There is one word that adequately describes the High Sierra Wheeled Duffrite, cavernous. I can see this packhorse working well if you were to take a trip overseas and need to haul alot of gear. I could have used this on my jaunt through east Africa a few years back. I can also see the usefulness for this bag if you are a guy with a special lady friend who likes to take the kitchen sink when you travel. You can either wheel the bag or unzip a compartment on the back fort backpack straps.
First, let’s start with the Duffrite’s size. Humongous! 7,980 cubic inches of space! That’s double what a multi-night backpack could carry. So don’t worry about having to decide whether or not you’ll need the ice axe on that peak you’ll be climbing in Spain this summer… bring it just in case.
Next up we have compartments. For many of us outdoorsy types staying organized is essential. Especially when you’re going to be “on the road” for a few weeks or longer. High Sierra has you covered here as well. There are compartments and zippers galore. Even a dividing wall that can zip open or shut to create two interior compartments.
Other key features are clothing straps to hold certain things in place. Compression straps to tighten the load. Handles on the top and bottom. And let’s not forget wheels. If you load this thing down, you’ll be glad you have them when zipping through the airport. It even has reflective piping so traffic can see you if you’re in the city.
If you’re planning an extended trip, and will need to bring alot of gear, this could be what the doctor ordered.
In many parts of the country right now it’s raining, snowing, or a mix of both. And we have several months of that to look forward to. Never fear, the Merrell Sprint Jacket is here.
This jacket has a loooong list of cool features that go way beyond keeping you dry. The pit zips open up to let your armpits breathe a bit and allow airflow into the jacket when condensation begins to build. The hood has draw strings that synch it down nicely to your head while allowing enough room on the front of the hood for a cap bill.
There is a multi-media pocket inside that fits an mp3 player perfectly and includes a porthole for your headphone to slip through. Lined pockets provide a nice warm feel instead of be the slick wet surface that the rest of the jacket is made of. Adjustable Velcro cuffs are a great touch too.
The Sprint is truly a top-of-the-line rain jacket that could be used for everyday where. But really folks… get this thing out in the hills and get it dirty, or your wasting it.
I was pretty stoked when I opened up my mail to find a pair of Injini Tetrasoks. These look like the most fun feet can have since pajama one-pieces with the “feets” built in. I had to try them on right away. They are a little strange the first time you put them on, it’s not like putting on gloves. My little sausage toes made it kinda challenging to get them on. Once on, I couldn’t stop wiggling my toes, it feels pretty strange at first.
their first “real test” came while camping last weekend. I’m not sure if the kept my feet any warmer than regular socks, but my feet kept partyin inside my shoes. They were a great source of campfire conversation, and the envy of some fellow campers. While I still stand firmly on “No Socks With Sandals”, if you were that type, these would be a pretty fun accessory.
I think I like wearing them to work the best. I know I’m wearing something fun, but none of my co workers have any idea. I think this is how it must feel to wear sexy underwear…. if you only knew what was on under these shoes.
The Adventure Tech is a sleek looking watch, resembling the stylings of many active lifestyle watches you would normally see on a runners wrist only. But this watch does much more than keep lap times. It has many of those tried and true features we’ve been looking for in this GREAT WATCHES test, namely an altimeter, barometer, and thermometer.
All instruments seemed to be fairly accurate. The buttons were easy to sue, and the orange/gray color combination got a thumbs up from the Outdoorzy logo designers.
Sewn into the resin strap is a cloth liner. I liked the way this feels on the wrist. Much more organic to wear than a raw resin strap. Just keep in mind that when you finish a hard workout you’ll need to rub it down with soap and water to avoid any funk smell. This has been a common theme with many outdoor watches over the years. If you want a comfortable band, you typically have to clean it.
It’s a great looking watch at a great price. We’d recommend it for a stocking stuffer. Its feature list and look are impressive, but you won’t cringe at the receipt when the damage is done.
Weighing in at $100, this is the least expensive in our watch review series. This version of this watch is actually being discontinued after this year so you may be able to pick it up for less than that if you shop around (we’ve seen it as low as $68). Which just leaves you that much more to spend on the next edition of this guy.
Specs:
Digital Display
Gray Resin Strap
INDIGLO® Night Light
Stainless Steel Case
Water Resistant to 50m
Size: Extra Large
Timer
Dual Time Zones
Altimeter
Range of 2,300 ft - 29, 500 ft (700m - 9,000m)
Tracks current, highest, and accumulated altitude
Graph displays ascent and descent
Barometer
Range of 300-1, 100mba
tracks current and sea level pressure
graph displays changes in barometric pressure
Weather icons display forecast
Thermometer
Range of 14 deg.F - 140 deg.F (-10 deg.C to +60 deg.C)
Suunto is known for making great watches. They are perhaps one of the most well known makers of sports watches today. They, of course, had to be included in our series of GREAT WATCHES. So how does the Suunto Core stack up? Beautifully.
The Core has the usual suspects when it comes to features; altimeter, barometer, thermometer, compass, chronograph, and more.
In our test the barometer was very accurate. This feature is critical in keeping the altimeter accurate, which it did. Although this watch could work for several different activities, I think it lends itself nicely to mountaineering or backpacking since the altimeter works so well. The styling is great, and it actually comes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Just be aware that the different styles have different price tags.
The perimeter of the face is an alloy aluminum, which is tough. The band is a tough rubber-type material that seems to stand up well to distress. The backlight seemed a bit weak, but the intent is to brighten the watch in the dark, and it does that well.
I found two of the unique features especially useful. The Storm Warning actually warns you when the barometric pressure drops so you are aware if there is impending weather. And the Button Lock proves useful when you are doing alot of work bending your wrist and don’t want to constantly be hitting buttons and changing settings by accident.
All in all, a GREAT WATCH. Our test model comes in at $249. Which will seem pricey when next to some of its competitors. The watch does look good though. And keep in mind Suuntos good history, and the accuracy factor. You can pick this watch up at Moosejaw, where members can use the Outdoorzy discount found on our Benefits Page.
The TraiLeader 1 is yet another watch in our series that “can do it all.” The TraiLeader 1 has an array of attractive features such as a barometer, altimeter, compass, thermometer, and even a calorie counter. The accelerometer shows your speed and distance traveled, which is a nice GPS-like feature to have.
Besides all the great techie features you get with this watch it also looks nice. The red interior band isn’t easily seen from the outside, but the black outer coloring gives it a nice sleek look. The display is large enough to see, but not so large that it screams at the people riding next to you on the bus. The polymer band keeps the watch from stankin when you get it too sweaty as well, which is nice for an active person who wants to wear their watch out on the town as well as out on the trail.
The watch fealt very light on my wrist as I wore it. I forgot I was wearing it almost immediately after putting it on. Keep the band holder “the little band that holds the extra watch band in place” pulled up tightly. It tended to slip on me if I kept it too close to the end of the band. The buttons on the TraiLeader 1 were great. They were easy to push, without being too easy to push, if you know what I mean. And the display illuminates nicely at night as needed.
The TraiLeader 1 did well during our test, although I did have a tough time with the digital compass. You have to position the watch in a very steady position to get an accurate reading. The altimeter seemed quite accurate at keeping the altitude based on the barometric pressure, which was a nice surprise.
The TraiLeader 1 comes in at a soft $149. Which is a big help in these trying economic times. You can pick one of these guys up at Tech4o.com.
Yes tomorrow is election day. We have all decided who we’re casting that vote for and now its time to push the button. No matter who your choice is, it’s your duty to get out and cast your ballot.
And your boss has surely heard there will be more voter turn-out for this election than any election in our lifetimes so far. So, if you’re gone half the day, it will be understandable.
Here’s your plan:
1. Wake up bright and early and get to the polls as soon as they open (6 AM in many places).
2. Vote for the candidate that you feel will protect our outdoor places and the environment. (Barack and John’s stances)
3. Get to work on time if you possibly can. If you’re a little late… “Damn traffic. I guess everyone’s headed to get in line to vote.”
4. 11AM - “Boss, I’m headin off to lunch and then to vote. If those lines aren’t nuts I’ll be back later this afternoon.”
5. Head to your favorite trailhead and enjoy election day.
A few years back, before Outdoorzy had launched, before the ridiculous series of crappy SAW type movies began to dominate the horror genre, there was a little movie called The Blair Witch Project. It was amazing how much hype this film produced. We all remember the night vision/snot dripping fear that it brought to us. It was a loved-it or hated-it movie for sure. But love or hate, it gave me and my roomates a great idea back then. An idea that I’d like to share since it was so much fun. But first a trailer…
Now, you don’t have to use The Blair Witch Project in your camping trip, any horror movie with an outdoor theme will do. But The Blair Witch Project provided some great fall scenery, and you could also mix in the sub-plot of “losing the map” if you want.
Here is what you do:
Get a group of friends together that likes movies and camping.
Tell them you have an idea for a great night, they just need to pack their camping gear and trust you.
When everyone arrives at your house, have snacks (could be themed) and the movie ready to go.
After the movie, get everyone moving. No dilly-dallying. The fear needs to be fresh.
Lead the caravan all out to an area state or local park/forest, etc. that allows backcountry camping.
Hike in a few miles and set up camp at a spot that can accommodate the entire group.
Once darkness falls, you could pull out any props you might have, or even have a “guest” stop by.
Just make sure nobody has a weapon or heart condition for Gods sake. You wouldn’t want someone going postal on your guest or some poor passer by because they’re scared.
It doesn’t have to be Halloween weekend, but Autumn is a really good time of year to do this. I know we had a blast doing it. And hell, its just a great excuse to get some people together and have fun.
Shoot me a message if you want any more detail or if you want ideas on those props.
Buster kicked off an awesome gear review theme yesterday of GREAT WATCHES. We’ll be reviewing several other watches that go way beyond just telling time over the next week or so. Watches that help you get out and enjoy your outdoor experience.
So let’s get on to todays GREAT WATCH. High Gear makes some great watches, altimeters, and compasses. What they’ve done with the Alterra is combine all three into an affordable wrist watch.
When it comes to technical watches these days you have many choices. There used to be a handful of brands making watches for outdoor enthusiasts, but now the market has exploded. And lets face it, the first generation were giant wrist computers that looked more like you had a small saucer on your arm. The Alterra solves this problem with a sleek design that hugs your wrist, and even resembles a metal style watch. This watch doubles well as an outdoor workhorse, as well as a watch you can wear out to dinner without looking like you just came off the trail.
In my test I took this watch out and played with the barometer, altimeter, and compass. One theme you are going to notice with all the digital altimeter watches is that they are only accurate if you adjust them often. You need to re-calibrate the altimeter 3 or more times a day at known altitudes. This can be a problem if you are out on a bushwhacking trip. But keep in mind that the watch is only one ingredient in a recipe for land navigation. A GPS, magnetic compass, and map are all important ingredients as well. I found that all the instruments were within acceptable variances for the Alterra.
I would say the features are “too long to list.” But we review gear for you here at Outdoorzy to help you make an informed decision when buying an expensive piece of gear. So here’s that long list…
Altimeter
·Digital Altimeter
·Working Range from -2,303ft to 30,058ft
(-702m to 9,164m)
·Current, Accumulated and Maximum Altitude in Feet or Meters
·Altitude Resolution 3ft (1m)
·Graphic Altitude Trend Display
·Altitude/Temperature Display
·Rate of Ascent and Descent
·Altitude Alarm
·15 Altitude Log Book Memories with Log Date, Average-Ascent and Descent, Total-Ascent and Descent, Number of Hills and Total Time.
·3 Altitude Presets for Quick Calibration
Barometer
·Digital Barometer
·Sea Level Pressure and Absolute Pressure Displays in Both mbar/hPa and inHg
·Resolution 1mbar (0.05inHg) Working Range 300mbar to 1100mbar
(8.16inHg to 32.48inHg)
·Graphic Barometer Display
·Weather Forecast
·Barometer/Temp Display
Compass
·Digital Compass
·Graphic Compass Display with 360° Compass Bearing
·1° Resolution
·Adjustable Declination
Thermometer
·Digital Thermometer
·Resolution 0.1° in °F and °C
·Working Range +14°F to +122°F
(-10°C to +50°C)
Ski Chrono
·Input Current Altitude and Base Altitude, Start Chrono/Chrono Auto Stops When Base Altitude is Reached
·Calculates Speed of Descent
Chronograph
·Resolution 1/100 Second with Maximum Time Range 24hr 00min 00sec
·Maximum 50 laps/20 Runs
·Times for Each Lap and Split, with Best and Average Laps’ Time
Outdoorzy was recently at the Outdoor Retailer Show and was looking to field test compass / altimeter watches for the website. I had the opportunity to field test the Wenger Co. Compass Watch for Outdoorzy. For all of those who are unaware of Wenger Co., they are the fine makers of Swiss Army Knives and other products. After arrival of the watch, the first looks were that I was sent the wrong product, but after re-examining the shipping slip, I was wrong.
The Wenger Co. Compass Watch is a very nice professional standard looking watch with a silver body, large glass face, and nylon / leather band with a silver buckle. The neat part about the compass watch is that the compass is hidden within the body of the watch. When the compass is needed, the compass swings out from
the right side. The compass is about one half to three quarters of an inch in diameter, so if exact degrees or orienteering is needed, then this compass is not for you. However, if you need quick direction of North, South, East, or West, then yes, this watch can help you out.
The watch looks like something I would wear to the office rather than a multiday day backcountry trip to your favorite new destination. I was a little skeptical at first, but I have learned to love this watch. Yes, I took it out and about, but I think this watch most useful while I was working. I am in a business that requires field inspections in hospitals and other buildings. This watch was great and saved me a couple of times while performing work and looking at drawings of a building. I would get turned around and need to know which way I was facing. This is where the watch proved its worthiness. If I had one bad thing to say about this watch, it would be that I wish Wenger had put another hand on the watch for multiple time zones.
I don’t see many backpackers, fisherman, or other outdoor enthusiast utilizing this watch for any excursions. But if someone was in a professionals setting such as an engineer, architect, or consultant, then this would be a great watch for them. It is sleek, comfortable, professional, and inside the watch is a little surprise.
There is one word that adequately describes the High Sierra Wheeled Duffrite, cavernous. I can see this packhorse working well if you were to take a trip overseas and need to haul alot of gear. I could have used this on my jaunt through east Africa a few years back. I can also see the usefulness for this bag if you are a guy with a special lady friend who likes to take the kitchen sink when you travel. You can either wheel the bag or unzip a compartment on the back fort backpack straps.
Next up we have compartments. For many of us outdoorsy types staying organized is essential. Especially when you’re going to be “on the road” for a few weeks or longer. High Sierra has you covered here as well. There are compartments and zippers galore. Even a dividing wall that can zip open or shut to create two interior compartments.
Other key features are clothing straps to hold certain things in place. Compression straps to tighten the load. Handles on the top and bottom. And let’s not forget wheels. If you load this thing down, you’ll be glad you have them when zipping through the airport. It even has reflective piping so traffic can see you if you’re in the city.
In many parts of the country right now it’s raining, snowing, or a mix of both. And we have several months of that to look forward to. Never fear, the Merrell Sprint Jacket is here.
The 
