Halo Bars

theprobar.com/products/halo
Back in the day, you grabbed an energy bar and it felt as if you were holding a stand-in hammer. But in these days of culinary enlightenment, the bar has become something you actually crave. The new Halo bars are the natural extension of this pleasurable new world.  Made by Pro Bar, these trail snacks deliver everything you need when you start to bonk (including Omega 3 and 6) in a tasty, all-natural 150-calorie package.  Made vegan- and dairy-free with certified-organic products, the low-sugar bars satisfy the sweet tooth without eroding your tooth enamel like battery acid.  Those with savory inclinations may find the flavors a bit too sweet, but others—especially kids—will love this foray into the world of sensible snacking.  The camper in us is partial to the s ‘mores flavor, but Halo comes in three other flavors: nutty marshmallow, honey graham, and rocky road.  Plot accordingly.

Product Type
Food and Drink
Good For
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Tested In
Shenandoah National Park, VA; Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, WV; The Floors of the Salt Palace Convention Center, UT

Lowa Mountain Expert GTX Boot

www.lowaboots.com; 3.5 pounds
While we often hike in running shoes or day hikers, some times mountaineering boots are a must. Not only do the stiff, thick soles offer a stable platform for moving effortlessly across scree and boulder fields, their insulated uppers provide ankle support and keep toes warm at altitude. The Lowa Mountain Expert GTX is an alpinist’s dream—a fully-insulated, rigid-soled boot without the bulky plastic shell.  The boot is worthy of big mountains, but fits more like a heavy-duty day hiker, light enough to wear for summer peak bagging, with a generous layer of Primaloft insulation for cold expeditions.  The toe and heel welts are compatible with step-in crampons (which you’ll want if you are moving around on packed snow or ice). The problem with many mountaineering boots is that they require a serious break-in period. Not so with the Mountain GTX.  The durable split-grain leather upper has built-in flex points, which allow you to walk with a natural gait. While many mountaineering boots get hot and sweaty, even in the coldest conditions, the Mountain Experts have perforations in the boot lining for added breathability, while the Gore-Tex inner lining keeps your feet dry, even on snowy, wet days.  Get these boots and all you’ll need is the stamina to get up the mountain.

Product Type
Gear All-Star, Hiking Boots
Good For
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Tested In
Mount Rainier, Mount Bachelor, Ouray, CO

Burton Wheelie Flight Deck SS

www.burton.com; 9.35 pounds
Burton tends to have some “creative” patterns, and their new series of luggage isn’t any different, but the garishness of the colors makes it super easy to spot your bag as it rolls around on the baggage carousel full of boring, black bags.  Burton’s Wheelie Flight Deck is not super lightweight (weighing in at 9.35 lbs), but that heft lends the bag some undeniably durability. It also has stretchy material inside that feels just like neoprene, includes breathable zipper dividers, and sports these totally awesome skate wheels that will never fall off.  The telescoping handle on this bad boy will probably outlast the bag and me, it seems so strong.  The luggage has plenty of room for a weekend or even a week—but it may be too roomy, since it didn’t pass as a carry-on on my domestic Delta flights. Only other bummer?  At the end of several trips, the bag exterior started to get pretty dirty…which reminds me why most people have that plain ol’ black suitcase.
–Jennifer Seabolt

Product Type
Duffle Bags, Travel
Good For
,
Tested In
Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and the Tireless Demands of Honeymoon Travel (Plane, Boat, Car, Cab, Subway, etc)

Test Post

You can experience Grand Canyon National Park at three points: the South Rim, the North Rim, and Desert View. All three offer family-oriented activities and hikes, but if you only have a day, the South Rim is your best bet. The North Rim, however, is better suited to families who want a slower-paced, quieter visit.

South Rim
Mather Point offers your first chance to glimpse the canyon. You may want to park here and catch the free shuttle farther into the park. Or walk along the rim road to the Yavapai Geology Museum, where you’ll learn how the canyon was formed. In Grand Canyon Village, check out Kolb Studio, the Mary E.J. Colter-designed Hopi House, Verkamp’s Visitor Center, the train depot, and the mule barn. If you have the time, continue along Hermit Road for more overlooks and the chance to see another Colter-designed structure’s, Hermit’s Rest.<!–more–>
The North Rim is open mid-May through mid-October. You can camp here, hike along the rim and into the canyon, and participate in ranger-led programs.

Desert View
Located 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village along Highway 64, Desert View has 800-year-old ruins; a museum devoted to Pueblo Indian life at the Grand Canyon; and the 70-foot Desert View Watchtower, with astounding views from its upper level observation decks.

Grand Canyon West
Operated by the Hualapai Indians, Grand Canyon West consists of three overlooks and the Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends over the rim. It’s pricey—$70.95 per person, including the Skywalk, versus $25 per car at Grand Canyon National Park—and the overlooks aren’t as dramatic. Grand Canyon West is NOT part of Grand Canyon National Park.

Read more: http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-a-family-affair-vacationing-in-grand-canyon-national-park-sidwcmdev_159649.html#ixzz246kkc2BT

Product Type
Uncategorized
Tested In

Timex Ironman Sleek 150-Lap TapScreen Watch

www.timex.com
When most tech wizards are still reading the directions on their latest wrist-top computer, with the Ironman Sleek 150, you’ll be half way through your workout. Generally training watches are about as intuitive as quantum physics—so complicated that the average runner never figures out all the bells and whistles. But this one from Timex comes with a slim plastic pocket guide that encapsulates the English instructions in less than three brief pages, far less than the standard Webster’s-sized manual required by most training watches.  The watch boasts a chronograph, alarm, and timer that are easy to customize to your workout programs. Beeps tell you if you are behind pace, on schedule, or moving too fast. What makes this watch fun is the ability to tap the screen (called…TapScreen technology) to get information and to start and stop the timers. The big digital readout can be easily seen without squinting through sweat (a huge boon)—and the numbers stay lit for a few seconds after you push the button, which makes it easier to read when you’re on the move.  The watch is waterproof to 100 meters, which makes it good for triathletes who are training in their local pool or lake. The only bummer? The high-pitched beeps are difficult to hear, especially in a busy indoor pool.

Product Type
Watches
Good For
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Tested In
Trail, Road, Pool, Lake, Hot Tub
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