Deuter Race 10 Litre Backpack

Advantages: High Volume and Superb stability with heavy loads
Disadvantages: Military image - olive green

...You don't see the Vulcan around much these days but I had one and it was a rock steady backpack. Manufactured by Berghaus for the serious mountaineer but affectionately used by the military and forces due to its high volume and stability when loaded to the maximum. Features 100litre volume with two detatchable side pockets (very useful for expeditioners who have trekked to a base camp and then require a day pack for day walks etc) - the pack comes with straps to turn the side pockets into a small backpack. A feature copied by many other manufacturers. Internal frame that can be moulded to your back. High density foam in the right areas to prevent chaffing and rubbing (eg hips, shoulders and lower back - good lumbar support) My one had a divider between the main sac - not sure that this was common but very useful to keep dirty... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: lightweight, hot, cheap, simple
Disadvantages: gas pricey, not that stable,

...A petrol stove isn't really necessary for camping/moutaineering/bike touring/backpacking in the uk. The pocket rocket is cheaper to buy, lighter, more simple to use and the gas is widely available. However, petrol probably works out cheaper than gas, especially abroad. I really strongly advise that everyone who drives anywhere, gets a stove and a mug and small pot and a book of matches. Then, instead of spending £2 or more on a coffee in a horrible motorway service station, you can park up next to a beautiful river somewhere, or in some picturesque woodland, and put up a deck chair and brew up your own drink, and enjoy your rest. This is the ideal stove for taking on a bike tour, but for walking I would suggest not bothering with a stove at all, save the weight and eat cold food. I raced this stove against my kettle at home once... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Smooth and easy to breathe from
Disadvantages: Seem a little expensive these days

.............my poseidon Jetstream. When I first started diving I had a single 12 litre cylinder and one reg, my jetstream. When I had been diving for a little while longer I decided to move upto twin 10 litre cylinders and so needed another reg. Having used a jetstream all the time I had been diving, and after having lots of other "older" members of my club tell me that the cyclon was better and easier to use, I decided to get one of those for my other cylinder. To start with the new cyclon did seem really easy to breathe off and use and still is, but now that I am more experienced than I was back in my early diving days, if I were in the same position again I would buy another jetstream and not the cyclon. There is no particular reason for this, I just find the jetstream easier to breathe from and more controllable. Would recommend... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful