An Cosantóir

gadgets | 31 GADGETS Untitled-2 1 GRIPS €14.99 If there was one product that defined the deep freeze winter of last year it was these diminutive little ice gripers. Used by gen- erations of Canadian and Nordic families for going about their business when temperatures plunge below zero they were only really discovered by the Irish last year. They provide great grip on ice and snow, fit almost all footwear and offer great peace of mind for anyone wanting to avoid becoming this year's 'RTE News ice fall guy'. BY ROBBIE LAWLESS If the last couple of winters have thought us anything, it's this; (1) Ireland can get in- credibly cold and (2) It doesn't take much gear to transform the whole arctic experience from painful to plain joyful: staying warm and avoiding 'Bambi on Ice' impersonations is the key so with that mind we take a look at some equipment for the months ahead. ICE MOUNTAIN STUD 13/06/2011 17:00:50 THE NORTH FACE CATALYST JACKET €225 There is good reason that all those famous moun- taineers and explorers standing atop those massive Himalayan peaks or trekking deep towards the Poles are wear- ing down suits or jackets; down is untouchable for warmth to weight ratio when the temperatures turn Baltic. The Catalyst jacket has reached cult status since its introduction 5 or 6 years ago. The combina- tion of 800 fill down that is superlight and warm, an insulated hood and the ability for the jacket to pack into it pocket makes this the go-to jacket for all types of cold weather activities. ICEBREAKER CHUTE €29.95 The colds icy fingers have a knack of creep- ing their way into the smallest of gaps in clothing and a cold-spot is definitely not a good-spot when the temperatures have dropped. The Icebreaker Chute is a neck gaiter constructed from 100% super-soft and super-warm Merino wool that does a damn good job at keeping the drafts out. T OC TOB E R COMP E T I T ION 1. Name the Cadet mentioned in the History article? 2. What does ONUC stand for (Congo)? 3. What % of Merino wool is the Icebreaker Chute made from? Competition closing date is the 19th October Send all entries with your name and address: September Competition, An Cosantóir, DFHQ, Block 5, Ceannt Bks, DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, Ireland. Or email to: subs@military.ie Septembers winner of a €100 voucher is Oliver Byrne, 244 Beech Park, Lucan, Co. Dublin THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE THE NORTH FACE PAMIR E-TIP GLOVE €49.90 Last years two top selling gloves were the Pamir and the E-Tip, this year TNF have been doing some match- making it seems, with the result being this; a combination of the two. We get the warmth and windproof quality of the Pamir's wind- stopper fleece and the fantastic abil- ity of keeping the glove on while us- ing all touch screen devices that made the E-Tip so popular, his October the Great Outdoor Store have offered one of our readers the chance to win this month's fantastic competition to win a €100 voucher. All questions are based on this months issue.

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