers about what’s coming in Fall 2004. For now, we’ll give you a few sneak peeks that you may find interesting, featuring gear from Marmot, GoLite, Essential Gear, Princeton Tec, Suunto, Smartwool, and Bemis.

    Headlamps & Gadgets

    Essential Gear Ultralight 1-Watt LED Headlamp. Essential Gear gets into the headlamp game with a 1-watt LED headlamp. Cool feature: the adjustable dimmer switch allows you to tune brightness and battery life to suit. An adjustable head strap and lighting angle keep its function on par with other 1-watt LED headlamps. Powered by two 123 3V lithium batteries, the light weighs in as the lightest 1-watt LED headlamp on the market: 3.5 ounces!

    Princeton Tec Corona. The Princeton Tec Corona LED headlamp features eight (white) wide-angle LED’s, switchable between 8, 5, 3, or 1 light. The result: what may possibly be the best area light available, and optimally suitable for task lighting and short-to-mid-range navigation.

    ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 Personal Locator Beacon. We’re all aware of the utility of a PLB, right? They are getting lighter and smaller, like everything else, which is a good thing. The ACR TerraFix 406 comes in a smaller, half-pound package that allows users to broadcast critical GPS coordinates to orbiting satellites, providing SAR crews with exact latitude and longitude coordinates in the event of an emergency.

    Suunto T6. If you’ve almost collected enough pennies to buy a heart rate monitor, hold off. The T6 records every heartbeat during a workout, enabling further analysis of body functions including EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), a numerical value of oxygen deficit describing the accumulation of fatigue. Physiology geek, are you? The T6 may be your ticket.

    Base Layer Clothing

    Lighter Merino. Yet even lighter merino wool is here. The Smartwool Microweight Fitted T provides an ultralight foundation to any layering system. We’ve been testing microweight for a few months and are pleased with its initial performance. Look for this category to mature into more styles suitable for backpacking long johns and long sleeve shirts.

    Muscle Compression Base Layers. The new Marmot Symbio collection is upping the ante in the highly competitive base layer market. Capitalizing on the wave of new research validating the enhanced physiological performance and reduced muscle strain as a result of muscle compression, the Marmot Symbio line blends the compressive properties of Lycra with the thermoregulation properties of Merino wool in a series of well-contoured base layer tops and bottoms. The look – think Spiderman (or Catwoman) or a French nordic skier, but with more tempered colors and natural fibers.

    More (Ho-Hum) "Antibacterial" Base Layers. The use of elemental silver in synthetic base layer garments is nothing new. Manufacturers are jumping on the silver bandwagon left and right, quoting ancient customs of Romans, Egyptians, Chinese emperors, Druids, and American settlers, as well as new silver technologies used in infection control in the biomedical (as device coatings) and wound care (as topic treatments) fields as evidence that somehow, silver on a base layer garment can prevent it from getting stinky. The claim: antimicrobial agents in clothing can destroy the bacteria that ferment our sweat and cause the stink. The reality: it doesn’t work for very long. Sweat oils foul microniches on the textile surface, providing a happy breeding ground for bacteria, and they eventually do their thing anyways. Our research: elemental silver-treated textiles are only marginally effective at halting odor control during sustained (several day) periods of physical activity. Are silver treated textiles a pipe dream? Maybe. Maybe not. Time will tell. But they aren’t quite there yet. So, for now, "ho-hum" and check out merino wool garments if you really want to avoid the stink.

    Raingear

    Glow in the Dark Jackets? The Marmot Alpinist collection fuses Gore and Novatech technologies in the $750 Marmot Phenomenon EL Jacket, using Gore-Tex XCR (3-layer) fabric with electroluminescent side panels for safety, identification, and convenience in inclement weather. Outerwear that lights up? "Gee whiz, that’s neat" can only take you so far. You’re still stuck with a heavy, overbuilt jacket for most backcountry endeavors, and the electroluminescent panels still remain heavier than a keychain LED light. Do we really need tail lights on every backcountry visitor? Hopefully, the answer is "no" but the fabric has obvious implications for alpinists, search and rescue personnel, and ski patrollers. Don’t hang up your headlamps just yet, but keep on eye our for this technology to evolve and be incorporated into lighter fabrics.

    Gold Standard of Everyman WPB Jackets Increases Performance. The Marmot PreCip collection continues to evolve with new fabric for Fall 2004. Increased breathability (by 50%), stable prices, and a dozen color options keeps the PreCip setting the standard for solid-performing, lightweight rainwear at a great price ($99 for the PreCip Jacket).

    Full Featured Rainwear: 12 oz. Lightweight rainwear is a dime a dozen, so it seems. However, to keep the weight down, manufacturers skimp on features. That is why the Marmot PreCip, which was nearly the first to market as a full-featured waterproof-breathable shell for $99, has grabbed such a substantial market share. The new GoLite Revelation Jacket offers a similar feature set but skimps on length and has to break through the new product brand identity wall. At $199.99, it’s not going to break any price records, but it’s a meaningful entry into the waterproof-breathable jacket market.

    GoLite Revelation Jacket. 2-layer waterproof-breathable rain jacket. Extended arm length, short torso, semi-fitted. Two-way full front zip with double storm flap, two-way watertight pit zips, 2 chest pockets with watertight welded zippers and mesh pockets for core venting, adjustable hood and stand-up collar, hem draw cords, elasticized Velcro cuffs. 12 oz (size L). $199.99.

    Synthetic Insulating Apparel

    GoLite jumps on the ultralight synthetic high loft bandwagon with the new GoLite Whisper Jacket and GoLite Rumor Vest. Filled with Primaloft PL1 and weighing 9 oz (vest) and 15 oz (jacket), the new pieces are sure to find their place in the kits of their existing customer base. However, with lighter and similarly warm alternatives from Bergaus, Rab, MEC, and Patagonia, grabbing additional market share will be a challenge.

    GoLite Whisper Jacket. 1.8 oz (60 g) Primaloft One (PL1)-insulated half-zip pullover with 30d ripstop nylon shell and 20d polyester lining. Zippered chest pocket, draft flap, stand up collar, elasticized hem draw cords, elasticized cuffs with adjustable Velcro tabs. Semi-fitted. 15 oz (size L). $139.99.

    GoLite Rumor Vest. 1.8 oz (60 g) Primaloft One (PL1)-insulated half-zip pullover with 30d ripstop nylon shell and 20d polyester lining. Zippered chest pocket, draft flap, stand up collar, elasticized hem draw cords, elasticized cuffs with adjustable Velcro tabs. Semi-fitted. 9 oz (size L). $99.99.

    Down Insulating Apparel

    Our lukewarm response to GoLite’s initial down apparel program is now long forgotten: look for the GoLite Cumulus Down Sweater and GoLite Cirrus Down Vest to become more serious players, alongside similar garments from Western Mountaineering and Feathered Friends.

    GoLite Cumulus Down Sweater. 800 fill down jacket with 15d polyester shell and 20d polyester lining. Full zip front, down-filled stiffened draft flap, stand up collar, elsatic hem and cuffs. 12 oz (size L). $199.99.

    GoLite Cirrus Down Vest. 800 fill down vest with 15d polyester shell and 20d polyester lining. Full zip front, down-filled stiffened draft flap, stand up collar, elsatic hem and cuffs. 7 oz (size L). $129.99.

    Soft Shell Apparel

    GoLite has successfully managed to bring the Schoeller jacket price tag to less than $200 for a full-featured jacket with the GoLite Karma. A head-to-head competitor with the Cloudveil Serendipity, the GoLite Karma is lighter and appeals to a wider range of, uh, body types than the fitted Serendipity. At $50 cheaper, it’s definitely worth a look.

    GoLite Karma Jacket. Schoeller Dryskin Extreme / 3XDRY soft shell jacket. Full zip front, fleece-lined chin guard, two front handwarmer pockets with mesh pocket bags, hem draw cords, and elasticized Velcro cuffs. Relaxed fit. 16 oz (size L). $199.99.

    Powershield Lite Gets Lighter. Riding on the coattails of the Apex-award winning GoLite Kinetic Jacket, the GoLite Momentum Jacket ditches the vest-jacket hybrid design of the Kinetic and becomes a far more serious player in the soft shell market. With an exceptional fit and lighter in both weight and price than their hottest competitor, the Arc’Teryx Gamma MX Jacket, the GoLite Momentum Jacket will turn some heads as it brings serious soft shell performance into the realistic weight range to be considered by even hardcore lightweight backpackers.

    GoLite Momentum Jacket. Polartec Power Shield Lite full zip jacket. Two large watertight welded chest pockets, full watertight front zip with internal draft flap, elasticized hem drawcords, elasticized Velcro cuffs, stand up collar. Semi-Fitted. 13 oz (Size L), $249.99.

    Backpacks

    We’ve been trying out the new GoLite ski packs this winter. The GoLite Delirium (photo) has a set of features that will whet the appetite of the gear-laden backcountry winter alpinist, including the ability to organize dual ice tools, crampons, a shovel, and skis. With the same suspension as the GoLite Vision, GoLite Infinity, and GoLite Continuum backpacks, the GoLite Delirium provides a comfortable carry with all of that hardware. Time will tell whether its strategic Hypalon reinforcements will withstand sustained abrasion from ski edges and crampon rails, but our first looks indicates that all is well and yes, a winter backcountry pack can indeed be built for less than three pounds.

    GoLite Delirium Backpack. Lightweight backpack for backcountry skiing, mountaineering/alpinism, and other winter/snow sports. SilLite HG main body and hip belt pockets, X-Pac composite fabric in front pockets and bottom, Arrowhead Cordura ripstop front pockets, 420d Cordura side panels. Zippered rear-loading pack, GoLite Unlimited suspension system, thermoformed hip belt with two gusseted hip belt pockets, side-access front pocket, ice axe loops with Velcro retention straps, floating top lid with Hypalon crampon patch, zippered pocket with stretch sealing panel, 3-liter insulated hydration sleeve, Hypalon/webbing ski sleeves/compression straps, shovel sleeve, watertight zippers, daisy chain, sternum strap, haul loop. 2 lb 10 oz (size M). 2450 cu. in. $199.99.

    GoLite Powder8. Back- and front-country day skiing and ski touring pack. Arrowhead Cordura ripstop nylon body, X-Pac composite fabric in front pockets, side panels, and bottom. SilLite HG in hip belt pockets and harness. Zippered rear-loading main compartment, contoured air-channel mesh back and padded shoulder straps, webbing hip belt, two gusseted hip belt pockets, dual side-access front pocket with pocket dams, dual ice axe loops with Velcro retention straps, 3-liter insulated hydration sleeve, Hypalon and webbing ski sleeves, zippered shovel/accessory pocket, watertight zippers, daisy chain, sternum strap, security key clip, haul loop. 1 lb 10 oz (size M). 1450 cu. in. $99.99.

    Fabrics and Technologies

    Bemis Sew-Free. Bemis Sew-Free is an adhesive film that eliminates stitching during the garment manufacturing process. Allowing manufacturers to bond fabrics and components in one step will reduce labor and equipment (but probably not your cost) while producing seams that are stronger and less bulky that conventional sewn seams. Don’t expect to have this product available in the mainstream do-it-yourself community, but start keeping your eye out for more outdoor performance clothing with low-bulk seams in the near future.

    GoLite Delirium Backpack First Looks (Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2004)

    The GoLite Delirium is an internal frame backcountry ski and winter mountaineering pack that excels at organizing the tools of the winter traveler: skis, snowshoes, ice tools, crampons, you name it – there’s a place to put ’em.

    Overview of the GoLite Delirium

    The GoLite Delirium is the company’s first foray into the world of backcountry skiing. Designed primarily as a pack for backcountry ski touring, the GoLite Delirium offers enough options to garner attention from a variety of backcountry enthusiasts, with the ability to organize the multitude of tools required to safely enjoy ski mountaineering.

    Specifications of the GoLite Delirium

  • Weight: 2 lb 10 oz (size M)
  • Capacity: 2450 cubic inches (size M)
  • Fabric: 1.76 oz/sq.yd. silicone-impregnated nylon (“SilLite HG”) in the main body; Dimension-Polyant X-Pac 3-Layer Composite in front pockets and bottom; Arrowhead Cordura ripstop front pockets; 420 denier Cordura side panels
  • Suspension: thermomolded Brock foam shoulder straps, lumbar pad, and back panel, Schoeller Dryskin Extreme on harness contact areas, corrugated polystyrene framesheet with integrated aluminum dowel frame stays

    • Features of the GoLite Delirium

  • Zippered, rear-loading packbag
  • Two gusseted pockets on hip belt
  • Side access front pocket
  • Ice axe loops (2) with Velcro retention straps
  • Floating top lid with Hypalon crampon patch and zippered pocket
  • 3-liter insulated hydration sleeve
  • Hypalon/webbing ski sleeves/compression straps
  • Shovel sleeve
  • Watertight zippers
  • Daisy chain
  • Haul loop

    • Intended Use

    Backcountry skiing, mountaineering/alpinism, and other winter activities

    First Looks Performance Review

    We tested the GoLite Delirium in the winter backcountry of Montana’s Madison Range, in the Taylor-Hilgard Wilderness. Our intended use: a backcountry ski approach to and descent from a remote alpine couloir ice climb.

    We packed the GoLite Delirium with the following equipment:

    Inside the Main Packbag:

    • Bivy gear: two-pound synthetic sleeping bag (Arc Delta), water-resistant bivy sack (eVENT Vapr Bivy), torso-sized inflatable pad (TorsoLite) with 1/2-length 3/8-inch foam pad, 2L white gas cook kit (SimmerLite)
    • Extra clothing: Integral Designs Dolomitti Jacket and Integral Designs Denali Pants
    • Food: About 5,000 calories
    • Climbing skins for skis
    • 3L hydration bladder with insulated drinking tube
    • Climbing gear, hard goods: carabiners, rock and ice protection (partner carried rope in other pack)

    Top Pocket:

    • Lunch, Beanie hat, insulated mittens
    • Louis Garneaux Top One Helmet (under pocket)

    Front Pocket:

    • Climbing gear, soft goods: harness, slings

    Strapped to Outside

    • Dynafit D410 Skis (only while climbing) – with ski/compression straps
    • Grivel G14 Crampons (on crampon patch on top pocket)
    • Black Diamond Carbon Fiber Black Prophet Ice Tools(strapped in tool loops)
    • SnowClaw Backcountry Snow Shovel (in shovel sleeve)

    Overall, the Delirium carried this 25-30 pound load very well and with excellent stability. The feature set is well-conceived and the external pockets are easy to access, even when all of your backcountry tools are strapped on. The shovel sleeve was too small for larger backcountry shovels, but for the types of shovels carried most often by weight-and-size-skimping backcountry skiers and climbers, it was sufficient.

    Durability. Hypalon reinforcements on the ski/compression straps are a very nice touch – protecting the main packbag from sharp ski edges. We’re not sure how the X-Pac fabric will hold up to abuse from the slicing picks of ice tools, but our inital observations indicate that it is more durable than we expected. Underloaded with a small volume, the pack doesn’t compress well (there are only two compression straps on either side), and as a result of the silicone nylon body fabric, the body doesn’t have much resilience. As a result, the underloaded pack suffers from more abrasion from tools and skis than should be necessary. Fortunately, the scenario by which this pack is be underloaded should be rare – it is sized right for the light and fast alpinist willing to forgo amenities for a long day of climbing and skiing, or as we found out, even an overnight winter climb with a bivy. The pack’s haul loop is strictly for picking up the pack – don’t expect to actually have the pack survive several pitches of vertial hauling in a world of sharp rock and ice, as the body fabric won’t withstand the abuse.

    In short, the GoLite Delirium is an impressive first project for the ski mountaineer from a company who sowed – and reaped – its first harvest on ultralight hiking gear more suited to snowless environs.

    Pertex Equilibrium: Fabric Technology and Performance Overview

    Technical, construction, and performance information about Pertex Equilibrium.

    Pertex Equilibrium: Fabric Technology and Performance Overview

    Overview

    Pertex Equilibrium is a woven 100% nylon (nylon 6.6) from the UK-based looms at Perseverance Mills. Fabric weight is 90 grams per square meter, which equates to unlined shirt and jacket weights coming in at 8 to 15 ounces, with microfibre pile- or tricot-lined garments weighing 4 to 8 ounces more. Most garments using Pertex Equilibrium are manufactured and distributed in the United Kingdom. U.S. Manufacturers include GoLite and Marmot and are expected to increase in 2004 and 2005.

    Equilibrium’s unique feature is its denier gradient design, with the goal of passively moving moisture from the inner face to the outer face of a fabric with a denier (and thus, capillary diameter) gradient driving capillary action. By no means the only fabric on the market with this goal, it is certainly one of the lightest and most resistant to abrasion.

    The primary application for Pertex Equilibrium is "soft-shell" apparel to be used in situations where water and wind resistance is needed for high exertion activities that require fabric breathability.

    Pertex Equilibrium

    Product Examples

    Rab V-Trail Top

    Rab V-Trail Top
    Pertex Equilibrium Shell
    Microfibre Pile Lining


    GoLite Energy Anorak

    GoLite Energy Anorak
    Pertex Equilibrium Shell
    Unlined


    Buffalo Systems Equimax Jacket

    Buffalo Systems Equimax Jacket
    Pertex Equilibrium Shell
    Coolmax Lining


    Parrot Concure Pull On

    Parrot Concure Pull-On
    Pertex Equilibrium Shell
    Coolmax Lining


    Hilly Technical Running Cap

    Hilly Technical Running Caps
    Pertex Equilibrium Shell
    Fleece Lining or Unlined


    Construction

    The inner face of the fabric is woven with larger filaments (comprising a low fiber surface area and large capillary diameter), while the outside face is constructed with smaller filaments (comprising a high fiber surface area and small capillary diameter). Passive movement of liquid moisture occurs primarily by capillary action from small pores to larger pores. Thus, Pertex Equilibrium is designed to manage both external and internal moisture appropriately for active use in foul conditions.

    Pertex Equilibrium Construction
    Fine microfibre outer filaments (blue) provide weather protection and ‘pull’ moisture, while coarse inner filaments (green) ‘push’ moisture and keep fabric surface from clinging to skin. (Illustration: Perseverance Mills Ltd.)

    Moisture Movement

    Pertex Equilibrium is designed such that external moisture (precipitation) should have a difficult time breaking the capillary forces on the fabric’s outer face. And, the moisture that does break through should have a difficult time migrating inward (against both capillary and vapor pressure gradients). On the other hand, moisture that comes into contact with its inner face (i.e., sweat) should effectively be driven to the outer face, where it is free to evaporate to the atmosphere.

    Insulation and Breathability

    Because the inner face is textured, Pertex Equilibrium provides some insulating ability. However, because Pertex Equilibrium contains no coatings, laminates, calendaring, or membranes, moisture vapor is freer to move through the fabric and breathability is greater, than for waterproof-breathable fabrics, or woven nylon and polyester fabrics that are impregnated with water-resistant chemicals or calendared.

    Another unique feature of Pertex Equilibrium lies in its textured inner surface – resulting in the fabric staying off the skin surface, which facilitates moisture vapor permeability (breathability), sweat evaporation, and wicking into the fabric. In short, this type of inner fabric face construction makes Pertex Equilibrium quite comfortable when worn next to the skin.

    Storm Resistance

    The outer face has a tight enough weave (with a sun protection factor of 30+) to significantly resist wind and moisture. In fact, Pertex Equilibrium offers about 10 cfm of wind resistance – significant for a fabric that is this breathable. We found that Pertex Equilibrium-shelled clothing systems are more than sufficient for sloughing off winter snow in cold temperatures, and we highly recommend Pertex Equilibrium as an outer shell material for winter backcountry activities. In addition, they were breathable enough to be worn close to the skin – we’ve worn the Pertex Equilibrium-shelled and microfibre pile-lined Rab V-Trail Top and Smock under a wide variety of conditions as a next-to-skin base layer and found them to be effective at preserving a relatively dry next-to-skin environment, even during high levels of activity.

    Pertex Equilibrium provides a reasonable degree of rain resistance. We wore Pertex Equilibrium shells in all kinds of weather from fine mist and fog to heavy driving rain. Not surprisingly, we found one combination of conditions where the wetting rate of Equilibrium could not be held back by the evaporation rate from body heat – cold temperatures (approximately 38 to 48 degrees) combined with heavy precipitation as rain or wet snow. In this respect, Pertex Equilibrium does not distinguish itself from other soft shell fabrics, such as Schoeller Dynamic or Cloudveil Inertia. However, Pertex Equilibirum enjoys significant advantages over both of those fabrics – less insulation and better wind resistance while still maintaining excellent breathability. In that respect, most of us found that Pertex Equilibrium struck a more meaningful balance of storm resistance and breathability  for a fringe-conditions soft shell fabric.

    Performance Summary

    We’ve been testing Pertex Equilibrium garments since the fabric’s release. We’ve tried unlined garments (GoLite Vitality Jacket) and lined garments (Rab V-Trail Top and V-Trail Smock). They are among the most comfortable “soft shell” garments we’ve worn, in terms of their ability to regulate your body’s next-to-skin microclimate while active, and provide “good enough” protection from the elements (wind, rain, and snow) for most conditions. Although not as light as a tightly woven nylon or polyester microfibre wind shirt (e.g., Montana Aero, GoLite Wisp, or Marmot Chinook), Pertex Equilibrium garments can be worn in a wider range of conditions, and tend to be more versatile. So, before you discount their use on weight alone, consider how a Pertex Equilibrium garment might fit into your overall clothing system. Lined garments, in particular, including the Rab V-Trail Top and the Parrot Conure Pull On, make for excellent base layer choices in the fringe (spring and fall) and winter seasons.

    What’s Next?

    Pertex Stretch Equilibrium, to be released in 2004, will address many of the issues brought on by Equilibrium’s opponents and stretch woven soft shell advocates – comfort. The introduction of Stretch Equilibrium will result in greater latitude of styling, offering garments that can be cut trimmer – and thus perform more efficiently (lighter weight, better integrated with existing layers, less fabric to catch on bush and rock, etc.) – without restricting mobility. Currently, GoLite is the only U.S. manufacturer with a meaningful Pertex Equilibrium product development initiative targeted specifically at backpackers and other fast-and-light enthusiasts. Marmot will introduce a Pertex Equilibrium clothing line in Spring 2004. Look for other U.S. manufacturers to introduce Pertex Equilibrium garments this fall, with Stretch Equilibrium products coming to the U.S. market in 2005.

    About Backpacking Light’s Fabric Technology and Performance Overviews

    In 2004, Backpacking Light launched an initiative to provide consumer education about high performance textiles and materials used in apparel and other soft goods manufacturing. We are pleased to launch this initiative here with Pertex Equilibrium. Fabric Technology and Performance Overviews are in no way sponsored by fiber, textile, or end use product manufacturers, and the appearance of logos, product examples, or discussion of same in the text does not constitute an endorsement of those products over those that may not appear herein. This is an independent review. We have consulted a variety of sources to compile this information. Those sources include technical data sheets from manufacturers, textile testing laboratories and design consultants, and end users. In addition, we have evaluated fabric performance as detailed herein using commercially available products manufactured with the textile described. Reviews of those products and an analysis of their specific features may be found elsewhere at BackpackingLight.com.

    Stay tuned for other Fabric Technology and Performance Overviews, coming soon:

    • Pertex Quantum
    • Pertex Endurance
    • Nextec EPIC
    • eVENT
    • Schoeller Dynamic
    • Schoeller 3XDRY
    • PrimaLoft Sport, PrimaLoft PL1, and PrimaLoft PL Lite
    • Polarguard 3D and Polarguard Delta
    • Silicone-coated nylons

    Winter 2004 Gear Watch: Backcountry Equipment for Climbers, Skiers, and Snowshoers

    Winter Market ’03 Updates!
    Backpacking Light will be reporting from the 2004 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, January 29-February 2, 2004, Salt Lake City! If you want to stay informed of OR Winter Market news, updates, and new product info, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter. As always, Premium Members get in-depth information about new products we feature in our dispatches.

    Subscribe now so you can stay informed from this year’s Winter Market!

    Introduction

    This of course, is not a comprehensive review of winter backpacking gear. However, we thought we’d take some time to highlight some categories that have seen important innovations in lightweight design over the past few years, focusing primarily on new products that were introduced in 2003, and that we’ve been reviewing the past two winters.

    Herein, we discuss gear that is most applicable to people who like to play in the mountains in the snow. Thus, backcountry skiers and snowboarders, snow campers, snowshoers, winter ice climbers, and alpine climbers will find some useful information here.

    Enjoy!

    Helmets

    The Petzl Edelrid might be the most recognized helmet among today’s alpinists. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s among the climber’s best-loved pieces of gear. The Edelrid typifies the brain buckets of old school mountaineers that are bulky, heavy, and uncomfortable. However, increasing recognition that wearing a helmet can dramatically improve safety in a number of backcountry activities, including backcountry skiing, snowboarding, and climbing, has kickstarted a new wave of helmet design over the past few years. Bike helmet technologies are now available, in addition to slimmer designs, better styling, and lighter weight. Two helmets in particular are worth mentioning here, because they break the 10 ounce barrier. The Kong Scarab offers excellent protection and is an ideal multi-use helmet that serves adequately for adventure racing, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, and climbing. It’s comfortable, easy to adjust, and has great styling. For even less bulk, consider the Every Helmets Sky Helmet. It is the trimmest helmet we’ve seen – it even fits well under parka hoods that aren’t necessarily designed for helmet use. The Sky weighs a scant 9.3 ounces, has the slim styling of a high-end skateboard helmet, but is still CE certified for climbing. We’ve been using the Sky this winter for waterfall climbing, resort skiing, and backcountry skiing, and it’s our choice for those who insist on a helmet that embodies the light-and-fast philosophy to the T.

    Avalanche Probes

    Backcountry ski poles that could be disassembled and reassembled into avalanche probes created quite a stir when they hit the market – they appeared to address the needs of ultralight backcountry winter enthusiasts because they could then not only save weight, but completely eliminate an item from their pack – the dedicated avalanche probe. Unfortunately, probe poles are heavier than the lightest ski and trekking poles, so swing comfort is certainly sacrificed. In addition, removing frozen baskets from the poles while reassembling the poles into a probe remains a technical hurdle that the major manufacturers have not yet addressed. Consequently, probe poles remain somewhat of a gimmick solution and are not carried by those who understand the serious consequences of lost time during avalanche rescue.

    All is not lost – probes are getting lighter, easier to use, and faster to deploy. Among the best are new models from Life-Link, including a 196 cm aluminum model that weighs 6.5 ounces (the Life-Link Light Probe 196), which features one of the fastest deployment cords we’ve used. In spite of a recent wave of research that suggests that probing a depth of greater than six feet does not appreciably increase the chance of live rescue, old schoolers will appreciate the extra length – and no weight penalty – of the Life-Link Carbon Speed Light, a 246 cm probe made with carbon fiber tubing and is long enough to maintain a six foot probe depth without significant bending, reducing fatique and increasing probe speed. Even lighter, but not as slick to deploy, are the Kong Carbon 8.5 (6.0 oz and 8.5 foot deployment length), and the Ortovox 200 Carbon, a 6 ft 7 in probe with a packed size of only 13 inches! If you’re thinking this is the nirvana of lightweight probes, hold your breath – the SOS Mini Probe extends to 7.5 feet, also packs to 13 inches, and weighs only 4.7 oz. For serious backcountry users, the Life-Link Carbon Speed Light 246 is a clear winner in a pack of probes cluttered with lookalikes. For ski touring in moderate terrain where avalanche risk is real, but low, the our top pick is the Ortovox 200 Carbon for the best balance of stiffness, length, easy deployment, and weight, but it’s hard to ignore the featherweight SOS Mini.

    Here is a survey of sub-8 oz avalanche probes suitable for backcountry touring and occasional use (avalanche professionals may want to consider longer, stiffer, and more robust probes more suitable for heavy use), where weight and collapsed size are the most important criteria:

    Avalanche Probes for the Ultralight Winter Traveler

    Model MSRP Weight (oz) Collapsed Length (in) Extended Length (ft, in)
    Life-Link Light Probe 196 $40 6.5 oz 16″ 6′ 5″
    Life-Link Carbon Fiber Speed Light Probe 246 $65 6.5 oz 18″ 8′ 1″
    G3 Professional 200 Probe $50 7.5 oz 16″ 6′ 6″
    Ortovox 200 $40 7.1 oz 13″ 6′ 6″
    Ortovox 200 Carbon $68 5.3 oz 13″ 6′ 6″
    Ortovox 280 Carbon $82 6.7 oz 16″ 9′ 4″
    Black Diamond QuickDraw Tour Probe 190 $39 7.4 oz 15″ 6′ 3″
    Black Diamond QuickDraw Carbon Probe 230 $65 7.6 oz 15″ 7′ 7″
    SOS Mini Probe $67 4.7 oz 13″ 7′ 6″
    Kong Carbon 8.5 Probe $50 6.0 oz 17″ 8′ 6″

    Avalanche Transceivers

    “Avalanche transceivers are mostly all the same”, I recently overheard from a sales employee at Bozeman’s largest backcountry ski retailer, “just pick the one that has the coolest color.” This motivated us to conduct a review of avalanche transceivers that focused on one mission only: speed of locating a victim and ease of use. We put several transceivers into the hands of both novices and pros and came up with some results that definitely suggested that “not all avalanche transceivers are the same”.

    We tested the following transceivers: Pieps DSP, Mammut Barryvox, Ortovox F1, Ortovox X1, Ortovox M2, and the Backcountry Access Tracker DTS. We evaluated them primarily on their ability to dial in the location of a victim quickly with a minimum of rescuer movement and guesswork.

    The lightest and smallest transceiver was the Mammut Barryvox – 6.0 oz including batteries. Its compact size fit was the least noticed while sitting in an inside pocket and wasn’t so cumbersome as to require a special harness. It was also one of the easiest transceivers to use – once you jumped an initial learning curve – and was among the fastest to locate victims.

    The technology crown, however, goes to the Pieps DSP. It dialed in the location of victims faster than any transceiver in our test, and it’s the only trasceiver on the market to utilize digital signal processing to locate multiple burials.

    Snowshoe and Ski Gear

    Lightweight backcountry winter travelers have always had secret weapons in their arsenal for overland travel – Northern Lites snowshoes and Dynafit alpine touring skis. Both brands continue to set both technology and weight standards in their respective markets, and have been enjoying little competition the past few years. One up-and-comer, however, is worth taking a look at: Dion Snowshoes offers full size backcountry models that weight less than four pounds, or racing / short models that weight less than three pounds. The innovation, however, lies in their modular design – a customer can pick their own combination of frame, cleat, and binding to spec a shoe that exactly fits their needs.

    Atlas, a market giant for U.S. snowshoes, tells us they are now making a sub-two-pound snowshoe in the Atlas Dual-Trac SL. So, we picked up a pair to see if could match the performance and weight of the Northern Lites Elite. Weight for both snowshoes was the same – 34 ounces. But the Elites’ longer length (25″ vs. 22″ for the SL) and more decking surface area (the SL is a racing shoe with a tapered tail) clearly outshined the Atlas in softer snow conditions. So for now, stick with Northern Lites and watch out for slick marketing of lightweight shoes from other manufacturers that entice you into a racing style.

    Dynafit has now packaged a new alpine touring (randonee) ski system that will make backcountry AT riders and climbers happy. The Dynafit D410 skis, with a 130 cm “approach” length, are the first skis we’ve seen that have a 100 mm tip but weigh less than four and a half pounds. Combined with the 24-ounce Dynafit Tourlite Tech binding and mated with the climbing-friendly Dynafit MLT4 AT boot (4.5 pounds), this system is probably the lightest high-performance climbing/ski approach system available. We’ve been testing this new setup this winter, courtesy of Life-Link (Dynafit’s distributor), and you can bet they’ll earn a priority corner in our ultralight gear closet. The MLT4 boots are surprisingly good ice climbing boots, with enough stiffness to power the approach skis on moderately steep downhill runs. This isn’t a downhill setup for big mountain powder on the steeps, but for 99% of the ice climbing appraoches and descents we’ve had to make this year, they’ve served the purpose better than anything we’ve tried before.

    Another new development in backcountry snowshoe and ski touring gear: nordic walking poles are being seen in more hands of backcountry winter travelers. Why? Thinner grips that are more comfortable with heavier gloves and mitts, very comfortable wrist straps, and lighter swing weights. Stay tuned, and check them out for yourself. We like the new ones from Leki, such as the Leki Nordic Walking Instructor.

    Climbing Gear

    Alpinists will cheer at the 2003 introduction of a 9.2 mm single rope in the U.S. this year – the Mammut Revelation. Combined with a thin rappel rope, this provides the lightest dual rope setup for alpine climbing. The 55 g/m x 60 m Revelation has the ability to shave a few pounds off your current single rope setup while still maintaining a 5-fall (UIAA #101) rating. Because the Revelation does not pass the sharp edge fall (UIAA #108) test, it is best suited for steep alpine face and couloir climbing with little risk of vertical falls over sharp edges.

    Alpine ice tools are getting lighter, too. The constant battle for developing lightweight tools that appeal to alpinists but provide the technical performance of more demanding climbs continues to rage. Grivel and Petzl-Charlet are leading the way with technical ice tools that break the 22 ounce barrier. Grivel’s Light Wing and Petzl-Charlet’s Aztar tools have bent shafts suitable for plunging as well as hammering pitons, excellent swing balance (always a challenge with lighter tools). We tried both sets of tools at a recent ice festival and were even pleased with their performance on hard, brittle waterfall ice and mixed ground.

    No longer does the alpinist need to lug around technical crampons that weigh 38 ounces or more for remote ice and mixed climbs. Petzl-Charlet has introduced the Petzl-Charlet Sarken, an alpine crampon with a low-balling horizontal rail design and integrated forged vertical front points. We’ve tried them on alpine ice couloirs in the Beartooths, mixed ground at Hyalite, and the bullet hard ice of the Canadian Rockies, and can unequivocally say that we are more excited about this technical development for alpine climbing than any other introduced in 2003. The Sarken’s are an alpinists dream. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention the weight: 29 ounces. Where else can you maintain performance while saving more than half a pound?

    LED Headlamp REVIEW SUMMARY 2003: Petzl, Princeton Tec, Black Diamond, and Photon

    A comprehensive review of sub-6-ounce LED headlamps from Princeton Tec, Black Diamond, Petzl, and Photon.

    Overview

    In terms of volume of units, LED headlamps will be the #1 outdoor specialty consumer item purchased this December (Source: current purchasing trend info supplied by outdoor specialty retailers).

    There are now dozens of LED lights on the market, with about two or three dozen in a headlamp style. The major U.S. market players are Princeton Tec, Black Diamond, and Petzl. Photon, Brinkmann, Lightwave, Streamlite, Tektite, and Pelican are all vying for the remainder of the pie, and overseas manufacturers such as FrontaLED and Speleo Technics offer high end (read: pricey) offerings for alpinists and cavers.

    Gear Guide Index – Product Specifications

    NOTE: For a comprehensive comparison of LED Headlamps (not including hybrid LED-halogen models) from around the world, ranging from the ultralight to the ultra-expensive, check out our new LED Headlamp Gear Guide. The Gear Guide also includes several LED headlamps that are not reviewed herein.

    Review Index

    In this review, we narrow the field down to LED headlamps that weigh less than six ounces (170 grams), and that distribute their lightware in U.S. markets (hey, you have to be able to get it in time for Christmas, right?).

    You can click on “Review” to read a headlamp’s performance review, and “Specifications” to view its Product Card in our LED Headlamp Gear Guide.

    Trail’s Best Award Winners

    We are pleased to announce two headlamps as winners of our Trail’s Best Awards for 2004:

    Honorable Mention – Petzl Tikka Plus. The Tikka Plus competes very well on a performance basis with the Princeton Tec Aurora, but we gave the Aurora the Trail’s Best designation due to slightly better usability in cold conditions.

    Review Methodology

    In this review, we focus primarily on cold weather usability and cold weather performance. Evaluation of headlamps in cold conditions is prudent because they are primarily used in the dark – when temperatures plummet. Thus, herein we test battery life and light output at 38 °F (3 °C). In addition, we evaluate headlamp usability and operation with cold, bare hands, and in cold conditions while wearing thin liner gloves, mid-weight windproof fleece gloves, shelled ski gloves, and shelled 300-weight fleece mitts – in the field – where at the end of the day, one is tired, hungry, and cold. Through this methodology, we are better able to evaluate the anticipated field performance of headlamps, rather than the typical industry standard of reviewing light performance at 70 °F (21 °C) and usability with bare fingers while typing the review at a keyboard in a warm cubicle.

    Usability Assessment. For each headlamp, we evaluate weight (of course), headband design, changing the batteries, tilting the housing, operating the switch, and changing light modes (where applicable). We pay special attention to be able to perform these tasks with bare, cold hands, as well as gloved and mittened hands.

    Cold Weather Performance. For each headlamp, we evaluate its initial performance with fresh batteries at room temperature (at both the beam center and the beam edge). More importantly, we take a look at the degradation of beam intensity over a 24 hour period when the lamp is left on continuously and incubated at 38 °F.

    Performance Comparison Summary

    TABLE 1. Measured Weights

    Model Weight w/o Batteries Weight w/Batteries Weight w/Lithium AA Batteries
    Black Diamond Ion 0.64 oz (18 g) 0.97 oz (27 g) n/a
    Black Diamond Moonlight 2.88 oz (82 g) 4.03 oz (114 g) n/a
    Black Diamond Zenix 3.37 oz (96 g) 4.54 oz (129 g) n/a
    Petzl Zipka 0.92 oz (26 g) 2.07 oz (59 g) n/a
    Petzl Tikka Plus 1.39 oz (39 g) 2.54 oz (72 g) n/a
    Princeton Tec Scout 1.01 oz (29 g) 1.41 oz (40 g) n/a
    Princeton Tec Aurora 1.49 oz (42 g) 2.66 oz (75 g) n/a
    Princeton Tec Matrix 2 3.74 oz (106 g) 5.34 oz (151 g) 4.69 oz (133 g)
    Photon Fusion 3.36 oz (95 g) 5.78 oz (164 g) 4.81 oz (136 g)

    For a detailed assessment of the performance of each individual LED headlamp, the reader is referred to the individual reviews, accessible by clicking the link(s) above in the “Review Index” section.

    TABLE 2. Measurement of beam intensity (Lux) at room temperature with fresh batteries

    BATTERIES USED: Energizer Photo lithium AA’s were used for evaluating the performance of the Photon Fusion and Princeton Tec Matrix 2. Energizer Titanium E2 AAA’s were used for all AAA headlamps. Energizer 2032 coin cell lithium batteries were used for the Princeton Tec Scout. The stock Black Diamond 6V battery was used for the Ion.

    Beam Quality Index is a measure of the ratio of beam intensity at its edge (1-foot off center at a distance of 2 feet) to beam intensity at the beam center. Higher values of the Beam Quality Index indicate a beam pattern that is more like a floodlight, while lower values of the Beam Quality Index indicate a beam pattern that is more like a spotlight. Scale: 0 to 100.

    Model Lux @ Center Lux @ Edge Beam Quality Index
    Black Diamond Ion 118 8 6.8
    Black Diamond Moonlight 113 11 9.7
    Black Diamond Zenix (Hyperbright) 438 7 1.6
    Black Diamond Zenix (Normal) 125 9 7.2
    Petzl Zipka 165 18 10.9
    Petzl Tikka Plus 259 13 5.0
    Princeton Tec Scout 111 2 1.8
    Princeton Tec Aurora 203 13 6.4
    Princeton Tec Matrix 2 792 8 1.0
    Photon Fusion 255 22 8.6

    TABLE 3. Comparison of lux at cold vs. warm temperatures with fresh batteries

    Values for warm temperatures are repeated from table above. Values for cold temperatures were collected by incubating headlamps at 38 °F overnight (turned off) before light intensity measurements were taken.

    Model Lux @ 68 °F Lux @ 38 °F Quality of Cold Light Beam
    Black Diamond Ion 118 42 36%
    Black Diamond Moonlight 113 107 95%
    Black Diamond Zenix (Hyperbright) 438 397 91%
    Black Diamond Zenix (Normal) 125 115 92%
    Petzl Zipka 165 152 92%
    Petzl Tikka Plus 259 252 97%
    Princeton Tec Scout 111 81 73%
    Princeton Tec Aurora 203 172 85%
    Princeton Tec Matrix 2 792 604 76%
    Photon Fusion 255 220 86%

    TABLE 4. Lux decay at 38 °F

    Measurement of headlamp beam intensity decay in response to incubation at 38 °F. Light is turned ‘on’ at time zero. Time zero values are reproduced from table above.

    Model Lux @ 0 hours Lux @ 8 hours Lux at 24 hours
    Black Diamond Ion 42 3 1
    Black Diamond Moonlight 107 41 13
    Black Diamond Zenix (Hyperbright) 397 223 44
    Black Diamond Zenix (Normal) 115 14 6
    Petzl Zipka 152 60 25
    Petzl Tikka Plus (High) 252 75 12
    Petzl Tikka Plus (Medium) 110 57 26
    Princeton Tec Scout (High) 81 14 9
    Princeton Tec Scout (Medium) 51 10 6
    Princeton Tec Aurora (High) 172 64 14
    Princeton Tec Aurora (Medium) 88 38 24
    Princeton Tec Matrix 2 604 552 0
    Photon Fusion (Hyperbright) 220 205 0
    Photon Fusion (Brilliant) 155 143 0

    Comparisons to Consider…

    2-LED Headlamps

    • Black Diamond Ion
    • Princeton Tec Scout

    3-4 LED Headlamps

    • Princeton Tec Scout Aurora
    • Petzl Zipka
    • Petzl Tikka Plus
    • Black Diamond Moonlight

    Hyperbright LED Headlamps

    • Black Diamond Zenix
    • Princeton Tec Matrix 2

    Headlamps that can accept AA Lithium Batteries

    • Princeton Tec Matrix 2
    • Photon Fusion

    Headlamps that are easy to operate and change batteries in cold weather and/or with gloves or mittens

    • Princeton Tec Matrix 2
    • Black Diamond Zenix