Cold feet should be reserved for such things as getting married or jumping off a cliff. Cold feet for hiking in the winter or just shoveling the snow is another matter entirely. Fortunately the ThermaCell Heated Insoles are designed to ensure that the feet stay warm even in the worst conditions. These are powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that is embedded in the insoles and can provide heat up to 110 degrees, making for a hot foot you’ll be happy to have!
Category: Gadget
Misfit Not a (Mis)Shift
We like to call out products that offer no real fitness value as Kinetic(Mis)Shifts but the Misfit isn’t one of those, despite the rather misleading name. The Misfit is actually a wireless activity tracker that goes beyond what similar devices do. First off we were caught by how small this one is, but then were really impressed that the all-metal device appears like it could stand up to real activity, which could include cycling and swimming. To sync with an app all that is required is laying it on the phone. The company is currently engaged in an Indiegogo fund raising project and we think this is going to be one to watch. Video after the jump
Holiday Gift Idea: Light Up the House
The days of kerosene lanterns burned out ages ago, but the L.L. Bean Lighthouse 30-day Camp Lantern will still light up the night. It features 300 lumens of light on high power and can be controlled by remote control. It features a flashing green LED to help you find it when turned off. Best of all it won’t set the barn, tent or anything else on fire should it tip over!
Holiday Gift Idea: SensoGlove
If you’re looking out for Black Friday sales, the SensoGlove is offering a deal for the golfer on your list. Get a 20 percent savings on the Sensosolutions website with the coupon code “BlackFriday12″ between Friday, November 23 and Friday, November 30th. Continue reading Holiday Gift Idea: SensoGlove
Two Way Chameleon Camera
Earlier this week we heard about the Spectacam, a “two-directional” that could be mounted on the helmet. The idea of that one was to record information in case of an accident. But Oregon Scientific have a similar camera system in mind, except that this concept is for getting two different perspectives at once, and merging it into a split screen display.
The ATC Chameleon features two 170-degree lenses, which are located at opposite ends of the camera body. Each one can be rotated by hand up to 180 degrees, so one could pan horizontally when the other tilts vertically. The processor combines the information from each 720p resolution camera. The information can be divided either vertically or horizontally as selected by the user. Each camera lens features frame rate of 30fps, and the device can run for up to two hours on a charge. The footage is saved directly to a MicroSD memory card as well. Video after the jump
Sparse to Release Theft-Resistant Bike Lights
Finally, bicycle lights you can leave on your bike when you park. San Francisco-based Sparse will offer front and rear lights which attach directly to frame parts making them more difficult to steal. The front light, aptly named “The Spacer”, rests below them stem and fits both 1” and 1-1/8” steer tubes. The rear light mounts to your 20mm – 31.6mm seatpost.
Rated at 220 lumens in the front and 50 lumens in the rear, these die-cast aluminum beauties house a double lens with a silicone gasket to keep the elements out. Both lights have a reflector behind the LED bulbs to maximize output and provide rider safety when the lights are off. The rear light’s automatic blink mode begins flashing when the bicycle is in motion and remains flashing for one minute after stopping. Charge the LiPo battery with a supplied 6’ USB cord or wall plug adapter for up to four hours of run time.
Available in March 2013, they are offered in a black or brushed alloy finish. Suggested retail prices are $50 for the rear, $75 for the front, and $120 for the set. Pony up $160 and you can buy yours in a limited edition white alloy. Video after the jump
CasioTalks SCUBA
If you watch lots of movies where SCUBA divers converse just as if they’re walking on the beach, you probably think that the technology is readily available for divers. There are some communication devices, but they can be costly and clunky. Yamagata Casio has developed the Logosease radio, a transceiver that allows users to have spoken conversations underwater.
The Logosease, which will be on show at the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Show 2012 in Las Vegas, is a pocketable transceiver that makes the ability to talk during SCUBA dives more accessible. Continue reading CasioTalks SCUBA
Diablo Mk4 Head Light
The Diablo Mk4, the new update to the Exposure Diablo Mk3, gives new meaning to the concept of “head light.” This helmet mounted light, which was just announced, casts up to 1,100 lumens anywhere you turn your head.
It comes with a USB charger so it can juiced up from an AC outlet or from a computer port. It looks to feature the same weatherproof construction of the previous model and can easily mount to most helmets. On full blast this one will offer about an hour’s run-time, which could be great for commuters. On a lower settting it can obviously go the distance. But for those who want to cast a lot of light for a long time, such as a 24-hour race or something, there is even an optional 3-cell external battery that can offer up to eight hours of run time.
SRAM Offers Garmin Mount
Soon bike shops could have a whole department dedicated to mounts for Garmin cycling computers, as SRAM now offers mounts that look quite similar to the Quarq version with its own SRAM Quickview. What sets this one apart is actually that there are multiple versions that can work with the Garmin 200, 500 and 800.
It is made of hybrid composite material that is meant to cut down vibration to the head unit while it is still firmly on the bar. It weighs just 20g and mounts with a single T25 Torx bolt and will available in time for the holidays.
Automatic Shifting Via an App
There are cycling apps that allow riders to track distance, speed, calories and much more, but now the UK-based Cambridge Consultants are looking to allow an app to do the shifting for you. In essence this app, when paired with electronic shifters such as Shimano’s Di2 will great an automatic transmission.
The data is reported transmitted by the sensors using low-power Bluetooth Smart and then processed by an algorithm on the handset. This does some quick math, determines the rider’s current pedaling speed to preferred cadence and then instructs the Di2 to shift according. Continue reading Automatic Shifting Via an App
Spectacam: Two Way Camera
Olympic cyclist Josiah Ng has started a Kickstarter project to raise money for what is being called a “two-way helmet cam.” From the sound of it we wonder if Ng was looking at introducing a camera that would allow communication between two people – sort of a Skype camera for the bike.
That’s not what he meant, but rather a “two-directional” camera that could be mounted to a helmet. The idea behind this concept is to provide cycle commuters with a “post-incident” security system. This way the camera can record not only what is coming from behind but shows where the rider’s eyes were towards the front. And technically this one isn’t limited just to cycling and could be used for any sort of post-accident study. Video after the jump
Say You Want a Revolights
There is a certain irony in that many bicycle lights are located far higher than those on an automobile, which means that it isn’t able to illuminate the road as well. But Kent Frankovich and Adam Pettler had a revolutionary idea: mount the bike light on the wheel, which in turn put it closer to the ground.
The pair launched a Kickstarter campaign, with the goal to reach $43,500 and eventually raised more than $215,000, and the end result is that cyclists can now buy the new Revolights. Video after the jump
Hand Powered USB Port
One thing we were certainly reminded of as a result of last week’s tragic aftermath from Hurricane Sandy was that power is fleeting. We depend on so many devices but getting them juiced up can be quite a challenge when the grid goes down.
Eton, the maker of numerous hand cranked survival radio, has a hand powered charger for smartphones. The Eton Boost Turbine features a 2000 mAH lithium-ion battery pack, durable aluminum body and a built-in hand turbine power generator. The crank can be used to juice up the battery, which can then power devices via a Micro-USB DC input.