Nikon Coolpix AW100

Nikon AW100

Nikon certainly wasn’t first to market with a ruggedized camera, in fact they were pretty close to last. That said, the wait was worth it. With built-in GPS (a glaring oversight on many cameras in this class) you can go back and find exactly where a photo was taken. No more guessing. Using software that will map photos such as Apple’s iPhoto, Google Earth, or the built in maps at the bar can be a fun way to share memories of your trip. The AW100 features full 1080p video, 16MP photos and one handed operation. The AW100 is designed to take a decent amount of abuse too. Waterproof up to 33ft. shockproof up to 5ft. and freezeproof make the Nikon AW100 one star performer in the outdoor camera arena. Probably not quite worth upgrading if you already have a camera in this class, but if not, this is the one.
$379.95
http://www.nikonusa.com

Hydro Flask Growler

Hydro Flask Growler

Earlier this year Hydro Flask released their growler and frankly, it’s glorious. The double wall insulation keeps beer fresh and cold until you’re ready to drink it, up to 24 hours. Because it’s made of 18/8 stainless steel it will stand up the abuse that riding in your pack all day will dish out. It also won’t break when if falls on the rock or gets banged around in the back of your car on the way home. You can also store anything you would like to keep warm in the growler (soup, chili, tea) but we prefer to the use it for it’s intended purpose. Hydro Flask makes double-wall insulated flasks in sizes ranging from 12oz. all the way up to the 64oz. growler including a food flask of which we are big fans of the entire line.
$49.99
www.hydroflask.com

Mountain Hardwear Medusa

Mountain Hardwear Medusa Gloves

Cold hands? No problem. Even while ice climbing all day in some of the most demanding conditions. Mountain Hardwear bonded their propriety OutDry waterproof membrane directly to the Medusa’s outer shell making the gloves some of the most waterproof gloves we have ever tried. The Medusa’s also include a removable windproof softshell liner not only makes the glove nice and warm but protect your hands when you need the added dexterity of not wearing the shells. The nose wipe on the thumb is another great feature. While the wipe isn’t the softest material on earth it does stay free of snow and ice. If you are looking for a pair of gloves that spends a decent amount of time outside during the winter you could do much, much worse than the Mountain Hardwear Medusa.
$150
http://www.mountainhardwear.com

Adventure Medical Kits

Travel Medical Kits by Adventure Medical Kits

Adventure Medical Kits makes first aid kits for a range of outdoor and travel medical kits wherever your choice of activity of destination. Adventure Medical Kits packs all of their kits in very organized kits that are very convenient to use and carry. Kits designed for use on the water include watertight cases, travel kits are in portfolio type cases that make for easy packing, and an women’s specific travel kit is available. If you have a loved one that spends much time outdoors or on the road get them piece of mind that comes with knowing they have medical supplies should they need them.
$10-70 (travel series)
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com

Apple iPad

iPad 2

The last thing you need is someone else telling you how great the iPad is. Sorry, but it’s true. For those that travel on a regular basis lugging a laptop around can be a real pain. With countless travel apps for checking into flights, reserving hotels, finding things to do in a new city, and countless other tasks once you get hooked on your iPad for travel it’s tough to do without it. But it’s the fact that it can all but replace lugging around your laptop where the iPad shines. E-mail, web browsing, apps for blogging, text processing, presentations, and almost any other items you need to get done on the road. Presentations can even be given with available adapters. While doing a lot of content creation on the go can be a little awkward on the touchscreen a bluetooth keyboard is available that will ease that pain. Many people are big fans of the other e-readers on the market such as the Kindle and Nook as well. And while we can certainly get behind that we love the versatility the iPad offers. And while there are other tablets on the market that promise similar functionality none have caught on to this point. So this year it’s the iPad 2 that gets the nod and even with the 3G making travel more convenient the wi-fi version should be sufficient for most people.
$499-$829
www.apple.com

Donations to Charity

Charities in this country provide many services that are near and dear to many of our hearts. If you have someone in your life who travels or loves the outdoors there charities no doubt protect some of the land they use. With the prolonged economic problems currently facing us many charities have seen a large drop in donations and this can be your chance to help them. If you really don’t know what to get that special person maybe a donation in their name could be the best gift. Some examples for donations include the Access Fund, Doctors Without Borders, or even the Red Cross. Many local charities are great candidates for your gifts as well. In addition you get a tax deduction for this gift, it is the end of the year after all and it’s kind of like giving and getting at the same time.

On Consuming

With the holidays upon us it is almost too easy to get caught up in the giving spirit. While it is nice to receive things and certainly a joy to give please consider the impact before you buy something you don’t need. Monday, Nov 28 also known as Cyber Monday turned out to be a record in sales…ever. Patagonia on the other hand ran a full-page ad in the New York Times with the title ‘Don’t Buy This Jacket’ (ad below) reminding us that everything we buy damages the earth. No preaching, just thought the ad was worth sharing. Enjoy.

Patagonia 'Don't Buy This Jacket' Ad

Patagonia Better Sweater

The Patagonia Better Sweater is the sweater that promises to look like wool with the ease of care of polyester. It delivers. As one tester bragged, “I wore the Better Sweater about every third day during a two-week trip to Japan and at the end it wore like it was fresh…which it wasn’t”. The Better Sweater features a fleece interior that is extremely comfortable next to the skin and can be worn as a sweater around the city, hikes on the edge of town or under a shell when the mercury drops. The Napoleon pocket (on the men’s 1/4 zip, vest, and hoody) proved surprisingly useful, holding phones, cameras, and iPods. On occasion I did miss hand warmer pockets (the 1/4 zip is the only version they are missing from) but do think the lack of them gave the sweater a more pleasing look, especially around town. The Patagonia Better Sweater is available in men’s and women’s 1/4 zip, full zip jacket, and full-zip hoody, and vest and kid’s hoody. The only downfall may be the price but for the versatility of the Better Sweater it may be well worth it, it may be the last sweater you buy.

$85-$149
www.patagonia.com

Tracing the Edge

Tracing the Edge

Hot on the heels of the very successful series ‘The Season’ Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith are back. This time, working with Patagonia, they have created a nine-episode serious entitled ‘Tracing the Edge’. The goal of ‘Tracing the Edge’ was to follow three athletes and learn about how they got where they are and where they plan to go from there. Gerry Lopez, a pioneer in the pipeline surfing scene in Maui, Hawaii; Colin Haley, who was bugging his mother to drop him off for multi-day trips in the central Cascades long before he could drive; and Krissy Moehl one of the top endurance runners in the world share their passion for what they do. As with ‘The Season’ the cinematography is stunning (if not a little repetitive), but the true gem in the series is the passion these athletes have for their sport.

http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=55194

According to Fitz Cahall, a new series of ‘The Season’ is set to be released in the Fall of 2011.

Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills

Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

Originally published in 1960 this text (known colloquially as the ‘climber’s bible’) still deserves a place on your bookshelf today. Mountaineering covers all aspects of climbing from gear selection to rock, mixed alpine, and expedition climbing. Recent editions also cover waterfall climbing, land stewardship, and weather. If you climb or are interested in climbing and don’t already have this book this is the one to ask for for the holidays. Mountaineering grew out of a number of outlines used to teach a mountaineering course in the mid-forties all assembled called the ‘Climber’s Notebook’. Numerous changes in mountaineering equipment and techniques stemming from WWII outgrew the ‘Climber’s Notebook’ and today the 8th edition of Mountaineering includes changes and updates from over 40 active climbers and educators. It’s the culmination of hundreds of authors’ contributions and decades in the making. Whether you’re just learning or reviewing skills before a big climb this book deserves to be at the top of your list. It will no doubt become a well read and annotated book in your library.

http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/

127 Hours

127 Hours

This reently released movie is based on Aron Ralston’s  book Between a Rock and a Hard Place. For those not familiar with the book, Ralston was trapped after a chock stone fell and pinned his arm during a solo hike through Blue John Canyon in Utah. After a grueling, you guessed it, 127 hours, Aron broke his radius and ulna and amputated his own arm with a cheap multi-tool. He still wasn’t out of the woods. He faced a 65 foot rappel and a trek back to his truck. After the rappel he stumbled upon a family out for a hike who summoned help. He was later rescued by helicopter. The tale is an incredible story of survival. And, although the movie was good, I vastly prefer the book. I do understand the challenge of filling an entire movie with what essentially amounts to 127 hours of being trapped in one place. Ralston’s hallucinations helped fill in much of the back story, but the rest was a lot of barely coherent mumbling that did little but detract from the truly amazing and inspirational story of Ralston’s fight to survive.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/127hours/

2009 Patagonia Primo Pants

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants

The Primo jacket and pants are the premier shell from Patagonia. That distinction does, however, come at a price. The jacket rings in at $450 and the pants are a slightly less expensive $350. But, should you decide to put up $800 for the pair you likely won’t be disappointed. Both jacket and pants are

Park City Powder Fall

constructed of stretch-woven nylon with Patagonia’s proprietary 3-layer H2No waterproof/breathable barrier. The 3-layer barrier provides the utmost in durability and the most waterproof, windproof barrier that Patagonia offers. The Primo jacket also features removable hood and powder skirt, which is appreciated on a fair weather outing. A brushed tricot lining around the neck keeps the jacket from chafing. The high neck keeps the wind and precipitation off your back even when you don’t have the hood up or even attached. The chest pocket hides a padded electronics pocket that also provides holes for your headphone cables. The jacket also provides three hooks that attach to any Patagonia shell pants to keep you protected in every condition. The pants are constructed of the same material and feature a gusseted crotch and articulated knees provide a full of range of motion.The high cut back ensures you stay dry and the hook and loop side, size adjustments make achieving the perfect fit a cinch. All external zippers on both the jacket (main zipper, chest pocket, shoulder pocket, pit zips) and pants (crotch zipper, hand warmers, cargo pocket, and thigh ventilation) are waterproof. Check out our first impression of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Performance of the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants

The Primo system proved to work as designed. From frigid days on the slopes in Park City, UT to rainy days in Seattle the Primo kept the wind, rain, and snow off me while breathing enough to keep me dry inside. I wore the Primo jacket over my Patagonia R2 jacket and the pants over my Smartwool tights, and the combination provided more than acceptable insulation. The full-length gaiters kept the snow out of my boots for several days of skiing, even in deep powder and including more than a few falls. The jacket weighs in at 21.75 oz. and the pants come it at 16.75 oz., about average for these type durable shells. The padded inner pocket on the chest kept my iPhone safe, and although I didn’t use the routing holes for headphones, the feature is appreciated. My one complaint: although the Primo jacket does have a built in lift ticket holder, it’s really nothing more than a plastic hoop you attach your zip-tie to. First off, the holder sits too high forcing you to dig for your lift ticket when you need it. Second I would like to see a buckle attached to a small, thin piece of webbing that will simply go through the hole in the lift ticket. Picky, I know, but when I spend $450 on a jacket, I guess I feel like I should be allowed to be picky.

Final Conclusions

The Primo jacket and pants are for serious people doing serious outdoor adventures but if you are looking for a shell that will protect you for years to come, you could do worse than the Patagonia Primo jacket and pants.

Why It’s Hot:

• Bombproof
• Durability
• Pants size adjustment

Why It’s Not:

• Lift ticket holder

2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The Patagonia R2 is part of the line of regulator line of fleece jackets offered by Patagonia that provide varying levels of insulation and protection from the elements. The R2 is the ultra-compressible high-loft option designed to be worn under a shell. The R2 surprised me with a weight of just 13.625 oz (medium) and the ability to compress down to the size of a large grapefruit. The R2, however, is not your entry level fleece. At $175 the R2 can be a little pricey for someone looking for a fleece to just kick around town in. You can see our first impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket here.

Design and Construction of the R2

The R2 is designed for those of us that actually intend to use it outdoors instead of a lot of the ‘outdoor’ clothing that is more for people who want to be fashionable for the après ski. Fortunately, however, this fleece could appeal to both crowds as it’s both functional and fashionable.

I did find the jacket to be a little tight in the shoulders, so you would be well advised to try this jacket on before buying it. The raglan sleeves and lie flat seams minimize chaffing when wearing a backpack, and the R2 stretchability makes it great for high-motion activities like skiing. The incredibly soft feel is nice against the skin and the R1 cuffs and neck lining add durability to those oft-abused places. The one thing I did find to be a little annoying with the jacket is the placement of the napoleon pocket. While I do generally like napoleon pockets, the zipper on the R2 is placed too close to the main zipper and often times I found myself unzipping the pocket when I wanted to unzip the jacket. I would like the see the pocket zipper be moved further away from the main zipper. In short, though, the construction of the R2 is what we’ve come to expect from Patagonia; perfect stitches and not a blemish to be found.

Patagonia R2 Jacket Performance

I tested the Patagonia R2 jacket on ski trips in Utah and on  the streets of New York City. The jacket was extremely easy to pack — it takes up almost no room in your bag. One thing I noticed (during a warm mid-winter stroll) is that this jacket provides almost no protection from the wind. Given the extremely lightweight construction of the R2, I guess this should not have come as a surprise, but it is worth noting. Under a shell the R2 performed great as a lightweight layer when the temperatures weren’t plummeting or during periods of high exertion. Despite strenuous adventures in the R2 I could not get the jacket wet with sweat and when it did get wet from the elements I found that it dries very quickly.

Conclusions on the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The Patagonia R2 jacket is great highly-compressible fleece that provides a superior amount of insulation for the weight. At $175 there may be better options out there for the price, but if the R2 fulfills a specific set of requirements for you then you won’t be disappointed.

Why it’s hot:

• Light-weight
• Highly compressible
• Soft against skin
• Comfort (raglan sleeves & lie flat seams)

Why it’s not:

• Price
• Napoleon pocket zipper placement

2009 Patagonia R2 Jacket

About the Patagonia R2 Jacket

Along with my Patagonia Primo Jacket and Pants I received an R2 jacket to serve as my insulation layer.  Like I said in that article I have gotten a late start in testing my new ski gear but I plan on giving it a run for it’s money in the coming months.  Before we get too involved let’s take a look at the R2 jacket features from the Patagonia website:

• Highly technical R2 fabric is light, stretchy and compressible, with great breathability
• Insulating long fibers alternate with dense, supportive short fibers to optimize insulation and reduce bulk
• Directional knit wicks moisture and speeds dry time
• Inner collar lined with R1® fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort; collar and protective chin flap lined with R1 fabric (made with recycled polyester) for next-to-skin comfort
• Low-bulk R1 fabric cuffs
• Pockets: one chest and zippered handwarmers; zippers all welded and reinforced with Supplex® for snag-free operation
• Shoulder seams set forward for pack-wearing comfort
• R2® shell: 7.4-oz Polartec® Thermal Pro® 100% polyester (40% recycled) fleece. R1® panels: 6.5-oz Polartec Power Dry® 93% polyester (60% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
• 419 g (14.8 oz)
• Made in Colombia.

First Impressions of the Patagonia R2 Jacket

The first thing I noticed when I pulled the R2 jacket out of the box was how light it was, even for a fleece.  The high loft of the soft polyester fleece seems ideal for great compressibility while providing great insulation qualities.  It’s quite soft too!  It is a shame that Patagonia hasn’t been able to get a lightweight fleece such as the R2 with wind resistant properties like the R4 but I suppose that’s the trade-off.  That said, the R2 jacket seems to be constructed to the high standards that is common of Patagonia.  I did have a few issues when I wore the jacket around the neighborhood for the first time.  The fit seems to be a little weird with a tight fit in the shoulders and arms.  Perhaps I was wearing a bulky sweater, but it still struck me as odd.  The second problem I have is similar to the many jackets sporting a napoleon pocket: when reaching to unzip the jacket I tend to grab the pocket zipper instead.  It’s really a love hate relationship with napoleon pockets in general.  Otherwise there seems to be no problem with materials, design, or construction.

What We’re Looking for in the Patagonia R2 Jacket

In the next few months we will be testing the Patagonia R2 jacket under hard shells while skiing both downhill and AT, on it’s own while climbing in the Gunks, and of course we will be wearing it around town after a day of hiking.  We expect the R2 jacket to perform as advertised with it’s light weight, compressible, insulation goodness.

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2009 Patagonia Primo Jacket

About the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

I received my Patagonia Primo Jacket and pants the other day and although I am getting a late start with my ski gear, I plan to give the Primos a run for their money in the coming weeks.  With trips planned to Vermont, Utah, and Colorado I’ll be sure to test to the Primo Jacket in some challenging situations.  The Primo jacket also comes in a down insulated version (not reviewed here as I am not a big fan or insulation and shells combined).  Let’s have a quick look at some of the features of the Primo Jacket from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof breathable barrier and Deluge DWR finish
• Fixed helmet-compatible hood with single-hand drawcord pull
• Drop collar with high neck to provide protection from winds and snow
• Coated, water-repellent zippers for center front, hand pockets, and pit zips
• Pockets: left chest with electronic pocket inside, two handwarmer, two interior drop in
• Pit zips
• Fully featured, zip-off, stretch powder skirt with webbing loops to attach to pants, and pass window
• Shell: 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a waterproof/breathable H2No® barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Powder skirt: 2.3-oz 100% all-recycled polyester plain weave
• 652 g (23 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

2009 Patagonia Primo Pants

And the features for the Primo pants from the Patagonia website:

• Lightweight, yet durable 3-layer 4.2-oz stretch-woven nylon with H2No® waterproof/breathable barrier and Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• Snap-closure waistband
• Interior waistband and adjustments lined with soft, brushed tricot
• Pockets: two handwarmer, one right thigh with coated water resistant zippers
• Scuff guards to protect pant cuffs
• Fully-featured gaiters with gripper elastic, adjustable cam buckles and integrated drawcord
• 3-layer, 4.2-oz 50-denier 100% stretch-woven nylon with a Deluge® DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• 485 g (17.1 oz)
• Made in Vietnam.

First Impressions of the Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

The quality of the Primos are nothing less than what we have come to expect out of Patagonia.  All seams are perfectly taped, the stitching is top notch, the zippers work perfectly, in fact there doesn’t seem to be a single blemish on the jacket or pants.  The Primos are certainly on par with the best ski/snowboard clothing currently on the market.  As a plus, when we put the Primo jacket (small) on the scales it came in at just 21 3/4oz and the Primo pants (medium) came in at 16 3/4oz. both on par with advertised weights.

What We’re Looking for from the Patagonia Primo Jacket and Primo Pants

For the premium that is charged for the Primo jacket and Primo pants we expect them to perform superbly in very tough conditions. We’ll be on the slopes in Vermont and Utah, late season AT skiing in Colorado, climbing in New Mexico, and torturing ourselves with downpours in between. We’re expecting the Primo to keep us protected from the elements as well as allowing water vapor from our sweat to escape so as to not create a sauna inside the shell. All of this is expected of the Primo in widely varying conditions.  It’s a tall order, yes, but that is the reason the Primos were designed.

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Patagonia Crosstown

The Patagonia Crosstown backpack is a great pack for the daily commuter or the traveler on the go. With space for a large collection of papers, magazines, or books, it seems to be the perfect size for the daily grind or a day hike. A smaller section for items that you need quick access to rounds out the mass storage areas, although the advertised office organizer leaves something to be desired.  The Crosstown sports numerous small pockets providing a place for loose change, cell phones or any other small item you can think of.  From the obvious pocket on the top, to the one on the side, to the obscure pocket on the inside of the outer pouch, there are surely enough pockets to lose something in. The top pocket came in particularly handy while removing all the metal objects from my pockets while standing in the security line at the airport.  It does however, lack an earphone hole for those that like to keep and iPod in there. That said, the greatest feature is the laptop pouch on the backside of the large pouch. It’s big enough to accommodate a laptop up to 17″ and keep it well secured. The laptop pouch is suspended to keep your laptop from touching the ground when you set the pack down and is sufficiently padded for extra protection.  The pack does have outside mesh water bottle pockets but these never seem to work out as good as the designers intended.  I like to use the outside pouch for items I need quick access to, but I’m selective in doing so as there is no security to keep prying hands out, a problem for those commuting in high density areas.  The crosstown is also coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) to keep your wares dry when caught in an unexpected shower.

Quick Info

Design: Commuter Backpack
Capacity: 26l (1,597 cu/in)
Weight: 1lb. 11oz.
Retail: $100 (Buy)

Why it’s hot:

• Laptop pouch
• Lots of pockets
• Great size
• DWR

Why it’s not:

• No security on outside pouch
• No earphone jack
• Mesh pocket doesn’t work so well

http://www.patagonia.com

Patagonia Wool 2

Patagonia is known for making high quality products and the wool base layers uphold that reputation. The base layers are made from ultra fine Merino Wool which is processed using a chlorine free process to make the wool as soft as cotton. In addition to being extremely soft, Merino Wool is naturally anti-bacterial which makes it almost odor free. Even after a week of backpacking the shirt hardly gave a whiff of an odor. The raglan sleeves kept the shirt from chafing even after hours of hauling packs up and down mountains, and the long cut in both the sleeves and the torso make tucking in and wear under jackets extremely comfortable. As if that wasn’t enough, the wool has a self regulating property to assist you in keeping warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. It also works well very well in wicking moisture away from your skin. The one downside we found is the fine properties of the fabric make it rather susceptible to snags. Other than the few burrs the shirt sports, it continues to hold up quite well despite the abuse we put it through. Patagonia makes four different weights of the base layer from wool 1 (silk weight) t-shirt for summer pursuits to the wool 4 shirts for the coldest weather, as well as pants to match in weights 2-4. Though the wool base layers may not be cheap, they will fulfill most, if not all of your base layer requirements.