Coleman FastPitch Air Tents

FastPitch Air - The Valdes Range

FastPitch Air Valdes 6XL

Coleman have been one of the biggest names in the family camping and leisure market for years - 116 of them to be precise. All of their products, not just their tents, have been examples of brilliant, useful innovation and quality. That's why many in the industry have been surprised by how long it has taken for Coleman to join the 'air' revolution that is inflatable tents. It's unlikely that they were unaware of the innovation, after all Vango's AirBeams and Outwell's SmartAir tents and awnings have been around for a number of years now. It's not as if development of an air range would be an issue for Coleman either as Sevylor, who specialise in manufacturing inflatable kayaks, are a sister company of Coleman's. 

Well, the wait is finally over! This summer will see Coleman join the air tent movement with the launch of FastPitch Air versions, of their already popular, Valdes Tent range. No doubt all the tents in their range will be developed with excellent quality in mind, especially when they can call on Sevylor's expansive expertise in inflatable products.

The Valdes range comes in 4 different models. The Valdes 4, 6, 6L and 6XL, that offer different layouts, that includes one vis-a-vis style, and sizes for 4 to 6+ people. All of them come with double XL bedrooms, allowing you to fit a full size double mattress in all of the bedroom compartments. This space, combined with Coleman's Blackout Bedrooms (which are totally pitch black - day or night!) make sure both you and the kids get a good nights sleep, allowing you to make the most of your camping trip away.

Black Out Bedrooms

FastPitch Air valdes 4

On the topic of children, the tent also features a simply but rather ingenious zips on all their doors. When fully closed the bedroom door zips meet at the halfway point of the door. Well within a child's reach and prevents them from being trapped within the bedroom. This is a brilliant safety feature ensuring that if the kids need to get out (whether for the toilet or something more serious), then they will be able to do so.

Valdes 4 -  Valdes 6 - Valdes 6L - Valdes 6XL

These small features really do demonstrate Coleman's attention to detail in this advanced family tent, further enhanced with the bright green guy lines, extra strong pitch points, and the tried and tested rigid D hinge door. This door was used in their Cortes + and Octagon tents last year, and proved to be a huge hit, so has been brought forward to a few more of their tents this year. The pros of this door are, perhaps most importantly, that you don't have to struggle with rolling up the door small enough to tie it up every time you need to go in and out of the tent. The main exit is a rigid structure, made so with a fibre-glass pole (which is easily removed), and opens like a normal door, able to swing open and closed. It can also be pinned back, leaving an open entrance as a roll up door would do, allowing people to run in and out easily. All the doors have the standard double layer system - one with just mesh and one totally covered, giving you flexibility with the often unpredictable British weather! 

Of course the main attraction with this tent is the ease of pitching, given by the FastPitch technology, beams filled with air, replacing standard fibre-glass poles which can snap in severe weather. This allows the tent to be pitched by just 1 person in minutes. All of the beams are encased in an tough nylon fabric which will be safe against an awful amount of wear and tear, and are then encased in the tents main fabric to give structure and further protection. This outer fabric tunnel is also zipped all the way along, meaning that in the unlikely event you develop a puncture, the beam can be removed and repaired or replaced with ease. The valves for inflating and deflating the tent are taken from Sevylor's kayaks so will definitely be more than able to withstand a lot of use without failing.

The Valdes range is perfect for any getaway, whether its to a festival with friends, or on a family camping trip away. Although the 4 doesn't give a huge amount of living space, the 6L and 6XL certainly remedy this.

          

To see a full video review of the Valdes 4, head to our YouTube channel, and to see our range of Coleman (and other air) tents, click here!

If Arc'teryx made ski boots they may look a little like this

Arc'teryx Ski Procline Touring Ski Boots

It may not have been a surprise to some, but we were definitely taken aback when our Arc'teryx representative dropped by with a pair of their new Procline. After all, until now they haven't seemed to be interested in producing hardware for any of the outdoor activities they provide technical clothing for. Let's not forget, it's not run of the mill clothing they produce either. All their gear is massively technical, incorporating laminated fabrics developed alongside industry giants such as GoreTex and pioneering ergonomic fitting garments unlike any before them.

Enter the Procline ski boot. The overriding first impression is just how slight they are compared to regular ski boots, looking no bulkier than a typical mountaineering boot. It's true purpose is given away by the hard shell encasing the lower half of the boot and of course, two buckles. The buckles are the only remotely typical parts of these boots, everything else is, well, anything but typical. A "revolutionary" two piece carbon fibre upper cuff system offers movement both vertically (75°) and laterally (23°) when in touring mode. This is quite unusual in a touring boot, normally only allowing movement in a vertical, forward lean motion. To be able rotate on these two axis will make not only touring more comfortable but full on mountaineering possible in ski boots. So where there may have been a need for two pairs of heavy boots, mountaineering boots to climb and ski boots to descend, the Procline's can perform as both. When it comes to locking into your skis and charging back down the mountain a carbon fibre rear plate supplies all the support and rigidity needed for a demanding run. To top it all off the Procline houses a GoreTex, fully waterproof liner that breathes whilst offering maximum protection from snow and water ingress. Needless to say with all the carbon fibre in these boots they are incredibly light, like crazy light weighing as little as 1.19kgs.

As Arc'teryx themselves state these boots are "built for technical ascents and big mountain descents" and as long as you can afford them they are undoubtedly going to be the touring boot of choice for many backcountry skiers.

You can find Arc'teryx clothing here:- Arc'teryx  & our ski boots here:- Ski Boots

http://www.arcteryx.com/Article.aspx?language=EN&article=Arc-teryx-Procline-Ski-Mountaineering-Boot

Littlelife Traveller Premium Child Carrier

Littlelife Premium Traveller Child Carrier

This brilliant new design of child carrier is every parent's dream. Gone are the days of wrestling with a push chair in the airport (not to mention paying a fortune to have it put in the hold of the airplane!), with the LittleLife Premium Traveller, you will be able to breeze right through security and on to the plane - wearing it either as a rucksack or child carrier. LittleLife have designed this particular carrier to fit the carry-on luggage requirements of most airlines. This means that whatever the time of your flight, your child will have somewhere to sleep (even if you don't!), and by popping them into the rucksack when you get through security, there will be no worries about them running off and getting lost. Suitable for children between six and thirty-six months, the Premium Traveller holds a lot more weight than you would think, allowing it to last you through many holidays with your young child.

This carrier's benefits aren't just restricted to within the airport. Once you get to your destination (or even just at home), your kid can run about until they crash, where you can then just open the backpack up and pop them in - rather than lumping around a massive metal framed baby carrier all day in case they get tired out. 

The Traveller Premium does also function as a backpack when the child isn't in it. It comes with a large front pocket, with a laptop/document pocket within it and plenty of space for extra clothing, water bottles and food. The small front pocket comes in handy for easy access change, passports or boarding passes, and towards the top of the bag there is a handy D-ring to hang toys off. Weighing just two kilos, this carrier really isn't much heavier than a standard backpack.

With regards to the actual usefulness of the carrier itself, the Traveller Premium comes with a hidden sturdy frame, giving it structure when the child is in it but not making it cumbersome and uncomfortable when the carrier is not in use. With many adjustable straps, top grab handles and LittleLife's patented X-buckle harness, this carrier is just as stable and comfortable as you need it to be. They have also added on another toy hook inside the carrier, for ease of access by your precious cargo, and a Gruffalo head rest pillow, making sure that when they do insist on running off in busy airports, there is something to distract them when you put them in the carrier.

Shop all LittleLife products, the Traveller Premium, and all of our child carriers! 

Visit our website, www.penroseoutdoors.co.uk to see our full range of travel accessories, with free delivery on orders over £75!