GEAR GUIDE THE HILLWALKER’S GUIDE TO BUYING OUTDOOR KIT
2013 £1.99 WHERE SOLD
FROM THE MAKERS OF
MAGAZINE
TOM BAILEY
GEAR GUIDE WEATHER
ELEMENT: COLD There are two different kinds of cold you have to deal with in the mountains: cold on the move and cold at rest. A good base layer is absolutely vital; but when it’s cold on the tops an added mid layer will keep you comfortable on the move. Fleece isn’t as popular as it was, but a Polartec 100 microfleece or Power Stretch pull-on is an incredibly versatile piece of kit, as it’s both a winter walking top and summer rest stop insulation, and the thinner fabric manages moisture well and dries quickly. A more technical hoodie design in the same fabrics would serve as well, and add protection. Soft shell works here and this covers a lot of different types of clothing, from
windproof fleece jackets to ‘pile and Pertex’ designs, but all give added insulation for colder hill days. Carried insulation for rest stops and camp falls into two main types: down-filled and syntheticfilled. Down is very warm, compressible and light but it can be vulnerable to moisture; whereas synthetics, such as Primaloft pack small, insulate well, maintain good performance when wet, and dry quickly. Insulating gear can range from a down vest to a simple synthetic smock, to a hooded, down-filled alpine jacket. Add those first two together and you have a year-round flexible system, a concept at the heart of any good outdoor kit list.
‘INSULATING GEAR CAN RANGE FROM A DOWN VEST TO A SIMPLE SYNTHETIC SMOCK, TO A HOODED, DOWN-FILLED ALPINE JACKET’ 6 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2013
tom bailey
element: Snow and ice The clothing systems previously mentioned work through winter, but there are extras to add to your winter kit list. Insulated gloves to keep hands from freezing up when they’re holding ice axes and a set of long johns for under your trousers should be on the list. (Who cares what you look like? You’ll be warm!) Bigger boots might help with movement and security on snow and ice, and thicker socks will keep your feet warm. Soft shell trousers offer great winter leg protection and some come with internal gaiters to seal the snow out of your boots. There are also many varieties of gaiter available in breathable fabrics, some of which are reinforced against damage from crampons. Crampons make movement on ice and hard snow easier and safer, but it’s important to match them to your footwear. Flexible crampons are for flexible or stiff footwear, and rigid crampons are for stiff boots only (rigid crampons on flexible boots can be both uncomfortable and
dangerous as they can spring off). Ice axes come in many shapes and sizes, but a basic straight or gently curved model with a slightly curved pick and a wide adze (flat bit) will cover most situations outside of climbing, which will include step cutting, self arrest (a vital skill, which must be learned and practised), and of course for posing with in your photo by the cairn. Another handy tool is a mini snow shovel like the Snow Claw (see below), which packs away and weighs very little but you can use to dig yourself into the snow for a lunch stop shelter in just a few minutes where you can sit out of the blizzard and enjoy how awesome it is just being there. Which is a perfect analogy for all the gear featured in this section. Today’s outdoor kit is first class. Put simply, it’ll help you get out there and get the most from your day in the hills. The Snow Claw: lighter than a shovel, and far funkier.
gear guide 2013 Trail 7
GEAR GUIDE BOOTS
HOW TO BUY
OUTSOLE
BOOTS
For winter walking, look for grooves that are at least twice as deep as the thickness of a pound coin. Lug depths less than this are ideal for hill and valley walking. But if the lugs are less than the depth of a single coin, they won’t give much grip in mud or grass and they’ll also wear down quickly on harder surfaces. The heel breast (the cutaway section between forefoot and heel) should be three times the thickness of a pound coin for hillwalking above or below the snowline. Boots with shallower heel breasts are best restricted to good paths at valley level.
BOOT TYPES
Decide what the principal activity you want to do in the outdoors is, and then choose a boot designed for that activity. The boots listed in this Gear Guide are categorised as follows: B0 – flexible 3-season boots for valley, hill and mountain walking, backpacking, scrambling and via ferrata. They are not recommended for use with crampons or for use on snow in the mountains. B1– stiff but flexible 3-4 season boots for use on or off the snow when hillwalking and backpacking in the mountains. They are recommended for use with crampons and for use on snow in the mountains. B2 – very stiff 4-season boots for use on snow when hillwalking, climbing or mountaineering. They are recommended for use with crampons and for use on snow in the mountains. B3 – totally stiff and flat-soled ice-climbing boots for serious snow and ice-climbing and mountaineering. They are recommended for use with crampons and for use on snow in the mountains.
SUPPORT Choose boots with minimal underfoot support for walking on good valley paths, but go for those with a stiffer sole and plenty of support underfoot for use on rocky mountain terrain.
CRAMPON COMPATIBILITY
B0 boots are not recommended for use with crampons B1 boots can be used with C1 types of crampons B2 boots can be used with C1 or C2 crampons B3 boots can be used with C1, C2 or C3 crampons UK 3 3½ 4½ 5 5½ 6 6½ 7 7½ 8 8½ 9 9½ 10 10½ 11 11½ 12 12½ 12. 13 13.5 14 14.5 15
Euro 35³/4 36 371⁄3 38 382⁄3 391⁄3 40 402⁄3 411⁄3 42 422⁄3 431⁄3 44 442⁄3 451⁄3 46 462⁄3 471⁄3 48 48 482⁄3 491⁄3 50 502⁄3 511⁄3
SIZING
FIT
You’ll find two sizes (UK/ Euro) in many boots these days. We’ve listed them all here so you can work out whether they’ll fit you!
We’ve listed boot sizes and stated whether they are available in a men’s and women’s fit. Women’s models are generally narrower at the heel. The inside of the boot should be around 13-15mm (half an inch) longer than your foot. With the laces loosened off, roughly measure the gap behind your heel by placing a finger down the inside of the boot. The upper should be snug and comfy. Walk around the shop and feel for any heel movement. Better shops can help with boot fitting, so do ask.
m n
If you see this symbol in Trail it means a men’s fit is available This means a women’s fit is available
18 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2013
UPPER Stiff uppers are better for rocky ground and winter use, and they allow crampon straps to be comfortably fitted. Softer uppers are more comfortable and so are best for valley walking where less support and protection is required than on rocky mountains.
DURABILITY Stitching will come apart over time, so a boot with minimal stitching will be most durable. But double stitching improves the durability considerably and adds extra security to the seams. Stiff uppers made of thick leather will be more durable than those made of synthetic materials. To improve durability, look for a rubber rand around the sides, toes and heels. The most durable boots are best for rocky mountain use and winter use, while less durable designs are best kept to valley paths.
WATERPROOFNESS If the upper is made of one piece of leather, or is relatively stitch-free, the boot will be as waterproof as most people will require – particularly if it is made of thick leather. Boots that are covered in stitching or those made with synthetic materials will leak more easily and are more prone to wear, while a waterproof lining such as Gore-Tex will make the boot waterproof.
HEEL CUP Pinch the heel cup between the fingers. If it is soft and flexible it won’t offer much support, so such boots are best restricted to valley path use, while boots with stiffer heel cups are better for rocky mountain walks and winter use where maximum support is useful.
CUSHIONING With the boots on, stamp your feet on the ground to get an idea of how well they can cushion impact. More cushioning is best for walking, but climbers may prefer less cushioning to allow a greater ‘feel’ for what they are standing on.
Main photo: the Meindl Toronto GTX (available in sizes 6-12 including half sizes) is also available in a women's fit (sizes 3½ to 8).
Featured p
roduct
MEINDL TORONTO GTX TOE BOX Press the toe box with your thumb and then pinch the toe box on the sides. If the toe box flexes easily, the boot is best restricted to good paths in the valley, while a stiffer toe box is better for rocky mountains and winter use.
MIDSOLE
(015395)
£139.99
60214 w ww.mein
dl.co.uk
Grab the boot by the toe and heel, and bend the heel towards the toe. Then twist the toe while holding the heel steady. The harder it is to bend the boot, the better suited it is to snow and rocky ground, and crampon use. The softer the flex, the better the boot is suited to use on good paths in the valley. A 3-4 season boot is stiffer than a 3-season boot but not as stiff as a 4-season boot.
GEAR GUIDE 2013 TRAIL 19
Gear Guide essential kit
52 Trail gear guide 2013
gear for...
lightweight walking
Less weight means less effort. It also means more summits and maximum enjoyment from the mountains. This kit will help you shed the kilos...
■ Lightweight equipment
■ Multi-function clothing
■ Lightweight thinking
Soft shell jackets and trousers are a good example of this. Light and breathable enough to be barely noticeable in your rucksack when active, but warm enough to make a difference when wind chill begins to bite, they’re a versatile choice that can withstand light and sporadic rain. Their weather resistance means that you can also choose to pack a lighterweight outer shell, saving valuable grams in your pack, and thus on your back and legs. Pictured Montane Fury soft shell £90
Lightweight kit has been a big sell for many years now, and most companies offer equipment specifically aimed at providing function without excessive weight. This might be via featherlight materials – such as carbon fibre in walking poles – or simply by reducing the number of bulky features and clasps on a rucksack or jacket. While truly minimalist items of kit may sacrifice hardiness to shed the grams, there’s no reason why general lightweight gear should be any less durable than the heavier items of the past. Pictured Montane Medusa 32 rucksack £80 Anyone can buy the lightest kit available and ther more experienced will see the value in customizing the gear they have; but the real skill is making weight savings in areas which don't matter to you, and adding grammes to the areas which do. For instance, if you can sleep without trouble but suffer cold hands, cut the weight of your sleeping mat and buy an extra pair of gloves. This way, you will find your optimum packweight naturally.
tom bailey
H
ave you ever noticed how experienced walkers seem so trim, so unencumbered? It doesn’t happen by accident. Lightweight walking is more about what you don’t take than what you do, and in this sense it’s more of a skill than a conscious choice of gear. You don’t want to cut down on the essentials (such as a map, compass and weatherproof clothing), but you can provide for every situation while still minimising the weight on your back. For example…
gear guide 2013 Trail 53
Gear Guide over to you!
“It whiffs a bit, but…” Don’t just take our word about what kit to buy or avoid - here are some cracking tales and tips from Trail’s Facebook followers.
n My wife bought me a Tilley hat for my 40th and although it’s a silly amount of money to pay for a bush hat, it’s been worth every penny. It’s saved me from a great deal of sunburn and is a great rain hat. It’ll make it to ten years this summer when I hit the big 5-0. Alteredego
n This is the Coleman n I ADORE my lightweight stainless steel vacuum Zamberlan boots (old and flask I bought in 1990. new) – I feel like I was born I recently dug out the old wearing them. They’re flask, cleaned it, filled grippy, überit with boiling waterproof I bought a great water and the and when Mountain Hardwear water was they get Absolute Zero coat STILL hot a bit tatty that should have been the next day. a waxing £450 from Summitreks in Now that’s a brings Ambleside. I bartered him good piece them up down to £150 and he told of gear! like new. me never to darken his Matthew Jennie door again. Ha! Borkowski Webster Paul Martin
n You can’t beat the Buffalo Mountain Shirt for versatility. It’s the business! I’ve snowboarded, hillwalked and mountain biked in it – the lot. My favourite memories are pulling it on and brewing up on any given summit. Treat yourself! Alistair Lamb
n I got my LittleLife Cross Country S2 Child Carrier for £50, when it should have been £120. I love this because, rain or shine, I can take my daughter on some great little walks. John Greenie
n For a bombproof, simple to assemble two-person tent, this Vaude Hogan is hard to beat. It’s cheap, tough as nails and easy to put up in a howling gale. Here it is on a summit wild camp in Snowdonia. Paul Allen
90 Trail gear guide 2013
n I bought this Berghaus Gore-Tex Paclite jacket from eBay for just £56! It’s always in my bag or car and covers me for everything – even being soaked at Alton Towers. eBay really does throw up bargains! Phil Speck
n My favourite ever kit is my Patagonia Silkweight underwear. Cool when it’s warm, warm when it’s cold, lightweight, comfortable, room for manoeuvre, quick drying and looks good too. Here we are celebrating on Goatfell. John Turner
gear disasters Anti-midge spray that didn’t work. I ended up looking like the Elephant Man while those tiny monsters ate me alive, laughing cruelly at my attempts to fend them off. Andrzej Kowalik I had a £200 Rab Baltoro Guide Softshell Jacket. Great fit but didn’t live up to its spec – I got cold and wet every time I wore it. I lost faith in the product, but Rab more than lived up to its reputation and refunded in full. Kevin O’Sullivan I own a smartphone and needed some way to charge it outdoors, so I bought a wind-up charger that snapped on the first charge. Ended up having the phone switched on for five minutes every hour just to make it last! Stuart Galloway
n I’ve been using this Mountain Equipment Guide Jacket for over 20 years in every condition the mountains can throw at me and it’s never let me down. It whiffs a bit and the wife gets annoyed with the smell, but it reminds me of all the good times the jacket and I have shared. Ken Sever
n This is my Icebreaker Merino Hoodie. I got it for Christmas 15 years ago and it’s been with me on every walk since. It’s even been sat on, slept in and worn by the dog. It’s the colour of a dank swamp, My but to me it’s Mountainsmith irreplaceable. Crossroad backpack has Awty travelled with me all over the world. This summer it’s going to be 10 years old and besides n This some problems with zippers is 'Old and a broken mesh pocket, Faithful', a it’s still as good as new. Karrimor Marek Szczypinski Jaguar E75 rucksack I've owned for 23 years. It's done nine Himalayan treks, been dragged across India and travelled through hot deserts – and it still has many years of life left in it. Anand Day
n I bought my Peak1 petrol stove many years ago after a winter walk on Dartmoor when all of our gas stoves would barely stay lit. The Peak1 can be slightly scary and is quite heavy, but it always works and gets a hot meal or a cuppa ready quickly. Denzil
n I recently bought these Sprayway gaiters for just £10 and they did a great job keeping my feet cosy and dry over many boggy miles on Kinder and Bleaklow. Wayne Richards
n My hooded Buffalo jacket is fantastic. The technology is crazy – I stay warm and dry even in driving rain, hail and snow, most of the time wearing nothing underneath. Only problem is that if you stop moving you get cold, so always take another jacket or gilet with you. Peter Willis n I love my Mountain Equipment Kongur Jacket because it’s never let me down and it’s a great fit too (that’s me in red). Matt Allen
I spent a fortune on Páramo gear in my 20s then realised I was the only person under 40 wearing it! Now I’m knocking on the door of 40, it looks strangely attractive. I might buy a Honda Jazz too, and a woolly bobble hat. Age comes to us all... Martin Free I bought two value range Vango 4-man tents for our Scouts. Used them only a couple of times and both outer and inner tore in multiple places. Credit to Cotswold, who gave me a refund without question. Mark Graham
strange but true I love my Buff! It’s a tatty looking thing that rescued me when I had a busted bra, because I slipped it over my head and used it as a boob tube. Hayley Buckley My hip flask has helped rescue some scary moments... and celebrate the happy ones too! Rachel Wilce I always have a pot of Lush Oatifix Fresh Facemask in the fridge when I get back from a walk. It doesn’t matter how windburned, rain lashed or overheated I get – after 10 minutes my skin feels good as new. Claire Riley
gear guide 2013 Trail 69
GEAR GUIDE GPS RECEIVERS
HOW TO BUY
GPS RECEIVERS DO YOU NEED ONE? GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It's a system of 27 satellites, which provide enough data to pinpoint any location on the globe when read by a GPS receiver. Such a device may be the safest option for navigating across large, featureless areas.
TYPE OF SYSTEM
COORDINATE SYSTEMS UK maps have a grid so you can identify a location using a grid reference. But the commonest coordinate systems in the world are LAT/LON and UTM. So if you're using a GPS receiver in the UK, you must set the coordinate system to one that matches the coordinate system on the maps you're using, which is usually referred to as OSGB, ord srvy or British Grid.
GPS receivers are available as dedicated handheld satnav units, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with conventional PC capability, and as portable navigation devices (PNDs) for use in a car or on the hill. Dedicated outdoor systems are generally more robust with longer battery life.
ROUTES It’s useful to be able to store a few routes plus a few escape routes or variations in a GPS receiver, so you don’t have to reload data all the time.
MAPS Some GPS receivers can display mountain contours on-screen in the form of Topo maps or Ordnance Survey mapping, for example. Receivers that don't display mountain maps generally show your location between roads, but without contour or cliff detail. Also consider the scales available, as 1:25k maps show more detail than 1:50k. Ensure the unit you choose can be loaded with the maps you need. Not all GPS devices can be loaded with, say, European maps.
POWER External power capability is useful if you’re planning to use a GPS receiver in a car. But on the hill you’ll have to rely on battery power. Lithium batteries and 8 hours of battery life is a useful start, but the longer the battery life the better for multi-day trips.
70 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2013
CHANNELS GPS receivers use a number of channels to track the satellites. A 12 or 16 channel parallel receiver is the most common and can find satellites more easily than a six or eight channel parallel receiver, particularly in built-up areas or woods. Some receivers are more sensitive, which is useful in built-up areas or forests.
SCREEN If you can’t read the screen easily you won’t be able to use the GPS receiver easily. Higher-priced units generally have larger, clearer screens, but you'll save money if you can tolerate a simple screen. Colour screens make reading map detail even easier. Some units operate via touch-screens, which users may or may not prefer.
COMPUTER LINKS Routes can be planned, created and then uploaded/downloaded using mapping software on a computer, such as an online route planner. This is a must for regular users, as keying in routes and waypoints on a GPS unit is slow.
COMPASS
WAYPOINTS
Many GPS receivers boast a compass but they're rarely magnetic – so they won’t tell you which direction to move until you start moving. A GPS receiver with a digital magnetic compass built in will point you in the right direction before you start moving.
Waypoints are the coordinates of a location. If you want to store lots of routes, you’ll need a large memory built into the GPS receiver to handle the waypoints that make up each route you create. Figures are usually quoted.
WAYPOINTS
ROUTES
COMPASS
WEIGHT WITH BATTERIES (g)
MADE IN
25
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
2000
200
yes yes
141
Taiwan
Feb12: eTrex10 £110, 4 stars. Modern facelift to the classic yellow Garmin eTrex. eTrex 20 and eTrex 30 have more functionality
GPSMAP 62s
280 no
6.1x16.0x3.6
4.1x5.6cm transflective, 65-K colour TFT
2xAA
20
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
2000
200
yes yes
260
Taiwan
1.7Gb internal memory plus microSD card slot
Oregon 600
320 yes
6.1x11.4x3.3
3.8x6.3 cm transflective colour TFT touch-screen
2xAA
16
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
4000
200
yes yes
210
Taiwan
1.5Gb internal memory plus MicroSD card slot
Oregon 600t
380 yes
6.1x11.4x3.3
3.8x6.3 cm transflective colour TFT touch-screen
2xAA
16
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
4000
200
yes yes
210
Taiwan
750Mb internal memory plus microSD card slot. Includes European Recreation 1:100k map
Oregon 650
380 yes
6.1x11.4x3.3
3.8x6.3 cm transflective colour TFT touch-screen
2xAA
16
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
4000
200
yes yes
210
Taiwan
3.5Gb internal memory plus micro SD card slot. Includes 8 megapixel camera with autofocus; digital zoom and flash/torch
Montana 600
430 no
7.5x14.3x3.6
5.06x8.93 bright, transflective 65k colour TFT, dual-orientation touch-screen
3xAA
22
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
4000
200
yes yes
333
Taiwan
Does not have 5Mp camera that is fitted to Montane 650 but otherwise a great option for hillwalkers
Oregon 650t
440 yes
6.1x11.4x3.3
3.8x6.3 cm transflective colour TFT touch-screen
2xAA
16
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
4000
200
yes yes
210
Taiwan
4.4Gb internal memory plus microSD card slot, 8Mp camera with autofocus; digital zoom and flash/torch. Includes European Recreation 1:100k map
Montane 650
490 no
7.5x14.3x3.6
5.06x8.93 bright, transflective 65k colour TFT, dual-orientation touch-screen
3xAA
22
USB NMEA 0183
Garmin GB Discoverer, BirdsEye Select Custom Maps, Garmin Topo
112
4000
200
yes yes
310
Taiwan
Oct11: 4 stars. Great performance from huge touch-screen, but it’s not as good as buttons in bad weather
Endura Out&Back loaded 281 no with 50k GB Landranger
13x6x3
6.8cm x QVGA touchscreen
2xAA
8-12
yes
Ordnance Survey, OSI & OSNI
36
unlimited unlimited
no
no
165
China
Quo maps can be used on both Endura and Desk top/laptop. Buy maps only once
Endura Safari loaded with 381 no 50k GB Landranger
13x6x3
6.8cm x QVGA touchscreen
2xAA
8-12
yes
Ordnance Survey, OSI & OSNI
36
unlimited unlimited yes yes
165
China
Addition of electronic compass, barometric altimeter, but not street or POI data, so still great for hillwalkers
ALTIMETER
MAP DATUMS
2xAA
MOUNTAIN MAP
3.5x4.4cm, transflective, 65-K colour TFT
COMPUTER INTERFACE
BATTERY LIFE (h)
5.4x10.3x3.3
DISPLAY SIZE & TYPE
210 no
NAME
NEW FOR 2013?
eTrex 30
PRICE (£)
BATTERIES
LENGTH X WIDTH X THICKNESS (cm)
GEAR GUIDE GPS RECEIVERS
TRAIL COMMENTS
GARMIN
LOWRANCE
MAGELLAN eXplorist 110
140 no
11x5.5x3.5
5.5x4
2xAA
18
Mini USB
no
500
25
no
no
147
China
Jan13: 4 stars. Ideal for geocaching, basic navigation and backup device, but lacks OS mapping, compass and altimeter of higher-priced options
eXplorist GC
140 no
11x5.5x3.5
5.5x4
2xAA
18
Mini USB
no
500
0
no
no
147
China
Dedicated geocaching (GC) device, supports paperless geocaching, which allows you to download more than 20 unique characteristics of each cache
eXplorist 310
180 no
11x5.5x3.5
5.5x4
2xAA
18
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey
500
50
no
no
147
China
Designed for navigation to destinations, capturing geotagged photos and sharing this data online
eXplorist 510
300 no
13x6.5x3.5
7x4
2xAA
16
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey
2000
200
no
no
195
China
There is no compass or altimeter as featured in the higher-priced options
eXplorist 610
400 no
13x6.5x3.5
7x4
2xAA
16
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey
2000
200
yes yes
195
China
Oct11: 4 stars. A smaller screen than some others; but a great unit if you like a touch-screen interface, and good for general walking (Oct12)
eXplorist 710
500 no
13x6.5x3.5
7x4
2xAA
16
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey
2000
200
yes yes
195
China
Preloaded ‘City Series Europe’ car turn-byturn navigation
Adventurer 2800
179 yes
10.8x5.6x2
2.8in (7.11cm) high-resolution colour touch-screen
recharge- 8-10 able Li-ion
USB
Ordnance Survey 1:50k Landranger GB pre-loaded
10
unlimited unlimited yes
no
135
China
Jan10: Best Value. Oct12: Best for compatibility with PC. Touch screen device that operates via stylus. Use and print maps on PC, mobile and GPS; licensed for up to five devices
Adventurer 3500
259 yes
12.2x7.5x2
3.5in (8.89cm) full colour recharge- 10outdoor viewable able 12 touch-screen Li-ion
USB
Ordnance Survey 1:50k Landranger GB pre-loaded
10
unlimited unlimited yes
no
190
China
Oct11: 4 stars. Nice large screen that operates via stylus. Use and print maps on PC, mobile and GPS; licensed for up to five devices
Active 10
250 no
13x7.5x2.75
7x5.25, QVGA colour, 240x320
3xAA / 2700 LiPol
1620
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey
18
unlimited unlimited yes
no
226
China
Jan10: Best in Test. Oct12: Best for hillwalkers. Large screen, high-contrast mapping GPS for easy and detailed cross-country navigation. Hard screens and buttons for serious users on the hill
Active 12
325 yes
13x7.5x2.75
7x5.27, HVGA colour, 320x480
3xAA / 2700 LiPol
1620
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey HD (660dpi)
18
unlimited unlimited yes yes
226
China
Same as Active 10 but with improved hi-res screen, barometric altimeter, Bluetooth SmartReady for wireless data sharing
Active 10 & OS Full GB 1:50k
400 no
13x7.5x2.75
7x5.25, QVGA colour, 240x320
3xAA / 2700 LiPol
1620
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey
18
unlimited unlimited yes
no
226
China
Active 10 complete with full OS GB coverage at 1:50k scale
Active 12 & OS Full GB 1:50k
450 yes
13x7.5x2.75
7x5.27, HVGA colour, 320x480
3xAA / 2700 LiPol
1620
Mini USB
Ordnance Survey HD (660dpi)
18
unlimited unlimited yes yes
226
China
Active 12 complete with hi-res OS full GB 1:50k 660dpi mapping for greater on-screen clarity
MEMORY-MAP
SATMAP
PIMP YOUR GPS MAGAZINE'S
GPS KNOWHOW
Don’t take the stock factory settings as set in stone; some basic functions need to be user-enabled to work. One of these is WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), which utilises
a further set of transmitters to increase accuracy. Ensure your co-ordinate units are set to OS Grid, and your data screen has the most useful fields on it. You may also want to customise your welcome screen with your contact details in case you lose it!
GEAR GUIDE 2013 TRAIL 71
GEAR GUIDE KIT CARE When he finally retrieved them there was an entire ecosystem of organisms on them, some of which science has yet to identify.
■ THE CURES
A sound cleaning regime is the best way to help boots live longer. Before taking them off, walk through long, wet grass or puddles to remove the worst of the dirt. It’s also worth keeping a scrubbing brush in your car for this purpose. As soon as possible once you get home, clean your footwear – inside and out. Fabric boots will then need reproofing to help keep them waterproof, while leather will require treatment with wax or polish to keep it supple and maintain its water-resistant properties. Remember – always let your boots air-dry naturally at room temperature; never use a radiator or a hair dryer. While regular waxing and treatment will sort out minor scrapes in leather, actual tears in fabric or worn-down soles will need physical repair. Although not cheap, the cost of resoling and refurbishing of boots by a specialist is still significantly less expensive than purchasing a Keep your toenails new pair, and it cut short and wear two can add many pairs of socks to prevent years of extra damage occurring to the life to your waterproof linings of your boots. footwear.
EXTRA PROTECTION
DOWN GEAR Paperback, writer. Ex Trail ed Matt is as snug as a bug in a rug.
■ THE KILLERS
By ‘down gear’ we mean insulating jackets and sleeping bags filled with natural down and feathers, although many of the potential hazards will also apply to synthetic insulation. Down insulation works by trapping warm air between the fibres of the feathers, and thus there are two main things that can spoil its ability
BASE LAYERS
■ THE KILLERS
Base layers serve two main purposes: to insulate and to ‘wick’ (move) sweat away from the skin. The first problem is that the sweat can, given time, both be damaging to the fabric and make them smell like a teenager’s laundry basket. The second problem is that, if not done correctly, washing base layers will not only reduce their wicking properties, but will actually make them more inclined to smell.
■ THE CURES
EXTRA PROTECTION
Allow your base layers You will of course need to wash them, to air-dry gently to and after every use, too. Again, though, maintain the integrity of normal detergents can be damaging the antibacterial coatings as they strip the material of its odourapplied during manufacture. resistant properties. Fabric softener is also a no-no as this can stop the fabric wicking. So use pure soap flakes or a dedicated base layer cleaner and, if the smell of your clothing is important, add a product like Nikwax’s BaseFresh conditioner.
84 TRAIL GEAR GUIDE 2013
to insulate: damp and compression. Both have the same effect as they cause the feathers to clump together, thus removing the pockets that trap warmth. Although there are water-resistant models available, most down jackets do not react well to getting wet. Put simply, compression occurs when a down jacket is squashed. A jacket stowed in the bottom of a rucksack for a couple of days during a trek will probably will be okay, but long-term storage like this will undoubtedly compress the down and remove its insulating properties. Hanging a jacket in a tightly packed wardrobe or storing a sleeping bag in its stuffsack will do the same.
■ THE CURES
If at all possible, avoid getting your down gear wet. Use a waterproof sleeping bag cover if you’re kipping in a damp environment such as a snow hole. As a rule you should only wash your sleeping bag or down jacket when you absolutely have to and, again, specialist cleaning solutions are required. Light surface dirt can be removed with a spray-on cleaner. Due to the weight of a wet sleeping bag, hand-washing in the bath is the best option as the extra space also means the down isn’t further compressed during the process. Your
waterproofs
sleeping bag or jacket should be allowed to drain and dry naturally, and this will take some time. To remove the last remnants of damp from the down you can use a tumble-dryer on a low heat, regularly removing and massaging the jacket or bag to loosen the down and ensure there are no hot spots developing in the material. Chucking a couple of tennis balls in the dryer will help with this process. The fabric covering of down gear isn’t usually particularly robust, so avoid contact with rough and abrasive surfaces. Small tears or rips can be sewn up or patched with gaffer tape. The best way to store down products is to spread them out on the floor – under a bed is perfect. Many down sleeping bags are also supplied with a larger net bag, which should always A sleeping bag liner not be used in only increases warmth but also maximises the life of place of the a sleeping bag as you can stuffsack for remove and wash the storage.
■ The killers
extra protection
liner separately.
tom bailey
Well-looked-after kit + poor conditions = no worries!
when they start to look dirty or you spot patches We’ve said it before and we’ll say it where water is soaking again: grubby waterproofs are not into the material effective waterproofs. Sweat and To keep zips moving freely, rather than rolling and reduce the chances dirt can clog up the breathable of them getting stuck and off (‘beading’). You’ll linings of hard shells and stop the fabric tearing, lubricate need to use pure them from working. This leads to them with wax after soap flakes (standard a build-up of moisture and, after a washing. washing detergents are vigorous burst of activity, you may very bad for waterproofs) find yourself feeling a little soggy, even or, better still, buy a bottle of if the waterproofs aren’t letting any rain dedicated hard shell cleaner. Then it’s just in. Of course, if they are letting rain in, a case of following the instructions on the that’s even more of a problem. The outer bottle and the garment’s care label. surfaces of hard shells are treated with a Every so often you’ll want to reproof durable water repellent (DWR) coating, your waterproofs, too. There are 2-in-1 which helps keep rain out. Muck left to cleaning and proofing solutions available, fester on a jacket can eat away at the or you can use a separate reproofer coating, allowing water to seep into the after you’ve cleaned your hard shell. fabric. Abrasion from rucksack straps can Some reproofing solutions (and this is also wear it away, with the same result. where it gets really counterintuitive) also require you to tumble-dry or even iron ■ The cures your waterproofs after application. Don’t There’s something about waterproofs that panic – it will all be fine. Just follow the makes chucking them in your washing care label instructions and you’ll soon be machine seem like a bad idea, but the proud owner of a waterproof that’s that’s exactly what you should do. Not almost as good as new. necessarily after every use, but certainly
extra protection
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gear guide 2013 Trail 85