A few weeks ago I got my last ‘running streak’ update from TimeHop on my iPhone, meaning two years ago I stopped my running streak after 65 days. I started the streak because right after my last half-marathon of 2012, I took a couple of days off, didn’t have a goal, and I was concerned I would lose my ‘mojo’.
When the temperature dips below freezing, it takes a lot for me to want to take my road bike out for a ride. Motivation can come in the form of variety, like a new route I’ve never ridden or the need to improve my fitness, because I ate everything over the holidays. The Magellan Cyclo 505hc provides me with both!
If you don’t hunt, fish, or camp, if you rarely tail-gate, and if the idea of spending more than $150 on a cooler makes you raise your eyebrows in a “why?” configuration, then this post about the Pelican ProGear 80QT Elite Cooler won’t be for you.
This inflatable, rechargeable solar lantern from Luci by MPOWERD has great durability, easy use, and convenient applications when you’re hiking, fishing, camping, biking, boating, barbecuing, by the pool or anywhere else where you might need some outdoor illumination. Also available in aura, lux, and original models.
If your free time is spent taking your sailboat out on the lake, or if you’re serious enough about your sailing to be part of a regatta, then you’ve no doubt heard of SailorBags. Their sailcloth bags are water-resistant, tough, and — as you’d expect — nautically colored; they also now have a Laptop bag and an iPad sleeve.
Being a real barbecue enthusiast, I have both a gas grill and a couple of charcoal burners. One of the bummers about cooking with gas it that it’s difficult to add real smoke flavor to the meats you cook. A new product called The Ribalizer aims to help make that a little easier for fans of propane gas grill cooking.
One of the problems I used to encounter when I worked in a real office instead of from home was getting busted for sneaking out to play a round of golf. That glove hanging out of my pocket was a dead giveaway. I wish I’d known about OGIO’s new line of golf shoes back then, particularly the City Turf Shoe. I’m already a big fan of OGIO’s gear with several of their backpacks and my golf bag prominently featuring their name. I bought their golf bag because I didn’t want to associate my mediocre golf game with any particular club…
Of course a real golf pro in your pocket would interfere with your swing, but the new Blast Golf product is the latest addition to Blast Motion’s suite of sports and active life motion capture solutions that pair with your iPhone to deliver real-time motion metrics and smart video capture. Attach the Blast Motion precision motion sensor and go play! The sensor itself is the size of a quarter and weighs less than an ounce, but paired with your iPhone and the Blast Golf app data about your putting and swings is transferred via Bluetooth and can even be overlayed…
When selecting a messenger bag, especially to actually use on a bicycle like they were originally intended for, balance is everything. It’s important to maintain a proper balance between being big enough to hold your stuff and not too bulky to ride with. And the actual balance of the payload is critical. The Altego Lunar Mirror Messenger has it all!
As the resident Gear Diary bicyclist, I usually get the first crack at investigating bike gear. Since I live and bike in an urban environment, flat tires are an unfortunate frequent reality of my cycling experience. That’s why I was excited to hear about the new Patchnride bicycle flat repair kit that promises quick and easy emergency rescues from flats.
Like gearheads, fishermen, and cooks, golfers can’t ever seem to have too many gadgets, especially if they promise to help lower his or her score. The Pill is a new training aid that has a novel design to improve your game all the way from tee to green. Lord knows I need the help, so I gave it a try.
Have you ever wished you had a Fitbit for your pet? Something to track just how active they are during the day? I mean, not as they move from lying under the table to on the couch, but actual high-intensity activity? That is the premise of Whistle, and based on going from winter to spring to summer – it works!
We recently received almost 5″ of rain at our house, and although we desperately needed it, the tradeoff was made in bugs, bug, and more bugs! No problem, though, as I had recently received a package from Stinger. Inside were their No Touch Fly Trap and their On-the-Go Zapper Racket. Bugs beware; I am now on the prowl!
Professional couch potatoes can skip this one, but if you’re serious about your workouts and are interested in weighed wearables to improve performance, then keep reading. TITIN Force weighted compression shorts add five pounds of weight to your workout routine, focusing on your hamstrings, thighs, and glutes. Sounds like fun huh?
Just in time for Mother’s Day, Sprint is launching the Kyocera Hydro Vibe. Perfect for busy moms, this Android 4.3 Jelly Bean smartphone is waterproof up to one meter for 30 minutes, and it also has an impact resistant 4.5-inch qHD touchscreen. No more worries about sticky fingers, spilled milk or bath time destroying your smartphone!
I recently reviewed the LED Spotlight from Rayovac. Luckily I got the opportunity to review the Virtually Indestructible LED 3D Lantern, also from the Virtually Indestructible family. The lantern boasts some of the same great features usable in a different format. Will the $29.99 lantern need to be added to your outdoor gear list? Let’s take a look.
The Nyne Bass Bluetooth Speaker is a wireless, 20-Watt portable that’s designed for outdoor use. It’s powered by Bluetooth 4.0, has NFC pairing capabilities, and it has a built-in 10-hour rechargeable battery which can serve as a power bank for smaller devices; the Nyne Bass can also be used as a speakerphone. You can purchase yours for $149.95.
Being an outdoorsman can be taxing on the gear I use. Everything I carry is subject to being dropped and knocked around, as well as the elements. I usually go through several lights a year due to them breaking or getting wet. Rayovac may solve this issue with the Virtually Indestructible LED Spotlight. Can the $39.99 spotlight hold up?
Hopefully the use of emergency lighting is reserved for camping and outdoor activities, but sometimes inclement weather and other events leave us in the dark. Either way, having lighting options with multiple charging possibilities can help keep us safe and comfortable. The Secur Dynamo Spotlight Lantern is a $35 product that will bring light and help charge your devices.
Last year the folks at Merrell let us check out their new M-Connect line of running shoes, and I for one was utterly smitten. The Road Glove has been my go-to shoe, but now that I’ve had the new AllOut Fuse sneakers for a weekend, there may be a new shoe love for me!
As cold as it’s been, it’s hard to imagine doing anything outside. But it won’t be long until it’s warmer, and you’ll be using the search box here at GearDiary to ask “What was the name of that cool outdoor blender that Chamberlain was going on about?” The answer to your future query is the Vortex Blender from GSI Outdoors.