Imagine loading up the car with all the stuff you could need and then hitting the water in a lightweight boat – but needing no trailer to do so. That’s because the Boatpack is actually an Acrylic-capped ABS plastic car roof box that can hold up to 650 Liters of camping gear, and then can become a boat, complete with wooden seat and folding oars.
It can pack a boatload of stuff and be a boat to boot.
Camping is supposed to be getting back to nature, but sometimes people camp out at music festivals or other places and create a whole lot of garbage in the process. Sometimes the tent is so trashed that it ends up in the garbage. But Fast Company reported last week that Glad – yes, the maker of garbage bags – is reportedly working on a disposable tent that turns into a garbage bag.
While we know not everyone will love the idea of a single use tent, we do think this could be a good way to ensure that campsites and those outdoor festivals aren’t totally trashed. Video after the jump
While many people fear the rays of the sun – which can lead to skin cancer and other nasty stuff, new research suggests that there is much good that comes to exposure to the sun. Not only does it provide a dose of vitamin D, but researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that exposure to the sun can increase the release of a compound called nitric oxide into the blood vessels. This compound can help lower blood pressure, and thus reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke.
While skin cancer is still a concern, the study noted that deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke are 60 to 100 times higher in northern Europe than those from skin cancers. Moreover Vitamin D can also help lower the risk of heart disease so perhaps a little tan can improve one’s health.
[Via Medical News Today: Sun Exposure Benefits May Outweigh Risks Say Scientists]
While some running and cycling races are now barring the use of hydration packs we don’t think that ban will last. Plus there are so many reasons to wear your water rather than carrying it. Now Tacprogear has introduced its line of H2O To Go packs, a user-friendly hydration system that can be added to virtually any pack or used a stand alone hydration system.
It features an anti-snag moisture-wick back padding with straps and a removable Microban bladder; while the rugged construction includes a MOLLE spine making it compatible with military gear carry systems. It is availbe in black, Coyote Tan, OD green and multicam.
We’ve seen a serious movement in providing electrical power for bicycles, and now the Mokai Motorized Kayak is bringing the juice to personal watercraft. The kayaks are powered by a 4-stroke Subaru EX21 electric start engine that is couple with the proprietary jet drive.
The Mokai Motorized Kayaks are good to get those places where paddling just won’t do, allowing users to reach remote camping sites, fish or hunt down stream. With this kayak you could find yourself up the river without a paddle and that wouldn’t be a problem.
When you are out of cellular range you don’t need to be out of luck if you have the DeLorme inReach SE, the satellite communicator that allows you to type, send and receive, track and even send out an SOS all from a single device. This promises off-the-grid communication without the need for a special satellite phone.
The inReach SE is ready for adventure, and is waterproof, dustproof, and impact-resistant, with a color screen, GPS, and a battery that lasts for up to 100 hours. As with past models it can be used to share GPS coordinates to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and can send and receive texts or trigger an SOS that can go to the company’s 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center. It can even pair with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth to provide even more features. With this device at hand’s reach you’ll be sure you can reach help if you really need it.
The iPad might be good for Facetime and Angry Birds, but will it help actually save your life? Is there an app for that? Probably not, especially if there isn’t Wi-Fi, cellular towers and power. The Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet is for those times, and it is designed specifically for use in the wilds.
The 1,024×768 six inch flexible E-Ink screen, which provides visibility in direct sunlight as well as a “Lunar” mode for viewing at night, features a glove friendly infrared touchscreen as well as a gyroscope so it can work in a variety of conditions. The screen can even be used as a lantern during an emergency. Laminated solar panels provide up to 20 hours of battery, and the device can charge in just five hours of direct sun light.
The Earl Backcountry Survival Tablet features an IP67 rating and is waterproof, dust-proof, shock-proof and even mud-proof. It offers an internal weather sensor, a FRS, GMRS and MURS transceiver for use as a two-way radio; plus it offers a built-in AM/FM/SW/LW radio tuner. It includes GPS and Bluetooth 4.0, and it runs on Android 4.1 so yeah, it probably can even play Angry Birds while you wait for rescue.
Polaroid made quite a name for itself with its instant film photos, and while those have faded away – much like many of the actual photos – the company lives on (and it does still offer an instant print digital camera). It introduced the new XS80 action camera, which joins Polaroid’s extensive product offerings.
This action camera stands out, not only because it offers the ability to take 1080p video at 30FPS, and can features tough waterproof housing with anti-shake technology that is impact and shock-resistant, but this go anywhere camera is priced at just $129.99. For that price you might not worry so much that it can’t endure an adventure. Specs and features after the jump
Brain buckets are a good idea for contact sports, cycling, skiing and yes climbing. While cats may land on their feet climbers all too often might land on their head. The Black Diamond Vector helmet is designed for those situations.
It is ideal for long routes, alpine climbs and other “weight-sensitive missions” and has a “barely there” feel to it. The geometric, co-molded EPD foam and polycarbonate shell provides full-coverage protection along with plenty of ventilation. This is a truly a diamond for the rough.
In a disaster sometimes people draw straws to decide who has to perform an unpleasant task. However, the NDūR Survival Straw from Proforce might be just the sort of straw you’d want to draw in such a case. Made of BPA free plastic this straw allows for drinking of water that might not be otherwise safe while out in the wilds.
It features a portable filtration system can remove what many other filters cannot – eliminating up to 99.9 percent of micro-organisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, up to 99.99 percent of all chemicals and heavy metals, as well as up to 99.9999 percent of viruses and bacteria including E-Coli found in water sources.
With the NDūR Survival Straw it could have you saying, “Water, water everywhere and now I’ll take a drink.”
A smartphone on a bike ride can do many smartphones but only if it is accessible. Reaching to the back pocket while riding down the road isn’t exactly a good idea, but the Dew Motion iStick Playtime can provide access and control of many app features for an iPhone – with an Android version in the works.
The iStick, which is currently looking to crowd funding site Indiegogo to roll this one out, is designed as a wrist wearable controller that pairs with the handset via Bluetooth 4.0. This allows wearers to answer phone calls and control various apps. Video after the jump
Smith Optics the latest models in its Pivlock V2 series, which include the Impossibly Black lens and clear NXT photochromic lens, which automatically adapt to varying light conditions. The two NXT lens are even available in a mirror blue lens with white frame for those who don’t like the spy look. The glasses maker is also introducing the latest glasses in its Approach line, which are feature the plant-based Evolve frame material, and are sourced from non-GMO castor plants. The impossible is not possible.
Time to get out there and take the music with you. Audio-Technica’s new SonicSport headphones, which are designed for active use will bring the music to any workout. Three new SonicSport models are out now, and include the back cord-style ATH-CP700, which offers a microphone and controls for smartphones and other devices; the C-top-design ATH-CKP500 and the ear hook version ATH-CKP200.
All three models feature an IPX5-certified waterproof rating and are sweat-proof and washable. There’s a great big world out there but when that doesn’t mean you have to hear it when working out.