Ultralight Pedestrian

Human powered minimalistic approach to life, love and the outdoors by foot, bike and paddle

Montane Naukan 60 Backpack Review

Niels Blok

27 comments

Apr 3, 2021

Packed and ready to board the train for the ferry to Bornholm

Background

Montane is a brand, that I first heard off about 10 years ago here in Denmark, when I bought a pair of their well-known Terra Pants. The brand is about 25 years old and hails from England. Over the following years I have purchased other products from Montane and kept an eye on their often-innovative lightweight gear. Last year they announced a new pack called Naukan 60 which they dubbed The ultimate ultra-lightweight trekking pack. That made me curious enough to want to try it out. I have not tried other packs from Montane, so in that regard I was not biased either way. All though to be honest I have about 15 years extensive experience with other lightweight packs and I am always wary when companies call their products anything with the ultimate in it. In my experience they rarely live up to the moniker as different hikers have different needs.

Disclosing and keeping it honest I was given the pack by STM Sport the Danish importer of Montane and the review has also been in partnership with the Danish Magazine Outsite, who ran the review in Danish in last months magazine. Even so the review and conclusion of the pack is my own subjective opinion off it and how it meets my needs in a lightweight pack when hiking.

I used the pack for a week’s winter hiking on the Danish island of Bornholm in week seven this year. The hike was 140 kilometers of mixed coastal and inland forested trails. The weather was winterly at first with lots of wind, snow and below zero temperatures rising to a thaw with wet and slippery trails by the end. I wild camped in both tent and shelters all the way. The pack carried winter equipment and food for five days.

Bottom Line

It is not the Ultimate Hiking Pack for me. With that said, it is not a bad pack by any standard. The pack does what you would expect a lightweight pack weighing under a kilo to do. Some things it does very well others not so much. If I were Montane I would redesign a few things about it to make it more ‘ultimate’ in carrying all the gear a hiker needs on an extended several days long hike. I will expand on what I mean by that further down in the review. But for now, let me conclude that for the price, usability and weight, you get a lot of good things if you were to buy the Montane Naukan 60 Pack.

Data

  • Volume 60 liters
  • Weight 900 gram
  • Nylon in 70 denier and reinforced at stress areas
  • Curvy lightweight frame in aluminum attached to the hip belt
  • Air Mesh backside for ventilating the back
  • ZephyrAD adjustable back length from small to large
  • Compression straps
  • Click and go adjustable chest strap
  • Two outside front pockets
  • Two outside side pockets with elastic closure
  • Lid pocket with a central zipper
  • System for carrying an Ice Axe or Hiking Poles on the front
  • Opening and Velcro strap inside for attaching a water bladder (not tested by me)
Snowy wet pack with central zipper on top lid pocket visible

Review

The Naukan is a lightweight pack, so it is obvious that to make a pack at just over 900 grams Montane has compromised with the design in comparison with other packs that weigh a lot more. The workmanship and materials on the pack is top notch. I found no fault with the sewing or materials used. The frame and belt work well together and the pack carries weight on the hips very well. The straps is a little on the narrow side, but if you don’t overload the pack it is not a problem.

The main room is big and easy to load up even if the back is a little curved. There is a top lid and four pockets on the outside. The stated max carrying weight is about 12-15 kg in relative comfort. Montane has sacrificed hip belt pockets on the weight altar. The hip belt is slightly padded and tightens easily around your hip and it is easy to use and open again. The padding is again enough if you do not overload the pack.

Now, let me get to some of the things that makes me wonder a bit about the design. I will remind you that this is my opinion, and you might have a different need and find these small design ‘flaws’ insignificant.

The top lid pocket is small and has a zipper running through the center. If the main room of the pack is full, then the pocket is stretched and cannot contain much more that a pair of gloves and a beanie. The pocket should be made bigger, and the zipper moved to the side and protected by a small baffle, so when it rains, or snows water will not get through the zipper so easily.

The click and go chest strap is very innovative and something I have not seen before. I am more used to the old trusty buckle chest straps. The system took some getting used to and is not that easy to close with gloves on, all though it is easy to open with gloves on. The system works fine but I could suspect that with time and use the click part would become more ‘untight’ and loosen. Time will tell but I applaud their innovation in the design.

The four outer pockets sounds like a lot and they generally work fine, but if you take a closer look at them they have a few things going against them. The two on the side with an elastic closure are too small to hold a 1.0 liter Nalgene type bottle without it falling out during movement. The max I could get them to hold and close around securely was a 0.5 liter one. That, too me, is a design fault, especially when you are on a winter hike where you would like to carry a hard plastic bottle to hold boiling water as a sleeping bag heater during the night. Now you might think that Montane considered this and made the two outer pockets on the front big enough then. Alas no, they have the same issue with size and even more so when the main compartment is full. Then the two outer front pockets are flattened and will not hold bulky items. Again, this is a drawback as I could not get it to hold my thermos on a winter hike. This leaves you with the option of using the main room for carrying larger containers for water or other bulkier gear.

One other thing that goes both ways is the fact that the compression straps on the front of the pack crisscross the outer pockets, sometimes making it difficult to compress the pack depending on what is in the pocket. On the other hand, it also makes items in the pockets stay there when the straps are tightened. In all fairness the complaint about the pockets sizing and placement is very user oriented. You might see no problem at all with their use because your hiking style is different than mine.

Adjustable back length, Nalgene bottle sticking out and chest strap with click and go system

With the above in mind the pack generally works for what it is intended for. It is a solid lightweight build that sits comfortably on the back. It is easy to adjust before and on the go. The 60 liter sizing is generous for the weight, and the main compartment has lots of room for an extended hike in most seasons and in most environments. The price is fairly low and lower than its main competitor the Osprey Levity, which as far as I can tell don’t offer anything better than the Naukan. In that regard the Naukan even offers an adjustable back length which should make it more attractable for a wider audience.

Concluding, so if you are into lightweight hiking and on the look out for a new pack that does a lot of good and you identify with Montanes motto ‘Further, Faster’. Then the Naukan might be for you. Every pack I have tried has some sort of compromises to be made, so it is not the ‘ultimate’ for me, but it might be for you.

I will rate the pack at 4 stars out of six, but if you do not need to carry 1.0 liters Nalgene type bottles or a thermos, then you can give it one more star.

Give away of the Montane Naukan 60

I was given the pack for free to try out and in accordance with that I would like to give it back to the hiking community for free. So here is your chance of winning the pack I tested. All you must do is make a comment below telling me what kind of Montane gear you own or would like to own?

On Sunday the 18th  of April at 6pm I will randomly select the new owner of the pack among the comments. If you want it shipped to you, then you will have to pay the shipping cost from Denmark to your location, which can be all over the world. If you are outside the EU, you will also have to pay any tax or levy that your nation require.

Winter Hiking on Bornholm Island in Denmark

Niels Blok

no comments

Mar 13, 2021

Early morning first day of the hike

People who know me are aware that I usually plan to do at least one or two overnighters a month as well as a couple of longer hikes/bikes a year. 2020 was a crazy year and with Covid travel restrictions and social distancing regulations still in place here in Scandinavia. I with my hiking buddy Ole planned for a winter hike on the Danish island of Bornholm. It is situated in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Here in Denmark, it is known as the sunshine island. Not so much on this hike as we were met by snowy windy weather and a serious thaw on the last day, which made hiking conditions difficult during the whole hike.

Trail marker on the Coast trail

Travel through Sweden was a no go, so we had booked tickets on the slow night ferry from Køge to Rønne. The ferry casts anchor just after midnight. We were lucky to get two couches to sleep on during the crossing. The ferry docked in Rønne at six in the morning. The plan was to walk the southern coastline all the way up to Aarsdale where the coast trail connects to the newly opened Højlyng trail which crosses the island to Hammeren peninsula on the north west end of the island. From here we would hike the coast trail south and back to Rønne. In all about 140 kilometers of coastline and forests. This would be my fourth hike on the coast trail of Bornholm, but my first time crossing the island on the Højlyng trail. Something I was looking forward to.

Route can also be seen here
https://my.viewranger.com/route/details/MzY2ODAyMQ

We exited the ferry terminal and walked into the nearest coffee and rolls shop for breakfast. It was freezing cold, and the sun was just barely climbing the horizon on what would become a beautiful morning. Still munching on a cheese roll we hike out of Rønne following the coastline out past the small airstrip. The snow lay heavy on the ground and we sunk to our lower legs on stretches where the wind had pushed the snow into large piles.

Pushing through sun and snow on the first day

Continuing through snow and frozen coastline we pass several small harbours on the south coast. The coast is more or less deserted. We do not stop for many pauses and the wind picks up during the day. We come out on the wide coastal stretches near the south eastern point of Bornholm. Here we spot the Dueodde Lighthouse. There is a café near the Lighthouse but due to the wintry conditions and Covid it is closed. We make our way to the empty campground nearby to pitch our tents and settle down for a windy night.

The wild southern coastline and the Lighthouse at Dueodde

I sleep soundly and wake up when Ole is standing outside and asking if I am awake. We strike camp leaving only footprints in the snow. We continue along the coastline heading north from Dueodde. We pass the beaches of Balka where a nude lady streaks past us heading for cold sea swim. We hoot and applaud her for her courage and continue on huddled in our winter hiking gear.

Sarek Gear Sidewinder and heading out to the coast after the first night

In the town of Neksø we hunt down the local baker for coffee and rolls. We stand outside eating while small talking with the queuing customers. Many are impressed with our hiking the island in winter conditions. We take to the trail continuing north towards Aarsdale. The trail here is rockier and weaving in and out of coastal rock formations. There is still a lot of snow on the ground and the wind is fierce on our backs. Nearing Aarsdale we pass an older man on the trail. Ole asks the man if there is a place nearby to get a soda. The man replies that there is not. Thinking nothing more of it we reach the intersection of the Coast trail and the Højlyng trail. Here we head inland on small roads. We have not gone more than a kilometer before the man that Ole talked with pulls up in his car. Handing us four canned sodas and wishing us a good hike. Now that is good karma and good trail magic. We drink one and saves the other for later in the day.

Trail magic on the Højlyng trail

After a following an icy road we head into the Paradise Hills Forest. The trail is heavy with snow and we weave in and out and over rolling forested hills. The tempo is slow until we come out on a forest road going west. The trail then takes us into the forest following the Øle waterway on small trails heavy with snow. The going is again hard and slow. The light is disappearing on an otherwise grey day and we start to look for possible camp spots. A small navigation error or a missed sign takes us a little further south than planned and we find ourselves near the Pedersker Shelter We make a quick decision and decide to stay in the shelter for the night.

Through the central woods on Bornholm

Next morning, we head north to pick up the trail again. It takes us further west into the Aaker plantation and through the Bison forest where wild Bison roam. The signs of them are noticeable on the trees and coming out of a small forest we come across a small flock of them standing in the snow. We take pictures and leave them alone. Continuing westwards we enter the Almindingen Forest which is the largest forest on Bornholm. It is famous for its Echo Valley that we head into. Here we are pleasantly surprised that the local café is open and serving hot soup at a campfire making us stop there for a prolonged break.

We head into and through the valley climbing towards the high point of Bornholm at Rytterknægten. Here we to our happy surprise again find the local café open making us stop for coffee and cakes. All that stopping for soup and coffee takes a lot of time, so we have to head out and brave the trails again. It has snowed on and off throughout the day and the temperature is just at the point of freezing making the snow wet and and heavy to hike in.

Bisons in the fog

The trail takes us north through the Nyker Forest and into the Rø Forrest. Darkness and fatigue is slowly gaining on us and we agree to settle down and camp for the night in the northern end of Rø Forest. Here we find a small primitive camp area to pitch our tents. The night is uneventful, and we break camp quickly the next morning and follow the trail heading primarily west north west. The trail is mostly small roads and boring on this part of the trail. A toe on my foot is rubbing on the tape on another toe making it painful and drawing my attention. We stop and I tape the raw wound for now knowing that I will pay the price when the tape has to come off at a later time.

Grey day on the top of Bornholm and snow camp in Rø forest

We arrive in the small coastal town of Sandvig having reached the northern coast and the end of the Højlyng Trail. Here we find a small hotel willing to make us a cup of coffee that we enjoy on their outside porch in the now heavy thaw weather making the trail wet and treacherous to hike. Saying farewell to Sandvig town we take to the Coast trail going west and south around the Hammeren peninsula. At the point end we pass the Lighthouse and turn south following the rocky coast up and down. We pass the old castle ruin Hammershus on a wet, muddy and slippery trail. The view is some of the best Denmark can provide from a hiking trail. All though if you are looking for a remote wilderness type of experience then I recommend the southern coastline around Dueodde. That is why a hike on Bornholm has it all.

Hiking wet, muddy and slippery trails around Hammeren

Passing through the hamlet of Vang signs remind us of the rock quarry industry that is long abandoned in this area. Just south of Vang in the former quarry near the trail we know there is a shelter and we are planning on either staying at that or at another coastal shelter a bit further down the trail. The first shelter in the quarry is empty, and we quickly stake our claim by settling down for the night. Not long after another hiker arrives and we propose to make room for him, but he declines and camps instead below us in the quarry. The weather is wet, windy and rainy so a night in a shelter is preferable to pitching tents in the rocky ground.

Next morning we follow the trail south as it heads up and down the rocky shore. The footing is very treacherous in the wet and Ole takes a fall on wet rocks. Luckily without hurting anything other than his pride. The coast trail becomes more and more civilized and during the morning we enter the town Hasle and immediately starts looking for the local baker or CoOp. Munching on pastries we decide to take the bus into Rønne instead of hiking the wet muddy 10k trails left. Love the new technology where you just open an App and punch in destination. That and the gps in your phone lets you know where and when the next public transport is running. Tickets are bought in the app as well.

Snowfies and the view from the shelter in the quarry

We arrive by bus at the main square in Rønne. There is a food truck selling falafel and kebab so we celebrate by eating a Durum and washing it down with an IPA beer. After that we walk down to the harbour and settle in at the ferry terminal waiting for the ferry to take us home, while contemplating another good hike in good company. The trails were as expected heavy with snow and later wet and muddy making the going tough and making us have to deal with wet feet every day. The old trick with plastic bags around dry socks in wet footwear still works.

Note on gear brought.

I was hauling the new Montane Naukan backpack that I was testing for Outsite Magazine. Review in the magazine soon.

I was also incredibly lucky to have Kenneth Shaw at Backpackinglight.se lend me their new Sarek Gear Sidewinder DCF Mid tent. I have been allowed to keep it a little longer to be able to take it on more hikes/bikes and do an extensive review later.

Goodnight 2020 Campout

Niels Blok

no comments

Jan 6, 2021

These are strange times; we are living through with the Covid-19 pandemic. With travel restricted even to our local countries here in Scandinavia. I have spent most of my outdoor time bikepacking my local area around the island of Zealand here in Denmark. This has led me on many roads and trails I have not experienced before even though I felt I had a fairly in-depth knowledge of many of the areas. I can therefore conclude that even a well-known area can be viewed from new angles, by sometimes riding the trail in reverse.

Some of these small adventures involved Troll Hunting in Copenhagen greater area for the Forgotten Giants. There are now eight not six to be found. Other times I have ridden the Ice Age Trail which is a new trail going through the old Ice Age countryside of western Zealand. It passes the site where the word famous Bronze Age Sun Wagon was found. The trail is mostly small asphalt or gravel roads so take your bike not your boots.

Mill River Valley and loaded bike

Coming to the end of 2020 I noticed that the Bikepacking.com site announced a community event they called Goodnight 2020 where the idea was to do a local overnighter to say goodbye to an otherwise crappy 2020. I was game, and set to planning an overnighter even though the weather here in Denmark was mostly grey, windy and wet at the time. I quickly settled on doing a shortened circumnavigation of The Ise Fjord. In the middle of the Fjord lies the Island of Orø. The locals call it the Pearl of Ise Fjord. I decided to overnight on the island, which is served by two small local ferries. A cable ferry on the east end and a small ferry on the southern end crossing the Fjord to the town of Holbæk. Both are cheap and do not require bookings.

Route can be seen and downloaded here https://www.komoot.com/tour/296870524

Setting out from my local town of Hillerød on Tuesday morning in the still dark during the Christmas vacation. I rode familiar trails south towards The Mill River valley. Here I turned westwards and followed it till its origin in Bure Lake. From here small forest roads and a bumpy riding trail took me further west. I crossed the train line going to Frederiksund and the bridge across the mouth of the Roskilde Fjord. On the other side I crossed the narrow peninsula to the east coast of the Ise Fjord. Here I turned south riding the rolling hills. The weather was misty, grey and wet so there was no view out over the fjord. On the way I passed the very ugly but impressive looking Kyndbyværk. It was once a major power plant, but in modern times its function is not unlike a heartstarter designed to regulate and kickstart the power net in the event of a major power failure on Zealand.

Bure Lake the origin of the Mill River

I continue to ride the coast south coming to Hammer Bakke where the cable ferry quickly takes me across to the Island of Orø. Here I have a quick chat with two guys with heavy backpacks. They are also on an overnighter and can’t understand how I can carry all my needed gear on my bike without panniers or a backpack. I good naturedly call them ‘Noobs’ and we part with a wave. They are crossing to Hammer Bakke and I am turning north in search of the coast trail along the east coast of Orø. The map shows me a shelter site on the northern coast, which I want to check out as a possible overnight location as I have not been at it before. The trail is very wet and muddy where it lies close to the water, so I have to get off and push the bike even with 57 mm wide MTB tyres on it.

The campsite is empty and has a good view of the Fjord now that the weather has cleared a little. I continue past it as there is still daylight and I want to check out another possible camp spot on the other side of the island. I also want to go into the small local town Bybjerg to get some late lunch and stock up on water. There is a fierce southern wind blowing so I look forward to riding north the next day.

Going south on farm trails

I ride around the island ending in town at the local Pizza place doing take away. I consume a falafel sandwich as a late lunch and hit the local CoOp for some evening snacks and a local beer. I weigh the pro and cons in bringing a sack of firewood with me, but eventually decide against it. Taking to the bike I ride out of town towards the camp site I passed earlier. Here I hunker down inside my Vesper sleeping quilt that I am testing for Outsite.org. Review will follow once I have had several more time and nights with it.

I am up early and packing my gear. I want to catch a ferry across the fjord before it gets light. I ride the dark roads to the southern point and the small ferry taking me across to Holbæk in 25 minutes. Here I get two cheese rolls and a coffee at the local Circle K. The attendant smiles and winks at my bike outfit. She apparently has no fashion sense for bikepacking in the wet, muddy and cold.

Wet, muddy and grey on day 2 going north

The coast trail takes me west before turning north and following the west coast of the Ise Fjord up towards another small ferry at Rørvig. Along the way I pass the two dams that were built to create more farm land. The riding is again a mixture of small roads and forest trails. I even get out on the sandy beach where I have to push the bike. In Kongsøre Forest I pass the campsite and very nice picnic/beach areas at Sandskredet. Back in the summer I came the other way and stopped here for lunch. Today it is too cold and I continue on.

Looking out over the Fjord from one of the dams

Going through the Ulkerup Forest I come across a gathering of small hooded stone statues. Not knowing at the time what was going on. I did some research before this write up. Apparently, the statues represent the souls of the old Ulkerup farmers and it is said they still whisper in the twilight and visit their old living places. They actually were a bit spooky and reminded me more of a group of Illusionist Gnomes from the time when I played Dungeons & Dragons.

Spooky Dungeons & Dragons Gnomes

Passing through Nykøbing town and getting a sandwich and onwards to the small coast town of Rørvig from where the ferry would take me across the mouth of The Ise Fjord. Hitting the coast trail I spotted the ferry arriving so I sped on and made it with two minutes to go before departure. You can buy a ticket onboard.

The wind had turned to the south east so arriving in Hundested I quickly weighed the pros and cons, and deciding to take the train the rest of the way back to Hillerød from where I started the day before. I having ridden and crossed through this part of the route on many rides before. The train was warm and I managed to eat a roll and upload a couple of pictures to my Instagram profile @bikepackingdenmark thereby completing my #goodnightcampout2020

Thanks for reading and #goodnight2020campout

Bikepacking the Island Sea

Niels Blok

2 comments

May 25, 2020

So I had my eye on the extended weekend coming up here at the end of May for a Bikepacking ride into the vast forests of southern Sweden. With the national Covid-19 restrictions in place, I changed my plans and went for a more local ride here in Denmark instead. Which was not a bad trade off, as there are many beautiful places in Denmark. One is the Island Sea peppered with large and small islands. I managed to do seven of them in four days.

Bike on the first bridge of a series of bridges and ferry rides

I packed up the bike and set out by train to the town of Middelfart on the island of Fyn. The planned ride called for four days through southern Jutland and island hopping in the archipelago before heading back home on Sunday. The route was made on the website Komoot.com and can be seen here. https://www.komoot.com/tour/186094779

Snapshot of the route , details and download on the above link

Thursday was a religious holiday here in Denmark and with the Covid-19 restrictions, the train was not crowded at all. I jumped off the train, had a quick coffee and cheese roll at the local café and took off along the coast for the bridge over the Lillebelt sound to Jutland. Crossing the bridge in sunshine was a great experience. I turned west following the coastline of the fjord as best possible along gravel and asphalt roads in the direction of the city Kolding. Being a holiday most of the city was closed and I went through it and kept following the route hugging the coast.

It was a warm day, so I quickly took of the leg warmers and jacket riding in shorts and top only. The kilometers went by and I arrived in Haderslev where I had a ‘Shooting Star’ at a café in the town square. A shooting star is the name of dish consisting of a slice of bread with different types of fish and prawns on it. To wash it down I enjoyed a small IPA beer from the local brewery.

Fields of gold and overlooking the Little Belt sound while riding south slong the coastline of Jutland

Replenished I took to the bike and again went south towards the city of Aabenraa. Here the plan called for a diversion to the west towards the Army Road. It is so called because it lies on the watershed of Jutland and was used to move armies quickly. A more apt name would be the oxen road, as it was probably used to move more goods and oxen to market than armies. My plan was to follow it all the way towards the border to Germany with a detour to the old World War Two internment camp at Frøslev.

Day one of my ride ended at a small shelter next to small woods on the gravel road in a glorious sunny evening. Unfortunately, the shelter faced the woods and not the sunset.

Sun setting on the small shelter I was in on the Ancient Road

The next morning I was away about eight in the morning and continued south. I had two stale rolls with cheese for breakfast at the CoOp in the town of Kliplev. Continuing on, I soon came to the internment camp, but having been here before several times, I only stopped for a toilet break washing my head and hands. With the border to Germany being closed there was little activity in the town of Padborg and I was soon following the Gendarmes trail eastwards along the border. The trail is so called from the old police unit that patrolled the border and coastline. This was my second time here, as I had already hiked it on foot back in 2014. You can read the blog post about that here, if you read Danish. https://ultralightpedestrian.com/2014/07/29/gendarmstien/

You are not allowed to ride a bike on the trail everywhere, so going east I had to detour in several places and skipping the Broagerland part all together. There was a strong wind coming from the southeast and rainclouds could be seen on the horizon so I knew it was only a matter of time before I had to fish out my rain jacket. I made it all the way to the town of Sønderborg before rain hit.

Just before Sønderborg you come to a famous battleground from the 1864 war between Denmark and Prussia. Here at the Dybbøl killing fields thousands of Danish soldiers died when the empire building dreams of Denmark were crushed by a combined Austrian and Prussian war effort. The war cost Denmark about 40% of our land mass and population leaving Denmark as a small spectator in the European political landscape for many years to come.

Heading on I stopped for a sandwich and a soda in Sønderborg. I also donned my rain gear as it was beginning to rain on and off. The rain would continue for the rest of the day and night. After the sandwich, I headed north toward the little ferry crossing the narrow sound between Jutland and the island of Als. After the defeat at Dybbøl in 1864, the surviving main units of the Danish Army had retreated to Als. Failed peace talks in June 1864 lead to the Prussians crossing the sound in small boats completely surprising the Danish forces on Als leading to very heavy casualties and a to a hasty evacuation of the remaining forces by ships. The evacuation was protected by some of the most modern armored ships of the historic period including the Ironclad Rolf Krake. 

The Ironclad Rolf Krake firing at Prussian positions during the 1864 war

At the renewed peace talks the defeat was obvious to everyone and Denmark had to surrender a large portion of land including the rich provinces of Schleswig and Holstein, which to this day remain a part of Germany. Southern Jutland was reunited with Denmark following Germanys defeat in the First World War and the democratic reunification voting of the area after the war.

The small ferry sails every half hour, so I was quickly over on Als riding the rolling hills on small bitumen roads towards the second largest town on Als Nordborg. The castle here dates back to circa 1150. Today Nordborg is only known due to the global company Danfoss , who has their main office there and they also run a science fun park known as Danfoss Universe. Passing through I continued on to the east coast and down towards the town Fynshav form where there are ferry crossings to Faaborg on the island Fyn and to Søby on the island of Ærø. The latter was my destination for today. The ride down the east coast was in some of the nicest coastal forest I have experienced in Denmark, and I think I have been in many places in Denmark. So if you ever find yourself on Als, then go to Nørreskoven on the northeastern side of the island. You will not be disappointed. You also pass the very cool looking Taksensand lighthouse.

Hitting Fynshav in heavy rain and with an hour and a half to pass before the ferry docked. I went looking for something sweet to eat and found a grocery store selling rum balls. I ate one and brought the rest with me for enjoyment later in camp. Back in Fynshav I boarded the ferry for the hour long run to Søby arriving around 7 pm in the still heavy rain. Just outside the small town, I knew there was a six man sized shelter figuring that even if someone was there, there would be room for me. At the shelter a man and a woman greeted med with ‘no, the shelter was theirs for the night and there was certainly no room for me’. The rain was pouring down at the time, I might add. So much for Danish hospitality. I rode back to town and found a nicely mowed lawn to put up my tarp for the night. Munching on my two leftover Rumballs and sleeping soundly with the rain pattering on the tarp for most of the night.

The next morning the rain had stopped and I packed up quickly. I went down to the baker shop, I had spotted the evening before and bought two freshly baked rolls, and as a service they buttered them and put cheese on. Søby in on the western side of Ærø, which is a rather long Island covering the south entrance to the Little Belt Sound I had crossed in the beginning. After eating one roll, I rode out of town and along the south coast. The island is very picturesque and the roads were narrow and winding. Most of the time I had a very nice view over the sea. Midmorning I came to the town of Marstal on the east coast. I had quick stop at the harbor enjoying the sailors’ memorial there. I continued on towards Ærøskøbing the next town. There is a very nice gravel trail the last 10k into town.

From here I caught the ferry to Svendborg on the island of Fyn. From Svendborg I crossed the bridge to the island of Tåsinge. Here I rode out to Valdemars Castle https://valdemarsslot.dk/. A little further on in a small clearing in the woods, I visited the small stone memorial honoring the death place of the sad lovers Sixten Sparre and Elvira Madigan. The story goes that he, a married Swedish lieutenant in the Dragoons and nobleman fell madly in love with the much younger Danish circus line dancer Elvira Madigan. Big scandal and when they were discovered and had no money left. He shot her and committed suicide at the site in the woods. They are both buried at a cemetery nearby.

The wind was in my face crossing the next small island of Siø connected by two bridges to Tåsinge and my goal for the day. The long island aptly called Langeland, which literally means long island in Danish. I turned north and went on riding the small roads finally arriving at the small northern town Lohals. I spent the night in a small shelter out near the coast in a wooded area. At the area was two friends that normally lived on either end of Denmark but had met here for two days of camaraderie and simple living. Very cool guys and interesting conversation around the fire in the evening.

Sunday morning I was away early. It was my last day. I crossed the Island to the east coast and headed back south on winding roads and a fierce headwind. It had again rained during the night, so the roads were wet and mostly gravel. I had one last ferry ride to take to the Island of Lolland from the Sunday sleepy town of Spodsbjerg halfway down Langeland.

The ferry took about 45 minutes and I now had the wind at my back and almost flew in to my end of the road town of Nakskov, where I jumped on the train towards home. A four day ride of about 465 kilometers through some of the most beautiful island and coastal areas of Denmark. I highly recommend it.

What Bikepacking has taught me so far

Niels Blok

2 comments

May 2, 2020

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Introduction

I have enjoyed biking almost all my life. I have done road biking when I was younger and a lot of mountain biking and Adventure racing through my thirties. In recent years (I am in my late forties now) I began bikepacking as a way of combining my joy of biking and my joy of going far and camping with minimal gear in beautiful places. For me, bikepacking is human powered transport on a bike for at least one overnighter, where you carry all your needed gear in specially made bags strapped to the frame and other various parts of your bike, making it possible for you to maintain good weight distribution on the bike, thereby not limiting your capability to go off road too much. The ability to do this makes it possible to go places on your bike, where you would normally have to hike instead. For me that is a win win situation. In the following, I aim to share some advice and small things I have learned about bikepacking over the last few years.

The Bike and packs

I will recommend bringing a bike suitable for your purpose and the challenge you are planning. Any old bike can probably do a lot, but if you are aiming to go on an extended tour in off road conditions, make sure the bike is up for it and newly serviced, so it can hold up to a beating. If not, you will be cursing somewhere with a broken chain, gear, brake or worse frame. Bring a bike you can rely on, that is build for what you are aiming to do. Invest in some decent tyres for it, a good saddle and make sure that the drive chain and brakes are working properly. The bike I use is a Ghost Endless Road Rage designed for bike touring.

Even with all that you will need to bring some form of maintenance tools and repair kit. I usually bring the following in a tool roll in my frame bag.

  • The tool roll is a nice way to have all your tools in one place. It has compartments and you can roll up a wrench or pump in it as well.
  • Multi tool from Lezyne
  • Lightweight pump, easy to use and good quality
  • A small wrench, can also double as a small hammer
  • Two spare tubes or tubeless repair kit with plugs/fluid and valve tool.
  • Gorilla og gaffa tape
  • A few cable ties
  • A rag to wipe oil and grime off
  • A utility knife
  • Spare links for the chain
  • Oil for the chain, important to keep you going in a smooth fashion

The bags that make up the packing part of bikepacking is also important. If you google bikepacking bags you will find a lot of large and small suppliers. It is up to you which you want to support and what your specific needs are. Generally you will need the following bags depending on the amount of gear and the length of your ride.

Cockpit

Handlebar bags

I use two bags on the rider side, one with kitchen gear and one with camera gear, in the front I have a handlebar front loader carrying a rolled up drybag with all my sleeping gear in it. Strapped on top of that a box shaped bag with rain jacket, gloves, sunglasses, reading glasses, maps, Kindle, first aid kit and other small assorted gear I might need during the day.

Top tube bags

I use a larger pack on the front end of the top tube with phone, wallet, headtorch and so on and a smaller bag between my legs that is my snack pack filled with Sneakers.

Framebag

I use a large framebag inside the frame, where I carry heavier items like tools, repair kit, food, water, batteries, powerbanks and so on. To the tube underneath the framebag, I can strap a sitpad and my tent pole, if I have the tent with me. I also have a cage; I can mount to the underside of the tube if I need a place to carry more water.

Seat bag

On the back of the seat is a large bag where I usually have all my extra clothes, toiletries and tarp. Get a quality one that don’t swing too much when riding.

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Fork bags

I prefer riding without a backpack, so if I need more food, supplies or the tent, I have two Gorilla cages with drybags that I can mount on the forks. Here I can place food, water, tent, clothes or other needed gear, especially for winter rides.

Backpack

I prefer not riding with a backpack, but if I need it, I have an old version of the Six Moons Design Flight, that is build with a vest harness, so not to interfere too much when biking.

Fanny pack or bum bag

The hip pack has become extremely popular among mountain bikers which makes sense because you usually need a small place to pack keys, snacks and so on. I might bring one on extended rides, but usually I don’t bother with it.

The bags I use are from Oveja Negra (Black Sheep), DOM and Blackburn, but you can find many that are are very good quality all over the world.

Packing your bike

You should know that there are as many ways to pack and organize your bike, as there are people riding them. My way might not be your way it will very much depend on personal preference. Here are a few tips anyway.

When it rains (and it will), you will be happy to have your rain kit within reach and not at the bottom of your front drybag with your sleeping bag.

Train yourself in making camp quickly and putting up your shelter in wind and rain. You don’t want to be standing in a storm and be putting your shelter up for the first time.

I try to make my packing and therefore also unpacking into a system where I think on how and when I will need to use that item. For example, most of my kitchen gear is packed together, so is electronics, clothes, sleeping gear and so on.

If you are going to need your first aid kit, you will most likely be in a hurry, so keep it somewhere easily accessible.

Keep water and heavy gear as close to the frame as possible, to maintain good balance while riding, especially if doing bumpy or difficult trails.

The lighter the bike, the greater the ride

Pack ultralight or at least somewhat light. Only bring the essential stuff and always go for lightweight purpose-built gear whenever possible. The clothes and gear you bring will be dependent on the climate and season. Summer will see you bring minimal clothing, minimal sleep gear and perhaps only a light tent or tarp. In wintertime you will have to beef up your gear accordingly for wet and cold days.

Bikepacking is not a contest in fashion (well maybe for some), so don’t be afraid to wear the same clothes for days at a time. Maintaining hygiene is off course important for your general wellbeing, but with that said I usually wear the same clothes for 3-7 days at a time. If I get to smelly or dirty, I will do a primitive wash and dry them on my body. For that same reason I prefer using merino wool as base layers. It just keeps fresh and comfortable for much longer than synthetics.

But clothing is not the only place you can save some grams on your bikepacking ride. Here is a small list of other places to save weight on gear.

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Kitchen

Most food I cook (and cooking is a big word here), I only need boiling water for. I therefor usually carry only a very minimal setup of a 750 ml Ti Pot, a Soto Windmaster gas stove and 100 grams gas cannister placed inside the pot. In summertime I can be spotted using a very simple meth stove from Trail Designs instead that packs into the pot as well. I will also bring a lightweight spoon and the customary bikepacking mug strapped to the bike.

Sleeping Gear

I rarely skimp on sleeping gear. You will need a good night’s sleep to be able to go far the next day. I therefore recommend a good quality down sleeping bag or quilt designed to keep you warm for the environment, you are going to use it in. I own three bags one for summer, one for winter and one in-between. You could use the in-between bag and the summer bag together thereby making a winterbag. Brands I use and recommend are Montbell, As Tucas and Cumulus. Coupled with the bag you will also need a good sleeping mattress to insulate you from the ground. This is just as important as a good sleeping bag. I will also bring an inflatable pillow to make sure I get a good nights sleep.

Shelter

Some people like to camp at already established camp sites with wooden shelters or Lean-Tos. I will do it but I actually prefer to set my own camp. I usually bring at least a tarp as it is light and quick to pitch. The one I have is from Hyperlite Mountain Gear and is made of Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) a very light and strong material. For bug infested areas or seasons (or if bikepacking with my son) I own a two person DCF Ultamid tent, which is still light and small enough to pack on the bike if needed.

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Supplies

The less food and water you bring the more weight you save… but that will not get you very far on your bike. Energy in the form of food and hydration in the form of water is crucial for any success on a bike. However, carry too much and you will suffer the weight and the space on your bike. I will plan for morning and dinner meals like freeze-dried food for dinner and muesli for mornings. To supplement that I bring a top tube bag full of snacks like Sneakers and granola bars. For lunch I find a place along the way or live of the snacks. I usually plan to resupply along the way if possible, if not I bring more initial food.

Never ride without water and every time you pass a water source drink your bottle empty and refill it, that way you will stay hydrated on your ride. I usually bring a Befree or Sawyer water filter just in case I cant find a clean source.

Electronics

Bikepacking is for some a way of escaping the world and getting back to nature and basics without electronics. Not so for me. Oh, I do enjoy getting back to nature, but I will happily bring some electronics with me to assist me and make the ride more enjoyable.

Mobile phone is essential, you might cycle through remote terrain and will possibly need to make an emergency call. Keep in mind that in some areas there are no reception on a mobile phone, in that case I would spring a satellite phone or SPOT device. A mobile phone is also great for checkin in with the family, getting on social media or taking pictures. I can also use if for navigation but more on that later.

Camera equipment is something I like bringing. I like taking pictures and shooting video, so I will bring a GoPro, a lightweight tripod and a compact camera (I have recently upgraded to the Canon G5X Mark II). I know, I am a hypocrite for saying bring lightweight stuff and then I tow all this camera gear, but it is part of my enjoyment when hiking or riding a bike, so that’s that.

I will usually bring a 10.000 mAh power bank from Anker, which provide me with enough power to keep my gear charged for 3-5 days depending on use. If I need more, I will bring two Anker power banks. It also has a small built in light which is surprisingly useful at times. It has two USB ports, so I can recharge two items at once.

Besides a front and back light for the bike. I bring a rechargeable headtorch for those dark situations where you are riding through a wood at night, trying to make camp in the dark or looking for your shoes to go outside to take a p*** during the night (yes, I am old enough to need that at least once during the night).

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Helmet, first aid kit and rain clothes

It doesn’t matter if you are going fast or slow, on road or on rocky trails, when you are on a bike you are exposed and a tumble can be dangerous or even deadly if you land on your head. A helmet will can potentially save your life, so wear one.

A first aid kit is just as essential as a helmet. There are many lightweight readymade variations to be bought and most of them will do simply fine depending on your level of knowledge. Bottom line is don’t bring more than you know how to use. If you have zero idea about first aid. I would recommend taking a basic course in first aid. You should know more than, how to phone for the emergency services, as it might help you or some other person in an emergency.

Rain clothes is needed in my area of the world which is Scandinavia. Depending on the weather forecast and the length of the ride I might not bring rain pants, but I will bring a rain jacket unless it is the height of summer. My choice of jacket is The Omm Aether Smock with the super breathable Event fabric. It is made for ultrarunning in the fells of Wales, so it is also a perfect construction for riding bikes in pouring rain while still keeping you warm and somewhat dry and comfortable. The pants I use are from Montane and they are a snug fit and able to be closed at the ankles. On my hands and feet, I will use waterproof gloves and shoe covers from a Danish brand called GribGrab. Besides keeping me from getting wet, rain clothes will also shield me from a cold wind during winter rides.

Worn clothes

  • Short or longsleeved quality merino shirt (might even bring woolen sleeves with the short shirt)
  • Inner bib shorts with chamois from Patagonia
  • Shorts og long pants from Norrøna in their flex material (For winter I will use a thick pair of tights with a windproof front).
  • Merino socks (Waterproof socks if lots of rain is expected)
  • Thin soft-shell jacket from Outdoor Research with a hood, that will block all but the fiercest wind.
  • Bandanna from Buff
  • Gloves from GribGrab (finger or long depending on season)
  • Overshoes from GribGrab (depending on season and weather)
  • Northwave Spider Plus shoes with cleats

Extra clothes

  • Long sleeved merino shirt (in winter a thicker one)
  • Merino boxers
  • Merino long johns (In winter a pair of warmer synthetics)
  • Puffy warm jacket in either down or synthetics depending on season and climate
  • Thicker sleeping socks
  • Warm woolen Beanie
  • Merino liner gloves
  • Plastic bags to use over warm socks in wet shoes
  • Rain clothes

Navigation

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When you are planning a bike ride for a prolonged period, you will need to navigate at one point either using electronics or compass/paper maps. I will highly recommend that you are proficient in using both. Depending on where I am going, I usually always bring a paper map and a compass for back up. The navigation while riding is typically done from a GPS device such as a Garmin mounted on my handlebar. You can also use your phone running a map application like Komoot or Viewranger. There are lots of good options for you to choose from. The drawback of using an electronic device like a GPS or phone is that you loose the big picture of where you are going, so therefore I like to bring a larger paper map as well. If I were ride in places where a potential failure of my electronics could be deadly, I would for sure bring a paper map in a waterproof cover.

Have fun

This is probably the most important advice I can give. There will be times during the day where your backside hurts and you feel tired, then all you need is to take a break somewhere and make a coffee. Bikepacking allows you to be close to nature, enjoying the now and in sync with yourself. Always remember that even a bad day on the bike is better than a good day at the office.

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Mikro bikepacking eventyr i nabolaget

Niels Blok

no comments

Apr 1, 2020

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Selfie med cykel ved Farumsø

Verden er vendt op og ned af en virus kaldet Corona eller Covid-19. Det betyder at vi skal stå sammen ved at stå fra hinanden i en tid. Det udelukker jo ikke solo eventyr i ens umiddelbare nabolag. Jeg havde derfor planlagt en mindre udflugt på en overnatning med cyklen. Turen gik fra min bopæl i Hillerød sydpå ned til Mosede Fort, henover den nedlagte Flyvestation i Værløse og flere af de glemte kæmper. Derfra vestpå til Hedeland og skibakken der, som jeg aldrig havde været på. Derefter gik turen nordøst på mod Furesø og en overnatning i Frederiksdal ved søen, hvor jeg ankom i mørke efter en fantastisk tur gennem skovene i aftenmørket. Om morgenen cyklede jeg tilbage mod Hillerød. Begge dage bød på dejlig solskin fra skyfri himmel, hvilket også betød en kold nordenvind og frostnætter.

Undervejs på turen lavede jeg følgende video:

Til de udstyrsinteresserede

Cykel er en Ghost Endless Road Rage og Bikepacking taskerne er fra Oveja Negra

Hvorfor tage på solo ture i naturen?

Niels Blok

no comments

Nov 17, 2019

Højlandet

’Jeg har mødt mange forskellige mennesker på mine mange ture, jeg har endda også mødt mig selv’.

Ovenstående citat er lettere omskrevet og til dels lånt af andre, men betydningen er min egen, og det rammesætter meget godt, når jeg påstår at soloture er en måde til at lære meget om en selv.

’Du finder kun hjem, hvis du først farer vild’, synger Magtens Korridorer på en af deres sange. Det synes jeg er et meget sandt udtryk for den rejse, der ligger i at drage ud solo i ukendt terræn til fods eller på cykel og omfavne det ukendte. Det er på en side utroligt fornyende og berusende at vågne alene i naturen, og på den samme tid kan det været utroligt ensomt og skræmmende.

Når du er solo afsted er der ikke nogen, der bestemmer over dig, udover dig selv. Du er den ultimative herre i eget hus. Den følelse skal man gøre sig klar til, for det kan være meget mærkeligt pludseligt ikke at have nogen at dele oplevelser med, nogen du kan spørge om råd eller sparre med, over så banale ting som finde vej, spise mad eller tale om den smukke solnedgang. Når du er alene, så sætter du tempoet, du laver dine egne planer og bestemmer din egen tidsplan.

Når du er afsted solo, så finder du ud af, at du er meget mere åben mod andre mennesker. Du indleder samtaler med andre, som du måske ikke ville have gjort, hvis du var en del af en større gruppe. I en gruppe ville du have tendens til at følge med strømmen. Misforstå mig ikke gruppevandring kan være sjovt og udviklende, men det er også forudsigelig. Hvad gruppen gør, gør du også. Gruppens succes er din succes.

Soloistens virkelighed er meget anderledes. Du er selv den vitale brik for at opleve succes, glæde og ultimativ overlevelse. Det giver en solo ture en unik dimension, som ikke bare kan ignoreres. En soloist er nødt til at vokse og udvikle sig i takt med opgaven. På nogen måder er det netop de lidt skræmmende aspekter ved det at være alene, der er med til at gøre solo ture næsten berusende efter lidt tid.

telt

Når du er solo afsted, skal du være din egen sikkerhed. Det gør noget spændende ved dine sanser og instinkter. De går i slags ’hyper mode’, hvor du vil opleve, at din evne til at opfatte små nuancer stiger. Du bliver langt mere indsigtsfuld i dine omgivelser.  Du tager mere ind, du føler stærkere, du oplever mere, og endeligt tager du måske flere minder med hjem.

Mennesker er sociale væsner, vi er flokdyr. Vi kan ikke overleve, uden vi føler en sammenhæng med andre mennesker. Jeg synes, dog nogle gange kan vores søgen efter nogen at være sammen overskygge fordelene ved også at kunne være alene. For mig er der stor forskel på at være alene og føle sig alene. Tager du på en solo tur, så vil der være tidspunkter, hvor du savner selskab og nogen at dele det med. Det savn alene er en værdifuld oplevelse, for det vil hjælpe dig med at genkende og sætte større pris på de mennesker, der er i dit liv. Den refleksion hjælper dig med at leve i nuet og styrker dig mentalt til at klare dig selv, også i andre aspekter af livet.

Når jeg er på soloture, så kører mine tanker ofte omkring fortid, nutid og fremtid. Det hjælper mig med at give slip på fortidens irritationer og ærgrelser. Jeg bekymrer mig også mindre om fremtiden.  Kort sagt så fokuserer jeg mere på nuet, og nyder de små og store ting, jeg ligger mærke til i mine omgivelser på en stærkere måde.

I den forhøjede opmærksomhed på omgivelserne opdager jeg næsten en helt ny verden, og lidt spirituel forherliget opdager jeg dermed også mig selv i den. Jeg er ofte styrket, når jeg kommer hjem fra at være faret vild, og undervejs på turen har jeg mødt mig selv igen, og ofte fundet enten nye sider af mig selv, eller osse har jeg forstærket sider af mig selv i nye sammenhænge. Du skulle tage og prøve det, det er stærkt vanedannende, at møde sig selv.

 

RevolutionRace Bambooskin Review

Niels Blok

no comments

Feb 19, 2019

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Bambooskin worn as outer layer on a warm April day

I was contacted last year by a relatively new Swedish company called RevolutionRace. Their motto is awesome fit, great quality and unmatched value. From what I gather from their website, they concentrate on apparel that offer customers hardwearing clothes at affordable prices in a broad range of colors and with lots of zippers and pockets. Not usually my thing, but they were looking to get some of their clothes reviewed by European and Nordic bloggers. We agreed, that I would look over their products and if I found anything of interest in a lightweight category. We could work a deal, where they supplied the item for free, and I would give my honest review and opinion of it from my perspective. I stumbled on their Bambooskin thermal underwear, which at 450 grams for a set seemed reasonably lightweight. My idea was intially to compare it to a set of Aclima Merino Lightwool that I already own and have used for years as thermal underwear. RevolutionRace agreed to my suggestion and this review article is me fulfilling my part of the agreement. All though I was given the Bambooskin free of charge, my review is my own subjective opinion of the set.

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In the chilly mornings I would wear  the leggings under shorts

The facts.

RevolutionRace describes the Bambooskin as a durable year-round set of underwear in a super comfortable bamboo / spandex blend. They proclaim that Bamboo is naturally odorless as well as airy and light. It is comfortable against the body, thanks to 7% spandex in the fabric which gives an elastic underwear with body-hugging fit, that is very important for moisture transport.

They say the set weighs in at 450 grams for a size medium (mine weighs 488 grams for a large). The material is stated as 93% bamboo viscose (see below under innovations) and 7% spandex (synthetic fiber). They recommend it as a thermal set for year-round use in most activities and that the fit is athletic and the sizing normal.

They also state on the website taht the two piece set has the following properties

° Half zip

° Thumb holes in the end of sleeves

° Extra-long sleeves

° Stretch for an athletic fit

° Bamboo lets your skin breathe

° Antibacterial

° Easy to pack, does not wrinkle easily

° Works excellent as pajamas during cold nights in tents

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Weighing in at 488 grams for a large set

Time in use

I have had the set since spring 2018 and have used it on a hike circumnavigating the Island of Bornholm in April. It also came with me for a Packrafting trip in Sweden in August and a November Bikepacking tour in Denmark. I would estimate that I have worn and used the set for a total of 12 days in temperatures from warm April/August days to cold April evenings and wet and clammy November days ranging from hiking, paddling and biking.

Innovations

Bamboo is a natural fiber that is then crushed in to bamboo pulp, and then chemically converted into a compound that can be spun into cellulose fibers that can be used to manufacture bamboo clothing, which in some areas of the world (mainly USA) is also called Rayon. This causes some ethical considerations like occupational hazards with the chemical being used for the process, also leading to some false advertising claims that the fibers are from a pulp of cellulose and chemically derived and therefore not really bamboo anymore, which further leads to the anti-bacterial and odorless claims, as some studies have shown that the fibers no longer retain the qualities of the original bamboo.

There are however many other good benefits of using bamboo instead of wood for instance. It can grow under harsh weather conditions and it grows fast and require very little water when compared to trees. Bamboo crops also require less pesticide and fertilizers and is biodegradable. We like that!

Bamboo or Rayon clothing is therefore an alternative to plastic, which in many ways are more renewable and can be replenished faster than other synthetic or natural fibers.

Many apparel companies have delved into the bamboo category, but it would be a lie to proclaim it as having replaced cotton or polyesters in the consumers eyes. Why that is I cannot say, but perhaps part of that is customers habits and smart marketing.

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Perfect for sitting outside in the April evening setting sun

Quality

The quality of the Bambooskin is good. There seems to be no loose threads and the sowing is also of good quality. The front zipper does the job without getting unduly snagged. I am 187 cm and 86 kg and a size large fit me snugly. All though I have noticed that the set will start to sag after a couple of days use on the trail. After a wash it snaps back to being tighter again. So, for extended use you might want to go a size down if possible. The set comes in a wide set of colors ranging from eyesore to cool looking. In all the quality is very good for the price.

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Used for sleeping on cold nights, notice that the set has begun to sag a little after extended use

Conclusion

Hmmm, this is a bit of a tough one. Originally, I meant to compare the Bambooskin to my Merino Lightwool set from Aclima, and in that regard the Bambooskin fails on all comparing parameters except that it is softer and cheaper. The Lightwool set weigh less for at 380 grams. It is considerably more insulating and warmer even when wet with moisture. The Bambooskin actually feels heavier when wet, all though in all fairness it does seem to dry quicker than the merino wool.

It is also my considered opinion that the merino wool fit is better after prolonged use and that the merino wicks better when doing a strenuous activity like biking. I also noticed that the Bambooskin was not as odorless as proclaimed, but that could be just me, as you tend not to smell yourself after some time.

In conclusion and from my perspective then I would always chose Merino wool over bamboo as thermal underwear for my kind of outdoor activities.

Is this a fair comparison? Maybe not, as the Bambooskin does not proclaim to be better than my Merino wool set, that is just something I referenced it too. So, if I go back and only review the Bambooskin by the parameters set by RevolutionRace, which is that it is a hardwearing thermal underwear for year round use, that retains heat and lets your body breathe under strenuous activities, then yes it does do that to some degree, and even at a very competitive price when compared to other thermal sets. All though I would state that I would never bring it for extended expedition use in winter conditions, as it is simply just not warm enough for that.

So in that view, then yes, I think that the Bambooskin will do the job and fit the requirements for many outdoor people that are in the market for and looking to buy a competetively priced and a good thermal underwear set for most activities.

Where can you buy it:

RevolutionRace is becoming a rather well known brand here in Denmark, and you can look at their other offerings and buy the Bambooskin at their website.

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