Outdoor gear reviews

Suunto Observer Titanium - a review

I bought my Suunto Observer Titanium for £320, with the intention of it being my 'everything' watch.

On paper, this really has every feature you could possibly need.
• A couple of clocks
• Compass
• Altimeter
• Thermometer
• Barometer
• Alarm
• Stopwatch
• Light
• Waterproof

Unfortunately, in real life it's disappointing.
• The titanium strap is actually just a rubber strap with titanium bits - it snapped after 12 months and a replacement was £40!
• The battery can be easily replaced yourself, which is just as well because they only last around 12 months.
• The thermometer measures the temperature of your wrist.
• The alarm is inaudible.
• The titanium housing and the glass scratch very easily.
• It's too complicated!

It does have its plus points.
• Looks very nice.
• Is light.
• Compass works well.

Overall I found it was a little too fragile to be my 'everything' watch - the battery, alarm and delicate surfaces meant I didn't really trust it. The altimeter and barometer functions weren't too hard to figure out, but I found it very difficult to learn what to actually do with the readings. Similarly, the compass had all sorts of clever features, but I never really got how they worked, so never used them.

I've since sold it on ebay and now have: a Seiko Automatic watch which is tough, charges itself, and tells the time; a normal compass; the relevant maps!

Verdict
Don't get one!

Macpac Traverse rucksack - a review

When I do an overnight camp I find it impossible to fit everything I need into a day sack. I therefore needed something bigger, something that could comfortably accommodate my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, waterproofs, change of clothes, food and water. Yes, you can squeeze all this into a 45 litre bag, but I prefer to have room to spare in case I need to take more, or in case I can't squeeze the tent back into the small bag it came in!

My requirements were simple: something around 65-70 litres, hard-wearing, comfortable. I tried the Berghaus C7 (too small in the back for me), a Lowe Alpine Tundra (too fussy and felt a little delicate), and a North Face one which I can't remember the name of (same drawback as Lowe Alpine). To be honest, I knew I wanted the Macpac because of how great my Macpac Gemini is, but I thought I should try some others first!

Material and build
The most striking thing about the Macpac Traverse is how tough it feels: the AzTec fabric is really thick and inspires abolute confidence. It's not offically waterproof, but my gear's never got wet even in torrential rain. Even so, I still use dry bags to pack my gear into before putting it into the Macpac, just in case.

The space and layout
There's one big compartment with top access and a zipped bottom compartment, an extendable lid with large main pocket and a smaller front pocket, and a zipped pocket on the front of the rucksack that looks like a detachable daysack, but isn't. So it's all quite basic but it's just what you need. There's plenty of room in all the compartments except the front pocket which can't accommodate much when the big main compartment is full. It's still handy for small bits and bobs though.

The harness
The Traverse has a Dynamic harness which is great: you don't really notice it, which is what you want from a harness. It moves with you nicely as you walk and scramble, and doesn't impede your movement. The lumbar pad and straps are comfy enough, but the padding does get a bit soggy if you sweat a lot! The waist strap doesn't slip once done up so you can set it how you like it and then forget about it.

The one drawback
Unladen it weighs 2.7kg - before you've even put anything in it it's heavy.

Summary
A tough and comfortable way to carry lots of stuff long distances, that should last several lifetimes. Shame about the unladen weight, but toughness is rarely light.

Verdict
Get one!

Ajungilak Kompakt 3 season synthetic sleeping bag - a review

The Ajungilak Kompakt sleeping bag is a bit of a classic and has been around for years. I bought mine 10 years ago for my round the world trip - I still use it and it's still in great condition.

This sleeping bag has MTI Performance synthetic insulation which works well. There are various different temperature ratings listed for this bag which makes things very confusing! However, having used this in all sorts of climates, in my experience it's comfortable to around 0c, although you can stretch this to get a good night's sleep at -5c if you wear all your clothes and use a good mat.

The shape isn't anything too exciting, being a 'mummy' shape like every other modern sleeping bag. I'm 6 ft 1 and there's plenty of room in there for me. In fact, I'd say it's a little bit baggy which is just as well as I wear all my clothes in it when it gets cold!

The neck baffle is rather feeble and feels more like a garotte in the middle of the night. I don't use it. The hood is nice and big, but when done up tight, doesn't leave you much room to breath. However, it is nice and cosy like this. The cords to do them both up are just bits of string - there's no differentiation between them and it can be frustrating trying to undo one of them in the dark.

The inner and outer materials are Pertex-like: clearly man-made but with a little water resistance and pretty sturdy. The outer on mine is still fine, even though it's been around a bit - no tears but there is a stain. The inner feels soft next to the skin but can be a bit sweaty: a cotton/silk liner would be a good idea.

I've washed this sleeping bag several times in the washing machine without any problems, so it's very easy to maintain. It does take some drying, but once it's dry, it's nice and plump and just like new.

The compression sack it comes with is invaluable: the sleeping bag's volume is quite large so I tend to squish it down as much as possible so it takes up as little room in my rucksack.

No amount of squishing makes it any lighter though, and at around 1.7kg, it is quite heavy for the warmth it provide: a down bag rated 0c would weigh less than half the weight of this bag. But the Ajungilak Kompakt is cheap, easy to maintain and dependable, even in damp conditions, so, as with many bits of outdoor equipment, weight is the sacrifice that has to be made.

If you're after a good synthetic sleeping bag for general use, this is highly recommeded.

Verdict
Get one!

Scarpa ZG 65 XCR walking boots - a review

There's nothing worse than heavy walking boots. Well, there are obviously lots of worse things, but after 6 hours walking in clumpy boots, you'll class heavy boots as right up there!

I decided to ditch boots and go for trainers: I figured something super light would revolutionise my days in the hills. However, after trying a few pairs on, I quickly realised that an encounter with a wet bog or long dewy grass would leave my feet soaking, so I widened my search and looked at lightweight boots.

My favourite lightweight boots were the Scarpa ZG 65 XCR walking boots - they felt immediately comfortable and were, most importantly, really light!

These have performed really well out in the hills.
The sole is excellent - very grippy and nice and stiff. They give me plenty of confidence when scrambling, and shield me from the rocks underfoot.
The Gore-Tex XCR lining is waterproof - so it should be! I normally don't agree with boot linings and prefer to go for plain old leather. However, these are fine and surprisingly don't make my feet any hotter or sweatier than unlined boots.
The uppers are quite thin so they don't provide much protection, although they do ofer some - more than a pair of trainers would at least.
The insole is rubbish - Scarpa should be ashamed of themselves. It's thin and slides about and crumples up which is very annoying. I've replaced mine with some Superfeet insoles.
The lacing system is really simple and works a treat. It would be nice to have a locking system, but it isn't really necessary and would just add weight.

These are excellent boots - light and functional. They're not that sturdy, so I don't suppose they'll last particularly long, but they're well built with good materials, so they'll serve me for a couple of years at least. Overall, the best thing I can say about these boots is that I don't really notice them!

Verdict
Get some!

Superfeet green insoles - a review

Like a lot of people, I overpronate when I walk: my feet roll inward too much. This causes all sorts of problems and I generally get sore feet after just a few miles. I therefore bought a pair of Superfeet green insoles to see if they would help.

At £35, they're not cheap, but if they stopped my feet from hurting, it would be worth it. So I bought them, trimmed the edges so they fit in my boots, and tried them out. The advice is to only wear them for an hour or two at a time to start with - your feet, knees and hips might be a little sore as they correct any problems.

To begin with I thought they felt weird - I was very conscious of them and was worried they weren't really doing much and that I'd wasted my money. I'd also bought some new socks at the same time and the combination was a bit slippery: I had to tie my boots up a little tighter than normal to stop my feet from sliding down when walking downhill.

However, after a few goes of just an hour or two, I moved up to leaving them in all the time and now I don't notice them and I don't have sore feet.

Money well spent!

Verdict
Get some!

Berghaus Freeflow 35+ 8 rucksack - a review

Since I'm a human, I get a sweaty back when walking with a rucksack on. This isn't very nice, especially when I stop walking and take my rucksack off! So I wanted one of these new rucksacks that allow air to circulate between back and rucksack. I tried a few and bought the first version of what's now the Berghaus Freeflow 4 35+ 8 Rucksack

The back system does leave plenty of room between back and rucksack, but actually, I get a sweaty back even without a rucksack, so this doesn't really make much difference in that department!

Since the rucksack doesn't cling to your back, it can feel a little unsteady if it's loaded up, as if it's hanging behind you, trying to pull you backwards.

In reality, this last problem doesn't crop up very often because there's not really enough room to load it up: the main compartment is compromised by the curved back system, and the side pockets can't accommodate much if the main comparment's stuffed full. There's an internal pocket for a hydration bladder with a little hole near the top for the tube to come out - it works well but a 2 litre bladder takes up most of the room!

The top pocket's handy and has a little clip for your keys. There's a nice silver rain cover stuffed just beneath it that's quite useful.

The harness and straps are comfortable, but mine has developed an annoying squeak which I can't locate!

Overall, I don't really like this rucksack. It's fine if you just put a few things in there for a day trip, but if it gets anywhere near full, it starts to become unwieldy. The gap in the back system probably helps your back stay cooler than with a normal rucksack, but backs get sweaty regardless, so it's not actually a cure.

My rucksack is version 1 - hopefully now that they're on version 4 they have resolved these issues. If you are going to get one of these, try it out first by seeing how much stuff you can fit in it and whether the 'hanging off your back' sensation bothers you. Otherwise, just get a 'normal' rucksack!

Verdict
Don't get one!

Lightweight down sleeping bags - what's available

I bought a new lightweight down sleeping bag a couple of weeks ago (more on this in a future review).

To help me choose the right sleeping bag for me, I compiled a little spreadsheet of the various lightweight down sleeping bags currently on the market (Autumn 2007). Now I know it's a nerdy thing to have done, but the down sleeping bag market is quite confusing and they're quite expensive, so I didn't want to make a mistake. This really helped me, so I thought I'd put my findings online so others might benefit from my research. Good luck!

Manufacturer	Bag name	Outer material	Fill	Bag weight	Min Temp rating	Price
PHD	Hispar	Drishell	800	970g	-8 degrees Celcius	£298
	Minim 400	M1/MX	800	670g	-5 degrees Celcius	£245
Cumulus	Quantum 350	Quantum	870	665g	-6 degrees Celcius	£210
	Prime 400	Microlight	870	870g	-7 degrees Celcius	£220
Rab	Quantum 400	Pertex Quantum	850	900g	-5 degrees Celcius	£200
Mountain Hardwear	Superlight Phantom 15	Conduit SL	800	880g	-11 degrees Celcius	£260
Alpkit	PipeDream 400	Toray (like Pertex)	750	760g	-3 degrees Celcius	£105
	PipeDream 600	Toray (like Pertex)	750	960g	-7 degrees Celcius	£125

Macpac Gemini travel rucksack - a review

I bought my Macpac Gemini 80 litre travel rucksack 10 years ago when I was preparing for my round the world trip. The year-long journey would involve 3 months in India, a month in Nepal hiking the Annapurna circuit in the Himalayas, 5 months travelling round Australia, 6 weeks cycling in New Zealand, a few weeks relaxing on beaches on islands on the way to the USA, and then a bit of a road trip across to New York before flying home.

With all this ahead of me, I was in the market for a sturdy rucksack to carry all my stuff in all sorts of situations. I tried loads but none felt as solidly well built as the Macpac Gemini. 10 years later I can confidently say I was right!

So, what's it got and what's good about it?
The main compartment has a panel opening: it zips fully open a bit like suitcase. This makes it super easy to pack and means that when you get to your destination, you don't need to unpack it all: it's a bit like a mobile wardrobe. There are compression straps in here too, so you can squish loads in and keep it all in place. There's a zipped pocket on the inside of the lid which was great for storing documents and keeping them flat. There's also a sort of valley compartment that runs round the rim of the compartment - I used this for socks and pants!

The bottom compartment is separated from the main one by an internal zipped flap - you could unzip this and combine the two compartments. It also has a big external zip so getting stuff in and out is easy. I used this bit for my sleeping bag.

The 20 litre detachable day sack zips onto the front of the main sack. When attached, it makes a useful additional compartment. When detached, it's a great little sack for pottering around. The straps are perfectly fine, although not that comfy after a few hours. There's plenty of space for a waterproof, some lunch, a bottle of water and souvenirs :-)

The Dynamic harness is comfortable. There really isn't much else you want from a harness!

The back also has a roll away cover that zips over the harness - perfect for when you're putting your rucksack in an aeroplane, on the roof rack of a bus, or checking into a posh hotel where a rucksack might not be appropriate. There's a handle and shoulder strap on the side of the sack for when you've zipped the harness away.

The brilliant thing about this rucksack is that it's super tough and quite straightforward. It handled all the abuse I put it through on my travels and still looks like new. The only downside is that it's quite heavy at around 3kg.

If you're off on an adventure, I would definitely recommend one of these!

Verdict
Get one!

Keen Austin shoes - review

I bought the earlier version of the Keen Austin shoes from Field & Trek earlier this year, and they're great.

When it comes to shoes, I like something that I can use for everything: trundling around the shops, walking the dogs, doing some gardening, and for when boots are overkill, going for walks in the hills. These looked good and sturdy in the shop - perhaps they could take me up some hills.

They're comfortable.
The front is very wide and allows your toes plenty of room to wiggle about. The sole's shape sort of forces you to walk properly which is good - they correct any bad habits you might have from other shoes. They're quite firm underfoot - not as squidgy as a pair of trainers, but not as hard as a pair of walking boots. The insole is supportive, but quite slippery. They're 'airy' so not too hot.
They're very sturdy.
I've used these for digging in the garden, walking up rocky paths in the Lakes, and splodging through puddles with the dogs, and they're doing fine. The uppers are rock solid - no tears and barely any scuffs - and the sole looks like new.
They're not waterproof!
The leather uppers are great, but the shoe's not designed to be waterproof so there are gaps between the tongue that easily let water in.

Overall I'm very happy with how these shoes perform, although they're not that attractive. They are also quite heavy and that toebox makes them feel quite 'clumpy', but this is the price you pay for having such a sturdy pair of shoes.

Verdict
Not to everyone's taste!

Raichle 60 Degree - a review

(Can't be bothered to read this? Jump to the summary).

When my La Sportiva Makalu boots finally conked out a couple of years ago, I went up to Keswick and bought myself a par of Raichle 60 Degree boots. They cost about £120.

I wanted something that would last a long time and serve as general 'walking around in the hills' boots, as well as something that would be suitable for snow in case I ever ventured out when it was a bit chilly outside. I tried on all sorts of boots in the shop and the Raichle ones were the most comfortable and looked solid and reliable.

The leather uppers are bomb-proof and have never let any water in - there's no Gore-Tex liner which is good as they don't need one. The rubber rand helps protect the leather from the most severe knocks and scrapes and together they do a great job of keeping your feet isolated from the dangers outside.
The Vibram Icetrek sole is tough and gives great traction over rough terrain, but I don't really trust it on slippery stuff like wet grass or mossy rock. Ironically, given its name, the sole is rubbish on ice, but then that's to be expected.
The boots are very stiff compared to the walking boots I've had before. They would take crampons no problem, although I don't have any crampons so can't vouch for how they perform. The stiffness of the boot does make walking a little bit laboured, but the rolling action is fine and after a few steps you forget that you look like an astronaut walking on the moon.
They're quite big and feel clunky. Walking over Striding Edge in them was not very pleasant as I couldn't feel where I was placing my feet. This is no doubt normal for this type of boot (more on this in a sec), but not something I have experienced before in my other boots.

The one big problem with these boots is their weight: my size 11s are very heavy at around 2.5 kg. Now if I were using these in winter and kicking steps in snow and ice and attaching crampons, I'm sure I'd appreciate all their other qualities and not mind about the weight. But I use these for just strolling around and so I really do mind their weight: after a long walk they feel like huge clumps of lead on the ends of my feet and are horrible!

It's my fault, they're not for just strolling around, they're made for mountaineering. Quite simply I chose the wrong boots and was won over by their tough good looks.

Summary
Great tough boots - for mountaineering NOT general walking!

Verdict
Can't wholeheartedly recommend them.

Hilleberg Akto 1 person tent - a review

(Can't be bothered to read this? Jump to the summary).

The Hilleberg Akto (not Atko as many often think) is a legendary lightweight (1.6kg) 4-season solo tent that's been widely considered the best of its type since it was introduced about 15 years ago. Lighter tents do exist, but thanks to its clever design, excellent materials, and top quality craftsmanship, it provides an exceptionally comfortable, roomy and sturdy home from home. I bought mine for £230 last year from Field & Trek - they don't seem to stock it any more and nobody else seems to have any in stock. It's very popular!

I'm ashamed to say I've only been out in it 3 times so far, but it was great each time. The inner and outer are put up together (they can be linked) which is perfect for setting it up in the rain. Once you've had a practice, it only takes about 2 minutes. It features a full-length outer tent with a porch plenty big enough for boots and rucksack, a bathtub inner tent with a pocket at one end and mesh 'window' in the door (which can be closed up), and three vents (one at either end and one at the top of the door). The inner is yellow, which makes the atmosphere inside very pleasant.

Due to being a moron, I managed to stick a peg through the outer tent the last time I camped. It's only a little hole and it's close to the ground so it doesn't really matter, and the material is ripstop so the tear hasn't spread. A bit gutting though! I bet they'd fix it for me, but I think I'll wait until I do more damage before sending it off.

One night I pitched on a very windy ridge (I told you I was a moron). The tent did flap around a lot and the single pole flexed quite dramatically. Nothing bent, broke or tore but it was very noisy! I contacted Hilleberg about the best way to pitch in the wind and they sent me a great reply:
"The Akto does not really have a back end since it is symmetric. I personally like to put the end where I have my feet toward the wind when I start out so that the wind does not press the tent toward my face. But in any strong wind the direction usually changes during the night and it will test all directions, so it is not a big deal but putting one of the ends toward the wind when you pitch it helps. It can also help you when pitching if you first peg the end toward the wind - the wind will then almost help you stretch the tent out in the opposite direction. I usually peg the guy lines on the side out - and I always do it if I am in an exposed place or if it is windy. When you do peg them out, make sure that they are holding on to the tent but not pulling on it. It is easy to get too strong with the line runners - if the guy lines are too tight they can deform the pole and actually weaken the pole, so have the guy lines holding on the pole but not pulling on it. I hope that helps." Yes Petra Hilleberg, it does!

Condensation is an issue in all tents, but with the vents open, it's not really a problem in the inner. The inside of the outer gets very wet though, especially when camping on grass (which is pretty much always), and if you're not careful, you can get soaked leaving the tent in the morning. It's a pain drying it out - ideally you'd disconnect the inner and let the outer dry before packing it all away. I don't bother, and instead pack it all away wet and dry it when I get home. Not sure what I'd do on a 2 or more night trip.

Pack size and weight are good. I take the poles out of the tent's bag and pack them separately in my pack - that enables the tent and pegs to squish down to the size of small loaf. The weight is fine - it could be lighter but then you'd sacrifice strength, stability, space. The way I look at it, it's the same as 1 1/2 litres of water. So either take less water or lose a bit of weight before setting off!

Hilleberg Akto review summary
This tent is brilliant!
Light enough, plenty of room for one man and his dog, sturdy, easy to pitch, small pack size. Condensation is the usual complaint made about this tent, but it's a fact of camping, and the 3 vents handle it fine.
The only downside is the price and availability - no longer an issue since I've got one and I've paid for it.

Verdict
Get one!

Haglöfs Triton Q Hood - review

After many years of making do with fleece jumpers, I've finally found the perfect mid-layer.

I bought my Haglöfs Triton Q Hood a couple of months ago and have worn it on various occasions, the most recent being a 2-day walk in the Lakes.
Day 1 was hot, but by the time I set up my tent it had cooled down - the Triton was just right to keep the chill off.
Day 2 was very windy and cloudy, but quite warm: I wore it all day to keep the worst of the wind out, and with the pockets open as vents it was just right too.

This fleece is very thin and light, but nice and cosy next to the skin. It's made up of different materials, each serving different purposes: fluffy but thin Polartec Micro 761 is the main fleece, used for the body and sleeves; under the armpits and round the hood is made of stretchy Polartec Power Dry 704; and Dryskin 982 Mesh directly under the armpits and in the pockets sorts out the venting.

With each area doing what it's meant to do really well, it's the sort of jacket you can keep on during the entire walk: it vents nicely so you don't get too hot; and it's not windproof so the wind cools you down, but it's not so open to the wind that it feels cold. In fact, it's nice and warm when zipped up and with the hood pulled on. And it wicks moisture away very effectively, making it feel comfortable even when working hard.

The one downside is that after just a few hours of wearing, it stinks. Out in the hills that doesn't matter, but once you get near civilisation, it's embarrassing!

Apart from the pong, I'm very pleased with this fleece.

Verdict
Get one!
(You can't now because they're discontinued, but I hear they're doing something similar which might be just as good).