Gearzilla » Paddling

ExOfficio BugsAway Baja Shirt

nborchelt — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:00:19 +0000

www.exofficio.com
Mosquitoes love me, so I wasn’t sure how successful the ExOfficio BugsAway products would be. I took along their Baja shirt on a couple trips to Mexico and was pleasantly surprised. I came away with no bites on my upper body when I wore the shirt. I wish I’d had some BugsAway pants, as my legs and ankles weren’t so lucky. The Baja shirt also is an excellent sun shirt with quick-dry poly/cotton blend fabric and a UPF 30+ rating. The “adventure” design has been toned down to look more streamlined, but just as functional. The snaps are hidden down the front, and the back ventilation is along the sides, not across the back. This shirt served me well both on trails and in towns. The BugsAway quality lasts for 70 washings, leaving me over 65 more adventures with this shirt.
-Josephine Parr

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

MyChacos Personalized Sport Sandals

nborchelt — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:01:24 +0000

www.mychacos.com
If you enjoy the outdoors you have probably heard of Chaco sandals and even if you don’t necessarily call yourself a “Chaconian” MyChacos is still for you. Chaco has launched a one-of-a-kind “Made In America” custom sandal program and it is amazing. Visit into www.mychacos.com and you will find four styles to choose from, and then it is a blank canvas where you can select everything from the sole pattern to the webbing designs, and even stitching color. Your selections immediately change on the sandal on your screen. Warning, you will lose hours playing with this. I created probably at least ten different designs and finally narrowed it down to three that I liked best, and still could not decide (the winner is pictured above, the runners-up down below). So I solicited the opinions of family and finally ended up selecting the more conservative design because I thought I would probably wear it with more things (yes I like to match)… I started out with the double strap with toe loop sandal then I went through every webbing option (the two straps can be different!). After that I selected the color of the heel leash, riser, buckle, buckle strap, footbed…they warn you there is more than tens of millions possibilities. There are two Vibram designs for the sole, one for wet terrain, and the other for loose terrain. Since I usually wear my Chacos at the beach and in water, I went with the wet option. MyChacos are made in Rockford, Michigan, by the ReChaco team and waiting on my creation to arrive in the mail was exciting too. When they arrived they looked just like I had seen online, and it is thrilling to know that no one else will have these! Chacos are great for anything from walking to the store to climbing on rocks through the rushing water of Dunn River Falls in Jamaica and their design and durable materials mean they’ll last a long time, too–but then if you can’t decide, you can always get more than one pair.
-Jennifer Seabolt

Lifeproof iPhone 4 and 4s Case

nborchelt — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:00:10 +0000

www.lifeproof.com, 1.1 ounces
You’ve spent a veritable fortune on your new iPhone—only to have it ruined while you answer a call (or text or while taking photos) a snow or rainstorm. We’ve tried a dozen cases for iPhones and most seemed too bulky or provided insufficient protection, until we found the Lifeproof case, which delighted our testers with its sleek design. At only 13.3 mm wide, it’s barely larger than the phone itself. The snap-on, O-ring case has a slick plastic exterior that doesn’t catch on everything when you’re trying to slip it in and out of your pocket. But best of all, the case is 100-percent dirt-, water-, and snow-proof. The case is guaranteed to not leak in up to 6.5 feet of water, a fact that was corroborated by one tester who went for an impromptu swim in the Rio Grande after a hot hike in Big Bend National Park. The phone was completely submerged, with no leaks whatsoever. The case is also guaranteed to protect the phone for short drops on hard surfaces—nice if you have kids with no sense of value; Lifeproof guarantees the case will protect the phone for drops up to six feet—we can attest that the phone and case can fall out of a car onto hard pavement and survive. The touchscreen sensitivity is excellent, with no loss of function or distortion. Included in the package is a headphone adaptor that allows you to use waterproof buds for swimming, snow sports, or running in the rain. Our testers’ only complaint? Plugging the charger in is difficult, and it’s easy to lose the water-sealing screw that covers the cord jack. Boaters should invest in the Lifeproof Life Jacket ($40), a bright orange rubber case that holds the phone firmly and floats to the surface if dropped in the water.

Jet Boil Sumo Cooking System

nborchelt — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 08:00:55 +0000

www.jetboil.com, one pound

Jetboil aficionados read no further—just know that you’ll love the Sumo for its increased boiling capacity. “This is the coolest stove I’ve ever used,” raved one tester who camped during Central Oregon’s rainy season. Our team applauded the stove’s efficiency in harnessing the heat from the flame. On one wet Willamette Valley weekend, in 20-mile-per-hour winds and near-freezing temperatures, the stove consistently boiled 1.25 liters of cold lake water in less than four minutes. The new Sumo Group Cooking System comes with a 1.8-liter cooking cup, an insulating cozy that lets you to handle the hot pot without getting burned, a pot support to help stabilize the heavier load, and, of course, the fast, seeming weather-impervious Sol burner, with its dependable, one-touch igniter. Our backcountry chefs loved the stove’s ability to move fluidly from a boil to simmer, a welcome adjustment when you’re cooking up a worthy feast.
–Adam Devitt

Hiho Suntek Keep Calm Shirt

nborchelt — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:00:18 +0000

shop.go-hiho.com
When a tour operator points at your shirt and says, “I gotta get that for my guides,” you know you’re wearing the right thing. This happened to one tester on three separate occasions while wearing the Suntek Keep Calm Sleeved Shirt from Hiho, a small USVI-based clothing company. And while the outfitters mostly appreciated the sentiment printed on the shirt (especially since that’s what they tell any nervous client when out on the water), we also loved that the quick-drying, all-poly shirt includes SPF 50 protection against the brutal Caribbean sun. It saved one particularly pale paddler from heat stroke on a day-long sea kayak off Mexico’s Santo Espiritu Island in the Sea of Cortez. Another used it as a rash guard while surfing in Puerto Rico and as a back-up layer for a humid, rainy trek through the central rainforests. We trust you’ll find your own applications.

SealLine iPhone Case (With Plug)

nborchelt — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:00:14 +0000

cascadedesigns.com/sealline, 1.3 ounces
We overheard the following while killing time in an airport bar. “I’ve had to replace my iPhone three times in the last year. I get it wet—just by walking in the rain or whatever—and it dies.” Had we not packed our SealLine iPhone Case in our checked luggage, we’d have interrupted this young woman’s lament by tossing the case over for her to investigate. Unlike some of the burlier cases out there, this one keeps it simple: the hefty zipper offers air-tight security against the elements, and the clear plastic lets you use the phone’s touch-screen without having to break the seal. On the back, there’s a smaller plastic window so that you can also use the camera (perfect for catching video of that raging monsoon), and an internal plug even gives you access to audio, video, or calls—just plug your headset into the external port after attaching the phone to the jack on the inside of the case. Two narrow slits at either end of the bag allow for a variety of attachments—we crafted a wrist strap out of a spare shoelace and took the thing snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez without incident; the case is rated to be waterproof down to one meter for up to 30 minutes. Taking photos with the case in the bright sun can be tricky—we used the phone’s volume control to trigger the lens while swimming, as it proved tricky to hit the camera icon on the touch screen, but nothing could help prevent the sun glare. Chances are, with practice, you could get the method dialed. It’s also the only way we’ll ever travel, hike, kayak, camp, or ride with our precious iPhone…because we can’t afford to replace it every other month.

Olukai Maliko Shoe

nborchelt — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:20 +0000

www.olukai.com, six ounces
For one of our gear testers, water shoes always struck him as a shoe too far—until he stepped on a stingray in Mexico. Now, he has a pair of Malikos, the latest piece of amphibious footwear to catch our attention. Made by Hawaii-based OluKai, the minimalist split-toe shoe can handle all variety of island adventuring, from rain forest canyoneering to sea kayaking to long day hikes. The uppers boast breathable air mesh, with a sleek, moisture-wicking synthetic suede lining the heel, and injection-molded heel and arch chassis for anatomical support (a nice addition for the typically bare-bones genre). You can also remove 3/4 of the footbed (attached by Velcro) for a more barefoot feel. Underneath, the no-slip treads are fairly aggressive without adding bulk, and while the “tentacles” lined with suction cups—modeled after an octopus’ appendages—may be more aesthetic than legit, we were able to keep solid footing on even super-slick surfaces like wet wood. The svelte fit and boa-style lacing does an admirable job of keeping out the grit save for fine sand, which sneaks in and doesn’t always drain from the ports on the instep. The split toe offers a bit more dexterity than standard sneaks, but may strike some as somewhat superfluous, and those with longer toes may find the fit of the singular big toe a bit cramped. But at six ounces, the Maliko are light enough to bring along any time water is a reality. (Oh, and if you do get stung by a stingray, put the wound in water that’s as hot as you can tolerate. It nullifies the poison.)

Eureka! Warrior 230 IR LED Remote Control Lantern

nborchelt — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:13 +0000

www.eurekatent.com, one pound, 14 ounces
One if by land, two if by sea. A reliable lantern should be part of everyone’s essential gear. For modern-day emergencies that can cut your power supply off for days, the Warrior 230 provides 200 hours of light on the low setting. The high setting limits the output of the three D-size batteries to 50 hours, but our testers only used this ultra-brint light (230 lumens) while cooking gourmet dinners on a Rogue River trip. Otherwise they used the remote control dimmer function that adjusts the light output from 100 percent to 10 percent. The versatile lantern is great for river trips, car camping, and even illuminating a backyard barbeque. The water-resistant case can be carried with a collapsible handle, or hung upside down via a small, fold-away hook. For roadside or backcountry emergencies, the lantern has a flashing SOS function that’s good for 200 hours with fresh batteries. Testers loved the remote control with its 25-foot range, as it allows you to leave the lantern in its most effective position (suspended on a tree branch near the kitchen or pit toilet), with the ease of turning it on and off from your warm, cozy sleeping bag.

McNett Samish Outdoor and Dive Knife

nborchelt — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:00:44 +0000

www.mcnett.com, 4.5 ounces
Whether you’re swimming with sharks or simply setting up camp, you’ll be glad you have the Samish at your side. Hewn from corrosion-resistant 420 stainless steel, the stiletto-tipped three-inch blade has a serrated edge for sawing and a traditional straight edge for cutting. There’s also a notch for cutting fishing lines or cord. The well-balanced knife has a molded nylon scabbard that’s designed for mounting on a vest, belt, or leg. The 3.75-inch molded nylon grip fits well into your hand, with no slipping. We like the fact that the knife can be completely disassembled for cleaning. Also, the sheath comes off with a quick flick of the thumb, making it easy to use with one-hand.