Gearzilla » Families

Crumpler Headaitch Shoulder Bag

nborchelt — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:01:37 +0000

www.crumpler.com
For us, sometimes the best measure of a bag’s usefulness is how quickly someone else swipes it from our testers and makes it their own—which is precisely what happened when the Headaitch entered our testing rotation. What was supposed to be two weeks of hearty use become four months as one girlfriend made it her go-to hauler for just about everything (gym clothes, work documents, grocery shopping, travel carry-on, wine hauler, overnight bag—to list but a few). Look at the bag and you’ll understand why. Constructed of 900D nylon on the outside, with a reinforced 1,000D base and a 150D ripstop lining, the bag can take some serious punishment, from rough handling to rougher weather. We tested out the small size, which offers an ample ten liters of storage, secured by a full zipper (a feature not often found in smaller totes), and supported by two wide shoulder straps to carry the weight. Inside, deep, Velcro-fastened pockets and a full-width zipper pocket are perfect for stuff you want to keep separate from the bag’s cavernous center. And Crumpler’s aesthetic lets you punch up the color with fun patterns, or go for the conservative urban black. We say go bright.
Tested size small; medium size has 17 liters of storage for $70.

Nutcase Multisport Helmet

nborchelt — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:25 +0000

www.nutcasehelmets.com
Inject a bit of joy into your daily ride by ditching the boring helmet of yore and wear burst of mad color and design from Portland, OR-based Nutcase. The structure of the helmet itself is fairly straightforward: an injection-molded ABS shell with a poly inner foam for high-impact protection, paired with three sets of differently sized internal pads to help achieve the perfect fit. Up top you find two front intake valves, with seven top-mounted and two rear-mounted exhaust vents, an adjustable spin dial for the perfect fit, and a great, anti-pinching cloth-lined magnetic chin strap that clasps together like magic—all of it CPSC-certified for safe bike riding. But Nutcase’s dedication to design—bright, brilliant patterns and colors (as well as more subdued varieties)—really set these helmets apart, from watermelon to polka-dot to paisley. The helmets do run hot compared to the more race-friendly models on the market. A midday urban ride in Portland and Washington, DC, left more than one tester warmer than a traditionally vented helmet, though they were great on 40-degree autumn mornings.. But these aren’t made for century rides in the heat of summer; they’re to let you express your inner child while on your daily commute. And naturally they make a bunch of equally fantastic (and equally safe) children’s helmets for $60.

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.

Stoic ARX 3 Tent

nborchelt — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:00:20 +0000

stoicgear.com; five pounds, four ounces
I used this three-person tent for five-nights on the Main Salmon River, a trip that played out across 70 miles over six days with hot, dry weather. Since we didn’t encounter any serious rain, the tent was mostly used to keep the bugs out while camping on sandy beaches each night. Nighttime temperatures reached the mid 60s and daytime highs peaked in the mid 80s.

The tent was erected quickly with one or two people helping. The asymmetrical design offers two doors, one on either side of the tapered floor. We slept side-to-side with our feet at the narrower end of the 41.2-square-foot floor. It slept two kids, one adult, and a dog very comfortably. A fourth adult could squeeze in if rain was a problem, and the 49-inch interior height offers a good amount of space inside. The vestibules accommodated our packs and boots, but they weren’t overly spacious. We did manage to unknowingly put a small hole in the floor and the mesh walls leading me to think that the fabric is not very strong.

On a second trip to the Mount Jefferson Wilderness in Oregon, three boys slept in it on a two-night backpacking trip. It was very light and easy to carry. The boys set up the tent the wrong way the first time, but then they switched the poles around and put it together quickly. However, we found asymmetrical rain fly to be counter-intuitive; getting it on right was a challenge. We didn’t notice any condensation after a night when temps dipped into the mid 40s, in part thanks to the Velcro lift in the rainfly that opened up a vent in the top of boost ventilation.
-Greg Bueker

Action Wipes

nborchelt — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:00:02 +0000

www.actionwipes.com
Cotton may kill, but sweat stinks. For those on-the-fly cleanups, we love the pre-moistened, alcohol-free Action Wipes. The 100-percent natural wipes are made with plant-derived ingredients that moisturize while they clean. On a particularly rough, dirty ride along the McKenzie River Trail, our intrepid tester encountered sweat, dust, dirt, mud, and even poison oak.Despite multiple forays into the underbrush, she emerged at the end of the ride looking and smelling like a daisy (okay, a dirty, somewhat pungent daisy). The disposable fabric is strong enough for multiple uses and our choice when there’s no shower in sight—like those marathon days at Burning Man. Note—it’s easier to mop a sweaty brow than underarms, but the wipes work for both. And you’ll love the calming effect of the soothing tea tree and eucalyptus scent.

The North Face Phoenix 3 Tent

nborchelt — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:00:58 +0000

www.thenorthface.com; four pounds, 13.3 ounces
I took this three-person tent out on a three-day backpacking trip with seventh- and eighth-grade kids in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness in Oregon. We had moderate temperatures and sunny skies with no rain. Temperatures ranged from the mid 60s to the mid 40s. The trail took us through forests and briefly to tree line for two nights of camping on the slopes of Mount Jefferson.

The tent was used by two boys and was pitched quickly with no problems–which was a refresh accomplishment. It has an intuitive single-walled tent design with a symmetrical floor plan. With two identical poles and one short ventilation pole it was very quick to put up. It’s clearly one of the simplest tent designs I’ve used in recent years.The rectangular floor plan puts an all-mesh door at either side, and the rain fly gives you enough room in the vestibule to store a pack and a pair of boots outside of either doorway. Inside, two kids slept comfortably, and the tent’s weight was easily split between the two.

Both the poles and the tent–made of TNF’s durable waterproof/breathable DryWall fabric–felt durable enough to handle harsh conditions, though that three-day outing didn’t afford any foul weather to put the tent to true test. We’ll see how well it ventilates in warmer conditions and colder conditions, such as 30 degrees with rain (editor’s note: no short supply of those conditions in the Pacific Northwest). It’ll be good to see how well it breathes to reduce condensation and of course how well it kept the rain out.
-Greg Bueker

Interbike 2012: Scenes from the Floor

nborchelt — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:00:53 +0000

The refreshingly fun graphics of Hunting Beach Bicycle Company, who make some sweet cruiser bikes (and pretty cool t-shirts).

Interbike 2012—the largest gathering of the bike industry in North America—kicked off yesterday in Las Vegas. More than 750 companies representing more than 1,200 brands have taken over the Sand Expo Center from Sept 19 to Friday, Sept 21 to look at all sorts of the latest and greatest in cycling world. And naturally, we’re there as well. We’ll be bringing you a few show highlights over the coming days, including these snapshots from the floor.

Strider Bikes–easily the lightest bikes on the floor at 4.9 pounds. Designed for kids who have learned to walk and can thus “pedal” by sitting and walking. It’s a great way for toddlers to get used to the balance and steering of a bike.

The new flavor from 5-Hour Energy is pink lemonade (left)–they’ve partnered with Avon and five cents of each bottle goes to breast cancer research. On the right, the brilliantly pink van of Cruiser Candy, who makes all sorts of pimpin’ bike accessories. We particularly appreciate the purple fringe on the handlebars of the bike on the roof.

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.

Eton Rukus Solar Sound System

nborchelt — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:00:08 +0000

www.etoncorp.com, 3.75 pounds
Bluetooth-compatible speakers aren’t new, but we’d be amazed if you can find a system that’s as sleek and outdoor friendly. We first tested the Eton Rukus during a backyard barbeque—it works so well we brought it along to use as base camp audio source for a multi-day outing. The wireless speaker with any Bluetooth-enabled device—including most smart phones and tablets. Set the Rukus on a picnic table and head out to collect firewood—the device says it has a 30-foot radius, but we found it to be effective at more than 40 feet. If you want to change playlists, your phone or iPod is as close as your pocket. A nine-inch by five-inch solar panel bridges across the dual torpedo-styled 2.5-inch speakers. On a sunny day, you can play and charge while the sun’s out, then party late into the night with eight hours of reserve power. There’s also an AC adaptor to charge the device when the weather doesn’t cooperate and you’ve got access to a power line. Included in the package is a USB cable that will charge your other electronics—great for powering up while camping, tailgating, or on a picnic. An e-INK display keeps you up-to-date on the battery and solar charge status. There’s even a convenient elasticized pocket on the bottom to secure your phone or iPod when not in use.

Outdoor Retailer: Keen Preview

nborchelt — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:00:13 +0000

(The Keen Cascade CNX Water Shoe)

In spring 2013 the Portland-based shoe company will unroll the biggest product launch since 2003. Dubbed CNX (which we understand to be short-hand for “Connects” rather than some sort of acronym), Keen‘s new models will stretch across the entire product platform, including water, multi-sport, lifestyle, and kid’s models—and each of the 20 modelswill weight 10 ounces or less. The new, low-profile design includes a lightweight polyurethane midsole, contoured arch support, a 4mm drop from heel to toe, and Keen’s original toe protection. Adult prices start at $90.

Their new, casual Maderas line, also out in spring 2013, should appeal casual travelers looking for comfortable, light kicks. The vulcanized rubber soles are heat- and pressure-molded to the canvas uppers to create a glue-free shoe. The shoes are made in—and entirely sourced from—Thailand. The old-school designs will come in a variety of bright colors (as demonstrated by the lace model pictured) starting at $80.

We also love the cool new design accents slated for the Keen’s kids line over the next season, including a Velcro version of the Maderas line and fun graphics on the shoe soles.