Singletrak Dog BackpackYou read correctly: dog backpack.
It’s only fair, of course. You bring the family mutt for a proper hillwalk or decent trek, so he or she should get to bear some of the weight. This is the Singletrak rucksack for dogs from Ruffwear, though we suspect the pun’s lost on man’s best friend. In fact, dogs can carry up to 30 per cent of their body weight, so they’re happy to do their bit. Just don’t expect them to buy you a drink afterwards.
The Singletrak is a lightweight, breathable pack, with a body-hugging design that means it won’t slip around and trip your four-legged co-walker at every turn. There are straps aplenty to custom fit to your dog’s shape and it comes in a number of sizes. You might find it’s more adjustable than your own pack.
It’s got a 2.4 litre capacity, with a pair of 500ml Platypus reservoirs (one for each of you, that is), and room for a few treats, a lead and pooper scoop – given that the Leave No Trace campaign should apply to all on the hills whatever the paw count. Ruffwear has bigger packs if you want your canine companion to tote a bit more, but the Singletrak is perfect for most outings. And it’ll be a guaranteed conversation starter too.
* CostRuffwear Singletrak Dog Backpack, $89.95 (€64.90) from ruffwear.com.
The North Face Kishtwar Jacket
The name comes from a valley in the shadow of the Himalayas in northern India and it's the jacket of the moment among the outdoorati. Already the Kishtwar has got the nod from several hard-to-please judges as the gear of the year, including National Geographic'sgurus. With North Face's logo now more likely to be seen in the aisles of your local supermarket as on some gnarly slope, this is something of a fillip for its higher-end reputation.
At the heart of the Kishtwar’s innovation is the latest solution to the breathability versus waterproofing equation. We all know the problem: staying dry from the elements can mean getting decidedly damp from your own perspiration. So an old-fashioned plastic mac is 100 per cent waterproof, but will leave you far from dry. Technical fabrics like Gore-Tex have made huge strides, but there’s still a trade-off, even up the gear food chain.
The North Face’s Kishtwar uses a new softshell, Power Shield Pro (if only the names alone could make it work) from Polartec. It’s very waterproof, even with stitched seams and very, very breathable. The key as always is in letting moisture from the wearer escape and keeping the weather out, and the Kishtwar has particularly good air permeability to deal with the former.
Fabric apart, it has lower end of the usual other features, a couple of pockets, hideaway cinchcords and so on. It comes in a range of colours, if you can get your hands on one. Whatever about its other technical qualities, it’s got some serious heat of popularity at the moment and is much in demand.
* CostThe North Face Kishtwar Jacket, €289 from 53 Degrees North.
Flipsters Foldable Flip-Flop
And right at the other end of the scale, but boasting a technical breakthrough of its own: the Foldable Flip-Flop. Okay, we can hear you muttering, flip-flops aren’t exactly hugely space-hungry anyway, but these ones from Aussie outfit Flipsters really do fold down to something very small and totally handbag-stashable. I’ve seen bigger stuff apparently being lost in there.
Part of their trick is the triangular folding pattern on the durable rubber sole which means they stay good and sturdy when they’re on – as much as any flip-flop can – and then pack away into their own little purse when you want.
I’m reliably informed they’re the perfect antidote to a long stretch on heels (not being so great on the old pins myself) and are obviously ideal as another shoe option for a woman travelling light. And as tempting as the opening is, I’ll desist from any cheap shots here about gender differences in the packing stakes . . .
* CostFlipsters Foldable Flip-Flops, €24.99 from sammccauley.ie.
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