[Philmont]: Report from the Winter gear trade show

I got back from the OR winter trade show and thought I would fill you in on the new stuff. Not much.

Wyoming Woolens has new socks. I get lots of socks given to me (don't ask) and usually don't care (except when I mix them up and walk around with two different socks on....) I was impressed with this pair. This is a sewn sock so I was pretty skeptical at first, but after walking around with two different socks on, the Wyoming sock was a lot more comfortable, did not smell at the end of a long day (dedicated person takes off sock and sniffs it.....) Toes felt roomy and I have a wide foot.

At the summer show I purchased a solar charger from Brunton (Solar Port 2.2). It arrived this past November and I starting using it. It's pretty neat. With the attached AA battery charger it will charge batteries or power my cell phone, PDA, etc. Lots of connectors to lose, but everything is there. The Brunton batteries are real nice. Although expensive, they hold the best charge of any reusable battery I have ever used.

The LED headlamps are pretty slick, but I can't justify them. Everyone has one of them. Several LED bulbs with a couple of AA batteries they will run for hundreds of hours. Great for reading. Barely able to see your feet. If you need a headlamp for more than just reading, get a regular headlamp. Then compare the weight of the LED headlamp to the weight of spare batteries for the regular headlamp.

Mountain Hardware and Marmot still leading in innovation. Marmot has the rumored hot stuff for next year. I believe when I see. Mtn Hardwear has some nice tents as usual.

Cascade designs as retained the MSR name. MSR is on all the tents formerly made by Moss (no relation darn it) Walrus and another I can't remember.

The rock climbing shoe industry is moving over to the hiking & mountaineering industry. I have had a pair of La Sportiva Nepali Extremes for several years that are the best boot I have ever worn for mountaineering. I prefer that leather boot over my plastic boots!! They are really starting to fill in the line down to day and multi day hikes. Good design, well made (European) and great soles. Probably pricier than your used to, but will last forever.

Mountainsmith has extended their line of lightweight packs. Combine with their lightweight sleeping bags from last year and you will have a full size pack, zero degree bag and saved 10 lbs.

Lots of "custom" Insoles? Good ones are great, bad ones will cripple you.

Katadyn now owns PUR water filters. As most of you know I am a Katadyn fan and prefer them over the other purifiers in the market.

Snow lion is making more titanium stuff. Small, 1-2 person cook kits. But lite!

Silk liners for your sleeping bag. Decadent I know, but they sure feel nice. Don't weight anything, wick moisture and keep your bag clean. Also in really cold weather, eliminates that shocking cold nylon feel when you first crawl in.

Jim Moss

Jim Moss
PO Box 2656
Silverthorne, CO 80498-2656
JHMoss@Earthlink.net

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Received on Wed Mar 12 16:54:45 2003