Most companies are in business to make money. They get to continue what they do if they make money to fund it. What happens with those profits though differs for each company. Some make money purely for the owners.

Others, like Cotopaxi, are driven by a mission to use that money for a good cause. A certified B corporation, Cotopaxi takes 2% of revenues every year to fund grants around the world, helping active projects increase health, education and livelihoods in developing countries. They actively seek the best projects to fund and are transparent with exactly what they do with the grants each year.

The gear is high quality and meant to least at least 61 years, the lifespan of a person living in the developing world. “Gear for good” is their motto alluding to both their high quality, long lasting gear and their bigger mission of helping poverty all over the world.

The Luzon Del Dia backpack is a prime example of their commitment to simple, strong gear and doing this in a unique way. “Del Dia” means “of the day” so you get a completely unique, one-of-a-kind Luzon when you order. More in the colours section about that.

Features

The Luzon Del Did is a basic pack. It’s pretty simple when it comes to features.

• 18L pack
• drawstring top closure
• adjustable sternum strap and webbing waist belt
• water bladder pocket with hose port
• mesh shoulder straps
• small zippered front pocket
• no frame (very packable)

It comes in one 18L size. Being a little day pack there isn’t small, medium, or large sizes to pick. One size fits all.The sternum strap is adjustable up and down and is thin webbing. The waist belt is the same, just a webbing strap. You won’t be holding much weight in an 18L packThe water bladder just inside the back panel can hold a 2-3 litre water bladder and has a port out the top to route the hose to your shoulder straps. The right shoulder strap has a hose holder just above the sternum strap.The front zippered pocket is about 2 litres with a Luzon Del Dia logo inside and the Del Dia “1/1” symbol. Your Del Dia is 1 out of 1 because of the colours.

The Luzon Del Dia colours of the day

“Del Dia” means “of the day”. The backpack you get is literally the Luzon of the day. The workers in the factories in the Philipines get free reign to pick the colours for each backpack. They take the scraps and rolls that would sit on the shelf forever and match them up into funky and bright backpacks that you get in the mail.You don’t get to choose the colours, it’s just a surprise when you get it.If you don’t like the idea of getting a random selection of colours in the clips and fabric, the regular Luzon backpacks have set colours that you can choose from.

Water bladder pocket

The Luzon has as water bladder pocket just inside the back of the backpack. It easily fits a 2-3 litre water bladder or other pieces of gear if you aren’t taking a bladder.

Strong clips and straps

The shoulder straps on the Luzon are mesh so they won’t be too hot in the warm weather. I was testing in the winter so that wasn’t an issue.The sternum strap slides up and down on the shoulder straps so you can place it where you want it.The waist belt is just thin nylon webbing. It’s not going to hold any weight on your hips but 18L isn’t going to weigh much. The webbing will be plenty to keep the bottom of the bag from swinging around too much. I’m surprised there is even a waist belt on an 18L bag but I like it. Moving fast the bag swings too much without the waist belt on.

1 small top opening issue

The only issue I have with this awesome little bag is that you can’t close the drawstring top completely. You can get the drawstring pulled really tight but there’s still a slight opening. Out on a wet day, water is going to get in.

Most of the time this opening isn’t going to be a problem. Multi -day hiking is going to require a bigger backpack. Really wet days will require a pack cover for whatever you choose. This really only applies to the times that you’re out in good weather with the Luzon and the rain rolls in. Your stuff will get a bit wet.

Lightweight and packable with a twist

At 300 g (10.5 oz) the Luzon is nice and lightweight. There isn’t any frame or extra features to weigh it down. The fabric is thin but feels durable. You won’t be carrying much in 18L but the pack doesn’t add much too that load either.Having no frame and thin fabric means the Luzon packs down really small. The pack would fit inside a nalgene bottle no problem, maybe smaller.It’s not mentioned anywhere official but the whole backpack stuffs into the front pocket. The zipper isn’t double-sided so you have to use the zipper upside down to zip it up the pouch but it fits well. The “1/1 Luzon Del Dia” logo on the inside of the pocket becomes the logo on the outside of the pouch.Since it packs down so well this would be a great day pack or travelling pack to take with you in your other gear. I travelled around Australia and New Zealand for 4 months with a Osprey Talon 33 litre pack stuff in the front of an Osprey Aether 70 pack. It fit but it was a bit big. The Talon 33 doesn’t have a frame but it’s got a stiff board in the back. A Luzon 18 that stuffs down really small would have been perfect for a packable day pack.

Buying a Luzon Del Dia

The Luzon Del Dia goes for $49 USD on Cotopaxi’s website. You can also get the regular Luzon with the standard colours from the site for $39 USD. REI is stocking the Luzon as well.

Summary

Cotopaxi is a relatively new gear company, only starting in April 2014, but already they’re making waves with how they’re approaching gear and the industry.

I love the Gear for Good slogan and the idea of the Public Benefit Corporation and feel like it’s where more companies need to go. Like a percentage of every guide we sell at Pack and Trail, outdoor companies have a lot of power and responsibility to give back to the community and the outdoors. Cotopaxi shows us it can work well.

The Luzon Del Dia a great little day pack that is going to start conversations and carry your day hiking gear for years. The small drawstring issue won’t cause most people any issue and the rest of the bag and features work so well you’ll forget about it. I know I’ve found a favourite piece of gear when I’m looking for excuses to use it.

Whether you need to shake up the colours in your gear closet, or just need a very packable day pack for outdoor and travel adventures, the Luzon would be a good option.

The post Cotopaxi Luzon Del Dia Backpack Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

They let you capture unique angles with your camera, film yourself on your adventure and stick your camera in places you don’t really want your own limbs and digits to be.

XShot Pro

I got my grubby little hands on an XShot GoPro Pole to test it out with my GoPro 3. I wanted a better way to use the GoPro hiking, ski touring, kayaking and sailing. The head and chest mounts are great but a small handle ended up being the most versatile. I do also have the GoPole Grenade handle, but it doesn’t extend. You are stuck with your arm. I don’t have any go go gadget attachments so that doesn’t get me very far.

XShot Pro extended to 32 inches

The XShot Pro camera pole, is one of many poles and accessories for GoPros and small cameras from XShot. There’s a handle on one end and you attach a small camera to the other end. Some of them can hold larger cameras but usually it’s just the smaller ones. Heavy cameras on the end of long sticks are hard to keep steady.

What is the XShot Pro like?

Features

18cm to 81cm (7” to 32”)

The XShot Pro is pretty small to begin with at 18 cm (7 inches). I often use it folded down just as a handle. It’s nice and compact. When you want to use it, pull the pole out to 81 cm (32 inches) and you’re ready to roll.

Anodized Aluminium 360 degree ball head mount

A strong metal ball head mount let’s you take pictures at any angle. You have to mount the camera where you want it but it stays there. Unscrew, adjust, tighten and it’s in the new position ready to go. The mount, ball and screws are all anodized aluminum so they’ll last a while. With any of the plastic GoPro mounts, you can see the plastic flex when you’re tighten the screws. Doesn’t inspire too much confidence.

Metal mount on the XShot Pro

GoPro mount on the XShot Pro

GoPro attached to the XShot Pro

XShot Pro ball head tilts at any angle.

Aluminum all around on the XShot Pro

Any angle is possible on the XShot Pro

Heavy duty grip

The first thing I noticed when picked up the XShot Pro was how heavy duty it felt. All those metal pieces add up. The pole is just under 200 grams or 7 ounces. It certainly doesn’t feel like flimsy plastic though. It feels like it’s going to be tossed around in the wilderness and come back for more.

Rubber grip

1/4” tripod mount in the bottom

Female threads for a 1/4” screw are on the bottom. Screw a tripod into the bottom if you have one. XShot sells a little one that folds up. Or just keep the lanyard screwed into the bottom. I’ve added a split-ring and carabiner to mine so it’s easy to attach to a backpack strap.

1/4” tripod-compatible mount on the bottom

Tripod and other camera accessories can be attached

Portable Monopod in low light

You might not have a tripod with you but a monopod will still help. You can use the Pro as a monopod when you don’t have anything else.

Multiple Mounts

Pull off the GoPro mount and attach a generic camera mount.

Easy to pop off the GoPro

Removing the GoPro mount

Attaching the tripod mount

Pros

Here’s the quick list of things I like about the XShot Pro.

• Beefy constructions
• Easy to use
• Small
• Lightweight for strong construction
• Strong attachments
• Multiple mounts

Beefy construction

The XShot Pro feels strong. The poles obviously have to have some strength to hold up a camera but I thought they would be a bunch of plastic parts. It’s only 200 grams (7 ounces) but it feels sturdy when you pick it up. The mounts and boom are metal and the handle is thick rubber. Only the attachment to the lanyard on the bottom is plastic (which might be an important part if it slips out of your hand during a fall or jump).

Easy to Use

There’s not much to using the XShot Pro. Attach the camera, extend the boom, turn on the camera and go. There are two adjustments on the GoPro mount that let you adjust where you want the camera pointed. One holds the GoPro in place. Loosen this and you can rotate the GoPro front to back. Another is for the ball mount. Loosen this and you can rotate 360 degrees, and tilt any direction you want. There are also 2 slots in the side of the mount so you can tilt the camera even more. I use these to point the pole down to the ground with the camera tilted up and get some neat shots inches from the dirt.

Easy to change the angle

High angle on the XShot Pro

Small

Most of the poles out these day are big and strong or small and floppy. The XShot Pro handles both nicely, being only 7 inches long and strong enough to hold a 1.25 pound camera. I’ve been on enough trips to know that if I don’t have my camera easily accessible, I don’t use it. I may as well not bring it if it’s stuck at the bottom of my bag. The small size means I can clip it to the front of my pack and grab it whenever I want.

Lightweight for how strong it is

You can hold a 1.25 pound camera on the end of the pole and it will be fine and it only weighs 7 ounces.

Strong attachments

The thick aluminum mounts are strong. I worry with plastic camera mounts that they’ll snap, especially in the cold. It’s hard to trust something when it’s flexing and moving as you screw the camera on.

Multiple Mounts

The Pro comes with multiple mounts, one for GoPro and one for other cameras. The generic tripod mount will screw into the bottom of any camera with the 1/4” threads. If you are going to be switching back and forth between a GoPro and a regular camera it might be easier just to use the regular camera mount and get a tripod mount for your GoPro. Then they all attach straight to the tripod screw and you aren’t having to change the mount on the XShot, which requires a small allen key.

Point and shoot attached to the 1/4” 20 mount

Canon S120 mounted to the XShot Pro

Cons

The XShot Pro isn’t perfect. There are a few things I’d fix to make it the perfect pole.

• Loose ball head second time out
• Better wrist fastener
• Allen key to change mounts
• Can’t go in salt water

Loose ball head screw

The screw into the GoPro mount was coming a bit loose by the end of my second time out. I’m not sure if I was bashing it around more than the first time or it just wasn’t as tight as it could be right from the factory. It would have been nice to last a few trips before having to tighten. I’m not sure how long each tighten will last. It will take some more trips to find that out. It would be annoying if you had to tighten it every trip.

Needs better wrist tightener

The XShot Pro comes with a wrist strap that’s attached to a screw cap on the bottom of the handle. I almost lost mine a few times in the snow skiing but had it attached to my arm. The wrist strap is a bit of a pain to tighten and loosen each time. it takes 2 hands to slide the buckle up and down. I would prefer a buckle on the strap like the GoPole Grenade Handle (which I added in the picture below), that just has a little button to slide it up and down. Quick and and down for easy adjusting. If you are putting it on and off many times on a trip, easy adjustment is better.

Carabiner attachment

Allen key to change mounts

It’s easy to change mounts on the XShot Pro as long as you have the small allen key. You can use any allen key that size but not many people have an allen key tucked away in their adventure bag. If you need to change mounts or tighten the screw, then you need the allen key. It’s a tiny screw so I understand why they did it like that but it would be nicer if it was a more standard screwdriver that I would have on my Leatherman multitool or tip of a knife that I already have with me.

Can’t go in salt water

I haven’t seen anything from XShot to say that you should NOT take the Pro into salt water but most of the stories I’ve read online about it end up badly. One user just cleans it off with fresh water and oils up the boom (not the ball mount!) with WD40 and it’s good to go again. I wouldn’t put it in salt water but you might want to experiment. It would be awesome if they could go in salt water with no problem.

Tips

Here’s a few tips to make using the XShot Pro a little better.

Carabiner

Add a split ring with a carabiner to the lanyard loop at the bottom of the pole and you can easily clip it to your backpack shoulder strap or chest strap.

Store on the front of your pack

Find a spot on your shoulder or chest strap on your backpack that’s easy to access. Having it easily accessible means you’ll use it more. If it’s buried at the bottom of your back, it’s not coming out much. Make it easy to take photos and videos and you’ll take more.

Practice

Practice makes perfect. Well, practice makes it better anyways. I thought I’d just pull out that pole and I’d be skiing all over the place in sweet videos. Nope. It’s a lot harder to keep that thing straight than I thought. It’s not fault of the XShot Pro’s. I just don’t have much experience with skiing with selfie sticks. I’ll get there. Before you get to your epic location, practice around the house, film your animals, take lots of selfie’s in the local park. Figure it out before you get to your dream destination.

Tighten the allen key screw

Tighten the screw that needs the allen key before you leave home. You don’t want to get half way through your adventure and have a loose ball mount that doesn’t stay still. Tighten it before each trip. If you’re going for more than one day and plan to use the pole a lot, take the allen key.

Conclusion

I was surprised with how well put together the XShot Pro is put together. I’ve only used it on a few trips so far but because of it’s size and weight, it will be coming on many more trips. So far it’s become the default mount I use with my GoPro. It’s a good short handle for it. And then easily extends to 81cm. Just be careful with it in the salt water and you won’t have to use anything else with your GoPro.

More info

See the Pro on the XShot website

Buy on Amazon

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Pro for free from XShot as coordinated by Deep Creek PR, an Outdoor Industry Public Relations Company, in consideration for review publication.

The post XShot Pro Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Backcountry touring, whether on a splitboard or skis, is like you’re in another world entirely. Yes, it’s an incredible amount of work to reach the top of a snow-covered mountain using your muscles alone but when you touch that summit, when you realize there’s no one else around, you feel the satisfaction of pushing your body and there’s nothing else like it. It’s worth every moment.

Heading into the backcountry isn’t all rainbows and unicorns though, and with such a reward comes an associated risk. With all of the snow that falls each year, comes the risk of that snow moving, of conditions being just right that your weight on that snow will cause it to slide. Better known as an avalanche. Some days its a small risk. Some days it could send you to the hospital, or worse.Snow science isn’t something easy that you can learn in one day. A huge number of variables come together in an almost unimaginable number of ways to create avalanches that can a metre or take out entire forests or towns. It isn’t magic though, and there are signs you can look for in the snow to forecast what might happen.

Since World War II researchers around the world have been pushing hard into snow science and investigating every possible idea related to avalanches and snow safety. This post is a review of The Avalanche Handbook, an avalanche manual that brings together the best in more than 50 years of avalanche research. The Avalanche Handbook doesn’t contain every single idea from all research but it covers the most fundamental of those ideas, what the authors thought most important.

To give you a quick idea of what The Avalanche Handbook covers, here is the Table of Contents:

Chapter 1 – Character and Effects of Avalanches

Chapter 2 – Elements of Mountain Snow Climates and Weather

Chapter 3 – Snow Formation and Growth in the Atmosphere and Snowpack

Chapter 4 – Avalanche Formation

Chapter 5 – Avalanche Terrain, Motion, and Effects

Chapter 6 – The Elements of Applied Avalanche Forecasting

Chapter 7 – Classes of Factors Involved with Evaluation of Instability and Forecasting

Chapter 8 – The ABCs for Backcountry Avalanche Forecasting and Decisions

Chapter 9 – Safety Measures and Rescue

Chapter 10 – Avalanche Protection

It’s not a light, fluffy pamphlet on avalanches, it goes in deep. The book starts with quotes from popular publications from around the world.

From Off Piste, “Perhaps the definitive book on snow science and avalanche mechanics…The author’s credentials are impeccable.”

From the Pittsburgh Tribune, “The revised third edition of The Avalanche Handbook…could well save your life.”

From Backcountry Magazine, “This book has been the bible for avalanche workers since the first edition came out in 1953…If you ever start to feel cocky about your avalanche forecasting skills, sit down with this gem and I will guarantee you will learn something new.”

From Outside Bozeman, “The Avalanche Handbook is the uber text in the field of avalanche science.”

Textbook and Handbook

To be honest, there are parts of the book that read like a textbook, dense and slow. But other parts are as easy to grasp as, well, picture books. There’s the whole range. That’s why the quote above from Backcountry Magazine is so spot on. You can be at any level of your avalanche training and you could learn something new.

For the beginners, there are the important basics that get you started covering the fundamentals. For the advanced forecasters you can dig deep into the snow science details and all the research behind the techniques and ideas they recommend. And then everything in between. As you get more familiar with what they are talking about, you will advance and take in more information. I’ve only taken basic avalanche training and am in the process of learning more which means there is much in the book that I can’t even grasp yet. There is still lots I do understand and can take out to the backcountry with me.

Learning the ABCs

The ABCs for Backcountry Avalanche Forecasting and Decisions might be the best part of the book. The whole chapter covers simple, straightforward information with the goal of teaching you to make the right decisions in the backcountry in avalanche terrain. If you never get into avalanche terrain, then you can’t get caught in an avalanche. The chapter right after about safety measures and rescue is important reading as well. Rescue is simply a required skill and training that everyone going into avalanche terrain should have. Sadly some don’t.

If you backcountry ski or snowboard at any time, I hope you can take a look at The Avalanche Handbook. With all the science, you may not be able to grasp every single detail right now, but that just means you’ll be able to learn more for years to come.Get details and download a free chapter from The Avalanche Handbook at the Mountaineers Books.

If you are looking for more avalanche information see the Canadian Avalanche Association  or the Island Avalanche Bulletin for Vancouver Island.

Warning: This or any other book is not a substitute for hands-on training with a qualified professional when it comes to avalanches. Get yourself into a course before going into any avalanche terrain. Reading books after you have some official training is a great idea though. The more you know the better. Ski safe,- Ross

The post Book Review: The Avalanche Handbook first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Imagine you’re out on a 3 day hike with some friends. The weather is good, the scenery is amazing and you’re making great time towards your destination. You have a digital SLR camera in your heavy multi-day backpack so you can show friends and family at home the myriad of colours you’re passing through. Every time you plod around the corner to another picturesque spot the same thing runs through your head.

“Wow, I should take a picture of that.”

“All I’d have to do is put down my 40 pound backpack, open it up, move things around to get my camera out, get it out of it’s pouch, take the lens cap off, turn it on, take a few photos, turn the camera off, put the cap back on, put the camera back in the pouch, put the bag back in your backpack, adjust your backpack, heave the 40 pounds over your shoulders, re-adjust your straps, make sure you haven’t forgotten anything on the ground and hustle to catch up with your friends who have already started moving.”

“Umm, on second thought, I’ll just remember this one and take a photo at the next stop.”

100 stops later and all you have photos of is camp and your friends eating lunch. Are those the epic photos you wanted from this trip?

That fancy digital SLR camera you bought to take amazing photos of scenery is sitting in your backpack the entire time because it’s a lot of work to take your bag off, take some photos and put it back on.

If there was only a way to keep your camera out all the time but your hands free so they can help you along the trail.

The Problem: That camera doesn’t leave your backpack

The Solution: The StrapShot

Strapshot on an Osprey Talon

The Cotton Carrier Strapshot is a camera holder that easily attaches to one of your backpack straps. A small clip goes into the tripod mount on your camera which connects to the holder on your backpack strap. The Strapshot velcros around the backpack strap and clips or ties to the bag near your shoulder to prevent it from sliding down. The camera sits securely on the front of your chest to one side, ready for taking photos.

Your backpack strap is an ideal location for your camera because it’s so easy to access. There’s no taking your pack off, there’s no awkward stretching to reach behind you, and you’re not likely to smash your camera into anything.

Every time you want to take a photo it’s a very quick process instead of the long drawn out endeavor that you had to go through at the beginning of this post to get your camera out of your pack.

It’s also nice and secure. When the lens on the camera is pointing down, it’s locked into the clip. When you turn it to one side, it unlocks and you can slide it out of the clip. This is the same kind of mount they have on their chest harness. A painless one-handed operation. They also include a tether just in case.

When you’re camera is accessible within seconds, you’ll be ready to capture anything that happens on the hike. Need a shot of that beautiful scenery before your friends start hiking again? Done. Need a shot of those animals scampering off into the wilderness? Done. Need a shot of your friends face-plant in the mud? Done.

Strapshot

Strapshot

Pros to the Strapshot

I like the Strapshot because it’s lightweight and makes the whole picture-taking process much easier. Here are of the things I liked about the Strapshot:

• It’s small and light – It doesn’t add much weight to your gear. Some of the chest mounted pouches and straps are much heavier
• It’s secure – I never had a problem with my camera coming out but there is a tether just in case. The camera has to turn 90 degrees for it to pop out of the base and fall.
• It’s easy to set up – Just put the velcro around your backpack strap and attach the webbing to the shoulder on your pack. Done.
• It’s got small footprint – It doesn’t cover up any more space on your body than your backpack already does. I liked this hiking in the heat of the summer where larger chest mount straps and pouches take up a lot of room and trap the heat and sweat against your body.
• This mount fits perfect for the one strap, cross shoulder bags like some of the camera sling bags. The only place to mount a camera on those is on the strap.

Cons to the Strapshot

There are some downsides to the Strapshot. They’re usually a result of the unique designs, and you won’t get the Pros I listed above without some drawbacks.

• It can be lopsided – Being on one strap and off to the side it can feel a bit lopsided. The bigger your pack and the smaller your camera and lens, the less this will be an issue. With my Osprey Talon 33 litre backpack and a Canon T1i with 18-200 lens, I didn’t have a problem with it. It was a bit awkward for my dad with a smaller backpack and Canon 7d camera with the 70-200 lens (a larger camera and lens).
• It comes off with your backpack – One of the benefits to the chest mount straps and camera pouches is they stay on after you take your backpack off. During breaks, you can take your pack off and still have your camera with you. With the Strapshot, your camera stays with the backpack. This is still a better situation than never seeing your camera because it’s hidden in your pack. Just don’t forget about it before you throw your pack on the ground!
• It can get in the way of your arm – Because of where the mount was on my camera, I could only put mine on one side otherwise the lens pointed out and I would run into it with my arm.
• No protection from the weather – You can get covers for the lens and camera though.

Wrap-up

The Strapshot is a great little camera holder if you need something easy to set up and lightweight. If you have a one-strap sling bag, the Strapshot is definitely the way to go.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for chest mount options or better mounts for larger cameras, check out the Cotton Carrier 1 Camera Vest and the other options in 5 ways to carry a DSLR camera on outdoor adventures.

More Links

Cotton Carrier

Cotton Carrier Strapshot

5 ways to carry a DSLR camera on outdoor adventures 

Leave a comment! Have you tried a Strapshot? What do you use to carry your camera?

The post One simple way to keep your camera at your fingertips while hiking first appeared on Pack & Trail.

We’re starting the very first edition of Products with a new product that’s been one of the most interesting I’ve ever reviewed, the Para boots from Hi-Tec. I had the opportunity to test out the Hi-Tec’s newest invention and I was impressed. Let’s get into what these wild new boots are all about.

The Para boots are not like any other boots you’ve seen before, I can guarantee you that. Hi-Tec has taken a brand new approach to making a rubber boot.

Basically, if a rubber boot sacked up with a hiking boot, you’d end up with the Para boot. All the advantages of hiking boots and rubber boots are mushed into one comfortable, easy to put on, very waterproof hiking boot.

As with any boot, there are pros and cons. For what this boot is trying to do, namely be a replacement for a rubber boot, there are a lot of pros.

Pros

Very waterproof

With all the rubber and neoprene on the boot, I can’t imagine there being a way for water to get in. I’ve stood in many puddles with these boots. I’ve stood in surf and mud and snow and nothing has got through yet. I’m still testing but I’m sure they will hold up for a long time to come.

Warm

I found the boots quite warm. I spent a few weekends at Mount Cain and these were my primary boots when I didn’t have my ski boots on. I can’t recall even a second where I felt like my feet were cold. A lot of that time was spent standing in the snow.

High Traction

The lugs on the soles of these boots are huge. They have bigger, more aggressive tread than most hiking boots I’ve seen. That means awesome traction in mud and dirty trails. They may not fair so well on slick rock but I think they would hold their own because of the density of the rubber. It’s not super hard like some hiking boots are. That usually means stickier rubber.

Easy to put on and take off

There isn’t anything easier to slide on and off your foot. There is a small loop on the back of the boot to pull on quickly and the foot opening is big enough that you probably won’t even have to use the strap. There are small rubber kick-offs on the back of the boots to catch when you are pulling the boot off with your other foot, great for when they are covered in mud and soaking wet and you don’t really want to touch them to get them off.

Bright color

A couple of the colours like army green and navy blue are more subdued but I got the bright yellow ones. Not going to miss those ones in the woods! They’re certainly an eye catcher in a group of people too. I can’t count the number of people that I’ve had ask me what I’m wearing on my feet.

Way more comfortable than rubber bootsI’ve spent a considerable amount of time in rubber boots and they’re not very comfortable. Every weekend that we sail that’s not bright sunshine, I’m in my rubber boots. Because of how wet and slippery sailing gets, that’s about all I can wear. Anywhere on land that, I will be in my Para boots instead because they’re much more comfortable.

Great dancing shoes

One of the highlights at the second Backcountry Festival at Mount Cain this year, and maybe THE highlight of the festival, was an epic dance party in the woods with power generators, big speakers, flashy lights and 4 DJs. I’m pretty sure I danced on the snowy dance floor for close to 6 hours. Not only were the Para boots comfortable, those big, rubber lugs kept me upright while others were sliding around and flailing (and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t just dancing).

Cons

Not very adjustable

One of the few things I wish I could change is the strap adjustments. Like a rubber boot there isn’t much to adjust. There is a small pull at the top of the boot with 2 eyelets that you can tighten a bit. It doesn’t offer much to adjust. Having a bit more would offer more flexibility when you have bigger or smaller socks on during different times of the year. The current configuration does help the water tightness though. There are no seams below the adjustment which means absolutely no way for water to get in.

Summary

What started out as a fun test for these crazy new boots actually turned into a great adventure with effective new gear. I wouldn’t take these boots on a 7 day hike with me but as replacements for rubber boots, they’re a huge upgrade. You won’t get the height from these that traditional rubber boots attain but if dancing through 4 DJs on a sloped icy dance floor says anything, they’re very stable and comfortable!

The post Dancing in Hi-Tec Para Boots first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Then you realize you forgot to turn the GPS on.

Pack off. GPS on. Pack on.

Then you realize you forgot to send a SPOT OK message.

Pack off. Send message. Pack on.

Then it’s time for a snack and you have to take your pack off again.You get the idea.Wouldn’t it be nice to have more pockets up front right by your hands so you can grab your stuff?

Apparently the guys at RIBZ were listening

The RIBZ Front Pack

The RIBZ Front Pack is a simple pack that goes on the front of your body instead of on your pack. It’s got 1 pouch with 2 pockets on each side and a zipper up the middle. Webbing keeps it all together and a pair of padded shoulder straps keep things from digging in.

Anything that you use regularly during your hike or that you want after you put your backpack down, put in the Front Pack. Snacks, GPS, sunglasses, bear spray, sunscreen, small cameras, and small binoculars are all perfect for putting in the big pockets. You won’t have to stop and pull your pack off to get your gear any more. Zip open a Front Pack pouch and it’s right there.

I hiked and rode my motorcycle with the Front Pack and it made accessing my stuff much easier. It also works great for horseback riding, long distance biking or kayaking. I haven’t tried it kayaking yet but as long as it fits over your lifejacket, you’ll end up with a bunch of convenient pockets right in front of you.

RIBZ Front Pack

The Front Pack fits perfectly with other backpacks. The back corners are rounded so they don’t catch on the backpack straps. 

RIBZ Front Pack fits with backpacks

Even when packed full, the Front Pack doesn’t stick out too far, freeing your arms up to do whatever you need to do.

RIBZ Front Pack holds a lot

A lot of stuff can fit in the Front Pack. I had everything I could think of that I use during the day hiking and there was still room. The more you pack it with the more it sticks out but you don’t normally do much so close to your body so it’s usually wasted space. 

RIBZ Front Pack holding gps, spot and sunglasses

GPS, SPOT messenger and sunglasses were a few of the things I had in the Ribz Front Pack. They’re all items that I usually use while hiking and it’s very inconvenient to put down a full pack to get them out. We were just on the West Coast Trail and I took my sunglasses on and off many times during the day being on the beach and in the trees. If I had had the Front Pack they would have been in a very convenient place. 

RIBZ Front Pack 2 pouches

2 pouches, 4 pockets and a couple of comfortable straps make up the Front Pack. Simple idea. Very useful. 

RIBZ

The 2 pouches with 2 pockets each are made with 210d water resistant ripstop nylon. 

RIBZ Front Pack made from 210d water resistant ripstop nylon

Easy pull zippers let you into one of four pouches in the Front Pack. The zippers on the big pouches are conveniently located right in front of you, not hidden under your arms. 

RIBZ Front Pack shoulder straps

Comfortable straps sit on your shoulders. The rest of the webbing is thin and not noticeable under your backpack. 

RIBZ Front Pack organizing inside

Lots of room inside for different things. The big pouches have a couple separators inside so it’s not just one big sac. 

RIBZ Front Pack adjustable straps

Easy to pull webbing makes for quick adjustments. You can adjust the shoulder straps for the height of the Front Pack and then other straps around your back for the size around you body. 

RIBZ Front Pack open

Lots of space for more gear to get it out of your heavy backpack. When you take your backpack off you still have you Front Pack stuff for exploring. 

RIBZ Front Pack dirtbiking

The Front Pack works great on the motorcycle. Didn’t even notice it was there. My first GPS bounced out of it’s handlebar mount while I was riding offroad. Lesson learned. GPS won’t be going in a handlebar mount again. The Front Pack is the perfect place for it. 

RIBZ Front Pack ready to ride

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Front Pack for free from RIBZ as coordinated by Deep Creek PR an Outdoor Industry Public Relations Company in consideration for review publication.

The post RIBZ Front Pack Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Then a slow song came on. Everything slowed down. I forgot about the beautiful trees and water and grass. All I could think about was how this new song was really not the right tempo. My groove was gone.I reached for my left upper arm. My music-playing phone wasn’t there because it feels too big and heavy on my arm.

I reached for my jacket pocket. My phone wasn’t there either because it bounces around too much when I run.

I reach for my shorts pocket. My phone wasn’t there either because it pulls my headphones out of my ears when it’s in my shorts pockets. Nothing frustrates me more than having my headphones ripped from my ears.

I realized my phone was in my backpack playing away. To get at it I had to stop unclip the waist strap, unclip the chest strap, pull my bag off the same side as my headphones go into the top pouch, open the top pouch of the bag, and change the song. To get running again, I have to reverse the process. Every time I hit a song I want to change, or take a photo, or send a message, I have to go through this huge process to get my phone out and do something. I wanted a better way to carry my phone.My backpack was a long process to get at my phone.

Waterproof SpiBelt

Armbands are tight and uncomfortable and heavy with a large phone attached to your arm.Any pockets don’t provide enough support. My phone bounces around like crazy, changing music, pressing buttons or pulling the headphone cords out.A quick look around online and I found the perfect solution to my problem. Obviously someone else had the same problem.

The SpiBelt

SpiBelts are small pouches made of stretchy material that can hold phones, ipods or keys while you run. They stretch to hold a considerable amount of stuff. I tend to only put my phone and keys in it when I run. Because of the stretch, it keeps things in place whether you have a tiny iPod Nano inside or a giant smartphone. I haven’t done a running race with them yet but I think they would be ideal for holding gels on a run.

Easy access to your stuff

This is the biggest thing for me. It’s a small, lightweight belt that fits nicely around your waist. If you need anything from it, spin the belt around and the pouch, and your stuff, is right in front of you. If I had a SpiBelt in my frustrating story above, I wouldn’t even have had to skip a beat to get at my phone, change the song, Instagram a photo of the lake and be on my way. 2 easy seconds. Not a couple minutes of frustrating finding my phone in my backpack.

Waterproof

I’m not staying inside when it’s wet out and my gear doesn’t either. Electronics don’t agree with that statement though. They need to be kept in something nice and dry. There is a waterproof version of the SpiBelt that has a waterproof bag inside the stretchy outer material that will keep your precious music player nice and dry. It also works great for watersports like kayaking and SUPing.

The post Running Gear: The Best Way to Carry Your Phone first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Or something like that.

Hiking boots are such a personal thing that I’m not going to say this boot is perfect for everyone. If it fits you, awesome. If not, then you’ll have to find a different boot. For me this boot fit great. I’ve been having issues trying to find a great lightweight boot that fits and won’t fall apart and so far this boot has been ideal for me.

I’ve been on some great snowshoes and day hikes with the Sierra Lite and I’ve been comfortable and dry the whole way. The last 2 pairs of boots I’ve had have had Gore-Tex waterproof liners so I was a little worried with these boots not having them. After jumping into puddles and spending days in wet snow, I’m convinced they’re perfectly waterproof without having a Gore liner. The nubuck leather and ion-mask treatment keep your feet nice and dry. They felt fairly breathable as well and my feet never got too hot in them, even on good uphill grunts on my hikes. It sounds like I might have the insoles and ion-mask to thank in part for that breathability.

Big, heavy boots have never really had a big place in my heart. I haven’t yet found one that I really like wearing. Even if I do find one that fits, I’ll probably end up wearing the lightest boot I can for my trips. If Andrew Skurka can do his big trips in trail runners, I think I can go lighter too.

Cool features

The Sierra Lite’s use some of Hi-Tec’s newest technology to do the things they do. Here’s a quick run down of the neat stuff they’ve been up to.

V-Lite

The reason the Sierra Lite’s are actually so lite, err light, is their V-Lite technology. V-Lite is not really one technology, it’s a bunch of things combined to make the boots strong while shaving off a lot of weight. A bunch of different pieces go into making the boots and every piece has had some weight reduction.

The uppers on the boots (material that goes around the boot) is lightweight and has non-metallic hardware on it. It will be interesting to see how this hardware holds up. I saw a lot of broken eyelets with some brands of boots when I used to work at Valhalla Pure Outfitters.

The insole is an important part of the boots and they’ve been made lighter as well. Bigger boots tend to have bigger insoles but these are still light and comfortable.One of the main reasons larger, stiffer boots tend to be heavier is because of the shank they have in them. These are basically metal roads in the base of the boot that helps keep it’s stiffness and rotational rigidity. Their goal is to make a boot stiff so you’re feet don’t have to work as hard but not too stiff that it’s awkward and uncomfortable to walk in them. The Sierra Lite’s us a Stabila Flex Plus Lasting Board instead of a steel shank so you get the stiffness without the weight.

A lightweight EVA midsole absorbs hard impacts before pound your feet and a Vibram carbon rubber outsole gives you good traction without the heavy lugs that larger boots have. In some situations those big lugs are nice to have but for a lot of hiking, they’re just extra weight. On longer trips, the weight savings is pretty nice.

OrthoLite

I touched on the Sierra Lite’s insoles up above in the V-Lite section and it’s come up again because they’re using more cool technology in the insoles themselves aside from just making them lighter. They help keep air circulating in and around the insole, keeping your feet cooler. My feet get crazy hot in any kind of boot, especially in the summer. The Comfort-Tec insoles in these boots helped cool them down a bit. They’re not a magic bullet for cooling down your feet by any means but I’m not going to turn down any help I can get!

They’ve added a patented biocide to the insoles to cut down on the bacteria and fungus that give your boots that lovely scent. Sorry, you can’t hide it. And when science can’t even help your insoles smell decent, you can throw them in the wash and they’ll come out ready for a hiking trip.

Vibram

The Sierra Lite’s use light-weight outsoles from Vibram. If you haven’t heard of Vibram before, you probably haven’t spent much time around hiking boots or trail runners. They’re on a huge number of boots and shoes these days including the Vibram Five Fingers. The lugs on the soles aren’t that big so that might pose a problem in really wet conditions but I have yet to have an issue with sliding around in them. Next time it pours rain here, I’m going to head out and find a muddy hill to boot-ski down. If that actually happens, I’ll be sure to post photos of me careening down the hill into a mud-lake at the bottom.

ion-mask

Reading up on the boots before I got them, I was especially interested in Hi-Tec’s new ion-mask technology. They had a couple of videos on their ion-mask page about what this stuff actually is. I’ll see if I can whip up some science skills and explain why this stuff is cool.

The ion-mask gets applied to the material that makes up the boot. This forms a very, very thin protective, hydrophobic layer around the molecules of the fabric. Wow complicated. Basically it’s making the fabric water resistant down it’s very basic structure. After it’s got it’s ion-mask jacket on, the fabric actively resists any water it comes in contact with.

In the video with the guy from the Gadget show, he puts a piece of paper coated with ion-mask into a tank of water. When he pulls it out, it’s pretty much dry. I thought that was cool but he didn’t really leave it in the water very long. Then he pulls out a paper towel and puts it in the water. Something that’s built to be as absorbent as possible is sitting in a tank of water. He pulls it out and it’s try, the water beading on the towel. Cool.

A few other cool points to ion-mask. It’s only nanometers thick so it doesn’t really add any weight to the fabric it’s on. The fabric doesn’t lose any breathability after it’s been coated. You can build boots and shoes any way you want after the fabrics have been coated. They don’t have to be built around a waterproof fabric like a Gore liner.

Final Thoughts

So far I’ve been very happy with the Sierra Lite’s. I don’t think they’ll be replacing my heavier mountaineering boots but because they’re so light and comfortable, I will be wearing them a lot more.

The post Floating over the Mud: Hi-Tec’s Sierra Lite I WP Hiking Boot Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

If you’re like me, up to year and a bit ago I never timed anything. I’d run a distance I thought was close to when I should run and call it a day. I didn’t really measure much. I guess that’s why my results were less than stellar when I’d finish a race. They were respectable but certainly nothing amazing. I’ve heard the saying “What gets measures, gets improved” but never really paid it much attention. I had running to do and I wasn’t going to waste some of that time, fiddling around with numbers and times.

That changed a bit after I started reading article after article about training and how to do it properly. How do you know when you’ve reached a goal or that you are on track for a certain time. You don’t if you don’t measure anything. The only way to find out is to measure things like speed, pace and distance for running. Maybe heart rate if you’re aiming for a workout at the same time. Part of the reason I didn’t do that was I didn’t know an easy way to do it. I didn’t want to spend hours crunching numbers just to find out how I was doing.Then I found the Garmin sports watches.

Turn it on. Run. Turn it off. Put it by your computer. Done.

That’s all you need to do to get accurate numbers and gps tracks uploaded straight to Garmin’s Connect website for you to peruse at your leisure. I can do that.

The price wasn’t exactly what I wanted to pay for what, in my mind, was just a watch. I’d never paid over 30 bucks for sports watches in the past so shelling out over $200 on one was a bit hard to take. I waited until I could get one on sale and then leapt. I was excited because it was new tech gear but I had no idea what to do with it.

What I like

Small and light. Much smaller than the older Garmin watches (but smaller screen)

Wireless track upload

Easy to use after learning (not intuitive but fairly easy interface)

Garmin Connect website displays all information well

Heart rate monitor is comfortable

What I don’t like

Bezel is very easy to touch so you have to lock it if you don’t want it to beep, even water sets it off

Battery life is short when the GPS is on ~8 hours

Ultimate Training Partner

Over the last year, I haven’t been training for much in particular. I’ve run a couple races but they’ve been more for fun than anything. I didn’t pull out a training program for them and pore over stats and my progress.

A couple weeks ago I signed up for the Vancouver Marathon. I’ve never done a marathon and 42 kilometres is not something you can just go run after sitting on the couch for a while. So I got out the Garmin Forerunner 405 and started my training.

Tapping one side of the bezel that goes around the face of the watch and you’re into training mode. If you’ve got GPS enabled it will start looking for satellites and usually finds them quickly. If you’re in dense tree cover it might take a bit. I found it finds them faster if you’re not moving much.

After it’s got a signal you’re ready to go. There’s a start button to begin recording your workout and the GPS track. While you’re running, you can see your time, you’re pace and distance travelled. There are many options and screens to go through so however you like to see your workout data as you run, you probably can. I tend to just look at the default screen that shows overall time and pace. Most of my runs right now are a set distance and a set pace so that information is all I need when I’m moving.

Sometimes I’ll run with the heart rate monitor just to see how I’m doing in that department. It’s not a huge worry for me as I’m more focused on the time and distance versus the workout I’m getting but it’s still interesting to see. Another data point to compare when you begin your training to the middle and end.

When you’re done, stop the timer and set it beside your computer. The ANT technology built into the watch wirelessly communicates with a USB attachment plugged into your computer. When it’s within range it sends the tracks to the computer which can be automatically uploaded to Garmin’s Connect website. Then it shows you the GPS track if it’s available, speed, pace, elevation and heart rate information if you had a monitor on.

The Deadly Kusam

When I first got the 405 I was excited to see what it would do. I was already signed up for one of the most intense races I had ever done. It’s called the Kusam Klimb and happens every year a couple hours away from where I live. It’s a half marathon that goes up and over a mountain. As you can see from the GPS track I got from the race, it’s not flat. It goes from near sea level up to over 1400 metres in under 8 kilometres. That means steep! I had the heart rate monitor on as well. You can see that it was quite high over the whole race. I was pushing hard.

7 Hours of Running

A friend and I ran the Juan De Fuca Trail in 2010 which is 47km of far too many peaks and valleys of ocean-side trail near Victoria. We had planned for about 10 hours of running but it ended up only taking 7 hours. I wanted to get the entire run on the watch so I could see the pace and elevation of it all. I missed the first section down to the water from the parking lot because the 405 couldn’t get a signal through the trees. Near the end of the trail, 38 kilometers from where we started, the battery died and it stopped collection any more information. I’m glad it saved what it did. I thought if it died as it was recording, I wouldn’t get any information from the track. Apparently those guys at Garmin are smarter than I thought.

Incessant Beeping

For how much my 405 gets bumped around when I’m running, I’m surprised it still works. It’s still going strong. I have had one issue with it.Last winter I was ski touring and had it on to track our time and GPS track. Near the end of the tour about 3 hours in it started restarting constantly and beeping every time I did it. I couldn’t do anything to stop it. The racket it was making only stopped when the battery died and luckily that wasn’t soon after the beeping started. Every time I started it after that and went into training mode, it would start restarting and beep like crazy. I talked to Garmin and they suggested updating the firmware on it as there was an updated version and then sending it in if that didn’t work. I really liked the watched and used it a lot so I didn’t want to be without one for too long so I tried the firmware update right away. Since then I haven’t had any issues with it. No more beeping!

Recommendations

I definitely recommend the 405 to those that are looking for a powerful training watch for running or riding. You can get all sorts of accessories for it like the heart rate monitor or a food pod to record other information while you exercise. The screen isn’t as large as some of the other Garmin watches so if you need to see more information on the fly, that might be a factor in your decision. I liked the smaller size of the 405 that didn’t look like I had a computer strapped to my arm and the lower weight that goes along with that form factor.

Do you have a training or GPS watch? What do you use it for and how do you like it?

The post Garmin Forerunner 405 Training Watch Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

What I like

• Lightweight
• Cheap on gas
• Inexpensive
• Very easy to manoeuvre in the woods
• Tall for good clearance
• Fun to ride

What I don’t like

• Not comfortable at speed
• Hard to find parts
• Not the quality of big brands

Pro: Lightweight

You can’t get much more lightweight than this motorcycle is. You could use a bicycle but you total distance covered drops dramatically as soon as you go human-powered. It does have space for one person on the back but if I’m carrying a backpack that doesn’t work so it’s really only a one-person vehicle. That doesn’t work for a lot of people. The size and weight comes in when you are exploring. With a bike this size you can get almost anywhere. You can slide it under downed logs, ride it through single track trails and on roads, be it dirt roads or paved.

Pro: Cheap on Gas

Aside from scooters, which might have a tough time off-road, $8 to fill the tank is about as cheap as you can get for a vehicle. With new electric and hybrid vehicles coming out, driving will get less and less expensive but it’s hard to argue with a couple hundred kilometres on $8.

Pro: Inexpensive

I picked this bike up when it was a year old for only $1600. Models from other brands were going for at least $5000. The price was most of what sold it for me. I’ve had great luck with it so far and not had any problems. I do make sure that I’m with other people when I ride further into the woods. That might just be common sense when exploring places hours away from civilization. No matter what the brand of bike you have, there’s still a chance you could crash or something could break and you’ll be walking home.

Pro: Easy to manoeuvre

The dirtbike style of the bike and the tall frame makes it very easy to get over or around anything in the woods. If I get stuck I can pretty much just pick the bike up or work it up over the obstacle while I’m on the ground. Try some gnarly single track trail on a big adventure bike and you’ll be sticking to the dirt roads in no time. I’ve got the back spring lowered a bit so I can actually touch the ground on the road as I’m not very tall. The height of it does make it nicer for clearing obstacles in the backcountry. On a lower bike, you’d be scraping the frame on rocks and logs but I can roll right over them in the GY-250. But with all vehicles, there’s always a limit to how how you can go.

Pro: Fun to ride

The GY-250 isn’t very hard to ride at all and because it’s so small and light, I can just hop on and go through any kind of trail or dirt road. It’s nice to ride on the road at slow speeds as well so as soon as the weather is decent, I spend most of my driving time on the bike instead of the 4Runner.

Con: Not comfortable at speed

That same nimble lightness I talked about above makes it a bit of a pain to ride at highway speeds. It’s doable but it’s certainly not comfortable like a bigger bike would be. There’s not much weight to throw around so it’s unstable in the wind and doesn’t have a fairing up front to protect you from the air hitting your chest and face.When I bought the bike, it was geared quite low. I could get up to about 80 km/h but that was about the top of it’s comfortable riding speed. I had a cog with fewer teeth put on it recently to lower the gear which brought the top speed up to about 100-110 km/h. It’s not incredible comfortable but I can make it all over Vancouver Island instead of just being stuck in town here.

Con: Hard to find parts

Initially I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find any replacement parts. Saga isn’t a mainstream brand and the closest location was a few hours away that might have what I needed. Initially, I got the few parts that I needed by matching them up with other brands. I bent my clutch handle and broke a chain so those needed to be replaced. Last year a new bike and scooter shop opened up where I live and just happened to carry Saga scooters and could get the parts of the bikes as well. I was definitely lucky with that one. I went from hardly being able to find parts to having a shop within walking distance of my house. Maybe someone was listening when I was thinking about a new bike shop!

Con: Not the quality of big brands

This con is more from what I’ve heard about Saga bikes compared to other ones. There is usually a reason they are cheaper than the other big brands of motorcycles. When I heard people talk about them initially, I was worried I had bought some second-rate piece of junk. So far everything has run very smoothly and I’ve been very happy with the bike and the cost to maintain it. If everything keeps going this smoothly, I’ll be very happy with the fact that the bike was a quarter of the price of similar models.

There have only been a couple issues with it and nothing major. The pegs that hold the headlight assembly in have broken. They were brittle plastic that couldn’t stand all the bumps of riding off road. I could just get a new assembly to replace it but it was easier and probably stronger just to wire it in myself. A few of the plastic covers on the sides and the front fork have cracks in them after I’ve run into things. The plastic isn’t quite as strong as it should be. Again, I could replace these with new higher quality parts but they’re just plastic and don’t serve a purpose when I’m riding so I’m going to leave them for now.

2 other pieces I’ve replaced have been the clutch handle and the chain. I bent the clutch handle falling over one day so that was my fault. I believe the chain breaking was also my fault after putting it on wrong when it slipped off. I was on a steep hill and all that torque applied to a chain that wasn’t lined up properly broke one of the links. Luckily I was travelling with another truck that day and just threw it in the back and drove back home.

Recommendation

Just the fact that the Saga GY-250 was a quarter of the price of other similar bikes is enough to make me love it. I’ve had no major problems with it (knock on wood) and it continues to be an awesome way to get around during the drier weather. I don’t have any thick waterproof gear with armor for riding yet so I’ve been hesitant to ride in terrible weather. Once I get a jacket, pants and boots, I’ll be set for riding all year!

The post AdventureMobile: Saga GY-250 Enduro Dirtbike first appeared on Pack & Trail.