Mountain Hardwear Expedition Duffle
October 9, 2009
All ladies appreciate a good bag, right? Well, I was recently reminded of how much I appreciate this tough, water resistant, roomy bag that was part of my OR09 swag (thanks, MHW!) and which recently accompanied me and all my stuff out into the field for a week. You know how when you go on a trip, your stuff seems to expand and multiply even though it’s the same stuff you left with? Why a crumpled dirty sock takes up more room than a clean crumpled sock is a total mystery to me. Hmm, must be all that dirt taking up more space.
Anyway, as my trip progressed, I kept having to stuff what seemed like more and more things into the Expedition Duffle. While other bags that were along for the ride gave up the ghost, busting zippers and rendering themselves useless, the Expedition Duffle gamely accepted the overflow, which let me tell you was an incredible relief. Not only did the bag end up carrying all of its original contents, it also gathered up the contents of the broken-zipper bag (which I left behind in disgust) with a minimum of complaint. It turns out that no matter what, you can usually find another nook or cranny in this bag, and the clever design of the lid means you can always close the zipper, regardless of how full you stuff the bag. And the zipper is heavy duty, a big relief after having two zipper failures from other bags on the same trip.
An added bonus was the waterproof fabric. On the last day of the trip, we awoke to 6 inches of snow, and had several hours of work to do, meaning that our stuff was going to sit around and get wet. But not my stuff, since it was in the Expedition Duffle. All I had to do was brush off the snow. The zipper itself is not waterproof, so don’t go throwing your stuff into a river thinking it will stay dry, but the lid covers up the zipper well enough so that water and snow just roll off the top.
The Duffle comes in several sizes, and I’m not sure which one I have since I was so keen to use it I just ripped off the tags and sallied forth. I’m pretty sure it’s the small size, and to put that in perspective I packed for a week’s trip and then some and it all fit into the bag. I’ve seen the large size and I could pack for a month trip PLUS fit my own self into that bag, so choose your size accordingly. I also recommend the wheeled version for you heavy packers, especially if you’re going by regular airplane. And with that, I can finally get to the real reason for this review: it was all just a setup so that I can brag that I traveled by private helicopter so I didn’t have to worry about airline security, schlepping through the terminal, and all that tedious non-private-helicopter stuff.
Wenger Standard Issue Ladies’ Watch
October 9, 2009
I admit, I was not a watch wearer before testing watches for Geargals. Now, thanks to a parade of PR samples, I have to wear a watch or I end up looking at my naked wrist as if it has something to tell me. Most of the watches I get to review are the techy kind, the size of soft drink cans with so many features I’m left cross-eyed. All of my watch reviews start with some disclaimer about how non-techy I am, so I was stoked to open the Wenger package to find this dainty little tells-time-only beauty. This time I can review ALL of the features, I thought to myself. Naturally, I haven’t figured out how to change the date on the watch yet (okay, so I haven’t even tried), so in my world it’s the 24th today.
Wenger stuff pretty much oozes quality, so it’s not surprising that the Standard Issue is a sleek, sexy, time-tellin’ machine with some serious impact resistance. I ran over it with my car, shot it with a .22, and gave it to my dog as a chew toy, and it still came out telling time like crazy. Okay, so we all know I didn’t do any of those things, but the watch is built for military use (Swiss Army – hello) and I’ve no doubt that it can take abuse. Maybe not being run over by a car, but I bet if it really did get sent through my dog’s digestive tract, it would come out ticking.
I have found myself wearing this watch a lot, mostly because it’s comfortable, unobtrusive, and gorgeous. I do like my beauty simple, and here is the epitome of simple watch beauty. No gaudy numbers on the face, no sparkly things, nothing to detract from its simple elegance. I don’t think I ever would have purposefully chosen a white-banded watch, but I have to say it really goes with everything and is very flattering, especially with my golden Alaskan tan. No, really! I got this tan in Alaska, really, I did. We had an epically hot summer and I actually got a real Alaskan tan. And I swear I will keep it, no matter the cost in airline tickets to Mexico, because I have this fabulously beautiful white watch to tell the time AND complement my tan.
Go GaGa Gondola Bag
October 6, 2009
This bag quickly became one of my favorites. I tried to use it as a gym bag, as it’s perfect for a pair of shoes, a change of clothes, an iPod, and a few other gym necessities; but as it turns out there’s a reason that gym bags are made with mesh. Stinkapalooza!
Bag safely aired out, I switched it over to use as a laptop bag. I dislike traditionally styled laptop bags, so I’m always on the lookout for new styles. This one is great because the top opens up nice and wide for even the most substantial computers, and it has just enough little pockets for various things like pens and notebooks. Not too much room, now – you can’t overload this thing, simply because it won’t let you.
It has two side pockets for water bottles, which generate my one complaint – they are not quite big enough for a Nalgene. Now that would be perfect.
One of the more unique features of the bag is the stretchy, expandable shoulder strap. Spreading out the material helps distribute the weight, and the bouncy fabric reduces impact. The main body of the bag is tough, durable, and stiff, and is slender enough to easily be tucked away in a nook to protect your laptop. It’s perfect for medium-length plane trips and general schlepping around town. I would love to see bigger bottle pockets or have them have expandable stretchy panels to accommodate bigger bottles; and maybe a version with a mesh lid for gym use? Trust me – you don’t want sweaty clothes confined in this gem of a bag for too long! Save it for your laptop, and wait for the mesh version.
Osprey Flap Jill Courier
September 13, 2009
Sometimes I don’t have to put something through exhaustive testing, weighing its pros and cons, getting its weight and measure with a jaundiced eye. Sometimes I see a piece of gear and just think “oooh, WANT.” Just like with new relationships, you just KNOW, you know? Of course, months later when it all falls to pieces you’re left with a cynical outlook on the whole thing, and when people coo “when we met, we just KNEW” you think “Yeah, and you thought that about every single relationship you ever had, so you were bound to be right one time, and even a stopped watch is right twice a day, blah blah.”
Good thing Osprey is more reliable than most relationships, because I’ve no fears that the Flap Jill will disintegrate like so many infatuations that came before. Osprey’s quality is consistently top notch and I expect years and years of happiness with my new partner in…carrying stuff. But seriously, I loved the look of the Flap Jill and fell immediately in love with it at OR, and after trying it out in real life my admiration is undiminished. It carries any size laptop easily and securely, and has just the right number of additional pockets and stash places. The main access is nice and big and flops out of the way easily so you can get to all your stuff, but it also straps back down via Velcro AND clips for extra security. I find the Velcro superfluous, but then again I usually do. Speaking of superfluous, there were two extra straps in one of the compartments and I don’t know what they are for. So I dutifully carry them around in case I randomly figure out what they are for. Actually I’m really hoping a reader will just write in and tell me so that I don’t have to strain myself doing my job here.
The Flap Jill makes me almost look forward to going to work. Almost. At least I look forward to packing for work, and that’s a start. The look is cute, it carries lots of stuff, it’s made by Osprey, and it’s named after me. How can you not love it? By the way, you can’t buy it yet, so I can’t link you to a dealer. Aren’t I sweet? Creating a demand for something and then not letting you have it. When I’ve got you whipped into a demand frenzy good and proper, I’ll come back and give you a link. Now slaver away.
AMK Women’s Travel Medical Kit
September 12, 2009
You may remember my review of AMK’s Women’s Outdoor Medical Kit, and if you don’t, go read it so I don’t have to recycle my tampon, nail polish, and high heel repair kit jokes. I like AMK stuff enough to write a separate feature for their Women’s Travel Medical Kit, which is only slightly different from the Outdoor Edition. My willingness to feature both products has nothing to do with being loaded up with swag at the AMK Outdoor Retailer booth, or Simon’s willingness to provide hand sanitizer after particularly sweaty handshakes, not at all. But really, the welcome from the AMK crew was great and I enjoyed meeting them in person; and yes, the hand sanitizer was a lifesaver. How did I overlook that when packing for OR?
And I really do like this travel kit, especially the packaging. The Women’s Outdoor Kit had one flaw, and that was how items have a tendency to fall out of the pocket when you open the kit; a design rectified in the Travel kit with two fold-out pockets that keep the inner sleeves safe and secure. The kit itself reflects the usual AMK thoughtfulness, with everything you’ll need for a few days abroad. Blisters, small cuts and scraps, feminine “issues,” and stomach ailments can all be addressed with the items that come in the kit, and there is plenty of room for your own additions such as do-it-yourself Cipro and injectable morphine. It’s worth mentioning that AMK can set you up with everything you might need (barring the Rx items), including some great bug repellents and After Bite treatments in several different formulas, if the included wipes aren’t enough – regular (which evidently stings a bit); children’s for, well, children (and Simon, who said he is wary of the sting in the other formulas); and some other kind that I can’t remember and most importantly don’t want to go in from the 80 degree Alaskan sunshine to check on. And to take advantage of this brilliant segue, AMK provides sun protection for lips and skin in little one-use packets in the Travel Kit. Also available are some innovative first aid products like the (obviously) one-use blood clot packages which can be used to stop heavy bleeding, say, from going hunting with Dick Cheney (and that is a DIRECT quote from AMK, too, so feel secure that your medical kits are evil-free) and a really well-thought-out blister kit with the little doughnuts of moleskin already cut out.
One thing AMK did not do is make the kit pink. Evidently this decision was a result of market research during which many women emphatically stated that the kit should not be pink. Well, thanks a lot ladies; I like pink and therefore am disappointed. But for those of you offended by the “shrink it and pink it” method of developing women’s specific gear, you’ll appreciate the light blue packaging. Personally I appreciate that although the tampons are included as a necessary addition for most women, the rest of the kit’s contents aren’t dumbed-down and sissified. It’s a real travel kit with real applicability, and those of us who don’t need the tampons can just use the space for some other women’s thing, like Pureology shampoo, MAC lip gloss, and an iron-on Seven jeans logo for those times when you don’t want to be caught dead wearing Levis.
SkeeterVac
September 12, 2009
A number of OR peeps heard me going on about my new SkeeterVac, the device that sucked up all of my savings and purports to do the same to mosquitos and other biting bugs. I guess it technically isn’t outdoor “gear” but I am outdoors writing this post with the help of my SkeeterVac and it’s my web site so I’ll post irrelevant topics if I want to. But I really don’t think this little beauty is irrelevant – hear me out.
This year I couldn’t use my backyard. At all. I don’t have an epic backyard or anything; just a modest little suburban grass patch, but it was completely overrun by mosquitoes. There was no way to go outside without lighting 40 citronella torches and covering oneself with DEET, and the bugs were still bad. In desperation I dropped almost $500 on the SkeeterVac, grabbing the last one in town and going on blind faith that there is no way a company could stay in business charging that much for something that doesn’t work. And now I’m wondering if that wasn’t the best $500 I’ve ever spent. I got my backyard back! I could weed the garden, hang out on the deck, and play with my dog without being sucked dry by the bloodthirsty hordes of mosquitoes. The difference was noticeable right away – incredible.
The SkeeterVac works by attracting female mosquitoes – the ones that bite – and either catching them on sticky paper or sucking them into the trap, which is basically a little net that holds the bugs until they dehydrate and die. It runs on propane and emits carbon dioxide, just like a human, which is what attracts the bugs. There is also a lure that evidently works on some species of mosquito, but the salesman told me that the Alaska species responded just to the carbon dioxide so not to worry about it, and it seems to be working just fine with just the propane. The SkeeterVac is designed to run 24/7 and is meant to capture the breeding bugs before they can produce thousands of eggs. For this reason it’s best to get the trap out early and leave it running all summer. Mine got in place late, but it still has made a difference. I don’t even have to wear bug repellent in the yard anymore – haven’t had a mosquito bite in the backyard all summer. I can see from inspecting the trap that it’s made a difference in bug population. It used to catch dozens of mosquitoes and now it hardly catches any, because there aren’t any to catch anymore; it’s already got them all.
I can tell when the SkeeterVac is out of gas the second I walk outside because I can feel the difference in the bug population. Even if the trap isn’t catching bugs it’s attracting them, so positioning the trap as far as possible from my house helps keep the bugs away from the house. The sticky paper is a little gross to change and the propane tank needs to be filled every three weeks or so, but it’s a small price to pay for being able to brave the big bad backyard again. All that DEET could not have been good for me, and now I don’t need it until I leave the safety of my own property. So if you find yourself with a spare $500, rest assured that the SkeeterVac is a sound investment in your sanity and blood supply.
Chaco Z/1 Sandal
July 5, 2009
Yep, another one of those stories in which there is a lesson to be learned. The lesson is, as it so often has been in the past: read the directions! For years I thought I couldn’t wear Chaco sandals because they were always too tight. I could never even get my toe through the toe loop some Chaco models have. Rather than develop a complex about my tubby feet, I just wore other sandals, admiring Chacos from afar. That all changed last week when I tried the Z/1 sandal and actually read the adjustment directions conveniently printed on the box. Oh hey, you can just adjust the fit any way you want! Good grief – you’d think someone could have told me that earlier. Once adjusted, I was completely stoked with the Z/1s. They are super comfortable, and because they’re essentially held on your feet with a continuous loop of fabric, they don’t have any velcro or plastic parts to rub you raw. Well, the buckle is plastic but it’s on the top of the shoe so it doesn’t rub or get in the way. The Z/1 is a model without the toe loop, which is my preference, but if you like the toe loop you can, of course, get a model with that feature.
We’ve been having this insane summer of good weather up here, perfect for sandals, so the Z/1s have been a staple. They’re so comfortable and stable on your feet that you can wear them almost anywhere – a friend just wore them up a ridiculously steep mountain, but I don’t really recommend that. Aside from the occasional rock that worked its way under my foot, I thought the Z/1s were almost as comfortable as regular footwear, and I really need them because of the ridiculous sock tan-lines I have. I need the sandals to try to even that out! I wish these sandals came in a bike version, with clips on the underside. How cool would that be? They’re not elastic so you’d still get a somewhat stable shoe, and you wouldn’t get the bike socks tan lines. I dream of such a day. Anyhow, the straps on the Z/1s don’t have to be tight to keep the sandal where it belongs, and you can adjust the straps easily even while wearing them just by tugging on them a little bit. I see these sandals everywhere, there are tons of people wearing them and I sure see why! I even love the color of mine – same as in the picture above. Very cute, and there are many matchy-matchy options if you like that sort of thing. If you eschew fashion, you can always get basic black which I’m sure can transition from daytime to evening pretty easily, at least if you live in Alaska where black Chaco sandals count as formal wear. Definitely a winner, and I’m retiring my velcro-style sandals, or at least relegating them to fishing duty.
Highgear Enduro Axio Altimeter Watch
June 30, 2009
It’s no secret I am not a tech whiz, but it is a mystery how I end up reviewing all the tech stuff that comes our way. I rarely wear a watch and tend to just flat out not care about things like my heart rate, the altitude, how long it took me to do something, or, oh yeah – the time. I don’t have an odometer on my bike, I have never timed a hike or climb, and my answer to “how high is this mountain” is usually “who cares?” I’m just not one of those tech-addicted, number-obsessed people. I am not going to tell you a mountain is not a mountain because it’s only X meters away from some other mountain, or run home to mark on a map the latest choss pile I climbed, or bang out a long dramatic blog post about how far I ran that day. I mean, it’s all just so randomly inane and fussy.
Numbers just don’t matter to me. So it’s pretty funny that Enduro’s latest offering has really won me over. I was so stoked with this gadget’s cute look, ease of use, cool altimeter, and well-fitting wristband that I actually checked the time before and after my ride, AND monitored the altitude the whole time! I have to admit it’s kind of fun to see whether the pressure is dropping, and just how high you’ve climbed. It’s rare for a tech watch to actually fit a small-boned wrist, and the Axio fits great, with room to spare for those tiny, tiny people. The watch face is a reasonable size; not one of those gigantic watch faces the size of a frisbee. You can wear this watch and still look cute; it’s classy enough to make the transition to social use. Now, admit it, you know it looks ridiculous when people wear enormous dive watches out to dinner or to the movies. It’s like a billboard, “Look at me! I’m outdoorsy!” If you really need to advertise your hobbies, you probably want a more in-your-face style of watch. This one is streamlined, pretty, and subtle.
The device seems very intuitive; I could figure stuff out without the instructions. This is a big deal, everyone. I usually can’t figure out how to manipulate the controls and then give up after a few minutes, and end up wearing a beer can-sized watch with the wrong time and with a billion wasted functions. This one, I got, though. I got the time figured out and was able to find the altimeter with just a few button pushes. Now that I’ve read the directions, I’m more confused than I was before, so I recommend going with the “intuition” method. There are a ton of functions – I was keen to see that there’s even a little weather forecast icon! Too bad it didn’t have a ‘thunderstorm’ picture, because that’s what I got stuck out in, but it did warn me clouds were coming. It also has a compass, which is pretty neat, although that requires calibrating which is too much work for me. There’s also a data function for those who want to track their total altitude, and many, many alarms, including a hydration alarm for people who can’t figure out if they’re thirsty. OK folks, I draw the line there. I like playing with the functions on this watch, but if you really need your watch to tell you to drink, you must put down the technology and back away slowly.
So I’ll never use the hydration alarm, but this watch has converted me into a watch-wearer. I love the look and the fit, and the ease of access to all the functions. If only all electronics were this easy and attractive!
Original Buff
June 21, 2009
Buffs are well-known from that TV show, you know, the one that gets me scornful looks when I mention it. I want to talk about the Buff, and so I have to mention the show so they know what it is, so then they give me a look and say “you watch that show?” For the record, no, I do not watch that show, or any shows for that matter, or any television at all, mostly because I get really disgusted at the way television programs people to want stuff and buy stuff and act like the people on TV and look like the people on TV, etc. So it is a tad ironic that I’m a huge fan of the Buff which got its start on TV. Of course no one else watches that show either, so the Buff usually gets called a “do-rag” instead. Whatever. I think that TV show really gives the Buff a bad rap because I really love these things. They come in any conceivable color and pattern, and can be manipulated in any way you want. I usually wear them under my bike helmet to keep flyaway hairs in check and soak up all the sweat. They are perfect for this as they aren’t too tight or too heavy.
They also come in several different lengths and weights. You can use the winter wool weight as a balaclava, hat, neck gaiter, or anything else really. The lighter ones can be hats, hairbands, bandannas, bandeau tops, bracelets – there are infinite possibilities. I’m tossing out my old standard bandannas – there’s a new kid in town and it’s far and away a better option. The Buff isn’t just hype!
Merrell Chameleon Arc Mary Jane Shoe
June 8, 2009
So this web site came into being because it seemed as if women had fewer gear options than men, and I wanted to change that, or at least point it out. Well, ladies, it’s our lucky day because it turns out that in some cases, we DO have more gear options than men! In the shoe department, we are pulling ahead, at least in footwear styles. Don’t get me wrong, I know there is still a huge gap in the amount of technical footwear available for women vs. that available for men, but at least we can all take some comfort in the fact that we get to wear Mary Janes and the guys don’t; that is, unless they can find these fabulous shoes in their size. See, it sucks when you want a pair of shoes but can’t find the right fit, doesn’t it, boys?
I didn’t know what to expect from the “technical Mary Jane” category, but this offering from Merrell blew me away. They are super comfortable and supportive; just like a normal hiking shoe. Plus, they are cute! Cute as a button! They are the perfect match with a pair of shorts or an outdoorsy skirt. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about hiding your callouses or lack of pedicure – and you STILL look adorable. I don’t see how we can possibly lose with this one.
No more clunky, awkward sandals, no more supportless flip flops; Mary Janes are a great compromise and the Chameleon Arcs can handle just about any type of trail – really! They fit like low hikers – you won’t even miss the laces – and feature a lugged, nicely stiff sole for bopping over rocks and scooting down screes. I constantly look for excuses to wear these fab Mary Janes. I’m tempted to make a hiking date so I can demonstrate my ability to scamper up slopes while still being just ever so adorably feminine. I know, I know; I’m being all cutesy. But look at my shoes! How can I not inject some cute here?
