Category: Outdoors

Electric Sleds in Clean Snowmobile Challenge

One word does not come to mind when we think of snowmobiles, and that is “clean.” We think of these as loud machines that spew fumes and basically disturb the peace. Of course, this is coming from someone who thinks November to March is a good time of year to enjoy the great indoors.

But the idea of a Clean Snowmobile Challenge is intriguing, more so because we’ve heard that this is the 12th annual event! Electric cars are having a hard time catching on, but it seems that electric snowmobiles are just improving with each year.

According to reports the SEA Clean Snowmobile Challenge is an annual event to push entrants to develop eco-friendly transportation for the real world, including those that have a lot of snow. Competing teams, which are made up of college students, must design a touring snowmobile for groomed-trail riding. More importantly these must be cost-effective, and comfortable to ride, while also improving on emissions and noise. There are categories for low emissions – which obviously do use traditional fuels – as well as zero-emissions, where the devices are judged on how far they can travel and how much of a load they can carry.

Given that winters maybe getting longer, these teams are probably on to something.

[Via Gizmag: Electric sleds compete in the 12th annual Clean Snowmobile Challenge]

Bolt it Down

So you finally have purchased that new piece of sporting equipment that will not fit in your car when you want to take it out to the slopes or trail head with your friends. You will either need to mount it on the outside of your vehicle utilizing a rack or tow it behind on a trailer, but as you know someone always needs to make a pit stop along the way. Of course you are worried about the security of your new toys so someone gets left on ‘guard duty’ while the rest of the group takes a break, but this is no fun when it is a post activity function like food and drinks. If you are lucky enough to park in front of a window at your pit stop, you can then keep an eye on your car. Sometimes luck does not always work in your favor, so what do you do?

Most roof racks offer some sort of locking mechanism, but as most of you know these can easily be overcome with basic hand tools. So a second way to deter those who might seize upon a crime of opportunity is to use a cable lock and weave it through your equipment. Now you have to remember to bring a third key  with you – one for your car, one for the rack locks and now one for the cable lock. Well Strattec, a leader in OEM and aftermarket automotive locks, has you covered with their new line of BOLT Locks. Continue reading Bolt it Down

Gunshot Detectors Tell Where Shots Are Coming From

The Army recently announced that they will be shipping 13,000 Individual Gunshot Detectors (IGD) to Afghanistan specifically to be used by the dismounted Soldiers. These devices, manufactured by QinetiQ North America, consist of four sensors and a small screen that will pickup and identify the direction of incoming gunfire. The small sensor is about the size of a deck of playing cards and can detect the supersonic sound waves generated by the enemy shot and instantaneously alert the Soldier of the direction and distance of the enemy fire.

Stationary and vehicle mounted systems have been in use for years, but this is the first time that a system weighing less than two pounds is being widely distributed to the Troops. The Army plans to distribute 1,500 more IGD per month for the next twelve months.

The Army plans to integrate the individual IGD devices into the larger Land Warrior and Nett Warrior systems essentually networking in the entire battle group. Not only will one Soldier know where the enemy fire cam from, but others will also know at the same time.

Though this is not a sports or fitness related product and can not be purchased by the general public, Kinetic Shift feels that anything that can save the life of a Soldier is worth mentioning!

U.S. Army Official Website: “Army deploying ‘Individual Gunshot Detector’”

Computerized Surfing – Not Just for the Web

Chances are you’re doing it right now, you’re surfing the Web. That is after all what we think of when we say computerized surfing, but now there is a very different type of “high-tech” surfing that actually puts you in the water and takes you away from the Web.

Spanish company Pukas is working with technology partner Tecnalia on a board designed to give professional wave riders an edge.

Enter the Tecnalia Sufsens board, a computerized surfboard that is loaded with a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS, strain gauges and pressure sensors that can measure everything from the rider’s speed to the how much wave he or she is catching. Back on dry land you can download the data to a PC for analysis.

Rangefinder That Will Help Keep You Out of the Rough

Whether you’re hitting the links, or just want to stay the course, the Bushnell Hybrid Laser-GPS Rangefinder offers the best of both technologies. It features single hand vertical operation of the durable, rainproof device. It offers 5 power magnification with a range of 5-1000 Yards/Meters, and comes pre-loaded with more than 16,000 North American golf courses.

Best of all is there is no membership or download fees, while the Hybrid Laser-GPS Rangefinder offers auto hole advance, auto course recognition and is completely legal for tournament play. This makes it ready to use right out of the box without the requirement of additional software or hardware. So if spring has finally sprung for you, and you’re looking for some assistance as you get in nine-holes, this device will lead the way.

Bushnell Golf Official Website

Nike Tees Off With New Golf Balls

Can Nike do for golf balls what it did for athletic shoes? No doubt that is what the company is looking to it, as it unveiled its new 20XI premium golf ball franchise. And yes, there even a “swoosh” adorned on the side, but from the outside these new balls otherwise look just like every other golf ball.

What makes these balls stand out is what out is that these feature innovative golf ball technology that will reportedly dramatically enhance the performance of golfers around the world and, at the same time, propel golf ball manufacturing into an entirely new level of innovation. Those are big claims, but again this is coming a company that has delivered on its past bold statements.

The Nike 20XI golf ball features a combination of proprietary technology that has actually never before been seen in the golf industry, and more importantly is the result of four years of collaborative research and development between Nike Golf’s golf ball engineers and a team of material and science experts at DuPont. Together they went to the core of creating a golf ball, as in the actual core and opted to bounce out the old conventional rubber core with a radically new resin material. Rubber has been the traditional core for years, so the switch to resin is quite a big deal. Continue reading Nike Tees Off With New Golf Balls

Backcountry Access Offers Potential Lifesaving Avalanche Kits

While deep snow is reportedly good for business at ski resorts, there was a downside to it. The Kirkwood Mountain Resort reported the 500 inches of annual snowfall and high base elevation make for some of the deepest, driest powder conditions in the Sierra. This is good for skiing, but it can create a dangerous situation – namely avalanches.

This season the resort purchased a fleet of 42 Backcountry Access Float 30 avalanche airbags and Tracker 2 beacons for use by the ski patrol. These products actually improve the survival rates for those unfortunate enough to be caught in avalanche conditions. The technology is still in its infancy, and it is a physical, not electronic, weapon against the avalanche burials.

The concept of the Float 30 is simple: if caught in an avalanche, pull the t-grip and a 150-liter airbag deploys out of the backpack and essentially “floats” the skier, now with increased mass, to the top of the slough as smaller debris fills in underneath. This decreases odds of a full burial and response time of potential rescuers due to increased visibility. BCA reports that in 98% of the recorded Float 30 deployments, the avalanche victims survived. Continue reading Backcountry Access Offers Potential Lifesaving Avalanche Kits

Style, Streetwear and Skating – All With Shoes from Spartoo

Style and performance improvement. That’s exactly what this year’s line of streetwear shoes have in mind. Shoe retailer Spartoo is rolling out shoes fit for skating that offer style to boot. These include the DC shoes that reads the line between extreme sports and fashion waves. This season’s footwear goes back to the basics and classics with reliable shoes that look the part.

There is also the new collection of DVS shoes, which is often considered the essential skate shoes thanks to their shock absorbing technology. These shoes were conceived, tested, and approved by the entire DVS team to satisfy skaters looking for the best performance as well as all those who just love the style!

These are just two new offerings from Spartoo that offer good performance and style TOO!

Spartoo Skate Shoes Official Website

DVS Shoes

DC Shoes

Helmets for Urban and Even Non-Urban Commuters

Everyone who rides a bike on public roads probably knows that having a light isn’t a bad thing. You can’t always count on being home before the sun goes down, and a blinky can help let the cars – as well as other cyclists – know to share the road.

And for commuters, there is a good way to make sure you’re seen as well. Lazer, the maker of cycling and motorcycle helmets, has a line of bike hard hats in its Urbanize line that include integrated lights. Among the helmets offered by the company are those that include a light rig with front and back lighting for optimal visibility for the rider – so you can see and be seen as well.

The helmets are available in models that are rain protected, meaning water won’t cause damage, while winter padding and insect nets are also available. There are helmets that look good for race day and for long daytime training rides, but for the daily commute to the daily grind, the Lazer will help point the way.

Lazer Urbanize Helmets

What the Fiik Skateboard

Sometimes you just have to say what the Fiik. Well, actually you never really need to say Fiik at all, but then again maybe you will – at least if you like to skateboard and ever considered taking it off road. We’ve seen a lot of supposedly “off road” skateboards – including a couple that have been designed with military needs in mind.

But now comes the Fiik Street Surfer, which was designed by two brothers from Queensland, Australia. It features a digital wireless throttle control system, ABS braking system big wheels that can handle most terrains. The Fiik (Future Is In Knowledge) also has a bit of retro appeal – it looks like a classic “sidewalk surf deck” with red strips. But unlike those retro boards, this one has a maximum speed of 23 mph/37 km/h. While the board comes with a sealed lead acid battery, users can also upgrade to the optional lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which also offers a range of 22 miles or 1.5 hours of runtime. The board further includes three speed settings, including a setting to limit the top speed for newbies.

Given the rising price of gasoline, maybe decks like this could help you get to and from the office. At $1600, with the lithium iron phosphate battery upgrade, this deck could help you commute and even take you off the beaten path to get there.

Fiik Street Surfer Official Website

[Via Gizmag: FiiK electric skateboard – wireless control, ABS braking system, ton of attitude]

Earthmate PN-60w Gets Back(Packer) Award

The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w has your back, and more importantly it has earned the Backpacker magazine Editors’ Choice Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the outdoor industry, given annually to products in recognition of their outstanding innovation in design, materials, and/or performance.

The Earthmate PN-60w is a rugged, waterproof handheld GPS offering full navigation capabilities, along with the unique ability to create custom Type & Send text messages for delivery via the SPOT Satellite Communicator. It allows users to explore and stay connected with family, buddy lists, social network sites, and emergency responders, even when far beyond the reach of cell phone service. It has earned the award after extensive, rigorous testing in the most challenging conditions imaginable. Continue reading Earthmate PN-60w Gets Back(Packer) Award

StreetFlyer: Almost Like Flying But Not Really

It was really tempting to file this one under Kinetic(Mis)Shift. What we have here is a device that suspends the user over the ground to provide the sensation of flying but without the worry of getting airsick – or crashing. This three-wheeled human-powered vehicle, called a StreetFlyer, is the brain child of Dr. Carsten Mehring and it works by letting the “rider” feel like he or she is flying after they gain enough momentum to life the legs off the ground.

Since the user is just a few feet above the ground there is no worry about a crash. But as the user is just a few feet above the ground does it really feel like flying? You be the judge.

[Via Gizmag: StreetFlyer: hang-gliding on three-wheels]

 

With the Sun Shining, Don’t Forget the Shades

The TV series South Park remains famous – or is it infamous – for the line “don’t forget to bring a towel,” but actually what’s more important than something to dry off with is something to protect the eyes. As winter heads into its last month, it is time for spring break and now comes the time to remember that if you’re heading outside you should be sure to bring sun glasses. In other words, if the sun is out you need shades for the eyes.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation over a short period of time can cause photokeratitis, which is like sunburn of the eyes.  Symptoms include painful, red eyes, extreme sensitivity to light, excessive tearing and a foreign body sensation. Photokeratitis rarely causes permanent damage, but long-term exposure to the sun can be more harmful. Continue reading With the Sun Shining, Don’t Forget the Shades