Forget the idea of a pup tent or other pop-up tent. Instead consider this blow up Inflat-a-Tent, which was introduced at the recent Outdoor Retailer Show from Kelty. As with other air pole designs the new Kelty tents go up quickly and without the need for a ton of metal poles. The Mach 6 reportedly can be inflated in just 30 seconds and yet offer space for up to six people. It will available next spring.
Category: Outdoors
Outdoor Retailer Show: Fenix Bike Light Truly Lights the Way
There are many bike lights on the market, but Fenix offered a truly bright idea at the recent Outdoor Retailer Show. The company spotlighted its new 800 lumen handlebar-mounted light, which can run for up to three hours on high from an internal rechargeable battery. That’s enough light to truly help riders find the way home in the dark.
The company only previewed the light system, which will make a more formal and official debut at next month’s Interbike Trade Show in Las Vegas.
Bushnell Brings Power to the Bush
When out in the wild and off the grind you need to bring batteries or rely on a power generator. Fortunately if the sun is shining you have the best generator not under the sun, but in the guise of the sun itself. There are plenty of devices that can turn the rays into juice, and now Bushnell, which is known for quality optics, can help get power when off in the bush.
The company has introduced a new line of PowerSync portable charging devices, which will debut in January – likely in time for SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show) in Las Vegas.
Ecoxgear Cuts the Cord with Bluetooth Speaker
We’ve seen a few products from Ecoxgear, and liked their concept for a waterproof case and speaker in one. Now the company has introduced its EcoxBT, a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Unlike the Ecoxgear EcoxPRO, which is a speaker than contains the device inside, the EcoxBT allows the speaker to get wet while the Bluetooth device, such as MP3 player can remain safe on dry land. Continue reading Ecoxgear Cuts the Cord with Bluetooth Speaker
Outdoor Retail Show: Minimus Hi-Rez Shoes Promise Big Step Forward for Running
The minimal running shoe concept continues to take foot, and at the recent Outdoor Retail Show New Balance offered a look at its Minimus Hi-Rez, a running shoe that weighs just 4.3-ounces yet provides a reasonable amount of cushion and protection for the wearer.
The secret is the hexagon rubber pods on the sole. 42 of these unconnected nubs, which are mounted on the soft foot bed, provide cushion for those who want to go minimal but not quite barefoot. The sole is flexible and each pod moves independently as the wearer walks or funs, but still provides that moderate protection.
The shows will be available later this summer.
Answer Won Could be the Answer for Riders Waiting for a Call
Answering nature’s call when in the woods is one thing, but a more urgent need can be answering the phone call before it goes to voicemail. Many riders might want to leave the phone behind during their ride, but if you absolutely can’t miss a call and like to wear full-finger gloves to protect the digits there is the added problem that today’s touchscreen smartphones don’t respond well to said gloves.
However the Answer Won gloves are the answer. The gloves feature the “answer-it” technology that provides a special material in the index fingers on each hand that allows for operation of a touchscreen. While it won’t make texting much easier, it will allow for basic operations, which is really the point. Continue reading Answer Won Could be the Answer for Riders Waiting for a Call
River Crampon so the River Doesn’t Run Over You
When fishing in a fast moving river you don’t want the river to send you down stream. The Patagonia River Carmpons are worn over wading boots and offer traction in fast moving river currents. The aluminum treads are reportedly sharp enough to cut through river slime while still being able to dig into the riverbed. These are removable and fast-drying as well, but best of all ensure that you don’t end up being swept away by a river that runs through it.
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
Solar Power Makes Water Safe to Drink
The sun can do many great things besides heat the earth and make the planet sustainable for life. It can also give great tans, but more importantly it can be used as a way to recharge our electronics on the go. And now it can also purify water.
Two developers, Ryan Lynch and Marcus Triest, have created a prototype device that could allow water to be purified in a special bag while on the go! This technology utilizes the SODIS method of water purification, whereby PET bottles can be filled with water, left in the sun so that the UV-A radiation can kill the majority of the germs and hence make it relatively safe to drink.
The downside is that you better not be particularly thirsty as the process can take about six hours to purify just three liters of water. However the developers are working on a way to purify 9.4 liters in the same amount of time.
Outdoor Retailer Show Preview: Climbing Helmet
When climbing the last thing you want is extra weight, but sometimes having a helmet is a good idea. Fortunately SIROCCO from Petzl has a compromise in mind with an ultra-lightweight brain bucket that is just 165 grams. It is features a monobloc construction that takes advantage of expanded polypropylene (EPP) to minimize the weight while still being able to provide excellent impact resistance.
And since having a free hand is a lot to ask for, and two free hands is often a luxury many climbers don’t have, the helmet’s magnetic buckle allows the chinstrap to be attached with one hand.
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
Camp Stove Fans the Flames For You
Cooking over an open fire is what camping is all about – unless it is windy or wet and then it isn’t so much an open fire but no fire at all. The VitalGrill Barbecue from SolHuma (MSRP $170) is part of portable stove and grill in one. It burns whatever combustible material can be loaded into it and supercharges the flames with a small battery-powered fan to produce 20,000 BTUs of heat. It also features a 13.5 inch circular lidded grill that is perfect for cooking over the fire.
If you’d rather go small, the VitalGrill is available sans the BBQ part – and is about $90 cheaper. For this pans and pots can be placed directly over the fire. Either way this could be an easy way to make and keep a fire going. Video after the jump