If you are looking for a compact headlamp that can deliver some of the same features as bigger lights, look no further. I have owned the original Zipka for years now and have loved it. I decided I would upgrade to the Zipka Plus 2 and see how it matched up and performed to the original. The Zipka has always been my go to light when traveling or when I thought that I might be out into the dark. It is small enough to throw in a pack and be there just in case.
From the start I was impressed by the design and look of the Rogue 1 from ICON. I have now been using it for about 5 months and it has worked great. This light works great on a morning run or for looking for a toy under the couch. The open architecture design feels great in the hand and makes it easy to secure the supplied lanyard. The rogue 1 has two light output settings: 50 lumens and 6 lumens. It is a breeze to swtich from one ouptut to the other but clicking the tailcap. The Rogue is also a tough little light. It has been dropped, left out in the cold and chewed on by my kids, and still works great. It has an O-ring to keep out moisture and making it waterproof to 1 meter.
When I first heard about this technology I was intrigued. A product that doesn’t stink after multiple uses. I received a shirt the first week in August at the Outdoor Retailer Show to test and review. For the last couple of months I have been using the shirt seeing if I could get it to smell. I wore it hiking miles in the Wasatch Front, climbing all day long, biking and running. The first few times using it, I was impressed. No matter how much I had sweat or stunk, the shirt didn’t smell.
Half the shirt is treated with Agion Active and the other half is untreated to be able to see if the technology works. After using the shirt a couple of times, I had an idea on how to test it. I wouldn’t wash it for a few weeks and wear it while I commuted to work and back on my bike. The commute is 16 miles one-way, I would be getting plenty sweaty and stinky on the ride. This would be a great way to test it. I told some co-worker of my plan and they thought it would be a great idea and test. So I started.
When I first saw and learned about the Hydro Flask, I was quite impressed. The company claims that this bottle will keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. I was a little skeptical. At the Outdoor Retailers show I saw one of their bottles that still had ice in it after three days. It keeps ice for three days, I thought. After talking with the company for a bit I was pleased to be able to get a bottle to test and review.
I received the Sleek at the Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. It was perfect timing, because the week following the show I was going on a family vacation and would have the opportunity to test it out. We headed down to Escalante, Utah to visit Bryce Canyon and surrounding areas.
Recently I had the opportunity to try out three watches, the new Timex Expedition WS4, Highgear Axis and the Suunto Core. All three have time, altimeter, barometer, compass, chronograph, timer and alarm.
The first watch that I used was the Timex WS4. This watch comes in 6 colors (black/orange, yellow/black, orange/black, white/black, blue/grey and black). It is a big watch that makes it easy to read and because of this it was easier to set up. It size is also a problem because it kept getting in the way and was just a little bulky. The instruction manual was complete and easy to follow but like all Timex watch manuals they are out to break the record for the worlds smallest instructions. I think I need glasses after straining my eyes trying to read it. One simple function that I liked about the Timex that the other watches did not have was that you could set it up so when you pushed any button it would light up the display. When activated it would be active for 7-8 hours.
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