Have you ever gone swimming while wearing a watch that’s water-resistant to 30 meters only to discover that it leaked and got ruined? What a crappy watch, right? Well, actually, that watch wasn’t made for use while swimming. Read More …
Gear Articles tagged ‘technology’
Watch Water-Resistance Explained
By: Kate Showalter | October 5th, 2010The Latest BPA Update: Plastic or Poison?
By: Genevieve Mount | April 5th, 2010
A year or two ago, there was a lot of chatter about BPA (deadly? slightly harmful? no big deal?). Then SARS, anthrax, lead paint on toys, and most recently, H1N1, stole the spotlight, and BPA was unceremoniously shoved to the sidelines.
Perhaps that was for the best, since sometimes you have to give these issues time, let the studies themselves get more specific, and then reassess. So what’s the latest?
Since our first report on BPA, things have changed. The FDA just put out an updated report this past January (2010), and yes, the agency is concerned. So is the EPA. Read on, and spread the word. Read More …
Understanding Recovery Garments
By: Catherine Greenwald | March 30th, 2010
Recovery Leggings
Faster recovery from intense workouts is one of the reasons many pro athletes turn to steroids – the ability to bounce back and train just as hard the next day gives them a decided advantage. Athletes in search of a safe, legal alternative have started to turn to compression recovery garments as a way to recuperate quickly from a killer workout. Read More …
Sun-Protection Clothing: SPF … UPF … WTF?
By: Genevieve Mount | March 22nd, 2010
What’s the big deal about sun-protection clothing? You’ve never gotten a sunburn through your clothes, so why should you wear stuff with UPF ratings? As summer approaches, and the number of alarmingly red noses, ears, and shoulders increases, it’s good to know about your skin-saving options. Read More …
Waterproof Breathable: Buy the Right Rain Gear
By: Rob de Luca | March 17th, 2010What rain gear is right for you?
Well, it depends on why you need it, when you’ll need it, and where …
Are you fishing for Alaskan king crab in the middle of the North Sea? You need a bright orange rubber suit and nerves of steel. For any type of aerobic activity that doesn’t involve claws and months of oceanic solitude, though, you’ll want something waterproof and breathable. Read More …
RECCO: Reflections on Avalanche Rescue
By: Daniel Boccia | March 10th, 2010
Around noon on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, a pair of skiers triggered an avalanche that ran 20 meters flank-to-flank by 300 meters crown-to-toe on the Col de Mottets at France’s Valmorel ski area. The slide left one skier stuck waist deep in snow and his sister buried under 1.5 meters of hardened avalanche debris. Neither skier carried avalanche gear of any sort. Their father alerted ski patrol with a cell phone.
At first glance this scenario might sound like a recipe for a body recovery and easily could have been. But the incident ended up the first successful RECCO rescue recorded in the 2009-2010 winter season. The lucky victim was dug out within 20-30 minutes of burial and escaped with only a mild case of hypothermia. Read More …
Groomer’s Pick – Night in the Life of a Snowcat Operator Part II
By: Kyle Marston | March 4th, 2010
Move out
We had hoped that a super-dump of lake-effect Utah powder would bless this experience, but that’s not how it goes tonight—no fresh, just overcast skies. Ty pokes a few buttons on the smart phone that’s connected to the entertainment system, and the cats roll out one-by-one to a soundtrack courtesy of the brothers Allman. Read More …
Groomer’s Pick: A Night in the Life of a Snowcat Operator Part I
By: Kyle Marston | March 3rd, 2010
So what does it take to turn bumpy resort runs into smooth, white goodness reminiscent of sweet, buttery cake frosting? Before resort lifts can propel ski patrol up to deem the mountain “safe” and ready to open, key areas need to be groomed. It takes a specific machine, a snow cat, a confident person to operate it, and every available minute to achieve success. Read More …
10 Products That Never Made It
By: Hasen Pfeffer | February 25th, 2010
Over the years a handful of products have hit the outdoor market with such force that they have changed the way the game is played. Products so innovative, so practical, and so convenient that they redefine the direction of outdoor adventure—shaped skis, wicking fabrics, spring-loaded cams. Some have become so universal that they are known by their name brand rather than what they are specifically: Leatherman, GORE-TEX, Nalgene.
But beyond those life-altering innovations there exists another category of gear …
Breathability vs Windproofing – Measuring it Up
By: Beth Lopez | February 16th, 2010Outerwear manufacturers gratuitously toss around the terms “windproof,” “wind-resistant,” and “breathable.” And yes, every garment registers somewhere between zero and awesome on the wind-resistance and breathability scales. But it can be hard to pin manufacturers down on an actual number rating. 
And usually when you do see a rating, all you can guess is that higher numbers are better, because, to us Americans, bigger is better (duh).
We’d like to shed a little light on this whole ratings thing and how manufacturers come up with those numbers—and what those numbers actually reflect in terms of your comfort. Read More …
Plugging into the Backcountry – Dangers of Technology
By: Cole Lehman | March 23rd, 201013 Comments »
The use of electronics in the backcountry offers an enhanced experience for those who use them wisely and a presents a danger to those who choose to use them lightly. In order to stay alive and unharmed, wilderness veterans must remember and rookies must discover that total dependence on technology can be a hazard. Why? Either group is vulnerable to the hubris that these devices can encourage.
Read More …
Tags: avalanche safety, outdoor survival, technology, wilderness survival
Posted in Commentary, Newsletter |