DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - The Fuel headlamp Princeton Tec sent TGU to review has become my new favourite piece of kit!!

I’m not quite up to making light graffiti but the Princeton Tec FUEL Headlamp has been stuck to my head for my last few Wednesday Night Runs.

It’s very tiny and light (also important if YOU are tiny and light ;-) ), so tiny that I was a little afraid of how robust it would be. I have a habit of carrying my headtorch for a while and dropping it a lot but this thing took some punishment. Firstly it throws off a big wide beam, it pivots really nicely on one side only and the button is easy to push. Sounds basic but I have torches that don’t!

The little plastic adjuster at the side is also the clip to remove the battery cover! Clever or what!? I really like the idea that the torch part can be removed and can be clipped onto a jacket. Other good uses for a headlamp: heading down the bottom of your garden at night to the compost bins, yeah I know, adventurous or what?

Currently it’s cable-tied to my mountain biking helmet!

-Aisling-

Disclosure: The Fuel headlamp was sent to TGU as a review unit by Princeton Tec. Thanks Princeton!

(Image Credit: Princeton Tec Fuel headlamp attached to the authors helmet.)

And now I’ll leave you with a video of what can be done on this board. They just make look so damn easy!

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - This has to be the best, strongest, toughest bag on the market. It’s absolutely super for travel converting between a massive chasm of space down to a compressed pack suitable for hand luggage on a flight.

Pictured above is my grey 140L duffel strapped to the back on a mule/horse in Peru. It really did get treated tough in rain & snow/hail on that trip to over 4000m on horseback and didn’t leak or show signs of wear.

The classic bomber expedition duffel. Whether you’re going to Tahoe or headed to Ama Dablam, the Base Camp Duffel gets your gear there with you.

That bag has been with me everywhere since I bought it in 2002, 6 years ago and it’s still going very strong. It has been in more plane holds than I can imagine and it just brilliant. Want something suitable for travel, suitable for in your car boot, suitable for stacking in your tent porch… this is your buy. Between a few of us we now have the red, yellow, grey & black models and when we all have them when travelling together it looks a sight.

-Robin.

P.S. You may have noticed something new up at the top of this post (you’ll need to be signed-in for full effect, create an account if you don’t have one). Yes - it tells you own owns the gear we’re talking about and lets you add it to your own gear or wish list. The plan in the next few days is to match up the people who own items to sell them to people who wish for the same thing. We’ll see if it works! Feedback gladly accepted.

Amazing climbing, great -and professional - footage, well worth a watch!

Review of King Lines DVD
Rated as 4/5 on Jan 17 2008 by Neal McQuaid



O.k., so it’s Rampage #2 on a global scale. I know I shouldn’t describe it as this, but with another movie from BigUpProductions showing just how good Chris Sharma is on rock, you just get that nagging feeling that no-one would’ve really minded if that’s what it had been called :)
Update: Apologies - for those who don’t climb, Rampage was the first of the movies released by BigUpProductions and for anyone starting climbing in the late 90’s, the seminal movie to inspire for climbing!
So, how goes it? Well, the climbing is outrageous containing footage from super-hard deep water soloing lines in Mallorca, to bouldering in South America, to the hardest routes at Ceuse (involving 3 full dynos!!), to the what-will-be the hardest sports climb in America if not the world. In short you won’t be feeling like you got shortchanged. The footage was all recorded in high definition and with the help of another of the well known climbing-movie producers, Peter Mortimer, it means that the whole film has got a seriously professional and polished feel to it. Seriously, it’s almost too well made - especially as the previous movie I’d seen had been the seat-of-your-pants, UnderDeveloped which has a great home-grown feeling to it.
the movie is essentially a documentary on the life and lifestyle of Sharma - who 10 year non-stop climbing trip doesn’t look like it’s coming an end anytime soon. I suppose we all should feel jealous and miffed towards the guy, but as comes across in the film (and a compliment to the makers), you can’t but not admire what he’s done.

anyway, in short, what did I think of it overall? Well, the climbing footage is outstanding and genuinely inspiring and you won’t be short of motivation after seeing it. Seriously, some of the climbing looks seriously hard - and as usual Sharma is making it look like he’s walking down a path. You won’t be disappointed.
But, and it’s an interesting but, it hasn’t drawn me back to watching it repeatedly like my previous and first experience of Rampage - my original video of this is worn out from use. I can’t explain it but it doesn’t seem to draw me back as willingly as previously. It could be that I’m also out of university now so have more things to be doing that sitting around watching climbing movies all the time ;) Maybe that’s a good thing as it means the DVD might actually last!

- Neal :) -

For anyone looking to pick up yet another quality movie, check this out.

LouderVoice Review Tags: climbing, Chris Sharma, DVD, bouldering

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]]> http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2008/01/review-king-lines-dvd.html/feed http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2008/01/findmeapackcom-find-your-perfect-rucksack.html http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2008/01/findmeapackcom-find-your-perfect-rucksack.html#comments Thu, 17 Jan 2008 05:15:29 +0000 Robin Blandford http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2008/01/findmeapackcom-find-your-perfect-rucksack.html

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - Today myself and Eoin are launching FindMeAPack.com, a site enabling you to find your perfect rucksack. Eoin has now added 177 packs to the searchable database. Good man!



This site joins the FMA family now consisting of FindMeATent.com, FindMeACamper.com New Zealand, FindMeACamper.com Australia, FindMeACamper.com South Africa and FindMeAGPS.com. By providing a searchable database of structured products, ability to post experiences & ratings, ask questions, work out the market leaders and do comparison filtering.

If anyone would like to contribute to or suggest another product-line such as FindMeATrailShoe.com, just shout.

Visit: FindMeAPack.com - Find Your Perfect Rucksack

-Robin-

]]> http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2008/01/findmeapackcom-find-your-perfect-rucksack.html/feed http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-lowepro-photo-runner.html http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-lowepro-photo-runner.html#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:38:51 +0000 Neal McQuaid http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-lowepro-photo-runner.html

relatively compact (but will still comfortably take an SLR or camcorder and two lenses) with a great waist belt to keep the bag close on those active days. A great traveling bag

Review of Lowepro Photo Runner camera bag
Rated as 5/5 on Nov 19 2007 by Neal McQuaid



Continuing on from last week’s review of the Canon EOS 400D/Rebel Xti, here’s the review of the camera bag to go with my purchase.
I lucked out with this bag in that I had just popped into a photography store in Salt Lake City to see if I could get a Shieldzone screen protector (which are from SLC) and they had this bag sitting on display.
I’ll make this review simple, this is an great bag for an SLR and I wouldn’t have gotten some of the better photos this year without it. Why? Basically, every once in a while, I’ll have a moment of madness, realize there’s going to be a beautiful sunset somewhere, throw the bag over my shoulder and clip the waistbelt in, and take off at a run for the highest vantage point. As a warning, I’ve almost being ill from running up said hills but you can’t really blame the bag for that :)


The bag has enough space for an SLR with a medium size zoom lens attached (up to about 80mm) and room for two more lens (or accessories beside it). I don’t own one but I’m fairly certain it wouldn’t accept a large zoom along with the camera so if you have one of those, you might want to have a look at something larger. I’ve seen reports however on Amazon that people say it will take a 100-300mm zoom lens with just the SLR however. Also, the padded dividers internally can be moved around to suit your gear as they’re attached by velcro.
There’s a zip pocket on the front that easily accommodates some miscellaneous items like battery charger, etc. To give an idea of what I used to carry in this while traveling on planes, this bag used to contain the SLR and two lenses (one on the camera), a universal plug converter, Archos photo storage device, all necessary cables, earphones, SLR battery charger, and documentation required for flights. Quite a lot for such a small bag!

The big selling point for me was the integrated waist-belt. With solitary shoulder strap the bag flops around when moving briskly (i.e. running) or climbing (i.e. hanging on a rope waiting to get some photos of another route). With the waist-belt fastened, there’s not a kick out of it and it’s especially comforting with all the hardware being kept nice and snug. there’s some padding internally also which helps with the bag being dropped, sorry bumped ;) It was especially useful while moving around cities as it’s easy to access the compartment to swap lenses. In comparison to the backpacks, you can just swing it around front and just lie the gear into the bag to swap.

Overall: if you like moving around with a camera over your shoulder with easy access to everything in it, and like to move actively, a brilliant bag and you won’t be complaining.

LouderVoice Review Tags: photography, Lowepro, shoulder, waist-belt, SLR, camera bag

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Image Credit: the author’s Photo Runner sitting in front of the Fox (or is it Franz Joesph?) Glacier in New Zealand

- Neal :) -

]]> http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-lowepro-photo-runner.html/feed http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/2139.html http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/2139.html#comments Fri, 23 Nov 2007 14:08:29 +0000 Neal McQuaid http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/2139.html

Decent (enough) wide angle, sturdy and most importantly…….image stabilized for getting those sport shots :)

Review of Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens
Rated as 4/5 on Nov 18 2007 by Neal McQuaid



continuing on from last week’s review of the Canon EOS Rebel Xti (400D), here’s the continuation of the review to cover the lens.
I’d decided straight away (especially after reviews that the lens is so critical to the camera, I didn’t trust the stock lens Canon must supply) to just purchase the body and purchase a separate lens that would suit my needs more.
Firstly, I’m sure a lot of you will be aware, but this does cost more money. Lenses are NOT cheap! Still though, I thought it was a worthwhile investment.

I purchased two lenses:
1. the stock Canon EF 50mm f1.8 fixed lens
if you own a Canon SLR, buy this lens for portrait shots, etc. It’s tiny so makes the camera nice and small and not intimidating like the usual bulky SLR (who likes having a camera stuck in their face!?). It’s also brilliant in low light without flash (aperature). A must buy.
Note #1: try to purchase in the States as it’s sooo much cheaper over there - $77/€52.50 instead of $142/€97 - I know I did ;).
Note #2: When used on the 400D/Xti, it’s actually about a 80mm lens due to 1.6 magnification on the smaller camera sensor of the consumer level SLR’s Canon and Nikon sell. I’m not going into details: the short answer is if you’re purchasing a lens and it has ‘EF’, it means it’s going to be magnified, if it has EF-S it’s what it says on the tin, errr, lens.

2. the Canon 17-85mm Image Stabilized that this review is based on.
I’ll keep it pretty short. Once again, this camera has visited 4 continents this year and taken a respectable battering along the way. I can’t fault it for any manufacturing quality issues.
I’ll be honest also - I wasn’t overly sure on whether I liked this lens when I first purchased it. Considering it costs almost the price of the camera (about $150/€110 less) this obviously wasn’t a good thing! Still though, as I’ve used it more and more, I’ve really come to appreciate it’s versatility.
Having taken some photos with and without the image stabilization, I can confirm that there’s definitely some improvements due to it. To the ordinary user, you’ll basically notice it if you’re using the lens in poor light as there’s less need for the flash. As an example, this photo below was taken in a really steep crag in Australia on maximum zoom. Zero modifications were made to the photo to improve the quality of the photo.





In between all that, one big compliment is that the lens is so quiet. It’s definitely a compliment, and you really notice how loud the mirror on the SLR is when taking a photo after using this lens.

Good Points: it’s a rock solid lens and giving great versatility. It’s a pretty decent wide-angle (although only a mm more than the stock canon lens) and a pretty decent zoom (much more than the stock Canon lens!) giving great opportunities for using while taking portrait or long distance shots. In my ideal world, it’d have a wider zoom (but I think we’d all like that :) but I’m just being picky.
Bad Points: it’s pretty heavy and having it on the 400D/Xti which is a ridiculously light camera, means it’s noticeable. Having said that, I did have a 200mm EF professional lens on the camera a few months ago and now THAT was heavy so I suppose I can’t really complain :)

LouderVoice Review Tags: photography, canon, lens, image stabilized, stabilised, EF-S

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Image Credit: Chris Tracey on ‘Chasing the Shadow’ 27/7c/5.12d in The Gallery, Grampians, Australia.

- Neal :) -

]]> http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/2139.html/feed http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-canon-eos-400drebel-xti.html http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-canon-eos-400drebel-xti.html#comments Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:20:41 +0000 Neal McQuaid http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-canon-eos-400drebel-xti.html

Surprisingly sturdy, light, great battery, large screen (But buy a screen protector!): Canon’s consumer level SLR does it all and takes all the abuse in between. A fantastic camera!

Review of Review: Canon EOS 400D/Rebel Xti
Rated as 5/5 on Nov 16 2007 by Neal McQuaid




NEWBRIDGE, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Since it’s coming up to Christmas, I thought now would be the best time to throw up a long term test review of my Canon EOS 400D, or Rebel XTi as it’s known in the States (the exact same model). Maybe it’ll tempt one or two people into a purchase.
First things first: I highly reccommend the purchase of a screen protector like Shieldzone’s specific one. Since the screen is so large, and you’ll regularly have the camera lying against your chest, it’s quite easy for it to pick up marks. My protector is showing some dents proving it was a justified purchase.
Note that this is being based on a traveling and sports point of view as having being purchased at the beginning of the year, this camera has been to Asia, Europe, Australasia and North America and taken an estimated 4,000+ photos. Basically, it’s a report on whether it’s still working or not :)
In short, this camera has performed admirably right from the very beginning and I’m still finding very little I can fault with it.
The real highlights that I’ve found while traveling: The battery is amazing, especially considering the size of the large (3 inches) screen. Canon have really thought the unit through as it has an automatic light sensor so that it turns off when your eye up the viewfinder. Along with that, it’s standby mode seems to use no power whatsoever. I regularly would leave the camera on for a few days, come back, tap the trigger and find it’s still full power. Canon’s estimation of 500 shots on a full charge definitely isn’t inaccurate. Even with heavy use of the screen to review photos, you’ll still easily get into the 300 range - I’m not joking when I say I’ve only charged the camera no more than 20 times in the whole year. I didn’t even bring a spare battery as it was so good.
The camera has taken an absolute beating due to the nature of my existence for the past year and hasn’t missed a beat. Other than some minor scrapes, it still looks as good as new.
With regards to dust getting on the sensor (a potentially common problem for SLR’s when you swap lenses and very difficult to clean at the best of times), I had one small issue right at very beginning with some grit showing up on a batch of photos. I don’t know whether it was the in-built sensor cleaner or just something that cleaned itself, but I haven’t cleaned the sensor since purchasing the camera and the problem disappeared. If anything, the sensor cleaner makes the most disturbing noise of the whole camera (it ‘cleans’ the sensor every time the unit is turned on or off): it sounds like something metal rattling around in the camera for a brief moment on startup and shutdown. Seems to do it’s job however so great stuff.



Other than that, the image quality has been great. With a 10.1 megapixel sensor, there’s lots of allwance to crop photos (as crappy photographers like myself regularly have to do :) without sacrificing quality. With regards to quality, any of the photos I’ve used on this blog have come from the camera and most have only received minor tweaks for brightness and contrast using iPhoto. For more photos check out my Flickr collection.

One additional side benefit is that the camera has sucked me into trying all it’s features. As a compliment to the button and feature layout, I now almost exclusively use the camera on fully Manual or Aperature Priority. That can only be a good thing I suppose?

In short, if anyone is thinking of making the step up from a stand point-and-shoot to a more advanced level camera, a) you won’t regret it due to usually better quality photos from the larger sensor and b) it’ll take a hammering while you’re off doing whatever silly sport keeps you sane :)

Good Points: Amazing battery life. Great sensor. Expandable with additional lenses.

Bad Points: Additional lenses are very expensive. Sometimes (but only sometimes) I wish it could take continuous photos quicker (buy the next model up if that’s what you need). That’s pretty much it in that area!

LouderVoice Review Tags: photography, Canon, EOS 400D, Rebel Xti, SLR, camera

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Image Credit: unknown climber in Monstant, Spain. Taken with my Canon Rebel Xti - No editing required to get this photo and all it’s colours!

- Neal :) -

]]> http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/11/review-canon-eos-400drebel-xti.html/feed http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/510-anasazi-verde-review.html http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/510-anasazi-verde-review.html#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:12:53 +0000 Dave Ayton http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/510-anasazi-verde-review.html

Overall, A big thumbs up!

Review of 5.10 Anasazi Verd
Rated as 5/5 on Oct 23 2007 by Dave Ayton



NORTH WALES (Team Geared Up) - Well I said ages ago that I’d write something about these once I had given them a good going over – well I’ve used them in anger once or twice now and heres the verdict…

There is no such thing as the perfect shoe but these green machines come as close as I’ve ever seen. I originally bought them for a planned trip to Fairhead when I was needing a decent pair of edging shoes but circumstances conspired against me and I ended up wearing them mostly on sports and trad limestone during the summer months. When it comes to Edging they are fantastic! Having climbed in their pink (Oi!! They’re not Pink… they’re passion RED!) predecessors for what seemed like forever I can say that the new Verde’s have kept all the best features of the original lace-up and the designers at 5.10 have finally got round to disposing with the gamy heel! The new heel is snug, the fit is tight yet comfortable and the rubber is stickier than shit on a blanket! Their only failing I’ve noticed so far is while smearing – maybe it’s because I’ve sized them quite tight or maybe it’s because they’re still fairly new, but either way I’ve found myself reverting to my 5.10 Anasazi Velcros (Onyx) for routes requiring broad smears as they feel more flexible and secure on ‘non-holds’.

Overview
The Verde’s have preformed equally well on Burren Limestone, Dalkey and Glendalough Granite, Welsh Slate, Cheshire Sandstone and also on French and UK sports limestone. Although the shoe’s last doesn’t adopt a radically aggressive, “pocket pulling”, down-turned toe like 5.10’s Dragons the Verde’s offer exceptional accuracy and enough support to allow you to get the most out of whatever footholds you find on offer. The fact that they don’t mangle your toes into some misshapen mess of skin and bone after 30 seconds wearing them is a massive plus! Apparently, although the new rubber is stickier than ever before it is also quite hard wearing. I’ve been climbing in mine all summer and have seen little signs of wear on those crucial edges.

Sizing
I’d advise trying them on for size before buying them as I found I needed to size mine a whole size smaller than my previous pair of original Anazasi’s…

Level/Style
These are not a beginner shoe! Their whole appeal for me lies in their precision, edges and grip. If you’re using them for indoor training or easy routes you’ll be wasting a great shoe on climbing that requires less from your footwear. Ideal for people operating above E2 and in the 7’s clipping bolts. A good all round bouldering shoe although lace-ups never prove the most popular for this discipline…

Overall, A big thumbs up!

-Dave-

LouderVoice Review Tags: Anasazi, rock climbing, shoes,

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]]> http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/510-anasazi-verde-review.html/feed http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/bustin-boards-longboarding-tastes-like-snowboarding.html http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/bustin-boards-longboarding-tastes-like-snowboarding.html#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:07:50 +0000 Robin Blandford http://blog.TeamGearedUp.com/2007/10/bustin-boards-longboarding-tastes-like-snowboarding.html

TGU Video. Press Play.

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - USA to Zurich, Zurich to London, next Ireland or Singapore…. who knows where this board will surface next!? Eitherway I enjoyed my first day of Longboarding today. Big thanks to Bustinboards.com for sending TGU a board for review (read our Bustin Boards Complex 42inch Review by Alx).

For an outsider like me to the sport of skating, Longboarding seems to have roots in the ‘outdoor community’. It’s widely compared to surfing or snowboarding and today I could see that. It’s also cooler and more practical. Although I’m not sure how practical any of this is unless you live in the rolling hills of California!



Descriptions of Longboarding vary. I’ve been trying to find some riding tips before hitting the tarmac today (literally)! I got a little worried when I came across this description of how to brake on wikipedia:

Air braking involves standing upright on your board as tall as possible with arms outstretched to catch as much wind resistance as possible. This is primarily done in speed boarding to reduce speed but is not an effective way to stop. This only works at high speeds.

Hmmm. Best to keep under running pace I think!

Here’s how the pro’s do it… this will be me in a few weeks :-) watch this space. In the meantime, watch Adam Coulton… incredible balance:

I would actually like to be able to ’slide’, aka using your hands with special gloves to powerslide. Looks great:

-Robin-

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