The standard Petzl Actik
It showtime in the outdoor world, with brands lining up shiny new products at trade gatherings that will appear in the shops from next year.
We’ve taken a look at some of the goodies on offer to entice enthusiasts in the coming months.
Petzl, renowned for its range of headtorches, has completely replaced its classic range with new versions of the e+Lite, Tikkina, Tikka and Zipka models. In addition, the existing Tikka+ and Tikka XP models are replaced with new Actik and Actik Core headtorches. Prices have in many cases been held or even reduced.
The new e+Lite, the ultra-compact emergency headlamp, gains an upgrade from 26 to 50 lumens. The adjustable elastic headband features an emergency whistle, and it comes with a compact storage case. Weighing just 27g, the e+Lite will operate in temperatures from -30C to +60C and is waterproof-rated to 1m depth for 30 minutes, gaining an IP 67 rating. The price will be reduced by £5, to £20.
The Tikkina is uprated from 80 to 150 lumens. The torch body is redesigned and is more compact; it is supplied with three standard AAA batteries, but is also compatible with the new Core rechargeable battery. The price is held at £20.
The Tikka is also uprated, from 100 to 200 lumens. Again, the body design is more compact; a luminescent reflector and red lighting are retained from the current version, while the adjustable elastic headband gains an emergency whistle. The Zipka, with its retractable cord gets the same upgrade from 100 to 200 lumens. Tikka prices are unchanged at £30, while the Zipka comes down from £32 to £30.
The upgraded Petzl eLite+
Petzl’s Active headtorches, aimed mainly at fast-moving outdoor enthusiasts, offer more powerful, versatile lighting with longer burn times. Within the Active range, the new Actik and Actik Core are multi-beam models with multiple lighting modes, red lighting, and reflective headbands with emergency whistles.
The Actik (£40) boasts 300 lumens, and uses AAA batteries or the Core rechargeable unit. The Actik Core (£50) is rechargeable as it is supplied complete with the Core battery, and power is 350 lumens.
The new Core rechargeable battery is a high-capacity 1,250 mAh lithium-ion unit that charges via a USB port or back-up battery. There’s a charge indicator plus an indicator light for remaining burn time. Petzl says one particular benefit is that it performs well at low temperatures.
Finally, the Noctilight (£14) is a protective carrying case that converts Petzl compact head torches into a lantern. Place the headtorch inside and the unit gives a soft, diffuse light. The design, complete with cord, allows the Noctilight to be placed on a surface, suspended in a tent or attached to a belt, backpack.
La Sportiva Trango Tower
Italian footwear brand La Sportiva displayed its replacement for the Trango S Evo, which has graced outdoor retailers since 2004.
The Trango Tower GTX will sell at £250 and features a stiffer midsole, matched with Vibram’s Cube outsole for improved traction.
The upper is made from high-tenacity 6.6 nylon water-repellent fabric reinforced with Honey-Comb Guard and the boot has Gore-Tex waterproofing. Men’s and women’s versions are available.
The Trango Tower GTX (£250) replaces the much-loved Trango S Evo, a staple for retailers since 2004. The new model gains a stiffer midsole combined with La Sportiva’s Vibram® Cube outer sole for improved traction, while the upper is constructed from high-tenacity 6.6 nylon water repellent fabric reinforced with Honey-Comb Guard. Men’s and women’s versions available.
Mountain running has now overtaken climbing and mountaineering in La Sportiva’s turnover for the first time.
The company is currently the number two trailrunning brand in the USA. New to its line-up is the Akyra ultra running shoe (£130), featuring a more aggressive sole than the existing Ultra Raptor.
The structure is designed to guarantee a secure fit, comfort and protection through its three-layer construction: a soft AirMesh Ultra-Comfort inner combined with a thermal-adhesive TPU MicroLite Skeleton and an external, engineered breathable mesh with Flex-Guard microfibre inserts.
The Injected EVA midsole combined with an Ortholite Mountain Running footbed gives good shock absorption, while the deep-lug outsole with FriXion XT rubber features the Trail Rocker system. This guides the foot from heel strike through to toe-off via the positioning of its harder, red, compound sections, reducing fatigue.
In the approach category, La Sportiva’s existing TX4 and TX4 GTX shoes continue, and are joined by the TX4 Mid GTX (£175), a lightweight mid-cut boot designed for technical approach routes, via ferrata and hiking, with suede leather uppers, a soft cuff and a Gore-Tex lining. The Mid uses La Sportiva’s STB Control System where the upper extends and wraps over the midfoot for a more stable fit.
Exped Lite 900
Exped’s full-spec Lite-series sleeping bags are warm, reliable four-season designs for adventures, treks in cold regions or winter touring. Although trimmed for reduced weight, they offer the necessary width to allow layering inside when temperatures plummet.
Both bags use goose down with 800+ cubic ins fill power. The Lite 1400 (£530) uses a fill weight of 1,365g which results in a bag weight of 1.9kg and is rated -19C to -27C/-46 C. The Lite 900 (£355) uses a fill weight of 810g which gives a bag weight of 1.2kg and is rated -8 to -15C/-35C.
Its Ultralite bags are featherlight and super compact, aimed at summer and hut use. The trim fit also makes them ideal for use as a liner within a second sleeping bag on cold nights. Both bags use goose down with 800+ cu in fill power. The Ultralite 300 (£205) uses a fill weight of 300g which results in a bag weight of 560g and is rated +9C to +5C/-9C. The Ultralite 500 (£255) uses a fill weight of 500g with a bag weight of 740g and is rated +5C to -1C/-16C.
Versa bags are the brand’s wide, versatile, and affordable down-filled designs for travellers or backpackers; the foot end opens up completely. Both use goose down with 700+ cubic ins fill power. The Versa 400 (£185) has a fill weight of 400g, packed weight of 940g and is rated +6C to +1C/-14C. The Versa 600 (£225) has a fill weight of 600g, packed weight of 1.1kg and is rated -1C to -5C/-20C.
All Exped sleeping bags have anatomically shaped hoods with thick padded forehead baffles. They have labels featuring a QR code to verify IDFL lab test results. Double tuck-stitch seams: three instead of two layers of fabric are sewn together into a tucked-away seam that increases seam strength and reduces wicking of moisture.
Fabric edges are over-lock stitched, preventing fraying and increasing strength. Bar tacking on stress points increases integrity and all baffles are sealed towards the zip end to prevent down migration between baffles. Zips are backed by 3D draft tubes that effectively prevent cold spots.
A 3D multi-chamber design eliminates cold spots and down shift, due to its numerous horizontal and vertical baffle walls. The bags have an angled trapezoid foot-box design that follows the sleeper ́s foot position. The sleeping bags come with Exped waterproof roll-top stuff sacks.
Exped says its down is sourced from independently certified suppliers. Exped guarantees that the down originates from ducks and geese that have free range space, access to water, food and shelter and are not force-fed or live-plucked.
Gregory's 65-litre Maven women's rucksack
US-based pack manufacturer Gregory Mountain Products is focusing its 40 years of design experience on a new line of lightweight backpacking rucksacks. The new Paragon and women’s Maven models fit original design into a line spanning 35- to 68-litre capacities.
All Paragon and Maven packs feature a new Aerolon adjustable back system that Gregory says delivers light, supportive suspension combined with a breathable ventilated mesh. The back adjustment runs up and down the tubular frame to aid stability, with two torso sizes available.
The Gription lumbar pad gives non-slip support for comfort, and combines with a unique hipbelt design on the larger packs that allows the user to customise its position for a perfect fit. Inside there’s a Sidekick combination hydration pouch that removes to become a lightweight daypack.
Gregory said: “It’s in lightening the load that the Paragon really comes into its own, helping to strip back weight.
“Remove the lid and replace with the detachable internal compartment divider. Side webbing compressors are larks-footed so they can be removed, and both the raincover and Sidekick internal pouch come out. To control lighter loads, the lower buckles clip together for compression.
“End result? You’ve stripped out 432g in weight, a significant saving which for instance brings the 68L Paragon down to just 1.2kg.”
Additional extra design details include a unique sunglass stowage on the shoulder harness, and the packs are ‘solar ready’: clip a Goal Zero Nomad 7TM solar panel to the attachment points to harness the sun’s power as you go.
The men’s Paragon range is: 68l (£175), 58l (£160), 48l (£130), 38l (£115). The women’s Maven comes in: 65l (£175), 55l (£160), 35l (£115).
- We’ll bring you more tempting glimpses of shiny new gear in the near future.
