I usually introduce and review mountain tools and outdoor gear from around the world, but you may know that there are many items that are not officially available in Japan.
Just because you can't buy it in Japan doesn't mean that the quality is ineffective. Above all, it is a business, so depending on the market circumstances of each region, even if the items are great, there are many cases where they are judged to be unsold (and not) in Japan.
The only way to get such attractive outdoor gear is to use overseas mail orders and personal imports, but it's not surprising for people who are used to commerce overseas, but it's hard to get it for those who are not good at English.
That's why the useful thing is Sekaimon, which we will introduce today.
Sekaimon recently asked me to use my website to review some of the outdoor gear that interests me, and I decided to give it a try. Over the next four reviews, I would like to write a review of "I tried to obtain unknown brands and outdoor gear that were rarely available in Japan through Sekaimon."
table of contents
I'll try to find the items I'm interested in at Sekaimon.
What is Sekaimon?
Sekaimon is the official Japanese website of eBay, the world's largest marketplace (online auction). Yahoo! Auctions is almost exclusive to this genre in Japan, but globally, eBay is overwhelming. Currently, Sekaimon can purchase products sold in five countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Canada, with approximately 800 million items.
Are you worried about online auctions?
When I heard that it was an online auction, I honestly wasn't interested in it at first. This is because older people didn't have a very good image of "used individual transactions," and the prices were not fixed, and even in Japan, I'm not particularly reluctant to trade (almost preconceived notions) where even if I win a bid, I'm not too reluctant to do transactions (almost preconceived notions), but even if it's an overseas transaction, I think it's scary to have it.
However, when I tried out some products in the outdoor category, I found that in reality, the prices are clearly defined in advance, rather than using the so-called "bidding method" instead of the so-called "bidding method". Moreover, questions to local sellers, inspection, shipping, import procedures, and other inquiries about products after winning the bid can be done in Japanese, and Sekaimon will handle all interactions with the seller.
Of course, since it is an online auction, it cannot be said that there is no unauthorized sellers or the products that arrive at all, so you need to take responsibility for that aspect. However, I don't think there is such a gambling element in getting a brand new product from a seller with a fairly proven track record.
The biggest advantage: You can buy things that are not available in Japan in Japanese
To summarize the above, for outdoor equipment lovers like me, the benefits of using Sekaimon are that "items that are not available in Japan can be obtained in Japanese (and sometimes cheaply) from product search to purchase to arrival." Until now, it's not good at communicating in English and is a hassle, so if you've given up on brands that aren't in Japan or outdoor goods that aren't available in Japan, try looking for products at Sekaimon and you might find what you've wanted more easily than you would expect. On the other hand, it is undeniable that the convenience and generous support for Japanese language add a little more cost than overseas mail order. In that sense, I recommend a different method for those who don't have any trouble with English, or those who want the cheapest or shortest arrival.
If you would like to know more about Sekaimon, please check this official website.
I immediately explored gear with Sekaimon, and found so many gears I wanted, I was numb.
I immediately put the names of outdoor gear that are not available in Japan into the search box. the nCamp Stove is a smart campfire I came across at an exhibition in North America last summer . It's so maniacal that it's rarely available in Japan.
There was, without a second. Of course, popular brands and products that are selling well are of course popular, so this alone shows that there is a considerable product lineup.
I'll start to get my mind off and start digging up what I really want from here. This is the only gear from overseas outdoor brands that are hard to find in Japan. When I received this story this time, the first things that came to mind were "sleeping bags" and "tents." There are a lot of tents and sleeping bags that cannot be purchased in Japan in Europe and the United States. I'll try searching on the site right away.
There were a lot of models that Japanese Amazon and Rakuten didn't have, but I forgot about time and surfed with the brand name "sleepingbag" and my eyes were full of energy. In the end, I searched for various sleeping bags that are difficult to obtain in Japan, and found this one.
>> Actually search for products on "Sekaimon" <<
This quilted sleeping mat is a sleeping bag that has not been released in Japan from Thermarest, which is also well known in Japan!
Personally, this is the most user-friendly quilt type that has been completely starting out on spring and summer trekking, but it has not become that common in Japan yet, and currently only the most expensive models, such as Montbell or other ultralight, have the option to choose from. I was just thinking about using it in a variety of ways, so I'm looking forward to it.
Therm-a-Rest Vela HD Quilt's rough features
A quilted sleeping bag that can be used in a variety of ways when hung or wrapped (renamed Vela™ 35F/2C Quilt from the 2018 model). The padding is made of NikwaxRHydrophobic Down, which has a high-quality 650 fill power and a unique water-repellent finish. Minimizes weakness to wetting. Side baffle processes all around the entire circumference to prevent heat from being released, and elastic footboxes around the feet, eliminating quilt misalignment, and the limited material provides maximum warmth and comfort.
Recommended points
- Easy to adjust the temperature, making it easy to use from cool seasons to hot summer
- Just like sleeping on a regular futon, it's not cramped
- Water-repellent down is a little wet, so you don't have to worry
- Baffles placed on both sides do not let warmth go away
- You can prevent the mat from slipping to a certain extent without properly tied up
Points that interest me
- It is not that lightweight or compact for an applicable temperature of 2°C.
- Because the size is only large, a compact mat can have some leftovers
- It takes time and effort to secure it firmly on the mat.
Main Specifications and ratings
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Item name | Vela™ 35F/2C Quilt |
| material |
|
| color |
|
| Recommended minimum applicable temperature |
|
| weight |
|
| size |
|
| Other features |
|
| evaluation | |
| Thermal insulation | ★★☆☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
| Comfort | ★★★★☆ |
| Portability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★★☆ |
| General | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed review
The sleeping comfort you expect
About two weeks after winning the bid, the item arrived safely. At Sekaimon, it generally takes about three weeks for the product to arrive, and it was said that the delivery period varies depending on the seller's region and response, but this time it seemed to be relatively smooth. New items appeared without any problems from cardboard boxes that were overflowing with overseas products.
When it arrived it was in a large long-term storage net, but of course it contains a stuff sack for compressing and storing it.
Let's actually spread it on the mat (photo below). The width is 162 cm and the height is more than enough for Japanese people.
I tried sleeping in a tent, but there was no stress at all when I stretch my arms and legs, and it was almost the same as sleeping on a regular futon (photo below). The light down and soft lining provide you with the ultimate sleepiness.
Elastic material is used for the area around the neck and shoulders, and is taken to prevent heat from escaping from the shoulders (photo below).
Furthermore, baffles placed on both sides also lock in heat inside the sleeping bag, preventing outside air from entering (photo below). In addition, both sides and feet can be clamped under the mat, making it less likely that the sleeping bag will slip to a certain extent without having to connect both ends with tape.
In addition, the right chest area comes with a pocket for small items such as headlamps. This little consideration is something that only a reliable brand can offer.
To secure it perfectly to the sleeping pad, you need to connect the hooks on both ends and the included attachment (snap loop kit with adhesive stickers on the back) and attach them to various places on the pad. You can sleep without using it, but by fixing it, the sleeping bag fits your body and makes it even warmer.
Water-repellent down is a little wet, so you don't have to worry
The padded down is 650 fill power, so it doesn't have that high resilience, and it also has decent heat retention. That's what happens if the lower limit of the applicable temperature is 2°C. Incidentally, in the case of quilted types, the warmth of the back is related to the insulation of the mat, so the actual comfort depends on the combination of these.
Because the fill power is low, we use NikwaxR Hydrophobic Down, which has high water repellency. The polyester outer material is also DWR-treated, so it can be used without worrying about getting wet, unless exposed to rain for a long time or submerged. This might be good for climbing streams.
Things to be bothered
It is not that lightweight or compact for an applicable temperature of 2°C.
When it comes to quilt-shaped sleeping bags, the general selling point is that they are lightweight and compact, as they omit the back and head, but in that sense, this model isn't that light (850g) and not small. This is a bit of a pain. The photo below shows it being placed in the included compression bag, and although the bag is a little spacious, it still doesn't look ultra-light.
Because the size is only large, a compact mat can have some leftovers
There is only one size available, and only 162 x 213 cm, so it is undeniable that it is a slightly larger size for Japanese people. However, the good thing about quilted types is that they do not mean that all the excess parts are wasted, like in the Mummy type. It can also be said that the size can be transferred to comfort and temperature control.
It takes time and effort to secure it firmly on the mat.
As I mentioned earlier, in order to secure it to the mat, you need to stick the included attachment onto the mat with a sticker. If you are using a variety of mats, you will need to purchase this accessory, so it is not very realistic. It would be faster to tie the flat rubber tape you bought from a craft store yourself onto the hooks on both sides.
Summary: For summer hiking and river climbing that want to be strong against wet
As the specifications state, it is not suitable for low temperatures in spring and autumn, but it is clear that the temperature is just right for low mountains below 2,000m between June and August, when it is getting warmer, and there is also a consideration for areas related to sleeping comfort, making it the overall quality. What's more, the high water repellent power makes it easy to use without worrying about getting wet, which is a benefit that other quilted types don't have, making it perfect for activities that you want to use up in harsh environments such as stream climbing and long trails.
In any case, the best part was finding that the attractive and "niche" outdoor gear from overseas, which had never been possible due to the English barrier, can be relatively safe and easily obtained even if you are not good at English using Sekaimon. If you've become interested after reading this article, why not take a look?
For an overview and details about Sekaimon , please check this official website.
We also recommend this article about sleeping bags.
- Warm your body from the core with the perfect sleeping bag (sleeping bag) - How to choose and 8 recommended items -
- I won't say it's a colour anymore. 7 reasons why I decided to move my spring, summer and autumn sleeping bags to a quilted type and two recommended models
- How to choose a winter sleeping bag (sleeping bag) to make your winter tent comfortable and 8 recommended ones