Vibram has made a name for itself in the minimalist shoe market, and at this week’s Outdoor Retailer Show it proved that barefoot-style running can be a year around thing. The company introduced the toe-segmented Bikila EVO WP, which is made for running through snow and on icy surfaces. It features a special rubber compound on the soles to provide a “snow tire” type of grip. The shoes won’t be ready for this brutal winter however.
Author: KineticShift
POC is all Blue for Garmin
Swedish helmet and eyewear maker POC is all blue over Garmin. The company has signed on a sponsor for the Garmin-Sharp Pro Team for the next three years, and as such will supply helmets and eyewear to the team. Riders will reportedly be outfitted with Octal, Octal Aero and Tempor TT Helmets, and will be able to choose from a variety of POC’s different eyewear frames. This is a big move for the helmet maker, which first released a ski and snowboard helmet in 2005.
2014 PGA Merchandise Show: The Xventure Begins
At this week’s 2014 PGA Merchandise Show Bracketron has unveiled its new Xventure Golf line, which includes a wide range of mounts, chargers and accessories that help tech savvy golfers use mobile devices to improve their game. The new products include the TriCaddy XL, a golf tripod that includes a tablet holder and can be positioned to record a full golf swing.
Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the TriCaddy XL provides players with a portable and easy way to record their full golf swing for analysis and review. With its four-section adjustable legs, the tripod provides easy positioning and height adjustment, offering a range of 15 to 35 inches. It features a tablet device holder for effortless, hands-free recording, and the tripod also features a dual standard 1/4″ thread and t-notch adapter for optimal flexibility plus 360 degree rotation for portrait or landscape use.
BUG-like Grip
One good thing about winter is that runners don’t have to deal with a lot of bugs, and while insects generally can’t get a grip on ice the ANIMA2 BUGrip shoes offer sure footing in most winter conditions. Made by Icebug of Gothenburg, Sweden these feature 19 sharp studs that are embedded into the shoe’s rubber sole.
These 1mm long studes can dig in to provide traction when there is snow and ice on the ground and provide decent traction. These aren’t fully waterproof but they provide enough water resistance to keep the feet dry in icy and snowy conditions. While not ideal for concrete or indoor use these will help runners get through the long winter ahead.
Outdoor Retailer Show: Stridin’ Through the Snow
Can you ever be too young to want to ride in the snow? Given that winter seems in full gear and with two months (at least) to go the young ones can hit the snow with the Snow Ski kit for the Strider scoot bike. The company unveiled the new kit at this week’s Outdoor Retailer Show.
Move It With Kiwi
This month Kiwi Wearable Technologies announced the launch of its pre-order campaign for the Kiwi Move, an Internet-enabled wearable device that can track a user’s physical activities. It can also interact and even control Internet-connected devices at home.
“The Kiwi Move is next-generation when it comes to design and performance and we’re excited to bring it to market for consumer use,” said Ashley Beattie, chief marketing officer at Kiwi. “Unlike other wearables on the market, the Kiwi Move is fashionable and unique in that it can be worn anywhere, whether that be on your arm, wrist, waist, ankle, collar or chest.”
The Kiwi Move will make its move in July. Video after the jump
The You Pad
The Iceman cometh with the Evolv Iceman Crash Pad, a specially designed padding for those partaking in the sport of bouldering – which is one that involves short climbs without ropes or other protection. Since these can involve falls onto the hard ground the crash pad is a must.
The Iceman Crash Pad features 1000D and 500D cordura nylon fabric that can stand up to quite a bit of abuse, while the closed-cell dense foam will be able to absorb climbers in many, many landings. What goes up must come down and for those who lose a grip it is better to come down on this crash pad.
No Fake ID Here
Last fall Nike asked consumers and golf fans to create a customized design for the Tiger Woods 14 golf shoes and we have a winter. The customization from the NikeiD is the real deal, and the Nike TW’14 has been unveiled.
The winning shoe was designed by Dane Thompson (@DaneJThompson), a big golf fan from Iowa. He create a patriotic theme for what he deemed will be a big year for Tiger, and Thompson designed the shoe with a white leather upper, blue midsole, and red Nike Swoosh, Nike Flywire and lace highlights. The shoe’s inspiration was to support team USA in the upcoming Olympics and the 2014 Ryder Cup, as well as to support Tiger in red, white, and blue at the 2014 US Open. Aside from the pride of designing Tiger’s favorite customized Nike TW’14 shoe, Thompson will have his design worn by Tiger on Tour in the early part of the 2014 season. Also, Thompson will receive a pair of the Nike TW’14 he designed.
Serious Tent
When we think of tents we think of a tarp that is held up by a stick. That’s probably more roughing it than we’d like, but the Cabela’s Ultimate Alaknak Tent has us rethinking what one (or for that matter a dozen) can put in a tent. At nearly $1,500 this is one expensive tent, but it offers 13×27 feet of space, more than many studio apartments. It can sleep a dozen people, offers three multi-panel windows along with an attached awning. It is held up by 10 sturdy tent poles and features a waterproof polyester material to provide those inside from the elements. After camping in this tent you might not want to go home.
Cervélo Tri’s Again
Cervélo is tri’ing something new. The company updated its venerable P2 triathlon bike, and this year’s new model has a wider range of fit options along with the new P-Series geometry. Sizes range from 45cm (with 650c wheels) and 48 to 61cm with 700c wheels.
The new model features Cervélo carbon, aero, rail-adjust seat post with 75mm of fore/aft adjustment. The bike also is spec’d with the Profile Design T2 Wing base bar and T4 Plus aero bar and a 1 1/8-inch steerer, which the company said allows for a wide range of aftermarket cockpit options. There are integrated storage and hydration options in the toptube and downtube accessory mounts, and even an integrated seatpost accessory receiver. The company has said that these mount specs will be shared with aftermarket makers as well.
In addition the P2 aero offers features that seem borrowed from the top-of-the-line P5 model, and these include aero cable management, a dropped down tube that reduces the gap between it and the front wheel, flattened down tube mounts to decrease wind drag on bottles, and an extended seat tube cutout design. The new P2 is designed to be stiffer than the classic version, but with no increase in weight. Head tube stiffness increases by 16.4 percent and bottom bracket by 6.5 percent. Continue reading Cervélo Tri’s Again
Rock on With the Crampon
While we hope the worst of winter is behind us, we know there are still two full months to go, and if you’re tired of hitting the treadmill and want to get out for a run you’ll likely end up face down or worse on an icy road. However, Hillsound’s Trails Campron Ultra could just provide the grip runners might need this winter. This is like putting snow chains on tires but for the feet. It features 18 spikes under each foot, providing serious grip on ice and snow.
Olympic Preview: Jamaica Back on the Sled
After a 12 year absence from the Olympics the now famous Jamaican Bobsleigh Team has qualified for the Sochi Winter Olympics. The team is looking to head to Russia next month and recently launched an Indiegogo project to help get it there! The team is looking to raise $80,000 to help cover travel expenses. The Indiegogo crowd funding efforts ends later today.
PGA 2014 Merchandise Show: OGIO’s New Shoe
This week at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando OGIO is expanding its line of golf apparel with the introduction of its highly-anticipated footwear. Available in four models the line includes the Race, City Spiked, City Turf and Sport shoes, which each have unique design elements to address golfers’ needs.
The company noted that it looks to deliver three crucial features including style, comfort and performance. The design of each shoe is made to stabilize a golfer’s swing platform and improve balance to enhance the game. The shoes are constructed from high quality materials for comfort and durability, and OGIO’s golf shoes promise the most comfortable “out of the box” golf experience, while withstanding the toughest conditions in all types of climates. Continue reading PGA 2014 Merchandise Show: OGIO’s New Shoe