Simply Awesome: The North Face Waterproof Lumbar

I've been looking for a way to carry my oversized iPhone 6+ for the times when I'm out and about, and keep it dry from sweat and sudden rain storms.  Here in humid, tropical Singapore, both are a real problem.  When I added the Sony RX100 pocket camera to my assortment of carry around items, I knew I had to find a solution.

Laura models The North Face Waterproof Lumbar - Medium

Enter the North Waterproof Lumbar Pack.  It is a 4 liter (244 cubic inch) capacity, roll-top lumbar pack with fully taped seams.  When I first saw this, I thought it looked gimmicky and could not be waterproof.  Well, I took it home and held it under water for 30 seconds, and it did not leak.  The pack also has three external pockets that aren't waterproof, that are useful for things like keys or snacks, but everything you need to keep dry has to go in the main compartment.

It has become my 'man-purse' of sorts.  All my electronics and valuables, like pocket camera, cell phone, wallet, iphone lenses, spare batteries and memory cards, sunglasses earphones, and lens cleaner go in the main compartment.  Keys (if your car key has an electronic remote, it needs to go into the mail compartment), lip balm, and other small items I don't need to keep dry, go in the outside pockets.  In daily use, I tend to just clip the two ends of the roll-top together like a regular dry bag.  It works to keep the bag waterproof, and is quicker to open and close, since I only make one clip, but does not look as neat as clipping the two ends and cinching it down the sides of the pack.

What is also cool is that you can separate the waterproof bag from the hip belt, and you could use that like a regular small dry bag.  It will hold more than the items shown above, but keep in mind that the capacity is only 4 liters.  On my scale, the whole thing weighs 249g, and the separated dry bag weighs 104g, so a pretty lightweight setup.

The roll-top dry bag can be separated from the hip belt

It keeps my valuables and electronics dry, and safely secured around my waist.  It's the best outdoor 'man purse' I've ever used... Period.  'Nuff said.

The North Face Waterproof Lumbar is currently available at The North Face Singapore Stores.  

Disclosure:  I am sponsored by The North Face Singapore.  As such, I get gear from The North Face at no cost to me, or at a discounted price.  The item reviewed above was requested for my own personal use.  I just like it so much, that I felt I had to share it with you.

Penny Board vs. Oxelo Yamba

I wanted a small skateboard for transport and a little bit of fun.  I'm new to skateboarding and didn't want to pay too much, in case I found that it wasn't for me.  I borrowed my niece's 2-year-old Penny Board, and after a while, decided that pink wasn't really my colour, so I bought an Oxelo Yamba from Decathlon, which is a Penny knockoff.

Top: Oxelo Yamba; Bottom: Penny 22"

From the outside, there didn't appear to be much difference.  They are both roughly the same length, 22", although the Yamba is a little shorter, as you can see in the image above.  The Penny weighs 1920g and the Yamba weighs slightly more at 1980g.

Orange Yamba Wheel left; Green Penny Wheel right

They both use the same ABEC 7 bearings, but the Penny cruised far longer than the Yamba.  When I spun up the wheels, the 2-year-old Penny bearings spun for longer.  Since my niece got a new Penny and didn't want the old one anymore, I took the old Penny bearings and installed them on the Yamba.  When I spin up the wheels, the transfered Penny bearings on the Yamba spin for longer, but strangely, when I ride the boards, they both now go about the same distance, so something else is going on that works in the Penny's favor, and I suspect it may be the wheels.  Read on...

Yamba Hardware, 20g

Penny Hardware, 15g

Quality wise, the Penny seems better made all around.  Penny's wheels have an inserted hard plastic cup where the bearings go, and the Yamba's wheel is just molded rubber.  The cushions/bushings are taller on the Penny, and the mounting hardware (bolts, nuts, washers) weighs a little less on the Penny.

2-Year-Old Penny cushions left; Brand New Yamba bushings right

Performance wise is where is starts to get interesting.  The biggest difference is in the deck.  While they both flex, the Penny holds its rigidity better in the middle.  I weigh 65kgs, and the Yamba sags under my weight.  While I got used to it, if you are new and hop on the board, the sag is just one more movement variable you need to compensate for in addition to the forward movement, and side-to-side roll.  I also prefer the grippier waffle pattern on the top deck of the Penny compared to the smoother, wave pattern on the Yamba.

Penny left; Yamba right

The wheelbase on the Yamba is a little longer, and I found that it is not as maneuverable as the Penny.  The Yamba tends to understeer, the Penny turns just where I want it to go.  The upside is that because I put my feet on top of the trucks, the longer wheelbase actually gives my feet more room on the deck.

The Penny turns better, rolls better, and because of the more rigid deck, feels more stable too.  Bottom line is that I prefer the Penny.  The Penny costs twice as much as the Yamba though, and if you are lighter weight rider, or are riding to get to someplace as opposed to riding for fun, the Yamba can be good value.  If you can afford it though, go for the Penny.

Amazon usually has the best prices for Penny Boards.
Oxelo Yamba boards are available from Decathlon.com