Talk about bright light – the F1 Flashlight from LED Lenser can cast 400 Lumens. This portable flashlight can illuminate a camp site or more. It features a rugged HA III anodized housing that meets military standards and is waterproof (IPX8), and includes electronic control with temperature sensor, tail stand, and integrated roll protection.
Category: Outdoors
Weekend Reading List (03.16.2013): Climbing Tower, Back Country Dangers, Mad Snacks, Charlie Don’t Surf
Climbing Tower
From GearJunkie: Industrial Wasteland Transformed into Climbing Paradise (in Buffalo, NY)
Buffalo, New York, isn’t a climbing hot spot, but it appears that could be about to change. A project dubbed Silo City Rocks is renovating a 100-year-old grain elevator on the Buffalo River into one of the largest and most unique climbing facilities in North America. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (03.16.2013): Climbing Tower, Back Country Dangers, Mad Snacks, Charlie Don’t Surf
Bike London
While Amsterdam could arguably be the cycling capital of Europe the Mayor of London looks to develop a new €1 billion master bike plan aimed at revitalizing urban cycling. This plan backs Dutch style infrastructure with a strong commitment towards better cycling routes, traffic restrictions and even so-called “Little Holland” style developments. This is just some of what could occur via a 10-year plan that could see the majority of the new infrastructure built within the first four years.
“Both the Mayor and I pay tribute to the London Cyclists’ Campaign, journalists, bloggers and other campaigners for driving the issue so far up the political agenda,” says Andrew Gilligan, London’s newly appointed cycling commissioner. Continue reading Bike London
ThermoSuit Up
Spring is around the corner but that doesn’t mean it will be warm and sunny right away. No, we’ll have to deal with those “warmer” days – which could still mean rides in the 40s (or worse). If you’re itching to get out on the road instead of back on the trainer just bundle up a bit.
The Sanremo Thermosuit from Castelli is meant for those mild and damp, cool and damp and even cold and wintery days. It is designed for those times when the weather ranges from around 37.4 degrees F (3 degrees C) to 59.0 degrees F (15 degrees C) – in other words the kind of weather much of the country experiences in March and well into April.
This single piece cycling suit features windstoper x-lite plus stretch fabric that is windproof and splash resistant, while the back offers thermoflex core due fabric for high breathability. The suit offers rear reflective tabs to help you be seen on those gray or dark days, while there are even three rear pockets for stashing those can’t-leave-at-home items.
If you can’t wait for summer the Sanremo Thermosuit will help you go the distance.
Assisted Blade
While you won’t be able to bring this new Gerber knife on planes, even with the new TSA rules in place, the Gerber Outrigger Knife is one that you might want to take just about everywhere else that adventure calls. It features assisted opening 2.0 technology that makes for quick access while dual thumbstuds allow for easy one-hand operation. There is a pocket clip so it is always within reach.
Cyclist Radar
Often times when a car hits a cyclist the driver claims that the bicycle came out of nowhere or just wasn’t seen. Imagine if the car had some form of radar that could help detect riders and react! Well, that’s exactly what Volvo has introduced with its update to the pedestrian detection system, which features a full auto brake trigger.
The pedestrian system has been in place since 2010, but now will alert drivers and react to bicycles as well. If an imminent impact with a rider or pedestrian is detected the driver will receive a red warning flash while the car will activate full breaking power. The technology will be available in the V40, S60, V60, XC60, V70, XC70 and S80 from mid-May 2013. Video after the jump
Light Stem
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.
Credit this innovation to the advances in LED technology. The StemLite utilizes 10 Nichia LEDs that combined can cast about 500 lumens on high mode. If that’s too much there is also a 300 lumen low mode, and even a flashing mode. The system is powered by just three AA batteries, with up to 12 hours per charge on high and 21 hours on low. The developers are now raising funds to bring out the StemLite via a Kickstarter project.
We’ve said it before, but this sounds like a bright idea. Video after the jump
Scooter Pogo Stick
Are there just not enough ways to hurt one’s self? That is the first question we had when we saw the Kickstarter site for the JumpX, which promises big air and a smooth ride. It is essentially a pogo stick and a scooter and can glide and jump.
As the video below suggests it looks like it could be fun… and dangerous. We just hope the inventors are taking some of that Kickstarter money and saving it for a legal fund! Video after the jump
Weekend Reading List (03.09.2013): Bobsled Run Cycling, Bike Summit, Snow Numbers, Slow Damage
Bobsled Run Cycling
From Vimeo: The new Radon Slide 130 29″ is chasing James Bond 007 in the bob run!
If life gets boring…. German downhill star Andreas Sieber and his team mate Julian Gerhardt had the ultimate adrenaline kick at the bob run in Winterberg (GER). The channel was an extraordinary location for riding the new Radon Slide 130 29″ and the Radon Swoop 175! Continue reading Weekend Reading List (03.09.2013): Bobsled Run Cycling, Bike Summit, Snow Numbers, Slow Damage
Keen Goes Light
This week Keen announced 20 new lightweight shoe models for spring. To say that the CNX line has something for everything might be a bold statement, but the lineup includes models for kids, women and even kids. All the shoes are reportedly under 10 ounces, and feature a low-profile 4mm drop so that feet are planted “more naturally” with each step. It all has us counting the days until spring.
Hammock Time
There are times when a tent isn’t needed but sleeping under the stars isn’t quite possible either. Bugs and critters make sleeping on the ground a little less desirable, but the Blue Ridge Camping Hammock from Lawson will get you off the ground and have you covered as well. It features a nylon pack cloth bed, nylon rope, aluminum alloy poles and no-see-um netting. There is an O-ring in the ceiling for hanging light while a nylon rain tarp will have you covered in case the weather turns. It weighs just 4.25 pounds making for less to carry while on the go.
Game Makers Encourage Kids to Get Outdoors
When we think of video games we do think of living room activity, but the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced a partnership with Outdoor Nation, a national initiative that connects kids with outdoor activities, to launch Game On: Challenge Grants. The goal is to get young people to the outdoors through entertainment technology. This pilot program will invest in youth-inspired projects that leverage entertainment gaming technologies to get a new generation outdoors, active and engaged in conservation challenges. Continue reading Game Makers Encourage Kids to Get Outdoors
Encapsilating Jacket
While Patagonia’s new DriDown jacket may not be encapsulating, it is Encapsil’ating. The Encapsil Down Bedlay Parka features an incredible 1,000-fill insulation rating, but more impressively is water resistant, stronger and 25 percent loftier than other down. The jacket further features the industry’s first 100 percent independently baffled, differentially cut parka design to further eliminate cold spots.
This jacket can stand up to the cold with a polyurethane dry coated 100 percent shell with helmet-compatible hood and insulated hand warmer pockets. There is even a unique pull-system that lets wears adjust the waist draw cord from inside or out of the jacket. This is one jacket that will let you get down – and stay truly encapsil-ated in.