Products: Reviews
Mountain Equipment Starlight IV Sleeping Bag
They say: “For the occasional winter camper or those for whom pack size is not so critical, the Starlight IV will keep you warm in the coldest conditions.”
LFTO.com says: : “For me, the cut of the Mountain Equipment Starlight IV was excellent, being a good compromise between spacious comfort and snugness for warmth. The Polarloft insulation lofted well, too. This meant it immediately felt warm, which is what you’d expect from so much insulation. The shark’s fin toebox is lifted from Mountain Equipment’s top-of-the-range sleeping bags and provides a contoured fit around the feet. There’s a two- way, full-length zip with a glow-in-the-dark zip pull. The shoulder baffle is generous and comfy, and the outer fabric is treated with a DWR finish for extra water resistance. You also get a small internal pocket. But the Mountain Equipment Starlight IV’s hood was big, and felt very bunched-up and restrictive when the drawcords were pulled tight. The neck baffle was hard to get small enough too, but the biggest problem was the zip baffle. It just wasn’t big enough and left a long, cold spot along the side. Also, although warm, it didn’t feel as warm as the -12 degrees C comfort rating would suggest.” Verdict: “The Mountain Equipment Starlight IV is a big, heavy sleeping bag that offers a greater degree of warmth than some on test, but it falls short on comfort around the hood.”
LFTO.com rating: 3/5
Price paid: £110
www.mountain-equipment.co.uk Mammut Lucido TX1 Headlamp
They say: “This is the highest performance headlamp for absolute alpine use. The highly precise Total Reflex Optics with one HiFLux LED has a 105m light-range, two definition LEDs for 180 hours of floodlight and dual light.”
LFTO.com says: “At 166g, there are lighter torches out there, but this is still pretty light. The important features are the battery pack and headlamp as both of these are very different to other headtorches. The battery pack has the three red LEDs on the back. These can be set to flash via the main buttons on the headtorch. Inside the battery housing are three AA batteries. At the headtorch end you get a single bright LED plus two smaller LEDs. These are operated by two buttons, with one button turning the main bright LED on or off, and the second button switching the smaller LEDs to low and high settings. Pressing both buttons triggers the red LEDs to flash. The headtorch housing has a good swivel action to allow the beam to be directed to the ground. This action also allows the headlamp to be totally protected in the housing by rotating it through a full 180°.” Verdict: “The Mammut Lucido TX1 is reasonably lightweight with rear red lights, the housing rotates to protect the lamp, it has a long burn time and a long beam of light. But there is no battery life indicator , it has a low power output, the battery housing cover is not as easy to fit as others and button operation is not as easy as others. The TX1 is okay, but the low output and fiddly battery housing cover are drawbacks that other headtorches do not have.”
LFTO.com rating: 3.5/5
Price paid: £75
www.mammut.ch
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Magellan Explorist 610 GPS Unit
They say: “Premium, rugged, handheld GPS with camera, electronic sensors, and topographic maps to record all your actions and navigate the outdoors with precision.”
LFTO.com says: “In use the Explorist 610 feels great and sits comfortably in the palm. Like many other brands Magellan has chosen to adopt a touch- sensitive screen and full colour Ordnance Survey mapping. I found the operating system very intuitive, thanks to the use of clear icons and a simple layout of functions. You can create routes in-unit directly onto the OS mapping, and while a little fiddly due to the small screen, it is doable. But, like certain other brands, Magellan has also created an online route planning tool, which can be downloaded direct to your PC for easier, clearer access.
Many GPS receivers now feature a camera, but the Magellan Explorist 610 has a complete media menu that not only includes the ability to take photos but also to record sound and shoot video.” Verdict: “The Explorist is an exciting new range of GPS receivers that are ideal for hill walkers and place Magellan firmly back on the digital map.”
LFTO.com rating: 5/5
Price paid: £339
www.magellangps.com Reviews courtesy of Trail magazine and
LFTO.com www.sgboutdoor.co.uk
Price paid: £220
www.ortlieb.co.uk
Ortlieb Elevation 42 Rucksack
They say: “An Ortlieb innovation designed for higher targets, the waterproof backpack with lid closure is the right choice for mountaineering and alpine use. The compact pack is made of tear and abrasion-resistant nylon fabric, a real gem when it comes to space and carrying your equipment. Stuff that can get wet and must be quick at hand, like an ice axe, can be stored outside. The air channel contact back system and the anatomically shaped adjustable shoulder and chest straps ensure high carrying comfort on extended trips.”
LFTO.com says: “The Elevation 42 is made from PU-coated nylon so at least the main fabric should not leak and it is pretty tough, so it should resist being punctured by crampons and jagged rocks. All the seams have been sealed too so there are no lines of stitching to let water into the main compartment. Finally this sack has no external pockets, as keeping all those seams waterproof would be very difficult. The Ortlieb Elevation 42 is designed for alpine mountaineering, but its clean lines will I suspect also suit hill walkers after a simple, clutter-free design that works. In use the sack is very comfortable and functional. The back system is lightly stiffened while extra padding is provided on the hip belt for improved comfort. I did miss having a big lid pocket for smaller items needed on the move, like a guidebook or GPS. Also, while the body of the rucksack is certainly waterproof enough to keep rain out, there is no roll-top lid, so care is needed to fasten the lid neatly to prevent water from seeping inside.” Verdict: : “The Ortlieb Elevation 42 is a well- featured mountaineering sack, but the price dampens my enthusiasm compared to just fitting a waterproof rucksack liner to a good-quality conventional rucksack.”
LFTO.com rating: 3/5
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