Gadling gear review: Icon Irix II headlamp

by Kraig Becker on

As we’ve mentioned before, a good headlamp is one of the most useful travel accessories that you can take with you on the road. Whether you’re navigating a dark trail at night or simply reading a book in your tent after sunset, you’ll find a multitude of uses for a headlamp. Despite the fact that the concept of strapping a light to your head seems like a simple and obvious one however, not all headlamps are created equal. Sure, there are a number of companies who release serviceable lights that will do in a pinch, but some are actually designing lights that are unique and innovative, delivering options that make them even more useful beyond providing simple illumination.

Take for example Icon Lights, who offer a whole line of rugged and well built flashlights and headlamps that incorporate design elements not found in similar products. Icon works from the philosophy that technology and design should come together to deliver a great product to the consumer or that product doesn’t go out the door. This approach is more than evident in the Irix II headlamp, which includes several very welcome features that I haven’t seen in similar products.

Featuring five very bright LED lights, the Irix II has no problems providing plenty of illumination no matter where you need it. But it isn’t unusual for a headlamp to incorporate multiple lights, although most change their level of brightness based on how many of those lights are turned on at any given time. Not so with the Irix, which uses all five LED’s at all times, but incorporates a knob that directly controls the level of brightness in each light as needed. As a result, the user can dial up the exact level of illumination necessary in a quick and simple fashion. The feature is so handy, you’ll wonder why it hasn’t been used in other lights before.

The unique design elements of the Irix II extends to the included headband as well, or rather the plastic housing that holds the lamp in place. That specially designed bracket makes it simple to adjust the angle of the light, as you would expect, but it also allows you to completely detach the headlamp itself. This feature not only makes it simple to change the battery, but adds a level of versatility to the use of the light that isn’t found in other headlamps. The detachable light makes it very easy to illuminate hard to reach places.

The Irix II is powered by a single AA battery, which has a run time of up to 100 hours, depending on the brightness levels used. That’s excellent battery life out of any headlamp, and because it uses such a common battery type, you’ll never have to worry about finding spares while traveling on extended trips. Even better, the battery housing is easy to open, even while wearing gloves, making it a snap to replace a dead cell in cold or inclement weather. When closed, that housing is also tightly sealed with an O-ring, which helps to keep moisture out, protecting the Irix from rain or accidental immersion in water.

Somehow Icon managed to blend all of these options and design elements into one great package and still deliver it at an affordable price. The Irix II sells for just $29.95, which makes it far more affordable than the last headlamp we reviewed, and a great option for travelers. It is a sturdy, lightweight, and comfortable headlamp that will see you through a multitude of adventures and prove useful in a variety of situations.

New Mid-Layers from Triple Aught Design

by Pam Mandel on

Can you have too much polar fleece? I’m struggling with the answer to that question as I eye the gear that’s coming out for fall. I’ve got a lot of it, some of it quite old, as it seems to last longer than I expected it too. Even while I’m switching out a lot of my wardrobe for natural fibers, I’m looking at new polar fleece mid-layers with much better design than my old stuff.

I’ve been trying out hoodies from Triple Aught Design; one fleece, one wool. Packing a hoody is essential for this traveler; it’s perfect airplane wear and you need some kind of warm, versatile mid-layer when you travel.

The fleece version is the Valkyrie. It retails for over $200.00, a steep price tag when you’re used to getting your fleece as corporate swag like I am. It’s made from Polartec Wind Pro — that’s their breathable wind stop fabric. You’ll need a rain shell if it’s really wet, but for a little damp weather, it’s just fine.

The Valkyrie is covered in pockets — hand warmer pockets at the waist, biceps pockets on each side for your mp3 player or phone (with pass-throughs for your headset cables), and a key or lift ticket pocket on the left lower arm. There’s a pass through pocket in the back, too, There’s no interior wallet pocket, though — that’s what I’d add.

There’s a fitted hood — the shape is great and there’s some heavier weight stuff around the outside to help it keep that shape. When the zipper is all the way up, the tab tucks into a finished slot so it doesn’t scratch your face; a nice details. The underarms are vented with button holes rather than zips; kind of a nice change to the usual pit zips, plus, because the pockets are mesh lined on the inside, you can open them for venting. There’s a drawstring at the waist to keep the wind out.The truth? It’s a really nice mid-weight moderate weather sweater-type layer. It’s made in the US, and how many companies can you say that about? I’m struggling with the price tag, though, American made apparel or no. I did a little comparison shopping; the prices are comparable with other similar items made out of the same material. My sticker shock might be due to the fact that my older wind-stop fleece jacket is office swag.

I’m less stressed by the 159.00 price tag on the Artemis hoody, a streamlined merino wool version of the classic sweatshirt hoody. This thing looks great and feels great. The cut is super stylish, fitting, with a soft draping hood and thumb loops in the sleeves. You can absolutely wear this as a base layer in the outdoors, but it’s great on its own too. It comes in black or gray, so it’s appropriate as your evening formal hoody though you’ll be perfectly happy wearing it with those flannel jammies while you wander around with a cup of coffee in hand. The sweater bears a “Made in China” tag, that may explain the more mid-range pricing.

Triple Aught Design has a full line of outdoor gear — if the stuff I’ve been trying out is any indication, their clothing is cut quite nicely and they’ve got a keen eye for materials and detail. I kind of like their travel porn inspired Flickr feed, especially this one featuring their packs.

Want your own Triple Aught Design gear? Check their website.

Images courtesy of Triple Aught Design.

Gadling gear review: Brunton Restore solar charger

by Kraig Becker on

Lets face it. When we travel today, we tend to bring more gadgets along then ever before. Depending on where we’re going, and what we’re doing, it is not uncommon to bring iPods, cell phones, digital cameras, e-book readers, laptops, and more. And while all those gadgets often make travel more convenient and enjoyable, they also require plenty of power to keep them running. That’s not much of a problem when you have easy access to power outlets to charge your gear, but when you’re off the beaten path, it can be a bit of a drag when you run out of juice.

That’s where the Restore solar charger from Brunton comes in handy. The device integrates two solar panels, and a lithium polymer battery, into a small, lightweight body that allows you to keep your gadgets charged no matter where you go. This simple, yet versatile, system has the potential to become a favorite with travelers who visit remote destinations or need power while on the run.

The first thing I noticed when I took the Restore out of the box was how solid and rugged it feels. Its tough, rubberized shell not only gives you the impression that it can take plenty of punishment, it also helps to make the Restore water resistant as well. Two USB ports, one standard 2.0 and one micro-USB, are integrated into either side of the device, while an included charging cable lines one end of the body, always available when you need it.The Restore’s built in battery stores power for you until you’re ready to charge one of your indispensable gadgets. There are multiple ways to build that initial charge before you set out on a trip however, including via a USB port on your computer or with an included DC car adapter. The dual solar panels are also an option of course, and Brunton sells an AC wall adapter separately as well. Using either the USB port or the car adapter took a little more than an hour to fully charge the Restore in my tests, but using the sun was a bit less predictable. The small solar panels took about ten hours to charge the device under good, bright conditions. Cloud cover can, and will, impact the charging time however, so some planning and patience may be required to get the most out of the device.

Once the Restore is fully charged however, it’s ready to pass that energy back to your other devices. To do that, you simply plug your gadgets into one of the built-in USB ports, and turn the Restore on. After that, it’s all automatic, as your iPod, cell phone, or digital camera will begin charging, only stopping once its battery is full. When its done, the Restore will automatically shut itself off, conserving its power for later.

While testing the Restore, I charged multiple devices, including an iPod Nano, iPhone, and a rechargeable headlamp. The process was simple and straight forward, and all of the devices charged without a hitch. It took about two hours to charge the iPod, and I was able to get nearly three full charges out of the Restore without refreshing its internal charge as well. Both the iPhone and headlamp took longer to power up, and consequently couldn’t be recharged as often. Also, in case you’re wondering, the Restore will charge an iPad as well, although it is a very slow process and it is debatable whether or not it is an efficient way to use the precious power.

It is clear that Brunton put a lot of thought into the design of the Restore as well. The device has a flip-top lid that when closed, serves to protect both solar panels from harm, but when opened, provides maximum exposure to the sun. Handles on either end of the device allow it to be fastened to the outside of a backpack, so it can recharge all day long, while four LED-lights display the level of charge currently available on the Restore’s battery. Over all, it is a simple, well built, device that makes on the go charging a breeze.

Other than the slow charging time via the solar panels, the only other knock I have on the Restore isn’t with the device itself, but the included instruction manual. It is scant on the details to say the least, and it was only through trial and error that I figured out that the included charging cable needed to be unplugged from both ports on the device before you can begin charging your gadgets. While the Restore is a simple device to use, a bit more direction for the first time user would be welcome. That said, once you have used it once or twice, the simplicity of it shines through, and you won’t need to look at the manual again anyway.

As someone who travels light and regularly visits remote places, the best recommendation I can give to any piece of gear is that it will accompany me on future adventures. The Brunton Restore meets that criteria without a doubt, and I envision it earning a permanent place in my pack. (MSRP: $120)

Dopppio Travel Mug — and more — from Innate Gear

by Pam Mandel on
When you’re a coffee fueled somewhat manic depressive north-westerner, you become obsessed with not just where you get your coffee, but how you transport it from point A to point B. And maybe you’ve got some bleeding heart lefty in there too, so you want something reusable.

Furthermore, you already know you’re drinking too much damn coffee, so maybe you could not fill that insulated mug you’ve been hauling around with you all the way? Yeah, that’s going to happen.

Innate knows you have a caffeine problem. And they’ll enable you with a standard line of insulated travel mugs, but they’ve also got a more modest sized container that you can fill with your four shots of espresso, because whoa, now wait a minute, aren’t you trying to cut down?

Okay, we might be talking about me.

Still, that modest sized little charger fits a couple of shots and a splash of milk; that’s how someone who might be trying to cut down would use it. (Or, you know, you could go to decaf.) It makes me a little crazy that there’s almost no such thing as a small anymore in coffee; why can I not get 4 ounces when I order a small? The Innate Doppio mug holds 6.5 ounces, so that’s a start. Let’s imagine, for a minute, how our barristas will respond to, “Size matters, could I have it smaller, please?” A-hem. Not well. Ask me about the time I asked for a small and the barrista said “I have a medium or a medium” while holding up two different sized cups. There’s not enough coffee in the world to make that okay.

I picked up my pocket tumbler from Innate at the Outdoor Retailer show (here’s fellow Gadling gear head Kraig Becker’s write up of the event), you can get yours from REI. They come in silver in black and a burgundy wine color, but there are also a few cute jelly bean type colors — mine is a springy green. No, it doesn’t have an open/close valve on the lid like Innate’s Americano mug, so you might want to think twice about putting it in the water bottle cage on your bike, but it’s great for filling up at home, then walking to the bus stop, then filling up again once you’ve got downtown and are stopping into your favorite espresso joint, and then, filling up in the office while complaining about how the coffee at work is so much worse than the coffee at the espresso joint and how you really, really, really ought to cut down.

Oh, we’re talking about me again. Where was I? Innate Doppio travel mugs. Cute. Inexpensive. Might help you with that coffee addiction. Or not. That’s what I was saying.

Gadling gear review: Solite 150 Headlamp from Light & Motion

by Kraig Becker on

A good headlamp is one of those pieces of gear that you really don’t know you need until you have one. Then you find all kinds of great uses for it. During my various travels, my headlamp has proven useful, in so many situations, that it is now difficult to think about leaving home without one. Whether I’m headed to a mountain campsite or a five star resort, I always bring a headlamp of some kind.

I do seem to have been cursed however, with an unnatural proclivity for leaving headlamps behind when I travel, so as a result, I’ve had the opportunity to test more than my fair share of the devices over the years. Every good headlamp that I’ve ever used has had a couple of things in common. First, they are all lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. They have also offered a good combination of battery life and brightness, while also remaining rugged and sturdy enough to withstand a variety of harsh conditions. The Solite 150 headlamp from Light & Motion not only meets all of those standards, it offers a few extra surprises as well.

The first thing that strikes you when you take the Solite out of its box is just how small it is. The light itself is unbelievably tiny, which is partially achieved by the fact that the batteries are housed in a separate pack, detached from the lamp itself. The entire package weighs in at a mere 135 grams (about 4.7 ounces) and yet in a testament to its build quality, it still feels solid, tough, and ready for action in all but the most demanding environments. The included headband is also extra-stretchy to fit over a helmet if necessary, and is well designed to accommodate the light and battery pack.The second thing that impressed me about this headlamp was just how bright it is. The Solite has three levels of brightness, and even on the lowest setting, it provides plenty of illumination for working around camp or navigating a dark trail at typical walking speeds. The second level of brightness is useful for trail runners or cross country skiers who need to see further down the path while moving quickly on foot. The third, and highest setting, cranks out a stunning 150 lumens which is perfect for those traveling at an even higher speed – say on a bike for instance. Which of the three settings you choose however, has a direct impact on battery life.

Speaking of batteries, as mentioned, the Solite comes with a battery pack that incorporates state of the art rechargeable lithium-ion power cells. The decision to use this type of battery is both a strength and a weakness of the headlamp however. For example, on its lowest brightness setting, the Solite can burn for as much as 40 hours, which is enough to last most people for the length of a trip. Jump the brightness up to the second level however, and battery life drops to just six hours, and the highest setting cuts it down to three. In other headlamps you would simply bring spare batteries as a back-up, just in case your power cells ran dry. But that’s not possible with the Solite, which needs to be charged via USB. Yep, that’s right, USB. That means you either need to bring your computer with you to charge it or pick-up a third party battery pack or power strip that provides a USB input. Those options aren’t so bad if you’re traveling somewhere with your computer, but on a two week trek through the Himalaya, you’re probably going to want another option.

The Solite is nothing if not versatile. The light is designed to be used not only as a headlamp, but also a hand torch as well. Both the lamp and the battery back can be detached from the headband and connected to one another to make a very useful flashlight. The versatility doesn’t end there however, as Light & Motion also provided a mount for the handlebars of a bike as well as a cycling or climbing helmet. These small, but much appreciated extras help to make the Solite 150 more useful than your typical headlamp.

Despite the concerns with recharging the battery pack, the Solite is the best headlamp I’ve ever used. I’m continually impressed with its performance, both in terms of brightness and battery life. It doesn’t hurt that it packs so much functionality into such a small and lightweight package. Add in the ability to use it not only while traveling, but also while running or riding my bike, and you have a headlamp that extends its usefulness well beyond just sitting in the drawer until the next trip.

With an MSRP of $179, the Solite isn’t cheap when compared to other headlamps, but it still delivers a lot of bang for your buck. At that price however, I’d better not leave it behind when I take it with me on my next trip.