Gearzilla » Food and Drink

Hop in the Saddle Guidebook

nborchelt — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:00:01 +0000

www.hopinthesaddle.com
Beer? Bikes? When two great things come together, we’re left only to wonder why it hadn’t already happened. Released this month the new guidebook Hops in the Saddle marries the best of Portland, OR: its expansive craft beer scene and its copious bike-friendly city streets. Written by Portland locals Elle Thalheimer, Lucy Burningham, and Laura Cary, each bike route has been carefully crafted to show the best of the city’s five neighborhoods, complete with detailed maps and cue sheets, catering to riders of all levels. The book also provides great “Bike Nerd Extended Routes”, and details on the city’s best breweries, bottle shops, and beer-, bike-, and budget-friendly bars and restaurants, written with both in-the-know authority and a sly sense of humor. Oh, and buying this book also means you’ll have to visit Portland—which is something we heartily endorse.

Kate’s Real Food Tiki Bar

nborchelt — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:00:56 +0000

katesrealfood.com, 2.2 ounces
When you hear an energy bar tastes good, there’s typically an unspoken caveat: “for an energy bar.” But take it from us, the new Tiki Bar just tastes really freakin’ good. It comes from the kitchen of Kate’s Real Food, one our favorite culinary creators who got started by looking for a way to recharge while riding the tram between steep-and-deep runs at Jackson Hole; their first bar was naturally dubbed Tram Bar. The Tiki continues that all-natural tradition, with a dizzying list of ingredients: mango, cashew, coconut, almond butter, and honey, all hand-mixed and crafted. It’s a peanut-, soy-, and gluten-free burst of sunshine that’ll warm you on the long outdoor days ahead.

GSI Pinnacle Camper Cook Set

nborchelt — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:00:15 +0000

www.gsioutdoors.com, three pounds, nine ounces
We all love the latest/greatest in tech that makes up the universe of Gearzilla, but gear obsession really reaches its apex with camping cook sets—in large part because the way they always nestle together is always so darn clever. Witness the GSI Pinnacle Camper, our latest car-camping obsession. This convenient kit gives you everything you’ll need for a four-person outing: three- and two-liter pots, two strainer lids, a nine-inch fry pan, four 14-ounce insulated mugs with sip-friendly plastic lids, four 14-ounce bowls, four 7.5-inch plates, a folded pot gripper, and a sturdy carrying case that also doubles as welded sink. The bowls, mugs, and plates are color-coded so you don’t have kids fighting over which plate was theirs, and the pots and fry pan are made of non-stick, hard-anodized aluminum. The heat-resistant, crush-proof strainer lid makes it easy to drain water from pasta and works with both the bowls and the frying pan, and each lid has a convenient orange thick-cloth handle centered at the top. The folding handle has a trigger that locks into the pots with comforting authority; we’d expected that sliding the handle on before engaging the lock would be tricky, but when you’re cooking the weight of the food makes the action a breeze. During a long-weekend car-camping expedition everything performed well, except one of the top handles did come off and quickly disappeared in the chaotic darkness of late meal prep. And, as you’d expect, the whole things collapses down like a Russian nesting doll.

Camelbak Podium Chill Water Bottle

nborchelt — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:00:57 +0000

www.camelbak.com
Camelbak has created a double-wall insulated water bottle that keeps water cold twice as long as regular bottles—and it actually works! I purchased the Podium Chill to go in my hydration belt for my training runs. The bottle has a self-sealing Jet Valve top that does not spill or leak, even if you leave the valve open while you are jogging or biking. With my traditional water bottles I felt like I was wasting energy trying to get the top to open, but the Podium Chill bottle is easy to squeeze and is perfect for squirting water directly in your mouth as you are bumping along. The bottle is BP0-free and has a spout locking mechanism that works great keep a full water from leaking. My only negative is that I don’t feel okay just throwing this water bottle in the dishwasher, but it is rather easy to clean with the wide top. These bottles are typically twice what you would pay for a regular water bottle, but I finally talked myself into it and the Podium Chill has definitely become my go-to water bottle.
-Jennifer Seabolt

Mountainsmith Cooler Cube

nborchelt — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:00:25 +0000

www.mountainsmith.com, one pound
Face it—organization does make life easier. Whether it’s your gear closet, your car, the campground, ski lodge, or vacation home, things need to be stored, carried, and accessed. Backpacks and plastic tubs have their place, but for convenience, accessibility, and the ability to keep cold items cold (or warm items hot), this insulated rectangular tote is hard to beat. Compact, with 26 liters of storage capacity (enough to carry beverages and picnic lunch for a family of five), the Cube conveniently packs into the back of the car. Moutainsmith sells cubes without the insulation, but we like the fact that the Cooler Cube is a viable alternative to heavy, clumsy, hard-shelled coolers. For frozen stuff, we recommend bringing along freezer packs, but to keep drinks frosty on a hot day, the insulated walls do a great job on their own. Our testers toted the Cube on a 9,000-mile road trip, and relied on it during 102 degree days from Texas to Tennessee. More day-to-day uses include carrying frozen foods home from the grocery store on hot days—ice cream, milk, and even popsicles stayed frozen for an hour in August in Marfa, Texas. The zippered lid has an inside mesh pocket for loose items; outside is a tough ripstop fabric, a clear sleeve for a label (if you have multiple Cubes), and a handy bottle opener.

New Balance Sport Hydration Belt

nborchelt — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:00:17 +0000

www.newbalance.com
For over two years I have been looking for a decently priced running hydration belt. I tried out a friend’s belt and found that the little bottles were hard to unsnap and snap back in while I ran, and that the little pocket held barely anything. Then I tried out a hand-held water bottle and discovered that I preferred to have my hands free. Finally, a few months before running the Hood-to-Coast 200-mile relay, I spotted the Sport Hydration Waist Belt by New Balance. The belt adjusted to my waist and the pocket could hold my phones, keys, ID, and my trail grub—as well as the water bottle, which is positioned diagonally so that you feel nominal interference while running. I used this belt during training and the race, and felt that it performed better than the more expensive versions, and the nylon and polyester material the belt dried quickly from any sweat. I ended up using a different water bottle because the one that comes with it is tough to get open while running, but I would certainly recommend this belt to anyone who is running anything from one mile to 50.
-Jennifer Seabolt

Hydroflask Growler

nborchelt — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:00:35 +0000

www.hydroflask.com, 27 ounces
It’s hard to over-exaggerate our enthusiasm for the continued success of the craft and microbrew scene in the States (and not just because we have a field office in beer-rich Bend, Oregon). The advent of interesting, artisan beers has happily changed America’s rep as the…beer water capitol of the world. And with that recognition, we salute another tradition that’s re-emerged: the Growler. Originally named for the sound of CO2 eeking its way out of the bottle, traditionally heard while walking home with a jug of beer fresh from the tap at your local watering hole, today almost every city with a brew pub offers growler filling. Typically these vessels are made of glass, but our go-to choice is undeniably the 64-ounce HydroFlask Growler. Cast from 18/8 stainless steel, the double-wall vacuum insulation technology will keep cold contents cold for about 20 hours—which is enough time to fill it up with your favorite brew, go an overnighter or day hike/trial run/climbing spree, and then have cold, delicious beer waiting when you get back. The 2.19-inch-wide mouth assures easy access, and a lifetime warranty means this’ll be our go-to growler for as long as our liver holds out. Of course the growler can also be used to store other cold liquids and hot stuff like coffee, hot chocolate, or soup. It’s a bit too heavy (especially when full) to haul into the deep backcountry, but it definitely qualifies as a go-to reservoir for car camping and picnics.
Available with screw-off or flip-top lids

Stanley Limited-Edition 100th Anniversary Vacuum Bottle

nborchelt — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:00:39 +0000

Next year Stanley turns 100—an anniversary so massive that the products has successfully expanded from its tried-and-true origins to becoming a hipster-certified in brand, which ain’t bad for a company that invented the vacuum-insulated bottles back in 19013. But we at Gearzilla have been longtime fans, so we’re particularly excited for the release of the limited-edition 100^th Anniversary Vacuum Bottle, coming this fall. The new commemorative bottles will carry a 100^th-anniversary badge mounted on a brushed-green finish that traces back to the 1944 model. The legendary vacuum seal keeps hot liquids hot and cold fluids cool for up to 24 hours, and the insulated lip doubles as a cup.The bottles, available in 1.1- and 1.4-quart sizes, will be at REI stores and sold online for a limited time, from this November until December 2013. Miss it, and you may have to wait to their 200^th anniversary…
More great stuff is also slated for release from Stanely in spring 2013—stay tuned for reports.

The New Salomon Sense Hydro S-Lab Set Introduces an Innovative Hydration Solution for Runners

nborchelt — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:00:09 +0000

Runners will find staying hydrated a lot easier as of spring 2013, thanks to Salomon’s new Sense Hydro S-Lab Set. This innovative hydration system involves a short sleeve of soft fabric (that’s both breathable and wicking) that slips over the hand like a cross between a wrist guard and a fingerless glove. A thin elastic strap at the wrist secures a soft flask in your palm. Another thin elastic cord loops around the mouth of the water bottle so it’s nestled snugly into your palm, without requiring any effort from you. The water bottle does not bounce while you run, and you no longer have to employ a vice grip (or…any kind of grip) on your water bottle while clocking the miles. Salomon athletes are testing them out right now in all variety of conditions. They’ll be sold by the pair, and will come in small, medium, and large sizes; each comes with a PVC-free 250-ml bottle, but the Hydro S-Lab can accommodate any Salomon soft flasks from 150 to 1,000 mls.

Honey Stinger Waffles

nborchelt — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:01:54 +0000

www.honeystinger.com
On-the-road energy snacks can taste like cardboard. And while we love energy gels, sometimes we all crave something a bit more substantial and less…gooey. Based on the Old World classic, the stroopwafel (a cookie made of two thin waffles sandwiched around a thin layer of caramel), the cookie part Honey Stinger Waffle is baked with organic ingredients, and high-energy honey waits in the center. Tasty flavors include both vanilla and strawberry. The company (based in Steamboat Springs, founded by Bill Gamber, the man behind Big Agnes) makes energy bars, gels, and chews for bikers, hikers, and time-challenged parents. The individually-wrapped cookies provide a healthy, 160-calory organic treat. Lance Armstrong is part-owner of the company and swears by the product. Perhaps that’s the source of his super-human energy (take note U.S. Anti-Doping Agency).