Thermarest Tréo Chair Review

Thermarest Tréo Chair

To be honest its not often something exciting happens in the world of folding chairs but the arrival of Thermarest's Tréo chair is most definitely an exception. Thermarest have deconstructed and then re-designed the camp chair from the ground up, and in doing so they have created something really quite interesting.

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The Tréo comes packed in a hard plastic case that is roughly 26 cm by 11 cm and weighs just over 1 kg which isn't amazingly light, so this isn't a chair for ultra light backpackers. Then again its not that heavy either and will suit general campers as well as wild campers in need of a seat other than the floor. Packed, it looks neat and not unlike a time capsule, giving no hints to its true purpose. When opened, the contents look more like the ingredients of a small tent rather than camp chair. However the poles and Nylon seat are easily assembled and what resides is a remarkably comfortable chair. The bucket shaped seat can take up to 113 kg and the composite tripod legs feature non slip feet suitable for use on sand, dirt and rocks. The seat is also positioned at a sensible height making getting in and out of the chair easy. While similar looking to butterfly-style camp chairs that have been around for a long time, Thermarest's effort is definitely an improvement that is comfortable, looks cool but at £82 maybe a little expensive for some.

Berghaus Stormcloud Jacket

Berghaus Stormcloud Jacket

The Stormcloud jacket from Berghaus is the perfect option for those looking for an extremely lightweight, versatile, waterproof jacket, which doesn't lack on style and is incredibly eye catching. Designed for both men and women, this neat little jacket is the perfect accompaniment for walking around town, the beach or on a full blown hike.

The jacket features an adjustable hood with draw cords at the back and sides so the hood can be drawn around the face to keep out any wind and rain. At the font of the jacket you will find two zipped hand pockets with ample room to store your mobile, wallet or any other bits you may have on you.

Mens Stormcloud Jacket Carbon

Womens Stormcloud Jacket

There is a traditional Velcro adjustable cuff tab on each sleeve and there are also draw cords on the inside of the jacket so that the hem can be adjusted-preventing any gusts of wind finding its way inside.

The jacket is made using the AQ2 technology- essentially made up to two parts; the inner and outer. The outer has a durable, water repellent finish, which makes the jacket completely waterproof and breathable. There is a polyurethane coating on the inner of the jacket. 

Not only is the Stormcloud windproof and waterproof, the AQ2 fabric is also extremely breathable. This allows for any build up of heat you'd get through walking and exertion to escape through the fabric, helping to regulate your body temperature. 

With a weight of just 285g, you won't get weighed down by this really light jacket! It also comes with a net compression bag so when the sun comes out and it's too warm for a jacket, just simply roll it up and store it in the bag. This will minimise space in your rucksack or just makes it easier to carry rather than having it draped over your shoulders or wrapped around your waist. 

The coloured zips and draw cords featured on the jacket are of a contrasting colour, adding striking detail to the jacket.

Gel Fuel for camping stoves, any good?

Why use gel Gel fuels over gas?

If you haven't already heard of gel fuels you might be thinking 'Gel as a fuel for camping stoves, bit weird, what's wrong with gas, paraffin or petrol?'. And I agree, when I first came across it I was a little bemused by it all. That was until I was given a demonstration on how it works which completely changed my opinion of it and I now think of it as a genuine alternative to other fuels in the right situation.

The techy bit

The gel itself is an bio-ethanol that is formed by the fermentation of sugars derived from corn, wheat and sugar cane and is completely biodegradable. This means that from an ecological perspective, it is both environmentally friendly and sustainable which is a good start. Another benefit is that when the ethanol burns, no toxic or harmful substances (or horrible smells) are released into the atmosphere, just tiny amounts of water vapour and carbon dioxide. The fuel is also skin safe and even acts as a mild antiseptic.

As bio-ethanol gel comes in super tough sachets that are obviously unaffected by altitude unlike pressurized gas canisters that can be a difficult to light at higher altitudes. When lit, the gel burns from the outside layer in, and as a result once the gel is extinguished, it is cool to the touch and wont burn if touched. The sachet, being malleable is also easy to stash in a rucksack or cooking pot taking up very little space.  

Using gel as a fuel

There are dedicated gel fuel stoves available but it can used in any spirit/meth burning stoves such as Trangia's. Essentially the fuel could be used with any appropriate cooking tin and pan holder/riser. Unlike paraffin or similar liquid fuels there's little danger of spilling the gel fuel as it is so viscous (very thick and gooey). It's so thick in fact that it is great for starting fires as the gel stays put on top of kindling and does not run off on to the ground. The gel is easily ignited by fire steel or matches, starting with a gentle flame that increases in heat and size till the gel starts to crackle, roughly signifying the gel is ready to cook over. This gentle ignition maybe preferable for some over a gas stove's tendency to burst into life through a small fireball if it hasn't lit immediately!

The downsides

While gel has many advantages over other fuel types the main sticking point that most wild campers just wont get over, is that it takes considerably longer to boil, say, a litre of water, compared to a gas stove. Some climbers and hikers will undoubtedly favour Jet Boil systems and the like that boast 90 second boil times that let them cook and go. That said, gel fuel is comparable to both meth and alcohol fuels boil times.

Conclusion 

Gel fuel is safe, small and easily transported, it's also really cheap compared to the previously mentioned Jet Boil systems. So if you don't mind waiting a little for your cuppa, instead enjoying your environment and the experience of cooking outdoors, gel fuel might be worth considering for your next wild camping expedition.

Slingshot Wakeboards & Bindings

Slingshot Wakeboards & Bindings

New for 2015, Penrose Outdoors now stocks a range of wakeboards and bindings from Slingshot with unparalleled craftsmanship, pro-rider lead design and ridden by some of the world's best riders such as James Windsor, Oli Derome and Corrie Dyer. Whether you’re riding behind a boat or hitting a cable park Slingshot have a board for every rider. Here at Penrose Outdoors we currently have the Windsor, the Oli and the Whip wakeboard in stock, as well as the KTV and R.A.D bindings.

Full Columbian Gold wood cores provide great flex performance and compression response and the sweet, eye-catching 4D graphics make the boards stand out from any other boards on the market. Slingshot's Columbian Gold wood core has the highest compression response ever used in a wakeboard. Their wakeboards are also extremely environmentally friendly, using wood from local and sustainable forests. No PVC, Polyurethane foams or airborne solvents are used in the boards manufacture at all and the use of plastic top skins made from oil have been eliminated. And, for full green credentials, all the electricity used in the factory is created by wind and hydro-power.

Slingshot Windsor Wakeboard 2015

Named after pro Wake boarder James Windsor, Slingshot debuted the Windsor in 2014 and it's back for 2015. It has a medium flex between the feet helping the board maintain both shape and speed on high impact landings. The tip and tail channels help the board lock in for edging into air tricks and the ES base offers a controlled slide on the obstacles. Suitable for intermediate to expert level, the Windsor is perfect for all around rail park shredders awaiting big presses and additional traction for hard edging and air tricks.

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Slingshot Oli Wakeboard 2015

Named after pro rider Oli Derome, the Oli board features subtle hourglass channels combine with chinned rails in the tip and tail to create big acceleration into the wake. The medium flex pattern is the perfect crossover between boat and cable riding, allowing for great presses in the park and an ultimate behind the boat performance. Aeronautic technology; the NACA TECH channels water like a vacuum from the centre to the tip of the board increasing the board speed and grip to the water, giving the rider edge control and reduced drag. The Oli is ideal for intermediate to expert riders seeking dynamic edging, maximum pop and soft landings in both park and riding applications.

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Slingshot Whip Wakeboard 2015

Packed with loads of new features and the ability to crossover between boat and the park, the Whip has been fully re-invented for 2015. The new design allows maximum finless traction while creating a smoother base and more contact surface for riding features. It is softer in the tips, which allows NACA TECH and cupped rails to press flat on obstacles for a better slide. Fantastic for the intermediate to expert riders who value powerful pop, controlled traction on edge, clean release off the water and ultra-efficient speed on and off edge.

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Slingshot KTV Wakeboard Boots 2015

The high performance KTV wakeboard boots use a Velcro closure system instead of laces so there is no time wasting when putting the boot on/taking off. The straps are lighter, strong and thinner to allow for more efficient tightening and a better flex in the boot. The KTV also have a bottomless base system for an unmatched foot to board connection.

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Slingshot R.A.D Wakeboard Boots 2015

You’ll certainly get noticed in the eye-catching blue R.A.D. wakeboard boots. Form fit for maximum comfort and performance, designed for both boat and cable riders. The dual zone closure system combines a laced lower with integrated Heel Hold Down System and a Velcro upper zone to allow for a completely customised fit. Slingshot’s bottomless base system creates the ultimate in foot to board connectivity, providing an improved "feel" on the water.

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LakeView Wake Park is Cornwall's newest wake park and is located on the the 5* Star Lake View Country Park near Bodmin - lakeviewwakepark.com

Blue Wave’s Crest Kayak

New for Penrose Outdoors 2015, Blue Wave’s Crest Kayak…

Summer is finally here and what better way to get out in the water and spend a beautiful sunny day exploring the Cornish coastline! Not only is kayaking extremely fun, it is also a great workout as it gets your muscles working. You can discover hidden spots that are only accessible by water, get close to the underwater wildlife and even try some fishing! Kayak alone or with friends, for stress relief or an adrenaline hit, it is the perfect activity for all ages.

The Crest is a perfect all-round recreational kayak, although designed with fishing in mind! Whether you’re a beginner, or an advanced kayaker, the Crest is suitable for all ages and abilities. The Crest is a single seater kayak and it is stable, sturdy and swift. that can be used on rivers, estuaries, lakes and the sea!

The kayak is available in a range of eye-catching colours so you definitely won’t be missed on the water. Choose from pink, a vibrant red, white, green, camo, blue or a fiery yellow and red. The Crest’s luxurious padded seat, back support and wide range of foot positions ensure ultimate comfort. The straps on the seat can be adjusted to change the backrest position so comfort is guaranteed.

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The kayak features four flush and one swivel mounted fishing rod holder, a large bungee secured storage area and two watertight storage hatches to keep your valuables safe and dry. There is a handy drinks holder directly in front of the seat so you can stay hydrated on your adventure.

All of Blue Wave's kayaks come with a light, sturdy paddle. The bungee strap allows you to secure the paddle so both hands are free. There is a lifetime warranty with the kayak, so if a problem arises with your kayak you can simply contact your nearest Blue Wave dealer and they will repair or replace your kayak free of charge!

Pop into Penrose Outdoors to see our range of Crest Kayak’s and why not start a new summer adventure! 

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Vango Capri 500 Airbeam Tent Review

Vango Capri 500 Airbeam Tent.

The first thing I noticed about the Capri 500, was that despite it being a spacious 5 man tent, it packs down to a good size, it isn’t too heavy and it’s easy to carry. That being said, I was more interested in discovering how long it would take to erect the tent. I had heard impressive talk about the ease and speed at which these ‘Airbeam’ tents went up, but I was keen to see for myself.

Upon taking out the tent it becomes clear just how easy this should be. All of these tents have a sewn in ground sheet, which means upon unpacking, everything is in on piece and ready to go. There are no separate bedrooms that need to be put in later, simply a small bag of pegs and a single, collapsible fibreglass pole for the front awning, along with the included air pump.

The air pump feels robust and good quality. It comes complete with a pressure gauge, so you need not worry about over inflating your beams and it also comes with a deflator attachment, meaning that you can be sure that you will expel all of the air from your beams, ensuring a good tight package upon pack up.

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I spread my tent out and pegged it at the four main pegging points (two at the rear and two at the front). The next step was to pump up the beams one by one. It was pleasing to see that the air valves were very easily accessible. It’s simply a case of twisting off the valve cap, ensuring that the air valve is set to ‘closed’ and twisting in the air pump. Upon this twist, the pump locks in place, guaranteeing that there are no unexpected blow- outs mid inflation. The pumps are double action, meaning that they are inflating the beam on both the push down and pull up, coupled with the fact that the required pressure for each beam is a mere 7psi, this makes for a super quick inflation. The Capri 500 has three Airbeams and I had these fully inflated in a matter of minutes. It’s worth mentioning, that although 7psi doesn’t sound very much, the beams are very firm and robust. Having inflated the main section of the tent all that was required now was to assemble the single fibreglass pole and thread it through the front awning. This, again, was a quick and easy process, which left me with the final job of walking around the tent and pushing in the remaining pegs, along with tightening the guy ropes. As I mentioned previously, the bedroom comes ready attached inside, so once this tent is up, you are all done. This whole process took an impressive 5 minutes.

Looking inside the tent, there are a number of nice features. There is a clear window with a zip up cover for night time, a large front door, a side door complete with zip up fly sheet and the bedroom is made of a darker fabric, to limit the light that comes through in the morning and it has a removable partition allowing for one large room, as opposed to two slightly smaller. There is also a hanging point for a lantern in the bedroom and in the living area of the tent. All of the Airbeam tents come with the ‘Tension Band System’ and the Capri 500 is no different. This is a system that gives the tent extra strength, should it need it, in adverse weather conditions. This can be constantly left clipped in place, or put up and taken down as needed. The sewn in groundsheet seems to be a great feature as it rules out any unwanted water creeping into your tent and the awning feels like your own, private outdoor space that would be great for cooking, or simply lounging.

I found the pack down of this tent remarkably easy. Simply take out the one pole, unscrew the valve caps and turn the valves to ‘open’. The tent deflates in seconds and then it is just a case of pulling out the pegs and folding the tent up. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the bag, as previously with tents I have found that after taking them out of the bag the first time, it is near impossible to fold it back to a similar size, making it very difficult to squash back into its case. There were no such problems here as the bag for the Capri 500 was nice and spacious, so although my folding was far from perfect, I had no trouble whatsoever in packing it back in and zipping it up.

I was really impressed with this tent. From the ease of set up, the pump, the tents space and features, right through to the ease of pack down, it definitely comes highly recommended.

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Meindl X-SO 30 GTX Hiking Shoe Review

Meindel X-SO 30 GTX Review

At first look these new X-SO 30 GTX hiking shoes from Meindl look pretty similar to any other technical hiking shoe. There is slightly more ventilated mesh used than in similar shoes, the only areas that do not use mesh are the heel cup, which fully encompasses the heel offering great support, and the minimal toe protector. The rest of the shoes design features a mainly transparent rubber ribbing that reduces the weight of the overall appearance of the shoe.

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However under its glitzy facade hides venting that has been adapted from a previous version of Gore-Tex Surround that has been present in urban footwear for some years. The issue with the previous GTX Surround, and why it has not been utilised in outdoor footwear before, was that mud blocked the venting and prevented the vents from well, venting. Enter GTX Surround Outdoor, where the venting has been moved from the bottom of the shoe to the side and base just above the rubber sole unit that runs around the shoe via a 6 mm open cell spacer. This offers a full 360° of venting that allows for better breathability and dryer feet. Drier feet, of course, reduces the likely hood of getting blisters or chafing. The Gore-Tex waterproof membrane is built in to the shoe, like an inbuilt waterproof and breathable sock, completely surrounding the foot.

The lack of a rubber rand around the base of the shoe, that allows this extra breathability, and shallow lug pattern mean this shoe will not be the best for tackling rough terrain. However as a warm weather walking shoe it really will excel.

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