The North Face Phoenix 3 Tent

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

$389

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Interbike 2012: Scenes from the Floor

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.

Price? Our editors' sanity.

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Mountainsmith Cooler Cube

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.

$30

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Eton Rukus Solar Sound System

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.

$129

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Outdoor Retailer: Keen Preview

(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.

Prices vary.

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