 |
Thermarest Neo Air Mini Pump
Marvellous! A common comment when talking to customers is that they don't want the effort of blowing up an inflatable mattress at the end of a hrad days walking - now they don't have to. This is a typical ultralight product we like, gram counters won't take it with them but it will appeal to lots of others and you won't find a lighter electric pump anywhere.
|
 |
Thermarest Ultralite Cot
I used to sleep on something like this when I was a lad - camping in cotton Patrol tents where weight wasn't an issue - so I know how comfortable cots are. The traditional, heavy and bulky versions were fine for car camping but were too heavy and bulky for motor bikes or cycling - Thermarest have solved this problem - this new cot is just as good as the trad version but without the weight and pack size disadvantages - it really is a mould breaker.
Its expensive, but if you have a long trip in mind or you camp a lot then it could easily be worth it over a long run. Backed by Thermarest quality and customer service you have no need to worry about the life of the product.
The claimed 'three minute setup' seems a bit ambitious but even if it takes you double that its still not a long time.
|
 |
Nemo Equipment Helio Shower
The Helio is a truly awesome product - if you've used gravity shower contraptions designed for camping you'll realise just what a breakthrough the Helios is. Just 700g - ideal for basecamp use. Best for use in warmer climates of course.
|
 |
Montane Minimus Mountain Jacket
A superbly light jacket with good waterproofing and breathability characteristics - some good features retained from heavier jackets - such as the cord adjuster round the head/hood - so the hood will follow your head when you turn it.
|
 |
Leatherman Style PS Multitool - just 41grams
Superbly made - the Leatherman Style PS even has holes drilled into the casing to make it lighter. The key tool is a pair of needlenose pliers/wirecutters which are gorgeous given the size of the tool. There's no knife blade - which is great as well because often the blade on these small tools is very small and I carry a larger one for cutting cheese etc - so I don't need a tiny one as part of my multitool kit.
|
 |
Extremities Tuff Bags
Tuff bags are the lightest way to keeping your hands dry - ideal for walking where your hands are not doing much - but you still need to wear gloves and keep them dry. Much lighter than the lightest waterproof gloves Tuff Bags allow you to wear non-waterproof gloves to keep your hands warm then donn these when its raining - simples.
|
 |
Nite-Ize ZipLit LED light
Really good for this time of year - as the light starts fading around 4 in the afternoon there's no need to stop to fish out your headtorch the ZipLit is ready and waiting.
|
 |
RAB Scimitar Softshell Jacket
Been using the Scimitar this Autumn and its one of the best softshells I've used - sheds water well and isvery comfortable to wear - doesn't offer much insulation value so I'll be switching to something else for the winter - but picking this up again in the Spring.
|
 |
Montane Featherlite Down Jacket
It was inevitable that Montane would produce a lightweight layering down jacket to compete with the RAB Microlight - its slightly heavier but has a much better hood - I've been wearing mine for the last few months and think its superb - the hood design just gives it that much more useability - whatever that means!!
|
 |
Fire Maple FMS-117T Remote Gas Stove
This is our lightest remote gas canister stove - but its not just the lightest by a couple of grams - it knocks the competition into a cocked hat - thats why it gets our vote.
|
 |
Vargo Titanium 'BOT' Bottle Pot
Quirky - and not mass-market - but we like it enough to recommend it here. Save weight by using your cooking pot as a water bottle - the BOT is designed to do both jobs pretty well.
|
 |
Mont Bell EX Light Down Jacket
I hesitate to recommend two Mont-Bell items on the same page but the EX Light down jacket is an exceptional piece - delivers the warmth of a fleece at just 150g / 5oz - no frills - just 900 fill power down in an exceptionally light fabric.
|
 |
Mont Bell Spiral Down Hugger ultralight sleeping bag/quilt
An excellent summer or mountain racing sleeping bag or quilt. Uses high quality 800 fillpower down combined with ultralight lining and face material to create a lightweight sleeping system that can be used as a quilt when its warm or fastened into a sleeping bag when its colder.
The Spiral Down Hugger refers to a Mont Bell innovation where the bag baffling is built to stretch with the occupant - so its close fitting for maximum warmth but stretchy when you move so that you never feel restricted. Its a system thats had a lot of press in the past - all positive.
|
 |
Camelbak Podium Chill Bottle
Having tried a number of hydration bottles we came tothe Podium Chill - what a revelation - apart from the obvious feature that the bottle keeps drinks cooler for longer the Podium Chill mouth valve is the best we've seen.
For a start it has a locked setting - and when locked it won't leak, in use a slight squeeze brings the fluid flooding into your mouth with ease - trust us - this is the best!
|
 |
UnderArmour Coldblack SS Tee
New fabric technology means that even dark colours can reflect sunlight and keep the wearer cool. Initial reports are that it actually does work.
|
 |
RAB Montane Terra XT Pants
Used these pants a lot this winter - and I'm reminded just how good they are, very warm, easy to move around in due to the articulation and should really be listed as softshell - they dealt with the odd hail storm with aplomb.
|
 |
RAB Baltoro Guide Pro Jacket
Recently took one of these on a winter walking trip to the Cairngorms - its was awesome, the first day was bright and sunny with only spindrift to worry about - the Baltoro kept me very warm, comfortable and dry. The next day I experienced driving rain and hail - not all day - but sporadically - I didn't bother putting my hardshell on and the Baltroro kept the weather out fantastically.
By the end of the day the inside was dampish, but considering what the jacket had handled I was delighted - its a much more comfortable experience than wearing a hardshell.
|
 |
Montane Fury Jacket
Take a lightweight Polartec Micro fleece jacket and give it 'the treatment' - Polartec Power Dry stretch fabric side panels, under arm and across the shoulders and hood gives superb freedom of movement. The close fitting hood makes it ideal for wearing under a hooded shell, or even a helmet, ealstic binding on the cuffes keeps the wind out. An out and out functional fleece that keeps the weight down by the use of lightweight fabrics without compromising features or performance - its even got an internal baffle behind the zip to maintain its insulating integrity.
|
 |
Vaude SkyFly Cycling Jacket
You can't always count on the weather, but you can always count on this jacket. An extremely lightweight jacket small enough to be stored in your jersey pocket, providing excellent protection when needed. Reflective stripes on the sleeves and back ensure visibility when riding in the city.
Our Verdict
The fabric has brilliant waterproof and breathability characteristics for something this light, with a long drop tail, channel-backed main zip and tight elasticated cuffs it delivers awesome performance - styling isn't bad either.
|
 |
Nemo ZOR Pad
Simply put - our lightest full length self inflating mat - it does this by utilising horizontal as well as vertical cutouts and by being 2cm rather than 2.5cm thick like most of its competitors. But its brilliantly light and the pack size is also the smallest for this category of mat.
|
|
|
Exped Synmat Ultralight
Not quite as light or as packable as the Pacific Outdoor Peak AC Elite, or the Thermarest Neoairs, but with the Exped product you get a full sized rectangular mat with a higher thermal resistance rating than its peers and with Exped quality built in; such as the two valve construction, one for inflation, the other for deflation - makes both these processes fast and easy.
|
|
|
GSI Spice Missile
This ingenious container has 6 compartments and is exapndable indefinitely. Each pair of compartments share the same shaker lid which twists to the selected spice. The spice labels are a nice touch - like being at grandma's house - bless!
|
 |
PodSacs First Aid Drybags
Great idea this for those who know enough about First Aid to make up their own kit and principally because it makes your First Aid kit easily identifiable - if its you lying on the deck then you'll be glad that someone can identify your FA Kit in your pack easily and quickly.
The small drybag is probably the one for a solo kit, and the large size for groups or extended trips into wilderness areas.
|
|
|
Nuun Hydration Tablets
Say you’re out on a long run, ride or maybe at the gym, rather than settle for water or a traditional sports drink loaded with sugar you just fill up your reusable water bottle and drop in a Nuun tab. By the time you tie your shoes or throw on your pack, you’ve got a superior electrolyte drink that gives you optimal hydration.
It has a light refreshing taste that efficiently absorbs faster than water alone and, unlike traditional sports drinks, it’s sugar free.
|
 |
SealLine E-cases
Touch, Talk and Listen with Full Protection: These cases give your critical electronics submersible protection while still allowing you to operate them.
Fantastically well made, prior to discovering these the lightest waterproof pouch for my iPhone was three times the weight.
|
 |
Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
Black Diamond have really created something new here - they've taken the 'sectional' concept of the lightest poles - added a decent foam grip and somehow created a pole that weighs just 135g yet feels very solid and rigid, making it suitable for walking and trekking.
They've just won 'Editors Choice' Award from the Backpackers Magazine - and with good reason.
When not in use they stow easily into your pack using the pouch supplied.
|
 |
Granite Gear Multi-Activity Packs
We're using this area to bring to everyone's attention how good the new multi-activity packs are from Granite Gear - we've shouted about them before but we're doing it again mainly because I've been using the Habanero as a winter daypack - it is really superb - the harness works really well - ventilated yet very stable and close to the back - and the organisation that the pack offers is second to none.
The new harness from Granite Gear is really interesting - it looks an behaves like a close fitting padded back panel - but actually its curved and sits quite well off the back - in addition the stippled nature of the padding makes it feel 'airy'. We love it - Granite Gear seem to have achieved a close fitting pack which vents very well - Nirvana!
|
 |
Big Agnes King Solomon Double Width Sleeping Bag
One bag that is just about unique is this King Solomon Double Wide bag - enables you to get up close and personal with your camping mate while still providing a lightweight, high quality down bag suitable for backpacking.
Its got twin collar-bits to keep your shoulders cosy and twin pillow pockets so that you can stuff them to your desired size and firmness. There's also a zip down either side so you won't end up with an elbow in the ribs if you need to climb over your partner in the night to go for a pee.
So slip a couple of NeoAirs into your King Solomon and forget about resting, (there must be a euphemism in there somewhere but I can't find it).
|
|
|
Edelrid Scoop
Well we got really excited when Edelrid presented the Spatula last year - now we have the Scoop as well - simple but brilliant.
If you haven't seen these before it uses an Edelrid Spork as the handle so you really need one of these as well:
|
|
|
Nite Ize DomeLit Tent Light
Brilliant bit of kit that weighs only 20g - on a long trek either side of the summer I'd take a backup light as well as a headtorch - if I take a DomeLit then I'm not only carrying a miniscule amount of extra weight but it gives me the option of a general light or focussed headlight whilst in the tent - why wouldn't I?
|
|
|
Luger LR 6 x 18 Waterproof Binoculars
Binoculars aren't the top of everyone's backpacking list - especially if you're counting the grams - but if you're a bit of a twitcher or like to know what those people in the distance are doing - then you might as well have the lightest pair of binoculars we could find.
Just 135grams!
|
 |
SOTO Micro Regulator stove
Winner of two prestigeous industry Editors Choice awards in 2010 the Micro Regulator stove is not only pretty damn light for a stove with an igniter - it also has hidden talents such as its ability to work normally at low temperatures - awesome.
|
 |
Ortlieb Snap
Achieving a completely waterproof seal on a pouch normally means its tough and time consuming to get your camera in and out - Ortlieb have recongnised this and solved it with the Snap by employing a fold and flap arrangement which is easy and quick to use.
So its not a waterproof case as such because if you drop it into a river you've got problems - however the fabric is completely waterproof and the seams are too - so wearing it on your hipbelt will provide excellent protection even during a downpour - we like it!
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
