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Splitboards typically refer to boards that are split down the length of the board, turning into two skis for ascending mountains. Dual Snowboards has what you could call a downhill splitboard. The board is split into two across the width, giving you two separate snow skates of sorts. Why would you want two separate boards? Quite frankly, I have no idea. These things look like a twisted ankle or ball-numbing split waiting to happen. I'd...

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At the summer's Outdoor Retailer, I came across a new piece of gear that is actually more than a century old. The Kelly Kettle was invented in Ireland in the 1890s but is just now making it over to the United States. The kettle is an all-in-one solution for boiling water for cooking and purification. Its double-wall design leaves a hollow center that fuels the flames like a chimney stove. Simply start a fire in...

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Ordinarily I don't buy outdoor gear at kitchen supply stores, but the Cuissential SlickBoil looks pretty..well, slick. Like those collapsible cups that some people use for camping and backpacking, only in kettle form, the silicone kettle packs small (2.5 inches thick) and expands into a cooking tool. I'd imagine you'd want to avoid a campfire, but its stainless steel base should be plenty comfortable on a stove. It boils up to 4 cups of water....

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After much of ski country suffered one of the warmest, most disappointing winters on record, hope is on the horizon. The 2012-13 is weeks away, and hopefully it proves a little colder and snowier than winter 2011-12. Because the winter outerwear market, which already seems flush with competitors, is about to get even bigger. Last winter, several outdoor industry staples announced the launch of a new outerwear line, which was just a tad ironic given...

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GSI is adding to its already impressive line of alcohol-in-the-wild accessories. The 750-ml Highland Fifth ($9.95) and 275-ml Highland Flask ($5.95) are basically just repackaged Scotch versions of GSI's soft polypropylene wine bottle. The bottles combine with the new Highland Glasses ($7.95 ea) for the perfect pour. Whether you like your whiskey Scotched, bourboned or Caniadianed, you can now enjoy it anywhere, in style. The Highland accessories are part of GSI's 2013 collection.

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It seems that Snow Peak launches an innovative new light every summer. In the past, we've seen the miniHozuki Lantern and SnowMiner headlamp, among others. This summer, it's the Lapel Torch. The new light is a headlamp alternative that uses a magnetic clip to secure to your collar, pocket, jacket, hat, etc. etc. The small, square lithium ion pack can be stored in a pocket or clipped to your clothing. You can also stick the...

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More so than any other Outdoor Retailer I've attended over the past few years, this year's show included some serious tent innovation and technology. At no other show can I say that I've seen not one, but two ~$2,000 tents. And from no other show do I recall a family tent that pitches in less than a minute. I didn't even make it to the outdoor "tent city," but the show floor itself was simply...

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A couple of weeks ago, we took a look at the Grower's Cup Coffeebrewer, which is essentially a small pot of Joe in a bag. At the time, we didn't see any sign of US availability, but that's about to change. Colorado-based Sport Hansa, which imports a lot of gear from the Scandinavian/northern European market, will be bringing Grower's Cup to US retailers, including Campsaver.com. The press release doesn't list pricing but says that it...

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One of the latest products to hail from Black Diamond, the Voyager Lantern packs a lantern and torch into one. Unlike the Eureka! Magic 185, Black Diamond uses two separate bulbs for lantern and flashlight functions. An 80-lumen LED bulb combines with a frosted globe for lantern functions, while a 50-lumen bulb at the lantern's base gives you quick access to a torch. The lantern and flashlight function separately but can also be used together....

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Dilemma: It's early spring and you're about to break trail on a 20-mile hike. You step out the door to load the car and find your old, moldy hydration bladder buried deep in your trunk. Turns out, you never cleaned it after last fall's epic, and it's a grimy, moldy mess. Solution(s): Yes, you could wash it out. But that takes time and may leave your water supply tasting like cleaning agents. You could also...

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