We’ve seen some interesting watercraft of late, including a fold up row boat and now there is the Origami Paddler – a stand up and fold up raft! The idea here is to provide a solid paddle board that is more stable than the inflatable type but is still easy enough to transport. Unlike the FoldBoat we profiled recently, the Origami Paddler won’t exactly fit in a backpack, but it is small enough to fit in most car trunks.
Designed by Tim Niemier, who invented the sit-on-top kayak, the Origami Paddler is still in concept and he’s working to raise funding for what could be a bit of a game changer for those looking to paddle up stream. The version that Niemier has designed can be carried like an over-sized suitcase and weights in at about 50 pounds. It can be unfolded quickly with locking hinges, providing an 11.5 foot board that is basically ready to go. Video after the jump
Whether you’re ready to deploy for something serious or just want a serious pack holding your gear, the Fieldline Alpha Ops Internal Frame Pack is the one to have on your back. It is the newest addition to the Fieldline tactical series, and combines combat-ready performance with advanced features to help keep your gear safely stowed but easily accessible.
There are plenty of golf apps, but this week Nike Golf came out swinging with the new Nike Golf 360 (NG360) app and website that promise to provide golfers with an innovative digital tool to improve, track and share their golf games. The NG3660 app is designed to be easy-to-use and allow golfers to track their rounds, while it also offers tips to help improve swing techniques via digital coaches.
If you build it they will come. This isn’t just about fictional ballparks in the movies, but playgrounds, skate parks and bike trails. And leading the way is Alpine Bike Parks, which now has announced a new way to go with the flow.
Once again our friends at Wiley X are stepping up in their call to all Americans to pause this May 28 to remember what Memorial Day is all about — honoring the memory of the countlesss brave men and women who have given their lives to preserve our freedoms and way of life. As a veteran-owned company that has built its legacy providing state-of-the-art protective eyewear to combat soldiers in action around the world, Wiley X is keenly aware of the sacrifices our fighting forces make every day. This includes the ultimate sacrifice that an estimated 1.2 million Americans have made dating back to the Revolutionary War that gave birth to our great nation.
The SDG Systems new Mesa Rugged Notepad has a colorful name – the RAMPAGE 6. It looks like it lives up that that name and this tablet can likely take a real beating. It features IP67 certification for protection from dust and water, and it offers a 5.7-inch display with a custom-built version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It offers users an 806MHz processor with 256MB of RAM along with 4GB of flash memory, along with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Geo version will also offer GPS along with a 3.2MP camera. It will be ready for any adventure this summer.
We certainly love the idea of a rugged camera for those times when we head off the beaten path. But we miss the functionality our SLR gives us. We’ve seen a few attempts to provide an SLR that can go rugged, but until now we haven’t really believed it.
If you’re going to spend your days catching fish you should look good doing it. For this year you can suit up in the Nobis Fisherman Jacket, which is part of its Spring 2012 outerwear collection. It is a functional jacket that is made to stand up to the elements.
Many of the problems of sleeping bags have been solved. We’ve seen sleeping bags with small LED lights, and even bags that offer legs so you can walk in them but we haven’t seen a bag that offers vents to allow your legs to breathe. Some people like to kick off the blanket while at home and a sleeping bag doesn’t allow that.
Patagonia is one of those companies that’s ahead of the competitor pack. Many of the clothes and other merchandise it produces is made from recycled and sustainable materials. And now Patagonia is revealing details about where its garments and other merchandise is manufactured. The Footprint Chronicles is a Google Maps listing of the company’s supply chain including textile mills and factories. You can see how many people work at each location, what languages they speak on the job, and what merchandise, such as baselayer or accessories, is produced at each location.
Some people like to garden, some people might also like a beer garden, but now comes a new type of garden – a Wavegarden. This allows for home-grown waves for surfing right in the backyard. This could be a godsend to those who want to hit the surf but live far from the beach.