TNF New Equipment Scoop

The Spire is TNF's latest technical mountain pack and it looks neat. Available in three capacities - 30, 38 and 45 plus a Women's Spire 33 version - all the Spires use the MGF - Mountain Guide Flex - suspension system, essentially a simple triple-density foam back panel with islands of raised foam to allow airflow plus a PE sheet and dual-density foam shoulder straps and hip-belt.

Essentially the Spires look like well thought out contemporary climbing packs, so you get all teh haul loops, hydration sleeve, ice tool loops, compression straps and, on the larger sacs, a cranial cavity to allow you you to look up without helmet jamming against pack lid.

Weights are in the ballpark at 1130 grammes for the 30-litrrre version rising to 1815 grammes for the Spire 45. Note that all the packs extend by an extra 5 litres if needed plus you can reduce the weight by removing the PE sheet in the back sysetm and / or the hip-belt, which will also allow better access to harness gear loops.

Prices start at £70 for the Spire 30 and are, er, more for the others...

While the Spires are aimed at climbers, the Terra is TNF's best-selling pack range and aimed squarely at walkers, that means they're less streamlined, but better suited to allround use. Featuring the explosively named TNT Suspension back system, the Terras come in capacities from 30 to 50 litres with a couple of women's options.

They've been updated for 2005 with the aforementioned TNT. That means a triple-density back panel, dual density shoulder pads and hip-belts, air-flow islands and a PE sheet except in the smallest capacity 30-litre versions.

Incidentally, the 30-litre version feels very short for its capacity and lacks shoulder-top tensioner straps, so may not suit many users, the bigger 35 looks a better option. The top-end Terra 50 by the way, has a torso-length adjustment system to cope with different back lengths and heavier weekend-packing loads.

Prices start at £55 for the Terra 30.

TNF is particularly proud of its complete new range of Flight Series hydration packs in conjunction with Nalgene bladders and they look great.

The packs use super-funky perforated EVA foam in a lighweight, high ventilation E-VAP suspension back system plus an Osprey-type ermergency whistle built into the buckle of the sternum strap - very neat.

Capacities range from the two-litre Bullhead with a two-litre bladder, right up to the 18-litre capacity Megamouth, which has a three-litre reservoir and enough capacity for day hikes and so on.

The actual packs are only half the story. They all come complete with a new design of Nalgene hydrdation system, which looks to be a significant improvement on the MSR bladders the company used to use. The new system has a 'BiteMe' valve that is claimed to 'deliver more liquid per visit than any other mouthpiece'. The material used is tatste free and the big bore opening should make filling and cleaning straightforward. It's also designed to match up with MSR filttration devices.

All in all, they look like an interesting option. The 12-litre Hammerhead complete with three-litre blader retails for £55.

A couple of quickies from the TNF footwear locker that we liked the look of. The first is something called the Buildering - below - it looks like a bog standard, rather nice training shoe, albeit with a bloody great rubber rand wrapped around it, but it turns out to be rather more.

The sole is actually a special dual-compound Vibram unit - below - which combines sticky rubber sections on the forefoot with conventional hiking grip elsewhere. You also get a 2/3 lengths teel shank for support and a lace-to-toe lacing system which should help precision on rocky scrambly things.

Should be ideal for dry weather scrambling and general approach work duties. It's available in men's and women's versions and costs 60 quid.

Also new is the Resilience, a multisport shoe 'designed for fast-paced activities' so ideal for adventure races and the like. There's an open cell mesh upper for fast drying and ventilation, an anti-microbial footbed and Trailgrip outer soles. Priced at £50 in men's and women's versions.

No pics, but a few changes to the tent range. Most notably, the classic Tadpole now has a silicon-proofed flysheet instead of the previous PU-coated Nylon item with taped seams improving waterproofing.

There's also a new one person plus tent, the Particle 13 which uses similar technologies and weighs in at a respectable 1.66 kg for a three-pole design.

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