not many people know that.......

Magwood

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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

image.jpg
 
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annakappa

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Me too! Just found mine. Surprise, surprise, who would have known! I used my Osprey on our last 2 Camino's in total ignorance! Anne
 
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Well as I always say you learn (or should aim to learn) something new everyday and this is one extra for us Camino Nuts. I have just found mine on my Osprey - Atmos 50

So Magwood you get the Yeh of the Day. Buen Camino. :D
 

brawblether

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Oh WOW mine has one too (One Planet Mini Freddy). I'm so excited, heehee.

I bought a whistle to carry when I walked this winter and for some reason never checked it out until a few days before the end of the walk. The darn thing was useless, you'd hear the blinking of my eyelids before that useless thing.
 
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pattymo97206

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Nov 24, 2011
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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

View attachment 9164


Think I’ll check out my Gregory! That is very clever!
 
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Diogo92

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Having a whistle with you, when you're walking in the woods, or tracks that you don't know, it's very important. A whistle it's a way for you to warn everybody that it's passing by, that you are there, in case of some thing happen. "But I could shout/scream". You will likely lose your voice if you scream or shout for 2 hours in a row. A whistle requires no energy, compared with screaming, and it could be heard in some meters or even 1 or 2km (depending of the whistle, and the conditions).

I think that, this kind of whistle that it's delivered with backpacks it's good, but not so good has that. They usually delivery a very weak sound, and I've seen some of them break (since they are included on the strap). I usually advise people to buy a Fox 40 whistle http://www.fox40whistles.co.uk/Fox-40/Safety/Fox-40-Classic-FOX-CLASS

It's one of the best whistles in the world for outdoor activities, and it's so powerful, that it's even used by women has an anti-rape whistle.
 

Albertinho

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Thanks Magwood. Just a couple of days I added a hardwood samba whistle from Brasil to my Osprey Atmos 50 backpack ,just in case...:D
So now I can leave this whistle at home because I found the Osprey whistle at our backpacks. One disadvantage. Now there will be no samba whistle sound at the camino Ingles next month:p
 
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Albertinho

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Having a whistle with you, when you're walking in the woods, or tracks that you don't know, it's very important. A whistle it's a way for you to warn everybody that it's passing by, that you are there, in case of some thing happen. "But I could shout/scream". You will likely lose your voice if you scream or shout for 2 hours in a row. A whistle requires no energy, compared with screaming, and it could be heard in some meters or even 1 or 2km (depending of the whistle, and the conditions).

I think that, this kind of whistle that it's delivered with backpacks it's good, but not so good has that. They usually delivery a very weak sound, and I've seen some of them break (since they are included on the strap). I usually advise people to buy a Fox 40 whistle http://www.fox40whistles.co.uk/Fox-40/Safety/Fox-40-Classic-FOX-CLASS

It's one of the best whistles in the world for outdoor activities, and it's so powerful, that it's even used by women has an anti-rape whistle.
The Osprey whistle I tried out a moment ago is so loud and screaming that if , my good friend , you blow it in Castanheira do Ribatejo, all inhabitants of Lisbon think by hearing the sound that the dustman's truck is arriving to collect the garbage so they put the dustbin outside :)
 
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Diogo92

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The Osprey whistle I tried out a moment ago is so loud and screaming that if , my good friend , you blow it in Castanheira do Ribatejo, all inhabitants of Lisbon think by hearing the sound that the dustman's truck is arriving to collect the garbage so they put the dustbin outside :)

The trash cans in here are only collected at night. So no whistles :p

I will search for my FOX 40 to show it to you, when we meet each other ;)
 
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Albertinho

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The trash cans in here are only collected at night. So no whistles :p

I will search for my FOX 40 to show it to you, when we meet each other ;)
É optimo ! Than we play some whistle music together. :)
It is a change to allways playing jazzguitar and double bass :)
Still 13 days to wait before we will go to Spain. Backpacks and golfbags are packed.
coming week we load everything in our car and caravan and after Eastern off we go.
Looking forward to be on the camino again and after that visit your beautilful country again.
Vemos-nos !

Have a nice day
Um abraço disso margem do rio Maas
 
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basquelady

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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

View attachment 9164

Thanks! Found them on my Aura 50 and Sirrus 26! Who would have guessed it?!
 

Stephen Nicholls

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This afternoon I bought a Mountain Warehouse Ventura 40L ...... I WAS very pleased with it, until I read all this about whistles. It hasn't got one.
Should I return it to the store?! :D
 
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Diogo92

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This afternoon I bought a Mountain Warehouse Ventura 40L ...... I WAS very pleased with it, until I read all this about whistles. It hasn't got one.
Should I return it to the store?! :D

Just buy the add on from Amazon :p
 
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t2andreo

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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

View attachment 9164

If you contact Osprey, they will send you one for free. I somehow lost mine. They sent me a complete sternum strap assembly with whistle buckle, at no charge. Of course, it took some time to strong-arm the side fittings over the vertical sewn in "rails" that the sternum strap rides on.

I hope this helps.
 
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Feb 27, 2012
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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

View attachment 9164
I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

View attachment 9164
Oh my gosh. I had no idea, but it's on my osprey sirrus, too!
 

julie

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Apr 17, 2006
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We had a funny lunch break on a bushwalk last year when someone mentioned that they liked the whistle built into the clasp of their new backpack. There were lots of envious looks and then checking of backpacks with great shouts of excitement when a whistle was exposed. A range of brands were found to have this inclusion.

How wonderful it is to feel such a childish excitement about such a simple thing. Long may it continue.
 
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Cejanus

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Ah tar. Now I would never had found it. It's a lousy whistle though - just tried it. I have the Osprey Kestrel 38 litre. I reckon I can whistle louder myself.
 
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Magwood

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Well, thanks for all the input. It seems that I wasn't, after all, the only one not in on the secret!

I love the idea of a pilgrim whistling band. Perhaps we should start practising - I guess we could start with 'To Be a Pilgrim'. I'm sure there might be other suggestions.......
 
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Icacos

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I was surprised that people didn't know that.
If my daughter had not already pointed out to me that there was a whistle on another MEC pack I have, I doubt I would have known to look for one on my Osprey.

I really like your avatar :D Some giggles for the day :D:D
 
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Alyssa

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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.
View attachment 9164
Magwood, I read this post a couple months ago, then looked for the whistle but couldn't find it. Then I took my packed backpack to work to share with my 10-year-old students and within a minute, one of them pointed out the whistle! : )
 
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jillmom

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I was told recently, by a very experienced pilgrim, that most modern backpacks have a whistle secreted in the chest strap clasp. Having walked the Frances route last year with a separately purchased whistle attached very close to my chest strap, I thought I would go and check it out. Nope! - no whistle on my osprey pack. I mailed back to my informant and told him the result of my examination, whereupon he looked up the technical spec for my pack (osprey atmos 35L) and replied that, yes, it was included and he explained in words of few syllables exactly how I should identify it. Lo and behold, it was there all the time, masquerading as a clasp, when all along it was sneakily a whistle, that makes a good shrill call.

On reflection, maybe everyone except me was in on the secret.

And incidentally, having just checked out the phrase 'not many people know that' I was informed by google that Michael Caine never uttered those words: ‘I have never said “Not Many People Know That”,’ Caine, 78, wrote on ICorrect.com. ‘Peter Sellers said it when he impersonated my voice on his telephone answering machine. ‘His impersonation was “This is Michael Caine, Peter Sellers is out. Not many people know that.’’ He also repeated this on the Michael Parkinson show.’ The actor added: ‘I do not mind something clever being attributed to me but I do mind something stupid that I did not say or do.’

......and that's something else that I didn't know!

View attachment 9164
Even my little Osprey 11 has a whistle.
 

canis_major

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Aug 6, 2013
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78
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Well, thanks for all the input. It seems that I wasn't, after all, the only one not in on the secret!

I love the idea of a pilgrim whistling band. Perhaps we should start practising - I guess we could start with 'To Be a Pilgrim'. I'm sure there might be other suggestions.......

And the name of the band should be "The Pilgrim Whistle Blowers". And our motto "We expose everything".. eh, on second thoughts perhaps not!!
 
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