Two skis, one snowboard; that’s how those of us who prefer warm-weather sports remember the difference. But now there is confusion with the dual snowboard, which looks sort of like a board cut in half and worn kind of like skis.
But apparently these are catching on, and could be yet another way to hit the slopes – if the snow actually arrives this winter. Check out the video to see why these might just shake things up. Continue reading It’s a Ski, It’s a Snowboard, It’s…
Maybe Jon Olsson should have thought about the name, but apparently he liked the ring of the “Douchebag,” which is actually the result of collaboration between skiers, designers, engineers and a technical university. Apparently the pro skier, who travels more than 300 days a year with his skis, looked to create a bag that could hold two pair of skis and basically got input from 150 skiers. Continue reading What’s in a Name? Douchebag Has Us Asking
While this week’s Consumer Electronics Show promises to offer some new products (and if you’ve been checking out the site you’ve seen CES has been loaded with stuff), those looking to go exploring will find it with Magellan’s latest eXplorist 110 Handheld GPS Device, the newest sibling to the 710 (above). The eXplorist 110, which is being officially unveiled at next week’s SHOT Show will reportedly be ready to use, right out of the box. Continue reading SHOT Show Preview: Magellan eXplorist GPS Line to Expand
Getting there is said to be half the fun, but whoever said that probably never got lost – or didn’t go very far. For the rest of us the RoadMate RV9145 from Magellan, which was introduced at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will make sure we find our way.
The GPS unit, which is designed specifically for RVers, features an extra-large high-resolution seven-inch display with customized routing based on vehicle profile and driver preference. It includes Magellan’s exclusive Good Sam Trailer Life RV Park & Campground Directory, and is pre-loaded with maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, and over six million points of interest. Safety features include customized routes, Highway Lane Assist, and turn-by-turn spoken directions. Additionally, the RV9145 includes Magellan’s exclusive OneTouch user interface and a convenient A/V input for a backk-up camera, DVD player or iPod. Press Release after the jump
When we ride our bikes on the road we ride where we want to go, and while most riders appreciate some directions and even a tip or two as to where to ride, chances are everyone has that special ride. So why not share it? If your friends can come to ride with you, with Kinomap, which was shown at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show, you can record a course, upload it and then share it.
Unlike other virtual riding programs, which are built upon courses the companies decide to give you, this one is about community.
“Currently Kinomap is available for download and playback on the iPad and iPhone,” Laurent Desmons, CEO and founder of Kinomap told KineticShift.com. “The iOS devices can sync with existing monitors when the bike is on the trainer. When those devices arrive for the Android, we’ll have a version for that platform as well.”
Products that can go deep are what Fitness Technologies Inc. is showing this week in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. These include the newly announced full-day hour Uwater Action Cameras, which include the UD3X, HD55 and the HD77. All three cameras feature mounting accessories so they can be used with helmets, on a bike or mounted on the body or board. Continue reading CES 2012:: Indestructible Dive Lights and Waterproof Cameras
When the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced that it was allowing for disc brakes with cyclo-cross bikes there were two quick opinions: the first that it was about time, and the second, now I need to buy a new bike!
Well, fortunately bicycle brake maker TRP saw that not everyone was going to want to replace their bikes, and has now released the Parabox, a system that easily allows cyclo-cross bike owners to convert their bikes to hydraulic discs. The Parabox works with existing cable-based brake levers, via a junction box master that is linked to the levers via two hose-enclosed cables, which activate the cylinder mechanisms within the box. The system further includes front- and rear-specific calipers along with pads, 160 mm rotors and hydraulic lines.
So while this might require a shop to install, it certainly beats buying a new bike!
TRP Official Website
[Via BikeRadar: TRP Parabox disc brake system long-term review]
This week at the Consumer Electronics Show Fujifilm is showing off 19 new digital cameras, and these include the ruggedized FinePix line, with the XP150, XP100 and XP50. The former two are waterproof down to 33 feet, shockproof to a 6.5 foot drop, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and of course dustproof, so these are pretty much ready for just about any excursion. The XP50 will be for the budget minded offering a little less protection but still rugged enough for most adventures. It is waterproof to 16.5 feet, shockproof from 5 feet, with the same freeze- and dustproofing.
All three cameras will be driven by 14 megapixel CMOS sensors, with continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second, and will feature 5x wide angle lenses. The cameras will be able to record 1080p video with sound, even underwater, captured at 30 frames per second. The XP-series will also feature dual image stabilization to mechanically stabilize the sensor while also adjusting shooting variables to compensate for camera shake or movement.
The FinePix XP150 and XP100 will be available in March for $279.95 and $249.95 respectively. The XP150 will be available in black or orange, and the XP100 will be available in black, blue, orange, silver, or green. The XP50 will also be available in March, for $199.95, and will also be available in black, blue, orange, silver, and green. Additional images and Press Release after the jump
We’d hate to be in the plastic water bottle business right now, as it doesn’t seem like anyone has much positive to say about the products. While the water is good, the problem is that the bottles tend to end up in landfills or worse floating in the Pacific Ocean in that big mass of plastics!
But at the Consumer Electronics Show this year some companies are doing something about it. These include GreenSmart, which is introducing a line of stylish and very eco-friendly computer sleves and bags. The company notes that more than 800,000 bottles have been recycled already – and in all honesty after this year’s show they’ll likely have a lot more. So it is good to see a company like GreenSmart being smart about what can be done about it!
The line includes MacBook and laptop sleeves, backpacks, messenger bags and even wine and water carriers. And the latter ones can even help reduce how many water bottles end up in the ocean!
Even if you can’t ride like the pros, and probably won’t ever ride with the pros, you can still ride on what the pros ride. Trek Bicycle has announced that this season’s Trek Madone 6.9 SSL and Speed Concept 9.9 are available to order with RadioShack Nissan Trek paint scheme from the company’s Project One custom bike program, and at all authorized Trek Project One retailers. Press Release after the jump
While the troops are coming home, or mostly have come home from Iraq, a large presence of U.S. soldiers still remains in the field around the world. The time in Iraq and Afghanistan no doubt made it clear to military planners as to what technology worked and more importantly what likely needed improvement.
Last week The Army Times reported “Army expects to field smartphones next year,” and this will include Army-issued handsets. According to the story these will include a secure version of the Android operating system, which will get certification from the National Security Agency. Additionally, the iPhone and iPad iOS is being considered as another option. Continue reading US Army to Deploy Smartphones
Corn sometimes gets a bad rap. It is partially blamed for the downfall of the some Native American civilizations, which relied too much upon it, and more recently anything with corn syrup causes some people to run away. But corn does hold some promise, and we recently heard about the CornBoard.
The skateboards are actually made of corn stalks and husks exclusively by Stalk It Longboards! Kind of an interesting twist on what might otherwise just end up in the trash!
Stalk It Longboards Official Website
Corn Board Manufacturing
When thinking of bamboo the first thought that comes to mind might very likely be a tropical jungle? It probably wouldn’t be snow sports, but that isn’t stopping a few companies from utilizing bamboo as a material for making snowboards.
And why not? Bamboo is a fast growing grass that offers a great deal of rigidity and strength. And unlike other materials it is quick growing and makes for a nice natural look. It’s been used for floors for years, and now is hitting the slopes. Continue reading Bamboo on the Ski Slopes