Archive for July, 2008
Looking for some adventure? Tired of working in boring places not named Alaska. Well Discovery has something for you.
Discovery Channel, the network that brought you “The Alaska Experiment,” is currently casting its next Alaskan adventure. They’re looking for people who think they have what it takes to live and thrive in one of nature’s most brutal environments.
Discovery Channel’s newest series raises the bar for our adventurers by sending them on an epic journey through the wild. The challenge — if you dare to accept it — is to join a band of fellow explorers and journey through some of the harshest climates and roughest terrains in the world: the Alaskan wilderness.
Sound exhilarating? It will be! If you are ready to leave the monotony of your day-to-day life behind and push yourself to the limits, you can finally earn the right to say that you truly lived.
Feel like giving it a shot? Applications end soon! If you get on though, you must finish every sentence with outdoorzy.com.
“Dang it sure is cold out here, outdoorzy.com”
“That polar bear ate 3 of my fingers, outdoorzy.com”
July 31st, 2008
When I first saw these shoes, I knew I would love them. The shape of the Merrell Women’s Sundial Cross sandals is perfect. The combination of the heel and the slight curve in the front makes them extremely comfortable to wear all day.
The style of these sandals goes with anything from shorts to jeans. I’ve also paired them khakis to wear to work. They come in Dark Roast (shown), Antique Brass, Tan, and Midnight. They seem to be a great quality so far. Usually, my favorite pair of sandals start showing wear and tear by this time, but these still look almost new.
Specs from Merrell’s site:
- Full Grain Leather Upper
- 4.5mm Anatomical Antimicrobial Cita-XY™ Aegis™ Foam Padded Footbed
- Nylon 6.6 Injection Molded Arch Shank
- Q-Form® Triple Density Compression Molded EVA Footframe
- Air Cushion EVA/Cork Midsole
Get them at:
July 30th, 2008
The British are coming! Yep, the British are invading the shoe market in the US. Well the British shoe company Inov-8 is anyway. They specialize in trail running shoes and I’ve been testing the Roclite 295 and 320.
The 295 The 320
As you can see the constuction of the sole is identical for these two models. The upper is different mostly in look. I am partial to the 320 because they are funky, bright, and attention grabbing. They are both breathable, but the 295 may be a bit mroe breathable because there is more breathable material in the upper.
As far as performance, these shoes are great for walking and casual use. For running they have Fascia band-aids built into the sole. This aids in propulsion when running. The lugs on the bottom are almost boot-like. They are sticky and grab rocky trails with ease. Ankle support is typical of a lowtop shoe, so these could also be used as hikers for those who don’t need much support in the ankle area.
My only complaint with these shoes is the lack of padding in the heal. The 295 simply has none. There is a layer of material over the hard plastic in the back. I got a blister after running 2 miles on the trail with those. As for the 320 it does have some padding in the heal. The padding hugs the side of the heal and still leaves a small sliver of vulnarability in the back. These didn’t cause a blister, but rubbed a bit and long-term use or longer runs may be an issue for those with boney heals.
Overall I’d reccomend these for casual use and the occasional jog. Dont’ do any hardcore running in these though if you are prone to heal blisters though. You can find the Inov-8 brand in most running stores or specialty stores. They are online at www.zombierunner.com, www.backcountry.com, and a few other online retailers. Inov-8 has several other styles to choose from and they are making big waves in the running world. We’ll be checking more of their shoes out and keep an eye on them as they continue to penetrate the US market.
July 29th, 2008
Merrell was kind enough to provide me with one of their XXL Invent shirts to test out. This has turned into, hands down, my favorite shirt to wear. I would say that this shirt is more comfortable than a t-shirt to wear and looks much better.
I took this shirt with me on my honeymoon to Jamaica and it was the perfect place for it. The fabric is a great moisture wicking polyester. You can wear this to the beach or on hikes and it can get wet and sweaty and dries quickly. It also has some great vents in the upper back area to let air flow through easily and keep you cool. The buttons are rubbery and actually hidden when completely buttoned up.
It seems very durable and easy to clean and dry. As a big guy, many times I worry about the length of XXL shirts that aren’t labeled TALL as well, but the length on this is great. You wouldn’t really be able to tuck it in, but this is the type of shirt you wouldn’t tuck in anyway.
This really is a top notch shirt and I do plan on buying a few more. My only suggestion to Merrell would be to provide an Outdoorzy orange…those would fly off the shelves.
July 28th, 2008
It’s a slow…lazy Friday…how about some pictures of my Outdoorzy.com grooms cake from my wedding?
It was oh so delicious. That was about the most outdoorzy thing done at my wedding. The wedding was indoorzy and we didn’t take any pictures outside. Leave some comments letting me know about the most outdoorzy wedding you have ever been to. I am sure someone has gotten married on a summit or a couple of stumps on the Appalachian trail.
July 25th, 2008
During my college days, I had a rain coat for those wet days that I had to go to class. The only problem was this coat was built for temperatures under 30 degrees. So on a typical rainy day, I was very hot by the time I got to the top of the hill.
Merrell’s Thrive jacket would have been perfect for that time. The waterproof fabric protects you from the rain, and it’s lightweight to keep you warm without being hot. The “pit vents” were totally new to me, but they come in handy when you need a little extra air.
The women’s Thrive comes in Ink (shown), White and Rainforest. I really like the overall fit of this jacket. The sleeves are long enough which is rare for me. It’s pricey at $189, but I would definitely recommend it.
Specs from Merrell’s site
- Merrell Opti-Shell™ lightweight 2.5-layer rip-stop fabric
- Contoured, adjustable attached hood provides optimum protection
- Two-way pit zip venting eliminates unnecessary heat
- Dual, secure zippered hand pockets
Get it at:
July 24th, 2008
Seriously… Somehow I missed this when it happened a few weeks back.
Okay, here is the short and sweet…
Black Bear wanders into residential beach neighborhood. Fish & Wildlife comes to tranquilize the bear and relocate it to a remote wilderness area. After being shot, bear runs into the gulf of mexico. Bear swims out and shows signs of distress. Adam Warwick swims out to sea and rescues the 375 lb bear!
Adam, a Fish & Wildlife biologist, said “It was just the spur of the moment,” he said. “I’d never be able to live with myself if he drowned.”
All I can say is…. your a better swimmer than me dude.
Read all the details at Tallahassee.com
July 23rd, 2008
Yes folks, I’ve found it! I’d tell you, but I’m sworn to secrecy.
If you’d like to find it for yourself though just head up a trail on the nearest mountain. At lease that’s what a recent study suggests. Reuters did an article on this and here is what they had to say…
“Far from being a sport that just provides thrills for testosterone-fuelled risk-takers, mountaineering actually helps gives people perspective in their lives, according to Lee Davidson, senior lecturer at the University of Victoria’s museum and heritage studies program.
“It’s a way to look for meaning in life, it gives people a sense of focus, makes them see what’s really of value,” Davidson, a climber herself, told Reuters.”
I’d have to agree with the article. There is a serenity and peace that can be found in remote wilderness areas, in the mountains, that is difficult to achieve in a world of concrete and steel. Sitting and watching a sunset crawl below the snowy peaks with only one sound in your ear, wind, can be deep. When mountaineering or backpacking comes up in conversation, people think I’m some crazy Xtreme person for taking part. They simply don’t understand that it’s more about slowing down, clearing your mind, and pushing your body to reach a place that most people will never see. The view from a mountain is sort of like putting a chair in the corner of your bedroom and standing on it. Looking around you see everything from a different angle. You gain new knowledge and appreciation for everything.
Get out.
via Sierra Blogging Post
July 22nd, 2008
In the June issue of Backpacker Magazine you may have noticed a great story about pooping. Poo isn’t usually my favorite topic when reading but this story was educational. In 2007 the last toilets were removed from the 12,000 foot Trail Camp on Mt Whitney. Now lucky hikers get to poop in a bag and carry it out themselves.
In the backpacker article, the author Dougland McDonald, keeps a bag of poop at his desk for some time to test and see if it stinks. Well Douglands shit don’t stink… at least in a baggie it doesn’t.
McDonald talks about his experiences pooping up high here at the Mountain World blog. He talks about the two brands of bag you can use and how they perform. Enjoy your Monday…
July 21st, 2008
Previous Posts
SD 45 degree Womens’ Topaz - Long - $87
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Henri Lloyd Storm Barrel Duffel Bag - $29.95
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