Review: Exped SynMat UL (A great 3 season sleeping mat)

What they say:

Ultralight
The new SynMat 7 UL offers unmatched comfort and warmth at a minimal weight and packed size.
Size M weighs only 460 g at size 183 x 52 cm and sumptuous 7 cm thickness and an excellent R-Value of 3.1.
All this at the size of a ½ liter bottle.

What I say:

I bought this mat because the one I now onw weights like 954 grams. What is not to heavy but every gram I can take off is better. But weight isn't the biggest problem, it is size that matters.
Packsize more specifically, it is so much easier and practical.
A men whould think that such lightweight comes with cold nights. Well, I tested this during a chilly night (10°C) and it kept me warm. There was a moment I started feel cold I thought but it turned out not to be a problem.

There is only one small problem. I need to blow this up with my breath. What transfer moisture in the mat. And over time nasty stuff can grow inside of it, wich can damage the mat over time. But this problem will be taken care of shortly.

And that's all i have to say about it.
It isn't much but I promise to get back to you with my "pump-solution" and a long term review.


Dries

Big Buy Review x3: Jack Wolfskin Tarp tent, Solarmio 31 Solar panel and 2 Flexfoil Sting kites

So it is time to finally get something going on this blog. And what is better than 3 reviews.
So let's go:

1. The Jack Wolfskin Tarp tent
This tent isn't available anymore. I can't even find it on jack wolfskin's site.
But here we go:
Weight: 2,34 Kg
This is quite ok for a 2 person tent. But as with all 2 person tents, there just isn't enough space for 2 persons plus 2 backpacks.
But I slept in it on my own. And it is just spacious and nice. I even had space for cooking in my front-tent.





However there are some drawbacks:

• You get quite a big gap under the door if you use the original pole.
  This can be solved by using a walking pole, but they are mostly heavier and the gap helps with ventilation.
• If you use it as a solo tent it is still heavy.
• If you set it up as jack wolfskin tells you, the inner and outer layer will touch wich is never good.

So if you cycle alot and weight isn't to big of an issue. It is perfect for you.



2. Solarmio 31 Solar Panel


This handy, but not-so-little solar panel comes in quite handy.
It is quite heavy, but in car travel or Long distance biking it is just perfect.

It can't break and it is compatible with a lot of mobile phones.
Unfortunately it isn't compatible wit both my phones. But there is a silver lining for the more recent phones. It uses a USB-port as output. So even iphone, ipod and a lot of other things can easily be loaded.

The biggest minus will be: Not compatible with all phones and it is costly to order another one.
Also it would been nice if the powerbank had a bigger capacity.




3. Flexfoil Sting Kite (both 2,7 and 3,3 m²)

I bought this two nice kites for only €50. (Normally both of them cost like € 220 each).
The first time I used them I was suprised how easy they were to handle. Once you get the lines attached, it is so easy to get it up in the air.

Okay, you need some space the first time you want to attach the lines. But after that it is easy as pie.

One thing you need to know is, you got to watch out in stronger winds with big kites. you really have to use all your strength to keep it from flying away than.

Good luck


Dries

Big Buy Review: Lumostar Plus PZ

This simple gaslamp is just great.
I only had one problem: The piezo broke down. So i simply removed it. So now it is just a Lumostar plus.
Everything else works great. I used it 10 days long and it worked great.Nothing else to say.


Dries

Big Buy Review: Snowpeak Collapsable Chopsticks

A short review. This handy little thingy is just stylish. I can think of two reasons why i should use this:
1. Traveling through china. And don't trusting the local cuttlery.
2. To show off. (wich can be fun)


But they simply do there job and are lightweight.


Dries

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Big Buy Review: Fjällräven Khilok Trousers

It's time to do another BBR (Big Buy Review).
This is one of my favorites: The Khilok Mt Trousers.
I had so much luck that I found this one.
These pants are just simple but extremly good.

Pros:

• They weigh almost nothing.
• They're orange.
• It has a security pocket
• Fast drying
• Breathing

There is nothing more to say.




Dries

Big buy Review: Silva Nomad ( digital compass)

Next review: I found this little thingy in a bin at the sale.

It is a digital compass. This one is from before the time GPS was build-in every freakin device. So before using it one must calibrate it. That made me a bit sceptic. But I calibrated it and got out my old fashioned compass and I don't see a real big difference.

Some features:

• Fix to certain grade and see how much you are deviate.
• Use the opposite grade so you can walk exactly back.
• Backlight.

One drawback is that you need to calibrate it and you do this by rotating it. And I just don't trust it. But If I disappear during my next trip. You people know why...



Dries

Big buy Review: The North face rain pants (Flight series)

Prophecy Rain pants
(Not anymore in most stores)
This simple but very light buddy is amazing. It is just so light. The first times I wore them I almost forgot I had them on.
It has 2 big zippers down the side, wich are great for ventilation.
Also if it is raining and I need to put them on quickly those zippers come in very handy.


Conclusion:

Just great and fantastically lightweight. Love them!!

Dries