Posts filed under 'Review'
About a week ago I wrote about some cool new stuff out on the market, or soon to market that will be bomb-diggity for camping. Here are a few more things we’ve had a chance to test recently.
Coghlans .5 Watt Headlamp
Water resistant, adjustable, half a watt of bright light. Its a great little basic headlamp to get you through the dark nights. It has a strobe feature, and best of all it will only set you back $9 and some change!
ENO Pronest Hammock
Eagles Nest Outfitters is a cool little company out of Asheville NC that has worked its way up from two brothers selling hammocks out of their trunk to a serious competitor in the hammock arena. (you didn’t even know there was a hammock arena did you?) I had a chance to meet these guys and they’re just like you and I. They are the type that would use their product, which always benefits design.
These hammocks are well made parachute type material. The Pronest only weights 12.8 oz yet it can hold up to 400 lbs. Its a miracle of modern engineering folks. The Pronest retails for $79.95.
You can also pick up the Slap Straps which make it a breeze to hang your nest for only $19.95. Who needs a sleeping pad?
Aerobed Performalite Twin Xtreme
It weights 5.72 lbs, let’s get that out of the way. That’s about as much as the average 2 person tent. So if you’re trying to get your not-so-outdoorzy babymama out in the backcountry, this might be a reasonable way to do it. Granted you wouldn’t want to put any serious mileage down with this on your back, but a short hike is definitely doable. As for car camping, it’s pretty much perfect. And if you have a buddy that tends to end up staying late and crashing at your pad, he/she can sleep in comfort now. Not that you cared…
It comes with s standard airbed pump with a neat feature. Not only does it air the bed up in less than 1 minute flat, it also has a flashlight for those car camping people who remember their bed, but not their flashlight. Retails for $129.99.
Cloudveil Clutch SS Crew
This is a pricey little quick dry shirt. Especially when you can get a quick dry shirt for 10 bucks at wally world today. But this one has a bit more technicality to it, as well as a lot more comfortability and durability.
It might hurt a bit in the wallet zone at $45, but this shirt can be your everything shirt. You could easily carry firewood, run a marathon, or go to the coffee shop in this shirt. (not in that order, although that might be a good idea for an adventure race… running a marathon while carrying wood, and crossing the finish line into the coffee shop door and chugging a medium coffee… hmmm)
The interior of the shirt is black. I thought this was odd at first, but I ended up out and about in this shirt the other day and it got chilly. The shirt was still warm. So the black acts as a bit of insulation (in my crazy head anyway).
Comes in a nice blue or a color they call bud green (shirt not meant to be smoked).
September 19th, 2008
I have had a truck of some sort for about 8 years. My first truck had a hard cover, or a tonneau cover. I liked it, however it was a permanent fixture on the truck and really couldn’t be removed. So when I needed to move things like sofas or any large pieces of furniture it was a problem. It was good though when I wanted to keep weather off stuff I had in the back.
I was recently given a product called Tarpeez to test out and it is pretty darn slick. It is a perfect product for those of us who go out camping or keep a lot of gear in the back but want to keep the sun, wind and rain off of it. Tarpeez is a expandable tarp that can fit over different bed types. It comes in short bed (5′x5′), standard bed (5′x6.5′), and long bed (5′x8′). The system uses bungees to connect the back, sides, and front to parts of the truck bed. Tarpeez takes less than a minute to connect and is very sturdy. It also does a good job of keeping things inside the truck bed. Since it is a tarp it can easily disconnect and then fold neatly to fit under seats in the cab of the truck.
Tarpeez is a great product and at around $50 it is affordable as well.
September 15th, 2008
Most of us associate Energizer with the pink bunny playing the bass drum. They make batteries that last, that’s the impression we have of them. But if you know a bit more about Energizer you might know they also make other things that use batteries. Like headlamps.
I’ve had the opportunity to test and review several headlamps from Energizer and the first thing I noticed about their line-up is the variety. They have several different headlamp power levels, as well as a multitude of styles. They an be found at outdoor shops all over, as well as online and in major retail outlets. The sub-brand is The Trailfinder Series which has color schemes and design features that lend themselves to the outdoor audience… us.
Here is a quick run-down of some of the models they carry and their specs…
6 LED Headlight
- The 6 LED version has a 50 hour life on AAA Energizer Max batteries
- Four lighting modes: spot, flood, spot/flood, night vision
- Night vision is a red light that allows the eyes to adjust to low light levels. In testing we found this was a great setting to use while just milling about camp. It allowed you to see things you were doing with your hands, while having a conversation with others and not blinding them.
- Packed with 3 Energizer® MAX® AAA batteries. Which is a nice perk. Not having to buy the batteries separately is a great way to grab and go at the store.
- Retails for just over $20.
1 Watt LED Headlight
- 1 Watt Spot (1 bright white LED) with 11 hour run time. This is a very bright light that is ideal for camp chores that need attention to detail (cleaning dishes, cooking, repairs, guitar playing, cooler reorganizing, snipe hunting, etc.
- Flood Light (2 white LEDs) with 50 hour run time. The flood light worked well in testing and it is almost standard on headlamps today to at least have two settings.
- Night Vision (2 red LEDs) with 75 hour run time. See above for advantages of the red night vision light.
- Packed with 3 Energizer® MAX® AAA batteries
- Retails for around $30.
3 LED Headlight
- Runs up to 50 hours on 1 set of Energizer® MAX® batteries
- Two lighting modes: 2 white LEDs for spot light, 1 red LED for night vision
- Packed with 3 Energizer® MAX® AAA batteries
- Another great light that would be an excellent starter light with good battery life.
- Sells for about 20 bucks.
e2 Lithium Headlight
This was our favorite of the Engergizer line-up by far. The e2 is a powerful headlamp that compares well with the high end Princeton Tec and Petzl healdamps. It comes with an interchangeable battery pack that can use AAA or AAA batteries. The lithium batteries are said to last longer than standards, and they work well in subfreezing temperatures. So if ever go out in winter you should probably check this one out. The most impressive feature by far though was the brightest boost flood setting which emits a huge circle of light on the ground that actually makes you feel like you’re using a flood light. We haven’t tested how long this would actually last in the field on this setting. My guess is this feature shouldn’t be used alot if you want the batteries to have a long life. But, it definitely impresses your camp mates. Everyone eewwwwed and ahhhed when I would blind them with that light. It also boasts weatherproofness. This model comes with batteries as well, and you can pick this one up for around $50.
September 12th, 2008
MicroBites by Guyot Designs
For more than just eating, this two-piece utensil set provides you with a spork for stabbing that delicious food as well as a spatula for cooking it. The serrated edge on the spatula comes in mighty handy when you need to cut a piece of meat or a tough veggie. These utensils also boast being carbon negative through the C-minus program Guyot has. So you can feel good while eating that quesadilla at camp.
Survival Kit in a Can by Coghlans
This sardine can doesn’t contain any stinky sea creatures. Instead it has everything you need in an emergency.
Bridgedale X-Hale Multisport Sock
This sock has a venting system that wraps 360 degrees around to keep your foot ventilated and reduce sweating. Ideal for hiking, cycling, running, or cross-training; this can be your go-to sock for just camping, or whatever you’re into. And for just $14.95
Sight Grid Signal Mirror
This is a new product for Coghlans. They’ve had a signal mirror for quite some time but this is just a update to the design. It has a sight grid so you can aim at exactly what you want to send a reflection to. This a a great piece of surivival gear that will cost you $10, but could save your life.
September 4th, 2008
I live with a man who is a jacket nut. Anyone know him; his name’s Wade 
I struggle to keep up with his awesome sense of style, and this time I think I’ve gotten a trendy jacket to be proud of:)
Merrell’s Jet Jacket is extremely lightweight and fits my petite frame perfectly. I am short and so are my arms which means I have a terrible time finding jackets that don’t hang off my hands and make me look like an ape:) These cuff right below my wrists making the Jet Jacket a blessing for the small framed women. If you are looking for a good gift idea or a treat for yourself, I’d recommend it!
The orange and tan combination is perfect for the fall, but there are two other color combinations to pick from as well. The pockets are zip up and the sides are tailored to complement any figure when the front is zipped.
It is great in super windy conditions, I wore this while sailing, because the neck buttons up to keep wind or rain out. The inner collar has a nice toile design and which is noticeable when the collar is not buttoned up. The sleeve liner is so soft as is the mesh inner lining on the body of the jacket.
Here are the Merrell specs in the Jet Jacket:
- 100% Polyester
- Wind and water resistant, lightweight micro-fiber poly
- Dual, secure zippered hand pockets
- Functional snapped collar keeps the wind out and the warmth in
- Comfortable hanging mesh liner for maximum wicking
September 3rd, 2008
When doing an outdoor gear review there are certain main qualities that I always look for.
- Durability - Is it in the”Tough as Hell” range?
- Functionality - Does it do what it is supposed to?
- Aesthetics - Will it make me look like a total goofball?
These pants did well in all three categories. They are tough as hell, they function well (breath), and they look decent. I took these on the gear testing trip to the Bighorn mountains of Wyoming a few weeks ago and put them to a two-day high altitude test. The zippers slide down the legs to reveal a mesh panel and didn’t get stuck with all the zipping and unzipping I did to control body temperature. There is elastic around the waste to adjust to different waste sizes, but there are also belt loops and a built in belt if you like that stylio.
I put these pants through the usual backpacking muck. They stretched well when pulling big steps on uphills. The pants also did well for abrasion. I did some scrambling on granite and they held up well with no visible signs of wear. They even kept me at a comfortable temperature when the air temp was around 35 degrees. When it comes to sun, they are 30+ spf, so you don’t have to worry about sun exposure even though they breathe well.
I do wish the bottom cuffs were adjustable, that might make them perfect. But if you’re looking for durable all-purpose pants, these fit the bill. I did some scrambling on rocks with no visible wear. I would recommend these for adventure racing, backpacking, and general camping duty.
The retail is $69 on these, but you can find them cheaper if you shop around.
August 30th, 2008
Merrell has built a reputation for itself as a make of fine trail shoes, and the Men’s Moab Ventilator keeps this tradition alive.
The Moab is really more of a hiking shoe than a trail runner. You get the grippy vibram sole which is almost standard on Merrells these days as well as a nice upper that mixes cloth and swede leather. There is a rubber toe to keep trail brush and the entire package is presented well in a styling similar to the famous Chameleon.
The name “ventilator” is accurate as well. Although the shoe has quite thick padding on the inner compartment, the mesh allows the foot to breathe nicely.
In our trail test these shoes held up well to the rocky mountains of Utah. The heat crept up into the low 90s the day we tested and the shoes kept up with the heat well. The Moab Ventilator was also used on a 2-day backpacking trip in Wyoming and handled the steep elevation gain nicely.
These are defintely reccomended for moderate trail use and look pretty decent for casual use as well. Good for a wear any day that you think you might do some walking.
Specs:
- Slip Lasted Construction
- Breathable Mesh Lining
- Breathable Ventilator Bellows Tongue
- Rubber Toe Bumper/Heel Counter
- 7.5mm Narrow Gauge Webbing
- 4.5mm Anatomical Footbed
- Nylon 6.6 Injection Molded Arch Shank
- Compression Molded EVA Footframe
- Air Cushion® Midsole
- 5mm Sole Lug Depth
- Merrell Multi-Sport™ Sole/TC5+ Rubber.
Retail for $75 (not shabby for serious hikers)
August 28th, 2008
We recently had the opportunity to review the Magellan Triton 2000. This tough little GPS device proved durable enough for mountain terrain, always found satelites, and had an impressive look and feel.
The Magellan Triton 2000 is a hand held GPS with a built in 2 mega pixel camera. The camera has 3x zoom and you can associate pics with points on your trip. This would be a fun little feature for geocachers and hikers alike.
The navigation wasn’t quite as intuitive as I would have liked. You start out with the screen you see to the right. Six options that can be a bit confusing on where to go if you just want to look at the map. One cool feature about the navigation of the device though is that you can use the small pointer to tap the screen and choose options. The screen is also touch sensitive, so you can use your finger to drag the map or select buttons. If the touch screen ever goes out you can still use the buttons at the bottom.
We used this device in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. The area is pretty remote so it was nice to see that the device always picked up several satelites and was very accurate.
A built in flashlight also comes with the device which can make it pull triple duty on the trail for the lightweights out there. You have your GPS, camera, and flashlight in one package. The casing is tough as well with a rubbery material coating it. There is a small handle at the top of the device so you can use a biner to clip it to your pack.
One thing that I found odd with this device was Magellans decision to use 2AA bateries. Many devices today are using rechargable lithium batteries. I understand the reasoning here however. If your lithium battery goes out, you won’t likely have easy access to a replacement. But a combination would be nice for this particular GPS. It would be great to have a 2AA option as well as a built in lithium. Then you have the option and a back up if needed. Disposable batteries just seem so old school these days.
I had an issue a few times on the trip with the battery showing low. Then if I rebooted the device it would show full again.
The built in maps are not much to get excited about. If you like to see where the state borders are and where the interstates are you’ll be happy. Otherwise be ready to immediately go out and buy map software or download maps. The good thing here is the Magellan is very compatible. We used the National Geographic TOPO! map for this trip to the Bighorns which worked well with the Magellan. The two companies have gotten together to make it easy to grab full color maps and use them on your Magellan. TOPO! is also releasing a powerful online tool to download quads for $1 soon. We’ll be reporting full details on that soon as well.
The Triton 2000 retails for $499.99 and can be found at Magellangps.com or at most outdoor retailers.
Other cool features…
- SD card expandable
- Audio Jack (add your digital music to the Triton)
- Barometer (watch for approaching weather)
- External Antenna capability
August 25th, 2008
To be honest, the first thing I noticed was the stylish teal and gray coloring on Merrell’s newest running shoe the CP Paragon. The shoe was striking and extremely lightweight; little did I know they were environmentally friendly as well.
Merrell is working with a Starensier/Cosmo, a company that produces NatureTex 70 for shoe insoles. They use 70% recycled produces to create Merrell’s CP Paragon shoe insoles/strobel!! Pretty cool, huh. So of that 70% recycled material, 80% is from plastic bottles and 20% is from post-industrial material. Even the tag that come on the shoe is made with recycled paper; how can you get better than that? (well, I’m sure someone could think of how so reply and spread the word:)
So how does it feel to walk on recycled plastic bottles???? Pretty good over all:) I could feel the ground, unlike the Merrell’s Overdrive II shoes, but the wide toe box was very comfortable and I love the way these look!
Here are the Specs:
- M-fit™ Gender Specific Anatomical Curve Last
- Full Breathable Mesh Upper
- Reflective Materials for High Visibility
- T-cup™ Slip Resistant Heel Lining Construction
- Waterproof Vamp and Tongue
- Nature-Tex Recycled Strobel Board
- Eco-etc Antifriction Sock Liner
- iR3™ Rubber for Durability and Traction
- Gait-Phase (g-Phase) Midsole Cushioning
- g2-PHASE for pronation Control and Stabilization
- Q-Form® Provides Extra Control for Women’s Unique PRonation Degree and Location Needs
- Forefoot Protection Provides Metatarsal Support on Unstable and Aggressive Surfaces
- Multiple Forefoot Flex Grooves
- iR1 Carbon Rubber provides Superior Lateral Traction
Women’s Weight: 9.2 ozs. / 262g
Another feature I was impressed with on the CP Paragon was the ETC. lining. They lined the CP with friction reducing material that helps lower internal heat and moisture levels. Every runner can benefit from this technology.
I might be crazy, but I really thought that these shoes would make great adventure racing shoes or even water event shoes. They are crazy lightweight, the mesh on the sides and top of the shoe is very breathable, so they would dry quickly and they have the Q form soles for support.
August 1st, 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
Next Posts
Previous Posts
