Cairngorm Treks Review - Rescue Howler Whistle
Posted by Cairngorm Treks on Feb 04, 2019
Extensively tested and reviewed by Cairngorm Treks throughout late summer to winter 2018/19 in the Cairngorms and surrounding mountainous areas.
Rab state the Xenon to be a superlight and packable insulated mitt and this certainly seems true when unpacking them. These are seriously small, almost fooling us into thinking we had been sent the wrong item until we pulled them out of the small bag to reveal a full-size pair of mitts.
The outer shell is made up of two distinct materials. The first being a Pertex Quantum fabric which uses a tightly woven structure to provide a very comfortable material that allows insulation to loft whilst also protecting from wind and light precipitation. Add to this a PU palm providing added strength and grip. Internally 40G/m2 of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation provides a layer of warmth finished with a soft microfleece lining next to the skin.
We received the mitts in a large size that weighed a mere 64grams! Fitting nicely into the Pertex Quantum stuff sac that was included, the small pack size means they can be placed in an easy to access pocket in your pack or clothing. Once worn there is plenty of room inside to move fingers and they offer great dexterity when handling walking poles or working with pieces if kit around camp.
The whistle is very loud, even in winds of 40mph with hats and jacket hoods covering ears we could hear each other clearly from 40-50m away fading off around 150m. This may not sound like much but in these conditions it’s often hard to hear each other talking when stood closely together. A whistle of this rating can usually be heard from around 1/2 a mile away, the Rescue Howler claims to be able to push this to 1 mile and in the right conditions we believe it is quite possible it can achieve this. Obviously many factors can dampen the flow of sound but for a whistle of this size, it is LOUD!
A whistle is more to prevent an accident rather than it is a rescue tool. When a group is out in conditions of poor visibility and has started to drift away from each other a quick blow of the whistle can alert the attention of the group and quickly bring everyone closer together. A very simple solution to what could result in a much bigger issue. Anyone who has been with a group on the Cairngorm plateau can understand how quickly weather conditions can change. Combine that with an almost featureless environment and navigating can be tough resulting in disorientation. A whistle is a quick simple solution to being heard.
The most important and reliant uses of the whistle are on our multi-day treks. The all important midnight pee cannot be underestimated. Even the most experienced outdoors person can switch off when in search of a suitable toilet spot. We insist a toilet bag to be made up before going to sleep, with a torch and whistle included. This way when your stumbling around half asleep, if you do get disorientated, alerting a member of the group can stop an otherwise potentially life threatening situation.
Our Verdict
This is an essential piece of kit. The Rescue Howler Whistle is small and lightweight at only 14g, and there are also 2 in a pack! It is an item that will stay permanently attached to your bag with a spare to place in your first aid kit. Anyone who ventures into the wilderness must carry a whistle; it’s as essential as carrying a survival bag, torch, compass and map.
Cairngorm Treks is a small family business based in the picturesque village of Tomintoul in the North East region of the Cairngorms National Park. They provide bespoke Mountain Guiding for Single Day Walks and Lightweight Multiday Trekking experiences, including wild camping, in the stunning Cairngorms wilderness and surrounding areas. Whether in the high mountains or lower valleys, their Multiday Treks are equipped with high quality, lightweight camping and trekking gear. They only work with small groups and, whatever your ability, pride themselves on designing your outdoor experience completely to your needs and with professional guidance and expertise. Adventure is waiting...
Rab state the Xenon to be a superlight and packable insulated mitt and this certainly seems true when unpacking them. These are seriously small, almost fooling us into thinking we had been sent the wrong item until we pulled them out of the small bag to reveal a full-size pair of mitts.
The outer shell is made up of two distinct materials. The first being a Pertex Quantum fabric which uses a tightly woven structure to provide a very comfortable material that allows insulation to loft whilst also protecting from wind and light precipitation.