Category: Hiking Gear Review

KALENJI Trail Running Bag/Vest 10L Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review5 Comments

Steep approaches, weighty loads, and full days make climbing in the alpine a serious affair. Likewise, climbers with big alpine goals should take their training seriously. Training for various mountaineering activities is within my weekly schedule. Amongst other training activities, I often go for mountain/trail run. For such training activity, the gear one needs is minimum. A pair of short pants, a T-Shirt, a pair of trail runners and for long distanced a kind of hydration bag.

For training days up to 15k, I usually run without any hydration bag, but if I go for longer distances, especially in summer time, I prefer to have some water with me. In the past I have used various options, but I came to the conclusion that my preferred option is to carry a lightweight hydration bag/vest, and especially the Kalenji Trail Running Bag 10L.

Kalenji_Trail_Running_Bag_10L_7893
Kalenji Trail Running Bag 10 L.

Continue reading “KALENJI Trail Running Bag/Vest 10L Review” →

Fjällräven Silhuett p5 Baby Sleeping Bag – Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear ReviewLeave a comment

This is a review that I wanted quite some time now to do, but by not being the real user of the product I was not sure how I could review it. Now, that the owner and user of this product can communicate easy and clear with us, I was also able to write about the Fjällräven Silhuett P5 Baby Sleeping Bag.

FjallRave_Silhuett_P5_Baby_Sleeping_Bag_Review_0894
Fjallraven Silhuett P5 Baby Sleeping bag

Continue reading “Fjällräven Silhuett p5 Baby Sleeping Bag – Review” →

Marmot Long Hauler Duffel Bag – Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review3 Comments

One of the most used pieces of gear I own is an exceptional duffle bag from Marmot. I have used this duffle bag on multiple occasions and for various reasons. First and foremost, the Marmot Long Hauler Duffel Bag, at home, is used as a storage for various pieces of mountaineering equipment and gear. I have also used it for transporting my mountaineering equipment from location A to location B, via car, airplane or train. Of course, it can also be used for other purposes too, such as a gym bag.

Marmot_Long_Hauler_Duffel_Bag_Review_01

Continue reading “Marmot Long Hauler Duffel Bag – Review” →

LOWE ALPINE Mountain Attack 35-45 lt. Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review, Mountaineering Gear Review13 Comments

This past winter I was searching for a backpack that I could use it for 2 days (one night) trips to the mountain. This new backpack I wanted to have several features for winter mountaineering and to be within my budget. The previous years, for such excursions I was using the Lowe Alpine Cholatse II 55-65 lt backpack. This backpack was great, though the 55-65 litres where never filled up and therefore I did not want to carry extra weight and volume on my back.

Lowe_Alpine_MountainAttack_35-45_Review_01
Lowe Alpine Mountain Attack 35-45 front view

Continue reading “LOWE ALPINE Mountain Attack 35-45 lt. Review” →

Massdrop Klymit Static V Insulated Ultra Light Pad – Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review17 Comments
Klymit has introduced a ultralight variant to its Static V line of sleeping pads, co-designed and sold exclusively by MassDrop, called the Insulated Static V Ultra Light. With an R-value of 4.4, it’s an excellent pad to use for sleeping on cold ground in spring and autumn and winter time for more mild environments.
Massdrop_Klymit_Static_V_Insulated_Ultra_Light_Pad_01

Continue reading “Massdrop Klymit Static V Insulated Ultra Light Pad – Review” →

QUECHUA FORCLAZ 20L AIR HIKING BACKPACK REVIEW

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review7 Comments

While I was searching to update my backpacking gear, and I was looking for a half-day to one day backpacking solution, I came across the Quechua Forclaz 20l Air. This is a price winning backpack with a ventilated back. The product’s capacity to enhance air circulation to limit warmth and moisture.

QUECHUAFORCLAZ20L_08

Continue reading “QUECHUA FORCLAZ 20L AIR HIKING BACKPACK REVIEW” →

LOWE ALPINE Cholatse II 55-65 Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review9 Comments

One of the most used items when mountain climbing or hiking is the backpack. The backpack is the “core” of any trip and any mountaineering expedition. There are many different types for various activities, in diverse colours and on numerous sizes. The backpack I have been using since 2014 is the Lowe Alpine Cholatse II 55-65.

LoweAlpine_CholatseII_Review_17

Continue reading “LOWE ALPINE Cholatse II 55-65 Review” →

Cumulus Panyam 600 Sleeping Bag Review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear Review33 Comments

The whole past year, I was looking for a warm high quality down sleeping bag for 4-season mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, camping andother outdoor activities. I have been looking to all well established manufacturers such as Mountain Equipment, Feather Friends, Marmot, Rab, Montbell, Mountain Hardwear etc. I have been comparing various models and I was still searching for other manufacturers until the point I came across the Cumulus website. I have compared several of their models and I came to the conclusion that the Cumulus Panyam 600 was the right piece of gear for me.

IMG_3021

Continue reading “Cumulus Panyam 600 Sleeping Bag Review” →

Olympus Outdoor Gear – Snow/Sand Pegs review

On By Olympus MountaineeringIn Gear Review, Hiking Gear ReviewLeave a comment

In the past couple of years I have been in many mountaineering trips and therefore I had to camp various times on snow. Setting up a tent on snow or hard (iced) snow it can be a bit tricky if you do not have the necessary equipment. This necessary equipment is the right pegs that you can stake out the tent properly.

I have been researching on the best possible snow pegs and I came to the conclusion that most of them did not have the full spectrum of characteristics that i needed them to have. From the other side, the ones that had all desired characteristics, where quite expensive. That was the reason that I thought to design and produce the snow pegs on my own. I did an extensive research on best possible materials and techniques and I came to the conclusion that i would be using Aluminium L 1.6mm angle EN-AW-6060. This material is strong and durable but at the same time lightweight enough to be carried on the snowy slopes.

In detail, the design produced is the following one:

Olympus_Outdoor_Gear_SnowPegs_01
Olympus Outdoor Snow Peg Concept Design

Continue reading “Olympus Outdoor Gear – Snow/Sand Pegs review” →