The latest in outdoor gear news, trends and innovation
Ciao Italia
Italian footwear brand Crispi has made it downunder. Handmade in Italy since 1975, the Crispi range available in New Zealand includes boots suitable for a range of tramping experiences: North and South Island bush and sub alpine multiday tramping and hunting trips. Made using nubuck leather uppers, full and half rands, metal hardware and Vibram outsoles, the four boots in the range certainly look the part. The Dakota GTX (pictured above, $549.99, 1400g/pair) looks like it will appeal most to trampers.
TNF’s new Gore-Tex jacket
Apex Flex GTX
The North Face has a new waterproof jacket: the Apex Flex GTX ($500, 680g). Made with a soft woven face fabric combined with a waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex membrane, it promises to protect against wet weather while providing the warmth and comfort normally associated with a hoodie. It has an active cut, adjustable hood, chest and hand pockets, and pit-zip venting.
Fill, press, purify
The GRAYL Ultralight Purifier Bottle
The GRAYL Ultralight Purifier Bottle ($129.99, 309g) provides clean and safe drinking water without the need for batteries or pumps. Simply fill the bottle directly from the source, then press in the filter – it takes about 15 seconds to push it into the bottle, filtering and purifying the water as it goes.
The filter has a lifespan of 150 litres – or 300 refills (replacement filters cost $59.99) – and is 99.9999 per cent effective against viruses and bacteria, and 99.999 per cent effective against protozoan cysts such as Giardia.
Patagonia uses recycled down
The fill in Patagonia’ Bay range is recycled down
Patagonia, already well known for its ‘green’ credentials has just become even more environmentally friendly with the introduction of recycled down into its Bivy range of jackets and vests.
The recycled insulation comes from 600-fill-power goose and duck down reclaimed from used items that can’t be resold. To ensure the down is hypoallergenic, it is washed with detergent in hot water, then hot-air dried.
Patagonia says recycled down offers identical performance benefits to new down.
The Bivy jacket ($399.99) and vest ($299.99/$329.99 m/w) comes in both men’s and women’s styles.
Seals’ favourite knife
SOG PowerLock
Knife fans will welcome the news that American manufacturer SOG is now available here.
SOG knives have a military background – apparently they’re the knife of choice among US Navy Seals – and many of the brand’s top knives and multitools will be in store in the coming months. SOG has also branched off into backpacks, axes, saws and torches.
A key multitool is the brand’s best-selling PowerLock ($185, 272g). It comes in a fetching black oxide stainless steel, and features 22 components.