Articles (2020)

Overview

David Allen, founder and inventor of Photon Micro-Lights, is a remarkable person. We got to meet and talk with him at the Summer 2007 Outdoor Retailer Show, and heard some of the background behind the development of the original Photon Micro-Light, as well as his philosophy for developing his latest and greatest Photon ReX four LED rechargeable Micro-Light.

Would you believe a keychain pinch light with four LEDs that will put out a light beam equivalent to many conventional headlamps? The unit incorporates a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery and basically the same circuitry as the Photon Freedom – one click turns it on at its brightest setting, or holding the button down ramps the brightness down to the desired level.

The ReX is rechargeable from most standard batteries; simply attach two magnetic connectors to the ends of the battery. The average cost is $.06/charge using a D-cell battery, and using a rechargeable NiMH battery reduces the cost to $.003/charge (that’s one-third of a penny!). A AA battery will give about 2-3 charges. The ReX will recharge up to 500 times, signals when it is charging, and cannot be overcharged because of special circuitry. Charging takes about 2 hours.

With four LEDs, the ReX will only last about an 2 hours at its brightest setting, but will go for as long as 48 hours on its lowest setting.

The Photon ReX perfectly matches David Allen’s philosophy for invention and for the environment by minimizing the use of materials in the manufacture of the product and keeping scores of batteries out of landfills.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: LRI
• Dimensions: about 2 in long x 1.25 in wide x 0.5 inch thick
• Features: Glow in the dark soft touch button, multi-function Freedom digital circuitry, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, polycarbonate case, four LED array
• Weight: 0.6 ounce (light only)
• Available: October 2007
• MSRP: Light and charging attachment are $29.95; accessory kit is $19.95

While it might be difficult to pick one color to describe the theme of the Outdoor Retailer 2007 Summer Market, it would probably be some shade of green. Or perhaps bamboo, corn yellow, or coconut brown. While the exact color might be debatable, one thing is for sure: it would definitely be an earth tone.

In the nearly 20 Outdoor Retailer shows I have attended over the years, never have I seen the “green theme” so universally applied as I did this time around. From the moment I entered the Salt Palace Convention Center and was greeted by the large sign explaining the “Green Steps” program, to prominent displays on the outside of many of the exhibitor’s booths, to the advertisements in the trade journals, I was never far from learning how exhibitors and show organizers are stepping up their commitment the environment in a big way.

The Green Steps program made it easy to quickly identify which exhibitors were making an extra effort to offer environmentally friendly products and practices. Large green steps (footprints) were prominently displayed in front of booths of exhibitors who are “going above and beyond basic business as usual” in their commitment to “greening” the industry. And there were a lot of green steps on the floor of the Salt Palace this week.

This commitment to the environment is not surprising – given the growing interest in the “green movement” generally – and particularly given that most of the exhibitors and retailers make their living on, and have a passion for, the continued availability of wild places. Even so, it was still impressive to see just how widespread the adoption of green practices has become in the outdoor industry.

While the green theme was woven throughout the show, it was interesting that terms like recycled, eco-friendly, natural, sustainable, renewable, and organic were almost always accompanied by terms describing style and/or performance. It is clear that manufacturers are trying to communicate that in addition to doing good by the planet, they are not compromising their commitment to making quality products that both look good and perform well.

So how does all of this relate to the lightweight backpacking? Well, in addition to the obvious of what is good for the environment is good for all of us who like to spend time outdoors — it begs the question of whether a lightweight backpacker would be willing to pay a weight (and/or cost) penalty in exchange for a product that is produced using a more environmentally friendly method or material.

A case in point is the recent discussion in the BPL forums about the new Patagonia Micro Puff pullover. According to the Patagonia website, the fall 2007 Micro Puff pullover made with a “lightweight…recycled polyester” and “3-oz Climashield® Green continuous filament polyester insulation (40% recycled), weighs 14.7 ounces. My 2004 Micro Puff made with a standard (non recycled) polyester ripstop shell and Polarguard Delta insulation, weighs 12.5 oz — a difference of roughly 2-ounces.

Peanuts, you say! A paltry 2 ounces for the peace of mind of knowing that you are wearing something that not only keeps you warm but is also keeping rubbish out of the landfill? Apparently not so for some ounce counters who say they would prefer the “less green” version to the current one in favor of saving the 2 ounces. Granted, there are other issues at play here (i.e., technical discussion of Polarguard Delta vs. Climashield Green), so the debate is not simply a matter of ounces, but you get the idea of the discussions that might ensue if the casualty in the green gear movement is increased weight.

Personally, I would gladly take the 2 oz penalty in favor of the recycled jacket (assuming fit, price, and technical performance were roughly equal), but there is probably a tipping point. Would I still opt for the jacket with recycled materials if there was a 10 oz difference? Maybe not.

After spending a few days observing the attention and resources currently focused on the “greenification” of the outdoor industry, I am confident that if there are any significant performance tradeoffs (including weight) associated with making outdoor gear more green, they will be resolved, making any such current tradeoffs a moot point over time.

The debate is still going on about who makes the best single AAA battery flashlight for lightweight backpackers – Arc or Fenix? Fenix has a new version of their L0D available August 20, the Fenix L0D RB80 which uses the Luxeon Rebel LED. Circuitry is unchanged and run time is about the same as the previous version but it has more output – 60 lumens in the bright mode as opposed to 50 lumens for the Cree 7090 XR-E LED.

Although the Fenix L0D and Arc-AAA lights have similarities: same size, AAA batteries, and housed in aircraft grade aluminum cases, they are quite different in function. The Arc-AAA light is meant to always be there when you need it. It has only one – low – mode of 5.5 lumens with a run time of 5 hours to 50% brightness and still outputting diminished light after 12 hours. The light is switched on by twisting the head, which can be done without unclipping the light from your ball cap.

The Fenix L0D adjusts from medium to low to bright to strobe to SOS by twisting the head on and off repeatedly. It has much brighter options than the Arc-AAA. One complaint is that switching requires two hands and is hard or impossible to do with the light clipped to a hat.

Both lights operate effectively with Lithium batteries.

The L0D RB80 is bright. On bright and aimed at my eyes from a few feet away, it made me squint even in daylight.

This new Fenix light will probably not convert an Arc lover over to the Fenix side, but it’ll make users who want a very bright light in a small flashlight with easily available batteries happy.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer/Distributer: Fenix, http://www.fenix-store.com/
• Uses a Luxeon Rebel LED (80 lm/w) with a life of 50,000 hours
• Five output types: 21 lumens(3.5hrs) -> 7.5 lumens(8.5hrs) -> 60 lumens(1hrs) ->Strobe -> SOS
• 4 days of survival use (2 continuous hours per day on the lowest setting)
• Uses one 1.5V AAA battery (not included), inexpensive and widely available
• 7.35cm (L) x 1.4cm (D) (or 2.9 in (L) x 0.6 in (D))
• Input voltage: 0.8V~3.3V
• Made of aircraft grade aluminum
• Durable Type III hard anodized finish
• 14.5-gram (or 0.5 oz) weight (excluding batteries)
• Waterproof to IPX-8 Standards
• Toughened ultra clear glass lens with AR coating
• Textured reflector for a flawless beam
• Reliable twist switch
• Capable of standing up securely on a flat surface to serve as a candle
• Patented
• Battery not included
• Includes a spare o-ring, a split ring, and a pocket clip
• MSRP $46.50

Overview

The Bottlepod from Civilian Labs converts your water bottle into a camera support. The rubber base fits snugly over the cap of most drink bottles. Its spherical ball joint assists camera positioning, while its standard screw fits all tripod mounts. While it may lack the sophistication and rock-solid rigidity of a conventional photo tripod, it looks ideal for taking hands-free snapshots. The best part: a BPL measured 1.0 ounce weight.

Features

• Weight: 1.0 oz (measured)
• MSRP: $14.95
• Available: now

Tech⁴O Traileader

The market is flooded with pedometer based performance watches. Why? In the age of ever increasing wrist mounted GPS performance, pedometer based units have a significant cost advantage. They work in areas where even sophisticated GPS units can’t, like under heavy tree cover, in deep canyons. Finally, pedometer based units are lighter and have far longer battery life. Typically you can leave one on for the duration a backpacking trip and not worry about it conking out.

Note: “Tech⁴O” appears to be the re-branded electronics portion of Silva. The Silva brand is still retained for traditional magnetic compasses.

These pedometer based units typically have a wrist mounted watch portion that receives information from a foot mounted accelerometer (the pedometer) via wireless transmission. Once you calibrate these units to your stride length they can be reasonably to very accurate depending on the quality of the accelerometer, their wireless transmission technology, and the sophistication of the electronics that process the accelerometer’s information.

But the foot pods are notorious for coming free from your shoe, never to be found again, and they tend to have much shorter battery life than the watch/receiver portion. The wireless transmission between the foot pod and the watch unit is not fool proof.

Finally, hiking speed and distance traveled are important navigational information. A good pedometer is far easier to use and more accurate than counting steps. But for some reason few if any of the wrist computer navigational watches are linked with a pedometer. Thus most pedometer units are relegated to performance measurement and not navigation.

In contrast, the Tech⁴O Traileader includes a pedometer/distance function along with the traditional wrist computer navigational functions like a barometric altimeter and magnetic compass. But what really sets the Traileader apart is that it doesn’t have a foot pod. The accelerometer/pedometer is built right into wrist mounted watch. A very sensitive accelerometer and a sophisticated program analyze the accelerometer’s output for accurate speed and distance traveled. Tech⁴O claims 95+% accuracy compared 70% accuracy for a typical pedometer. (My experience with high end foot mounted accelerometer is that they are also in the range of 95-99% accurate depending on terrain.) Even so, if the 95+% accuracy is true it puts the much simpler, wrist mounted Traileader at the same accuracy as high end foot mounted units.

The Tech⁴O Traileader has the following features:

• Barometer/Altimeter
• Compass
• Speed
• Distance
• Pace
• Calories
• Steps
• Thermometer
• Time Date Alarm
• Stopwatch
• 7-day Memory

In addition, the Traileader has stainless steel construction and recessed lens for durability. The unit has a lager face with big digits and an easily read display.

MSRP $140 for the Traileader 1 or Traileader 2

It has been a long time in coming but the seamless underwear from Ibex is finally here. While the main focus of the product line is for the ladies men aren’t left out in the cold. The products all use 18.5 micron merino wool with a bit of nylon and spandex to provide stretch and a body hugging fit.

Seamless is a bit of a misnomer. The Balance line is constructed in a fashion somewhat akin to how socks are made, that is in a tubular style. Their are some small seams present, but only in places that should, according to Ibex, not rub. The combination of materials and sewing ought to create base layer clothing that is quite pleasant to wear.

• Made from 86% 18.5 micron merino wool; 10% nylon, and 4% lycra.
• Available for men and women though the women’s style predominate including, of course, the long-awaited sports bra and sports top.
• Available October, 2007 with MSRPs of $22.50 to $49.00 depending on the particular style style of apparel.

“Pacific Outdoor Equipment will hopefully introduce an entire family of pads using it. For example, a torso-length, non-inflatable, R-5 pad might weigh as little as 4oz…”

That’s what we said at ORSM 2006 when we covered the debut of the POE Hyper High Mountain Pad. Well, they heard us…sort of…except for that 4 ounce part. This year, they add three new pads to their lineup featuring Aerogel insulation co-developed with Aspen Aerogels.

As we stated with the introduction of the Hyper-High Mountain, Aerogels are solid, silicon-based, open cell, nanoporous materials that have a very high proportion of free void volume, giving them extremely low densities and thermal conductivities. Aspen Aerogels takes this raw material and builds a flexible insulating mat that’s very light and very warm for its thickness. The result is the potential for sleeping pad designs that are extremely warm for their weight and thickness.

The Uber-High Mountain pad is a non-inflatable, torso-sized pad with an inner Aerogel layer sandwiched between Diecut Polyethylene and EVA layers for protection. Case Carpenter, Pacific Outdoor Equipment’s Operations Director said, “we took the advice from your review (of the Hyper-High Mountain) and used a form factor like the Torsolite.” Unlike the previous pad which sparingly used Aerogel in the torso and foot regions, the Uber-High Mountain pad uses it throughout. While they missed our 4 ounce weight target by whopping 10 ounces, the result is likely an extremely warm, compact, foolproof torso pad well suited for lightweight Winter camping when combined with a lighter pad for your legs (or your backpack and spare clothing for ultralight extremists).

Brief Specifications (claimed)

• Construction: 13mm thick PE + Aerogel + EVA + Diecut PE sandwich
• Dimensions: 19 x 34.5 x 0.5 in (48 x87 x 1.3 cm)
• Weight: 14 oz (397 g)
• MSRP $85
• Available Fall 2007

For the 4-season backpacker looking for a bit more comfort, their gender-specific AO-Mountain pads featuring large-diameter inflatable berms along the side rails with a self-inflating center pad have been updated to the AO-Aero Mountain pads. The AO-Aero Mountain features additional cores in the torso foam (and foot area of the women’s version) that are filled with Aerogel insulation. The change is claimed to add warmth to the pad with no increase in weight. MSRP of $113 to $129, depending on size.

Finally some competition may have arrived for Inov-8 in the ultralight running shoe arena. Zoot shoes, at 8.4 to 9.5 ounces in men’s sizes provide serious contest to Invo-8 for sub 10 ounce shoes designed for the serous athlete. While Invo-8 has roots in trail running and fell running, Zoot Sports comes to the ultralight running shoe market from slightly different roots, the world of triathlons.

“We sat down with a handful of triathletes and asked them what they wanted in the perfect triathlete shoe…” said the product developer we spoke with at Zoot. The athletes stressed the following four points:

1.Speed of entry into the shoe-Grabbers on the heel and tongue quickly open the bootie for a speedy entry while the quick lace system allows for one-handed adjustment and even lace tension.

2.Biomechanics specific to triathletes-Because triathletes are running with less of a traditional runner’s gait coming directly off their bikes, the shoe is made to work with a shorter stride, closer to that used by walkers. The shoe is designed to cushion the walking striding foot. The shoes have a very light carbon fiber shank for a comfortable midfoot strike and low weight.

3.Tri-Dry technology-Allows water to flow out the bottom of the shoe through drainage holes.

4.Barefoot technology for non-sock wearing-Although few backcountry hikers will venture into the world of barefoot hiking (although we have seen it), the barefoot technology introduced here has low friction interior to prevent blisters while coating the entire inside lining with moisture-wicking, anti-microbial material (the low friction liner should work equally well to reduce friction and blisters when worn with a sock).

Three shoes are introduced by Zoot this year at less than 10 ounces.

The ULTRA Race is the lightest (8.1oz-W, 8.4oz-M. $130). It includes the sockless technology made to reduce hot spots and blisters on the feet yet provide the support needed for a running shoe. One seam in the entire line eliminates any added friction against your skin. The shoe includes high carbon rubber bottoms and a carbon fiber shank.

The ULTRA TT is the next lightest shoe (8.7oz-W, 9.2oz-M, $130). This shoe incorporates a blown rubber technology with a midsole cushioning compound for more shock absorption. The midsole cushioning is placed only in the midfoot and toe of the shoes for additional support. This shoe has toe and heel abrasion reinforcements.

Finally, the ULTRA Tempo+ trades increased cushioning for weight (9.1oz-W, 9.5oz-M, $130) by providing a dual-density midsole. All the other bells and whistles of the ULTRA TT are included as well.

Of the three shoes, the 9.5 ounce (266 gram) ULTRA Temp has the best potential for an Ultralight backpacking shoe or day hiker.

Stopping by the “Big Three” (AlpineAire, Backpacker’s Pantry, and MountainHouse) booths this year resulted in a whooping four new dinner options for the discriminating backpacker. NOTE: In all fairness, there were two new desserts (at MountainHouse) and one new breakfast (at AlpineAire) but since I am only a seasoned user in the freeze-dried dinner market, that’s my focus here.

Three of the new dinners came from Backpacker’s Pantry, two qualify as “organic” (to go along with our green-themed show). The Organic Tofu Pesto was my favorite dish of the lot combining tofu and taglitelle pasta. I would give this dish a 4-star (out of five) tasty rating. The Organic Tofu will retail for $12.90. The other organic dish was the Organic Spinach Puttanesca with tomato sauce and spinach over the same taglitelle noodles, worthy of three stars and retailing for $9.50. My husband’s favorite was their non-organic option the Chana Masala, an Indian curry dish with chick peas and chilies over rice. I would have to agree it was a unique flavor and therefore, give it a 4-star tasty rating. It did, however, get the five-star rating on price at $4.50. Whether you are a vegetarian or not, it is encouraging to see freeze-dried vegetarian dishes adding variety to the dinner market. All dishes from Backpacker’s Pantry will be available November, 2007.

The only other addition to the freeze-dried dinner market came from AlpineAire Foods who is introducing Shrimp Fried Rice to their line-up. AlpineAire’s cost for this product will approximate $5.30. I unfortunately did not get a chance to taste test their new addition so am unable to provide a tasty rating for this product. However, I will be taking it with me on my next backpacking trip to give it a try.

Let’s hope next year provides a bit more fodder for my taste buds.

Overview

Granite Gear will introduce a new 2000 cubic inch, 2 pound 2 ounce, panel loading Vapor Day Pack in early 2008. As the name implies, it will incorporate their Vapor frame and suspension, making it capable of carrying 30 pounds with comfort. The women’s version is called the Vapor Day Ki.

In the crowded day pack field, this one really stands out because of its combination of suspension and features. The Vapor suspension consists of a high density polyethylene Vapor framesheet in combination with dual density foam backpanel, shoulder straps, and hipbelt. It simply oozes comfort. The shoulder straps are fixed, but the hipbelt is available in different sizes for an optimal fit.

The feature set provides virtually everything one would want or need: panel access with water-resistant zipper, stretch-woven side pockets, large zippered front pocket, small pocket on top with water-resistant zipper, front and side compression straps that allow attachment of extra gear, load lifters, sternum strap, and hydration sleeve with dual ports. The side compression straps can now be routed either over the side pockets for security, or under them to keep them from interfering with water bottles.

While the Vapor Day Pack may not be the lightest 2000 cubic inch (32 liter) pack available, it may well be the most comfortable. It’s big enough to serve as a large day pack, approach pack, or a weekender pack, and is especially suitable for hikers willing to carry a little extra weight in exchange for a lot of comfort. Needless to say, my first impressions of the Vapor Day Pack are very positive.

Bummer: no hipbelt pockets, but accessory pockets are available.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: Granite Gear (www.granitegear.com)
• Product: Vapor Day Pack (men’s) and Vapor Day Ki Pack (women’s)
• Dimensions: Vapor Day in regular and long, Vapor Day Ki in regular and short
• Features: Panel access with water-resistant zipper, stretch-woven side pockets, large zippered front pocket, small pocket on top with water-resistant zipper, front and side compression straps that allow attachment of extra gear, load lifters, sternum strap, and hydration sleeve with dual ports.
• Fabrics: 210d and 70d Nylon Cordura body, stretch-woven pockets
• Weight: 2 pounds 2 ounces
• Volume: 2000 cu in (32 L)
• MSRP: $129

Overview

Now here’s a clever idea, a pack cover with an integrated hood to provide full rain protection for your pack, head and shoulders. The OR Pack Hoody is constructed of 40 denier silnylon fabric with taped seams. A bungee cord anchors the hood to a pack sternum strap. And the whole works packs into an integrated stuff sack.

Obviously, its not a full poncho, but it will suffice in a shower in many cases.

Bummer: It’s only available in a large size that fits up to a 80 liter pack, but maybe that’s not really bad because the larger cover will easily cover a small pack, and more. Also, it’s a bit heavy at 7.1 ounces and expensive at $55. A typical silnylon pack cover weighs around 3 ounces and costs around $30.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
• Sizes: One size (Large)
• Dimensions: 47 in x 15 in x 15 in
• Features: Integrated hood and stuff sack, elastic drawcord around back and bottom, bungee attachment to sternum strap
• Fabrics: 40d silnyl, taped seams
• Weight: 7.1 oz
• MSRP: $55

Overview

Thru hikers and others who spend a lot of time hiking under intense sun will be interested in these nifty fingerless hand protection gloves that weigh a scant 1 ounce per pair in size L/XL. Their main purpose is sun protection, but they would also be useful to provide warmth in cool weather and to grip trekking poles more efficiently.

They are made entirely of SPF 50+ lycra fabric, which makes them easy to put on and take off. As shown, the finger tips are exposed for greater dexterity. The gloves are available with a plain (lycra) palm, synthetic leather palm, or a thin polyurethane coated palm. We could not detect any difference in weight between the plain and PU coated versions, although the PU must have added a tenth of an ounce or so. The Sun Gloves are a good value at $14.95.

For comparison, the Coolibar Fingerless Glove is made pf stretch polyester microfiber, has a hole in the palm, blocks 98% of UV radiation, and costs $19.95/pair.

Glacer Glove also has a a very light (1.1 ounce) Universal Sun Shade that attaches to any ball cap, and a cool Outback Hat that resembles a Tilley Hat but weighs just 3.4 ounces and costs $39.95.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: Glacier Glove
• Sizes: All Lycra Sun Glove in S/M and L/XL; Lycra Sun Glove with PU Palm in S,M,L,XL; Universal Sun Shade in one size fits most; Outback Hat in m,L,XL
• Fabrics: Sun Gloves are Lycra; Universal Sun Shade is microfiber
• MSRP: Sun Gloves are $14.95/pair; Universal Sun Shade is $12.95; Outback Hat is $39.95

Electronic Mapping Comes of Age for Handheld GPS

Full US coverage with USGS 1:24K digital downloadable maps are available for Magellan and DeLorme GPS units.

I’m betting that in less than three years non-mapping GPS sales will tank and all but be replaced by high-res mapping units. High resolution internal maps and even aerial imagery are the future of GPS. In anticipation of this, two companies, Magellan and DeLorme, both debuted GPS units with the capability to download USGS 1:24,000 (7.5 minute) internal maps into their units. Magellan partners with National Geographic Topo! for maps. DeLorme uses their own “Topo USA” for maps.

Until now, Garmin had been the industry leader with their USGS 1:24K series of maps for National Parks East (NPE) and National Parks West (NPW) which could be downloaded into mapping capable Garmin GPS units. These maps were proprietary to Garmin and could not be downloaded into other GPS’s. This left other GPS units without internal USGS 1:24K maps. They stored maps at much lower resolutions, typically around 1:100,000 – not really suitable for precise off trail navigation.

And even for Garmin, their proprietary NPE and NPW 1:24K maps covered only a small fraction of the country that was national parks – places with good trails that are well understood with lots of navigational resources – arguably the places least in need of internal GPS maps. For the rest of the country where one could really use high resolution internal GPS maps, there were only 1:100K maps to download to your handheld GPS.

Another problem with internal maps was the complexity of downloading them to your GPS unit. Many times downloading waypoints and internal maps was a multiple-step, multiple-software process. Usually you did your route planning and GPS waypoint setting in one mapping tool, like National Geographic’s Topo! (the most popular online mapping software). Then you had to shut down Topo! and load another product like Garmin’s Mapsource to download the appropriate 1:24K maps to your GPS. Wouldn’t it be better if you could download the same 1:24K maps you were just using in Topo! directly to your GPS along with your waypoints and routes? Thus saving a step and remaining in a mapping software product you are familiar and comfortable with. And you could download whatever 1:24K maps you needed country wide, not just the national parks.

Finally, the high resolution internal GPS maps tend to be expensive. Garmin’s NPE and NPW list for $117 each. This is frustrating when you already spent $100 on 1:24K maps in another mapping software (but are unable to download them into your GPS).

Magellan Triton Units and National Geographic Topo! mapping software.

Magellan has solved all of the above mentioned problems via their collaboration with National Geographic Topo! electronic mapping software. Now you can now download any Topo! 1:24K USGS maps you own into Magellan’s Triton series of handheld GPS units. This simplifies trip planning and downloading waypoints, routes and maps to a single step. You can do all of this with a software program many backpackers and hikers are familiar with. It also reduces your electronic map costs.

The Magellan units contain excellent quality circuitry with a high sensitivity antenna and the high performance SiRFstarIII chipset. They should have excellent GPS performance even in difficult reception areas. They are rugged (able to withstand a drop on concrete) and waterproof to IPX-7 standards.

While the touchscreen on the 1500 and 2000 is indeed very nice, the unit’s weight is around 9+ ounces. While we can see some justification for additional weight for a larger and more functional screen, we wonder why they put a metal clip bar at the top of the unit instead of the much lighter traditional lanyard attachment point.

We did have a chance to briefly play around with a working version of the Magellen Triton 2000. At first blush the touchscreen display, operational menus and screens seem promising.

Expected availability for Magellean Triton GPS units is Fall of 2007. Prices will be quite reasonable with the most basic mapping units (Model 300) at $149 (10K internal map storage and lacks an SD expansion slot); and the mid-price units, the Model 400 and Model 500, at $199 and $249 respectively. The larger Triton 1500 and 2000 are quite a bit more expensive at $399 and $499 respectively. Add another $100 for each 1:24K Topo! state series map set you need.

Delorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 and DeLorme Topo USA mapping software

The DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 also solves most of the problems mentioned at the beginning of this article. You can do trip planning, waypoint setting, and map downloading via a single software program, DeLorme’s Topo USA 6.0. In addition to USGS 1:24K raster maps the EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 takes mapping quite a bit further. You can also download 1:24K DeLorme vector maps, as well as aerial imagery and street map. The EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 makes it fairly simple to toggle between the different map and imagery overlays. For instance, you can first look at the aerial image and then view the 1:24K map underlying it.

DeLorme Topo USA software (vector maps not USGS topos) is included with the EM, while Garmin and Magellan owners must purchase separate software. The EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 comes with a $100 dollar credit to download 154 square miles (400 square kilometers) of USGS rasterized 1:24K topo maps and aerial imagery. Additional data can be purchased at $1 per square mile.

In addition to rasterized maps, the EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 displays DeLorme vector based topo maps and aerial imagery. Like the Magellan the EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 is a rugged, IPX-7 waterproof device, with high performance GPS electronics using the STMicroelectronics chipset with SiGE RF front-end. Performance should be close to SiRFstarIII. It is a bit heavier than the Magellan Triton at 7 ounces. The form factor is a bit awkward with the top tab sticking out. The tab is masquerading as a lanyard attachment but it also contains the unit’s antenna.

DeLorme also includes the ability to download maps and waypoints directly to the SD card (included) which is faster and easier than downloading them via the GPS unit.

The EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 is available now for $367. Included with the Earthmate GPS PN-20 with Topo USA 6.0 National Bundle:

• The Earthmate GPS PN-20, handheld GPS receiver
• SD Card & Reader (speeds transfer of date between computer & GPS)
• DeLorme Topo USA software with full U.S. topographic and street-level detail
• Pre-loaded worldwide highway and major road base map
• Certificate for $100 worth of Aerial Data Packet downloads from DeLorme (up to 400 sq. km)
• USB interface cable
• A convenient neck lanyard

EARTHMATE GPS PN-20 Specs

Physical

• IPX-7 waterproof standard, impact-resistant rubberized housing
• Device dimensions: 2.43" W x 5.25" H x 1.5" D
• Weight: 7.05 ounces with batteries

Performance

• New high-sensitivity NMEA-compliant 12-channel GPS receiver with low-power baseband and RF chipset
• STMicroelectronics chip technology with SiGE front-end and DeLorme firmware for faster acquisition times and outstanding signal retention
• Proprietary Kalman filter for enhanced GPS accuracy
• 75 MB available internal flash memory for user-uploaded maps

Power

• Uses 2 AA batteries (included)

Battery Life:

• AA Energizer Max: 14 hours, at an average cost of .12/hour
• AA Energizer e2-Lithium: 22.50 hours, at an average cost of .22/hour

Receiver:

• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver continuously tracks and uses up to 12 satellites to compute and update your position

Acquisition Times:

• Warm: Approximately 15 seconds
• Cold: Approximately 60 seconds
• Update rate: 1/second, continuous

GPS accuracy:

• Position: < 15 meters, 95% typical*
• Velocity: 0.05 meter/sec steady state

WAAS accuracy:

• Position: < 3 meters, 95% typical*
• Subject to accuracy degradation to 100m 2DRMS under the United States Department of Defense-imposed Selective Availability Program.

Display

• Sharp high-resolution 2.2" Transflective TFT color display (220 x 176 pixels)

Memory & Storage

• SD card slot for up to 2 GB additional map storage (1GB SD card and Reader included)
• Holds up to 10 tracks (10,000 points per track), 1,000 user-defined waypoints, and 50 routes

Integral Designs SilDome

An utralight monopole shelter that requires no trekking poles sets up with as little as two stakes

Even Jones created the Integral Designs (ID) SilDome based on their popular shaped tarp/shelter, the SilShelter. He added a single arched pole (taken directly from their wedge tents) and included a zippered side entry. The result is complete weather coverage with ample interior room for two. The monopole arch height and tension is adjusted by a webbing strap between the pole ends.

The SilDome uses catenary cuts to improve panel tension and shelter stability. In keeping with the flexibility of the SilShelter, the SilDome has numerous pitch variations. There are also multiple tie-outs for added stability in strong winds.

Spec’s:

• 1 lb 10 oz with pole
• 1.1 oz silynylon fabric
• catenary cut
• 12 ft shock corded Easton .340 in 7075 aluminum pole
• adjustable webbing between pole ends to adjust shelter height and tension
• waterproof entry zipper
• 8 reinforced tie-outs

Overview

It’s basically the same technology as a Platypus flask, at two-thirds the weight and a fraction of the cost. A 2-liter MPACK flask (without cap) weighs 0.8 ounce and costs $4.

Disposable hydration system? That’s the marketing approach. The rationale is that many existing hydration systems are hard to clean, accumulate contaminants with age, and are pricey to replace. So the MPACK solution is to buy them cheap and recycle them when they get worn or contaminated. Of course, one could alternatively give it reasonable care and make it last a fairly long time.

The flask is made of a co-extruded formulation of low-density polyethylene (inside) and nylon (outside) that is claimed to be durable and odor/taste free. It has a screw fitting that looks the same as a Platypus flask, but it’s not (we tested it). The MPACK drink tube and cap will not fit on a Platy flask, or vice-versa. Bummer.

The manufacturer claims the flasks are very durable and they have not had one fail yet, but they are also targeted to be “disposable”, so time will tell on how long they actually last. A competing 2 liter Platypus flask weighs about 1.3 ounces and costs about $10. However, it has a lifetime guarantee, backed by Cascade Designs, which is an important point.

We suggested that they create an MPACK with two vertical compartments and two caps so hikers can put water in one half and a performance drink in the other. They liked the idea.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: MPACK Endurance Gear, Inc. Boulder, CO
• Product: AquaFlo Disposable Hydration System
• Sizes Available: 2 liter, 3 liter
• MSRP: Starter Kit (three 2-liter flasks, two caps, drink tube, bite valve) $26.99; drink tube and bite valve $14.99; five 2-liter flasks $19.99; five 3-liter flasks $24.99; five caps $4.99

Timberland Invention Factory has developed a new shoe, the Carbon Fyre, which will be available from GoLite in Spring 2008. At 11.4 oz it will be the lightest shoe with the innovative Isomorphic Suspension system where lugs adjust individually to uneven trail surfaces. The Carbon Fyre is built for speed. (The 12.0 oz Versa Force – blue in photo – also available in the spring, offers more stability.) GoLite reduced weight by trimming the Trail Claw lugs and using a carbon fiber cradle for support. The shoe has an air mesh upper which should be more durable than last year’s mesh and the same glued on NeoFORM (a type of dense foam) to provide seamless support.

I’m hopeful about these shoes. I’ve been wearing last season’s Sun Dragons and absolutely love how good my feet feel after strenuous trail hiking. The Sun Dragons are deteriorating very quickly though. The mesh upper problem has been addressed in the Carbon Fyres but it remains to be seen how fast the soles wear.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: GoLite
• Product: Carbon Fyre
• Weight: 11.4 oz
• Features: NeoFORM seamless upper, debris shield system, stabalizing heal cradle, anti-microbial footbed, Trail Claws, Gripstick rubber, PreciseFit system
• Sizes: men 7-13.5, women 5.5-11

Snow Peak has raised the bar (and lowered the weight) again for canister stoves. The as yet unnamed new stove tips the scales at a mere 2.15 ounces. This represents a weight savings of 20%. The stove remains capable of producing 11,000 BTUs.

• The lightest canister stove yet, weighing 2.15 ounces.
• 11,000 BTUs output.
• Aluminum and titanium construction.
• Pot supported by 3 fold-out struts.
• MSRP $55 (available May, 2008)

Overview

Finally, a lightweight inflatable sleeping pad that looks to be truly comfortable. The Big Agnes Clearview sleeping pad measures 60 inches long x 20 inches wide and has 2.5 inch diameter inflatable tubes, and weighs a scant 11 ounces (weight not verified by our scale).

By comparison, a Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite pad weighs 10 ounces, is one inch thick, and pads just the torso area. The Therm-a-Rest Prolite 3 Short pad weighs 13 ounces, is also one inch thick, and is 47 inches long x 20 inches wide. The comfort difference is mainly in the thickness, 2.5 inches thick versus 1 inch.

The Clearview pad is made of clear polyurethane, which is durable and lightweight. Our first question to the manufacturer’s rep was “How puncture resistant is it?” His answer was “It’s very easy to repair”. So, we have to read between the lines for now. We plan to obtain samples and give it a good test for a future review.

One important detail is that this pad contains no insulation, so it’s a summer pad. Big Agnes rates it to 35 F. We will also be testing that important factor.

The Clearview Pad is also a great value at $35, assuming we don’t have to spend too much money on patches! That’s half the cost of the TorsoLite and Prolite 3 Short.

Also of interest, Big Agnes is also coming out with the 6-ounce Cyclone SL chair adapter to convert the Clearview (or any comparable sleeping pad) into a camp chair. So, all you folks who really want to have a camp chair can get your fix for just 6 ounces of luxury weight.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: Big Agnes
• Product: Clearview Air Pad and Cyclone SL Chair Adapter
• Dimensions: Pad is 60 in long x 20 in wide x 2.5 in thick
• Materials: Clear polyurethane
• MSRP: Clearview Pad $35, Cyclone Chair Adapter $40

Finally a compact Caldera Cone Stove System!

The Trail Designs (TD) Caldera Cone system is arguably the most stable, fuel efficient, wind resistant and stable alcohol stove system on the market. But until now aficionados of the Caldera system had to deal with the thorny problem of packing the Caldera Cone into a compact space. The root of the problem is that the tall, springy and somewhat delicate Caldera Cone doesn’t come close to fitting into the cooking pot.

Enter George (Tin Man) Andrews of AntiGravityGear (AGG), the packaging guru who created the wildly popular Momma’s Kitchen. George applied his packing genius to the Caldera Cone for the AGG 3 cup pot to create the Caldera Kitchen. The beauty of the Caldera Kitchen is that it packs an entire two person kitchen including the Caldara Cone into such a small package.

Caldera Kitchen contains (clockwise form back left):

• a 4 cup covered zip-loc container with insulated cozy
• new asymmetrical Caldera Cone
• cozy for the AGG 3 cup pot
• 8 fluid ounce fuel bottle, pot holder
• AGG 3 cup nonstick aluminum pot with lid
• TD 12-10 alcohol stove (on top of pot)
• 2 fluid ounce graduated fuel measuring cup
• and under it all a green silnylon stuff sack.

The entire Caldera Kitchen weighs approximately 11 oz. Without the insulated cozies it is around 8 ounces. If you take out the pot holder it is down to only 7 ounces. That’s less than the weight of many backpacking pots alone.

Other advantages of the Caldera Kitchen are an insulated 4 cup container large enough to re-hydrate a two person meal with room to stir. The meal hydrates better and is much hotter after the usual 10-20 minutes necessary to fully hydrate a freeze dried meal. To re-hydrate food this well you’d normally need to use extra fuel to simmer the meal a number of minutes after a boil. With the meal re-hydrating, the pot is free to boil more water for a hot drink. (I usually have a hot drink while the meal re-hydrates.) The insulated 3 cup pot is also an excellent container to brew hot tea or coffee. The cozy keeps the water hotter much longer than an un-insulated pot which improves both tea and coffee brewing and keeps the drink much hotter. Once brewed, one person can drink out of the insulated pot and the other out of the insulated 4 cup container.

HISTORY

When Personal Locator Beacons first came on the hiking scene circa 2003 the lightweight backpacking community had a mixed response. Here was an electronic device that you could use to summon help from virtually anywhere in the world with a push of a button. PLBs were a seemingly ideal insurance policy for backcountry adventurers in remote locations. But, they were heavy (initially over one pound), expensive, and as their use became more widespread, likely to set rescue operations in motion for non-life threatening scenarios.

Technology, however, does not stand still.

At the 2004 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, we reported on the 12 ounce, $740 MSRP ACR Electronics TerraFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon and the 9 ounce, $999 MSRP McMurdo FastFind Personal Locator Beacon. In 2007, ACR released their Microfix PLB with further reduced size and weight. While these units were still very expensive, the trend towards smaller, lighter PLBs had begun. In addition, these units incorporated GPS technology to pinpoint the user’s location with unprecedented speed and accuracy making them far more useful to hikers than older non-GPS PLBs designed primarily for ocean rescue. However, these second generation PLBs still set an expensive and possibly hazardous full-fledged rescue operation in motion when activated, with no option for a lesser response.

Last Winter, we reported on the non-satellite based 1.6 ounce, $130 MSRP TracMe locating device. At first glance, this seemed to offer emergency locating capability that was small, light, and inexpensive enough to carry anytime you ventured beyond the pavement. However, the device’s short range, reliance on a third party to initiate a search, and need for specialized locating equipment (Radio Directional Finders) in the event of a rescue limit its usefulness in many situations. Nevertheless, the TracMe is still a clever device that is well suited to certain backcountry activities, such as group outings where RDF equipment is carried in the group.

OVERVIEW

The SPOT Satellite Messenger promises to overcome many of the shortcomings of these other systems. Presumably because SPOT does not use the 406 MHz PLB frequency and instead relies on a commercial satellite network, it is marketed as a “Personal Tracker” rather than a PLB. However, like conventional satellite-based GPS-enabled PLBs, SPOT has the ability to broadcast your exact position to emergency personnel at the push of a button. And, it offers this capability for less weight and cost than ever before. But what really sets SPOT apart from conventional PLBs is its ability to send out non-emergency messages containing your location. This allows you, for example, to alert your family or friends (instead of Search and Rescue) if you just become lost or suffer a minor injury. You can even send out “I’m Ok” messages with your current location, or allow contacts to track your position with Google Maps™. As any hiker who has ever left a worried spouse at home can tell you, these last features are well worth SPOT’s 7.4 ounce weight and $149 MSRP.

SPOT offers four types of messages based upon varying levels of need:

• Alert 9-1-1 – Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location
• Ask for Help – Request help from friends and family in your exact location
• Check In – Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay
• Track Progress – Send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™

Specifications and Features (claimed)

• Worldwide Satellite Coverage via the Globalstar network
• 7.4 ounce weight
• $149 USD MSRP
• $99 USD annual OR $9.99 monthly service fee
• Available Nov, 2007

Backpackinglight has arranged with SPOT to test the device ahead of its November release. Check back for a complete review where we’ll provide further details, specifications, test reports, and field impressions.