Gear
Archive
The Big Easy More than 30 inches wide, with a pontoon-style hull, the open-decked Commander is the perfect stable platform for gear-intensive outings—even if that gear is a good book and a well-stocked cooler in the gaping stern tank well. As a canoe/kayak hybrid, it's not quite stable enough to…
Mammut’s Smart belay device provides autolocking belay action at a fraction of the price and weight of other devices. mammut.ch…
1. Thanks to the 690-cubic-inch Bandit’s low profile, we barely noticed it while riding lifts. And when we wanted to leave the gates or head out for a quick backcountry tour, this pack was the perfect size. 2. The Bandit’s sleek look belies its utilitarian nature. Inside, you’ve got…
Why It RulesBeing on top isn’t always best. Here’s a rugged, functional, and—dare we say it?—elegant rack that totes gear behind your vehicle. » Finally, a hitch-mounted rack that doesn’t ask you to correctly sequence a half-dozen knobs when you want to get inside your car. Forget a water bottle…
Leave it to the GPS pros at Garmin to thoroughly idiot-proof heart-rate training: The company’s new Forerunner 301—our pick for Gear of the Year—is a no-brainer digital coach. It’s ideal for runners, trekkers, cyclists, paddlers, and anyone else who wants to collect satellite-enhanced workout data in the field and crunch…
Why It’s CoolPitching is a piece of cake: She’s up in two minutes, courtesy of the intuitive (longer poles up front, shorter in back) uni-pole continuum with twin hubs, and at four pounds six ounces, the Seedhouse packs down very small. » Where flying bloodsuckers aren’t an issue, you can…
1. Can you imagine a tent from the 1970s making it into these pages now? Not a chance. But a good surfboard is a good surfboard, and the retro shape of the single-fin MR, which was designed by surf icon Mark Richards, was hands-down this year’s most stable, predictable,…
Why It’s CoolThis is the first year that Valandré bags have been distributed in the United States, but it won’t be the last, despite the shocking price tag. Why? Old World craftsmanship. Each bag is hand-sewn in the Pyrenees from 48 panels of fabric. The slim chambers are amply filled…
1. Most shoes are either racers or trainers. The lightweight SpeedCross 2 manages to be both: Shock-absorbing rubber outsole lugs compensate for the minimal midsole cushioning. And because it’s soft-flexing, with a low-to-the-ground profile, it “hugs” all types of terrain. 2. Salomon designers took inspiration from the legendary…
The Primus folks gave the MICRONLANTERN an eye-pleasing white light that was nicer to work by than the orangeish tincture of the other lamps’ glow, and at 70 watts, it allowed for comfortable reading eight feet away. The stainless-steel-mesh globe is crushproof, and a built-in igniter means no fumbling for…
1. The problem with most waterproof trail runners is that they don’t breathe very well. So instead of using a Gore-Tex-like membrane in the Syncroseeks, Pearl Izumi opted for a tightly woven, DWR-treated soft-shell upper, which kept our feet almost as dry as with waterproof shoes, without any clamminess.
At less than five pounds, the Baku 3 is one of the lightest true three-person tents we’ve seen. A trio of testers shared the Baku at a campsite alongside the Grand Canyon’s Cottonwood Creek, and there was no bumping elbows, thanks to an airy interior and a 42-square-foot floor.
Good for the Road It started with 45 new shoes and 20 testers. Three months and 5,000 miles later, it ended with the seven best road and trail shoes of the season. One shoe broke so far away from the pack, impressing us on so many levels—comfort,…
Already have a headlamp from Petzl’s popular Tikka or Zipka series? With this mount-and-clip kit (pictured with a Tikka Plus), you can easily swap your light among climbing helmet, pack, and more. petzl.com…
Because of the repetitive pounding of road running, you need a shoe designed for your particular foot strike. (Consult a specialty running store to diagnose your type.) If you overpronate, with your foot and ankle tending to roll inward, you need a “light stability” or “stability” shoe to help…
VERSATILE THREE-SEASON SACK Now in its umpteenth iteration, the 2007 Cat’s Meow is like its predecessors in one respect only: It’s still one of the most versatile, durable three-season synthetic bags available. The roomy sack is stuffed with lofty, long-lasting Polarguard Delta and wrapped with a tough skin of water-resistant…
CLASSIC WEEKENDER If today's stripped-down packs are a little too austere for your tastes, but full-featured packs are too heavy, you'll find the Ridgeline just right. It's light enough for weekend duty but doesn't require a minimalist approach to packing. Go ahead and throw the espresso maker and extra vino…
BEST SPACE-TO-WEIGHT RATIO Testers were impressed with the two-person model of this tent; it’s roomy (30 square feet) and light (less than four pounds) and has the critical double doors and vestibules (13 total square feet of storage). Then they tried the three-person version (pictured here), which adds a luxurious…
By Stephen Regenold The handheld radio crackled with static before coming to life. “Roger that,” came a voice. “What’s your location?” I was standing near a swamp, remote and deep in the woods of central Minnesota. The day’s task — scouting a wilderness race course…
If you’re strapping a camera to your helmet or handlebars and hurtling down a mountain, you want it to be able to take a beating because, presumably, you aren’t showing your bros footie of yourself schralping the bunny slopes. The toughest POV camera we’ve seen? Hands down…
By Stephen Regenold Newton Running is a Boulder, Colo., company known for a line of running shoes that promote midfoot or forefoot striking to dissuade runners from landing on their heels. The shoes are equipped with “actuator lugs,” stout rubber strips that sit beneath the foot’s…
Afraid of screwing up your 'do by wearing a helmet, but don't want to crush your skull in a bicycle crash? Two Swedish industrial design students have the solution to your dilemma: an airbag collar. The Hvvding (English translation: the Chieftain) “springs into action within 0.1 seconds, covering the…
I've been frustrated for years with "waterproof" jackets. The waterproofing invariably wears off after a year or so, especially if the jacket is worn in the sun. (I know, I shouldn't do that, but I'm a city guy who likes to wear one jacket all day - when it's raining and when it's not.) Hasn't some manufacturer solved the problem of "disappearing" waterproofing? Jack New York, NY
By Stephen Regenold They cost hundreds of dollars. Their use is limited to cold-water scenarios where you may have to swim. But for many outdoors enthusiasts — including sea kayakers, divers, and sailors in cold climates — a dry suit is an essential, life-preserving…
I'm starting to outfit for a trip to climb Denali via the West Buttress next year. My Julbo Nomad glacier glasses that I've used for years still work, but they've never fit well and always give me a headache. Additionally, since I wear prescription glasses, I would like to have a pair made with my script included. For five years, I've had great results with my Rudy Project cycling glasses that with photocromatic lenses. Reading your review of the Zyon Sailing glasses (noticing the removable side shields), I'm curious if I could have one eyeglass to replace them all? Would the Zyon photocromatic lens be dark enough for mountaineering? Or is a special hi-altitude lens required? I really don't want to have two pairs of custom prescription glasses made, especially if one is only going to be used during mountaineering. Joseph Washington, DC
As an active gal who prefers standing to sitting, running to walking, I dread packing for a trip. By the time I've taken into account the varying weather of my destination(s); the comfort factor when traveling long hours; the hiking and running and the occasional dressed up…
By Stephen Regenold The manufacture and sale of artificial rock-climbing holds is a small industry and one of those esoteric tiny areas of dedicated people and passionate companies that makes the outdoors world so neat. An even tinier niche focuses on artificial holds and…
For last ten years I've engaged in yearly two-week backpacking trips in Canadian Rockies with hiking buddy. We carry in all of our food and gear for 10 to 12 days and then emerge, and I'm looking to replace I my six-year-old Arc'Teyrx Bora 95 litre pack, which blew out under one of its lateral tension rods this year, two years after I replaced the harness. –Ed Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
What's the best helmet for backcountry skiing in Colorado? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
I recently picked up a Masi Speciale Commuter and love it for short rides, but after reading this month's issue, I've decided that I will try to give up my car for a month. This means a commute of around 30 miles. Since I'm going to be going to work and to campus, I'd like something that looks casual. Any suggestions? Charles Arlington, TX
I've been kayaking for a few months and have been looking for a neoprene bootie that lets my feet breathe. I've tried wearing my Keens and they are definitely way too big, and the Neoprene Booties I've purchased make my feet sweat way too much. I would love something that provides protection against the sharp gravel, lets my feet breath, and will still fit comfortably in my kayak. I've heard about these so called "grip socks," but I don't know much about them or their quality. Any suggestions? John Scottsdale, AZ
It was about four years ago when I first became curious about the CW-X Pro Tights ($97). I had been training for the Philadelphia Marathon, my IT band was enflamed, and I couldn’t shuffle through a 2-mile warm-up without first swallowing a handful…
By Stephen Regenold An available trailer hitch and two minutes of installation time is all you need to set up a bomber behind-the-car bike-toting system with the Kuat Alpha or the Thule 971xt rack. These similarly-designed systems affix to either the common…
San Francisco software executive Charles Veley, 45, is the world's most traveled person.* Which means he cares about what goes on his feet.
Photo courtesy of Flickr. The Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion set a Guinness World Record for “the longest distance traveled by a standard production passenger car on a single tank of fuel,” TreeHugger.com reports. The Passat began its trip…
By Stephen Regenold The Forerunner series of athletic-minded watches from Garmin Ltd. have gained a devotion with some athletes and exercisers that may only be described as cultish. But it is with good reason: Forerunner watches are top-shelf performers and they offer functions…
By Stephen Regenold The Forerunner series of athletic-minded watches from Garmin Ltd. have gained a devotion with some athletes and exercisers that may only be described as cultish. But it is with good reason: Forerunner watches are top-shelf performers and they offer functions…
By Stephen Regenold It costs about $20. Its light shines bright enough to runin the woods full speed at night. The Byte from Princeton Tec is a compact andhigh-performance headlamp new for this fall. I took the Byte…
I just dropped a bunch of bucks outfitting a used road bike I traded my mountain bike for. Rack, fenders, computer, lights, new helmet, bags. Whew! Now I need to know what to wear for my 18-mile commute in Seattle. I have a light rain jacket and padded bike shorts to get me started, but I want to buy a jacket, bike shorts, underwear (yikes, they’re $20 a pop), some kind of wool knickers for pants, and a couple of undershirts. Is that the right stuff? Lukas Seattle, WA
Some inventive British cycling enthusiasts created a bike with an ejector seat and flame throwers, the Adventure Blog reports. Named the BOND Bike (Built of Notorious Deterrents), the two-wheeled tank also boasts a caterpillar track…
By Stephen Regenold The annual Interbike Expo trade show, held last week, Sept. 22 to 24, in Las Vegas, is a gathering of cycling brands, dealers, designers, media and bike enthusiasts from around the globe. I traveled to Sin City for…
What's the best backpack for a dog? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
Is there a heart rate monitor watch that doesn't look like a HR monitor/watch. I am in the market for a new everyday watch and HR monitor and was wondering if I could kill two birds? –Craig (Pittsburgh, PA)
Under Armour has become a brand most associated with football players and weight lifters, but they’re trying to expand their reach to active young women. Their first attempt had a “shrink it and pink it” conceit, which, not surprisingly, failed to woo the ladies.
By Stephen Regenold Four days, a few miles of desert trail ridden, press meetings, casinos, a major cyclocross event, and a dozen bikes tested. . . the Gear Junkie crew is back from Las Vegas and the Interbike Expo, an annual…
Give me your best mountaineering kit on a teacher's salary! I'm looking to tackle the serious domestic peaks. –Jay (Alexandria, VA)
From game-changing new materials (like moisture-wicking cotton) to evolutionary leaps in engineering (like a rotating helmet for extreme crashes), the avant-garde of 21st-century gear has just one thing in common: a total disregard for the status quo.
Photo courtesy of Flickr. Hungary designers have created a bike that operates without a chain, dubbed the StringBike, Treehugger.com reports. The StringBike uses a symmetrical pulley system of polyethylene…
What's the one item you never travel without? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
I'm doing the Tough Mudder in November and was wondering what shoes to wear? -Ben (Albany, NY)
I have a very strong affinity for places lush and wet. I lived in Santa Fe for six years and, except for the snowy days, was always unsuccessfully fending off a sort of low-grade existential funk. Give me a dense green forest in the rain any day; my mood goes…
By Stephen Regenold We should clear the air of one item right away: The BIOM A shoes from ECCO, a Danish company known for its high-end footwear, cost an astounding $220. The shoes, an esoteric design created in collaboration with a…
By Stephen Regenold In the I-didn't-know-we-needed-that category this month,Contour Inc. of Seattlehas unveiled the world’s first GPS-enabled helmet camera. The 1080p videocamera, called the ContourGPS, comes with a GPS built in to capture and recordyour location once per second while on the move. It…
By Stephen Regenold It looks like an old-school SLR camera wrapped inwaterproof housing. But the ATC9K All-Terrain HD Video Camera, a new productfrom Oregon Scientific of Tualatin, Ore., is an HD-recording, shock-resistantshooter that's waterproof up to 65 feet underwater. The $299.99…
Used to be that if you wanted to buy Shimano’s best cross-country race components, you’d just look for the XTR label. Not anymore—not exactly, anyway. For 2011, Shimano has expanded the XTR name to cover a family of top-end components that allow buyers to choose between ubber-light Race components…
By Stephen Regenold In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks — bulky, exposed and skeletal products that were left behind two decades…
If you're looking for a little more flash or bling in your next ride, don't miss the 24-karat gold plated folding Brompton S2L, which was listed on eBay yesterday. The bike also sports a pool-ball stickshift, stop-cock hinge clamps, skateboard wheels for rollers (when…
By Stephen Regenold A red handle, a small white cross, a blade or two, and fold-out tools for the job — a Swiss Army Knife is an icon of utility and smart design recognizable the world over. Invented in the 1880s,…
What is a good hiking boot for a seven-day Grand Canyon rafting/hiking trip in September? We'll (my wife and I) be rafting four to six hours each day with time for side hikes, and then will be hiking out of the canyon on the last day (about 7.5 miles) carrying about 20-30 pound packs. We both already have Chacos so we're covered on the river sandal front. -Chris Springfield, IL
There's the gear you want, and there's the gear you need. After much internal debate, we present the 25 products every guy should own.
Giro is entering the cycling-shoe market in 2011 with a shoe line that, at the top end, compares favorably in both fit and performance to any high-end shoes on the market. The company invited a few journalists to Livigno, Italy, last weekend, just before the start of the annual Eurobike…
I am looking for polarized sunglasses that are highly rated and are not expensive. Any ideas? -Jack Carmel, CA
I am going trekking in Nepal this September? What are essential items of clothing for this trip? Can you recommend the different type of layers that I will need? Saoirse Rooney Dublin, Ireland
I am looking for a good backpack for my camera gear (Nikon D300, 2 lenses, etc), but also carry my hiking gear on day trips. I have a Gregory Z30 as a daypack, but that is not easy for carrying my camera gear. I also tried some camera backpacks...but those don't have enough space and technical capabilities to support a long day hike. Any suggestions would be very helpful. -Dave Vienna, VA
By Stephen Regenold Panoramas, summit shots, trailhead embarkations, sunsets, and battlewounds — the photographic proof is a requisite for any grandadventure. As such, I rarely under-pack in the camera department. Formore than a decade, starting with a Pentax K1000 camera and…
By Stephen Regenold They come from Sweden. They are set with gridpatterns of carbide-tip studs. Their job is to conquer the gnarliest terrain arunner may ever see. The Icebug SPIRIT OLX, an aggressive yet fabulouslynimble sports car of a shoe, is among the coolest…
I love going to Burning Man but the environment just destroys all my point-and-shoot cameras. Dust gets in there and after a few days the pictures start getting blurry and a few days after that the moving parts stop moving. The reason I have sacrificed these point-and-shoot cameras is because the best shots are at night, turning on the flash just lights up the dust in the air and not the environment, and I like keeping the camera in a pocket so if I'm running around its not flying all over the place. Do you know of an indestructible camera that takes awesome night shots, if not a moderately priced sacrificial camera that takes great night shots where fire and glow sticks are the main source of light? -Daniel Long Beach, CA
Ryan Rzepecki's Social Bicycles System might be the most affordable way for cities to implement bike sharing networks, Shareable reports. The Social Bicycles System, or SoBi, allows commuters to “use their smartphones to locate,…
Is it safe to use one of those Brita pitchers to filter river and lake water while camping? -Eric Oakland, CA
Why is it so hard to find cycling apparel that doesn't make me look like a boy? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
There has been a surge in anatomically-named fitness products lately. Cyclist Dave Zabriskie released his anti-chaffing cream, DZ Nuts (pronounced dees nuts) in 2008. Anti-Monkey Butt Powder, developed in 2003, became the anti-chaffing product of…
Craptastic weather is well on the way. Are you and your bike engaged in a farewell fling in anxious anticipation of the fall day that you'll dismiss her to the garage or basement? I sure hope not. It's so much fun to ride year round. Once you're out there…
Tomorrow, the Copenhagen Wheel, a simple wheel attachment for your bicycle that gathers power as you brake, will compete against an international field of inventions for a shot at the 2010 James Dyson Award, reports Discovery News.
By Stephen Regenold The marketing spiel does not mix words: Outside Labs Inc., a startupsunscreen maker in Gardena, Calif., touts its SCAPE product line as”the most advanced sunblock on the planet.” When the company came onto the market this spring, it intended to makea…
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth in England recently attached reflective markers to the breasts of a group of female runners to test whether breast movement altered running form, NYT reports. Researchers had the women jog along the track while wearing several different bras, or none…
Can you recommend any method to protect zippers from salt water corrosion? We camp three to four times a year on the beach and I have noticed that the zippers are beginning to show signs of deterioration. Can I do anything to help preserve the zippers? -Alex San Juan, Puerto Rico
By Stephen Regenold Mad River founder Jim Henry built the first Malecitecanoe in 1971. For 2011, the classic canoe design gets an update and a newhull. The Malecite, a 16.5-foot boat, is made to handle flatwater as well as currents. It tracks straight…
Get in gear with these heavy-duty trail runners and barely-there road shoes.
I'm looking for a new multi-use bag for graduate school. I'd like a bag I can use during the week for biking to school (I have a 17 inch laptop), and on the weekends for long day hikes with my dog. It'd also be nice if it was waterproof, and it doesn't need to be specifically for holding laptops since I have a sleeve. Liz Harvey Denver, Colorado