Trailspace Blog
Hiking and Camping Safely in Bear Country
Whether you hit the trail for a day or a week, entering the land of grizzlies and black bears comes with great responsibility. Assure a safe trip by taking proper precautions, respecting bears’ space, and having a firm grip on how to handle yourself.
Book Review: "NOLS Bear Essentials: Hiking and Camping in Bear Country"
John Gookin and Tom Reed know bear country. Both have hiked and camped among black bears and grizzlies for more than 20 years and taught hundreds of students the ropes as NOLS instructors. “NOLS Bear Essentials: Hiking and Camping in Bear Country,” is proof they know what they’re doing.
How to Seam Seal a Tent
Dew, rain, or a sudden downpour—water potentially can find its way into any shelter through your tent’s seams or an accidental hole or tear. Luckily, the seam-sealing process is straightforward and fairly simple.
Outdoor Fuel: New Bars, Chews, and Bites
Some of the newest outdoor nutritional products were unveiled at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer trade show. We’ve rounded up the latest, up-and-coming energy bars, chews, gels, beans, and bites to help you fuel up on and off the trail. You’ll find new products, flavors, and packaging.
Modern Elixirs: New Recovery and Sports Drinks
Some of the newest outdoor nutritional products were unveiled at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer trade show. First up, we've rounded up the newest protein-rich recovery and lighter sports drinks to hit shelves.
Gear Maker Profile: Glen Van Peski of Gossamer Gear
Glen Van Peski, the founder of Gossamer Gear, first backpacked and sewed his own outdoor gear as a kid. But it was a 70-pound load on a Sierra backpacking trip with his son's Scout troop that got him designing ultralight packs.
Review: CamelBak ShredBak Hydration Vest
I first tried the new Camelbak ShredBak hydration system at the winter Outdoor Retailer show’s on-snow session in January. This summer I tested the ShredBak on a half dozen hikes, totaling perhaps 40-50 miles, and on several bike rides.
Review: Leki Thermolite AERGON Antishock Trekking Poles
The Thermolite AERGON Antishock hiking poles feature Leki’s newest antishock system, the Soft Antishock System Lite. So, what did this reviewer, previously biased against antishock poles, think of them?
How to Fuel Up on the Trail
Whether you are trail running, hiking, fastpacking, or backpacking, you need to fuel yourself properly before, during, and after your time out on the trails. Eating the right foods at the right times will keep you on your feet, gears cranking, and all four cylinders roaring.
Is Your Aluminum Bottle BPA-Free?
So you switched out your old plastic water bottle for a supposedly healthier aluminum bottle. That means no BPA, right? Not necessarily. If you’re using a SIGG or Laken aluminum water bottle manufactured before August 2008 your bottle’s liner contains some level of Bisphenol A.
Small fuel canisters too expensive to ship
Having trouble ordering 4-fluid-ounce isobutane/propane fuel canisters online? Get ready to drive to your local outdoor store instead. Many online retailers have pulled the fuel canisters from their offerings due to a recent Department of Transportation conclusion.
The BPA Wars continue: SIGG and Laken bottles contained BPA
Many people are feeling misled, angry, betrayed, and confused after it was confirmed in an article by outdoor industry publication snews.net this month that popular SIGG bottles included BPA in their proprietary liners, at least those made before August of 2008.
How to Hydrate on the Trail
Whether you’re hiking, backpacking, trail running, or fastpacking, it’s important to monitor your fluid levels. Poor hydration — before, during, or after your outdoor activities — can cause dehydration and ruin a day on the trail.
LaCrosse discontinues END Footwear brand
END (environmentally neutral design) Footwear set out in 2008 with a big lofty goal, "to pioneer a new age of outdoor gear products with environmentally neutral design."
Adirondack Bear "Yellow-Yellow" Defeats BearVault 500
From The New York Times, an extremely shy, middle-aged black bear named Yellow-Yellow has repeatedly deciphered the BearVault 500 canister.
Outdoor Retailer: Day Four Round-Up
Today we bring you a smorgasbord of gear from Outdoor Retailer, including sporks for one and all, mini 'biners that are the real deal, climbing dogs, and uniquely-shaped ice axes.
Outdoor Retailer: Day 4 - All good things come to an end
Bill S offers his take on Day Four, covering Injinji, Hilleberg, Leki, Adventure Medical Kits, Lowrance, Grivel, Bushnell, Petzl, Omega Pacific, and Bluewater.
Outdoor Retailer: Granite Gear Uberlight CTF3 Drysacks
CTF3 fabric, an extremely light, strong, waterproof material, is being introduced in a line of stuff sacks for Granite Gear. They're “half the weight of ultralight!“
Outdoor Retailer: Easton Tents
Easton, the company known for making tent poles, has been branching out lately. Last winter they introduced their own line of snowshoes. Next, they’re introducing tents and a line of trekking poles for 2010.
Outdoor Retailer: Primus EtaSolo Stove
Primus showed us a prototype of the EtaSolo integrated canister stove at Outdoor Retailer. The EtaSolo has a piezo ignition and built-in heat exchanger and windscreen, and comes with a 0.9-liter pot and lid.
Outdoor Retailer: Primus Express Spider Stove
Primus showed us the Express Spider compact canister stove at Outdoor Retailer today. The Primus Express Spider weighs 7 ounces and will be available for spring 2010.
Outdoor Retailer: Brooks-Range Rocket Tent
The Rocket Tent, Brooks-Range Mountaineering’s minimalist two-person winter mountaineering tent, weighs an amazing 1 pound 6 ounces for winter set-up. Brooks-Range achieves this astonishingly low weight through its “theme of redundancy.”
Outdoor Retailer: Day 3
Bill S offers his take on Day Three, covering Nikon binoculars, Superfeet insoles, Magellan Triton GPS receivers, Rite in the Rain paper, and Brooks-Range gear.
Outdoor Retailer: Slacklining with Gibbon
With more than 900 exhibitors attending Outdoor Retailer, I can’t possibly see every one. But, my son really wanted to give Gibbon Slacklines’ outdoor setup a try, proving kids can immediately spot fun.
Outdoor Retailer: Ultimate Survival Technologies
Ultimate Survival Technologies demonstrated several pieces of emergency and survival gear for us, including WetFire fire starting tinder cubes and the BlastMatch, Sparkie, and StrikeForce fire starters.
Outdoor Retailer: Hygiene - GoGirl and CleanWaste
Let's talk personal hygiene. Here are a couple of products from GoGirl and CleanWaste that will help women and men take care of business neatly and discreetly in the outdoors.
Outdoor Retailer: Day Two
Bill S offers his take on Day Two of Outdoor Retailer, covering gear from Katadyn, ACR, Hilleberg, and Kong.
Outdoor Retailer: CamelBak Flow Meter
CamelBak introduced the Flow Meter, a digital water gauge that measures how much water you drink and how much is left in your reservoir. Now, you’ll never have to wonder, “how much water do I have left in there?”
Outdoor Retailer: Day One Notes
In more than eight hours of walking around the Salt Palace today I saw plenty of outdoor gear. Here are a few highlights from the day from the likes of GoPro, Ortik, Outdoor Research, and "My First Book of Knots."
Outdoor Retailer: CamelBak All Clear UV Water Purifier
CamelBak introduced the All Clear UV Microbiological Water Purifier. It neutralizes 99.99 percent of bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and other impurities, and takes less than 80 seconds. CamelBak gave us a demo.
Outdoor Retailer: SteriPen Adventurer Opti
Pam Aubuchon-Fields, marketing manager at SteriPen, gave us an explanation and demonstration of a prototype of the SteriPen Adventurer Opti handheld water purifier at Outdoor Retailer.
Outdoor Retailer: Day One Recap
Bill S offers his point of view on Day One of Outdoor Retailer, covering Leki, CamelBak, GoPro, SuperFeet, Integral Designs, McNett, and SPOT.
Outdoor Retailer: SPOT debuts version 2.0
SPOT introduced its next generation SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger for fall 2009. At 5.2 ounces, the new SPOT is 30 percent smaller and lighter than the original SPOT and has additional custom messaging modes and a new enhanced satellite antenna.
Outdoor Retailer: Tilley Endurables Hats
When the American Association for Nude Recreation holds its annual convention, you can expect members to go clothes-free —with one notable exception. For the seventh year in a row, Tilley Endurables is the official hat of the nudist event. So, even when nudists start shedding clothes, they won’t be parting with their Tilleys.
Outdoor Retailer: Day O (Open Air Session)
Bill Straka recaps his Day 0 (Day Zero and Day Open Air) at Outdoor Retailer: climbing, a Magellan geocaching treasure hunt, and new gear from Pelican and DeLorme.
Outdoor Retailer: Family Fun - Zing Toys and Geomate.jr.
It’s easy to focus only on “serious” outdoor gear. After all, we all want to know that the gear we select and buy for our backcountry adventures is worthy and dependable. But, there's also room for fun in the outdoors. So, this is for the kids, or the kids at heart.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009
Trailspace is in Salt Lake City to cover Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, the world’s largest outdoor gear industry gathering. We'll bring you coverage from the pre-show demo day through four straight days of gear announcements, demonstrations, and events.
Outdoor Retailer: Open Air Demo
Outdoor Retailer began with a day of sunshine (and heat) at Pineview Reservoir near Snowbasin Resort. The location offered attendees the chance to do some early browsing of new gear that will be at the show this week. Here are a few pieces of notable gear from Chaco, Columbia, and DeLorme that caught my attention.
Backpacking with a Teen
For parents who have taken their child along on backpacking trips from an early age, the teen years are the reward: a youngster who can keep up with Mom and Dad (and is probably faster), share camp chores, help choose routes and campsites, and handle an emergency. The teen years are also a good time to introduce someone to backpacking.
If the Shoe Fits: A Buyers' Guide to Trail Running Shoes
To choose the right trail running shoes, or trail runners, consider the features of the various shoes on the market, as well as the unique nature and biomechanics of your feet. Know your feet, know the terrain, and know if the shoe fits.
The Wet Foot Test: Find Your Foot Type
Your foot’s arch — high, neutral, or flat — helps determine the amount of stability you need in your footwear. Try the wet foot test to find your arch and foot type.
Review: CamelBak ShredBak — Hydration in a Vest
The CameBak ShredBak, a softshell vest with an integrated, removable, inner hydration layer, is one of the more interesting new products for 2009. I’m already a devotee of hydration reservoirs and packs when hiking, backpacking, biking, and cross-country skiing. So, I was eager to see how the pioneering piece would perform on the slopes.
Backpacking with a Grade-Schooler
Backpacking with a grade-school-age child can be a magical experience. But keeping that child safe and happy calls for a little forethought on the part of parents, friends, and Scout and youth leaders. Whether it’s a weekend overnight or a thru-hike, keep three concepts in mind: packing, playing, preparing.
Trail Running 101
Trail running is easily accessible for any outdoor enthusiast, whether or not you’re already a runner, and it offers a variety of scenery, terrain, and challenges. Equipped with some simple advice, a little gear, and a passion for the outdoors, you’ll soon be ready to hit the trails.
Backpacking with a Toddler or Preschooler
How many miles should you backpack with a toddler or preschooler? As many miles as your child wants to walk. And that’s probably a lot farther than most parents would think.
Harvard study links BPA levels to drinking from polycarbonate bottles
A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health is the first to directly show that drinking from polycarbonate bottles raises BPA levels in urine.
Backpacking with Baby
Taking a baby along on wilderness excursions can be both safe and enjoyable. Parents will need to make adjustments, but the result is a child who is comfortable in the outdoors, strong, and self-confident. And a family that can engage in its favorite activity together.
Gear Maker Profile: Graham Williams of CiloGear
Graham Williams named CiloGear, his alpine pack company, after a mountain range in eastern Turkey, but he really discovered how to haul things uphill in the twisting staircases of New York City.
