For those who need to take a lot of stuff in the woods you need look no further than the Ortovox Free Rider 16 Backpack, which offers 16-liters of space. Made of 420D Nylon Velocity/500D Nylon, the TÜV-certified pack features five superimposed layers including a neoprene hip belt, along with a body-hugging fit. It offers fasteners for skis or a snowboard, as well as a helmet, and offers loops for picks and other gear.The backpack also offers a Polygiene to combat odor-causing bacteria, while water-resistant zips will keep contents dry. Continue reading Free Ride for the Back
Category: Outdoors
Pin Lights the Night
Camping in the backyard means there is likely no shortage of light, but real camping out in the wilds probably means that when the sun goes down and the camp fire goes out things can be a bit dark. For those not familiar with their location this can be a bit dangerous in the night – such as when answering nature’s call.
But Pin Light, which was designed by Jung Su, Kim Dong Hwan, Yoon Ji Soo and Yoon Jae Sun and won a RedDot design concept award, is a simple concept that will help light the way at night. Essentially the Pin Light is tent stakes with built-in LED lights. As with the type of LED lights that are used to provide some illumination around a garden these are juiced up via the solar panels. While still in development these Pin Lights might make sure a trip to relieve one’s self doesn’t result in a trip over a tent line.
[Via RedDot: Red Dot Winners]
Split Board Designed to Survive in the Wilds
Those crazy guys at Every Third Thursday often create snowboards and surfboards that are solutions without a problem – and we do mean that in the nicest way. So it was no surprise to hear that they created the latest creation is such a board.
Introducing the Signal Snowboard Survivor Split, a one-of-a-kind board, that could be a dream for the snowboarding mountain man. It can cut wood, start a fire or even be used as a shovel. As the name suggests this board can split into skis to allow backcountry boarders to ski up the mountain and then down again – that in itself is pretty ingenious. Video after the jump
Getting into Hot Water
There are times that “getting into hot water” is a good thing, such as when it is cold outside and you could use a warm beverage. The Jompy takes this a step further, as it provides a way for campers, backpackers and hikers to get hot water from their hydration packs, while also ensuring that the water is clean and safe to drive.
Wing Will Let You Take Flight… Underwater
While there is no device to actually let you take flight easily – at least not without riding in a plane, you might be able to get the sensation of flying while underwater with the Subwing. Designed for underwater sports the wings essentially give you “wings” for gliding through the water. The only equipment needed is diving mask but it can be used with a snorkel and fins as well, while it is recommended that users are towed by a boat – which should travel at about 2 knots. The Subwing is available in either fiberglass ($700) or carbon fiber versions ($850 for Carbon Matte or $895 for the Carbon Glossy), while the rope is made of Dyneema fibers. Video after the jump
Nightfire Flashlight Blasts Away
Dubbed the Nightfire, this incredibly small flashlight from River Rock Designs is just slightly longer than its battery and let it blasts away with 100 lumens. And impressively it is powered by just a single AAA battery.
The key to this is the LED light, which offers effective power project to over 50 yards, and the ability to light up a 30×30-foot room. It has a one hour run time, which really isn’t bad for the battery and it has rubber O-rings to help make it water resistant. For $29.99 it can certainly cast a whole lot of light.
National Parks iPhone App Makes Parks Experience More Interactive
For years enthusiasts of the National Parks have brought their park passport book to all the monuments and parks around the nation. My sister was very into her passport for a while and collected stamps at many parks on a drive across the country. Now an iPhone app can work in tandem with your passport book to add even more fun to the preserved outdoors.
The app features information from the passport book. You can also use the app to view park maps, websites and other information on each National Park. When you’re at the park you can use the camera to record photos and video to be stored with the park on your app.
Eastern National (National Parks) Official Website
Eastern National iPhone App page
Trackchair is the All Terrain Wheelchair
Many outdoor activities present a challenge for those in a wheelchair. Simple things such as a trek in the woods can be virtually impossible, but the Action Trackchair could provide a way for disable persons to venture off-road. It features an internal battery pack that offers up to eight miles of travel at a top speed of 5mph. It won’t allow the user to venture through the woods as if they were in a tank, but it could make it possible for users to go places that would be otherwise inaccessible.
The Action Trackchair is available from Action Manufacturing of Marshall, Minnesota. And while $9000 might not seem cheap, it is probably worth every penny to those who can experience a bit more mobility.
Action Trackchair Official Website
[Via Ubergizmo: Action Trackchair, the all-terrain wheelchair]
Take the Kill Shot
Brother Randy and Michael Gregg have come up with a novel new way to hunt – not with a rifle but with a camera. Actually more to the point it is a camera that looks like a rifle. It allows a hunter to get a “Kill Shot” without actually making a kill.
The brothers, who are avid hunters, came up with the idea while out in the woods where they used a camera phone to get a shot through a rifle’s scope. Thus was born their project, which is still in the development stage. The idea is that Kill Shot would allow users to take a photo when taking a shot. The basic shape of the device would resemble a rifle and feature a built in scope.
Randy and Michael, along with third brother Daniel have since started a Kickstarter project, and see this as a way for those who want to hunt without killing to have the ability to track animals as in a real hunter, or allowing novice hunters to learn the basics. Either way it is apt that the website of the trio is called “Harmless Hunter.”
Harmless Hunter Official Website
Harmless Hunter on KickStarter
Tree-hanging Tent Works Even Without Trees
We’ve seen a few hanging tents in the past year, along with some hammock and other new innovations that let users sleep off the ground. Now comes the Tentsile, which was created by a team of British designers. This is a portable habitation for campers but we assume could just as easily be used in the backyard. It uses tension forces to suspend the tent, to protect campers from the elements, so no more sleeping on the cold, hard or damp ground, but it also ensures that campers are protected from wildlife. The system works by providing three anchor points, which utilize the forces to make for a stable, adaptable and lightweight system. Continue reading Tree-hanging Tent Works Even Without Trees
Made in America: Belle Baby Carriers
In the next few months life as we know it is going to change – this reporter and my wife are expecting a newborn, our first. The preparations and gathering of baby related products has started at our household, and as exciting as this is for us, there is a disturbing trend that we noticed in this entire industry – a majority of the products are made in China. Certainly there are products manufactured in other countries, Mexico, Vietnam and South Africa to name a few; but we have not found one baby related product that is made in the U.S.A. – until now. Belle Baby Carriers of Boulder, Colorado has been making baby carriers for those on-the-go since 2006 and they are all made in America.
The idea of carrying a baby close to a parent’s chest is not a new concept. It keeps the newborn close to the parent promoting ‘bonding’ during the first few months of development outside of the womb. For the parents, it allows the newborn to be easily carried during the first few months without the hassle of a stroller or jogger. Video after the jump
Toe Motion Flip Flops
We’ve seen a big trend in barefoot running shoes that fit the feet like a glove, and now Sazzi is taking this to a new direction with the “Toe Motion Footwear” system, which includes four toe posts (for all five toes). The company, which gets its name from the ancient pueblo dwelling of the Anasazi people, was founded by Mark Thatcher, who previously launched Deckers. This time around he’s creating footwear that is actually based on the Anasazi’s tribes traditional footwear – albeit with a modern twist.
Where the original Anasazi featured two toe posts to help make for stability over rough terrain, Sazzi takes a cue from the barefoot running style shoes. The company calls this the “quad post lateral stability system,” or QPLS, and it is meant to provide control and comfort for negotiating obstacles on land and river, while still providing a flexible open feel. Continue reading Toe Motion Flip Flops
CampFire Pack for iPad
There is nothing like sitting around the campfire, having the stars overhead and the iPad on your lap. That doesn’t sound right, but as more and more people take the iPad to the great outdoors some companies have stepped up to make it a little easier to use.
X-Doria has provided such an accessory, aptly named the CampFire, a padded stand of sorts that helps prop up the tablet. This custom sleeping bag case also doubles as a protector to ensure that the iPad can handle a bit of roughing it as well. And when the time comes to call it a night, the iPad will have its own sleeping bag to bunk down for the night. Additional images after the jump