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travel / gear / cool tools
| Cool Tools |
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By Steven Threndyle
Cold winter’s light
Petzl MYO XP Headlamp ($75)
The knock against first-generation LEDs is that
while they were great around camp, the beam faded to black when pointed into, for
instance, a dark forest. The Petzl MYO XP uses an S-LED (super-lightemitting
diode) and a special “boost” option that extends the
beam up to 65 metres for 20 seconds. With no fragile
filaments to break, LEDs offer superb durability and long
lamp life. The MYO XP features a lightweight, wellbalanced,
easy-to-wear headband with the light in front
and the battery case at the back (three AA/LR6 batteries
are included). Three energy settings (economic,
optimum and boost) allow you to customize the light,
and the beam can be concentrated or diffused depending on
conditions.
en.petzl.com
More power to you
Black & Decker Simple Start Vehicle Battery Booster ($60)
So, you’ve returned to the trailhead after camping in the wintery
woods to find that freezing temperatures have sapped the juice
from your car battery. No one has jumper cables, and it’s a
long snowshoe to the nearest town. What do you do? Plug the
compact yet robust Black & Decker Simple Start Vehicle Battery
Booster into your car’s 12-volt outlet, wait a few minutes, then
turn the key to start the engine — it’s just like getting a boost
from a tow truck. The unit is small enough to store in your
glovebox, and the battery also powers a high-intensity LED lamp
for emergencies. You can even recharge your dead cellphone or
laptop using the DC power supply. At $60, it’s a lot cheaper than
calling for a tow.
www.blackanddecker.com
Snips, slices and sings
SwissMemory s.Beat MP3 Digital Media Player ($230)
The Swiss
Army knife gets a high-tech overhaul with a USB flash drive and an
MP3 player. What happened to the knife, nail file and scissors? Turns
out that they’re all included in this rather unusual marriage of wilderness-
tool functionality and plug-and-play entertainment. A Swissbit
USB storage key slots directly into the knife housing and is truly
ingenious — it runs off a 3.7V lithium polymer battery that charges
when it’s plugged into a computer. (A Flight version allows
the USB key to detach from the knife housing so you can
enjoy your tunes on a commercial airline.) Earbud-style headphones
fit into one of two jacks on the storage key. A digital
voice recorder is also included for recording the sound of crashing
waves or howling wind. Should you miss civilization, you can even
listen to FM radio.
www.swissarmy.com
Sport-ute boot
Baffin Control Premium Winter Boots ($150)
This Stoney
Creek, Ont., company manufactures insulated winter boots
that have been to the North Pole, and it also makes boots the
rest of us can wear in the backcountry and around town. The
stylish Control Premium boot has a vulcanized polyurethane
and rubber sole that grips well on icy sidewalks, and its
waterproof leather upper looks great and keeps
your feet dry. The secret to this boot’s warmth
(rated by Baffin to -60°C) lies in its five-layer
liner. The contoured one-piece tongue keeps
snow from seeping in around the front and side of
the foot, while the above-ankle design offers excellent stability
in slippery conditions.
www.baffin.com
Down and flirty
Mountain Hardwear Sub Zero Vest ($200)
Mountain climbers and Arctic explorers have
known for years that nothing beats goose
down as an insulator. This Mountain Hardwear
vest is as stylish as your new stainless steel
fridge and will keep your torso toasty with its 650-
fill prime goose-down insulation. Compactibility
is another advantage that down enjoys over synthetic
fill, and the Sub Zero easily packs away into
its tiny stuff sack (included). It’s the perfect vest
to pull out when stopping for a quick snack while
on the Nordic or snowshoe trails. Chilly drafts are
eliminated with an elasticized waist-cord-andcinch
system that pulls tight with one hand.
www.mountainhardwear.com
Between a sock and a hard place
Integral Designs Vapour Barrier Socks
($25)
“Pack an extra pair of socks” is
always good winter advice, especially
when heading out into cold and wet
conditions. Designed to be sandwiched
between a thin liner sock and a
thicker insulative one, Integral Designs
Vapour Barrier (VB) socks are made of
thin, rubber-coated nylon that keeps
your feet warm and dry in frigid temperatures.
They even reduce chafing
and blisters. VB socks work best in
cold weather and can easily be stowed
in your pack when not being worn.
integraldesigns.com
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