Vasque Talus UltraDry Boots
It’s always great to find super-lightweight hiking shoes, which pack easily for a trip. But when it rains or you have to walk through marshy conditions, the mesh in those boots tend not to be much of a barrier against water. To keep your feet dry, bring along the Vasque Talus UltraDry boots.
The waterproof lining in the Talus boots keeps your feet dry while you’re sloshing through the city streets or the wilderness. And while they’re sturdier than the lightweight shoes that leave your socks soggy, at a pound each, these boots won’t add much weight to your bags.
The Vibram Nuasi outsole provides solid traction on a variety of surfaces. I used them on dusty trails, river-slick rocks and rain-soaked grasslands. When I had to do a little trailblazing, the nubuck upper kept the shoes from getting snags in the heavy brush. And for those concerned about ankle support, the padded collar provides stable ankle support for all your adventures.
The Talus boots are comfortable as well, with a cushy insole that allows plenty of mileage without having to rub your aching feet. And at the end of the day, those feet will still be dry, which is a major key to travel happiness.
Vasque Talus UltraDry Boots list for $150 at Zappos. It’s also available at REI. Both sites carry the men’s version of the boot, as well.
Posted by Jill in Adventure Gear on April 27th, 2012
High Sierra Pack-n-Go Duffel is a Steal
Your second bag and a toiletry kit—for 20 bucks?
For this travel gear blog we get excited about different things than reviewers focused on the latest $500 suitcases and $300 laptop bags. When we find something that works well and is bargain-priced, we’re all over it. This High Sierra Pack–n-Go Duffel seems too good to be true. It’s a workhorse duffel bag that can qualify as a carry-on, but it folds up into a little pouch. Not just any pouch though: the case is a toiletry kit. How cool is that? To see it in action, check out this video demo.
All parts of this work better than you would expect. The toiletry kit is good on its own, with a loop for hanging, a loop with a clip to hang it from a towel rack or shower bar, plus a zippered pouch and several mesh compartments inside.
Then you pull out the duffle bag and it over-delivers as well. It’s got an adjustable shoulder strap plus hand straps with a Velcro handle fitting—all solidly stitched. Those straps are adjustable too so you can convert this to a backpack in a pinch. The zippers are strong and they move smoothly, plus they’ve got sizable openings at the end for locks. There’s an extra zippered compartment on the side. It’s made from 600-denier “Duralite” nylon that looks like it’ll hold up for the long haul.
The one I’m showing off in the demo video is basic black, but this Pack-n-Go duffel comes in a variety of attractive solid colors and patterns, like the one you see here to the right.
It also comes in larger sizes: 24, 30 and 36 inches, each of them still stuffing down into a flat pouch that’s easy to pack. You will have to check the others if you’re flying, but it could be worth it to fly somewhere with one bag, come back with two, especially if you’re buying nice things. It’s still usually cheaper than shipping, especially internationally.
This 20-inch Pack-n-Go duffel shows an “original price” anywhere between $24 and $60, but you can easily find it online for around $20. The actual retail prices generally work out to a dollar for each inch of length: the 36-inch one goes for $36, for example, which is still a great deal. Check prices at eBags, Luggage Guru, and Amazon.
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Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on April 26th, 2012
Patagonia Silkweight Wicking T-shirt
There are plenty of hi-tech t-shirts fighting for your travel budget, but this Patagonia Merino Silkweight one stands out on several counts.
When I first starting backpacking around the world, anyone with any manners wore cotton t-shirts. That’s because the efficiency minded Germans who seemed most likely to be sporting the new “wicking t-shirts” could be smelled coming from halfway down the beach. Yes, it’s wonderful to have something on that dries quickly and that makes a lot of sense when packing, but straight synthetic fibers without any treatment tend to get rid of moisture…but hold onto everything else.
Thankfully, we’ve come a long way. You can now stuff your backpack with lightweight, fast-drying t-shirts that you can wear for days without stinking up the hostel. You can take workout wear for your business trip without sacraficing much extra space. You can be ready for an all-day bike ride and know your sink-washed shirt will be dry by morning.
This Patagonia one, which is a blend of 65% merino wool and 35% polyester, lists for a wince-inducing $60, but it doesn’t look, feel, or pack like your usual cut-rate alternative. It does feel silky-smooth against the skin, but the merino wool gives it some softness you don’t normally get in straight synthetics—yet it’s thinner and stretchier than a straight merino wool one typically is. It feels more durable too. Both the shoulder seams and side seams are not only flat, but they’re offset so they don’t get in the way of your pack straps or your arms.
When it comes to packing, you’d be hard-pressed to find any t-shirt anywhere that takes up less space in your bag than this 4.2-ounce one (119 grams). No matter what you do to it though to make it fit, it pops out with no wrinkles.
This Merino 1 wicking t-shirt is meant to fit tight and show off your pecs, so go a size up if you don’t favor the superhero look. I usually wear a medium, but went for a large on this. It still looks flattering, but isn’t so clingy.
I wore this for three days without washing it, in moderate travel conditions, and it stayed reasonably odor-free. When I sink-washed it after that, it dried in two hours in shade with a steady breeze. In the sun it would probably take an hour or less.
Like everything Patagonia makes, this t-shirt comes with an “ironclad guarantee,” so if it fails on any count beyond normal wear and tear, they’ll replace it. There’s also a lot of eco-cred in this product, from chlorine-free wool treatment to bluesign approval on the materials sourcing.
The Merino Silkweight t-shirt comes in 5 muted colors and 6 sizes. Check current prices at Rock Creek or at Zappos, where they also have the women’s version.
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Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on April 25th, 2012
Haiku Hobo 2 Bag
This review of Haiku’s Hobo 2 bag finds me mid-quest in my pursuit of the best travel tote. A few weeks ago, Overland Equipment’s Radcliffe Bag came close, but failed to meet three of my criteria to graduate from around-town tote to travel tote: a cross-body strap, exterior cell phone pocket, and laptop sleeve.
How does the Hobo 2 score? A solid two out of three (more on that below). First, some general impressions: I love the Hobo’s shape and look. It’s roomy without being bulky, and stylish without being cutesy (if you’ve been reading my reviews for long, you know I have no use for cuteness in my travel gear). It measures at 10″h x 14″w x 4″d and has just enough pockets and sections without having too many. It’s also extremely durable (and fully lined). I’ve used it daily for over two months, and it shows virtually no sign of wear. Best of all, unlike the Hobo bag Kara reviewed last year, the Hobo 2 is made from renewable cyclePET fabric, recycled poly from 100% post consumer beverage bottles. Put more simply: each Hobo 2 saves 18.9 plastic bottles from the landfill. So you can look good and feel good, too!
The Hobo 2 uses a comfortable shoulder strap, and does have that detachable cross-body strap I covet (score one point of three!). I love the two exterior (zippered) cell phone pockets on either end (point two!) and the additional side pocket. The Hobo zips completely closed, which is a huge plus, and all zippers have nice pulls to make it easier to reach for things and be on the go at the same time. Inside, the Hobo has two water bottle pockets, but I can’t use them for their intended purpose because while wide, they’re not deep enough to fit my standard-sized Kleen Kanteen bottles. This is a bummer, as I carry a water bottle everywhere. Instead, I use the water bottle pouches to store my detachable strap when not in use, my phone charger, and the like. In addition, the Hobo 2 does have another interior zippered pocket, perfect for chap stick, hand wipes, or business cards.
While the Hobo 2 is not quite big enough to tote my 13″ Macbook (another bummer), it is sized to fit an iPad, which tempts me to grant it half credit toward that third point as a travel tote.
Bottom line: for $84, you get a high-quality, multi-purpose, day-to-day bag that will last for the long haul (and is great for the planet). Will it travel with me? On weekend trips during which I’ll do doing a lot of city walking and touring, yes. For air travel during which I need to bring my laptop, no. If you travel with an iPad however, the Hobo 2 could absolutely see you from gate to hotel and back again. Pick one up (in your choice of four colors/patterns) at Haiku, or spend a tad less at either Amazon, Zappos, or Backcountry.
Posted by Amy in General Gear on April 24th, 2012
Able Planet Clear Harmony NC1050 Noise-Canceling Headphones
Able Planet has long had a reputation for providing superior noise-reducing and canceling headphones for a more affordable price than competitors like Bose. Some of its critics say that the quality is not as good, but my experience with them has proven the opposite. I have found that when comparing them with my Bose headphones that they provide similar noise-reducing qualities. Even my more expensive Bose pair does not eliminate sound so I often wonder why people are willing to pay so much for them.
I was quite excited to try out the Able Planet’s newest high-end Clear Harmony NC1050 noise canceling headphones simply because I knew of the competitive nature between advocates of both brands. First off, the Clear Harmony pair provides exceptional “white noise” sound that eliminates the chatter around you. I found it to be superior to Able Planet’s cheaper pairs, which is understandable and expected. Even when the battery is not switched on, the sound reduction is respectable.
When used to plug into audio channels or for watching videos on an airplane or with my laptop, the sound quality is impeccable; in fact, it is much better than a Bose pair when listening to audio content or music. Able Planet touts its Linx Audio sound quality, which is certainly recognizable, and it recognizes when the perception of noises and sound should seem louder without increasing the volume on the headset. This means that you can enjoy the high notes, low notes, loud sounds, and base noises in music without adjusting the volume to uncomfortable levels.
Often times, headsets can move around on your head when reclining or when dozing off. This pair maintained the sound quality even when it shifted on my head over the period of a few hours on a long plane flight after I fell asleep for a few hours.
It is also extremely lightweight, which is very important to me when traveling internationally since airlines can be quite strict with carryon baggage weight. Like its other models (and those of competing brands), the cord can be removed from the headset so you do not trip on it or break it when exiting an airplane seat or when storing it in your bag. I admit to sometimes not carrying it in the boxy case because it adds weight to my bag! Able Planet also makes a “made for iPhone” cord that can be purchased separately for playback control features.
It comes with its own sturdy case, airplane adaptor, and battery. The pair of headphones features a simple black color, and I am often asked about the brand by people who think they are Bose or want to find a pair that is cheaper than Bose’s headphones. While Clear Harmony is not necessarily cheap, it is certainly on par with its competitors in the high-quality, noise-canceling headphone department and scores highly in my book. It can be purchased at Able Planet’s website for $350. While it is pricey, I consider it to be a sound (forgive the pun) investment in my travel experience.
Search prices on all Able Planet headphones at Amazon.
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear on April 23rd, 2012
