Outdoor Gear

Chaval Outdoor Introduces Response-XRT Tech-Based Luxury Ski Gloves

News & Features, Outdoors

Chaval Outdoor Introduces Response-XRT Tech-Based Luxury Ski Gloves

We have now had three sub-30F mornings in the last two weeks … so I am thinking about my cold weather gear for running. Also, next month my younger son starts his annual ski team weekend jaunts, so again I am thinking gear. I have found that through the years maintaining finger warmth has become increasingly critical to my overall sense of comfort. By the coldest days I am often double-gloving in order to keep warm. But that was before; I am now running FOUR TIMES the distance and staying out twice as long. So I anticipate this year being…

ThinkTank Photo Street Walker HardDrive Backpack Review

Reviews

ThinkTank Photo Street Walker HardDrive Backpack Review

photos by Kevin Stanford We have already looked at a number of offerings from Think Tank Photo. We reviewed the ThinkTank Retrospective 7 Camera Bag. (Read the review.) We also reviewed the ThinkTank Photo StreetWalker Camera Backpack that has now taken up residence with Judie. (Read the review.) And finally we reviewed the Think Tank Photo Urban Disguise 35 V2.0. (Read the review.) As I was finishing this initial series of reviews I commented that I wish I had something that would carry all my gear AND my 15″ MacBook Pro Retina. A short time later the ThinkTank Photo Street Walker…

NYNE NB-200 and NB-230 Bluetooth Speakers Combine Style and Sound

News & Features

NYNE NB-200 and NB-230 Bluetooth Speakers Combine Style and Sound

There are plenty Bluetooth speakers on the market. Now a new company, NYNE, has released a series of speakers designed for an “active life-style”. Their NB-200 and NB-230 Bluetooth speakers provide in-home quality audio through either a wireless connection with any Bluetooth enabled device, or a 3.5mm aux-in cable connection with a non-Bluetooth device. Their stylish and portable form allows for music enjoyment on-the-go both indoors and outdoors. Here’s a look at both. There’s the NB-200. It is designed to be taken with you wherever you go and can be attached to a bike or baby stroller handlebars with its…

Jabra Solemate Bluetooth Speaker Review

Reviews

Jabra Solemate Bluetooth Speaker Review

I’ve had my Jawbone Jambox for well over a year, and I’ve loved it. It is small, easy to use, and it packs a punch! More recently I had the opportunity to review the Braven 600. It is about the same size, but it has a built-in battery that will also charge your mobile device even as it fills the space with music. Then there is the most recent entry into this category – the Jabra Solemate Bluetooth Portable Speaker. It costs $200, is a bit bigger than the other two speakers and, quite frankly, looks like it wants to…

Magellan Kicks Off Hunting Season with New Products

News & Features, Outdoors

Magellan Kicks Off Hunting Season with New Products

One of my favorite times of the year officially started last weekend! The beginning of hunting season is always exciting and gives us outdoorsmen an excuse to spend too much time in nature. While the first weekend of bow hunting season was not fruitful for me due to the moon cycle, I did thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to spend some time out in the wild clearing my head and being one with nature. One thing that is important while hunting is safety and location. Not only do you need to find your way back to civilization, but you never want to lose…

Esoterism Presents the Moat-4 Aroused Comrade Urban Camo iPhone 4S Case

News & Features, Outdoors

Esoterism Presents the Moat-4 Aroused Comrade Urban Camo iPhone 4S Case

Most of our readers know I am an avid outdoorsman and hunter, but you all should also know I am a huge fan of our military. As a history teacher and patriot, anything that shows support for our troops is OK by me. I have many ex-students/athletes that have defended our nation bravely. One of my athletes gave the ultimate price, and my best friend took multiple rounds during the Battle of Fallujah and lived to tell about it. I also have a recent graduate who has become an Army Ranger. With all of that said, I naturally like all…

SteriPEN, a Handy Tool in a Variety of Models for Water Purification on the Go

News & Features, Travel

SteriPEN, a Handy Tool in a Variety of Models for Water Purification on the Go

Quite a few years back when I was in high school, I enrolled in a “primitive” two-week hiking trip to the Smoky Mountains/Shining Rock Wilderness area with a group called Wilderness Southeast. It was quite an education for a young greenhorn like myself far from civilization…hiking boots, heavy backpacks and open to the elements (no tents), and no food except what we carried and rehydrated with water from mountain streams. Water…that was key, you see, because back in those days we used chlorine tablets to sterilize the water…and most of you who ever spent time in a swimming pool know…

Goal Zero's Two New Solar Recharging Kits Shine at Outdoor Retailer

News & Features

Goal Zero’s Two New Solar Recharging Kits Shine at Outdoor Retailer

It seems like the recent coverage of “preppers” has brought alternative power sources into the mainstream. I have been extremely interested in solar power lately, but not because of some impending zombie apocalypse. With the upcoming hurricane season approaching, most gulf coast residents at least think of their plans if a storm does arrive. While I am usually far enough inland to be able to ride out these storms, one major concern is electricity. Solar power with batteries can allow my family some comforts and even save some food if we are without power for a few days. I also…

Flipside Sport 10LAW Camera Backpack Review

News & Features

Flipside Sport 10LAW Camera Backpack Review

This review is a continuation of our series of camera bag reviews. Thus far we’ve taken a look at two bags from Think Tank Photo (the Streetwalker Backpack and the Retrospective 7), one from Lowepro (the Urban Sling), and another from Tenba (the Photo/Laptop Messenger). This time out we are looking at the Lowepro Flipside Sport 10L AW. This backpack-style camera case is one of the more “activity-specific” bags we have seen. It is intended for photographers who lead an active life and are looking for a bag that is good for carrying just enough camera gear, a water bottle…

ThinkTank Photo StreetWalker Camera Backpack Review

Reviews

ThinkTank Photo StreetWalker Camera Backpack Review

We’ve already looked at a number of bags for carrying your camera, photographic accessories and, in some cases, a tablet or laptop. Those bags all fell into the category of shoulder bags or slings. This time out we are taking a look at a backpack-style system for carrying all your gear. The Think Tank Photo Streetwalker “holds a regular size DSLR with 70-200 2.8 attached and hood in position ready to shoot”. The company targets this bag as being a good fit for “all photographers, from pros to serious enthusiasts” and, having run it through its paces, I have to…

Gear Diary Outdoors, MyGunDB Intelligent Firearms Solutions

Outdoors, Reviews

Gear Diary Outdoors, MyGunDB Intelligent Firearms Solutions

As a South Texas country boy and an avid hunter, I have a love for firearms. Shotguns, pistols, rifles, if it goes bang, I want one. I often tell people owning a firearm is like eating potato chips…you can’t have just one. While my collection is far from finished, I do have several pieces and am always looking for ways to keep records of them. They are all under lock and key in a large gun safe both to protect against theft as well as keep my kids’ hands off of them. As the number of weapons grows, so does…

Keen Waimea H2, the Ugly Sandals You Will Love, Review

Reviews

Keen Waimea H2, the Ugly Sandals You Will Love, Review

Warning, if you care about style do not read this post. Warning, if you’re self-conscious don’t read this post. Warning, if you can’t handle a bit of ridicule don’t read this post. Okay, if you are still reading this post then you clearly don’t care about style, aren’t all that self-conscious, and can handle a bit of ridicule from your peers. Good let’s get started. A little over a year and a half ago Carly wrote a few posts that discuss Vibram Five Finger shoes. (Check out last year’s lineup here.) They are the ugliest things I had ever seen…

iPhoning Cyclists, Take a Look at the Wahoo Fitness Blue SC

News & Features

iPhoning Cyclists, Take a Look at the Wahoo Fitness Blue SC

Here’s a great little gadget if you are a biker AND an iPhone-user. The Wahoo Blue SC from Wahoo Fitness is a speed and cadence sensor for iPhone. The $59.99 gizmo wirelessly connects to your iPhone (or iPad) using Bluetooth 4.0 technology and pairs with cycling apps such as Cyclemeter and Strava. From there, cyclists can monitor critical cycling data from their iOS device. As the release explains Wahoo Fitness’ Blue SC bike speed & cadence completely transforms your iPhone into the ultimate cycling computer. Coupled with the Wahoo Blue SC, the iPhone can provide cyclist with all their critical…

http://www.barbecue-smoker-recipes.com/primo-versus-big-green-egg.html

Outdoors, Reviews, Yum Log

Big Green Egg vs. Primo XL: Kamado Dragons Face Off in the Ceramic Grill Octagon

Anyone who is slightly befuddled by the title of this post probably isn’t a member of the cult of ceramic grills, which are also known by their Japanese name of kamado grills. I used to be one of those people who sneered at my friends who went on and on about how wonderful their Big Green Eggs were and how they could cook perfect ribs or chickens or pork shoulders all the time because of the incredibly well-insulated ceramic grills’ ability to hold a constant temperature for so long.

Use Your iPhone Everywhere With the Quad Lock System

News & Features

Use Your iPhone Everywhere With the Quad Lock System

I love the idea of using my iPhone in a variety of ways and settings. The LifeProof case is one example of a case that lets us use the iPhone on the go. The Quad Lock Mounting System is another and we have one on the way for review. Before we get it, however I thought we might take a quick look. Quad Lock Case attaches pretty much anywhere using a single, multi-purpose mount. It is, “an ultra slim, durable and protective Polycarbonate hard case that doubles as a multi-purpose mount.” and because of its unique design it can mount…

Organize Your Seeds with a Seed Organizer Binder Kit

Gear Bits

Organize Your Seeds with a Seed Organizer Binder Kit

I collect seeds when I find interesting plants in the reproductive stage where seeds can be gathered. Usually I am pretty good at remembering what I collected (and why), but recently I stumped myself. I had gathered some seeds and put them in a bag, and at some point (months later, I’m sure) mislabeled them “Mexican Paradise Plant”. After the seeds began to grow, there was no doubt in my mind that the seedlings were something completely different. Obviously my organizational skills had failed. Kev and I spent hours trying to figure out what this odd five-leafed plant was, and through…

Stylishly Protect and Carry Your Gear with Lowepro's New Camera Bags

News & Features

Stylishly Protect and Carry Your Gear with Lowepro’s New Camera Bags

When we were at CES in January I had the opportunity to stop by the Lowepro booth and see some of the awesome camera bags they have to offer. At the time I was interested, but didn’t find the gear personally relevant since I was content using my iPhone and Canon G11 for photos, and neither requires a good camera bag. Fast forward a few months, and I am actually looking for a good camera bag. You see, I thought the SonyDSLR we posted on a number of weeks back looked amazing, and I plan to pick one up as…

Eton's Solar-Powered Rukus Is Ready for the Pool

News & Features

Eton’s Solar-Powered Rukus Is Ready for the Pool

  Warm weather is just about here, which means you’ll likely be spending more time outdoors — hopefully at the beach or pool! Assuming that you are careful about the obvious hazards such as water, sand, and too much sun, the next hurdle to outdoors musical enjoyment is finding a power source. Sun worshippers who have the new Eton Rukus, the “first portable Bluetooth sound system with a solar panel”, will be able to enjoy their favorite songs streamed wirelessly from any Bluetooth enabled mobile device. They can also keep their device charged through the Rukus’ integrated USB charging port. It has…

Tom Bihn Ristretto (New Version) review

Reviews

Tom Bihn Ristretto (New Version) review

  There are a few companies that consistently impress me with the design, functionality and quality of their laptop and iPad bags. Tom Bihn is one of them and, with the recent release of the updated Ristretto bag for iPad, 11″ MacBook air and 13″ MBA they have, yet again, proven why they are such a great company. For the past few months my “go to” bag has been the Skooba Design V.3 Tablet Messenger. It is a great bag that I continue to use and enjoy. It holds my devices in “landscape” and, as I note in the review,…