Posts filed under 'Links'
Summer is a time when the sun beats down on you and you sweat all over. It’s also a time that you can break out your “summer shoes” so your dogs don’t get all soggy and stinky. Summer shoes are fun, they can be flops, sandals, ventilated runners, water shoes, clogs, and on and on.
So over the next few weeks Outdoorzy will be reviewing some of the coolest shoes out this summer. We’ve been running, hiking, fishing, swimming, paddling, and lounging so we can provide you with the 411 you need to keep those ugly things on the bottom of your legs as comfortable as possible as the heat comes on.
Starting us off, the Merrell Calafina.
I had the pleasure of testing these casual flip flops out myself over the past few weeks. I spent one week on the AT wearing gore-tex-ified boots that kept my feet fairly warm all day. I had to wear socks at night to keep my feet warm in the chill of the higher elevations, so when I returned to civilization i slipped these guys on so my feet could breathe. I don’t normally wear flip flops, I’m a sandals guy, but these were a good transition for someone who likes sandals. The suede leather sole provides some grip to prevent slippage. The leather on the strap
that crosses the top of your foot is padded and comfy. And the bottom of the shoe is a Vibram, and we all know what that means… well if you don’t, it means that they won’t be slipping on any wet surfaces. Spilled your margarita at the pool? No problem, keep walkin like nothing happened. (then be sad later cuz margaritas are pricey).
The Calafina has an elevated heal, so if you have a Napoleon complex don’t worry, you have an extra inch on people. If your Chacos are muddy from the river, and you need to throw something on to go to the bonfire this weekend, the Calafina would be my recommendation. They retail for $50, but heck you’ll be looking like Magnum PI and the ladies still love that, no matter how young they are.
May 29th, 2008
Drew Wheelan has created something very special. I’ll let his video tell the rest.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K4F_l9kNJL0
I met this guy earlier this summer in Mexico and had no idea he had created such a neat foundation. I ran into him again last night and got a chance to learn about what he is doing in Africa. I don’t think anybody reading MY blog posts is looking for insight or inspiration… But this is too cool not to pass along. Don’t worry, I’ll be back with more “body function humor” before you know it.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=292351326
May 23rd, 2008
It’s Monday and hopefully you spent all weekend enjoying the outdoors. So to help you get caught up on your web surfing here are a few interesting links.
I attended a few events in the outdoor industry/web industry this past week and met some of the people behind these sites. They are all doing very interesting things. Check them out!
The Bachelor Guy - Tips for Guys on the things they want to know
A Family Story - Everything a Mother could want to know about everything
Sticks and Stones - Great Hunting and FIshing Publication out of Iowa
Barbara Terry - Baja racer, reality TV hostess, and car expert
About.com - This guy is great, no nonsense SUV reviews
Fly Rod & Reel Magazine - Awesome magazine dedicated to the fly fisherman
Orvis - Outfitting your outdoor fantasies
Woman’s Day - The best Woman’t Magazine around
SORBA - Bike Advocacy in the South
Ergon - MTB Grips that look funky, but feel heavenly
NDesigns - Sweet T-Shirts
Wake-N-Bake Racing - Great MTB racing team that gives away free beer… bless their souls
RideforReading.org - Ride your bike for a cause… books for kids who can’t afford them
May 12th, 2008
I love to be outside in the summer. I like it when it’s hot and I can go down to the creek and float all day. There are days that the heat is unbearable in the Southeast US though. And summertime is the time for movies. So on those really bad scorchers many of us like to head into a cool theater and let them pay for the electric bill.
Hollywood has focused largely on horror movies with a little girl in the trailer saying something like, “They’re coming,” the last few years. The Into the Wilds and Touching the Voids are rarities. So, I was wondering if there were any “outdoor adventure” oriented flicks debuting this summer. Below is a list of what I found…
Mongol - see trailer here
The life and times of Genghis Kahn. If Braveheart and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had a baby, this is what it would look like. Great
cinematography and beautiful scenery on the Asian plains.
The Happening - see trailer here
M. Night Shamamalalamamama has scared us with The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, while not really wowing us with Lady in the Water. But this one looks interesting to me. Basically something is “Happening” and everyone is dying from some biological agent. Leave it to Marky Mark to traipse around the countryside and solve this problem. Maybe those Good Vibrations will save the day?
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - see trailer here
The original adventurer. Ole Indy is in fact getting some age on him, but we’ll see if he can still dodge arrows and outrun giant stone balls. Now this is going to be fun…
BlindSight - see trailer here
“Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas, BLINDSIGHT follows the gripping adventure of six Tibetan teenagers who set out to
climb the 23,000-foot Lhakpa Ri on the north side of Mount Everest.” … You had me at “set against the breathtaking backdrop the Himilayas.
The Fall - see trailer here
If ever there was a movie that should win an award for costume design… based purely on what I’ve seen in the trailer… it would be The Fall. This is one of those movies that nobody will see in the theater, but looks like it could become a beloved classic. The story of a little girl, sick in the hospital, and a dying man who tells her a story to keep her mind from her pain. The landscapes look like they were inspired by a Dali painting.
Surfwise - see trailer here
Midway through this century, when it was rare for people to stray from the mainstream, a man loaded his 9 children and his wife into a 24 foot RV and hit the road. They found surf spots from Florida to Venezuela and bonded as a family. This looks like an interesting documentary with commentary from the kids today about how it changed their lives.
April 21st, 2008
Dirt Sweat and Gears is the big mountain biking event in the Southeast US each year. And the Outdoorzy team will be in attendance. It will be happening the first weekend in May, and we have it marked on the calendar and we can’t wait to get down there and have some fun. There will be musical performances, tons of free swag (including bike give-aways), lots of outdoor loving people, oh yeah… and lots of mountain bike races!
Outdoorzy will be giving away loads of gift cards to the Outdoorzy Store so you can load up on cycling gear and any other fun summer outdoor gear and clothing you need. Not to mention lots of other gear and freebies. Just drop by our tent and check us out. It won’t be hard to find us, we’ll be the ones with the big Outdoorzy.com banner. There will be plenty of other vendors there as well.
If you’re looking for something to do that weekend and you’re within driving distance come on up and check out all the excitement in Fayetteville Tennessee.
April 19th, 2008
It’s just about here… warm days where you can spend all day on the creek or on the lake. Here are just a few deals we found on fishing gear at the Outdoorzy Store for our fisherman..
Smith Action Optics Fishbone Sunglasses - $89.95 (regularly $149)
Hot Shot Deep Creek Hip Waders - $27.95 (regularly $50)
Orvis Fly Fishing Book - Modern Streams for Trophy Trout - $19.95 (regularly $34.95)
March Brown Hidden Water Series Travel Fly Fishing Rod 9′ - $284.95 (regularly $498)
and my personal favorite…
Water Skeeter Daytripper Float Tube - $139.95 (regularly $199)
April 16th, 2008
This is a question we should all be asking ourselves as we prepare for the upcoming warm weather and all the outdoor fun we’re going to be having. Fist Aid Kits are perhaps the most important piece of gear you’ll take with you into the wilderness.
So what do you need inside? This really all depends on which outdoor activities you’ll be partaking in. Different activities will have different sets of hazards. If you are fishing, you may need to bring along first-aid for cuts or pricks from those hooks. If you are camping you may want to be sure you have everything you need to treat burns since you’ll most likely have a fire and be cooking. Backpacking and hiking often see twisted ankles. And so on…
If you already have a First Aid Kit, now may be the time to pull it out and restock. You can replace bandages alcohol pads and ointments you depleted last year. You will also need to check the expiration dates on any medications.
Here are some excellent First Aid Kits, ranging from basic needs (lightweight) to more advanced kits.
Adventure Medical Kits - Solo Kit - $10.95 (regularly $17)
Adventure Medical Kits - Travelers First Aid - $21.95 (regularly $36.50)
Adventure Medical Kits - Marine 400 Kit - $77.95 (regularly $120)
No matter which kit you use, don’t leave home without it. It could save your life!
April 14th, 2008
Okay guys, you’ve all been there. You want to do something that, in your mind, is the coolest thing on the planet! You’re special lady friend is thinking, you’re f$#*ing crazy! So what do you do? You spit and sputter your reasoning out, only to be shot down.
Well Discover Boating has come up with an ingenius idea to solve our problem. A Spousal Conversation Kit. But really it’s a Spousal Persuasion Kit. It helps you persuade your better half on why you should buy a boat. It includes tips from others, video, a budget to help plan for the buy, and case studies of other couples who have bought a boat and loved it.
When are we going to have this for human-powered activities? Well since Discover Boating has rolled this out I’m sure it’s coming. Hang on fellas help is on the way! Heck, maybe this is something Outdoorzy should tackle.
April 3rd, 2008
Your Sleeping Bag is quite often your bed. For some who live a lifestyle that keeps them in the outdoors for long periods of time, it’s their only bed. But your bag isn’t like a regular mattress. It needs attention to keep it at its fluffy best throughout the years. SierraTradingPost has a great sleeping bag guide that contains all the information you’d need when buying or caring for your bag. We’ve listed their care suggestions below, along with ours to help you get the most life out of your bag. So here it is… How to Clean and Care for your Sleeping Bag…
From the Sleeping Bag Guide…
- Dry out your bag immediately after every use.
- Always follow the care instructions for your bag if washing it. If you misplace them, wash your bag by hand with a mild detergent and tumble dry on low heat, or wash in a front-loading washer on a gentle cycle.
- Store your bag in a cool, dry place and never leave it jammed inside a stuff sack, or it will eventually lose loft and will permanently become less effective. Use a storage sack if possible.
- Never pack away a wet sleeping bag for longer than it takes to drive home from your destination. Hang it out to dry or tumble dry it at low heat as soon as you get home.
Our Additional Sleeping Bag Care Suggestions…
- If your bag is down-filled and you don’t have your care instructions, but would like to clean it, you have options. Try taking a bucket with detergent and warm water and dipping a rag in it. Wipe your bag down with this rag. Antiacterial wipes are also a great way to do a quickie job on your bag before you store it away.
- Storing your bags in a large Rubbermaid style container is a great way to keep the mice away. Many of us store our gear in garages or basements and you never know when a varmit will be dropping in to see if he can find something to gnaw on.
- If you are traveling by plane and have to leave your bag stuffed in its stuff sack for long periods of time (days) try unpacking it when you get to your destination and letting it loft up. Often when traveling we have a day or so in a hotel or at a friends house before we hit the trail. This can give your bag a break from being stuffed away and will keep it lofty for your trip.
By maintaining your bag well you could pull a good 10 years out of it. There are probably many other ways you can keep your bag in top shape. If you have any of your own tips you’d like to add, drop a comment on us.
April 2nd, 2008
The following does not reflect the opinion of Outdoorzy, just this one, strange blogger…
Let’s set the record straight here. I own a The North Face jacket, gloves, sleeping bag, and a pair of convertible pants. I love each one of those things. They are well made technical clothing items. They keep me warm and dry and looking good while I do it. Can’t ask for more than that.
But, as we all know, The North Face has entered the mainstream. It’s rough when you see your grandmother wearing The North Face, when yesterday it was “your” style. And I’m not talking about your grandmother that climbs 5.9s. I’m talking about your grandmother that drives a Lincoln and eats at The Cracker Barrel. I don’t think the issue many of us Outdoorsy types have with this is unfounded either. Some say, “Anyone can buy any piece of clothing they want.” And this is true. But when everyone is wearing your brand, it suddenly looses its individuality. Mountain Hardwear is getting a following in the Bingo-playing crowd as well, which is also disturbing. TNF and MH both make fantastic clothing, no doubt about it. But I hate going to the mall and my wife can’t find me because everyone has the same jacket on.
Well folks, at least we still have Sierra Designs, Patagonia, and Marmot.
March 31st, 2008
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