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EMS LongTrail GTX and Salomon XADV7 Boots- By Shane
Just prior to my knee injury I bought pair of Salomon X-Adventure-7 (XADV-7) boots. It was difficult to part with my EMS LongTrail GTX's, but I have come to find out it was definitely worth it.

The EMS LongTrail GTX is a near perfect boot for day hikes and light backpacking trips. It's waterproof thanks to the breathable Gore-Tex membrane lining and the full grain leather and nylon mesh upper ensures that the boot is light weight. I can't say enough about these boots. The mid-sole supplies ample cushioning and the full length nylon shank provided sufficient stability under lighter loads. Durability is without question and of course you can't forget EMS's guarantee and return policy.

So why would I part with such a highly reguarded boot? Well, my treks have changed from shorter, warm weather day hikes under light loads to long multi-summit, 4 season adventures and that's where the Salomon Mountain X-Adventures-7's come in.

I bought my Salomons two weeks before Christmas, right after getting blown off Boot Spur by triple digit winds during a Mt. Washington bid. Break in time consisted of a bit of Christmas shopping and wearing them around the house during the week. One week after I purchased these boots I successfully bagged Mt. Washington and Mt. Monroe blister free.

The XADV-7 is a full leather boot made of thick full grain Nubuck leather with external polyurethane "sensifit" wings that wrap around the boot to provide additional support at midfoot . While these boots are not Gore-Tex lined as I am accustomed to, they are lined with Salomon's "Clima-Dry" which is supposed to provide waterproof protection and additional warmth in colder, wet conditions. All of these features are great but what really sold me on this boot was the very stiff "rocker" sole. The backbone of the stiffness comes from the mid-soles 7mm molded polypropylene shank. When you first wear the XADV-7 you feel like your walking weird since they don't bend, but roll. However, once you're used to this movement you have some happy, fatigue free feet. The outer sole is Salomon's Contagrip 2 X-Mountain design that provides superior purchase on wet rocks and hard packed snow.

As the saying goes, "it's all in the details" and it seems that Salomon paid attention to every detail. Although I have only 50+ trail miles on the XADV-7, at this point they are simply outstanding. I'll will provide future updates as the miles add up.


Black Diamond Approach Trekking Poles- By Paul
There was a time when I would pass other hikers marching along with their fancy little trekking poles and I'd laugh to myself. I sort of categorized "those" people in the same group as the guys out in their plastic mountaineering boots and 10 point crampons after the first dusting of snow. While I still get a chuckle out of the mountaineering boots, I have "seen the light" when it comes to trekking poles.

In November after suffering from knee problems which were exaggerated during long descents, I knew it was time to try something and treking poles were suggested. I selected the Black Diamond Approach Trekking Poles after I had spent some time comparing the different makes and what they offered. Why did I choose the Approach poles? Two reasons, the tried-and-true FlickLock adjustment device and the price. Price was a factor due to the fact that I'd never used the darn things before. I didn't want was to get stuck with big dollar dust collectors. The FlickLock sealed the deal when the other brands seemed to have trouble supporting my weight (210 lbs) in the store with out slipping. Maybe trying to make the poles collapse is not a fair test, but if they threaten to slip in the store how will they react in 6 months?

The Black Diamonds were the logical chioce. The three section shafts are made of 7075 aluminum which provides plenty of strength, yet they tip the scale at just 20 oz per pair. They are fully adjustable to 140 cm and collapse down small enough to fit inside a daypack. Since they are not the "shock absorber" type they provide a strong, firm purchase when planted with no unwanted give. The grip is quite comfortable as is the adjustable wrist strap. And don't forget the non-slipping FlickLock.

The only negitive thing I can say about the Approach is that stores don't seem to carry spare parts. I snapped one pole in half and was unable to find a replacement locally, so I had to contact Black Diamond directly. On a positive note their customer service was OUTSTANDING. Oh yeah, one last point; you may become annoyed from time to time while you wait for Leki users to adjust their poles.
 

CAMELBAK UNBOTTLE 3 LITER-BY SHANE
Well, I've given it a good year at least before I voiced my opinion, just to be fair. When I first started using the 3 liter "UnBottle" by CamelBak, I was sufficiently impressed. It certainly made hydration on the trail much easier. The wide mouth was extremly convienent for filling and on the really hot days putting a little ice in before starting. The insulated bag does a fair job of keeping things cool in the summer and warmer in the winter.

That's it for the good news..... The draw tube and bite valve that come with the bag are fairly adequate for summer use, I would recommend replacing with the tube and mouth peace that have a little insulation and rigidity at least. If you plan on doing any winter hikes, you will definitely need to buy the winter draw tube and still have to tuck the bite valve in your collar.

WATCH FOR LEAKS!!!!!!!!! Paul and I have both had a serious leak problem around the mouth opening on our bladders. This is a serious problem because it results in a loss of water and a soaking wet pack.

Let's Talk Customer Service
I just wanted to take a moment and address a very important issue when buying gear: Customer Service.

Recently both Paul and I have had some dealings with various gear manufacturers with some pretty pleasing results.

After both of us ending up with wet gear because of leaking CamelBaks, Paul emailed them about the problem, and was sent a replacement cap not questions asked. The new one is made of a different plastic and has an extra groove in it. It seems to do the trick. Well, not to be out done, and because I was having the same problem, I contacted them myself and spoke to Nissa in customer service(and didn't even have to wait on hold for an hour). She explained the problem to me. It was a design flaw and the polymer in the cap hadn't set right before assembly. Then she sent one out to me via US Mail and I got it in less than a week. Way To Go CamelBak

About 3 weeks ago I was at the point of throwing my Sherpa snowshoes away because they kept falling off. I had problems with them last year and the begining of this year and was unable to figure out the cause. I had been tightening them as much as possible and yet they were still falling off my boots. So, I emailed Sherpa, and dealt with a Kristi Markewiz (I think that's how she spelled it). I was told to send them my bindings and they would replace them at no charge. There was a 2-3 day turn around once they got them and then about a week or so for them to mail the new ones to me. Hey, can't complain about the cost. They replaced my three year old bindings with the latest version of the Lotus Comfort binding they use on their new shoes. You just gotta love it when that happens.

Last, but certainly not least, EMS! I personally just love the return policy. I've used it several times when I've had problems with my boots. You bring them in, and pick out your new ones, that's it. Only two drawbacks, You end up traveling to Concord or North Conway to get to the closest ones. Also, in they're infinite wisdom, EMS is carrying less gear and more clothes these days. I guess it's time for me to get off my butt and open my own store!

HAPPY HIKING






 
   
 

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