Category: Outdoors

Running on a Moving Treadmill?

When we first heard about the Treadmill Bike we were convinced it was a joke. After all, why the need to combine a treadmill with a bike? Couldn’t you just run outside? Running on a tread to move a device not only seem counter productive but it sort of seems incredibly silly too. But in fact it is a real device, and one that has been getting a fair amount of attention lately.

The truth is that most stories about it ask the same exact questions we’re asking, which is why you couldn’t just go running instead. Apparently the benefits of the device are that it offers (according to the official website) “the benefits of running on a convention treadmill but outside.” The Treadmill Bike thus further protects “your feet from dirt and other contaminants commonly found on the earth’s surface.” Continue reading Running on a Moving Treadmill?

Miura Looks to Make Grind Permanent and Iron Things Out

In ancient to medieval times Japan was famous for the craftsmanship that went into making its famous “samurai swords” and this level of skill and craftsmanship is alive and well today, but for those hitting the greens not to do battle but to play a round of golf.

After receiving rave reviews for its Yoshitaka Grind wedges and C-Grind wedges and positive response during a soft launch of the products last year, Japanese golf-club maker Miura Golf will make these part of its Series 1957 special edition product line. The two new wedges models will join four iron models. The Yoshitaka is the result of its namesake, master craftsman Yoshitaka Miura. He trained under this father, and company founder Katsuhiro Miura at the family’s forging facility in Himeji, Japan.

The new mild-steel wedges are crafted through the company’s famous Precision Forging Finish process that ensures the clubs are consistent in terms of impact and feel. The Yoshitaka (also known as the Y-Grind) wedge will be available in lofts of 49, 51 and 53, while a 60-degree model will eventually be offered. The wedges, which only be available for right-handed, will feature W nickel (satin) chrome/black finish and will come with a stiff-flex steel shaft and Velvet Full Cord grip. The “Y” on the wedge’s sole not only represents Yoshitaka’s mark – much the way the sword makers of old would sign a blade – but it also signifies the special and limited production of the wedge. Continue reading Miura Looks to Make Grind Permanent and Iron Things Out

Waterproof Spy Camera and Oh So Much More

There is an episode of The Simpsons from way back in the first season where Bart Simpson ordered a spy camera, and hilarity ensued. Actually, the best part was Bart saying to the mail carrier, “where is my spy camera” supposedly for six months. That’s pretty much how we feel about the new spy watch camera that was released this summer.

This wasn’t your run of the mill spy watch camera either. This was a 4GB waterproof, motion detection, spy watch, hidden camera with mini DVR. How’d they get all that stuff in the camera-watch we don’t know, but it is worth noting that this sleek time keeping device didn’t come from Japan either, this is Chinese technology at its finest. As with many Chinese products it is hard to tell exactly who made it, kind of like how it is hard to tell exactly what is in Chinese food. We did find that this watch (Model TL-WSC-010) is sourced by Omejo Technology from Hong Kong. Continue reading Waterproof Spy Camera and Oh So Much More

Carrera Introduces New Ski Helmets and Eyewear

The Italians take fashion seriously; there is simply no denying that fact. And although it is also a well-established fact that the Italians really like to keep their hair well styled, they also are taking safety on the mountains quite seriously these days. But just because you need to protect your eyes and your noggin on the slopes doesn’t mean you can’t look good at the same time.

This is especially true with Carrera’s new line of ski products that include new helmets with eye-catching colors, fine details and exclusive graphic effects. Among the new products for the 2010/11 ski season are the Bullet Rosso Line of lightweight, but still durable fiberglass ski helmets that ensures users an excellent fit with an aerodynamic design. The helmets feature a special “dry wave” inner lining that will absorb moisture and provide better comfort – unfortunately it can’t promise unkempt looking hair after a day in the powder, but that’s probably why the Italians eat dinner so late. Continue reading Carrera Introduces New Ski Helmets and Eyewear

Ricoh G700 Can Get Wet, Wild and a Whole Lot More

Alas, summer is behind us – but that doesn’t mean the time at the beach, pool or on the trail is completely over for this year. And if you’re heading to where you might get wet for an early autumn vacation, the Ricoh G700 waterproof camera will let you snap photos without fear.

This digital still camera can go deep too; up to five meters underwater in depth, and it can handle different types of spills on land as well. With its new shock resistance frame it can survive a drop of up to two meters and it is resistant to chemicals such as ethanol, which allows the camera to be disinfected while you travel. It can handle various weather conditions so this is truly a camera for all seasons. The G700 can keep snapping in cold weather conditions up to -10C, and it offers JIS/ICE dustproof protection to grade 6 to guard against infiltration by dust and sand for that next gaunt to the desert. Continue reading Ricoh G700 Can Get Wet, Wild and a Whole Lot More

Motorola Introduced Rugged Smartphone That Will Handle Extreme Travel and More

There are few sad truths about an active lifestyle. The first is that bones don’t heal as fast as you get older. The second is that while the BlackBerry and iPhone maybe great for staying connected while you’re out, on the road or off, the handsets aren’t exactly what we’d label as “rugged.”

Even with protective sleeves the mobile smartphones aren’t exactly designed for those with more active lifestyles. But Motorola is looking to defy what the traditional handset can do, and that’s where the Motorola Defy comes in. This is actually the company’s second rugged Android smartphone, and it promises to be waterproof and dustproof.

The Defy has a 3.7-inch 480×854 Corning Gorilla Glass Display, along with a 5megapixel auto focus camera that offers video recording, LED flash and most notably image stabilization, so you can capture the thrill of victory as well as your personal agony of defeat. The Defy also includes A-GPS, WiFi, stereo Bluetooth, MotoBlur 1.5, a microSD card slot, and it runs on Android 2.1 OS.

That all sounds great, but there is some bad news, you’ll have to head to Europe to get one, when the Defy is released in Q4. No word on pricing or when this handset will arrive in hands in North America.

Share Your Epic Ski Experiences with New Smartphone App

Having a fantastic run on the ski slopes is something you’ll want to talk about with your friends, but Vail Resorts now has a new mobile smartphone app that will let you share your experience on the slopes before you even get back to the lodge. EpicMix is a new online and mobile application that allows skiers and riders a seamless way to digitally capture and share their mountain experiences. From either a computer or via free mobile app for the iPhone, Android or other smartphones, the EpicMix takes advantage of newly installed state-of-the-art radio frequency (RF) scanners that are in place at 89 lifts across five mountain resorts. Continue reading Share Your Epic Ski Experiences with New Smartphone App

College Football Kicks off in 3D on ESPN This Fall

Fall means football, and as the season kicks off this year will see a whole new dimension to the games. ESPN 3D has just announced that the first 3D college games will be broadcast on the new network, and this should certainly have fans getting into the school spirit like never before.

“The technology is now cleaner, crisper and more interactive than ever before,” says David Berman of Home Technology Specialists of America, adding, “it’s more affordable and there is strong demand for these products. Consumers are investing in a variety of options on the market right now that will create an exciting experience.”

Beyond the 3D experience, Berman notes that another way fans are enjoying the game is by watching them outdoors but closer to home; tailgating in their own back yards with new weather-proof outdoor TVs from makers such as Pantel and SunBrite. These sets are ruggedized and meant to stand up to extreme temperatures – from the record highs at the season openers to the more nasty November weather.

So while we still like to focus on technology that gets users moving, we have to admit that the large HDTV sets offer plenty of ways to enjoy the big games, whether it is outside in the elements, or in the full glory of HDTV in 3D. It’s time for some college football.

Home Theater Specialists of America

ESPN 3D

Staying Warm While Skiing With New Heated Ski Lift

Skiers heading to Park City, Utah this coming season will be in for a treat. It has been announced that the first of its kind bubble enclosed, quad lift will be introduced just outside the Grand Summit Hotel. The weather protecting orange bubble will give visitors a new perspective on the slopes. It promises to offer unmatched visibility, safety and for those who don’t like the mountain chill – new comforts that include heated seats.

The orange bubble will further make skiers feel like they’re inside a pair of ski goggles, and this lift should increase the uphill capacity from base to mountain by around 47 percent. And it will allow skiers to get to the top of the mountain in a mere nine minutes. But again, we think the fact that skiers will stay warm is the best part. 

Wheels Keep Turning, and Now Are Spinning Green

This month Deltron, Inc. announced that its Elasco Inc. manufacturing subsidiary has taken skateboarding in a new – and greener – direction. This latest move has enabled Sector 9, a manufacturer of skateboards and apparel, to offer eco-friendly skateboard wheels. Sector 9 has become one of the market leaders in design and manufacture of skate long boards, which is a fast-growing segment in the skateboard market. And now the company’s boards with have organic-based wheels to let them do the rolling. The new Elasco wheels are actually made with a soybean-based polyols.

“Founded in 1993, Sector 9 has a long and distinguished history of leadership in the boardsports industry,” said Deltron CEO Henry Larrucea. “The Sector 9 team has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment, providing sustainable products as well as offering information on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption in its corporate materials. When Elasco developed proprietary formulations to produce polyurethane wheels using soybean polyols, Sector 9 seized the opportunity to be the first skateboard company to offer more sustainable wheels. Increasing sales this year show that the ‘green’ wheels have strong appeal for environmentally conscious customers including surfers, skateboarders and the broader youth market.” Continue reading Wheels Keep Turning, and Now Are Spinning Green

Increase in Sport-Related Concussions in Youths Calls for Caution

It's important to wear helmets properly or they'll do more harm than good.

A bump on the head is more than it used to be. A recent study conducted by Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Brown University, both in Providence, R.I. finds an increase in children ages 8 to 19 in the emergency room for concussions. While the study cites a decline in certain organized team sports, kids remain prone to injury in a number of sports including individual sports such as bicycling and snow skiing.

While not all sports call for it, an increasing number of activities now call for a helmet, particularly with minors. Sports have seen great strides in headgear in recent years. Ski helmets like the one from Saloman have made it more common to see helmets on the slopes. Innovations in football helmets like the X1 from Xenith reduce the likelihood of a concussion upon impact during gameplay.

Still, some question whether helmets insure safety. Of course those that question the use of helmets are concerned that wearers are more willing to take risks and put themselves in harm’s way. The best way to reduce head injuries is likely to wear proper protection and be aware of the risks of your activity. It’s also important to be sure if you’re wearing headgear, you’re wearing it the right way. Many cyclists, for example, wear helmets set too far back on their head.

Brown University and Hasbro Children’s Hospital Study [via The Wall Street Journal: Childhood: Athletes’ Concussions Have Doubled]

Taking the Board Off-Road

How long do you think this board will stay white?

Over the years there have been attempts to take skateboarding off road, with bigger tires, more tires but now Bryson Lovett has taken the board in a new direction. With his unique Vertrax Electric Skateboard he’s essentially ditched the traditional wheels, and in place utilizes a tread system – much like you find on a tank or tractor.

Thus instead of needing the typical flat and smooth skating surface, the Vertrax can tackle sand, snow, dirt, worn concrete or even grass quite well. There have been suggestions that it could be used in military operations, such as for transporting soldiers across rough terrain, and because the tracked skateboard is electric it runs quietly without the traditional exhaust of similarly small vehicles.

Given that a rider still has limited options for holding on the Vertrax is probably best on flat terrain as well, but it should be able to tackle conditions that would riders carrying their traditional skate deck.

Byrson Lovett Official Site

Time To Fly With New NRX Rod

Many products take time to design and refine, but 17 years in the making is a long time indeed. But when it comes to fly fishing there is doing it, and there is doing it right. From the fisherman to the manufacturers, there is something to be sad about patience and persistence. This is why it really doesn’t come as a surprise that it has taken this long for the new G.Loomis NRX fly rod to finally be revealed to the public.

The company noted, “A very precise, lightweight trout rod designed for casting small dries and nymphs on large freestone creeks and small rivers where long casts are a factor, but where accuracy is the key. NRX makes it as light as the proverbial feather, allowing you to cast all day long and hardly notice the rod in your hand. Whether its lake fishing or stream fishing, trout or panfish, this may be the lightest, most technical 3-weight on the market.”

We’re not really sure about all that, but we know about the old saying that if you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, and that if you give a man a fishing pole he’ll never be hungry again. Now if you give a man an NRX fly rod he might be able to feed a lot of people, but let’s hope he doesn’t sell the rod instead! These quality rods range in price from $700 to $770, and come in nine-foot lenghts with line wieght ranging from 3wt to 9wt and from medium stiff to stiff taper, and finally from moderate fast to fast power.

NRX Official Website

Video: Steve Rajef talks about the NRX