Globetrotter Outdoor Sports store (again)

The Globetrotter store that we visited previously has a few more surprises that we missed the first time.

But to start, I've had some requests for more photos of the wind & rain chamber and the altitude/cold chamber.

So, here is a better viewing angle of the wind & rain chamber (see prior post for the video).  Customers can put on test pants+jacket+hat+boots+gloves, then go through the door and step on the buttons to unleash the elements (or someone steps on the buttons outside the chamber for you).

In this picture you can see more clearly the dual fans that create the "wind".  The box hanging from the ceiling has four spouts that make the "rain".  I have no idea why they have water running down the plexiglass wall, though.  Probably just for visual effect.

The altitude & cold chamber has exercise machines so you can get a feel for trekking in new gear under similar conditions.  They really have quite a layout of stationary bike, treadmill, stairmaster, and mechanical steppers:

The television screen shows the current "conditions" in the room, in this case equivalent to 2200m altitude:

One new discovery -- that we walked right past the first time -- is the test area for slepping pads and sleeping bags:

You can see the bags hanging on the wall, and the pads lined up on the left.  The single-bed-sized thing with the small logs set upright is the test platform!  (A girl is sitting on its far edge.)  The concept is to have an uneven, hard surface onto which you place a potential sleeping pad and then sleeping bag -- then climb on and climb in.  You'll get a pretty good idea how much comfort the pad provides, and if the sleeping bag is the right size too.

A woman was testing these and got off moments ago:

In addition to the above test area, there was something else we missed on the initial visit.  The store has a small closet with two covered holes (wide enough for an arm) and three sets of eye holes at different heights.

You can take a flashlight or headlight, stick it through the covered hole, then peer in through the eyeholes to see how much light it provides in darkness (or even compare products back & forth):

That is really taking in-store tests to the extreme!

For some reason, they have an ant farm too!  This is located pretty close to mosquito covers and insect repellent, so perhaps you can reach through the oval hole and test something?  I'm not sure -- I didn't see anyone using this and didn't ask.  Plus, there were few ants and they were not very active. 

 
Finally, Globetrotter gives space to vendors for demonstrations too.  On that day, Columbia brought a centrifuge to demonstrate the capabilities of their "Outdry" shoes.  Columbia bought the Outdry company in 2010 and is promoting the shoes' waterproofing -- basically, it's a competitor to Gore-Tex. 

The sign says "centrifuge test" in German.  Different shoes were placed in the cylinder, with water, and spun.  The guy and gal in the picture then let the customer see/feel the difference.  Not sure entirely the point, but the lady in the backpack was enthralled.

This is definitely one of my favorite stores in Munich now!

"Globetrotter" Outdoor Sports Megastore

Frau A and I had noticed that a new outdoor-sports store had opened recently in Munich near the Isartor -- within walking distance from Marienplatz and also at an S-bahn station, so a very convienent location.  Last Saturday we checked it out.

The company is called Globetrotter, and they're based in Hamburg.  Their Munich megastore is 6,500 square meters across four floors, sells over 25,000 items from 700 manufacturers, has 100 employees, plus holds offices for the German Alpine Society, a travel agent (that specializes in outdoor / adventure trips), and a travel doctor (probably for pre-trip vaccinations and medicine).

And that's just the start.

The first thing that strikes you when entering the store?  Look down and you'll see water.  It's a 100-square meter kayak and canoe test basin!  If you look closely, you'll see water jets -- these can produce "countercurrents" so you can practice your stroke.  Not sure if they'll let you perform eskimo rolls, though.

We headed to the basement level to take a closer look.  One guy (on the right, below) was sitting in a kayak but didn't use the basin -- too bad!  Racks of canoes and inflatable boats are in the background, and you get a peek of camping equipment on the higher floors (e.g., mosquito net).

As usual in Germany, the equipment is high quality and expensive -- the 2-person kayak on the right (above) costs 1600 euro!  Below, this kid was happy just to sit in the kayak, but mom didn't take him onto the water.

On the other side of the basement level are hiking and climbing shoes.  They're presented on a wall 60 meters long!  The wall is filled with different types of rocks creating a cool, wavy pattern.

We walked into the shoe section, and noticed they have a small test area for your shoes!  (This reminded us of the baby stroller test track we saw in a home furnishings store.)  The contraption has small racks of different rock types, all at incline, so you can get a feel for shoes a bit better than just walking around.  Here is Frau A testing out her Hunter wellies (they've been invaluable with all this rain lately!).

As it turns out, this store has a lot of different testing areas -- shoes were just the beginning.  A few floors above is the "rain chamber" -- a rain and wind test room for apparel!  You can don waterproof boots, pants, jacket and hat, then enter a plexiglass-enclosed area with two buttons on the floor.  Hit them with your feet, and down comes rain and, from the front, a fan generates wind.  You'll know pretty quickly if the equipment keeps you warm and dry.

We were able to get a movie of this in action!  This lady doesn't hit the button hard enough at first, but then gets it right and a quite a shock.

In addition to the rain & wind test chamber, Globetrotter has an "altitude cold chamber".  This simulates conditions at about 3900m.  The air has less oxygen and the temperature is -10 degrees celsius!

One half of the test chamber is just a room with fur-covered ice blocks to sit on -- to check out if apparel is warm enough when you're at rest in ice and snow.  This boy is getting cold already -- hands in the pockets. 

This is a close-up photo of an ice block and the fan that blows cold air.  Most people did not spend a lot of time in here:

In another half of the chamber (pictured below) is a room with training equipment (e.g., treadmill and stairmaster).  The idea is to test apparel/equipment in a climate more like the real thing.  Jackets feel much different when you're huffing and puffing your way up a steep mountain trail:

On the top floor is a climbing area for children.

This tiny guy is getting assistance from dad, with additional safety padding under the feet.

Older children run up and try climbing on their own.

Of course, fun is not just for the kids.  The store also had a slackline set up.  I caught this guy as he lost his balance at the end.  Behind him are the yellow boxes of slacklines for sale --we've seen a number of people using these in the English Garden...

Frau A decided to try the slackline too.  After a few learning attempts, she got the hang of it.  (You can see the childrens' climbing area in the background -- not sure how many can actually hang from the "rocks" on the ceiling.)

There were loads of great products and equipment there, but the most humorous brought together the German outdoor and beer cultures -- the mini-keg backpack.  This army-green frame lets you hike with enough of your favorite brew for the whole group!

What a cool store.  It also offers seminars and training courses too, but it's tough to attend those with a job (many are during the day).  The gear selection and "test chambers" are really something -- I think a few Christmas gifts may come from this place...