Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

  Who doesn't like a little nature action? Unfortunately, even in the middle of July, nights at the campsite can get pretty cold and drafty. And trying to cram two people into one bag is uncomfortable and maybe even impossible. Not if you're packing an Alite Sexy Hotness sleeping bag. Essentially two individual bags designed to zip together and fit two people into one bag, the bags are the perfect solution for frisky campers...or those...

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  I was planning on taking a look at TentPak during the Outdoor Retailer, but unfortunately I didn't get the chance. The TentPak is an all-in-one backpacking solution that includes an integrated, two-person, 3- or 4-season tent. The TentPak comes in 12 different models. The packs and tents are built on Germany's High Peak platform. Designed for grab-and-go use, the TentPak was created by Gaven Bench, who realized the advantage of having all your gear...

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    Athletes willing to push it to the Earth's extremes will often find themselves well beyond the boundaries of cellular communications. In many environments--heavy canopies, canyons and caves, for instance--satellite communications are equally out of the question. Thankfully, the world has 16-year-old Alexander Kendrick. The teenager recently designed an antenna that is capable of sending low-frequency communications from deep inside the Earth. It was tested in a cave at a depth of 946 feet...

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  I originally covered Klymit last summer. At the time, the company was offering a vest that is insulated with argon. This year, Klymit has taken it way past a vest, debuting a line of outerwear meant to complement the mid-layer vest. The Kinetic shell line includes the Olympus, Paregoria, SekoVent and Zephyros shells. Each one features a chest pocket which enables one to easily access the control dial for pumping up the argon in...

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  Prediction for the future: we'll soon be able to translate every possible hand motion into electricity for flashlights. The new Solar Pull Light from eGear adds pulling to classics like cranking and shaking. The light pairs a solar panel with a string-pull system, providing two green ways of recharging the lithium ion battery. Like your Honda lawnmower, you can pull the string to power this one up. According to eGear, one minute of pulling...

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Many choose to intentionally live without a car, and to travel exclusively by bike. And, their need to move doesn't stop just because the ice and snow get in the way. So enter the bicycle ice tires! "We have had some bad weather recently and all the cycle paths round my part of the world are covered in several inches of ice which makes cycling a pain. So I decided I needed a pair of...

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  Earlier this month, at the Consumer Electronics Show, Cannondale showcased its Simon mountain bike fork. The system replaces traditional suspension equipment like springs and manual adjustments with an advanced electro-mechanical configuration that can offer suspension settings based on the weight of the rider and the riding conditions (i.e. all mountain, xc, downhill, etc.). The unit is connected to a computer and can be adjusted on the fly with the push of a handlebar-mounted button....

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  The idea of ski resorts exxaggerating snow totals to attract business is so intuitive you almost can't get angry at them for doing it. Skiers want good conditions and ski resorts want business, so when the conditions don't exist on their own, it's only natural to indulge a little (still shameful, but only natural). A Dartmouth study even found conclusive evidence of weekend snow exxaggerations. A recent article in the Vancouver Sun details how...

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  If you suffer through 5 months of winter like I do, you'll be familiar with hand warmers. But did you know you can make your own? For supplies, we only need 4 'ingredients'. They are.... one large ziplock bag one smaller ziplock bag some calcium chloride ice melter pellets (available at places like Lowes) water To see how to put it all together, hike on over to junits15's instructable. Image.

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  Most RVers are motivated by the mystery and intrigue of the never-ending, open pavement, but for at least one, driving around desert sand in circles proved to be more alluring. The above picture may look like one of those corn-field alien creations, but this one is admittedly man made. Jim Denevan, an artist who specializes in this form of Earth sketching, spent some time creating the "largest artwork in history" by driving his tour...

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