Gear

I've been looking in a few more outdoor shops at rucksacs and other bits and bobs.

I pciked up a Vango summer sleeping bag. The thing packs down to an incredibly small size. Looking at other 3 and 4 season down bags though the size they pack down to doesn't seem to be much greater so these bags have come a long way. The synthetic bags I already have and the one down bag (3 season I think) are all two to three times bigger when packed down.

I got some big metal pegs from cotswolds in Leeds for when I'm pitching in sand.

I also got the Lightspeed Montane jacket. Thought it was all one colour but is two colours. It's not so bad though because you don't notice with it being quite dark coloured.

I got a really cheap Tresspass fleece off their website. Really great value for only £15 for 2 100 weight fleeces.

Now I just need a rucksac, a neoair blow up matress and that's about it I'm off.

I've been looking a lot at the Osprey packs. I like the Aether 70 a lot but its a bit of a monster! Looks as big as my 85 litre ancient rucksac I already have at the moment. So I think I can drop some more in size and go for the Aether 60. 

I've not seen the new 2010 Aether's though, only the previous version. I really like the new sky blue and tundra green colours they have, and they look more of a mountain pack than the old ones too. A lot of online place seem to be showing the new version in their photos but when I visit those actual stores they only have the old models on display. Some places I have even seen the old models but with new labels on them for the new colours yet I know form the system it is the old model and old colour.

I am waiting in tomorrow morning to receive something else in the post but will have to ring around a few places to see if they have the Aether 60 in stock so I can go and take a look at it. I am loving these Osprey packs what I have seen of them so far though. Pure pornography! I think I am going to probably also buy a smaller pack as well (<40L) for one day/two day hikes.

Cheapest price I have seen on the net is £135 for the 70 and £125 for the 60 at Footprints Glasgow. They have the new pictures for the 2010 version but I can't be sure it is that one. It says 10% off but most place have the new ones at full price £150 for the 70 and I think £135 or £140 for the 60.

Has anyone in the OM forums seen any of the new 2010 Aether packs yet? If so which store did you see them in? If it's within a short distance of West Yorkshire I will go take a look. If not I may have to phone up places and see if they can do express delivery on the new version.

Cheers,

John

I picked up source hydration bladders now in 2 and 3L size and also got the NeoAir mattress after reading a lot of advice in other posts on here. I've got absolutely everything I need now except the Aether 60 which I'm still in search of.

I'm waiting on a few places to get back to me and let me know if they have this new 2010 version in stock in the light blue colour.

So far it looks like George Fisher definitely have it, but its the green colour. http://www.georgefisheronline.co.uk/acatalog/Osprey.html

Footprints in Glasgow show the new picture but just waiting to see confirmation if its defintely the new one they have. The 10% discount seems to good to be true if its the new 2010 version. http://www.footprintsglasgow.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_22&products_id=1398

There's been a few other places advertising the new photos but they only had the old stock. I've also spotted it at Telemark Pyrenees in the dirty orange and also the nice blue colour. http://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/shop/index.php?manufacturers_id=72 Waiting to see any UK places definitely have it in blue otherwise may just go with them. They have listed which model year their Aethers are which is good.

Been searching so hard for this I thought it was definitely time for bed yesterday when I started reading this in search of the Osprey: http://www.16pi2.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=79

The only other thing I've really beed tempted by has been the Hagloffs Matrix 60: http://www.petesy.co.uk/haglofs-matrix-60/

It looks pretty impressive especially in red.

I've also seen the Lowe Alpine Nanon and Zepton lightweight sacks in Ultimate Outdoors. They look pretty impressive. Are we only just getting them in this country though when they've had them in the States for a year?

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Internal%20and%20External%20Framed%20Backpacks/Lowe%20Alpine%20%20Nanon%2050%2060%20Pack/Test%20Report%20by%20Ben%20Mansfield/#initial

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6399

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/6216 

Wonder if Deuter will also get in on the act any time soon of making lighter packs that still have a lot of strength? 

John