I tweet. Do you? Let me explain how Twitter compliments my web site and why you might find Twitter useful. +
A bit of my recent photography. I’m sorry. I’m late, very late. More to come, of course. For now, please +
Presented to the public for the first time at the Friedrichshafen Outdoor 2008 show, the new Garmin Oregon GPS switches from buttons and thumbwheels to a touchscreen user interface. +
An ultralight, ultratough, ultracompact, do-it-yourself backpack that carries a folded Brompton bike anywhere or rides under its frame. +
When it comes to 16-inch folding bikes, 2 models stand out: the Brompton and the Bike Friday Tikit. Both cost almost the same. Both position themselves in the high-quality range. Which one to choose? +
Bikes come unglued. Parts go loose. Brakes need adjustment. Tires puncture. To hush a minor rattle or fix a major showstopper while on the road, you’ll need a set of tools. OK, but which bike tools to choose for the not-so-standard Brompton folder? +
Lightweight waterproof bike panniers from… Pacific Outdoor! The makers of sleeping pads and other backpacking items introduce a whole new line of bike-specific products. The LTW Front Fender achieves an impressive weight to volume ratio. +
Human-made global warming kills. The mankind, the animals, the planet. Josh HARRIS, Tim GODSALL and the Ogilvy agency reach out to the passers-by in a striking, effective, minimal, symbolical way. And they suggest solutions. Actions. +
Actually, these are tents, not bivies. A couple of super rare, bombproof, compact, single-wall shelters using the very breathable eVENT fabric. Optimized for high-altitude winds, snow and cold. +
A rare, half-zipped, lightweight, eVENT rain pant from Rab. A crucial item for serious rain, mud and wind. +
Very light, full-featured rain jacket made of the eVENT waterproof / breathable fabric: the new Rab Momentum answers the needs of lightweight backpackers still contemplating the leap into minimalism. +
My personal transportation device. A modified Brompton P3L folding bike. Customized for speed. Optimized for intermodal transport and cramped storage spaces. Day and night. Sun and rain. +
An intermediately sized, 1,3 L (44 fl oz) lightweight titanium pot that might be just perfect for snow melting during fast and light winter backpacking trips. +
Exactly the same as the BackpackingLight.com’s FireLite Titanium Esbit Wing Stove, the Esbit Titanium Solid Fuel Stove will be distributed by Esbit starting January 2009. OK, there is a difference: the logo. +
Esbit, the renowned producer of hexamine solid fuel tablets, readies a 720 ml solo titanium pot with a lid for the ultralight backpacking chefs that apply the “cook in a cup” haute cuisine methods. Available beginning 2009. +
Scheduled for spring 2009: a rare, ultralight windshirt made of Pertex Quantum. The Montane Slipstream will continue to brave the wind and the common misunderstanding of the product’s use. +
For spring 2009, Cascade Designs renames their 3-season lightweight Therm-a-Rest, the current “ProLite 3” self-inflating sleeping pad, to just “Prolite”, and updates the mattress to reduce its weight. +
Against all common backpacking wisdom, Therm-a-Rest creates an air mattress without foam or high-loft insulation. The new sleeping pad achieves an R-value of 2,5, a very light weight and a super compact roll. +
The outdoor sports industry has its own trade shows. These events gather manufacturers, retailers and press (me included) to have a look at new gear and discuss new trends. I list and briefly describe and compare the major trade fairs. +
Built around the 1,5 L (48 oz) Nalgene water reservoir that’s got a clever magnetic bite valve, this running-specific backpack hugs the upper torso with a sternum-centered harness and geeks out with a remote-controlled wire compression system. +
TIP: To print images, enable “Print backgrounds” in your browser preferences.