NEWS: Scarpa heated footbeds

Frozen out of winter walking by the fear of cold feat? Well the chill could be over, as Scarpa is launching the Grizu heated footbed system that heats up the front part of the foot and raising the temperature inside the boot to an extremely comfortable 38° C. The microprocessor inside the insole regulates the output based on the outside temperature making sure the foot is never too cold or hot.

Inside the Heating Support Footbed there is a lithium battery, a flexible resistor and a highly sensitive temperature sensor. Also included is a battery charger with a double outlet so the right and left insoles can be charged individually. A remote control is also included so that the insoles can be switched on and off from outside the boot.

The Grizu can be inserted into any boot or shoe with a removable insole. The Heating Support Footbed even functions in humid conditions. If they are submerged in water the electric circuit automatically protects itself and once dried out will carry on working. The polymer Lithium batteries use similar technology to mobile phones and stay charged for up to 7 hours.

The Grizu could be ideal anyone with poor circulation or those prone to cold feet in the winter and retails for £140.00 and go on sale this winter.

For more information go to Scarpa web site

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NEWS: Simond return to UK

Simond have been away from these shores for a while, but the Chamonix based manufacturer of high quality mountain climbing hardware are back!

Just in time for the winter season, which could of course welcome the UK peaks with a flurry of snow or a downpour of slush, the Simond brand will be distributed by UK based importer Apex Distribution and will be available in selected retailers from November 2007.

Simond have been manufacturing climbing and mountain hardware since 1890 and are one of only two, large climbing manufactures to be making their products on-site in Chamonix, the home of Alpine mountaineering.
Simond use hot forging and working with titanium to produce some of the best hardware available.

It also good to see that Simond.com is now in English. At present the English part of the site only details information about their products but they will shortly be putting up real-time information on conditions in the Mont Blanc Massif, news about the Simond team as well as really useful practical advice.

Trail will be reviewing the ice axe and crampon range as soon as we can get hold of them. All we now need is some snow and ice !

For more information go to Apex Distribution

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NEWS: The ultimate avalanche safety aid?

A Swiss firm has launched a lightweight emergency airbag which could help you ride out an otherwise fatal avalanche. The Snowpulse Life Bag weighs just 1.3kg, can be integrated with any rucksack and inflates at the yank of a handle. The inflated airbag keeps you at the surface of the avalanche, and protects your head, neck and airway, drastically increasing your chances of survival. According to independent statistics 95% of people who remain on the surface survive, while 66% of people who get buried die. Should you get buried, the air bag automatically deflates to leave a 150 litre air pocket around you - increasing the time searchers have to find you. Snowpulse hopes to have the Life Bag on general sale early next year.

Visit the Snowpulse website.

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