The Outside Blog Gear Feed

Raising Rippers Gear Test: Backcountry Travel Cribs

Raising Rippers — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:00:00 -0400

When it comes to outdoor gear, few items are as seductive and covetous as….backcountry cribs. OK, maybe you’d rather be fantasizing about the newest, sleekest 29er mountain bike or a flyweight backpacking tent, but chances are if you’re reading this, you’ve got more pressing priorities on your plate. Such as: how to get the kid to sleep through the night in the wilderness so you can, too.

we pack, they play

We put the following five sleep systems to the test on various recent adventures. None are light enough to take backpacking unless you’re seriously masochistic, but all will do on raft trips, canoe expeditions, car camping, and international adventures—pretty much any scenario where you won’t have to lug the thing on your back for long distances (baggage claim to rental car doesn’t count). They’re designed to accommodate a range of ages, birth to five-ish. Our testers were nearly one and nearly 3 and, for the most part, pretty reliable sleepers. Minimalists will probably opt for sleeping the kid on a ground pad, but if you want to contain those little crawlers in the wilderness, look no further.

Graco Pack n Play

There’s nothing light about this classic stand-by, but we schlepped down the San Juan River for six days anyway because our two-and-a-half year old has been sleeping in one since she was an infant, and to venture out into a remote canyon for six days without it would be akin to forgetting the stash of emergency pacifiers: really living on the edge. This is the burliest of the bunch, able to withstand a serious backcountry beating if you can stomach its size and weight. Our top choice when weight isn’t an issue but durability is.

Pros: With a super-easy push-button folding, you can set it up or break it down in less time than it takes your husband to change the baby’s diaper. It’s sturdy, with a rigid yet comfy mat that elevates the baby off the ground and won’t deflate if you accidentally put it on top of a cactus. It conveniently doubles as a playpen when you get to camp and need to corral the kid—no-brainer safety is a beautiful thing (especially if it allows you to actually sit down for a few minutes and swig a beer).

Cons: Way heavy, at 20+ pounds, and big: 28” x 40”. Taking one into the backcountry might tarnish your hard-core cred: This thing looks more at home in grandma’s guest room than in a desert canyon, but what the hey. No one said having kids would make you cool. So jumbo you'll probably need a bigger tent (our two-bedroom REI Kingdom 6 is almost huge enough for bunk beds).

Deets:models starting at $69, www.gracobaby.com.

Phil & Teds Traveller TR5 Cot Crib

Our littlest river baby, Maisy, slept as advertised on the San Juan in this super-light, ultra-packable crib from nifty New Zealand gear whiz Phil & Teds. We liked it right off the bat for its slim profile—the rugged nylon-and-mesh crib packs discreetly into a black bag about the size of a lightweight backpacking tent that doesn’t scream Baby on Board! Were it not for some minor assembly glitches, this would have been our hands-down favorite of the bunch. Light, small and stylish.

Pros: At just 7 pounds (not including the thermal-insulated mattress) and 23 inches long when folded, it’s small enough to fit into the overhead compartment and you won’t break your back doing it. Their clever motto says it all: It weighs less than the baby, yet it was plenty roomy for our 11-month old, with inches to spare. The zippered top keeps mosquitoes out and climbers in, and the mesh, zip side panel converts the cot to a play space (though our girl’s already standing and wanted out as soon as she woke up). The self-inflating mattress, alpine-tested and as bomber as Daddy’s Thermarest, slides neatly into a zippered panel on the floor and rests right on the ground.

Cons: Fussy assembly. A typo in the manual had us momentarily confused, but luckily assembly is pretty intuitive so we figured it out. But the aluminum frame legs were hard to attach and even harder to detach: It took two of us and some serious muscle power to yank them apart each morning when we broke camp. Hopefully this was a one-off problem.

$180; www.philandteds.com

Phil & Teds Cocoon

Designed for newborns to six months old, this soft-sided baby carry cot was the bomb when Maisy was an infant. We originally purchased it when she was a month old and we were at my parents’ island cottage and needed something to put her in when we went out in the boat. Even swaddled in her Salus infant lifejacket, she could stretch out on her back in the Cocoon; we soon started using it at night, too, and she’d fall asleep in the kitchen and later we’d sling the cot over one arm and carry her undisturbed to her room. Baby in a bag!

Pros: I’m a sucker for functional, cool-but-not-cutesy design, and like the rest of the Phil & Teds line, the Cocoon doesn’t disappoint. A cross between a canvas tote bag and a traditional cradle board, the Cocoon is a cozy nest with padded base soft enough for snoozing yet stiff enough to prevent shaken-baby-syndrome when the boat went over waves. The full-length zippered cover comes with toggles, so you can unfold it up to the baby’s neck to keep her warm or peel back in hotter weather, and the long, soft handles are generous enough to fit over your shoulder. (Even six-foot Steve could sling her like a suitcase.) At 2.7 pounds, it smooshs easily into your duffle and is as light as the price.

Cons: When she was two months old, we turned the Cocoon into Maisy’s whitewater bed on her debut run down the Rio Chama north of Santa Fe. Just as we had at Stony Lake, we put her in her PFD, laid her on her back, and put her on the raft. Ships ahoy! But as the blazing New Mexico sun beat down on us, we found ourselves wishing the Cocoon came rigged with a detachable sun shade. We improvised by draping the sun shade from her car seat over top, making sure we could reach in and grab the safety loop on her lifejacket if we needed to. A minor complaint for a versatile nest for your littlest chick.

Deets: www.philandteds.com; $59.

there's a baby in there

Kid Co Pea Pod Travel Bed P101

More a tiny kiddy tent than a travel bed, the flyweight Pea Pod arrived a few weeks before our San Juan trip and our toddler immediately went to work putting her “babies” to bed inside. She didn’t balk at being zipped in, and even insisted on snoozing in the Pea Pod during one afternoon nap—a major milestone for our crib-obsessed kid. But that was short-lived and the Pod became more of a novelty playpen than a serious place to get some zzzs. We brought it down the San Juan anyway, thinking it’d provide kid-sized shade in a pinch—and it did—but the nights were so sultry, we sidelined it for sleeping: It was far too hot to put her in a tent inside a tent.

Pros: By far the easiest, fastest assembly of all. Just unzip the round carrying pouch and presto! The two-hoop tent pops out, fully-formed, like a Jack-in-the-Box. (Beware of tiny bodies in the immediate vicinity—this thing has some serious spring.) The rubber mattress inflates easily with the plastic hand pump and then slides into the compartment on the bottom, resting directly on the ground. UV protection on the roof save sensitive skin from the sun, mesh window panels keep the kid from feeling cut off, and the nylon fly zips over for darkness and privacy. At 4.75 pounds, light and uber-stowable yet large enough to fit kids up to age six.

Cons: A week in the desert proved too prickly for the flimsy rubber mattress, and ours came home from the river with a small tear. Duct tape sealed the leak, but a patch kid would have been nice. Taco-ing back into the bag takes some practice and deft wrist work.

Deets: $85, www.kidco.com.

pre-trip baby wrestling

Go Crib Portable Crib

This one arrived too late and missed the boat for our raft trip, but we’ve been testing it on adventures here and there ever since, and love the way an entire crib mashes into an old-fashioned rucksack. Inspired by kiteboarding kites to be sturdy and rigid when in use, and small and packable when stowed, the Go Crib doesn’t just have an inflatable mattress: The whole crib inflates. Four soft, curved legs contain independent air chambers that pop up into standing position when filled with air.

Pros: What’s not to love about a bed in a backpack? Set-up was straightforward: Simply fill the valves with air to erect the crib. The dual-action pump attaches easily and removes cleanly without annoying air leakage, and disassembly is just as easy: Open the valves and press and hold the red button until the crib deflates. The baby can go in through the open top, or unzip the front panel for ground-floor access. The whole kit, including pump and mattress, weighs a mere 11 pounds—shockingly light for such a sturdy crib. Attachable mosquito net and rain fly (not included) make this wilderness-ready.

Con: There’s no separate envelope for the insulated mattress pad—you just put it on the bottom of the crib, which made me a little nervous about tiny chewers gnawing at the valve. The thick, suede-like outer layer on the legs and sidewalls is designed to protect the air chambers from thorns and cactus spines, but I’d still think twice about bringing this on an extended backcountry trip with no backup. The small plastic pump attaches neatly to the valves, but it’s light almost to a fault: I got super sweaty trying to keep it from flopping around. And the backpack packs pretty fat: No wiggling through narrow slots or crowded NYC subways with this baby.

Deets: $249, www.guavafamily.com

The Fast and Fabulous: Specialized 2012 S-Works Amira

Guest Blogger — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:18:49 -0400

Two days of riding 150 kilometers through Spain’s Basque country on Specialized’s 2012 S-Works Amira high-performance racing bike has convinced me that when a company invests almost ten years of R&D into developing a line of women’s-specific bikes, women might want to pay attention.

The most common misconception about the design of women's road bikes is that a company starts with a men’s frame, shortens the top tube, makes a few other minor adjustments and passes off their new creation as “women’s specific.” That’s not the case with Specialized.

Using a database of statistical and anecdotal information from hundreds of women—at least 100 of whom are pro cyclists—Specialized builds women’s frames starting with women’s physical attributes and riding preferences—not men’s. They start with the average female height, which is 5’4”, then build frames in both incrementally smaller and larger sizes to fit women who range in height from 4’10” to 5’11”.

Each of Specialized’s four road bikes are engineered as an entirely separate product, meaning they all use unique molds and tubing to accommodate different riding styles: For fitness riding and commuting there’s the Vita; for comfort endurance riding there’s the Dolce; for high-performance endurance riding there’s the Ruby; and for podium-topping racing there’s the Amira, ridden by top pros like Ina Teutenberg, Judith Arndt, Evelyn Stevens, and Amber Neben.

I have never been a pro racer and never will be, but there are few bikes (the titanium Moots Vamoots RSL being one of them) that I’ve had as much fun riding as the new S-Works Amira.

“It’s easy to make a stiff frame and it’s easy to make a light frame,” says Kyle Chubbuck, the engineer behind all of Specialized’s women’s road bikes. “But it’s hard to do both.”

With the new S-Works Amira he set out to do exactly that. Chubbuck designed a massive head tube with special shaping that eliminates flat surfaces. This prevents local deflection in the frame and significantly improves torsional stiffness without adding weight. He also added hollow carbon dropouts, beefed up the S-S in the brake bridge area to prevent brake chatter, and added internal cable routing that is compatible with electronic shifting systems. The end result is a sleek, functional piece of art that's 55 grams lighter and 20 percent stiffer in torsion than the 2011 S-W Amira.

I noticed the changes the most on the climbs. Rather than the usual grind, I felt like I was floating—and that couldn’t just be due to the rolling hills and picturesque Basque scenery. Even on the subsequent rainy downhill the bike was so smooth and solid underneath that it felt more like an appendage than a separate entity. My only trouble spot was getting used to the Sram Red components, but that was rider error. Plus, components can be swapped out. The aspect I appreciated most about the new S-Works was post ride: Even after a 15-hour flight and 150k of riding, my body felt no worse for the wear.

Unless you’re a pro cyclist, chances are you won’t need as much bike as the 2012 Amira S-Works. Be forewarned, however, that if you ride it, you’ll want it. And you’ll be happy to know that it comes in four other models—the Base, Elite, Comp, and Pro. Prices range from $2,000 to $8,000. All will be available in stores starting August.

—Stephanie Pearson

Photo: Courtesy of Specialized

The Cycle Life: Cielo Sportif, The Six Month Test

The Cycle Life — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:00:00 -0400

In the thick of review season, when we're testing lots of bikes extensively (think 60 bikes with 20-some testers and dozens of rides per bike), it can feel like speed dating, with not enough time to really get to know a bike. So I've hung onto a handful of compelling products for ongoing appraisal, including the Cielo Sportif road bike from Chris King, which we reviewed earlier in the year. But now I've had the pleasure of beating around on it for over six months.

Photos courtesy of Cielo Cycles.

First, a little history. Though Chris King started out as a frame builder back in the late '70s, he is probably most renowned these days for his bombproof headsets, which are arguably the finest on the market. A couple of years ago, with his business chugging along healthily (he also produces high quality bottom brackets, hubs, and other polished small bits), King decided to return to his first love of making bikes. The line of bikes has filled out since then, but the company's first salvo, the Sportif, still remains as the benchmark.

To understand the Sportif, it's best to start on the company's website, where the description of the bike revolves around a long Portland ride that begins in the bakery and ends in the brewery and the photos depict cyclists in wool jerseys and cases full of French pastries. This is a lifestyle bike, as much about the finer things in life as it is about the performance. This was immediately apparent when we first pulled our test bike from it's box, too, with the classy powder-coated steel tubing, polished touches on the frame, and full run of anodized Chris King parts reminding us immediately of bygone days before mass-produced bikes. All Sportifs are hand-built by either King himself or a small cadre of talented welders, including Jay Sycip, who formerly ran his own custom bike company. The result is incredible and gorgeous detailing, from engraved stainless steel fork ends, rear dropouts, and seat stay caps, to refined head and seat tube collars, and, best of all, the engraved brass head tube badge. One minor niggle: I had a few issues with my rear wheel loosening slightly in the horizontal rear dropouts and had to be very careful to really crank down on the quick release for maximum security. Our tester was mounted up with 28mm Continental Grand Prix tires for an armchair comfortable ride, and the fork and seat stays have plenty of clearance to accommodate more girth for those interested in touring. There are eyelets and lots of space for fenders and racks, as well.

The engraved brass head tube badge.

Beautiful as the bike is, however, it's not just an art piece. Though it's built for comfort, with a tall head tube, long chain stays, and classically stretched out positioning, I found that the Sportif could thunder along in a pack just fine. As a testament, though my garage is filled with featherweight carbon bikes, I frequently found myself passing them by for the sublime feel of the Sportif. Of course at 19.2 pounds, it's not the quickest to accelerate or the snappiest handler. Instead, I'd liken it more to a locomotive that steams steadily and stably forward once it's rolling. And the real sell is the bike's versatility. I took it on the most chattery roads in northern New Mexico and climbed long, rutted dirt roads up and over 10,000-foot passes, and felt solid and fast everywhere I went. There's a feeling to riding high-quality steel that you just don't get on carbon fiber: direct, rooted, and hissing smooth. This stability was most noticeable on winding roller-coaster roads and sinuous descents, where the Sportif leaned into turns with the confidence of a motorcycle and blasted through the wind with nary a twitch or shudder.

For the most part, the components lived up to the frame, as well, especially the anodized forest green Chris King bits that perfectly set off the pea green powder coat. Most notable were the hubs, which rolled as smoothly as any I've felt and emitted a distinctive and agreeable buzz when freewheeling. So silky and free of resistance where these hubs, that I almost felt like I had an unfair advantage, though I wished they'd been laced to a bit lighter of rims. My only other quibble with the bike was the SRAM Rival groupo, which performed just fine (though I'm still not won over by the double tap actuation) but simply doesn't have enough subtlety and panache for the Sportif. Since all Sportifs are custom equipped, however, it would be easy enough to pick out something more fitting, such as Campy Super Record.

One of the engraved stainless steel seat stay caps.

If you have as much wool cycling apparel as you do Spandex, you appreciate brevets (or even know what that means), and you want a fast bike that you'll be as thrilled to ride in a decade as you will be on the first day you purchase it, the Sportif is for you. Weight weenies and anyone after something on which to hang their power meter should probably look elsewhere, as should those hesitant to drop $1,895 on a TIG-welded steel frame set, which admittedly is a pretty penny. But for that money, the beauty of the production and the enduring ride quality will not disappoint. For my part, I'll miss the all-day adventures on the Sportif, especially because it was the only bike on which it felt wrong to head out on a ride without first stopping at the French bakery for a pain au chocolat and espresso. Au revoir, mon ami!

The Cycle Life: Tour de France kits from Sugoi

The Cycle Life — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:15:11 -0400

Photos courtesy of Sugoi and Liquigas-Cannondale.

Watching the Tour de France, it's easy to overlook the team kits as nothing more than billboards for sponsors. But as much technological R&D, fitting, and attention goes into the apparel that the pros wear as into the bikes they ride. In late May, at the Amgen Tour of California, I sat down with Pascal Wehr, product manager of Sugoi, to talk about the company's sponsorship of Liquigas-Cannondale. "It's our first year with a ProTour team," he told me, "and while it's been an education learning exactly what the a professional rider wants and needs, we also feel like we're providing real innovation for the guys."

Wehr was at the Tour of California to collect impressions from the team riders—a dress rehearsal, so to speak, for the Tour de France. But, he said, the process had started months earlier, with meetings, fittings, trips to the tailor, and sit-downs with riders to collect their feedback. "The biggest demand is for lighter, more breathable, more wind-cheating equipment," he told me. "We're constantly experimenting with fabrics, tweaking the cuts and fits to lay smoother and be more comfortable. For the pros, a single wrinkle can mean precious lost time." At the Tour of California, there wasn't much new feedback. "This time a lot of the team told me, 'I didn't notice much,'" Wehr said. "From our perspective that's a good thing because it means the gear is working."

For Liquigas-Cannondale, a full team kit consists of 44 separate pieces of apparel, including caps, arm and leg warmers, several different weight jackets, and of course multiple bibs and jerseys. Over the course of a season, a rider will go through 50 to 70 sets of bibs and jerseys. Additionally, half the Liquigas-Cannondale riders get custom-fit kits, with the biggest stars dictating even the most minute details of their uniforms. For instance, the team's Tour de France hope, Ivan Basso, requires extra long sleeves on his jersey and a radio pocket placement on his bibs that's different from the other riders on the team.

Wehr sent me home with a team replica kit that's available to the public, but he was quick to point out that it wasn't exactly what the pros wear. For instance, the Rc Pro chamois is made with open-cell foam for the pros because they like it to pack out and adapt more to their bodies, while the consumer version is made with sturdier closed-cell foam. (Interestingly, too, though this pad isn't the company's top of the line, the pros preferred the firmer feel.) Then there's the cut. "You would definitely be a size large pro, perhaps even an extra large," he said of my 5'10", 155-pound frame. "The pro fit would lose two to three inches out of the waist." It took me a minute to realize he'd just called me fat.

I'm not one to go pedaling about in pro livery—hardly fast enough for that—but I have taken a few rides in the kits for (ahem!) testing purposes. The chamois feels as comfortable on long rides as any and the mesh back panel in the bibs and lightweight mesh in the jersey keep me cool. The biggest difference I see, however, is the smooth, silky face fabric in the bibs, which feels incredibly supportive and finished compared to other shorts I've worn. Now I just have to lose 15 pounds and a couple of inches so I can fit into the real thing.

--Aaron Gulley
www.aarongulley.com

The Cycle Life: Three New Mountain Bikes for Summer

The Cycle Life — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:09:57 -0400

Unless you live in New Mexico, where practically every trail in the state is closed because of high fire danger, it's the thick of mountain biking season—and the perfect time for a new bike. We tested these three bikes last winter and spring, and we're sure you'll enjoy any of them now that the summer trail-riding season has arrived.
--Aaron Gulley
www.aarongulley.com

TREK RUMBLEFISH II $3,880

THE SELL Big wheels meet big travel.
THE TEST With the longer travel 29er market beginning to fill out—thanks in part to lighter wheels, more choices in forks, and increased R&D—the Rumblefish exemplifies the high points of a 29er trail bike. With 120mm (4.7") of travel up front, 110m (4.3") out back, and generally slack frame angles, this bike hung tough on terrain that maxed out most XC rides, and it kept us comfortable while doing it. At the bike's heart is the DRCV Fox damper rear shock, which uses an internal dual-chamber design to provide an extremely plush ride even when the suspension was fully loaded. Surprisingly, the shock shined as much on the uphills, where the rear wheel gripped and tracked beautifully, as it did going down. In spite of a relatively short cockpit and the slack head tube angle, the Rumblefish was as responsive on climbs as a 28-pound bike can be and extremely nimble in tight switchbacks. The through-axles front and rear added stiffness that ensured the Rumblefish descended well enough, but the rear travel won't be enough for everyone. "On really loose chunky stuff it didn't always inspire confidence," said one tester, "but it did always get me through." And with a great parts pick, including durable XT components and silky Elixir R brakes, it will keep you riding all but the hairiest lines for seasons to come.
THE VERDICT A Solid, fast, and stable 29er that easily stomachs most trails. 28.0 lbs (17.5"); trekbikes.com
CLIMBING 4.3 (out of 5)
DESCENDING 4.3

SPECIALIZED CAMBER PRO 29ER $3,000

THE SELL A no-nonsense, not-too-pricey 29er for every occasion.
THE TEST Bucking the trend toward expensive niche bikes, the Camber Pro 29er is the bike you want if you can own only one without breaking the bank. Though it might seem too closely related to the Secialized Epic (both bikes have four inches of travel front and rear), the Camber's subtly slacker head and seat angles and its bit longer of a wheelbase make it much more stable and oriented to all-day riding than its racier brethren. From steep ups to precipitous downs, twisty fire roads to techy singletrack, we didn't find any terrain on which the Camber felt out of its league. "Takes me back to the days when a mountain bike could do anything," one tester raved. "I'd happily trade my whole fleet for this and not miss one of them." A few testers lamented not having the auto function of the Epic's Brain shock and fork, but just as many liked the more active feel of the Camber's suspension. And even those who quibbled over the bike's subtle points more often than not lined back up for a second and third ride on the Camber, citing its subtle good looks and bang-for-the-buck performance as the deciding factors.
THE VERDICT The consummate big-wheeled mountain bike. 28.1 lbs (M); specialized.com
CLIMBING 4.5
DESCENDING 4.0

MONGOOSE TEOCALI COMP $1,800

THE SELL A tried-and-true all-mountain banger gets bigger and sexier.
THE TEST For 2011, Mongoose boosted the suspension on this bigger-travel trail bike (up to six inches from five), added modern niceties such as a tapered head tube, shorter stem, and swoopy hydroforming in the frame, and still managed to slightly trim the weight. The FreeDrive suspension is complicated as ever, but we found that, as always, it worked admirably well, soaking up the rough, smoothing out big steps, and giving the bike and overall surefooted feel. "Only $1,800 for a bike that rides this smooth?" asked one reviewer. "That's a steal." The trade-off for the price, of course, is a lower-end parts spec, including the Suntour Epicon fork, which some testers felt was spongy, and the beefy (read: heavy going up) Alex Rims. The other drawback is the Teocali's weight: At 31.2 pounds it's hardly a sprightly climber. Still, it's a lot of bike for the price, and if you're primarily blazing downhill not up, it's definitely worth some consideration.
THE VERDICT Big banging for the buck—literally. 31.2 lbs (M); mongoose.com
CLIMBING 3.6
DESCENDING 4.6

Family Gear Test: Bomber Shade for Your Boat

Raising Rippers — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:00:00 -0400

By Katie Arnold

We’re back from rafting the San Juan in southern Utah, and despite the sinister-sounding stats—6 days on the river with 6 kids 6 and under—the adventure went off without a hitch, everyone survived, the river was cranking (8,100 cubic-feet-per-second at its max during the week), and I don’t think I saw a cloud the entire time.

Good thing we brought some shade.

Keeping little river rats safe under the sun is second only to keeping them safe on the water, and no matter how much SPF 50 you slather on their pasty baby skin or how big the brim on their hats or bomber their SPF clothing is, actual shade is still the best option for minimizing harmful UV exposure and staving off sunburn and heat stroke.

We’ve used a bunch of different systems over the years and all have their perks and quirks, but until our most recent San Juan trip, we hadn’t tried them all at the same time on the same river under the same conditions—a level playing field that gave us a pretty good sense of what works best, and why.

Cascade Outfitters Umbrella

This is one step up from your basic beach umbrella: a no-frills nylon canopy with a metal pole that screws into a bracket you rig onto your raft frame, and tilts at the push of a button. The Cascade has served us well—it sheltered a 10-month old baby on our first trip down the San Juan two years ago—but since then the wind’s taken its toll and now it’s so patched with duct tape it looks like a battle-scarred veteran. Still, you get what you pay for and the $38.95 price tag was a no-brainer for simple, low-cost shade.

Pros: Set-up is super easy; just bolt the bracket-base onto your frame, stick the pole in, and pop up the shade. A screw knob makes it easy to lower when the wind kicks up, which you’ll want to do to avoid the Mary Poppins effect. Unscrew the pole from the bracket and it doubles as a beach umbrella.

Cons: Our friends Eric and Karleen demoed our Cascade on the San Juan, and not ten minutes from the launch at Mexican Hat, a swirling dust devil ripped up the canyon and blew the umbrella inside out—mangled, but miraculously still functional. They spent the next five days constantly raising and lowering the umbrella based on the canyon’s fickle winds, which weren’t that strong but nonetheless gusted enough to push the Cascade around. The size is adequate for one or two people, but you may find yourself having to huddle to stay out of the sun. Another minor drag: Having a pole stick up in the middle of the raft can eat into precious lounge space.

Deets: $38.95, http:www.cascadeoutfitters.com.

River Buddy (left) and Cascade Umbrella

River Buddy Umbrella

Our friend and former Outward Bound river guide Whitney used the Buddy on the San Juan to keep the sun from frying his wife and kids (2.5 and 5). “It’s a big step up from a normal umbrella,” says Whitney, of the Buddy’s canvas canopy and burly steel pole. “It’s an umbrella on steroids.” Set-up was a “piece of cake”—he put it together right out of the box at the boat launch. The bracket that holds the pole clamps right onto your frame with four bolts; the rest assembled simply with snap fittings.

Pros: The square canopy didn’t blow inside out in normal winds, and when the gusts did pick up, it was easy to furl the umbrella with one hand while rowing with the other. Whitney found the shade “ample,” and liked the way the umbrella rotated so he could shelter his toddler snoozing on the Paco pad in the bow.

Cons: The zinc-plated, rust-resistant frame brackets are bomber, no question, but the support pieces could be sturdier. In the middle of Class II Ross Rapid, an unexpected blast of wind busted one the rivets that held the Buddy upright. Whitney fixed it with a piece of parachute cord from his repair kit, and it held—albeit tenuously—the rest of the way downriver. At $199, the price is a tad steep for the size of what’s essentially a slightly beefier version of your basic umbrella.

Deets: $199; http://www.dreamthefuture.org/forward/riverbuddy/index.html

River Sombrero

Basically a power-boat bimini kitted out for whitewater rafts, the Sombrero was a game-changer for us: super-rugged construction that easily withstood gusty winds and generous dimensions—ours was six feet long and five feet wide—that shaded practically the entire boat, so we didn’t have to cower together to stay cool. Never has rafting with two tiny children felt so luxurious and civilized. The entry-level canopy we tested was made from a weather-resistant canvas called Sharkskin with an aluminum frame and nylon hardware, but for long-haul expeditions, the Sombreros also come in marine-quality Sunbrella fabric with stainless steel frame and fittings.

Layover day cat-napping under the Sombrero

Pros: The Sombrero’s decadent size made it easy to stretch out and use almost the whole boat the boat without getting burned. The baby and her nanny were in the bow, while Pippa snoozed on my lap on a pile of dry bags in the stern. I loved the extra elbow room, and because the canopy rigs to the side of the frame, not the center, we didn’t have to maneuver around a pole sticking up in the middle of the Paco lounge space. Frame works well as clothesline, too!

Cons: This is a serious apparatus, and Steve had to futz a while with assembly before we got to the river (originally he rigged it backwards by accident). But because it’s so sturdy, you don’t have to de-rig it when a squall blows in. Simply accordion the cover back and stow in the stern until calmer air prevails. On a day trip down the Rio Grande a few weeks later, 50 mph gusts turned the Sombrero into a sail and all but halted our downstream progress. We reluctantly stowed it for the rest of the day. One last pet peeve: Its broad canopy can block canyon views—all in all, a minor trade-off for staying cool.

Deets: starting at $239, www.riversombrero.com.

Coleman Instant Canopy

Popping up a shade structure in camp is a must, especially when you land on a baking-hot beach that gets late-day sun, the kids are crushed, and all you want to do is put your feet up on a cooler and drink a cold one. Before we left for the San Juan, Steve upgraded his generic pop-up shade structures that he’s been using for years in his landscaping business. They’d been down a few rivers in their day and were all pretty rickety (exhibit A), so he went big—literally—with a Coleman 10 x 10 instant canopy he got at Wal-Mart.

Exhibit A: This one's seen better days....

Pros: This is the big daddy, but it packs small-ish (and doubled as a backrest for Steve at the oars). It goes up easily with two people, thanks to E-Z push-button levers on the legs, followed by a bit of requisite yanking. It doesn’t budge unless the wind’s really blowing, in which case, tie it down with coolers, rocks, whatever’s handy. The nylon canopy carries a 50+ UV protection factor and is eight feet tall at its peak, so no slouching required. At our layover camp, the kids built sandcastles and napped in its shade all day.

Ahh, that's better

Cons: 50 mph wind blasts at the Los Alamos Atomic Blast Ultimate tourney a week later proved too much for the seemingly mighty Coleman, and the thing got so torqued by the unheard-of gale (same winds that kicked up the Los Conchas wildfire into a raging firestom the next day) that Steve needs yet another replacement. Lesson learned: When an apocalyptic wind blows in, stow ASAP.

Deets: $158, www.coleman.com.

The Cycle Life: Bike Press Camp Best In Show, Episode 1

The Cycle Life — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:17:31 -0400

On the crisp and still snowy slopes of Deer Valley, Utah, last week, 30-some bike industry manufacturers rolled out their 2012 product lines for a select group of journalists. There was all manner of innovation, but wind-cheating aero bikes and electronic gadgets focused on affordability and convergence were the biggest trends. In this installment, I'll detail a few of the most compelling new bikes; we'll be taking possession of these bikes (and many more) in the coming months for comprehensive testing. Check back for component and soft goods highlights from Bike Press Camp in Part 2.
--Aaron Gulley
www.aarongulley.com

Niner Jet 9 RDO We absolutely loved last year's Jet 9, with two caveats: Though it performed like a thoroughbred race bike, the weight of the aluminum frame held it back; and the 80mm rear travel seemed too short for all-arounders. Enter the RDO, a carbon remake that bumps travel up to 100mm (with compatibility for 120mm forks for those who want them), lops almost a pound out of the frame, and still keeps the original's finest attributes (razor sharp steering, great efficiency climbing, surprisingly stable descending). The love-em-or-hate-em swoopy lines will fuel hours of debate, but I like the distinctive looks; the all-black scheme will be the ultimate land shark. I logged a couple of quick laps on the RDO on Deer Valley's lower flanks, and the bike devoured the trail accordingly: It tracked reliably through loose corners (feels stiffer than the standard Jet 9) and the reduced frame weight was noticeable on the high altitude climbs. Frame: $2,599.

Ridley Noah FB This small Belgian company turned to aero frames a few years back because they felt they'd tapped out the stiffness and weight gains of carbon. The Noah FB extends the Noah's unique aerodynamic developments: the RFlow fork and seat stays employ a split foil design, and the RSurface adhesive treatments applied in strips in key points on the bike further help route wind smoothly around the frame. And it ups the ante with a new integrated aero brake design. The Fast Brake system (hence FB) integrates the brakes into the frame, with the front brakes built into the fork and the rear brakes built into the seat stays. Ridley will produce 500 of the frames, which will be available next spring and cost a premium $5,395 for frame and fork alone.

Novara Gotham REI takes a leap ahead in style and innovation with this new steel commuter, which pairs a Gates Carbon Drive belt system to a Nuvinci N360 internally geared rear hub. The belt is perfect for a city application—smooth and low maintenance and totally clean so you don't soil your pant legs—while the N360 hub is both extremely durable and offers a wider gearing range, as well as more immediate shifting than past offerings. Combined with the understated Euro styling, polished alloy full-length fenders, a built-in Basta Nano headlight, and sleek FSA Metropolis bars, the full package will be a heck of a deal at just $1,299 for the complete bike.

Turner Sultan I've been saying for months that the upcoming season will be the year of the 29er trail bike, with developments in big-wheel frames and components finally making it feasible to build longer-travel 29ers that aren't total tanks. Case in point, the Sultan, a five-inch trail bike that gets some important updates for 2012, including a slight slackening of the front end angles for better stability and a combination of the new 34mm Fox fork and an oversize tapered head tube for improved steering and stiffness. Though the tester I took out wasn't built with any crazy light parts (SRAM XO drivetrain and DT hubs laced with Stan's Flow rims), it still felt relatively svelte—my guess is around 26 pounds, though I didn't have a scale to confirm. Efficient as ever, the DW-Link rear suspension helped the bike climb the sinuous singletrack surprisingly well. But it was downhill where this bike really shined, with the combo of big wheels and big travel eating up the trail like a high-speed easy chair. Frame: $2,550.

Blue AC1 As one of the first companies (after Cervélo and Felt) to get into the aero bike market almost four years ago, Blue is refining its offerings for 2012 as many of the bigger players just get into the aero space (think Specialized, Giant, and Scott). The AC1 gets stiffer and shapelier thanks to bigger tube junctions, larger diameter teardrop tubing, more carbon fill behind the head tube and seat tube, and a tapered head tube. Meanwhile, given a higher-grade carbon lay-up, the frame loses 110 grams, weighing in at a respectable 1080 grams for a size medium. The frame will come in multiple build options, with SRAM Force for $4,200 and the just-announced Shimano Ultegra Electronic (which Blue is calling Ui2) version for $4,800.

The Gear Junkie: Teva Zilch Sandal

The Gear Junkie — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 07:59:14 -0400

By Stephen Regenold

Designed to be one of the most minimal sport sandals ever made, the Zilch from Teva is flexible enough to fold in half. A thin sole, a footbed, and Velcro straps are the totality of the design, which is new this summer and made for travelers and backpackers looking to shave weight.

The sandals come in men's and women's models and are built for all-around outdoors use. Light hiking, water activities, or wear-around-camp applications are all candidate for the strap-on sandal.
For travelers, its small size saves space. Backpackers or campers can stow away a pair for a trip into the woods and almost forget they are there.

I tested the Zilch model this month and was mostly happy with the sandal on my foot. With the adjustable straps and a cradling footbed, the sandals' fit is solid enough for casual activity.

The sole is thin and so flexible that it arches when you step on a stick. There is almost no shock absorption or cushioning, a minimalist feel that you might either love or hate.

There is a slight tread and sticky rubber on the sole to provide adequate grip on wet and dry terrain. All materials are synthetic, and nothing on the sandal can soak up water.

The sandals are light weight, though nothing out of the ordinary. In my size 12.5, each sandal weighs about 8 ounces, making a pair an even 1 pound. This is heavier than flip-flops but a few ounces less than sport-oriented sandals with toe protection, beefy straps and stout soles.

Comfort is not the first priority with the Zilch. The straps are thin and un-padded, and the strap edges are not rounded off. Take care to adjust them right or they can rub the wrong way.

Another drawback: The loop of fabric made for the big toe does not hold tight. On a hike, when I would catch the front of the sandal, my big toe would come out of this little strap. It was annoying to stop and re-adjust.

Teva sells the Zilch for $80. It's a significant step up from a flip-flop, though as a replacement to a protective sport sandal for hikes or river activities, the Zilch does not measure the same. With the Zilch, Teva offers a middle-weight compromise between the two sandal extremes.

--Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of www.gearjunkie.com. Connect with Regenold at Facebook.com/TheGearJunkie or on Twitter via @TheGearJunkie.

The Gear Junkie Scoop: G-Form Laptop and iPad Case

The Gear Junkie — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:50:45 -0400

By Stephen Regenold

As a company that sells shin guards and gel inserts for bike shoes, you'd think cases for Apple iPads would be a stretch. But new to the product line at G-Form LLC, a company based in Providence, R.I., are cases made for computers.

The link from shin guards and knee pads to cases for laptops and Apple iPads is found in G-Form's special impact-resistant foam, a spongy material that's flexible when you push it with a finger. But strike the G-Form material hard and it "freezes up," changing instantly to a protecting shell.

Drop your iPad in this case and the theory is that the G-Form material will shield it from the crash. The company (www.g-form.com) gives little information about the "secret sauce" that makes the foamy material change phases. It says the material "changes its molecular structure on impact."

In a quick test, you can see it work: Press the material in and it's flexible, a finger mark appearing as a depression in the foam. Hit it hard, however, and only a tiny depression forms, the material ostensibly hardening when introduced to power and speed. I tried this out and it worked.

G-Form touts that its gear absorbs 90 percent of the energy from high-speed impact and turns into "shock-absorbing armor." For knee pads and shin guards, the pliable nature of the material is nice. It does not inhibit movement. But in a crash, the pads harden up to protect.

For a laptop case, the pliability of the material at rest is less of a need. But the cases, which come for various laptop sizes as well as for the iPad, are light weight (less than a pound), water resistant, and not as cumbersome in a backpack as a comparable hard-side case would be.

The G-Form Extreme Sleeve product for laptops comes in yellow or black. Both have a funky grid pattern with the magic G-Form foam and a zipper to close them up. Prices start at $69.95. The iPad case, called the iPad Extreme Sleeve, costs $59.95.

Though the company touts "extreme protection" with the case line, there are no guarantees about your goods inside. Says the company literature, "we can’t guarantee your electronics from damage from any specific drop or impact."

In other words, use the cases as added protection, but still take care. The G-Form sleeves are a backup. Common sense and careful handling remain the No. 1 way to keep your pricey equipment safe.

--Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of www.gearjunkie.com. Connect with Regenold at Facebook.com/TheGearJunkie or on Twitter via @TheGearJunkie.

10 Women's Summer Swimming Essentials

The News Team — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:15:00 -0400

Whether you're cooling off during a weekly swim in the local outdoor pool or training daily for a triathlon in a state-of-the-art aquatics center, you'll want to outfit yourself with gear made for the pool. Presenting the 10 best summer swimming products for 2011, from suits to shampoo.

Right before you jump in, rub on some DermaSwim pre-swimming lotion ($14; dermaswimpro.com). The thick, white cream blocks the absorption of chlorine into the skin, which helps prevent drying, itching and that chloriney odor that often lingers after a long workout. You'll feel a little greasy, but only until you start swimming. And don't worry, the lotion doesn't make the pool water gross.

Zoot's Lush suits ($75; zootsports.com) come in funky mosaic patterns. The straps, which aren't sewn together where they cross in the back, tend to twist annoyingly when you put the suit on, but after you straighten them out, the suit is comfortable and flattering—even during super-long training sessions. The Lush, which also comes in a sporty two-piece, is lined and chlorine resistant.

Can't decide between thick or thin straps? Compromise with Barracuda's ASSYM ($55; barracudausa.com), which rocks an asymmetrical style. If you're used to logging laps in a racerback suit, you might find the shoulder openings a little confined at first, but after a few thousand meters, you'll hardly notice a difference. The ASSYM is a high-quality product that fits well and offers good coverage. The suit makes its debut in July.

Sable WaterOptics anti-fog goggles ($45; sablewateroptics.com) will fit any face, thanks to removable nose bridges that come in three sizes. Silicone liners create a watertight seal, and the non-slip strap is easy to adjust. Customizable prescription lenses are available at an extra cost. The 922s (pictured above) are ideal for training sessions, while the sleek 101s ($50) are great for racing.

If you're looking for less expensive eyewear, consider the Barracuda Vision XL goggles ($22; barracudausa.com). The self-adjusting nose bridge means these goggles will sit comfortably on any face, without swapping out parts. The large lenses offer good peripheral views and come in a variety of mirrored and non-mirrored ($20) colors, such as blue, smoke and silver. All styles use the latest anti-fogging technology.

If you don't want to rely on those hard-to-read pool clocks, or if you can't remember if what lap you're on, check out Finis' Lap Track ($75; finisinc.com). This little gizmo attaches to the pool wall via suction cups or mounting brackets and will record your laps, pace, splits, calories burned and more. The numbers are large enough to read on the fly, and all you have to do to record a lap is press down on the face. Powered by two AAA batteries, the device has a memory capacity for up to 50 laps. See how many you can swim.

Italy-based Cressi has been a leader in the diving world since the 1940s. In 2005, the company created a line of swimming specific products, which now includes the impressive Palau light fins ($26; cressi.com). The soft, short blade allows for easy kicks without cramping, and the foot pocket is easy to get into, even in the water.

Swimming might be great for your body, but it's not so great for your hair. Pool chemicals can make your tresses dry and brittle. Put some life back into your locks with UltraSwim's chlorine removal shampoo and conditioner ($5; ultraswim.com), which are formulated to attack chlorine build up in all types of hair. And they smell good, too.

Fuel up after your swim with Kate's Real Food Stash Bar ($2.69 each, $19.14 for a package of six; katesrealfood.com). This dark chocolate and peanut butter tasty treat contains hemp, which means you'll get 9 grams of good post-workout protein. Stash Bars, like all of Kate's products, are made with whole, unprocessed, natural ingredients. Yum.

That's a lot of gear, huh? Well, pack it all up in L.L. Bean's waterproof duffel bag ($119; llbean.com). At first glance, this polyurethane-coated nylon bag appears gigantic, but once you stuff it full of swim gear, a towel, a change of clothes, a hairdryer, toiletries, etc., you won't have much room to spare. Plus, you can leave it on the pool deck without worrying about the insides getting wet -- or leave it in your car and know that moisture from wet items inside won't leak out.

--Whitney Dreier