When off in the wilds there is always one more thing you could use, but each “thing” means additional weight plus the chances that something will be lost, forgotten or misplaced. But Adventure Medical Kits of Oakland, California has a nifty three-in-one survival tool that is blade, light and whistle. The Core Lite features a short steel blade that is just over two-inches in length, and can be used for “notching and grooving branches, plus a small single LED light. It won’t replace any big flashlight, but the bluish light help offer a little illumination on things. Continue reading How Are You Fixed for Blades, Light and Whistle?
Category: Outdoors
University of Virginia Adds Bike Fixit Station
In an effort to encourage travel by bicycle on campus, the University of Virginia has installed Dero Bike Fix-It stations, which are equipped with basic tools and a hand-pump. These tools, which include various wrenches and screwdrivers, are tethered to the Fix-It stations, ensuring that these will be there for when the next user needs them.
Andrew Greene, sustainability planner in the Office of the Architect at UVA, has said he hopes that students and faculty will have easy access to specialized tools and that this will increase use of bikes on the UVA campus. So far Stanford University and University of Utah have similar Fix-It Stations, while Fresno State also has experimented with its own Bike Repair Station. The concept of remote bike repair is also taking off, as we noted earlier this year with the Bike Fixtation in Minneapolis.
[Via PSFK: Bike Repair Station At University Encourages Students To Go Green]
Superline Drive to Hook the Big Fish
There are probably old time fishermen that will tell you that a long stick, a length of string and a bent pin are all you need to catch the big fish. For the rest of us technology has come a long ways, and Rapala proves that innovation has changed the odds to make sure the big one doesn’t get away.
First up, it all starts with the Sufix 832 Advanced Superline, the new go-to line for freshwater and saltwater anglers, as it offers strength and smoothness that can defy rocks, stumps, tress and thick weeds. Sufix 832 earned the sport fishing industry’s Best Line Award at the 2010 ICAST trade show, and won the Field & Stream Best of the Best Award in the Lure and Accessory category for 2011. Continue reading Superline Drive to Hook the Big Fish
Kodak Ready to Play With Waterproof Camcorder
While summer fun maybe behind us for this year, Kodak is still ready to play with a new camera line fit for the surf and sun. The Kodak Playful Waterproof Camera is the latest addition its pocket camcorder lineup. This waterproof, dustproof and shock-resistant camcorder can go deep, up to 10 feet (3 meters) under the water for up to two hours, and is IPX8 certified, meaning it can withstand being continuously submerged to at least one meter. It can record video in 720p (1280×720) resolution, and it features a special white balance mode to ensure proper colors when doing its underwater thing. On dry land it is IP6X dustproof compliant and can withstand a drop from up to five feet. Continue reading Kodak Ready to Play With Waterproof Camcorder
Hands On: Flash Shopping Site The Clymb
While some of you don’t need an introduction to flash shopping sites, I think it’s required here. Over the past few years flash shopping sites have emerged to bring the “sample sale” experience to online shoppers. They generally focus on an area of luxury goods such as fashion, home goods and home décor. Shoppers generally have to subscribe to be granted entry to the site, and get email notifications listing the sales each day. These sales, like sample sales, are for a limited time of about two or three days, and the site might host three or 12 sales from different designers or manufacturers on any given day. Continue reading Hands On: Flash Shopping Site The Clymb
Nike Drives Out With New Clubs
Nike has introduced a new clubs, including a new driver and putter that could be a game changers on the greens. First up, the Nike VR Pro Limited Edition Forged driver is the latest addition to the premium VR franchise. This club is already in a very exclusive “club” of players, and is in the bag of Nike Golf athletes Paul Casey and Anthony Kim. And beginning November 1 the Nike VR Pro Limited Edition Forged driver will be available at retail for $419.99.
The Tour-driven pear shaped head design is 430cc and made of a forged construction that addresses the tour athlete’s need for great feel, ultimate control and maximum workability. The Nike VR Pro Limited Edition Forged driver utilizes a new Nike innovation, NexCOR face technology, which promises to maximizes distance for the widest range of players through a new speed-expanding multi face thickness design. The NexCOR infinity design creates a bridge for an ultra-thin, ultra-hot face and unmatched ball speed. Continue reading Nike Drives Out With New Clubs
Celtek Let’s You Use Your Digits to Text
Touchscreen devices may rule our gadget world, but when it comes to outdoor sports, they’re the bane of our existence oftentimes forcing us to expose our digits to the harsh cold as we skip a track or answer a text. Fortunately, Celtek’s new line of Touchscreen Gloves will keep your hands warm while letting you fiddle with your favorite touch-sensitive devices. The company’s 2012 lineup, which promises to work with all touch-enabled devices, will offer gloves that come in three varieties: acrylic blended with silver, rip-stop nylon blended with silver, and leather with built-in nanotechnology — the latter of which will provide the most conductivity.
Celtek estimates pricing will range from $24.99 (youth size) to $59.99 (men’s size), with many models coming in at $49.99. The gloves will be targeted at all users from the snowboarder, to the runner, to the urban dweller who just wants to keep their hands warm while updating their Facebook status.
Celtek Official Website
[via Transworld Business: Celtek Broadens Its Horizons With Touchscreen Glove Technology]
Wenger Commando blends grunt-like build with sophisticated style
Going “commando” has a whole new meaning as Wenger has introduced a stylish new sports watch. While most sports timepieces dominate your wrist with their bulky design, Wenger’s Men’s Commando Patagonian Expedition Race Watch successfully walks the fine line between athletic and sophisticated. For the adventurer, the shock-proof watch features a thick rubber wrist strap, stainless steel case, and scratch-resistant crystal face.
Like most sports watches, it’s also waterproof to 330 feet and sports a built-in tachymeter along the bezel. And it is Swiss made with a full weep second hand so it doesn’t lack in style – after all, even a would-be commando has to look good!
In fact, appearance-wise the Commando has all the traits of an everyday watch with a clean analog face that lets it easily blend in from the great outdoors to a more intimate setting. And if the watch’s $450 price tag makes you hesitate, fear not for a quick Google search shows this watch for as low as $207 via Amazon.com. Continue reading Wenger Commando blends grunt-like build with sophisticated style
Google: Moving Sustainably for Commuting Employees
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5sMxYMkGs&feature=player_embedded
Google has long been thought of as an innovator in the high tech industry, but most people who do not live in the San Francisco Bay Area are unaware that they are also innovators when it comes to their employees commuting to work. With 1000’s of employees, Google has grown what was a grassroots van pool in 2006 to a 70 vehicle fleet with 275 daily departures which can all be tracked online by the waiting employees. This program alone has reduced their yearly carbon dioxide emissions by 5,400 tons or the equivalent of almost 2,000 cars off of the road a day.
Realizing not everyone can or wants to take the shuttle, Google also encourages their employees to use other modes of transportation to commute to work. Along with reducing the carbon footprint and getting some exercise, employees who are part of the Self Powered Commute Program (ie. cyclists) also earn a charity credit for each day that they ride. In addition to encouraging employees to use alternative transportation to commute to work, Google also has 1,000’s of bicycles around that Mountain View campus that employees can use as needed.
Brendon Harrington, Transportation Operations Manager at Google, talks about alternative transportation and says that 40-percent of Google’s Mountain View employees commute via non-single car driving.
Though Google has not completely achieved the goal of being ‘carbon neutral’, they are making a valiant effort. What is your company doing?
ContourROAM Lets You Take it on the Go
Traveling the wilds should be dependent on where you feel comfortable taking your camera. To that end Contour has released the ContourROAM, a helmet mountable camera that will let you roam where you want to, roam around the world.
It features the same rugged cylindrical aluminum body and swiveling lens of the Contour+ and ContourGPS models, but unlike those travel capable cameras this one can be taken in the water, and it is waterproof to one meter for up to 30 minutes. So it is good for getting wet and wild but still isn’t meant for deep sea diving for extended underwater excursions. Continue reading ContourROAM Lets You Take it on the Go
Interbike 2011: KineticShift Gets Down and Dirty
- Brian O’Connor is in the zone with Litespeed’s new 29er
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but is it actually work or play when you get to check out the latest upcoming bicycles? From the smile on Brian’s face above, it certainly seems like work he really enjoys. Check out some more of the sights from this week’s Outdoor Demo Days at Interbike 2011: Continue reading Interbike 2011: KineticShift Gets Down and Dirty
A Chair For the Man For All Seasons
As summer begins to become a distant memory and the fall chill takes over finding yourself in the “hot seat” doesn’t sound so bad. While you could head to the heated seats in the car, the Chaheati All-Season Heated Chair will let you tailgate, or just enjoy a day outside in the brisk weather. While it looks like many lightweight, collapsible canvas chairs, the Chaheati features cordless carbon fiber non-wire heating elements that are placed throughout the chair.
The result is that you’re in the “hot seat” every time you use it. This patent pending technology offers four temperature settings from 98° up to 145°F and rapidly heats up in less than 20 seconds. It makes the chair ideal for camping, hunting, cool weather sporting events and tailgating. The low-voltage heating technology sports digital circuit protection. The high efficiency, lithium-ion rechargeable battery provides up to six hours of heat per charge and lasts for over 500 uses. The Chaheati is available now ($89.99 MSRP), just in time for the cooler weather of fall.
Nikon Gets Rugged
Nikon has been known for making some excellent SLR digital cameras and head turning point-and-shoot cameras. But one area where the company has been lacking has been in the rugged point-and-shoot variety. Well, not anymore. This month will see the release of the AW100, Nikon’s first camera in the go anywhere, do anything category.
The AW100 is reportedly shockproof, waterproof to 33 feet and even freeze-proof, so it will work on the trails, at the beach and in the snow. It features a 15.1MP BSI CMOS sensor and has built-in GPS and internal mapping functions that will work much like a travelogue to view your way. It is available this month for $430 and ready for your next adventure.
[Via Gizmodo: Nikon’s First Rugged Cam (!), Super Bright Projector Mutant Camera and Pro Point-and-Shoot]