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In case you have read the last Hiking in Finland articles only via RSS - maybe it’s time to swing by on the blog and see the new-ish layout which is light and pretty!? You could read for example my #OutDoorFN 2017 Re-Cap!
The lightest & smallest Drone ever has landed - the DJI Spark. Fly it with your hand like a Jedi Knight!
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I just realized that the 2017 Edition of the OutDoor Show in Friedrichshafen was my 5th time at the OutDoor =)
Disclaimer: I’m a co-founder of the Outdoor Blogger Network and have close relationships with many of the companies mentioned in this article. However, I haven’t been paid to write this article, and also does my involvement with some of these companies not influence the article as I maintain full editorial control of the content published on this site. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.
After a week at Lake Constance and an almost 38 h long trip home (Thanks Frankfurt Airport!) it’s time to pen down some thoughts from the 2017 OutDoor Show in Friedrichhafen. This was, as I just realized, my fifth OutDoor Show - I haven’t missed it since I first went in 2013. As I blog professionally since several years the show is a mandatory visit to meet partners new & old (I’m a Helsport Ambassador, sponsored by La Sportiva and talking with a handful of companies for specific projects). While at the beginning of my OutDoor visits the new gear was of course quite exciting (and still is) it is more and more about the people I meet at the fair which makes the fair so valuable & exciting for me.
Take for example Glen Van Peski, the founder of Gossamer Gear, and Chris Townsend, the renown Backpacking Writer. I met Glen and his wife by pure co-incidence (funnily enough at the Osprey booth while we were all checking out the Levity backpack) and we later in the afternoon managed to meet-up again for a beer and chat more. I also ran a couple of times into Chris and we had a nice evening chatting with fellow bloggers. Add in that I also met again my long-time friend Jotaro from Locus Gear, many, many blogger, photographer and journalism colleagues and you will quickly realize that the show is for me about the people I meet here. The same goes for my contacts as the various companies I visit - many are much more than just “work contacts” but friends with whom we talk about family & life (which means sometimes only around 10 minutes remain to check out the new gear!).
Speaking of gear, it felt industry-wise lightweight is getting more & more to the front - a good things for us ultralight everything enthusiasts. Lighter garments, lighter shoes, lighter backpacks, lighter tents & shelters, lighter stoves & food, lighter climbing gear, lighter packrafting equipment, lighter bikepacking kit - across the board you’re able to find much more lighter gear for your outdoor activities. Functionality didn’t suffer, though - this lighter kit should be able to perform just as well as heavier counterparts.
My favourite booth this year was the Houdini Garden above - it was just wonderful and happily the temperatures this year (up to 32°C!) meant it was nice to sit outside in the shade. Add in that the smoothies & cocktails they served from the herbs which they have grown in the composted Houdini garments soil were super tasty.
I’ll try to delve into depth in more articles about the gear I saw at the show, but in this post I want to highlight some kit which I remember from the top of my head. First is probably the new series of Vaude sleeping mats. These are so well engineered that I believe they will be super-successful when they hit the market as so many details on them are just Wow!
These new Arc’teryx Konseal FL Approach shoes are beautifully designed and so light, I hope to get a pair for my feet before 2018!
Paramo’s new design is superb - gone the more conservative and boxy cuts & colours, welcome to youthful & fresh designs which promise to also perform well outdoors.
Rab launched a 7D sleeping bag line, and the Mythic 400 sleeping bag here will tip the scales at 660 g and has a comfort rating of -1°C. Feels great on the skin and could shed quite some weight in the sleeping bag department.
The new Kupilka 37 Kuksa has 370 ml of volume and is thus quite a bit bigger than the regular good old Kupilka 21 - an increase in size which is very welcome as this could make it the one cup for all your trips! I got one and will put it through its paces the next months to see if it is a worthy addition to the gear closet.
Another trend is that sustainability, recycling and closing the loop is no longer just on the mind of a few outliers - across the board you could see an uptake of this topic on the show. From shoes which are Made in Europe to garments which can be recycled, composted and repaired, many companies I visited talked about sustainability and doing good for the outdoors. As I have a background in this area I’m delighted to see that more and more outdoor brands start to act to keep our outdoor playgrounds in a good condition.
So much for now - as I said, I’ll try to dive into detail into some areas of gear and news later on. In the meanwhile have a look at the OutDoor 2017 Photo Album and check out my Facebook Live Videos which I shot & shared during the show. If you enjoy this #OutDoorFN 2017 Re-Cap & other articles why not support me with a coffee or two? I work Full-Time on Hiking in Finland to bring you inspiring trip reports, in-depth gear reviews and the latest news from the outdoors. You also could subscribe to the rarer-than-ever Newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube for more outdoorsy updates!
Boasting a hillside advantage within New Westminster, Capitol’s 1 to 3 bedroom homes confidently represents a modern way to live. Expansive and functional kitchens, ample storage, and large patios give a sense of open space. An outdoor courtyard, fitness studio, and garden plots create community. Easy SkyTrain access and nearby shops and services illustrate convenience. Homes at Capitol make an impression on life.
Located in the heart of Downtown Port Coquitlam, Pacific New Homes developments is building Downtown Pointe a boutique development of 35 suite. Downtown Pointe is conveniently located near parks, shops, west coast express and schools. Also at short drive away from Coquitlam Town Centre, they sky train line as well as SFU
Downtown Pointe will be the Tri-cities’ best value with 1 bedroom suites starting below $300,000 and 2 bedroom suites starting in the low $400,000’s
Register or call us today to be kept up to date with this development and many others.
E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement
Platform is a new mixed-used development by Aragon Properties coming soon to 2725 Clarke Street in Port Moody. Platform will consist of 104 condos, townhomes, and live-work lofts, ranging from 560 to 1,570 square feet. Each home will feature, 9 foot ceilings, (Live-Work lofts will have 20 foot ceilings!!) bold interiors featuring industrial colour tone and natural materials. Continuing the industrial design, the kitchen will feature Black accented hardware, single large basin sink by Kohler, quartz countertops, and waterfall edge islands in some suites. The appliances feature a Bosch gas cooktop, oven and Dishwasher, combined by a counter depth Fisher and Playkel fridge.
Located in Central Port Moody, Platform is within walking distance of what the best of Port Moody has to offer. Rocky Point with its waterfront trails and parks, Brewery row featuring some of the best breweries in the city, not to mention both the West Coast Express and Evergreen line getting you to Downtown and beyond in 30-40 minutes.
For more information on Platform, register with us today to be kept up to date.
E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement
Etoile is a new condo development located minutes away from Holdom Skytrain Station and only a few minute drive to Brentwood Town Centre, a rapidly expanding central hub. Nearby Burnaby Lake Regional Park features extensive 19 km walking trails, rowing, kayaking, equestrian centre, nature and ecology.
Each unit features 9 ft ceilings, central air-conditioning, unobstructed panoramic views of mountains, and large balconies. Residents can enjoy access to in-building amenities such as fitness gym, rooftop swimming pool, and lounge.
Anthem Developments has been quietly building a new building at 725 Marine Drive in North Vancouver. Located just East of Fell on Marine drive, makes 725 Marine ideally located and truly walkable, within a quick 5 minute walk you have access to a number of restaurants, coffee shops, shopping, parks and trails, not to mention one bus downtown or to lonsdale quay.
725 Marine Drive will be a 5 Storey wood frame building featuring 92 urban designed 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms condos in the upper 4 floors, with retail on the ground floor.
If you’re looking to stay updated on 725 Marine by Anthem register with us today.
E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement
Lynn Creek is gearing up to be an exciting, vibrant community and a future residential destination on the North Shore. With past developments selling out quickly, Crown and Mountain is the next addition to the booming Lynn Creeky/Seylynn Village neighbourhood.
Crown and Mountain will be a boutique building, consisting of 47 North Shore inspired and thoughtfully designed 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes in a 4 storey wood frame building.
The location is just minutes away from all your shopping and dining needs, as well the best hiking, beaches and parks the North Shore has to offer.
Register with us today to be kept up to date on this development and many others on the North Shore.
E. & O. E. This is not an offering for sale. An offering for sale may only be made after filing a Disclosure Statement under the Real Estate Development Marketing Act
A suitcase per person, packing, unpacking, did it all arrive at the baggage claim - family travel can be an Odyssey. We always try to travel light, but after several years of trying and testing we finally have arrived at an truly ultralight setup which allows us to use only one duffel for the four of us. Read on to find out how we achieved travel bliss!
Disclaimer:This article has been supported financially and with equipment by Eagle Creek. This did not influence the article as I maintain full editorial control of the content published on this site. There are affiliate links in this article. Read the Transparency Disclaimer for more information on affiliate links & blogger transparency.
We have travelled with a combination of luggage - a large suitcase, my Arc’teryx Carrier Duffles or just a backpack when going for a weekend somewhere. And while all of these where fine and did get the job done - transporting clothing and stuff from A to B - it never was a perfect experience. Sometimes the suitcase got broken or something arrived late, or the most common problem that the packing for going home was more difficult because things didn’t fit in as nicely in anymore as on the way there and there was more. The solution for me seemed simple: One piece of luggage for the four of us and a set of Eagle Creek Pack-It Spectre Cubes for each family member, colour-coordinated so everyone can find their clothes quickly.
I myself have used Eagle Creek Pack-It Spectre Cubes for a couple of years now and really liked them - they allowed me to pack fast & easy with all garments of one kind in one cube. So getting a set for each family member seemed like a logical solution - this way everyone can pack their shirts, pants, socks and underwear together and easily finds their garments. The more difficult thing was to decide on a luggage suitcase or duffel. Because I already own three great duffels of varying size and like that especially at home they pack down to a small package, it was easy for us to keep on looking for a duffel. But what we knew we wanted was that it should have wheels so it is easier to transport - carrying a full 120l duffel is alright, but it is way more comfortable to pull it after yourself.
In the end I picked the Cargo Hauler Rolling Duffel XL - because it had wheels, is made from durable and water-resistant material AND is covered under the Eagle Creek No Matter What Warranty which covers the Lifetime Warranty promise plus the added insurance of repair or replacement due to product failure during the product lifetime, regardless of the cause. That means this should be for the next fifty plus years of travelling the only duffel I will ever need - and should it ever get damaged it’s easy to send it in for repairs. If you ever needed to go buy a new suitcase because your airline damaged yours you’ll appreciate this a lot!
At 1.587 g the Cargo Hauler Rolling Duffel XL (without the carrying straps and the storage bag - these add 254 g) is light and doesn’t eat too much into your maximum luggage allowance (on most of my flights in Europe that’s 23 kg). Part of that weight is accounted for by the durable wheels which had no problem coping with the cobblestone streets of my home town Gelnhausen in Germany where we were the last two weeks. The 120 l volume were spacious enough for us four - two adults, a toddler and a child. We even had empty space in it flying out of Finland! But what we maybe like best is how small and compact it packs away at home - because lets face it, such a duffel will be used in the best case only around six to eight weeks a year, which means it is in storage around 44 weeks a year. We had large suitcases which took too much space, but the Cargo Hauler packs down to the size of a large 2 l bottle - that is tiny, really! It packs away easily in the included bag and so is out of the way when we are at home =)
A big reason why we four were able to travel with just one 120l Duffel was that all four of us had a set of Pack-It Specter Cubes. My favourite of the bunch is by far the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cube. I usually pack four to five T-Shirts, an extra pants, shorts and a running shorts and shirt in these, and the zipper which runs around the cube compresses these garments to half the size. This is especially useful if I fly only with a carry-on as then space is at a premium and the Compression Cube lets me save quite a bit of space! It is also available as a Set with a large Compression Cube and a Half Compression Cube, which are a good investment!
The Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Garment Folder is a god-send for someone like me who can not fold his button-down shirts in a good manner. The included plate lets me fold up my shirts in a clean and elegant manner so I don’t need to iron them where I arrive, which is another thing I’m not particularly good at or fond of. So anything that makes my life easier is a welcome addition! I had five shirts in the Garment Folder and there was still room for a couple more, so especially if you travel for business this one is the Pack-It Specter to get.
The Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube and the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Half Cube are similar to the Compression Cube - sans compression. I pack in the Half Cube all my socks and underwear - or on some weekend trips I even have managed to only need this one to pack a shirt, boxer shorts, socks and pants. In the normal-sized Cube I pack garments which need a bit more space - an insulation jacket and hardshell for example.
Finally, the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Shoe Sac is just one of three Cubes Eagle Creek bags to transport your shoes. The Shoe Sac is fine for a pair of sandals and an extra pair of shoes, or four pairs of kids and toddle shoes. These allow you too keep your duffel and other things in your bag clean and not get in touch with the dirt from the street or trails you’ve been running on.
If you like the sound of these Cubes then a good start is of course on of the Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Cube Sets which gets a set of three cubes - that’s plenty for most ultralight travellers - or take the set with the Garment Folder if you travel a lot for business so your shirts stay in a good shape!
The Bottomline
With the help of Eagle Creek’s genius Pack-It Spectre System and their Cargo Hauler Rolling Duffel XL our little family of four can now travel with just one piece of checked luggage - an ultralight dream come true. It’s easy to pack gear at home and when leaving from the destination, and thanks to the colour-coded Pack-It Specter Cubes every family member can easily find their garments. The Compression Cubes minimize gear, the Shoe Sac keeps dirty shoes away from other garments & gear and the Cube & Half Cube pack garments in an organized manner. At the destination it’s easy to find shorts and socks by looking in the Cube you packed them, and packing for going home is just as simple as it was when you left! Finally, back at home the Cubes and the Duffel can be stored in a compact manner so don’t take up a lot of space!
You can buy any of these items directly from Eagle Creek or any of the Affiliate Shops which I have linked to throughout the article. German, Swiss and Austrian Readers also can check prices and availability via the underneath widget =) As always, you shopping via one of these links - which add no costs to your purchase - is highly appreciated and helps me run this site =)
Situated in the popular and award winning Suter Brook Village, The Grande at Suter Brook Village is a 26-storey tower that includes 1, 2, and 3 bedroom homes ranging from 600 to over 2,100 sq.ft.
The Grande will give you the best of everything, unparalleled interiors, 9 foot over-height ceilings and energy efficient heating and cooling in all homes. As well as exclusive access to The Grande Health & Fitness Club, which boast over 18,000 sq ft of wellness amenities.
Pre-sales expected to start in the Summer of 2017, Register with us today to be kept up to date with this developer and other likes it
This is not an offering for sale. Such an offering can only be made after filing a disclosure statement. E.&O.E.
Located across the street from the soon to be revitalize Moodyville park, EightOnThird is a new boutique row-home complex consisting of just 8 West Coast contemporary townhouses in the Moodyville community of North Vancouver.
EightOnThird home vary in size from 2 + den and flex rooms, to larger 4 bedroom homes that include lock-off suites. Fully legal lock off suites give you the ability to grow with the townhome and earn income until the time comes that you decide you need that space.
The development is scheduled for completion in 2018. Sales for available units start from $1,199,900.
This is not an offering for sale. Such an offering can only be made after filing a disclosure statement. E.&O.E
Qualex-Landmark is building a new 157 suite development over two building and a full city block in the ever-growing Moodyville neighbourhood. Green on Queensbury will be located on the 700 block of East 3rd and will consist of 157, exceptionally-designed 1, 2, & 3 bedroom condos and townhomes right next to, what will be a revitalized, Moodyville Park.
Ranging from 548 Sq.ft to over 1500 sq.ft, Green on Queensbury will have something for everyone
Moodyville is fast becoming one the cities hottest spots, with the Spirit Trail, Seabus, Lonsdale’s shops and services all within walking distance. Green on Queensbury will be the main feature on the new strip.
Feature List:
157 Suites
Condos from 548 sq.ft to over 1100 sq.ft
Townhomes from 1100 sq to over 1500 sq.ft
This is not an offering for sale. Such an offering can only be made after filing a disclosure statement. E.&O.E
Coming soon to the burgeoning Moodyville community of North Vancouver, just east of Lower Lonsdale, is Evolv Townhomes. Evolv will be built in two separate phases. One Phase on the corner of East 3rd and Moody, the other on the corner of East 3rd and Ridgeway.
Evolve will be feature 46 Townhomes over two phases and will consist of 3 and 4 bedroom townhomes with Passive house Design and Legal lock-off suites that give you space and revenue options, as well as your own private garage
A legal lock-off suite allows you to grow with the townhomes, don’t need the extra space, you can rent out the suite. As your family grows, or maybe even a new home business, you can take back the space and use for the new addition to the family.
