Gearzilla » Mountain Biking

Winter OR Round-Up: Princeton Tec Vizz Headlamp

nborchelt — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:00:46 +0000

www.princetontec.com
This March, Princeton Tec will unveil a new outdoor/all-purpose headlamp that should hit the sweet spot for weekend warriors and backpackers looking to light up the backcountry (or brave a power outage). The design of the Vizz itself is nearly idiot-proof, with one big button—and that’s about it. Press the button once and you illuminate two ultra-bright red LEDs, press it twice and get dual ultra-bright white LEDs. You can also hold the button down to cycle through the modes, which includes a 150-lumin max-bright LED that can illuminate up to 90 feet. The Vizz is waterproof down to one meter for up to half an hour, and runs on three AAA batteries—with a built-in power meter to let you how much juice you’ve got left in the estimated 160-hour run time; a low-battery indicator also triggers when you’re down to 20 percent.

Deuter Speed Lite 20 Backpack

nborchelt — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:00:18 +0000

www.deuter.com, one pound, three ounces
When you’re squeezing yourself through a narrow, ice-covered chute, the last thing you want is your pack or one of its appendages to get stuck—which was exactly what our tester was thinking while putting this pack through its paces on an icy day hike in Shenandoah National Park this winter. No such problem with Deuter’s Speed Lite 20, which seems to combine the design ingenuity of a BMW with the robust handling of an Audi (those German gear eggheads even managed to stitch illustrations for making distress signals to an airplane inside the pack). The sleek profile of this 20-liter pack includes a tapered design to allow for greater arm freedom while hiking, trail running, or ski touring; and the chest and hip belts are pared down to add to the pack’s minimalist aesthetic. Inside, the main chamber provides a surprising amount of room for spare layers, gloves, hats, lunch, even an extra pair of shoes. A cavernous top pocket swallows and protects more expensive items like your camera and phone, nestled close to the small of the wearer’s back rather than in an exposed area of the pack that might get knocked by branches or rocks. Two mesh side pockets easily house water bottles and snacks, while big, easy-to-grab fabric loops on all the zips make a mockery of those fiddly little metal zips found on other packs on the market. The pack itself feels refreshingly light, but the ripstop 210 nylon held up to significant abrasion tests, and the compression straps helped keep things truly svelte the tight squeezing that became a necessity during the test trials. They can also double to hold skis or hiking poles in a pinch. The U-shaped frame can also be removed for truly ultra-light outings, or when compression is essential.

Bern G2 Helmet

nborchelt — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:31 +0000

bernunlimited.com
As one tester who’s spent over a decade urban cycling can attest, 2012 marked the year of the hard helmet. Legions of single-speed city riders (like our tester) have gotten over the vanity of biking sans protection. And most of ‘em have eschewed the cycle-obsessed, aerodynamic designs for skateboard-inspired models like those made by Bern. In East Coast locales it seems as if Bern has cornered the market. With helmets like their G2, it’s easy to understand why. But let us not pigeon-hole the G2 as solely a cycling helmet. Bern has made its mark on the ski and riding scene as much as in urban cycling circles, and this versatile helmet is equally at home on the slopes as it is in the saddle. The all-weather helmet is made of Bern’s proprietary “Zipmold” hard foam, a liquid foam-injection process that delivers better weight-to-strength ratio, resulting in a lighter, low-profile helmet that meets all the safety standards. The snap-in winter liner adds additional warmth—a feature we loved on blizzard-condition days, or when we faced temps in the teens during our daily commute. Up top, an easy-access slide lets you adjust the airflow through eight strategically positioned vents, which is a great feature as you ride (or ski or bike) into spring. And when the snow melts and you are relegated to just the bike, swap out the winter lining for the EPS Summer Comfort Liner ($15) and keep on pedaling. We tested it in warm fall temps, and didn’t overheat (thanks especially to the vents), but we suspect the helmet could prove hot in the humid, 100-degree-plus days of late July and August (likely something specific to this helmet). One bit of advice: before ordering, assure your fit is spot-on. Unlike some bike and snow helmets, there’s no fit adjustment here, a feature that certainly reduces the weight but also could prove prohibitive if your hair style (and corresponding hair volume) varies more than David Bowie’s.
The helmet includes a goggle strap clip in the back; audio knit liners with speakers in the ear pads are available for $60

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.

Columbia Treadlite 16 Day Pack

nborchelt — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:00:05 +0000

www.columbia.com
After using this pack for everything from hauling soccer gear to biking to a day-long hike, I can confidently say I’ve found my perfect backpack. The Treadlite comes with 16 liters of storage space—plenty for a full kit of mild-weather hiking (water, layer, food) and around-town functionality. Columbia’s “Omnishield” fabric protects the insides from averse elements, and the elevated mesh back panel kept my back dry and comfortable, even when things got muggy in late-summer testing. The back and shoulder straps have mesh elements carved out of the padding for added cooling—and I didn’t experience any hot spots at the seams, something that was a concern when I first saw the pack. The sternum strap comes with a rescue whistle that’s loud enough to scare your neighbors and stretchy side pockets fit most water bottle. The same mesh is also used in the big kangaroo back pocket, which is great to stash your go-to items, or your wet shell when things dry up. The interior mesh pockets let you store your keys, wallet, and other small stuff you don’t want lose in the main compartment, and I really love the padded zipper pocket on the top of the pack, perfect for safely storing a cell phone, GPS, or sunglasses. I get the feeling that a lot of thought was put in this pack and it really shows.
-Chris Boyle
The model also comes in 16- and 22-liter models

Apres Velo T-Shirts

nborchelt — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:00:43 +0000

apresvelo.com
If you worship in the cathedral of outdoors from atop your bike, here’s a line of t-shirts that evoke the spirit of your adoration.We love just about every one of their long- and short-sleeved shirts, made from machine-washable cotton elastine that’s soft to the touch. But our go-to fashionista tester was instantly drawn to the True Religion T, with its sly “10 Commandment of Spin” badge on the side, contrast colored stitching, and fine printing on the front, rear, and sleeve. But we also confess we’re still struggling with the seventh commandment: “Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s bike.”

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.

Camelbak M.U.L.E. NV Hydration Pack

nborchelt — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:00:45 +0000

www.camelbak.com, 1.9 pounds
The trouble with traditional water bottle holders on the bike frame is that, unless you have the hands of David Copperfield, there’s always that split second when one hand—and all of your attention—is diverted from the road to the bottle. Wearing a hydration backpack lets you drink while you ride without ever taking your hands off the handlebars or losing your focus on the path ahead. We didn’t’ think the original M.U.L.E. pack could be improved, but the new NV back panel provides independent articulating pods that move with you as you pedal. The result? A fully vented back panel that keeps the load off your back, in any position we could come up with. The pack is designed for long (three-plus hours) rides. Inside, the bladder carries 100 ounces of your preferred beverage, with 560 cubic inches of storage space for a light jacket, wallet, energy bars, and keys. A removable hip belt provides stability, and the one-inch webbing is so light, you won’t notice it’s there. We love the media pocket with wire channels, as well as the stretch front pocket that easily fits a helmet or puffy. We found that the pack fit torso lengths from about 15 to 17 inches, so if you’re long from the hips to shoulders, this isn’t the right pack for you.

Tested In:

Good For: Biking, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Hiking

Nau Dose Jacket

nborchelt — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:00:28 +0000

www.nau.com
We’ve seen steady advancements in the collage-like trend of mixing and matching different fabrics to give you a product that’s the best of all possible worlds. But often these products feel like they’re awkwardly straddling disparate civilizations, a feeling that ultimately makes you yearn for what you don’t have. Thankfully, the Dose Jacket doesn’t fall into that jack-of-all, master-of-none trap. This highly versatile 2.5-layer waterproof/breathable DWR-treated shell has micro-fiber polyester four-way stretch panels strategically placed to provide soft-to-the-touch flex at the shoulders, forearms, waist, and chest. The rest of the jacket is bombproof, including the helmet-compatible hood and a wind- and waterproof flap over the front waterproof zip. The two hand-pockets and the small back pocket also rock waterproof zippers; the latter also has a tuck-away piece of reflective fabric that can be unveiled to keep you visible when biking in the dark. You also get two chest pockets—one on the outside, and another on the inside with a cord-routing path for your phone or MP3 player. Two zippered vents sit high on the chest, rather than under the arms. They increase breathability, but aren’t as efficient as the pit-zip style found on most shells. Accordingly, the Dose works best when temps aren’t too hot ’n steamy.

Factory Visit: Nutcase Helmets

nborchelt — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:00:10 +0000

The colorful wall of helmets at Nutcase HQ.

If you hear the story of how Portland, OR-based Nutcase Helmets got started, you’ll understand how they so effortlessly captured the whimsical part of the market for adult multisport helmets. Back in the fall of 2000, Nutcase creator and founder Michael Morrow was looking for a graphic way to show his support for the Oregon State Beavers at the “Civil War” football game against U of O. His solution? Four-inch metal screws super-glued to the top of an old orange-and-black Oregon State helmet; he then impaled yellow rubber duckies on the screws to demonstrate the fate awaiting the Oregon Ducks.

The response to the helmet was instantaneous—as was Morrow’s light bulb moment: adult helmets are boring, and not indicative of the fun everyone has while biking, skiing, and skating. What started out as a garage operation with Morrow and his kind-hearted wife has now blossomed into company with 12 employees, with orders flooding in from all over globe and annual deliveries in the hundreds of thousands.

The decal-applied helmet designs come in all variety of color and style, from watermelons to polka dots to graphics that support your favorite team or city. The chinstrap boasts a one-handed magnetic buckle that works like magic and a simple dial to adjust the helmet’s fit. All helmets comply with U.S. CPSC Safety Standards for riders ages five and older. The line includes street sport helmets as well as models for cycle/skate, snow sports, motor sports, and water sports.

We also love the whimsical collection of bells.

And we really like that their spacious HQ is above Portland’s amazing Ford Food and Drink, which makes a breakfast buttermilk biscuit with mozzarella, pesto, and organic relish that has no business tasting as good as it does. Craft beer goes for $4 a pint—which was almost enough to convince us to have one with our biscuit.

Fun fact: In Portlandia, the mayor of Portland (played by Kyle MacLachlan) wears the first official Nutcase helmet.

We’re testing one of their helmets right now and will report back soon.