Articles (2020)

Inov-8 adds two new shoes based on the immensely popular Terroc 330. The new shoes are lighter, with more cushion and durable soles. Inov-8 also introduces its lightest shoe yet!

The new “Roclite 295” is based on the Terroc last but adds a more cushioned midsole (up to 3 arrows from 2), and the lighter and durable Roclite outsole. The 295 also includes the facia-band of the Rocklite line. The Roclite 305 is almost identical to the Rocklite 295 but adds an even more cushioned midsole (4 arrows).

Finally, based on the popular F-Lite 300, Inov-8 gives us one of the lightest trail shoes on the market, the F-Lite 230. At 8.1 ounces (230 grams) it is Inov-8’s lightest shoe. The 230 also incorporates the Roclite sole and facia-band but with a 2 arrow midsole and an extremely light upper.

Both the Roclite 295 and 305 are significant improvements over the Terroc 330, one of my favorite ultralight trail shoes. The 295’s are over an ounce lighter and should find favor with the thru hiking crowd as well as casual ultralight backpackers. At almost an ounce lighter, the added cushion of the 305’s is rapidly gaining acceptance from the ultra running crowd (people who run 50 to 100+ mile races). The 305’s should work equally well for people who have sore feet after a long day of backpacking.

Freestyle Audio has taken the next logical step with their waterproof and shockproof MP3 players. They’ve added a screen. The new 1GB unit can store up to 320 songs and supports MP3, WMA, and protected WMA formats An FM tuner which can be programmed with up to 20 presets is also built in. The color OLED screen displays display track details and an equalizer which has several presets too.

Unlike previous models this unit also supports playlists which can be created using iTunes though actual import is done through WIndows Media Player. As such the unit will work with both Windows and Macintosh computers.

• Waterproof, shockproof, and it floats
• Weighs 35 grams
• 1 GB memory capacity holds up to 320 songs.
• Can be used as a storage device for files.
• Includes waterproofearbuds
• MSRP: $99.95 Available October, 2007

Wool clothing continues to be a popular choice for base layer clothing. Icebreaker, out of New Zealand, has revised much of their product line with new prints, but the big news is the new AGAT Series of base layer clothing.

The GT shirts come in men’s and women’s style, long and short sleeve, and tank top designs. Icebreaker has designed this series with two fabric weights: 140 g/m² and 190 g/m². What makes the series most interesting though is the mix of solid wool and perforated wool that is intended to increase breathability. Icebreaker claims that the perforations increase overall breathability by 23% compared to similar solid wool products. Products within the series place the perforated wool in different locations: at the sides, on the back.

• GT series in both men’s and women’s styles: t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, tank tops.
• 140 and 190 g/m² merino wool weights
• Sewn with solid and perforated sections of wool to increase overall breathability by up to 23%.
• MSRP from $74.99 to $99.99 – available spring 2008.

Overview

Following their revamped backpack line that we reported on at the Summer 2006 Outdoor Retailer; GoLite now introduces their re-designed and coordinated shelter and sleeping bag lines. The lineup now makes more sense – with light, lighter, and lightest packs, sleeping bags, and shelters coordinating with each other.

The Shangri-La group of six single wall pyramid shelters will accommodate from one to eight people. All are made of SilLite, which is GoLite’s proprietary version of silnylon that is slightly heavier (1.7 ounces/square yard) and stronger than ordinary silnylon. The one and two person models use two trekking poles. The three and four person models are a revision of the popular GoLite Hex, and use one provided center pole. The 6+ and 8+ person models have two provided poles, and are expecially useful as a group shelter. Ventilation is a combination of a perimeter gap and top vent(s). All models are floorless, and an optional floor is sold separately.

The Utopia group is claimed to be the “world’s first free-standing ultra-lite tarps”, and consists of three shelters for one, two, or four+ people. Each shelter uses two DAC Featherlite poles in an X-configuration, that is attached to the canopy by several hook and loop tabs to create a solid unit. There is a front zippered door and ventilation is a combination of a perimeter gap and large sidewall vents. All models are floorless, and an optional floor is sold separately.

The Xanadu and Valhalla group are full-featured breathable fabric free-standing tents. They’re a hybrid design, with Epic fabric in the body and SilLite fabric in the vestibules. The vestibules are technically double-wall because they are separated from the tent interior by a mesh wall/door with dual directional zippers. These tents also use DAC Featherlite poles in a X-configuration held secure with hook and loop tabs. All are four-season tents, but the Valhalla series is more adapted for cold weather with an extra fabric door and more floor space.

Overall, we like the designs of the new shelters. They are a tad heavier than many comparable tents, due mostly to the use of heavier fabrics. We have been testing the Xanadu 2+ for the past month and find it to be very roomy and extremely wind sturdy, but a bit heavy by our standards and the ergonomics are not convenient a few respects.

Here are the all-important weights (in ounces) of the new tents:

And here are the MSRP’s:

Overview

Golite is no stranger to the sleeping quilt market. Indeed, one of their first products was the quirky, synthetic-insulated Fur quilt introduced circa 2000 that attached to an oversized sleeping pad with hook and loop patches. After abandoning quilts for several years in favor of more conventionally configured mummy-style bags, Golite takes aim at premium quilt manufacturers like Jacks ‘R’ Better and Nunatak with their new Ultra quilt.

The Ultra quilt closely resembles the $362 MSRP Nunatak Arc Alpinist in design, features, construction and temperature rating. However, the Ultra boasts an innovative use of water-resistant shell panels in select areas, and does so at an MSRP of only $225. New this year across Golite’s entire line of bags is the use of highly water-resistant panels made of Pertex Endurance in the head (or neck in the case of the hoodless Ultra) and footbox areas. I generally prefer breathability over water resistance in a sleeping bag shell to minimize the accumulation of moisture within the bag. As such, I usually don’t recommend full waterproof/breathable shells on bags except in special circumstances. However, Golite’s use of Endurance in only the head and footbox areas, while using highly-breathable 15D nylon for the majority of the bag potentially offers the best of both worlds – good resistance to loft degredation from accumulation of internally generated moisture, and good protection from external moisture in those areas most likely to bump up against the walls of a wet tent, or catch spray entering the ends of a tarp.

Specifications and Features (claimed)

• “Hyperlite” 15 denier double ripstop nylon shell with DWR
• 22 denier polyester micro fiber liner
• Twin grosgrain ribbon straps to adjust girth or secure to sleep pads
• Snap and drawcord closure at neck
• Highly water-resistant Pertex Endurance panels on footbox and around neck opening
• 800 fill-power down
• 20°F temperature rating
• Small, regular and long sizes available
• 1 lb 3 oz
• MSRP: $225
• Available Spring 2008

Overview

The competition in the ultralight waterproof/breathable rainwear department will be heating up with North Face’s introduction of their 5.4 ounce Triumph Anorak in early 2008. No, it’s not the very lightest (the Sierra Designs Isotope Jacket at 5.2 ounces holds that claim), but the Triumph is sweet and definitely worth considering.

What’s unique about the Triumph is that it’s built with only two fabric panels – the hood and the body – to eliminate seams and save weight. The fabric is 15 denier (2.1 oz/square yard) HyVent DT, which is an applied polyurethane coating with a textured print matrix that physically separates the PU coating from the skin to give it a “dry touch” feeling. The textured coating eliminates the need for a liner and is commonly referred to as a 2.5 layer fabric.

The Triumph’s 2.1 ounce HyVent fabric is a bit heavier than Sierra Designs’ 1.17 ounce Nanotech fabric, but it creates a sturdier feeling rain jacket. The Isotope by comparison feels more like a windshirt.

Feature-wise, the Triumph is fairly Spartan, as one would expect. It has a nice fitting adjustable hood, short front zipper, one chest pocket, water-resistant zippers, elastic cuffs, and hem cinchcord. The Sierra Designs Isotope Jacket is more feature-rich, with a full front zip, two zippered chest pockets, and two inside drop pockets.

p>The ultralight choice stacks up between the sturdier but more Spartan TNF Triumph Anorak versus the wimpy but more feature-rich SD Isotope Jacket, and the deal breaker will likely be found in their comparative performance and cost. Yes, cost is a significant factor; the Triumph costs a steep $179 while the Isotope is only $90.

We are anxious to get samples and test both jackets side by side in the field. At this time I’m not recommending the TNF Triumph over the SD Isotope, but I do believe it will be a strong contender.

Bummer: it’s available only in black or white, and the cost is steep at $179.

Specifications and Features

• Manufacturer: The North Face
• Style: Anorak (pullover)
• Fabric: waterproof/breathable HyVent DT 2.5 layer (polyurethane coated ripstop nylon (2.1 oz/sq yd)
• Sizes: Men’s S,M,L,XL
• Features: Two panel construction, seam taped, reverse coil zippers, adjustable attached hood with brim, right chest pocket, elastic cuffs, hem cinchcord
• Colors: Black, white
• Average Weight: 5.4 oz (152 g), verified by our scale
• Available: January, Spring 2008
• MSRP: $179

It is hard to put a quantitative measure on a good night’s sleep. Is it worth a projected 3.0 ounces, the target weight of the Cocoon pillow by Design Salt? The prototype model I saw this morning weighs 3.2 ounces with its stuff sack and I think many will feel as I do: the weight sacrifice will often be worth it. The production model, slated for release Spring 2008, could very well shave 0.2 ounce off the total weight.

To achieve this weight and still have a pillow that feels like a true pillow the Cocoon uses a combination of an air bladder and synthetic fill insulation inside the shell fabrics. The bladder is positioned in the center of the pillow and is surrounded by the insulation It’s all wrapped with a fleece-like top and slick bottom.

Greetings from … Huntsville!

While the rest of the BackpackingLight team was travelling to Salt Lake City today in preparation for Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, I spent the day 45 miles North of Salt Lake City at the Open Air Demo in nearby Huntsville, Utah. Open Air Demo gives show attendees the opportunity to try paddling, navigation and climbing equipment in an outdoor setting, while giving makers of bulky equipment like tents and vehicles, as well as smaller vendors who may not have a booth at the main exhibit, a venue to show their wares.

This year’s show is bigger than ever with over 1100 exhibitors at Outdoor Retailer, and nearly 100 at Open Air Demo. Most of the products shown are aimed at mainstream (read “heavy weight”) outdoor activities. While walking through the booths today, I was struck by what a small minority backpackers are in general, and lightweight backpackers are in particular, in the outdoor community. Nevertheless, I saw a number of exciting new lightweight products including a potentially revolutionary Personal Locator Beacon, innovative tent designs, and lightweight sleep systems.

That’s a wrap from Open Air Demo. Stay tuned throughout the next few days as we begin our dispatches from main show at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2007.