New Stuff!

We haven't seen a Tikka XP in the flesh yet, though we've been using big brother Myo XP for a month or so now and are thoroughly impressed. The Tikka version, as you might expect, is a lighter, more compact, single headband torch.

What makes it different is that like the Myo XP, it uses a single super powerful LED to massively up the light ante over the feeble Tikka and Tikka Plus and without eating batteries. Think Tikka on steroids...

The claimed result is a 35-metre beam with a 50-metre short-term boost setting, a choice of spot or flood options via a slide-across diffuser and a battery life indicator which tells you when the batteries are 70 and 80 per-cent discharged. You get high / medium and low settings plus a flashing option for emergency use.

Battery life from the three AA cells is up to a massive 120 hours and the weight of 95 grammes is actually less than four AA batteries. Mad. In the shops now priced at £40.

More Petzl information: www.petzl.com

Italian brand X-Socks have more features than most socks can even dream of, if socks dream that is. Our past experience is that all the strategic padding, ventilation channels, cunning elasticated sections and so on make for a well-fitting sock that's particularly good at offering more protection than you'd expect from a low volume of material - great for snugger fitting boots and shoes.

The company's latest wheeze are socks adapated specifically for the female foot. The new X Socks Trekking Expedition Women takes account of women's slimmer, lower volume feet by offering a slimmer, narrow, lower-volume sock particularly in the forefoot and ankle area.

That's not all though, the sock also incorporates the whole arsenal of X-Socks features ncluding an anatomically shaped , left and right specific, footbed, cushioned toe-tip protector made from shock-absorbing Robur, the X-cross ankle support thing, an air-conditioning channel under the foot and more.

Fabrics used in the sock include everyone's new best friend, merino wool, along with Mythlan and Robur...

More information and stockist details from www.ardblairsports.com

If merino is the new rave fabric, one that tends to get marginalised these days is CoolMax, but it's still a great wicking fabric, particularly good for summer use.

Relatively new to the UK market is Falke, which has a full range of trekking socks one of which has landed on the OM test desk. Like X-Socks, we reckon they're well suited to closer fitting footwear with the Falke TK2 Short CoolMax we have here featuring thin uppers combined with a cushioned sole featuring extra padding at toe and heel.

Like X-Socks, the Falkes are left and right foot specific and marked 'L' and 'R' to help you get it right. Initial impressions are that these are nice summer walking socks with a low volume.

More information from www.falke.com

Obviously you won't be wearing socks with your sandals cos that would be soooo Englishman abroad, which means, in turn, that it won't be long before your sandals start to pong a bit.

One possible solution is Paxton Sandal Saver claimed to be 'the world's first 100% all natural cleaner for performance and leisure flip-flops and sandals'. We've had a bottle here for weeks, unfortunately our new Keen test sandals resolutely refuse to pong, so thus far, we haven't had an opportunity to test its effectiveness. It smells quite nice though. We'll update if it ever gets hot enough to wear sandals for long enough for them to stink. Instructions say it's spray on, scrub off and dry.

In the mean time, if you want to give Sandal Saver a whirl, it's available fro £6.99 including shipping and taxes from www.enforte.co.uk

Discuss this story

simon jomes

First of all,you can get one for under 30 quid here ... http://www.venturesport.co.uk/venturesport_product.asp?parseid=4197

enough said
Amongst my plethora of goodies I rate this item so much that it goes with me everywhere. it sleepsin my coat pocket and ihardly remember that its there.
The winter nights assure regular use - walking the dog across the field, reading in bed(wife undisturbed ;-)
going down to the garden shed,and the 3 AAA batteries havent flinched yet after many hours of constant use.
Oh,and a couple of nights down the woods with my tarpand hammock setup.
you won'tneed a lamp or a torch costhis caters for all needs.
The slide across lens diffuser provides a broader beam for close quarters, combined with 3 brightness settings, of which the dimmest is good enough for reading forhours on end.
The main beam would reach a rucksack in the darkwoods at a measured (paced)40 metres - no exaggeration.
This facility has a duration ofabout 20 seconds or so before it auto resets to prevent overheating &/or battery drain.
NICE KIT

Posted: 02/03/2006 at 00:38

Lloyd Bower

Trust this is not an obvious 'plug' like the other Petzl thread.

Posted: 02/03/2006 at 08:16

Crezzer

Shouldn't this just be on gear reviews?

Posted: 02/03/2006 at 10:23

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