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It’s tiny (although bigger than a PDA), it looks great for expedition blogging. Connect it up to a solar panel and a satphone/3G/GPRS/WiFi connection and you’re away. I like it and I like it allot!
There are no firm details yet other than it having a finger print reader for security.
Geared Up includes a video clip of how it works.
Team Geared Up Blog » Expedition Gadget: The Folding Laptop
For the second time in two days I hear raves for Oregon Scientific products.
Very nice new gadget for the holidays. The ATC2K is waterproof to 3 meters, shock resistant, and easily clips to your helmet, head or handlebars via an accessory kit made for action sports. So you can surf with this. Ski with it. Climb with it. Whatever, and you don’t have to worry about sweat, rain, snow, or water. It takes full color digital video in 640 X 480 VGA at 30 frames per second, which is fine for the web, because really where does anyone watch video any more? And at $130 retail …, it’s good value, especially compared to the only competitor it has, the Samsung SC-X205L Sports Digital Camcorder.
Get Outdoors – Oregon Scientific ATC2K Waterproof Camcorder – Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog
Oregon Scientific ATC-1000 Hands-Free Video Action Camera – Play Hard, Record Everything!
Today, satellite phone manufacturer Globalstar just announced the GSP-1700, the company’s smallest satphone to date, weighing just 7.1oz (203gm) and 43 percent smaller by volume. In addition, this Qualcomm handset packs an EV-DO modem, so you can get high-speed data access from “virtually anywhere you can see sky,” according to the company’s website. The GSP-1700 also stays loaded for four hours of talk time and 36 hours of standby time on a single charge. We’re not sure on the price of this handset, but given that its predecessor, the GSP-1600 goes for $750 (without a service plan), it’s a safe bet that this one will go for at least that much when it’s released “in the coming months.”
Globalstar GSP-1700 satphone also loaded with EV-DO – Engadget
UPDATE: “Decathlon, manufacturer of the 2 Second tent … is shuttering its U.S. operations. They’ve also issued a product safety recall for all their 2006 tents due to extreme fire hazard.”
2 Second Tent Recalled U.S. Operations Shuttered – GetOutdoors.com
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original post – Oct. 11th, 2006
Years ago I saw one of these tents that accordion into a bundle.
It did not work at all.
But the latest generation from Quechua looks like the real deal: “when thrown in the air, it deploys into full form before reaching the ground.”
Repacking takes much longer.
(via Tech Blog – Top 10 Strangest Camping Gadgets)
photos on Flickr – Warren Long
bodiak filmed a pumpfight between his Pur filter and his hiking buddy’s MSR.
The MSR won.
Just for fun click PLAY or watch the video on YouTube.
When Katadyn (Pur) saw this clip they sent bodiak a free Guide Pro, their fastest pump, for a rematch. (Yet to be filmed)
I’d just switched from a 2.5cm Therm-a-rest to a 7cm thick ExPed — then saw the AeroBed Sport All Terrain Raised Bed – Full Size. That’s 48cm (19in) of dream cushion!
Nah, it’s too decadent even for me.
(via Gadling)
Contributor George Novak normally hikes without water bottle or filter. He “prehydrates” — then drinks as much as he can if and when he finds good water. He has no more stomach trouble than the most careful hiker.
Everyone agrees the literature is hyper-cautious when it comes to water treatment.
Doc’s Rules for Sipping the Waters
Study the watershed you are in. Know what is there.
Look for water near to its source.
Try to take water from the sideslope streamlets.
Avoid water from the main valley stream.
Look for icy cold water.
Look for fast-moving water.
Study the area for the presence of large animals.
Ascertain whether numbers of elk have recently been in the area.
Avoid waters near beaver ponds or cattle grazing.
…
Two-Heel Drive: September 2006 Archives
How careful are you with water treatment?
I still chuckle thinking back to the hilarious A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. His outrage at finding out he needed also buy a “pack cover” along with his new expensive pack is something to which many can relate.
The new Arc’teryx Naos packs are getting good reviews.
Arc\’teryx Naos 55 Backpack 3420 cu in – Men\’s Cobalt, Short
After longer use we are not quite as thrilled as during the honeymoon.
The air valves are tricky. To close properly you need twist the valves so far to the right that you worry about breaking them. Valve problems have been common I was told at a gear shop in Canada.
And if low weight is your main concern, stick with the lightest Therm-a-Rest. Our ExPed 7s are 27.9oz (790gms).
On the other hand, I LOVE this decadent, thick mattress. In fact I’ve added a $35 chair attachment for those times when weight and bulk are not an issue.
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Our original post July 10th, 2006
New technology has made your old sleeping pad obsolete.
Last week we tested the Exped sleeping mat — it’s a winner! The best new gear innovation in years.
High insulation value with low bulk & weight, insulated with 700-fill goose down — this is the best sleeping system we’ve ever seen.
The only down side we can report is that it takes longer to inflate than a therm-a-rest.
UPDATE 2 – The Winehiker did some research into the much acclaimed JETBOIL stoves. His conclusion:
Until JetBoil and other campstove manufacturers adopt product policies that incorporate zero waste and a more open design approach to fuel type, canister reuse, and fuel distribution systems, I cannot in good conscience buy or endorse their nonrefillable products.
Dropping the eco-ball: camp stove manufacturers – Winehiker
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UPDATE 1 – after a couple of trips with my new Jetboil Personal Cooking System my experience is “thumbs up”. It’s the easiest stove I have ever used.
A couple of cautions though. Do NOT fill the pot above the “fill line”. If it boils over you are in trouble since the pot is physically attached to the stove.
Also, I found it very difficult to find fuel canisters, even in large cities. And since I was flying between destinations I had big problems. You need small canisters with valves made to the EN417 specification. Only JETBOIL and Snowpeak canisters fit, so far as I know.
The JETBOIL website is not exactly up front on this point. Bad JETBOIL.
=== original post July 14, 2006
Upstart JETBOIL took the Backpacker magazine award for best stove in 2006.
I went to order their Group Cooking System with 1.5 Liter Cooking Pot from Amazon. Built-in igniter, 1.5 liter pot, weight 1lb 3oz. Packed size: 7 x 4.5 inches.
Ultra-efficient, it looks great. (Note: it still suffers the same decrease in performance in cold weather as other propane / iso-butane canister stoves. You are advised to keep the fuel in your sleeping bag at night.)
Problem. Amazon will not ship this product to Canada. When I contacted the manufacturer they told me they have not yet found a distributor.
besthike.com 