Last Pelican released the U100 Urban Elite Laptop Backpack that had room for seemingly everything but the kitchen sink. This year the company’s Progear S130 Sport Elite Laptop/Camera Divider Pack could almost make carrying that sink possible.
While that would be a stretch this new watertight, crushproof case offers plenty of room for all the essential gear that you might want to take on an adventure. It features top-loading access to gear but can still be jammed under a seat on an airplane. More importantly it features a pressure equalization valve to prevent vacuum lock, and is watertight to one meter for up to 30 minutes. There is a rigid front plate for impact protection and a padded divider to ensure that cameras, tablets and other devices have just the right place so nothing is left behind.
Pelican Progrear S130 Sport Elite Laptop/Camera Divider Pack
Even in non-electrical powered bicycles there are more and more electrical gizmos and gadgets, and these include GPS devices and cycle computers. The “controls” for gear shifters and brakes are positioned within finger’s reach, but typically the controls for those electrical devices are not.
Currently in development through a Kickstarter project the BikeSpike is being designed as a bicycle GPS that could also offer automatic crash reporting. This small gizmo features a GPS chipset with a built-in antenna, on-board accelerometer and a connection to a global cellular network.
Dora the Explorer would probably be inspired by Balazs Ficzer’s DORA helmet, which while still only a concept could be the future of helmets. It features front and rear LED lights as well as turn signals. The video below shows some other things that the DORA – the helmet not the cartoon girl – might be able to do. 
While most cycling computers can track distance, trip time, speed and many can provide information on temperature, grade of the road and even calories, the new Sigma 12.12Topline bike computer can provide something else – namely how many gallons of gasoline a rider may have saved by riding a bike instead of driving a car. Obviously this is a feature commuters will use more than those who take a casual weekend ride, but it is still a great way to see how a bike ride can translate into real savings.
Nike has chosen 10 companies to be part of its Nike+ Accelerator program, which is looking to help motivate and inspire more people to lead active, healthy lifestyles. Each of these companies will receive access to the Nike+ API, Nike+ mobile SDKs and Nike FuelBand Dev Kit along with tech support from experienced developers.
Class is in session, FitnessClass that is and you don’t need to go to school to take part. PumpOne has introduced its new FitnessClass mobile health app for Android along with the new Fitnessclass.com web access. This providers users with anytime, anywhere access to hundreds of full-length workout videos.
We’ve seen a number of helmet mounted cameras, but the Lobster X can be worn directly on the head sans helmet. This South Korean developed action camera puts the electronics in flexible silicone strap that can be attached directly to the wearer’s head. This could allow runners, surfers and other athletes who don’t don a helmet to get that first person perspective. The only question we have is what this has to do with a lobster?
Helmets are often called brain buckets, but the SMART is actually a cycling helmet that is pretty darn smart. While still under development via an Indiegogo project, its developers hope to create a cycling helmet with an integrated heart rate sensor.
Expensive bikes are just magnets for thieves. One solution is to never, ever leave a bike unattended. That isn’t always possible, but fortunately there are those inventors and innovators who are looking at ways to keep our bikes safe.
We’ve seen many bicycle stems that claim to be lightweight but there is one new stem that promises to lite it up instead. The StemLite is – as the name suggests – a handlebar stem with a built-in light. This ensures that riders will have a light, which can’t easily be stolen or lost. It also frees riders of needing to worry about a handlebar mounted system, not to mention the bulky battery pack.
Last week we reported on a soccer ball that can harness energy from play. The 94Fifty practice basketball from InfoMotion Sports Technologies can’t do that but it can provide a variety of feedback data and help coaches and players determine what part of the game might need some work.
Jaybird has long understood that the needs of athletes when it comes to audio. Just any headset isn’t going to do, but the Bluebuds X are headphones that will go the distance as there are the official training headphones of USA Triathlon!