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: 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: 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

Back from a 4 day Trip: Sock Review.

Hi,

I am back from a 4 day trip.
It was sunny and warm (34-38°C at noon). Non rain and I walked around 100 km. (in about 3,5 days)
I tried out 2 different brands of socks. Here is the review:

1) The Smartwool Midweight Hiking Socks
These great socks are made of 74% merino wool. And like we all know (or most of us) wool products are just splendid.

1. They breath very well.
2. They isolate just amazingly good.
   
3. You don't faint everytime you take your foot out your shoe..

But I found out one drawback.

1. They aren't so strong. After washing and using them for 2 times, they started to loose some fluffyness.

Now there is no reason to panic and loose hope: I bought another pair.

2) The Bridgedale Endurance Trekker
These socks are amazing. They are a blend of 41% New Wool
37% Nylon/polyamide
21% Endurofil™/polypropylene
1% Lycra®/elastane

1. There is less wool in it.
2. They are a bit warmer.
3. Just fit amazing.

Drawbacks:

1. A bit sweaty and warm.
2. They kinda stink after you a day.
   

End decision:
I tested both of them in hot sweaty environment. And what did I think.
Well my feeling and thought goes toward Bridgedale . Why?
They just fit me so well, and they are just good enough
Although I must admit that the Smartwool kept me much better ventilated.
But still I prefer Bridgeldale, they just ar so strong.

Dries

365 days...

Only 2 weeks and this blog exists 1 year!!!
Time to look to the past AND future.

First off all I told i was gonna buy a new backpack. Well I have ordered one, but it's not a deuter or a macpac. Well what is it?? Here i go:
I ordered a Kajka from Fjällräven:

• Height: 76 cm
• Materiaal: Vinylon F
• System: Perfect Fit
• Total weight: 2900 g
• Webbing: Nylon
• Volume: Approx 75 liter
• Zips: YKK

Some nice things about it:

1. It has a special pocket for your water bottle. You can reach easily for it.
   
2. It is made from a really strong fabric.
3. and what I really like: It has a special wet compartment. You can put in wet clothing and it will stay ventilated and will keep drying!!!

Here is video from the makers.


What I did this year:

1. I went to the coast. I hiked a bit but I returned for a job (wich I now do fulltime).
2. I bought a Fleece and softshell (reviews coming up)
3. I decided that I am not going to scotland this year. But I am going the summer of 2012. Scotland or South-Sweden.

What do I have planned the next 365 days:

1. Review Hiking socks (coming in April)
   
2. Hike the complete Belgian-coast. Not just part of it. :-p
3. Review my new backpack (coming VERY soon, propably a video).

Now that was it.

See you guys (:-D) next time,


Dries

Sanyo Review

I bought this camera mostly for on travel.
But it is just real goood

720 HD. wich works real good, it gives a really good picture. As it says it is indeed waterproof. (for 1 hour at 1.5M atleast :-D).
Very nice color when lighting is good.
But when you go above ISO 200 it gets grainy and a lot of loss of quality.

See here for a a small test video: http://vimeo.com/19356999)


It is small and perfect.
But because it's small it has sometimes shaky pictures
Thats all

Dries

Review:Sleeping Bag millet Baikal 1000

After some downtime I am back.
And as promised: The review for the Baikal 1000.

I bought this bag end October. I first wanted to buy the Baikal 750 but the nice lady in the shop told me it was not a good allround bag, more a summer bag.
So after some thinking I walked out with this beauty.

It weighs 1 kilo and has a lenght of 185 cm.
I used it for 1 week continuously. And it did its job pretty well. I felt no cold and was really comfortable. The average temprature at night must have been between 5°C and 0°C.
Millet claims it will easily withstand temperatures of 3°C and it truly does.
The only small problem is that it is a tight fit. I am just (but really just) big enough.
But that's personal.

I haven't done a in-field test but that will come later in the year 2011.


This sleeping bag is just a good bag that does its job. A fine and light bga that is ideal for hiking.


I can't wait until i get it into the field.


Dries