Product Reviews Archives - Wildfoot Travel Journal

Doug Allan reviews the new Swarovski binoculars

Swarovski CL 10 x 30 Binoculars Reviewed

Wildlife and documentary cameraman Doug Allan

Doug Allan – Award Winning Wildlife Cameraman

Amongst the world’s most respected wildlife cameramen, Doug Allen has worked on countless TV shows and documentaries including Planet Earth, Blue Planet, Frozen Planet and Life In The Freezer. Alongside filming (and winning eight Emmys), Doug has published his own remarkable book ‘Freeze Frame. He also finds time in his busy schedule to act as an invaluable ambassador for Wildlife Travel.

Filming wildlife requires tenacity. The animals don’t always turn up or behave as you’d like them to. To ease frustration, we remember two things.

First – bear in mind that you can only be in one place at a time. So, you make your best call but it won’t always be right. Go search all day for polar bears without success then return to the cabin to find it surrounded by pawprints.

But the second, well that says if you’re not there, you’ll never see it. That’s the one that takes you out on the less than promising days, when perhaps a little flash of what you want will be your only reward.

A review of the new Swarovski CL 10 x 30 Binoculars

Binoculars are relevant when making that second call. They’re no use if they’re so heavy that it’s tempting to leave them behind when the rucksack is full of cameras. I need mine to be always with me, both light andcomfortable. There are shoots when I’ll be looking through them for half of a twelve-hour day.

I like the elegant simplicity of the design of these 10 x 30 CL Swarovskis; the thumb indents on the back of the barrels made for effortless holding, they were a natural fit in my hands. The focuser wheel’s action is smooth and precise, beautifully engineered so focusing in and out is crisp and consistent. The wheel is large and coated in soft rubber for grip with gloves or numb fingers. Important when I’m filming in cold places. I was surprised how easy it was to hold them and focus with one hand.

Because of the nature of the filming I do, I tend to give my equipment a hard time. Dust, snow, salt spray – are all common hazards. The nitrogen filling and waterproof to 4m are other attributes I want.

It’s maybe a small point but I do like rubber lens protectors that are attached to the barrels. Much less likely to be lost or be blown away.

I had one disappointment. Changing the dioptre adjustment involves pushing and twisting the middle of the focus wheel, an action that’s much more fiddly than on other Swarovski models which have a ‘pull-out to release mechanism’ before you adjust. Once it’s set however it’s almost impossible to shift by mistake.

To summarise – the Swarovski CL 10 x 30’s are exceptionally small and light, extremely well made, with high resolution and clarity; they have a bright and flat field that’s sharp to the edges, steady hold and good focus action. Definitely a pair I would recommend. Just a shame about the dioptre adjustment.

Doug Allan’s remarkable book Freeze Frame is available now on his website. Why not pick up a copy of your own here: http://dougallan.blogspot.com

Jamie McPherson On Leica Binoculars

Jamie McPherson is a wildlife documentary cameraman, producer and director and has worked on may landmark series and films including The Hunt, Planet Earth and most recently Netflix’ Our Planet. He reviews his trusted pair of Leica binoculars for Wildfoot travel notes.

I have been lucky enough to own a pair of Leica binoculars since the age of 20 and they are a vital piece of kit for my work. I’m a wildlife cameraman, but the first step in filming any animal is to find it in the first place, so I spend hours searching for wildlife in a variety of environments all over the world. My first pair of binoculars were the Leica Ultravid 8×32, which were fantastic as a lightweight option with excellent image clarity. I think they would have lasted forever as they were really well made and tough but sadly, they were the victim of an incident with a polar bear and are now sitting under the sea ice in the arctic.

I replaced my lost pair of binoculars with the Ultravid 10×42 which gives me slightly more magnification but are still lightweight and robust. Although I have added the Leica floating carry strap to this pair to ensure that they remain on the surface!

I’ve used my binoculars to find everything from polar bears in the Arctic to wild dogs in Africa, tigers in India and Orca in the Antarctic; last year they travelled with me to six continents. For anyone looking to travel to see wildlife, binoculars are an essential accessory that can make a substantial difference to the holiday experience.

At £2,000 the Leica Ultravid HD-Plus 10×42 may be expensive but it’s an investment worth making as they will hopefully be with you for life…As long as you don’t have a run in with a Polar Bear!

To follow Jamie and his expeditions around the world go to @JamieMcPherson on twitter and Byjamiemcpherson on Instagram or visit www.jamiemcpherson.com

Craghoppers Kiwi Trousers

The Craghoppers Kiwi trouser is a great piece of kit for any discerning traveller. And Craghoppers has now made it even easier to find your perfect pair. By answering a few simple questions online https://www.craghoppers.com/kiwi-configurator/ you can choose the style that best suits your type of adventure.

So if you prefer a relaxed style then expect a cargo pocket, double seat and knee and NosiDefence and SolarShield technologies from the Classic Kiwi trouser amongst the features. For a more active fit, the Kiwi Pro Stretch trouser offers a sleeker look, SolarShield sun protection and the ingenious sunglasses wipe – which is always a welcome surprise to find.

And you are not alone. Craghoppers has been making the Kiwi style for over 20 years and over this time they have been worn by some amazing adventurers across the globe, including Michael Palin and Levison Wood. In fact, Levison once claimed to have walked over 7,000 miles in his Kiwis!

These days we see our Ambassadors wearing their Kiwis in all conditions. Alice Morrison, who is currently walking the length of the Draa River in Morocco wears her Kiwi Pros during the heat of the desert in the day and for the colder evenings. Darron Speck of “Race Across the World BBC2” fame has been wearing his Kiwi Convertibles during his voyage of discovery with his son on their London to Singapore race!

So it is not hard to believe that over 7 million pairs of Kiwi trousers have been sold already.

Prices range from RRP £45-75.

These trousers are the ideal choice for our trips to Namibia, Uganda, ZambiaBotswana, Costa Rica or any other hot weather adventure.

Lomo 30 Litre Waterproof Dry Bag

Each month Wildfoot Travel’s Dave Cheetham puts a piece of travel related equipment to the test. From balaclavas to bags and gloves to gilets, the gear may change, but the truthful reflection does not. Here Dave reviews a Lomo waterproof rucsac.

This waterproof dry bag will set you back around £35. I picked mine up on Amazon, although they are available in a wide range of other high street and online retailers.

Having used the bag in the field for some time now, I genuinely think that the thirty-pound price tag represents quite remarkable value.

Don’t expect too many surprises. This is a non-nonsense product. It ‘holds stuff’ and keeps it dry. To coin a phrase, “it does exactly what it says on the tin” and nothing more. But that lack of unnecessary features makes this daysac stand out as a truly dependable work-horse of a bag.

The fabric is reassuringly thick and durable. I expected the white finish to scuff and mark but after several months of use, mine is still a very respectable shade of white.

The 30-litre capacity swallows up a lot of gear but when carrying less the compression straps, which secure at the sides to the roll-top-dry-seal, can easily be cranked down to ensure any size of load is stable and secure.

When on your back, the straps are comfortable and there is enough padding to allow a snug fit without becoming too bulky. The shoulder straps also have a series of webbing loops which can be used to ‘clip on’ any additional bits and pieces. The chest strap and simple waist strap come into their own when moving, reducing ‘load-swing’ to improve stability, without adding weight or clutter.

At the top, the bag features a handy and very robust haul loop with a rubberised grip, which allows a quick grab point when passing the load to others or moving the bag short distances.

Aside from the main water-tight compartment, there is one simple front pocket with a weatherproof zip, which, although it has yet to let me down in heavy rain, I wouldn’t trust to be 100% waterproof if submerged.

All that said, during my trial period, I’ve taken this bag out in long periods of very, very heavy rain and never once has a single drop of water found its way inside the main compartment or the front pocket.

I have grown to love and trust this rucsac and its wonderfully straightforward construction. Following a thorough testing, I highly recommend one of these bags. After all, it really does do what it says on the tin – and it is a very tough tin indeed.

This product is the ideal choice for one our Polar cruises

Lorpen T3+ Expedition Trekking Socks

Each month Wildfoot Travel’s Dave Cheetham reviews a piece of travel gear. From clothing to cameras and tripods to text books, the product-in-focus may vary, but the forthright honesty remains constant. Here Dave reviews a recent purchase, Lorpen’s flagship Expedition T3+ Trekking Socks.

Before I write this review, I feel I should explain. Aside from having spent my fair share of time in the outdoors visiting cold places, I am also ‘a sock person’. Yes, you read that correctly. We (sock people) are a particular breed of person. The kind of person who looks forward to pulling on a new pair of socks with the same unwavering enthusiasm a dog shows as its master appears at the front door, after returning from a long trip. I love the way good socks feel. I love the way they look, fit, and yes – even the way they smell.

With that clearly stated, and off my chest, I will jump right in.

I recently invested in a couple of pairs of Lorpen T3+ Expedition Trekking socks – at the chilling cost of around £50 per pair. Having coughed up that kind of cash, I was expecting big things.

Thankfully, they are everything I hoped for and more.

The fit is excellent and the socks retain their shape and elasticity between washes with unfaltering reliability.

These socks are warm. No, correction, these socks are ‘hot’. For anyone who suffers with cold feet, they are a true godsend. Their furnace-like warmth is balanced wonderfully with a lack of bulkiness and an amazing light-weight feel that can only come from the latest in fleece technology. Which, for the fact-gathering, technically-minded amongst you, comprises of a layer of PrimaLoft® insulation sandwiched between two layers of Polartec® Power Stretch® fabric.)

The cut is high so these socks can buy pulled way up over boots or wellies. And once they are pulled up, they stay snugly in place without rolling down or wrinkling up beneath.

When working hard physically, the cut and the fabric excel in every department. They provide great cushioning and a connection to outer footwear that seems much more free from friction and abrasion than any other ‘warm’ socks I have come across.

What’s more thanks again to the fleece technology, these socks ‘wick’ moisture away from the skin towards the outer layers so effectively, that sweaty or damp feet never seemed to be an issue.

At base camp, with boots removed, the thick fleece soles felt more like slippers than any pairs of slippers I have ‘slipped on’ in my life.

Moving on to the often-unmentioned practicalities of adventure travel. On my last trip I regularly washed these polartec toe-tinglers in the sink, wrang them out , ‘whirled them around’ in the bathroom a few times then hung them up, before waking to find them dry and ready to lend their loyal service to my old plates of meat one more time.

For future cold weather trips, I will always reach for these reliable servants with a smile. Because I know I can rely on them to keep me warm, dry and comfortable – and that’s pretty much all you can ask of a pair of socks.

For some people, keeping your feet warm and comfortable can be the difference between an amazing trip and a disastrous one. If you are one of those people, I recommend you invest in a pair of these ‘tootsie toasters’. You may, like me, be so impressed that you immediately order a second pair, to be sure you never have to spend a day in the cold without them wrapped snugly around your feet.

A final note on the cost – you can find these socks available between £80 and £35, depending on size and stockist, so shop around a little.

As for me and Lorpen’s £50 price tag? Would I pay that price again?

Yes – in the blink of an eye!. My sock drawer used to be bursting with socks that were far cheaper, but nowhere near as comfortable or effective as these beauties.

Gin and elephants.

As combinations go, it’s not an obvious one. But there is nothing obvious about Elephant Gin.

Following the footsteps of 19th century explorers and their botanical discoveries, the founders of Elephant Gin spent time travelling across Africa and experimenting with ingredients to combine the exotic flavours of the continent. With a mutual passion for gin, Robin & Tessa Gerlach crafted a world-class London Dry and Sloe Gin products that truly capture the spirit of Africa. But creating an outstanding gin was only the beginning of their story…

The gin journey originated with the great initiative of giving back to the land and in particular the African elephant as it is facing the threat of extinction. In fact, every year more than 35,000 African elephants die due to poaching – that’s one elephant every 15 minutes!

Elephant Gin donates 15% of its profits of its bottles to elephant conservation charities including Big Life Foundation and Space For Elephants. At Big Life Foundation in Kenya, they currently support 35 anti-poaching rangers, covering anything from logistical support to rangers salaries, rations or equipment. The rangers’ work is crucial for the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem as they work tirelessly to protect elephants, rhinos, lions and other animals from poaching and retaliatory killing due to human-wildlife conflict. In fact, these brave individuals are out in the wild every day and night, living in the remote outposts, undertaking daily foot patrols, tracking and arrests poachers and providing security.

Together with Space for Elephants Foundation, Elephant Gin has funded an education centre in South Africa, called The Wildlife Spirit. The main purpose is to educate local youth and adults in the area on their country’s wildlife and environment, as well as give local and international visitors an opportunity to learn about elephants including their intelligence, importance in the ecosystem and need to protect them for future generations.

Located in the Lobombo mountains, the Wildlife Spirit offers an a breath-taking view on lake Jozini and activities on elephants, ingenious plants, local arts & craft, elephant-dung-paper making and more. In this area unemployment is rife and attractive for poachers to getting information and assistance from local communities. The strategy of The Wildlife Spirit is to get communities involved by creating employment opportunities and make them aware of the value of wildlife by educating and showing them of how to earn a living by working in conservation.

And last, but definitely not least, 15% of the miniature bottle profits support another foundation – The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT). The 50 ml mini gins feature a baby elephant with a milk bottle on the label and support DSWT’s mission to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants. Elephant Gin funds contribute to round-the-clock specialist care of the orphan elephants with proper nutrition, veterinary care, a human family of full-time keepers and well-constructed and maintained stockades for safety and shelter at night.

Up to date, Elephant Gin has contributed over EUR 450,000 to its partner foundations through the sales of its bottles as well as fundraising events. By working closely with the foundations, Elephant Gin ensures that the donations arrive on the ground and are contributed to select projects that are mutually agreed upon. In order to keep up to date on the progress and developments, the Elephant Gin team regularly visits the foundations.

From its use of rare African botanicals to its staunch charitable focus, this is a maverick gin brand that stands well apart from its competitors. As important as the drink itself are the company’s efforts to help save the African elephant from extinction. And the gin itself is just as forward-thinking: made in Germany with African botanicals that create an exceptional flavour that has won the company many awards, including Double-Gold at the Worlds Spirits Award 2018. Each bottle is custom-made, while each batch named after an elephant that the foundations help to protect or a famous tusker.

Robin Gerlach, asked what would he like the legacy of Elephant Gin to be, says:

“Gin is not just about the gin itself. It carries a message that we like to spread as far across the world as possible. Our generation has the responsibility to keep this planet intact and make sure that our children and children’s children are able to experience the same landscapes and wildlife we know today. We have dedicated our efforts to the African elephant who has made a particular impact on us. If we don’t actively fight elephant poaching today, this magnificent animal that has lived for millions of years will be extinct in less than 12 years. A shocking realisation!

That said, there are a number of other species that are nearing extinction due to mankind. So take whatever you are passionate about, may it be elephants, rhinos, the local water or children in need, and do your part to spreading awareness and helping to save this planet. It is the only chance we have got!”

Joby Gorillapod 5K - allows the wildlife photographer unique flexibility

Joby GorillaPod 5K Tripod Kit

Each month Wildfoot Travel’s Dave Cheetham reviews a piece of wildlife travel or photography gear. From clothing to books and cameras to accessories, the product-in-focus may vary, but the honest and thorough scrutiny remains constant. Here Dave reviews a recent purchase, Joby’s flexible DSLR tripod.

I have to admit, when I am out shooting photos or video, I lack the patience of a great landscape photographer. Instead of taking my time to ensure a precise set-up and wait for the perfect moment, I have one eye on the next move, always keen to capture the bits that I am missing and snap the amazing things that are going on around me. That irrepressible, fast moving, reactive urge lead me to invest in the Joby Gorillapod 5K, sold together with ball-head as a kit at around £130.

Now let’s get one thing straight. I also have a decent tripod, so I wasn’t looking for an alternative. Just a more flexible tool to use under the right circumstances.

My Canon 5D MkIII is a heavy piece of kit and with a heavy zoom lens attached. I have to admit, I was expecting disappointment. But the reality was quite the opposite. The Gorillapod dealt with the heavy lump without a single problem.
Standing at about 15 inches high, Joby’s quirky camera stand is remarkably stable under load and offers all the benefits I was hoping for and more.

Shooting wildlife, it is ideally flexible. Its bumpy, bendable legs make it quick and easy to get the camera set at a really low viewpoint. So you can be eye to eye with your subject in a flash. Something traditional tripods can make impossible or, at best, difficult.
You could get away without the ball-head (saving about £60), simply relying on the in-built bendability of the legs which give remarkable and almost-instant adjustability but for me the added ‘wigglability’ is worth the cash.The legs bend and grip so much better than I expected, allowing you to use rocks, railings, branches and bars to stabilize body and lens. This can lead to great shots, often with a slightly different perspective as intriguing leading lines and interesting foreground material can be a unexpected bonus provided by the mounting surface.
For the impulsive photographer like myself, you can quickly snatch the legs together, lift the whole lot up and dash off to your next vantage point with the ‘knobbles’ providing an almost perfect grip. I found myself leaving the pod attached all day and using it as a carry handle between locations.

This beautifully-ugly, delightfully-functional accessory has a reassuring robust feel and even though I haven’t owned it for too long, I trust its durability without question.

Overall, I am very impressed. This is a very useful tool indeed.There are times I would definitely pack a traditional tripod instead. However, on the occasions when I need to travel light, be flexible and be low to the ground, I would certainly choose the Gorillapod.

The price tag is a high one but if your camera is smaller or lighter, Joby have more affordable Gorillapods on offer. You may also decide to forgo the ball head to further reduce your financial distress – at least until you are sure you really need it.

Find out more about the Joby Gorillapod 5K here

Find the perfect Gorillapod for your camera (or phone) here

Giottos Rocket Air Blower

Each month Wildfoot Travel’s Dave Cheetham reviews a piece of wildlife travel or photography gear. From clothing, to books and cameras to accessories, the product-in-focus may vary, but the honest and thorough scrutiny remains constant.

“Conscious that I often take my camera gear into dusty and dirty environments, I recently invested around £10 in a Giottos Rocket Air Blower, hoping for an easy way to clean my camera gear in the field.

Since I added this nicely designed, rather tactile gadget to the contents of my camera bag, I’ve been finding more and more reasons to use it. And every time it takes care the job at hand with surprising efficiency.

The first and most striking thing you notice about the Rocket is the force it seems to generate from a simple squeeze of the hand. One clench of the palm and a force-ten gale fires out of the nozzle. The ferocious blast of air offers a hugely efficient and safe way of removing debris from corners and crevices on camera bodies, lenses and any other bits and pieces you carry. For those with a little knowledge and confidence, you can even use the blower to clean the inside of your camera and its delicate sensor.

The Rocket’s unique design draws air in from bottom of the unit and blows it out through the nozzle at the top, preventing the dust you are blowing off from being sucked back in to the main chamber. So you are never blowing the same dust back on again.

Aside from making it look pretty cool, the rocket-leg feet prevent the base of the unit from touching any dust covered surfaces. When the blower is lying on it’s side the same fins prevent the blower from rolling away.

Overall, this is an extremely robust and durable device with many cleaning applications, which comes at a price that is hard to find fault with. If you’re serious about your photography and your gear, you should add this invaluable gadget to your kit bag. The day your favourite lens rolls off into the dust, you’ll be glad you did.”

Kinotehnik LCDVF 3C Viewfinder

“As a DSLR user, I’m sure I am not alone in my frustration with shooting video in the field. I know my camera (Canon 5D MkIII) is capable of shooting great video but, confined to viewing it on the LCD screen, I find it impossible to see what I am filming. Most of the time sunlight and reflection on the screen make it almost pointless trying. So I set about finding a solution.

Enter the ‘Kinotehnik LCDVF Viewfinder’. With models available to suit a wide range of cameras and screen sizes, the first task is to make sure you choose the right one for your camera. Having done that successfully, I bit the bullet and paid the surprisingly high £85 price tag. A unequivocal solution to my screen-reflection-worries was the only thing that could possibly ease the sting of that size of payment.

After unwrapping the device and scanning the instructions, I peeled off the backing tape and attached the thin, unobtrusive metal frame around the screen on the rear of my camera. With that neatly in place the viewfinder’s magnetic surround met the frame with a comfortable and reassuring click and we were ready to go. Simple.

From that moment on my film-making worries were over. Today, the viewfinder makes shooting any video a pleasure. It attaches and detaches with a flick of the wrist and I can honestly say that I have never even noticed the metal frame which remains mounted on the back of the camera since it’s application.

Easing your eye to the viewfinder’s comfortable eyepiece, the subject is magnified and crystal clear, leaving you free to focus and adjust the camera settings, helping you get the best video footage possible. What’s more, by some weird and inexplicable technological magic, the screen is magnified, so you see everything at three times it’s real size. Aside from allowing better camera control, this leads to an uniquely intimate connection between you and your subject, enriching wildlife encounters ten-fold.”

The rubber eyepiece offers a snug and comfortable fit, blocking out all external light. For projects which require you to keep your eye to the lens for longer periods, like observing wildlife or simply waiting for the magic to happen, there is an additional microfibre eye-cushion.

The viewfinder is lightweight and comes with a handy carry-pouch which clips on to your belt (or anywhere else you choose) so it is always to hand. When you are not using the viewfinder, an unobtrusive lanyard allows you to keep it hanging from your neck ready to be clicked on or off in a jiffy.

In any review I would award this excellent new addition to my camera bag five-stars – and a sixth if that were allowed.

As a side note, this neat accessory offers an additional benefit for anyone with restricted vision. The magnified view can be used to take still photos as well as video, enhancing visibility and camera control for those with eyesight issues.

A Solid Performance From The ADATA SSD SD700

Here Wildfoot Travel’s Dave Cheetham reviews the latest in portable storge devices, an external solid state drive.
With travel and wildlife photography firmly in mind, Dave took this pocket-rocket for a test drive. Find out how it stood up to the test.

An external drive is a great addition to your travel and wildlife kit. It allows you more memory space to store and back up your shots. Recently, I set out to purchase a new external drive. After a fair bit of research I settled on the ADATA 512GB SSD. Here’s what I made of it.

As a guy who’s spent a lifetime using a computer to store and manipulate photographs, I have had my share of painful hard drive failures. When it comes to taking backups, I have learned the hardest way possible.

Several of those disasters lead me to be aware that hard disk drives are always vulnerable to failure. Their moving parts are vulnerable to damage by bumps, knocks, shakes, temperature changes, power surges, magnetic fields …. and the list goes on.

So the idea of investing in a SDD (solid state drive) which uses flash memory, with no moving parts, was very appealing indeed. Even though an SSD comes with a larger price tag than an HDD (hard disk drive), the added dependability is very reassuring.

At around £130 the ADATA SSD is pretty good value for the storage space it allows. On arrival, it was smaller and lighter than I expected. Slightly smaller than a beer matt and no taller than 4 or 5 of the same beer matts in a pile.

I was equally encouraged by its featherweight feel too. Described as ‘military grade shockproof’, the device is also very similar in weight to 4 or 5 of those trusty beer matts.

The rubber bumper that surrounds this drive offers a reassuringly rugged feel whilst also anchoring it down nicely, reducing slide or slippage on whatever surface you are working. The lead provided is chunky but short, so you don’t have to put up with yards of ungainly cable dangling around your feet whilst you work. The socket for the lead also has a neat, snug-fitting rubber cap too, sealing it up from the perils of dust, sand or unidentified travel-bag-debris whilst it is unplugged or in transit.

The drive looks and feels great. It is small, light and tough, making it ideal for travelling. But how did it perform in a real test?

Editing several large pieces of DSLR footage was this drive’s ideal first test, and one which I am delighted to say the ADATA drive passed with distinction.

The initial set up was as easy as plug-and-play. Once plugged in to an empty USB port, it loaded every clip with lightning-fast efficiency and never once faltered during several hours of intense, memory-demanding video editing. Since then it has swallowed up whatever shots or footage I have thrown at it with unflinching electronic composure.

Today, I am still delighted with this external drive, cheerfully tossing it in my photography bag with a new-found reckless-confidence each time I head out of the door. I am so impressed, I have even ordered a second one, to use as a back-up drive.

In summary, this drive does everything it should do and it does that very well indeed. If you are looking for an external drive to store or back up your photos or video on your travels, this one really does take some beating.

(Remember, although they have no moving parts, even an Solid State Drive can fail, so always back up your data).

Category: Product Reviews

Wildlife and documentary cameraman Doug Allan

WILDFOOT Wildlife & Adventure Specialist