My Review of The North Face Apex Android Hooded Jacket – Men’s
The North Face Apex Android hooded jacket is a soft shell you can count on. It blocks the wind and keeps you warm on gusty days.
Perfect for almost all occasions
Fit: Feels true to size
Sleeve Length: Feels too long
Chest Size: Feels true to size
Pros: Lightweight, Breathable, Water Resistant, Warm, Comfortable
Best Uses: Hiking and Camping, Casual Wear, Cold Weather, Wet Weather
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
Was this a gift?: No
I`ve warn North Face Apex Android Hooded Jacket almost everyday since I purchased it last month and it has been GREAT!
Light and breathable out in the sun or on windy days out on the beach. Keeps me warm and dry during hikes through the regional parks (so far through heavy rain & light snow, recommend zipping up those pockets if it is).
Comfortable to wear while jogging. Pocket in the left arm is perfect for holding my GPS/Phone/license. The hoodie is sturdy enough to keep the rain off your face and pull cords to snug it up and prevent it from catching all the wind and making your ears cold.
I would say it is an awesome jacket, would maybe get a size up to wear a lighter layer underneath for when it a little bit more then light snow.
(legalese)
Garmin Oregon 550 Handheld Trail GPS Review
I've been looking for a new GPS unit to replace using my Nokia N900 as a GPS simply because the battery did not last that long.
After reading several reviews and features I finaly settled on the Garmin Oregon 550 although there had been conflicting reviews regarding the screen both in display and touch response.
Searching around locally in Victoria, I could not find any local retailers that stocked the 550 although a select few would order it. REI.com had put it on sale for est. $380 USD but by the time of check out it was sold out.
SportChek.ca has it listed for $509.99 CAD along with bestbuy.ca at the time for $599 CAD.
Just prior to going on vacation bestbuy.ca put their last remaining unit on sale for $449.99 I placed the order with free ground shipping after HST of $54 coming to $503.99.
The sales make me think the unit is being discontinued and Garmin will be moving on; but I have seen no other indication of this yet.
By the time I arrived back home the Oregon 550 was already waiting at my door.
Features
3" sunlight-readable color touchscreen, high-sensitivity GPS receiver, auto-focus camera, waterproof, 3-axis electronic compass and barometric altimeter, wirelessly share routes, tracks, waypoints and geocaches between units, high-speed USB, microSD card slot.
Box contents
Oregon 550, Owner's manual CD, Quick start manual, Carabiner Clip, Mini USB to USB cord, x2 AA 1.2V Rechargerble NiMH Battery, AA battery charger.
Software
The unit I received is running software v3.60 and GPS software v4.46; After registering the unit on http://my.garmin.com (serial number located under the batteries) I updated the unit to software v4.20 and GPS S/W v4.52.
Suggest setting the battery type to ensure the unit lasts the longer for optical usage.
Initial start-up the GPS locked on within 10 seconds from within my basement suite.
Camera
The 3.2MP digital auto-focus camera is located on the back just above the railing mount, unforntually the camera comes with no cover for the lens.
Screen
When first powering on the Oregon 550 the screen looks clear but dull. While viewable in direct sunlight or under a light, it was hard to see in the shade. This was one of the cons I've read in a couple other reviews and forum comments. After a few moments with the unit the screen brightness can be easily changed by a single press of the power button which brings up the Lock Screen and brightness control screen (This screen does not come up if the screen capture setting is turned on under Setup -> Display -> Screen Capture, which uses the single press of the power button).
Touch screen was a little off when first using it, suggest a screen calibration to get started.
Memory
The internal memory has 901MB capacity with 88.5MB used leaving us with 813MB free.
Use a microSDHC card I had spare; I am going to test it out on the Oregon 550. It is a Lexar 16GB MicroSDHC Class 4 formatted as FAT32. The card shows up in the Garmin when connected via USB with a capacity of 14.8GB.
Software
BaseCamp:
Custom Maps
Download via torrent:
- Ibycus Topo 3.2 (thepiratebay.org). (v3.2 at the time of writing)
- Ibycus Topo 4.0 (thepiratebay.org), Ibycus Topo 4.0 (ibycus.com)
- Download & Install BaseCamp
- Download & Install Ibycus Topo
- Start BaseCamp
- Select Ibycus Topo 3.2 from the top left drop down or View Menu > Map Product > Ibycus Topo 3.2
- Select Install Maps by Right Clicking All Data on the left hand tree under Devices > Removable Media or Oregon 550 depending on where you would like it installed (Internal or extended memory)
- Follow the Install Maps guide select the whole map (3810MB) or portion of map.
- Finish the setup and wait. est 2 hours.
4 different configurations of your selected OSM
- Windows exe (Installer for Garmin Mapsource)
- MAC OSX zip (Installer for Garmin Roadtrip)
- Zip file for Manual Install (gmapsupp.img)
- Zip file containing all the tiles requested
- Select a predefined Country and/or select your tiles
- Input email address
- Submit your build
You will receive an email letting you know your build is in queue and estmation of how long it will take. Once the build is complete you will receive a second email with a link to where you can download your images.
Take a look at Switchbacks.com youl find a series of various downloads for Windows and MACs covering NW Trails, Snow Trails, Topo, and a few others.
Other sources
- GPSFix.net - Garmin Oregon 550t – A (Geotagged) Picture is Worth A Thousand Words
- GarminOregon.wikispaces.com - A wiki for Garmin Oregon GPS series by GPSFix.net
- GPSTrackLog.com - Garmin Oregon 550
- GPSFileDepot.com - GPS custom maps & tutorials
- GPSCentral.ca - GPS Shopping
- Backroadmapbooks.com - Canadian Mapsbooks and GPS maps for Garmin
The Great Horned Nimbus Cloud
![Cumulus_Nimbus_by_Tenesica[1]](http://www.shiropetto.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Cumulus_Nimbus_by_Tenesica1-197x155-custom.jpg "Cumulus_Nimbus_by_Tenesica[1]")
What is a Nimbus? it's like a cloud... but waaaayy coooler. And this one is the cooliest of them all having 2 gigantic horns coming from it's head, tall as a smoke stack to let the smoke and rain it stirs up through it's belly. It covers the ground before you with myst and if you dare try and get closer to it, that myst turns into a darker thinker fog. A Nimbus is a humble creature not one to be captured.
The Nimbus was fast! Although I could not catch it I managed to follow it for quiet some time going 140 km/h down Highway 1. I think I may have angered this proud Nimbus though, as I steadily got closer to it, it would try and outwit me by altering it's course... I do not think it realised it was flying along a road and could not ditch me so easily.
The Great Horned Nimbus would show it's anger when it turned, giving a quick flash of lightening through it's belly and a spark of fire from the ground. It was only a matter of time before I could not keep up this grand pursuit of this magnificent un-catchable cloud. The laws of man where not on my side as the those green lights urging me to move forwarded one by one they started to turn yellow, faster and faster as each one past till I could not deny it any longer.... that yellow beacon atop a post yelled out 'NO MORE!' and put it's foot down.
alas I will have to wait till the next cosmic down pour that this world has blessed us with, giving me another chance to capture The Great Horned Nimbus Cloud. Next time I will have to have my camera at my side to you show you this magnificent beast.
Twitter Updates for 2009-08-07
- Easy Contest! it's like an easter egg hunt! http://tinyurl.com/nnvk9j #
Begining of the End
It was a fun productive month! bought a bunch of camping supplies, traveled to Golden Ears, Carmanah Valley and hiked around a few other areas on Vancouver Island.
Also moved this month into a new house in Shawnigan Lake area with a couple acres, so close to the lake and Koksilah River!!! and awesome roomie Fee (still looking for another!). Things are grand and a total stress reliever. It'll be about a 45min commute to work but that is nothing compared to what I've done in the past and besides I LOVE driving. and I'm also halfway closer to anything I do up Island.
Well it's been a month, I've done lots but not much to say.
Twitter Updates for 2009-07-08
- To be a full-fledged boulderer, you need to be able to do two things: climb way harder than I can, and... #
- shout 'You got it, dude !' with convincing enthusiasm every time someone leaves the ground, continuing until their return. #
- Tempted to buy the Nokia N97... found it for cheap, $700 #
Flickr
