Posts Tagged green gear
Fun, Funny and Downright Useful New Travel Gear
What’s on the way in travel gear? I just got back from the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market held each year in Salt Lake City. It’s a place where retail buyers come to see what’s new and different for the upcoming fall season and place their orders. For us media types, it’s a chance to get a sneak peak at what’s going to be hitting stores later.
Over on our sister Cheapest Destinations Blog I already posted a rundown on new trends in travel gear that you should go check out before or after reading this post. It’s all about light gear getting lighter, but basic materials costs driving up prices. Plus some buying advice and a rant about retro bags.
When covering this show, most gear and outdoor publications get all serious and dive into the technical specs for all the new wonder jackets and slightly changed backpacks. I’d rather cover those items here in detail later—the ones fit for normal travelers—after they hit the market. I saw three developments that might be true game-changers though.
1) Lightweight shoes that are not just for runners. We’ve had ultra-light running shoes for quite a while now, thanks to the barefoot running style craze. But now the technology is making it to the mainstream. The post I mentioned before has some very packable winter boots from Teva. The picture above has some ultra-light Nike running shoes on a scale—and a pair of comfy Rockport shoes that weigh less.
2) Treated down that repels water. I saw two companies talking about this process, where down is subjected to a microscopic polymer that repels water, before it goes into a sleeping bag or jacket. Sierra Designs is the one that’s leading the way on this and is putting the most marketing muscle into it. From what I saw at the demos, it really works.
3) More and better rechargeable devices. I’ve tried some solar chargers over the years with mixed results, but now I’m seeing some solar panel/battery combos that pack some serious juice, like enough to charge a laptop once or an iPad multiple times—after a few hours of sunlight. Plus there are more items hitting the market that can be charged via USB instead of having to deal with AA batteries. The SteriPEN Freedom is a hit already and as this year goes on you’ll see more flashlights, lanterns, and purifiers that plug and charge. I’m especially excited about a Camelbak bottle coming in March that has its own UV purifier lamp built in.
Bring on the fun!
Enough serious stuff. Here are some of the items that I found more interesting to take shots of than yet another waterproof ski shell.
First up, two new face warmers to give you a cozy beard while on the slope. The left photo is me with a sample from 5 O’Clock Shadows. On the right are sample styles from Bearded Apparel.
I’m a sucker for silly winter hats for kids. The ones at the top of this post are from Knitwits. The ones pictured here are from Nirvanna Designs—made in Nepal.
Actually most of the gear that makes you smile is geared to kids, which means I think we all need to lighten up a bit. I mean how can you not smile when you see this backpack from MadPax? Or these fun mittens that look like bear paws (and have an opening where you can get your hand out to pull up a zipper) from Bear Hands & Buddies?
Okay, okay—I’ll put some photos of some serious gear to watch for on our Facebook page if you really want to know what’s coming to a store near you in six months. So go like us there and watch for pics the next few days.
Meanwhile, stay tuned the rest of 2012 as we review the best travel gear for your money.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on January 25th, 2012
Nau Down Sweater
Winter can be downright cold, and it can be pretty difficult to have a good time when you’re focused on staying warm. But with the Nau Down Sweater, you won’t have to spend that good vacation time worried about the weather.
The down “sweater” is more low profile than many full-size down jackets—so you get protection and warmth without the huge, puffy look. Made with 850-fill goose down, the jacket will keep you toasty in chilly conditions. The shell and lining is 100-percent recycled polyester, and the durable water repellent (DWR) surface finish helps to shed snow and light rain.
It’s not just the down that helps to keep the cold away. The front zipper has a wind flap to block the wind from whistling right through the zipper teeth. A draw-cord hem allows you to tighten things up down below. And internal elastic cuffs keep things cozy around your wrists, as well.
I’m a big fan of pockets, and the Nau Down Sweater has just enough for me, with two front zip pockets big enough for your hands, and an added hidden inside pocket.
Down is always going to find a way to get out of jackets, and this sweet sweater is no exception, despite the description of the recycled shell as “down proof.” While wearing it, every once in a while, I discovered a lone feather working its way out. That said, it happened far less than with other down jackets I’ve used in the past. But despite those few feathers that found their freedom, plenty remained inside, doing their job to keep me warm.
The Nau Down Sweater lists for $235 on the Nau website and it’s available at Backcountry.com. A men’s version is available for the same price. (Easier to find is the slimmer and slightly cheaper Men’s Down Shirt.)
Posted by Jill in General Gear, Travel Light on January 13th, 2012
USB-charged Night Bike Flea Lights
Want to stay safe on your bike at night without churning through batteries? These Flea Lights from Blackburn Design can recharge by USB.
One of the key advantages of living in a warm place is that you can ride your bike pretty much all year. A few months back I moved to Tampa, FL and recently I joined up with City Bike Tampa for a night ride they do from restaurant to restaurant in and around downtown. It’s not too strenuous, so you can grab a beer where you stop, but you’ve gotta have lights on your bike. It’s the law in this state, but it’s also the smart thing to do.
So before the trip I looked at a lot of bike lights and in the end decided to spend more than I planned on the smallest ones—around $50 for this set of front and back lights. They’re pretty damned cool though, so I think it was a good choice. They’re little but very bright lights with 4 LED bulbs and several choices of brightness and flash patterns. It’s a one-button operation too: you turn it on and cycle through the various options one by one. The last one turns it off.
These bike lights attach with Velcro straps, which is a huge advantage in my eyes over the ones that are meant to screw onto handlebars or a seat stem. With these I can switch them over to my daughter’s bike if she’s riding over to a neighborhood friend’s house or I can take a light inside in my pocket if there’s some shady character milling around the bike rack where I’ve stopped. If I wanted, I could also hook the front headlight to a helmet instead of my handlebars. Versatile.
The real game-changer with these though is they don’t use external batteries. They have a rechargeable battery that’s pumped back up via USB. That can turn out to be a very eco-friendly move if you’re using a solar charger of some kind or a product I’m sorry hasn’t caught on more: the wind-powered HYMini. (You would think a wind-powered generator on your bike is kind of a no-brainer—it’s always going to be spinning if you’re moving.) Blackburn even sells one package that comes with its own solar power charger.
The USB connector actually separates from the lights and with the combo set, one connector is used for both lights. That makes these a lot thinner than they would be otherwise, but I do worry that I’m going to lose such a small little accessory that’s vital to the functioning. No worries about that with AA batteries.
These are rated to run for 3 hours steadily on, or 5 hours for the front and 12 hours for the back if on the flash mode. That’s not enough? What are you doing riding around more than three hours non-stop at night you weirdo?
These lights come in a variety of colors and are so small and lightweight that you could easily pack them for bike rentals on vacation. Most good bike shops have Blackburn Flea USB lights, or you can pick them up online. Try Altrec.com for a wide selection of colors or Amazon, where you can pay far less than I did in a retail store.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on October 12th, 2011
An Alternative to Travel Silverware: Chopsticks!
I like the idea of portable silverware and sporks for long-term travel. You are helping the environment when throw-away utensils are the alternative. You know who washed what you’re eating with. You can avoid eating with your hands in places where washing up afterwards isn’t easy: like on an Indian train.
If you’re traveling through Asia though, carrying these might make the most sense: portable chopsticks from Grand Trunk Goods. Besides instantly making you look like a seasoned traveler, these utensils hardly take up any room.
These chopstick are in two pieces so they can pack up tighter and won’t get broken. The top part is stainless steel and the bottom is a durable hardwood with a screw mechanism at the top. (Grand Trunk’s description says Ebony, Amazon’s says Rosewood, but whatever…) You screw the parts together and have some very fancy-looking chopsticks at hand for your noodles or rice and veggies. These chopsticks feel as strong as Dumbledore’s wand, but only weigh an ounce.
Put together, each chopstick is 8.5 inches, but packed up is only about a finger and a half length. The pieces pack into a handy little nylon pouch with a Velcro closure. There’s a caribiner clasp too for hooking it onto the outside of your bag or the clip inside your bag so they’ll be easy to find.
There’s nothing complicated about these, which is the whole appeal of chopsticks themselves: simple items that help you eat like a civilized person. They can also help you avoid getting sick—or polluting the place where you traveled to in order to appreciate its beauty.
See more and buy them at the Grand Trunk Goods site, check your local retailer, or order your travel chopsticks from Amazon for about 15 bucks—a deal!
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Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on September 7th, 2011
No trees were harmed in the making of this toilet tissue
It’s camping season and if you’re a backcountry camper, that means at some point you’re going to do your business in the woods. You can do it without requiring the chopping down of any of those forests you’re escaping to with this Zero Trees tissue from EarthSmart.
Usually we try things out a lot before writing about them on this travel gear blog, but I must confess I haven’t needed to go #2 in the woods anytime yet this year. I saw this company’s products on display at the Outdoor Retailer show this past January though and was intrigued by the idea. I felt the tissue and rubbed it against my face, so that will have to do in terms of a test. It feels as soft as any decent non-treated tissue you would buy for your house.
This tissue is made from plant fibers, specifically a byproduct from sugar cane production, fibers that are normally considered useless for anything besides compost. Sugar cane is a fast-growing, renewable plant, so nothing that took 20 years to grow is going into this paper. It also dissolves and biodegrades faster than wood-based paper, so you can bury it in the ground or flush it with no worries in places with a septic tank.
This handy travel packet pictured at the top is a great product for travel and it retails for $1.99. (If you’ve traveled much in developing countries, you know that there have been times you would have gladly paid twice this when you’ve found yourself in a bathroom with no toilet paper!) It has the equivalent of 250 sheets, but can easily fit into a purse, day pack, or a pocket of convertible cargo pants.
If you’re heading out with a tent for a long trip though, or are just the green living type, ZeroTrees toilet paper comes in regular rolls and 4-packs as well. This 2-ply TP is fragrance-free and dye-free, so besides the environmental attributes it’s also good for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
This eco-friendly travel product is just getting out into the marketplace at retail, but it should be easier to find as time goes on. Right now you can get it at Sports Chalet, where they have the travel pack and the regular roll (for $1.99 also). See more about Zero Trees paper and other products at EarthSmartllc.com.
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Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear on June 29th, 2011
