Author: Peter Suciu

SHOT Show: Get Your Sidekick and Wingman

As any good adventurer knows, it is good to have a sidekick for your journey. Likewise, a wingman comes in handy for so much more than just cruising the bars. A sidekick and a wingman should be reliable through thick and thin, and now you can actually buy one of each – of the multi-tool variety that is.

At last week’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Leatherman introduced the Sidekick and Wingman – two new tools that feature contemporary design for the first-time multi-tool buyers. Both tools will be made from 420 stainless steel and feature Leatherman’s popular outside-accessibility-to-tools design, including a saw, knife, scissors, screwdriver, pliers, bottle/can opener, serrated knife and much more.

While meant for the price-conscience buyer – the Sidekick will retail for $29.99 and the Wingman at $39.99 – when they arrive in September of this year, as with other Leatherman products these products still feature the company’s industry-leading, no-hassle, 25 year warranty.  Move over Swiss Army Knife, we’d rather have the American-made Sidekick or Wingman with us on our next journey.

Leatherman Official Website

Browse While Getting Your Workout

Last year we saw a few goofy ideas like the treadmill desk, which is something we praised but in all truthfulness knew was a crazy idea. But yet, every time we hit the gym somewhere we see people checking e-mail, looking at apps or even trying to surf the Web on their mobile smartphones.

So with that in mind, we love the idea of the newly announced ProForm TrailRunner 4.0 treadmill, which features a 10-inch touch screen monitor with Web browser powered by Android. This allows users to put in the distance while still watching news, sports highlights or accessing social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Users can further check and send e-mail while treading the time away. Continue reading Browse While Getting Your Workout

SHOT Show: S.W.A.T. Customizable Boots

The Original SWAT Footwear Company has now introduced a line of boots where users can choose from a number of boot model options, upload images, and even enter team names or badge numbers should it be required. Users can decide if they want a plain toe, or go with the Tec Tuff Toe option, which provides protection from abrasions and is also resistant to oil, petroleum and salt staining. It is further fire retardant and resists cold cracking. There is even an option for a composite safety toe inside the boot that can withstand 200 Joules Impact Test Standards, yet is made of non-metal material so it is anti-magnetic and non-sparking – plus metal-detector friendly.

 In addition, users can choose insulation type, opting for the 400 gram of Thinsulate insulation, which is ideal for high activity levels in cold weather, and  even decided if the boots need to be waterproof or offer puncture protection. All this can be determined directly from the website and each team member – should there be a team involved – can get a boot just for them!

Original SWAT: S.W.A.T. ID official Website

Baggy Shoes

We’ve seen a lot of products turned into other things, like the American Express Card dress worn at the Oscars a few years back – and we’ve heard about products using recycled plastics that can be turned into all sorts of things, including bike frames.

Now Civic Duty is doing its something unique. The company has introduced a new line of futuristic sneakers made from FedEx airmail envelopes, mounted to a recyclable rubber sole. The result is a shoe that is easy to stash in a carryon bag, yet is comfortable for hours of walking – best of all it is waterproof thanks to its Tyvek material so ideal for those trips during the rainy season.

The shoes, which are available for purchase now online, are the brain child of Steven Weinreb, Civic Duty founder and Chief Inspiration Officer. The shoe’s material promises to be both comfortable and breathable while being water resistant and highly durable. It should also be easily recyclable as well. Best of all it comes with a worn vintage look right out of the box.

Civic Duty Official Website

A Vest That is Sure to Impress

Playing army wasn’t this cool when I was kid, and while this reporter has had a range of paintball accessories, the new RAP4 Tactical MOLLE Vest almost makes me want to get back in the game. This one is designed for use in paintball, Airsoft and even tactical training. It can be customized and configured to meet a user’s requirements and hold paintball pods, CO2 cylinders and air tanks, while the interchangeable pouches can even hold standard AR or MP5 magazines.

It is designed with the MOLLE webbing system that utilizes multi-position hooks to enable you attach the pouches just where you want them, while pouches can be moved right to left or front to back. The interior of the vest also features dual map pockets, and since we know that many paintball and Airsoft players aren’t as lean as say the average Special Forces operative, this vest can be worn by users up to size 2XL.

Check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading A Vest That is Sure to Impress

Nokia Pushes Ahead with Burton

How was the run you might be asked at the bottom of the slope? Now you can tell how it was, while using your Nokia N8 to offer the details. Last week Nokia and Burton Snowboards announced a new partnership that will create a new way to visualize snowboarding with the Nokia x Burton: Push Snowboarding.

With sensors on the rider and snowboarder to detect a snowboard’s orientation, downward pressure exerted by the rider, as well as heart rate and Galvanic skin response – factors used in lie detector technology – riders can get post run data, which is sent to a Nokia N8 mobile phone. While GPS technology can further clock a rider’s speed down the Galvanic skin response actually monitors biofeedback that can detect elevated emotions, such as fearing for one’s life. So anyone who says, “It was nothing” will have to mean it. Let’s see if this technology pushes riders to new extremes.

Nokia Push Blog

SHOT Show: ESS Offers Superior Suppressor Eyeshields

You know this new eyewear is no joke it the maker calls them “eyeshields” and offers the brand name “Suppressor” for the frames. But when it comes from ESS, you also know this is going to be serious eye protection too.

The company is introducing its new line of hunting and shooting eyeshields at the SHOT Show this week, and these are the world’s first to be specifically engineered to function under ear cup hearing protection, comms devices and even helmets. This ensures that what protects the eyes doesn’t give the wearer a headache in the process.

The soreness and hotspots that is typically endured while wearing eyewear beneath the various headborne gear is now a thank of past, as ESS turns eye pro safety on its ear.

ESS Eye Pro Official Site

SHOT Show: Weather Tracker Data for Ballistics Solutions

Knowing weather conditions for shooting is a lot more important than simply putting on another layer or wearing an extra pair of socks. This is because the truth is that weather plays a significant role on how a shot fired from a gun will travel. Now Horus Vision, a company that develops technology to improve rifle accuracy at extended ranges, has teamed up with Kestrel Weather Meters to introduce the Horus Kestrel.

While the name might not seem innovative, the technology actually is – as this is the first device to incorporate weather (atmospherics) data into ballistics solutions in real-time. The integrated Kestrel 4500NV unit features five customizable targets, an extensive gun list and Horus’ proprietary truing technology. This was developed in part as a response to the military’s mission to obtain consolidated gear to minimize redundancy and bulk, and the result is integrated into the four-ounce pocked sized Kestrel Weather Tracker.

The Horus Kestrel is available in Olive Drab and Desert Tan, and is IP67 and MIL-STD-810G Rugged, which means it can stand up to conditions that most sport shooters won’t ever face. It is powered by two AAA batteries, and thus requires no chargers, plugs or external power source.

The Horus Kestrel will be available later this year (MSRP $739).

Horus Vision Official Website

Kestrel Weather Official Website

CES Recap: Panasonic Gets in the Game

At the Consumer Electronics Show Panasonic had many things to highlight, but missing from the buzz was their new line of in-the-ear clip earphones with remote controller and microphone. The new RP-HSC200 headphones are compatible with the latest iPod products as well as the iPhone. Best of all these ‘phones are water resistant for active workouts. These include soft, comfort fit elastomer hanger to ensure that the earphones stay in place so you can do your thing without the worry that these will fall out. Ear pieces are also included in small, medium and large sizes to help you get a snug fit.

These sports headphones give users the ability to control the volume and music, including play/pause/forward and ability to skip tracks, from the cord of the right earpiece. The remote also includes a built-in microphone when used with the iPhone. The earphones feature side mounted 12.4mm speakers and boast a frequency response of 10Hz – 22kHz. The RP-HSC200 sports earphones will be available in March for $59.99.

Panasonic Official Website

CES 2011 Recap: The Open Range EV

If you’re going to take it off road, do so in style and do it while still being eco-friendly we say. That’s sort of the idea behind the Ranger EV, the first ever electric, off-road capable utility vehicle from Polaris. The Ranger EV rolled into Las Vegas for the Showstoppers press event during last week’s Consumer Electronics Show and it certainly turned heads.

The Ranger EV features the longest battery pack in the industry, and thus offers the longest range of any electric midsize vehicle. It is powered by an exclusive 48-volt, AC induction motor, and can cruise with a top speed of 25 mph. It has a range of 50 miles and comes with a 500 pound cargo box, plus can tow up to 1,250 pounds, while offering a 1,000 total payload capacity. In other words, this green machine – which isn’t actually the color green – is up for the off-road and so much more.

Polaris Official Website

CES: Nike and TomTom Partner Up for SportWatch GPS

CES maybe over but we’ll be posting about all the cool stuff all week long.

Some partnerships just seem like a match made in heaven, and we’re not talking about Peanut Butter Cups either. Last week at the Consumer Electronics Show we heard an announcement that frankly was more earth shattering than the Apple iPhone for Verizon deal. Nike and TomTom are collaborating to create the Nike+ SportWatch GPS, which will now utilize TomTom’s GPS functionality.

This will provide athletes with the ability to know where they’re going as well as how much they ran, plus all the usual information including calories burned, pace, distance and time. The Nike+ SportWatch GPS will feature the same simple and intuitive user interface as the past models with a mere three buttons and tap screen for navigation. Continue reading CES: Nike and TomTom Partner Up for SportWatch GPS

Koyono Pushes Biking to Work

As a former resident of New York City, I’ve had the occasion to be bike to work from time to time, and apart from the traffic, there are issues of staying clean and not showing up a big sweaty mess. Fortunately I had a place to change, and a safe place to stash my bike.

But one issue remained, if I had to bring work home – or ever needed to bring a laptop, it meant trouble. I was a commuter not a bike messenger, and thus I didn’t have the right gear. How the times have changed. Koyono is one of several retailers offering new bike friendly accessories.

We had seen some of the new offerings – such as Timbuk2’s line of cycle friendly bags – at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show. All this makes almost makes me wish I could commute to work (instead of being one of those work from home types), but only almost!

Check out the commuter friendly gear at Koyono.com

SHOT Show: Wiley X Brings Stylish Eyeware for Shooting Market

Sport Shooters will be looking stylish this year as Wiley X will be introducing a new line of Saber Advanced from the Changeable series. These will feature a 3.0mm thick lens, which meets both MIL-PRF-31012 military ballistic and ANSI Z87.1-2003 high velocity standards. The lenses further are crafted from Selenite polycarbonate, making the thickest and most durable lenses available in the tactical/shooting eyeware market. The Saber Advanced will be available with either a single or dual lens option, for a variety of shooting situations, and come with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection, as well as optional prescription plug-in.

Wiley X will also feature its Black Ops line at next week’s SHOT Show, with black on black shades, created for elite-level military and law enforcement personnel as well as serious shooters. These feature Wiley X’s High Velocity Protection (HVP). These will provide your eyes and have your eyes looking good.

Wiley X Official Site