Thursday 28 July 2011

Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports, the UK’s favourite Mountain, Trek & Travel store partners with gr8trails.


With over 3 quarters of a century of expertise, Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports are an established and trusted name when it comes to offering the very best advice and latest equipment suitable for your next adventure.

Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports’ 23 stores stock the world’s best brands and amazing products that will make your time spent in the mountains with gr8trails even more rewarding.   Across the UK they have fantastic shops with friendly, knowledgeable staff who are all enthusiastic about the outdoors and understand implicitly your needs. Ellis Brigham’s shops really do bring the spirit of the mountains to the high street so check them out, they have mountains of experience!

gr8trails founders, Rick and Adrian are passionate about the outdoors, with over 10 years of successful group guiding in the UK. Wishing to bringadventure to everyone’, no matter what your age, experience or ability. Your gr8trails experience includes food and accommodation, transport during your short break, fully organized and guided activities, all tailor made to your own requirements.

Whatever your inspiration, your ability or experience, contact gr8trails to tailor make your perfect break.

On behalf of gr8trails and ellisbrigham we all look forward to creating a gr8 outdoor experience you’ll never forget & one that you will wish to share in years to come.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Gregory Miwok18, a lightweight pack with abundant versatility!

From off the shelf, this pack is impressive. Loading it with gear from my old hydration pack before heading out on the trail, it still had loads of room to spare, without looking in any way big & unwieldy on my back. Access to the hydration pouch is a full length zip down the left side of the back of the pack, giving direct access for inserting & removing your hydration bladder – genius!

I didn’t even need to use the myriad of stretch mesh pockets this pack includes or the zipped extension to the centre front pocket to allow you to carry your helmet when not riding.  Inside, you have 2 medium sized mesh organizing pockets with key loop, always useful! in the front zipped pocket with dual zip access. In the main dual zipped compartment, there is cavernous storage space and a zipped mesh pocket for all those small essentials that you always loose. Furthermore, on the pack top there is direct, zipped access to a large fleece lined mp3/phone pocket (but no port?).

There’s also all the normal things you’d expect to see on a pack of this quality; haul loop, high vis hits back and front, hydration port on either shoulder strap, adjustable chest strap, high wicking mesh on all contact areas, mesh side bottle pockets etc, etc. Not sure of the purpose of the Velcro, elastic cord combo on the left shoulder strap – using it to guide my hydration hose through at the moment?!

Whilst out biking, the straps & unique BioSync ATS compression mechanism keep the pack close to your back. In fact, without any formed structure in the back system (keeping it lightweight), this pack seriously hugs your back! The Miwok moves with you, ensuring if any sudden movements, it doesn’t knock you off balance.

Loved the off centre waist buckle, so it doesn’t sit over your shorts buckle & it reduces the number of webbing straps you have wafting around! The integral zipped waist compartments on both! waist fins, allow easy access to snacks on the move too.

Overall, very impressed with not only the look and feel of the pack (fabrics feel ‘silk’ like, cool to the touch!), but more impressed by its feather weight and yet abundant versatility.

Enjoy your ride! Don’t forget the rest of your essentials on our recommended kit list.

The larger 22l Miwok is available from our retail partner Ellis Brigham, Mountain Sports. Click here to find out more about the broader Gregory pack range our recommended pack brand partner.