Category: Apparel

Old Hunters Never Die, They Just Optifade Away

After introducing its Gore Optifade Concealment Open Country pattern, which was optimized for backcountry hunters, in 2009 the company has now developed a Forest Pattern for tree stand hunters who scout out wooded environments and from elevated angles.

This is because those who hunt from heights tend to have stark contrasts, notably bright sky, dark leaves and branches, as well as being defined by the lines of trees. These lines say experts make it easier for dder and other animals to detect a hunter because of the contrasts with the sky with branches. Those the new Forest pattern doesn’t make it so easier for the prey to see the hunter in the forest from the trees. The Forest pattern is reported to have been scientifically designed for close engagement ranges of under 20 yards and for elevated angles.

Gore Optifade Products

Turn the iPod Nano Into an Awesome Fitness Watch

Apple’s new iPod Nano is the ideal fitness gadget. It plays your digital tunes, of course, and now with the FM tuner you have access to the radio when you’ve grown tired of the music you own. It’s also smaller than before, making it light and unobtrusive in your pocket when you’re working out. Plus, a built-in clip means you can easily attach it to your shirt while running. As if those features aren’t enough, there’s a pedometer you can use to track your steps and the Nano works with the Nike+ feature to track your fitness progress. Unlike the even smaller iPod Shuffle, the Nano has a touchscreen that lets you see and control it.

But you know what? It’s hard to justify spending $149 to $179 for another music player, especially since many of us already own an MP3 player and/or iPhone or similar device. That is until we saw the Griffin Slap, a flexible wristband case for the Nano that turns it into a watch. You won’t have to worry about accidentally losing your Nano by forgetting it on the treadmill or getting it detached from your shirt during exercise, since it’s on your wrist the whole time. And, at only $25,  it turns the Nano into an awesome watch.

Griffin

Pushing the Extremes From the Base Layer

There is no denying it, but we’ll keep saying it, winter is coming and that means cold weather. There are a few options, including setting up camp in doors until the spring thaw or taking your base to new extremes. Craft Apparel will let you go for the second option with its line of Zero and Zero Extreme Windstopper garments that provide full wind protection, while still offering maximum breathability. These include lightweight and elastic wind protection with strategically positioned panels to keep the cold air from blowing through you.

The collection include tops, bottoms and accessories and each is soft with close fit. The Pro Zero further stays in contact with your body, to pull away excess moisture. This is a key to staying warm – if you start to cool down the wind chill can make that sweat feel like you’ve splash with icy water. The Pro Cool outer fabric further allows air to circulate around your body to promote moisture expulsion while also keeping you from getting too heat up during a workout.  Antimicrobial treatment is also included to keep the garments smelling fresh and to keep that “gym” odor from setting in. This will help you push your training to new extremes even in extreme weather.

Craft Apparel Official Website

Oakley Turns to Aerospace Industry for Jury Sunglasses

They may not be barely there, but Oakley’s new Jury sunglasses are made from aerospace aluminum alloy to create a lightweight metal pair of shades. “We wanted Jury to be made of metal but still provide the comfort of a lightweight design,” said Oakley CEO Colin Baden in a company statement. “The grade of aluminum used by machine industry mills was nowhere near our targeted profile, so we turned to the aerospace industry.”

The company sees the material as achieving Oakley’s goal of blending science and art. The aerospace aluminum alloy was originally engineered to “take the punishment that aircraft and space vehicles endure,” said Baden.

Custom engineering was necessary to achieve the spring hinge mechanisms. The challenge Oakley faced was that milling and machine tolerances had to be within a thousandth of an inch. The frame is enhanced with Unobtanium (created by Oakley) stem sleeves that increase the grip when you perspire. This is designed for a Three-Point Fit that optimizes for comfort. The frame makes contact only at the bridge of the nose and the sides of the head. The Three-Point Fit also holds the lenses in precise alignment.

The optics of the dual-lens frame follow a continuous contour, which requires the equivalent of cutting each lens from single toric shields. Oakley employed Polaric Ellipsoid lens geometry, which was used to maintain sharp, accurate vision for all angles of view. The Jury also features High Definition Optics, which allows the glasses to exceed all Z87.1 standards for optical clarity and precision established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The glasses meet all ANSI Z87.1 standards for high mass and high velocity impact resistance.

Plutinite lenses of the Oakley Jury filter out 100% of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm. You can choose to get optional Iridium lens coating to balance light transmissions and reduce glare.

That’s a lot of elements in the new Jury glasses. For a limited time, a special edition of Oakley Jury sunglasses will be available at Sunglasses Hut with a special finish called “Distressed Silver.” While these are available, Oakley will feature a special exhibit of Jury along with the lineage of Oakley design innovation eyewear at the Sunglasses Hut on 5th Avenue and 48th Street in New York.

Oakley

Gore(Tex) in 2011

We heard that Gore-Tex will roll out a new fabric that the company says will be the most breathable waterproof material yet. The new Gore-Tex Active Shell won’t actually make it to shops until about a year from now, but it should prove to be the wait.

This new technological breakthrough in fabric shouldn’t be confused with the already on the market “Windstopper Active Shell” either. The Gore-Tex Active Shell will do much the same, but dare we say even better. According to reports it will provide a combination of lightness and breathability so it can function as a shell for cyclists and runners alike, and thus can be used in more “minimalist” garments. Additionally it will be ultra-lightweight enough that it will be good for climbers and hikers where every ounce counts. The key to getting the weight down required Gore to change the very construction, thus limiting the thickness of the layers and more importantly reducing the amount of glue used in the process.

Now the only thing to do is get through the next nine to 10 months and then try it out. We’ll keep you posted.

Gore-Tex Official Website

[Via Outdoors Magic: New Gore-Tex Fabric Launches]

Get a Resistance Workout Under the Belt, Pants

Shape. Tone. Burn. That’s the concept behind ShaTuBu, a women’s foundation garment that not only provides shaping, but resistance bands sewn into the knee-length tights gives you a workout with each step.

Developed by chiropractor Dr. Denise Perron, ShaToBu makes claims to burn up to 12 percent more calories during daily activities. The garment shapes and adds support to create a slimmer silhouette. The resistance in the tights work on the thighs and rear when you start moving. The resistance bands are stitched into strategic points that are built into panels on the tights. The bands criss-cross the upper thighs and waist area. As you walk, the resistance bands provide a little drag, forcing you to work harder with each step. These are the second version of ShaToBu, and are available for about $34 at barenecessities.com, blissworld.com, dullards.com, macys.com or shatobu.com.

ShaToBu

Biggest Loser Inspired Clothing Now Available

You need to look good to feel good while working out. That’s the motivation of the new BL Body athletic line of fitness attire, which was inspired by the high NBC series The Biggest Loser. This line of clothing uses a special shaping technology to give anyone who wears it a bit of extra support to feel good, and thus look good.

Fashion designer Bruno Schiavi created the clothing, with the idea of providing empowerment to help people change their lives in a very positive manner. The garments feature longer cuts, hidden pockets and thumb holes, as well as including features such as iPod holders for wearer’s. Likewise, Schiavi introduced the line with bright and vibrant colors to encourage the wear to remain motivated in their attempts at healthier living.

The BL Body athletic collection is available from HSN.com

Glasses Find Golf Balls Under Black Light-Like Filter

Hammacher Schlemmer is known for its nifty sports equipment such as the Seven Person Tricycle that’s always a blast; Mountain Scooter that can glide over some rugged and steep terrain; and Articulating Inline Casterboard that has kids squiggling around the block. One of its newer products is the Golf Ball Locating Glasses.

These glasses look like a pair of Oakleys with an alternate style that looks like you just walked out of the optometrist’s office (that fit over most prescription glasses) and cost about $40. The lenses contain a pigment that helps filter out light as it passes through. The affect is almost as through you’re looking at the world with a black light. All colors are overtaken by a predominately blue tone except for those balls and anything else in white that gets in your line of sight.

Continue reading Glasses Find Golf Balls Under Black Light-Like Filter

Interbike: For Women Doesn’t Mean Pink

Just because it’s pink, doesn’t mean it’s made with women in mind. That’s the feeling among bikers and the emphasis of a handful of “made for women” bike clothing companies. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a pink jersey or pair of socks in there. Here’s a few companies tailoring their gear just for the fairer sex.

Shorts are among the most important garments for cyclists. They must have padding, and they should have coverage enough so people don’t see whether you wear underwear or go bare underneath. We’ve had a pair or two that were too revealing. Tough Chik Woman’s Cycling Shorts are a six-panel style with a rear privacy liner to keep things to the imagination. They feature an E.S.P. Chamois, silicon gripper and tagless labeling so you don’t have the discomfort of a tag poking at you while you ride. This short is recommended for mid-distance rides. Continue reading Interbike: For Women Doesn’t Mean Pink

Interbike 2010: You’ve Got the Whole World on Your Back

There is looking like a team player when riding, and then there is really showing your support. Or if you’re like us you just like flags a lot. That’s why we were seriously impressed by the cycling attire from World Jerseys. The company has a handsome line jerseys with international flags, so whether you’re a fond of a particular nation, or just happen to like the idea of being decked out in a flag, you can show your true colors – and many colors at that.

Each jersey is made of 100 percent polyester Euro-Mesh fabric to provide moisture wicking, whilst the lightweight material features an antimicrobial finish that resists odors and reduces germs. Now is your chance to fly the flag – such as the Spanish one pictured (in honor of Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of course).

World Jerseys

Interbike 2010: Oh Danny Boy, Oh DannyShane

With apologies to the classic Irish tune, and to our friends at DannyShane: Oh Danny Boy, the bamboo, the bamboo is calling.

The eco-conscious cycling apparel company is doing something very unique with bamboo. While we heard about a bamboo water bottle previously, and even a bamboo bicycle, we never thought we’d ever have the chance to wear bamboo whilst riding. The whole grass skirt thing doesn’t seem ideal for use with a bike. But DannyShane will suit you up in the fast growing grass.

The has created a line of proprietary fabric blend materials that 44 to 50 percent bamboo white ash (BWA), the latest innovation in truly natural fibers. And according to reports the BWA should capture odor naturally, breathe easily and provide natural UV protection while still feeling soft. The fabric dries quickly too, as it provides the BWA into every weave of fabric, helping provide natural moisture-wicking capabilities. Continue reading Interbike 2010: Oh Danny Boy, Oh DannyShane

Interbike 2010: Looking Mod and Stylish While Helping the Planet

Looking good and doing so while wearing recycled water bottles isn’t really a stretch, and you don’t even have to be Lady Gaga to pull it off. Modrobes makes it easy as the company is set to launch a new line of urban cycling apparel made from recycled water bottles.

Toronto designer Steven Sal Debus spent five years cycling in some truly lovely locales including Amsterdam, Zurich, Portland, Vancouver and New York. He hit upon the idea to create a “new school” of cycling attire, and came up with an idea to use a product that typically is used once and discarded. The result is a line of products that looks good, feels good and is also good for the planet. Continue reading Interbike 2010: Looking Mod and Stylish While Helping the Planet

View Your Workout With Sweat Activated Technology

A soaked shirt at the end of a workout is a good sign that you put in the miles, went the distance, played really hard or just otherwise really sweated the small and big stuff. With the ViewSPORT line of t-shirts users not only see a soaked shirt, but also can get motivated by working just hard enough to have the shirt (almost magically) provide an inspiration message.

 The technology behind the ViewSPORT shirts is the brainchild of chemist Ben Wood and Joe Yacano, who created a special process for their Sweat Activated Technology. The apparel that offers a variety of slogans, such as one that says, “I Am” and after a bit of time pumping iron or running it reveals, “the Competition.” Think of this as a personal way to manage your workout routine by merely looking in the mirror, and the result is what the makers call a visible measure of a wearer’s “sweat equity.” Continue reading View Your Workout With Sweat Activated Technology