Titanium coating from the aerospace industry, foldable barefoot shoes and clever knots: The outdoor industry also has new innovations in store for 2020 that set new standards with their low weight and well thought-out design. At OutDoor by ISPO in Munich, we discovered eight lightweights that will help us get through 2020 more easily.
8
Lightweight Highlights under the Magnifying Glass
1
Fly from Petzl - for Take Off
At just 150 grams, Petzl's Altitude is one of the absolute lightweights among mountaineering harnesses. How else can that be improved? The answer to this also comes from Petzl: The belt Fly, which weighs just 95 grams, is suitable for (expedition) mountaineering and ski touring and is Petzl's lightest belt. Instead of using buckles, a sophisticated knot system is chosen, which not only saves weight, but also makes it possible to put it on with the feet on the ground. The comfort pads can also be removed for maximum weight reduction. So much saving is rewarded: with the Outstanding Award in the Lightweight category.
Weight: 95 gram (size M, without padding)
Price: 100 Euro
Available from: January 2020
2
Distance Carbon Pole by Black Diamond - Lighter, Faster, Wider
49 hours, 38 minutes, over 13,000 meters of altitude and 161 kilometers: It's understandable that Black Diamond Ultra Runner Joe Grant wanted to do without every unnecessary gram of weight when he crossed the Colorado Sawatch Range with 14 four-thousand-metre peaks in the spring - and without further ado he even put his hands to it when developing the new Distance Carbon Pole. The pole comes in non-adjustable fixed lengths to the market and weighs 95 grams in 120 cm length - making it one of the lightest on the market. The main material is carbon, the handle is ultra-light EVA foam. The contact points are reduced, a half-height ring provides balance and support when the pole is held horizontally.
Weight: 95 gram
Price: 130 Euro
Available from: Summer 2020
3
Guide Lite 28+ Sl, 30 + by Deuter - the Mountain Guide Version
Reduced, light and comfortable: it was only a matter of time before the comfort specialist Deuter also trimmed its product classics for lightness. And the result is impressive: The Guide Lite series from Deuter concentrates on the most important features such as rope and ice axe holder, gear loops and lateral compression straps for ski fixation and offers the necessary stability and a pleasant load distribution thanks to the body-hugging Lite Back System. In order to save even more weight, hip fins, abdominal belt and lid compartment can be removed. Weight without features: 590 grams (28+ SL); 640 grams (30+).
Weight: 850 g (Guide Light 28+ SL) / 900 g (Guide Light 30+)
Price: 139,95 EUR
Available from: March 2020
4
Dynafit has developed the ultra lightweights among touring skis: the Blacklight series is made of carbon fiber and Paulownia wood, resulting the Speed Ski's weight of less than one kilogram. Perfect for a fast, energy-saving ascent in demanding alpine terrain - even in icy conditions. On descents, the Blacklight offers stability and easy edging even on hardpack. Touring ski fans still have to be patient: The four Blacklight models will be on the market in winter 2020/21.
Weight: 900 g (Blacklight Pro with 165 cm length)
Price: 550 to 700 Euros
Available from: Winter 2020/21
5
Mythic Ultra 180 by Rab - Space (Age) Technology
"With technology from the aerospace industry" is all too often just an empty phrase for the use of banal aircraft aluminium. In this case, however, the term has its justification: The fabric of this down sleeping bag is refined in a chamber completely filled with argon. In this environment (electrostatic charging also plays a role), the material is coated with titanium using the TILT process (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology). Thus the sleeping bag reflects parts of the human body heat, without however locking up like a rescue blanket also trapping humidity in the sleeping bag. Conversely, a total weight of 400 g is sufficient to qualify the Mythic Ultra 180 for outside temperatures of 0° C.
Weight: 400 g
Price: 499,95 EUR
Available from: February 2020
6
Pure Freedom by Meindl - Backup Roll
A real surprise at OutDoor by ISPO was provided by traditional shoe manufacturer Meindl, whose company history goes back several centuries. With the Pure Freedom, Meindl introduced a barefoot shoe for the first time in its history. The 120 gram light shoe was developed together with the renowned sole manufacturer Vibram. So you don't have to do without enough grip despite the low weight. The Pure Freedom is very flexible with its knitted upper material and can be packed extremely small. It is used, for example, as a second and hut shoe, for water sports, as a travel shoe or as a multifunctional shoe in not too rough terrain.
Weight: 120 g
Price: no price available yet
Available from: Spring/Summer 2020
7
Ultralight Trail Series by Hydro Flask - a Fine Liquid
Nothing can be saved on the contents of a drinking bottle - water can only be made easier by allowing it to evaporate. But there is still potential for savings on the bottle itself, especially when it comes to the still relatively heavy, double-walled vacuum flasks. With the Ultralight Trail Series, Hydro Flask is pushing the limits of what is currently possible: The bottle is made almost entirely of titanium, which makes it no less the lightest vacuum insulated bottle currently available. The fine piece holds a full 621 ml and keeps drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cool for up to 24 hours. Weight: 240 grams.
Weight: 240 g
Price: 99,95 EUR
Available from: Spring 2020
8
NeoAir Topo Luxe by Therm-A-Rest - Fat Mat
In this case, lightweight extremists have to look twice: At 650 grams, this air mattress is of course far from breaking weight records. However, Lightweight does not necessarily mean to live as spartan as a fakir. After last year's NeoAir UberLite, which weighs only 250 g but is also only 6.4 cm thick, Therm-A-Rest now presents the NeoAir Topo Luxe with a full 10 cm thickness - the thickest mat Therm-A-Rest has ever designed. The R-value of 3.7 enables the use from spring to autumn. Nevertheless, the comfort mat has a very small packing size of only 23 x 14 cm. Sleep well without hauling - the Topo Luxe makes it possible.
Weight: 650 g
Price: 175,00 EUR
Available from: Spring/Summer 2020
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