PIERRE REVIEWS FOR

Interesting gear and gadgets, and clever technology, is what PM is all about, so teaming up with Cape Union Mart and their top product specialist was a natural fit. Here’s Pierre’s low-down on some everyday items we all should have.

DEUTER AVIANT SERIES

When Cape Union Mart handed me a Deuter AViANT travel-series bag to review, the first thing I wondered about was the NFC tag on the pack. For those unfamiliar with the acronym, NFC stands for ‘near-field communication’. Most new smartphones have an NFC tag on the back. Simply touch your phone to the NFC tag on your backpack and you will be linked to the Deuter website. The integrated NFC chip also enables you to register your product. The advantage with this is that you can check if it’s an original Deuter product and, if you lose your baggage, you’ll be able to relocate it. You can also read product reviews and even contact Deuter directly with your questions… Definitely a great feature.

The AViANT Series bags include the Carry On Pro 36 and Access Pro 70, as well as ladies versions – the Carry On Pro 36 SL and Access Pro 65 SL. Deuter understands that men and women are not the same shape, so backpacks should be designed accordingly. Interestingly, the bags aren’t labelled gender-specific, as smaller-framed men can also use smaller sizes. Instead, they subtly include ‘SL’ as a differentiator as well as a small yellow flower (which is removable).

If you’re a traveller looking for a bag range that will serve you well, in-depth information on the Deuter AViANT series can be found on the Cape Union Mart website.

Pricing on the range is as follows: AViANT Carry On Pro 36 SL, R2 699; Carry On Pro 36, R2 699; Access Pro 65 SL, R4 199; Access Pro 70, R4 299; and Duffel Pro 90, R2 199.

SUUNTO 7

Why remove your phone from your pocket to view messages if you can just glance at your watch instead? These days, smartwatches are definitely the in thing, as they’re exceedingly convenient.

Link your watch to your phone via Bluetooth and not only can you see messages and receive calls, but you can also operate the music on your phone.

Smartwatches are cool, but wrist-top computers are even cooler. I have used the Suunto 9, the flagship in the range, for a few months now, and was convinced no other watch would ever impress me as much. It’s rewarding knowing how effective your training session was: the Suunto 9 measures speed, distance and pace with built-in GPS, while the heart-rate monitor records and displays the intensity of your training. So you can imagine my disappointment when Suunto released the Suunto 7! Even though the Suunto 9 remains the premium sport computer, the Suunto 7 boasts many new features that support everyday life, for those in-between times when you’re not training.

With the Suunto 7, some key features have been added that I’ll certainly long for in my 9. The Suunto 7 is powered by Wear OS – a version of Google’s Android operating system, which is designed for smartwatches and other wearables. This enables your watch to supply proactive and personalised help from Google Assistant. Google Pay provides a faster, secure way to pay for transactions, while Google Fit transforms your watch into a personal coach. But the feature that got me most excited was the free offline outdoor maps featuring paths, trails and contour lines. All of this incredible content is loaded on to your watch using the built-in

WiFi technology.

I guess, to get the best of both worlds, I’ll now have to wear a Suunto 9 on my left wrist and a Suunto 7 on my right.

The Suunto 7 (SKU 160480) is priced at R7 999, and available in selected stores or online.