Showing posts with label Backpacking Gear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Backpacking Gear. Show all posts

6/11/19

Black Forest Trail Trip Report


Our Liberty Mountain Sales Team that works out of Pennsylvania recently took a backpacking trip on the Black Forest Trail in Slate Run, PA. According to the trail guide, the BFT is not a novice trail: with demanding ascents and descents, challenging stream crossings, and rocky rough sections that will “test the quality of your hiking boots.” As a fairly new team, they felt this was a great opportunity to grow closer together over their mutual love for the outdoors, and to test out some new gear!



They headed out Friday afternoon, with three Gregory packs and a Vaude pack, ranging in weight from 20 to 39 pounds. The plan was to start out easy, hiking counter-clockwise on the trail before setting up camp. "We quickly came upon a deer. It didn’t take long for our Australian Shepherd to notice and try to take off after it. Now we know that the buckle on the new dog lead holds up to some serious force! We ended up adding a couple more miles when we faced a crowded campsite, and the next one being underwater. The section we hiked consisted of several steep ascents, but many of worthwhile vistas!"


Saturday got off to a slow start, but with some impending thunderstorms headed in they knew they needed to keep moving. The trail was pretty washed out, and at times you were just hopping from one side of the stream to the other in an attempt to keep your feet dry. With a storm on the way, the group decided to camp a bit closer than originally planned and reap the benefit of a less back-country campsite, in the form of a picnic table! They arrived to this new camp pretty early, which luckily gave them time to get all set up before the storm hit. There was some thunder and lightning, but mostly just lots of rain.



Sunday morning they got up and made coffee in preparation for the hike back out. A slow, morning sprinkle quickly turned into a downpour. Everyone rushed to pack up camp, chugged the coffee, and headed out!



Liberty Mountain distributes the following gear used on their journey-

Peregrine:


Olicamp:

Other:


Share this article with a friend:

8/23/16

2016 Summer Outdoor Retailer Recap



Another Outdoor Retailer show has come and gone, the streets of downtown Salt Lake City are now a bit less crowded, and all who attended the show are looking forward to new gear hitting the market over the coming months. For those who weren’t able to attend, we’ll give a recap of the “coming soon” products from some of the brands that we distribute.


Peregrine Camping Equipment

Peregrine introduced a new line of sleeping bags, the Altai series. The Altai bags are unique in that they are the first sleeping bag to use a Primaloft down blend as insulation. The blend combines the best qualities of both types of insulation and makes for an extremely compressible and warm fill. The series features 3 bags, with zero degree, twenty degree, and Evo summer bag options. The two warmer bags feature YKK locking zippers and draft collars, while the Evo bag features a non-locking zipper allowing it to quickly convert into a blanket. The Evo summer bag also includes a drawstring closure at the bottom of the bag that can be completely sealed off, and a hood pocket at the top to be used with the bag in blanket mode. All three bags are made with a durable and smooth nylon fabric and feature double zipper protectors to prevent zipper snags.

Peregrine has also released a line of sleeping pads with four models. The inflatable pads come in various widths, thicknesses, and price points to fit almost any camper’s needs.



Cypher Climbing

While there weren't any new shoes or quickdraws from Cypher, the company did show off an all new line of chalk bags. The bags feature unique and playful designs that will stand out at the crag and allow climbers to spice up the look of their harness.



Beal

Beal continues to build on its line of Web-Core harnesses with the introduction of three new lines. The Progress line features non-laminated web core technology and leg loop adjustability in a lightweight package. The new Soft line of harnesses focuses on comfort above all else (except safety of course), and its three harnesses are lined with foam padding for a cloud like fit. The last new line, the Compact, have a wide belt and pack down small. The Mirage harness in this line also features a Recco reflector, making it perfect for mountaineering and ice climbing.



Grivel

Grivel adds to its streak of innovation with loads of new gear. The Clepsydra small will soon be available and was designed as the ultimate belay carabiner. The Tau Twin Lock features an innovative new locking mechanism and is a light and versatile fully locking biner. Grivel’s new Ghost ice axe is ultralight and perfect for ski tours and fast and light mountaineering. The company also introduced a line of trekking poles that are stable, ultralight, fold down very easily, and make a great option for hikers and trail runners. The Airtek 28 backpack is a lightweight climbing pack that features a curved bottom panel to allow easy access to the gear on the back of a climbers harness. As if this all wasn’t enough, Grivel also introduced two new ice carrybiners for racking ice screws, an ultralight model made of plastic, and a full strength aluminum carabiner.



Vaude
The folks at Vaude have also been coming out with some rad new gear. Building off of the lightweight daypacks introduced last year, the company introduced the Zerum line of ultralight trekking packs. They feature a supportive and breathable mesh back panel and weight in at just under two or three pounds depending on the size. Also new for 2017 is the Brentour line of backpacks. These packs are ventilated, made for heavier loads than the Zerum, and feature outer mesh pockets, making a perfect place for stashing stinky or wet clothing. As with all Vaude packs, the new lines are manufactured with the highest commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.



Signings and Events

Liberty Mountain was able to host a number of professional climbers in the booth for poster signings and athlete meet and greets. We partnered with ClimbOn products for signings with Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, and Jonathan Siegrist. A few athletes representing brands distributed by Liberty Mountain were there as well including Stevie Haston, Angela VanWiemeersch, and Pamela Pack.


We were also excited to host a signing for copies of a new Salt Lake City climbing guide “The Granite Guide” authored by Liberty Mountain’s own Nathan Smith, along with Andrew Burr and Tyler Phillips. As there was a limited number of copies available, we had climbers lining up more than 30 minutes before the signing began to make sure they got their own copy.

Overall the show was very successful and as always, a chance to mingle with friends from the industry that we love. We're excited for the upcoming launches of these new products and look forward to the innovation that will come about before the next show.

____________

Share this article with a friend:

6/9/16

Gear Review: Olicamp Kinetic Stove


The camp stove experts at Camping Stove Cookout recently published a review of the Olicamp Kinetic Ultra Titanium Stove, an ultra-lightweight canister style backpacking stove. The stove weighs in at only 1.7oz thanks to its titanium build, and can boil water in 3 1/2 minutes.

The reviewer states "It’s the dimensions and construction that is a huge selling point for most. Being incredibly light and made from titanium, it’s not going to rust and the construction is very strong. This is always a huge plus for me, I need that peace of mind that I can set up camp and not be let down."

He continues "The customer reviews over on Amazon are flawless. There are literally no unhappy owners at this point and that says volumes about this stove. As you will know as well as I do, backpackers are not very forgiving if they get let down by equipment. No worries about that with the Olicamp.
This Kinetic stove is also very affordable, and with it’s unique features and the pots that come with it you’re all set right out of the box. I expect to see a lot more from Olicamp with regard to backpacking tools and equipment in the future."





To learn more about this and other Olicamp products, visit their website 

3/19/15

Vaude Simony Backpack - Featured in Backpacker Magazine




The Vaude Simony 40+8 backpack is now is stores and featured in Backpacker Magazine’s 2015 Gear Guide.

"Why we like it: This pack deftly handles a huge variety of trips--from gear-intensive day-hikes to winter overnights. And it fits almost everybody." --Backpacker Magazine


Continue Reading...

10/27/14

Ultralight Cook Set - Olicamp Ion Stove and Space Saver Mug


Open Air Life reviews the Olicamp Ion Micro Titanium stove and Olicamp Space Saver Mug.

Photo © Open Air Life
"The ION Micro stove and Space Saver Mug make an ultralight and compact cookset that stores everything inside the mug for an easy all-in-one solution."

5/22/14

Gear Review: Vaude Centauri - New Trekking Backpack



New for 2014, Vaude introduces their top-tier trekking backpack: the Vaude Centauri. The Centauri is made for strenuous, multi-day hikes that require you to haul all of the gear on your back. The Centauri is a real workhorse with plenty of storage space and excellent carrying comfort.