Gear talk

Gear review: Osprey Aether 70

Putting together a kit list for my 5 month Appalachian Trail hike next year has been a bit of a mission. There are so many factors to consider with each and every item; functionality, fit, weight, pack size, durability. The huge amount of choice we get with outdoor gear these days makes this process a whole lot more difficult.

One item of kit I spent very little time deliberating about is my pack. The Osprey Aether 70 (left) has been my reliable workhorse for the last year or so. It’s seen winter hiking and wild camping in the Cairngorms, a soggy week along the Laugavegur trail in Iceland, countless miles along the South West Coast Path, and has even on occasion been used as a cragging pack, carrying in excess of 20kg of rack and rope. Despite this intense use, it is still in very good condition with just a couple of minor repairs made, and I am confident that will comfortably see me through the 2190 mile trip.

I have used several other types of rucksack since I really got into hiking with my Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition back in 2007. Some have been Ok, others have been great, but the Osprey Aether 70 really does stand out above them all.

The most important aspect when choosing a pack is the fit: this is the difference between sore shoulders, stiff back and rubbed hips, and an almost enjoyable load carrying experience! For the majority of their packs, Osprey offers a range of Torso sizes. For the Aether in particular these are S-M and M-L, within which a sliding back panel on a hook and loop closure allows a highly customized, almost tailored fit. The shoulder straps are anatomically shaped and gender specific (The Ariel 65 is the female equivalent), with good cushioning and moisture management provided by high density foam padding. It is worth noting that torso size does not correlate to height; if you are tall you won’t necessarily be a size L. The best bet is to pop into an Osprey dealer and get yourself measured with the proper devise.

Above: A nicely fitted pack: hips in the middle of the belt, bearing about 80% of the weight, no gap between my shoulders and harness, and a 45' angle on the load bearing straps.

 The main feature with the Aether 70’s harness system which sets it above similar spec packs is the hip belt: The Isoform custom-moldable belt is heated in a special Osprey oven, and then worn as it cools so that the contours of your hipbones are imprinted into the foam. This process is not 100% necessary as with use the hip belt will mold to your shape anyway, however it is highly recommended to ease this break-in process. The Aether uses Ospreys Airscape back system. A combination of a mesh covering, shallow channels, and moisture wicking foam combine to keep your back as dry as possible. When you are exerting yourself, or on warm days, there is always going to be a bit of moisture build up, although the Airscape dissipates it quicker than any similar system I have tried. Wearing suitable wicking layers will make it more efficient.

 The Lightwire frame system gives the pack a nice structure and good suspension; meaning that its shape is not deformed and the load is well distributed throughout the pack. The pack comes in at 2.35kgs (size L), which is about as light as you can get for a pack of this size without impinging on its load-bearing capabilities.Put simply, lighter packs with little or no frame will sag when filled. This will pull heavily on your shoulders and back making the load feel a whole lot heavier.

Being brutally honest, it’s never going to be all that pleasant carrying heavy loads over extensive distances, but the harness system used on the Aether 70 makes this about as comfortable as it can ever be. Osprey’s recommended maximum load for the pack is 25kg; I found carrying 18kg of winter gear for 5 days very bearable indeed. The previous problem of blistered hips I have experienced with other packs was not an issue.

 

Above: Making the most of external storage and compression straps on the pack.

The features on this pack have been designed to make life as easy as possible on expeditions or on the trail. There are a lot of them. Internally, there is an adjustable floating panel between the main and lower compartment so you can organize and manage your gear. A long ‘J’ zip running along front of the pack enabling easy access to all of your kit without emptying it or rummaging around. I’ve found this to be invaluable when winter camping to reduce the risk of losing items in the snow, and on those occasions where it starts lashing down with rain and I realize I've left my over-trousers at the bottom of my pack!

The pack is constructed of rip stop fabrics. On the outside of the pack there are all the usual axe/ walking pole attachments you would expect, and Ospreys patented ‘stow on the go’ system which lets you stash your walking poles comfortably out of the way without removing the pack, very handy to be able to do if you’re boarding transport or find yourself on a section of trail where both hands are required. Ample compression straps on the sides and front of the pack allowing you to cinch it right down and keep the load nicely balanced when it’s not fully filled. As with almost all packs these days, it is hydration system compatible with a sleeve inside the pack to slot a water bladder.

The lid of the pack is completely removable and doubles up as a waist pack. Despite the fact that it can only be worn via one un-padded webbing strap, I found it to be pretty comfortable. The capacity of the pouch is also surprisingly large. For a days cross country skiing I managed to fit a 2l water bladder, food, down jacket and rain shell (only in Scotland would you need both of them items in the same day!).

New additions for the 2013 version of the pack include hip belt pouches and a rain cover.

All in all, this is one tough, functional piece of kit. The highly customizable harness and robust frame system makes it comfortable with loads up to 18kg, and more bearable than most when carrying up to the recommended weight limit of 25kg. It has been designed with expeditions in mind, and the features really do make life on the trail a whole lot easier. I have been particularly impressed with the J zip and compression. So far it has done me very proud indeed: I’m looking forward to giving it the ultimate test next year on the Appalachian Trail.

New generation GORE-TEX Pro Shell review

Okie doke! Time for another review. This isn't strictly to do with my Appalachian Trail kit, although fellow outdoor gear enthusiasts should hopefully find it at least mildly interesting...


January/ February 2013 I had a chance to test prototype jackets in the new GORE-TEX Pro shell over three days winter mountaineering in Glen Coe, Scotland. It was an awesome experience; my first time in the mountains in full winter conditions, and a privilege to get the chance to have a go with the new kit a few months before its official release in the UK.

The trip proved an excellent testing ground with a variety of terrains and weather conditions. We experienced humid, drizzly approach climbs, freezing driving rain, and were battered by 70mph winds and spindrift as we scrambled across ridges to summit a couple of Munros, and found ourselves waist deep in powder on the awesome grade 1 climb ‘Ledge Route’ up Ben Nevis.

The jacket I tried was a prototype of the Mountain Equipment Tupilak. The fit is described as alpine; it is a slim fit, short in length with a drop tail; so it doesn't bunch up and is comfortable to wear under a harness or rucksack hip belt. There is plenty of length in the arms and the sleeves didn't ride up too much when I stretched out my arms. The cuffs of the jacket are slightly wider than some, meaning I could easily pull on a heavy mountaineering glove without fumbling. This is not something I have ever really considered with jackets, but is a great example of ME designers' attention to detail. The hood was capable of covering a helmet although provided quite a snug fit, making it slightly harder to turn your head with the jacket fully zipped up; this has been taken on board by the designers and the production Tupilak has the super high volume AC hood. Three silicone strips literally stick to the top of your helmet to prevent the hood from sliding off. Volume adjustment on the hood is excellent and you can get a nice secure fit even when you aren't wearing bulky head wear.

First impressions on the hill were that this is a solid piece of kit! The face fabric is abrasion resistant and I felt confident that it could withstand long-term wear from harness, rucksack straps or any scuffing from rock or ice. The rugged, slightly stiff nature of the shell means that it copes well with dealing with the effects of wind chill. As well as physically blocking you from the wind, it holds its shape well so reduces latent heat loss; heat lost through thermal conduction from your bodies contact with the cold fabric.

With a hydrostatic head of more than 28,000mm, this jacket is more than capable of tackling everything the Scottish winter environment can throw at it. The Vislon zips and internal storm flap keep the water out the front, and the adjustable cuffs and hem seal you in nicely.

Gore claims an increased breathability of 28%, putting it somewhere between the old version of Pro-shell and their Active shell. Worn with a wicking synthetic base layer and micro fleece, for the majority of the time I forgot I was wearing it. On the humid, drizzly approaches I found that loosening the cuffs, lowering the front zipper, and making use of the pit-zips was enough to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Overall, an excellent piece of kit! Its high levels of waterproofing, rugged face fabric, and improved breathability really sets it aside from similar fabrics used in these spec of jackets. A great fit and lots of subtle design features from the Mountain Equipment team have created an amazingly functional jacket in a league of its own.

This review was, of course, predominantly aimed at winter mountain use. The jacket I tried was a slightly heavier weight shell which I couldn't really see falling into my backpacking kit list due to its bulk. This is not to say that the Pro Shell is an unsuitable fabric to go for: There are jackets out there, for example the Mountain Equipment Lhotse, which offer this awesome combination of waterproofing, breathability and durability for an impressive 530grams, not much above what my trail jacket of choice comes in at. In hindsight, had this jacket been around when I was choosing my jacket, it would likely have been a strong contender!

Model for choosing jacket.

Choosing a bit of kit is never an easy job, especially in the context of the Appalachian Trail when you know you will be relying on it for months on end. I've spent a lot of time over the last year or so pondering over waterproofs, insulated jackets, base-layers, and as part of my job have advised many people choose the right gear for their trips, and have realised that it only really comes down to three factors. These are shown in the model below...

So... to start with go down to your local outdoor store and see what they have in the way of waterproof shells. There will be a lot of them! A good majority, however, you will be able to eliminate immediately; they will be too heavy, too light, lacking in durability, e.t.c.

When you've narrowed it down to five or so, start looking into more specific features of each. Take a pen and note pad and make a table if you have to. Look at things such as what they have in the way of pockets, what the hood's like, what zips it has. Get technical if you want to and look into fabric breathability. Have a read of some reviews and chat to the sales assistants to see how others have got on with them.

Eventually you will have it down to a choice of two or three. From the features you have been looking at you know that either one of these will be very suitable for the trail. Now you can get picky: try them all on properly, experiment with wearing them under a rucksack, with different base and mid layers. Check the arm length is OK and that you can access pockets easily.

After a bit of playing you will know which is the right one for you!
I reckon this model will work pretty well for insulated jackets as well as mid layers and base layers.

 

Jacket of choice…

Ah… the on-going quest for that perfect trekking jacket. There are so many things to consider; weight vs durability, waterproofing, breathability, whether you want membrane (e.g. Gore-Tex or eVent) or non-membrane fabrics, what sort of hood, how many pockets and where…Over the years I’ve tried a bit of everything.

Non-membrane waterproofs such as the Berghaus RG1, The North Face Resolve, or Marmot Precip jacket use their own waterproof coatings on some sort of polyester shell. These are a great cheaper option, being pretty solid bits for kit for less than £100. Water proofing, whilst being less than a membrane fabric, is probably as much as you’ll need whilst hiking. Compared to using a membrane fabric, breathability is somewhat lacking. They often have some sort of lining for comfort; just like the concept of a tent inner it keeps you separate from moisture build up on the inside of the jacket. Keep an eye out for features like pit-zips and mesh lined pockets that can be opened for added ventilation. Weight-wise, my old RG1 came in at about 550grams and was pretty bulky to pack down although it was one solid bit of kit and took a lot of abuse. Then I left it on a train.

                                                                                                                           

                                   

Above: Myself and Mr. Dominic Flint rocking RG1's on Skaftafellsjokull in Iceland, 2011.

A lighter option and one favored by many Appalachian Trail thru-hikers is the Marmot Precip which comes in at a very nice 311grams. The fabric coating contains ceramic particles which add to its durability, it packs down into its pocket, has those handy pit-zips, and it comes in just about any colour imaginable.

The hoods on these jackets are pretty basic. They have a laminated peak to help stop it drooping and creating a waterfall down your face when it rains, and can be adjusted slightly to cinch in the material and prevent it flapping around in the wind.

Going light weight… Pertex Shield+ is an extremely waterproof fabric which uses a polyurethane laminate on a lightweight face fabric. Breathability isn’t too bad either, although not up to the standards of PTFE membranes such as Gore-Tex or eVent. For the last year or so I’ve used the Rab Kinetic Jacket; it’s amazingly packable, super lightweight at 240grams, and the face fabric is more durable than it feels like it should be! Using it for a week solid in Iceland, however, I found that it wet out after four days and lost its breathability, so I got damp from perspiration on the shoulders and back. Where my beard was rubbing on the inside of the collar it also abraded a little patch of the laminate. This is not to say that the Kinetic is a bad jacket, however. The trip in Iceland was a tough test: carrying a heavy pack a long distance in prolonged bad weather is a much harsher environment than I would expect such a lightweight jacket to perform. For me it will remain a firm favourite for shorter backpacking trips and day use out on the crag.

Above: The Rab Kinetic Jacket at Landmannalaugar, Iceland, 2013. Note the mitts made by my girlfriend. These will definitely be joining me on the AT. Having a warm dry pair to stick on in the evenings was priceless.

The holy grail…

After a lot of searching I think I’ve found the ideal jacket for my Appalachian Trail in the form of the Rab Latok Alpine. Ok, so it’s £70 more than the Kinetic at £220 and weighs about twice as much, but the fabric and features make one awesome rugged and functional bit of kit.

Below: The Rab Latok Alpine. Battening down the hatches on our way up Cairngorm, 1309m. We summited in -8'C plus windchill from 80mph winds. Not sure what the final lowest temperature was!

Unlike the jackets so far mentioned, the Latok Alpine’s waterproofing comes from a membrane. Membrane technology is a really complex subject that I don’t quite fully understand. There are so many different types and subtle differences between them. In a nutshell however, this is the idea;

Membranes are woven from PTFE, a highly durable, hydrophobic material. The woven nature of the fabric means that it is micro-porous with something like 5 million pores per square inch which gives it exceptional water proofing and breathability. A Gore rep once told me that if a pore was the size of a football stadium, a rain drop would be the size of the Earth and a water vapour molecule from your perspiration would be the size of a football. Gore-Tex jackets have three layers; a face fabric, membrane, and gridded backer. Between the membrane and backer is a PU coating which protects the membrane. The Latok Alpine uses eVent; this has a similar structure but doesn’t contain the PU coating, giving it that little bit more breathability. This means I have to wash it more regularly to maintain performance but that doesn’t really bother me too much.

Right, enough of the geeking out. What does this mean in terms of functionality? It will be more waterproof and more breathable. The rugged face fabric gives excellent wind proofing to prevent wind-chill, and will resist abrasion from rucksack shoulder straps and hip belts very well indeed. The hood has a wired peak and is three way adjustable so it doesn’t flap about in the wind. It is also helmet compatible, so huge! In bad weather you can really batten down the hatches and hide in it.

The pockets fit a map comfortably and are really high up the chest so you can still get into them easily when you’re wearing a rucksack hip belt. As far as aesthetics are concerned: the zips are laminated and the storm flap is on the inside, so it is a really simple, neat design.

The jacket’s biggest test so far was the weeks trekking in winter conditions up in the Cairngorms where it held out exceptionally well. I’m now looking forward to giving it the ultimate test; a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail