StanleyIn Maine, Stanley developed quite a fondness for his Chuck-It bumper (pictured at left). Bumpers are specifically designed for to train retrievers to retrieve items, such as ducks, from the water. The bumper floats high in the water and the bright red and green colors make it easy to find, even in the choppy Maine waters. Easy to throw and the pup loves it even on land. $12.50 www.chuckit.com
Nikon AW100
Nikon certainly wasn’t first to market with a ruggedized camera, in fact they were pretty close to last. That said, the wait was worth it. With built-in GPS (a glaring oversight on many cameras in this class) you can go back and find exactly where a photo was taken. No more guessing. Using software that will map photos such as Apple’s iPhoto, Google Earth, or the built in maps at the bar can be a fun way to share memories of your trip. The AW100 features full 1080p video, 16MP photos and one handed operation. The AW100 is designed to take a decent amount of abuse too. Waterproof up to 33ft. shockproof up to 5ft. and freezeproof make the Nikon AW100 one star performer in the outdoor camera arena. Probably not quite worth upgrading if you already have a camera in this class, but if not, this is the one. $379.95 http://www.nikonusa.com
Hydro Flask Growler
Earlier this year Hydro Flask released their growler and frankly, it’s glorious. The double wall insulation keeps beer fresh and cold until you’re ready to drink it, up to 24 hours. Because it’s made of 18/8 stainless steel it will stand up the abuse that riding in your pack all day will dish out. It also won’t break when if falls on the rock or gets banged around in the back of your car on the way home. You can also store anything you would like to keep warm in the growler (soup, chili, tea) but we prefer to the use it for it’s intended purpose. Hydro Flask makes double-wall insulated flasks in sizes ranging from 12oz. all the way up to the 64oz. growler including a food flask of which we are big fans of the entire line. $49.99 www.hydroflask.com
Mountain Hardwear Medusa Gloves
Cold hands? No problem. Even while ice climbing all day in some of the most demanding conditions. Mountain Hardwear bonded their propriety OutDry waterproof membrane directly to the Medusa’s outer shell making the gloves some of the most waterproof gloves we have ever tried. The Medusa’s also include a removable windproof softshell liner not only makes the glove nice and warm but protect your hands when you need the added dexterity of not wearing the shells. The nose wipe on the thumb is another great feature. While the wipe isn’t the softest material on earth it does stay free of snow and ice. If you are looking for a pair of gloves that spends a decent amount of time outside during the winter you could do much, much worse than the Mountain Hardwear Medusa. $150 http://www.mountainhardwear.com
Travel Medical Kits by Adventure Medical Kits
Adventure Medical Kits makes first aid kits for a range of outdoor and travel medical kits wherever your choice of activity of destination. Adventure Medical Kits packs all of their kits in very organized kits that are very convenient to use and carry. Kits designed for use on the water include watertight cases, travel kits are in portfolio type cases that make for easy packing, and an women’s specific travel kit is available. If you have a loved one that spends much time outdoors or on the road get them piece of mind that comes with knowing they have medical supplies should they need them. $10-70 (travel series) http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com
iPad 2
The last thing you need is someone else telling you how great the iPad is. Sorry, but it’s true. For those that travel on a regular basis lugging a laptop around can be a real pain. With countless travel apps for checking into flights, reserving hotels, finding things to do in a new city, and countless other tasks once you get hooked on your iPad for travel it’s tough to do without it. But it’s the fact that it can all but replace lugging around your laptop where the iPad shines. E-mail, web browsing, apps for blogging, text processing, presentations, and almost any other items you need to get done on the road. Presentations can even be given with available adapters. While doing a lot of content creation on the go can be a little awkward on the touchscreen a bluetooth keyboard is available that will ease that pain. Many people are big fans of the other e-readers on the market such as the Kindle and Nook as well. And while we can certainly get behind that we love the versatility the iPad offers. And while there are other tablets on the market that promise similar functionality none have caught on to this point. So this year it’s the iPad 2 that gets the nod and even with the 3G making travel more convenient the wi-fi version should be sufficient for most people. $499-$829 www.apple.comDonations to Charity
Charities in this country provide many services that are near and dear to many of our hearts. If you have someone in your life who travels or loves the outdoors there charities no doubt protect some of the land they use. With the prolonged economic problems currently facing us many charities have seen a large drop in donations and this can be your chance to help them. If you really don’t know what to get that special person maybe a donation in their name could be the best gift. Some examples for donations include the Access Fund, Doctors Without Borders, or even the Red Cross. Many local charities are great candidates for your gifts as well. In addition you get a tax deduction for this gift, it is the end of the year after all and it’s kind of like giving and getting at the same time.On Consuming
With the holidays upon us it is almost too easy to get caught up in the giving spirit. While it is nice to receive things and certainly a joy to give please consider the impact before you buy something you don’t need. Monday, Nov 28 also known as Cyber Monday turned out to be a record in sales...ever. Patagonia on the other hand ran a full-page ad in the New York Times with the title ‘Don’t Buy This Jacket’ (ad below) reminding us that everything we buy damages the earth. No preaching, just thought the ad was worth sharing. Enjoy.
Hydro Flask 64 oz. Wide-mouth Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Growler
Call it four pints or just shy of a six-pack, or you can just call it awesome. They call it the Hydro Flask 64 oz. wide-mouth vacuum insulated stainless steel growler. I mean, sure you could put something else in it (water, chili, what have you...), but I purchased mine for beer transport. My local brewery offers growlers and six-packs to go. For the sake of convenience I prefer a large vessel (no bottle deposit or return, and I do all my own recycling -- if you know what I mean). Previously I have used a glass growler for these purposes, but this poses its own challenges: how do you keep it from getting broken? In the past, I’ve used bungee cords to hold my growler down, but on one occasion somehow it freed itself and broke in the back of my Jeep... $11 wasted and the great the smell of barley and hops is replaced by the rotten egg smell in few days. (Then I had to break out the vinegar and clean like a madman.) Also, keeping a glass growler cold can be an uphill battle. All in all, I’m left wishing I had something better. With a Hydro Flask Growler, now I do. Hydro Flask makes great vacuum stainless steel insulated bottles that have kept my coffee hot for up to 12 hours and my water cold for up to 24 hours. They come in sizes ranging from 12 to 40 oz. Yet even the 40 oz. size was not enough capacity to satisfy for my passion for good brew. Enter the Hydro Flask growler. The beer is fresh and cold when you get home or four hours later or even the next day. This past weekend I filled up my growler with some Mackinac Island Fudge Stout from the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti, MI. This beer is pretty rich, so I could only drink a couple pints. The next day I finished off my growler and was amazed that the beer was cold and fresh just like the night before. Plus, the double insulation prevents sweating, so no coaster required! The lid is not insulated but Hydro Flask has informed me that they will be offering an insulated lid soon. Cheers to that. $49.99 www.hydroflask.com Christopher Sorel -- Saline, MI 
Platypus PlatyPreserve Wine Preserver
The PlatyPreserve wine preserver from Platypus is a pretty sweet way to keep a bottle of wine in decent shape for your outdoor adventures. However, the only difference between this and a Platypus SoftBottle seems to be that the PlatyPreserve is about the right size (800ml) to hold a standard bottle of wine (750ml), and costs two dollars more. Although if you do decide to go the route of the SoftBottle ensure you get the screw-on closure cap as you wouldn’t want a bottle of red and a bottle of white to spill all over your gear. We did test the PlatyPreserve at picnics, day hikes, and over-nighters. I wouldn’t recommend putting a 1945 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild in one of these it held up rather well. And if you need to store wine longer than a couple days, you, my friend, need to drink more wine. $9.95 www.cascadedesigns.com Erick Pound
The Patagonia Better Sweater is the sweater that promises to look like wool with the ease of care of polyester. It delivers. As one tester bragged, "I wore the Better Sweater about every third day during a two-week trip to Japan and at the end it wore like it was fresh...which it wasn't". The Better Sweater features a fleece interior that is extremely comfortable next to the skin and can be worn as a sweater around the city, hikes on the edge of town or under a shell when the mercury drops. The Napoleon pocket (on the men's 1/4 zip, vest, and hoody) proved surprisingly useful, holding phones, cameras, and iPods. On occasion I did miss hand warmer pockets (the 1/4 zip is the only version they are missing from) but do think the lack of them gave the sweater a more pleasing look, especially around town. The Patagonia Better Sweater is available in men's and women's 1/4 zip, full zip jacket, and full-zip hoody, and vest and kid's hoody. The only downfall may be the price but for the versatility of the Better Sweater it may be well worth it, it may be the last sweater you buy. $85-$149 www.patagonia.com
I recently decided to switch from a commuter backpack to a messenger bag for my urban shleps. Backpacks are a pain on the subway, are tough to get things in and out of and frankly, messenger bags jut look better when heading from work to a nice dinner. There are quite a few companies making messenger bags and they run the spectrum from true bike messenger style to all leather luxury bags costing thousands. I settled on the Osprey Flap Jack in part because of the reputation Osprey has built for themselves. I love my Osprey Talon 44 so when I saw the Osprey Flap Jack I jumped on it. And at $79 it's one of the cheaper options on the market. The Osprey Flap Jack is a laptop messenger bag that holds up to a 17" laptop in a padded sleeve and sports 1200 cubic inches of space. Other features include interchangeable nylon webbing for a customized look, a patch for attaching a light, a drawcord to protect the contents from the elements, and an earbud cable router on the bag. The Osprey Flap Jack is a very nice size for the day-to-day commuter -- I even find room in it to stash a jacket -- but don't expect to go away for more than a night with what you can pack. I would not have been upset to see a bit more space. The bag wears great and is easily adjustable while the triangle support is only needed when hauling around heavier items for a period of time. The laptop sleeve fits a 15" laptop perfectly while those with 17" laptops, particularly those at the larger end of the spectrum, may have some trouble. The laptop sleeve is padded but I miss the sleeve on the Patagonia Crosstown that kept the laptop off the ground when you set the bag down. Even with the padding in the Osprey laptop envelope, I still worry about setting my bag down too hard and doing damage to my laptop. I did find the internal pocket lacking organization and would love to have seen some more pockets inside the main compartment. The bag is not waterproof although it is water resistant enough to keep your things dry in a freak thunderstorm and a drawcord keeps the bag cinched tight around your items to keep the rain out. The system works well enough, though I would have preferred the flap actually be more like a lid that extends a few inches down the side of the bag thus completely enclosing the contents. The Osprey Flap Jack has proven to be an indispensable companion in my travels over the last few months. It's been to Colorado, London, and all over Manhattan. The chances that it will be replaced anytime soon are slim to nil. Osprey also has a couple other bags in the 'Flap Series'. For men they offer the Flap Jack Pack in addition to the Flap Jack Courier. Women are offered the Flap Jill Pack (in large and regular), Flap Jill Courier, and the Flap Jill Mini. $79 www.ospreypacks.com
We recently were able to test the Mountain Hardwear Medusa Gloves with Mountain Hardwear's proprietary waterproof membrane, OutDry. According to Mountain Hardwear OutDry is not just a membrane but the process of bonding the membrane to the inside of the shell material. With most membrane waterproofing techniques the membrane sits between the shell and the insulation and allows water, wind, and ultimately the cold to permeate the shell and sit on top of the membrane. OutDry eliminates these problems. But we have all seen similar claims and potential benefits in marketing materials before; put up or shut up, I say. So, naturally, I put them to the test. Two weeks of ice climbing and skiing in Colorado turned me into a believer. We encountered conditions that ranged from extremely wet ice that turned to blizzard conditions at the top of the route and the gloves not only kept my hands dry but warm even going into the last pitch. I had taken a second set of mittens along as I knew it would be a challenge only to have them shared by two of my group after their gloves froze from the water on the first pitch. The Mountain Hardwear Medusas also performed well on the slopes, and the liners were a great weight for skinning while it's dry. The gloves were tough to remove if I was trying to keep the liners on my hands. The Velcro that holds the liner in place inside the gloves seems to be too strong and the gloves may be better of without it entirely. One feature of note in addition to the OutDry waterproofing is the snot wipe on the thumb. Although the wipe isn't the softest material I have ever put on my nose the wipe on the Mountain Hardwear Medusas stayed mostly ice free the entire day, a rarity in snot wipes. $140 www.mountainhardwear.com
Google Translate for iPhone and iPod Touch
Google has had a translate feature on the web for some time but recently Google released a native iPhone/iPod Touch app. The app will allow typed translation of 57 languages of which 15 can be spoken directly into the phone and spoken results are available in 23. The app will also allow displaying the results in full screen so they can be shown to a foreign speaker. The app works very well but the glaring problem is the requirement to have an internet connection. Either wi-fi or cellular data (iPhone only) will work but if you are away from either of those you may be out of luck. One nice feature is the ability to view translation history, even when no internet connection exists. The app just provides an interface to the same data the web based translate uses ensuring that the most current data is used. An Android version of the app is also available.
free
www.google.com
Honey Stinger Organic Waffles
Last October, Honey Stinger released their new Organic Stinger Waffle. Recommended by Lance Armstrong, a big fan of the stroopwafels sold throughout Europe, and using organic ingredients the Honey Stinger Waffles are a pleasure to eat. The Honey Stinger Waffles have a nice crispy texture with a chewy, honey-y finish. Each waffle packs 160 calories and are by easily one of the best tasting energy sources currently on the market. They are also good as an snack anytime and are pretty good with a cup of coffee or tea. In March Honey Stinger is set to release a vanilla version of the Stinger Waffle.
$1.39/ea $22.24/box of 16
www.honeystinger.com 
Maybe it's your first pair of rock shoes. Maybe you are looking for a second pair of shoes to increase your performance. Or maybe your current shoes kill your feet or you want some specialty shoes for a specific type of climbing. There are many different reasons for purchasing a new pair of rock shoes but knowing what you need is the only sure way to get exactly what you want.
MSR’s new backcountry snowshoe, the Lightning Ascent, boasts many useful features for the back-country traveler including modular flotation tails, PosiLock AT bindings, cross members for rigidity, pivot crampons and heel lifters. We put the MSR Lightning Ascents through it's paces in Colorado and Vermont and tested it's versatility using subjects that differ in weight by 100 pounds on the 25" model. One tester, new to snowshoeing wasn't entirely sure what all the features meant but at the end of her ascent of Mt. Mansfield she was very happy to have the aggressive serration along the entirety of the snowshoes. This proved key in the sub-zero 50+ MPH 'slog'. Both testers raved about the heel lifter on both Mt. Mansfield and on the backside of Mt. Lincoln, CO, after our other heavier tester was asked to break trail in a couple feet of fresh, deep powder on a cold approach for some ice climbing. Our budding snowshoer found the device after her hiking partner pointed out the feature and was immediately a fan of heel lifters in general. A hiking pole is sufficient to raise the bar when in the raised position out testers found climbing steep slopes was a breeze. 
Our heavier tester, breaking trail in Colorado made good use of the flotation tails. They are easy to install with just a couple of hooks and a rubber strap they can easily be attached with gloves and provide extra flotation in deep, soft snow or for heavier hikers. Weighing 3lbs. 14oz. (25" model) the MSR Lightning Ascents can handle a load between 120 and 220lbs and up to 280lbs with the flotation tales installed. Of course those number vary by user experience and snow conditions. Of course, as with most items from MSR, the Lightning Ascents are made in Seattle, WA. Both testers agreed the bindings were tough to get in and out of but acknowledged the binging is more secure than other snowshoes and proper sizing in a nice warm place is key. $269.95-$299.95 www.msrcorp.com
Writing a review of down clothing is easy, just get some cold weather going and enjoy! The shorty jacket in this case is from Feather Friends, well known for quality clothing with great insulation. This product was worn in fairly cold weather as well as cool morning environments. One would expect down clothing to be warm, but the trick is to not over-insulate and this jacket is exceptional. Never once did I actually sweat, even when the temperature was in the 40ʼs. This when it also provided plentiful warmth when in the single-digits. All this in a tiny, packable stuff. -lacked internal pocket for energy bars/storing stuff sack -lots of fabric/fill options -made in USA/Canada $199 www.featheredfriends.com
These days it seems everyone wants to share photos from their latest adventure with friends and family. Whether it’s Facebook, Flickr, or good, old-fashioned email, we love to brag about out adventures with pictures and videos. The Olympus makes capturing those images and videos a breeze. That said, the real value in the Stylus Tough 8010 is the beating it can withstand. Waterproof to 33 ft, shockproof to 6.6 ft., and freezeproof to 14˚ F, the Stylus Tough 8010 sports a 14 megapixel still camera and is capable of shooting 720p high-definition video. The tap controls allow you to navigate the menus while wearing gloves and the 5x optical zoom lets you get closer to the action. The one thing we would have liked to see on this camera is a GPS to allow for automatic geo-tagging. Next time... $399 www.olympus.com
This article originally published in the September 2010 issue of Adventure Insider Magazine. In recent years there has been a definite trend towards the use of integrated cook systems. These all-in-one systems combine the stove, windscreen, heat exchanger, and cook pot, and their efficiency and ease of use makes them extremely popular for backpackers moving to a lighter cook system as well as high altitude mountaineers looking for lightweight hangable kits. We compare three of these systems below.
Both the Jetboil Flash and MSR Reactor have been around for a couple years. The Primus EtaSolo is brand new to the market and with that comes the obvious advantage of learning from other mistakes. We conducted a series of tests on all three systems side-by-side to eliminate as many variables as possible. Test 1: Each system was filled with 2 cups of water at 81° F. Time was recorded at rolling boil. Test 2: Each system was filled with 2 cups water at 34° F. Time was recorded at rolling boil. Test 3: Each system was filled with boiling water. Temperature was recorded in ten minute intervals for 30 minutes. Bonus test: The MSR reactor was filled with 1 L of 34° ice water. Time was recorded at rolling boil. Note: Air temperature for all tests was 74° F.
Conclusions
What stove you ultimately decide on will be a matter of your circumstances. Here’s our feeling. Groups: If you’re traveling with more than three people there is no comparison to the MSR Reactor. The Reactor boils water at a shockingly fast speed and the larger capacity will enable everyone to get a nice hot cup of tea. Solo or couples: Either the Jetboil Flash or Primus EtaSolo are great choices. If you plan to hang your stove often the sting of the Jetboil Flash hanging kit will be minimized and if you hang rarely the included Primus hanging kit is a welcome addition. Both stoves also offer lids used to drink from the pot and insulation to keep the contents warm. The ability to use other pots with the Primus EtaSolo may give it an edge for most people, however. [table id=4 /] 1 Includes stove, pot, and burner 2 Max fill is half of listed capacity
About the Patagonia R2 Jacket
The Patagonia R2 is part of the line of regulator line of fleece jackets offered by Patagonia that provide varying levels of insulation and protection from the elements. The R2 is the ultra-compressible high-loft option designed to be worn under a shell. The R2 surprised me with a weight of just 13.625 oz (medium) and the ability to compress down to the size of a large grapefruit. The R2, however, is not your entry level fleece. At $175 the R2 can be a little pricey for someone looking for a fleece to just kick around town in. You can see our first impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket here.
About the Chameleon3 Stretch
The Chameleon3 Stretch shoes are lightweight mesh and nubuck leather, providing superior ventilation. The Vibram sole provides exceptional grip.
First impressions of the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch
My love affair with the Merrell Chameleon Stretch began when I found a pair on sale at Nordstrom's Rack during a forced (read: girlfriend-motivated) shopping trip a couple of years ago. I haven't hiked or backpacked in another shoe since. At the end of last season I was strongly encouraged (again, read: girlfriend-motivated) to throw away my old pair. It was hard, as those shoes and I have seen numerous countries on several continents, a handful of national parks and countless miles, but admittedly, it was time. I just received my new Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch shoes and they are much as I remember them. The fact that they are wearable right out of the box with no break-in required makes the Chameleon3 Stretch a blessing. They fit snugly and the elastic tensioners eliminate the need for laces. Keep in mind the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch shoes are not designed for backpacking with heavy loads over rough terrain. They are basically a scrambling shoe that can be used for backpacking only if you keep your pack weight down. A Gore-Tex version is made by Merrell, however they seemed to be out of stock everywhere I look when I was ready to order, so I settled for the non-Gore-Tex version and waterproofed them myself with Nikwax Nubuck and Suede Waterproofer.Testing the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch
We recently returned from Costa Rica where the Merrell Chameleon3 Stretch was put to the test as my shoe of choice (when I wasn't in flip-flops, of course). It endured zip-lining, hiking, canyoneering, and girlfriend-motivated (sensing a trend?) souvenir shopping. It is also on my feet on my way to Colorado where it will serve as my approach shoe for two weeks of climbing in and around Colorado and Utah.More Articles …
- DeLorme PN-40 GPS - First Impressions
- Big Agnes Stagecoach Duffel - First Impressions
- Running: Not so bad after all
- 2009 Jetboil Flash Cooking System - First Impressions
- Stoic Merino Crew Long Sleeve Shirt
- 2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket - First Impressions
- 2009 Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants - First Impressions
- Smartwool Midweight Boot Top Bottom
- Smartwool Sport NTS Crew
- Patagonia Crosstown