STM Kicker iPad 2 Case

www.stmbags.com
The iEverything world is undeniably slick. But when you go to protect your sly new digital playground, Apple’s famed design gets swallowed in bulky armor-like security. The Kicker case from STM lets you retain some of that sleek aesthetic. It’s both refreshingly simple and stealthily complex. Getting the iPad in and out is the easiest we’ve experienced after testing a number of different cases, and the front cover triggers the sleep mode when closed, and wakes the device when opened. All ports are easily accessible, a micro-suede lining protects the screen and body from dings and scratches, and the textured leather-like exterior handles daily use with ease. Most importantly, the Kicker offers a variety of standing positions—two horizontal configurations (one that proves ideal for consuming media, and another, more angled position to ease strain while typing), and a horizontal configuration. You also get three slots for the kickstand itself, multiplying the choice to near-dizzying varieties.
Comes in black, brown, and maroon

$60

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Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated Bottle

www.kleankanteen.com, 8.5 ounces
We consider portable hot chocolate one of the great wonders of the modern world. Imagine: high on the slopes of your favorite mountain, you reach into your pack, and, voila, a hot beverage to warm your stomach (or, more, your kids). The new Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated Bottle is genius in its simplicity. The durable, double-walled construction keeps food or drink hot (or cold) all day. Made from BPA-free, food-grade stainless steel, the bottle is amazingly light, and its rounded edges lets it slip into a pack (or cup holder for you soccer moms) with ease. Our testers love the wide 2.125-inch mouth—easy to fill, easy to pour, and perhaps even more importantly, easy to clean. We brewed tea at 7 a.m. for a summit attempt on Oregon’s South Sister in the Cascade Range. When we topped out at noon, the tea was piping hot. Hot beverages stay hot for about six hours; triple the timeframe for keeping ice cold drinks chilled. The bottles come with two caps—a standard screw on top, and a café-style top for easy sipping.
Comes in 12-ounce, 16-ounce, and 20-ounce capacity; all work with standard water filters.

$26

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Mountain Khakis Granite Creek Pants

www.mountainkhakis.com
Come heat or high water, we tend to wear pants instead of shorts when traveling. Call it a desire to blend, but in all but the most tropical spots (AKA: islands and coasts), most locals around the world wear pants. Shorts are second only to fanny packs in terms of urban travel wear (meaning you’re bound to be pigeon-holed). Happily, long pants don’t have to mean hot, claustrophobic irritation. The Mountain Khaki Granite Creek Pant is made of quick-drying brushed nylon fabric, and boasts a wide variety of trail-and road-ready features like UV 50+ protection and Scotchguard treatment to repel stains. The fit is decidedly relaxed without channeling the uber-baggy world of a hip-hop producer, and they’re immensely travel-friendly, wrinkle resistant and compressing to nearly nothing. Pockets galore–including a Velcro-flap cargo pocket on the right thigh (with a separate zipper pocket inside), twin hand pockets with an additional zipper pocket on the right, and a zippered back pocket. But even with all those bells and whistles, they still look perfectly unassuming. Mountain Khakis also makes the same pants in a convertible version ($90), ideal for backcountry treks, with zips of a different color for each leg to simplify shifting from short to pants.

$83

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Arc’Teryx Beta AR Hard Shell Jacket

www.arcteryx.com, 15.3 ounces
Yes, we love gear. Most of our testers have a jacket to accommodate any condition, broken down in five-degree increments. But we also adore products that prove invaluable in all conditions—like the newly redesigned Beta AR hard shell from Arc’Teryx. It just gets everything right, from the hip-length hem for added protection to the helmet-compatible hood to generous pit zips to waterproof zip pockets high enough to accommodate a waist belt or harness. Waterproofness and breathability comes from Gore-Tex’s three-layer Pro Shell fabric treatment (the toughest they make), but the shell is near-cotton soft, with reinforced shoulders and elbows to endure countless alpine abrasions. One-hand adjustment for all draw cords make customizing a breeze, but with articulated joints and Arc’Teryx’s hard-earned rep for perfectly-fitting apparel, you’re covered the moment you first put on the jacket. The cut is generous enough to work as an outer layer in colder climes, but you won’t feel like you’re swimming in fabric if you go with just a base layer—and its packability serves day and multi-day outings with stash-it-and-forget-in ease. At $450, the price is dear, but the Beta AR jacket works in damn near any condition that requires weather protection.

$450

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Camelbak Groove Water Bottle

www.camelbak.com, 20 ounces
When this bottle design from Cambelbak first came on the market a few years back, one tester called them adult sippy cups—and damned if they didn’t become just as popular with the active set as they were with infants. But, like its toddler counterpart, the older model could become a bit…funky. With the Groove, the bottle is back in full effect. The BPA-free, spill-proof bottle now boasts a filter built into the straw to turn so-so tap water into genuinely fresh refreshment, a boon for urbanites and travelers alike. One bit of caution: the filter doesn’t remove the real nasties in untreated water, so it isn’t a replacement for your backcountry purifier.

$25

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