For your journey to higher performance levels, the Hydrapak 2010 Morro series is serious about the climb!

Hydropak’s new Morro was designed for all-day mountain bike missions where keeping hydrated and nourished is just as important as that helmet on your head.  And for you day hikers, the need for water is no less critical. And you are going to need some carrying capacity to store your fleece pullover, Power Bar’s, and anything you don’t want to carry in your pockets. The team at Hydrapak have been building hydration and storage gear for the mountain biking for years now, and the Morro is their flagship day-pack that let’s you know Hydrapak gets you.

Hydrapak sought to design a pack to accommodate a daylong supply of water, and with enough storage capacity to keep all the gear you’ll need for a long day of busting trails on a mountain bike or on your feet.

So we took the opportunity to take the Hydrapak Morro on a couple day trips that included bike rides and trail hikes. Our overall take on the Morro is that it’s well thought out, sturdy, and held enough water and gear to last a long day. Here are some of our observations:

All around Storage:

Nylon interior of main compartment is roomy enough to accommodate additional clothing items for change in temperature.  Sweatshirt, gloves and hat are easily stored while textured pull grips on the zipper allow tired hands to retrieve items quickly.

Inside flap of the main compartment houses a soft line pocket with Velcro closure for cell phone and there are also two sleeves for pens and pencils.  Two additional zippered pockets are located at the top and bottom of inside flap, where continuous necessities such as First Aid may be kept.

Morro is a hydration pack designed for Mountain Bike excursions, but it's great when you're on foot.

Side Storage compartments are ideal for snacks and held secure with adjustable straps so items remain intact.  While these side compartments are beneficially constructed, two are not really necessary. An outside meshed drink holder in lieu of one side compartment would be advantageous, as it would allow for additional thirst options.

At the back of pack, a side-loading zippered pocket cradles an inside mesh pocket.  For the music enthusiast, iPods or portable devices are held secure with elastic bands and clip.  A three  -tiered outlet for headphones makes it easy to pull the wires in and out.  Sunglasses may be tucked away in another arc-shaped  pocket at the base of pack.  A beneficial addition to the back of the Hydrapak Morro would be greater reflected material for evening outings.

Plenty of Hydration:

A sturdy, pliable, bladder offers almost three liters of water storage capacity. Bladder was a cinch  to fill up, and easily secured with flap and sliding enclosure.  A hook is provided to hang inside the second main storage compartment. The water tube is strong and can well serve the thirsty traveler, though the positioning of the hose opening at the bottom of pack makes for a lengthy, but necessary, route.  The hose opening  on the Morro pack could also be a little larger, as it was a bit of work to pull the (mouth piece) bit in and out. However, the soft plastic bite valve feels comfortable and easy on the teeth and gums.

Breathable Fabrics:

Material used on the Morro shoulder straps and backside of the pack absorbed perspiration on upward climbs and strenuous calorie-burning sessions, but additional padding would have been an added benefit to the pack, especially on the shoulders.

Compact in size without compromising space, Hydrapak 2010 accomplishes intended goals.  The day hiker or cyclist can be assured they will be well hydrated and able to safely stow personal items to their ultimate destination.

By Mary Webb

Specifications:

• Capacity: 800 cubic inches (13.1 Liters)
• Volume: 100oz water bladder (2.96 Liters)
• Drink hose: Big Bore
• MSRP: $110
• Colors: Black (as tested); Orange/white

New for 2010, the Dyanastar Legend Sultan 85 has, perhaps, achieved that elusive capability of delivering high-performance in all snow conditions. Staying on target throughout the product development, Sultan 85 has reached the goal of an “all mountain” ski. As you might guess, the Sultan 85 is designed to perform beautifully in all conditions.

Dynastar’s Legend Sultan 85 “is the most versatile, high performance ski we’ve ever made,” said Dynastar Product Manager Thor Verdonk. “There are lots of skis available in the ski market, but very few deliver exceptional performance in all conditions: ice, carving groomers, fresh powder and in the bumps.”

The Legend Sultan 85, with a classic wood/titanium alloy torsion box construction, 16m turn radius and 85mm waist width, is potentially the strongest all-around performer available today. According to Peaks Magazine, “The historical definition of Sultan is strength and power, qualities the new Legend Sultan 85 embodies.

A versatile 85-mm waist allows the ski to float through soft snow and the vertical tip-to-tail sidewalls help it carve beautiful turns on hard snow. The hefty core blends wood and titanal but is lighter where it counts with 3D technology: The core is milled in the ski’s center to reduce weight. “This might be the single best ski for Colorado that was ever made,” said Verdonk.

Advanced and expert skiers that ski the entire mountain — groomed runs to chutes and everything in-between, will be more than satisfied with the floatability and performance of the ski.

“I never thought it was possible to build one ski that would rip on groomers and charge in snow-filled chutes. This is the best all around ski I’ve ever skied,” says legendary big mountain skier, Jeremy Nobis. “The Sultan 85 can ski everything. Off piste, on piste… It’s a great ski and I would recommend it to any of my friends.”
Design Technologies:
• 3D Technology
• Sandwich Technology
• Titanal
• Vertical Sidewall Construction
• VHMW Base
• Wood Core

Legend Sultan 85 Specifications:
Radius: 16
Sidecut: 126-85-110
Sizes: 158, 165, 172, 178, 184
Tip Height: 58mm
Tip Length: 180mm
MSRP: $ 760.00

Snake River Convertible Pants.

Synthetic fabrics have a decisive advantage on all-cotton apparel in that moisture is rapidly wicked away from the skin; the material dries quickly. In higher altitudes, even sweat from a challenging hike will soak cotton and increase hypothermic vulnerability.

Mountain Khakis has a solution. Synthetic apparel, such as the Snake River Convertible pants are the preferred material.

Snake River’s outdoors nylon pants are designed for quick-dry, wicking, lightweight, compact, and UV protection of UPF 50+. Being easily convertible to shorts, the removable legs make these technical synthetic pants a year-round choice. They look sharp enough to stroll into the lobby of a fine restaurant for dinner, with valet ticket in lower left cargo pocket, and rugged enough for that helicopter drop-off in the backcountry the next morning.

Snake River convertible pants are generously cut for a relaxed fit with no restrictions, and available in men’s and women’s versions. The inseam on the shorts is nine inches, long enough to be comfortable and in style. There’s no elastic in the waistband with comfort and style being the design criteria. Suggested price for these pants are $79.95. You can see the entire Mountain Khakis line of outdoor apparel at: www.mountainkhakis.com

Sizes range from:

Waist: 32-42 (even), Inseams: 30, 32

Waist: 32-40 (even), Inseam: 34

Short Inseam: 9

Colors: Ash, Birch

Big Tahoma is equal to the harshest punishment, with its fully adjustable suspension system. Simply, it is a expedition-quality, ultralight, high capacity (70 liters), backpack with a low profile.
The Big Tahoma pack’s suspension system uses adjustable hip belt and shoulder harness system for a customized fit.  The molded frame-sheet, with its twin V-shaped aluminum stays, offers the best combination of light weight, durability and stable support. Furthermore, the framesheet can be removed for the ultimate minimalist pack.

First Ascent’s Big Tahoma is the backpack Whittaker Mountaineering’s Guide Team wears on Mt. Rainier and all their other 2-3 day climbs.

Here’s what guide’s Peter Whittaker and Ed Viesturs says about the Big Tahoma:

“The Big Tahoma holds everything I need on a climb, from Rainier to Everest. You will not find any features on this pack that do not provide a needed function.” Peter Whittaker
“Guiding 70,000 clients up Rainier since 1968, you get a pretty good idea about the ideal pack. This is it.” Ed Viesturs

By the way, both Peter Whittaker and Ed Viesturs are on Mt. Everest right now (May 12, 2009) waiting for good weather and the chance to lead their respective teams to the summit of the highest mountain on earth (29,035.3 feet elevation).

Big Tahoma features:

• ULTRA-LIGHT 2-3 DAY PACK
• REMOVABLE HIP BELT
• FLOATING LID
• “V” STAY SYSTEM
• REINFORCED 1000D CORDURA NYLON CRAMPON PANEL
• REMOVABLE CRAMPON STRAPS
• SIDE ZIP OPENING TO ACCESS MAIN COMPARTMENT
• 210D NYLON N66 DOUBLE RIPSTOP
• 1000D NYLON CORDURA & DIMENSION-POLYANT
•  # WX20 SAILCLOTH
• CARGO CAPACITY: 70-LITERS
• WEIGHT: 3.84 lbs

Price point: $249.00

You can research and purchase most all your high-altitude and mountaineering gear at: www.whittakermountaineering.com