Archive for the 'Gadgets and Gear' Category

In The Times

Published on June 30, 2008 in City Life, Gadgets and Gear, hiking and in the media. 1 Comment

nullOver the weekend, I was quoted as part of an L.A. Times story on cellphone reception in the wilderness areas around the Los Angeles Metro area.

Friend of the site and local hiker Alana Semuels lays out the differences between carriers in the area. Short story: T-Mobile? Sucks. AT&T? Not bad, in spots. Maybe that 3G GPS-enabled iPhone is worth it after all.

I tried to do my duty as a Responsible Hiker to offer some sound safety advice, as well as take digs at Runyon Canyon Blackberry Hikers. Guess which made it into the Pulitzer prize-winning paper’s story.

Anyone out there have some love ‘em or leave ‘em stories about cell phones in the wild? I used to keep mine on during a hike to use as a watch, even when I lost reception. But after getting a few “urgent” messages from friends and family without being able to call back for 5 or 6 hours, I started stowing it in the OFF position and have never turned back.

Image by Jasoneppink

How To Tell It’s Time for New Insoles

Published on June 30, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear, clothes and hiking. 3 Comments

When you’ve got to duct-tape your normally blissfully blister-free heels.

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… maybe it’s time to pick up some new socks, too.

Product Placement

Published on June 20, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear. 0 Comments

nullIf there was ever a gadget for this site to endorse, it’s this — the 4GB Brando USB carabiner thumb drive.

For 32 bucks, you can get yourself some stylish and outdoorsy flash storage in one of six colors. And it weighs just 32 grams, so it won’t weigh down your shoulders when you’re liveblogging your backpack of the John Muir Wilderness on a Macbook Air.

People do that, right?

Via GearLog.

Spotty SPOTs

Published on June 19, 2008 in GPS, Gadgets and Gear and hiking. 0 Comments

nullIf you’re like me, you’ve been thinking about picking up one of those
SPOT Emergency Beacons. They’re more versatile, reusable, and way cheaper than other satellite beacons on the market, and have gotten rave reviews from everyone who’s tested one out.

But there’s one problem — no one’s ever had to use them in an actual emergency yet. Or at least, until now.

The fine folks at Backpacker.com have posted a very well-written, real-life account of an emergency distress call from the slopes of Mount McKinley. It’s a great read, and highlights some of the unit’s shortcomings when needed out on the trail.

I’m still planning on buying one this year — but maybe I’ll wait a bit to see if they’re planning on doing any sort of redesigns or updates. Anyone out there have ‘em? And what do you think?

via Two-Heel Drive.

Flip Minos on June 4th?

Published on May 22, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear. 1 Comment

nullThe iHike article I mentioned earlier had a lot of good things to say about the Flip Ultra — a lightweight USB camcorder that can record an hour of video at 640×480 resolution.

Now it looks like the gadget blogs have got their hands on scans of the line’s next product — the Minos. No one knows anything about it other than it costs 20 bucks more than the Ultra, looks a lot smaller and slimmer, and is due to hit store shelves on June 4th. Maybe.

If you’re looking to start taking cheap, easy video on your hikes, be sure to keep your eye out for these guys. Look for some decent upgrades, or otherwise check out the copycat-but-way-cheaper Creative Vado instead.

Via Engadget.

Backpacker’s iHike

Published on May 19, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear, Web Sites and Apps and in the media. 2 Comments

The latest issue of Backpacker arrived in my mailbox this morning. Instead of the usual scene of outdoorsy bliss, this month’s cover had a big ol’ Google Earth hiking route plastered across the front.

Immediately, I turned to the cover story — “iHike” — which offers “a complete guide to the digital revolution — and how to join it.”

Even though it doesn’t mention Modern Hiker anywhere, it’s still got a ton of surprising and useful information for us crunchy technophiles — like knowing that lithium batteries last twice as long as alkalines in GPS units, or that metal carabiners can interfere with satellite reception. It’s also got side-by-side comparisons of different mapping programs, online photo storage sites, and even tips on getting better photos and videos while on the trail.

It’s a really nice 8-page intro for anyone who’s looking to make more work for themselves after they get home from hiking — whether your audience is a bunch of blog readers or just the folks back home.

Just remember us web old-timers, ok?

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Image by matildaben.

Looking for New Boots

Published on May 9, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear and hiking. 3 Comments

Another New England transplant wrote me this morning (how many of us are there here? You guys all want to get together to try to find good apple cider?) because she wants to take advantage of the the big REI Anniversary Sale before it’s over. Her target: New boots. She writes:

Wanted to see if you have any advice on good brands. I used to have high-top ones for ankle support, but I rarely hike with a big pack anymore and mostly just do day hikes, so I figure I maybe don’t need to buy big ol’ heavy ones.

I’m partial to the high-top boots myself, and recommended the Vasque Breeze, a lightweight, superbreatheable high-top that’s done me very well for over two years on short day hikes and 3-day backpacking trips. As luck would have it, both the
women’s and
men’s versions are on sale, too.

… but since I’ve already found my preferred boot, I’m not much help if she gets to the store and doesn’t dig the Vasques. So does anyone else have a favorite lightweight boot or low-top hiking shoe? Share! And hurry up, the sale’s almost over.

e-Survivalist in Joshua Tree

Published on May 6, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear, Geek Stuff, Joshua Tree National Park, in the media and product reviews. 1 Comment

nullThis weekend, the LA Times ran a story by Dan Neil, following his adventures as he tries to make a six-day, north-south backpack through Joshua Tree National Park — weighed down with 7 pounds of high-tech gear. And that’s 7 pounds in a pack that already tips the scales at 50 pounds. Ultralight, this is not.

I realize this Neil probably did this just for the story. No experienced hiker would feel the need for a GPS receiver, two personal locator beacons and a satellite phone. Nor would they ditch their tent in the middle of the park because their pack was getting too heavy. *I* wouldn’t bring an iPod, but that’s a personal thing.

There are mini-reviews of several of the devices he uses, including the much lusted-after Garmin Colorado, as well as a few traditional travel tales to keep you entertained. Neil’s a good writer, and his description of the mindset of long-distance hiking is one of the most accurate I’ve ever read:

Like other sustained-heart-rate aerobic exercises, backpacking releases neuro-hormones that, first, bring a rush of mental energy — the brainstorms, flashes of insight and relived conversations that you mutter to yourself like a crazy person.

Then, the lull of repetition, the hypnosis of boots, the trance of the trail. Crunch crunch crunch. No talking now. This is the time of listening to your body.

But for all his modern gadget-based assistance, in the end — even though he drove through the park before he set out to bury water all over the place — after 3 days and 40 miles his toenails threaten to fall off and he hitches a ride back to his car.

Goes to show you — the gadgets don’t make the hiker. The hiker makes the gadgets.

But the hiker still probably wants all those gadgets, anyway.

Photo Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Other Outdoor Nerds

Published on April 23, 2008 in Gadgets and Gear, Geek Stuff, Technology and backpacking. 0 Comments

So apparently I’m not the only giant nerd who also enjoys getting dirty outside. Boing Boing’s Gadget Editor Joel Johnson has just headed into the wild, uncontrolled wilderness of New York’s Harriman State Park with a bunch of gadgets and those solar panel chargers we read so much about, but will probably never, ever buy.

He’s attempting to blog, review and twitter (is that a verb now?) while camping and hiking — and making nerdy jokes that I very much appreciate.

For the less nerdy of you, his opening post details his list of gear and — as we all do — complains about his pack weight (almost 50 pounds for a 3-4 day! Damn!). My favorite gear item is a copy of Thoreau’s “Walden” on an Amazon Kindle.

Later, he panics when his solar panel appears to stop working, and manages to post a Flickr video via a 1xRTT wireless internet connection.

I’m sure that kind of cell-phone internet flies on the East Coast parks, but I wouldn’t bet on it out here. But still — I’d love to have a blogging office-view like Joel’s got:

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Actually, I’d love to have a blogging office period.


Image by Joel Johnson

News Flash: Unplugging Helps You Relax

Published on March 6, 2008 in City Life, Gadgets and Gear, Technology and in the media. 1 Comment

The New York Times’ Mark Bittman found himself helplessly attached to his technology - it got so bad he was sleeping with a laptop next to his bed so checking his email could be the first thing he did in the morning and the last thing he did before he went to bed.

He decided enough was enough, and tried to take a 24 hour “Secular Sabbath,” unplugging all of his electronic and communication devices to take some time off from being Connected To The World. At first, he was apprehensive:

I worried about the colleagues, friends, daughters, parents and so on who relied on me, the people who knew that whether I was home or away I would get back to them, if not instantly then certainly before the end of the day. What if something important was happening, something that couldn’t wait 24 hours?

… but as the day went on, he got calmer, and actually found he was able to be more productive.

Huh. I bet any one of us could have told him that.

I guess, even though I’m using a GPS and digital camera, hiking has always been my ‘Secular Sabbath.’ One of the reasons I never take an iPod with me on the trail is that I like just hearing the wind, birds, and water instead of the city noise we’re subjected to every other day. The calm I feel from hiking is even more pronounced when I’m backpacking for a few days.

Read the full article at the NYT, to learn how Bittman got more relaxed, learned how to get more done, and saw how the trend is starting to sneak into the corporate world.

… or, if you don’t want to unplug, just wait a few years for electricity-generating microfiber hiking pants.



Via Lifehacker.

Photo by *nathan.