There an old saying about how certain materials can travel through a goose, but here is a new twist on seeing through a goose, or more actually a down jacket. Hi-Tec Sports has provided a type of see-through jacket with dyed feathers that allows the flaunting of the down.
Instead of worrying that a down jacket could look bulky and thus unflattering, the jackets feature colored feathers that can be seen through the transparent shell. Reportedly this looks good but doesn’t affect the insulating properties of the down.
In this way the feathers of a goose can be shown off like the feathers of a peacock… if you’re into that sort of thing!
Hi-Tec Sports Official Website
[Via GearJunkie: Colored Goose Down as ‘Bling’ in See-Thru Jacket]
Carrying on our theme of bringing light to these days of darkness, we make note of the GoMotion LiteBelt, which provides a 100 lumen CREE LED light mounted at waist level. This hands free light system offers three levels of beam intensity, can be adjusted from flood to spotlight and offers adjustable beam angle. There is also two rear LED tail-lights along with reflective trim so you can see your way and be seen!
As we’re in the darkest days of the year it doesn’t hurt to have a little illumination to light the way. Yes, the Christmas lights help, but in a few weeks they’ll be down and the dark days of winter will truly be here. But fortunately Light & Motion have their tiny, but very powerful new Urban 500 that offers 500 lumens to help riders find their way!
It is almost Christmas and if you are a typical male you might be aimlessly wandering through the stores trying to cross names off of your shopping list. The outdoor industry has no shortage of products that make outrageous claims and when the pressure is on to make a decision, you are left with recommendations from the sales staff or what is printed on the side of the box. If one of those names on your list likes to spend their free time hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, boating, snowmobiling or any other activity in the great outdoors or on the high seas miles from civilization, the line of SPOT messaging devices might be for them. 
While the big carriers in the United States have no shortage of mobile handsets for virtually any user, even the smaller carriers are getting on board with mobile phones designed for those who go off the beaten path. One recent example is the Sonim XP 3400 Armor ultra-rugged handset for use with C Spire. This handset is engineered to exceed military-grade specification, and is waterproof and submersible to up to 6.5 feet for an hour, dustproof and shockproof, where it can survive a 6.5 feet drop onto concrete. This handset has been certified against salt, fog, humidity, transport shock, thermal shock and can operate in temperatures from -5° F to 130° F.
The chances of you ever having to face an avalanche are slim, but when you hit the slopes you should keep in mind that the risk of being buried by one is real. Survival times are also very limited, which makes rescue efforts even more critical especially when you are with few people. Experienced skiers and board riders who venture into avalanche backcountry are usually prepped in case they have to deal with an avalanche, such as a tracking beacon and shovel, and now they can add another safety tool: the Rotauf MRK5 Avalanche Marking Device. The module is small and can be integrated into your jacket or pants, unlike avalanche airbag systems that require a dedicated bag. 
Combo units are the new name of the game when it comes to getting back to nature. Why fill up that ultra light pack with more stuff than is needed, when a multi-purpose device will serve so much better. One of these is the tw700 from German-based Tak Wak, which includes functionality traditionally seen in a multitude of handheld gizmos including GPS, walkie talkie, camera and tracking system.
One of the new Kickstarter programs we’ve seen recently that got our attention was the light-weight camping hammock called Kammok. Designed to comfortably sleep one person, this hammock is made of incredibly strong yet very breathable diamond rip-stop nylon fabric called LunarWave. It is super soft, water resistant and only weighs around one pound, making it easy to bring along. Sleeping while hanging from the trees certainly could beat trying to sleep on the hard, cold ground. 
Carrying a digital SLR camera for long periods of time can be a pain in neck – literally if you wear around your neck. And trying to change lenses on the go while moving can often result in a dropped camera. The Capture Camera Clip from Peak Design solves both problems with a clip that secures to a backpack strap or belt.