The Gear Junkie Scoop: Columbia Heated Boots
High-performing heated boots have long been a Holy Grail in the footwear world. With its new men's Bugathermo and women's Snow Hottie models, Columbia Sportswear Company took a stab at making the ultimate heated boot. The boot features built-in rechargeable batteries and on-boot controls to provide three temperature settings. A single charge provides up to eight hours of heat for your feet.
Over two months of Minnesota winter, including temps below zero, I tested the Bugathermo boots, which cost $250 a pair. A female friend who coaches Nordic skiing tried the Snow Hotties out. Our conclusions were about the same: Columbia has missed the aforementioned Holy Grail by a long shot. The Bugathermos are clunky and uncomfortable. Design flaws include a bad fit on the top of the midfoot area, where boot flex causes material to fold over and press into your foot. Fit around the calves was uncomfortable and loose on long hikes.
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February 04, 2010
Outside Picks the Best New Product at SIA + Videos!
You already heard about the SnowSports Industries of America (SIA) trade show that happened in Denver, Colorado, last week from our Powder Feed blogger, Kate Siber! She gave you a round-up on some of the best new gear out there.
But, wait. What was that? There is more cool gear out there? You betcha. And we have the videos to prove it.
Scroll down to find out what pieces of gear I noticed while strolling the SIA trade show. Plus: three videos on my finds and a bonus video celebrating Smith Optic's 45th anniversary.
1) Jones Snowboards
That's right! The big-mountain snowboarder who appeared in Travis Rice's That's It, That's All last year is launching his own line of powder boards, including the split board that you see up top.
We got the run down from Jones, himself, who then took us out on a test run at Loveland, Colorado, so we could get a feel for them. Keep an eye on the blog for videos from our test day at Loveland.
Scroll down for four videos...
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The Gear Junkie Scoop: Spring and Fall Gear 2010
This gear won't be in shops until the spring or next fall, but here's a peek at a few innovations and out-there items coming soon to an outdoors store near you.
Glowing Sandals: Never trip in the dark again. A small LED light is built on the tow strap of the Teva Illum sandals, which come to market this spring. The flip-flops, available in men’s and women’s versions, shine a 10-lumen beam with each step taken. For beach hikes at night, the footlights are waterproof to three-feet deep. $50 and up, depending on model.
Swiss Army Knife with Laser: Just when you thought nothing more could be added to a Swiss Army Knife, Victorinox unveils the Presentation Master. Beyond its small scissors, file and blade, the red-handled package includes a laser pointer and a 32GB data drive. A tiny fingerprint scanner encrypts the drive so only the owner can access the files and data stored inside.
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February 03, 2010
Stores Warned About False Bamboo Labeling
The Federal Trade Commission sent letters to Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, and 74 other retailers warning that rayon clothing should not be labeled as bamboo, according to Reuters. Rayon is made from the cellulose of any plant and it is often produced using harsh chemicals. Many stores have seen the value in green marketing and labeled rayon as bamboo.
Want to know more? Here's a place you can learn about the FTC guidelines for labeling and advertising.
--Aurora Wingard
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February 01, 2010
The Gear Junkie Scoop: Saucony ProGrid Razor
The ProGrid Razor shoes are a high-end winter trail-runner with integrated gaiters and a lightweight Vibram outsole touted to provide "exceptional traction and grip." An eVent lining adds waterproof protection to the upper for puddles or slushy days on the trail.
I have run more than 100 miles this winter in the ProGrid Razors. The $135 shoes fit well and run fine on packed snow, wet pavement, plowed city sidewalks, and winter trails. Grip is good on snow, though the rubber still slips on ice.
The shoe weighs 13.8 ounces for a men’s size 9, 12.5 ounces for a women’s size 8, making this a reasonably light winter trail-runner.
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SIA: The Newest, Coolest Gear for Winter '10-'11
There have been several trade shows in outdoorlandia in the past couple of weeks. I just spent the last two days at SIA, the big snow sports show in Denver.
If you've never been to a trade show, it can best be described as a spectacle. Picture an enormous room larger than a football field in which hundreds of companies large and small set up snazzy displays, couches, tables, and promotional paraphernalia, most of which are nicer than my house. The exhibitors showcase lots of shiny new gear that consumers won't see on shelves until fall. They also come up with all sorts of curiosities to draw people to their booths, like men in gorilla suits, buxom women in fishnets, bunny ears or stewardess outfits, DJs in sunglasses spinning tunes, and big-name athletes like freestyler Patrick Deneen and mountaineer Chris Davenport, to name a few. It's overwhelming, and you can't possibly see everything. But I survived the bright lights to emerge with some ideas as to where the ski and snowboard industry is headed. If there's one word you should know, it's this: rocker. A wide range of ski and snowboard companies are embracing rockered boards. In fact, K2's entire '10-'11 line will be rockered. What the hell is rocker? It's essentially tips and tails that rise early. The most obvious benefit is better float in the soft stuff, but it can also help you initiate and switch turns more easily. Try it. You'll like it.
It also seems that a lot of companies are catering to sidecountry and backcountry riders with split board bindings, fancy new alpine touring boots and apparel designed specifically for the rigors of touring. Here are a few of the products that caught my eye.
1. Salomon Quest Boot
It's like there's an unofficial competition amongst ski boot companies to make the stiffest yet lightest alpine-touring boot possible. Virtually every boot maker has new models for next season, but Salomon's new Quest line got the most buzz. The series of six new alpine-touring boots, including one women's version (hooray!), combines the power of Salomon's alpine boots with a rubber sole and cuff release system for walking. These boots are for folks like ski patrollers who need uncompromising downhill performance with a walk option. There is a Dynafit-compatible attachment, but these aren't for the super weight conscious...
2. Dynafit TLT5
This boot is on the other end of the alpine-touring spectrum. It's designed for what Dynafit calls speed touring. I tried it on and it's uncanny: When it's in walk mode, it literally feels like a hiking boot. Then you switch it into ski mode and insert the tongue and it stiffens like magic. A boon for super speedy ski tourers.
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January 28, 2010
Gear We Love: Deuter Freerider PRO 30
I'm picky about ski packs. My requirements: It has to carry well. It has to have enough pockets but not too many, enough straps but not too many, and a good weight-to-capacity ratio.
I have to admit that I wasn't overly keen on the Deuter Freerider PRO 30 when I first saw it. The one Deuter lent me for testing is boring black and looks bulky. But over the course of a couple of months' worth of backcountry outings around my stomping grounds (the San Juan Mountains of Colorado) I changed my mind about this ski-and-snowboard day pack.
There are a number of reasons why. First, the two ridges on the back panel help air circulate in the middle of your back, which for me is usually the sweatiest. A less sweaty back = a warmer back. The hip belt is arguably beefier than is needed for the pack's capacity, but that means you can load it up with a bunch of heavy stuff, including skis or a snowboard—it has straps for both set-ups—and it's still carries comfortably.
A few choice features are the selling points. One is the big shammy-lined goggle pocket on the top. I'm a total sucker for those. There are both front and back zippers, which allow complete access to all your junk inside. Plus there are two mesh-lined pockets on the interior, which make it easy to see where you put that dang lip balm. One compartment is the perfect size for a shovel.
I had my boyfriend and partner in crime, Andrew, try the pack out for good measure. His one gripe: He'd prefer a snack pocket on each side of the hip belt, not just one side. I have a slightly bigger gripe: This pack isn't particularly light. In fact, it IS kind of bulky. The upshot is that means it's really burly, too. The exterior is reinforced with this rubbery material that, so far, has been completely indestructible. I think it's a pretty fair trade-off for a solid ski and snowboard day pack.
*Like I said in my last review, I try out loads of products but only write about the stuff I think is worth buying. That's why you see mostly positive reviews.
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The Gear Junkie Scoop: Boba Kid Carrier
Active parents who want to take their kids along hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing have many choices in the category of kid carriers. A neat new option is the Boba carrier from Nap Inc.
The Boba, $99, is a "soft structured" carrier, meaning there is no frame for support. It is essentially a piece of rectangular fabric with foam shoulder straps and a waist belt. All the outer fabric is organic cotton.
Boba carriers let you carry a kid close to your body. They work on front or on back, and are good for kids from about 15 pounds to more than 40 pounds.
I have used my Boba (bobababycarrier.com) for a few months with our two-year-old boy. I hike with Charlie using the carrier, and we can even run slowly on trails near my home.
When Charlie is secured on back, the carrier's tight fit and low center of gravity keep him close. He doesn't bounce too much. He's comfortable for an hour or more, and after a few minutes, the pack carries so well that I can forget my 25-pound kid is back there.
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January 27, 2010
Another Case for Running Barefoot
Seems like mother nature gives us everything we need, including the best running shoes, according to reuters.com. By adding extra calluses our feet can handle a variety of surfaces, says Daniel Lieberman of Harvard college. Lieberman claims that runners with shoes tend to hit the ground heel first. Barefoot runners who hit the dirt on the middle or front of the foot, eliminating intense impact collision—one of the main causes of shin splints and other running ailments. (Already have shin splints? thestretchinghandbook.com has some great suggestions).
Not so sure about going barefoot, despite the increasing press? We don't blame you, especially since it's winter. Check out our Buyer's Guides for the best new running shoes.
--Aurora Wingard
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Gear Army: Wavemaster Custom Stand-Up Paddleboard
I was a little disappointed when Wavemaster America’s CEO, Steven Moser, told me that the Waterman stand up paddleboard (at left, red board on right) I was picking up from his house in Palos Verdes, California, was not designed for surfing steep or sizable waves.
“Other people do that very well,” Moser told me. What Moser did promise, and the Waterman delivered, was comfort on long paddles as well as great versatility.
The second time I used this board I paddled for over three hours. As I reached each new visual marker along the Malibu coastline I decided I was comfortable enough to proceed to the next rock outcropping, absurdly decadent house, or pier. By the time I reached Paradise Cove, a spot two hours farther than I planned to paddle, I laid down on the board for a few minutes to pump myself up for the hour and a half of paddling separating my truck and me.
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