Pierre reviews for PM:

Cape Union Mart’s gear guru gives us the gadget low-down.

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

I’ve owned several backpacks over the years, and hiked a few hundred kilometres with quite a heavy weight on my back. I’ve also worked as a salesperson at Cape Union Mart and fitted dozens of backpacks for my customers. I’ve even packed a few backpacks for customers before their hike, so I’m quite proficient at the art of fitting and packing a backpack.

It was during the first 4 km of the Otter Trail, with a grossly overweight backpack, that I started learning the value of minimalist hiking. We’ve all heard the old hiking clichés about the importance of weight, but it’s with experience that you learn to hike with less gear. I saw the value of this when I walked the Otter Trail the second time with a big smile – due to a smaller backpack and far less strain on my body.

So, it’s true, every gram really does count and there are many great tips and tricks to reduce the weight of your backpack. These days, I even remember to remove the cardboard roll from my toilet paper to save that extra little bit of space and weight.

The key weight-saving trick that’s frequently overlooked is the dry weight of the backpack. Believe it or not, some backpacks can weigh in excess of 2 kg, empty! And then you still need to carry your essential gear in addition to that.

I’m hugely impressed by the new K-Way Lite series, especially the K-Way Lite 40, which tips the scales at a meagre 680 g. It’s spacious, supportive and, most importantly, lightweight. The five-way compression straps also help keep your kit tightly secured to your body, which further reduces fatigue.

R999

ECOVESSEL

I had a few EcoVessel products on my desk while compiling this review and many of my teammates commented on how handsome they are. I concede that the eye-catching metallic finish certainly radiates elegance, but aesthetics have always been secondary to me.

I would not be a true gear junky if I didn’t actually test the performance of these ‘Vessels’ first. So, I made a cup of coffee in the EcoVessel Port Mug and poured boiling water into the EcoVessel Aspen Bottle, which I placed in the fridge. The Port Mug kept the coffee hot for more than four hours and the water in the fridge was still piping hot, 16 hours later! The Aspen Bottle also kept ice frozen for three days.

The purpose of an insulated flask or cup is to stop the outside temperature from affecting the inside temperature. The first step is to create a double wall. If the outside wall cools or heats due to the ambient temperature, then it should not affect the inner wall, and vice versa. The air between the two walls does still cause some thermal dissipation and the solution for this is to create a vacuum between the two walls – hence the name: vacuum flask. EcoVessel has taken this science one step further with their TriMax Insulation – two layers of food-grade stainless steel lined with a copper layer within the vacuum. EcoVessel has also developed the Reflecta Lid, which stops any plastic from touching your drink. The EcoVessel Boulder even includes a removable strainer for tea and fruit infusions.

The labels on the EcoVessel products remind us that the versatility of insulated vessels extends past cold water. The condensationfree outer makes them perfect for wine, cocktails and even a crisp, cold beer on a blistering hot day.

EcoVessel 473 ml

Aspen Flask (154904), R599; EcoVessel Boulder 591 ml Bottle (159628), R650; EcoVessel Port Mug (154901), R399