I’ve been a JetBoil fan since they became available in 2001. When camping, my cooking philosophy is “just get it done’, nothing complex, usually something I’ve pre-made or something out of a packet (I actually like MREs, usually warmed on the manifold). And being English, I mandate several tea-breaks throughout the day, so really I just need a fast and efficient way of boiling water. That covers about 90% of my cooking requirements.

One of my more lightly-used JetBoils failed recently (a JetBoil PCS – Personal Cooking System). The seam attaching the inner part to the outer part (which interfaces with the burner) broke away. I noticed that it was spot welded and the newer JetBoils have an updated design – so they clearly know about this issue. I took it back to REI to get it replaced and while in the stove section I had a longer look at the MSR Reactor, clearly their answer to the very successful JetBoil. It’s of a similar design, slightly wider and the burner interface section has a number of fins which gives the pot a larger surface area and speeds up heating. The burner itself is very large, in terms of area (but quite compact), and is quite quiet in operation.

On a recent camping trip in Utah, I had the opportunity to give the stove a decent field-test. Of course, I boiled water for tea and washing, I boiled milk for porridge (Mornflake Lyle’s Golden Syrup flavour – imported from the UK), which is rather messy, I made soup, warmed some pre-cooked steak and cooked-up some pasta. I noted the following pros and cons.

Pros:
1. It’s extremely fast, I boil a lot of water so this is a huge win for me. Subjectively, it takes around 1/3 less time to boil water versus the JetBoil. This is due to the more powerful burner and larger surface area on the burner interface.
2. It packs small, and as it’s wider than a JetBoil, you can pack a 220g (7.8oz) gas cylinder inside it, whereas the JetBoil can only contain a 110g (3.9oz) cylinder internally (so I always packed an additional large 450g (15.9oz) cylinder).
3. It comes with a small packing cloth which stops the insides getting scratched when the burner unit is packed inside (yes, you could easily make this yourself, but it’s a nice thought to provide one).
4. The whole unit it the typical good quality you’d expect from MSR.
5. It’s wider than the JetBoil, and that makes it easier to clean.

Cons:
1. It’s more expensive than the JetBoil ($160 vs $100 using REI prices in April 2010).
2. Simmering is difficult, if not impossible. The burner is so powerful it seems to have only two settings, off and “supernova”!
3. No piezo ignition! It’s a pain to use matches or a lighter.
4. Bigger burner means it goes through gas faster, though as you can pack a larger cylinder internally it may not be an issue.
5. It is slightly larger than the JetBoil, the diameter is larger but it is shorter.
6. It has a fold-out handle, the JetBoil is insulated so you can simply pick it up with your bare hands even when hot.
7. As the diameter of the pot is wider than the JetBoil, it is slightly more difficult to pour into narrow containers.

In summary, I like the Reactor, I doubt anything on the market can boil water as fast. However, until it adds both piezo ignition and a way to simmer I still recommend the JetBoil (especially as the Reactor currently demands a $60 premium).

Anyway, I got an email from them saying that they’ve registered the device for me and they also threw in a free upgrade to City Navigator North America NT 2010, which is great, and that’s what started this thing in the first place.

So, while a little slower than usual, Garmin support came through again. Thank-you Garmin, I shall continue to recommend your products!

I’m a fan of Garmin GPS receivers, particularly devices like the GPSMap 478, a wonderful chart-plotting GPS. I also have a StreetPilot 7500, a nice large-screen GPS that I use in the truck. I’ve spend thousands on Garmin hardware and maps since my first Garmin device, a GPS 12, back in 1995. If you count the devices I’ve bought for others and my referrals that total is well north of $10,000.

A while ago, maybe in mid-late 2007, Garmin updated their internal systems at my.garmin.com. I had multiple GPSes registered with them, including the StreetPilot 7500. The old system was never brilliant, I blame the DRM they have around the mapping data, but that’s another subject…

Anyway, I want to upgrade the 7500 to the latest version of City Navigator North America NT, the 2009 update. To unlock the maps, you have to have a registered device. During Garmins update to my.garmin.com my previously registered 7500 disappeared. Now, when I try to register it again my.garmin.com rejects my serial number.

I’ve been extremely happy with Garmin support through the years, in fact they managed to next day me a replacement mapping CDROM when I was out of the country, starting trans-Sahara trip, to replace a damaged disk. They have been pretty responsive so far with my registration problem, until I received this today (the issue had been passed to their IT department)

We have contacted our IT department and requested another update. To answer your questions:

We have stressed the importance of getting this matter resolved and I am hopeful that we can get this matter resolved quickly. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

As this issue has been outstanding for 3 weeks, I’d love to know what the “IT Department” are doing. The very phrase makes my blood run cold, and I’m in IT guy! Some transparency would be greatly appreciated.

Ideally, I’d like to know what IT have done in the 2 weeks since they received this ticket from their support guys, what they are planning to do and why they can’t escalate it.

Remember, all I want to do is give them about $100 for new maps. All I need is a valid serial number.

I hope I don’t have to start buying and recommending other brands if they can’t resolve this. If anyone from Garmin feels like helping, the case number is KMM12787676I15977L0KM. Thanks!

Specs:

• Model Number: GHHW5170
• Resolution: 5 megapixel (2592×1944) photo, 512×384 video
• Sensor: CMOS
• Video Format: MJPEG, 30 fps, saved as .AVI file
• Optics: glass lens, f/2.8 aperture, with ultra-wide 170º angle of view
• Modes: video, standard photo, photo every 2 or 5 secs, 3x photo burst sequence, self timer, upside down photo/video flip
• Exposure Control: auto
• White Balance: auto
• Self Timer: 10 seconds
• Microphone: built-in with adjustable recording/input level
• Audio Format: 8kHz, mono
• Memory: 16 MB internal, expandable to 2GB with SD card (not included), expandable to 4GB with SDHC card (not included) via free software download from GoPro website—available soon
• Capacity: 56 minutes video (incl. audio) or 1,945 photos with optional 2GB SD card. 1hr 52min video (incl. audio) with optional 4GB SDHC card—available soon
• Power: 2x AAA batteries (not included), lithium batteries highly recommended. 3hrs. video recording with lithium, 2hrs. with NiMH
• TV Out (with RCA cable): NTSC or PAL
• PC Connection: USB + RCA combo cable
• PC Compatibility: Windows ME, 2000, XP, and Vista; Mac OS X 10.2 and later
• Waterproof: rated to 100 feet/30 meters
• Dimensions: 1.75″ x 2.30″ x 1.25″/4.45cm x 5.84cm x 3.18cm (H x W x D)
• Weight: 4.9 oz/139 g

I took it our for a test run today, I was snowboarding in Breckenridge. In summary, it’s an acceptable camera as long as you’re just after snapshots, or need a camera to go somewhere hazardous where you wouldn’t take your D-SLR, for example. I had to explain what it was and how it worked to about ten people today. GoPro should hang-out at the resorts, I think they’d sell a boatload. 

Pros:

• It’s cheap
• It’s small and lightweight
• It seems robust
• It takes a lot of images
• Once started, you can forget about it
• The images are acceptable for web use

Cons:

• The images are only acceptable for web use
• The sharpness of the lens isn’t great
• There’s no way to compensate for exposure (or, at least, I’ve not found a way)
• In video mode, the camera is hunting for the correct exposure continuously, which is very distracting to watch
• I find the interface a little non-intuitive, and it’s a pain to remember if it’s on or off

Here’s an example video I shot. Checkout the exposure which is all over the place. To be fair, most cameras have a problem exposing correctly for snow, but I though the hunting was a bit too much. 

GoPro Hero Helmet Camera Test from Nick Taylor on Vimeo.

I also uploaded some test images to flickr. Here are some of them (click on the image through to flickr). 

This image shows the detail around the clouds but also shows the underexposure because of the bright snow.

Here’s the same image, tweaked in Aperture to correct the exposure.

This next image shows the color definition (unretouched). It’s also a good example of how the lens falls off in sharpness at the edges, best viewed on the original image. 

Another example of the falloff in image clarity at the edges (best seen on the original image).

Finally, here’s another unretouched image showing how wide the 170 degreee lens is – the bar is the edge of the chairlift. 

I think the total number of people here was around 5,000. Most seemed to be camping and have their bikes with them, so it’s a good thing that the Cam-Plex site is so large. The overwhelming impression was of 60-70% GSs, which I suppose is down to the expolits of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. Still, an interest in motorcycle touring has spurred the market – there are a lot more travel companies specializing in motorcycle travel and goodies out there than ever before.

But there’s a lot of tat too. Any trip of vehicle-based/dependent travel takes a lot out of you and your machine, and more particularly so if you’re traveling outside of the developed world. So any gear you take needs to be

1. Justified – the less stuff, the better
2. Well engineered – it has to perform its function well
3. Well made – it has to last the trip

Walking the vendor halls today, I’d bet your could eliminate 75% of the stuff by applying #1 above. While I’m sure someone, somewhere needs a “portable walrus polishing kit“, you probably don’t need it in the Rub ‘al Khali.

#2 catches you out too. I suppose experience is the guide here, I’ve bought equipment that looks good in the garage at home, but lets you down in the field due to some under-specified material or component, or just a poor design. #3 is of course related to this – I’ve chucked stuff on the road because it ends up being crap. You get what you pay for…

So here are my takeaways – first impressions of what seem to be decent goods and services on display.

Globeriders

Helge Pedersens global tour company. They offer a limited number of tours per year, longer than the average tour (50+ days), decent (screened) group sizes and trips to some great places. I particularly like the sound of the Indo-China trip. Helge seems like a top-bloke, but he’s come in for some criticism over his handling of image copyright on Adventure Rider.

Moto Discovery

I don’t know much about these guys, but they run some interesting trips, including one to Iran.

Rawhyde Adventures

Looks like this California-based company does some good training. It also offers some off-road trips in the Western US and Mexico.

ROK Straps

I liked these so much I bought some! Basically, an adjustable elastic strap. Aerostich stocks them.

Stop N Go Tire Repair Kit

After seeing a quick demo, I bought the Pocket Tire Plugger with CO2 inflation. It’s a super quick way to plug and re-inflate your tire after picking up a puncture. Hopefully, I won’t have the opportunity to review it!

Ear Inc. NYX Sport Glasses

A good range of impact-proof polycarbonate lenses.

Adaptiv Technologies TPX Radar Detector

Vibration and water-resistant detector, designed specifically for motorcycles.

MedjetAssist

A global medevac insurance company, that also offers bike repatriation when in the US. I may take out one of these policies, to bolster our current insurance.

The 2009 Rally runs from July 16 – 19th, and will be in Johnson City, TN.