Wisport Crafter 55 military backpack review

When the Elite Challenge preparation started (2021), I wanted a backpack that was small, compact, very durable and practical. I planned different workouts for myself, most of which included backpacking tasks. After a long search, I chose the Wisport Crafter 55 backpack from the Polish company Wisport, because it was exactly what I wanted. How much did it live up to my expectations? After 3 years of use, I can say a lot about it…

 MAGYAR 

If weight and quality matter, this could be your rain jacket!

I was quite surprised when, during an interview, a recently launched Finnish outdoor company, Northernlite, asked me if I would share some thoughts about their new Superlight Rain Jacket, which is currently under development. I was surprised because I represent a different style than them - but it was still nice and of course I said yes. The company represents more of an ultralight hiking style, and I ... well, I don't like lighter gear. Plus, it's a prototype, which makes the test even more interesting.

 MAGYAR 

NNormal, the sports equipment brand founded by Kilian Jornet and Camper in 2022, is launching a new model from the Kjerag family, the Kjerag Brut. “Brut”, that means “dirty” in Catalan is designed to face the toughest conditions, standing  out for their excellent performance on difficult terrains, where grip, breathability, and lightness are essential. 

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Extreme terrain? Dense thicket? A heavy burden? This bag has no obstacles. The BACH Specialist 75 is a real backpack specialty that I tested this summer. Big, strong, durable, but still light, and hiking with it is a real experience! A hiking bag that, thanks to its design and design, gives you much more than what you might need on a normal tour, but is also very competitive in terms of price and weight - while providing outstanding support even in more difficult situations. Does such a thing really exist? The test shows.

In connection with my work, I always pay attention to the reports of new brands, products, athletes, coaches, adventurers and explorers. This is how I found a brand new Finnish company and its founder, Teemu Hartikainen. He brings an exciting and new color to the outdoor world, and his personal experiences and adventures may be interesting to all outdoor enthusiasts. How does Teemu see outdoor challenges, how does he prepare and why did he start a company? You can read about this in the interview!

 MAGYAR 

Ever since I was a child, hiking boots have been a robust, strong shoe that "can withstand everything" in the field. Ever since I've been cross-country running (this can also be measured in decades), since then the classification of shoes has become more nuanced, I've used several cross-country running shoes that were a little heavier than their counterparts, but still qualified as running shoes.

Testing the HOKA Anacapa 2 Mid GORE-TEX boot was also interesting because it is a boot that is typically a cross-country shoe. Partly from recycled materials.

I chose the bag to prepare for the Elite Challenge in 2021, as well as to raise backpacking training to a higher level. I wanted to test and try out a medium-sized backpack designed for serious use. I looked through the descriptions and tests of many bags, and finally decided on this one. Let's see, after a year of intensive use, was my decision right?

At the end of October, I managed to acquire a real specialty, the Mil-Tec company Teesar 100 backpack, which is different from a general load-carrying device in almost every way. It was a joy to hold, but an even greater joy to use. The adjectives in the title may seem strange for a backpack, but it soon becomes clear why we are not talking about a "simple" hiking bag.

What is the difference between a hiking boot and a military boot? With the help of Haix Nepal Pro, we are looking for answers to this question in this test, taking into account that shoes are made for a wide variety of different needs in both categories, so it is not possible to draw a sharp line between them. We started the test from the tour use side...

(one version of the HAIX Nepal Pro boots is semi-official footwear of the Hungarian Armed Forces, but the test was born regardless of this fact)

I was very curious about Salomon's hiking shoes and running boots. Partly because I've been training and racing in Salomon cross-country shoes for years, partly because I've never owned a boot from them before, but I've heard a lot of good things about this equipment. And the third reason is that the Salomon XA Forces Mid boots seemed to be the perfect choice for increasingly frequent backpacking training. Theoretically. Of course, the test is when we go out into the field.

Since I started backpacking a few years ago (covering a distance with a large backpack at a fast pace), good shoes have always been a priority. Really, shoes or boots? What is best, what is most suitable. Fortunately, I was able to test several types of footwear and experience shows that light but stable shoes are the best. What is difficult is better from a training point of view, what is easy is less safe and stable. When the Magnum Assault Tactical 5.0 boot came into my hands, I immediately encountered a new feeling. The shoes are also vegan... this means a lot to me (and to more and more people), it is only positively related to performance.

Pantac Molle Forward Deployment Pack is a massive, robust backpack optimized for carrying heavy loads for long-distance walking and deployment. It does not provide the comfort of hiking bags at all, but it shows its true values in its material and implementation when you have to carry a really heavy load for a long time, even in extreme conditions. Both its exterior and interior design were designed for this purpose.