Products: Reviews
Fire Starter They say: “Designed for all- weather use, this
Ultimate Survival Blastmatch
revolutionary flint-based fire starting system performs superbly in the most extreme marine, arctic, desert and jungle environments. The Ultimate Survival
Technologies’ Blastmatch was designed for Air Force
fighter pilots at risk of being shot down in rugged terrain, or the mountain climber contending with challenging alpine weather.” GWA highlight: “It takes a little practice to get the Blastmatch mastered. Because you have to push down quite hard to get a good strike, if you’re on soft ground or using very loose tinder it can be all too easy to slip and send your tinder flying. This becomes very exciting if it happened to catch light. A little practice makes perfect though, and you’ll soon get the hang of things. It is much easier to use on solid ground or fired onto a solid log. It can be downright impossible to use if you’re trying to strike into soggy ground.” GWA summary: The Blastmatch is a device that makes people say ‘whoah’. It creates a big sparkle of sparks and is very easy to use. It’s not ideal for every situation though – being an acquired art when you have very soft ground. It’s also very expensive when compared to basic fire steels.
GWA rating:
www.ultimatesurvivaltech.com
For more:
www.gearweare.com/review/ultimate-survival- blastmatch-fire-starter
Gelert NME Sleeping Pod
They say: “The NME sleeping pod takes the great designs of Gelert's sleeping pod and merges it with the NME style to give you the perfect sleeping bag.” GWA highlight: “At 210cm-long (6ft9in) in length, you think there’d be ample length, but this measurement includes a very generous hood. I’m 175cm-tall (5ft9in) and I can only just do up the drawstring around my shoulders, so if you’re taller than the national average, and you lay on your back with straight legs, get a normal sleeping bag instead.” GWA summary: “The sleeping pod is a novel idea for those of us who like to sleep on our sides, spread out or spin like a dervish. There’s ample room to air your smelliest parts. The comfort rating is great for all summer use and it packs down into its own pocket (even if that’s huge). It’s very comfortable and for the performance it’s in the right price bracket. This is a context sensitive rating: It isn’t very long, so look elsewhere if you sleep stretched out or if you’re taller than 5ft9in.”
GWA rating:
www.gelert.com For more:
www.gearweare.com/review/gelert-nme-sleeping-pod 24 Price: £39.99 Price: £18.99
MusucBag Sleep Wear System
They say: “MusucBag is a sleep wear system which allows users to wear their sleeping bag, giving them maximum mobility and comfort no matter where they are: outdoors, in a tent, traveling, or just in the comfort of their own home.” GWA highlight: “No matter how butch or straight-laced you are, you’re powerless against the need to hug someone wearing a MusucBag.
We tested this theory when we went camping with a group of 25 poker- playing, beer-drinking bikers who were, when we put the MusucBag suits on, unable to resist a cheeky little hug.” GWA summary: "MusucBag is fantastic. It’s one of those products which people instantly react to and it’s a great conversation starter. It’s comfortable to wear, very warm and I had a good night’s sleep in it. The only flaws I could come up with don’t affect the performance of the bag, they’re more like suggested improvements. If I had kids, I’d buy them a MusucBag without hesitation. If I had guests to stay, I’d offer them the MusucBag to share the love. It’s a rare product which makes people hug you and want to touch and feel it, and burst out laughing and ask to try it on. MusucBag is my new sleeping bag (and entertainment) of choice.”
GWA rating:
www.musucbag.com For more:
www.gearweare.com/review/musucbag-sleepwear-system Reviews courtesy of
GearWeAre.com www.sgboutdoor.co.uk Price: £85 Vango Four-Leg Campbed
They say: “Enjoy a comfortable night's sleep on this lightweight, foldable camp bed. Four legs ensure stability and it folds away to a compact size.” GWA highlight: “To assemble the campbed, you slot together four steel poles and slide them down each side of the
coated polyester (that means washable) bed. Then, and this is where it gets tricky, you line up four holes in each pole, insert the very tough, springy steel legs into one side and bend, heave and man-handle the other end into the other side. This is something you’ll find really difficult the first time, but get the hang of pretty quickly.” GWA Summary: “A bit of a subjective one this, but I prefer sleeping on a campbed to a self-inflating mattress. In winter you’ll need to sleep on a blanket, mattress or sleeping bag to insulate against the rising cold. In summer though, it’s cooler than an airbed. The weight is a factor which counts heavily against this being a trekking product, and forget a romantic weekend away (get a double airbed for that). But… as a sleep solution, it’s pretty impressive.”
GWA rating:
www.vango.co.uk For more:
www.gearweare.com/review/vango-4-leg-campbed Price: From £12
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