Hiking in Finland

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

I was tempted to put some lorem ipsum here. But then I decided to encourage you to buy me a coffee instead if you enjoy the underneath post. Coffee would encourage me to finish this faster ;)

Das Trekking-Ultraleicht.de Flüchtlingslager befindet sich auf http://www.ultraleicht-trekking.com/forum/. Dort anmelden und wenn Ihr Entzugserscheinungen habt - Scheint ja ne Weile bei TU zu dauern.

Father - Son adventures rock: PCT, Cloudburst Summit to Cooper Canyon.

Darren is out on National Pass. Stunning.

Bikepacking in the Big Bend.

175 km of UK moors and coast - the Cleveland Way trip report.

Nick visitis the Lost Coast.

A recommended read from Tomás: Nordic skating, long skating, backcountry skating, wild skating, långfärdsskridsko.

Toby reviews the Marmot Zion Jacket.

A close-up look at the 2012 LAUFBURSCHE huckePACK. It's that good that Germany's Outdoor Magazine covered it.

Death Valley NP.

I wrote about interesting developments in the realm of outdoor photography and videography.

The Wilderness Parent – Year 3 with Kids in the Woods.

Hiking in Germany is pretty.

Snowshoe hiking in Germany is similarly pretty.

A Cairngorm's weekend with the Fantastic Four.

A Winter Overnight Between Mount Adams and Madison.

HardangerJokulen, Norway.

Jeff hiked from the Santiago Oaks Regional Park to Irvine Regional Park.

A Great Plains long-distance trail.

Got lost outside with no fancy gear? Build a Debris Hut for Overnight Survival.

Fatbike Winter Gear Geekery.

Soto Muka Stove review.

Chain Lakes. More stunning photography of beautiful scenery.

Gorgeous wildlife photography.

Antti does a Osprey Exos 58 review.

Salsa Anything Cage packs.

Buying a packraft in Europe just got easier, thanks to the packrafting-store.de. Hat tip to Benjamin.

And if you have a dog and a packraft, learn here how to train him for dogboating.

Adventuring through Baja, hiking and paddling.

A ski mountaineering trip with Linda.

Jaakko takes a skiing trip back in time.

East Maui. Waterfalls, jungle, stars.

The Semi-Annual Sale live at Backcountry.com - Up to 60% Off 25,000 Items

Outlier Woolback OG

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:45:00 +0000

In the end of December an envelope from New York City arrived in my post box. In it was the Outlier Woolback OG pants, and I have worn it since; with exceptions of it being in the laundry, which needed to be overnight as I didn't want to wear anything else. Which means I have been wearing the Outlier Woolback OG since roughly seven weeks, and I will continue to wear it till spring arrives and temperatures are above 0°C again.

Winter in Finland means temperatures beneath 0°C for around four to six months. In 2011 we had six weeks in which the thermometer didn't go over -15°C, 2012 has been a lot milder so far, with temperatures varying between -3°C and -30°C. And these temperatures do not include the wind, which constantly blows in Tampere. So freezing cold temperatures are something you not just have to cope with when out hiking or skiing in Lapland, nope, they're everyday fare: Grocery shopping, walking with my son, cycling to the climbing gym, walking to a Café. Very quickly you're looking for clothing which puts function before fashion, which means I'm nearly always wearing long johns and when I can get away with it, a hiking pant. They're just more windproof than a jeans - which is the absolute worst garment I can imagine for winter use, as the wind blows through them and they stay cold. Nope, jeans might be looking good, but they're terrible winter leg wear.

But sometimes I can't get around wearing jeans, as visiting clients in hiking pants, while keeping me warm, might not look too professional; not to mention the sporadic dinner or party. And while I occasionally was looking for alternatives to the much dreaded jeans, I never found something locally. Happily the internet allows me to shop for superior products, be they from Japan, Spain or the USA.

I don't remember how I found Outlier. Maybe because they have a cooperation with Hyperlite Mountain Gear for a UL city backpack. Yeah, that probably was it. They're a small company, manufacturing in the Big Apple, and combine function, good materials and simple, clean looks into highly practical everyday garments.

Browsing their site I quickly saw the Woolback OG pants - their winter pants. It's built on the outside with a Schoeller self-cleaning Nanosphere treatment which gives the pants a nice resistance to dirt, snow and water (and baby spit =), while the inside is lined with brushed merino wool to keep you warm. This has the benefit that I can forgo the long johns till around -5°C, as it keeps my legs warm enough when walking. My size 32 is roomy enough to fit a pair of Woolpower long johns underneath them when the thermometer drops to -20°C or more, while still being not confining - a problem I usually have with jeans.

The pants keep the wind out fine, and indeed offer a lot of stretch - cycling and skiing are no problem in them. I wouldn't even think about skiing in Jeans, but the Woolback OG feel so comfy that I sometimes surprise myself when I realize that I didn't change into my usual skiing pants. Did I mention that they look smart? Going to a business meeting or to the Café is absolutely possible in them, even encouraged. While some of my colleagues come in Gore Tex pants and thick puffy pants to work and then change into something more comfy, I can just walk into the office, sit down, looking smart and don't overheat. Perfect.

If you're looking for one winter pants, which does it all - take a good look at the Outlier Woolback OG. Technical materials and smart looks combined in one fine pants which keeps you warm and looking cool, on the bike and at the office. I'm not going to wear anything else anymore.

Disclaiming the Disclaimer

Musings on Outdoor Photography & Videography

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Chances are you're interested in photography and videography, or at least viewing them, if you're reading this wee blog. I am, and I think it is a huge part of our outdoor adventures to photograph and increasingly make videos of them. Some do so for themselves, others to share with their friends and family, a few do so to showcase them on their blogs and websites, and a very small group even earns money with them [those lucky bastards =].

In recent years the technology in cameras has made some astonishing developments - HD video is ~~quickly becoming~~ the norm, making a normal photo camera also a very potent videocamera (and in the case of cameras with interchangeable lenses, even superior). At the same time the size of those cameras has decreased - where a few years ago still we were carrying bulky DSLRs through the outdoors to capture our adventures, the same or better results can be nowadays achieved with cameras a fraction of the size and weight. Even better for those who want to carry as little weight as possible, smartphones like the Nokia N9 and the Apple iPhone 4S rival DSLRs a few years old in terms of quality and capabilities, even offering HD video capabilities in a package which fits in your pants' pocket.

But smaller and lighter isn't everything when it comes to developments in the photography realm, especially if you're taking photography more serious than point-and-shoot. During the last few months I found a number of very interesting concepts, which I'd like to share with you, as I think they open up truly new ways to capture photos and videos; and as questions about which cameras I use are regularly asked, I will also delve into that topic and try to answer them.

The Lytro camera
Have you ever took a photo, came home and uploaded your photos to your compter just to find out that those photos you really wanted to have sharp and focused were a blurry mess? With the Lytro camera such problems are a thing of the past.

Source

The Lytro captures the light field. That means the Lytro light field sensor captures the color, intensity and vector direction of the rays of light - stuff even your $7000 Leica, Canon or Nikon can't capture. It does this by using smart software, which increases the speed of taking a photo and capturing better pictures in low light - who wouldn't want to be able to take a great dawn or dusk shot without needing to fuss around with Aperture, Shutter speed and ISO settings? I thought so.

I guess the most obvious advantage is the wonderful possibility to let others focus your photos, and create nice effects with unsharp and blurry back- and foregrounds. This opens up a new way of interaction with the people who come to view your photos. Best you head over to the Lytro Gallery and play around with a few photos to see what I mean. I will wait here.

Source

The Lytro has an On/ Off switch, a shutter button, a small screen in the back and a USB port. Weighing in at a claimed 214 gram, it is even nice and light! You can choose to get a 8 GB or 16 GB model, $400 and $500 respectively - though at the moment they're sadly only available in the USA. Who knows, hopefully they will be available worldwide soon; and Lytro is looking into bringing the same technology to video, which should be cool.

The Digimo Camera
The Digimo Camera is only a concept at the moment, so you can't just yet head out to buy one. But the idea is so fresh that'd like to pass it by you:

The Digimo Camera Concept consists of a modular set of multiple cameras which can be placed in any position and are controlled with a wireless controller/ screen. The above concept shot remembers me a bit of my GoPro HERO2 Camerawith the case, the slim, small camera body, the LCD screenand the possibility of wirelessly connecting to the camera to take photos.

And while you can hook up up to 50 GoPro HERO2 cameras to the new Wi-Fi bac coming out soon, this concept seems to come out-of-the-box with a couple of their slim cameras. If this ever makes it into a tangible product, I certainly will look into it, especially if it is more affordable than several GoPros. Because the possibility to capture natural stills and video from different angles at the same time is something that allows for new, creative movies and photos.

Smartphones with cameras
Smartphones like the Nokia N9, Apple iPhone 4S and several others have cameras on board which make older DSLRs blush with envy. Sure, you can't swap out lenses, they still mostly suck at high resolution dusk/ night/ dawn photos, but for nearly everything else they really rock, especially if you want to carry as little weight as possible and have items which do more than one thing (so your smartphone can take photos/ HD video, has a GPS, shows you where you're on the map, lets you tweet, email and call - which of your other items has as many functions?). Don't believe me? Then check out Colin Ibbotson's Colorado Trail photos, which were all shot and edited on an iPhone 4.

So if multipurpose and little weight are of utmost concern to you, and you don't mind to not to be able to photograph the night sky, then you probably shouldn't look further than a smartphone with a good camera. The smartphone with the arguably best camera, spec-wise, is the Nokia N8 (it otherwise is rubbish in my opinion, and the N9 or Lumia phones, if it should be a Nokia, are probably a better investment), though iPhone and Android users also get some spectacular results out of their camera phones.

POV cameras
The latest buzz and trend are POV (Point Of View) cameras from companies like GoPro, Contour, and Vio. These are small cameras with HD capability, and easily attach to your helmet, can be worn strapped to your chest or on your kayak/ surfboard/ plane wing/ you name it. I bought a GoPro HERO2 last year and have been experimenting with it since, both on the bike, skiing, as a back-up camera for ULAZ and for Timelapse movies. It is a very novel approach and certainly can add a very unique perspective to your videos/ photos, though again there are limitations - in my experience the camera doesn't deliver satisfying results after dusk, and the weather should be good to get great results - if it is grey and cloudy, the movies often will look dull. Also the wide angle isn't for everyone; some hate it, some love it. It certainly needs to get used to, and to get great results you'll want to spend some time editing the footage to make it representable.

My cameras
Which brings me to my cameras. I'm using a Sony NEX-5N and a Panasonic GH2 at the moment, and use the GH2 with a Rode VideoMic Pro for superior audio output - something which is as important in video as visuals (unless you put some music over it). I rate the NEX-5N very high, it shoots wonderful photos and videos and is so light and compact that it is the camera I grab if I go out skiing at the moment and want to shoot some photos along the way. If you want a Prosumer camera which is light, compact and can deliver stunning images and videos, then you probably shouldn't look further than the Sony NEX-5N. I just love how easy it is to use, and the images is makes are superb.

The Panasonic Lumix GH2 and Rode VideoMic Pro are my dedicated ULAZ setup. As I produce the series on my own, I need to see if footage is sharp, and the GH2's swivel screen is just perfect for that. Paired with the 20 mm Pancake lens and the 45 mm Leica it is a dream team, and I am happy that I can use this great equipment for production as it makes the quality, and my life, a lot better. The GH2 also does a superb job at taking photos, don't worry. The swivel screen again comes in very handy if you want to shoot close to the floor or above your head, though its EVF is very good and you'll be happy to have it when it is bright and sunny outside. There's a bunch of more features on this camera, and the 14 - 140 mm kit lens is a great standard lens to carry along, as it allows me to be prepared for different situations.

While the GH2 has a good mic, I decided to get the Røde VideoMic Pro because it allows me to shoot even if it is windy - which in Tampere it is pretty much always. With the Deadcat on the mic I can film where otherwise I would be forced to retire and wait for better weather, and the audio output is so much superior to earlier videos in which I didn't use it. And it is dead-easy to use - plug in, switch on, ready. So my recommendation is that if you make videos in which audio - be it natural sounds from a running river, birdsongs or the wind in the trees; or you talking to the camera - are is an integral part of the video, that you dish out the extra money for a decent mic. You yourself, and your audience, will be a lot happier.

So how do I use this setup? The GH2 + Rode VideoMic Pro are my main setup - they go on my tripod, swivel screen facing me when I'm in front of the camera, or using the EVF if I shot gear and stuff. I switch between all three lenses depending on need - 20 mm Pancake for a wide view, for example for full body shots, pitching a tarp/ shelter, and so on. The 45 mm Portrait lens for close-ups of gear/ me talking to the camera, and the 14 - 140 mm lens for everything else (landscape shots, close ups, etc.). In case you're wondering why not use the 14 - 140 mm for everything - it after all covers the 20 mm and 45 mm range - then the answer is that the f/ stops of the other two lenses are lower, which I often need. I also feel that these two dedicated lenses have a bit better optics, but that might just a subjective feeling instead of an objective fact (well, in case of the Leica 45 mm lens, it is a fact =).

The NEX-5N is my close-up/ behind-the-scenes/ back-up camera, and usually stands on my GorillaPod and shoots to offer a different view at scenes. It is more mobile camera I often shot handheld "flying" scenes with it. And as I said, if I go for a training skiing trip it is often my camera of choice to take.

The HERO2 is another behind-the-scenes/ back-up camera, and either stands on a GorillaPod somewhere overlooking everything, or gets used to create POV footage. Besides the above linked timelapse I have yet to publish some of that footage, so if you're interested, subscribe to me on Vimeo (useful also for all other videos =).

All three cameras also allow me to shoot timelapse. For the Sony NEX-5N I'm using a gentLED trigger, while the HERO2 has an integrated timelapse mode, which works fairly well. The GH2 can shoot "video timelapse" which means it has a video setting which lets you record at a faster speed. I'm dabbling in this, and hope to take this medium a bit further soon.

This is far from perfect, and just my approach to videography/ photography and some interesting developments in the scene; and doesn't even touch on awesome camera gear like the sweet Dynamic Perception Dolly which I want, or the Cam Caddie I bought last week. If you ask two other people you'll likely get three different opinions, and everyone will recommend you what they think is best (likely because they own it). I recommend you evaluate what you need, read different reviews, and make a purchase decision based on that. In case you end up agreeing with me, I appreciate if you buy via the following affiliate links and banner, then I'd earn a few Euros.

- Sony NEX-5N kit with 18 - 55 mm lens
- Sony 16 mm Pancake lens
- Sony 18 - 200 mm Telezoom lens

- Panasonic Lumix GH2 kit with 14 - 140 mm lens
- Panasonic 20 mm Pancake lens
- Panasonic 45 mm Portrait lens

- Rode VideoMic Pro with Rode Deadcat VMP Furry Wind Cover kit

- Velbon Sherpa 600 Tripod
- Giottos MT8250 Carbon Fiber 4-Section Tripod
- Joby GorillaPod SLR

I wanted to answer the question "Do we try to re-create photos we have seen before?" but seeing that this is already a rather long post, I will save it for the future. As always, if you have questions, comments or observations, please leave a comment.

Disclaiming the Disclaimer

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:23:00 +0000

Living in Europe and lusting for cottage gear from the USA, but don't like to wait for weeks to get gear and pay ~~ransom at the customs~~ high import duties? Then trekking-lite-store.com has you covered. Besides gear from Katabatic Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear and TarpTent (among others!) they also have a range of other lightweight gear brands on offer. And if you fancy tents, take a look at the brand new Wild Country Zephyros 2 and the Nemo Meta 2P.

A city walk, sort of.

Get a Frontage Roads patch.

A very fine update on the European Packrafting Scene (Lets do more packrafting in Europe to "force" Sven and Marc to do weekly updates ;).

A date with dawn on the Great Ridge. Just in case you need inspiration to get up early.

Fraser had a lazy weekend. He photographs ducks on these lazy weekends, and does so several forces of magnitudes better than many.

Scott from Porcelain Rocket shows how to make a pattern. In a video. Smooth operator.

Tarping at -33°C in Estonia? Sure!

Steve visits The Roaches.

Winter climbing without boots.

David leaves for the quest for the Ogre’s Den. What sounds like an AD&D adventure is actually a hiking trip, which means there sadly was no dragon slaying involved.

Wintry snow fun in England.

The Elden Slabs see little traffic, lack a trail and have a fine view.

Japanese wintry mountain awesomeness from Tengu Dake.

Mike is sleeping with Gas Canisters.

Peter meanwhile was on some hill while the sun was setting. In winter.

Ice and snow was also to be found in Strathconon.

Dennis went for an Overnighter im Steinbruch.

Carol just released her second trail book.

Jaakko shares his first impressions of the Altai Hok 125 with us.

MYOG Carbon fibre Greenland paddle. Exquisite.

You got a dog? You got a packraft? You got a bike? Then you need a dog bikerafting platform.

Peter and Toni are now Finnish TV celebrities.

Miss autumn? Adam shows you a Carpathian Fall.

Jake is barefooting the Ozette.

Waterfilter comparison, exhaustive.

Salomon X-Over shoes, first impressions.

Tomas does Gear Porn.

Joslyn has a tiny Heiny.

Surly Moonlander has landed in the UK.

Greg enlightens you about HTML Image tags. If you write a blog and take pretty photos, a recommended read.

Ultralight Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:38:00 +0000

Thursday last week I asked on Twitter if there's an interest in an UL podcast. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive; though questions came up which I will try to answer here.

First off, let me tell you about my favourite podcast of all time: Fell Calls. Four friends which sit down and discuss all stuff Warmachine and Hordes, a superb miniature game from Privateer Press. A very relaxed atmosphere, funny, informative, and just about the best thing I can imagine when painting Minis.

And that's the format I want to do with this UL podcast as well. Mates talking about UL skiing, backpacking, bikepacking, packrafting, climbing, skills, people, gear and trips. A bit of a direction for each show, but not being afraid to improvise and possibly talking about something completely different if that's where the conversation takes us.

To keep work to a minimum, it is going to be a podcast in the traditional sense - no video. I find video podcasts tedious, and I doubt it would add anything to it.

Making a regular schedule is a nice idea though probably won't work - different time zones, family & work commitments, being outdoors, and needing to get the gear and get familiar with using it all means at least in the beginning it is going to be a "When it happens, it happens" show.

Because I know that there's this one other Outdoors Podcast - nope, we're not going to compete with that. This is going to be a young, fresh, Rated R-18 (because we speak about sexy gear and are not afraid to say shit) podcast, made by friends who enjoy UL backpacking and talking about it.

I got in touch with a few European UL blogger-friends who agreed to participate every now and then, though I think it'd be fun to make this an international endeavour. So those of you who feel comfortable to chat in English and hail from e.g. Japan, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Belgium, Russia - well, anywhere, really - and you have an interest in ultralight outdoor adventures and aren't afraid to talk about it - Email me.

So yeah, that's that. Once we're set to go, you'll surely read about it. I for one am very excited about it!

---

Update 07.02.2012

Unintentionally I phrased my initial post above in an ambiguous way. When I wrote that I and other participants of this endevour do not intend to compete with The Outdoors Station I meant just that. We don't aim to compete.

My mistake was to write in the same paragraph that we aim to be "young, fresh, Rated R-18" and here some interpreted that I implied that the aforementioned podcast wouldn't be that. This was not how it was meant, and I am sorry if Bob Cartwright and other members of The Outdoors Station (and other possible podcasts, just to be sure) felt this was meant as an insult. Please accept my apology.

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:10:00 +0000

A lovely cold week it was.

Gorgeous Timelapse Video showing the beautiful Australian continent.

The Removal of Cesare Maestri's Bolt Ladders on Cerro Torre.

Unboxing-Video of the LAUFBURSCHE huckePACK 2012. Unboxing videos rule. LAUFBURSCHE rules. Both together = awesome.

Speaking of LAUFBURSCHE, the webshop is set to open its doors at the end of February. Start saving now.

Choose the right skis to glide through winter.

Kids & electronics on the trail.

Why a wood stove?

Dawn is on La Palma, and has a been pretty much every day hiking some fine trail on the island. Los Tilos Tunnels is one of them. Beautiful.

Winter on the Rim, in case you prefer a little snow with your red rocks and mountain bikes.

James spent a stunning day on Stob Coire nam Beith.

Greg hikes up Mt Buffalo.

Photographing snow.

Tradition or habit?

PCT Food Review: What I liked, Would Do Differently, and Recommend.

Amanda lets us know What it's like being an Outdoorsman's wife.

Return of the villain.

A ramble from summer into autumn in Sarek.

David's Adventures in Aviemore.

Paul visits the patron fell of Wasdale.

Jake walks solo across the Park. Barefoot.

Primus OmniLite Ti, the newest Multifuel stove on the market.

10 oz. Shelter System.

Marmot DriClime Ether Wind Shirt.

Brian presents his Emberlit-UL Esbit mod.

Building a pit house.

Sabi prepares for hiking the PCT this year.

Don’t hike your own hike.

Are Blog Reviews Worth Anything?

Primus OmniLite Ti

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:35:00 +0000

There's a new lightweight multifuel stove on the block, and it's name is Primus OmniFuel Ti. Ti obviously stands for Titanium, the coveted UL material which is so dear to us ultralight backpackers. With two winter tours on the programme for me, one which will be solo and over a week, I thought it might be high-time to look into those stoves which are common among Polar Explorers. A Living Review.

Time

It arrived in the last week of January. So far I had it out and tested it with gas (Video coming) and try to get out this week to test it with Primus PowerFuel in -24°C or more. I might try other fuels, though as I don't have a car I rarely visit gasstations.

Yeah, hover over them photos for smart information!

Function

It is a Multifuel Stove, which makes it a tool to produce boiling water for food & drinks.

However, Multifuel stoves have the advantage that they usually are excellent for very cold temperatures where other fuel sources are not working well, and that they can be used when travelling in different countries and it is unknown what fuel sources will be available - with a multifuel stove chances are that you will find one that works. The OmniLite Ti works with

Propane/ butane/ isobutane gas
White Gas
Vehicle fuel
Kerosene
Diesel

So if you plan to do an around-the-world-trip, this stove certainly would have you covered (you also can rely on biomaterials for cooking).

I got it less for an around-the-world-trip but more for its cold weather capabilities. Wood or gas are not very reliable at the low temperatures I am expecting on my trips, so a stove which can melt snow and boil water without much fuss is certainly not just a very comfortable solution, but at -25°C or more almost critical.

Features

A stand/ pot support made of Titanium, which makes it lighter than the OmniFuel or other multifuel stoves. Optimized to work with Eta pots (so pots with a them fins down on the bottom). It is equipped with a system called "Primus Wind Proof Burner" that adjusts the flame to wind condtitions, minimizing the chance that it goes out. The fuel line and pump have a self bleeding system to eliminate flares and spills.

Absent from this list is a pre-heater (A tube which pre-heats the fuel which comes from the bottle/ cartridge over/ near the flame). This is interesting, and I will probably soon find out if this is a bad thing, or if this stove works just wine without one.

Technical Innovations

It is made of Titanium. Not an innovation per se, though there's not many Ti multifuel burners on the market, so this certainly makes it stand out.

It is made to work with Eta Pots; that are those pots from Primus which allow for better fuel efficiency. I got their 2,1 litre pot with the stove, and will see if this is really the case (going to test it with a pot without the fins underneath).

Quality

It is very well made, lemme tell ya. It is Made in Estland, and the quality is superb. It radiates trustworthiness and durability.

Weight

An important part! Lets see:

219 gram - Stove
194 gram - Fuel bottle with pump
090 gram - Titanium windscreen
134 gram - Bag
042 gram - Multitool

413 gram for stove and (empty) bottle with pump installed. You can leave the fuel bottle at home is you plan to use it only with cartridges. The benefit of such a stove versus e.g. the Jetboil Sol Ti is that you can invert the cartridge, as in low temperatures the gas solidifies and in a normal stove will sink to the bottom - if you can invert the cartridge that means it goes right to the hose and the burner. Of course you could build a small cozy for the cartridge to insulate it from the cold, though I am not certain how well this works in very cold temperatures.

Sustainability

It is the same question as with other gas/ multifuel stoves: The stoves themselves are fairly sustainable - I expect this stove will work for years to come - but it is the fuel it runs on which is not sustainable. The Primus PowerFuel comes in a plastic bottle (and it is made in the Netherlands) while the Primus Power Gas is Made in South Korea and comes in an Aluminium cartridge. Once empty, you need to buy a new one, and the fuels themselves also are not the most environmental friendly. The other fuels it can run on - diesel, gasoline and kerosene are in the same category, not very sustainable or environmentally friendly.

You're in a hard place if you go winter backpacking and need a reliable fuel - you pretty much need to use one of the above or rely on wood, which might be very hard to get in some places and at -30°C or more can be difficult to work with. This is something to consider; though it is pretty much either one of the unsustainable fuels or melting snow with body heat and eating cold food (or make a wood fire if possible).

It is made in Estland, which means at least for me it only had a short trip to arrive here.

Recyclability

Looking at the stove unit, it consists of titanium, brass and steel, the hose is probably rubber and there's a plastic knob. All of these materials can be recycled, digging them up takes quite a toll on the environment, though.

Competing Products

Stoves compete with other stoves, as well as a good old fire. So besides the BushBuddy, Ti-Tri Caldera Cone, Backcountry Boiler, Jetboil Sol Ti, Gnat and others, the main competition will be from other Multifuel Stoves. The lightest is the Soto Muka (claimed weight of 160 gram, 200€, works with gasoline & white gas). A classic is the MSR Whisperlite (claimed weight of 305 gram, 120€, works with different liquid fuels). The Optimus Nova (claimed weight of 435 gram, 140€, burns liquid fuels) is another familiar name when looking for multifuel stoves.

What Others Say

Only Chris Townsend has reviewed it, and he says If you want a stove that can run on a variety of fuels this is one of the best around. He seems not to have tested it in the cold, though.

More Photos.

Bottomline

Coming after further testing.

Where to buy it

The usual suspects don't have it yet on offer. Once available, I will update this.

Updates:
- 13/02/2012 added OmniLite Ti in winter with gas video

In the next update:

- More videos
- Testing fuel efficiency of Eta pots versus normal pots
- Fleshing out the different points, and looking at reliability, different fuel efficiencies, ease-of-use, and time to boil

Disclaiming the Disclaimer.

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:58:00 +0000

Censorship. I don't like it. I've been outspoken against those who moderate comments on their blogs. And I have been outspoken against SOPA & PIPA in the USA (hopefully off the table, thanks to the massive internet-wide blackout on the 18th of January) and I am completely against ACTA. You should too if you're a savvy web citizen, so head over to Stop ACTA, watch the video below, and sign this Petition to keep the internet free.

Short days and long nights: a brief stint in the Pacific North West.

Dave has a few thoughts on outdoor forums and social networking.

The new Ulster Way in Northern Ireland has a fine website.

First Impressions of the OookStar.

The Canyon in the Great Otway National Park.

A First Year Walking - Traci's account on how she got to like the hills =)

Show Up and Blow Up: The Dixie States.

Archipelago National Park.

Abel Tasman Walkway.

If you see HIF "censored" - click on the small Censored text in the top right corner to disable it or simply reload the page.

Exposed Scrambling: Grading on a Curve.

Some fine night time photography.

More night time photography by Nick: The Icy Skies at Night.

Phil Turner on the BBC.

Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin.

Covenanters Admirals and Deer.

Wetherlam & The Old Man Of Coniston.

Wainwright on Maps.

Go back this cool project!

Jill's favourite winter gear.

Some good videos.

Achenbach/ Soledad Canyon Loop.

Tarptent Contrail.

Seeblspitze, 2331 m.

[Fly] Tying Journal & a give-away.

Making a Pot Holder.

Yakutat to Glacier Bay: Lost Coast South.

Soldier Pass and Brin’s Mesa Trails- Sedona, Arizona.

Oregon & Washington biking trip.

Mount Monadnock: Winter Ascent via the Spellman Trail.

GooseFeet Parka.

Micro compass.

Ultralight & ultra-cheap gas stove.

Why UL Gear is more fun.

A twenty year old Jörgen facepalms in the snow, South of Katterjaure.

White-water packrafting, a how-to.

Skiing and Packafting.

Seakayaking in winter.

Fatbiking in Finnish Winter.

Hawaii hiking at night.

Retreat.

Geology in Action.

Archipelago National Park Trip Report

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:41:00 +0000

Outside it is -12°C so it is a good time to reflect back on one of the nicest trips last year, probably the best part of the international wilderness guide course.

Hover over the photos for smart explanations and info

Summer Memories from Jungfruskär

Together with my friend Bert we were responsible to organize this trip, which went to the crown of the Archipelago National Park: Jungfruskär. The organization part was fairly easy, a few phone calls, organizing what group gear to take, planning the driving and telling the rest of the group about it.

The programme of this excursion was simple: Drive down south, arrive at the harbour from where we would take a one hour boat ride to the island, make camp and then studying plants and flowers, watch birds and do some two to three hours of meadow cleaning each day - all in a very laissez-faire setting.

We arrived Monday afternoon on the island, and the weather forecast was splendid: Sunshine and high temperatures thoughout the whole week. After rolling out my bivy I grabbed my cameras and went exploring the island - there was no programme until the early evening, and I wanted to make use of the fine weather.

The island is small - a kilometer or two long, and less than one wide - though there goes a nice path around it. I probably should mention that for mere mortals a own boat is the only way to get to it - there’s no ferry or similar. There’s a small jetty for those who visit it (and it seems to be a popular place, from what I’ve gathered) and there are also a few buildings on the island - a tiny museum, a couple of dry toilets and a croft for the lumberjack as well as a barn for the sheep which sometimes graze on the island. Add in the two old cannons and of course the kitchen, Sauna (!) and main building which was on our wind of the island, and you have a truly sweet setting.

Anyway. As I said, our days were very relaxed. We started working usually between nine and ten in the morning, worked till noon, then possibly another hour of meadow clearing before we went bird watching, identified plants and trees and heated up the Sauna. We’re in Finland, after all, and a good Sauna in such a fine spot with such an inviting swim couldn’t go unused.

We also made some excursions across the island; as far as one can talk about excursions on such a small piece of land. They became rather fun - our teacher would point out to a flower or plant and ask What’s that? and then the guessing of the students would start. It made for a few good chuckles among us students.

While the days were relaxed, the evenings were a real Zen Buddism experience. After Sauna a few of us would retire to the kitchen building and play Who’s The Ass (a very entertaining card game for up to 12 people, so ideal for groups!) while I would experiment in making Steam Muffins for us. After that I’d usually retire outside and have a stroll or sit on the pier, listening to the birds and waves hitting the shore.

The island is home to over 800 plant species (remember, this is a tiny island!) many of which can only be found only here, so there was no shortage of plants to identify, photograph and learn. Add in the pleathora of birds - a worthy mention here are certainly the White-tailed Eagles we saw, simply impressive creatures! - and it is a outdoors persons' paradise.

In the plenty of free time we had I went to wander the island on my own, thinking about this and that (and if I could possibly convince my wife to move to such a remote location :) and studying a bit of plants and birds. Oh yeah, I also took some photos. I even once got up at four in the morning to photograph the sunrise. Good memories.

As weight for carrying wasn’t an issue (we walked maybe a few hundred meters with the gear on our backs), I decided to take my hammock - it felt appropriate, going to an island and such - besides my tarp and bivy. In the end I slept each night in a different shelter: First in a meadow in my bivy, second night in my hammock, third at the shore under the tarp and the last night again in my bivy at the shore. Except the night in the hammock I always slept well, and it ws fun to try different systems. I could even have spend a night indoors - the main house had a few beds.

It was a very rewarding trip, with plenty of sunshine and laughter in a gorgeous location. I have good memories of this island, and hope to return some day to it - maybe with a seakayak?

More Information

Archipelago National Park website on Outdoors.fi

You'll need a sea-worthy vessel of sorts to get there. I imagine if you can navigate and paddle then a seakayak might be a good means of transport. Sailing boats also do, I think taking a packraft into the Baltic Sea is even on a fine day a tad risky.

The islands around Turku down to Korpoström all have regular, free ferries between the islands. It is a popular destination of cycling tourists, and if that's you're cup of tea you're well advised to consider the area for a tour in the future.

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:09:00 +0000

If my stories and trip reports of outdoor adventures in Finland have awoken your interest, but you're wondering how you could come to Finland, you might want to consider studying in Finland. The University of Lapland is without a doubt your best bet if you want to be close to the fjells and forests of Lapland, where year-round outdoor adventures - from skiing & snowshoeing over fishing to paddling and hiking - will make your studying time extra special. From Masters Degrees in Graphic Design to Biopolitics you're sure to find something to your taste, or consider doing your Doctoral Studies here. Best of all: No tuition fees. Convinced? Now would be a good time to apply!

A sad reminder that life is short and you should seize the moment. Jack Roberts, climber, 1952-2012.

DIY Ultra-Light Watercolor Pencil Palette.

The New Old School.

MYOG Insulated Pants.

Bicycle Traveler Magazine: 2nd. edition.

Family Hiking Tips: Lost Kids and Search Strategies.

Desert Pictures.

Kuusamo Easy Ski-Bindings.

Ordering a Custom Inner for a Trailstar from Oookworks.

Katabatic Gear Sawatch Quilt.

Why Go Out There?

Mount Liberty & Flume Mountain.

Enjoying Nature.

Canyon Scramble.

Allt Duine: Highland Council rejects planning application + Trump halts work on golf course over turbines. Congratulations to all who fought so hard for this!

For Map Lovers: Glacier, circa 1933.

Skurka – How I Make a Living as an Adventurer.

Cerro Torre.

A two night Wild Camp around Ullswater.

Andalucia along the Southern Variant of the GR7.

Ice and sunshine on Creag Meagaidh.

The FeatherFire Alcohol Stove.

Waterproof Goose Down?

Chris wrote a book called Hillfit.

Robin's state of his gear: Tents.

Jaakko is blogging for one year and would value your input on how to go forward.

My First Tenkara Outing.

Mt. Feathertop.

North Kinsman.

Win a Technical Outdoor Hoodie by Röjk - Gear Giveaway

Tony had a blissful commuting week.

Snowshoeing - A Season Opener.

Jill got into the UTMB.

Grand View Point - Grand Tetons National Park.

Getting Above the Gunk on Deseret Peak.

Dusting.

The Big Fix.

The Plight of the Puffy.

Great Shunner Fell.

Improvised Pack Frames.

Banana toastie with chocolate buttons.

Hill of Wirren.

10 Ways To Avoid Dehydration Outdoors.

Packrafting is real boating.

Yoga Practice for Hikers: The Downward Dog vs. The Cobra Pose.

Ernährung auf einer Trekkingtour.

Cheap, Lightweight Backpacking Food Part 5-Mixing it Up.

New Year's Trip to the Buffalo River.

Disclaimer: This week's "The Week In Review" is brought to you by the University of Lapland. Want to sponsor the next one? Get in touch.

Katabatic Gear Sawatch Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:39:00 +0000

That I prefer quilts shouldn't surprise you. That I prefer them even in the depth of winter shouldn't either. Now if you're looking for winter quilts, you got two options:

Combine a three-season down quilt with a synthetic quilt to create a flexible system which can be adapted to the circumstances
Buy a dedicated winter quilt

I decided to combine both approaches to find out what works best for me.

Inevitably Katabatic Gear came up on top for me (no surprise, really, as I did interview the owner, Aaron Martray from Katabatic Gear not too long ago) and off I was checking what they had on offer. Back then the Katabatic Gear Sawatch quilt was their warmest quilt (the Blackwelder came later in 2011) and soon after a 2011 model with the new attachment system arrived on my doorstep, just in time for some Wilderness Guide Winter Expedition fun.

Hover over the photos to see smart descriptions!

While that trip didn't end well, it was an exceptional awesome opportunity to test my winter sleep system. Katabatic Gear advertises the Sawatch as their three-season workhorse, which is fine to about -10°C (or 15°F in some illogic system). The first night we had -31°C, and then -36°C for a couple of nights. I'm happy to report that with a smart system the Sawatch was keeping me toasty in those temperatures (Before you ask: I was wearing a 200er Woolpower Baselayer, the BPL Cocoon Hoody and pants, two Buffs, 800er Woolpower Socks, on a Multimat CCF and inflatable pad cocooned up in a Laufbursche Tyvek bivy, in a big Finnish Army tent - don't ask!). Lets take a look at the Sawatch then.

Weight
The Sawatch has 425 gram of 850 cuin down (nowadays you get 900 cuin down!), filled in continuous baffles which allow you to shift the down around as you please. The Shell Material is Pertex Quantum Ripstop .85oz/yd and the lining material is Pertex Quantum Taffeta 1.0oz/yd, which results in the following measured weight for my regular length Sawatch:

695 gram Sawatch quilt
009 gram two cords
015 gram webbing
017 gram stuff sack

Trail-weight (includes cords and stuff sack) is thus 721 gram.

Features & Function
The Pertex outer is "snowproof" which means a light dusting of snow (as seen in the video, for example) doesn't go through and wets the down. You can blow or brush it off simply. The inner lining is nice soft, does not irritate my skin and warms up quickly. It lofts quickly and overall feels better than the GoLite Ultra 20° I have used for well over two years now. The Sawatch has lost little down, sometimes one looks through the shell material, but they're easy to pull back in.

Onwards to details: Aaron has developed a Cord Clip Attachment System, which means you wrap two cords around your mat (it works with 2 cm thick inflatables and 9 cm thick winter mats - the cord is plenty long) and then clip the Sawatch in. The clips come with two settings: One lose one, in which you can move the quilt as you want, and a tight setting, in which you move the clip system one notch further and it sits tight. This eliminates drafts in real life situations, but clipping them into the tightest setting, while in the quilt, is sometimes rather hard: You're laying down and then try to push the clip system in the tightest notch next to you, while being under the quilt. With the lower one I just clip it in before I slid in, but the upper one is amusingly hard. But better that than drafts. I was worried that I would find the cord annoying while sleeping, but even with just a thin baselayer on I didn't notice it.

The real benefit of them clips is that they keep the quilt in place, which is especially useful if you belong to the tossing and much-moving-in-your-sleep category of sleepers. It minimizes, if not even eliminates the possibility of the quilt moving to the side, allowing for drafts to make you cold. I find it much preferable to the tuck-the-quilt-underneath-you technique which I employed with the Ultra 20°, because if you move with such an arrangement then I somehow always let some cold in/ warmth out.

Then there's those clip rings thingys a bit further up the side of the quilt. If you're such a tosser at night that you manage to unclip the cord from its super-tight setting, then Katabatic Gear recommends you clip the cord into those clip rings thingys. They don't lock down and are free running, but you create a rather thick puffy barrier between the mat, quilt and yourself that getting drafts should be impossible. Well, unless go sleep walking. In practice I never managed to unlock the cord from the clip once tightly secured

You also can use it without the cord system, as the Sawatch comes with two webbing straps. These you could wrap around the pad if you're inclined, but I prefer to just lay on the mat with the webbing underneath me, pulled tight. This works especially well if you're sleeping in huts, where drafts usually are less of a problem. It also has a third strap a bit above where the footbox ends, which can't be removed, except with scissors. As it has not much function in my opinion, that might be its logical end.

The bottom opening of the quilt (the hole!) has an elastic band sewn in around it, which should prevent gaps and drafts at the sleeping pad level. It is a bit of extra attention to detail and innovative thinking, which makes Katabatic Gear stand apart from its competitors.

The cut then is what Katabatic Gear calls a "Differential Cut". What that means is that the outer is cut wider than the inner liner fabric, resulting in a larger circumference of the shell than of the liner. The result is that when you pull the quilt tightly around you, you do not crush the down from the inside on, as it has enough space to loft. Add in continuous baffles - they go from side to side, or down in the footbox they go all the way around. The benefit is that you can move the down around. The question here is if this is an advantage or a disadvantage: In non-continuous baffles the down stays where it is, but in the here used continuous baffles the down can - voluntarily and in-voluntarily - move around. Obviously it is annoying if the down move in-voluntarily away from where you want it, but on the other hand it gives you the chances to use the quilt in varying conditions: On a warm night in low elevation you can move the down to the side, making it less warm, while if you go up a mountain and have a cold night coming, you move the down evenly around. Obviously if it is warm enough you just could pull the quilt down as well, but that works only to some extent.

Another feature of the Sawatch is its down collar. It is awesome, one of the best details on this quilt. A nice, thick puff around the collar eliminates drafts on the hole of the quilt which most often lets cold in and warmth escape; the hole where your head sticks out. To keep that puffy collar in place there's two buttons to connect the opening, practically closing it. And to top things off, there's a drawcord which allows you to tighten the collar so that it fits well around your neck. The buttons are a bit hard to open and close when you close it around your neck, but it's not a major issue (close them first, easy, and stick your head through the hole). The drawcord would be better located on the side in my opinion, as with it being on top the cord tends to slide in your face/ neck which is annoying; though you can just pull it inside after you have closed it and it is out of the way.

The Sawatch has a trapezoidal shaped footbox which has overstuffed baffles. That means even without a pair of GooseFeet down booties you still should have warm feet; which can be like feet should be without decreasing the loft (by pushing it inside, the trapezoidal shape is somewhat ergonomic/ anatomically). I do prefer to have my down booties on, though, and they fit well in there. The footbox is otherwise closed and can not be opened, and as discussed above has continuous baffles.

As mentioned in the video, the Sawatch comes with a proper, massive organic cotton storage sack. It is sweet to see that there's a relatively new cottage which pays attention to all the details: A big storage sack to store your fine quilt uncompressed; and to top things off made of organic cotton, which shows that the outdoors in which we hike, ski, packraft and bike are valued. Thumbs up. That'd be it on the details.

Technical Innovations & Quality
I think it is great to see that there's a new (less than three years old) cottage, which comes to market with a very well developed product, which in my opinion beats the offerings of many other quilt manufacturers out there - just read through the features above. Not only that, but Aaron also listens to his customers and improves on the design where needed. The end result is one of the most well-thought-out quilts currently on the market, perfectly made. I probably should notice that the craftsmanship is superb and the Sawatch makes an overall superior impression than the Ultra 20° which I have used previously (still using it, btw). It is Made in Colarado, USA.

Sustainability & Recyclablity
Shall think and add in.

Time
I used the Sawatch last year over two weeks in the field. Three nights with temperatures well over -30°C, and I was toasty. I had, thanks to pulling a Fjellpulken pulka, also my BPL Coccon synthetic quilt with me, in case the Sawatch on its own wouldn't proof warm enough. That concern was unfounded, and I didn't need to combine the two quilts yet to create the über-winter quilt system. In those cold winter nights there was also no problem with dew freezing inside the quilt, something which rather surprised me. Or at least not enough to make the down collapse, something some of my classmates couldn't say. But remember that this is a three-season quilt, so don't be stupid and take this to Siberia in January.

I'm taking it in February for a week to the North and in March on a one-week skiing/ snowshoeing trip. I will add further findings to this review, should there be any.

Competing products
Nunatak Arc Alpinist. $426, a bit less warm, a bit lighter.
enLIGHTened equipment Epiphany. $410, a bit less warm, a lot lighter, VBL integrated.
Having used the GoLite Ultra 20° and having seen its follower, the 3-Season quilt, I'm not confident to include it here. While cheaper it is not in the same warmth class as the Sawatch or the two above.

What others say
BPL reviewed it and gave it a Highly Recommended. It's written by Roger Caffin, which is in my opinion the best and most credible BPL Reviewer, so it are high acclaims.

Bottomline
The Sawatch quilt packs down small, lofts quickly, is toasty warm, has a bunch of well-thought-out details, and comes in a range of sizes from Small to Long Extra Wide. Get yours if you're in the market for a three-season quilt which can be pushed with a well-thought-out system well into winter.

Where to get it
At Katabatic Gear directly. $420 in Regular length.

Updates
- 15.02.2012 - added a Video

Future Updates
---~~VIDEO coming in the first Update of this Living Review~~---
---Filling in the gaps---
---Also in the next update: Possible fixing of my rubbish English (as in grammar and spelling and syntax)---

Disclaimer: You can find it there on the right in the side bar. Read it. Additionally I don't recommend going out in the blistering cold without sufficient back-up - that'd be moronic. So be smart. Finally, this quilt was provided free of charge to me and I was held at gunpoint to write a honest review, with all the good, bad and ugly details. I succeeded.

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:11:00 +0000

A wonderful cold winter week, with a close encounter with frostbite today. More, please (without frostbite, please).

The making of a Porcelain Rocket framebag.

One Cook Kit To Rule Them All.

John & Jean can't complain.

MYOG Ziploc iPhone case.

Transitions podcast.

What is packrafting anyway?

Trout Creek.

Simple Trekking Pole Monopod.

Global Warming and Coastal Erosion.

Instilling a love for the (Winter) Outdoors.

Adam has Distant Visitors.

Ocean Bound: Idyllwild to San Diego, at last.

An Estonian expedition to summit Halti.

Bushcraft – How To Tread Your Own Path.

The Canadian Canoe Trip of 2000.

Sahale Arm.

The ‘best’ touring bike tyres – now it’s personal.

Argentina Photo Album.

Dave is tracking wolverines.

A Long Walk on the Beach.

Bringing the Whelen lean-to into the 21st Century.

Nick runs from Crathie to Ballater.

Windows to the Wild. 41 Full Episodes to keep you entertained during work.

First Winter Ascent in the Stuart Range.

Alone in the Elwha Valley.

Bikes on red rocks.

Fire-Maple 116T: First impressions.

Karl visited another Tarn and had another windy night.

Introducing the Altra Adam.

Yes, you may like it on Facebook or +1 it on Google+.

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Winter has arrived - we got a lovely 15 cm of fresh powder, and thanks to the -16°C currently outside it also stays. More snow and sub -10°C forecast for this coming week, I'm looking forward to spend a night outside in a lovely coloured shelter under the moon, and hear the wonderful "Crunch" of cold snow creaking under my shoes and wheels.

Backcountry.com Post Christmas Clearance - Shop Deals up to 60% off Here!

Sam and friends show you how to build an igloo. A fine tutorial for those who have enough snow available.

A Primer on Ski wax.

Jim does a fine Backpacking Gas Canisters 101.

Something for the parents out there: 3 years, 2 kids, 550 miles of wilderness.

John ponders starting his own cottage in the UK, and want your input on products. Let him know what you would like!

And here's a tutorial on how to be a dirtbag.

Jake got muddy toes in a Rainforest.

Cole spend a fine day at Lava Beds National Monument.

James thinks outside the box on Ben Nevis.

Jill's "A symphony of cold" series is recommended if you need a fix of Alaskan coldness.

Steven asks if there's No Such Thing as a Bad Gear Review?

Bikepacking and packrafting in and around Loch Shiel and Loch Morar by Nik - a recommended read!

John started HikeLighter.com and his SUL/XUL Enclosed Shelter Comparisons is worth of your time if you're SUL/XUL-curious.

Miss fall? Don't despair: the Florence Nature Preserve shows off some superb autumn colours.

Craig has a No New Gear Year.

Need a fly-fishing fix? This River Is Wild has you covered.

Toni enjoyed today's winter paradise on his fatbike.

Allison's proper winter NYE hike.

Dave has a series on Yoga Practice for Hikers.

Jack reviews the Sugoi Resistor Bike Booties.

Dave went on a Black Mountain Bothy Trip in December... well not quite!

James looks back on 2011, which he spent pre-dominantly on the hills.

Two book reviews by yours truly. Because books rule.

Roman did a Southeastern Classic: Chattooga River, Section IV.

Curious about Social Hiking? Then let Phil Sorrell explain it to you!

Tomás was trad-climbing with Toby. (Hey you two, I still want to go on a ice climbing trip with you! =)

The origins of alpinism.

Nick went on a Meander Around Glen Tanar. Lovely photos from the Scottish hills.

Mark has a first look at the Paramo Mountain Vent Pull-on.

The best mens underwear for outdoor activities?

The Jolly Green Giant always is good for very interesting articles. Example: The LifeStraw and other water treatment devices.

The wilderness as an escape or an engagement.

Maz reflects on Six of the Best pieces of gear of 2011.

Check out this amazing Kickstarter project for SUL pots: Hexa Pot™: Indoor/Outdoor Disposable Paper Cooking Pot.

The Ultimate Hang & Ultralight Backpackin' Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Time to start the year with some book reviews. Because books rule.

Last year Mike C! published another one of his fantastic books, Ultralight Backpackin' Tips. I got it pretty much right away, and it is an enjoyable, easy read which you can read in a few hours (provided you have some English language proficiency, though if you lack it - well, happily there's cartoons in this book =). The highlight of Mike's books are unmistakably his funny illustrations and humorous way of writing in which he educates us about some obvious (though often overlooked/ forgotten), and some not so obvious tips to lighten up.

The way the book is structured is simple: Mike discloses "153 amazing & inexpensive tips for extremely lightweight camping". These tips are further divided into 21 Chapters, with topics such as Basic Starting Points, The All-important Mind-set, Travel Techniques, Feet, Water, Bears, Recipes and a bunch more. Mike even got Glen Van Peski and Ryan Jordan to contribute a tip each = added value! It is a well rounded list of useful chapters and tips; if you have read some of Mike's other books some stuff will sound familiar, but there's also plenty of new tips in there. The only shortcoming is in my opinion the lack of an Index at the end of the book, though that might just be me.

My favourite tips are number 34, 35, 42, 65, 78, 95, 130 and 153. I'm working on implementing tip 116 into my outdoor experience. One of the biggest advantages of Ultralight Backpackin' Tips is its high re-reading value. You will read it once, and then you will be going back to it again and again, looking up this one idea, that tip, this concept. So even when one might easily dismiss that there's only 153 tips, I promise you that you'll have a long time joy on this fine little book.

---

I have a hammock, and have several times over the last two years tried to sleep in it - never successful. It's great for relaxing, but I yet have to sleep a whole night comfortably in a hammock. So imagine my delight as I saw Derek Hansen's book "The Ultimate Hang". In case you think "Hey, that looks a bit like Mike C! illustrated it!" - hmm, nope. Derek wrote and illustrated the book, though it does bear some resemblance to Mike C!'s illustrations. Anyway.

I like the book. Derek's illustrations are humourous and funny, not unlike Mike's (though Mike definitely draws better humans =). I especially think that Derek show's that he's what I'd like to call "Internet savvy" - there's QR codes and links all the way through the book, with a wonderful table of all hammock gear manufacturers and what they offer at the end (there's a lot of them!). I know that the hammocking community is a very relaxed, open-minded and fun group (Hammockforums.net should be your next destination if you're hammock-curious) and Derek's book represents that well, and gives plenty of love to his hammock friends (Sharing is Caring!).

The book feels like it is aimed at the beginner to intermediate hammocker, so it was just right for me (I'm more of the former than the latter). It gives us the hammock terminology (aka slang, so you can talk the talk!), hammock history and an (slightly biased) overview of hammocks and tents. I now know that what I have suffered from in my hammock camping trips is called Cold Butt Syndrome and have after reading this little book a good idea of what I did wrong and what I can do better to solve it.

The book is divided into an Introduction & The Basics, and then breaks it further down into Site Selection, Leave No Trace, The Hammock, Suspension & Anchor Points, Staying Dry & Staying Warm and a couple more chapters. There's plenty of good illustrations; discussion of different techniques; benefits of different hammocks, tarps, insulation possibilities and more. I did not feel overwhelmed, but found that I learned plenty of new things to improve my hammock camping experience in the future - from how far apart tree should be and how high to attach the anchor points over how to avoid the Cold Butt Syndrome to installing drip lines.

I like that Derek included a MYOG tutorial and tips in the book, and the Hammock Gear Checklist in the end of the book shows in a ingenious way what to remember when you go hammocking, and where to find the info in the book. The quick reference page, which shows imperial and metric measurements is a nice way to make sure those of us who don't follow the arbitrary retarded rollercoaster of imperial measurements get an idea what all those ounces and inches mean =) The table of hammock retailers and manufacturers is a useful tool for anyone interested in the topic, and Derek shares some useful websites (Shug = awesome).

---

I can recommend both books for the interested lightweight/ ultralight backpacker and hammocker. They compliment each other well, and what you learn from Mike you can apply to your hammock camping experience, and you also can adapt some of the hammocking tricks to your UL ground-dwelling camping routine. Two thumbs up from me.

Have you read the books? What's your take on them? What's your favourite tip from Mike? Have you had a better hammocking experience after reading Derek's book? Let me know!

If you don't yet own the books, consider buying them via the following affiliate links (yes, I won't retire from the few cents I earn from them =)

Europe - Paperback

Europe - Kindle

USA - Paperback

USA - Kindle

The Week In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

A few 2011 retrospects worth reading: Nick's and Josh's, both with great photos of fine trips in 2011. Or read mine if you haven't yet.

Joery has another epic solo winter trip report up: Snowstorms, aurora nights and arctic summit bivouacs.

Make your own boat aka packraft.

Gear: Tall Guy Redesign of Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo | Silva Trailrunner | Snow Peak Carry On Chopsticks | Gossamer Gear Murmur Hyperlight | Satellite communication: Follow-up | Paramo Mountain Vent Pull On | Winter Alpine and Ice Glove Choices: part 1.

Trips: Fatbiking on snow | Biking on red rock | A coast walk in Denmark | Ski mountaineering camp, or how I learned to dance with mountain goats | The Monolith, Mt Buffalo National Park

Ryan Jordan wrote a good article on Cottage Stagnation and Recent Gems which sparked quite a bit of an discussion.

Stuffed Crust Pizza on the Trail or stoveless backpacking?

Conquerer of the Useless

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:30:00 +0000

2011 comes to an end, 2012 - also known as the year of the Apocalypse - is about to start. A time to reflect and say thank you.

Thank you dear readers. 2011 was a fantastic year. More and more of you are reading Hiking in Finland, and you keep on telling your friends about it. You told me what was good, what was crap. I took your critic to heart, and I think HIF has improved a bit because of it. 2012 will get better, though, thanks to your feedback and continued support.

My life has changed. I married the woman I love in the summer, and we had a gorgeous little boy in autumn, who makes us smile each time we look at him. She's my hardest critic, and my best supporter. He is the reason there has been less articles and trips in the last quarter of the year. I am looking forward to go outdoors with them in 2012, and have fun family adventures.

I finished my Wilderness Guide education, and had an awesome first gig with great clients. ULAZ was funded with the help of 176 awesome backers, and should start to appear on your screen in 2012. Subscribe to the Vimeo Channel if you're interested.

There will be changes in 2012. Visually and technically HIF will take a leap ahead and implement a Mobile First approach and leave Blogger and join the Octopress gang. As I believe that will be of interest to at least two others of you, I ~~might even~~ will document this move. Responsive web design is the future, and it is now.

Content wise you can expect more of the same quality-over-quantity articles you've been reading here since 2009. I have a few interviews lined up, a winter trip planned, the Ultralight Summit 2012 in the summer and a few climbing, packrafting and bikepacking adventures in between. There should even be some ice climbing coming this way soon. Sweet. And for the gear aficionados among you, yes, there will be more living reviews to inform you about great UL gear and how it works here in the north; with the addition of looking occasionally at functional UL gear I use everyday. Add in a few opinionated and musings posts, a series on sustainability in the outdoor industry and we're going to have fun before the world ends next December.

Monetization of blogs is still a sensitive topic. Readers are used to free high-quality content and are unwilling to pay, so some bloggers look at other ways of monetizing their content. As the time I spent on writing here has increased (The ever so popular The Week in Review takes a minimum of four hours to curate, often double that), I too have experimented with ways to monetize my content. Flattr, PayPal Donations and Affiliate income is very low; a way to boost affiliate income would be to write a review a week and set a complete set of different affiliate links underneath each post where readers could purchase the reviewed item. The quality of these reviews would be rubbish and short-term, with the aim to monetize. This ain't my way of doing things, although I might include affiliate links in future living reviews (as always, with a disclaimer). For the moment banners generate the best income for me, so I will stick with them; though I am actively following developments about the future of advertising. Hence the experimentation will continue throughout 2012; if you, the reader, find an article useful then Flattr it, buy me a coffee via PayPal or buy books and gear via the affiliate links.

In a move of radical transparency I'd also like to inform you about the income this blog has generated for me in this past year. I suggest those who usually scream about transparency in terms of product testing do the same.

Flattr: 42,48 €
Amazon Affiliate: $105.20
Banners: 2360,00 €
Commission Junction Affiliate: 79,84 €
Bergzeit Affiliate: 35,20 €
PayPal Donations: 4,48 €

My thank here goes to the readers who have clicked on the affiliate links and have bought products via the Reading List page, affiliate links in articles and the banners on the right; who have flattered and made a donation; and the companies which advertised with me: Upitrek, The Outdoor Warehouse, Trekking-Lite-Store, Kupilka and Bergzeit.

2011 has shown that blogs rule. Apparently there's still a few people who buy magazines (I like to refer to them as simpletons, though as I subscribe to Alpinist I might be as gullible myself, even if I like to think otherwise) but 2011 has established blogs as the best sources for trip reports, gear reviews and general outdoor philosophy and techniques, and will do so even more in 2012.

For me one stood out, and that is Bedrock & Paradox. Dave is a force to be reckoned with, his honest, down-to-earth and sometimes raw writing style (which has you reach for the dictionary every now and then) paired with his fresh and unconventional approach to outdoor photography & videography is enchanting and I am certain he will take his site to new heights in 2012. I salute you, Dave, and recommend all of you to subscribe to his blog.

Two honourable mentions. One goes to Joery's Adventure Log, who definitely has set the bar in terms of solo lightweight adventures. Proof you want? Greenland I give you. Number two goes to Tomas from Scandinavian hiking who has done a cracking job on his Ethics of Outsourcing Mini-Series and who has a similarly awesome writing style as Dave above, with an extra dose of sarcasm. The Underdog of 2011 is Josh Spice, who probably will surprise us in 2012 with lots of awesome Alaskan stories and thoughtful articles. Subscribe to all three.

Which brings us to your feedback. While I strongly believe in doing my own thing, sometimes it is useful to at least listen in to your "clients" and check if you're on the right track. So tell me your thoughts. Leave a comment or Email me and tell me

1. What was good in 2011?

2. What can I do better in 2012?

3. Questions, comments, observations aka other feedback.

Thank you. May your packs be light in 2012 and your outdoor time plenty.

Food for Thought: Stoveless backpacking

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Over the holidays I read a post by Jake “Don´t Panic” Dow on Going stoveless. He and his girlfriend hiked the PCT without a stove of any sort, quite a task in itself, and doing the whole thing without carrying a stove and food for cooking makes it even more interesting. But is going stoveless really lighter, more convenient and as easy as just leaving your stove at home?

Before we set off on cooking vs. no cooking, I'd like to know from you, my valued readers, how many hot meals and/ or beverages you have per day when you hike:

I myself am in the two to three camp. I have a hot breakfast (my MYOMüsli) and even more important than that, a hot cup of coffee. Yes, I'm addicted to caffeine (I can do and have done without, though I enjoy a good tasting cup of coffee in the morning to start my day), and prefer to enjoy my fine java beans hot. Iced coffee is another story (and only really possible in winter with proper snow unless you carry ice with you, which ain't UL I imagine) but cold coffee is somehow "not my cup of tea". The same goes for cacao - I prefer my chocolate hot! Anyway. That's one warm meal to start my day.

Which brings us to meal number two. Even in the summer I often eat a hot cup of ramen noodles/ MYOG tomato-lentil-soup/ pasta/ whatever. Maybe it is the deep-engrained habit of having a hot meal for lunch. [Off topic: I remember as I was maybe seven or eight that Mom, Dad, my brother and me had a discussion about hot vs. cold lunch. My mom is Dutch and my dad was German, and both had different habits: Mom has grown up with a cold lunch - bread, salad, cheese, spreads, etc. - while dad was used to a hot lunch. In a family meeting the question was if we continue to eat a cold lunch, or a hot lunch. We decided to eat a hot lunch, and somehow that has stayed with me since. Further Offtopic: Finnish Students enjoy one of the best lunch systems in the world: A State subsidized lunch which includes salad, a hot meal (choice of two to three different ones) and two beverages for 2,40€. After six years of studying a hot lunch has become very common, and has continued to be the norm in my working life.] Maybe it is just that I feel a warm lunch gives me more "power" to continue/ fuel my body after an good morning hike. Maybe it is that I feel a warm meal is lighter and easier to prepare than a cold meal. I also feel a second cup of coffee or tea helps with digestion and relaxation - I'm usually not in a hurry. However, I'm also just as often as having a hot lunch not having any lunch at all, and just munch more GORP, snacks, chocolate and müsli bars or even a sandwich should I have one. So this is a 50/50 situation, where I'd guesstimate both warm and cold are equally often the case.

Dinnertime. If I'm not consuming one of my MYOG Meals, you most usually will see me eat one out of a variety of Freeze-Dried Meals. I have sat next to people who have cooked meals in the evening, and have felt envious with the tasty smells wafting through the air, up my nose, while me eating my Freeze-Dried Meal (Sorry, there's no Freeze-Dried Meal that can beat a cooked meal in my experience - yes, even Fuizion and Real Turmat). Imagine you're sitting there, eating your with cold water hydrated Freeze-Dried Meal while a mate with a stove is eating something he cooked? I can picture a rampage and slaughter at camp. Surely a reason to camp stealthy, far from anyone who possibly would cook something!

It's all mental, though - just as much as leaving behind the pair of spare clothes, the tent and the luxury hygiene set when you decided to go UL and now walk for a week in the same clothes, sleep under a tarp and your hygiene set is a mini dropper bottle of Dr. Bronners, a toothbrush and a 60 cm x 40 cm towel. So going stoveless would just be the logical next step in the pursuit of a lighter backpack and a more enjoyable outdoor experience.

Which brings us to weight savings: The weight of your stove vs. food which doesn't need to be cooked. My hypothesis is that even with a UL stove which is used to boil water for rehydrating food and a cup of coffee/ tea/ hot chocolate it should be lighter to go with a stove than go stoveless. I'm entering the realm of Turnerism here, and will rely on statistics, so it is nothing for the faint-hearted. I'll start with a real-life food list: ten days, the full set of breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinners, all which need to be re-hydrated; as used on my packrafting/ canoeing/ kayaking expedition in May.

6742 gram for the food on the trip. I carried a Backcountry Boiler incl. stuff sack with me, which is 282 gram [There obviously are lighter alternatives than the Backcountry Boiler, but they would require a pot and often a source of fuel other than wood which would add carried weight]. I will assume all "cooking" has been done in Freezer bags, so there's no need for a pot. Both with stove and without stove I surmise that a cup would be used to consume the beverages, so I leave this out.

If we assume that the stoveless hiker eats exactly the same food as the hiker with stove, he would in this case have saved 282 gram for the stove. That's substantial already in the UL universe. What we can't weight, however, is the satisfaction/ happiness/ tastiness of hot food vs. cold food (This assumes that hot food is tastier than cold food, a fact which is difficult to prove).

From the article mentioned in the beginning, I take that at least the lunch consisted of a Bagel sandwich with cheese and hummus, which definitely sounds tasty. However, it also sounds heavier than a bag of ramen (which also can be eaten cold, though seems to have a texture which ain't easily consumed). If we assume only a 5% increase in weight over the stove-lunch for the bagel, cheese and humus, the stoveless hiker is already carrying heavier food than his mate with a stove - only 55 gram heavier, but nevertheless. One can extrapolate this further to 15 days (stoveless 224 grams heavier) to 20 days (stoveless 392 grams heavier) and so on, though I think you get my point. The stoveless hiker would need to rely a lot on dehydrated food to keep the equation in his favour, add something more tasty and fresh and you add weight which quickly will make hiking with a stove being lighter. If he really has the weight scale with him, the stoveless hiker always could carry 282 grams (the weight of the chosen stove in this example) of extra tasty food with him and remain at the same level than the hiker with a stove.

But would it be possible for the stoveless hiker to save even more weight than the weight of the stove, while eating at least as tasty food (again, to define tasty we enter the realm of personal preferences. I, for example, still dislike Brussels sprouts and make a face when my wife brings them home and makes me eat them =)? Raw foodism is gaining popularity, and would be the perfect stoveless hiking diet - if not raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds would be the foundation of this diet. While the latter two are popular among UL backpackers for their low weight and high calorie count, the former two are rarely found on a UL backpackers food list. Sure, dehydrated fruits are light and tasty, but dehydrated veggies? Jack writes that mashed potatoes are easy and tasty when spiced up with Fritos and/ or spices. I believe that, and hence think it should be possible, with the help of dehydrated meats and fish (beef jerky, salmon jerky) to make a rather tasty stoveless diet which is much lighter than the stove diet - maybe not for a thru-hike, but at least for a long weekend or a week (I like variation). I believe the biggest thing here is again mental: The decision to leave the stove at home, to resign from the hot coffee and tea, and to be content with your cold, lighter stoveless diet isn't probably easy if you're at home planning a trip.

Furthermore, this also doesn't consider the question of which season you're out backpacking. In summer it is probably less troublesome to go hiking without a stove, move on to winter (I'm not talking about the crappy winter we have here at the moment, but proper winter with frozen lakes and rivers, -20°C and a meter of snow under your skis) and I'd say going without a stove is close to being suicidal. Unless you know where to find an open water source to get water, you'll need a stove to melt snow, and at -20°C or lower that hot cup of chocolate and hot soup really is something you want. At those temps none-dehydrated foods also start to stick together [the water in the food freezes, to be correct], and trying to separate or cut of a slice of cheese is a tough task; the same goes for bread, spreads, butter and so on. Thus I'd conclude that stoveless hiking belongs firmly into the warm seasons, where water is easily available and food doesn't freeze rockhard.

I'm really happy to have read about Jake's approach, and can see myself trying stoveless hiking sometime next year in the summer, but for the majority of my trips, I probably will continue to bring a stove and enjoy hot food and drinks. While I believe it is possible with a lot of discipline to create a really light stoveless Menu which is tasty, I'm convinced that it is on average lighter to go with an UL stove and dehydrated food, as I reckon it will be tastier and give more (mental) energy.

How about you - are you curious to try out stoveless backpacking, or maybe even are a stoveless backpacker? Or is the mental challenge to leave a stove behind, and the hot cup of coffee, something you're just nor yet ready to do?

Edit: Read Jake's take on stoveless backpacking as well - some interesting viewpoints there.

Advent Calendar - Door 24

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

today is your big day, and I am not sure if this reaches you in time. I hope Rudolph is ready for the trip around the world, and that you'll bring plenty of lightweight presents to a lot of good people, for example the awesome readers of Hiking in Finland and Nordic Lightpacking.

Anyway, I was re-considering my wishes, and think I have decided on what I'd really would like to get this holiday season. A Terra Rosa Gear Wandering Tarp would allow me to experience the beauty of tarping. A mere 220 gram and made of tyvek, it has plenty of tie-out points and allows for various pitching options. Made in beautiful Sydney, Australia, I'm sure it will bring sunshine to my trips!

The OookWorks Multi-Shelter OookTub looks like the perfect solution to keep my sleeping place and gear dry in case the Australian sunshine doesn't succeed in coming through. A sweet 135 gram light including the limited edition festive OookWorks label, and a really smart strut system to have the sidewalls rise this is the perfect bathtub to go with the tarp. 220 cm long and 75 cm wide it even fits long folks.

To carry my tarp and OookTub and Wandering Tarp I believe the Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Daypack from Watzmann-Laden would be just the right tool for my shiny new UL gear. At 68 gram and 20 liters volume it is the right pack to keep with the UL idea, and should offer plenty of space for an overnighter with my new gear!

The final piece to UL bliss would be a LITEMOUNTAINGEAR Cuben Stuff Sack in Large. 7 gram for this 3 liter volume stuff sack would allow me to keep my down vest dry, or carry my UL kitchen.

All of it together weighs less than half a kilo (430 gram to be exact!) which gets me really excited! I'd love to find this sweet UL kit under my tree, and will make sure a hot cup of Minttu cacao is waiting for you, and a fresh supply of Reindeer Moss is waiting for Rudolph!

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Leave a comment with your most memorable outdoor experience and accompany it with a few photos. It would be great if it you slept at least one night outdoors (more are cool), though a memorable day trip will be fine as well. You got till midnight on the 27th of December, so you can spend time with your loved ones over the holidays.

UPDATE I

Comments are closed, chicos y chicas. I will go through the ones who qualify and hope to announce the winner shortly.

UPDATE II

Excuse the delay. So many good stories and cool photos, thank you all! And the winner is... Korpijaakko! Please be in touch via Email to get your set of awesome swag!

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Advent Calendar - Door 23

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

I think I'm almost set for this year's holiday gift-giving marathon. However, looking over my wishlist, I found that it was lacking in form of an aesthetic cup to drink from when outdoors (or re-enacting this outdoor drinking feeling when indoors at the office). Then my attention was brought to Kupilka who make the wonderful Kupilka 21 kuksa. Being part wood, part plastic they are easy to clean, light, and just what I was looking for design-wise in an aesthetic cup! If you still have place in that big sack of yours (I hope it has an extension collar!) then I would love to find one under tree this year.

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Leave a comment with a link to your favourite Hiking in Finland article.

UPDATE I

I'm amazed amigos y amigas! Seems trip reports, TWIR, the Wilderness Guide education and the interview with Fitz Handel reign supreme. Thanks everyone =)

And the winner is... cabell - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM with a bunch of very special stocking presents!

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Advent Calendar - Door 22

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

with all the climbing gear I got from you, I have one final wish: A nice looking Tendon T-Shirt to go climbing and bouldering in. I do sweat a fair deal, and a dedicated climbing T-Shirt would make the laundry making a lot easier while also being easier to get ready when heading out to the climbing gym or rocks - all my other T-Shirts being black it will be easy to identify the climbing shirt =)

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Subscribe to Hiking in Finland. Leave a comment. Time-wise you got till midnight.

UPDATE I

And the winner is... Dan Szczesny - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

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Advent Calendar - Door 21

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

cuben is so 2011 among ultralight backpackers - XPac is the new craze. Damn it is pretty, let me tell you - you should see what LAUFBURSCHE makes out of it! The hipbelt pockets he makes are wonderful - available in one or two liter volume, with waterproof zippers, possible to attach either right or left on you backpack's hipbelt. Or you can wear it as a little bag around your shoulder, if you're so inclined. I'd love one of them to pimp my current backpack, and would carry my camera and some snacks in it. The white colour of it is also very wintery, and makes me think of future snow adventures!

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Leave a comment with a short (minimum four lines) poem, which includes the words "LAUFBURSCHE, hipbelt, Finland" =)

UPDATE I

And the winner is... Daniel Sandström - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

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Advent Calendar - Door 20

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:23:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

climbing is fun, let me tell you. I boulder on my own a few times each week, and toprope with a friend a couple of times per month. Now I am looking forward to take it to the next level, and start lead climbing. That's when you ascend a route from down up and clip in your rope while going up. One needs so-called Quickdraws or Express sets for this, and it just so happens that Mammut makes the very light Bionic Evo Express Sets. I imagine four of them should have me covered for the start =)

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Leave a comment till midnight. Like us on Facebook.

UPDATE I

And the winner is... Iain Banfield - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

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Advent Calendar - Door 19

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

I have cold ears. And my partner has cold feet. We both feel that sustainable and ethical principles in the making of garments are important, and hence found that the Swedish company Röjk would be the best to support - garments made in Sweden, with the happiness of employees & customers and the environment in mind, before the bottom line. But that ain't all, nope - great materials, functional designs and beautiful colours make for example their Primaloft Ski Mid-weight socks and their Reverse Beanie the right socks and beanie to fix my partner and my cold problems! We'd appreciate if you'd think of us when you're in Sweden the next time and drop something warm into our stockings =)

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Post a photo of you and your partner out hiking. Both are Unisex, btw.

UPDATE I

Excuse the delay in announcing the winner - I was abroad and out of town till yesterday night.

And the winner is... Allison - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

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Advent Calendar - Door 18

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

I feel my backpack could need a bit more order. You see, while the enlightened beings recommend to pack your rucksack in the fluffy cloud style, I find the mess this creates terrible. Cuben stuff sacks weigh mere grams and allow me to pack my gear waterproof and tidy in my pack. How great is it that LITEMOUNTAINGEAR has some wonderful black cuben stuff sacks, which allow me to keep law and order in my backpack! Drop three of them in my stockings, will ya?

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Leave a photo with the various gear you plan to stuff in your new cuben stuff sacks!

UPDATE I

Excuse the delay in announcing the winner - I was abroad and out of town till yesterday night.

And the winner is... Daniel Müller - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

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Advent Calendar - Door 17

noreply@blogger.com (Hendrik Morkel) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Dear Santa,

Alcohol in winter just doesn't cut it. Half as efficient as butane gas and gasoline, it is high-time to put a liquid gas stove on my wish list. Browsing through the Bergfreunde website, I saw the Edelrid Opilio - at 170 gram one of the lightest gas stoves on the market. A nice big pan support gives even big pots in winter enough support, and its 3 kW output power means there's some serious power there to melt snow and boil water! 3 minutes for boiling a liter of water ain't shabby, and means I can eat and drink a hot cup of cacao a lot quicker. It'd be swell if you drop one of them in my stockings, because the 20+ minutes it takes my alcohol stove to make a bit of snow lukewarm just puts me closer to hypothermia then a warm meal.

Best,

- An aspiring UL-Backpacker

Leave a photo of you winter camping. Subscribe to the ULAZ Vimeo channel.

UPDATE I

Suspension is killing you.

It kills you till Tuesday.

UPDATE II

Excuse the delay in announcing the winner - I was abroad and out of town till yesterday night.

And the winner is... Eugeneius - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

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