Spot Global Satellite Phone: When You Need to Be Connected

Devices will be increasingly available that allow you to stay connected anywhere on Earth. It's an inevitable trend in technology.

The Spot Global Phone is the latest manifestation of this trend, a satellite phone you'll soon be able to buy from major retail outlets. You can read all about in the press release, but here are three of the most crucial specs:

• Weight: 7 ounces
• Battery Life: 4 hours talk time, 36 hours standby
• Cost: $499 for the phone; required subscription plan starts at $24.99/month, unlimited voice service $149.99/month

The Spot Global Phone also includes the emergency locator beacon technology that has been available for years with the Spot Satellite GPS Messenger (formerly the Spot Tracker), and is designed for the rigors of the backcountry (tested in temps from -40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit).

Note also that the phone utilizes the GlobalStar satellite system, which does not offer full global coverage as the below map illustrates.

I'll be very interested to see the reviews once the phone goes on sale at the end of May, especially since the GlobalStar satellite system hasn't enjoyed the best reputation, especially compared to the full global coverage of the long-established Iridium network of satellites.

In fact, a SPOT rep I spoke with several years ago told me that the reason why GlobalStar began producing the Spot Tracker in the first place was because they were searching for new revenue streams given that several of their satellites had unexpectedly and prematurely decayed, compromising their ability to provide clear and consistent voice transmission.

When it comes to the success of the Spot Global Phone, time and user experience will tell.

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.

Tyvek Tent Footprints

Several readers commented on the recent post Is a Tent Footprint Worth It? and offered several suggestions for alternative tent floor protection. One of the best options? Tyvek.

Made by DuPont, Tyvek is that heavy-duty, tear-proof, water-proof paper-like stuff used to wrap homes during construction to protect exposed materials from the weather, as well as produce indestructible trail maps and envelopes, among other things.

Without getting too deep into the chemistry, Tyvek is essentially a densely woven fabric made from microscopic plastic (polyethylene) fibers roughly one-tenth the diameter of a human hair. It's waterproof and breathable, blocking liquid moisture but allowing water vapor to pass through. It's also incredibly tough and nearly indestructible. (For everything else you've ever wanted to know about Tyvek, here's the DuPont handbook.)

Tyvek is generally very lightweight, about the equivalent of a lightweight nylon or silnylon. Though the exact specs vary based on the multiple thicknesses and weights available, a good general guideline is commonly used Tyvek HomeWrap, which weighs just under 2 ounces per square yard. (By comparison, an ultralight silnylon footprint weighs in around 1.5 ounces per square yard.)

Tyvek is significantly less expensive than ultralight silnyon, running roughly $2 per square yard. It can be tricky to purchase in small amounts, however, since it's usually sold in quantities designed to wrap a house. Some ultralight sites offer it by the foot, such as antigravitygear.com.

Alternatively, you can often find Tyvek scrap for free that is sufficiently large for a tent footprint. Large pallet shipments are often wrapped in Tyvek; ask at your local home improvement store, for example.

Once you secure some Tyvek, cutting it to the size you need is straightforward. Tyvek is easily cut with scissors, plus the edges fray little if at all. Nice. Do, however, cut the footprint slightly smaller than the dimensions of the floor, which helps prevent rain-catching edges from sticking out from beneath the tent.

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.

Made in the Jade: New Armachillo Clothing Line Embeds Jade Into the Fabric. Seriously.

It sounds like a joke: Adding microscopic particles of pulverized rock into a fabric to enhance its heat-dissipating capabilities. But it's not. It's the new Armachillo product line from Duluth Trading Company, a Wisconsin-based apparel company that specializes in outdoor work wear.

Even the company's press release sounds tongue-in-cheek. "Armachillo gear is featherweight, sweat-sapping, tough-as-blazes, UPF sun protective and will save your skin when summer seethes," it reads. The web site description further elaborates: "Put it on and chill out—even when the job site's hotter than the hinges of hell."

Both the press release and web site are light on details, however, as to how exactly "microscopic jade embedded in the fabric dissipates heat and cools skin to actually lower body temperature."

It does seem possible, though, given that jade (like essentially all rocks) has very low thermal conductivity. That is, it absorbs heat very slowly and would take a long time to warm up even in hot conditions, which means it could remain cool relative to your body for an extended period of time.

Alternatively, as X-breath fabrics explains, it's possible that the physical structure of the jade particles is what provides the enhanced cooling effect. Or it could all just be the latest attempt at an innovative marketing strategy. (As I like to say, most "high-tech" outdoor materials are 90 percent marketing, 10 percent science.) Hard to say, really.

One of the most inexpensive ways you could test out its capabilities is to purchase a short sleeve Armachillo Tee ($34.50). Other products include cargo pants ($69.50, pictured), a wide brim hat ($29.50), and a few women-specific products. All Armachillo items are made from lightweight nylon, feature an odor-fighting anti-microbial finish, and are available in tall sizes for an additional $5.

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.

The Worst Sunscreens You Can Buy

When shopping for sunscreen, there are two chemicals you should avoid: retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) and oxybenzone. Both have potential health risks, especially for young children. Problem is, the majority of sunscreens on the market today contain one or both of them.

Photo: Dennis Collette;  Flickr Commons

Enter the sixth annual sunscreen guide from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which (according to their infographic) reviewed 262 scientific studies on sunscreens, their ingredients, and their potential health benefits and risks; examined 1,800 sunscreens, moisturizers, makeup, and lip products with SPF ratings; and identified more than 1,300 sunscreen products that did not meet their recommended standards.

In particular, EWG recommends avoiding sunscreens with oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, which were found in 58 percent and 31 percent, respectively, of sunscreens in EWG's 2012 database. Oxybenzone is able to penetrate the skin in relatively large amounts and is associated with allergic reactions and potential hormone disruptions. (Read all about it.) Retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, may increase the rate of development of skin tumors and lesions.

Instead, EWG recommends using sunscreens with mineral blockers—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—which offers long-lasting protection against UVA (the variety that causes premature aging). And stick with lotions or creams instead of sprays or powders to ensure full coverage and avoid inhaling the stuff as you apply it.

Learn more about the best sunscreen products with EWG's complete round-up—and  definitely spend some time reading up on the complexities of evaluating (and regulating) sunscreen products. It's pretty interesting (and disturbing), as EWG's Suncreens Exposed section illustrates.

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.

Bike Repair Essentials: The four things to carry on any ride

You’re on the bike, wind in your face, reveling in the ride. Except suddenly one of your tires feels sloppy. Or you hit a bump and it clanks hard into the tire rim. Or perhaps a fellow rider breaks the news to you. You look down. Flat tire. Bummer. But no worries—you’re carrying the four essentials to get back in the saddle in no time...

This column originally appeared in the April online edition of AMC Outdoors. You can read the full story here. 

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.

(Photograph by Marc Chalufour)

How Many Calories Do You Burn Backpacking?

Short answer: A lot. Long answer: It depends on a multitude of factors, including body weight, pack weight, elevation gain/loss, terrain, and more.

Here's a quick round-up of a few online estimates (and guesstimates), plus some useful tools, for gauging your total caloric burn on your next backpacking adventure:

Backpacker Magazine suggests a simple calorie estimate based on body weight and the general intensity of the day's activity. For a strenuous day of backpacking with a "heavy" pack (no weight range specified), they suggest 25to 30 calories per pound of body weight. Using my 185-pound self as a proxy, that's 4,625 to 5,550 calories.

Caloriesperhour.com offers easy-to-use resources for estimating calorie burn for more than a hundred different activities. Using their activity calculator for "Hiking—climbing hills, 21-42 pound load" and assuming eight hours of activity, I would burn 5,371 calories. If I were carrying more than 42 pounds, the estimate jumps to 6,042 calories.

The Mayo Clinic lists calories burned per hour for a variety of activities, including backpacking (though no pack weight is identified). According to the site, a 160-pound person burns 511 calories per hour and a 200-pound person burns 637 calories per hour. For eight hours of activity, that would be 4,088 to 5,096 calories, depending on weight.

Fitwatch.com offers five backpacking categories to choose from. According to the site, for backpacking for eight hours with a "moderate" load, I would burn 5,639 calories. With a "moderate to heavy" load, I would burn 6,344 calories.

As you'll notice, estimates vary pretty markedly. For the criteria I used (185-pound person backpacking for eight hours with a moderate to heavy load), estimates range from roughly 4,600 calories to more than 6,300 calories.

Based on my personal experience, I would say that range is a reasonable approximation, with steeper and more strenuous terrain leaning toward the high end, and easy to moderate terrain toward the low end.

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.

Is a Tent Footprint Worth It?

Yes and no, but mostly no.

A tent footprint protects the underside of the tent from abrasion and moisture, helping to extend the lifespan of the tent and keep it drier on the inside. Footprints exactly match the shape of the tent, which minimizes the amount of fabric required for full coverage, and feature corner grommets to secure it to the tent frame, ensuring the footprint is correctly located underneath.

Depending on the size and materials, most footprints for two-person backpacking tents weigh roughly 5 to 10 ounces and cost anywhere from $30 to $60.

When is a tent footprint worth it?

• A footprint is generally a good idea if you expect to camp on rough, rocky terrain with significant potential for sharp points and rough edges. Areas with lots of downed wood and the potential for sharp branches are also a concern.
• If you camp and/or backpack a lot (think dozens of nights per year) and would like your tent to still be going strong years down the trail, then a footprint is certainly worth considering.
• If you're car camping, and unconcerned about a little excess weight and bulk with your tent, adding a footprint has little downside other than the cost of purchasing it.

When is it not worth it?

• Anytime you'd rather not carry the additional weight and bulk. Ditching the tent footprint is an easy way to save some tangible weight in your pack.
• Personally, I seldom carry a tent footprint and have logged many, many nights in several of my tents without one. I've experienced little to no significant damage to the tent undersides (and any small tear or puncture has been simple to repair using Tenacious Tape) and the loss of extra moisture protection has been a minimal inconvenience at worst.

When should  you buy one?

• If you think you may have use for a footprint, even if only on an irregular trip-by-trip basis, definitely buy one at the same time you purchase the tent, or at the very least, during the same season you purchase the tent.
• Why? Many tent models quickly come and go. Manufacturers also constantly change and tweak the dimensions of recurring models (and their accompanying) footprint from year-to-year. The odds of finding the exact footprint to match an older tent rapidly diminish as the years progress.

“Equipped” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Matt Heid.