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Is there a heart rate monitor watch that doesn't look like a HR monitor/watch. I am in the market for a new everyday watch and HR monitor and was wondering if I could kill two birds? 鈥揅raig (Pittsburgh, PA)
What's the best backpack for a dog? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
By Stephen Regenold The annual Interbike Expo trade show, held last week, Sept. 22 to 24, in Las Vegas, is a gathering of cycling brands, dealers, designers, media and bike enthusiasts from around the globe. I traveled to Sin City for…
Under Armour has become a brand most associated with football players and weight lifters, but they鈥檙e trying to expand their reach to active young women. Their first attempt had a “shrink it and pink it” conceit, which, not surprisingly, failed to woo the ladies.
By Stephen Regenold Four days, a few miles of desert trail ridden, press meetings, casinos, a major cyclocross event, and a dozen bikes tested. . . the Gear Junkie crew is back from Las Vegas and the Interbike Expo, an annual…
Give me your best mountaineering kit on a teacher's salary! I'm looking to tackle the serious domestic peaks. 鈥揓ay (Alexandria, VA)
From game-changing new materials (like moisture-wicking cotton) to evolutionary leaps in engineering (like a rotating helmet for extreme crashes), the avant-garde of 21st-century gear has just one thing in common: a total disregard for the status quo.
Photo courtesy of Flickr. Hungary designers have created a bike that operates without a chain, dubbed the StringBike, Treehugger.com reports. The StringBike uses a symmetrical pulley system of polyethylene…
What's the one item you never travel without? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
I'm doing the Tough Mudder in November and was wondering what shoes to wear? -Ben (Albany, NY)
I have a very strong affinity for places lush and wet. I lived in Santa Fe for six years and, except for the snowy days, was always unsuccessfully fending off a sort of low-grade existential funk. Give me a dense green forest in the rain any day; my mood goes…
By Stephen Regenold We should clear the air of one item right away: The BIOM A shoes from ECCO, a Danish company known for its high-end footwear, cost an astounding $220. The shoes, an esoteric design created in collaboration with a…
By Stephen Regenold In the I-didn't-know-we-needed-that category this month,Contour Inc. of Seattlehas unveiled the world鈥檚 first GPS-enabled helmet camera. The 1080p videocamera, called the ContourGPS, comes with a GPS built in to capture and recordyour location once per second while on the move. It…
Used to be that if you wanted to buy Shimano鈥檚 best cross-country race components, you鈥檇 just look for the XTR label. Not anymore鈥攏ot exactly, anyway. For 2011, Shimano has expanded the XTR name to cover a family of top-end components that allow buyers to choose between ubber-light Race components…
By Stephen Regenold It looks like an old-school SLR camera wrapped inwaterproof housing. But the ATC9K All-Terrain HD Video Camera, a new productfrom Oregon Scientific of Tualatin, Ore., is an HD-recording, shock-resistantshooter that's waterproof up to 65 feet underwater. The $299.99…
By Stephen Regenold In this column last month, I covered two major companies, Kelty and JanSport, who will introduce retro-style, external-frame backpacks in 2011. The article pitched external-frame packs as throwbacks — bulky, exposed and skeletal products that were left behind two decades…
By Stephen Regenold A red handle, a small white cross, a blade or two, and fold-out tools for the job — a Swiss Army Knife is an icon of utility and smart design recognizable the world over. Invented in the 1880s,…
If you're looking for a little more flash or bling in your next ride, don't miss the 24-karat gold plated folding Brompton S2L, which was listed on eBay yesterday. The bike also sports a pool-ball stickshift, stop-cock hinge clamps, skateboard wheels for rollers (when…
What is a good hiking boot for a seven-day Grand Canyon rafting/hiking trip in September? We'll (my wife and I) be rafting four to six hours each day with time for side hikes, and then will be hiking out of the canyon on the last day (about 7.5 miles) carrying about 20-30 pound packs. We both already have Chacos so we're covered on the river sandal front. -Chris Springfield, IL
There's the gear you want, and there's the gear you need. After much internal debate, we present the 25 products every guy should own.
Giro is entering the cycling-shoe market in 2011 with a shoe line that, at the top end, compares favorably in both fit and performance to any high-end shoes on the market. The company invited a few journalists to Livigno, Italy, last weekend, just before the start of the annual Eurobike…
I am looking for polarized sunglasses that are highly rated and are not expensive. Any ideas? -Jack Carmel, CA
I am going trekking in Nepal this September? What are essential items of clothing for this trip? Can you recommend the different type of layers that I will need? Saoirse Rooney Dublin, Ireland
I am looking for a good backpack for my camera gear (Nikon D300, 2 lenses, etc), but also carry my hiking gear on day trips. I have a Gregory Z30 as a daypack, but that is not easy for carrying my camera gear. I also tried some camera backpacks...but those don't have enough space and technical capabilities to support a long day hike. Any suggestions would be very helpful. -Dave Vienna, VA
By Stephen Regenold Panoramas, summit shots, trailhead embarkations, sunsets, and battlewounds — the photographic proof is a requisite for any grandadventure. As such, I rarely under-pack in the camera department. Formore than a decade, starting with a Pentax K1000 camera and…
By Stephen Regenold They come from Sweden. They are set with gridpatterns of carbide-tip studs. Their job is to conquer the gnarliest terrain arunner may ever see. The Icebug SPIRIT OLX, an aggressive yet fabulouslynimble sports car of a shoe, is among the coolest…
I love going to Burning Man but the environment just destroys all my point-and-shoot cameras. Dust gets in there and after a few days the pictures start getting blurry and a few days after that the moving parts stop moving. The reason I have sacrificed these point-and-shoot cameras is because the best shots are at night, turning on the flash just lights up the dust in the air and not the environment, and I like keeping the camera in a pocket so if I'm running around its not flying all over the place. Do you know of an indestructible camera that takes awesome night shots, if not a moderately priced sacrificial camera that takes great night shots where fire and glow sticks are the main source of light? -Daniel Long Beach, CA
Ryan Rzepecki's Social Bicycles System might be the most affordable way for cities to implement bike sharing networks, Shareable reports. The Social Bicycles System, or SoBi, allows commuters to “use their smartphones to locate,…
Why is it so hard to find cycling apparel that doesn't make me look like a boy? The Editors Santa Fe, NM
There has been a surge in anatomically-named fitness products lately. Cyclist Dave Zabriskie released his anti-chaffing cream, DZ Nuts (pronounced dees nuts) in 2008. Anti-Monkey Butt Powder, developed in 2003, became the anti-chaffing product of…
Is it safe to use one of those Brita pitchers to filter river and lake water while camping? -Eric Oakland, CA
Craptastic weather is well on the way. Are you and your bike engaged in a farewell fling in anxious anticipation of the fall day that you'll dismiss her to the garage or basement? I sure hope not. It's so much fun to ride year round. Once you're out there…
Tomorrow, the Copenhagen Wheel, a simple wheel attachment for your bicycle that gathers power as you brake, will compete against an international field of inventions for a shot at the 2010 James Dyson Award, reports Discovery News.
By Stephen Regenold The marketing spiel does not mix words: 国产吃瓜黑料 Labs Inc., a startupsunscreen maker in Gardena, Calif., touts its SCAPE product line as”the most advanced sunblock on the planet.” When the company came onto the market this spring, it intended to makea…
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth in England recently attached reflective markers to the breasts of a group of female runners to test whether breast movement altered running form,聽NYT reports.聽 Researchers had the women jog along the track while wearing several different bras, or none…
Can you recommend any method to protect zippers from salt water corrosion? We camp three to four times a year on the beach and I have noticed that the zippers are beginning to show signs of deterioration. Can I do anything to help preserve the zippers? -Alex San Juan, Puerto Rico
By Stephen Regenold Mad River founder Jim Henry built the first Malecitecanoe in 1971. For 2011, the classic canoe design gets an update and a newhull. The Malecite, a 16.5-foot boat, is made to handle flatwater as well as currents. It tracks straight…
Get in gear with these heavy-duty trail runners and barely-there road shoes.
I'm looking for a new multi-use bag for graduate school. I'd like a bag I can use during the week for biking to school (I have a 17 inch laptop), and on the weekends for long day hikes with my dog. It'd also be nice if it was waterproof, and it doesn't need to be specifically for holding laptops since I have a sleeve. Liz Harvey Denver, Colorado
By Stephen Regenold On the hunt for a set of workout-ready earphones, I came across anunlikely candidate. The Wicked Little Buds, made by Empire Brands Inc.of Lindon, Utah, are touted as “noise-isolating earbuds that providean edgy look and great sound.” With…
By Stephen Regenold The twice-annual Outdoor Retailer trade show is an exhibition of thebest outdoors equipment in the world. New this year, GearJunkie.comlaunched an inaugural “Best in Show” award for the Summer Market tradeshow, held in early August. After four days in…
By Stephen Regenold Kelty and JanSport are taking a retro tilt with backpacksin 2011. Both companies recently unveiled new backpacks that look like modelsyour father might have worn when he hit the Appalachian Trail in 1964. The JanSport D2 is an external-frame pack…
Where you put your sunglasses when they're not on your face says more about you than which pair you choose to wear.
Check out Airstream's new 16 Sport聴the shortest and most affordable trailer in their line.
I'm looking to go all out on a really good hard shell to last me a long time. I'm thinking about the Arc'teryx Alpha SV. I want something that can handle every condition possible, but wonder if this jacket really only for the worst of the worst weather and any other time it'll be too much. Should I be looking at the Theta AR instead? I'm in Ireland, so no extreme weather really. Any other suggestions welcome. -Cillian Louth, Ireland
What's the best gear to buy a beginning hiker? My 22-year-old girlfriend is just getting started, but she's not outdoorsy. CilliantLouth Ireland
Jansport D2 External Frame Pack Yes, this is a brand new backpack, and it's for sale (or will be, in spring 2011). In 1972, Jansport put out a grande-size aluminum-frame backpack (revolutionizing the look of retro gear for decades to come). It was a high-volume, high-load pack capable of…
Technology giant, Apple, may be going after the cycling market next. The US Patent and Trademark office released Apple's plans to build a “Smart Bicycle System” on Friday, the Huffington Post reports.聽 The bike would integrate iPhone and iPod technology, measuring speed,…
A giant bus that straddles two lanes of traffic, letting cars pass beneath it, will be tested in Beijing鈥檚 Mentougou District, China Hush reports. The Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co., Ltd unveiled the bus at…
As I mentioned in a Facebook post that went up during Outdoor Retailer this week, skorts are everywhere. Practically every gear company that makes women's apparel–be it Mountain Hardwear, North Face, Patagonia, or Arc'teryx–is making…
Today is the last day of this summer's Outdoor Retailer show. Stand-up paddle-boarding continues to be the hot new sport, while the major theme in footwear is still less is more: Partly driven by the barefoot running trend, all the major running shoe companies are bringing increasingly designing more pared-down…
The North Face recently released a new iPhone app designed to help users find trails for hiking, mountain biking and over a dozen other activities, Mashable reports. The app, entitled Trailhead, pulls its routes from EveryTrail.com, a…
Dung beetles have been around for thousands of years but the one on the streets of Britain is a whole new insect. Well, not exactly. British sustainable energy company…
国产吃瓜黑料's Sam Moulton reviews Black Diamond's Z-Pole. It's a carbon-fiber trekking pole that weighs in at 260 grams and costs $150. –Erin Beresini…
Finding the right pair of sunglasses can often be a tricky game of hit or miss, involving a blend of science, fashion and comfort. Below are five tips for finding the perfect shades. 1. UV Protection According to Dr. Kevin Beebe of the Brainerd Eye CareCenter, the…
Eighteen months in the making, Patagonia's P26 light hiking shoe is finally here. Alicia Carr breaks down the shoe that Patagonia developed with input from Appalachian Trail hikers. It retails for about $185. –Erin Beresini…
Shannon Walton from Schoeller Textiles introduces black fabric that's specially treated so you can wear black on hot summer days. –Erin Beresini…
NAU Clothing's Caitlin Murphy introduces the NAU Gust Jacket, one of the nicest technical lifestyle pieces we've seen. It's made out of 100% recycled polyester, and is durable and water repellent. Portland-based clothing company, NAU, develops products by three main principles: beauty, performance, and…
国产吃瓜黑料's Alicia Carr introduces the North Face Hedgehog. Lightweight, more durable and more comfortable than previous models, the Hedgehog is one of our favorite light hiking shoes–and it's the same price as previous models! The GORE-TEX version costs $110, and the…
国产吃瓜黑料's resident runner, Justin Nyberg, checks out the French antidote to barefoot running: Hoka. This super-cushy recovery shoe retails for $169. –Erin Beresini…
Here are a few more of the most interesting gear we found today on the floor at Outdoor Retailer: Hard Goes Soft鈥擳he New Storm Shell I don't know who this guy is, but I like his jacket. This is Mammut's new Kento storm shell, and it has one thing…
By Stephen Regenold聽 It's trade-show time again. This week, you'll find me (and thousandsof other “gear junkies”) in Salt Lake City at the Outdoor RetailerSummer Market, a twice-annual exhibition of the latest gear andequipment made for playtime outside. Here's a peek at some of…
There’s a lot of great gear coming for Spring 2011, and most of it is on display now in Salt Lake City at the Outdoor Retailer convention鈥攖he biannual mecca for gear junkies of all stripes. Here are a few items to keep on your radar: Alien Cocoon…or Running Shoe? Something’s…
For 2011, Trek has gone back over virtually its entire mountain-bike line and, rather than introduce new models, has refined existing platforms. Weights are lighter, handling is stiffer, and suspension is more precisely tuned. In July, the company offered a peak of its 2011 offerings in the ski-resort town of…
What are the best office-friendly travel clothes? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What is the best clothing for hiking/bushwacking in the jungles of Thailand in August? Nylon/Gore Tex vs. cotton, shorts vs pants? Is it too hot for raingear? Also, what do you recommend for a sleeping bag? I already have bug netting. Is a 40 degree bag still to warm? Would a fleece sleeping bag liner suffice? I'll be sleeping in a tent. 鈥揈rik Shandaken, NY
Not only is Salt Lake City swathed in warm temperatures, the outdoor industry has also arrived en masse for Outdoor Retailer 2010 Summer Market. Tomorrow, 国产吃瓜黑料 editors (myself included) will start to scour the showroom floor for spring 2011's hottest new products by visiting booths like the…
I'm moving from a sit-on-top to a sit-in kayak, and am looking for something I can use in summer in cold-water Maine. The Perception Carolina 12 is at the top of my wish list. But my budget says that if I go for a Pelican Pursuit 120 DXL I can buy it now. I can't get a good idea of how the Pursuit would do in close-to-shore ocean paddling, and no dealer near me has one I can try. Should I just hold out for the Carolina? –Nan Medford, NJ
A new study shows good luck charms–like baseball player Jason Giambi's lucky thong–can improve athletic performance, the New York Times reports. Researchers in the psych department at Germany's University of Cologne conducted a…
These cameras can handle being dropped, wet or frozen—and still take great shots.
聽 By Stephen Regenold It is obscenely huge. It fastens shut and watertight with a roll-top closure. A backpack harness system lets you strap it on and hike, ferrying immense loads through airports and down backwoods portage trails alike. The SealLine Pro Packs are…
“In summer, the song sings itself,” William Carlos Williams once wrote. And it's聽true. It's that rarified time of year when the days are longer, the weather balmier, and the great outdoors begging to be hiked, rafted, and biked.聽 But if you're like me,…
My son is a Boy Scout and had a very nice and somewhat expensive cold-weather sleeping bag from The North Face. He recently discovered a small tear in the nylon fabric. I am looking for advice about how to patch it. Can you give some advice to a Loyal Scout Mom?
One week ago, digital storage company, LaCie, introducedwhat it calls 鈥淭he World鈥檚 Most Adventurous USB Flash Drive.鈥 To back up this claim,…
These cutting-edge hybrid, tandem, and ultra-portable boats make it easy to hit the water.
By now, you鈥檝e hit the trail a handful of times and you鈥檝e noticed your mountain bike鈥檚 shifting seems tired, or is ghost shifting on you. Time to replace your drivetrain. Your timing is good because component manufacturer SRAM just revolutionized mountain-bike gearing with its new 2×10 system–two gears up…
I am looking for a lightweight camera for nature photography. I would like a good zoom so I can capture wildlife from a distance, and want to carry it on backpacking trips along with other gear. I recently graduated with a degree in media production, so I am still mostly just a beginner, but I am looking for something that I won't be disappointed in as the years pass. — Benjamin Kent, OH