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Hiking Through Hyperbole: Blisters and Fire
Blisters, hiking solo, and lightning-started fires marked the stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail from northern California through Oregon.
Articles (2020)
MYOG: 3mil Plastic Tarps
Practice makes perfect: using polyethylene to prototype designs means I can spend less and try more variations before sewing a final product in technical materials.
Introduction
I have made several versions similar to this. In my three nights under this, it rained really hard with strong wind one night. The only problem I encountered was that I put my sleeping bag in an area that became a puddle about half an inch deep. Fortunately, my air mattress is 1.0 inch thick so I stayed above the water.
I may get beat up for talking about using plastic for a backpacking tarp on Backpacking Light, because it’s so cheap and flimsy, but here goes!
I have spent many nights sleeping under polyethylene tarps. They’re cheap, fairly lightweight, as waterproof as any other material, and possible to make robust enough to survive fairly bad weather. I’ve done about eight different designs and usually just use them on one trip of up to four nights.
I mainly use polyethylene tarps to prototype a design I want to verify before doing it in more expensive material. Such tarps would also be good for backpacking on the cheap, as you’d be able to equip four people for about $20 and some labor. In these economic times, frugal is popular.
Materials
I have always used 3 mil (0.003 inch thick) polyethylene, which is commonly used for protecting stuff while you’re painting. You can get a 10 x 25 ft piece from Home Depot for $10, which is enough for two or more tarps, depending on the tarps’ size. The 3 mil weighs 2.0 oz/yd2, which is fairly light.
Just to experiment, I made a tarp out of 2 mil polyethylene, which weighs 1.4 oz/yd2. It held up in my backyard, through rain and wind, for more than a week before the duct tape reinforcing came off, which wasn’t even a polyethylene failure. Based on this test, I may use this lower weight sheeting instead.
As a comparison, silnylon, a common lightweight tarp material, is about 1.4 oz/yd2 and Cuben, the state of the art material, is 0.75 oz/yd2 for the thickness most commonly used for tarps.
For guylines, I use Mason’s twine. (Shown: Mason’s twine, some of the slippery pale stuff that doesn’t work very well, and 16-oz coffee cup for scale.) I use this for all my tarps, food hanging line, ditty bag ties, etc. It’s fluorescent red to minimize running into or losing it. Home Depot sells it for $5 for 250 yards, which is enough for 30 tarps. The braided version works best for using a taut line hitch. It’s #18 thickness (0.0625 inch diameter). It weighs about an ounce for 25 feet, which is enough for most tarps.
Several other common guyline materials and weight for 25 feet:
- Triptease: 0.7 ounce
- Aircore 2: 0.25 ounce
- Aircore 1: 0.1 ounce
I tried some similar line from Lowes, and it was thinner and slipperier so it didn’t work very well. The Home Depot line was a brighter fluorescent color. This could just be a particular lot and a different store, or a completely different product. I’ve also used twisted twine, but it comes untwisted too easily.
I use #0 size grommets on my tarps (0.25-inch diameter hole). Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics sells a grommet setter, hole punch, and 24 grommets for $15. I have a grommet setter similar to the OWF version, though mine is cast iron. You have to hammer on the die to squish the grommet down, and it’s a bit of a trick to get it right. You have to hammer the grommet enough so that it doesn’t rotate around in the plastic, but if you hammer it too much, the grommet’s edges will cut the plastic. You should experiment first – hammer it too much so it cuts the edge to see what to avoid. I sometimes have to pry the grommet from the die with a screw driver.
I use readily available duct tape for reinforcement for guyline tieouts. One roll is enough for many tarps, and you probably don’t even need to go buy some because you’ve got it lying around.
I have used two trees to hang a tarp, but it’s hard to find a location with a flat area between two trees. I like camping in alpine areas without many trees anyway, so I finally got a pole which works much better for a one-pole tarp configuration. It’s easier to find one tree next to a flat area. I don’t normally use trekking poles but those make excellent tent poles.
I use some Easton Aluminum tent poles from TentPole Technologies. Quest Outfitters is another good source. I get the 26-inch lengths and cut them down to about 21 inches for each section – 41-inch length as assembled. This is pretty flimsy and could collapse in strong winds, or could collapse if you run into it, but is quite lightweight – 1.5 ounces for the two-section pole. I’ve used this in 20 MPH winds a number of times and have gotten away with it. The tip fits into the #0 grommets. I whittled down the tip a little because it’s a tight fit.
Guyline and Pole Reinforcement
The first method I’ve used to attach guylines is to put a small pebble inside the corner of the plastic and tie around it with the guyline. If you’re not familiar with this, it can be handy in repairing a tarp that rips out in the field. I object to carrying pebbles, so I use 0.75-inch diameter styrofoam balls from the craft store.
First put the ball in the corner and wrap around it with guyline.
Tighten and tie a knot.
This is a strong connection and distributes the load to the plastic evenly. The only bad thing about this method is that it doesn’t pull on the precise corner of the tarp, but at a point a couple inches in from the corner, so there will be a few inches loose all around the tarp. Because it’s not tensioned, it will flap in the wind. Also, this method doesn’t work very well as a connection to the sides of the tarp, only in the corners.
Loose edges.
The method I have used most often is duct tape for reinforcement with a grommet to run the guyline or pole tip through.
For example, last June I used a tarp in windy, rainy conditions for three nights at Burnt Lake and East Zigzag Mountain on Mount Hood in north central Oregon. Winds got up to about 20 MPH, and while the tarp held up fine, I noticed the duct tape slipped about 1/8 inch relative to the plastic. The adhesive on duct tape isn’t that great, and this wouldn’t last many more nights. Any suggestions on a better tape to use?
I wanted to find a way to attach guylines that would last a little longer than duct tape, so I constructed a simple test – 3 mil plastic, duct tape, and grommet on one side, guyline around foam ball on the other side. I then used it to hold 8 pounds (gallon milk jug of water).
Test setup.
After about six hours, the duct tape slipped a little (which is what happened after three nights of backpacking in wet windy weather), and after twelve hours, the duct tape slipped off completely. This was my control… then I used the test setup to evaluate a few other methods.
First I put five staples through the duct tape/plastic. It held up fine for a week, so I think this would work well for a tarp on multiple trips.
Second, I tried something not requiring a grommet.
First put the duct tape on one side of plastic and place knotted twine on the very edge of the plastic.
Fold the duct tape over onto the other side of plastic, enclosing the knotted twine.
This held up for about a week in my test setup – the twine eventually slipped out of the duct tape. I also used it on a 2 mil plastic tarp that held up in rain and wind for a week before the duct tape slipped off, so this would make a reasonable connection for one trip. I might make the loose end longer and tie it to the main line with a taut line hitch so it won’t slip out.
I also used the test setup with 2 mil plastic. Foam ball worked best, staples in duct tape worked pretty well, no staple slipped off after about a day, knotted line without grommet held up for three days.
I use a taut line hitch to tighten guylines. I don’t want to insult anyone by assuming they don’t know this knot, but just in case, here’s a taut line hitch loose.
Taut line hitch tightened up. You have to really pull on the two loose ends (marked with red arrows) to tighten it up enough to hold on thin twine like this. After the tarp is set up and the lines are under tension, go over the taut line hitches one more time, really tightening them up. Also push the loops together on the two tight ends (not marked with arrows) to get the knot so it won’t slip.
This thin line is marginally thick enough to use a taut line hitch. You can always use tensioners instead of taut line hitch. For example, BPL’s Aircore Nano Dyneema Spectra Guyline weighs 0.8 ounces for 50 feet of cord plus 12 tensioners, all for $15.99.
I use 0.34-inch Easton Aluminum poles, and the tips fit in a #0 (0.25-inch) grommet. This pole is a little light and might collapse, especially if you accidentally run your foot into it, but I’ve used it for years, with a 40-inch length, and it has never collapsed on me.
If you don’t want to use a grommet to hold the pole, then use a guyline and make a clove hitch around the tip of the pole. This would work with a bigger pole, trekking pole, or stick.
Design Examples
Classic Pup Tent
I used this style tent for my first backpack when I was 12 years old, and it is probably the most common tarp method. Basically, you just string a line between two trees or poles, put the tarp over it, and guy down the four corners
It works better if you have a guyline tieout at the middle of the tarp on each side at the ridgeline. Have a short guyline and tie it to the ridgeline line with a taut line hitch. This keeps the tarp stretched out along the ridgeline. Alternately, you can omit the ridgeline line that goes under the tarp, and instead go from both sides of the tarp to tree or pole, but this puts more stress on the guyline tieout, and if it fails, the tarp will collapse on you (this isn’t a problem with fabrics so much as it can be with plastic).
I don’t really care for this design because it requires two poles, which is heavier, and if the wind blows into either end, then rain will blow in and get you wet. You can try variations, like lowering one end to reduce rain blowing in or making the tarp longer or wider. Adding a catenary ridgeline curve is out of the scope of a plastic tarp, but improves performance dramatically.
One Pole Tarp
One pole tarp, in plastic.
This is what I have used more than anything else. On one end it’s like a pup tent, and on the other end, the two corners are about 40 inches apart and guylined to the ground. I added a “beak” at the pup tent end to reduce rain blowing in – folded the plastic and used duct tape/grommet to pull out with guyline. There’s duct tape with a grommet at the peak to put the pole through.
This uses less fabric than a pup tent because it’s narrower on one end. Only one end is open, which can allow rain in, which is bad, but only half as bad as a pup tent’s two ends. It has only one pole which weighs less than a two-pole pup tent configuration. It is also easy to find a spot where you can use a simple tree instead of a pole, making it possibly a no pole design.
I’ve used various versions of this on about six trips of three or four nights each over the last couple years. I stayed fairly dry, and it held up pretty well to the wind. Obviously, you want to point the foot end into the wind to minimize rain blowing in, but the wind can always shift on you and defeat this idea.
A good size for one person is 40 inches wide at one end, 76 inches wide at the other end, and 9 feet long. Five square yards of fabric weighs about 10 ounces in 3 mil or 7 ounces in 2 mil or silnylon. Pole and stakes are maybe 4 ounces, so this makes for a pretty lightweight package.
After successful polyethylene versions, I made one with silnylon to be lighter and more durable. I lengthened the beak and put in a zipper. I made catenary curves from the pole peak to each of the two corners on the low end.
Head end view with zipper open. This weighs 11 ounces, plus 2 ounces for the pole and 1.25 ounces for the stakes.
Minimalist Tarp
I wanted to have an even lighter tarp that provides a better view from my sleeping bag for when there is only a small chance of a little rain or dew. I’ve slept without a tarp many nights when there was dew, and I slept fine and stayed dry inside, but then in the morning I have to dry things off and any gear also has to be dried off.
My idea is to have a tarp 44 inches wide guyed to the ground and 76 inches wide with two poles on the other end, 6 feet long. This only covers the top half of my sleeping bag, but my bag is water resistant – good enough for dew or slight rain. If it’s continuous hard rain, I’ll get wet.
In 3 mil polyethylene it weighs 7 ounces. The poles weigh 3 ounces. The stakes weigh 1 ounce. I used this on one trip, and I was okay with it. I really like how I can see out of it almost as well as no tarp at all, but it isn’t wind resistant.
I liked it enough to make a version with polyester spinnaker cloth from Seattle Fabrics. I lengthened it a little to 7.5 feet.
I tried it one night. When the winds got more than 20 MPH it was really noisy so I just took it down. It would help to have catenary curves on the two ridges.
The fabric is advertised as 0.75 oz/yd2, but I weighed it as 1.1 oz/yd2. It weighs 7 ounces, plus 3 ounces for poles and 1 ounce for stakes. I’ll play with this on a few trips to see if I like it, and probably find some modification to keep me busy.
Conclusion
If you enjoy making your own gear but hate making mistakes on expensive performance fabrics, get familiar with polyethylene. You can try several variations before making your first cut on the pricey stuff, and it’s even sturdy enough for field testing.
Winter ISPO 2011: Day 2 – Powered by Nutella
Another round-up of innovations and interest, treats and treasures!
Editor’s Note: Read all the articles in this series:
- February 6, 2011 dispatch: International Delights
- February 7, 2011 dispatch: Powered By Nutella (this article)
- February 8, 2011 dispatch: A Smorgasboard of Worldly Flavors
- February 9, 2011 dispatch: Technical Treats
Introduction
While in the land of beer gardens and lederhosen, we are forgoing all cultural temptations to report to you daily from ISPO. All temptations except one. With a high energy per weight ratio of 5.33 calories per gram, Nutella has always been a backpacking favorite of ours. Here in Munich, with the low cost of US$6.66 for a 1400 gram container, it is the main source of fuel to power us through the days of walking and talking, and the nights of writing and fact checking. We hereby nominate Nutella as our favorite European ultralight product. What comes in second place? You decide.
Terra Nova
Terra Nova has been making waves in the ultralight world with their packs and tents. Now sleeping bags can be added to that list.
The Laser line will consist of three bags, all utilizing 900 fill down and half zips. Pictured above is the Laser 600, with all three bags hanging to the left, in their stuff sacks.
Metric:
- Laser 300 – 8°C comfort rating, 130 grams of down, 330 grams weight, and 220£
- Laser 600 – 0°C comfort rating, 335 grams of down, 610 grams weight, and 360£
- Laser 900 – -10°C comfort rating, 620 grams of down, 920 grams weight, and 560£
Standard:
- Laser 300 – 46.4°F comfort rating, 4.6 oz of down, 11.6 oz weight, and ~US$220
- Laser 600 – 32°F comfort rating, 11.8 oz of down, 21.5 oz weight, and ~US$360
- Laser 900 – 14°F comfort rating, 21.7 oz of down, 32.5 oz weight, and ~US$560
US prices will be nearly the same as British Pounds, as Americans do not pay a 20% VAT or import taxes. Terra Nova is also coming out with a similarly designed line of bags, called Voyager, utilizing 800 fill down and selling for about 10% less. The Laser and Voyager bags should be available in May.
Klättermusen
Klättermusen’s light items were not the only things to catch our eye at this Swedish company. They try to make a light impact on nature, as well. Klättermusen puts a refund value on all of their labels. The items can be returned to the company for end-of-life recycling. The refund values are between 1€ (US$1.36) and 20€ (US$27.23). Each item also has an eco-index which states the degree of impact a product has on the environment, thus a measure of the product’s ecological footprint. UK and US customers can order Klättermussen products through the Scotland-based NordicOutdoor.
The Hugin pack is a 65 liter behemoth that tips the scales at a scant 950 grams (33.5 oz). The pack is made of 40 denier ripstop sil-nylon, with 420 denier recycled nylon on the bottom. The frame consists of two curved aluminum stays. It features two side mesh pockets, front pocket, padded hipbelt, sternum strap, thumb loops, and multiple attachment points. Klättermusen makes a nearly identical smaller pack, the Ran, which is 50 liters and weighs 900 grams (31.8 oz). The price has not been set, but the packs will be available in spring 2011.
The hipbelt and stays are both removable on all packs. Shown above is the Higin, which comes in only one size, but there are two attachment points for the load lifters to allow for some adjustment.
The Agir is the third pack in the series. This 35 liter front loader has the same features as the other packs and weighs 800 grams (28.2 oz).
Klättermusen packs feature a unique buckle design that is simple and robust.
Finally, Klättermusen makes several down garments, most uniquely the Idun shirt (left) and Heidrun shorts (right). Both pieces have 750+ EU fill down, horizontal baffles, Pertex Polyamide (35 g/m²) in the body and stretch Polyamide (73 g/m²) as reinforcement. They both use buttons instead of zippers, and the shorts have full side openings that allow you to take them off without removing your footwear. At 250 grams (8.8 oz) each, neither are ultralight but they are unusual designs. The Idun shirt has 90 grams (3.2 oz) of down and costs 201€ (US$274). The Heidrun shorts have 45 grams (1.6 oz) of down and will sell for 210€. They will be available in March.
GoLite
Since GoLite did not exhibit at Outdoor Retailer last month, we decided to peruse their display for new items. We were pleasantly surprised to see that they have quietly released some outstanding new jackets – a down parka and a shell – that at are among the lightest in their class and offer another choice in a crowded market.
The Bitterroot Parka is another unbearably light down jacket. The women’s jacket weighs 340 grams (12.0 oz) and has 140 grams (4.9 oz) of down. The men’s jacket has 150 grams (5.3 oz) of down and weighs 370 grams (13.1 oz). Both use 850 fill power down and Pertex Quantum GL (25g/m²) on the inside and outside. Zippered-hand warmer pockets, an inner mesh water bottle pocket, an internal media pocket, and a two-way front zip complete the deal. The Bitterroot will be available in fall 2011 for US$375.
The Malpais Jacket uses GoLite’s three-layer proprietary Trinity WP/B and 15 denier fabric. The women’s jacket weighs 175 grams (6.2 oz), and the men’s jacket weighs 190 grams (6.7 oz). MSRP is US$250 and the shells will be available in March.
Pieps
Born in the Austrian Alps, Pieps is a well-known maker of avalanche safety equipment.
The Pieps Vector is a four-antennae avalanche transceiver with built-in GPS. The addition of GPS allows the unit to find buried victims faster. A standard transceiver follows the flux lines of the emitted signal, generally leading the rescuer on a circuitous path. After a short time of traveling along the flux lines, the Pieps Vector uses the GPS information to calculate the direct line to the emitted signal, giving the most direct path to the victim. This functionality works regardless of the victim’s transceiver brand or model. Vector will be available in October 2011 with a MSRP of 500€ (US$681). Weight is approximately 200 grams (7.05 oz), including the three AA batteries.
Berghaus
Berghaus is a UK company that has long made quality clothing, but their more recent work with elite climbers has resulted in some nice ultralight options. Today we cover three of those items. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the Mt. Asgard Smock, which they claim is the lightest Gore-Tex Pro Shell in the world.
The Velum Smock (left) weighs 312 grams (11.0 oz) and will cost 180£ (US$291). The Velum Jacket (right) weighs 360 grams (12.7 oz) and will retail for 200£ (US$323). Both jackets are made of Gore-Tex Active Shell. The hoods are helmet compatible and feature the new Raptor hood tightening system, which uses two elastic pull-tabs to get a really snug fit. The smock and jacket will be available in fall 2011.
The Rapide is a minimalist shell intended for active use. Hence, it is made with Gore-Tex Active. This hoodless jacket had a full-front zip, one zippered pocket, thumb loops and a microfleece-lined collar. A men’s medium weighs 220 grams (7.8 oz); the women’s weighs 200 grams (7.1 oz). These will be available in the fall for 130£ (US$210).
The Rapide uses a patented new zipper-pull which attaches at a slight angle (left), creating a very tight fit (right). This allows the garment to forego waterproof zips. The zipper was created in-house by Berghaus’ R&D team.
Yeti
This small German company makes quality down sleeping bags, jackets, and air mattresses. Customers can contact Yeti directly via their website, where they can find less outrageously priced (and spec’d) products.
Yeti claims to make the lightest down sleeping bag in the world. However, it is unlikely they have read the MYOG forum on Backpacking Light! Yeti produces six lines of down sleeping bags, but it is their Passion line that we feature here. These “premium ultralight” bags use 900+EU (97/3) down with their proprietary Next to Nothing fabric, a down-proof nylon fabric that weighs 25g/m². Only the Passion Five has baffles; the others use stitch-through construction. Despite the great lengths that Yeti went through to build the lightest bags, they still use full-length zippers. That seems outright silly to me.
Metric:
- Passion One – 10°C comfort rating, 125 grams of down, 320 gram weight, 400€
- Passion Three – 0°C comfort rating, 300 grams of down, 530 gram weight, 500€
- Passion Five – -7°C comfort rating, 500 grams of down, 790 gram weight, 600€
Standard:
- Passion One – 50°F comfort rating, 4.4 oz of down, 11.3 oz weight, US$545
- Passion Three – 32°F comfort rating, 10.6 oz grams of down, 18.7 oz weight, US$681
- Passion Five – 19.4°F comfort rating, 17.6 oz grams of down, 27.9 oz weight, US$817
The Ambition (men’s version, pictured above) and Attraction (women’s) are as ridiculously light as they are warm. The Ambition is the warmest of a line that is constructed with the same shell and down as the Passion sleeping bags. These garments are available now.
Metric:
- Vest – 80 grams of down, 120 gram weight, 300€, men’s and women’s
- Jacket – 100 grams of down, 230 gram weight, 400€ , men’s and women’s
- Coat – 150 grams of down, 270 gram weight, 500€ , women’s only (it has a much longer torso)
- Ambition/Attraction Parka – 200 grams of down, 370 gram weight, 600€, men’s and women’s
Standard:
- Vest – 2.8 oz of down, 4.2 oz weight, US$409, men’s and women’s
- Jacket – 3.5 oz of down, 8.1 oz weight, US$545 , men’s and women’s
- Coat – 5.3 oz of down, 9.5 oz weight, US$681 , women’s only (it has a much longer torso)
- Ambition/Attraction Parka – 7.1 oz of down, 13.1 oz weight, US$817, men’s and women’s
Vaude
Another German company, Vaude makes a wide range of outdoor, cycling, and lifestyle clothing. Liberty Mountain is their US distributor.
The Norrsken sleeping pad is 5.5 cm (2.2 inch) thick and uses 30 denier on the top and 75 denier on the bottom. Primaloft Infinity is internally attached to the shell at 45° angles, essentially dividing the air chamber in two. This dual-chamber approach is somewhat similar to the new four-season NeoAir pad which was reported at Outdoor Retailer last month. The air tubes on the side of the mat are thicker, to help trap air around the user. Vaude won’t give an official R-value because there is no universal standard. However, we spoke with the designer of the pad, who said it would probably be rated between 3.1-3.4. The Short pad is 150 cm (59 inch) long, 55 cm (22 inch) wide, weighs 500 grams (17.64 oz), and will cost 100€ (US$136). There is also a medium (183 cm / 72 inch) and large (196 cm / 77 inch). While this isn’t a revolutionary pad, it is a small innovation and a solid step in light direction from Vaude.
Rab
UK-based Rab is well known in the ultralight world, as their shells and down parkas have received a lot of attention at BPL and in the mainstream media. We were pleasantly surprised to find some new base layers that have mostly flown under the media radar.
The two main complaints of merino wool (durability and dry-time) led Rab to develop a new hybrid fabric, which they call Meco. Rab took Cocona fibers, created from recycled coconut shells, and combined them with merino fibers to create a hybrid fabric which can dry up to five times faster than pure merino when wet. The fabric will be made in weights of 120 g/m² and 160 g/m². The Meco short sleeve shirt, shown here, weighs under 140 grams (5 oz) for a men’s medium. We haven’t been this excited about a base layer in a long time. Prices range from 35-60£ (US$57-97). The full line of men’s and women’s tops and bottoms will be available in fall 2011.
Also this autumn, Rab is coming out with two shirts using Polertec Powerdry – a waffle-like patterned fabric similar to Patagonia’s R1. Danny is holding the Women’s Baseline Hoodie and wearing the men’s Baseline Shirt (size Large). Both pieces have one chest pocket and a deep chest zip; the hoodie has thumb loops. The men’s hoodie weighs 245 grams (8.6 oz) and the women’s is 225 grams (7.9 oz). They retail for 75£ (US$121).
This concludes our day two coverage of ISPO. Two more days remaining, and so much more ground to cover.
Winter ISPO 2011: Day 1 – International Delights
In Backpacking Light’s first ever coverage of this massive trade show, we’re highlighting the innovations not generally available stateside.
Editor’s Note: Read all the articles in this series:
- February 6, 2011 dispatch: International Delights (this article)
- February 7, 2011 dispatch: Powered By Nutella
- February 8, 2011 dispatch: A Smorgasboard of Worldly Flavors
- February 9, 2011 dispatch: Technical Treats
Introduction
We are delighted to report from ISPO – the International Sports Trade Show in Munich, Germany. This is the first year Backpacking Light has covered ISPO, so we’ll ease you in with a few facts. ISPO has over 2,200 exhibitors representing 45 countries. 64,000 visitors come from 117 countries to attend the four-day event. In comparison, this year’s winter Outdoor Retailer had 6,875 attendees representing 33 countries, plus 10,061 people working at the exhibits. ISPO began 71 years ago, while Outdoor Retailer is 22 years young.
Our focus during the next few days will be reporting on lightweight and innovative gear and apparel that is generally not available in the US market. Since the companies that develop these products might be unfamiliar to many readers, we will add a little extra background information for context.
CAMP
To ease ourselves into the day, we started at CAMP, an Italian company which has recently made inroads into the US market. Their most exciting equipment comes from their ski racing line, as the products are very light, utilitarian, and efficient in design.
The Hotmit’n is a serious cold-weather mitt that was designed to keep hands warm during rest breaks in backcountry ski races. The mitts have 50 grams (1.8 oz) of 650 EU fill down and weigh 176 grams (6.2 oz) per pair. The light nylon shell is the same that is used on the Windmit’n (a 12 g / 0.4 oz per pair wind-proof mitten previously covered at OR). These mitts will be available in October for 90€ (US$122).
SkiTrab
SkiTrab may be lesser known in the US, but this innovative Italian company makes outstanding ski racing equipment.
The Overglove Warmup Alp (78g/2.8oz) is intended to be worn with a thin linger glove for pre-race warm-up, as the name would suggest. The stretchy hole in the palm allows you to quickly free your hand without having to take off the mitten, as shown above sans liner glove. The benefits are numerous: you can make adjustments to your boots, packs, or camera, your hands stay warmer, and the wind won’t steal your mittens. Additionally, the lack of fabric on your palm would give you a better grip on poles while you are wearing the mitts. These retail for 50€(US$68) and are available now, though there will be slight modifications made for the fall 2011 model (most notably, a change from black to bright orange fabric for the outer shell).
Milo
The best deals of the day were found at Milo, a 17-year-old Polish company that creates clothing and gear for mountaineering and climbing. Milo uses Gelanots, a waterproof/breathable fabric developed by Tomen Corporation and sold to Toyota in 2003.
The Shawan Jacket is a full-featured three-layer shell that retails for US$110. The athletic cut and long arms, combined with the stretchy Gelanots fabric, give the shell a very slim but comfortably unrestricted fit. For 400 grams (14.1 oz), you get Velcro cuffs, two-way full front waterproof zipper, two chest pockets, one shoulder pocket, reinforced shoulders, pit zips, and a helmet-compatible hood. Now go back and read the first sentence again – this jackets costs US$110. It is available now in a few color schemes (apparently not everyone appreciates the bold color combination shown here). Also available are the Shawan Pants that weigh 550 grams (19.4 oz) and also retail for only US$110. Both the pants and jacket will be available by March 2011. Otay is the name of the female versions that are available for a few dollars less.
Another garment that piqued our interest was the Hetta Jacket. This super warm parka uses 130 g/m² weight Primaloft. This thick jacket does not feel bulky and sports a full front zip, zippered hand pockets, a small front chest pocket, and a noggin-hugging hood (read: not helmet compatible). The men’s version is pictured here; a women’s version is also available. At 500 grams (17.6 oz) for the men’s Large, it’s not the lightest synthetic jacket, but at US$66, it’s the most budget friendly substitute for a down parka, or a lightweight upgrade from a 200 or 300 weight fleece. Available in March 2011.
Climbing Technology
Climbing Technology is the brand of Aludesign, an Italian company with over 25 years of subcontractor experience in the international production of personal protective equipment. Aludesign saw the focus of the market emphasizing profit margin rather than quality, so they decided to fill the niche starting in 2004 with their Climbing Technology brand. All products are designed and created with the highest quality in their modern 4,000 m² building in the province of Bergamo.
Climbing Technology (CT) caught our eye with the above product – a combination of a snow shovel and ice axe. The ASD package includes an ice axe and shovel blade, plus a steel cable which is intended to be used as a dead man anchor in the snow. Hence, ASD stands for Agile Shovel D-Man. The ASD Plus Kit, pictured above, includes a steel axe and weighs 820 grams (28.9 oz). The ASD Light Kit uses the aluminum axe and weighs 700 grams (24.7 oz). Both axes are 45 cm and UIAA approved, though the steel axe has a more aggressive pick and spike. These are available now at a cost of 120€ (US$163) per kit. The axes and shovel blade are also sold individually.
To attach the ice axe shaft to the shovel blade, you simply pull back on a metal tab, insert the shaft, and let go of the tab. The shaft is firmly locked in place. Structural stability is enhanced with the six-sided shaft design. This axe-and-shovel combo looks ideal for spring hiking or ski touring trips, when there is a chance you might need an ice axe on a snow-covered pass or there’s a possibility of camping in the snow.
Montura
Montura is a small Italian apparel company that began as a very technical brand, with the founder believing that high quality products speak for themselves, thus little need for a large advertising department. Montura won two Polartec European APEX Awards in 2010, and this year’s products appear to continue their high level of innovation.
According to Montura, the Super Nova is the first completely stitchless jacket using Polertec’s NeoShell fabric. The jacket has two zippered hand pockets, one external chest pocket, built-in thumb loops, and a light fleece lining. The jacket feels svelte thanks to the athletic cut and stretchy fabric. Montura couldn’t tell us the weight, but this welded-seam beauty will sell for 550€ (US$747) when it comes out in the fall of 2011.
This stretchy synthetic baselayer, called the Ski Sky Pullover, has a very large two-way front zip. This allows you to release heat from your core while keeping your neck and face covered. Weight and cost were not available, though the Montura reps did say it will be available in the fall.
Red Fox
Red Fox Outdoor Equipment is a company based in St. Petersburg, Russia. They manufacture a full line of quality products, such as mountaineering tents, sleeping bags with welded seems, Arctic-worthy down jackets and pants, and Gore-Tex shells.
The most expensive item of the day was found at Red Fox. Danny is wearing the Belite Jacket filled with Eider duck down. This insulation reportedly costs from 3,680-11,000€ (US$4,999-14,944) per kilo. The feathers are collected by hand from the nests of wild ducks in northern Russia. The Eider duck feathers stick together, creating an almost uniformly-thick insulation and reducing the need of structure-supporting baffles. The Eider duck feathers do not have sharp tips like goose down feathers, which can poke holes in ultralight fabrics. Only about 30 of these jackets are custom made per year, and with 100 grams (3.5 oz) of down, cost about 2,200€ (US$2,989) each.
A clump of the Eider duck down, clinging together.
Inov-8 Ltd., UK
Inov-8 are well known for their trail shoes, but they also have an excellent selection of ultralight race-inspired packs. All packs are frameless, under 600 grams (21.1 oz), and range in size from 12-30 liters. The Race Pro 30, shown above, has an innovative zippered-bottom pouch that holds a two-liter water bladder. In addition to ensuring easy access to the bladder, the H2Orizontal Hydration System has a few advantages. By placing the bladder around the hips, the center of gravity is lowered and pack sway is reduced. The Race Pro 30 weighs 590 grams (20.8 oz) and costs US$105. The horizontal bladder (167 g / 5.9 oz) is US$28 and is sold separately. The pack has two side mesh pockets, a stretchy zippered lid pocket, hip-belt pockets, and anatomical shoulder straps.
There are many functional add-ons to the Inov-8 packs. Attached to the shoulder straps of this Race Pro 30 is mesh-lined storage that has three zippered pockets and a map pouch.
ATK Race
Will and Janet covered a super svelte La Sportiva ski setup at the most recent OR. The bindings in that setup, though, are actually made by ATK Race specifically for La Sportiva. In Europe, ATK race sells their own three-way release, Dynafit-compatible ski bindings. The SL bindings, shown here floating away from my hand, weigh in at a paltry 110 grams (3.9 oz). MSRP is 415€ (US$564), and they will be in stores in October.
ATK Race displayed a few custom race-specific designs, such as the above carbon fiber shovel, probe and skis. You can’t buy them.
Sir Joseph
Sir Joseph is a family-run Czech Republic company, with 35 years of experience producing high quality outdoor apparel and equipment. Sir Joseph uses their own proprietary fabrics. We were drawn to their Super Light Series, and pleasantly surprised by their new Kid’s Collection, which includes sleeping bags and a novel jacket add-on.
The Jacket Expander is an elegantly simple product. Dual #3 YKK zips allows the product to be inserted into most jackets, allowing extra room to carry and insulate your baby. There is a draw cord at the bottom and a pocket for the baby’s feet. The expander uses Softex ECO, which is comfortable to the touch, and is insulated with Thermaloft Q. The Jacket Expander can even be used by pregnant women who need a little extra room. Weight is 100 grams (3.5 oz), cost is 40€ (US$54), and it is available now.
The Koteka Down Jacket has 220 grams (7.8 oz) of 800 EU fill down. The inner and outer shell are Softex Micro, a fabric exclusive to Sir Joseph. The jacket has horizontal baffles, zippered hand warmer pockets, two-way front zip, and an interior chest pocket. This 490-gram (17.3-oz) wonder retails for 269€ (US$365) and is available now (though the hood will be slightly modified in the fall 2011 model). If these stats are true, they put the jacket as one of the best-in-class for ultralight down parkas, rivaling the Rab Inifinity.
The Koteka Vest has the same horizontal baffles, fabric, and quality down. The single-layer loft is nearly 5 cm (2.0 in), which is the same as the jacket. The vest has 140 grams (4.9 oz) of down and weighs 320 grams (11.3 oz). It is available now for 179€ (US$243).
We hope you enjoyed our first day’s coverage of this overwhelmingly enormous sports trade show. We will certainly be stumbling upon new light gear and clothing in the three days to come, and we look forward to bringing you all the details.
-D&K
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: An Emerging Revolution in Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies – It’s Not Just Gore-Tex Versus eVent Anymore!
Since 2004, when Backpacking Light published Alan Dixon’s manifesto on Waterproof Breathable Fabric Technologies, we have been a “whisper in the wilderness” extolling the benefits of truly breathable fabrics, like eVent. Now we are seeing the beginning of a waterproof-breathable fabric revolution.
Introduction
Gore-Tex created a thin waterproof-breathable membrane of expanded PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) about 30 years ago and has dominated the waterproof-breathable rainwear category ever since. eVent’s more breathable technology has challenged Gore-Tex – and Backpacking Light has emphasized that difference for the benefit of our readers – but Gore’s marketing has nevertheless established Gore-Tex as the “gold standard” for waterproof-breathable jackets. Finally, after many years with Gore-Tex as the status quo and little change, Gore’s supremacy is being challenged by a number of companies introducing new technologies and backing them with marketing efforts sufficient to bring about significant change in this category. And technology-loving outdoor enthusiasts, like our readers, are the spectators cheering them on as well as the beneficiaries of the improved performance.
One thing the Gore-Tex challengers have in common is that they all have Gore-Tex in their crosshairs. Here is Columbia’s display at Winter 2011 Outdoor Retailer.
We are seeing the beginning of a waterproof-breathable fabric revolution, where new innovations are being marketed on the basis of technology differences, rather than just hype (but the hype is still there, for consumers who don’t want to be bothered with fabric technologies and physics). The challengers are actually explaining the technology (somewhat) to help consumers understand how their innovations can possibly be better than Gore-Tex.
The Contenders
We are already familiar with Gore-Tex and eVent. By no means are they standing still; Gore is introducing Active Shell, their lightest, best performing construction yet, and eVent has expanded their outreach by offering “customized solutions and branding flexibility.” The new players are: Columbia, which is rolling out their Omni-Dry technology this spring; Polartec, which is introducing NeoShell this fall; and Mountain Hardwear, which is introducing DryQ this fall.
That’s a total of five major players providing new technologies in the high-end waterproof-breathable fabric category. All are claiming to be different from each other, and all are claiming to be more breathable compared to the “industry standard” (aka traditional Gore-Tex). And many are focusing on thinner, lighter fabric constructions to create garments that perform better in high exertion activities.
It’s the biggest wave of new waterproof-breathable technologies ever, so what are the differences?
The Key Differences
Because of marketing, Gore-Tex has become the gold standard for waterproof-breathables. But we all know that Gore’s approach puts more emphasis on the word “waterproof” (“guaranteed to keep you dry”) than it does on the word “breathable.” Indeed, Gore-Tex garments are waterproof, at least for the first year or so, but breathable – that’s a stretch. Gore-Tex breathability, which is based on vapor diffusion, requires the interior of the jacket to warm up sufficiently so sweat turns into water vapor, because only water vapor can escape to the outside through the membrane’s tiny pores. In Alan Dixon’s classic article on Waterproof Breathable Fabric Technologies: A Comprehensive Primer and State of the Market Technology Review, a key point he makes is that Gore-Tex is most efficient at transferring moisture at high humidity levels. That means the wearer must first get the jacket steamed up real good inside, then its “breathable” performance kicks in. You might legitimately ask: “why pay big bucks for that?” or “they call that breathable?”
The anatomy of a traditional Gore-Tex fabric construction. The lower layer labeled “protection” is a thin polyurethane layer to protect the ePTFE membrane from becoming fouled by body oils, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. It’s also the weak link because it minimizes the air permeability of the membrane.
To address this issue, many manufacturers have added workarounds to Gore-Tex jackets like pit zips and core vents to provide more ventilation, to help vent moisture and improve comfort. Note however that supplemental ventilation is counterproductive to breathability through the Gore-Tex fabric, because ventilation lowers the humidity, so there is less diffusion of water vapor through the membrane. If that’s the case, then what is the membrane accomplishing?
Enter eVent and three newcomers. The key difference in their technologies compared to Gore-Tex is air permeability, which allows moisture transport by convection as well as vapor diffusion. The nemesis to breathability in Gore’s waterproof-breathable construction is a thin polyurethane layer necessary to protect its ePTFE membrane from becoming fouled by body oils. The polyurethane layer limits Gore-Tex’s breathability to the process of vapor diffusion only, and eliminates any air permeability directly through the fabric. eVent’s breakthrough is their oleophobic (oil-repellent) ePTFE membrane that does not require a protective PU layer; thus the fabric does have some air permeability, which enhances the direct venting of water vapor and wearer comfort.
All of the challengers to Gore-Tex target its weak link, which is the lack of air permeability. All of their technologies are air permeable to some extent, and emphasize that a small amount of air permeability is all that’s needed to eliminate enough moisture to make a jacket feel significantly more comfortable at higher exertion levels. They quickly follow this up by saying that only a small amount of air permeability is sufficient, and there is no loss of functional windproofness.
To illustrate the differences by the numbers we have so far, Polartec NeoShell has 0.5 cubic feet per minute of air permeability, which gives it a huge breathability advantage over Gore-Tex (0 cfm) and eVent (0.1 cfm). I obtained these numbers from a Polartec representative, who emphasized they were produced by an independent testing lab. The numbers indicate that we should expect significant and perceivable performance differences among these technologies. We know that to be true in our past comparisons of Gore-Tex and eVent, and by extension, we should expect NeoVent to be better yet.
Now let’s take a look at the individual technologies.
Gore-Tex Active Shell
Not to be outdone, Gore launched Active Shell in fall 2010, which Gore says is the most breathable waterproof laminate the company has produced. Active Shell will appear in garments by a number of manufacturers in fall 2011.
Gore-Tex Active Shell construction (left). The Mammut Felsturn Half-Zip (right, 10.2 oz/289 g for size men’s Large, US$390, available fall 2011) will be one of the lightest Active Shell jackets available. It’s intended for light and fast mountaineering.
Active Shell is based on Gore Activent, a fabric introduced in 1995 that was primarily used in windshirts. Activent was highly breathable and water-resistant and popular among endurance athletes. The advanced version, Active Shell, is claimed to be much better as a result of a new construction process that Gore has developed. Conventional Gore-Tex is a sandwich of an outer shell fabric glued to the ePTFE membrane, a thin polyurethane layer glued to the membrane, and a liner fabric glued to the polyurethane. The glue consists of thousands of microdots, which adds weight and cuts breathability (in addition to the polyurethane layer). In the new construction, the polyurethane layer itself acts as an adhesive to bond a thin tricot lining to the membrane. In addition, the membrane is thinner and the lining fabric is stretched to make it thinner and more comfortable against the skin. To be sure that Active Shell garments are as light and breathable as possible, Gore stipulates that garments must have a close fit, few pockets and/or mesh pocket linings, and as little taping as possible.
Note in the above description that the polyurethane layer is still present, so, in spite of the advances, Gore Active Shell continues to be a traditional construction which is dependent on vapor diffusion for breathability. Specifically, the reduced weight and increased breathability are the result of the elimination of glue layers, thinner membrane, thinner face and lining fabrics, and garment design.
To help put the different Gore-Tex fabrics into perspective, Performance Shell is for general use, Pro Shell is for mountaineering and professional use, Paclite is “emergency rainwear” to be carried in a pack and used only when necessary, and Active Shell is intended for high exertion activities like runners, cyclers, and fast-moving mountaineers. A key point is that Active Shell is comfortable worn against the skin (unlike Paclite), which can further enhance its performance in higher temperatures.
eVent
eVent technologists conceived and developed the concept of membrane air permeability combined with sufficient waterproofness, and found a way to make the ePTFE membrane oleophobic without adding a polyurethane layer. Although this approach provides a better waterproof-breathable performance fabric, market forces have relegated eVent to a smaller role in the marketplace, appreciated mostly by technically oriented outdoors enthusiasts.
The zipperless Montane Spektr Smock, weighing just 7.4 ounces (210 g), is the lightest eVent jacket available.
eVent’s reaction to the current waterproof-breathable fabric revolution taking place is to be supportive and flexible (bring it on!). Their marketing strategy will become much more partner-friendly, as suggested by the following pitch prominently displayed at their Outdoor Retailer booth: “Your technology on the outside; our technology on the inside.” GE Energy, owner of the eVent technology, will roll out two approaches to working with partners: 1) a manufacturer may choose to capitalize on eVent’s current reputation and incorporate the industry-known eVent name on their finished products, or 2) manufacturers may choose to combine the eVent membrane with their own knowledge of fabrics, laminate making, and garment construction, and brand them as their own. This means there will be OEM eVent products hitting the marketplace, much like what has happened with polyurethane laminates – it seems like every manufacturer has their own proprietary fabric. Personally, if that’s what it takes to get better technology into the marketplace, then I’m all for it, but the consumer confusion factor will increase dramatically; it will no longer be a simple comparison of Gore-Tex versus eVent.
Polartec NeoShell
Polartec as a company has been very aggressive in rolling out innovations. From Outdoor Retailer Summer 2010, I reported on Polartec Power Shield Pro fabric, which is claimed to block 99% of the wind and provide real water resistance while allowing 1% air circulation within the fabric to greatly enhance moisture transport by convection. Power Shield Pro fabric is featured in softshell garments being introduced this spring by several manufacturers.
NeoShell is basically the Polartec Power Shield Pro membrane with air permeability reduced from about 5 cubic feet per minute to 0.5 cfm to increase its hydrostatic head enough to make it functionally waterproof, about 10,000 mm, which Polartec claims is sufficient. The 0.5 cfm air permeability of NeoShell, compared to zero for Gore-Tex and 0.1 cfm for eVent, enables enhanced moisture transport by convection in addition to vapor diffusion, justifying Polartec’s claim that “NeoShell is the most breathable waterproof fabric available on the market today” (actually starting in fall 2011).
Polartec NeoShell fabric construction (left). Rab Stretch Neo Jacket (right, 17 oz/482 g, US$365, available fall 2011).
Performance test data for Polartec NeoShell compared to Gore-Tex (aka “Leading Competitor Waterproof/Breathable”) and eVent (aka “Other Waterproof/Breathable”). Information provided by Polartec.
According to Polartec, the NeoShell membrane is a sub-micron fiber polyurethane membrane, rather than ePTFE, that is air permeable. That’s about all we know about the membrane so far, as details come out and we have more actual user experiences (including our own), we will have a much better description and impression of NeoShell and whether substantial performance differences really exist.
Polartec will launch NeoShell garments in fall 2011 with selected partners including 66 North, Eider, Mammut, Marmot, Mountain Equipment, Montura, Rab, The North Face, Vaude, and Westcomb.
Columbia Omni-Dry
Like Polartec, Columbia is reluctant to release the technical details of the membrane itself, and prefers to place emphasis on its performance. We did find out that Columbia found the membrane pre-existing in the filtration industry, it’s a “modified density polyethylene,” weighs 7 g/m2, it’s stretchy and strong, it’s 75% lighter than Gore-Tex and 50% air, and will withstand 20,000 pounds of water pressure. Woody Blackford, Columbia vice president for global innovation, explained the numerous lab tests they performed to compare Omni Dry to Gore-Tex and other membranes. I won’t repeat it all here, but suffice it to say that based on their testing, Columbia claims their Omni-Dry membrane is “the lightest membrane in the industry,” has equivalent waterproofness to Gore-Tex, and is “about as air-permeable as eVent and DryQ.”
Columbia graph showing Omni-Dry’s air permeability compared to Gore-Tex (left). Columbia Peak To Peak Jacket (right, 15.9 oz/451 g for size large, US$350, available spring 2011).
Omni-Dry will be offered in three garments to be introduced in spring 2011, and should not be confused with Omni-Tech, a polyurethane laminate, which is Columbia’s first waterproof-breathable technology introduced in 2008.
Mountain Hardwear DryQ
Also entering the fray is Mountain Hardwear (owned by Columbia) with their announcement of DryQ, which is based on an ePTFE membrane that is touted to have air permeability. It should, because Mountain Hardwear dropped their partnership with Gore, then partnered with GE Energy, the General Electric subsidiary that makes eVent. The company cites “the unique combination of the eVent membrane plus supreme quality face fabrics, barriers, backers, glues, tapes, and lamination technology to build its DryQ shell line.” Thus it appears that Mountain Hardwear was first in line, and the first OEM eVent fabric will arrive in fall 2011 under the name DryQ.
Mountain Hardwear Effusion Hooded Jacket (12 ounces/333 g, US$200) which is a minimalist stretch shell in Mountain Hardwear’s DryQ Active line.
There will be three types of DryQ: DryQ Elite for hardcore mountaineering and skiing, DryQ Active for lightweight high energy pursuits, and DryQ Core for the mainstream consumer.
Other Rumored Developments
When we visited the Pertex booth, a Pertex technology representative casually mentioned that Pertex is partnering with GE Energy and is developing appropriate Pertex fabrics to mate with the eVent membrane, and the resulting fabric will be called Pertex Shield DV (for Direct Venting). That sounds pretty definite since they already have it named! From our perspective, the fabric constructions from Pertex are likely to be the lightest ones available, so they may be the center of our attention. We looked at numerous NeoShell and Active Shell jackets at this Outdoor Retailer Winter 2011 show, and none of them were really lightweight. That’s because mainstream manufacturers perceive that consumers of high-end shells want them to be durable and full-featured. It will take awhile for the likes of GoLite, Montane, Integral Designs, and others to integrate these new technologies into truly lightweight garments.
GE Energy is also working on two new membrane technologies, which will be variations on their standard eVent membrane, possibly to be introduced in 2012. This could be something like an “enhanced air permeability eVent” in response to Polartec’s NeoShell. Whatever it turns out to be, it will surely create some excitement in the outdoor industry.
What This All Means
Some common threads in this synopsis are:
- All of the new and revitalized competitors developing waterproof-breathable fabric constructions incorporate membranes that provide air permeability, which they perceive is key to providing true breathability.
- They are all ganging up on Gore-Tex, perhaps in an undeclared effort to bring down the “Holy Grail” of waterproof-breathable garments, and gain market share by educating consumers on the advantages of air permeability to convince them that the technology is advancing beyond traditional Gore-Tex.
- Don’t think for a minute that Gore will take the competition lying down. They have already introduced Active Shell, and at the very least we expect the competition to heat up and get more interesting.
- We will soon be evaluating breathable membranes that are based on ePTFE (Gore-Tex, eVent, Mountain Hardwear), polyurethane (Polartec), and polyethylene (Columbia). At this early stage we are lacking information to understand their anatomy and how they work, but that information will be forthcoming for your reading enjoyment.
- We can expect this revolution to become more interesting and confusing as more and more membrane variations, fabric constructions, and proprietary branding are thrown into the equation.
- After many years of living with the status quo, it is indeed refreshing to see technology innovation in this category once again, and hopefully it will lead to some really exciting new products for us to report on.
The Bottom Line for Backpackers
All this said, it’s important to point out that the easiest way to improve moisture venting in a hardshell jacket is to simply open the front zipper, and open the pit zips if the jacket has them – simple convection to the rescue! For backpackers who carry a backpack over a hardshell jacket, be mindful that the pack covers a large portion of the jacket’s backside, the hipbelt seals the bottom of the jacket, and the shoulder straps compress areas of the frontside. That eliminates a lot of the jacket’s surface area for moisture venting, or as eVent would say “getting the sweat out.” Opening the front zipper helps a lot, plain and simple.
I have not yet met a hardshell jacket that does not steam up while I’m hiking uphill carrying a backpack. When it’s raining we have no choice, and it becomes a matter of adjusting undergarments and opening vents to attain comfort. Any increase in fabric air permeability would definitely be an improvement.
Given the constraints to a hardshell jacket’s breathability from wearing a backpack, we really do need hardshells designed with enhanced air permeability for high exertion pursuits. The question is, will enhanced air permeability of the jacket’s fabric produce any actual improvement in comfort under these conditions? Lab testing and breathability numbers, based on the same test methods, will eventually help to compare and differentiate the technologies, but perhaps the bottom line will be actual field testing while carrying a backpack to determine if significant and perceivable differences actually exist. Or, conversely, does it really make sense to purchase an expensive waterproof-breathable jacket and then wear a backpack over it? Backpacking Light hopes to test these new technologies very pragmatically in the months ahead and report findings to our members.
An index to the articles in this series:
An Emerging Revolution in Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies – It’s Not Just Gore-Tex Versus eVent Anymore! (this article) Provides a description of the new technologies and highlights new jackets in the pipeline utilizing the new fabrics.
Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies Part 2: Are There Detectable Differences Under Real World Backpacking Conditions? Describes my testing method and presents field test results.
Field Testing Air Permeable Waterproof-Breathable Fabric Technologies Part 3: Discussion, Conclusions, and Performance of Individual Jackets Summarizes my findings and pragmatic conclusions from field testing the jackets while carrying a backpack, and discusses the pros and cons of investing in a high-end waterproof-breathable jacket. Presents test data for each jacket compared to “traditional Gore-Tex,” plus my comments on the most appropriate uses for each jacket.
Hiking Through Hyperbole Part 2: The Snowy Sierra
The desert portion done, fear (and trail gossip) centered on snow in the Sierra, with six major passes above 11,000 feet.
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Therm-a-Rest ProLite Air Mat Product Review
Cascade Designs upgraded their ProLite self-inflating mat once again, with another weight reduction. What were the consequences of weight loss on warmth?
Technical Details
Photo courtesy Cascade Designs.
Alan Dixon reviewed the Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3 back in 2004, when he noted that ‘Cascade Designs has whacked more than a quarter pound off their lightest sleeping pad.’ The weight for the Small or 3/4 length mat had been reduced to 370 g (13 oz) at that stage. Well, they have reduced the weight even further: the Small (3/4) is now down to 310 g (11 oz). This is getting rather light.
In the process the claimed R-value has dropped a bit, from 2.3 down to 2.2, while the thickness has stayed the same at a nominal 25 mm (1 in). The R-value is going to vary a bit depending on what pressure you put into the mat. This is discussed further under ‘R-value.’ The nominal length and width dimensions have stayed the same at 505 x 1200 mm (20 x 47 in), ignoring the welded edges. Note however that the mat tapers at the bottom end, down to about 380 mm (15 in).
The foam inside is urethane – as usual with any decent air mat, and the fabric is nylon top and bottom. Both top and bottom surfaces are covered in lots of little dots of something (maybe polyurethane again). The web site says ‘Rest Comfortably: Bottom grips and textured top surface hold the mattress in place while you sleep.’ This apparently refers to the little dots, but see below for further comment on this.
Camp below Matte, Via Alpina, Switzerland.
The foam has had star-shaped holes die-cut out of it to reduce the weight. These holes are visible when the mat is inflated, as you can see here. It is interesting to see that Cascade Designs have chosen the more expensive path of only selectively cutting these holes across the mat. That is, rather than taking a long slab of foam and feeding it through some sort of mass-hole-punching system, they have only cut the holes in the middle of the mat. They have left an unpunched edge down each side and across the bottom and a larger unpunched area at the top end where your head goes. You can see the unpunched edges here too. These unpunched areas are meant to provide extra support at the edges and under your head.
Field Testing
As a background to this I should explain that my wife and I have in the past each used a 3/4 length Therm-a-Rest Deluxe LE mat, which has a very nice soft fabric surface and is about 50 mm (2 in) thick. These have been faithful companions for many years and on many ski-touring trips. Sadly, they are no longer made. The only trouble with them was the weight – 750 gm (26 oz). Some of that high weight was due to the coring used: longitudinal holes. That design did however make the mats quite warm in the snow.
Camp at the foot of Glacier de Moiry, Chamonix to Zermatt, Switzerland.
We wanted to reduce our pack weights some more and reluctantly accepted that we needed lighter air mats. The weight of the new ProLite mats was good, but would they be warm enough and soft enough? We took the plunge, got the mats, and set off to Switzerland for another two months walking. The verdict was that they were fine.
I had better qualify that verdict. The mats were normally used on alpine snow grass, as shown here. This can be fairly soft in itself, and does provide some insulation from the ground. Mind you, the water in that tarn was cold!
How are they inflated? Like all good foam-filled air mats, you unroll the mat and open the valve. Go away for a few minutes, and they will self-inflate – up to a point. Typically my wife looks after this while I am looking after the tent: when they seem to have reached equilibrium she gives them about three large puffs and does up the valve. I imagine that over time the puffs might put some moisture into the mats, but we haven’t noticed any problems. We always store the mats on their sides inside the house with the valves open when not in use, and I think (hope) that they dry out a bit during storage.
Evening at Mumbedah Creek, Kanangra-Boyd NP, Australia.
While my wife likes her mat fairly firm, I often let a tiny bit of air out of mine. Doing so lets my hip get closer to the ground, but if I am not sleeping on snow that doesn’t worry me. But the slight reduction in pressure does significantly increase my perception of comfort.
We normally tie our two mats together so we don’t get a gap in between. This is good for those cold nights when we supplement the warmth of our UL quilts by snuggling up together. (Hiking with your wife has some advantages!) The photo here shows one of the blue tie straps just to the right of my wife – it was a mid-summer warm evening. However, while this works excellently with the parallel-sided Deluxe LE mats, it is a bit more tricky with the tapered ProLite mats. The end result is that the foot end of the mats are close together but the foot end is narrower. Well, true, but the narrowness is not a real problem, given the significant weight-reduction.
I had better also add that these are only 3/4 length. I cover the rest of our tent floor with some 5 mm EVA-30 foam. That protects the silnylon floor of the tent and provides just a bit of insulation under my feet. The combination is generally enough, even at some altitude in our Alps as shown below – dawn at 2,100 m (6,900 ft), North Rams Head, Kosciusko NP, Australia. Of course, if we have spare dry clothing available I often fold that up and put it under our feet as well.
Dawn at North Rams Head, 2,100 m, Kosciusko NP, Australia.
Sliding Around
We met a significant problem in the field with the way the mats slide around on the silnylon floor of our blue tent. My impression is that the PU dots are really good at sliding on the silnylon, and discussion with my contact at Cascade Designs more or less confirmed this.
I spoke with Doug Jacot, our Therm-a-Rest director. He said that the problem is the Sil-nylon groundsheet. Even the NeoAir, which has one of the best non-slip treatments, can slip on a silicone-treated floor. As you mentioned, adding the silicone sealant stripes to the floor of the tent really is the best option, other than to use a tent without a silicone-treated groundsheet.
Well, as expected, but I have to say that suggesting I change my tent was hardly useful! And I had already added silicone stripes to the floor of my tent, but they seemed to have very little effect on the sliding. I do wonder whether the dots are there not to stop sliding but to prevent abrasion of the fabric surface. The dots are small, but they are packed really close together, and they do slide well.
ProLite 3 mat with silicone stripes added.
What the company did not suggest was putting the silicone stripes on the underside of the mat. So I tried this with Permatex Flowable Windscreen Sealant 65AR. You can see the stripes in the photo here. I want to emphasise that these stripes of silicone are really thin: I ran a very thin bead along, then smeared it out with my finger carefully. There are no lumps, and the weight gain would be in the order of maybe 2 – 3 grams. Making the stripes any thicker would not improve their grip. After a rather serious trip in Wollemi NP (a long story…) I can confirm that these stripes made a huge difference: the mat did not slide around. It may be that the silicone stripes on the mat did grip against the silicone stripes on the groundsheet: you may need both. With all due respect to Cascade Designs, I have to ask why they can’t do the same thing?
R-Value
We all know that some companies make exaggerated claims for the insulation value of their clothing, sleeping gear, and mats. We mentioned above that the claimed R-value for the ProLite is 2.2, but obviously this should be measured. Using our insulation test system we measured the ProLite mat with the bottom surface cold and the top surface hot – the way you would use the mat in the field.
ProLite mat R-value.
Making the measurement takes time, as mats are good insulators and the heat flow is slow to stabilise. There is always a transient at the start which purely an artifact of how insulation testing works, so we have to ignore that. The plot here shows the R-value at several different thicknesses, from fully inflated (and lightly loaded) to under-inflated and heavily loaded.
You should note that this test started with the mat inflated with a few breaths on top of its normal self-inflation, and this does not completely reflect field use. In the field your hips and your shoulders will depress the mat locally, reducing the R-value right under them. Also, you may not blow the mat up fully as that tends to make it rather hard. When the mat is under-inflated just a little bit you get more of it supporting you, which is more comfortable, although this means some bits of you may be a bit cooler than other bits. That’s normal.
My assessment is that the claimed R-value of 2.2 is fairly honest, although if you go for ‘comfort,’ bits of you will see a slightly lower R-value.
Summary
Do we like these mats? For non-snow use, we do. We haven’t tried them in the snow, and probably won’t. Even though they are thinner (at 25 mm or 1 in) they seem to be quite comfortable, and at 310 g (11 oz) they are much lighter. With a quoted R-value of 2.2 and a measured consistent with that, they have less insulation than our Deluxe LEs (about 6.7) which we use in the winter on snow, but they seem fine for three-season use.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Cascade Designs |
| Web Site | www.cascadedesigns.com |
| Model | ProLite, Small (3/4 length) |
| Size (measured) | Small: 505 x 1200 mm (20 x 47 in) |
| Thickness | 25 mm (1 in) – approx, depending on inflation |
| R-value | Claimed 2.2, measured 2.5 |
| Weight (quoted) | 310 g (11 oz) for Small |
| Weight (measured) | 315 g (11.1 oz) for Small |
| MSRP | US$80 for Small |
| Other sizes | Extra Small: 510 x 910 mm (20 x 36 in), 230 g (8 oz), US$60 Regular: 510 x 1830 mm (20 x 72 in), 460 g (16 oz), US$100 Large: 630 x 1960 mm (25 x 77 in), 630 g (22 oz), US$120 |
What’s Good
- Light weight
- Self inflating
- Comfortable
- Seem tough enough
What’s Not So Good
- They slide around on silnylon!
Disclosure: The manufacturer provided this product to the author and/or Backpacking Light at no charge, and it is owned by the author/BPL. The author/Backpacking Light has no obligation to review this product to the manufacturer under the terms of this agreement.
Hiking Through Hyperbole: The Vortex of Fear
Tackling the Pacific Crest Trail is a big job, made harder by a stream of scary stories filtering down from other hikers.
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Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Pole Review
Lightweight, collapsible, fixed-length poles that use avalanche pole technology to lock the sections.
Introduction
In spring 2011, Black Diamond will be introducing their new Z-Pole series of trekking poles that collapse down to a small size so they can be stowed inside a backpack or travel bag. They use avalanche pole technology to connect the sections, so the poles virtually snap into place.
The series consists of three models: the Ultra Distance fixed length carbon fiber pole, the Distance FL aluminum adjustable length pole, and the Distance aluminum fixed length pole. The Distance and Distance FL are a bit lighter than conventional aluminum trekking poles; their primary advantage is their collapsibility. However, the Ultra Distance (reviewed here) is more remarkable because it is both lightweight and collapsible.
The Ultra Distance is the lightest member of Black Diamond’s new Z-Pole series. It’s a collapsible three-section carbon fiber pole that weighs just 4.85 ounces (137 g) per pole (120-cm length).
The Ultra Distance is a collapsible fixed length pole. It does not have any screw or flick-lock connectors to contend with, which saves weight and potential problems. The collapsibility feature is nice, but how do they compare with other lightweight carbon fiber trekking poles?
Description
The 120 cm length Ultra Distance pole collapses down to 15.6 inches (39.5 cm), small enough to fit inside a backpack or travel bag.
The Z-Pole series employs avalanche pole technology to connect the pole sections. The technology consists of three components: a Kevlar cord threaded through the pole’s three sections (not shown), a protective plastic “speed cone” (left) at each joint that aligns the pole sections so they snap into place, and a push-button release (right) to collapse the poles.
This is one of those things that is much easier to show in a video than it is to explain in print, so the following video shows how they work.
The grips (left) are non-slip lightweight foam with a mini-extension for quick choke-ups. Interchangeable rubber and carbide tips (center, rubber tip shown) are provided with the poles. The Wavelock connection prevents the tips from working loose. The non-removable straps (right) are lightweight, moisture wicking, and left- and right-hand specific. They have cutouts for increased breathability and hook and loop adjustment.
The poles taper from a diameter of about 13 millimeters at the grips to 10 millimeters at the tip.
Performance
I tested the Ultra Distance pole on numerous summer backpacking trips over a wide variety of terrains, most of it very rugged. I used them off-trail a lot while crossing streams, ascending and descending steep slopes, dropping off of ledges, and crossing sliderock slopes.
I measured the poles’ stiffness by our standard BPL method: bridge a pole across a 110-cm (43.3-in) gap between two chairs, hang a shopping bag with 25 pounds (11.34 kg) of weight at the center of the pole, and measure the deflection from horizontal. The 120-cm Ultra Distance poles I tested bent 7.5 centimeters (3 in), which is moderately stiff for a carbon fiber pole. For comparison, the Gossamer Gear Lightrek 4 adjustable poles deflect only 5 centimeters (2 in), and a conventional aluminum trekking pole deflects about 3 to 3.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.4 in).
My field testing of the Ultra Distance pole was positive; I am pleased with the poles’ lightweight, stiffness, durability, and collapsibility feature. I experienced no problems whatsoever.
I especially like the rubber tips that come with the poles. They grip well on rock, whereas a carbide tip will often slip. As shown in the photos above, the rubber tips are quite durable and last a long time. Replacement tips and stopper baskets are available from Black Diamond. Larger baskets are not available.
I carried the collapsed poles inside my backpack, or attached to the side of my pack, several times and found that feature useful and convenient. By comparison, when I tried attaching my Lightrek 4 poles to the outside of my pack, I found them unwieldy, and they got in the way while scrambling.
After using the poles on numerous trips without using the straps, I finally removed them. The straps are removed by inserting the point of a ball point pin into the hole where the cord enters the grip, then fishing out the plastic insert. Removing the straps lightens the poles by 0.8 ounce (22.7 g) and reduces the weight per pole (120-cm length) to 4.5 ounces (128 g). For comparison, the weight of the Gossamer Lightrek 4 is 3.4 ounces (96 g) per pole.
The fact that the poles are not length adjustable was a limitation for me. I often use shelters that require trekking poles set to a specified length, so I was out of luck with the Ultra Distance poles. Instead, I took the Gossamer Gear Lightrek 4 poles for that purpose.
Comparisons
The new Black Diamond Z-Poles are not the only kid on the block. Also coming out in spring 2011 are the CAMP Xenon 4 trekking poles (seen in our coverage of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011), which are four-section and collapse down to 12.6 inches (32 cm). Weight is 5 ounces (142 g) per pole, about the same as the Ultra Distance pole. The stated MSRP is only US$70, which is less than half the cost of the Ultra Distance. Sounds too good to be true…
Assessment
The collapsibility of the Ultra Distance poles is definitely a usable feature. When hiking where poles are not really needed, or when taking trekking poles on any public transportation, it is really nice to be able to put the poles inside my backpack or attach them securely to the outside. That is perhaps the most compelling reason for choosing these poles.
On the other hand, the lack of length adjustment is a major limitation. Many hikers like to adjust their pole length when hiking uphill, downhill, and on sidehills. That was not a problem for me personally, but it is definitely a bummer that I can’t use them for erecting a shelter, unless they happen to be just the right length.
Value-wise, the Ultra Distance poles cost almost the same as the Gossamer Gear Lightrek 4 poles (US$150 versus US$160), so the bottom line depends on which feature you value most. If collapsibility is more important, get the Ultra Distance poles; if adjustability is more important, get the Lightrek 4 poles.
Specifications and Features
| Manufacturer | Black Diamond (http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com) |
| Year/Model | Spring 2011 Ultra Distance Trekking Pole |
| Style | Three-section collapsible, fixed length |
| Shaft Material | Carbon fiber |
| Tips | Carbide and rubber |
| Grips and Straps | Grips are molded EVA foam with mini-extension; straps are moisture wicking, left and right hand specific |
| Pole Lengths Available | 100, 110, 120, 130 cm |
| Weight per Pole | 120 cm length tested, measured weight 4.85 oz (137 g), manufacturer specification 4.75 oz (135 g) |
| Features | Compact three-section collapsible poles using avalanche pole connector technology, interchangeable carbide and rubber tips, molded grips with right and left hand specific straps, carry sack included |
| MSRP | US$150 |
Disclosure: The manufacturer provided this product to the author and/or Backpacking Light at no charge and is owned by the author/BPL. The author/Backpacking Light has no obligation to review this product to the manufacturer under the terms of this agreement.
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: Day 4 – Final Day and Still Plenty of Interesting Gear to be Found
Enduring sleep deprivation and a cold, we roamed the show on the final day and found some very interesting gear – new trail crampons, very lightweight rain mitts, more collapsible trekking poles, a 9-ounce snow shovel, cool apparel and footwear, and more…
Introduction
Here’s our report from the fourth and final day of winter OR. Things have really quieted down and attendees leave for home. Everyone is getting a little weary, but the enthusiasm of people in the outdoor industry is always amazing. Despite the fact it was a shorter day, we still found a full complement of things to report on.
Hillsound is a Canadian company exhibiting at OR for the first time. Their only product is trail crampons and they showed us three models. The Trail Crampon (left two photos, 16.2 oz/460 g per pair, US$59, available now) are slip-on crampons available in four sizes. They have a TPU (thermo-plastic-urethane) harness that will withstand very cold temperatures and underfoot toe and heel hardened steel plates with some serious crampons (far left). They are fairly similar to the Kahtoola MicroSpikes, weigh about 3.5 oz (99 g) more, and cost the same. The Cypress 6 (third photo from left, 19.4 oz/550 g, US$55, available now), are an adjustable instep crampon with a midfoot plate, six crampons, and a polycarbonate binding with two ratchet buckles. Their Trail Crampon Pro (far right, 24 oz/680 g, US$79) for fall 2011 is an adjustable 10-point crampon for serious glacier and snow travel. They have a more substantial polycarbonate harness with one ratchet adjustment. This one is comparable to the Kahtoola KTS Steel crampon; it weighs a smidgeon more and costs half as much.
The VestPac is a bit hard to describe. It combines a back hydration pouch with front-mounted panels designed for different applications. For example, the GrandPac (left two photos, about 10 oz/283 g, US$68, available now), has a 3D Airmesh backpanel (far right photo) and neoprene hydration sleeve and reservoir on the back, and a zippered pocket and vinyl pockets on the front. The DriftPac version (third photo from the left, about 10 oz/283 g, US$130) is the same on the backside, but the frontside opens up to provide access to multiple attachments and pockets for fly fishing gear. There are seven basic models in all, each with a different combination of hydration and frontpanel design to make them useful for a multitude of applications like day hiking, trail running, fishing, photography, hunting, XC skiing, travel, and field trips. Also, the frontpanel is interchangeable, so a person can purchase a separate frontpanel for each intended use.
Over at The North Face booth we found the Diaz Jacket (left, sorry, we don’t have complete specs on these items, will update when we get the information) for fall 2011. This pullover jacket has a Pertex Quantum shell (original Quantum) and Primaloft Eco insulation. The Animagi Cap (right) also caught our eye. It has the same face fabric and insulation, plus a Power Stretch fleece ear warmer that extends down over the ears.
At the CAMP USA booth we found a number of lightweight items. They mainly make climbing gear, but their apparel items and other outdoor gear are among the lightest to be found. We previously reported on their Windmit’n (orange shells only), which are wind mitts weighing just 0.4 ounce (12 g) per pair and MSRP of US$25. For fall 2011 a Waterproof Windmit’n will be offered that weighs about 0.9 to 1.1 ounces (25-30 g). They will be made of a silicone coated nylon, so they will not be breathable. Another version available is the G Comp Wind (above) which is a Power Stretch glove with attached Windmit’n in a small pocket so it can be worn over the glove when needed. Sorry, no weight available; the MSRP is US$75.
The CAMP rep also showed us their aluminum Xenon 4 Collapsible Trekking Pole (9.9 oz/281 g, per pair US$70) which employs avalanche pole technology to hold the four sections together (see video). CAMP claims they are the lightest collapsible trekking poles in the world, but in fact the carbon fiber Black Diamond Speed Distance poles weigh 0.2 ounce (5.7 g) less; however, they cost over twice as much. In spring 2011 the CAMP aluminum Xenon Trek Pole (not shown) will be available; this collapsible four-section pole will be stiffer and therefore a bit heavier and will sell for US$80. Both of these poles are a great value, but they are not quite as elegant as the Black Diamond Z-Poles.
CAMP also claims that their Crest Snow Shovel (8.9 oz/253 g, US$38), new for 2011, is the lightest in the world, and I have no reason to dispute that. The 13.8-inch (35-cm) aluminum alloy shaft slides into the blade for packability, and the polypropylene blade measures 7.9 x 7.9 inches (20 x 20 cm). A carry bag is included for lashing to a pack.
CAMP also has lots of lightweight packs. Two that caught our eye are the Phantom (left, US$40), a minuscule weight 15 L stuff sack/summit pack. It is constructed of thin coated nylon, has a large mesh pocket on the front, and mesh shoulder straps and hipbelt for ventilation. The 30 L X3 600 Pack (17 oz/490 g, US$100) is designed for randonee racing and backcountry touring. It’s a top loader with one fiberglass stay, zippered top pocket, two large mesh side pockets, and two large removable hipbelt pockets.
Sea To Summit continues to crank out well-designed useful camping accessories. This time we found their UltraSil Dry Day Pack (left, 3.2 oz/91 g, US$55, available August 2011). It’s a different design and a little larger compared to their UltraSil Day Pack we reported on before which weighs 2.6 oz (74 g). This one has a drybag closure with Hypalon straps and packs down to a very small size (center). The UltraSil Duffle Bag (right, 2.8 oz/79 g, US$40, available March 2011) has a zippered top opening and 40 liters of capacity and looks to be a very useful piece. Sea To Summit’s new sleeping bags, which we reported on from the summer 2010 OR, will arrive in March 2011. The lightest one is the Micro II (36F/2C EN rated, 19 oz/539 g, US$350) which has 850 down fill and a YKK #3 full-length zipper.
Another new exhibitor at OR is ToughStakes, which makes flat aluminum alloy stakes designed specifically for sand and snow. According to owner Eric Simonson, sand/snow stakes currently on the market fail due to repeated tugging on the stakes on a windy day, followed by a good gust that pulls them out. As shown in the video, ToughStakes have a guyline attached to the bottom and require ten times more pulling power to pull them out compared to conventional stakes. ToughStakes will come in three sizes: Small (1.5 oz each/42.5 g, sold in a pack of four for US$20), Medium (5.1 oz each/ 145g, sold individually for US$25), and Large (8 oz each/227 g, US$35); all come with a wire guyline and tie loop. Besides staking tents and canopies, the large stake can be used to tie down a canoe.
A new product from Adventure Medical Kits is their SOL Heatsheets Emergency Bivvy (3.8 oz/108 g, US$16, available now). It’s made of a metallicized plastic, which is quieter than Mylar, and the coating does not rub off on clothing. Dimensions are 36 inches wide x 84 inches long (91 x 213 cm). AMK claims that the coating reflects 90% of body heat. Although it’s not breathable at all, it’s enough for many thru-hikers in warmer temperatures.
A really cool midlayer piece from SmartWool for fall 2011 is the TML Mid Full-Zip Hoody (10.9 oz/370 g, US$190). It will also be available as a hoodless half-zip and a vest, each with one zippered chest pocket and two hand pockets. It’s made of a 64% merino wool/34% nylon blend and looks like a softshell, but there is no surface treatment to repel water. It can be worn as an outer layer and its fabric will provide some natural wind and water resistance. It’s mainly intended as a substitute for a fleece midlayer. Men’s and women’s versions will be available in several colors.
Teva Footwear will be introducing additional versions of its popular Forge Pro shoe this August. They will be the Forge Pro Mid eVENT (right, 15.4 oz/437 g per shoe, US$140) and Forge Pro Mid Winter (left, 16.2 oz/459 g per shoe, US$160). Teva shoes are wider in the toebox, which suits hikers with wider feet. The Winter version will use Thinsulate insulation. Both shoes will be waterproof and feature Teva’s HyperGrrip outsole, which has embedded fiberglass fibers for extra traction on ice.
A very lightweight rain jacket is the Montane Minimus Jacket (8 oz/215 g, US$219) made of 2.5-layer Pertex Shield. Using 15 denier face fabric, it’s one of the lightest constructions yet with Pertex Shield. With 20,000 mm of waterproofness and MVTR of about 25,000, Pertex Shield is “on top of the pile of polyurethane laminates” according to a Pertex representative. Pertex is working with GE Energy to develop lightweight laminates using the eVENT ePTFE membrane and Pertex fabrics, which will be branded as Pertex Shield DV (for Direct Venting).
Primaloft introduced a new synthetic insulation called Primaloft Synergy, which is a multi-denier continuous filament insulation engineered for superior warmth, softness, and loft. It’s constructed of fine and ultra fine denier continuous filament fibers, which makes it thicker and warmer without sacrificing compressibility; loft is claimed to be 25% higher than Primaloft Infinity. The intended use is in sleeping bags and outerwear. The current Primaloft insulations are One, Sport, Eco, Infinity, Eco Footwear, and now Synergy.
In other textile news, Outlast announced the application of its technology to a polyester fabric. Originally developed for NASA, Outlast is a phase-change substance that is applied to fabric threads. It absorbs heat and provides heat regulation. So far, Outlast has mostly been used in bedding, especially sheets, but now it is being applied to a polyester fabric to combine the benefits of Outlast’s heat regulation with polyester’s moisture-wicking and durability qualities. The brand sees a lot of potential for applications in technical base layers and socks.
This wraps up our daily coverage of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011. Our final article will address the emerging new revolution in waterproof-breathable technologies. Gore-Tex has dominated the high-end waterproof-breathable category for over 30 years, challenged only by eVENT. Now some major players and new technologies – Polartec’s NeoVent, Mountain Hardwear’s DryQ, and Columbia’s Omni-Dry – seek to raise the bar with marketing campaigns emphasizing the need for air permeability in order to achieve true fabric breathability. Of course Gore is not sitting idly by; they introduced Gore Active Shell, which is their lightest most breathable construction yet. Our upcoming article will describe the technologies and analyze where the trend may be going.
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: Day 3 – An Assortment of Awesome Gear
This is not our backpacking gear list (honest!); today we again report on a wide variety of new gear – a new bear canister, more collapsible trekking poles, an insulating skirt for your derriere, lightweight high output lights, an ultralight down jacket from an unlikely source, more footwear, etc, etc…
Introduction
Another full day on the show floor, another full list of interesting items.
There are a lot of interesting creatures wandering around OR to attract attendees to their favorite products; fortunately this bear was friendly.
Speaking of bears, this item will interest a lot of our readers who hike where bear canisters are required. A small company named Camp 4 Outdoors will be introducing a new bear canister concept this summer called the Bearier 700 (less than 2 lb/0.91 kg, about US$110). The canister looks like a big plastic bubble, which opens up at the middle into two halves. Each half (lower right) has a mesh skirt to keep food from falling out, and to allow hikers to split up the load on the trail. The volume of the current model is 700 cubic inches (11.5 L) and an extender called the Grub Hub is in the works to extend the volume to 1000 cubic inches (16.4 L). Camp 4 is in the process of getting the Bearier approved and hopes to have it on the market by May 2011. Compared to the carbon fiber Bearikade canister, the Bearier will weigh about the same and cost about half as much. The production model will not be clear as shown, so bears won’t be able to see what’s inside.
While passing by the SteriPen booth again we noticed the SteriPen FitsAll Filter (2.3 oz/24 g, US$15). It’s a prefilter and bottle adapter in one. As a prefilter it takes out suspended sediments to allow the ultraviolet light from the SteriPen to work more effectively, and it’s also an adapter to mate the SteriPen to various bottles that have a small opening. One of the limitations I found while testing the SteriPen is it doesn’t work very with with bottles with a small opening, like soda bottles. The FitsAll Filter fits all SteriPens and allows water to be treated in almost any bottle simply by inverting the bottle. However, the weight is a little high, almost the same as the new SteriPen Freedom we reported on, so for me it would be more appealing if it were lighter. Available now.
At the Sierra Designs booth we were shown a must-have product, the Gnar Skirt (4.5 oz/128 g, US$99) insulated with 650 fill down. I’m sure everyone has frozen their tu-tu at one time or another, so here’s the prefect prevention. It’s unisex and comes in three sizes. Perhaps readers can suggest some really good multi-purpose uses for this innovative new product for fall 2011. Of course one fashionable use is suggested by the photo of the model on the right. It should go well with the Outdoor Research Transcendent Beanie we featured in our Day 1 coverage.
Leki will also have collapsible trekking poles for fall 2011. The line will have three models, and the lightest is the Carbon 4 (top, 7.4 oz/210 g, $230) which is a four-section pole that telescopes down to 21.7 inches (55 cm). The next lightest is the three section aluminum Micro Stick (bottom right, 8.8 oz, 250 g, US$150) which collapse down to 15.4 inches (39 cm). The first two sections of the Micro Stick telescope with a joint lock. All the poles in this series have an extended handle and Leki’s Aergon XL grip, and available lengths will be 110, 120, and 130 cm. Leki will also have a Camera Adapter for the Aergon Grip (bottom left, US$20) available when the poles come out in spring 2011.
At Lorpen (a Spanish sock maker) we found the Extreme Expedition Sock (no weight available, US$50) which utilized Lorpen’s Tri-Layer woven system which uses different materials for different applications; for the Extreme Expedition Sock, the layering is two layers of Polartec Stretch fabric sandwiching Primaloft Footwear Insulation. The socks are left and right foot specific to fit the anatomical shape of the feet, and are claimed to be on the cutting edge of warmth technology in a sock.
Fenix is a lighting company started by four Chinese electrical engineers in China, and they are marketing their high-tech lighting in the US. All of their lights are waterproof to 8 feet (2.44 m), ANSI certified, and very bright for their weight. Some standouts suitable for backpacking are the LD01 (right, 0.5 oz/14 g, US$40) which uses one AAA battery, has a hat clip, puts out 72 lumens, and has three brightness levels. Another standout is the HL20 (left, 1.8 oz/51 g, US$42, which puts out 105 lumens, has four brightness levels, and comes with a diffuser for camp use. These are really superb lights and BPL lighting specialist Rick Dreher is working on reviews for spring publication.
Easton Mountain Products continues to crank out interesting products that include carbon fiber components. New for fall 2011 is the CTR 65 Trekking and Ski Pole (1.12 lb/0.51 kg per pair, US$110) which are two-piece telescoping carbon fiber poles with some really secure locks that can be operated with gloves on. They will come with a standard trekking tip and a large ski basket and will have Easton’s Ionfoam extended grip. These are a bit heavy by trekking pole standards, but they need to be sturdy for skiing.
In fall 2011 Easton will also be rolling out their Vo2 Racing Snowshoe (24 oz/680 g per shoe, US$299). We include them because of their innovation, as explained in the video below. The frame is two-piece aluminum alloy, the deck is carbon fiber, and the front forged aluminum crampon is split and articulated. They have direct-connect bindings, meaning the shoe of the racer’s choice is screwed to the binding from the bottom; a thin plate under the insole anchors the screws. Easton engineers found that racers were taking the bindings off other brands of snowshoes and cobbling a similar-type binding, so they worked with that approach to save weight.
Finally, Easton will be introducing a lightweight Expedition Tent (about 7 lb 13 oz/3.54 kg, US$599 with carbon poles) available in fall 2011. That is a good weight for a bomber four-season tent. The double-wall tent (yet to be named) will feature Easton’s stiff FX carbon poles, two-person capacity, two end doors with vestibules (large capacity cooking vestibule on one end), and large top vents adjustable from the inside. A version with aluminum poles will sell for US$479. Easton hinted that they will be introducing several new tents at summer OR.
Canada Goose is a Canadian company that normally sells bomber down apparel for extreme cold. We got a tip that they are introducing (of all things) an 8-ounce (227-g) down jacket. We checked it out and found the hoodless Hybridge Lite Jacket (10.1 oz/286 g for size L, US$415). It’s insulated with 800 fill down and has 23 g/m2 nylon shell fabric. The underarms are Power Stretch fleece and it has two zippered hand pockets. The jacket has a trim fit in the body but the sleeve and back lengths are plenty long. Holy chicken feathers, this jacket is expensive! Available July 2011.
Saucony is coming out with a lightweight trail runner called the Outlaw Mid (10.1 oz/286 g per shoe, US$110) in June 2011. The Outlaw features heel and toe protection, a gaiter hook, a slipper cup at the rear, and a padded lace tongue. The shoe is water resistant-breathable but it’s not seam sealed, and has only 4 millimeters of heel lift, so it is nearly neutral. It comes in only a standard (D) width.
While on the subject of trail running shoes, at Treksta we found the Evolution 2 and Evolution Mid. The difference in Treksta shoes is their NestFit – the last is shaped like feet (right photo, Treksta last on the left compared to a typical last on the right); what a revolutionary concept! They have a snug heel cup and extra room in the toe box, much like the Montrail shoes used to have with their IntegralFit. Both shoes are fairly neutral with moderate stiffness; the Evolution 2 weighs 13.9 oz (394 g) per shoe and the MSRP is US$115, and the Evolution Mid weighs 15.7 oz (445 g) per shoe and the MSRP is US$140. Both are available now.
Gore-Tex Active Shell jackets we have found so far weigh in the 13-14 oz (369-397 g) range. We finally found a lighter one, the Mammut Felsturn Half-Zip (10.2 oz/289 g for size men’s Large, US$390). As the name implies, it’s a pullover and has pit zips, one chest pocket, an attached adjustable hood, dropped tail, and elastic hem and cuffs. More on Gore Active Shell in a separate article; looks like these high-end jackets are getting pricier than ever.
We have tested a number of trail traction devices over the years. Some are shoes that have studs in the outsole, or even a removable outsole, but that gets pretty complex and heavy and has limited versatility. Most of the slip-ons work well but they are pretty heavy to pack (around 6-8 oz/170-227 g). At Korkers we found some lighter and less expensive ones, the Polartrax (2.7 oz/77 g each, US$15) available in three sizes and the Polartrax Ultra (3.7 oz/105 g each, US$25) which adjusts to fit any boot. They have studs on the bottom rather than chains and spikes, so the tradeoff is less traction.
Several manufacturers are introducing Touch Screen Gloves for fall 2011. These gloves have a pad made of a special material on the tips of the index finger and thumb, so you can operate a smart phone, tablet, or ATM machine with gloves on. The lightest ones we found are the Manzella Sprint Touch Tip (right, US$20) and Manzella Power Stretch Touch Tip (left, US$30). Both are very light because they are four-way stretch fleece with a smooth exterior. Both also have a gripper palm and will be available in men’s and women’s sizes.
Finally we stopped at the OutDry booth for a demonstration of their technology. OutDry is now owned by Columbia. Instead of a waterproof-breathable booty sewn into waterproof boots, the OutDry membrane is laminated to the shoe’s upper in three dimensions before the shoe is assembled. See here for a video of the process. This demonstration video (below) compares the waterproofness of a Gore-Tex boot with an OutDry lined boot. The weights of the dry shoes are measured, then the shoes are placed in a pan of water inside a large centrifuge and spun at 250 rpm for 10 minutes. The shoes are removed and re-weighed. The OutDry lined shoes gained 1.3 oz (37 g) of water, while the Gore-Tex shoes gained 4.6 oz (130 g) of water. It looks like OutDry works, but don’t expect much breathability.
That’s it for another day and evening of OR coverage. We will be back on the floor tomorrow for the final day of the show and hope to round up another batch of interesting gear.
Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: Day 2 – Another Roundup of New and Interesting Gear
Lots of footwear today, for the trail and snow, plus an assortment of jackets, a to-die-for backcountry ski system from La Sportiva, Big Agnes introduces new lightweight trekking poles, a new Klymit skeletal sleeping pad, a 12 ounce sleeping bag from Terra Nova, a 2.3-ounce Quantum GL windshirt from Montane, and more, and more…
Introduction
There’s no end to the wonderful new gear we find at OR. When you love gear, love technology, love innovation, and enjoy seeing your friends in the industry, OR is heaven. But it requires a lot of searching, discipline, and fact-finding, not to mention endurance. Here’s today’s blog of interesting items.
We started out at the GoLite Footwear booth, where we were shown the new NimbleLite trail runner (left shoe, 11.9 oz/337 g per shoe, US$120) and GorgeLite hiker (right shoe, 15.4 oz/437 g per shoe, US$120), both available July 2011. The NimbleLite has GoLite’s BareTech and PreciseFit technologies and no TPU midsole shank, giving it medium flex and torsion control. The GorgeLite has the same technologies plus a midsole shank, making it a stiffer shoe suitable for rougher trails. I personally like GoLite shoes because they fit my wide feet well and are very comfortable to hike in. The PreciseFit system provides three insole attachments (different thicknesses) for the footbox, so you can adjust the toebox volume to your foot size and sock preference.
It’s been a couple of years since we focused on lightweight insulated boots, so we are zeroing in on them more at this winter OR, and Baffin has plenty. In their new softshell series we highlight the low-cut Leader (left boot, 14.3 oz/405 g per shoe, US$109), mid-height Zone (middle boot, 21.2 oz/601 g per boot, US$119), and full-height Snosport (right boot, 23.6 oz/669 g per boot, US$129). All of these boots have a softshell upper, polyfill fiber insulation (each fiber has four hollow tubes inside it), reflective foil layer under the insole, triple density EVA midsole, a TPU shank, and an aggressive traction outsole. All are waterproof and rated to -4F/-20C. These boots are made of all synthetic materials, no leather, which we prefer because leather absorbs water to make a boot heavier and cracks when it dries.
More footwear: Adidas will introduce their Outdoor Performance line in fall 2011, which will consist of loads of outdoor footwear and garments. There will be two categories: Light and Fast (high performance), and Super Trekking (more traditional). In the Light and Fast line, we liked the Terrex Fast X FM Mid GTX or Terrex Fast for short (left photo right shoe, 16.8 oz/476 g per boot, US$160) and the AX 1 Mid GTX (right photo, 15.4 oz/437 g per boot, US$100). Both boots will also be available in a low cut with or without a Gore-Tex lining, as shown in the left photo. The Terrex Fast has Adidas’ For-Motion technology at the back of the heel (center photo) for enhanced motion control and downhill comfort; the AX 1 does not have this technology. Both boots are a medium width and will be available in men’s and women’s versions.
In Adidas’ new apparel line for fall 2011 we would highlight the Terrex GTX Active Shell Jacket (13 oz/370 g, US$395). It will be one of the first jackets to be introduced using Gore’s new Active Shell, which is their lightest and most breathable waterproof-breathable fabric. The Terrex has a helmet compatible hood, full-height front zipper, two zippered vented hand pockets, adjustable cuffs, and an elastic hem. The women’s version will have unique removable sleeves. We will provide more information on Gore Active Shell in our article on the emerging waterproof-breathable fabric revolution, to be published as the last article in our OR coverage.
For fall 2011 Salomon will be introducing the XR Crossmax Neutral CS trail runner (10.5 oz/297 g per shoe, US$140), which features a Climashield membrane in the front half of the shoe. The rationale is the front half of the shoe is most likely to get wet and soak through, so they made that part waterproof-breathable to resist wetting, and they omitted the membrane in the back half of the shoe so the shoe will dry out faster. The shoe is neutral, meaning there is no heel lift, and has an aggressive outsole with moderate stiffness, making it suitable for ultralight backpacking on trails. It will be interesting to see how well the partial membrane concept works.
Salomon also will have two lightweight insulated boots coming out for fall 2011. The Elbrus WP (left boot, 18.8 oz/534 g per boot, US$120) features Climatherm insulation, which is a foam insulation that completely surrounds the foot. It has a waterproof bootie inside, but it is not Gore-Tex; the upper is all synthetic. The women’s version is the Sokuyi WP. The Wasatch WP (right boot, 14.8 oz/421 g per boot, US$110), available in men’s and women’s models, is insulated with 400-gram Thinsulate Ultra and is also waterproof. The upper is synthetic plus PU-coated leather. Both boots have an aggressive traction outsole.
SteriPen ultraviolet water treatment devices keep getting lighter. The new Freedom (left photo, Adventurer Opti on the left, Freedom on the right), available in summer 2011, weighs just 2.6 oz (74 g) and will cost around US$120. This one will have an internal Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery which charges with a micro USB cable (right photo) in about 3 hours. The Freedom will treat about 30 liters of water with one charge. To initiate a treatment cycle you simply shake it for about 1.5 seconds. It will only treat 0.5 liter of water at a time, but you can treat 1 liter by giving it two cycles. The rechargeable feature may be a disadvantage where power access is limited, so the battery powered Adventurer Opti may be better in those situations.
At Millet we found the new Trilogy Gore-Tex Active Shell Jacket (14 oz/397 g, US$399) for fall 2011. The Trilogy features Gore’s new Active Shell fabric, a full-height front zipper, pit zips, reinforced shoulders, water resistant zippers, and two large hand pockets. A pattern we are noticing is that Gore Active Shell may be their lightest fabric, but the garments are not their lightest. We have seen Gore-Tex Paclite rainwear in the 8 ounce (227 g) range, which is a lot lighter, but Paclite is not as comfortable to wear as Active Shell.
We reported on the skeletal Klymit X Frame sleeping pad (right) at summer 2010 OR; this summer they will be rolling out the Innertia XL Sleeping Pad (left, 16.8 oz/476 g, US$129) which is longer and wider (25 x 76 in/64 x 193 cm). It’s still a three-season pad, just one that provides more area and comfort for bigger and taller people. It’s body mapped just like the X-Frame, with voids to save weight. We plan to include this pad in our lightweight inflatable sleeping pads state of the market article to be published this summer.
Also coming from Klymit is the new Noble Tec argon gas insulated Ularr Jacket (24.7 oz/700 g, US$300) which has vertical chambers completely surrounding the torso and shoulders. According to Klymit, argon gas provides three times more insulation per thickness compared to other insulations. The right photo shows the jacket being inflated (it has a small inflation valve in the left pocket). Three gas cylinders cost US$25 and each cartridge will inflate the jacket about eight times. The inflated jacket looks very high-tech and is quite attractive. Features include a full-height front zipper, pit zips, two zippered hand pockets, two zippered sleeve pockets, attached hood, and waterproof-breathable shell fabric with taped seams.
Big Agnes will introduce their new Helinox trekking pole line in fall 2011. There will be three series in the line: Causeway (bomber poles for general use), Featherlite (fast and light), and Passport (collapsible using avalanche pole technology). All are made of DAC TH72M aluminum alloy; we are most interested in the latter two. The Featherlite (bottom, shown collapsed) will be available in 120- and 135-centimeter lengths, weighing 9.9 and 12.1 oz per pair (282 and 344 g). The Passport (top) will be available in the same lengths with weights of 10.2 and 10.7 oz (288 and 306 g). A powder basket and overside basket will be available for all of the poles.
Big Agnes did not have them on display, but the Fly Creek UL tent series will be expanded to include three- and four-person models in fall 2010. They will have total weights of 3 pounds 10 oz (1.64 kg) and 4 pounds 9 oz (2.07 kg), respectively.
I predict that you will be licking your chops when you read about the ultimate backcountry skiing system from La Sportiva. The shaped RSR Carbon Fiber Race Ski weighs just 24.5 oz (695 g) per ski, the RSR Binding weighs just 6.2 oz (175 g) per ski, and the Stratos Carbon Fiber Boot weighs just 18.8 oz (534 g) per boot. The Stratos Liner adds 5.8 oz (165 g) per boot. The ski is not all that wide, around 100 mm at the tips; I would prefer for it to be a bit wider for better flotation in powder. The cost: don’t ask! (Ok, you know that I will give in and tell you.) The total cost is US$5000 in even numbers; US$1200 for the skis, US$800 for the bindings, and US$3000 for the boots. We can all dream can’t we? Many people spend that much on their bicycle, so why not on a new ski outfit? (Yeah, right, try telling that to your spouse!)
We featured the Patagonia Ultralight Down Shirt (far right, 5.9 oz/167 g) in our OR summer 2010 coverage. For fall 2011 Patagonia will be adding the Ultralight Down Jacket and Hoody (left and center) to the line. These jackets, in men’s and women’s models, will feature 800 fill down and 10 denier shell fabric, and will have a full-height front zipper, two hand pockets, and one chest pocket. The weight for a women’s size medium will be 7.5 oz (213 g). The Ultralight Down Shirt will come in additional colors as shown on the right.
SportHanza is the US distributor for Montane, a UK manufacturer of innovative lightweight outdoor clothing. An exciting new wind shirt from Montane for spring 2011 is the Slipstream GL Jacket (left, 2.3 oz/65 g, US$119) which is made of Pertex Quantum GL (the latest version). I’m modeling a size Medium, which is a little small on me. It has a full-height front zipper, standup collar, and a dropped tail, no pockets or hood. Also coming from Montane in spring 2011 is the minimalist Lite-Speed H2O Jacket (right, 6.3 oz/180 g, US$119) which is constructed of FreeFlow waterproof-breathable fabric, a polyurethane laminate hydrostatic head of 1500 mm. It has a stow-away hood, attached hood with stiffened brim, full-height front zipper, elastic cuffs, and dropped tail with drawcord hem; no pockets.
SportHanza is also the US distributor for Terra Nova gear, also from the UK. For ultralight hikers in warmer climates, the Terra Nova Laser 300 Elite Sleeping Bag is pretty amazing. This 50F/10C rated sleeping bag is insulated with 900 fill down and weighs just 12 oz (330 g). It’s a zipperless mummy bag with an attached hood. The MSRP is US$270.
Finally, we had the pleasure of meeting up with Ron Bell of Mountain Laurel Designs, who was also attending OR. Ron showed us his Superlight Bivy which weighs just 4 oz (113 g) in size medium. It has a 10 denier nylon top with DWR and 0.55 oz/yd2 Cuben Fiber bottom. The cost will be about US$235. Seeing Rons’ gear is a reminder that, indeed, we find innovative and useful gear at OR, but if we want really ultralight gear we need to look among our own brethren, the small companies that tailor to our needs.
And with that closing prayer we will close this daily missive from OR and get a few hours of sleep before we go back tomorrow and do it all over again. Cheers!
Will and Janet
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: Day 1 – Let the Hunt Begin!
The show is underway and we are finding loads of new and interesting lightweight gear to report on. Enjoy!
Introduction
We are pleased to cover the Outdoor Retailer Show for Backpacking Light Magazine once again, to sift through thousands of outdoor gear items looking for new, lightweight, interesting, unique, useful, revolutionary, unusual, or remarkable gear that should interest our readers. This is our fifth year covering OR, and I must say that OR never disappoints, there is always lots of interesting new gear to be found and always show highlights and trends that are noteworthy. And this show is no exception. So, let’s get started.
This is not a brand-new item, but it still caught our eye. The MontBell Stainless Mesh Cap is a very breathable skirted sun cap that weighs just 2 ounces (57 g)! It’s called “stainless” because it’s a nice bright nickel color. When you don’t need the skirt it can easily be tucked inside the cap (it’s not removable). MSRP is US$28; available now.
MontBell is also introducing the Dynamo Wind Parka (5 ounces/142 g, US$99) in men’s and women’s versions as a companion piece to the Dynamo Pant we previously reviewed. It’s a bit heavier than the ultralight Tachyon Windshirt (2.4 ounces/68 g) we also reviewed, but it’s also more durable and has two zippered pockets. The Dynamo for fall 2011 will be made of MontBell’s 12 denier Ballistic Airlight, the same superb fabric they use on their Spiral sleeping bags. Many hikers have found that MontBell windshirt and pants, with its superb Polkatex DWR, suffices quite well for ultralight rainwear when only showers are expected. It’s also very useful for campwear over an insulated layer to hold in the heat. I like to wear my hiking shorts over the pants so I have pockets, and to put the wear on the shorts instead of the wind pants.
Nemo will be introducing the new Go-Go Elite Bivy this year which weighs just 1 pound 7 ounces (0.65 kg). It will have Nemo’s new OSMO Elite waterproof-breathable fabric and a new single-wall air beam supporting the front end. Since it doesn’t have regular tent poles, this tent packs down to the size of a cantaloupe, making it useful for very lightweight, compact travel like bicycling or kayaking and of course UL backpacking. Their new OSMO Elite fabric has some amazing specs: 10 denier (!), waterproofness 1,686 mm tested, and breathability 6,131 g/m2/24 hours (ASTM e-96 method). Outside of Cuben Fiber, Nemo’s 10 denier OSMO Elite is the lightest tent fabric on the market, and it’s breathable. MSRP will be US$400.
We reported on Nemo’s new 31-ounce (0.88-kg) Obi Elite 1P tent (not shown) last summer, which also uses the new Nemo OSMO Elite fabric, and we are anxious to test it out this spring. I wanted to again mention the Obi 2P Tent (above), in case you missed it last summer. This is a two-person, double-wall tent with two doors and two vestibules weighing just 3 pounds (1.36 kg). It has ample floor space (27 ft2/2.5 m2), good vestibule area (18 ft2/1.7 m2), and good headroom inside, so when it comes out this spring it will be one of the lightest (non sardine can) two-person-double wall tents on the market. Inside (right) there is built-in gear storage at the head end; the two white panels are sleeves to put a headlamp in to light up the tent. The shell and fly are 20 denier nylon and floor is 30 denier nylon. MSRP is US$390.
Outdoor Research continues to add to their large collection of superb handwear and headwear for fall 2011. One of the standouts this time is the Mount Baker Modular Mitts (4.9 ounces per pair/139 g, US$139), consisting of a Primaloft 120 weight liner with heat pocket and 70 denier Gore-Tex shell. We really like modular mitts (or gloves) because you can wear them with a variety of liners (different materials and weights) to adjust to the conditions and keep your hands dry.
A unique new headpiece from Outdoor Research is the Transcendent Beanie (left, 1 ounce/28 g, US$40), which is insulated with 650 fill-power down. It’s like a sleeping bag for your head! Perhaps women will like this piece better than men (it is available in black too), but it’s obviously very functional. We included the Radiant Beanie (right, 1.2 ounces/34 g, US$22) as a consolation, because a liner cap like this a very lightweight multi-purpose piece – use it as a liner under a helmet or cap, as an outer layer, or a sleeping cap. Very useful and very light.
Over at the Rab booth we found the new Stretch Neo Jacket (17 ounces/482 g, US$365) for fall 2011, made of the new Polartec NeoShell, a new waterproof-breathable fabric that is at least twice as breathable than eVENT (much more on that in our special article at the end of the show). Because of its weight, the Stretch Neo Jacket is more of a day use garment, and Rab targets it to “fast moving activities.” The color is designed to get you to front of the ski lift line asap; other colors are available, honest! It’s fully featured with a helmet compatible hood and wire beak, YKK Aquaguard zippers, two large zippered chest pockets, two internal mesh zippered pockets, hem drawcord, and adjustable cuffs. A number of manufacturers will be introducing NeoShell jackets, and some may be a bit lighter, but Rab is adept at getting the features and details just right. Also noteworthy, we got to meet Rab Carrington at the Rab booth; they are celebrating their thirtieth year.
Granite Gear always has a new lightweight internal frame backpack for us to report on, and this time it’s the Nimbus Core (3 pounds 12 ounces/1.47 kg, US$280) available spring 2011. Many readers ask us about bear canister compatibility; well the Nimbus Core is literally designed around a bear canister! It’s capable of carrying a big one at that. The pack features a unique panel loading system, two large lateral pockets, and stretch side pockets. If you’re not familiar with Granite Gear packs, they weigh a tad more than the lightest internal frame backpacks, but they’re super adjustable and super comfortable to carry, and the Nimbus Core is no exception.
Barefoot technology has reached a new minimum with “shoes” being introduced by ZEMGear weighing in around 2.2 ounces (62 g) per shoe. No, that’s not a typo! They have various models, available in either a round toe or split toe, low cut or mid height, for different purposes from yoga to barefoot running. Some examples are the Oxygen2 (upper shoe) and the 360 (lower shoe). The MSRP is around US$30. Since they are so light, we thought they would make nice camp shoes or wading shoes at the very least; the rubber soles are very slip resistant. Check them out at ZEMGear.com. It will be interesting to see what our barefoot technology expert Damien Tougas has to say about this super minimalist shoe!
Cascade Designs has been busy too, developing the new Therm-a-Rest All-Season NeoAir Sleeping Pad, which is a four-season pad available in three sizes. These pads have overlapping tubes (upper right, with twice as many cells than the standard NeoAir pads) and three layers of reflective material, yielding a claimed R-value of 4.9. The sizes are: Medium (20 x 66 x 2.5 in / 51 x 168 x 6.4 cm; 18 ounces; US$140), Regular (20 x 72 x 2.5 in / 51 x 183 x 6.4 cm; 19 ounces; US$150), and Large (25 x 77 x 2.5 in / 64 x 196 x 6.4 cm ; 25 ounces; US$170). The pads will include a very lightweight pump (lower right) that can be used with any bag to inflate the pad more quickly. Although the weights climb up a bit from the standard NeoAir pads, the comfort and warmth increase as well. We hope to include this one in our State of the Market Report on lightweight inflatable sleeping pads planned for publication this summer.
Here’s the cure for cold hands and feet: Thermo Soles and Thermo Gloves by Atlantic Horizon. These are wireless rechargeable heated insoles and glove liners with multiple heat levels, and the insoles even come with a remote control. The insoles weigh 5 ounces (142 g) per pair and cost US$129. They have two settings: low (100F/38C) and high (111F/44C). A low-profile Lithium Ion battery is built into the heel of each insole. The gloves weigh 9.4 ounces (266 g) per pair and cost US$135. They have three temperature settings: low (93F/34C), medium (102F/39C), and high (111F/44C). A button sets the temperature level, and the heat comes from stretchable carbon fibers in the topside and fingers of the glove. A charge for the insoles or gloves will last five to six hours. If snowmobilers can have electronic hand and foot warmers, why can’t we?
Mountain Hardwear will be introducing their DryQ waterproof-breathable technology for fall 2011. DryQ combines the eVENT PTFE membrane with Mountain Hardwear’s expertise in all aspects of fabric technology and garment construction. (We will explain DryQ further in our upcoming article on new waterproof-breathable fabric technologies). There will be three types of DryQ: Elite for hardcore mountaineering and skiing, Core for the mainstream consumer, and Active for lightweight high energy pursuits. DryQ Active will probably interest our readers the most because it will be found in the MH’s lightest garments like the hooded Effusion Jacket (about 12 ounces/340 g, about US$200) which is a minimalist softshell utilizing Polartec Power Stretch as the face fabric. The jacket is waterproof and will have about the same breathability as a comparable eVENT jacket.
Since this is winter OR, we visited Backcountry Access (BCA) to see what’s new. They allowed us to demo their new Float 36 Avalanche Airbag Backpack (7.7 pounds/3.5 kg, US$785) for 2012 (see video below; small problem – it’s sideways – but you get the idea!). That was quite an experience; it made me feel like Rocket Man! The pack has a ripcord in the right shoulder strap, which needs to be kept handy when traveling in avalanche conditions. Obviously you try to avoid the dreaded event, but when it happens you pull (hard) on the ripcord and the resulting airbag inflates instantly and keeps you afloat (hopefully). The airbag is rechargeable by going to a paintball center and having them refill the gas cylinder for around US$10-20. The pack itself contains a full quiver of essentials including big volume, internal frame, inside shovel and probe pockets, ski and snowboard carry system, lined goggle pocket, hydration sleeve and through shoulder strap tube insulation, backpanel access, and hipbelt pockets.
We knocked on Timberland’s door and asked to see the new Cadion 2.0 Boot (right boot, 17.5 ounces/496 g per boot, US$180). Recall the Cadion of a several years back, which was an amazing lightweight boot from Timberland’s skunkworks. Well, they are at it again, with the goal of developing the world’s lightest full-on hiking boot, and it looks like they succeeded. This is a full-height boot with an aggressive Vibram outsole, Pebax foam midsole, and Gore-Tex WP-B lining. They reduced the weight of the outsole by 50% by reducing the number of lugs, while still providing plenty of traction and durability. The Pebax midsole is a plastic foam that is 20% lighter and 200 times more resilient than EVA and retains its softness over a wide temperature range. The boot’s upper is all synthetic materials, no leather (the brown upper looks like leather in the photo, but it’s actually a tough fabric like Cordura nylon). Another equally remarkable boot from Timberland is the LiteTrace Multisport Boot (left boot, 12 ounces/340 g per boot, US$ ). It’s also waterproof and breathable, but it’s not Gore-Tex. The mid-height LiteTrace also has a Pebax midsole, aggressive outsole, an all synthetic upper, and thin TPU plate for rock protection. It’s significantly softer than the Cadion; more like an Innov-8 boot. Both boots are about a D width and will be available in mid-summer 2011.
While I am on the subject of lightweight boots, I might mention that we are working on an article focused on lightweight wide mid-height boots, for publication this summer/fall. For those of us privileged to have wide feet for more traction and support, finding wide hiking boots is a challenge because manufacturers are not clear on how wide their boots actually are. We will report on the wider boots we found, and discuss the benefits (if any) of a mid-height boot over a low-cut trail runner.
That’s it for Day 1. Tomorrow will have another full load of interesting gear to report on again for Day 2 of the show. Cheers!
Will Rietveld, Senior Editor for Gear and Apparel
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2011: The Show Begins With All-Mountain Demo at Solitude Ski Area
New/upgraded snowshoes from MSR, Atlas, Tubbs, and Kahtoola; lightweight Kahtoola crampons; and a new “sidecountry” ski pack from Osprey.
Introduction
Wednesday January 19: rain in Salt Lake City and new powder in the mountains. All-Mountain Demo was held at a new place this year, Solitude Mountain Resort just east of the city. Nature cooperated by providing 10 inches (25 cm) of new powder the night before and more during the day. What an amazing trip it was to leave nearly snow-free Salt Lake City, chain up the bus at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, then grind up the steep narrow canyon to a winter wonderland at Solitude, which has received nearly 300 inches (762 cm) of snow already this winter.
Numerous manufacturers bring their latest snow gear to the All-Mountain Demo for retailers and the media to see and try out – skis, snowshoes, goggles, sunglasses, packs, traction devices, winter sports clothing, and many other items. Hot drinks and hand/foot warmers were among the most popular items this time!
We have not covered snowshoes very much for the past couple of years, so we wanted to catch up in that category. There have been some significant improvements, and we want to highlight several models that struck our interest because of their light weight and innovations. We will first describe the snowshoes in the photo series below, then present our impressions gained from our on-site testing.
Expanding their Lightning line of snowshoes, MSR (a Cascade Designs brand) introduced the Lightning Flash (and Axis shown above) in fall 2010. Weighing in at just over 3 pounds (1.36 kg) per pair, the Lightning Flash is MSR’s lightest snowshoe, yet it provides superb traction and stability. The Lightning series has a wrap-around flat, vertical aluminum frame that is serrated on the bottom, which they call their “360-degree traction frame.” There are also two serrated cross members to provide additional traction for climbing and descending, plus the usual wicked toe crampons under the binding. This snowshoe also features MSR’s SpeedLock binding system, which has one wide strap over the toe secured with a clamp that sets your boot fit- adjust it once and you don’t have to change it (for the same boots). MSRP is US$199; and it’s available in 22- and 25-inch (56- and 64-cm) lengths and men’s and women’s models. Five-inch (13-cm) flotation tails are available for US$50.
The MSR Lightning Axis snowshoe (US$240) has all of the features of the Flash plus the ability to rotate the angle of the binding, so the snowshoes track straight regardless of any problems you may have with your feet angling inward or outward. They also have a heel lift (the Flash doesn’t) for comfort when climbing steep hills.
The new Atlas Aspect snowshoe for fall 2011 weigh 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg) per pair, but they are extraordinary in the amount of features, traction, and durability packed into that weight. These are high-end aluminum-framed snowshoes priced at $270. They are available in 24- and 28-inch (61- and 71-cm) lengths at the same price, and separate men’s and women’s models. The Aspect has Atlas’s Spring Loaded Suspension (which allows freedom of movement at the pivot point), long wicked toe crampons, serrated side frame (for lateral stability), one serrated cross member that provides downhill stability, a lightweight step-in binding that lays flat for packing, and very attractive decking. Overall, the Aspect may not be the lightest snowshoe around, but it would be hard to find a better performing backcountry snowshoe in its weight category.
We reported on the Tubbs Flex snowshoe a couple of years ago. They are an injection molded plastic snowshoe that features a flexible deck that allows the snowshoe to conform to the terrain. The lightweight Flex TRK (pronounced “Trek”) model will be significantly updated for fall 2011, and will feature a one-piece flexible deck (instead of two pieces), lateral serrated traction, a lightweight step-in binding with toe stop, aggressive toe crampons, and a heel lift. They will be available in women’s 22-inch and men’s 24-inch (56- and 61-cm) lengths for just US$140, which is $10 less than the current version. The weight is 3 pounds 14 ounces (1.76 kg) for the 24-inch (61-cm) snowshoes.
We have previously reviewed the Kahtoola Flight System, consisting of an insulated boot (with integrated traction spikes) that clicks onto a snowshoe deck. The current iteration (available now) replaces the Flight boot with the Trail Crampon, a wearable traction device for hiking snow packed trails. The fall 2011 version shown is expandable to fit different width boots.
The Trail Crampon clicks onto the Mountain Series Deck to create a full-fledged snowshoe. The crampon and decks are sold together; the 24-inch (61-cm) length weighs just under 4 pounds (1.81 kg) and costs US$279 and the 28-inch (71-cm) deck length weighs 4 pounds 6 ounces (1.98 kg) and costs US$289. Both weights include the decks and crampons. The beauty of this system is that you get two useful snow travel devices, the snowshoe decks lay flat on top of each other for easy packing, and the crampon attaches/detaches easily from the deck.
Snowshoe Testing
We tested each snowshoe on a quarter mile route in fresh powder up a nearby steep mountain side. So how did they perform? Our favorites were the Atlas, Tubbs, and MSR because of their excellent traction. The Atlas Aspect is the Lexus of the group, with its strong construction, full feature set, excellent stability, and superb traction. But they are a bit pricey at US$270 and weigh 4.5 pounds (2.04 kg).
The MSR Lightning Flash is the standout for light weight and reasonable cost. They are strongly built, have superb traction, and the bindings are cleverly designed for convenience and packing. At 3 pounds 5 ounces (1.5 kg) per pair for the men’s 25-inch (64-cm) length, these snowshoes weigh 13 ounces (369 g) more per pair compared to the Northern Lites Elite, which are the lightest snowshoes we know of. They also cost US$26 less. Although the Flash weighs three-fourths of a pound (340 g) more, their superb traction more than justifies the weight. While the Elite has only modest toe and heel crampons, the Lightning Flash is a traction machine; it’s like comparing an alligator with a catfish.
The Tubbs Flex TRK is the sleeper in the group. This snowshoe is injection molded plastic, but it is still very strong (Tubbs says it has had no breakage problems on the current model), quite light at 3.75 pounds (1.76 kg) per pair (9 ounces/255 g more than the MSR Lightning Flash), also has excellent traction (but not quite as good as the Atlas Aspect or MSR Lightning Flash), has a heel lift (which the Flash doesn’t), and costs just US$140. It’s an excellent balance of light weight, durability, traction, features, and cost.
Which leaves the Kahtoola system: The Trail Crampons are a solid and effective traction device, and the system connects and disconnects easily. However, I am not sold on the need for two separate components, Kahtoola’s snowshoes have only modest toe and heel crampons and no lateral crampons, and they weigh 4 pounds (1.81 kg) or more. Their cost is the same as the high-end Atlas Aspect. For my money, I would choose the Atlas, Tubbs, or MSR snowshoes plus a pair of slip-on traction devices to use on snow packed trails.
Kahtoola also makes the lightweight KTS Crampons, available now in aluminum for US$149 and steel for US$159. Their weights are 18.9 ounces (540 g) and 23.3 ounces (662 g), respectively. The beauty of these crampons is their flexibility; they bend to conform with your boot with each step.
Finally, we found out that Osprey does not have enough packs yet! Introducing the Karve, a “sidecountry” pack, which will be available fall 2011. What’s a sidecountry pack you ask? Well, think of the sides of a ski run, where one can get into some powder. The Karve – which will come in 6L, 11L, and 16L sizes for US$79, US$89, and US$99 respectively – has an amazing design. It will carry skis diagonally or a snowboard vertically on the front, it has one zippered insulated shoulder strap (bottom left)for a drink tube, hydration sleeve inside, shovel blade sleeve, shovel handle sleeve, probe sleeve, fleece-lined goggle pocket, electronics pocket (bottom right), and of course a main compartment. The whole pack has a thin profile so it can be worn on a ski lift. And the graphics on the exterior are pretty cool; available in three colors.
Coming Up
Tomorrow is day one of the main show and the euphoric madness begins. We have numerous meetings with our favorite companies, who always come through with lots of new, lightweight, exciting gear. Look for our blog of the interesting gear we find each day of the show, published the next morning.
We will wrap up our OR show coverage with an article on new waterproof-breathable fabric technologies – an update on what’s new from Gore and eVENT (the usual competitors), plus three more new, major players. We are at the beginning a new revolution in waterproof-breathable fabric technologies; look for our article early next week for the details.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo Ultralight Modular Shelter System Review
These Cuben Fiber shelter systems are among the lightest out there, consisting of a tarp, mesh insert, and front beak and providing five useful shelter options!
Introduction
The Echo I (left) and Echo II (right) are modular shelter systems consisting of a tarp, mesh insert, and front beak. The total weights are just 23.6 and 29.9 ounces (669 and 848 g), respectively.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear expanded a niche in the ultralight shelter category – they created an ultralight modular shelter system in which the components can be used separately or together. The components are: a catenary tarp, a mesh insert, and a front beak. The complete shelter adds up to a well-ventilated double-wall tent with full weather protection, or you can use the mesh insert or tarp separately when conditions allow. And HMG went to the extreme on the materials – Cuben Fiber – so these shelters are extremely light. The Echo I (one person) weighs just 23.6 ounces (669 g), and the Echo II (two people) weighs 29.9 ounces (848 g), with guylines but without stakes. An ultralight modular shelter system is a wonderful idea, as long as the components fit and function well together and separately; so how well do these shelters perform in the real world?
Specifications
| Year/Manufacturer/Model | 2010 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo I and Echo II (hyperlitemountaingear.com) |
| Style | Three-season, one- and two-person, non-freestanding shelter with floor, front entry with vestibule. Trekking pole support |
| Included | Tarp, mesh insert, front beak, guylines, storage bag |
| Fabrics | Tarp and beak are Cuben Fiber CF8 0.78 oz/yd2 (26.4 g/m2); insert side panels are CF8, floor is Cuben Fiber CF15 1.48 oz/yd2 (50.2 g/m2), canopy is no-see-um mesh |
| Poles and Stakes | Adjustable trekking poles required, stakes not included |
| Floor Dimensions | Echo I specified: 82 in (208 cm) long x 32 in (81 cm) wide at head end x 20 in (51 cm) wide at foot end, front height 38 in (97 cm) Echo I measured: 82 in (208 cm) long x 32.5 in (83 cm) wide at head end x 19.5 (50 cm) wide at foot end, front height 36.5 in (93 cm) Echo II specified: 84 in (213 cm) long x 52 in (132 cm) wide at head end x 45 in (cm) wide at foot end, front height 41 in (104 cm) Echo II measured: 84 in (213 cm) long x 51 in (130 cm) wide at head end x 44.5 in (113 cm) wide at foot end, front height 36.5 in (93 cm) |
| Features | Modular design, lightweight fabrics, catenary ridgeline and Spectra core guylines with line-locks on tarp, full-width zippered entry door on insert, full-height water-resistant zipper with two pulls on beak |
| Packed Size | Echo I: 12 in x 10 in x 3 in (30 x 25 x 8 cm) Echo II: 12 in x 10 in x 4 in (30 x 25 x 10 cm) |
| Total Weight | Echo I measured weight 23.6 oz (669 g) manufacturer specification 23.7 oz (672 g) Echo II measured weight 29.9 oz (848 g), manufacturer specification 29.5 oz (836 g), excludes stakes |
| Trail Weight | Echo I 22.9 oz (649 g) Echo II 29.4 oz (833 g), excludes stuff sack |
| Protected Area | Echo I floor area 18 ft2 ( 1.67m2), vestibule area 6.1 ft2 (0.57 m2), total protected area 24.1 ft2 (2.24 m2) Echo II floor area 24 ft2 (2.23 m2), vestibule area 9.2 ft2 (0.85 m2), total protected area 33.2 ft2 (3.08 m2) |
| Protected Area/Trail Weight Ratio | Echo I 16.85 ft2/lb (3.45 m2/kg) Echo II 18.04 ft2/lb (3.69 m2/kg) |
| MSRP | Echo I US$490 Echo II US$595 |
| Options | Components can be purchased separately, several stake packages available, carbon fiber tarp poles available |
Design and Features
The design of the Echo I and Echo II shelter systems are identical; they only differ in size (see specifications above). Both consist of a catenary tarp with Spectra core guylines, a mesh insert, and a front beak. Adjustable trekking poles are required for setup; optional carbon fiber tarp poles available from HMG. I will briefly describe each component separately:
- Tarp – This is a full-fledged Cuben Fiber catenary tarp with fully bonded and reinforced ridgeline and tieouts. HMG uses a stronger weight of Cuben Fiber (CF8), which is 0.78 oz/yd2 (26.4 g/m2). The Echo 1 Tarp provides 51 ft2 (4.74 m2) of protected area and weighs 8.1 ounces (230 g, measured weight) with guylines, and the Echo II Tarp provides 68 ft2 (6.32 m2) of protection and weighs 9.3 ounces (264 g). The Echo II tarp can be used with the Echo I Mesh Insert (but not the reverse).
- Mesh Insert – The mesh insert has elastic cords (three at each end) that connect to rings on the tarp. It’s easy to install after the tarp is set up, or it can be left connected and set up as a unit. The lower sidewalls are Cuben Fiber CF8 and the bathtub floor is heavier Cuben Fiber CF15 (1.48 oz/yd2/50.2 g/m2) for extra durability. The Echo I insert weighs 11 ounces (312 g, measured) and provides 18 ft2 (1.67 m2) of floor area, and the Echo II weighs 15.4 ounces (437 g) and provides 24 ft2 (2.23 m2) of floor area.
- Front Beak – The front beak provides a vestibule-protected entry for the shelter. It’s also made of Cuben Fiber CF8 and has a full-height water-resistant zipper with two pulls. The weight is 3.9 ounces (111 g, measured) for the Echo I, and 4.7 ounces (133 g) for the Echo II.
There are five useful configurations possible with the Echo shelter system:
- Tarp only
- Tarp plus Front Beak
- Tarp plus Mesh Insert
- Tarp plus Mesh Insert plus Front Beak
- Mesh Insert only
Views of the Echo II: The front entry (top left) is protected by a beak that also provides vestibule space for gear storage. The foot end (top right) is lower; note that the shelter has lots of ventilation space between the insert and the tarp, and the end of the mesh insert is Cuben Fiber for rain protection. The side view (bottom left) shows the shelter’s long length and Cuben Fiber bathtub sidewalls of the insert. The top view shows the shelter’s overall shape and proportions.
Inside view of the Echo I (left) and Echo II (right) with standard 20-inch (51-cm) wide sleeping pad(s). Each shelter has about 5 inches (12.7 cm) of space between the pad and outside wall of the mesh insert.
Video tour of the Echo II.
Performance
As a solo tent (left), the Echo II provides loads of room. The Echo II Tarp used as a solo shelter (right) at 12,450 feet (3,795 m) at a beautiful alpine lake.
Set-up is fairly fast, but not as fast and easy as some single-wall shelters. I set up the Echo I in the rain one time and it required a long five minutes! The mesh insert and beak can be left attached to the tarp and set up as a unit. Simply spread the shelter on the ground, loosely stake the four corners of the tarp, set trekking poles to 45 inches (114 cm) for the front end and 36 inches (91 cm) for the rear end, insert tips of the poles into rings on the tarp ridgeline, tighten the guylines, and stake down the corners of the mesh insert. The beak is the hardest part to set up because the geometry needs to be just right for it to fit properly. The process becomes easier after you have done it a few times.
The livability of the Echo I and Echo II is very good as far as floor space. I used the Echo II both solo and with my wife and had adequate room for people plus gear. As expected, the Echo II is heaven for one person, with loads of room inside.
I found headroom to be an issue with both the Echo I and Echo II. I’m 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and did not find either tent tall enough for me at the head end; my head pressed against the mesh ceiling as shown in the photos. I measured the height at the front peak at 36.5 inches (93 cm) for both tents. And that’s the maximum headroom; it diminishes to 32-33 inches (81-84 cm) just 12 inches inside the tent.
According to manufacturer specifications, the Echo II provides 3 inches (7.6 cm) more headroom, but I measured it to be the same as the Echo I. The actual headroom will vary a bit depending on how the tent is pitched, but nevertheless it’s inadequate for a taller person. The mesh inner tent stretches when you press against it with your head, so that’s basically the situation for taller people. My wife commented: “It looks like there is more headroom than there really is, because you see the underside of the tarp”.
The vestibule (front beak) provides some space for wet gear or a canine friend. Although the shelter floor is a heavier weight of Cuben Fiber, I would be reluctant to allow a dog with sharp claws inside. The floor is durable enough to lay directly on many surfaces without a groundsheet, but it is vulnerable to punctures from sharp objects. Cuben Fiber has very high tear strength, but it’s vulnerable to punctures. I would say the risk is about the same as a tent with a silnylon floor.
I encountered rain, heavy at times, on nearly every one of the six backpacking trips I took with the Echo shelters. I found both the Echo I and Echo II, with the front beak, to be very storm worthy in heavy rains, not a drop came inside. One nighttime thunderstorm while camping at 12,000 feet (3,658 m) produced heavy rain and strong winds hitting the rear of the shelter. The tarp flapped quite a bit but it stayed completely dry inside. The mesh insert has tall bathtub walls and foot end, which really helps to intercept any splash or spindrift. However, the Echo tarp and mesh inner tent combination (without the front beak) is vulnerable to wind-driven rain from the front. I used the front beak on trips where I expected rain because the mesh entry door is not as well protected from wind-driven rain as the rear of the tent.
Inside the HMG Echo I during a heavy thunderstorm.
I used the Echo II Tarp by itself on one trip (photo above, under “Performance” heading). A larger tarp like this provides lots of sheltered area for one person plus gear, eliminating the need to carry a sleeping bag cover. It was breezy most of the night, causing the tarp to flap a bit and overall making it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep compared to sleeping in a tent. In contrast, using the tarp plus the mesh insert provides much better protection from wind and nighttime breezes.
Comparisons
Other modular shelter systems similar to the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo I and Echo II are the Alpinlite Gear (www.alpinlitegear.com) Bug Shelter and tarp system and the Mountain Laurel Designs (www.mountainlaureldesigns.com) Serenity Shelter plus a tarp, and their pyramid-type shelters plus a mesh InnerNet.
The Alpinlite Bug Shelter is available in several sizes. It’s made of silnylon and mesh; for example, the two-person version weighs 32.1 ounces (910 g), costs US$455, and has more floor area and headroom. The Bug Shelter does not have a bathtub floor for end and side protection, but one is being developed. An alternative system is to pair the Alpinlite Bug Shelter with the Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn spinnaker tarp; that system for two people weighs about 23.8 ounces (675 g) and costs US$330, significantly less than the Echo II but it does not have a front beak.
The MLD Serenity Shelter plus a Cuben Solo Pro Tarp weighs 11.8 ounces (335 g) and costs US$294. The MLD Grace Duo Spinntex tarp plus Duo InnerNet mesh interior weighs 24.7 ounces (700 g) and costs US$350. The DuoMid plus the Duo InnerNet weighs 26.5 ounces (751 g) and costs US$370. These combinations weigh less than the HMG Echo Shelters, but they lack a beak to protect the front entry. The headroom in the Serenity Shelter is about the same as the Echo Shelters, but the mid-type shelters have a lot more headroom.
My thanks to reader Dan Durston for information used in this section; for more details, read his full reader review of the HMG Echo I Shelter in the Backpacking Light forums.
The systems described above have their pros and cons. They cost less than the HMG Echo Modular Shelter System, have a bit more floor area (and headroom in some cases), but the lack of a bathtub floor in the Alpinlite shelters is a serious drawback, and there is no beak/front vestibule to protect the entry (except for the MLD Mids).
Assessment
This HMG Echo Modular Shelter System really makes a lot of sense because it has five useful combinations. And it’s very lightweight, equivalent to the weight of many lightweight single-wall solo tents.
It’s important to note that the Echo shelters are intended for the experienced ultralight backpacker. These shelters do not have the convenience features that most lightweight backpackers prefer, like a dedicated pole set, two doors with vestibules, storage pockets, and extra interior space. They will be best liked by the minimalist backpacker, one who wants things simplest and lightest.
Thru-hikers should especially like this shelter system. It keeps weight to a minimum and offers shelter options, depending on the conditions. A solo backpacker can carry a shelter system that weighs less than 1.5 pounds (680 g) and have the choice of sleeping under a tarp, in a mesh tent, in an open-ended double-wall shelter, or in a fully protected double-wall shelter with vestibule. That’s a lot of options for the weight! A thru-hiker is less concerned about convenience features because they typically hike late into the day, then set-up their shelter and go to sleep.
For hikers who appreciate a little more room and comfort, the Echo II is probably the best choice. For 6.3 ounces (179 g) more, one gets a whole lot more floor space, and the shelter can be used solo or with a partner. Also the Echo II Tarp provides a lot more protected area when tarp camping.
The only significant drawback of the Echo shelters is their low headroom for taller hikers. By the numbers, the Echo II has 3 more inches (7.6 cm) of headroom, but the difference is moot because the inner mesh tent tapers down to only 32-33 inches (81-84 cm) of headroom only 12 inches (30 cm) inside the tent. For shorter hikers, the shelters’ headroom is likely to be less of an issue.
Overall, the Echo modular shelter system is one of the nicest shelters I have tested. Its choice of materials balances lightweight and durability, it’s well designed and constructed, the components are designed to work together, it’s wonderfully versatile, it’s very storm worthy, and it will last a long time.
What’s Good
- Extremely lightweight
- Highly versatile
- Quite durable
- Excellent construction
- Plenty of floor space for one or two people
- Excellent ventilation and condensation resistance
- Mesh insert provides full bug protection
- Very storm worthy
- Gear in the entry vestibule can easily be reached from inside the tent
What’s Not So Good
- Limited headroom
- Requires a fairly large area to set up
- Full system takes longer to set up compared to many tents
- Does not provide as much wind protection as a tent
- Front trekking pole support blocks entry
- Expensive
Recommendations for Improvement
- Increase headroom
Vibram FiveFingers KSO Treks Review
Will heavier mid and outer soles plus durable leather uppers make for backpacking bliss, or will the Treks leave our feet wrecks?
Introduction
Vibram has made an entire line of footwear, the FiveFingers, built around the concept of barefoot walking. The benefits of barefoot walking and running are explained in great detail on Vibram’s website.
While it makes a lot of sense to me, it is also quite a touchy subject with adherents in both camps. I wanted to know how their KSO Treks would work for backpackers, and as an added bonus, my kids thought the “gorilla feet” looked cool.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Vibram (www.vibramfivefingers.com) |
| Year/Model | 2010 FiveFingers KSO Trek |
| Weight | Manufacturer specification 11.4 oz/pair (323 g) size 42 Measured weight 13.7 oz/pair (388 g) size 44 |
| Size reviewed | Men’s 44, size range runs from 40 to 47 (US 10.25 to 12) |
| Materials | Uppers and footbed: kangaroo leather, Sole: 4mm EVA midsole & Vibram TC-1 rubber outsole |
| Suggested Use | Light trekking, trail running, and travel |
| MSRP | US $125.00 |
Design and Features
Top: The Treks have lugs! The 4mm outsole is a boon to backpackers. Center: The sole rolls up at key spots to add protection. Bottom: The Treks are secured with a Velcro adjustable wrap-around strap.
As this is the first Backpacking Light review of a FiveFinger product, I suppose a bit of explanation is in order. The Vibram FiveFinger line of footwear all has a common feature in the way each toe is wrapped separately. This lets your toes move naturally just as you would when walking barefoot, instead of them being forced to move all together as they are in a typical shoe.
The KSO Treks are the burlier ruggedized version of the regular KSO (Keep Stuff Out), so named due to the wrap-around design. The Treks add a lot to the regular version that also seems to be right up the lightweight backpacker’s alley. Vibram recommends the Treks for “light trekking, trail running, and travel.” The Treks add kangaroo leather at the upper and sock liner for durability and breathability. The leather is soft enough to wear against bare skin. While it is offered in black, I chose brown to help hide the dirt and mud I expected to be in.
Vibram doubled the thickness of the EVA midsole in the KSO to 4 mm in the Treks to offer more protection from stone bruising. The biggest difference between the two are the cleated 4 mm Vibram TC-1 rubber outsoles. Besides providing more traction, the small lugs help keep rocks at bay. The rubber outsole comes up high enough to protect the front of the toes and a small section comes up to protect the heel also. A leather and nylon strap runs over and around the foot to provide a snug fit by pulling it tight and securing with the generous Velcro section.
The sides of the toes (where they touch other toes) is made with highly breathable nylon that is close to being a mesh. Water freely flows into (and out of) these spots. According to Vibram, the Treks are machine washable. They say to use a gentle, warm water cycle with liquid or powdered detergent, and hang to air dry. They warn to keep the KSO Treks away from direct sunlight or heat source while drying.
Performance
The Treks worked well on packed dirt trails like the PCT shown here, but once the rocks grew to scree or fist-sized, the wimpy author felt them far too keenly! :)
I have been using the Treks since April 2010. At writing time, I have put in 54 miles (87 km) of backpacking on them, including 31 miles (50 km) in the Sespe Wilderness in California and 19 miles (31 km) in Itasca State Park in Minnesota. The remainder was on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) as seen in the picture above. These trips have ranged in temperature from 50 to 97 F (10 to 36 C). Elevations ranged from 400 to 6,000 feet (122 to 1830 m) in conditions ranging from rain and wind to hot sunny days. The loads carried ranged from 17 to 25 pounds (7.7 to 11.3 kg) although I once schlepped a painful 52 pounds in them.
I have also carried the Treks in my pack for almost 400 miles (644 km) just to use them for river and stream crossings and as camp shoes at the end of the day. Much of this took place in the Sierra Nevada in Yosemite and Kings Canyon Sequoia National Parks, with the remainder in the mountains of southern California.
I even used them for travel. You should see the looks they get at airports. I wore them for twelve straight hours walking around Lake Morena County Park campground at the 2010 Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff. I was stopped all day long by people asking if they were the Trek model and asking to see the soles. I was on one foot a lot that day…
Assessment
The gentle packed dirt trails of Minnesota, like this one in Itasca State Park, were great for using the Treks. Emma and Raymond liked the gorilla footprints I left whenever I stepped in the mud.
I have been intrigued by Vibram FiveFingers since I saw them back in 2005 at the Outdoor Retailer Show. I immediately thought they would be great for crossing fast moving water, but the lack of a “real” sole kept me from trying them. Then I saw the introduction of the new Trek model and said “it’s time!” I wore them for a couple days of just running around and at work. I really liked the way that they felt, and I quickly made the transition to walking without a hard heel strike.
I started out using them for four miles of a 22-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. They were great on packed dirt and sand, but as the terrain became rockier I had problems. The Treks grip very well on exposed rock and are OK walking on smooth or rounded rocks strewn in the trail, but triangular profile rocks hurt the bottom of my foot as the profile would telegraph through. And the telegraph message was dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot (SOS or Save Our Soles!)… I had to stop and put my trail runners back on.
Pickin’ daisies.
Now a lot of this is on me. Having spent much of my life barefoot, I was told after my second set of plantar wart laser surgery to stop, as I was picking up the spores in the dirt. Since 2003 I have worn shoes at all times outside, except at the beach. This means my footsies are far from being “tough.” While I had problems with rocks, I met a couple of our members that were doing the same section of PCT that I was on. One was using the thinner regular KSO and was having no problems at all.
Large rock and slick rock were not a problem for me. The soles grip very well and traction was good for all use I had with the Treks. Backpacking in Minnesota was another story altogether. The trails in Minnesota are mostly packed dirt with grass growing on them. Indeed, much trail maintenance is done with a riding mower, I kid you not. The Treks worked very well on these trails.
One thing I discovered right away is that off-trail hiking (bushwhacking) is difficult because of the separate toes. Sticks and twigs like to slide between my toes. So do flowers! One of our BPL members told me that walking through spring flowers near Big Bear California he looked like he was picking mini-bouquets. I thought of his apt description as the same thing happened to me one wet day on the North Country Trail as seen to the right.
While the Treks have been so-so for my backpacking needs, they have worked wonderfully as a river crossing shoe. This was a high snow year in both states I reside in, so the rivers were really cranking during the start of the hiking season. I usually carry Solomon Tech Amphibian water shoes for this reason. The weight of the Treks is the same, but the Treks are much more sure-footed while crossing tricky stretches of water. Being able to have my toes conform to the rocks adds a level of confidence to the chore.
On a trip along the swollen Sespe Creek I had to cross it so many times that I just left the Treks on to save time. I was OK until a person in the group ran out of steam and could not go on. Rather than leave her (or stop) I carried two packs for the last 3 miles (5 km) which put 52 pounds (23.6 kg) on my back and feet. That was completely too much weight to use on the rocks we encountered. The next day my feet were so bruised that I had to wear my trail runners all the way back to the trailhead. Three months later I was back on the same hike, as a group wanted to go to the hot springs they had heard us talk about (Hello, L!). This time (with normal weight) I used them for the entire trip with no problems.
The Treks make great camp shoes for lounging around in while waiting for dinner. At least I think I have them on… yeah, there’s the yellow Vibram logo.
The last way I use the Treks are as camp shoes. Once my camp is set up for the evening I like to go jump in a lake. Literally. Or a creek, river, or other water source. Wearing the Treks ensures I am not going to injure my feet if I step on a fishing hook or piece of glass (many areas in Minnesota can be reached by boat, and hooks/glass can be a real problem). Water drains from the nylon between the toes quickly, and they are comfortable to wear around camp until sack-time.
While I have not put a lot of distance on them, they have spent a lot of time getting soaked and drying back out. I have only washed them one time so far. They are still in great shape and have never developed any foot funk. I often wore Injinji socks or short liners with the Treks, though you can skip a sock in this footwear. My purpose was primarily to keep ticks off my feet as I used permetherin treated socks. I really like the Treks and plan to keep taking them on most of my three-season trips. I will leave you with a shot of me tiptoeing through the tulips. Well, packing through the poison oak.
What’s Good
- Comfortable
- Good for backpacking in areas that are not too rocky
- Excellent for crossing fast moving water
- Drain water quickly
What’s Not so Good
- Can get bruised feet on some terrain
- Toes are foreign matter collection devices
Disclosure: The manufacturer provided this product to the author and/or Backpacking Light at no charge, and it is owned by the author/BPL. The author/Backpacking Light has no obligation to review this product to the manufacturer under the terms of this agreement.
Editor’s Suggested Related Reading
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010: Minimalist Footwear – Is It Ready for Backpackers? by Damien Tougas. Depending on how tuned-in you are to current running trends, you may have noticed that there is a new movement starting to gain traction among runners: barefoot running and minimalist footwear.
GoLite Peak Backpack Review
The frameless 36 L Peak backpack has been redesigned: we take an in-depth look, with commentary on the revised Jam and Pinnacle packs.
Introduction
Janet carrying the new GoLite Peak Backpack at an alpine lake in the southern Rockies.
GoLite has revised its UltraLite frameless backpack line for spring 2010. The Ion pack was replaced by the new Peak, and the Jam (no longer the Jam 2) and Pinnacle have received a few upgrades.
The Peak pack (which is the focus of this review) was a new model for spring 2010. Its specified 2200 cubic inch (36 L, size Medium) volume is on the small side, even for ultralight backpacking. It has the same volume as the Gossamer Gear Murmur pack (7.9 ounces/224 g), which is considered a super-ultralight backpack for hikers who carry an extremely low base weight and low volume. So, is the Peak a day pack, a capable ultralight backpack, or both?
Specifications
| Year/Model | 2010 GoLite Peak (www.golite.com/) |
| Style | Frameless backpack with removable foam backpanel and hipbelt, top loading, roll down top with top compression strap |
| Volume | Small 2075 cu in (34 L) Medium 2200 cu in (36 L) Large 2319 cu in (38 L) |
| Weight | Sizes Large and Small tested. Measured weight: 28.1 oz (797 g) size L and 25.9 oz (734 g) size S Manufacturer specification: 26 oz (737 g) size M |
| Sizes Available | Unisex S, M, L |
| Torso Fit Range | Small fits torsos 15.5 to 17.5 in (39-44 cm) Medium fits torsos 17.5 to 19.5 in (44-50 cm) Large fits torsos 19.5 to 21.5 in (50-55 cm) |
| Fabrics | Recycled 210d nylon gridstop + Dyneema; high-void polyester mesh |
| Features | Durable fabrics, removable hipbelt, adjustable sternum strap with whistle buckle, removable backpanel foam padding, 1 large zippered front pocket with storm flap, 2 stretch nylon side pockets, 2 stretch nylon zippered hipbelt pockets with stretch nylon sleeve inside, 4 side compression straps, 2 tool loops, extension collar, drawcord closure and top compression strap, 3-D wicking fabric on inside of shoulder straps and hipbelt and backpanel, stretch nylon hydration sleeve with 2 hose ports, 2 ice axe loops, haul loop, Compaktor system to reduce volume |
| Volume to Weight Ratio | 82.5 cu in/oz (based on 2319 cu in and measured weight of 28.1 oz, size Large) |
| Maximum Comfortable Load Carrying Capacity | 20 lb (9.1 kg) estimated comfortable load for an average person carrying the pack all day |
| Carry Load to Pack Weight Ratio | 11.4 (based on 20 lb and a measured weight of 1.76 lb) |
| MSRP | US$125 |
Description
GoLite’s new (spring 2010) UltraLite backpack series consists (left to right) of the Peak (2200 cubic inches/36 L), Jam (3050 cubic inches/50 L), and Pinnacle (4392 cubic inches/72 L). All are frameless backpacks with a stiff foam backpanel.
The Peak backpack is built to last – the body is 210 denier Dyneema Gridstop, and the pockets are durable stretch nylon. It’s also full-featured, with a total of five pockets and numerous other features (see Specifications). It has a removable stiff closed-cell foam backpanel insert (weight is about 1.5 oz/43 g, depending on pack size), and the hipbelt wings are also removable. Removing these items reduces pack weight by about 6.3 ounces (179 g), to about 20 ounces (567 g) for size Medium, but most users would probably not do so because it would eliminate the hipbelt pockets and vertical rigidity.
Views of the GoLite Peak: The front view (top left) shows the pack’s distinctive large front pocket and durable Dyneema Gridstop fabric. The backpanel (top right) has a strip of 3-D mesh for ventilation, and is backed by a removable closed-cell foam pad in its own sleeve. Each side (bottom left) has a stretch nylon pocket designed to make water bottles reachable. And the top view (bottom right) shows the pack’s drawcord and rolldown closure with top compression strap.
The shoulder straps (left) are 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) wide and faced with 3-D mesh on the inside. The large front pocket (middle) has a regular zipper with two pulls, protected by a storm flap.
The previous Jam 2 and Pinnacle packs had a water-resistant zipper on the front pocket and no storm flap. The curved WR zipper was a bit stiff to operate. The revised packs and new Peak now have a regular zipper with two pulls, plus a storm flap, which operates more smoothly.
The Peak’s hipbelt has two good-sized pockets (left). The hipbelt wings are easily removable (right).
The zippered stretch nylon hipbelt pockets on the UltraLite packs are very well designed and easily hold a digital camera or an assortment of smaller items. Note that there is an inner stretch pocket inside.
Note that the Peak does not have a torso length adjustment, so it’s important to measure your torso length and choose the correct pack size. The only pack fit adjustment is the shoulder strap length; the pack does not have load lifter straps or hipbelt stabilizer straps.
Performance
Fully loaded Jam pack (left) with 27.8 pounds/12.6 kg and Peak pack (right) with 14.6 pounds/6.6 kg on a six-day spring backpacking trip in Canyonlands National Park, Utah.
GoLite Peak used as a day pack by Janet (left) in a Utah slot canyon, and by Will (right) while backcountry skiing.
We used the Peak pack as both a day pack and backpack during ten months of testing. Janet used it as a backpack the most because size Small fits her well, and it’s sized well for the approximate 15-pound (6.8-kg) load she normally carries. Will used the Peak a lot as a day pack on a variety of trips, but less as a backpack because he usually requires a pack with more volume to carry shared gear. Toward the end of our testing period, Will used the Peak on a couple of solo backpacking trips to evaluate how well the Peak performed with an ultralight low volume gear kit.
We found the Peak to be versatile as both a day pack and as a backpack using ultralight gear. Several readers have inquired about backpacks that are nearly waterproof; the Peak is one we would recommend. Due to its design and materials, the Peak is very water-resistant, making it a good choice for wet conditions. The larger Jam and Pinnacle are a good choice for winter trips, as long as the carry weight is reasonable.
We especially liked the Peak’s hipbelt pockets, which are big enough to hold a digital camera or an assortment of smaller items, as well as the large zippered front pocket that provides convenient access to everything we need on the trail.
For Will, the Peak became an immediate favorite for cool and cold weather day trips. It has plenty of volume to carry the clothing needed to adjust layers throughout the day. It performs especially well for backcountry skiing – clothing, food, and thermos inside, smaller items easily accessible in the large front pocket, and skins in one of the stretch side pockets.
The Peak became a favorite backpack for Janet because it’s available in a size Small which fits her well, and it has the right volume for the amount of gear and weight she carries. As mentioned, the Peak is too small for Will when he carries all the shared gear (shelter, stove, fuel, food), so he opts for the Jam (as shown in the photo below) because it is right-sized and capable of carrying the weight.
Updated GoLite Jam pack with 28 pounds (12.7 kg) on a spring backpacking trip in Canyonlands National Park, Utah. I found it remarkable that the Jam, a frameless backpack, can comfortably carry that amount of weight.
Equally remarkable, the Pinnacle is a real load hauler. This photo shows the Pinnacle loaded with all of my igloo gear. I’m packing it out at the end of the season.
Finally, to answer the question – is the Peak a capable ultralight backpack? – the answer is a resounding yes! Solo hiking with the Peak loaded with ultralight gear weighing 16 pounds (7.3 kg) – including food, water, and fuel for two days – the Peak easily carried the volume and the weight. I used the size Large Peak, which has a volume of 38 liters, and everything fit into the main pack body plus pockets. It’s about the same size as the old GoLite Breeze. I did not need the extension collar, but hikers carrying a size Small or Medium Peak may need it to hold all their gear.
Will’s size Large Peak backpack loaded with 16 pounds (7.3 kg) of ultralight gear plus food, water, and fuel on an overnight backpack. The pack has room to spare; I didn’t even use the extension collar. The Peak has the capacity to carry gear and food for a four-day backpack.
The Peak carries a load remarkably well owing to its padded shoulder harness, hip-hugging hipbelt wings, and its stiff closed-cell foam backpanel insert which gives the pack some vertical rigidity. It transfers weight to the hips well and the backpanel hugs my back. In my opinion, the maximum comfortable carry load for the Peak is 20 pounds, but that figure will depend on how strong your shoulders are.
Our overall impressions of the Peak are as follows:
- The pack volume is perfect for ultralight backpacking. It has the right amount of room for an ultralight gear kit, plus food, water, and fuel for up to four days.
- The pack is well designed, made of durable materials, and has loads of features.
- We love the pack’s large zippered front pocket; it provides convenient access to most items needed on the trail without having to enter the main body of the pack.
- It’s also a plus that the pack is available in three sizes to make it easier to get a proper fit. The pack does not have any torso adjustment, so choosing the correct pack size is important.
- The stretch nylon hipbelt pockets are some of the best to be found.
- The stretch nylon side pockets will stretch out and hold a lot of gear, and they’re very durable. For hikers who carry water bottles, these pockets hold water bottles well, and bottles are reachable with the pack on.
- The closed-cell foam backpanel insert provides good padding with little added weight, and increases the vertical rigidity of the pack.
- Using a hydration bladder in the hydration sleeve works well on day trips, but for backpacking it’s hard to refill the bladder without partially unloading the pack.
- The Peak functions as well as a daypack as it does as a backpack.
- The hipbelt wings hug the hips well, help to support heavier loads, and are easily removed for light loads (but you lose the hipbelt pockets).
- The revised Jam is a bigger version of the same pack. The hipbelt wings are more substantial and are not removable.
- The revised Pinnacle pack is a larger version of the Jam; it has loads of volume and excels for higher volume/moderate weight loads.
Assessment
It’s hard to compare apples to apples when it comes to frameless backpacks because they vary so much in design, materials, and sizing. Although the new GoLite Peak and revised Jam and Pinnacle are a bit on the heavy side for frameless backpacks, they compensate for the extra weight in their durability, fit, comfort, and load-carrying capacity. For example, I found the frameless Jam pack will comfortably carry the same load as the Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack with its lightweight stay. The shoulder harness, fit, padding, and wide hipbelt wings enable the Peak to comfortably carry a little more weight than a similar-sized Spartan pack.
In addition to its comfort and weight carrying capacity, the distinctive attributes we like about the Peak are: its versatility (it can be used as a day pack as well as a backpack), its large front zippered fabric pocket, and its excellent hipbelt pockets. It’s also very water-resistant (except for the side pockets), so it can be carried in snow or rain without getting the contents wet. Overall, the Peak is very likable, and it’s a good value at US$125.
What’s Good
- Highly versatile – equally usable as a day pack or backpack
- Three pack sizes to fit most hikers
- Removable backpanel padding and hipbelt
- Durable fabrics and mesh
- Excellent hipbelt pockets
- Large zippered fabric front pocket for convenient access to items needed on the trail
- Stretch nylon side pockets are very durable and stretch easily to hold a lot of gear
- Fits well (if you choose the correct size)
- Comfortably carries moderate loads
What’s Not So Good
- Heavier than other packs with the same volume
Recommendations For Improvement
- None
Via Alpina: Not Another Walk in the Woods
Designed as a European cultural itinerary traversing the continent along the backbone of the Alps, you can experience jaw-dropping Alpine beauty, culture, nature, ecology, history and cuisine in whatever region you like!
Introduction
Maybe you’ve already trekked the AT, the PCT, and an alphabet soup of other thru-hikes. I know. Those simply whet your appetite for more. So now you’re looking for something a little more exotic, of course with more than its fair share of challenges. Well, you’re in luck.
Recently we heard about five new trails established across the Alps. The Via Alpina loops from Italy’s Adriatic Coast to Monte Carlo on the Mediterranean. By combining a network of pre-existing long distance routes, the Via Alpina traverses the continent along the backbone of the Alps for an amazing 5,000 kilometers or more. Designed as a European cultural itinerary, you can experience jaw-dropping Alpine beauty, culture, nature, ecology, history and cuisine in whatever region you choose – for as long as you can get away.
The Via Alpina offers something for everyone.
I share your sweet addiction for what I call “slow, deliberate travel.” For me, it was born on the wild steppes of Tibet as my wife and I hiked 1,100 kilometers from Lhasa to Kathmandu – and it’s become my passion. So I wanted to be among the first to hike the Via Alpina’s entire length across eight countries: from Trieste, Italy through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, and finally down to Monaco. I hoped to descend to lower altitudes in the French Alps-Maritime before snow hid the trail in autumn.
It was bound to be more difficult than any other I’d ever attempted. That was an understatement. Each and every day meant climbing at least 3,000 feet from valley to mountain hut where I’d sleep.
The Via Alpina route map.
Still, as a veteran of ten long-distance thru-treks, the Via Alpina sounded perfect; a physical and mental challenge combined with the best way to discover the Alps. I already knew it was an area of more than cheese and gnomes. In my mind’s eye, I envisioned it as a European Appalachian Trail – only with better food and wine. Even lite-trekkers travel on their stomachs, and sausage, fresh alpenkäse, corn polenta, and wine sounded a little better than peanut butter, tinned meat, and beer.
From a Holiday to a Temporary Stay
Faster than you can say strudel, I convinced my wife Cheryl to join me. But first, we had a laundry list of details to face. After realizing it’d take five months to hike this 1,200+ mile trail, we discovered we had to apply for visas. This was a first for us in Europe, but not too much of a hassle. Nowadays with the new Schengen Agreement, Americans can stay in EU treaty countries for only ninety days at a time, not per country.
So, combining one adventure with another dream, we thought, ‘Why not apply for one-year residency visas in Italy? That’d give us time to complete the trek, remain behind to write a book about our experiences, and discover Alpine life – up close and personal.’
On the downside, it meant we had to leave our home and jobs, lighten our life by selling most of our possessions, and trek off together into the unknown on this latest adventure.
Yeah, Cheryl’s pretty understanding…
Support Team
With that settled, we immediately began equipping for this ultimate challenge. We’ve long been confirmed lite trekkers and have whittled down our necessities to seven kilos (15 lbs). I know, some folks trek with less, but we were talking about a four-month hike where weather conditions are notoriously fickle. We’d encounter rain and high altitude sun in temperatures ranging from near freezing to 90 degrees. There might still be snow in June. At 6,000 to 9,000 feet, it can be sunny, raining, snowing, hailing, and fog-covered – all on the same summer day. And we’d been warned about dry Föhn winds that can drive hikers more crazy than usual.
With this in mind, we eagerly approached GoLite, whose gear has already seen me through several thru-treks, including one from France to Israel while founding the Templar Trail in 2006. We upgraded to their latest Pinnacle pack and added their down sleeping bags, down jackets, and wicking t-shirts that’d prove handy in any condition. Then, after researching lightweight tents, we approached Gossamer Gear and chose their Squall Classic. Although the information from the Via Alpina organization showed either mountain huts or pensions along the routes, we could never be certain to complete a stage each day. It all depended on trail conditions, weather, and our own physical state.
Mountain huts take trekking to a whole new level.
At any age, hiking 20-30 kilometers a day for months over severe elevation changes is an unknown. It’s one thing to go to 12,000+ feet and remain there for a month, as we had in Tibet. It’s a different story to make a tough climb and descent each and every day. We packed a dependable lightweight tent just in case of emergencies.
Finally, we stocked up on topographic maps to cover the route in greater detail. Past experience told me it’s not always possible to find good maps en route. Omni Resources came through and supplied us with nearly thirty, which also gave us time to plan each day’s trek more in-depth. Given their weight, we each carried a few at a time and arranged for new ones to be mailed along the way.
Over four months, as plans came together and our visas were approved, Cheryl and I worked out at Upcountry Maui Fitness every other day, attempting to beat our average bodies into Alpine shape. This trek was no walk in the park. We spent extra hours on their incline treadmills to simulate climbs, then lifted weights and worked on balance exercises with dreadlocked Izaac, our trainer.
The Trek
At long last, we left for Trieste in June 2009 and set off on what was to become a 111-day hike across the Alps. I can now admit, just like any thru-hike, from the very start it was an expedition of highs and lows (although these were higher and lower than most.)
For example, even though our topo maps covered most of our route, searching for trail markers became a frustrating daily routine across beautiful, bewildering Slovenia. Often they were on half-buried posts in snow. One hut they claimed was simply “closed” was permanently shuttered – wiped out in an avalanche.
Early on, even in the Julian Alps, the trails were slow going. It was impossible to make it back to Mt. Triglav as planned, and we were forced to improvise. In June, ice fields blocked our paths across narrow, slippery scree. Without ice axes and crampons, we dug footholds and inched our way across the steep scree inclines, flattened, using our LEKI Nordic sticks as anchors.
Remember Ötzi? He’s the 5000-year-old Alpine hunter recently discovered beneath a receding glacier. We didn’t want to end up like him.
Watch your step in Slovenia’s Julian Alps.
What’s a day without another scree scramble?
Even with our caution, Cheryl ended up dangling over a 1,000-foot precipice, anchored to the ice only by a slender pole. A badly injured knee threatened to end her Alpinist days then and there, but her tenacity and improvisation came through again. Considering her limping condition and the relentless rain and too-close-for-comfort lightning, we ducked into the valley where we shadowed the upper trails until her Q-tip shaped knee grew stronger and the storm front passed.
That brief detour took us down into timeless Tyrolean villages, which gave us a chance to discover their unique mountain culture, music, food (including the baseball glove-sized “Mother Schnitzel”), local wines like Müller Thurgau, and unfiltered Hefeweisen beer, a meal in itself.
Soon we were back on the Red Route enjoying nature one step at a time. We hiked through secluded verdant valleys looking like something out of Lord of the Rings, and past the donka-donk of bell toting cows. We found a profusion of wildflowers, orchids, edelweiss, and alpenrose, while Steinbok, chamois, ermine and roly-poly marmots might appear around any bend.
Our Rivendell had fifteen waterfalls, near Meiringen, Switzerland.
Steinbok are surprise companions, as well as chamois, ermine, and marmots.
Edelweiss, alpenrose and orchids brighten foggy Austrian days.
Walking Jazz
It didn’t take long to realize there was no way we could finish the 161-stage Red Route in one season. That would often mean hiking two stages a day. So we improv-ed once again (we call it “walking jazz”) and soon connected to the Via Alpina Green Route, aka the Swiss National Trail, to trek in the shadows of legendary mountains like the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. We then rejoined the Red Route in France for a circuit around Mt. Blanc to connect with the Blue in southern France to again meet the Red for the final surge into Monaco.
Keep an eye out for ‘easy-to-spot’ markings.
That’s a unique aspect of this trail vs. American paths. There is no one route. There are five interconnecting trails. Mix and match them to adapt to your condition, time constraints, weather, or regions of interest.
Believe me, trekking the Via Alpina is an incredible experience on many levels. No two days are alike. Just as there is no one trail, there is no one Alps. Each valley can mean a change in languages, customs, food, and trail conditions. In one section, trails are elusive. In another, they’re marked by wide stripes every 200 yards. The paths are equally varied: running through deep valleys, across scree, wet bogs, down forest trails, over mountains of cow patties in alms, through villages, down ski runs, and back up to eagle perch mountain huts for jaw-dropping sunsets.
Nothing beats reaching a summit, Mt. Blanc from Col de Brévent, France.
Sweet Dreams
We usually spent the night at huts, many run by the local alpine clubs. It was a great way to meet fellow trekkers and locals. Bunk beds in their dorms (15-25 euros) often included a hot shower. I know, a real extravagance. The food was hearty, drinks were cold, but prices a little high given the dollar’s anemic exchange rate. The huts, by the way, are busier than trails, especially in August, when reservations are recommended.
It’s possible to wild camp in some secluded spots. Outside villages, you can always ask a farmer. However much of the trail runs through national parks which generally have a “no camping” policy. Then again, sometimes you might be able to pitch your tent at dusk and leave by dawn. But no fires are allowed.
Some Swiss villages offer “Schlafen in Stroh” (Sleep in the Straw) in the summer (18 euros) when the cows are up in the pasture. You simply roll out your sleeping bag atop fresh straw in the barn. It’s an eye-opening way to experience today’s farm life, complete with handmade cheese – and authentic Alpine aromas.
Local legends are another part of the Alpine story. After all, this is the land of gnomes, elves, talking animals, and wayward knights. One grand old lady who manages a hut facing Mt. Blanc delighted us with the tale of Mt. Jolly and the lovelorn shepherd whose tears froze to form the glacier at its base.
For much of the trek we too were alone, a welcome change after the popularity of some trails. We only encountered a few folks each day trekking or mountain biking only portions of the Via Alpina. Otherwise, we had much of the trail to ourselves.
Kicked back in the shadow of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Skivvies and Schnapps
As usual, we met eccentric folks along the way. One such hiker, an Irish wolfhound of a guy, insisted on stripping down to his skivvies to show one startled woman at dinner just how “lightly” he packed. (She was sorry she asked.) But as you know, laughter lightens any load.
And how could we forget the food? One of my fondest memories is of a rainy night at a shepherd’s stone hut. First, the quiet fellow grilled steaks, onions, and potatoes. Luxury! We no sooner finished that serving than he appeared with seconds… then thirds. Then, since it was another guest’s birthday, he appeared with a three-layer cake topped by fresh berries. Before saying goodnight, he offered bottles of schnapps, insisting we help ourselves.
Overall, the Via Alpina has one thing in common with other long distance trails. We rediscovered simplicity and balance. We disconnected and reveled in the quietude of nature.
Finally, this was the challenge of a lifetime. For the record, from June to mid-September we ascended and descended almost 700,000 feet total – the equivalent of climbing twelve Mt. Everests from sea level. Each night I chronicled our very real and gritty adventures while muscles still ached. I hope our “unsanitized for your protection” tale feeds your wanderlust. Join us for an always candid, sometimes painful, often humorous look at our journey – and at an everyday couple who followed their gonzo dream.
And yes, even today, we’re still in the Alps!
Italy’s Dolomites are breathtaking, especially for hikers.
Gear List:
- GoLite Pinnacle Backpack
- GoLite Down Sleeping Bag
- GoLite Down Jacket
- Gossamer Gear Squall Classic Tent
- LEKI Super Makalu Air Thermo Nordic Sticks
- Packing Cube With:
- 2 GoLite Wicking T-Shirts
- 2 Pair GoLite Air-eator Socks
- 2 Pair Hiking Liner Socks
- GoLite Reed Waterproof Pants
- GoLite Nylon Shorts
- Altus Poncho
- Convertible Pants
- Cotton Kerchief
- Synthetic Towel
- Cotton Hat
- Nylon Gaiters
- Small MagLite
- Plastic Foldable Cup
- Nylon Cord (10 yd)
- Compass
- Garmin GPS Backtracker
- Toilet Paper
- Zip-Fizz Energy Powder
- Waterproof Matches
- Olympus U700 Digital Camera
- Montrail Continental Divide Shoes
- (So-Called) Waterproof Hiking Boots
- Casio Altimeter Watch
- Swiss Army Knife
- Journal & Pen
- 30 Topographic Maps (Split, 7 at a time, each)
- Water Bottle
- Nylon Pouch With Passport, ATM Card
- Sunglasses
- First Aid Kit:
- Antibiotic Cream
- Athletic Bandage
- Small Mirror
- Petroleum Jelly
- Aspirin
- Naproxin
- Voltaren Muscle Cream
- Earplugs
- Athletic Tape & Ace Bandage
- Small Sewing Kit
- Shaving Cream & Razor
- Soap
- Nail Clippers
- Sunscreen
- Toothbrush & Paste
- Compeed Bandages
Approximate Total Pack Weight: 15 pounds (7 kg)
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Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps by Brandon Wilson, the Lowell Thomas Gold Award-winning author, was published by Pilgrim’s Tales in October 2010. It’s the first trans-Via Alpina travel narrative published in English, with 53 photos, maps, and custom illustrations by Ken Plumb. Available from Amazon or your favorite bookshop. |
Backpacking Light 101: The Art of Ultralight
A Lightweight Primer to Backcountry Travel for the Uninitiated.
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2010 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
Backpacking Light staff pick their favorite gear/cool dealio/place of 2010.
Previous Years
2009 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
2008 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
2007 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
Addie’s Note: I love end-of-year wrap-ups. The best of, worst of, funniest of – I can’t get enough of them! In that spirit, we cast the net a bit wider this year. I am included, for instance, despite not having backpacked since pregnant with my son (he’s now five). Maia is included, since she gets out more than I do, and we’re both staff any way! We requested favorite gear and a favorite lifestyle item from everyone, and what filtered in was varied. One Aussie chose to highlight his favorite locations rather than gear. One local (we won’t mention names, but her initials are “Stephanie Jordan”) chose not to write up anything but just list her picks and let your imagination fill in the blanks. We included MAIA, for cryin’ out loud!
This isn’t an “Editor’s Choice” or formal endorsement, just a list of stuff we like.
Enjoy – and don’t forget to add your own favorites in the forum below!
| BPL Staff Member | Favorites | ||
| Ryan Jordan | Inov-8 X-Talon 212 Shoes | Backpacking Light Absaroka Backpack | Hewlett-Packard 12C |
| Sam Haraldson | Beartooth Publishing Maps | Arborwear Tech Pant | HTC Droid Incredible |
| Will Rietveld | Gossamer Gear “The One” One-Person Single Wall Tent | Kooka Bay Sleeping Pads | Trail Designs Caldera Keg Cooking System |
| Roger Caffin | Wollemi National Park | Kosciusko National Park in Summer | Kosciusko National Park in Winter |
| Chris Wallace | ULA Ohm Backpack | Backpacking Light Stealth Nano Tarp | Yoga |
| Mike Martin | Páramo Quito Jacket | Nalgene 16 oz HDPE Loop-Top Bottle | Stephenson Warmlite 2CR Tent |
| Ryan Connelly | MontBell Dynamo Wind Pant | DriDucks Scrap Rain Skirt | Spark-Lite and Tinder-Quik |
| Alan Dixon | SPOT2 Personal Locator | Mountain Laurel Designs SuperMid 2010 | Vortex Viper 8×32 Binoculars |
| Ray Estrella | EXOTAC nanoSTRIKER | Trail Designs Caldera Ti-Tri Fissure | Javan Dempsey/The Stateless Society 40 F (4 C) Quilt |
| Doug Johnson | FlyWeight Designs FlytePacker Packraft | Grand Shelters Icebox Igloo Building Tool | Apple iPhone 4 32G |
| Brad Groves | Hennessy Hammock Hyperlite A-sym Zip | Integral Designs eVent Pullover | La Sportiva Wildcat |
| Carol Crooker | Kahtoola Microspikes | Outsak UL | iPod Nano, 5th Generation |
| Addie Bedford | Tigi Rockstar Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo, assorted hats and felt flowers | Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy | Sorel 1964 Pac Boots |
| Stephanie Jordan | Ryan Jordan | Impossible-to-lose Magnetic Bottle Opener in GO CATS! Blue & Gold | Petzl e+LITE Headlamp |
| Maia | Accountability Collar | Beano | Hedgie |
Ryan Jordan – Bozeman, Montana
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Inov-8 X-Talon 212 Shoes | My XT212s (US Men’s Size 9) weigh 8.1 ounces (230 g) a shoe, so they are certifiably “ultralight.” I haven’t pushed them to the limits of performance, but I have worn out a few pairs in the past twelve months. I’ve worn them on talus, scree, slabs, tundra, bush, and snow. They excel on all of these types of terrain. I’ve worn them with heavy and light packs, off and on trail, climbing and descending and sidehilling, and with ultralight crampons and racing snowshoes and gaiters. In other words, they keep my life simple. I no longer make choices about “which shoe to take” – I just grab the XT212s. If Inov-8 succumbs to the business model of the shoe industry, they’ll phase them out or redesign them and ruin them. Until then, I’m stockpiling as many pairs as possible. Don’t wreck them by adding aftermarket insoles and don’t fool around with “easing yourself into” minimalist footwear. Just go cold turkey and do it. There will be tough times, but you may very well break through the wall and never look back.
Weight: 8.1 oz (230 g) per shoe |
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Backpacking Light Absaroka Backpack | I’m a bit weary of fooling around with sloppy frameless packs on hard trips where I spend most of my time scrambling off trail, or where I’m carrying heavy loads of food and packrafting gear. A frame that is robust enough to carry forty pounds without collapsing and a harness system comfortable enough to distribute the stress a bit – this is weight well spent. I had a ball co-designing this pack with another hard-core adventurer, and we put the eight prototypes through the ringer before bringing it to market. I love that the pack is durable, supportive, absorbs very little water, and still weighs only two pounds. My production model weighs 28.4 ounces after I trim the excess off of the straps that I don’t need, and add back some Spectra cordage that allows me to lash my ice axe and packrafting paddles to it.
Weight: ~34 oz (964 g) |
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Hewlett-Packard 12C | I love stuff that lasts a long time and remains useful. I’ve had this calculator for more than 20 years. The only other things that I’ve been with for more than 20 years and still enjoy are my Leica M6 and my wife. I’ve changed the batteries in her (the HP12C) only once, sometime in the late 1990s. It’s been dropped in the toilet (fell out of my shirt pocket when I leaned over to flush it), lost in the snow (it fell out of my backpack during a storm, and I found it a few weeks later after the snow melted), suffered spills of root beer and coffee, and endured several routine rinsings under the faucet to clean it up again. I still use it almost every day and scrub her (the HP12C) clean with a bristle brush and soapy water annually.
Weight: 3.9 oz (111 g) |
Sam Haraldson – Bozeman, Montana
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Beartooth Publishing Maps | For hiking in SW Montana and parts of Idaho, Wyoming, and Arizona, you simply won’t find a better map than those by Beartooth Publishing. Up-to-date, use-specific information (like local breweries!) in a convenient size and scale, all printed on waterproof, tear-resistant plastic.
Weight: varies |
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Arborwear Tech Pant | These pants are light, but not ultralight. Why then have I made them my apparel choice of 2010, you ask? Because they exhibit a quality of extreme-uber-crazy-durability. I first purchased these pants in 2006 and have worn a single pair of them almost exclusively since (I kid you not). Whether you’re looking for a pant to hike in, work at the (laid-back) office in, play in the snow in, raft down a river in, bicycle in, or do just about any activity you can imagine in – not only will this pant hold up to the necessary abuse, it will do so in comfort and will dry quickly afterward. Constructed of an ultra-rugged nylon, these pants wear with the comfort of cotton, but have all the characteristics of nylon that I require as an outdoorsman.
Weight: 24.8 oz (703 g) |
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HTC Droid Incredible | It’s a phone, camera, and GPS all in one. Put the device into “airplane mode” while you’re out of cell range to save battery life, and the GPS still functions for recording your hike and geotagging your photos.
Weight: 4.4 oz. (125 g) |
Will Rietveld – Durango, Colorado
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Gossamer Gear “The One” One-Person Single-Wall Tent | Gossamer Gear’s “The One” tent deserves a Backpacking Light Gold Award, if we had one. It has been around for a while and is time-tested; I have tested a lot of very nice tents, but this one really stands out. It weighs less than many tarps when you add in the weight of stakes, guylines, and groundsheet, yet it provides full weather and bug protection for one person plus gear, has a vestibule protected side entry, and good headroom. Optional sectional poles are available for hikers who don’t use trekking poles.
Weight: ~20 oz (567 g) complete (stakes, guylines, stuff sack included) |
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Kooka Bay Sleeping Pads | I loved the Therm-a-Rest Prolite 3 and the Backpacking Light TorsoLite pads when they came out because they were so lightweight. But over time, like the closed-cell pads I used before them, I found them simply not comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep. Then came the Big Agnes Clearview pad, which is comfortable, but punctures too easily. Next came the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir, which is a wonderful pad. But the Kooka Bay pads blow them all away for light weight, comfort, adequate durability, and value. My favorites are the torso length pad (19/13.5 x 33 x 1.5 inches/5.6 ounces/$60) and mummy pad (60 x 20 x 2.5 inches/10.2 ounces/$80). Look for a Backpacking Light State of the Market Report in spring 2011 on Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads.
Weight: 5.6-14.9 oz (159-422 g) |
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Trail Designs Caldera Keg Cooking System | The Trail Designs Caldera Cone has transformed the alcohol stove into a cooking system as convenient and reliable (but not as fast) as a canister stove. And there are several advantages that make it better: no expensive disposable fuel canisters, inexpensive fuel, an enclosing windscreen for better thermal efficiency, and extreme light weight. My very favorite is the Caldera Keg system. The complete system for one person includes a caldera cone, Heineken or Foster’s cook pot and lid, alcohol burner, fuel bottle, cup/carrying case with lid, cozy, and stuff sack. It’s a complete cooking system at a weight that’s equivalent to a lightweight titanium cook pot.
Weight: 6.2 oz (176 g) |
Roger Caffin – Berrilee, NSW, Australia
Walking is not just about gear; it is also about places. So this year I decided I would feature some of my favourite places in Australia to go walking. Each hyperlink will open a new tab with a full-size pic.
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Wollemi National Park | This is one of Australia’s largest National Parks, and it is very close to our biggest city Sydney. And yet, the vast overwhelming majority of Australians know it as little more than a place on a map. Very few actually go into it. The whole area was once a river delta where sand was deposited and turned into hard sandstone – up to 600 metres (1,969 ft) of it. Then it was slowly uplifted, but the rivers kept flowing to the east and cutting through the rock – yet the fault lines which developed ran north-south. The result is a rather flat plateau deeply incised by a tangle of gorges with massive sandstone walls. The scrub on top is dry and harsh; the jungle in the valleys is – well, jungle. Navigation can be extremely difficult, as there are few outstanding features and a little distance visibility. The area remained unclaimed by settlers in the early days of colonisation because it was just too wild and inhospitable, for which we are truly grateful: we love it. The first photo shows the junction of the mighty Colo River with the lesser-known Wollemi. The cliff walls are about 250 metres (820 ft) high here. Yes, there is a way down here, if you know where to look. The second photo shows a preferred method of travel in the area – walking in the river itself. Of course, you do run into quicksand quite often, but it beats thrashing through the scrub on the banks. The third photo shows us about to descend into the headwaters of the Coorongooba river, to fight the jungle for several days. The problem down there is that you don’t get to see all the wonderful cliffs, but there are still interesting things to be found. The last photo shows what can happen when the cliffs crowd too closely: you have to walk in the river and pray that it does not suddenly get very deep. This river, Running Stream, is blocked half way up its length by a rather large waterfall. Getting up that is devious. The gorge is blocked at the top end by a cirque of high rock walls. There is a hidden slot exit, but try finding it! (I once told a very experienced party that they would not be able to find the top of the exit, but they went anyhow. They had to be rescued – up top.) |
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Kosciusko National Park in Summer | This is another one of our huge National Parks, with lots of high country. It was once leased out for grazing, but the leases were all cancelled many years ago when it became clear that the graziers (well, their sheep and cattle) were destroying the high country. Some of the locals are still a bit upset about their loss, but the rest of us rejoice. I am sure the area was once a range of high mountains, but Australia is an old, old tectonic plate, worn down almost to a granite nubbin. We value what we have left, but sometimes wish for slightly higher peaks. Instead we have a rolling country, wonderful for walking and XC skiing. Ah – just don’t go down the sides into the sub-alpine scrub: you may not return. The first photo shows Boggy Plain at the head of the Thredbo river. The valleys are grass while the ridges are tree-clad. Ever heard of frost-hollows? We have got them, and they make wonderful open walking. In the background we have residual snow on the Ramsheads, near Mt. Kosciusko (our highest mountain at 2,220 m / 7,218 ft) itself. The track is left over from grazing days. The next photo shows one of the Ramsheads – yes, that pile of granite boulders is all that is left. The way the granite boulders pile up is sometimes fascinating – some of Slartibartfast’s creations maybe. Further to the east in photo three, we have the Rolling Grounds with the Granite Peaks, and our old Olympus tent pitched in front of some of the residual granite. It might have been early autumn, but overnight it was definitely sub-zero, and my wife was grateful for her down duvet in the morning. Our gear has gotten lighter since then. The last photo is of my lightweight summer tent, pitched near a multiple creek junction known as Four Ways. The sky was a bit threatening that evening, but we survived the night – even if it did snow a bit. Taking a summer tent into that country is always a bit of a gamble. |
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Kosciusko National Park in Winter | Well, the snow may not be wonderful, and it is getting worse each year, but what’s there is all we have. At least there is a huge expanse of it. Sometimes we go cross-country ski-touring with packs, for up to a week at a time. The rolling country makes that lovely, although the weather does not always cooperate. Other times we get out our rather light Australian Yowie snow shoes. The snow shoes can handle the really grotty snow when the rocks show through… And yes, we wear joggers with our snow shoes. The first photo shows the summit of Mt. Jagungal, way to the north of Mt. Kosciusko. In fact, Kosci, as we call it, can be seen very small on the horizon at the left side. This photo was taken rather late in the season when the snow was melting. The next photo shows a morning tea spot near Four Ways, tucked in behind some boulders to get out of the wind. Yes, we do get a lot of wind up there. A lot of ‘weather,’ actually. My wife is adjusting her old three-pin leather XC ski boots. In the next photo, the orange tent is one I made myself, a lighter version as it were of the Olympus tent shown before. That tent has taken some extreme weather at times up in the snows, but here the evening was fine. Once again we are using snow gums as a wind break. In the final photo, the red tent is my latest winter tent, lighter than the orange one, and pitched up high on a ridge with some snow gums and boulders to act as a wind break. We camped early that day and went exploring out to Tarn Bluff for a while. In this photo we have switched to NNN-BC bindings: lighter and the skis turn better. |
Chris Wallace – Suwanee, Georgia
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ULA Ohm Backpack | The Ohm has been my only pack for year-round use in the southeast U.S. for the last couple of years. Sure, I’ve flirted with other packs (What guy doesn’t? Just don’t tell my Ohm.), but ultimately come back to the Ohm every time. My first hands-on experience came as a result of pack fitting for my girlfriend, Robin. When I weighed the Ohm and found it to only be an ounce or so heavier than my Conduit, I ordered myself one. An ounce is a small penalty to pay for the frame and subsequent better carry. The weight listed includes a foam back pad, two hip pockets, and an interior pocket.
Weight: 24.7 oz (700 g) |
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Backpacking Light Stealth Nano Tarp | When I found out about the Nano, I knew I had to have one. I was previously using an MLD Grace Duo, an excellent tarp for two, but the Nano is a great green color, and a good bit lighter. The Nano also required no seam sealing, thanks to the bonded ridge. I used the Nano on every trip where I slept solo, as well as on the WTS trips where I shared it. For one person, the coverage is superb. For two people, when pitched to the ground for a storm, it’s a bit tight but still usable. The weight listed includes the stuff sack, all guylines, and the MYOG addition of two hang loops placed along the ridge.
Weight: 6.5 oz (184 g) |
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Yoga | I started doing yoga in 2009 as part of an exercise program and fell in love. I’ve tried to keep up with practicing once or twice a week since. There are times when I dread doing yoga, but I always feel great when I finish and am glad I pushed on. I’ve seen my flexibility increase dramatically, and I fully believe yoga contributes to keeping my body injury free. It has provided a great meditational benefit, as well as a way to let go of stress. The best parts are the weight and cost.
Weight: knowledge weighs nothing! |
Mike Martin – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
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Páramo Quito Jacket | Hiking in temperatures around freezing is always challenging. Precipitation comes as rain, sleet, freezing rain, and/or wet snow that melts on your clothing. And, here in north Idaho we seem “blessed” with more than our fair share of this kind of weather. If you wear a soft shell in these conditions, water will eventually penetrate your clothing defenses and you’ll end up cold and wet. If you wear a hard shell at more than a snail’s pace, your own sweat will eventually build up inside the shell and you’ll end up cold and wet. If you wear a poncho or use an umbrella, the wind will… well, you get the idea.
Páramo’s Analogy clothing takes a different approach to keeping you dry and warm. The system combines a thin, DWR-treated outer windshell with a hydrophobic, directional microfleece liner. The outer shell protects against wind and reduces the amount of water that reaches the liner. The liner relies on capillary depression to resist further water penetration, while a void gradient actively pushes any water that does penetrate back to the outer surface of the liner. The system is not technically waterproof as it cannot withstand much hydrostatic pressure, but the combination of the liner and shell is water-resistant enough to handle the cold, wet, windy conditions common in the UK where Páramo is headquartered. As the shell/liner combination has much higher air permeability (up to 2.5 CFM) than a conventional wp/b shell, the system is far more breathable than ordinary waterproof jackets. At first glance, the 18-ounce weight seems overly heavy. But the Quito Jacket is fully-featured with numerous pockets and venting options, as well as an excellent hood. Due to its liner, the jacket can replace both a mid-layer and hard shell in cold, wet conditions. It has become my favorite clothing piece for just about any conditions below 40F where it stays on my back rather than in my pack. Weight: 18.1 oz (513 g), size large |
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Nalgene 16 oz HDPE Loop-Top Bottle | What, 2.5 ounces (71 g) for a tiny water bottle? Yes, yes, the hard-sided canteen is one of the first items to be replaced when a hiker sees the lightweight light. But things are a bit different in the winter, when the caps on small-mouth bladders can freeze shut or when you try to pour melted snow from your pot into a floppy bladder with a tiny opening. For snow camping, I like to carry two small, hard, wide-mouth bottles because of the wonderful things you can do with them when they are filled with hot water: They can be safely brought into your sleeping bag for warmth where a leaking bladder would be catastrophic. They are the perfect size to stuff into your wet socks or boots to help dry them overnight. While you’re eating breakfast, you can put them in your boots and experience the unbelievable luxury of putting on warm boots on a sub-freezing winter morning!
Weight: 2.5 oz (71 g) |
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Stephenson Warmlite 2CR Tent | I’ve spent many a winter night in various shaped tarps and snow shelters, but at the end of a long day skiing or snowshoeing, when the temperature is falling and the wind is rising, it’s very hard to beat a fully-enclosed four-season tent. Warmlite tents have had a cult following for decades. They rely on extremely high tie-out and fabric tension to achieve their shape with a minimum amount of pole, stake, and material weight. The shape itself is designed to provide very high wind resistance, especially with such lightweight construction. The new “C” version of their tents are shortened two feet from the standard versions. This results in some weight savings, but more importantly reduces the amount of unsupported fabric between the two hoop poles, increasing the tent’s ability to handle snow loading. The total package creates a two-person, four-season tent that is lighter than just about any alternative of similar space and weather protection. The Warmlite 2CR tent does have its idiosyncrasies, though: It lacks a vestibule. Achieving the required high stake tension can be difficult at some sites. Pitching it properly and quickly requires a bit of skill and practice. Finally, managing condensation can be a bit tricky in calm conditions. Still, when you consider that most mountaineering tents with the same amount of usable interior space are two or three pounds heavier, learning the techniques to master its quirks is well worthwhile.
Weight: 39 oz (1.1 kg) |
Ryan Connelly – Bozeman, Montana
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Montbell Dynamo Wind Pant | The “wind pant” title is much too limiting for this lower layer. From early June through late September I wore this pant as my never-removed base layer. I comfortably walked on 85 F (29 C) sunny days and 30 F (-1 C) wet days. I walked in ’em, slept in ’em, scrambled in ’em, swam in ’em, and sat on ’em. At less than 3 ounces I was impressed that they would last a whole summer of disrespectful use and abuse in southwest Montana with NO tears! Expect to see them again next summer tromping around in the mountains.
Weight: 2.8 oz (79 g) |
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DriDucks Scrap Rain Skirt | So far no one has caught a photo of me wearing this paragon of backcountry style. Paired with the wind pant above, this combo is my total solution to every combination three seasons of weather can dish out. After a few trips by the students in my adventure program, a pair of DriDucks pants is ready for a skirt transformation. A few snips and a bit of Tyvek tape later, you got an easy on, easy off, waterproof and very breathable/breezy rain layer.
Weight: 2.6 oz (74 g) |
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Spark-Lite and Tinder-Quik | These are my constant companions in every backpack I own. Whether a backcountry ski, hike, or search and rescue operation, I count on the one-handed Spark-Lite and a Tinder-Quik to start my cooking, warming, navel gazing, and socializing fires. Sealed in one or two tiny Ziplocs, depending on your Ziploc trust level, they are bone dry and ready to warm up the night.
Weight: 0.3 oz (8.5 g) (more Tinder-Quiks for longer trips) |
Alan Dixon – Washington, D.C.
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SPOT2 Personal Locator | I took couple of high risks trips in remote locations this year – alpine climbing in the Andes (Cordillera Huayhuash) and a packrafting trip in Alaska. It was reassuring to know that I could summon help with the SPOT2. My family and friends were saved angst knowing I was OK each day as they tracked my Andean summits and progress along Alaskan rivers. But possibly the best feature of the SPOT2 was vicariously participating in my friend’s trips to exotic places like the Himalayas and the Pyrenees, etc. via a shared SPOT tracking page. Note: The SPOT2 is about half the size and weight of the original SPOT1. It is much easier to operate and delivers far greater message reliability.
Weight: 4.17 oz (118 g) with batteries |
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Mountain Laurel Designs SuperMid 2010 | I usually sleep out in a bivy or under a tarp, but the MLD SuperMid was near heaven in the cold and wet Alaskan climate. I remember cheerfully cooking dinner inside the SuperMid while the wind shrieked across the tundra and rain pelted the walls. The tent is silly light for two people given its palatial interior space. It easily held all our gear with additional room to spread out, cook and eat dinner. In the morning we cooked, ate breakfast, dressed and packed up inside the tent – the entire time blissfully dry, warm, and sheltered from the wind. The last thing we did was step outside and pack up the tent body.
Weight: 24 oz (680 g) in silnylon |
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Vortex Viper 8×32 Binoculars | More and more of my trips focus on pursuits besides backpacking and climbing. Photography tops the list, but birding and nature observation are catching up. There are many 8- to 12-ounce (227- to 340-g) compact binoculars on the market – Nikon ProStaff 8×25 are my pick – but these lack field of view and suffer in dawn and dusk, some of the best times to view wildlife. Thus, for the best views of birds and wildlife I prefer a mid-size 8×32 binocular. They have the best balance between optical quality and weight. The Vortex Viper 8x32s with ED glass and exotic lens coatings are close in optical quality to the very best $2,000, 8×32 binoculars from Leitz, Zeiss, and Swarovski. But the Vortex Vipers cost a just little over $300! (I don’t know about others but I am reluctant to take a pair of $2,000 binoculars on a backpacking trip. Things happen.) The Vipers are waterproof, fog proof, and rubber armored. At less than 20 ounces, they are within an ounce of the very lightest of high-end 8x32s on the market.
Weight: 19.4 oz (550 g) |
Ray Estrella – Moorhead, Minnesota
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EXOTAC nanoSTRIKER | I have been carrying a fire starter of some sort attached to my safety whistle for as long as I have been hiking and backpacking. While they have gotten smaller and lighter over the years, it is hard to get excited about a stick that makes sparks. Then I found the EXOTAC nanoSTRIKER. This is the prettiest, most well designed fire striker I have ever seen. It is even 50% lighter weight than the Light My Fire Scout I had been using for the past seven years. It is made of 303 stainless steel and 6061 aircraft aluminum, with a 440C steel “striker” to spark the ferrocerium rod. The nanoSTRIKER packs down to a miniscule 3.4 in (86 mm) in length.
Weight: 0.5 oz (14 g) |
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Trail Designs Caldera Ti-Tri Fissure | Last year saw me finally go to alcohol stoves, which I continued this year in a big way. I loved my first Caldera Ti-Tri but did not care for how much room it took up in my pack with its protective caddy. This led to the Caldera ULC Ti-Tri which I liked, but it was not as efficient as the regular cones. After discussing my thoughts and findings with the guys at Trail Designs, they let me buy the second ever Fissure, a two-piece titanium Caldera cone that completely fits (along with the 12-10 stove) inside of my Snow Peak Mini Solo pot. It instantly became my favorite solo cooking system, and I even shared it a few times. As I always carry the two Ti tent stakes needed for set-up anyways, the Fissure is perfect for me. While I just use it with the alcohol stove, it works with an Esbit GramCracker or can be configured for wood-burning mode also.
Weight w/stove: 1.4 oz (54 g) |
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Javan Dempsey/The Stateless Society 40 F (4 C) Quilt | Over the past two years I have switched every sleeping bag I own rated above 0 F (-18 C) to quilts as I have found that they fit my toss-and-turn, side-sleeping style much better, and I love the reduction in weight and volume in my pack. While I own three beautiful quilts from Nunatak Gear, this year I had one of our BPL members (Javan Dempsey of The Stateless Society, the.stateless.society@gmail.com) make me a custom summer quilt based on a design that he and fellow member Greg Mihalik worked up. Made of Intrepid 0.9 nylon and filled with 7 ounces (198 g) of 900+ down, it has no straps or drawstrings, but is wide enough to tuck around and under me if needed. While I had been shooting for a 40 F (4 C) rating, this quilt served me well down to 33 F (1 C) in just my boxer-briefs and a shirt, which was not too surprising as it lofts up to 2 inches (5 cm) between the 1.5-inch (4-cm) baffles I specified. I ended up taking this sweet quilt backpacking more than any other quilt or bag in 2010.
Weight: 14.2 oz (403 g) in what would be considered a Long size |
Doug Johnson – Redmond, Washington
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FlyWeight Designs FlytePacker Packraft | I’ve been fascinated by packrafting for some time now, but didn’t dive in because of the cost. Further, I wanted a packraft for alpine lakes more than river running, and the extra toughness isn’t necessary for this lighter use. Enter the FlytePacker packraft. At barely over 2 pounds (< 1 kg) and at a reasonable $269, this is a packraft that I could justify in both cost and weight. I’ve only begun to play with this raft but it was the centerpiece of a multi-day trip with my 4-year-old son Henry this summer. It was an absolute pleasure to paddle around the lake, do some Tenkara fishing, explore some hard to reach talus fields, and to experience our favorite lake in an entirely new way. Then at night he slept soundly on it, making my Neo Air seem like solid rock in comparison. I can’t wait for further adventures with a FlytePacker!
Weight: 2 lb 0.5 oz (921 g) |
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Grand Shelters Icebox Igloo Building Tool | I’ve had this tool for several years now and am quickly approaching my tenth igloo. I can’t think of a piece of gear that has added more fun to my trips – or to the kids in my neighborhood! At almost 5 pounds (2.2 kg) and with a building time (for me) of 3-4 hours, a case could easily be made for using a winter tent instead. However, the warmth, strength, and joy of sleeping in an igloo adds SO much to winter trips. Getting to camp and building an igloo has become a key part of the enjoyment of winter camping and the added warmth means I don’t have to worry about extra insulation or the weather outside – it’s always well above freezing inside. The Icebox tool makes building a perfect igloo an easy process, and unlike snow caves, you don’t need much snow; I’ve built igloos with neighborhood kids with as little as 4 inches of snow on the ground! Once built, I’ve only been able to destroy one by cutting it apart with a snow saw. I love igloos, my kids love igloos, and the Ice Box tool is a marvel of engineering that makes igloo-building a fun and successful process.
Weight: 4 lb 14 oz (2.2 kg) |
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Apple iPhone 4 32G | I had an iPhone 3 and would often leave it at home on backpacking trips. The iPhone 4 goes with me every time now. It has a 5 megapixel camera and shoots clean HD video for recording my adventures (with easy Facebook posting on the way home). The built-in GPS works great for geocaching and with the Topo Maps app, I can have all the GPS-enabled USGS topos I want for just $7.99. In camp I can listen to a few songs if I feel the need and there is an LED flashlight as a backup. The compass works well, the Clinometer app is very accurate, and I have a Wind Meter that is surprisingly accurate as well. At night, I use Star Walk to learn new constellations and identify planets – it’s amazing. Battery life is an issue, but on a recent three-day trip I returned home with 93% battery remaining despite never shutting it down (add a solar charger and you might be good indefinitely). The secret to saving power is turning off the wifi, bluetooth, and using Airplane Mode (which still allows GPS to work). Increasingly, I leave my GPS, camera, and mp3 player at home in favor of this do-it-all wonder device. When there’s service, it even makes phone calls!
Weight: 5.0 oz (142 g) |
Brad Groves – Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Hennessy Hammock Hyperlite A-Sym Zip | At just over a pound and a half, this hammock is easy for me to justify as a solo shelter. The new zipper option makes entry/egress a snap, and converting to camp seating just requires a zip and flip. It’s comfortable, light, and a joy to use. Put simply, this hammock compelled me to be a part-time hanger when others have not. Available now.
Weight: 1 lb 10 oz (737 g) |
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Integral Designs eVent Pullover | Just the facts, ma’am: 10 ounces (283 g), sturdy three-ply eVent, good fit, and a hood. I’ve worn it comfortably when other shells would have sweated me out. Although it’s simple, it’s executed just right. (Note: This is essentially the Rab Demand Pull-on and is not ID’s current eVent Pullover Jacket.) Available spring 2011.
Weight: 10 oz (283 g) |
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La Sportiva Wildcat | I bought two pair of these shoes and am considering a third. Great trail shoes are a pleasure to find. The Wildcats give me excellent stability, without impeding my natural gait, in a surprisingly light package. The fit works really well for me, and for a wide range of people as I’ve found in retail. The Wildcats seem to find their way onto my feet quite often.
Weight: 24 oz (680 g) per pair |
Carol Crooker – Mesa, Arizona
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Kahtoola Microspikes | Winter is a wonderful time to hike in the Grand Canyon; the burning heat of summer is gone and so are the crowds. Last winter, I hiked from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon down the Hermit Trail, along the Tonto Trail and back to the rim along the Bright Angel Trail. Although the Tonto Trail was mostly snow free, the descent down Hermit was steep, rocky and sometimes ice-covered. Kahtoola Microspikes over my trail runners kept me upright and striding confidently throughout the descent. They provided great traction in steep ice and were undamaged by rocks.
Weight: 14.5 oz (411 g) |
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Outsak UL | Continuing with the Grand Canyon theme, the critters along the Canyon corridor trails are very persistent and innovative when it comes to “hunting and gathering” food from unsuspecting hikers. I’ve had to drive off a skunk with pebbles and stare down overly bold ravens that still looked hungry – after they ransacked my pack. The lightweight steel mesh in the Outsak UL provides an ounce-counting solution to food protection from small critters. The Outsak UL I’ve listed has room for about four days of low volume food. It is also available in a smaller size.
Weight: 4.1 oz (116 g) |
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iPod Nano, 5th generation | I love backpacking and reading, and I especially love combining the two. I’ve carried an iPod Shuffle loaded with an audio book on each trip for the last several years. The Shuffle is very light, but it is easy to bump the wrong button and lose your place in a book and there is no quick way to get back to your spot. This year I decided to upgrade and was excited by the look of the new iPod Nano. However, it turns out the touch fast forward is not well suited for the fine control needed to find a particular place in an audio book. What works perfectly is the click wheel found on other iPods, including older versions of the Nano. Refurbished 5th generation Nanos are available on the Apple website and elsewhere.
Weight: 1.2 oz (34 g) |
Addie Bedford – Bozeman, Montana
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Tigi Rockstar Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo, assorted hats and felt flowers | My favorite hat weighs 3.2 ounces (91 g) when paired with a felt flower on the end of my braid. Anything that keeps me from having to wash my greasy head daily is a winner in my book. The citrusy-smelling dry shampoo keeps me from an awkward “why’s that girl trying to do dreddies?” look, and the hat and flowers cover over (or distract from) a multitude of personal hygiene sins. Also, I am endlessly lazy and these goodies keep me in bed a few precious minutes longer, at least until a certain cute kindergartener pops in demanding breakfast.
Weight: 6.3 oz (179 g) |
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Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy | I am not really a lipstick girl. Shoot, I live in Montana, where lip balm counts as make-up. I go through a lot of balm in the dry climate up here, but it can be hit or miss. Some make the chapping worse, despite repeated application throughout the day! The Neosporin stuff is MAGIC. After about a week, I needed lip balm less often. It’s a weird product that exists to help you use less of it, but I’m wholly sold. It has 20 SPF so that my kisser stays looking youthful and wrinkle free… and without flavor/glitter/gloss, I can even slap it on my husband or son without remorse.
Weight: .35 oz (10 g) |
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Sorel 1964 Pac Boots | By now it’s probably clear: I am not much of a backpacker (much less a lightweight one!) at this stage in my life. I am okay with this. So okay with it that I own a pair of boots that weigh 26 ounces EACH. They are pretty much amazing and almost all I wear the entire winter in the frozen chosen of Bozeman. I have paired them with a skirt and tights: VERY cosmopolitan. They keep my feet warm and keep me vertical on the ice that is so prevalent around here. +10 points for Pacs!
Weight: 26 oz (737 g) each |
