Gear Reviews Blog

Go Pro HD Hero II Analysis by Dirk 04/06/2012 05:08:30 P.M.

Nothing gets me more excited to go on another adventure than browsing through old photos and videos of a previous trip. Not only do they inspire me to relive some old memories, they motivate me to experience the things that I never had a chance to. The sole purpose of any adventure is to live it, love it, and then hopefully remember it. That is why the GoPro HD2 has become my newest travel companion. Not only does it help me document the fun activities that I can later show to my friends, it’s the next best thing to reliving ‘that one amazing moment in time’ again.

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Transcendent Warmth by Richard 12/05/2011 02:54:41 P.M.

Last winter, I picked up an Outdoor Research Transcendent Sweater for the cold season.

Unfortunately, I also inherited the most thorough sickness I’d had in the last ten years. The doctor said it was flu and that I must simply wait it out, however long that may take. Begrudgingly, I saddled my car and headed back home to patiently wait for the illness to relinquish its grip on my preferences and time.

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An Exposition on the Gregory Z55 Backpack by Dirk 11/30/2011 10:16:13 A.M.

Explaining the functionality of my internal framed Gregory Z-Series (Jade Series for the ladies) backpack is like trying to explain the resourcefulness of a pocketknife on the trail - it's essential. The versatility is broad, no matter where you find your destination.

My experience with the Gregory Z 55 has resulted in me falling in love with it…as well as a professional butt kicking to my ego because my backpack has proven to be more rugged and resilient than me! Now I know you could be thinking “there’s no way that an inanimate object can possibly throw punches…” but I kid you not, it very well might be able to do so with all its advantageous features. (It’s these) that help make it the ultimate companion on any domestic or international adventure!

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BIC ACS Stand Up Paddle Board by Andy 11/25/2011 02:37:00 P.M.

The Bic ACS 11’4” is a polyethylene stand up paddle board that is both, easy to ride and tough as coffin nails.  Drop it, run it into the ground, hit it with the paddle, it really doesn't matter; this board takes the beating and keeps asking for more.  This is why I've become BIC SUP's newest fan.

I rode the ACS for the better part of an afternoon and that was all it took to win me over.  It was extremely sturdy, good weight disbursement, and easy to paddle.  I almost have a hard time saying this because I come from a surfing background and Bic surfboards are not something you want to be seen riding. Im not saying Bic makes a bad board just that they don’t receive the respect I (now)think they deserve.  

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Go Pro Hero Trial by Richard 10/24/2011 04:49:53 P.M.

As we flew over the Virginia mountains, I fiddled with my new GoPro Hero camera. I wanted to make sure it was prepped and ready to document my return to the Old Dominion State - where I attended college. The passing scenery reminded me how much affection I still have for the beauty of the state: the mountains, rolling grassy hills, beach, and an abundance of rivers – the Hero, I was confident, would be superb at capturing that appreciation.

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Base Camp Travel by Richard 08/09/2011 06:12:52 A.M.

I enjoy not checking bags with airlines when I travel: I adore the ease of walking straight out of the airport, and I appreciate knowing that my bag – and everything in it – should be intact upon the airplane arriving on location. The major downfall of this is that there is limited space in the small-sized luggage that usually fits as a carry-on or personal item. Generally, I think simplifying is a good thing – but it can be problematic as well.

That is why I – currently – take two pieces of luggage on most every trip. The first piece varies depending on trip; backpack, lumbar pack, side-briefcase, etc. The second, is constant…

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Merrell Barefoot Shoes by Andy 07/17/2011 09:25:30 P.M.

Over the past few years an evolution has occurred in shoes, a more minimalist design in an attempt to make the wearers  movements more natural.  Vibram five fingers and Vivo barefoot pushed this trend forward but now most shoe companies have minimalist designs, most recently Merrell added their own line.

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Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody by Richard 06/13/2011 10:37:37 A.M.

When the Olympics of Vancouver fell upon North America like a light snow – I was looking for a gold medal-type, light jacket that could buffet the last of the cold weather in Florida. The Arcyterx Squamish Hoody  became that jacket – and I donned it proudly as I cheered on the Olympiad.

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Kevin Reviews the Arc'Teryx a300a Climbing Harness by Kevin 05/31/2011 09:15:04 A.M.

Note: Kevin talks about the Arc'Teryx a300a harness that he bought a year ago.  ArcTeryx has since updated their line and most of their harness models inculde the features that was in the a300a.  This inclues the R320a Harness for men, the R300 Harness for women, and a lot of other great harness found in the Arcteryx Harness category.

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Getting to the bottom of shopping for pants, shorts and underwear. by Tom 05/27/2011 07:53:59 A.M.

When I started hiking, pants and underwear were near the bottom of my shopping list. I was too busy snapping up hydration packs and low-rise hiking shoes. Then I came home after a sweltering 12-miler with a burning in my crotch that nothing to do with getting lucky.

It was the Dread Chafe -- the soft skin of the inner thighs rubbed raw after six hours of contact with seams, folds and fabric built for an afternoon on the couch, not a day on the trail. I'd have traded 12 Camelbaks for anything to keep the burn at bay.

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