Big Agnes Takes On My Daughter

Cocona Test Jacket

Recently Backpacker magazine had an ad in which a company, Cocona, was looking for people to sign up for the opportunity to test some gear. Since, with a limited budget, I tend to be all about free stuff, I filled out the entry form on the Cocona Fabrics website. Wonder of wonders, I was picked to be a tester. Cocona claims that their waterproof, breathable Xcelerator fabric is the best thing since sliced bread....I think that there is no reason for anyone to wax poetical about Cocona. This was the first hike I took with the test jacket I received. The test is supposed to last for sixty days which means it should end just about the time I plan to be climbing Mts Skylight, Marcy and Haystack; unless the jacket falls apart before then.

Trekking Pole Update

Just an update on the Outdoor Products trekking poles. I've been able to get out on a few more day hikes with them and have been able to test them out a bit more. The only issue I've run into so far is that I don't check them enough. I noticed after a recent hike that one pole was shorter than the other by about two inches. Upon further examination one of the locks was loose. Compared to the other locks on both poles, the gap of the lock (it looks like a "C" clamp) was wide. A quick turn of the adjuster screw (on all of the locks) set me right again. I can say that, even with the one loose lock, the shorter pole was still holding up and I was unable to make it slip any further than the distance it had already moved. Still pleased!

I'm Off of My Vitamins

As I've gotten older I've noticed that Vitamin I has become a post-hike ritual for me, which isn't good. I know there is nothing I can do about aging so I did the next best thing. I picked up a pair of trekking poles. I've used a single Leki pole for the last decade but I had never jumped on the double pole bandwagon, until now. A recent trip to Wal-Mart found me, again, in the camping section. Because I haven't had any complaints about the Outdoor Products (OP) dry sacks that I had purchased I decided to give the company's poles a try; I figured at $12 a pole, what did I have to lose. The poles are, according to the manufacturer, a "lightweight aluminum alloy." They are also impossible to find on the OP website so exactly what this alloy consists of, I don't know. They are a three section, non-shock absorbing design with dual cam-locks. The locks are further adjustable with a phillips head screw. Included with the poles are two rubber tip caps/covers and a screw on trekking(?) basket. The basket features a cut-out that, I assume, lets the poles be clipped together for carrying. The poles are adjustable from approximately 54"-24.5" and are marked in 5 cm increments. The grips are an ergonomic, hard rubber and include an integrated, adjustable wrist strap. The Wal-Mart I visited had two colors: A bright, metallic orange and a more subdued metallic green. I purchased the green. My Leki pole, on a calibrated scale, came in at a weight of 10.6 oz. One of the OP poles weighed 9.4 oz and the other weighed 9.7 oz. In all fairness the Leki pole does have a wood knob on top and features Leki's antishock system. I've had the OP poles out twice for hikes now and I'm pleasantly surprised. The hikes consisted of snow covered trails and some steep off-trail scrambles. With both baskets removed from the poles I was able to jam them into the softer dirt under the foot of snow and, as I walked, pivot the poles in an attempt to bend them against the crust on top of the snow. Both poles came through with flying colors. Also, during the off-trail scrambling, there were several times when I used the poles to support my full weight (~240 lbs) both up and down hills. Again the poles performed well with no slippage of the locks. For me the greatest thing to overcome was the ergonomic grip. My Leki pole was adjusted to waist height and I would hold the wooden knob in the palm of my hand, like a walking stick. This allowed me to drop the pole if I fell so it wouldn't smack me in the head (which happened anyway). The ergonomic grip and wrist strap of the OP poles are, to me, a disadvantage but will probably get easier to use as I learn to use them. So far I'm happy with the OP poles. The price was good and the initial quality is on par with the Leki pole.

Thank Goodness for the REI Visa!

Much to the chagrin of my lovely wife, I've been in full gear acquisition mode. Thanks to lots of perusing the webz and reading a ton of gear reviews I've pretty much got everything I need; or at least I know what I would like to get. So far I've got the aforementioned Deuter Futura Zero 50, a REI Quarter Dome T1, a REI Travel Sack +55 and a Term-a-Rest Ridge Rest. I was also able to find a Bare Boxer (after I bought a Garcia and realized it's half as big as a two-year old) so I'm literally armed for bear, too. I've made a few impulse Wal-Mart buys when I've been out and about also, and I'm hoping to get some more test and review videos posted as soon as I remember to take my Flip with me on a day-hike. Until then you'll just have to eagerly await the updates or find me a babysitter so I can have some free time!

Outdoor Products Ultimate Dry Sack Test and Review

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