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May 3, 2007Need an Adventure: Remote Area Medical
In return for your services RAM will offer the adventure of a lifetime. Parachuting into the middle of the rain forest and providing emergency medicine (or support services for our readers who fancy themselves in the MacGyver role), and then hiking, canoing or 4x4ing it back out of the country is a common experience. For those not experienced in skydiving RAM now also offers training through the nonprofit school called "Airdrop Assist". If working in the Airborne division of RAM sounds too intense, RAM also offers several expeditions that use conventional means to get into a country, however, all locales are remote areas and will require significant skill and dedication to reach a destination even once inside the country. It's not called Remote Area Medical for nothing. RAM offers several videos of expeditions in action as well as promotional content. For more information (and applications) visit Remote Area Medical directly.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 12:10 PM | Comments (0) May 2, 2007Corsair Flash Survivor USB 2.0 Flash Drives
The Corsair Flash Survivor drives are perhaps the only real contender in the rugged flash drives niche. These drives are water resistant to 200 meters and boast some shock protection. The casing is aluminum. For me the best feature is a lack of reliance on the ubiquitous click-caps used by nearly every other flash drive. These drives are the ticket if you'd like to protect up to 8GB of data from dust, water, and sudden drops. The 4GB version retails for $60 and the 8GB version retails for $130. With the larger version you're not only getting more space, but (according to Corsair) higher speed as well.
Written by Beau Gunderson, edited by Beau Gunderson, and posted at 3:32 PM | Comments (0) April 30, 2007Brunton Echo 12x26 Binocular Review
I was recently in the market for a pair of binoculars that could take some abuse, fit in my already overcrowded pack, and still provide a decent zoom. The other major component was that since I knew these particular binoculars would take some serious abuse, I didn't want to spend a significant amount on them. Taking a quick trip to REI, I decided to test drive the Brunton Echo Compact 12x26 binoculars. They were light, folded up enough to fit in a pants pocket but still retained a decent 12x zoom with a 26mm objective lens. Image Quality: Image quality was quite good, especially when considering the price of the Echo Compact. I wouldn't recommend a 12x zoom to all of our readers, as the field of view begins to drastically narrow after 8-10x. This particular model will display about 288 ft @ 1,000 yards, which for some users will make it difficult to find what they're looking for on the horizon with-out lining up your shot before hand. Brunton uses a BAK-4 prism on the entire Echo line, which is superior to the more commonly used BK-7 prims found on the lower end binoculars. The BAK-4 uses a higher density glass, producing a technically superior image and sharper detail. That being said, at 12x zoom the binoculars do need a decent amount of light to provide a clear image, however, they are quite a bit better than most 'zoom' adjustable binoculars and will function in most any condition outside of late evening. If you plan on using them most during late evening, I would recommend picking up something with a little less zoom and a larger objective lens than 26mm. Form Factor: The size of the binoculars is pretty impressive, especially for a 12x. When folded up they're small enough to fit in my hand and will actually tuck into a cargo pants pocket very easily. The 12x model weighs in at 10.7 ounces. Looking to shed more weight? Brunton also makes a 10x and 8x model at 9.2 and 7.8 ounces respectively. All models come in the same size: 4.8" x 2.8" x 1.8". Despite the fairly light weight, they feel very solid and strong. I would have no reservations about beating them up a little. Verdict: For a casual compact pair of binoculars they're a good offering, and generally better than most binoculars in this price range. Additionally you'll be hard pressed to find something as powerful with this kind of size. That being said, I would recommend spending a little more money for the versatility and quality that something like the Nikon EagleView 8-24x25 Binoculars offer, especially if you're looking to purchase your first pair of primary binoculars and don't want to spend over $200. Pros: Compact, good zoom, cheap, rugged, only 10.7 ounces at 12x26mm Brunton Echo 12x26 Binoculars for $56.00 direct from Brunton.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 1:30 PM | Comments (0) April 28, 2007Bottle Cap Tripods!
The Yodobashi bottle cap tripod is still the only easily commercially available product of its kind. It's now on sale at Semson's for nearly half off, at $10.99. The more adventurous among you might prefer to make your own for $3.37 in parts and a small investment of time. Both methods are great way to save some space and weight while travelling if you've got a camera small enough to make this useful.
Written by Beau Gunderson, edited by Beau Gunderson, and posted at 2:58 PM | Comments (0) GPS Innovation Roundup
There are quite a few GPS solutions out there but lately there has been some innovation in two categories: Unit size and units that use solar power. Size: Spectec SDG-810 and SDG-811. These are SD and miniSD units that also contain a microSD slot for map data. GlobalSat BC-337 WAAS enabled SiRFIII CF GPS Receiver. This is a CompactFlash receiver. The lack of onboard memory may be a hindrance, but in devices that support CompactFlash it may not be a problem. GlobalSat SD-502 WAAS enabled SDIO GPS with Built-in Memory. This is virtually the same product as the Spectec SD line, though GlobalSat differentiates theirs by including 512MB of internal memory instead of a microSD slot and by including a snap-on cap to protect the SD base. Visiontac VGPS-700. From my research this may be the current title-holder for smallest Bluetooth GPS. It boasts an impressive (for its size) 17-20 hour battery life. I'd like to know from our readers if its title has been usurped in the months since its release. All products support NMEA and use the SiRFstar III chipset. Solar Power: Keomo Nemerix 32-Channel Solar Data Logger. This unit looks much like the i-Blue757 Pro and in fact one unit may be a re-branded version of the other (or both units may in fact be rebranded versions of some third unit). Both units use solar power to achieve an impressive battery life (100+ hours while using the solar panel!), support 32 channels and Bluetooth communication, and are quite small. Solarius V5-MR, V5-SR, and V3. These units all support Bluetooth and have solar cells (though with less impressive battery life than the Keomo and i-Blue units). I haven't been able to track down the manufacturer site. Bonus: I've long been a fan of the Delorme Blue Logger and can't resist mentioning it in a roundup of innovative GPS units. I have a question for our readers, however: Is there a newer contender for the niche this unit fills?
Written by Beau Gunderson, edited by Beau Gunderson, and posted at 2:44 PM | Comments (1) H20 Audio Waterproof iPod Cases
If you've ever wanted to listen to your iPod while swimming, snorkeling or navigating an inhospitable environment then the H20 Audio line of Waterproof iPod cases is for you. They're tough, waterproof and sexy. The case is a water tight compartment, lined with what they call a "T Seal" type of gasket. By using a dual locking hinge system, H2O is able to ensure a tight compression around the entire iPod thereby keeping water out. How do you maintain control of your audio while in such a sophisticated case, you ask? H2O's patented case design is complete with a Commander™ Scroll Wheel control assembly, allowing seamless song switching even while wearing gloves. To prevent water seeping in through the headphone connection, a SealTight™ rubber boot is installed at the base of the unit. While most headphones themselves are not waterproof, H2O sells a line of waterproof headsets that are well regarded for their audio quality and propensity to stay in place while swimming. Capable of depths of up to 10 feet (or 200 feet using the DV model), the H2O Audio iPod Cases are highly recommended when you can't let a simple thing like Level 4 white water rapids deprive you of your rocking tunes. Starting at $79.95 direct from H2O Audio.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) April 27, 2007Cocoon Ripstop Silk Bag Liner
While looking around for a new sleeping pad today, I found a great addition to my summer camping gear. The Cocoon Ripstop Silk Bag Liner. If you've never used one before, a sleeping bag liner is a great way to improve the temperature rating of your bag, provide a quick drying moisture liner and keep the bag cleaner and longer between cleaning cycles. This specific bag liner is made of a woven ripstop silk to increase durability. The bag should add 9.5° F to your current bags rated cold temperature threshold, which may allow you to use your lighter summer bags longer into the season. Alternatively if the night is warmer than you had planned for, you can use the Silk liner sans sleeping bag for a more comfortable night out. The Cocoon Ripstop bags are available from REI for $40 - $65. Cocoon Ripstop Silk Bag Liner: 6.5 ounces, dim. 86" x 35", stuffs to 2" x 5" Also Available: Cocoon CoolMax Mummy Liner: 9 ounces, CoolMax polyester, adds +8 degrees, $40
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 6:43 PM | Comments (0) April 26, 2007OnStar Partners with MapQuest
OnStar announced today a new partnership with MapQuest that will enable drivers to plan and design their route with the popular website and transfer the route to their in-car OnStar navigation system. A brilliant idea indeed as I despise the built in navigation interfaces on most in-car systems. They typically only allow point-to-point driving directions with no ability to modify your route or add multiple points of interest easily, especially while driving. Using this new system, users can preplan their own routes via the MapQuest interface and have it sent to their in-car nav system. MapQuest allows for additional functionality not present in most in-car navigation systems. Features such as the ability to string together several points of interest or choose multiple point-to-point routes, as well as the obvious ability to see your route highlighted on a map prior to getting in the car. The system will start via a pilot program this summer, with a full roll-out slated for late 2007. Additional information available via the OnStar Press Release.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 10:05 AM | Comments (0) April 25, 2007Ten Essentials to a Better Body
Many of us tend to put on weight in the adventuring off-season as we return to our less adventurous life styles. Often-times it may be hard to notice you're no longer in shape. That is, until you set out on the seasons first hike. In an effort to assist our readers in the early spring clamor to get in shape, I have written a self-help guide for our readers to aid in the quest to lose weight and gain a greater level of fitness. Below you will find my ten essentials to a better body. 1) Drink Water: Water is essential to every process in the body, including helping the liver breakdown stored fat (our goal) for use as tangible energy. Aside from aiding fat break down, keeping muscles hydrated is the key to solid workout gains. When the body lacks water, performance suffers and degrades rapidly. Waters role in physical activity is a multi-tier one. Water is essential to transportation of nutrients through the blood, lubricates the skeletal joints and is one of the body's primary heat exchange methods to keep you cool. For maximum performance, drink a large amount of water before working out rather than playing catch-up during exercise. Exercise isn't the only time you should be drinking the clear stuff; drink it constantly through-out the day for its supreme apatite suppression benefits. 2) Eat More to Lose More: It sounds like a mutually exclusive paradox I know, however eating 5-6 smaller meals through-out the day is a proven method of kicking your metabolism into overdrive. Additionally, by eating at regular intervals 2 to 2 1/2 hours a part you can avoid the sharp hunger pangs normally experienced between meals, making it easier to stay on course with your new diet. Eat plenty of lean meats, vegetables and fruits, keeping your overall protein and fiber intake high. To best meet this goal I recommend preparing most of your meals in advance at home. Planning and cooking meals the previous night, such as boneless skinless chicken and some veggies, is a great idea and will help eliminate unhealthy impulse buys. 3) Lift to Lose: When people think of dropping some pounds and slimming up they immediately think cardio is king, all too many ignore the Kryptonite of fat: muscle mass. Unlike fat, muscle is a very metabolically active tissue; burning 8 calories per pound of lean body mass versus fats 2 calories per pound. Get in the gym and stress your body 3-5 days a week with a solid lifting plan. Staying consistent is key; after four weeks in the gym you should start to notice a shift in your body composition and strength. The bonus: all the extra calories you'll burn just by walking in your new leaner form. 4) Adopt a Sport: Most people can stick with a fitness program for 4-6 weeks fairly consistently. After that, despite gains in the gym and shrinkage on the scale they will quit. Why? Boredom. Don't fall into the slump. Adopt physical activities outside of the gym that you enjoy such as hiking, golf, tennis, adult soccer leagues etc. Even going on a daily walk burns substantially more calories than sitting on the couch. Pick an activity; if you're already doing one do it more often.
Continue reading "Ten Essentials to a Better Body" Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 10:02 PM | Comments (0) April 24, 2007Oval Luxeon Light: Day Pack Essential
I go on frequent "Day Hikes", whereby I take essentially nothing save for water and maybe a snack. In doing so, I've cursed myself on more than one occasion after I realize I've stayed out past sunset, and now I have to trudge back through the trail on my hands and knees or by the dim light of a cell phone held over my head (that was less than a fun trip, I assure you). Enter the Oval. Not just an ordinary flashlight, it features a forward facing high intensity Luxeon star capable of a claimed 10 times the power output of a standard LED cluster, in addition to a dual LED lamp facing down at the trail just ahead. Superior to a dimly lit trail via cell phone back light any day. Runs on 3 "AAA" batteries for 10 hours of full illumination, and up to 30 hours of diminishing light. Also features a multi-function switch to activate both lights, just the forward or just the downward firing. At 6oz, it shouldn't be hard to justify as a "just in case" item on your next day hike. Available direct from OvalLight for $29.99.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 7:00 PM | Comments (0) September 20, 2006Crystal Stick - Natural Body Deodorant
How does a chunk of mineral salts claim to deodorize? When passed over damp skin (it's a dry rock remember?) it leaves a transparent non-sticky barrier on the skin, allowing sweat and toxins from the body through, while preventing bacteria that cause odors the ability to grow on the skin surface. Thus odor is eliminated through bacterial growth rather than masked by fragrance. Its lack of fragrance is also a possible downside for some, as to prevent bacterial growth; you'll want to apply it directly after a shower. Applying it mid-day will do little, as the bacteria you're trying to prevent already exists. Application is as you would expect from any other deodorant stick with one caveat: you or it needs to be damp before applying. Once the stick is damp it slides on as if it's made of a smooth glass. Pros: All Natural, Hypoallergenic, won't melt or smoosh in your gear bag like a standard stick, extreme longevity, very cheap Get more info and order direct from TheCrystal.com for $5.99. Thanks to L. Mercedes Moulton for the tip.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 1:00 PM | Comments (0) February 17, 2006SnowClaw Snow Shovel
The SnowClaw comes in three styles, the Guide, the Racer and Pro Series. The guide is 6.1oz, Racer is 5.75oz and the Pro Series clocks in at 11.8oz and is made of 6000 series aluminum for ultra-rigidity but loses the multifunction properties of the Guide and Racer. Available from REI at $15 for the Guide and $24.95 for the Pro Series. More information can be had at SnowClaw.com.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 8:20 AM | Comments (0) Friday Headlines
Gay Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende (Travel Blogs) "The Office" guide to New York City (NewYorkology) Snapshots: Vitriolica's Portugal (Shortcut)
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 7:10 AM | Comments (0) February 15, 2006WikiliciousI've setup the Treknologies Adventure Travel Wiki to serve as a clearinghouse for information pertaining to adventure travel. I've been inspired by sites like Horizons Unlimited, which solicits information from visitors on topics such as border crossings, road conditions, and country information. Unlike them, however, we'd like to give the power to anyone who cares enough to edit, organize, or add new information to the site. That's where the wiki comes in: any viewer can edit any page. It's pretty barren at the moment but I hope that soon it will become a valuable resource for adventure travellers worldwide.
Written by Beau Gunderson, edited by Beau Gunderson, and posted at 8:20 PM | Comments (0) Gorillapod Camera TriPod
From the source: The gorillapod firmly secures your compact digital camera to just about anything...anywhere and everywhere. Unlike traditional tripods, the gorillapod doesn't require an elevated flat surface for you to take the perfect shot. Available for $29.95 from Joby.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 7:21 AM | Comments (1) February 14, 2006Review: Mountain House Pro-Pak Freeze Dried Meals
New Features Meal Preparation As for the taste? My personal favorite was the lasagna with meat sauce. Everything was as you would expect from lasagna; good smell, lots of cheeses and great texture. Despite what every instinct told me as I added the two cups of water to the meal, it was most certainly not a lasagna soup. It turned out perfect, not too "wet" and defiantly not dry and crunchy like many freeze dried meals I’ve tasted prior. It was a good experience; beats a "nature bar" any day of the week. Verdict The Pro-Pak line of freeze dried meals is a great choice for anyone looking for a solid quality meal out in the field; a superior choice to the weight and size of a military MRE, or for a quick lunch on day hike. With the Mountain House Flameless Heating Unit you can forego the stove heating all together if you need to be ultra light in your travels.
For more information on Mountain House the company, as well as other products, you can check out their site here.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 7:10 AM | Comments (0) February 13, 2006Review: Coleman F1 UltraLight Backpacking Stove
The Specs: Assembly
Continue reading "Review: Coleman F1 UltraLight Backpacking Stove" Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 7:02 AM | Comments (1) February 10, 2006HighGear Trail Pilot 2 Compass
This handy little unit weighs in at only 1.5oz and is actually built as part of the carabineer itself. It's small enough so that it doesn't get in the way, but is still very handy thanks to clipping onto just about anything with the carabineer. Just as I needed it has an easy to adjust declination setting, and with a bonus feature of a digital thermometer with both Fahrenheit and Celsius scales it just fit the bill.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 3:12 PM | Comments (0) February 8, 2006Global Flyer Underway
After fixing a fuel leakage problem that grounded a previous attempt, the team observed conditions acceptable to launch the Global Flyer from the Kennedy Space Centre at 7:22am local time. The aircraft is slightly past the mid-way point across the Atlantic Ocean on the first leg of the circumnavigation. Piloting the Global Flyer is Steve Fossett, who will forego sleep for up to 80 hours while flying the 26,000 mile minimum required for circumnavigating the world and holding the record for the longest solo flight ever. Visit the Global Flyer Flight Tracker to view his current progress, updated every five minutes. Also be sure and check out his live current and cumulative radiation dose via Solar Metrics.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 10:11 AM | Comments (0) February 7, 2006Travel Tips from Walkabout Travel GearI was looking around for information recently on foreign travel, stumbling upon a great site in the process. Walkabout Travel Gear has an amazing resource up in which various world travelers have submitted extremely useful tips; assembled all on one page with-out any flashy graphics or page layout. Most "tips" pages I've traversed contain a measly ten or so tips, typically of the "Don't drink the water" type. I assure you this is not that kind of information. Jump over to Walkabout Travel Gear and take a read.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 6:21 PM | Comments (0) February 4, 2006Nighthawk Microlight Map Light
Nighthawk comes to our aid with the Nighthawk Microlight Map Light. The Nighthawk is a small 9,000 candela led light that can mount to your finger via the Velcro straps, or using the detachable clip, mount to your hat for viewing maps or making small repairs or gear adjustments during the dark hours. The Nighthawk weighs in at less than half an ounce, and is also weatherproof and impact resistant. The LED comes in green, red or amber for night work as well as the traditional white light. For the size and weight of this unit, you'll wonder why you never had one of these in your pack before. You can pick one up at Brigade Quartermasters for $12.99.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 3:30 PM | Comments (0) February 3, 2006PocketPower - Portable Power Source
Some of us have more electronics on us than a Tokyo electronics store, most of which have an insatiable thirst for more power. Being trekkers we're often far from an outlet and don't always lug around solar panels for field charging our electronics. The PocketPower from Gear4.com can help us. This ultra-small device is built for portable power. It features an integrated power pack for source power and recharges via any USB device. The PocketPower is capable of charging virtually all USB devices via the integrated retractable USB cable. Additionally you can charge up to four AAA batteries (included) at a time for other non-USB devices. Gear4.com says the PocketPower is capable of supplying enough juice to power an iPod for an additional 8 hours. If you need extra juice for an iPod, camera or phone in the field, look no further than the PocketPower from Gear4.com Thanks goes to Gizmodo for the lead.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 9:40 AM | Comments (0) Global Solar Oven
Preserve the planet, use no fuel and cook anywhere the sun shines; all while baking a batch of cookies with the Global Sun Oven. The oven can reach temperatures of 360 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit using nothing but the power of the sun. The unit is about as large as a small suit case; unfolding the solar mirrors into place makes it about as large as a heftier camping grill. Used in over 126 countries around the world in all four seasons, the Solar Oven is a work horse in clean renewable energy for cooking on the move. From the Sunoven.com FAQ page: Can I use a GLOBAL SUN OVEN in the winter? Available at SunOven.com for $189.00 with a 30-day money back guarantee.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 6:55 AM | Comments (0) Friday Headlines This site is a member of the travel blog network at Blogads, a group of the best independent travel blogs on the web. Check out some of this week's headlines from other travel blogs in the network: Romance Along the S.C. Coast (S.C. Tourist)
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 5:30 AM | Comments (0) February 1, 2006Orikaso Fold Flat Dishes and Cups
We've mentioned titanium camping gear for cooking here a few times. While the benefits of titanium will never go unnoticed, I've recently discovered a new product that's both fun to use, and exceptionally light and compact. It's made by Orikaso, and it's a line of fold flat dishes. They offer a simple and efficient line-up of bowls, dishes and cups; all able to fold completely flat, down to mere millimeters in size when not in use. Simply unpack the Orikaso dish from your bag, click the appropriate snaps together and serve. All the dishes assemble in seconds, and breakdown back to their flat shape even faster. Clean-up is a snap; unfold the dishes and rinse them off with clean water. Manufactured from polypropylene makes the fold flat dishes a naturally non-stick material, and thus easy to clean-up. Orikaso are completely water proof when folded into their proper shape; they will hold any liquid. All of the dishes are capable of holding liquids sustaining temperatures of over 120 C (248 F). The heaviest of the three products, the Orikaso Dish, weighs only 1.5 ounces; lighter than any similar titanium product. Overall an innovative product that deserves a place in any packers' line-up. Check out Orikaso.com for more information. Available individually at REI for $3-$6.
Written by Jesse Gunderson, edited by Jesse Gunderson, and posted at 11:30 AM | Comments (0) |
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Many of the travelers and adventurers that read our site traverse the planet at night. This makes navigation and map reading difficult for many, particularly those that are traveling by motorcycle, boat, plane or need to make midnight repairs to equipment. 
