Is Green Gear Better?

I like outdoor gear… a lot. I like to research it, compare it, test it, talk about it… you get the idea. Right now there are countless new and innovative outdoor products, and it’s exciting to see that many of these new options weigh less, work better, and are more eco-friendly than previous versions.

I’m really excited to see outdoor gear companies researching and producing green alternatives that actually work. I embrace eco-friendly products and the companies that make them, but here’s the caveat, I’m not going to spend my hard earned money on a piece of gear if it isn’t completely functional and durable.

Last week I returned a brand new Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 tent that arrived at my house with three small holes in it. This particular tent is made with new DAC poles (eco-friendly anodizing process) and has an awesome list of features, not to mention it’s a 2008 Backpacker Magazine Editors’ Choice winner. I was drawn to the tent based on great specs, and the fact that Big Agnes is focusing on environmentally responsible products. I’m sure the faulty tent I received was a fluke, and despite being a bit apprehensive I’ll probably give Big Agnes another chance.

My point is this, with all the “green” marketing hype I hope that companies aren’t sacrificing quality for the sake of “going green”. The green concept is still very controversial, and many people see it as just another trend. For green products to be viewed as truly viable options, they need to be as good or better than their traditional counterparts.

Outside Magazine recently published a list of outdoor gear companies that are eco-friendly. You can read about them here.

Recycle Your Empty Fuel Canisters

 

Do you have hordes of empty fuel canisters taking up space in your garage or basement?  Are you wondering how to responsibly dispose of them?

 

 

I recently came across this short but very useful article in the February edition of Backpacker Magazine.  Check it out, it’s well worth the read.  Thanks Backpacker.

 

Total Lunar Eclipse

I’ve always been intrigued by astronomy, so I was excited when I learned that there would be a total lunar eclipse last week. If you don’t know much about lunar eclipses don’t feel bad, neither did I. After doing a little web research at Wikepedia and NASA, I learned that a total lunar eclipse occurs only when the full moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, blocking the sun’s rays from illuminating the moon. During the eclipse there is total alignment of the sun, moon, and earth. Incredible. Anyway, that was the dumbed down version, so if you want to learn more about lunar eclipses be sure to check out both of the links above.

Last Wednesday’s lunar eclipse was visible in North America, South America, western Europe, Africa and western Asia. I’ll bet that astronomers and photography geeks all over the world were staring up into the sky, hoping for a cloudless night. I know I was. In fact, I completely zoned out at work all day, mentally rehearsing where I would setup my camera to get the best possible shots. My yard has too many trees so I had get creative and setup down by the road… That’s right, I am officially the neighborhood freak now. It’s not often that you see a guy out after dark in 0˚ weather, standing in a foot of snow, wearing a ski mask and headlamp, bundled from head to toe in artic gear, and standing behind a tripod while staring into the sky for almost two hours. I kept waiting for the police to show up, but they never did. Fortunately, we got a rare break in the snowy weather, and the sky cleared up for the duration of the eclipse. Here’s a few of the images I was able capture…

I don’t know much about astronomy, but it seems to me that it’s a lot like outdoor adventure, in fact in many ways it is outdoor adventure. The night sky is accessible to everyone, and you certainly don’t have to be an accomplished astronomer with a massive telescope to enjoy it. And like any outdoor adventure, it can be a very awesome and humbling experience.

This was the last total lunar eclipse until 2010, however, in August of this year there will be a total solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse, so mark your calendars and start planning now. All you need is patience and a clear view… oh, and maybe some thermal underwear (for really cold temps I recommend Patogonia’s R1 Pants and Cloudveil’s Run Don’t Walk Zip Neck).

Petzl Zipka Plus… The Best Just Got Better

How many times have you found yourself fumbling around in the dark with a traditional flashlight?  Nothing is more frustrating than trying to juggle a flashlight while setting up a tent, reading a map, changing a flat, etc.  I cringe when I think about all the backpacking miles I’ve logged with a heavy mag-lite in my pack.  Sure, it never failed me, and I could probably fight off a bear with it (or at least an angry squirrel), but it weighed a ton.  Thankfully Petzl makes a fantastic option that will free up your hands and provide you with more than enough light for most applications – the Petzl Zipka Plus. 

Headlamps have been around for ages, but I’m not talking about your grandfather’s old coal mining headlamp.  Today’s headlamps are light, powerful, durable and affordable.  I’ve been using Petzl Headlamps since the early 90’s and they keep getting better.  I was originally drawn to them for night hiking, but quickly found them useful for many other activities.  As manufacturers continually manage to squeeze more power into smaller lights, their usefulness continues to expand.  Being an avid nature photographer I am often shooting in lowlight conditions and I find that a headlamp is crucial.  I also use my headlamp for mountain biking, backpacking, working on my Jeeps, and the list goes on.

For years my favorite headlamp has been the original Petzl Tikka.  It’s small, lightweight, bright enough for navigating a trail at night, and the LED bulbs seem to last forever.  I didn’t think the Tikka could get any better, but I was wrong.   I recently upgraded to the newer Petzl Zipka Plus and it is simply amazing.  The Zipka Plus offers all the features of the Tikka, while weighing less and packing more power via additional LED bulbs.  Not only is it lighter, it features an elastic retractable headband, which enables it to be fastened to just about anything (I’ve attached it to tripod legs and bike handlebars).  Conveniently, the Tikka and Zipka operate on standard AAA batteries, offer three different lighting levels, are water resistant, and come with a three year warranty.

To my knowledge, Petzl was the first to produce mini headlamps and I’ve been using them ever since.  I’ve looked at other brands (Black Diamond and Princeton Tec) but I’ve had no reason to switch. My Zipka Plus rotates between my camera bag and my Camelbak at all times, and my Tikka now serves as a trusty backup.  I rarely go anywhere outdoors without my Zipka Plus, it’s that good.  Plus its green, the perfect color for an adventure!

The North Face Nuptse Bootie

So last night I was out photographing the Lunar Eclipse at 5˚F… it was bitter cold.  For me, photographing in the dead of winter requires seriously warm gear because I am often sitting or standing stationary for long periods of time.  After layering up like “Randy” (Ralphie’s kid brother in the Christmas Story) I threw on my North Face Nuptse boots and headed out into the cold. 

 The Nuptse is a casual base-camp type boot that insulates with 700 fill down.  It incorporates a rubber EVA outsole and a water resistant nylon upper.  My favorite feature is the cinch strap around the collar, which keeps the elements out and the heat in.  I treated both mine and my wife’s pair with scotch-guard spray to increase the water resistance, and neither of us have had any leaks so far.  MSRP is $69 but if you look around online you can usually find them for around $30-40. 

This is my second winter in the Nuptse boots and so far they’ve handled everything I’ve thrown at them, including short jaunts in sub-zero temperatures.  I’m pretty sure they were designed with more of an after-ski role in mind, but I use them regularly while running my snowblower or making quick runs to the store.  They’ve always kept my feet warm while moving around, but I wasn’t sure if they’d keep me warm while standing in a foot of snow in single digit temperatures for over an hour?  I have to say they did better than I expected, my feet stayed warm right up until the end.  These definitely aren’t designed for trekking, as they offer minimal support, but they are ultra comfortable and easy to slip off and on.  If you’re looking for warmth, minimal weight, casual comfort, and après styling then check them out.  

Footprints In The Snow

As my friend Sean has already mentioned, our whole concept here is to focus on outdoor adventure, whether it’s an epic trip, a short hike through the local woods, or the discovery of a new route you never knew existed. Whatever your chosen venue for outdoor adventure may be, no matter how routine, if it challenges or inspires you, then it deserves acknowledgment.

As I write this, I am staring out my window at 8 inches of fresh snow that have fallen in the past 7 hours. The remnants of my footprints from yesterday’s hike are barely discernable beneath the fresh powder. To me those tracks in the snow represent more than a routine excursion into the woods behind my house. They remind me that adventure is always waiting, and it’s only a step away.

I think Tolkien summed up the adventurers spirit very accurately when he said, “Not all those who wander are lost.”

Chris

The Adventure Begins

So my friend and I both like the outdoors. We also both have jobs that have nothing to do with the outdoors. I sit behind a computer screen all day long and generally day dream about climbing a mountain, blazing a trail or at the very least being out in the sunshine. However, when you live in a big city as I do, it can be tough to get the motivation to seek out these types of activities. After all it’s not like there is a mountain on my doorstep or within a day’s drive for that matter.  Knowing myself I would probably just get discouraged, make up an excuse and find my way back to a comfy chair.

Not this time though! After talking with said friend we asked ourselves a few questions. What would be a way to keep us continually involved in outdoor activities? How about a blog where we can write about what we have been up to or maybe some great new place that we have found? Who would read it? Who cares. It’s for us. But I’m not good at outdoor “stuff”. So what? That’s part of the adventure.

So no more excuses! This is now the chronical of two friends adventure into the outdoors!

Sean