Gear Blog, Friday 27th February

By Claire Maxted

Gear news

27 February 2009 12:43

Primus Eta Pack Lite stove hit shops
The long awaited Primus Eta Pack Lite stove is out now. This light and niftily packed £75 piezo ignition LP gas stove stove set uses a 1.2litre non-stick titanium pan with a heat exchanger (metal ripples like you find at the back of a radiator) at the base, which increases the efficiency of the stove from 40% to 80%. This means you’ll save weight, the environment and your wallet by not having to buy and carry as much fuel. The pan easily holds the stove and a 100g gas cartridge, and the transparent polypropylene lid also triples up as a colander and plate.

Latest Haglofs sleeping bags
The Swedish gear company have launched a new range of women’s specific sleeping bags for this spring. The new Q bags come in down and synthetic versions and prices start from £90 for the Q 1S (one season) synthetic bag which has a comfort rating of 3 deg C and a weight of 1150g.

The rest of the range features:
Q 2S (two season, you get the gist?) synthetic, comfort rating –2 deg C, weight 1480g, price £100
Q 2S down, comfort rating –1 deg C, weight 1170g, price £185
Q 3S synthetic, comfort rating –7 deg C, weight 1820g, price £110 (pictured)
Q 3S down, comfort rating –5 deg C, weight 1330g, price £200 (pictured)

Most dangerous sleeping bag
If the Haglofs bags don't take your fancy, take a look at this. This bear-shaped sleeping bag is currently being sold in the US, and some American gear bloggers have said, "It's akin to putting a pair of antlers on your bike helmet during hunting season." Sleep walk out of your tent in this furry number in a US national park and you could be a prime target for a ranger with a big gun, or another bear looking for a bear partner...

Hacksawing crampons?
During the recent cold snap we’ve heard from several readers with small feet who’ve asked us, “How do you make crampons smaller for my size 6 [or smaller] boots without a bit of the bar sticking out?” Some have been told they need to cut off this bar with a hacksaw, but if you have Grivel crampons this needn’t be the case. It’s hard to explain in words, so watch this step by step video guide here.

New Nikwax leather protector
Got traditional leather boots? You’re in for a treat. Nikwax has launched a new water-based formula in a tube (60ml and 100ml versions) with sponge applicator which will replace the old-style wax in a tin. Nikwax say this development is a move forward in performance and makes waterproofing your boots safer and easier.

Patagonia’s Phil’s Fleece
Patagonia have designed a new/old fleece based on employee Phil's favourite 80's fleece. He dug it out and it got reproduced using Polartec, using their expanding wool collection. This particular piece uses unbleached wool on the outside and recycled Polartec on the inside. Want to know more? Click here.