In a loud world sometimes it pays to be the strong silent type.
The Classics- Rock Climbing
If you haven’t already seen “The Classics” video series that Yakima helped to produce then you should definitely check them out. Here Madeline Sorken and Jason Nelson do some tough sandstone climbing in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas, NV. It is a nice little break from the dreary spring day we have today in the Pacific Northwest.
Hydrating the Pros
Even the pros deal with dehydration. It is important to keep your body healthy and hydrated. Especially as you are hopping on the bike thats been sitting the garage all winter for those first few rides of the spring. Check out a few Pro cyclists chatting about some of the science about how they test their level of hydration.
You don’t have to be a pro or a scientist to stay on top of hydration though. Just grab a good bottle and drink often. Check out the Podium bottle from CamelBak for a great bike bottle for your next ride. Here’s a bit more about it.
Spring Cycling
Spring is officially here, and we actually had a weekend with some of that bright stuff, I think they call it “sunshine”? Not quite sure, we will have to see if it ever comes back. In the meantime as the pro tour is starting to get rolling lets take a look back at last years AMGEN Tour of California as we get excited for this years May 13-20.
Indestructible Campsite Gear
Check out April’s copy of Popular Mechanics to see their picks of the best indestructible campsite gear. Check out the second picture to see the review of the best for “Backwood Gourmet” the Pinnacle Camper 17-piece cookset from GSI Outdoors.
UK Pro: POV Series
If you have a GoPro camera, then you probably also have a gaggle of mounts and accessories. If you are looking for a way to keep your gear organized and safe check out the POV series from UK Pro. It is specially designed to keep your POV camera and your accessories together and organized in one compact protective case. It keeps all your gear and accessories organized together and protected; its waterproof, dustproof and shockproof. Although I wouldn’t drop it out of an airplane I have sent mine skidding across the parking lot on several occasions and it has come out very much unscathed. The lanyard on the POV 30 (not pictured) allows me to clip my POV box onto whatever bag has the rest of my clothing and gear for whatever outdoor epic I am about to embark on. Then I can get the proper accessories for my camera sorted out at the trailhead or parking lot.
Using the POV box helps to avoid the alternative, no offense freezer bag, but you are better at keeping my short ribs from spoiling than organizing and protecting my gear.
If you think a few of these would look great on your shelves (and they would). Or you want to know where some shelves full of them are let us know
OGIO!!
We, at Pacific Rep Works, are proud to be teaming up with the folks at OGIO. OGIO has a history of making industry leading bags for golf and extreme sports like motocross and motorcycling. OGIO has a new line designed with the tri-athlete and cyclist in mind. Check out this review from Bicycling Magazine’s Michael Yozell on OGIO’s Endurance 9.0 Bag.
OGIO Endurance 9.0
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Ogio’s new line of sturdy, lightweight gear bags will please compulsive organizers, and save the day for the scatterbrained. The largest bag in Ogio’s Endurance line, the 9.0 gives each piece of gear a dedicated compartment, keeping you organized on any cycling (or triathlon, thanks to a waterproof wetsuit pocket) trip. There’s a padded sleeve for your helmet, a crush-proof pocket compartment for glasses, and your wetsuit stows on the bottom. There’s more organization under the front panel, with a reinforced pouch for your phone, small zippered pockets, a transparent sleeve for a packing list, and dedicated mesh panels for race-day nutrition. Insulated, zippered water bottle pockets mean you won’t risk dribbling Gatorade on your chamois, and muddy shoes are kept in their own pouch. All those pockets make for easy packing; simply surveying which are filled shows which gear you’ve packed, and what you still need to dig out of the closet. We also liked the contoured backpack straps for easy toting, as well as a hanger clip for packing the bag off the ground. Ogio’s Endurance line includes seven bags to suit any trip, from a day trip with the 1.0 to a week-long cycling adventure with the 9.0.
—Michael Yozell
For more from OGIO
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookware
Check out this review by Industryoutsider.com of the Pinnacle Camper set from GSI Outdoors.
By Brian from Industyoutsider.com
I’ll be the first to admit that a self-sustained camping trip to someplace inaccessible by car, and without cellular service, holds a certain appeal. But the reality is that camping with kids frequently means parking at a campsite, and limiting your hiking to trips that bring you back to the campsite in time for dinner. One of the advantages to this is that you get to bring more than you can carry alone, including cookware. While today’s freeze dried meals that require nothing more than boiling water can certainly be delicious and filling, there’s also no better way to end a day outdoors with the family than a proper meal. GSI Outdoors has a cookware set is designed for just that.
Last year, we reviewed their Glacier Stainless Dualist cookware set, and became immediate fans of the compact, integrated cooking and eating system. So when the new Pinnacle Camper set was introduced, we jumped at the opportunity to check it out. The Pinnacle Camper includes a 3 liter pot, 2 liter pot, and frying pan that all share the same clever folding gripper. Both pots come with strainer lids, and the larger lid fits the frying pan as well. Four durable, BPA-free, color coded plates sit in the bottom of the larger pot when everything is packed. Inside the smaller pot are four color coded bowls, and nested within them is a matching insulated mug with sip-it lid. The lids and fry pan top it all off, and everything is carried in the convenient stuff sack which has welded seams, so it can double as a sink. At 3 pounds, 10 ounces, (1641 grams) it’s probably a bit more than most people would want to pack on an extended hike, but GSI makes similar systems that are smaller, plus you have the option of choosing your pieces individually, if you prefer.
Being a company that cares about the environment as much as the camping experience, all the tableware is recyclable polypropylene. At 7.5″ (19cm) across, the plates are fine for most meals. They’re flexible without being flimsy, and nearly unbreakable. The triangular shaped 14 ounce bowls have graduated measurements inside, in both ounces and milliliters, as do the insulated cups. This allows them to serve double duty when whipping up meals. Their design also makes them less prone to tipping over, while being easy to hold, even for smaller hands. And kids like being able to choose their own color. It all floats too.
When it comes to cooking, the Pinnacle™ cookware is hard to beat. Starting with even-heating, lightweight aluminum, each piece is hard anodized for durability. The cooking surfaces are then treated with Teflon® with Radiance, a coating developed by Dupont that is not only non-stick, but actually heats faster too. This saves cooking time, (and conserves your heating fuel) plus makes cleanup quicker. Transferring the gripper between the pots and pan is fairly easy, but if you plan on cooking with all three, get a second gripper. The lids appear to be same polypropylene as the dishes, with a silicone ring for a good seal, and a small series of holes on on side for easy draining/straining. A simple little orange handle pops up for easy lifting. If you heed the warnings on the inside of the lid, they should hold up well.
The durability and performance of GSI cookware has already been proven, and the convenience and packability of this system continues to build on that. Our only (minor) complaint was that the circular grooves on the bottom of the pots and pans feel rather sharp. While we couldn’t intentionally cut ourselves on them, care should be taken during washing. Otherwise, this is a great system for anyone that fancies themselves the Iron Chef of the great outdoors. We especially appreciate that all the components are available separately, and you can add other pieces, including cutlery, while maintaining the color coding.
gsioutdoors.com
– Brian
Nikwax Waterproofs and Cleans Without the Nasty Chemicals
Nikwax has always been a leader in the world of being environmentally conscious. Check out this recent conversation KineticShift.com had with Nikwax’s North America Marketing Director, Heidi Allen.
Written by Peter Suciu on 26 February 2012
KineticShift: Is there a challenge to create a waterproof material that doesn’t use aerosols or fluorocarbons?
Heidi Allen: Some might say it’s challenging, but the most innovative people in the world never let a challenge get in their way. Nick Brown and the scientists at Nikwax have been making top of the line waterproofing products without aerosols or fluorocarbons since Nikwax was founded in 1978.
KS: How important are biodegradable products today? Is this a feature consumers are looking for, and if not how are you selling it to them?
HA: Making a biodegradable product is paramount, and it’s the responsible thing to do. One of the reasons we don’t use fluorocarbons is that they are persistent in humans and the environment. Some consumers are looking for biodegradable products, but we believe in doing things for the right reasons, not just to attract consumers. If people see the value in what you’re doing, they will support you.
KS: Is there any concern that biodegradable can suggest to consumers that the product isn’t durable?
HA: That can be a common perception. However, with more and more biodegradable products on the market, consumers are realizing that environmental responsibility does not equal a less effective product. In the case of Nikwax, we put our products through rigorous testing in order to make sure they exceed industry standards for durability. Our aim is to make outdoor products last longer, and we do so by starting with our own.
KS: Is there any issue about breathability so that fabric doesn’t feel like a plastic bag to the wearer?
HA: Nikwax products do not compromise breathability. As a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite! Over time, all waterproof-breathable gear will lose it’s DWR, or durable water repellant finish. This DWR is what causes water to bead up on the surface of the fabric. Once the outer fabric loses it’s DWR, it becomes saturated with water, or “wets out”. Once the outer fabric is soaked, water vapor from the person wearing the item can no longer escape. That’s when the jacket will feel like a plastic bag. Nikwax products replenish the DWR, helping prevent the outer fabric from “wetting out”, and therefore allow water vapor to exit the jacket, keeping the user comfortable inside.
In addition to the above, our products do not “coat” the surface, they instead form a bond with the individual fibers. This leaves the spaces in between the fibers open, thereby not compromising the breathability of the material.
Our products are designed to work with waterproof-breathable membranes such as GORE-TEX, eVent, and the like.
KS: What sports and fitness trends are you making products for at present? Do snow sports have different attributes than say summer wear products?
HA: We make products that are appropriate for all kinds of activities. An extreme alpinist could use Nikwax products, but so could a weekend dog walker at the park. Our products are designed for anyone who wants to enjoy their time outdoors in maximum comfort.
For more from KineticShift and Nikwax
The Classics: Mountain Biking
If you haven’t already seen The Classics video series produced with support from Yakima you should definitely check them out. This one shows it takes a lot more than some drizzle to keep Shane Kibler and Molly Steinhoff of the steep and scary single-track MTB trails of North Shore British Columbia. Pay close attention and you might even win some gear.
pacificrepworks.com 
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