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Meet the Satmap and Magellan Experts at Cotswold Stores! 14th October 2011
On selected dates during November and December 2011, the Satmap and Magellan experts will be visiting Cotswold stores around the UK, from 10am until 4pm, to offer free practical and technical advice. FREE MAP ON THE DAY! If you buy a Satmap Active 10 PLUS Full GB Bundle, or a Magellan 510, 610 or 710 on the day, you will receive a FREE 1:25k National Parks map of your choice! Please see below a list of Cotswold stores and dates:
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Outdoors Magic review the AMK Emergency Bivvy 16th September 2011
In fact we've been carrying one of these for a about a year now. It's tiny and weighs just 109g, the pack says 108g, but our scales say 109, so 109 it is... Anyway, it's small enough that it'll sit in a minimal mountain bike pack or runner's bum-bag and not be noticeable. Or in a larger pack too. Way Tougher Than A Space Blanket
The latter has a bad reputation with good reason. Sure, it's light and reflective but it tears and shreds with very little effort at all making it hopeless in windy conditions. We received a sample sheet of Mylar and Heatsheets. The Mylar was terrifyingly easy to tear, no effort at all, just light pressure and it ripped apart. In contrast, rather than failing catastrophically, the Heatsheets fabric stretches while retaining its wind and waterproofing. It wrinkles and looks deformed, but stays in one piece, which is what matters. It has other pluses too, you can, for example, fold it back up and stow it away in the neat little stuff bag supplied, so it's not a one-use only affair. And if you do manage to puncture it - say you're attacked by an angry badger while sleeping, you can patch it easily using duct tape.
We reckon it's a brilliant bit of kit. Sure, a blokka bag or similar communal shelter will arguably be better overall and if weight's no object, we're big fans of the Blizzard Bag, but this does the job of a traditional heavy plastic survival bag at a fraction of the weight and size, which of course means that you're more likely to carry it when weight and bulk really count, which it turn might just save your life. Yes fell-runners and mountain-bikers, we do mean you... or us even. The Adventure Medical Kits Emergency Bivvy retails for £15.49 To read the full article, visit www.outdoorsmagic.com For more information about the AMK range, visit www.adventuremedicalkits.com For more information on local stockists, please contact 0116 234 4611/22
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Magellan launches UK's biggest ever geocaching competition 9th September 2011
What is geocaching, you cry! Well, geocaching is a high-tech, 21st century “treasure hunt” game where adventure seekers use GPS technology to hide and find physical objects, solve location-based puzzles, and share experiences online via www.geocaching.com. By using devices such as Magellan’s recently launched eXplorist GC, anyone can download co-ordinates and clues to caches hidden all over the world. For an extensive review on what geocaching is, check out RFAR’s article on ‘Geocaching: Explained’ within RFAR’s Expedition Tools section on the blog page. Now Magellan has made us geocachers even happier as it launches the UK’s ’biggest ever geocaching competition’ in association with the Boys Brigade, www.visitwoods.org.uk and the Woodland Trust! Over a thousand volunteers from over 100 Boys’ Brigade companies have hidden and provided clues to hundreds of geocaches in Woodland Trust and VisitWoods.Org properties all over the country. Within each cache, they have also hidden a code to claim over £30,000 worth of prizes.
To enter the competition, you need to purchase and register a Magellan eXplorist GC unit (RRP £139.99) between now and the 31st January 2012. Once you have registered your unit, you need to log on to http://www.exploristgctreasurehunt.com/ to get started. Geocaches have been hidden in woods around the UK – the map on the site will inform you of your nearest location. Enter your details, including your eXplorist GC serial number and you will receive an email with a clue and co-ordinates of the geocache site. Once you find the geocache, there will be a promotional code inside the lid. Note down the code and email it along with your unique PIN. Every code wins a prize, so what are you waiting for?! Click here for information on the eXplorist GC and other Magellan devices.
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Outdoors Magic review 'The Cave' from Heimplanet 10th August 2011 It’s not often that someone does something new with tent design but The Cave from Heimplanet certainly looks to be innovative. Here’s what Heimplanet have to say... A highly innovative and technical tent, The Cave, from Heimplanet, is a stable and rigid geodesic structure, which utilises flexible TPU beams, filled with air, to support the attached flysheet, meshed inner and groundsheet. Intuitive and extremely fast pitching allows the interlocking beams to inflate from one of five valves, and only a minute is needed to roll The Cave out, locate a valve, and inflate the diamond shaped frame with the included pump.
Weighing only 5kgs, The Cave can comfortably sleep three people, and packs away into its carry bag just as quickly as it was pitched, simply by releasing all the valves and rolling the tent back up. Stefan Clauss, co-designer of The Cave, and co-owner of Heimplanet, says, “The Cave was designed for owners to have a good time, and be grateful of [their] experiences. Heimplanet want you to be at home on all your travels, while being free to explore the different cultures of new surroundings.” The Cave is intended to be a home away from home, allowing new challenges and experiences to be easily sought. Speedy pitching provides owners with more time to do what they love, and the solid structure provides shelter in the most isolated environments. Stefan is confident in The Cave, “[it] is technically advanced and easy to use, whilst being coupled with good looks and performance”, and it will be the envy of anyone attempting similar adventures." RRP: £550 Click here for the Outdoors Magic article For more information on The Cave, visit www.heimplanet.com Ellis Brigham is stocking The Cave, which is retailing £549.99. Visit www.ellisbrigham.com British Forces TV have done a feature on The Cave. Click here for more information For information on other stockists, call 0116 234 4611
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The outdoor 'starter' package includes a pair of Bridgedale Trekker socks, a pair of the latest Hi-Tec Altitude IV NT boots and Vanger Walker walking poles - everything you need for walking and hiking in style and comfort! They are drawing 10 winners during the months of August, September and October so there could be a good chance you'll win!. |
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Visit the brand new The Active Guide and win yourself some fantastic outdoor goodies 28th July 2011
During August, September and October, 10 people each month will win an outdoor ‘starter’ package that includes a pair of the latest Hi-Tec Altitude IV NT boots, Vango Walker walking poles and Bridgedale Trekker socks. Each package is worth £135 and is an ideal combination of products to help you explore some of the stunning locations and great activities that you can find on TAG. TAG provides details about over 3,500 outdoor businesses, places and services throughout the UK. At the heart of the site the map and the Activity Generator, can help you to find the perfect outdoor activity to try out. You can pre-select a preferred destination and the kind of activity that matches your experience, using a range of options, from ‘burning calories’ and ‘with all the family’ to ‘scare myself stupid’ and ‘getting away from it all’. The Adventure Generator then presents you with a map full of details of locations and attractions that fit the description, giving you a helping hand as you plan your time in the outdoors. Legendary mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington is backing The Active Guide: “This is a great initiative. I think that more and more people in the UK are realising the multiple benefits of outdoor activities in this country. They’re good for your health, give you an opportunity to spend time with friends and family, and tend to be great value for money too. Most of all, the outdoors can be hugely fun and rewarding. We have an abundance of wonderful outdoor locations in this country and The Active Guide is a brilliant resource for anyone who is planning a trip, whether that’s going to involve serious high energy activity or simply a gentle stroll in the park.” TAG has been populated with a real treasure trove of content, including the latest news from the outdoors and ‘top tips’ for those who are stepping out for the first time. There’s loads of expert advice on how to get started in the outdoors, what products and preparation are required for specific activities, where to go to see the best views, and much more, all provided by industry experts. Best of all, you can also contribute to TAG yourself. The site allows you to upload your own favourite outdoor experiences and share them with everyone else. In addition, you can rate the locations and activities already featured on the site, posting reviews of what you have really enjoyed, whether that’s a family bike ride, white-water canoeing route, or a gentle walk that offers particularly good opportunities to take photos. So, head over to http://theactiveguide.com/walking-kit-competition and make sure you are in with a chance of winning the competition. From there, you can explore the rest of TAG at your leisure! |
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UK’s First Dedicated Outdoor Activity Directory goes Live! 22nd June 2011 The RFAR team was recently contacted by the Active Guide, a brand new website represented by the Outdoor Industries Association (OIA), the trade body which represents the UK outdoor industry, with members representing every part of the industry. The site hosts a wealth of information about more than 3500 outdoors locations, services and businesses around the country.
TAG’s main feature is the Activity Generator, an interactive mapping tool that allows users to select a preferred destination, alongside the kind of activity that matches their ambition. So with options like ‘burning calories’ and ‘with all the family’, to ‘scare myself stupid’ and ‘getting away from it all’ the website guarantees to provide some inspiration! The Adventure Generator then presents a map with details of locations and attractions fitting the users’ expectations, giving them a helping hand in planning their outdoor activities. Users can also upload stories of their own outdoor experiences as well as rate locations & activities on the site and post reviews. So if you’re exploring the great outdoors for the first time, or want to pass on your own advice & knowledge, we think the Active Guide is a great place to start planning your adventure! |
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Magellan launch the eXplorist GC - the first dedicated geocaching product! 20th May 2011
The eXplorist GC is the first geocache-specific, handheld GPS device from Magellan, one of the world leading navigation brands in GPS technology. Magellan allows people to travel, work and play their way with leading portable navigation and positioning solutions. The eXplorist GC includes out-of-the-box paperless geocaching, a seamless connection to www.geocaching.com, a brilliant colour screen, rich graphics, and a simple user interface, all packed into a rugged and waterproof device. The eXplorist GC features an uncomplicated interface and the ability to sort and search thousands of geocaches. It also includes lots of fun and familiar graphics for logs and merit-based awards to show off geocaching successes. On top of all that, the eXplorist GC is packed with common outdoor GPS features, such as waypoint creation, a worldwide base map, active tracking, and trip recorder.
What are the main features of the eXplorist GC?
How do I take part in geocaching?
The caches are small plastic boxes containing everything from simple little trinkets e.g. toys, books, money or jewellery to personalised geocoins, a log book and pen – you never know what you will find inside a cache! Bear in mind that people of all ages take part in geocaching – never leave an item that isn’t suitable for a certain age group; food items are not advisable either – animals can find this quicker than humans can. For more information on geocaching, follow this link to an article on RFAR: http://www.rfar.co.uk/documents/UnderstandingGeocaching_000.pdf Why not discover the world of high-tech treasure hunting and join millions of others in finding your next adventure, with this handheld GPS device custom-made for geocaching. For more information, visit www.magellangps.com
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Sea to Summit Introduce Innovative Sleeping Bags 10th March 2011
The more technically minded members of the RFAR team recently got to take a look at the latest additions in the Sea to Summit range and what we saw was pretty impressive! The Australian adventure & mountaineering brand have developed a new range of innovative sleeping bags. The high quality and technically orientated sleeping bags incorporate the finest quality Goose Down Feather found in Australia, certifying each bag with 850+ fill power!
The Alpine & Traverse bags also boast further innovations in their design with 3D NanoShell Technology, a moisture management system which supports insulation, repels water and protects the down from the elements. Those in the know are pretty excited by the innovations in the new range, as are we! For further information take a look through the links below: |
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Red Devils and Victorinox team up with Penguin for the launch of Tom Clancy's new book 'Dead or Alive' 10th December 2010 This week saw the launch of Tom Clancy's long awaited book 'Dead or Alive'. The first copies of the book were delivered to the Tower of London by a team of Para's from the Red Devil's parachute team. Lance Corporal Jimmy Graham, of the Red Devils, said: “We are thrilled to have the rare opportunity to jump into one of our greatest historical landmarks, something which has not been attempted for many years. As fans of Tom Clancy, the Red Devils Freefall Team are honoured to be involved in the launch of Dead or Alive.” Unfortunately due to the severe weather conditions they were unable to parachute in, however, made an impressive entrance through clouds of orange smoke in the moat of the Tower (See video below).
The Red Devil's carried the first four copies of the novel, which have been signed by Tom Clancy and will become part of four special military editions with items chosen by the Red Devils. Enclosed in an aluminium case, given to the Yeoman for safe keeping, was a copy of Dead or Alive signed by Tom Clancy, a Victorinox Soldier's Swiss Army knife, an engraved silver bullet and customised Army dog tags. Each will be auctioned online in order to raise money for the Parachute Regiment charity.
Above left: The four paratroopers with aluminium cases containing signed books and a Victorinox Soldier's Knife. Above right: Victorinox Soldier's Knife. Penguin will be donating 500 copies of Dead or Alive to the Parachute Regiment currently serving in Afghanistan as an early Christmas present. |
At this point you're thinking the dreaded words 'space blanket' and you'd be wrong. First, it is genuinely a bag, second, it's made from something called Heatsheets, a polyethyline material that's waterproof, windproof, reflects 90% of body heat and, most importantly, is a lot tougher than Mylar, the shiny stuff that space blankets are made from.
Prizes include headphones, lanterns, kayaks, Toshiba HD pocket camcorders, a family adventure holiday for four to Andorra in the Pyrenees, mountain bikes and much, much more! 
The innovative design of the tent features a multi-chamber system within the frame, ensuring stability even in the event of any deflation. Five separate tubes combine to create The Cave’s frame, with the whole tent able to inflate via any section. Once fully inflated the connectors between the different sections can be simply locked off, ensuring any air loss in the frame would only affect a fifth of the overall structure, leaving the flysheet and inner tent still fully suspended and useable.
It’s definitely something we thought RFAR readers would be interested in reading further about, as The Active Guide (TAG) was designed to ensure that people exploring the great outdoors for the first time, are able to get the right advice and guidance from some genuine experts. 
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