Pearl Izumi ELITE Gel-Vent FF Bike Gloves

shop.pearlizumi.com
We know that the ELITE Gel-Vent FFs are some of the best bike gloves on the market because one loyal tester wore his previous pair to threads (quite literally), and then went out and got another pair without pausing to consider alternatives. That kind of brand loyalty speaks volumes, and it’s justified. The synthetic leather palm delivers optimal comfort and grip, while the perforated gel-vent padding in the palms also relieves pressure on the ulnar and median nerves for hours-long comfort. Narrow vertical strips at the fingers deliver a bit more grip, and the stretchy, fine-woven mesh backs give you a close-to-the-skin fit without clumping or bunching. The Velcro hook-and-loop closure has been improved from previous models, and they also now boast a small, firm tab at the cuff that makes pulling on the full-hand gloves a breeze. We love the low-profile wiping surface on the thumb.

It’s also worth noting, several of our testers opt for the full-finger glove over the fingerless; when you take a tumble, your hands always hit the earth (pavement-covered or otherwise), and we prefer as much comfortable protection as possible when that inevitably occurs.

$45

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Petzl NAO Headlamp

www.petzl.com, 6 ounces
“Throw away all your old flashlights and headlamps,” said our tester after taking the NAO on a three-week road trip. “The reactive-lighting NAO is the only headlamp you’ll need, or want to use.” We don’t take the word “revolutionary” lightly, but the new NAO headlamp is worth getting excited about. In contrast to other lamps, the 400-lumen NAO has a beam that automatically adjusts to focus on your target. If you’re pouring over topo maps, the light adjusts to a wide beam with low output. When you look out the tent fly to see if it’s a raccoon or bear rustling by the picnic table, the beam focuses, with greater light intensity for—drum roll please—a distance of 300 feet. Other advantages include fewer manual adjustments and a better burn time than any other headlamp we’ve tested. The NAO comes with a single rechargeable lithium battery that’s guaranteed for 300-plus charges—we didn’t do the math, but that’s a lot of alkaline batteries you won’ t need to buy. Each charge provides nearly five hours of use in high Reactive mode (the auto-adjust) or eight hours in low Reactive. You can set the lamp on a constant function, which disables the sensor, but cuts significantly into the battery life, as the Reactive power setting really does make power use more efficient. The rechargeable battery can be replaced with 2 AAA batteries, but our testers swear that the rechargeable battery ups the lamp’s performance. We were leery of the downloadable battery management program that allows you to adjust the light intensity, burn time, and beam distance on a computer, but are happy to report that even techno-troglodytes found it easy (and fun) to customize the lamp’s performance. The easiest option is using the custom profiles pre-programmed to enhance performance for specific activities like climbing, running, trail running, and hiking. Two features worth noting: a big off-on knob that’s easy to manipulate with gloves or in the dark and a water-resistant shell that never leaked, even during a monster Texas monsoon that one tester encountered while night hiking up a mesa near Lajitas.

$175

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Bianchi San Jose Road Bike

We here at Gearzilla love looking forward into the brave new world gear innovations. But sometime we like to pause and express our affection for products that have become part of our daily outdoor-lovin’ lives. Such is the case of the Bianchi San Jose. This single-speed all-steel bike gets everything right—one tester has been using it for daily commutes for years, but it has also performed well in mellow singletrack and on gravel and dirt towpaths. You can run it as a fixie, but we prefer the ability to…actually brake when cycling in urban environs. We swapped out the saddle and went for the Crank Brothers’ Eggbeater pedals, and over five years of near-daily use, we’ve had to swap in new tires, replace the chain, and re-wrap the handle bars—and soon the Cane Creek brakes will need a serious retrofit. But that’s typical of any bike, and it’s still as ridiculously light, nimble, and fun to ride as it was when we bought it over five years ago. The only sad part? It seems Bianchi isn’t offering the full bike; their site displays only the bike frame. But those less inclined to build up their own perfect commuter rig can still find the San Jose (including the gorgeous eggshell blue one) on Craigslist.

$399 (Frame Only)

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Crumpler Complete Seed Bag

www.crumpler.com, 2.4 pounds
Upgrading a piece of gear always comes with guilt. “The earlier version really is perfectly fine in every way,” our loyal heart tells us, while our lustful side just wants to play with something new. Happily, in the case of Crumpler’s Complete Seed, the urge is no fickle fascination. This model elevates the older classic (one that a loyal tester has used for nearly a decade) in almost every way: A commuter-friendly patch of reflective fabric now lines the lower section of the pack bag, and the internal organization has been reconfigured. The main zipper pouch has been moved up to the front, with two big Velcro-closures on either side. Two side pockets flank the inner pouch, perfect for sunglasses and various electronics, while two outer side pockets secure the excess shoulder strap and quick-grab items without overtaking the bag’s inner storage. What hasn’t changed is the pack’s generous 1,400-cubic-inch storage capacity, the bomber-proof, fully-weatherproof 1000D fabric, and a 300D interior fabric, which shrugs off wear and tear better than a first-round draft pick. Three big Velcro patches secure the main flap. The shoulder strap pad and cross-body stabilization strap both are removable, and the shoulder strap itself is long enough to accommodate any kind of fit, from the body-hugging bike messenger to the let-it-hang hippy look. Wear it high and tight, and the pack weight distributes evenly across your shoulders. Loosening the strap is easy, thanks the easy-to-use, oversized pressure buckle—at least it was after we moved the small plastic loop further down the strap (move that piece of plastic too close to the quick-release flap and on-the-fly-adjustments become laborious). Otherwise, the Complete Seed is the bee’s knees—provided Crumpler doesn’t come up with a way to improve on this pack again. And yes, the old model is still in full use.

$140

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Wildfire Tees

www.wildfiretees.com
Given our limitless affection for all things outdoors, it’s only natural that Colorado’s tragic wildfires cuts close to the bone. The displacement and devastation is almost too much to bear, but Wildfire Tees is making it a little bit easier. Composed of a group of Colorado-based designers, marketers, and printers, 100% of the profits for every t-shirt sold goes to the victims of the Colorado wildfires. The limited-run screenprint t-shirts boast bold, creative designs, both retro and modern, and speak to the passion of the people who live (or just love) the state. The high-quality t-shirts are printed on 100% pre-shrunk, soft-to-the-touch cotton. The shirt we ordered was printed on a Hanes nano-T and runs slightly larger than true-to-size; one tester found the large size to be a bit longer than he typically likes (but that just means this guy—a native of the Rocky Mountain State—will likely just buy another shirt). To keep things transparent and on the up-and-up, all profits are funneled into a fund with the Pikes Peak Community Foundation. Current designs include the two pictured above (as well as seen other designs). Special-edition silkscreen and letter-press prints, kid’s shirts, and onesies are also for sale. You can also lobby to get retired designs re-released, and submit your own designs for future runs.

$20

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