The name Mac in a Sac – technically Mac in a Sac 2 Packaway Jacket – still has a better name than jacket in a bag, but either way you get the picture. This simple concept, which is exactly what it sounds like a basic polyester shell that can block wind and water, fits in a small bag, a.k.a. the “sac.” The 100 percent waterproof yet breathable fabric makes it ideal for having some protection from the elements.
Category: Hiking
Cerberus Three-Part System Helps You Stay On Track, Gets Help When You Need It
If the potential for getting lost is a reason for not venturing into the outdoors, it’s time to let go of that fear with the Cerberus tracking and alert system from Briartek. Named after the three-headed guardian dog of Hades, Cerberus is a three-part system that works in conjunction with your smart device to keep you from getting lost and get you help when you need it. Continue reading Cerberus Three-Part System Helps You Stay On Track, Gets Help When You Need It
Magellan Says Take a Hike
We’ve seen Magellan really go the distance this year with its eXplorist GPS receivers. These are rugged, waterproof and of course handheld. The fishing based ones cast off earlier this summer and now Magellan has said to take a hike.
The company announced its TOPO! Special Editions, which provide hikers with a best-in-class total navigation solution, offering National Geographic’s TOPO! maps with up to USGS 1:100,000-scaled topography for planning and visualizing long trips, while USGS 1:24,00-scale topography is also provided for fine detail.
The eXplorist 310 TOPO! Edition includes an eXplorist 310 GPS device with a 2.2-inch color screen with rich graphics and a simple user interface; while the eXplorist 510 TOPO! Edition includes an eXplorist 510 GPS device (right) with a built-in camera, microphone and a 3-inch color touchscreen. Both TOPO! Editions include one-year of unlimited map downloads that never expire once downloaded. The Magellan eXplorist TOPO! Editions will be available in August for an MSRP of $199.99 (eXplorist 310 TOPO! Edition) and $299.99 (eXplorist 510 TOPO! Edition).
High-Tech Tech Offers Lightweight but at Price
Can you put a price in saving weight while hiking and camping? If you can then the Sierra Designs new line of ExoFusion fast-and-light tents might not be for you. But if you want superior quality and materials in a two-person backpacking tent, which weighs in at less than two pounds and can be pitched in minutes, then the Sierra Designs ExoFusion Mojo UFO is one to consider.
Made of cuben fiber, and ultra-light, highly durable fabric that is used in sailcloth it is ideal for providing protection from the elements. It also features an external pole set-up that made of carbon fiber and goes up quickly, and when not used to hold up the tent, are light enough that you won’t mind carrying them. Continue reading High-Tech Tech Offers Lightweight but at Price
Merrell Introducing Barefoot Hiking Shoes in 2013
Heavy-duty hiking boots may soon become a thing of the past thanks to the folks at Merrell. Inspired by the barefoot running craze led by shoe-maker Vibram, Merrell is introducing its new line of M-Connect hiking shoes which ditch the traditional high-top boot design for one that’s lighter, more flexible, and closer to a barefoot running shoe.
Available for both men and women, the M-Connect line will be designed for various outside activities, including running, training, and hiking. The shoes, which are lower and weigh less than modern-day hiking shoes, are meant to provide hikers with a natural glove-like fit and an overall light and flexible design. To reduce unnecessary weight, Merrell shaved some ounces off the shoes’ soles, allowing for better “ground feel,” greater surface contact, and better overall stability. Continue reading Merrell Introducing Barefoot Hiking Shoes in 2013
Vargo BOT Water Bottle Cooking Pot
The Vargo BOT is not some sort of robot that will cook dinner for you after you’ve gone hiking. But it will allow you to carry water to a campsite and cook in the same vessel. Basically the Vargo BOT is a titanium water bottle and cooking pot in a single, lightweight package.
Unlike most cooking pots this one is designed to carry water without spilling liquid all over everything during a hike, and unlike water bottles this is safe and stable for cooking. It fits in most backpack water bottle pockets, while the screw-top lid can be turned upside-down for cooking. The temperature resistant O-ring won’t melt even when exposed to high heat. In other words, a perfect solution that means one less thing to carry.
Garmin’s fēnix Outdoor Watch Goes Off Trail
GPS is great, but when you’re on a road you typically still have an idea of your location. For trails and other outdoors activities, if the GPS stops marking when you step off the trail, it’s useless. Garmin just released its fēnix Outdoor Watch, which still tracks and directs adventurers, even when they’re off the beaten path. Continue reading Garmin’s fēnix Outdoor Watch Goes Off Trail
KEEN Sandals Ready for Hiking
Sandals don’t likely come to mind as the most ideal footwear for hiking, but we should consider for centuries in hot regions sandals were actually the de facto shoes. The Romans wore sandals and built an empire with its soldiers in this footwear and that was before building those roads. Continue reading KEEN Sandals Ready for Hiking
Pack It In (3 Ounces)
Imagine having a full size backpack that can carry 30 pounds or more, and yet it is small enough empty to fit in a pocket and weighs just three ounces? Well, that’s the PackBack form Trek Light Gear, which makes use of parachute nylon – so it is strong while also being resistant to mildew and rot.
Google Offer Hiking Trail Views
Google noted last week that it was “obsessed over building great maps for our users—maps that are totally comprehensive (we’re shooting for literally the whole world), ever more accurate and incredibly easy to navigate.”
We’ve seen this with Google Earth, which offers that bird’s eye view of just about everywhere. On the ground there has been Google Street View as well – but now the company is heading to the trails with Google Street View Trekker, a hi-tech backpack-contained system that will essentially bring Street View to places that can only be reached on foot. Video after the jump
Bosavi LED Works as Bike Headlight and More
When camping bringing good portable lights is key. This is something that is sometimes very difficult to understand in our modern world where lights are readily available after the sun goes down. There are plenty of lights out there, but it can expensive and take up a lot of room to bring them all.
But now Bosavi has developed a light that can work as a bike light/head lamp and use its packaging to transform into lantern. The LED light is powered by a lithium-polymer battery, which can deliver 70 hours of illumination in low mode, 23 hours in 60-lumen mode and three hours in 110-lumen boost mode. This might be OK if you’re camping for a single night, but the Bosavi can also be recharged from various sources including solar chargers. Video after the jump
Clif Bar Offers Organic Bars
Clif Bar is going back to nature. The company is introducing Clif Kit’s Organic, a new snack bar made with 100 percent organic fruit and nuts. Clif Bar co-CEO Kit Crawford inspired the organic line after he experiences on her family farm where she developed a passion for organic ingredients and handcrafted foods. Continue reading Clif Bar Offers Organic Bars
Runtastic Adds to Mobile Fitness Tracking Apps
Runtastic added two features to its activity tracking app. Ideal Weight 2.0 and Altimeter are now part of the Runtastic Pro apps, which cost about $3.99 in the Android and iPhone app stores. Continue reading Runtastic Adds to Mobile Fitness Tracking Apps