Gear
Black Diamond – Pursuit 30 litre
by Tony Lourens I’m constantly on the lookout for the perfect sized pack, with the right design and features for long multi-pitch rock climbs and single day peak bagging missions, and I think my long search has come to a happy ending. BD’s new 30-litre Pursuit is what I have been looking for, for a …
The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight Jacket (men’s)
by Tony Lourens There are quite a few things that I look for when assessing a rain shell. The most important ones are: it has to be properly waterproof, and it has to be properly breathable. That is a given and no compromise can be entertained. The other almost as important factors are cut and …
The North Face Diablo Down Jacket (men’s)
by Tony Lourens There has and always will be two camps with regards to down and synthetic filling for garments and sleeping bags. I own and use both and I feel there is a place for both in the market, but it is hard to beat the warmth, soft comfort and cuddle factor of a …
Nikwax Products
by Tony Lourens Walk into any gear room, or open any wardrobe of a climber or mountain lover and you are likely to see multiple layers of high-tech outdoor clothing from fleeces to soft shells to down and synthetic jackets and rain shells. And that is just some of the apparel. Not to mention sleeping …
The North Face – Exploration convertible trousers (women’s)
Review by Patsy Lourens I’ve worn plenty of convertible trousers over the years, but TNF have taken things a step further with the new Explorations.Manufactured from durable water repellent nylon stretch fabric, these trousers have a nice ‘hugging’ close fit, with a slightly higher than normal waist. This, coupled with a belt closure through its …
The North Face – Borealis Backpack (27-litre women’s)
Review by Patsy Lourens I started off saying this pack is a hybrid, but actually it is way more than that. The Borealis is a multi-functional pack that fared excellently in the hills, as it does in the gym, on your bike, in the work place, a day in the city, or as your ultimate …
Petzl Tikka Core 450 Lumens
Review by Tony Lourens Another solid, reliable and very effective product from Petzl, the originator of the modern headlamp.The thing is, how does one improve on a headlamp which is already at the top of the game?What I like about the Tikka Core 450, is that it is a basic, no frills headlight that does …
Forever Fresh – freeze dried foods
review by Tony Lourens There are two major factors that can hugely enrich your experience when out in the mountains, whether on a traverse across the Cederberg or Drakensberg, a trip into the wild Hex, or even an overnight jaunt to your favourite climbing area. One is you want to carry as light as possible. …
Black Diamond – Capitan helmet
review by Tony Lourens BD has done it again! You just have to go onto the Google reviews of the Capitan helmet to see how popular this helmet is becoming.As with the Vision helmet from last year, the Capitan ticks a lot of boxes. It is compact, light and comfortable. So much so, that you …
The Hydro Flask – Lightweight Trail series 21 oz
review by Tony Lourens I’ve long time been a fan of Hydro Flask products. Great flasks that do the job.At the end of the day, a flask has two important tasks: One, to keep the contents hot or cold for a decent amount of time, and two, to be strong and durable. And Hydro Flask …