Features

How to pack for a day hike

Here are the essentials you need

Published

November 7, 2019

Noela

I’m not a light packer. I often go on trips carrying a suitcase with more than just my essentials. Us girls can be extra so it’s difficult when we’re challenged to pack what’s only needed.

Surprisingly, I managed to pack light for a day hike. However, some people still find it difficult to pack just the essentials, so here are some tips to consider.

Be prepared in case it rains

The weather is erratic and it’s best to be ready in case it rains during a hike. Put your essentials in a lightweight yet waterproof medium-sized day bag. If you have trust issues, put your phone in a zip and lock bag, in case the water seeps in.

L.A. Girl Brow Pomade (Dark Brown), Osprey Daylite, Travelon waterproof smartphone pouch

Another thing to protect from the elements — aside from your gadgets — is your eyebrows. Make sure your eyebrows are on fleek and would stay that way, even if it rains. Beauty is everything. Use a water-resistant brow pomade.

Make sure your energy bank is full

Hiking means spending long hours on the trail before you reach the summit. Make sure you stuff your tummy with trail food to keep yourself energized. For instance, high-energy food such as protein bars, nuts, and sweets make for perfect trail food.

Nagaraya cracker nuts, Nalgene water bottle, Snickers protein bar

Don’t forget to bring a water bottle which you can refill with fresh water along the way. A wise woman named Mimiyuuuh once said, “Drink your water, bitch.” and I couldn’t agree more. Stay hydrated.

Gear up and secure your safety

Hiking gear is expensive. However, it doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune just to go on a hike. There are light and easy trails for beginners which doesn’t require you to gear up. Make sure to research about the mountain you’ll hike so you know what to pack.

GymShark Energy+ Seamless Leggings, Merrell Siren Edge Hiking Shoes, Fila 6 Panel Classic Cap, GymShark Ultra Seamless Sports Bra

On some occasions, you only need a pair of hiking shoes (or sandals) and clothes that pass as OOTD, too. During my first hike in Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas, I wore a sports bra and extra tight pants to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions. It’s best to wear something comfortable, but make sure it’s hike-appropriate.

The real must-haves

What’s an adventure without a photo? Any travel should be documented either through a camera or a smartphone. We know you’re taking shots for your Instagram account.

Romoss Sense 6 20000mAh, iPhone 11 Pro, GoPro Hero 7, Fujifilm X-A7

During the hike, you’ll be using your phone on maximum brightness while you constantly take photos and videos. Your phone would run out of juice before the day ends. Don’t forget to bring an extra battery for your camera or better yet, a power bank.

Don’t forget your to-go kits

When going on a hike, you need to channel your inner girl scout. Emergencies — and accidents — might happen. Take a couple of band-aids and basic medicine. Lastly, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and wet tissue are non-negotiables in any hike. You need to freshen up after a day of sweat!

Purell hand sanitizer, Campsuds outdoor soap, NATURE REPUBLIC – By Flower Triple Mousse Tint, LUSH Emotional Brilliance, Dr. Bronner’s All-One Toothpaste, LA. Girl Inspiring Brow Kit, Sanicare Bamboo wipes

Of course, make sure you have at least a compact powder with a mirror, a lip tint, and an eyebrow kit so you can look fabulous even after hiking. Again, beauty is everything.

Buyer's Guide

The Best TV Buyer’s Guide 2023: Black Friday Deals

Which TV is right for you?

Published

November 28, 2023

GadgetMatch

With plenty of different sizes, models and tech to choose from, do you go QLED or OLED? 4K or 8K? 55, 65, 75, 85, or 98K? Which TV is right for you? This Holiday Season we’ve partnered with Samsung to help you find your dream TV.

This Buyer’s Guide will feature three TVs from Samsung: two from their Neo QLED series, the Neo QLED 4K QN90C and Neo QLED 8K QN900C, and another from their OLED line, the OLED S95C.

If you’re in the market for a new TV, you can get up to $2500 off on Samsung’s Black Friday deals: Samsung Neo QLED 8K, Samsung Neo QLED 4K, Samsung OLED 4K.

Cameras

GoPro HERO12 Black: Making heroic shots with the new HERO

Small but not terrible

Published

November 24, 2023

Vincenz

The HERO of action cameras is back! And no doubt, the GoPro HERO 12 Black is one of the hottest action cameras around.

Not only does it provide great video output, it’s also packed with features and improvements that make it stand out from the crowd.

Packed Inside and Out

If you’re already planning to purchase the new GoPro HERO 12 Black, here’s what you should expect with its thicc packaging.

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If you’re here for the nitty-gritty new features of the brand’s latest action cam, you can see all the specifics in this article.

Keep on reading for the actual hands-on experience..

Reels-Ready

With the continuous rise of Reels and/or TikToks, having to shoot vertically is the way to go.

This is where the new Vertical Framing feature comes handy as it can shoot vertical videos for you without actually turning the device — as opposed to other action cameras including its older counterparts.

Make It Even Wider

The GoPro HERO 12 Black, just like any other action camera, comes with a default lens that it’s enough to shoot wide enough footage.

But with the optional Max Lens Mod 2.0, it makes shots even wider.

You can choose between three lens views: the default Wide (16-34mm), Max SuperView (middle ground), and the Max HyperView (the extremest view).

Just remember, you can only apply these when shooting in the default horizontal orientation.

If you’re shooting for Reels or TikTok and want this super wide look, you can stick with the default FoV (Field of View) of Vertical Mode. Otherwise, you can shoot in Horizontal Mode and just rotate it during post-process (or via GoPro’s Quik app available in both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store).

Also, don’t forget to enable it in its drop-down quick settings menu. This way you can fully-maximize its full-blown super-wide angle view whenever, wherever.

Memento Making

I enjoyed using the combination of the new lens and vertical shooting of this wonder cam during the duration of my travel. And with just one press of the top button, it instantly starts recording.

Several swipes also enables it to shoot photos or record timelapses.

Terrific Thailand.mov

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Cute Capy Cafe.mp4

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Short Singapore Stop.mkv

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What’s Poppin’ in this Pop Up.hevc

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Compact Camera Companion

The GoPro HERO 12 Black is fantastic for recording and keeping travel mementos. But other than that, it’s also be good for documenting your everyday life.

The thing I love about the GoPro HERO 12 Black is that it features a built-in mount that can be flapped out within seconds.

My former action camera relies on its case before it can actually be mounted.

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Despite the continuous advancements of smartphone cameras and their video-making improvements and capabilities, the ultra-wide lenses aren’t the best performers when you’re trying to shoot videos. This is true even if you rock the latest flagship Android smartphone or even the maxed out iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The GoPro continues to exist to fulfill that vital role in shooting. Its compact form, ease of access, easy usability, and rugged-readiness are more points to consider on owning a GoPro HERO12 Black. It’s better than actually pawning your phones just to shoot UWA (ultra-wide angle) footages in the harshest conditions.

Pricing and Availability

The GoPro HERO12 Black is being sold for PhP 24,990 (US$ 399.99 / EUR 449.99 / GBP 399.99 / SG$ 580). Meanwhile, the HERO12 Black Creator Edition retails for PhP 36,990 (US$ 599.99 / EUR 679.99 / GBP 599.99 / SG$ 890).

The Max Lens Mod 2.0 is a separate purchase for PhP 7,490 (US$ 99.99). A special bundle is available for other regions. Visit GoPro.com for specific pricing and other bundle offers in your respective regions.

Hands-On

I used the Infinix ZERO 30 5G to film my workout routines

It looks too posh as a workout recorder, but it does the job!

Published

November 17, 2023

MJ Jucutan

When you don’t have a flip smartphone that’s versatile enough to help you film your workout routines, what do you look for?

An affordable smartphone with a high-resolution front camera!

Nowadays, it’s important to have an excellent selfie shooter. It can be for vanity, for helping you review your form, or you just love recording yourself while living in the moment.

Before I got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and the OPPO Find N3 Flip, I was using the Infinix ZERO 30 5G. And boy, did it help me in my fitness journey.

Let’s talk about its cameras

On its rear, the Infinix ZERO 30 5G has a triple set of cameras. A 108-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and another 2-megapixel for depth.

With those numbers, on paper, the Infinix ZERO 30 5G would’ve been ideal to record my fitness journey. Except, we don’t normally film using the rear cameras.

Inside the gym, I always place the smartphone somewhere I can see it. I look at the phone recording from time to time to check my form, and to check the shooting angle.

It’s also respectful for other gym-goers to see if they might be filmed while you’re working out. A lot of times, they’re uncomfortable being seen as part of your content. The proper gym etiquette is to ask them if they’re comfortable to be seen in the background while you film.

With that in mind, it’s precisely the reason why I enjoyed using the Infinix ZERO 30 5G.

The front shooter’s a beast

Not a lot of smartphones prioritize their front cameras. All eyes are on its rear cameras capable of up to 100x zoom or something like that. While they’re nice to have when you’re traveling and out and about, I appreciate the efforts Infinix put into the ZERO 30 5G.

It’s equipped with a 50-megapixel front camera that’s capable of recording 4K videos at 30 or 60fps, and 1080p at 30fps.

Having that camera system allowed me to film my fitness journey, especially at a time when I was hitting almost rock bottom and I was only living life between home and the gym.

Here’s a reel stitched from 4K videos, all taken using the Infinix ZERO 30 5G.

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Sleek and slim, like yours truly

Aside from the camera capabilities of the Infinix ZERO 30 5G, I liked its design and build whenever I brought it to the gym. This particular unit I have is coated in Rome Green eco-leather.

Accented by gold on its camera island and sides, it looked posh and sophisticated, matching the vibe of my Anytime Fitness gym: Somewhat expensive, but still affordable.

Moreover, it’s lightweight yet feels durable enough which gives me extra assurance whenever I place it near the free weights.

It might look fragile given that it looks a little bit ritzy, but trust me, it’s tough. It’s equipped with a Gorilla Glass 5 upfront. Also, it has a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen which gave me a vivid preview of my photos and videos.

And even with that slim frame, it still sports a 5000mAh battery capacity, capable of 68W fast wired charging through its USB-C port on the bottom side.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The Infinix ZERO 30 5G retails at PhP 14,999. For its looks and capabilities, you’d think it comes with a higher price tag.

Now, if you use mostly your cameras as part of your everyday life and don’t want to shell out lots of cash just to get a device that takes excellent photos, this is worthy of your attention.

It’s a sweet candidate for its price range. If you’re looking for a sign to get a device that you can use for your obsession with TikTok videos and Instagram Reels, the Infinix ZERO 30 5G might be it.