The following review comes to us from Elizabeth, who also tested the Leki Trekking Poles for us last week. She wrote a great review with tons of detail, so we’re going to have her back often to test gear. Today though she’s reviewing a cereal. And here’s what she thought:
General Mills Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters
If you’re on this website, you’re interested in getting and staying healthy—right? Most of us have decided to make exercise fun by doing what we love outdoors, but what about our diets? Several years ago, I decided to try and eat better so one dietary change I made was to buy healthier cereal. I realized that if I didn’t make better choices for breakfast, I just put straight salt and sugar in my bowl with some milk; mmmm–yummy–huh!
I am not a Wheaties or Total type of girl; I have to have some taste, and since I am a BIG fan of the Fiber One granola bar already, I thought I’d test out the New Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters. I’m always striving to put more fiber in my diet without knowing I’m doing it and that is one good thing about the Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters.
So here are the stats I think are important:
- 40% of daily fiber (11 g per serving -1 cup)
- 1 g of fat (10 from calories)
- 220 calories (1/2 cup skim milk)
I was impressed with that line up, but what about the taste?
Taste
One of the biggest problems in healthy raisin bran is that either the raisins are tough and chewy or the flakes are very brittle and taste like cardboard. Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters passed both these tests with flying colors. The flakes are very crunchy and have a slight honey coating so they are very good. The raisins are not soft and plump as well.
My only suggestion would be to make the clusters (made of a rice crispy consistency) bigger. There is twice the number of flakes as clusters right now and I think more clusters would be nice:)
To cluster or not to cluster more—either way I think this cereal fits my desire to stay healthy and eat well. Definitely worth the buy if you are a raisin bran breakfast eater.
July 5th, 2007
Ian McKeever has set the new record for climbing all seven on the continent’s highest peaks. The Seven Summits as they are affectionately referred to, range in difficulty. But climbing all of them is considered to be a massive feat. And climbing them in 156 days, well that’s just nuts.
Here is the order in which he bagged the summits:
- January 25- Vinson, Antarctica
- February 11 - Aconcagua, South America
- March 3 - Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa
- March 16 - Carstensz Pyramid - Australian Continent
- May 16 - Mt. Everest, Asia
- May 31 - Mt. Elbrus, Europe
- June 30 - Denali, North America
July 5th, 2007
Tom Kemos is a pro fisherman. What does that mean? Yes, it means he fishes for a living… whatta job! 
Tom uses Optima batteries in his boat and Optima is currently one of our advertisers. So I thought I’d post this review that Tom sent me of his Optima Battery. I guess if you’re a pro you DON’T want to get stuck on the lake with a boat that won’t start!! It sounds like Optima takes care of that for him.
Written by Tom Kemos, 2006 PWT Champion
As a professional angler in the Professional Walleye Circuit and a boat mechanic of ten years, I’ve come across a lot of people who don’t know why their boats won’t start. In 9 out of 10 cases, it has something to do with their batteries. Most of them don’t realize the need for an advanced technology battery because they don’t understand the needs of the electronics and accessories powering their boats. The technology in my equipment keeps getting better and better while marine batteries have, for the most part, stayed the same. That is, of course, until OPTIMA Batteries came along.
OPTIMA BlueTop marine batteries come in two versions, a starting battery and a deep-cycle battery. The starting battery is designed to start a boat and provides maximum cranking amperage for its size. The deep-cycle version also has good starting capabilities, but is designed to handle the draw needed from continued use of electronics and accessories like trolling motors, GPS systems, fish locators, bilge pumps, livewell pumps, marine radios and stereos. The BlueTop Group 34 size battery is available as a deep-cycle (D34M) and as a starting battery (34M). The Group 31 size battery comes only in a deep-cycle version (31M).
Many marine batteries offer either cranking power or deep cycling ability, but rarely do they provide enough cranking amps to start these power-hungry engines along with enough reserve capacity to keep a boat’s accessories going strong throughout the day. This means many boats need two batteries: one starting battery to run the engine and another deep cycle battery to run the electronics. With the OPTIMA Group 31 marine battery, only one battery is needed. This dual-purpose battery has a unique combination of 1125 MCA’s, 900 CCA’s and 75 amp hours, making it the perfect battery to run larger, more powerful engines while maintaining a steady flow of power to a boat’s accessories.
OPTIMA batteries solve many of the power issues that boaters and anglers regularly face, and provide the following benefits:
· Optimal starting power, regardless of temperature
· Up to 15 times the vibration resistance
· Up to twice the cycle life
· Lower self-discharge (longer shelf/storage life)
· Faster recharging capabilities
· Completely leak-proof, spill-proof, mountable in almost any position
· Maintenance free
The OPTIMA BlueTop is the first marine battery that provides a technological edge to those people who demand stronger, longer-lasting power. If history is any indication, marine technology will continue to advance and I’ll continue to use OPTIMA Batteries in my boat so I don’t have to worry about losing power on the critical 3rd day of a tournament!
OPTIMA batteries, noted for their six-pack design and colored tops are sold in many national automotive retailers and marine dealers across the country and range in price from $155.00 to $250.00, depending on the model. For more information visit www.optimabatteries.com or call 1-888-8OPTIMA.
July 3rd, 2007
One of our newest members, Eco-Runner, has an interesting idea that is pretty basic in concept and makes sense. He calls it “eco running”. Basically, when you trail or road run, take a trash bag and pick up the junk along the way. Leave it better than you found it. That sounds like a great idea to me. I’m already thinking of how I can rig up a “holster” type device for a trash bag. Or maybe this is a good excuse for me to take a 
breather…. yep, here I am at mile 4… conveniently at a dump site…. guess I’ll have to stand here for 10 minutes and pick up trash…. not that I’m being lazy…
Well Eco-Runner doesn’t sound lazy. He’s already planning to organize eco-running events around the country. Check out his blog at http://eco-runner.blogspot.com/.
July 3rd, 2007
I saw this on the Backcountry Blog and then cruised over to Hans’ Basecamp site to see the pictures. First he was selling a lot next to his cabin, and now he’s selling the cabin too! It’s pretty rare that any of the property near Yosemite ever comes up for sale. The house and land are owned by Hans Florine, who set the solo speed record on El Cap.
This place is a dream for climbers and any other type of outdoorzy for that matter. The lot is going for $199,000 and that seems like a steal for it’s location. I’m not sure on the cabin price, but it looks like Hans has been running it as a bed and breakfast for awhile. So it’s not only a home, but a viable business.
July 2nd, 2007
