Year’s Best Gear- Gear Reviews

Each year, the Gear Junie pulls together a best-of-the-best list from the new and prototype products he reviewed for Gear Junkie. His “Top 10 Gear Picks” article is syndicated to a national group of newspapers, on Outside magazine’s website, and featured on GearJunkie.com.

1. The North Face Animagi Jacket — Cold-weather and winter running — as well as XC skiing — are more comfortable in this hybrid jacket. With PrimaLoft-stuffed panels and thin, stretchy sleeves, the $149 Animagi breathes where it needs to and insulates the core. Its unique design was a winner during neighborhood training runs up to longer endurance fests where I was out for two hours or more in the cold. Full Gear Junkie review: http://gearjunkie.com/the-north-face-animagi-jacket

Virginias vs. Carolinas: Which offers superior outdoor adventure?

Vote Here>>> and let us know!

Check out what other people have written about the two areas. I think you will be surprised!

Go Virginia!

Here is an excerpt from what one person wrote:

Jared Surasky-

“I thought so hard about this I got a headache! I have lived in Charleston SC, Asheville NC, and Charlottesville VA and I have to say that all are uniquely amazing when it comes to the outdoors. I have seen sunsets kayaking in the Ace Basin that would make your cry, hiked all over Western NC and seen beautiful things that would inspire a simple man to think profound thoughts (not that I’m simple), and climbed all over West Virginia, which is an endless playground of challenging routes! So, which is the best? I guess I will just have to be comfortable knowing that I won’t ever be able to answer that question. I can’t wait to see the results from this poll though!”

PureBot Water Bottle- Gear Review

From SIGG water bottles to baby products, the great BPA (Bisphenol-A) debate is raging right now. But fewer people are aware of another plastic unpleasantry known as EA. That stands for estrogenic activity, and it refers to any chemical that either blocks or mimics estrogen in the human body.

According to some researchers, nearly all plastic bottles leach an EA chemical, which are cited in studies to alter human growth rates, change behavior patterns, reduce sperm count, increase cancer rates and do other ugly things.

Hydrapak has partnered with an outfit called PlastiPure to create the PureBot, a sports bottle launched in November that is touted as EA-free.

Hydrapak PureBot

The PureBot does not contain Bisphenol-A or EA chemicals. Besides being free of two highly debated compounds, the Hydrapak PureBot is a normal 24-ounce bike water bottle with a large screw top lid. It’s currently available for $10. www.pure-bot.com

—Ryan Dionne

Outside Magazine TV

The Resorts Sports Network, a channel known for cool action sports videos, Glen Plake’s “Reel Thrills” and atrocious local ads in ski towns around the nation, is going bye-bye. On June 1, 2010, the network will debut as the Outside Television Network. The new channel will be a collaboration between RSN and Outside magazine.

The RSN network currently reaches 61 million viewers annually and is distributed to 110 destinations, according to a press release. Mark Burchill, the CEO of RSN, said “this is an amazing opportunity to collaborate on content and translate the [magazine] brand into television.” He added, “Expect to see the network more widely distributed, with a host of new programming additions.”

Outside Television Network’s content will bring to television many of Outside’s popular special reports, including Best Towns, Best Jobs, Trips of the Year, Best Gear and the Outside Buyer’s Guide. But the big question: Will Outside’s “Gear Junkie Scoop” get its own half-hour on air? Tune in this June to see.

—Stephen Krcmar

World’s Best Winter Mitts- Gear Review

When it’s too cold for gloves — generally around 10 degrees Fahrenheit for me — a good pair of mittens is crucial to enjoying any wintertime adventure. You sacrifice dexterity for cozy digits, but that’s the price of warmth in the rock-bottom cold months of the year.

So what mittens are the best for outdoor enthusiasts who want to ski, climb and throw snowballs at friends? A few years back, I tested six pair of top-end mittens for three months to find out.

Granite Gear’s Lutsen Mitts (orig. $89 but now discontinued; http://www.granitegear.com), a stout waterproof-breathable pair with wool fleece liners, nudged out first place in my little competition. The company stopped producing mittens. But, with my pair, the simple, streamlined construction and a non-bulky liner let me clip a carabiner and tie knots when ice climbing. They fit well and had a durable leather palm. Also, they were among the warmest in the review, holding their own in temps down to 20 degrees below zero. So if you can somehow still find a pair, buy ‘em.

A close second place goes to Black Diamond’s Mercury Mitt ($86, http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com). The company described them as cocoons for the hands, and indeed they’re stuffed with 284 grams of Primaloft insulation, the same fill used in cold-weather sleeping bags. They are nice waterproof-breathable mitts, but dexterity was not as good as with Granite Gear’s discontinued Lutsen Mitts. With the newest rendition of the Mercury Mitts, Black Diamond added a “trigger finger” removable liner that separates your index finger from the rest, increasing dexterity.

Marmot’s Expedition mitts ($110, http://www.marmot.com) take the warmest-of-all award. Made for Mount Everest climbers and South Pole scientists, the puffy Primaloft-stuffed waterproof mitts kept my hands toasty in extreme temps (as low as minus 30). In fact, the Primaloft is said to be twice as warm for its thickness than any other insulation. But the abundant insulation creates a mitt that lacks dexterity — I could easily grip a ski pole, but anything more than that was difficult.

The Cloudveil Troller mitts ($80, http://www.cloudveil.com), a classic leather mitt with a soft-shell back for stretch and breathability, is a nice model that deserves an honorable mention. It’s a neat combination, and the mitt balances warmth and dexterity well. Wear them on cold days down to 10 degrees or below.

—Stephen Regenold

Roanoke, Virginia Book Signing December 19th

Bruce Bytnar’s new book, “A Park Ranger’s Life: Thirty Two Years Protecting Our National Parks,” came out. It’s a highly entertaining and informative collection of true stories – ranging from his dealings with pesky bears to clueless visitors and from poachers to budget cuts – from his career with the National Park Service.

Where: Rams Head Book Shop this coming Saturday, December 19th. The store is in Roanoke, Virginia at 2137 Colonial Avenue in the Towers Shopping Center.

When: from 11am to 1pm.

Check out his Fan Page

Virginia’s Best Trophy Deer Hunting Spots

Bill Cochran, with the Roanoke Times, put out a great article on the top 10 spots in Virginia for bagging a trophy deer.

Here’s how the Roanoke Region stacks up:

#4 – Roanoke & Bedford (tie)
#8 – Floyd
#9 – Botetourt

Read the entire article and learn why>>>