We’ve seen many rugged cameras, but for those who take photography seriously it isn’t the camera that needs to be rugged – it’s the bag. The Kata Revolver 8 PI Camera Bag is designed for those shutterbugs who carry multiple lenses and other camera gear. This bag won a 2012 Red Dot Award for Design as if offers quick access to lenses and accessories, which are stored in a “revolver type” magazine. The bag holds up to five lenses, a DSLR body, grip and even a laptop. It also includes a tripod carrying strap and features other storage compartments.
Category: Outdoors
Hot Foot
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!
Made In America: Survival Baton
You can never be fully prepared for the end of the world, and even on a camping trip or hike in the woods there are times when you are bound to have forgotten something. The Cell Machined Survival Baton will not only help ensure that you have some things you might need in an emergency, but it will make sure the items survive a disaster as well.
Packed inside the CNC-machined baton, which is made in the USA of aircraft-grade aluminum, is a canvas roll loaded with a P-38 can opener, fish hooks, fishing weights, 20 feat of fishing line, Beeswax candle, firestarter kit and even brass snare wire. The baton is waterproof and has a built-in compass. If you don’t like the above items, you can even get it empty and fill with whatever you might need for a hike or the end of the world. 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!
SRAM pART Project Hits the Big Apple
Later this week the SRAM pART Project NYC will take place at the Cedar Lake Theater and feature works of art – all made from SRAM components – from more than 80 artists. For the time this will include works of collage as well as sculpture. 100 percent of the proceeds be will donated to World Bicycle Relief.
SRAM pART Project NYC
11.29.2012 @ 6:30pm
CEDAR LAKE THEATER
547 West 26th Street
New York City
Snap Skateboard Goes Long
Earlier this year we heard about the SNAP Skateboard, the world’s first folding skateboard. Now the company has gone long by introducing a longboard version. The folding ability makes carrying a longboard – which can range from 38- to 44-inches – a little easier. It features four high-strength hinges that fasten to the deck and allow the board to folds to just 19-inches, so it can be stashed in a backpack or gym bag.
Blind Student Uses “Bat Echolocation” Technology to Mountain Bike
For Dan Smith his life changed when he and his twin brother Michael were stuck down by Leber’s Optic Neuropathy, an extremely rare condition that leads to a loss of vision as a result of the death of cells in the optic nerve. This causes it to stop relying vital information to the brain. For Dan this likely meant that he couldn’t ride his bike anymore.
But the 21-year-old student at the University of Bristol still took part in a unique challenge earlier this month when he sought out to navigate a mountain bike course! Dan, who has only seven percent vision, was able to ride the course using “bat echolocation” technology that involved taking a standard mountain bike and fitting it with technology that included an UltraCane electronic mobility aid. This essentially copied the navigation abilities of bats and allowed the user to build a “mind map” of the surroundings, by warning users of obstacles in the path as well as head height through tactile signals received through the handles. Continue reading Blind Student Uses “Bat Echolocation” Technology to Mountain Bike
BMW’s Cool Runnings
While the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games won’t be another 15 months the US Bobsled Team can look forward to making their cool runnings in luxury style as they’ll be using BMW-made sleds. While there was much of an uproar about where some Olympic equipment used by the U.S. team at the recent summer games was made, in this case the BMW DesignworksUSA group is responsible for creating the bobsled.
In fact the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Federation called in BMW since the Americans haven’t won a gold medal in the sport since 1936, when the team won in the two-man event. Ironically that was when the games were held in the German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen , located in Bavaria – the home of BMW no less! Perhaps the USBSF sees the irony as well.
No actual bobsled has been demonstrated yet, but reportedly the prototype features “lightweight materials, optimized aerodynamic and chassis dynamics to leverage the energy output of the two-man team, increasing overall sport performance.” Press release after the jump
Holiday Gift Idea: Winter Wonderland Helmet
For the holidays season and even towards St. Patrick’s Day the Little Nutty Snow and Bike Winter Wonderland helmet will show the holiday and winter spirit. Riding with it in the summer will certainly seem nutty, but once spring springs put this themed brain bucket away until next season.
Wastewater to Water the Fairway
Earlier this week we noted that treated waste water is going to be used to make artificial snow in Arizona this season, and we heard that recycled water from the wastewater treatment plant in Daly City will be used on the TPC Harding Park golf course in San Francisco.
This is reportedly the first recycled water project from the Public Utilities Commission, and it is estimated that the $9 million project could save an average of 230,000 gallons per day. While that is a drop in the bucket compared ot he 70 million gallons used per day city wide the plan is that this could be a good start. The idea here is that this will help save more drinking water for people and serve as a way to use this recycled water for the grass.
[Via San Francisco Chronicle: Recycled water in SF starts on golf links]
Down For the Count
For those who want to stay warm but don’t want the most sporty look there are alternatives and the Canada Goose Burneet down jacket is one that will keep you in style whilst keeping you warm. This military-inspired hip-length polyester/cotton soft shell is lined with premium 625-fill white duck down, while the Polartec Powershield 02 lining in the hood will ensure that you don’t get wet in the head. And should you get heated up, there are internal straps that allow this coat to be carried like a backpack.
Gloves that Let the Digits Go Digital
One downside to touchscreen technology is that it isn’t exactly easy to use with gloves – but then again most handsets are tough to use with gloves. So maybe those with touchscreens have an advantage thanks to winter products such as the Outdoor Research Stormsensor Gloves, which utilize TouchTec water-resistant leather on the fingers and palm. This allows the digits on your hand to active the digits or other items on the touchscreen. This way your hands can stay warm and you can still text and type away. Of course it does mean more people will be using handsets on the slopes, but that’s simply called progress.
Recycled Snow From Sewer Water
While technically all snow is water that nature recycled it is generally pretty clean stuff. Nature does a pretty good job of getting the bad stuff out. But now some skiers who hit the slopes at Snowbowl in Arizona will have to wonder if the snow is quite as pure. That’s because the snow isn’t being falling from the skies but rather will be manmade and it is coming from treated sewage water.
The key word of course is “treated” but a report by civil and environmental engineer suggested that chemicals could be left behind, but worse the water, and with it the snow, could contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There is an old saying about not eating yellow snow – and something tells us the same could be said of all the snow at Snowbowl!
[Via Discover Magazine: Manmade Snow From Recycled Sewer Water May Contain Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria]