Category: Outdoors

Interbike: The Real Recovery Ride

Ride-2-RecoveryNext month at the Interbike trade show attendees will get a chance to take part in a new 25-mile ride that is about more than just testing next year’s bicycles. The Ride 2 Recovery/Interbike Honor Ride will start at Interbike’s new home, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (MBCC), on Tuesday, September 17th, at 8:00 a.m. Veterans, troops and all attendees of the Interbike trade show are invited to ride to the OutDoor Demo site in Boulder City, NV.

This is one ride we hope not to miss.

Ride2Recovery Official Website

True Bicycle Grit

CogburnReuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn is a fictional character who first appeared in the 1968 Charles Portis novel, True Grit. Cogburn Outdoors likely has nothing to do with that fictional character, but the company is a division of Quality Bicycle Products – the makers of Surly and Salsa fat-bikes.

The reason we thought of Rooster Cogburn is that this bike is something we’d almost expect to see him ride if he were around today and not merely a fictional character. This is a “hunter’s bike,” and offers a place to store a bow or rifle. The CB4 offers a rack, oversized tires and even a camouflage frame.

It is a bike that we think has some “true grit,” and we don’t mind saying so.

Cogburn Outdoors Official Website

A Higher Power

Serfas-TSL-1000The new TSL-T1000 headlight from Serfas is lightweight, made of CNC aluminum but with 1,000 lumens it is bright. Designed for off road riding the light features a Serfas Thunderbolt taillight that is integrated into its small battery pack, which can be strapped to a seatpost or top tube. The battery also features a USB outlet to charge accessories. The lightset comes with an included handlebar mount, helmet mount, wired remote switch, extension cable, wall charger and ballistic nylon storage case. It offers two hours of run time and can charge up in four hours. With this on a bike you might seem like a higher power.

Serfas TSL-T1000 Headlight Official Website

Swing Right With the Swingbyte

SwingByteGolf has been around for a long time, and while the game has evolved over the years with new equipment the last decade has seen the game on the green really go high-tech. Among the newest advances are apps, and the Swingbyte is one that works with Android and iOS and features a simple device that attaches to any club including driver or putter. It is paired with a mobile device via Bluetooth and automatically records details on swings including club head speed, acceleration and club face angle.

With this users can analyze each swing and see what they were doing right and wrong.

Swingbyte Official Website

BULT in Camera

BULTThere is a serious debate whether a rugged camera should be mounted to a cycling and skating helmet. Some content that this could actually cause injury as the object could affect the way a wearer’s head hits the ground. C-Preme saw this concern and has addressed it with the fittingly named BULT, which offers a built-in 1,280×720 resolution video camera that can shoot at 30 frames per second with a 120-degree angle lens. It can even snap 5MP still photos.

The “Videohead Technology” is reportedly CPSC and ASTM certified and will be released later this year.

BULT Digital Helmets Official Website

Shoes to Shelter

Walking-ShelterYou can walk to the camp site, or you can decide that you’ve reached it when you are wearing the Walking Shelter shoes. Australian design collective Sibling has devised these new shoes that transform from shoes to a tent in just minutes.

In truth this is currently just a prototype and it is as much a shapeless bag as an actual tent, but does make us wonder about the possibilities of “wearing” our shelter when off hiking.

Sibling Walking Shelter Official Website

Board to Tent

Coreban-BG-Ultimate-AdventuWe’re seeing a trend in fitness and outdoor equipment that can transform from item A into item B. Sometimes this doesn’t always make sense, but the Coreban BG Ultimate Adventure Tent might be a serious space saver for those who want to do some paddle boarding and not sleep on the cold hard ground.

Paddleboard maker Coreban has partnered with British adventurer Edward Michael “Bear” Grylls to create a board that can be used on the water all day and double as an air mattress at night. This is still very much in development and thus issues likely remain. We’d worry this would be a soggy bed, and is questionable whether sleeping on an air mattress might be an easier option. However, this dual purpose idea could be one worth exploring.

Coreban Official Website
[Via GizMag: Bear Grylls’ stand-up paddleboard tent turns board into air mattress]

Jeep Goes Xtreme With Performance Gear

jeepThis year at the Outdoor Summer Market, Chrysler will make its North American debut of its Jeep Xtreme Performance Collection. The JXP is a line of apparel and gear that Jeep says will push boundaries for activities including trail running and mountain biking.

The line contains over 170 apparel items, plus footwear. Beyond the Clouds holds the Jeep license and is manufacturing the line. There are few details ahead of the Outdoor Retailer show coming up. We will follow-up once more is announced.

Jeep Official Website

Solar Tent

Eddie-Bauer-Katabatic-2-SolA tent is great for keeping you out of the elements, but the Eddie Bauer Katabatic 2 Solar Tent can also be paired with the Sherpa 50 Solar Recharging Kit from Ground Zero. This means you can let your gizmos and gadgets get juiced up and remain safely inside the three-person, four-season tent.

This backcountry-ready tent will be able to keep you covered, and power up those electronics you just can’t leave at home next spring.

Eddie Bauer Official Website

Shower Power

Viteo-ShowerWhile it is nice to have an outdoor shower by the pool or just for a way to clean up after a messy bike ride, run or even just yard work the truth is that many would find this to be a waste. However, the Viteo Shower might be the answer.

Designed by Danny Venlet, this portable outdoor shower is actually more portable water fountain/sprayer. Instead of standing under the shower, this is one you stand on top of. Water streams up around 13 feet before falling down on the user. Water can be supplied via a hosepipe, so it could mean refreshing – not to mention cold – showers. Continue reading Shower Power

Enduro Challenge Coming to Interbike’s Outdoor Demo

InterbikeWe at KineticShift look forward to the OutDoor Demo Days during Interbike. It is our chance to test ride a variety of bikes on and off-road. This year the show organizers are looking for something a bit bigger with the Enduro Challenge to be held at Bootleg Canyon and presented by Innovative Timing Systems (ITS).

The all-new Enduro Challenge will consist of four stages covering both days of the OutDoor Demo. There will be two unique timed courses that riders can put their skills and the latest bikes to test on over the two days. Awards will be presented both days to the top three finishers for both men and women, with three grand prizes awarded on Tuesday afternoon to the combined two day winners. The overall winner is the rider (male and female) who accumulates the lowest combined time from the four timed sections. Participation in the event is free of charge to all attendees. Riders can take practice runs, but only one official time will count towards the prizes.

The Endure Challenge, will take place on both Monday and Tuesday, with winners to be crowned both day, and is open to all Interbike & OutDoor Demo attendees.

Interbike Official Website

Stower Not Thrower

FlameStowerThe Flamethrower was actually a somewhat “ancient” invention used during the Byzantine Empire to shoot fire, and reinvented more recently for the same nefarious purpose. However, the FlameStower is something less menacing and actually could be considered a way to make camping downright civilized. It can charge the batteries of a USB-connected device via a camping or cook fire by conducting the heat to a thermoelectric generator.

The generator is in contact with a water reservoir and the combination of hot and cold produces the energy to juice up a device in a few hours.

FlameStower Official Website