Adidas Terrex Formotion Women’s Hiking Shoe
I’m picky about my hiking shoes. As an avid hiker and past Search and Rescue volunteer, I’ve gone through quite a few pairs. I’ve rarely been completely happy with any of them: cheap shoes are too stiff, or too heavy, or just too flimsy, and top-of-the-line models may fit like a glove, but tend to come with too steep a price tag. Then I tried Adidas’ Terrex Fast X Formotion hiking shoe, and immediately felt like Goldilocks: they were just right.
What sets the Terrex Fast X Formotion Mid Gore-Tex hiking shoe (what a mouthful!) apart is the fact that it’s extremely lightweight for a mid-height shoe, yet completely protects your foot. Hiking over uneven, muddy terrain this spring, I’ve never felt likely to turn my ankle, and my feet never get wet, yet I don’t feel as if I’m wearing a clunky boot.
When Adidas says these shoes are waterproof, they’re not joking. Aside from my winter snow boots, the Terrex is the only pair I can wear all day through rain, puddles, and wet trail and still keep my feet dry. Since they’re not bulky, I’ve been reaching for them not only for trekking, but for my kids’ soccer tournaments (during which I’m guaranteed to stand on wet sidelines for hours) and weekend trips to (soggy) Portland.
The Gore-Tex membrane is breathable, too. During my first test hike on a trail heavy with snowmelt, I paired the shoes with wool hiking socks, and my feet didn’t get sweaty. I also really like the ‘speed lacing’ elastic lace construction, which makes getting them on and off a breeze (they stay tight, too). The grip on the tread is comprised of Traxion, which made for more controlled descending on slopes. My only complaint is that the sole is pretty flat; if you need a very supportive arch, this may be a problem, but it didn’t deter from my comfort.
The Terrex Formotion is available on Amazon for $159.95 and comes in blue or magenta. In addition to the mid-height shown (and reviewed) here, Adidas also makes a low-height (ankle cut) hiking boot.
Posted by Amy in Adventure Gear on May 8th, 2012
Briggs & Riley BRX Explore 20 Wide Body Upright Rollaboard Travel Bag
Known for its high-quality travel bags that can stand up to even the most rigorous of crazed airline baggage handlers, Briggs & Riley has developed a more casual line of bags with a more rugged look. The BRX collection is meant for high, active performance while still keeping a sleek, durable look.
I tested the 20″ wide bag. It is wider than other carryon bags by a couple of inches, but it is also shorter giving it the edge for a variety of airline overhead compartment sizes. The bag weighs about 7 pounds when empty, which makes it light although not as light as others out there. What this bag packs in an extra pound or two though is more than worth it.
Inside there is a unique type of compression panel that keeps clothes wrinkle-free and separated from other things inside the bag. A series of pockets keep things organized including an easily accessible laptop sleeve pouch that is padded for extra protection. There is also a wet and dry pocket that keeps damp clothes like bathing suits or even umbrellas separated from the rest of your items. An exterior zippered pocket is great for quick stowage of all kinds of things from jackets and sweaters to newspapers and magazines.
These days, I am a fan of the rolling four wheel bags because they can pivot and swirl at the flick of a wrist reducing the effort it takes to pull a heavy bag. This bag has two wheels (although Briggs & Riley has its own series of four-wheeled bags on its website) that are both very sturdy and encased in a solid shell that prevents them from breaking or fusing together like the Brookstone Dash bag tends to do with frequent use (on one occasion, the wheel on the Dash bag jammed within 24 hours of removing it from its box).
The soft exterior gives this bag a classic, cozy look that differentiates it from the standard black bags many people use. It comes in a variety of colors including slate, ocean, amber, and lava and has handles on the top and side. In addition, the retracting vertical handle is very sturdy (some bags’ handles jiggle to the point that I think they are going to break at the worst possible moment). An external buckle also allows travelers to snap a small briefcase or duffel bag to roll alongside this larger bag. There is a tapered expansion that zips off allowing more space or less weight as needed.
Priced at $240-300 available at Briggs & Riley’s website, Zappos, or Amazon, it is a great option for a high-quality bag that can be used everyday making it a competitive choice against equivalents from Tumi or Hartmann.
Posted by Ramsey in Adventure Gear, Business Gear, Travel Light on May 7th, 2012
Hummingbird Carry-On Zip Travel Bag
Save your clothes from getting soaked on your next water-based vacation. Whether you’re cruising, paddling, or lounging by a river, your black wheelie just can’t do the job when it comes to keeping the water out. Keep your gear waterproof with the Hummingbird Carry-On Zip travel bag.
The 40-liter capacity duffel is rugged enough to join you on extreme adventures, but it’s also convenient to use on a coastal vacation. The 1-pound, 9-ounce bag is lightweight—more than many waterproof bags of the same size. Most importantly, it’ll save your clothes from getting soaked.
The welded seams and waterproof zipper make the bag perfectly functional in wet conditions. And let’s face it, when you’re on vacation, dry clothes are a key to happiness—unless you’re swimming.
The diagonal zipper allows easy access to all your clothes, and the soft sides make it easy to fit the bag into a kayak hatch or an overhead bin. The strap is attached on three sides—so you can carry it by hand or on your shoulders. For those who are actively around water on trips, whether it’s just a weekend or even longer, this is more than just your standard dry bag. Those aren’t the easiest to carry, and the straps on this bag make it much more convenient to carry and use as a travel bag.
I’ve taken it on a trip to Kauai, where I spent a lot of time on the water (on a catamaran and SUP). I’ve also used it on shorter, coastal trips in California–where I needed something waterproof for kayaking.
It’s not black, but the bright yellow color will help you identify it on the baggage carousel, if you do happen to check it. There is a larger, 75-liter version for those who have a lot of gear and don’t mind checking it.
The Hummingbird Carry-On Zip Travel Bag lists for $149.95 on the Cascade Designs website or check prices at Amazon.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear, General Gear on May 4th, 2012
GSI Halulite Microdualist Camping Kit
Just how compact can you make a full cooking and dining kit for a camping couple? And how practical will it be under real-world conditions outdoors?
I’d put my money on GSI Outdoors for knowing the answers to those questions better than anyone. They’ve got a whole range of nifty camping kits that are a thing of wonder when it comes to both design and practicality. This Halulite Microdualist kit I’ve been checking out takes “packing light” to a whole new level. 
You see, that whole big kit at the top packs down into one small container with a protective cover, like in the photo to the right. The whole thing is under six inches high. It’s impressively designed, with everything in its place yet so simple my daughter packed it all back up without any help. The protective cover doubles as a wash basin. The next layer is the cooking pot, with a handle that folds onto the top after the other things go inside.
Those other things are like a collection of items a magician pulled out of a top hat: two bowls, two mugs with lids, two retractable sporks, and a pot lid that doubles as a colander for draining off water from pasta or other items. The pot is made from lightweight non-stick aluminum. The Infinity plastic is stain resistant, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe.
After my real-world tests in the great outdoors, I’d give everything an A except maybe the washbin idea. It’ll work in a pinch, but it’s not much bigger than the pot, so kind of tricky to use for that item. And you might want to carry plates along if you’re going to eat more than what you just cooked in the one pot. But hey, this is meant to be for minimalists.
This whole kits weighs just a shade over one pound: probably less than the pair of shoes you’re wearing right now. So carrying this Microdualist kit along is not going to require much sacrificing in terms of weight or bulk.
Even if you’re not the backcountry primitive camping type, this kit is worth buying for the ease of use and the cool factor. Car camping? Heck, you can do “scooter camping” with this kit.
The GSI Halulite Microdualist kit sells for around $55. Follow these links to buy it at Backcountry or REI.
See reviews of more camping items at Practical Travel Gear.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on May 3rd, 2012
Vapur Flip-top Element Anti Water Bottle
Want to buy a water bottle? There are a zillion of them out there to choose from, with variations on the color, materials, and opening. There’s one that really generates some double-takes when I use it though: the collapsible water bottle from Vapur.
I reviewed the original Vapur collapsible anti-bottle late last year, so why am I returning to it now?
Well, this one has a different top. Yeah I know, that doesn’t sound like much of a big deal and I didn’t get all that excited when a rep handed one to me on the floor of a gear trade show I attended. Was it really that hard to open the original one?
Not really, but this one is a whole lot more convenient because you can open it with one hand, without using your teeth. And there’s no little plastic cap to lose. See with this new flip-top version, you can pop it open with the same hand that’s holding it, which is great if your other hand is holding a camera. Or a walking stick. Or a ledge on the side of a cliff you’re climbing.
Since the flip-top keeps the water from leaking out, you can drink straight out of this without sucking. Simpler and quieter, plus you don’t have to feel like a baby. The top assembly screws off for cleaning and drying. There’s an attached plastic ring on the top
Like the original version though, this water bottle has lots of advantages. It can roll down tight to store in your bag when you’re not using it—like when you’re going through security or checking a bag. If it’s half full, it doesn’t still take up the same amount of room as when it’s full. And the really cool part is—pun intended—you can freeze it. Fill it up with water, put the whole thing in the freezer, then you’ve got ice cold water while you’re hiking, for hours. Or you can use it as an ice block in your cooler. After it melts, you’ve got fresh water.
The one downside of these is they’re more bag than bottle, so when they’re not full, they won’t easily go into a bike cage or some backpack holders. So they do better playing back-up than the lead role. On the plus side, kids love the novelty.
These Vapur Element bottles come in four colors representing fire, wind, and water. There’s a 1-liter one, but it’s much easier to find the regular size, which is 7/10 of a liter. These retail for $11.99 if you buy direct from Vapur, but check prices online at Summit Hut too.
See more water bottle reviews from this travel gear blog.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on May 2nd, 2012
