Osprey Raptor 14

There is something pretty neat about the new Osprey Raptor hydration packs: they use hydraulic pressure to bring water through the tube. No more sucking. It just flows. There is also a hiking/running line called Mantra. The Raptor is available in 4 sizes, (6, 10, 14 and 18), and uses a customized integrated Nalgene hydration bladder that has a solid back, which locks into the pack easily, even when it’s full. There is a system that puts pressure on the bottle, which in turn spouts the water. That is a great idea. They also have a bungee helmet button system to hold your helmet. They will range form $80 to $120.

That looks like a smoking pack and would be excellent as a day pack on rides. My hydration bladder broke last year. I have been meaning to get another. Instead, I’ll just get a Raptor pack. Seems like a win-win situation. This has teh benefit or being able to work on road rides and MTB rides. Once I get a training road bike, I’ll mount my stubby tires again and go MTBing. Now, all I have to see if a few odds and ends, like a notebook and a laptop, can fit into the pack as well. I’ve been using a Osprey Atmos 25 and 35 since 2007 as my main packs. They are slim and streamlined. I usually wear them on my scooter or on my bike. Though they Atmos is great, it’s not a bike specific pack and I’ve been meaning to find something.

The Atmos 25 is pretty gruddy and needs to be washed. The Atmos 35 has been used less since I almost always take the 25 out. They aren’t great for books, as they are streamlined. I get the idea that this is true for the Raptor as well. However, I’ve got a 13″ notebook, so it might not be that much of an issue.

The new Arc’Teryx hydration bags, which will only be available in the spring of 2010, look pretty darn ordinary compared to this Osprey.

Bridgedale makes great socks.

Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht on how to stay warm in cold climates and cold weather hikes. (see pdf as html)

Cold weather clothing issued for Nasa people working in the Antarctic.

Best of adventure gear 2008 by National Geographic.

Leatherman’s 5oz multitool is a beauty.

Nau makes sustainable clothing (and a kick-ass website as well!).

The difference between eVent and Gore-Tex fabrics.

Multitool.org reviews multitools.

Excellent article on expedition boots, even though it dates from 2003, it’s still relevant.

Another way of insulating your hiking boots is to use supergaiters, gaiters that completely cover your boot from the sole.

Overboots are another solution to insulate your boots. These are designed for mountain expeditions.

A list and explanation of the equipment needed for a Denali climb.

I bought an Alpha Arc’Teryx LT last January in Taipei. At the time, I was a lot heavier than I am now. It was an XL and initially, I bought it one size larger, thinking that I would put on loads of layers underneath. This was even after the salesperson told me that these types of coats are meant to fit very snuggly, and that’s how they work best. Naturally, I didn’t know what I was doing. 10 months later, I noticed how loose that coat was on my frame. I decided to try and sell it and purchase an Alpha SV (Severe Weather) instead.This time, it was size M and it came in the color I wanted, Miro Blue.

The Alpha SV is a lot sturdier, even though it only weighs a few grams more. You get an extra shoulder pocket, very handy for buss passes, an extra interior pocket on the right side and just more hems and cords on the hood and the body of the coat. It’s shaped better and it fits better. The LT is a streamlined coat perfect for mountain climbing. The SV has no problem with -30 to -40C weather and extremely cold winds.

What I really like of Arc’Teryx coats is the design of the hood. It’s really good and there is always enough room for a scarf. The collar goes up very high, so as to give you extra protection from the wind. The hood is designed for a helmet, so it’s nicely adjustable. You get tapered zips, taped seams, and most of the coat is glued together.

The Alpha SV is made out of GoreTex ProShell, a three layer material. It weighs 6 ounces more. It’s total weight is 19 ounces (541g).

This coat performs very well. I’ve yet to try it during hard exercise to see how it performs, but ultimately, it does perform well under heavy rain, sleet and snow. I’ve worn it in -30C weather alreayd and I had no problems whatsoever. All I had on was a fleece made out of Polarctec ThermalPro. That’s it.

As promised, some photos I took of the Oakley Kitchen Sink backpack that I got last week second hand. It’s a pretty cool back. A 17″ widescreen laptop fits in the laptop compartment. That’s pretty slick.

A 17″ widescreen laptop fits easily in the Oakley Kitchen Sink. That’s pretty cool. That’s also rare. Photos are taken, they will be uploaded later in the week.

I found an ad on tealit which mentioned an Oakley backpack for sale. It didn’t mention the model, but I called the guy. He didn’t know which model, but after a few questions I knew that it was the Oakley Kitchen Sink backpack, Oakley’s top of the line model which I have had my eye on for a few years.

Years?

Yes, years.

I spotted it when it came out and almost bought it in 2006. However, I decided that I would get more backpacker gear, from companies such as Arc’Teryx. I did get an Arc’Teryx Acrux 40. Oakley makes some nice stuff, but it’s in-between true outdoors gear and urban gear. It’s actually a lot more urban gear, when it comes to their packs, which is why I could never justify the cost of the Kitchen Sink. For the price, you can get a full on backpack from a reputable outdoor brand. Some of the Arc’Teryx packs, like the small Bora 35 and others, are available for about 150-250$. The Kitchen Sink isn’t really worth that much money in my book.

However, this was an ad for a used Kitchen Sink. It hadn’t been used much and was about a year old. I met the guy and inspected the bag. It seemed almost pristine. I bought it for 70$. That was a pretty good deal.

My wife told me that the Kitchen Sink looks like an expensive pack. It looks very sturdy. It has an expandable bottom, which is handy. It comes with a shaped top lid, where you can store glasses, shades, or multimedia gear.

There is a nifty pocket in the front which can easily house my Nikon D200. It doesn’t have any dedicated water bottle holsters per se, but it does have two large pockets on the side which are perfect for water bottles. I had no trouble fitting in 1L Camelbak bottles. I guess if you aren’t using the laptop sleeve, you could fit in a hydration bladder. I will have to try it out.

As promised, a whole lot of photos of the new pack, the Arc’Teryx Acrux 40, a streamlined waterproof mountaineering pack.

Arc’Teryx is a Canadian company, with a factory located in North Vancouver. A few years ago they had to relocate some of their production lines to Asia, in order to remain competitive. However the top lines of the brand are still manufactured in Canada. Both things that I own from Arc’Teryx, the Alpha LT jacket and the Acrux 40 pack, were made in Canada.

The Acrux is a streamlined mountaineering pack, made to shed the weight of a trekking pack. It’s basically a streamlined version of the Naos. They packs share the same lines and a similar design.

The Acrux packs come in three sizes: 40L, 50L and 65L. The Naos packs come in four sizes: 45L, 55L, 70L and 85L. I would have gone for the 50L, but they didn’t have it. They did have a Naos 70L. It’s an impressive sight.

I’ve played around with it a bit over the weekend. It’s a pretty nifty pack. Small enough when compressed for daily use and expandable enough to use on day hikes and weekend hikes. The pack can also be used for alpine climbing and ultralight backpacking. The pack does weigh about 3lbs (1.6kg) but it is made rugged.

I’ve come up with two interesting features. You will note that the pack seems full. It isn’t. It’s full of air. I kind of filled it up like that, when I closed it. That is amazing. This made me think that these packs can be used to serve as an improvised life jacket in survival situations.

Also, if you are camping and have to go get water from a stream or something like that, the pack can be filled up completely with water. Since it’s waterproof, no water will leak out. Now that’s pretty impressive. A few people have tested the pack by completely submerging it in a pool. The stuff inside remained bone dry.

The pack has a sleeve inside for a hydration bladder. Also, there is a waterproof access point in order to get a hydration tube through. There is a way to use the top lid from getting water into the pack, but the best way would be simply to put the hydration bladder in the front of the pack, with the zipline. That way the integrity of the pack isn’t compromised.

As mentioned before, the only problem is the lack of pockets. This can be a problem for some hikers. Accessing your stuff can be a pain when it’s all in one compartment. However this is a sacrifice that some hikers don’t mind making since their gear will remain dry, even in the most torrential downpour.

The Naos pack has got a nice kangaroo pocket in the front of the pack. It’s also got a more advanced hipbelt system. However it’s more expensive and I’m not going to pack a few hundred dollars more in order to get that feature. Naturally, I might just pick up a Naos pack the next time I’m in Vancouver. The Arc’Teryx factory has a few sales every year, usually at the beginning of summer and mid-way through the fall. Gear can be discounted up to 70%.

From the Arc’Teryx website:

The smallest Acrux, this pack offers the ultimate in streamlined simplicity. Features such as rear bungee, AC² Fusion Points, anchored side compression straps, and flush mounted stretch-woven backpanel are all laminated to the pack using AC² technology.

I don’t think I’ve seen a photo from the top side before, with the rolltop undone. The lid is removable and waterproof. Underneath, you will find a rolltop closure.

Features:

• RollTop closure
• Four external compression straps
• Fully seam taped
• Hydration bladder pocket
• Laminated moulded AC2 Fusion Points
• Monoframe backpanel
• Pigment dyed WaterTight Zippers
• Radially formed shoulder straps and HipPods
• Removable top lid
• Twin aluminum stays
• Waterproof Hydroport
• Webbing hipbelt with strippable Binary HipPods
• 3D shaping

Materials:

• 420ACT fabric
• Spacermesh
• Tweave® Durastretch®
• EVA foam
• Kydex framesheet
• 6061 aluminum stays

Inside the top lid.

Details of the back of the pack.

A photo taken of the inside of the pack.

I finally got the Arc’Teryx Acrux 40. They didn’t have the Acrux 50. They did have the Naos 45, 55 and 70. Both packs use similar construction. The Naos has a nifty kangaroo pocket, that is also weatherproof in front of the back. Also, the complete Naos line has an advanced molded hipbelt, which is absent from the Acrux. I’ve read that it can make the Naos pack swing side to side in an uncomfortable manner.

The Acrux 40 can be compression strapped down to almost nothing, which is really cool. It’s actually smaller strapped down than the Osprey Atmos 25 that I have. I’ve decided not to use it while I’m in Taiwan.

Why do you ask?

Well, I’ve compared my Atmos 25 and my Atmos 35. The Atmos 25 is the pack that I have on my back every day. I take it with me on the scooter and go all over the place. It’s a very comfortable pack and I no longer notice the weight. Surprisingly people always comment on how heavy it is, even though I only have a hardcover book, a moleskine notebook, pencil case, Nikon D200 and 18-200VR lens and some water bottles.

But I digress.

I’ve never used the Atmos 35 while I was on the scooter. I always used the 25. And it shows. I basically got these packs almost brand new from a guy who was getting rid of them. I paid 100$ for the Atmos 25, 35 and the GoLite Jam. That was a great deal. The colors of the 25 were pristine when it started out on my back last year. It has become extremely dirty. I’m thinking about scrubbing it down this weekend. I’m also thinking about giving my French bulldog Spike a bath, even though I finally gave him a little scrub shower last weekend.

It’s simply amazing the difference in color. I’ll take some pics and post them over the weekend before I clean it.

Scooter + Arc’Teryx Acrux 40 = No-no.

What do I love about the Acrux 40?

It’s basically a stripped down no-nonsense version of the Naos. It’s completely waterproof. It’s rugged construction and lifetime warranty.

Oh, and I decided to get the Titanium grey color. The Gold Rush goldenrod was just too much for me. I was lucky that they did have both colors to choose from.

I’m leaning towards getting an Arc’Teryx Acrux 40 or 50 in the next few weeks. I would have gone for the Naos 45 or 55, but they are just too expensive. The Acrux is streamlined for lightweight backpacking.

I’m planning on making the Acrux my daily pack. It’s completely weatherproof. The only things that are missing are pockets. In Taiwan, the Naos 45 is 200$ more than the Acrux 40. They are priced similarly to the US. The Naos is not worth that extra money in my opinion. All it has more is a wee bit more storage and nifty kangaroo pockets in the front. The Acrux has a zipline instead, handy for a tripod or a jacket. The main reason why the pockets are mostly absent is because the pack is a whole lot easier to waterproof if it’s made in one compartment. Stitching on more pockets and compartments makes the pack harder to waterproof. I’ve actually examined these packs closely. You could fill them up with air, and they wouldn’t let any air out. It’s a bit annoying, but it’s something that’s not a big problem.

I can see how this might be a major problem on hikes to peaks. This means that to access something in the pack, you’d have to unpack most of the pack in order to find the item. This can be annoying. However since dampness and moisture are completely kept at bay, it’s a sacrifice that’s not too hard to live with.

My main problem with the GoLite Jam is that the pocket in front isn’t expandable to the outside. If you put something big in it, it just eats up the storage space from inside. Doesn’t make any sense really, but maybe it’s because I was stuffing a DSLR camera in there. With the Acrux, the problem is solved. I’ve examined the pack closely. The lid is removable and can easily house a DSLR camera. Having the camera on top is actually a lot safer than having it inside the pack. The camera is also easily accessible and can be taken out in a cinch. That was a big beef that I had with the Atmos packs. It took forever to take out my camera, since it was at the bottom of my pack, wrapped up in some clothing and foam moldings. I’ve long stopped using dedicated camera bags. They are too visible, too easy to steal and sometimes just uncomfortable or unwieldy. Expedition packs are perfect for this use.

That’s another thing. The Acrux and the Naos are actually molded and glued together in parts. Just like the Alpha LT and SV jackets, these packs are really technologically advanced in their construction and materials. The Acrux is the lighter of the two, having been streamlined for alpine use.

I went to one of the outdoor shops near Taipei Main Station exit 7 on Zhongshan Rd. I played with the packs for about 20 minutes. Naturally, I was attracted by the Arc’Teryx packs. If possible, I’d get all of my gear from the BC company. However, most of their gear is pretty expensive, which is why I have only a few choice pieces from them, mainly an Alpha LT jacket and a beanie. I first started examining the Khamsin and Bora packs. However, they aren’t very sturdy if you compare them to the Acrux or the Naos packs.

I think I’ll go for the Acrux 40 since it can be compressed easily to a manageable size for everyday use. In fact, the pack is about the size of my Osprey Atmos 25. Since the Osprey loses a lot of volume by incorporating an Airspeed back, a place to store a hydration bladder that keeps the pack away from your back, so that it’s less hot, it’s surprising how close in size their are. I found that both the Atmos 25 and 35 are unusable for school, since width wise, they are curved, making packing books almost impossible.

The incredible benefit of the Acrux is that it’s completely waterproof. I mean totally waterproof. You could chuck the pack into a pool and your stuff would remain dry. That’s appealing when you face the harsh snows of Quebec or the torrential rains of Taiwan, which I have seen in the space of a few months.

Colors.

That’s a pickle. I’d go for the Titanium grey color, though the Gold Rush goldenrod color is appealing, it would clash with other colors and make the pack extremely visible. Since I plan on jury-rigging the pack to transport my Nikon D200, that’s not recommendable.

I have to say that the build quality is impressive. Compared to the Khamsin or the Bora, the Acrux looks really bomb proof. The materials are heavy and rugged. They look tear and scratch resistant. They feel solid to the touch. After I played with the Acrux and the Naos, I looked back at the Bora and the Khamsin. They were extremely flimsy. Although they did have a lot more pockets, which are very useful, I’m sure that I’d be able to get by. Right now, I use pockets to put in odds and ends.

When I was going to school, the GoLite Jam that I was using had only one big pocket in front. I used it for my camera. I’m sure that a compartment crack is easy to fabricate with odds and ends. I plan on using some foam and other supplies to make sure that my Nikon is firmly in place. I’m a bit weary of the way that it’s been sitting in my Atmos.

A review of the ascent tents that are available for alpine climbers. I didn’t know they existed.

After I posted this story on my blog, I got this response from Camelbak.

I was actually very surprised by its content. The marketing department didn’t give me a lot of details.

I got four Camelbak Better Bottles. A 1L which replaces my lost one, a 750ML and a 500ML. On top of that, I got their new BPA free Classic Cap 750ML bottle. Needless to say that it made my day.

I also got two t-shirts and a hoodie.

Thanks Camelbak!

I must have drunk 4L of water on Friday thanks to my bottles. I’ve been using the 750ML BPA free bottle with a sucking cap as my main bottle. I like the smaller 500ML bottle as well. I’m happy that I got a light blue 1L bottle. Initially, this was the color that I wanted to get. In the shop in Taipei, where they retail for about 9USD (they retail for about 14USD in the US), the blue ones didn’t have the plastic shrink wrap on, so I just went with the gray one.

* * * * *

Relevant posts

• A Lost Camelbak Bottle on the Storytree
• A Message from Camelbak

36 hours in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Well, it wasn’t that bad, but still a tad annoying.

It started raining today. The snow is melting, but the sidewalks are a disaster. Thankfully my Zamberlan Master GT RR boots are weatherproof and have GoreTex. I could step in a deep puddle and not feel wet. My pants aren’t as weather proof. I’ve started wearing cords because of the mild weather that we’ve been having recently.

My Arc’teryx Alpha LT Pro Shell had no problems. When I arrived home during one of my breaks, I used thick plastic bags to quickly make my GoLite Jam backpack weather proof. The slushy weather made me want to run. I kept my eyes on the sidewalks and the puddles at all times. Things will not be pretty tomorrow when it all freezes over.

The thing is that the weather was so damp that it chilled you to the bone if you weren’t wearing proper clothing.

I saw that Leo from Zenhabits is heading over to Thailand in June, so I thought that I’d put my thoughts on traveling in Asia in one spot. Since 2006, I’ve been living in Taiwan. In the beginning of 2008, I came back to Quebec, Canada to complete studies for a Master’s degree in mathematics. I’m leaving for Taiwan at the end of April 08.

1. Don’t drink the water in tropical countries

It’s best to stick with bottled or filtered water. Some hotels will filter all of their water, but it’s best to just drink bottled water. This is even true for Taiwan.

2. Don’t travel with a laptop

A laptop with the added weight burden is just unwieldy. Internet cafés are a dime a dozen in Asia. They have broadband internet and the cost is minimal.

3. Don’t stick your USB thumb drive in any computer

I picked up a virus in Thailand this way. It stayed with my computers for at least 6 months. It was the AdobeR.exe virus. It replicated itself across my systems and had fun. It nests itself in removable storage and is a bugger to remove. I was uploading photos at the time. It’s best to wait until you come home to do that.

4. Pack light

If you are going to a tropical or sub-tropical climate, it’s best to pack light. I travel with a functional backpack, an Osprey Atmos 35. It’s big enough to house my camera gear, a change of clothes and my toiletries. If you need anything else, it’s very easy to pick up cheap things in Asia. It’s easy to pick up a large bag in Taiwan to house all of the stuff you buy in Asia. There is nothing worse than being stuck with big luggages in sweltering 35C heat.

5. Avoid cotton clothes

Cotton clothes or denim clothes absorb moisture and just stay wet without any wicking. Jeans are heavy as hell and weigh a lot. Eliminating these from your baggage or backpack will save you pounds. I usually take functional clothes. All my layers, from my underwear to my outer layer dry extremely fast. No dampness is held in. It’s a good idea to go for insect repellent and UV protected clothing. You’ll be thankful once you arrive

6. Take a good pair of hiking boots

I’ve got Zamberlan Master GT RR boots. I’ve worn them comfortably in -30C and 35C+ weather without any problems. You’ll be walking a lot and thongs might be appealing on the beach, but in the city, through temples, you’ll want something protecting your feet.

7. Take a few good pair of socks

Spend a few dollars and get some thin liner socks with some thin tropical expedition socks. The liner socks will make sure that your feet stay dry. They’ll wick away the sweat and keep them dry in most environments. Nothing is worse than cotton socks.

8. Take a Lonely Planet Guide

When going to a new country, I find it’s best to just drag along your Lonely Planet guide. I’ve found cheap hostels and sights to see thanks to them. Even if sometimes the information is dated, it’s always filled with useful information.

9. Take a few extra memory cards

Instead of carrying a laptop, I carry a few extra memory cards for my camera. They are cheap and extremely lightweight compared to a laptop. With a few 8GB or 16GB, you’ll have enough storage to last you a few months, even if you take a thousand of photos each week.

10. Take an iPod and a paperback book

I’ve come to shun the video games and cumbersome multimedia gear when I travel abroad. I take my 160GB iPod Classic and a paperback book on flights. Even if you are busy, you’ll find that you’ll need the peace of mind of taking a little time away from traveling.

11. Use public transport

In most Asian cities, public transport is dirt cheap. In Thailand, it’s easy to travel between cities for just a few dollars thanks to the very efficient bus system. I’ve taken the bus to Ayutthaya, to Nathon Pathon and a few other towns in Thailand from Bangkok for 3$. You can go up to Chiang Mai with a bus for 20$.

I find it’s best to travel by bus in the country you are visiting, instead of using planes, because you never know how your plans will change once you arrive.

12. Be wary of the taxi mafia

In towns like Phucket, be wary of the taxi mafia. They will try to scam you when you arrive at the airport. That being said, this isn’t true for Bangkok. I’ve had the best time on motorcycle taxis in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Leaving the airport, we paid 500BHT (13$) by taxi to drive to Ao Chalong where our hotel was located. Getting to the airport when we left cost us 85BHT (3$) by bus.

* * * * *

Relevant Posts

• Thailand Chronicles Index
• Expedition Thailand Gear
• Expedition Quebec Gear
• Essential Adventure Gear

So I woke up this morning to -33 C weather. The cold doesn’t really bother me. I actually like it. There is a tartness in the air that I appreciate, especially having missed a winter while I was in Taiwan.

I added another layer on my body to keep things warm.

Since I missed the bus yesterday, I was at the bus stop a few minutes in advance just to make sure that I wouldn’t miss it. If I miss the boss, I walk 5 minutes to the metrobus bus stop. A metrobus comes by every 7 minutes. It’s not so bad, but it’s annoying. It might sound annoying, but it isn’t that bad. It just makes me walk more. I’ve lost about 15lbs.

What can you do about it? Nothing, just get a bit of fresh air and walk in the cold.

I started teaching on Saturday mornings this weekend, from 9-12. It was good. My student is the most advanced student that I’m teaching now, and we alternate between grammar, phonics, reading and writing. I thought that 3 hours would be long, but time flies when you are occupied.

I left minutes after finishing my lesson and promptly missed the #11 bus by about a minute. I tried running, but it was no use. Once again I walked for about 7 minutes to get to a metrobus bus stop. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shinning and there weren’t many clouds in the sky.

The wind was cold. I was wearing my sunglasses because of the glare of the sun.

A classmate asked me if I wasn’t cold with only my thin coat on. I explained the layering system that I use. I wear a Shöffel Thermal Pro polar as insulation and an Arc’teryx Alpha LT as a hard shell windbreaker. Thermal Pro is the lightest and warmest polar that Polartec has come up with.

For some reason, I felt the need to itemize what I wear.

I start out with a baselayer. Breathable, quick drying and sweat wicking. It’s a basically a t-shirt with some jockey briefs, made out of a synthetic fiber. I have different brands, from Götzburg, Salewa, Eider, Atunas and The North Face. After the baselayer, it’s time for thermal underwear. I wear the a pair of Götzburg thermo bi system. The fabric is actually made out of more than one layer to manage sweat and wick it away.

Over this, I wear a cheap no name layer. This is just the first layer before my main insulation layer. Next is my main layer before the coats. It’s some Taiwanese brand named Widland. I like them because they have a zip up collar and they are a bit thicker than my other layers, but not too thick.

I then wear my polar and hard shell. Around my neck, I wear a Polartec neck gaiter and a polar scarf. I wear thin Cloudveil gloves made out of Polartec. I doubled up on the gloves instead of wearing a bulkier pair. My other pair of gloves that I wear over the Cloudveil ones are no-name ones that I got free.

On my legs, when it gets this cold, I wear micro fleece pants over my thermal underwear. Then I wear my Goondy Windy snowboarding pants. Snowboarding pants are cut to look like normal pants. They are comfortable and have ventilation zippers. They also have a lot of pockets, which is useful. I always wear a Bridgedale sock liner and Bridgedale Expedition socks. My Zamberlan Master GT RR hiking boots are always on my feet (Zamberlan site). The only time they’ve gotten cold is when I was waiting for a bus for about 40 minutes. Usually when I walk, they are fine.

I’m warm in these clothes. I don’t get too wet if I sweat and the thin layers aren’t bulky. It’s funny how in all the years that I lived in Quebec I never really thought about cold weather clothing. Cold weather clothing is typically bulky in Quebec, full of down feathers.

Temperatures hit a low of around -22 C.

I love how the weather sites say that “Oh, BTW it’s only -15, but it feels like -25 C due to the wind chill factor!”. Some people say that the wind chill factor doesn’t matter. It does matter because there is always a part of you that is exposed to it. Unless you wear a balaclava and goggles, you are going to get chilled by the wind. Thankfully almost all of my body is well hidden behind a layering system.

I was comfortable outside.

I was wearing a baselayer, Götzburg thermal underwear, a mid-layer and another layer underneath my coat. My coat system is comprised of a Thermal Pro fleece with an Arc’teryx Alpha LT Pro Shell. Usually when I get in from the cold, I’ll have to remove a layer on top of removing my coat to get comfortable and not soak my clothes.

I was wearing Goondy Windy snowboard pants as well as two pairs of gloves. I had decided previously that when it got cold, it’s best to double up on the gloves. The thin Polartec Cloudveil gloves that I wear day to day aren’t thick enough for the wind. I haven’t worn my LaFuma climactive gloves that much unless I went hiking. They are bulky.

I wear a Arc’teryx beanie when it’s colder and I have no qualms of using the hoodie of my coat. Since I use the hood of my coat, I haven’t needed to double up on hats.

The Alpha LT is a marvel. It breaks the wind very effectively and is so light.

It’s surprising how warm these layers are. I surmise that I could endure at least -35 C in these clothes without changing a thing. If it gets any colder, there’s always the Snow Mantra from Canada Goose.

It was snowing again today. It’s been snowing most of the week.

Lippi Selk Bag is a sleeping bag suit.

Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, a slideshow from the NY Times.

I’ve been indulging in too many 7-11 meals and street food in Taiwan. I’d also been drinking some Coke to give myself that last bout of caffeine to get through my evening classes. Since Spike arrived, I’ve been walking more.

Since I’ve arrived in Quebec, I haven’t eaten anything unhealthy, except that first stop at Ashton. Everyday I’ve been eating home cooked meals that I’ve prepared myself. Just yesterday, I made a chili. I’ve made broiled chicken in the oven, a spicy chicken soup, some tomato and basilic sausages and a great chili. I’ve been eating a lot of fruits. I haven’t been eating any sweets or chips. I haven’t drunk a soda since I arrived. I’m drinking 25% of the tea that I used to drink.

I think I’m doing pretty well. I’ve discovered pumpernickel bread again. It’s delicious. I don’t like whole wheat or multigrain bread. But pumpernickel. Reminds me of my childhood. I eat it with a bit of Chorizo dried sausage and Danish blue cheese. Blue cheese is excellent. I really like the taste. I haven’t eaten it in years. I used to eat brie or Camembert, but blue cheese is just great.

Now that the semester has started and that I have my student card, I’ve decided to start working out again. I went to the PEPS today after my classes. The PEPS is the sports center for the university. 35000 students go to University Laval. The PEPS needed to be substantial in order to accommodate them all, including staff and other customers.

I started out by getting a basket with a towel, some shorts, a t-shirt and some socks for my running. For the whole semester, I paid 23$. I then went for a swim. I had checked the schedule and knew that I had about half an hour before the end of the afternoon access. I swam for about 20 minutes. It was all confusing since I had taken out my contacts. I could barely see where I was going. I found it comical. I had to ask someone which swimming corridor of the pool I could use. I used the deep end and I liked it.

I then took a shower and popped into the sauna. I stayed there for 30 minutes and left. The walk to the bus stop was arduous. I was really tired. I made it and had to wait another 20 minutes for the bus. I came home and ate some chili.

Last Sunday, I went cold weather hiking.

It was a beautiful sunny day. Temperatures hovered around 0 C. We left a little past noon to go hiking on the Bear Trail. The ground was covered with snow. To prepare, I was wearing extra insulating micro-fleece layers on my legs. I was also wearing thermal underwear. Needless to say, it was too warm for the weather, but I managed. I would have been fine with only two layers on my legs.

I walk a lot because of my dog Spike. Walking on snow is different. Your feet go into the snow. The trail is also for snowmobiles and 4×4. I took a few pictures along the way. Soon, my camera bag felt heavy. Next time, I’ll take a backpack. The air felt fresh and tart. It wasn’t cold and soon we were working on a sweat.

We didn’t go for a long hike, only an hour or so. But it was the beginning of a program to get me fit again. I enjoyed the hike and wasn’t tired afterwards. I was breathing hard though. The last picture shows me fully geared up with gaiters and my layers.

Bio-hazard? Yes, a bio-hazard to your wallet!

In November, I decided that driving on the scooter at the speeds that I was going was getting a bit too dangerous. I went to a motorcycle equipment shop and purchased some equipment. I had done some basic research and knew what to expect.

The big thing was actually getting the right size. In Taiwan, where the median height is a lot shorter than my 6 foot frame, getting right sized clothes from local brands is tedious. This is one of the reasons why I buy foreign brands in some things. For example, most of my outdoor gear that I bought for my three month trip back to Quebec, Canada, came from an outdoor shop neat Guting MRT. I mainly bought foreign brands. I did buy some local brands as well for the smaller stuff, like micro-fleece insulating pants, sweaters and the like. In fact none of the foreign brands had insulated toques, so I got a local brand. It’s partially a situation of give and take.

The most annoying thing about these stupid gloves is that the zippers that close the glove are now broken. One gave way a few weeks ago and the other joined in protest this week.

Back to my main subject of this post. I went to this shop, I couldn’t really tell you the exact address. It’s not far from BangKa Blvd on Heping W. Rd. It’s near a Happy Marian school.

More threads falling off the gloves.

Anyways, I went inside and wasn’t surprised to find most of their gear was way too expensive for my taste. I mean, I wasn’t going to spend the worth of my scooter in motorcycle gear, as much as I wanted to. I went through their gloves and made the mistake of getting the cheapest brand, SBK Motorcycle. It’s from China from what I can tell.

The gloves looked pretty rugged.

Rugged? Yeah right! Look at the threads, I haven’t been in an accident or scrape these gloves. They are just falling apart.

I bought a weatherproof motorcycle jacket from the same company for NT4000$ (US121$). There wasn’t a cheaper jacket available and they had my size. It looked nice and had padding on the arms, shoulders and back. It looked pretty secure. I felt secure in it.

Gloves and jacket together.

Almost immediately, after a few days, I noticed these threads coming loose from the velcro pads. It was really annoying. Recently, as you can see from the picture above, the velcro neck strap broke off as well, so there is no way to secure the jacket anymore.

The gloves aren’t really better. The zipper broke on one glove a few weeks ago. The other broke this week. These are also not weatherproof gloves. They get wet and stay wet for a while. It’s really annoying to have wet hands, which is why I wear gloves in the first place.

A broken combo, gloves and jacket.

I’m still wearing them, but I’m pissed off. If I would have spent more money on foreign brand names, I’d still have good gear. Now I’m left with this gear which I’ll just use when I come back to Taiwan. If the seams break apart so easily, you wonder what will happen when I fall down. Anyways, they do still feel secure, but I’m annoyed.

On the other hand, I got to try out my inherited SB-800 speedlight. It works great with my Nikon D200. I had it with me to my wife’s exhibit at Citizen Cain on the weekend, but I must have inadvertently put the camera on manual focus and all of the shots (20) turned out blurry.

I’m very satisfied with this flash. It’s getting me to study flash photography. I’m currently studying Lighting 101 from Strobist.

Göztburg is a German company which was founded in 1889.

They make technical baselayers, from thermal underwear to sweat wicking T-shirts. The thermal underwear is called Power Concept Thermo Bi System. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find any reference to it on their website. My guess is that they have discontinued production of these layers. Which might be the reason why it’s being sold off at 20% off at the outdoor shops in Taipei.

The Basic System is based on a highly functional double layered system. It’s designed as a technical baselayer for snowsports, outdoor/trekking, teamsports and tennis. The inner layer is made out of Tactel (polyamide) which ensures rapid sweat wicking from the skin’s surface. Tactel is a very light fabric. I’ve seen in in Eider technical underwear as well.

The outer shell is made out of Proviscose from the company Lenzing. This second fabric absorbs the moisture and stores it. It transports it to the next layer. Thermal regulation is possible. The Basic System is available in black or white.

The Thermo Bi System is thermal underwear. It too uses a double layered system. Instead of using Tactel, this one uses Thermolite. The outer shell is made out of a mix of polyester and angora wool. This absorbs the moisture. This one is also available in black or white. It is designed for outdoor/trekking and snowsports.

I got a T-shirt and some thermal underwear two weeks ago. I’ve been testing them out this week, because of the cold. They work extremely well. I especially like the feel of the Basic System. It’s a lot better than other baselayers that I’ve tried and the fit is really nice. I recommend it.

Expect to pay about NT1000$ (US27$) for a T-shirt of the Basic System. About NT1800$ (US57$) for the thermal underwear. BTW, you’ll have to shell out two times 57$ to get the long sleeved T-shirt and the long underwear to have a complete system. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s worth it in my opinion.

I thought that Bridgedale made Gore-Tex socks, but they don’t. Their Summit GTX socks are approved for use by Gore-Tex. I checked the fabric content. I prefer their Heavyweight Endurance Summit socks. I actually think that the socks are the same as the Endurance Summit socks, but from another model year. The GTX leads to think about Gore-Tex and this label might have been put on by some online retailers, not Bridgedale themselves. In the shop, the sock was named Summit. My guess is that it’s the Expedition Summit. The new model is called Endurance Summit. Though I couldn’t tell if it was a heavyweight sock.

I just love these boots. These are expedition style boots from Asolo. They are called the Manaslu GV. Scarpa make a decent pair as well. They are called the Scarpa Phantom 8000. 8000 because they are rated for an altitude of 8000m.a

You can climb Mount Everest with these. You can go to the North Pole with these or visit Alaska. There are no dangers of frostbite with a pair of these on your feet.

What makes expedition style boots so fascinating is that no expense has been spared to make them. That is why they cost so much. Around US800$.

They use a triple boot system. Most expedition boots use a double boot system. They use a technical liner to start things off. Then the actual boot goes over this. It’s an 8″ affair. The boot is pretty rigid. Over this boot comes an overboot. This overboot packs more insulation and is used as a supergaiter as well. The overboot usually includes some aluminium or other material to reflect the heat back to your foot.

Model Manaslu GV
Outer Gaiter High Tenacity Cordura + Reinforcements with laminated Kevlar
Gaiter Lining Gore-Tex (XCR technology)
Shell Cordura mm Felt
Shell Lining 4 mm polyethylene + aluminium layer + velveteen
Inner Boot Breathable polyester + microfiber
Inner Boot Lining Breathable polyester + 200 gr Primaloft
Lasting Board Carbon + fiberglass
Anatomic Footbed Manaslu felt + 400 gr Primaloft + Cambrelle
Sole Vibram Mulaz + dual-density midsole in microporous rubber + PU attachments for automatic crampons
Fit MM
Weight Gr 1.531 (1/2 pair size 8 UK)
Size 6-12,5 UK

Inner boot

The inner boot, shell, and external gaiter are assembled together to offer maximum light weight, insulation, and a great fit. The double internal lacing, the waterproof external zipper, the avantgarde materials and technical components utilized, offer maximum guarantee for extreme use.

Light weight, breathability and comfort are three of the main features of this new inner boot. Thanks to the particular lacing system and the optimal fit, the foot is always comfortable. Insulation is guaranteed by Primaloft lining.

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Relevant Posts

• Overboots
• Insulated Socks and Boot Liners
• Expedition Boots
• Expedition Quebec Gear

I’ve realized that most hiking boots aren’t insulated. This is because if they are insulted, they don’t breathe as well. Hiking boots are really great if they keep you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot.

Since I am heading into a real winter climate, I was checking out different options of liners to have some insulation on my feet. The best option would be something that includes a Polartec fleece fabric or a Thinsulate fabric. Duratherm from Gore works well too. Most manufacturers will have their own insulating materials.

Additional boot liners aren’t easy to find, but they exist. The thing is to find one that fits in your hiking boot. After doing some research, I’ve discovered special socks.

There is the VaprThrm insulated sock from RBHDesigns which I find really interesting. Rocky Boots does a 13″ oversock out of Gore-Tex. The Rocky sock is a thin affair. The VaprThrm is almost 15.5″ high and is nice and thick. The socks cuffs aren’t waterproof, so water can leak in through there. It’s best to have them covered up.

Cabela makes a 13″ Gore-Tex sock which includes 100g of Thinsulate material.

These solutions should help isolate your hiking boots fully. Expect to pay between 40 to 45$ for these socks.
Wigwam makes an Ingenius insulated boot sock. They have some Gore-Tex in them and also have a second layer to insulate.

From the fabric content of the heavyweight Expedition Summit Bridgedale socks, we see that they do contain some insulating material. These are the warmest socks from Bridgedale and cost about US20$. They don’t use any Gore-Tex material, but use Endurofil which includes polypropylene. Polypropylene is used in thermal underwear. Patagonia’s Capilene is made out of polypropylene. Most hiking boots do use Gore-Tex in them, so what you are looking for is a good insulated sock.

Patagonia makes a Heavyweight Mountaineering sock on the same principles.

An Arc’teryx Alpha SV Revised hard shell made out of Gore-Tex Pro Shell material.

So you’ve just spent your hard earned cash on that shell that you’ve been lusting after and you’re wondering, how do I care for a technical shell?

Caring for a technical shell is a bit different than your usual jackets. They need specific care so that they remain water repellent and breathable.

If you notice that your shell no longer beads water, it’s time to wash it. It’s recommended that after 6 to 8 washes or 40 days of use, that the DWR (Durable Water Repellency) finish should be reapplied. First of all, don’t use any detergents or fabric softeners. You have to use specific soaps that won’t degrade the DWR finish of your jacket. You should use warm water in a gentle wash cycle. Brands like Granger’s G-Wash Cleaner Plus, Nikwax Tech Wash or McNett Xtreme Wash will not adversely affect the DWR finish. The goal is to remove the dirt that masks the fabrics water/stain repellent finish. The most effective cleaners for performance fabrics remove dirt, contaminants and odors without leaving water-attractive residues behind

Once washed and thoroughly rinsed, the garment is ready to get it’s Gore Revivex, Granger’s Spray On, McNett Spray On Water Repellent or Nikwax TXDirect Spray On used on its outer face. These will restore the DWR finish. Then, it’s time to tumble dry at medium heat. The heat will reactivate the DWR finish. Excessive heat will damage the finish, so it’s important not to use too much heat. That’s 50 minutes on medium heat (perma press), which equals to 130F (50C).

Arc’teryx recommends Granger’s products for use with their jackets. Most interesting is the Spray On UV Waterproofing from Granger’s, which adds UV protection on top of waterproofing.

Most fabric manufacturers state in their washing instructions that outdoor garments can be machine-washed in powdered detergent, and in principle this is true. However detergent residue in technical fabrics degrades the durable water repellant (DWR) finish, and will negatively affect the performance of laminates (which includes most waterproof-breathable and windproof fabrics) to the point where their waterproof/watershedding performance is seriously impaired.

Therefore, if you intend to wash a shell garment in common household powdered detergent, it is essential that the garment be rinsed extremely thoroughly. Top-loader washing machines not only rinse poorly, they also contain significant amounts of detergent residue internally. At the very least, run several rinse cycles if you machine wash one of these garments.

Another alternative is to use a special cleansing product such as Nikwax Tech Wash or McNett Xtreme Wash. These products will not leave any performance-degrading residue in the fabric, and they will not adversely affect the DWR finish.

Do not use a fabric softener of any kind on shell garments.

Most fabric manufacturers state that technical garments can be tumble-dried, and in principle this is also true. It can even lead to an improvement in the performance of a DWR finish as the chemical compound is released out of the fibers of the face fabric by the heat. However, excessive heat will damage laminates and may lead to de-lamination of the seam tape.

If you are uncertain of how accurate your tumble dryer heat control is, play it safe by air-drying your garment.

The DWR finish can be degraded by normal wear and tear, as well as exposure to contaminants such as oil, dirt and detergent residue. (Detergents strip the DWR finish by leaving water-attractive molecules in the face fabric.) When a DWR finish is degraded the garment will not shed water as effectively – it will no longer cause water to “bead” – therefore wetting-out faster, making it feel cold and clammy.

Using after-market treatments such as Nikwax TX10 or McNett Thunder Guard can restore water-repellency. These are wash-in treatments and can be applied in a washing machine once the detergent residue has been rinsed out. In the case of fabrics with wicking or insulating liners (like polyester or fleece), it is better to use a spray-on DWR finish such as Gore-Revivex or Nikwax TXDirect Spray On, which you should use only on the outer face fabric. If the wicking or insulating layer is also treated, its wicking performance will be reduced.

These after-market products contain no fluorocarbons – so if you have read that waterproof treatments might cause health problems, you can rest easy. The polymers used in Nikwax TX10 are in the same chemical family as the glue used in grade schools.

The above water repellent treatments can be applied to other windshells to increase their water-shedding performance significantly.

Alternatively, you can do it with McNett Seam Grip. First clean both the inside and the outside of the laminate with isopropyl alcohol. Then stick Scotch tape on the outside of laminate, along the line of the tear (this is only a temporary measure while the Seam Grip dries). Then apply Seam Grip to the tear on the inside of the laminate – please follow the manufacturers’ instructions carefully. Leave the garment to dry for at least twelve hours, then peel off the Scotch tape: the tear will be durably, almost invisibly repaired.

Small tears in waterproof-breathable laminates can be easily repaired with a self-adhesive McNett Gore-Tex Patch. Follow the instructions provided. These patches are ironed on.

Tears in wind shells and soft shells are best repaired with a sewing machine. With both straight and non-straight tears, ideally you can patch it with a similar piece of fabric. Straight tears can also be repaired by overlapping the sides and sewing over the double-width of fabric.

Part of this article was found here.

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Relevant Posts

Hard Shells and Soft Shells

I’ve given notice at my jobs that I will be leaving in the second week of January last week. Things have started to get awkward. I haven’t really disclosed anything to the staff. I’m letting the boss take care of that.

In one school, they always leave the windows open now because a lot of kids are sick. The trouble is that this school is located on a busy road. A lot of polluted air comes in. I have sensitive lungs. I don’t do well with pollution. The minute I enter the classroom, I start to cough. I’ve resorted to wearing my Respro industrial strength Techno pollution mask in class. The trouble is that I look like Darth Vader.

In my other school, they don’t have filters on the air conditioning or they don’t clean them. As soon as the air con starts, I start to cough. My asthma is back. I haven’t really had any asthma for years. It started coming back in September, when I got sick. I’m tired of it. Always needing my pump and the shortness of breath.

I’m sure that the other teachers at my morning job already know. I’ve been singled out by not having to participate in the rehearsals for Sports Day. I’m glad that I got out of that one. They would have paid me for one hour’s work on a Sunday morning. I would have had to get up at 7AM. The whole thing, including dances and performances would have taken at least three hours.

I’ve rechecked my schedule and found out that I will only leave Taiwan around the 8th of January. I’ll be back in a few months.

I’ve had time to ponder my jobs this year. The best job was still the one I had in Hsinchu at a private elementary school. There was no corporal punishment and I could run my classes like I saw fit. It was that job that made me love teaching. Right now, my morning school is filled with abuse. And I’ve gotten reports that other branches are like this as well. Not all branches, but still. It’s sad to see a teacher dragging a little kid away to get beaten or punished. It happened today again.

I still believe that hourly wage is the way to go. You work less hours and get the same money as if you are full time at a school. The key is being a part time teacher. I’d stay away from any school asking a deposit. That means that they have a high foreign teacher turnover ratio. My first school actually gave a NT30000$ (~US900$) bonus at the end of the year. None of the schools I have worked at in Taipei have done the same thing.

The best schedule in my mind is teaching from 9-12 in one place, and then 1-7PM at another place. That would be 45 hours a week. You wouldn’t finish too late and it would be a good pace to go on. the 1-7PM block is easy to fill. I’ve seen a number of schools who offer this schedule. The morning hour block is basically for Kindergartens. Those are also easier to find. Personally, I plan on staying away from bilingual Kindergartens and schools that try to mess with you by not paying you for break time or play time. In the end, you will find that your break time is filled with frantically paced paperwork that you have to finish. One of my schools does this and I’m sick of it. It’s just a way to screw you over.

You’ll find that bilingual Kindergartens are a mixed bag. The ones I worked at didn’t impress me. The kids English language ability is severely impaired compared to a Kindergarten which gives classes only in English. I find that a K2 class in a Whole English school is a lot stronger than a K3 class in a bilingual school.

I’d also be careful about the schools that have a reputation to maintain. Most of the time, this translates into pressure from the administration onto the teaching directors. Then, the pressure is put upon the teachers who have to push the kids to perform. This situation is a breeding ground for abuse.

For Christmas, my wife got me a Polartec Thermal Pro Schöffel fleece. I got her a New Year’s dress. We have been having a great time together recently. The fleece fits nicely with my Milo Tival jacket. I’m currently looking into getting a Gore-Tex Pro Shell from hopefully Arc’teryx, if I can find the right deal. I still have to get some more long underwear and Bridgedale Expedition socks. I’m still breaking in my Zamberlan Master GT RR boots. I have to get some insoles.

I was able to buy a shell from Milo. It’s just a basic shell, nothing too technical. I bought it second hand, but it still had the tags on it and had never been worn. It’s main fabric is Aquatex 10/10, a Gore-Tex like fabric. I’ve been told that it functions differently from Gore-Tex, but I haven’t seen it yet in action. It’s not the Arc’teryx Alpha SV technical jacket that I want, but it’s a beginning I guess.

One of the reasons that Gore-Tex clothes cost so much is that they have to be approved by Gore. Gore-Tex is a trademarked fabric. While most climbing and mountaineering companies produce clothes with Gore-Tex, they also produce their own custom fabrics. For Milo, it’s Aquatex. They also produce clothes with Gelanots.

I’ve read that Arc’teryx was bought out by Salomon in 2002. The main factory for Arc’teryx is located in North Vancouver. I’ve read that they have sales there. They have rebates up to 70% three times a year, and they have 30-50% off regularly. It’s worth the detour if you are in BC. I plan on visiting the factory and making some purchases when I’m in BC in the end of June. It’s possible that a sale might coincide with my passing. This year, there was a sale on the last weekend of June. The next sale happened in the last sale of October. It’s easy to find the dates, you just google them.

25% of the materials used in Arc’teryx have been outsourced to China. In my opinion, this devaluates the brand itself. I would pay a premium for clothes made in Canada, but I wouldn’t pay the same premium for clothes made in China.

The same is true for most buyers of Arc’teryx clothing:

Arc’teryx was a small brand whose garments are expensive, they catered to a high end niche market of outdoor enthusiasts who didn’t want to be wearing the North Face jacket everyone else had, and were willing to a pay a price in order to get something better.

I bought these boots today. They are listed at $219.99US. I got them in Taiwan for $181US. They are the Zamberlan Master GT RR. Don’t worry, I didn’t get the green ones. I got the light blue/gray ones. I went to the camping stores on ZhongShan N. Rd. Take exit 7 from Taipei Main Station to find them. They are all stacked in a row. I was pretty happy to find out that they had my size. I got EU46/US11 size shoes. They fit like a glove and I got them just a little big so that I could fit all my socks on later.

I had wanted to get an Arc’teryx expedition coat, but they are just too expensive. I’m not going to pay $500US for a hardshell coat. On top of that, you’d have to buy a thermal layer, which would add another $200-300US. I have a very warm Oakley coat that I got at a discount earlier this year in March. It was $121US. It’s dark blue on the outside and gray in the inside. It was originally listed at about $400US. It was a model from last year which was already marked down. I got another 40% off.

Instead, I got some long thermal underwear, with sweat wicking abilities from Götzburg. I couldn’t find a website, but they were at a 20% discount. I also got a few sweat wicking t-shirts. One from Götzburg and about four from The North Face. I got some Bridgedale Heavyweight Summit socks ($23US) as well as some liner socks ($10US). For cold weather, it’s best to have a liner sock that wicks the sweat away from your feet and a heavy expedition sock over it. Usually in the winter, I always wear two pairs of socks. With the liner sock, I could probably wear three. The key in being comfortable in cold weather (-20°C plus a -10°C in wind factor­­) is layering. It’s easy to forget. I didn’t really think about that when I was living in Quebec. But I am thinking about it right now, especially since I will be using public transport.

The only thing that I got from Arc’teryx was a nice dark blue tuque (I kind of like Arc’teryx). It was funny seeing all this stuff from Canada. It was all bilingual which was cool. Bilingual as in English/French. Maybe when I’m in BC next summer, I’ll drop by the factory (Arc’teryx are based in BC) and try and find some outlets. Sounds like an interesting idea. My wife mentioned that I should probably get a bigger tuque that covers my ears. Sounds like a good idea. In winter in Quebec, you can easily wear two tuques without a problem. I’ve been reading that this is the coldest winter in Canada since 1994.

I also got some Global Spirit sweat wicking T-shirts. They were pretty cheap, about $15US each. I find that wearing T-shirts in Taiwan is pointless. They get wet from sweat very quickly. You have to change them often and it gets annoying. I’ve been using two sweat wicking T-shirts for a few months and they work well in the winter and in the summer. People at work ask me if I’m cold. I say no. They are usually wearing heavy sweaters and I have a T-shirt on. I tell them that I come from a cold country. That’s funny. My heritage is Indian, so I should be very well adapted for the heat. But I spent over 20 years in Quebec, and I have lived almost all of my life in places that actually had winters.

Before that, I lost some time at the Guang Hua computer market. It’s located on the intersection of XinSheng Rd. and Civic Blvd. MRT station Zhongxia-Xinsheng, exit 2. It was overwhelming. And I’m not the only one that thinks so.

I’m looking for a few little things for the next few months. I’m thinking about getting an iPod (mine is dead in the water, although I think I will have it repaired. I’d go for the 160GB iPod Classic. None of the iTouch nonsense for me. At least until they have a 250GB iPod Touch), a used laptop and a few doohickeys like a LaCie 500GB Porsche external HD ($148US) and an 8GB USB drive. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting an Asus Eee PC, but I think that I will not indulge. It’s small, compact, but with a little more space, you can get a full ultraportable laptop (11.1″ to 13.3″ is what I’m aiming for).

Walking around was really strange. I wanted to get a Nintendo Wii, but was severely disappointed in finding out that 95% of all Wiis in Taiwan are the Japanese NTSC model. I’ve found no English games. Meaning that people here play the games in Japanese. That’s kind of funny.

After doing some research and making a few calls, I discovered that almost all Wiis sold in Taiwan are modded. They come like that. Or it’s an option. The modding enables the Japanese Wiis to play any region games and also backed up games. Meaning that getting new games is pretty easy. That solves my dilemma. I’ve been reading about some horror stories about the Wii shortages back home. As usual, these things are a lot cheaper here. I checked out Craigslist in Quebec. They have the Wiis being sold by resellers for $420CAN, which is a lot since the Canadian Loonie is worth a lot more now.

I walked for an hour or a bit more than that, I can’t remember. You can find some great deals if you have the patience, but be prepared. There are literally thousands of stores packed in that district. It’s hard to make sense of the place. And they all sell the same thing. You have to have the patience and the desire to shop around. I was burdened with my backpack and my helmet. I had my motorcycle jacket on and was hot. It wasn’t that good. But I saw a lot of things. I saw the new Sony VAIO TZ 28. I wouldn’t get that laptop, but it’s tiny! It has a 11.1″ screen. It’s almost in the same range as the ASUS Eee PC.

An acquaintance told me that the video game district is located in Taipei City Mall, underneath Taipei Main Station, between exits 6 and 8. I’ll go check that out in a few days.

Of course, I’ve gone about ten times around the question without really mentioning it. But yes, I’m going back to Quebec for a few months.

Arctic explorer and adventure enthusiast Tina Sjogren has slammed Bear Grylls in a recent interview. She thoroughly was flabbergasted by his advice on how to survive a fall into the ice in an arctic climate. Who is Tina Sjogren? The only woman to make it within a month to both poles in an unaided expedition. She climbed Everest too, unaided. Grylls was part of a large commercial climb and suffered from frostbite.

There are also problems with Edward Michael Grylls’ claims of being part of the famed SAS. It has been discovered that Grylls wasn’t part of the elite unit, the SAS 22, but the Territorial Army, SAS TA 21.

Arctic skier/explorer Tina Sjogren, who fell through the ice at the North Pole, reacted with disbelief when she saw Bear’s demonstration of how to deal with falling in a frozen lake.

“What is he doing?” Tina commented the youtube burp in disbelief. “And who dug those hand-holds for him?”

“There were two problems when I fell in the water,” Tina says. “1. There were no holds to grab when I tried to get out. 2. The thin edge of the ice kept breaking off under my weight.”

Spotting her ski pole floating around, Tina managed to catch it and swim to a thicker section of the ice, where she could drag herself up using the sharp tip of the pole. “It’s important to know that you have more time than you think in the water. Don’t panic, and don’t kick about. Take a deep breath before hauling yourself out – the air in your lungs will increase your buoyancy.”

And on Bear’s push-ups in the nude, “I definitely did not strip afterwards. That would have been extremely stupid – leading to instant hypothermia,” she said. “Wet or dry, the clothes will insulate, giving you enough time to find a suitable place to make camp. You can roll in the snow to remove excess water from the clothing if you want to, but if you strip you’ll really find yourself fast in trouble!”

Tina survived the ordeal, along with 4 Everest expeditions, all without frostbite. “There’s nothing wrong with inexperience, we’ve all been there,” she adds, “but it’s another matter when taught to a TV audience. Or when actors forget they’re just that – it’s like Sylvester Stallone starting to believe he actually is the World Heavyweight Champion.”

Yet Tina has a reservation to make, “I have a hard time to believe the episode. Is it Bear for real? Eating a raw fish right after, too? That’s the last thing you’d want to do – plus it’s bad for you. Perhaps it’s a comedy interpretation? I don’t know what to think anymore. Why would people even want to watch this?” ^[20]

More detail from Tina on thepoles.com which is the source of these revisions to Wikipedia [Ed. Note: You will find a few repetitions, since we include unedited articles only.]:

“Hey lads, do us a favour next time you refer to Bear Grylls in an article can you make it really clear that he was in the SAS TA (21)” said a reader email today. Seems there’s a big difference between the ‘real’ SAS (22) and SAS TA (21) – part of the Territorial Army. Seems also that Grylls and Discovery have had lots of people upset with their show and claims, and for good reason.

Arctic skier’s comment, “What is he doing?”

Bear reportedly left SAS 21 TA following a parachute accident. We don’t know what happened back then, but we do know that after his 1998 Everest summit, Bear was airlifted from BC with frostbite to his feet. He managed to get these in spite of being in a commercial expedition climbing on supplementary oxygen, and in fairly good weather.

Dramatically increasing since the arrival of (commercially led) inexperienced climbers on Everest; frostbite in the “old times” usually only happened to people climbing on no (or bad) oxygen, or in jet-wind type storms (compare to independent Karakoram climbers this season).

While team ExWeb hasn’t followed the Man vs. Wild series, we did check out a youtube link sent to us by the community. Youtube on Grylls

In this link, ‘Harry Hill’ shows episodes from the series including a section where Grylls teaches survival after falling into an ice hole. ExWeb double checked Bear’s technique with one of ExWeb’s own; Tina Sjogren who – in an unsupported skiing trip to the North Pole – actually did fall through the ice into the Arctic Ocean, wearing no survival suit.

“What is he doing?” Tina commented the youtube burp in disbelief. “And who dug those hand-holds for him?”

Nothing wrong with inexperience – it’s another matter when taught to an audience

“There were two problems when I fell in the water,” Tina says. “1. There were no holds to grab when I tried to get out. 2. The thin edge of the ice kept breaking off under my weight.”

Spotting her ski pole floating around, Tina managed to catch it and swim to a thicker section of the ice, where she could drag herself up using the sharp tip of the pole. “It’s important to know that you have more time than you think in the water. Don’t panic, and don’t kick about. Take a deep breath before hauling yourself out – the air in your lungs will increase your buoyancy.”

And on Bear’s push-ups in the nude, “I definitely did not strip afterwards. That would have been extremely stupid – leading to instant hypothermia,” she said. “Wet or dry, the clothes will insulate, giving you enough time to find a suitable place to make camp. You can roll in the snow to remove excess water from the clothing if you want to, but if you strip you’ll really find yourself fast in trouble!”

Tina survived the ordeal, along with 4 Everest expeditions, all without frostbite. “There’s nothing wrong with inexperience, we’ve all been there,” she adds, “but it’s another matter when taught to a TV audience. Or when actors forget they’re just that – it’s like Sylvester Stallone starting to believe he actually is the World Heavyweight Champion.”

Yet Tina has a reservation to make, “I have a hard time to believe the episode. Is it Bear for real? Eating a raw fish right after, too? That’s the last thing you’d want to do – plus it’s bad for you. Perhaps it’s a comedy interpretation? I don’t know what to think anymore. Why would people even want to watch this?”

Parental advisory about “documentary” fairy tales

A quick google on the subject reveals that the training for the ‘Bear SAS’ (21 TA) is a shortened version of the regular SAS selection – where most 21 TA’s never make it. Bear’s apparently pretending to be – but not being a “real” SAS is just one of the things that have ticked people off.

The main question remains though – how Discovery and sloppy documentary film makers will adjust to the criticism. Media can’t fabricate stories and claim they’re real: Fairy tales need to be advertised as exactly that – anything else is deception.

Last week, ExWeb ran the story “Pilots say prove it” written by British journalist Tarquin Cooper about Bear Grylls’ alleged flight over the summit of Mt Everest. Turned out, it wasn’t a flight over Everest after all. But it was too late – the media crew had already spread the incorrect news worldwide.

ExWeb did the story with respect to the 2004 spectacular over Everest flight of British Microlight pilot Richard Meredith-Hardy and Italian hang-glider pilot Angelo D’Arrigo. The two stunned the entire mountain as they came soaring toward the summit. Angelo fulfilled a dream that was four years in the making. He prepared extensively for the project by working in hypobaric chambers and testing gear in a wind tunnel.

Angelo d’Arrigo died on March 26, 2006 when a small Sky Arrow plane piloted by a retired military general fell 200 meters to the ground. Angelo left behind the wild birds he’d taught to fly, and a world of mourning fellow explorers for his courageous, no BS spirit of adventure.

Tina Sjogren and her husband Tom skied to both earth’s geographic poles back-to-back and without airsupport, climbed Everest in their own expedition, crossed from Europe to South America in an old sailboat, and did a number of other treks and trips – including in the Amazon and Borneo rain forests. No film crews, no media – just the real deal.

Even though Mrs. Sjogren and her husband didn’t have any film cameras, I’m sure that their treks would be worthy of some type of posterity. Now those documentaries would be thrilling to watch.

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Relevant Links

• A profile on Tina Sjogren and Thomas Sjogren, founders of ExWeb
• ExWeb, Tina’s and Tom’s website

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Relevant Posts

• Bear Grylls’ PR Nightmare
• Bear Grylls Faces Allegations of Deceiving his Viewers
• Bear Grylls Born Survivor

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Featured Photographer

Apurdam (Andrew)

Following allegations of deceiving his viewers on his show Man Vs Wild/Born Survivor, airing on Channel 4 in the UK and the Discovery Channel in North American, both networks are reviewing the upcoming shows. They have said in a press release that the upcoming shows and repeated shows will edited to include full disclosure. This is the reason why we haven’t seen anymore episodes.

This summer, Bear Grylls’ faced some allegations that he deceived his viewers; one of the core things about his show is that he is dropped into the wild with only a camera crew. However, it has since been reported that he spends nights at motels or hotels and that there are actually some fake elements in his shows, such as the bear attack in one episode and the raft on the Deserted Island episode, which was assembled by the crew.

From Reuters:

Discovery Channel is re-evaluating one of its most popular series, “Man vs. Wild,” after allegations surfaced that its survival-expert host was bunking in motels when he was supposed to be braving the great outdoors.

The network issued a statement Monday in response to an investigation launched by British television network Channel 4, which carries the program under the title “Born Survivor: Bear Grylls.” Channel 4 confirmed that host Bear Grylls had partaken of indoor accommodations on at least two occasions when his series had depicted him spending the night in the wild.

“Discovery Communications has learned that isolated elements of the ‘Man vs. Wild’ show in some episodes were not natural to the environment, and that for health and safety concerns the crew and host received some survival assistance while in the field,” the network said in a statement.

The production company behind the series, Diverse Television, is cooperating with the Channel 4 investigation, which likely will address a range of allegations that called into question “Wild’s” authenticity.

In each episode of the series, Grylls is airlifted into the wilderness with only a few tools to aid in his survival, such as a flint or water bottle. A former British special forces soldier, Grylls is typically depicted as subsisting for several days without intervention or interruption while cameramen follow him offscreen. He has been stranded all over the globe, including Utah’s Moab desert and the Costa Rican rain forest.

But among the charges made against Grylls is that a raft he is depicted as having built himself actually was constructed and then disassembled by consultants to the show in order for the host to put it together. In another episode, Grylls happens upon what are referred to as wild horses that were said to be brought in from a trekking station.

The brouhaha could become a PR nightmare for the channel, which in recent years has abandoned contrived unscripted formats in favor of the scientific explorations that first made the Discovery brand famous. “Wild” in particular has emerged as one of its main attractions during the past two seasons.

But the company gave no indication about parting ways with the series, only making certain unspecified alterations.

“Moving forward, the program will be 100% transparent and all elements of the filming will be explained upfront to our viewers,” Discovery said. “In addition, shows that are to be repeated will be edited appropriately. Bear Grylls is a world-class adventurer and a terrific talent.”

A spokeswoman for Discovery declined to elaborate on what exact measures will be taken to address the concerns raised about “Wild.”

Among the likely possibilities: a disclaimer that will precede each episode explaining that some of the events being depicted are dramatized.

On July 13, Grylls spoke at the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour in Los Angeles about production of the series but gave little hint of any shenanigans behind the scenes. At one point, he described what it was like to bed down in the wild.

“Often at nighttime, they will get helicoptered out, and they might have to recharge camera batteries and hand in footage, and then they leave me a little minicamera for the night stuff, and they come and rejoin me in the morning,” he said.

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Relevant Posts

• Bear Grylls Faces Allegations of Deceiving his Viewers
• Bear Grylls Born Survivor

Urine is 95% water, so it’s safe to drink. It’s best to drink it quickly though, because it is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Bear Grylls

I was made aware of Bear Grylls by Carrie; she told me about him and his series called Man Vs. Wild on Friday. I took the time to watch the five aired episodes of season 2 yesterday. It was pretty funny. I like the fact that he only has the clothes on his back, a knife and a water bottle to help him in his quests. Unlike Survivorman, he doesn’t bother with complaining about moving about the cameras, he has a film crew following him around, which is the way it should be.

Right, this bear/crocodile/alligator/snake looks pretty peeved off; I wouldn’t recommend going any nearer. What you do, is that you back off, not showing your back, and give it a wide berth.

This is from his wiki entry:

Bear Grylls (born Edward Michael Bear Grylls on 7 June 1974) is a British mountaineer and adventurer as well as best-selling author, television presenter, and international motivational speaker. Grylls, a former member of the British Special Forces, made his name by becoming, at the age of 23, the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest and return alive in 1998.

He hosts the television program on Channel 4 in the UK called Man vs. Wild (on the Discovery Channel worldwide). Grylls is currently filming new HD episodes of the Man Vs Wild born survivor series.

Normally, when he comes upon a river he can’t cross or a cliff he can’t scale down, he jumps on a tree and wiggles his way down. He eats something disgusting every episode, from grubs to spiders and scorpions.

Grylls has got a blog and a website as well.

I have added another section to The Memoirs.

In the last few weeks, I have developed serious interest in backpacking and ultralight backpacking. So these will be showcased as well on The Memoirs. You can access these articles by exploring the new backpacking tag or consulting the articles section under backpacking.

Also any gear or things that would fall under adventure traveling will be included in this tag.

You can also consult the following posts.

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Relevant Posts

• Essential Adventure Gear
• Thoughts On Ultralight Backpacking
• Travel Bug
• Adventure Travel
• My Want List
• Expedition Thailand Gear

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Featured Photographer

Kenny Maths

I saw this article on Men’s Journal about essential adventure gear. I was researching review of the Arc’teryx Naos 55 and found this interesting article. There are a few items that I really liked on this list. Other like the inflatable kayak, the constellation viewer, the GPS, the mountain bike didn’t really interest me. Also, after having done some research, I was able to find lighter or more practical things than they mentioned.

I will start with the three items that weigh the most of a backpacker. The goal is to get the weight somewhere within 2 to 5.5lbs for all of these items. These first items are the ones that I found which were lighter than the ones mentioned in the article.

I then pursue with sun protected and insect repellent clothes, which are a must in hot conditions.

I’ve included a useful chart that I have seen in the wikipedia entry on Ultralight Backpacking.

Examples of reducing weight:

As you can see, with a target weight of 5.5 lbs, the base gear will be in the ultralight category. I have found a sleeping bag that weighs 1lbs and 2oz (1.125lbs), a tent that weighs 2.7lbs and a stove that weighs 2.01oz (0.125625lbs) with a wind shield. The Osprey Atmos 35 pack that I have weighs 2.5625 lbs bringing the total weight to around 6.5lbs (6.513125lbs). Pretty good with a lot of gear.

The Sleeping Bag

Pictured above is one of the lightest sleeping bags available, the Wicked Light from Sierra Designs, good for up to 45ºF/7ºC.

Total weight: 1.125lbs

The Tent

Pictured above is the inflatable Nemo Equipment Hypo PQ tent.

When packed, this thing is as big a volleyball! Talk about light and compact.

Total weight: 2.7lbs

The Towel

Just like Douglas Adams mentions in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, it’s always best to have a towel with you. And what towel! The Sea to Summit Pocket towel weighs 1.5oz and is not your average towel. 16″x 32″ big.

Most towels are made out of cotton and weigh a ton once they are wet. This towel folds up to the size of a baseball!

Total weight: 1.5oz (0.09375lbs)

The Shirt

A Berhaus indigo colored Pancora shirt with Healthguard (repels insects and bacteria) and SPF50 sun protection. A must when traveling in really hot places.

This is the shirt that you want when you are in the sun all the time on a trip. It wicks away sweat, protects you from dangerous insects and the sun. What’s cool about these is that you can wash them on site and have them dry within a very short time; they aren’t made out of cotton, they are made out of a techy wicking synthetic fiber. It’s good to mention that Craghoppers has a similar shirt on sale with SPF40 for half the price of this one, though it doesn’t look as good as this one.

Total weight: 7.9oz

The Pants

These two pants might not look like much, but they pack a load of features. Both are from Berghaus.

• HealthGuard™ Mosquito Protection helps to protect you against tropical diseases such as Malaria, by repelling blood feeding insects and other bugs and reducing bites.
• UPF50

The pants on the left are the Exodus Cargo pants made out of enzyme treated cotton. They are not fast drying.

The pants on the right are the Quest Convertible pants have these features.

• Lightweight nylon fabric for comfort and durability.
• HealthGuard™ Mosquito Protection helps to protect you against tropical diseases such as Malaria, by repelling blood feeding insects and other bugs and reducing bites.
• HealthGuard™ also features anti bacterial agents which inhibit the formation of bacteria that feed on sweat.
• Concealed security pocket.
• Two side cargo pockets with darts for volume.
• Colour coded zip off legs to longer length short.
• UPF50

My choice would be the Quest Convertible because in a high temperature setting, you would need to have pants that dried quickly and wicked away the sweat. And since they convert into a 3/4 pants, which is essential because most convertible pants will irritate your thighs after a few hours because of the zipper.

Total weight for the Quest Convertible pants: 446g – 15.7oz (almost 1lbs). You could take the 3/4 pants which are only 350g (12.34oz) instead to save some weight.

Honestly, having been to Thailand recently, this is something I will most probably consider for my trip to Cambodia during the summer. It’s best not to mess around with the sun and the bugs. Malaria is a real problem and it’s easy to get bitten. On top of that, you should take some anti-malaria pills for the duration of your trip. The cost of that is pretty cheap in Taiwan.

The Hat

An interesting hat that will also repel mosquito bites while traveling. This model is from Berghaus. But OR gear makes some good hats as well, though none have mosquito protection.

• UPF 39
• HealthGuard™ Mosquito Protection helps to protect you against tropical diseases such as Malaria, by repelling blood feeding insects and other bugs and reducing bites.
• Unisex
• Reversible

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Featured Photographer

Cap’n Surly

I have been thinking and reading a lot about the different elements of backpacking. Since reducing the weight that you carry in your pack is paramount in backpacking, I have come upon the style of ultralight backpacking.

This form of backpacking was first pioneered by Ryan Jordan. He runs a magazine on this.

There is one thing I actually hate about his site; paid content. Membership and stuff like that. It totally sucks. It just puts me off the whole site.

What does the paid content actually contain that is so valuable?

Just some articles on backpacking.

I like information to be free.

Ultralight backpackers actually go to extreme lengths to lighten their load; they will cut off the stems of forks, reduce the weight of their toothbrush by drilling holes into them and other crazy stuff. But in the end, the most important and the most heavy things that a backpacker carries are:

His sleeping bag, his tent and his stove.

UL backpackers will only pack alcohol burners, move away from heavy synthetic sleeping bags to down sleeping bags, and use tarps instead of using tents. At some point though, it becomes a bit ridiculous.

I do like the fact that some packs are made to create a virtual frame.

(the frame is what supports the backpack, which enables people to carry heavy loads a lot easier. It is made out of tubing, carbon fiber or some lightweight metal and supports the weight.)

The virtual frame is created when a frameless backpack is correctly packed. At that point, a virtual frame is created. The Osprey Aether packs are an example of this.

Why remove the frame?

To save weight.

In fact, I do own an UL backpack right now, it’s the GoLite Jam. I haven’t tried it out yet though.

But it does sound crazy to lug around 30 to 60 pounds of stuff when you are trying to have fun.

And on top of that, if you take a lot of cotton clothes, you will be adding to this weight if the clothes get damp or wet.

Instead, get a few microfiber clothes and sweat wicking baselayers. In fact, you don’t even need to take more than one; since they all dry very quickly, you can wash them on site easily and hang them up to dry.

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Featured Photographer

Arjun

Another picture of the most important Wat in Ayutthaya, Thailand, Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Taken on the 18th of February 2007 with a Nikon D200 and a 18-200 VR mm lens. Part of the Ayutthaya Series in the Thailand Chronicles.

A lot of people that I have met has traveled in South East Asia. In fact, my boss is even a world class traveler. He has been in Taiwan for 13 years and I have heard him talk about his trips to Israel and Istanbul, places that I do want to visit as well in the future.

As always, the most important place that I will visit this year will probably be Angkor Wat, in the last week of July. I am also looking forward to Sukhothai in Thailand. I like the premise of the adventure traveler, which is what most people are when they travel; adventure travelers rarely will take sleeping bags, tents and cooking kits with them, but will stay off the beaten path in interesting places and visit a lot of different places.

Visiting different countries and places… There is nothing quite like this. Places that you would have never seen before. This gives you all of these new experiences that are priceless. Even though we were exhausted after our first few days in Thailand, I find that I actually regret not having spent more time in Ayutthaya. Maybe during our next trip, if we have time, we will go by there again, but I do not think so, because there are a lot of things to see in Thailand, from Kanchanaburi province to Lopburi province.

This week, I will get my travel guides to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to further study and develop our itineraries. The 3rd and 4th week of July are pretty much decided, but I need to see where we will be traveling in Cambodia after Angkor Wat. My guess is that we will have to return to Cambodia at a later date, because a week isn’t enough.

That is the main reason why I am thinking of only going to another country during the two first weeks of July, mainly Laos or Vietnam. I have heard that Vietnam is very big and it can take hours by bus to go from one part of the country to the next. I know that Laos has actually a few UNESCO World Heritage sites, and one being studied right now called The Plain of Jars.

The thing is that we will be staying away from expensive air travel and concentrating on buses and trains. There is nothing like discovering a country through it’s roads.

This year, I wouldn’t mind traveling around Taiwan as well and discovering the beautiful places that I have yet to see. I knew it was a beautiful country, but I didn’t really know to what extent. When I get a real motorcycle, I plan on making day trips all over the place, from Sun Moon Lake to Toroko Gorge. I will visit the South of Taiwan with the HSR most probably, since it takes 90 minutes to get there from Taipei.

For some reason, I want to really experience backpacking. One of my friends did a trek to the base camp at Mount Everest. I don’t plan on going as high as he did, but I would like to visit and travel in Nepal for a few weeks. We are living in Taiwan and we are so close to everything now. Nepal will have to wait until next year, maybe next July.

However, as much as I would like to just take months off to go travel, I can’t and I won’t. I find that traveling inside the constraints of my job is fine for me. I like living in one place and visiting others. But traveling for months at an end is a daunting thing that I have never perused seriously. On top of that, my wife and I are both going back to school in September, which is something that I am really looking forward too.

I guess the only way it would happen would be if I had the summers off, but I don’t and it’s OK.

One thing we have to look out for is insect bites in South East Asia. We will have to get malaria pills, that are quite cheap here, and take them everyday. Also, I am planning on getting some insect repellant clothing from Berghaus. They have a fabric that uses Healthguard that repels bacteria and insects. Could be a worthy investment when you really are traveling in hot places.

Clothing is always an issue when you travel, but it is one of the easiest things to reduce volume and weight. For my next trip, I plan on going ultralight. The heaviest things that I will be taking will be my DSLR camera, a laptop (either a MacBook or a used ultraportable). I plan on getting some new light travel shoes and bring some flip-flops. Other than that, I will only bring the essentials. One pair of travel pants made out of some kind of a tech fiber that dries really quickly, a pair of shorts, a few wicking baselayers and a insect repellant shirt. Maybe some netting to keep the bugs away from my bed. This time, I will stay away from cotton and leave my shopping for Bangkok before we leave. I will purchase a cheap duffel bag and fill it up, if the need arises.

Pictured above is the Arc’teryx Expedition Naos 85L in gold rush yellow, costs about 500USD.

The bigger the backpack, the more it will get filled up by the time you leave.

When thinking about traveling once more, I am reminded of this axiom that I have heard before. It means that if you take a large pack with you, at some point in time, it will be filled to the brim with stuff. So the bigger backpack you take, the heavier it will get.

Well, I have been schooling myself in backpacking gear. These are a few sites that I have read over in the last few hours. I think I spent the most time on Outdoors Magic.

I have thought a lot about how we packed and how we went about our trip in Thailand over Chinese New Year.

There were a lot of areas where I could improve.

My next trip will take place in July 2007. I will be gone for a whole month. I plan on taking minimal gear, going the route of the lightweight backpacking. Since I don’t really have to bother about a sleeping tent, cooking gear or sleeping bags, this makes stuff a lot simpler. A simple good daypack could do the job easily. In fact, I am already looking at some used gear that I found in Taiwan that might be appropriate for my trip. I am thinking about a 35L internal pack that would most probably be suitable. Since I am going to a hot environment that could get wet, I should be taking a good gore-tex raincoat (Berghaus, Arc’teryx, I haven’t decided yet. I might just use an old one that I have laying around).

One of the errors I made was to bring along a lot of cotton clothes. All cotton clothes do is absorb sweat and stay damp. This time, I will bring along a few clothes, but not that many. A pair of good pants made out of microfiber, maybe a microfiber shirt and some baselayers to wick away the sweat. I will be using a hydration pack and I hope to be able to use my pack as my daypack; always carrying all of my gear with me.

The last time, I had a large pack with me. I also had a daypack with with, which was my shoulder bag that housed my DSLR camera. I was very uncomfortable and very heavy. It must have been close to 25kg in total in two bags that I could not really carry together. Next time, I plan on using some of the internal housings of my bigger backpack in the new smaller pack, so that it can hold my camera gear comfortably and safely. Instead of wasting money on new gear, I found some almost new gear that was worth a look. Most probably, a very important part of the pack will be the raincoat; it’s important to get a breathable gore-tex raincoat that doesn’t keep in the sweat and moisture.

The pack I’m looking at will have two places for hydration packs. I will probably take 2×3L just to be sure. I want to take about 10kg with me or less.

One thing that definitely killed me was the weight of my laptop. I need to scale that down as much as possible. The trouble is that I will be gone for a month and the last time I took 2000 photos in 9 days. Multiply that by 5 and you got 10000 pictures that need to backed-up. A small MacBook might be ideal, but as before, I am unsure if I will purchase one for that time.

Ideally, I would like to buy a Arc’teryx Naos backpack, but they are insanely expensive for backpacks (from 320 to 500 USD for the largest 85L version). However they are completely waterproof. I have read that you can actually drop them into water and they will stay dry. They use a new way of fitting the backpack together instead of seams. Unlike other backpacks, they do not have a lot of pockets, which kind of sucks, but the Naos 55 has been singled out as the best backpack for 2006 by a few sites. That kind of puts my whole Oakley Kitchen Sink idea out to the wind. As much as I want to get that pack, I can’t justify the purchase. I would rather get some more useful packs that will actually be necessary for my trip than just get another backpack that has a lot of so-called features.

For now, I will buy used gear.

There was one day when the clouds and sky were so beautiful. For once, I was able to capture beautiful colors during the day. Taken in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with a Sony Cybershot DSC-P93 5.1 MP camera on the 19th of July 2006. Part of the Nightshoot Series.

I have had time to research and ponder what I plan on getting in the next few months. At the same time, I am also planning on sending money back to Canada.

• 18-200mm VR Nikkor lens. Shortages all over the board, I am pretty sure that it will be impossible for me to get this lens before I leave for Thailand during Chinese New Year. Ah well, I am doing fine for the moment with my lens. I might have to get another lens for the trip.
• Nintendo Wii. I have decided that the PS3 isn’t worth anything right now because of the absence of good games. The Wii has the old school games as well as a new Zelda game going for it. The Wii will probably wait until we get back from Thailand.
• Xbox 360 game Gears Of War. The reviews are great for this game and I am itching to find a US version of it in Taiwan.
• Macbook. I haven’t made up my mind yet if I am going to get a Macbook or not. Suffice it to say that I wouldn’t mind having one, they are quite small and discrete. A Macbook would be great to lug around and surf, become my mobile photo storage station and blogging platform since I think that in the next few months I will need something like this. The one I am aiming for is the black version and it costs 52000 NT here in Taiwan, about 1700 USD. Comes with 2GB of RAM, 120 GB of storage and a dual core 2GHz processor. At that price though, an Acer Ferrari 1000 would be within reach, though I do want to try Macs since I want a machine that will also run Vista Ultimate.
• National Geographic backpack. Still on my list, I know where to get it. I will buy it right before I leave.

Odd illuminated obelixes in front of Taipei Main Station. Taken with a Nikon D200 and a 18-35mm Nikkor lens on the 30th of December 2006. Part of the VT Art Salon Bonanza Series.

When going backpacking-traveling in South East Asia, you probably need specific gear to do it properly. I plan on getting just a few things for my travels. Since we have heard that eveything is cheaper in Thailand, we plan on making a few purchases. I plan on packing minimal gear. I am thinking about even storing an empty bag or buying one in Thailand and just filling it up with cheap clothes. One thing I do want to get is linen clothes. But let’s get pack to my packing needs. This will include stuff that I already have and stuff that I will need.

/*Update***********************************************

This post was updated on the 11th of February 2007 @ 10:20PM

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National Geographic large backpack NG-5737 [check]

Now this is a really cool design and functional backpack. It is the largest available and will be able to house all of my gear. I am not planning on taking a lot, but just in case, this has enough space for a tripod and more attached to it. Also, there are a lot of nifty pockets. I already have the large shoulder bag for my day to day needs. This bag will hold a lot of stuff and will enable me to drag it all around, if I need to in, for example, a busride from Thailand to Cambodia.

Passport and money pouch [check]

I’m not planning on getting this particular one, but a pouch holstered to your body containing your passport and money is always very useful.

Fanny Pack [not getting it]

As before, this could be quite useful on trips where your main luggage is stored in your hotel room. It can house a lot of stuff that is better kept in a bag than your pockets.

I haven’t been able to find one, but I think that I will just tote my NG shoulder bag with me everywhere. Anyways, I always need to stash my camera and that is where it will be most likely if it’s not in my hands.

Nikon D200 + 8 GB CF Card [check]

This I already have and will most definitely bring with me on my trip. I can take up to 2000 shots at the highest resolution of JPGs. I plan on taking a laptop with me as well to store the photos, or finding a lighter weight solution such as a little portable HD that can read CF cards.

18-200 mm Nikkor lens with VR [check]

This one I do not have, but hope to have before I leave. Right now, I am using my wife’s 18-35mm lens and hope to get this all purpose one that has been in quite some demand. I do not know if I will have it in time. Time and money are factors, since demand outweighs supply for these lenses. They should be cheaper here, around 15000 NTD maybe.

Laptop or easy store solution [check]

I’ve done a bit of research, and it might be possible to find a storage solution a lot lighter in weight than my laptop, although if I don’t bring a laptop, I don’t know how I will blog during our travels. Internet cafes? Most of the solutions are HD based and must work pretty well, but the best solution I could find was either a PVP or a just a HD with an LCD screen. Even then, these solutions would cost between 300 to 600 USD. A new 8GB CF card is about 200USD here (6400NTD). Still, that would seem ridiculous, buying 5 x 8GB CF cards, the same price as a MacBook just to not lug around a laptop. I will have to think about that one. The most photos I have taken is 900 at one time and of those photos, I kept 150 of them. It looks like taking my laptop with me would be the easiest solution, although the heaviest one.

Multi LED Flashlight [not getting it]

A man can never have enough flashlights. I have recently purchased my 1st one in Taiwan. But I plan on getting a multi LED flashlight here. I have seen a few that offer good illumination. They had between 5 and 8 LEDs. And they were quite small, small enough to fit inside your hand. They probably had AA batteries in them. Even then, they are essential in my mind because you can never go long without light. Also, since I take pretty much exclusively night shots, A variety of LED lights in different colors, such as blue, white and red, can be quite useful to set moods. I have not yet tried this, but I will in the next few weeks before leaving for Thailand.

I love this picture. I took it by a reflexion that I found on the driver’s side of a car parked at the Hsinchu train station. The car had metallic gold tinted windows all around and showed me the Sogo building through a different light. Taken with a Nikon D200 and a 18-35mm Nikkor lens on the 30th of December 2006. Part of the VT Art Salon Bonanza Series.

Lonely Planet Thailand and Cambodia [check]

We are still unsure if we are planning on visiting Cambodia this time around. It may have to wait until next July before we visit Angkor Wat. Still, Lonely Planet Guides are essential when traveling in South East Asia, unless you go with a guide.

Tripod [check]

My wife has a spare tripod that I plan on taking with me. Although I have not used it that much, I will need it to take a few HDR shots and long exposure shots, without getting things too wobbly.

Spare Towel and Socks [check]

Just like Douglas Adams recommends, don’t leave home without a towel. Spare socks will be very useful to carry, when things get a bit sweaty and stinky, it’s always nice to have a fresh pair of socks.

Hiking boots [not getting it]

Not that we plan on hiking a lot, but we will be doing quite a lot of walking. My guess is that a good pair of hiking boots should do the trick. I will also bring some flip flops and a pair of Nike Airmax crosstrainers, just to keep things comfortable.

Minimal clothes [check]

I’m planning on bringing the few bermudas that I have plus a few t-shirts and 2 pairs of jeans and a shirt. But that is probably it. I think that most times, I tend to overpack or underpack. This time I will underpack and get what I need in Thailand. I will take a tuque, since I have come to discover that tuques are important in any type of weaterh and a scarf, as well as rain coat.

Odds and ends [check]

A pocketknife, some glowsticks and a book that I haven’t read before as well as some maps. That seems odd, but most books that I have, I have already read. I read voraciously fast, and it is a problem because I rarely enjoy reading books from the library or ebooks, they have to be physical. I have Umberto Eco’s latest book and another book from him that I haven’t read, but clearly those will not be enough. I need at least another book to get me through the long hours of traveling. Or get a PSP. I don’t know. I do have a Gameboy SP, but I have rarely played it in the 3 or 4 years that I have had it. PSPs look fun, but then again you need power.

Ipod [check]

I am definitely going with my ipod. Nothing better to cut off everybody else but a bit of music.

Water Bottle [check]

I have already gotten a good small water bottle but need a much bigger one that can hold over a liter of water.

* * * * *

Anyways, that is all I could think off tonight. Hopefully, I won’t forget anything, but we always do forget something. I just hope it won’t be anything major. I have just watched Dirt with Courtney Cox. The celeb bits kind of sucked, but the crazy photographer was a great character. I liked how his schizophrenia invaded his own reality.