The North Face Electron 26 Pack

Advantages: Great wind resistance and great ultralight fly and footprint only pitching
Disadvantages: seamtape on the fly peeled/crumbled and inside of the fly became sticky

...I bought my Tadpole 23 in 2005. I've been camping for more than ten years and owned and used many tents, including the 1999 Tadpole model. For me this tent is emblematic of the decline of The North Face's quality. I used it only one time and one time alone last year. When I inspected it before an upcoming trip I found the inside of the tentfly extremely sticky and the seamtape started to crumble and peel. This didn't happen to the other two tents in my closet. I put it away clean, dry and folded neatly and I can't think of a plausible explanation for it other than that the materials were hi-tech but of inferior quality. I also had problems with two other North Face products i had bought along with this tent: the Patrol Pack Duo and the Venture Hyvent Jacket.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good fun while improving fitness
Disadvantages: Expensive

...I ordered my "Slamman" from www.boystuff.co.uk after seeing it advertised in the back of a mens magazine. Basically it is a polyeurathane model of a man - and a pretty mean looking one at that - which has lights embedded in the face and sternum. A small electronic unit on the front is used to cause the lights to flash in a pre-programmed sequence over a configurable period of time. When the lights flash, you punch them, and if you hit the light with enough power it goes out. The electronic pack keeps a running score of how many lights you have blitzed so that you can assess your performance/fitness. One problem with this product (and this applies especially to the guys) is that you must weigh Slamman down with a huge quantity of sand to stop it from moving as you pummel it. In the instructions it suggests 5 bags of sand but I found... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Build Quality and Ease of use
Disadvantages: Ca be Expensive

...I purchased on of these last year on e-bay for £65.00 and I find it brilliant in every sense fantastic light and burn time super stable base and fuel available all over the world. I run mine on unleaded with no problems. Easy to light with electronic starter however a word of warning if you overfill the lamp. (Very easy to do) You will flood the electronic starter causing it to break when you light the lamp a new one costs about £13.00. I learnt the hard way, the easiest thing to do is remove it before filling, it easily slides out, apart from that the lamp is faultless for fishing camping and the predictable winter blackout if you live in the stickes like I do. Get one you won't regret it.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful