Petzl – Actik 450 headlamp
review by Tony Lourens Petzl has been in the headlamp game for over three decades, and it shows. I mean, who can forget that iconic headlamp each and every one of us proudly owned – the Petzl Zoom – brilliant for its time. And headlamp technology is seemingly unstoppable – every model outdoing its predecessor …
Sea to Summit – Pot Kettle
review by Tony Lourens Although the Sea to Summit Pot/Kettle has been on the market for some time now, I haven’t seen many in actual use outdoors. And I ask myself, “Why not?” Simply put, it is a great piece of kit – light, collapsible and very effective.The Pot/Kettle comes in two sizes: the 1.3 …
The North Face – Athletic Mid-layer Jacket
review by Tony Lourens A lot of hype is made about first layers, wicking sweat away from your skin and keeping you dry, etc. And while this is obviously critical when out on the hill, the all-important mid layer is sometimes overlooked in its role as a protective garment, in less than severe conditions.Regulating your …
The North Face – Explorer Trousers
review by Tony Lourens For South African conditions, whether you’re hiking, scrambling, peak bagging or rock climbing, the TNF Explorer Trousers do a really outstanding job.Constructed from a lightweight stretch fabric, you actually hardly feel that you are wearing any trousers at all. They lightly hug your waist, bum and thighs and taper loosely down …
SA Mountain 83 | December 2022 – February 2023
Read the editorial and check out the contents of the latest issue. With up-to-date news coverage, training articles, gear reviews, celebrity profiles, technical tips covering a wide variety of subjects, event reports, big glossy pics and enthralling articles. Read Online Editorial Tick Lists – Part and parcel of the climbing game How many of us …
K2 – A South African First!
By John Black What started off as a fascination 25 years ago, turned into a goal about 10 years ago and became a reality when we left home on June 13 2022, destined for Islamabad, then Skardu, on to Askole, and finally via a 100 kilometre trek to K2 Basecamp. It had taken the climbing …
Barry Fletcher – Reflections of a Climbing Legend
Every country has its share of climbing legends, and in South Africa, the name Barry Fletcher certainly takes a very proud place amongst our country’s greatest climbers and pioneers. As a young lad growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, I used to pore over the MCSA Journals, reading climbing tales and looking for routes …
A Place Beyond the Clouds
Bouldering in the Indian Himalaya By Flo Scheimpflug Curiosity is like a catapult: If the tension is high enough, it doesn’t take much to cut the rope and send you on a long journey of discovery. For Bernd Zangerl, that ‘not much’ was an old photo with a few rocks on it. However, that was …
Vango Aotrom Sleeping Mat
review by Tony Lourens Keeping in the light and small mould, Vango’s new Aotrom (which means light in Scottish Gaelic) is also something to consider if you are looking to shave some grams off your overnight pack, and also reduce bulkiness.The Aotrom is one of the lightest and most technically advanced sleeping mats to come …
Fire Maple – FMS 300T Fire-Lite Stove
review by Tony Lourens Let’s face it, carrying a heavy pack up a mountain sucks! It takes all the fun out of being in the hills. Back in the day, you didn’t have many options, but today, with modern materials and advanced technology, outdoor kit is getting lighter and lighter, and more efficient.These days it’s …