Recycled Packs from Mountainsmith

Mountainsmith began producing some of its packs and other products from recycled plastic water bottles six years ago. Today the selection of recycled products has expanded significantly to include everything from backpacks to lumbar packs to camera bags to dog packs.

The company uses its own proprietary "ReDura" fabric, the outdoor industry's first fabric produced entirely from recycled PET plastic. (PET, aka polyethylene teraphthalate, is the ubiquitous plastic used in soda, water, and other plastic drink bottles.)

Mountainsmith is perhaps best known for its iconic line of oversized lumbar packs (or "technical lumbar systems" as the company likes to call them), but also produces a line of hyper-durable camera bags, travel luggage and accessories, and backpacks—almost all of which are made from its recycled PET fabric.

The large-capacity Apex 75 backpack (pictured), for example, utilizes the equivalent of 24 recycled 16-ounce plastic bottle. Another nice example is the Phoenix backpack, which won an Editors' Choice Green award from Backpacker Magazine in 2008, a distinction given to the most environmentally-friendly outdoor products.


View the entire Mountainsmith selection of recycled products (scroll down below the "category matches" to get there) and consider taking a few bottles out of the waste stream...and into the backcountry on your next adventure.

Learn more about backpack designs and fit:
Backpack to the Future: Five trends in pack design and technology (2011)
Got No Hips? How to deal with a common backpack fit issue (2011)
Backpack Shoulder Straps: Honing Fit (2010)
Backpack Waistbelts: Honing Fit (2010)

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

Ultralight Wind Shells

You can save some serious weight by investing in an ultralight windproof and water-resistant shell jacket and ditching your heavy-duty (or even lightweight) fully waterproof jacket. Some of the lightest weight wind shells barely weigh 2 ounces and will easily fit in a pocket, yet offer sufficient protection and warmth for many warm-weather excursions. Here's a quick review of their pros and cons, plus a round-up of some of the lightest weight wind shells currently available.

Keep in mind that, like so many ultralight gear decisions, you must make a few sacrifices to pare down your gear weight to its bare minimum. In the case of ultralight wind shells, consider these trade-offs:

• A 2-ounce water-resistant shell will keep you adequately dry in a light rain or short-lived drizzle—but you'll definitely get wet in a pouring rain. 
• The ultra-thin fabric on these shells will block all by the most intense winds, but it will also tend to flap noisily—an annoyance if you're in the wind for prolonged periods. 
• These shells add warmth to your layering system by reducing convective heat loss and helping to trap warm air next to your body, but seldom seal tightly around the wrists, waist, or neck, which reduces their warming effects. Many ultralight shells also lack hoods, further reducing their protection and warmth.

But the advantages are enormous. Or perhaps enormously tiny as the case may be. These shells pack down to microscopic size and weigh less than the watch on your wrist. Compared to fully waterproof rain jackets, which can weigh well upwards of a pound (even lightweight versions are seldom less than 12 ounces), an ultralight wind shell offers some significant weight savings.

Here are some of the lightest I've found:

 

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Anorak
Average weight: 1.89 ounces (size for this weight not specified, though size medium is standard). Ultralight 7-denier by 10-denier ripstop nylon fabric. No frills and half-zip shaves this down to the bare minimum. $135.

MontBell Tachyon Anorak
Weight: 2.3 ounces (size medium). 7-denier rip-stop Ballistic Airlight nylon. Features a hood and drawcord for both the hood and waist hem. $99.

The North Face Verto
Average weight: 3.2 ounces. Full-zip jacket of 7-denier nylon features a hood and small chest pocket. $120.

Marmot Trail Wind Jacket
Average weight: 4.3 ounces. One of the better deals on a wind shell. Features drawcord hem and a small chest pocket. $70. Also available in a hooded version (4.8 ounces, $75). 

MontBell Dynamo Wind Parka
Weight: 5.1 ounces (size medium). You get a lot for a few extra ounces, including two large zip pockets, Velcro-closures on the cuffs, a longer drop-seat in the back, and reinforced 40-denier fabric in high-wear spots. Also available in a women's version. $119

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

The Best Hiking Boots? The Vasque Sundowner Classic Gets My Vote

I just ordered my eighth pair of Vasque Sundowner boots, which have been my go-to boots since I began hiking more than 20 years ago. Here's why I love them and keep coming back for more.

The Vasque Sundowner is an iconic hiking boot, produced virtually unchanged for more than two decades.  As the Vasque website says, it's the "boot that built the brand."

Currently dubbed the Vasque Sundowner GTX (also often called the Sundowner Classic), its distinctive burgundy color and design make it easy to recognize on the trails and on the store shelves.

Its strength is its simplicity. The upper consists of a single piece of leather that molds and shapes to your feet over time and miles. (The more I wear them, the more they feel like hiking slippers custom-molded for my feet.) The boots are lined with Gore-Tex for complete waterproofness. The laces run through indestructible metal loops and hooks. (I've never had one break on any of my boots.)

The standard Sundowner features a mid-volume fit that nicely accommodates my wider forefoot, but is still snug enough in the midsection and heel to hold my lower volume instep and heel in place. (Though I improve the fit using a pair of Superfeet insoles.)

The Sundowner offers an extensive range of sizes and fits. The standard runs from men's size 7 to 15; a wide fit is available in sizes 8 to 13. Size-wise, I find that they run on the big side. I still fit a size 14 pair of Sundowners, even though I need a size 15 in most other brands (including most other Vasque footwear). It's also available in a women's version in sizes 5 to 11 (standard fit) and 7 to 10 (wide). In terms of weight, the Sundowner is pretty average: 3 pounds, 6 ounces per men's pair on average. (And yes, a size 14 weighs more than that!)

Despite all of its advantages, Sundowners have one significant drawback: a significant lack of cushioning underfoot. Compared to most of today's hiking boots, Sundowners offer little in the way of shock-absorbing materials under the heel or forefoot. I address this problem with the use of Superfeet, which provides me with ample cushioning under the heel.

The Sundowner is also available in black and brown, though my one experience with a different color many years ago (black) was poor—it fit differently, and much less comfortably, in the heel. I've stuck with the original burgundy ever since.

With care, a pair of Sundowners can last for years. I've ended up replacing mine because: 1) The sole wears down, especially on the outer heel area due to my pronation and/or 2) The leather starts to split and crack at the flex point across the toes.

Both of these problems could be addressed with better care and maintenance than I provide. You can get them resoled. You can also prevent the leather from cracking by applying some leather conditioner to the boot once or twice a year.

Even with minimal (or no) maintenance, each pair of Sundowners has lasted me between 500 to 1,000-plus miles on the trails, plus many days and weeks of around-town wear during the winter months. 

I'm not the only one who swears by these boots. Check out the abundant rave reviews on Zappos.com, where it earns a consistent five-star rating (and retails for $180).

Learn more about hiking footwear and accessories in these past posts:
Hiking/Mountaineering Boots
Hiking Footwear Face-Off: Hiking Boots vs. Trail Runners

New Boots? How to Check (and Adjust) For Fit (2011)
How to Prevent Heel Blisters (2010)
Fitting Hiking Boots for Bunions and Other Wide Foot Issues (2009)
Insoles, Socks, and Other Accessories
Super Laces? (2011) 
Hooray for Superfeet, Part 1 of 2 (2010)
Hooray for Superfeet, Part 2 of 2 (2010)  
General Information
Fun Foot Factoids (2010)
Giant Outdoor Footwear: Where to Find Size 15 (2010)
Are you a Bigfoot? You're Not Alone (2010)

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

What is Ballistic Nylon? One Tough Fabric.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between nylon and "ballistic" nylon? The short answer is durability. The long answer is a little more complex.

I'd always assumed that the term "ballistic nylon" was purely a marketing term meant to persuade (dupe?) consumers into thinking that a particular product was more high-tech, more advanced, and/or more scientifically engineered than its competitors. Turns out I was wrong.

Ballistic nylon refers to a specific type of nylon fabric designed for maximum durability and abrasion resistance. Created by DuPont during World War II, its original intended purpose was for protecting aircraft personnel from shrapnel, bullets, and other ballistic impacts (hence the name). Though tough, ballistic nylon proved largely ineffective for this purpose. Today ballistic nylon is most commonly found in gear that sustains a lot of use and abrasion, such as luggage, duffel bags, and high-wear areas on backpacks.

Close-up of a ballistic nylon 2 x 2 basket weave

Ballistic nylon is created using a very high-denier nylon thread—typically 1000d and above—though the defining feature of ballistic nylon is not the thread denier (and its accompanying weight ), but rather the specific weave used to turn the thread into fabric.

A "ballistic weave" is a particularly tight and dense weave that maximizes the fabric's durability and tear resistance. (The most common ballistic weave is a 2 x 2 basket weave, as pictured here.) This weave pattern provides exceptional tear resistance in all directions, while the large denier of the individual nylon threads effectively resists abrasion.

So what's the upshot? There's some science behind ballistic nylon—and if you're looking for one of the most durable fabrics in your next purchase, you'd be hard pressed to find a better alternative.

Learn more about outdoor fabrics and materials from these past articles and blog posts:
Goose Down: The Story of a Miracle Material (2011)
Why Does Cotton Absorb So Much Water? (2011)
Synthetic Insulation: The Long and Short of It (2011)

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

The Best Backpacking Pillow

The best pillow for backpacking is a stuff sack, clothes, and a soft fleece. Here's how I make them work for perfect, soft, head-supporting, sleep-all-night comfort.

First, you could waste money and pack space (plus carry some extra weight) by buying an actual "backpacking pillow." A range of such products are available, including the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow (7 to 12 ounces, depending on size; $20 - $30);  Therm-a-Rest Down Pillow (3 to 7.5 ounces; $30 to $50); the REI Base Camp Pillow (12 ounces, $11.50); or inflatable models like the Exped Air Pillows  (3 ounces, $30 to $45).

In my opinion, not only are such products completely unnecessary, they also provide radically insufficient head support and cushioning—especially if you've got a long giraffe neck like myself. The few times I've tried them, I woke up with a kinked neck; there was insufficient padding to keep my head elevated to the point I prefer (high enough to keep my neck straight).

My solution? I use my sleeping bag stuff sack as my pillow. I take my extra clothes—be it rain gear, socks, long underwear, an extra shirt—and place them into the stuff sack. (If I'm traveling ultralight, with minimal extra layers, I may need to add some other item for bulk, like a first aid kit or other safe-to-squash item.)

Next—and this is crucial—I wrap the stuff sack with whatever fleece I'm carrying to provide a soft layer next to my face and ears. If the stuff sack is sufficiently bulky, I will usually just zip up my fleece jacket, slide the stuff sack inside, and then position it so that the jacket zipper is against the ground. Without this fleece layer, I have to lie directly against the nylon fabric of the stuff sack. Not only is this unpleasant to the touch, it also creates a horribly unpleasant suction against my ears.

I prefer using this stuff sack system—rather than simply creating a pile of clothes or fleece—because it keeps everything neatly contained throughout the entire night, even if you roll, toss, turn, or even thrash your way through the midnight hours.

You can simplify this process by investing in a "pillow stuff sack," which is basically a regular nylon stuff sack with a soft layer of fleece on the inside. You just turn it inside out, stuff it with clothes, and you have a pre-installed layer of softness ready to go for only an ounce or two of extra weight. Both REI and Therm-a-Rest offer pillow stuff sacks ($10 to $22).

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

Evelo Electric Bicycles of New York, N.Y.

Part 18 in an ongoing series highlighting Northeast-based gear companies. What is an electric bike? It's a bicycle that uses battery power to either 1) provide a small amount of additional power to normal pedaling (sometimes called "pedal assist" or "electric assist") or 2) provide enough power to enable pedal-free riding.

The Evelo Aries.

The challenge of electric bikes, or e-bikes, is integrating a sufficiently large battery pack into the frame design. Evelo Electric Bicycles solves this challenge by placing the battery pack on the back of the bike using a modified rear bike rack design.

Unlike other electric bikes, Evelo models feature what the company calls its "uniquely designed, incredibly powerful mid-drive motor system." It's essentially a 250-watt motor that powers the crank, as opposed to a hub motor that powers the front or back wheel. This allows you to utilize the full range of traditional gears while under electric power. (Alternatively, you can invest in the optional NuVinci N360 drivetrain, which offers a continuous gear range.)  

On a full charge, Evelo bikes can travel up to 40 miles in pedal-assist mode, or 20 miles in electric-only mode. The top speed in electric-only mode is 20 mph. (On an interesting side note, federal law considers electric bikes to be in the same class as a regular bicycle—i.e. no license required—as long as top speed in electric mode is 20mph or less and the motor power is less than 750 watts.)

Charging an Evelo bike is cheap. The web site notes that you can charge the battery 13 times—getting 250-500 miles of use—for only $1. Which is a good thing, since the three styles of Evelo bikes each start at $1,895.

Learn more about bicycles and bike accessories in these recent posts:

• Bicycles for Children of All Ages (2012)
• Get on the Bike: Which style is right for you? (2011)
• Spare Your Pieces: Noseless Bike Saddles (2011)
• Now You See Me: Bike lights, reflectors, and high-visibility clothing (2010)
• Bicycle Helmets: More Reasons to Wear One (2010)
• High-Visibility Backpack Covers for Cycling (2012)

Support your Northeast gear companies! Here are the 17 I've profiled to date:

• Delorme (Yarmouth, Maine)
• Ibex Outdoor Clothing (White River Junction, Vt.)
• Jetboil (Manchester, N.H.)
• New England Ropes (Fall River, Mass.)
• Nemo Equipment (Manchester, N.H.)
• Orion Signal and Survival Products (Easton, Md.)
• Dermatone Sunscreen (Windsor, Ct.)
• Darn Tough Socks (Northfield, Vt.)
• STABILicers (Biddeford, Maine)
• Noble Biomaterials (Scranton, Pa.)
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear (Biddeford, Maine)
• New Balance (Boston, Mass.)
• Sterling Rope (Biddeford, Maine)
• Stephenson's Warmlite (Gilford, N.H.)
• Crazeeheads (Port Washington, N.Y.)
• Equinox Gear (Williamsport, Pa.)
• We-Flashy (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

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

Gear Watch: Video Recording Sunglasses from Pivothead

Pivothead Aurora, $349
Notice the small video camera in the center of the lens.
The battery and electronics are contained within the frame.

Pivothead integrates a video camera directly into a pair of sunglasses. The camera lens is placed right between your eyes, while the microphone, battery, and electronics are contained within the frame. The result is a lightweight, wearable video camera that records the world from essentially the same angle that you see it with your eyes. And, oh yeah, it also provides protection from the sun.

Pivothead sunglasses are capable of recording HD video (1080p @ 30 frames per second) as well as still photographs, either individually, in bursts, or at regular intervals. An on/off switch is positioned on the arm of the sunglasses between the ear and temple and allows you to toggle between video and photography settings.

To adjust the specific settings, you plug the sunglasses into a computer or smartphone (Android only at the moment; iPhone app "coming soon"). Once connected, a control panel (pictured below) allows you to manipulate a wide range of settings, including resolution, ISO, and frames per second.

Considering how much technology is packed into the sunglasses, they are not nearly as large and clunky in appearance as you might expect. They are also surprisingly lightweight—a pair of Pivothead sunglasses weighs only about 75 grams, or slightly less than 3 ounces.

The tradeoff for this compact, integrated electronics magic is a small rechargeable battery—and thus short battery life. According to the Pivothead FAQ page, you only get about 60 minutes of continuous recording time.

Pivothead sunglasses are water-resistant but not waterproof. Rain and sweat are fine. Dropping them in the lake is not.

Pivothead offers four styles, each of which features four different lens and color combinations, including options for photochromic lenses and camouflage frames, among others. They all retail for $349.

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