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Re: [euroford] stuff that i dig and some that sucks:
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kimgraves
Dec 26, 2006, 1:55 AM
Views: 5368
Registered: Jan 13, 2003
Posts: 1186
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Now that everyone has received the goods, it's time to bump this thread up.
These are not Christmas goodies, but thing's I've had or been using lately.
LeatherMan Micra: Years ago when my Swiss Army pen knife gave up I looked around for a tool to carry with my keys. I found this little tool and never looked back. I use the knife and scissors daily. The miniature screwdriver I use once a week to tighten up my glasses. The rest of the tools I use every now an then. But it's very light and I *always have it.
RBH Vaprtherm socks: Keeping your feet warm - or at least safe - is always a challenge. Consisting mostly of bone and tenons, they have little muscle to generate heat. It's essential to keep your feet warm rather than trying to warm them up after they're cold. I first read about these funny socks in an Andy Kirkpatrick review who raved about them. They're a vapor barrier product, but in a three layer sandwich which avoids the slipping and sliding around found in normal VB socks. The vapor barrier works by stopping all evaporative heat loss. So I called them up and ordered up a pair. This is a mom/son team making "the next new thing." Nancy was VERY helpful over the phone. I sent her an outline of my foot and shortly there after the socks arrived. When I got them I couldn't believe it. First of all they look like a sack rather than a sock AND they are really thin. How could these keep be warm in subzero weather? I called Nancy and said 'sup. She insisted that they really work. Andy wrote back to say that even though they were thin the insulation didn't compress. So I tried them out a couple of weeks ago ice climbing in 30ish degree weather. We spend a lot of time belaying (standing around in crampons) and though it wasn't very cold the socks seemed to work well. I would think if you were moving around they would be fine in much colder weather. And the sack effect - ignore it. The seams are placed exactly where they won't cause a problem. They're comfortable to walk in.
John Long's new Climbing Anchors book:
No two ways about it, this is a must read. It puts the whole issue of "good enough" into perspective.
The Self-Coached Climber: The Guide to Movement Training Performance: Dan Hague and Douglas Hunter's book on technique is by far the best book on the subject. I read the book, went to the gym and sent a climb that had stymied me my simply analyzing where my center of gravity was at the crux. And unlike most climbing books, it's beautifully produced. (NB: John Long).
Secrets of Warmth by Hal Weiss: Cold? You don't need to be. It's all here.
Andy Kirkpatrick's website: If you don't know this UK hardman, check out his site. He updates regularly - there's always something to gasp, gape, or laugh at.
Mark Twight's Gym Jones: You ask who's Mark Twight? Check out his book Extreme Alpinism.
Oxo travel mug: The only travel mug I've found that you can turn upside down (while full) and it won't leak. AND it's comfortable to drink out of.
Black Diamond Fang: Okay you have to own a Viper to use these puppies. No biggie, right. I got a pair of these a couple of weeks ago to retrofit Matt's tools, and the whole world of leash-less climbing opened up to us. No longer "smash and grab" WI3 became an exercise in balance and A LOT of fun.
Finally, at least for this round (I got an E-lite and am close to buying double boots), the BEST and, dare I say, MOST IMPORTANT book I read this year is non-climbing related. It's Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma. All of us spend a great deal of time and energy eating. It's hard to talk about this book objectively because it changed my life and the way I look at the world. As a result, Masha and I shop differently, we cook differently, we eat differently.
Oh, and Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth is must viewing.
Happy New Year all.
Best, Kim
(This post was edited by kimgraves on Dec 31, 2006, 8:36 PM)
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Post edited by kimgraves
() on Dec 31, 2006, 8:36 PM
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