Gearzilla » Food and Drink

Winter OR Round-Up: Stanley Adventure eCycle Flask

nborchelt — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:00:07 +0000

www.stanley-pmi.com
We honestly didn’t think that Stanley—who’s been making great food and beverage containers since 1913—could improve upon their Classic Flask. But they proved us wrong. This spring, be sure to save a Jackson for their new eCycle Flask.

This eight-ounce container is made from recycled (and recyclable) plastic, and it boasts two lids—an attached bottle-style screw-top, and a large hinge top. The latter open the top wide for a thorough cleaning, so you can use this flask for any variety of drink (mixed or straight, non-alcoholic or otherwise) without worrying about lingering tastes or smells. The dishwasher-safe flask is also leak-proof. Better still, thanks to the wide-mouth opening, you can also use this flask as a makeshift dry box for your various electronic must-haves….

Alite Clover Cook Set

nborchelt — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:00:51 +0000

alitedesigns.com
Alite Designs already won our hearts when they announced their innovative program to lend camping gear, but the products they’ve released in 2012 keep ‘em on the shortlist of outdoor companies to watch in 2013. And their creative approach to common camping woes continues with the announcement of the Clover Cook Set cooking utensil, which is currently getting crowd-source support on Kickstarter. The three-in-one tool includes a big spoon and a spatula with a serrated edge that join together to form a pair of tongs, arguably one of the best tools for cooking, full stop. Flip ‘em around, and they slide together into a thin, space-saving package. The tools are constructed from heat-resistant, dishwater-safe BPA-free nylon. We had the chance to play with a prototype last August, and liked what we saw….
The first production run is slated for late March/early April 2013

Hydroflask 21-Ounce Water Bottle

nborchelt — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 13:00:43 +0000

www.hydroflask.com
What seems like a no-brainer of an idea is often times something that takes a while to get to market. After years of enduring 1,001 different hard and soft plastic water bottles, aluminum and stainless steel vessels, and a similar number of hydration reservoirs, what we often yearned for was something that kept our precious fluid hot on the cold days, and cold on the hot ones—without lugging an old-school, heavy and bulky thermos into the backcountry. Enter Hydroflask, who employ double-wall vacuum insulation in their stainless steel water bottles, keeping hot liquids hot for an advertised 12 hours (without creating a scorching—or even warm—exterior), and cold liquids cold for up to 24 hours. We tested both claims, and they were accurate (insulation times, it should be noticed, that are comparable to other vacuum-sealed bottles on the market). The high-quality food-grade 18/8 stainless steel (the same metal used in most cutlery) means the bottles are BPA free and highly resistant to retaining odor, taste, and bacteria. The double-wall insulation also means the bottles won’t “sweat” with condensation, so you won’t saturate everything when you stash the bottle in a bag. The bottles come in practically every size you’d want, with both narrow and wide mouths. We’ve already gushed about their Growler, and we’re also enamored with the 18-ounce wide mouth bottle ($24) as a travel-friendly companion, the 2.2-inch mouth makes it easy to fill from an airport water fountain after clearing security. But the 21-ounce “standard” mouth bottle may be the perfect bottle for the active set. It provides more storage (of course), and the narrower mouth means less spilling, but it’s also compatible with Hydroflask’s Revolve water filter ($40), which threads into the bottle and can generate 75 gallons of water devoid of most fresh-water contaminants, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

GU Energy Chocolate Recovery Brew

nborchelt — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:00:18 +0000

guenergy.com
This year, our New Year’s resolution is to get back to “fighting” shape. That means more running, more skiing, and more just-plain activity. But training takes its toll. Whether it’s the bonk after a ten-mile run, or post-gym exhaustion from hours of weight training, sometimes it takes us longer than we’d like to shed that muscle pain and general fatigue. Firming up and dropping ten pounds is a great goal, but face it, we need all the help we can get. We love GU Energy Gels for a mid-workout boost, and now we have their new Chocolate Smoothie Recovery Brew, a tasty treat designed to help your muscles recover and energy levels return. It tastes surprisingly good (not too chalky or artificial), much better than the average muscle milk and protein supplements we’ve relied on in the past. It’s made with premium ingredients, including whey protein isolate, for a boost that’s tastier and nutritionally more sound than our stand-by Snickers bar.

CamelBak All Clear Water Bottle

nborchelt — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:00:21 +0000

www.camelbak.com, one pound, one ounce
Anyone who has paid the price for drinking questionable water knows the peace of mind that bottled water brings. But when you’re on the go, especially in the backcountry or traveling, pure stuff can be hard to find. The CamelBak All Clear offers a great solution. The All Clear employs a built-in UV-C light bulb that kills all illness-causing organisms in just 60 seconds. I really like the simplicity of this system. The lid, which houses the UV bulb, battery, display, and charging port, only has a single button. Push the button, the UV light goes on, you wait a minute, and the bacteria and viruses are zapped. The light and bottle do all the work, with an easy-to-see LCD display that counts down the time remaining, so you know when your water is ready. It’s that easy. One big difference between the UV purification and more traditional filtration is taste, color, and particles. With UV purification systems (like the All Clear) the water you put in the bottle is exactly the same as the water you get out—only it’s safe to drink. If you’re drinking from puddles and swamps, you might prefer a standard filtration system that not only purifies the water, but cleans it as well. But, as our testers found, most of the time they weren’t limited to pond scum or mud puddles as a hydration source. The bottle is slightly heavy for backpacking and does take five hours to fully charge but it’s ideal for any trip where the prospect of drinking local water sends a shiver up your spine. I also found that it works as lantern in a pinch, even if it does only runs for a minute at a time—likely the longest it’s taken me to pitch my tent after dark. When you first charge the All Clear, you need to do the full five hours—otherwise you’ll get an error message (and the UV light doesn’t glow).
-Chris Boyle

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 Outdoors 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 Outdoors 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. Mountainsmith 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.