Water, Water Everywhere...

Water Purification and You,
1. Why?

Viruses, Bacteria, Cysts and all things nice...

As the old adage goes... "Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink."

Although we are surrounded by water, very little of it is safe to drink. Streams, rivers,and lakes are all host to a menagerie of microscopic nasties.

Animals have two inconsiderate habits when it comes to water;

• They like to use bodies of water as lavatories



• They have an uncanny ability to drown and decompose in the most appetising of water sources.
  

The two most common organic water contaminants spread by our self absorbed mammalian friends are:

• Gardia Lamblia, a microscopic parasite which can cause diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pain etc.



• Cryptospordium, a protozoan parasite which can cause all of the above plus some extra discomfort for added good measure. Also, tough as old boots, tricky to kill.

For the above reasons, water should always be treated before consumption (which also includes teeth brushing, fruit washing, etc.).

2. How?

Boiling is still the preferred method of water treatment but also the most time consuming, laborious and resource hungry of the methods and thus is best kept for emergencies and the like. (Plus nobody likes drinking hot water on a warm day!)

So What are the alternatives?

• Filtration, reasonably effective but costly, bulky and require maintenance. A good choice for groups.



• Chemical Purification, the method preferred by the staff here. Very effective, cheap, light and easy to use.
  

Chlorine Dioxide Drops

Our weapon of choice when it comes to watery biological warfare.

Chlorine Dioxide Droplets are the safest and most effective chemical water disinfectant available. They kill bacteria, viruses and cysts in water (Including Gardia and Cryptosporidium).
It's safe for long term use. It does not leave any residual taste, odour or colour (we're talking about you, Iodine!)Treats up to 60 Litres of water. However, once opened must be used within 18 months.

Yours for only €9.00 (that's only €00.15 per litre of drinking water!)

Why not pick one up for you next adventure or emergency or adventure turned emergency?

Sleeping bags for everyone!

Hello my little sleep connoisseurs.

We now have sleeping bags in stock for every occasion and at just about every price! - Whether summer camping or Alpine Expedition, very large sizes or slightly smaller - We even have junior bags in stock and have increased our range of SnugPak bags - designed for the Forces but used by all.

Just to give you an idea of some of the bags that are available, here is a small selection of what we currently have in stock.

Expedition - "Vango Summit 5000" - With a suggested temperature range of -12 to +15 degrees (Although it would be getting a bit toasty by +15!)

3-4 Season down filled - "Viper 750" - recommended temperature range of -5 to +20 at only 1500 grammes!

2-3 season synthetic - Gelert "X-treme light" 1200 - the best value bag in the shop right now - recommended temperature range -1 to +20 degrees and only €55!

2 season - The North Face "Wasatch" - Great synthetic bag reduced to only €65.

1-2 season super lightweight bag (also packs up very small) - SnugPak "Merlin 3" only €125. Packs up to just 16cm x 16cm.

Plus loads of other options from Vango, SnugPak, The North Face and Gelert. Basically, if you need a bag, we will have one to meet your requirements.

Happy camping!

New Generation Packs

If you are in the market for a super lightweight, tough, flexible pack with all the features you could possibly need, look no further.

Columbia have really raised the bar with their new bag, the Mobex. the first thing you notice (after the fact that it looks a bit like a tent!) is the weight - It is incredibly light - This is mainly due to the extremely light and flexible frame which holds it's shape for very easy loading, an especially useful feature when you are travelling fast - Think adventure racing and uptempo single day hikes. The clamshell opening (the zip goes right round the bag except across the bottom) and cargo netting dividers make life even easier as the dividers are easy to adjust and everything is kept in place and according to where you want it.

The thought that has gone into this bag is incredible, with people who hike, run and cycle daily involved in it's development. The straps are very breathable and the lycra pockets on the outside of the shell will hold a fair bit too, with a lightweight rain jacket easily fitting in one and as many energy bars as you could handle in the other (or a couple of cans to kill the pain mid race). When it has been on your back for a while, you could be forgiven for thinking it had fallen off as the way it fits just has to be tried to appreciate how good it really is.

There is a water bottle holster on one side 0f the hip belt and a small pocket on the other, perfect for storing a phone, gps, multi-tool or even more energy bars/gels etc. To top all of this off, the outer shell is made from triple ripstop, no-snag material which has an Omni-Shield water (and stain) repellent treatment. Obviously in these times of the Platypus, the bag is also hydration system compatible.

Quite often technology is used for the sake of it - Not in this case - This bag is genuinely something worth a serious look at.

We have them in stock now in multiple colours so come and try one to see for yourself.

nikwax twin pack eleven euro

NIKWAX 300ML TWIN PACK WAS

€18

NOW €11

craghoppers

CRAGHOPPERS NEW ARRIVALS - SHIRTS

CRAGHOPPERS NEW ARRIVALS -PANTS/ SHORTS

CRAGHOPPERS FLEECE

ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE NOW IN STOCK AND THERE IS PLENTY MORE OF THEM IN STOCK NOW. SEE YOU SEE

WHAT WE BOUGHT THIS MONTH

SO THIS MONTH I BOUGHT A MICRO FLEECE

THIS COLOUR (BLUE) IN A XL

IT IS LOVELY AND WARM CAUSE IT KEEPS ME WARM

WHY DID I BUY IT, CAUSE I WANTED IT AND NEEDED A NEW ONE.

FOR 45 EURO HOW BAD WHO'D BE DIRTY

THING OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEKS OUR FAV SONG IS

-THE GO TEAM- EVERYONE'S A V.I.P TO SOMEONE

BOOK OF THE WEEK

- TIM MOORE'S- FRENCH REVOLUTIONS CYCLING THE TOUR DE FRANCE

GIG OF THE WEEK

-DROPKICK MUHPHYS AT THE SAVOY

FAV COMPANY OF THE WEEK

-THE NORTH FACE

FILM OF THE WEEK NOT TO GO SEE

(ITS REALLY BAD)

lowe alpine packs arrive

SO AT ABOUT 9 30 APRIL 2010 ON THE MORN OF THE 22ND

MAHERS SPORTS LTD GOT THE NEW ARRIVAL OF THE LOWE ALPINE, TRAVEL AND MOUNTAIN BAGS AND THEY ARE SWEET SWEET MEAT. HERE ARE ONLY A FEW SO AS THE BEASTIE BOYS ONCE SAID CHECK CHA CHECK, CHECK CHECK THEM OUT AND WHAT THEY'RE ALL ABOUT

here's the bigger picture of it.

HERE IS THE BIGGER PICTURE OF IT. DON'T FORGET TO HAVE IT AS YOUR BACK ROUND PICTURE ON YOUR LAPTOP.

DON'T THEY LOOK LOVELY

OK SO HERE IS A PICTURE OF COLL AGUS PAUL IN A TENT. BUT WHAT I WANT TO KNOW WHY IS THE MAP UPSIDE DOWN AND THEM INDOORS. THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON OUR RECENT NAVAGATION NIGHT. PAUL DOES LOOK LOVELY. DON'T FORGET PAGE 46 OF THE ECHO. AUTOGRAPHS GIVEN ON REQUEST CAUSE YOU DO KNOW THEY LOVE THE (LOCAL) FAME.

Thank You!

Hi All,

We'd like to say a big thank you to all who attended our Navigation Night last Thursday.

Special thanks to Noel from Irish Adventures and Julie, Barry and Greg from Garmin for their time.

Hope ye all enjoyed it as much as we did.

KIDS CLOTHES ARRIVED

KIDS CLOTHING IS THE LATEST ARRIVAL IN FROM REGATTA

SOFT SHELLS, RAIN JACKETS, RAIN PANTS, KIDS WATERPROOF JUMPSUITS, FLEECE JACKETS. LOADS OF COLOURS. THEY ARE ALL IN STOCK NOW SO SEE YOU SOON.

NAVIGATION NIGHT

THE DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED. TONIGHT AT 6 30 THERE WILL BE A NAVIGATION TALK WITH THE HELP OF GARMIN AND IRISH ADVENTURERS. IT WILL CONSIST HOW TO USE A MAP AND COMPASS AND ALSO HOW TO USE A (GARMIN) G.P.S. IT WILL BE A GREAT NIGHT AND FUN TO BE HAD BY ALL.

SEE YOU THERE

TEVA ARRIVAL

Hey guys and dolls the sandals have just arrived into the shop and they look tasty. So tasty in fact if i ate rubber i would eat them my self. they start from 35 euro and go up. mmmm rubber.

New Freeflow Rucsacs!

Hello again boys and girls!

Today will be looking at the new Berghaus "Freeflow" range of Rucsacs that have now dropped through our door and onto our shelves (well, they are actually little metal rods that the bags hang from but hey, I'm losing direction here...focus man, focus).

The new colours are fantastic (most of the colours we have are not even on the Berghaus website yet hence the lack of photos), with slightly different detailing to last year which we all think works well.

The main difference this year is that the trampoline style back system has been cut away slightly to improve fit and comfort and the stretch pockets on the side make it much easier to access them even while the pack is still on your back. There are quite a few small changes that you wouldn't even notice without putting the pack on - some small tweaks have made for an even more comfortable pack that sits even better on the back than it did.

There is also a pro version available (in the larger pack sizes) which has an aluminium frame and internal plate, allowing the air gap between pack and back to be smaller for added stability - The plate does, however, have a small amount of flex so that it moves with you a little - This is a good thing. The pro version also has a "revolve" hip belt for increased freedom of movement and stash pockets on the hip belt too.

So, nothing revolutionary but then why fix it when it ain't broke! - The small changes that have been made just put the finishing touches to a pack that was already very good indeed.

a bientot mes petit fromages

New Berghaus kit.

It's been quite a wait but our new Berghaus stock has finally started arriving!

First off are the new tech tee base layers, featuring the new Berghaus fabric "Argentium". It may sound like some naff new marketing but there are genuinely useful new benefits to this fabric, using a denier gradient knit structure and channeled yarns to increase wicking, silver ion technology for permanent odour resistant properties and the knitted fabrics use body mapping technologies to increase airflow in all the right places. So, basically, you stay dry and don't smell!

Long and short sleeved available and zip neck versions also in stock.

The mens "Aura" Jacket has also returned - one of the best all day, "keep you dry no matter what" jackets we have ever stocked. I'm not even going to go into all the tech stuff, just to say that if you go for all days walks in the worst of weather then this jacket is what you need.

And last, but by no means least, the "Ortler" pant in both mens and womens.

This is a 3 season walking trouser with a relaxed fit and articulated knees for total freedom of movement, something that not all walking trousers can boast. They are made from very durable stretch nylon and have a durable water repellent treatment so you will stay dry in a shower.

They also have ventilation zips for when things get a bit toasty and a handy rear pocket with zip.

Pictured right are the mens and below are the ladies (they look much nicer in the flesh!).

Thanks for reading, come on down to try on some of the new kit!

Navigation talk

Hello again folks.

Just a quick reminder that we are having our Free Navigation talk this Thursday, 15th April at 6.30pm in store. Those fine people at Irish Adventures and Garmin will be talking you through both map and compass navigation and GPS navigation respectively.

All are welcome, light refreshments provided.

We look forward to seeing you there.

We're on Twitter!

Hi Folks,
We have set up a twitter account so you can be the first to hear about all our great special offers. You'll find us on Twitter under the name: @mahersoutdoor. Just click the blue link to shoot straight to our page.