Garmin Oregon 550t

Overview

Garmin have recently released the two new versions of their popular Oregon device. The Oregon 550 and 500t are still the great touch screen devices like their predecesors, but come with two great new features and one major improvement! Garmin are catching up with the mobile phone market, and have decided to include a 3.2 megapixel camera built into the device. What makes this camera better then most is the ability to “geotag” your photos… meaning you can upload them to certain websites (such as Google’s Picasa) and have it displayed on a map - each photo will appear as a “pin” where you was at the time you took it! You can obviously take photos in portrait or landscape, and with the 850MB inbuilt memory, you can snap away till your hearts content (about 1500 photos)!
The camera also boosts a 4x digital zoom, for those moments which are slightly out of snapping distance.

Another nice little new feature is the three-axis compass. This allows you to see where north is even when the device is held upright - ever had those moments where you have to hold the device level, but then can’t see anything because of the sun? Which, coincidentally brings me onto the next point… Garmin have done a good job at listening to feedback and improved the readability of the touch screen making it much easier to read in bright conditions - something which was a main drawback to the other Oregon devices.

If you do end up treating yourself to the 550, you’ll notice that Garmin have FINALLY got the common sense to include batteries with their devices, and not just any batteries - Rechargable NiMH AA’s… complete with charger! Well done Garmin.

I’ve also added a feature to create some graphs for elevation and speeds profiles.. click “read more” for full details.

TNF Meridian

There aren’t many peices of kit that cross the technical and casual divide as well as these trousers do. These are fantastic abrasion resistant, water repellent, VERY light trousers!
On one hand they’re great on the hill - the fabric is light, they dry very quickly and they have plenty of pockets for stashing kit (including a handy phone/MP3 player pocket!). The waistband is very smooth and has an inbuilt lace “belt” which you can tie up for extra support with those full pockets - and it doesn’t rub at all.. even when under a rucksack!
I also wear these trousers at work, or when out and about as although they are technical trousers, they don’t look one bit out of place. They have a nice loose fit and aren’t restrictive at all! The only thing I would change with these trousers would be to make the phone pocket a wee bit bigger so my iPod Touch can fit in it! Apart from that, they are brilliant (so brilliant that I don’t just have the one pair)!
Colours available (click for preview):

• Asphalt Grey
• Crew Blue
• Dune Beige
• New Taupe Green

Features:

• Abrasion-resistant nylon fabric
• Fabric is treated with a DWR finish
• Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 30
• Three-quarter elastic waist with drawcord, zip fly and belt loops
• Front slash pockets with mesh lining
• Rear stow pocket
• Internal passport pocket at waistband
• Utility side pockets
• Patch pocket with zip
• Roll-up leg feature
• Crotch gusset
• Pant legs zip off at mid-thigh
• Quick drying
• Lightweight and packable
• Free fit
• Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 30+

Source: Cotswold’s Spring/Summer 2009 Catalogue & TNF Website (Images)

Merrell Thermo Arc

One of the highlights of the Merrell autumn winter collection, the woman’s Thermo Arc is made from waterproof Nubuck leather.
It’s a boot designed to keep ladies feet warm, boasting a warm Polartec Thermo insulated lining Primaloft insulation and Vibram, Thermo Women’s sole.
There’s a TPU Backstay with a snowshoe strap ridge for snowshoeing and winter hiking and it utilizes Merrell’s own Q-Form women specific adjustment and alignment system to make it a boot very much designed for women.

Berghaus RG1

The Berghaus RG1 (Mens) and Calisto (Womens) jacket is one of Berghaus’ best selling jackets. At a mere £75 RRP this jacket is fantastic value for money - bringing a lightweight, waterproof, and breathable outer which doesn’t comprimise style or function. 

The RG1 and Calisto have Bergahus’ Aquafoil waterproofing which is a chemical coating to keep you extremely dry, but also allow persperation to escape, therefore keeping you dry on the inside too. The outside has a water repellent finish to enhance its performance.

There is an insulated version avaliable as well, adding extra warmth for the colder seasons.

The jacket has fully taped seams to prevent and leakage, velcro adjustable cuffs, a rollaway hood, a draw cord at the hem and two external zipped hand pockets (with storm flaps).

You can machine wash this jacket but please read our guide to washing waterproofs before doing so!

Mountain Scuff is a slip on model with a fleece lined soft upper and an insole boasting Ortholite technology which retail at £50 or £60 for the suede (pictured) option. 

The Aniso eVent is a lightweight hiking shoe with modern styling retailing at £80. It features waterproof and breathable eVent fabric, as its name suggests, and a Spider Rubber XC outsole for extra grip.
The ossagon event, offers a more traditional look, a boot with a mid version (£85-£95) with full grain leather and suede upper with Scotchguard stain protection, it benefits from Teva’s own Wraptor fit system.
Find out more at www.teva.com

Hi-tec

The Hi-Tec ion-mask range uses nanotechnology to ensure that water simply rolls off its surface.

Ion-Mask treatment, which can be applied to a huge range of materials, enables water repellant materials to bond chemically to fibres on a nano level.

This means footwear treated with the ion-mask plasma process does not get wet in any way.

The process uses a tiny amount of chemicals at room temperature, making it very environmentally friendly.

Simon Bonham, HI-TEC Group Head of Marketing said: “Just as the mobile phone changed the face of telecommunications, ion-mask will change how you and your footwear behave around water.”

Ian Robins of P2i, which created the ion-mask method, said:”Ion-mask surface enhancement nano-technology can treat everyday objects without altering the look, design or feel of the object.”

The effects of treating material with ion-mask technology were hugely impressive, even extending to dipping pieces of treated paper into water and bringing them out dry.

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Muddy Boots

I find it really strange how some people can pay hundreds for a jacket or pair of boots, but refuse to pay an extra fiver for aftercare to make sure that the gear lasts for its expected lifetime! It’s not normally because people are mean and don’t care, but simply because they don’t know how much care products will add to the performance and lifespan of outdoor products.

1. Why clean at all?  Dirt residues building up on the surface of outdoor gear and in the case of breathable jackets for example will, in a very short space of time, compromise the performance of the fabric. This is especially true of coated products.

2. Base and mid layers are particularly prone to damage arising from the accumulation of salt residues caused by the body’s perspiration. Technical base layers succumb to this more readily than those made from natural fibres such as merino wool, but if not attended to all constructions are affected.

3. Footwear is vulnerable to attack. Few people bother to clean footwear the moment they take it off. Abrasion from contact with the earth can be exacerbated by deposits of salts and acids which occur naturally in the soil. Constant exposure to wet conditions followed by rapid drying will cause boots to lose their flexibility, reducing the lifespan of both leather and fabric footwear.

4. Garments need to be washed well before reproofing. Specialist cleaning materials are formulated to do this in a way some detergents are not. If any dirt remains on the surface before the process, it will undermine the effectiveness of the proofing.

5. Customers can be very hot on environmental detail, so it pays to ensure that the brands you are offering have all the necessary credentials and approvals.

Please note: There is more then one page to this. See page numbers near the bottom of the page

Here are some great ideas I’ve picked up while backpacking with others that I thought I’d share with everyone

Cocoa Extraordinaire

1 ½ Cups hot water
3 tbs cocoa mix
2 tbs powdered milk
1 tsp vanilla
Dash of cinnamon 

Mix

Variations:

Add 2 Tbs coffee for a mocha or 2 tbs peanut butter for a peanutty good time.

Hot Milk

1 ½ cups hot water
1/8 cup cold water
3 tbs powdered milk
1 tbs sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Dash of cinnamon 

Mix milk with cold water to dissolve powder.  Then mix all ingredients. 

Mr. Tea

1 ½ cups hot water
1 tea bag
2 tbs lemon or orange powdered drink mix
Dash of cinnamon

Do you really need directions to make tea?!

Chai Tea

1 ½ cups hot water
1 tea bag
2 tbs milk powder
Sugar to taste
Dash of vanilla
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of cloves if available

Drink notes

Boil a litre of water before bed and put it in a nalgene.  Make sure the lid is screwed on tight, then put the nalgene in your sleeping bag for a hot water bottle that will last all night.  Your water is ready for the next day.