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Nemo Asashi tent & Garage – Nemo’s excellent backpacking / lightweight family camping tent

September 10th, 2010 | Author: admin


www.webtogs.co.uk The new Nemo Asashi tent and the optional garage that goes with it have been one of the finds for us so far at Webtogs this summer. In this short video we show you how the Nemo Asashi goes up and what it looks like inside. Whilst you look at the video, lets give you the lowdown on the Nemo Asashi. Great adventure doesn’t always need to be miles from the nearest outpost of civilization. But finding a big tent to pitch at JTree or along the Kanc with all the style, quality, comfort and protection of a high-end backcountry shelter can be a challenge. The Nemo Asashi takes the highly efficient pole configuration from Nemo’s Losi series and expands it into a spacious 4 person design. It’s a touring wagon on a sports car chassis. Setup is straightforward thanks to contiguous pole sleeves, ball and socket attachments for the pole ends and an intuitive, symmetrical design. The Asashi includes four interior pockets, four LightPockets and optional Gear Loft, Pawprint, Footprint, and extra spacious Garage vestibule. Features: * Capacity: 4 * Frame: 4 DAC 9 / 9.5 / 11.1mm * Shell Fabric: Mesh / 30D PU Nylon * Fly Fabric: 70D PU Polyester * Interior Height: 152cm * Floor Area: 5.9sq m * Vestibule Area: 1.6sq m Tech details: Weight: 4700g / 166oz MULTIPLE GROMMET ADJUSTMENT Grommets are an easy way to secure pole end tips during tent setup. Since fabric tension can vary with the amount of moisture in the air, multiple grommets are mounted on a single anchor to allow …

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“Ring Of Fire” Alcohol Stove 1

September 9th, 2010 | Author: admin


This test is to show how clean this stove burns Isopropyl 91 alcohol. See more info on this stove at bplite.com the Nations best source for Do It Yourself outdoor gear.

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Anger is new director of Discovery Park

September 9th, 2010 | Author: admin

Anger is new director of Discovery Park
Discovery Park has a new director who wants to open the facility for more public use — including an outdoor classroom in a shaded area.

Read more on Eastern Arizona Courier



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Voodoo Tactical Level III Assault Pack Review

September 9th, 2010 | Author: admin


This is a video review of the Voodoo Tactical Level III Assault Pack. You can read the full review at www.armynavyblog.com and purchase the pack from www.vtarmynavy.com Or check out all the reviews in one place at kitreview.wordpress.com

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Miss! Pick me

September 9th, 2010 | Author: admin

Miss! Pick me
The experimental class where hands-up are banned

Read more on BBC News



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Where to Start with Backpacking Gear

September 8th, 2010 | Author: admin

The first place is with your backpack. The cornerstone of any backpacking venture begins with your backpacking gear, specifically the backpack itself. Call it the cornerstone of your venture since everything that you need to take with you will be carried within the bounds of this one and only entity and that causes things to be quite an challenge for you since you have to shoulder the load. However you decide on your backpacking gear will be grounded on how frequently you go on outside ventures in addition to however long these ventures are and what the weather will likely be. Two Types of Back Packs, Frameless vs. Framed. Among the first things that the majority of salespersons are going to inquire of you in reference to your backpacking gear is whether you require a frameless or a framed backpack . Backpacks that do not have frames are the most affordable of the bunch as well as being lighter and offering less mass. All the same, frameless backpacks should only be used for short light day activates and they do not come equipped to handle heavy bulky loads. The backpacks that come with an external frame are low-cost pieces of backpacking gear that make it much easier to pack for your outdoor venture. They come with many outside pockets as well as the fact that the external frame keeps the backpack itself away from your body and lesson the possibility of trapping sweat and moisture against you. External framed backpacks can hold bigger loads but they place the weight on the hips and the center of gravity is a little too high when compared to other backpack models. The internally framed backpacks are the most suitable of all backpacking gear and are additionally among the most expensive. However, these kinds of backpacks are more efficient and can shape to your body much better allowing you a lot more ease of movement plus they are able to distribute the weight of the load more equally throughout the hips and lower back area. With much more ventilation, the interior framed backpacks are quickly becoming the most common option in terms of backpacking gear. Staying Comfortable. The costliest backpacks around does not necessarily mean that they are the best choice of backpacking gear for your specific needs. A good salesperson will assist you in fitting the backpack to your body and point out all of the straps, buckles and other adjustable parts as well as the backpacks strong and weak points. Walk about the store with your backpack and ask for weights you can place inside the backpack so you are able to get a good idea of how it will really feel for you outdoors on the trail. Scrutinize the fabric for durability and determine if there are adequate compartments for storage in addition to adequate room for all of your equipment such as a sleeping bag, foam pad and more. Scrunch down and look up, try and feel for any binding or tightness to see if any of your movements are restrained in any way by your potentiality new backpack. A lot of people every year see Doctors because of injuries that were caused by improper backpack usage so you’ll need to exhaustively examine each piece of backpacking gear that appears suitable to your tasks. Prior to you making a final decision on your backpack, check the manufacturer’s website to see if replacement parts are available should something wear out or break. Being equipped for all contingencies is part a of the backpacking gear buying process.


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Cardio Training Tips For The Great Outdoors

September 8th, 2010 | Author: admin

Summer is always around one corner or another; even when it feels like it’s the dead of winter. After all, summer is only ever 8 months away at the most. But perhaps we should qualify that by saying that becoming prepared for summer and its many outdoor opportunities and fun-filled days, is something that pays off rapidly, no matter what the season. Before you know it, the preparations that you make for summer in crisp weather, are soon leading into hot, sunny days with zero cloud cover. Each year, we find ourselves asking, “Where did the time go?”

It’s never too early – or too late – to get in touch with summer’s many activities, or in shape for them. Many activities that we can enjoy as a part of a season of sun shining for 12 + hours daily can be enjoyed in one form or another all year long. And that isn’t only for those lucky enough to live in hot climates, such as L. A. or San Diego, that’s for just about everyone! In fact, the time we spend training in these activities during seasons outside of summer, only make our participation in them during the summer months, all the more rewarding. The key is, that it may take us folks with four definite seasons a little extra creativity to come up with the perfect training tool or activity to both enjoy in the moment and prepare us for summer fun!

So what does everyone like to do in summer? Well, if you’re an active person, hiking or trail running is high on the list, as is biking and swimming. These take a certain amount of strength, but mostly they require endurance, which makes them a great way to get outside and get some sun and cardio at the same time.

You may not be able to do all of these exercises where you live, but go ahead and pick one that you may be able to do and run (no pun intended) with it. Trust us, exercising outdoors beats the panties off doing cardio in some sweaty gym next to a 300lb. housewife.

Outdoor Cardiovascular Activities

Many of you who are out of shape may consider the simple act of pounding tent poles into the ground at a campsite a cardiovascular activity, but we can assure you it isn’t! However, if you’re anything like us, you have to start someplace, and maybe pounding tent poles is all you’ve been motivated to do for the past 5 years. Just think if you brought along a pair of hiking boots or a bicycle… life might become even more exciting!

Cycling

Since cycling can encompass more than one type, we broke this category in half and devoted equal time to mountain biking and road cycling. Each requires different equipment. People engage in them for very different reasons, but choosing either can provide innumerable benefits to those seeking cardiovascular fitness.

Mountain Biking

The mountain bike is the weekend warrior’s finest tool. Mountain bikes can run anywhere from $149 for a basic model (purchased at a membership warehouse) that includes no front fork shocks, and a heavier steel frame, all the way to $2,500 for a model imported from Europe that highlights a lightweight aluminum frame, shocks, a suspension seat for position and comfort and the highest quality gears and sprockets. It’s the difference between hideous tasting margarine and triple cream gourmet butter, and it all depends upon your budget and how intensely you want to focus on the sport.

Does each do the job of taking you from garage to trail? You bet. Though, you might require carpel tunnel surgery for your wrists after riding the model without suspension over a period of years and miles.

Places to Go: The great thing is, mountain biking offers something for just about everyone from the youngest rider to the grayest of seniors. For the adventurous, many ski areas in the central part of the U. S. and some on the East and West coasts will offer summer programs and passes for mountain biking along the many trails within a ski area. Snowboard terrain parks, complete with half pipes, are opened up to adventurous (read: young and fearless) folks who want to ride mountain bikes and BMX cycles down a course of rails and obstacles. For those more cerebrally adventurous folks, portions of Lewis and Clark Trails from North Dakota across into Oregon are opened up in the summer for those wanting sane, leisurely, historic rides across gentle hills and valleys.

Equipment needed:

Mountain bike, helmet, and cycling shoes if you forgo toe baskets. A good flat kit,

Calories burned:

Recreational riding ~ between 10-15 calories per minute

Hardcore trail riding ~ between 15-22 calories per minute

Advantage:

Anyone can get on a mountain bike and ride without instruction, the ability to commune with nature, by engaging physically, mentally and emotionally.

Disadvantages:

Bone, soft tissue and internal injuries at one time or another are likely. Death on trails with trees and rocks is always a possibility, even with good equipment. Ride according to ability at all times.

Benefits:

Burns body fat, strengthens leg muscles, improves balance and dexterity

THINK: Circuit training on wheels

Mountain Biking Capital of the U. S. : Moab, Utah

Most Intriguing Mountain Biking Trip:

206 mile, week long, Hut-to-Hut travel from Telluride, Colorado to Moab, Utah, for more information: www. sanjuanhuts. com

Road Cycling

Touring bikes are the antithesis of the mountain bike. They are much lighter in total weight, typically feature an aluminum frame these days, and are much more expensive to own and maintain because of the quality of gearing. Whereas most people would probably just store their mountain bikes in the garage all year, without having cleaned the mud off, touring bikes specifically designed for road cycling require maintenance and up-keep; the least of which is cleaning dirt off a frame! Road cycling, however, provides the purest of cardio advantages, whereas mountain biking can often make heart rates fluctuate too severely during actual trail riding to provide consistent fat burning benefits.

Prices for adequate touring cycles start at around $350 for a very basic, heavier model with no bells and whistles, an uncomfortable “saddle” and gears that will eventually break without too much prompting, all the way up to $5000 for an entry level world class cycle. If you plan on cycling religiously, it pays to pay in the upper range. That range would likely start at $1000 for a reliable road bike you can take out and ride between 50 and 100 miles, 5 days per week.

Equipment needed:

A good quality road bike, a flat kit, helmet, biker shorts with butt padding for long rides, a quality saddle that doesn’t compromise genitalia, a map or GPS device, and a heart rate monitor.

Calories burned:

20-25 per minute on extended rides, depending upon speed.

Advantages:

Because you’re riding on pavement, the need to worry about changes in terrain is usually non-existent. You can keep a steady pace and burn fat at a rate set by you on your heart rate monitor. Road access is much easier to come by than trail access, so you can literally ride anywhere.

Disadvantages:

The initial investment is high for those who aren’t sure. Not investing in a good bike can cause you to formulate an opinion of road cycling you might not otherwise form with superior equipment. You run the risk of getting hit by a car, or the injuries you sustain from constant strain can require rehab.

Benefits:

Burns fat, allows the person to see the world from a bike, builds great quads, hamstrings and calves because feet are attached and part of pedal. Can produce elite cardiovascular conditioning with half the stress of running.

Cycling Capital of North America:

Montreal, Canada

Most Intriguing Cycling Event:

Montreal Bike Fest’s “Tour de I’lle” and “Un Tour la Nuit” in Montreal, Canada – a carnival of cyclery held in early June each year, where 45,000 folks peddle through the streets of Montreal; both during the day and on night rides through the city. For more information, contact either:

www. tourisme-montreal. org

OR

www. velo. qc. ca

Hiking/Trail Running

We lumped these together because they are, after all, the total package of logical progression from sometime weekend warrior to elite athletic runner. Start with hiking and if you want more than beautiful scenery and gently inclined trails, pick up the pace and start running.

Hiking

The great thing about hiking is that you can do it anywhere. And the best part is, it usually costs nothing. You can hike across the K-Mart parking lot over to the local A&P or you can hike a famous national forest trail in search of mountain goats and shortness of breath. Dizzying and exhilarating is how anyone might describe serious hiking, however. And there is a difference. Walking is walking and hiking is hiking. The difference is, there is usually a trail involved in hiking, and the terrain can change on a moment’s notice. That’s the excitement and unknown element inherent in hiking that makes it so appealing to well over 1 million people in the U. S. each year. And while that’s still a lot of sedentary folk left behind, more and more people are getting into hiking as a way of life – either seasonally or year ‘round – in order to improve their level of fitness and to help them commune with nature.

The great thing is, there’s a hike for practically anyone of any age and physical condition. There are flat trails that are one mile or less – something along the lines of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens – to Glacier National Park just outside of Kalispell, Montana, where trails can lead hikers for hundreds of miles, to the HardCore outback of Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness where it’s wild and wooly and a man could get lost for an eternity without supplies and a good GPS device. Any way you choose to go, hiking can provide you with exercise, and plenty of exposure to the wonders of nature.

Equipment needed:

Your two good legs, comfortable clothes (such as pants w/ zip off legs), a pair of wool socks, hiking boots (broken in), as much water as you can carry

Calories burned:

10-18 per minute, depending upon the trail pitch and pace of hiker.

Advantages:

Anyone can put one foot in front of the other. It usually costs nothing apart from the initial investment into quality gear. Can stop and take photographs of wildlife that might never come into your own backyard. Brings families closer together.

Disadvantages:

You must always carry at least water, along with survival food, a good First-aid kit, and something for cover and additional warmth. A navigational device is always advised.

Benefits:

Burns fat in a steady stream, and put less stress on joints than running or cycling. Has been known to calm jangled nerves from stressful jobs.

America’s Most Intriguing Hikes:

Glacier National Park (Be Grizzly Bear aware prior to endeavoring this area) anyplace in the Colorado Rockies.

Trail Running

Trail running is the next step after hiking. Other than the initial investment in gear, it too costs nothing to engage in. However, because it is a move toward taking fitness just a little more seriously and nature a little less seriously, the costs can be seen in other areas, such as injury.

By nature of the activity itself, trail running doesn’t allow for leisurely hours of loping across trails because it can be quickly brutal on joints, winding, a stress on the heart muscle (unless you’re in fantastic shape to start), and tedious for overall balance. But trail running can take you through an area much more rapidly and can help you increase your cardiovascular health ten-fold compared to the occasional weekend leisure hike.

So what if you live in an area where hills and valleys and mountaintops are hard to come by? Don’t worry, there are plenty of forested trails, bloom-speckled meadows, or trails that run alongside a lake or river in almost any city, that make trail running possible for anyone. But if you want the challenges of the Rocky Mountains in Minnesota, for example, you may want to strap on a pack full of rocks to give yourself the added resistance of extra weight to take the place of inclines and steeps. Get your balance long before you choose that option though. For those in totally urban areas, run streets, hills, stairs and across railroad yards or something more industrial to give yourself the thrill of ever-changing terrain. Make sure you condition yourself with regular runs first, and then work on lateral strength in the gym to ensure knee and ankle safety out on the trail.

Equipment needed:

A good pair of trail-specific shoes, made by Nike, New Balance, Saucony or a host of other reliable manufacturers. Comfortable, breathable clothes.

In the off-season, use balance disks to improve your proprioception and balance on trail.

Calories burned:

18-25 calories per minute, depending upon pace and difficulty of trail.

Advantages:

Anyone can do it – well almost anyone. Just equip yourself well and prepare with strength training and endurance work in the gym during the winter. Burn an incredible number of calories – more than normal jogging – and improves muscular condition in lower body rapidly.

Disadvantages:

Can open person up to severe lateral joint injuries, can cause severe injury, or in some cases, death, depending upon fall. No helmets, armor or padding are worn as in rollerblading or other high-speed sports performed on changing terrain.

Benefits:

Can improve cardiovascular fitness rapidly.

Best Trail Running Terrain:

The Golden Triangle (along the California coast) between Monterey and San Francisco; flanked inland by the Silicon Valley.

Swimming

The great thing about swimming is, it is a versatile sport at the very least. If you live in an urban area anywhere east of Arizona, and west of Florida, you can swim, indoors, all year long and train for the day when you can leave the city on weekends and go swim in a natural body of water. If you’re lucky enough to live in southern California, or sunny Florida, you rarely have to wait because you can dive into the ocean between Malibu and San Diego or Fort Lauderdale and the Keys, almost any time of the year (okay, maybe with a few wetsuit days in there) and paddle on top of the waves to your heart’s content.

Usually, it’s easier to learn to swim and build endurance in a pool. The water’s not murky, it’s calm, it’s set up into lanes, and there’s a clock on the wall to tell you how far you’ve swum in a certain amount of time. With training, it’s the way to go. But when summer hits, it’s time to test your swimming acumen in open waters, so to speak, by taking your game on the road and diving into a lake, river or ocean. Open water can be frightening to some people, but just as you built a certain comfort level in a chlorinated pool, so too can you build your comfort level in an open body of natural water.

If you’re interested in eventually competing in either triathlons or mini-triathlons, you’ll have to take your act out of the pool and plunge into a lake or ocean sooner or later anyhow, so summer is a great time to get used to that. Besides, becoming a strong, confident swimmer is an invaluable resource for many reasons, including if you go boating, water skiing or surfing. Taking a life-saving course is a great way to test your abilities in the water and a good way to ensure that you can protect yourself and others in a pinch.

Life Saving Course:

$50-$75 at the local YMCA

Cost of Pool membership:

$30-$60/ month; lake swimming: free

Calories burned:

25 per minute

Equipment needed:

Swim trunks ($15), goggles ($15) if you need them, swim cap ($7) for pool. Optional: Heart rate monitor

Advantages:

It’s a free activity if you swim in rivers, lakes, or the ocean. It’s a great way to shrug off stress and get into great cardiovascular condition.

Disadvantages:

You can drown if you don’t know what you’re doing in natural bodies of water, such as oceans or rivers. Know current or tidal patterns prior to getting feet wet. Chlorine is hard on skin and hair.

Benefits:

You can improve your heart’s condition and lose body fat rapidly once you develop the ability to pace yourself in a swim. It provides a lot of fun and escape from extremely hot temperatures in the summer. It allows you to endeavor water sports with confidence.


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THE LIGHTEST TENT IN THE WORLD! TERRA NOVA LASER ULTRA 1 EXCLUSIVE

September 8th, 2010 | Author: admin


Livefortheoutdoors.com is at Friedrichshafen’s legendary outdoor tradeshow this week, and is pleased to bring you a video which – despite its admittedly low production values – is pretty hot: the lightest tent in the world! The Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1 is a one person, two-layer tent made from revolutionary fabric Ultra. It is so light it cannot hold dye, which is why this tent looks rather peculiar – but at 560g, (minimum 490g) it smashes the previous record and the new fabric – similar to sail material – is also featured on rucksacks and sleeping bags, meaning that now you can have a pack containing a tent and sleeping bag for under 1kg! Seriously… how much lighter can things get? See more exclusive gear from Friedrichshafen 2010 at www.livefortheoutdoors.com

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Volunteer anglers share knowledge at Lovers Key

September 7th, 2010 | Author: admin

Volunteer anglers share knowledge at Lovers Key
Greg Bell tossed part of the white cast net over his right shoulder, lifted his two palms up and swung out to his left, like he was flinging a…

Read more on The News-Press



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Comfort in The Great Outdoors Begins with A Targeted Shopping Strategy

September 7th, 2010 | Author: admin

If you are an avid hunter, then you have formed some very definite camping gear shopping strategies to prepare you for long nights in the wild, sitting in a blind waiting for a deer to approach close enough to give you good target range. You know you will be sitting pretty because you bought the best compact folding chair on the market. The camping gear shopping strategies you have planned, are centered on keeping you snug, and dry enough to emerge every morning, ready for a full day of stalking game in the bush. The camping tents will surely keep the rain off your head, and the sleeping bags are filled with goose down, that have been tested to keep you warm even if the temperatures drop to 20 degrees outside.  Your camping gear shopping strategies continue to pan out with the Ghillie suit you bought. You will feel very confident that the bucks will not see you. These bucks will not stand a chance when you are camouflaged, with your carefully blended terrain swirls that blend out onto your hood, face veil, jacket and pants. Even the rifle in your hands will blend in with the rile wrap you bought as part of your camping gear shopping strategies. Keeping cool will not present any type of problem to you when you are out in the wild, because your camping gear shopping strategies included a soft-sided cooler that could keep you stocked with that amber liquid delicacy you like so much. Your camping gear shopping strategies allowed you to entertain smartly too, because the chair and the cooler perfectly matched each other. You know you will be able to camp out in style, even the remote little area you chose, deep in the wild. Based on past experiences of camping and sleeping in the woods, you knew that your camping gear shopping strategies had to include a good insect repellant. Now, all of your outdoor adventures will be bug free, because you stocked up on a ton of refills for that nicely scented bug machine, and got them at a very good price. You feel so good each morning that you could carve out a new path to the Yukon territories and you could probably do it with the wide assortment of buck knives that you brought with you on your camping trip. This was one of the camping gear shopping strategies that you could not leave home without that, otherwise you would have to use a can opener to open your beans for dinner each night. Yeah, it will sure be fun to get out in the great outdoors and rough it for a while.   You think you have it all under control, because your camping gear shopping strategies provided you all the comforts of home. You GPS system will help keep you within a respectable distance of your hunter friends that are right around the bend. You know they are there, because in their camping gear shopping strategies, they included a two-way radio that keeps them in touch with you all night. You do not mind the occasional squawk out of them, but your camping gear shopping strategies get messed up some time.   You would prefer to hear the latest MP3 files that you downloaded at home. Yeah, you had to include it in your camping gear shopping strategies because you could not imagine going out in the wild without your new digital technology cellular phone device that lets you groove all night long.


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