Are you a gadget-head? Are you excited about the next awesome piece of gear or are you the first to know about new upgrades for the latest products for your adventures?
For the last eight months of blogging about the outdoors, I’ve steered clear of gear reviews. However, I’ve dropped a few bucks here and there on some outdoor products that have been worth the money and others where I feel like I really could use a refund, so I thought I’d share them with you today. And since buying gear is all about the Benjamins, I included some wit and wisdom from Ben Franklin himself along with my thoughts.
Sievert
“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
I hear a lot of excuses for reasons people aren’t wearing bike helmets, but they’re all pretty stupid. It doesn’t matter how short the trip is, how safe you think the roads are, or how nice and sunny the day is, wear a helmet! It’s my #1 best purchase of the year. I think I paid $25 for my Bell-brand-dome-saver, and as you can see, my head is still a gray-matter-friendly shape.
“Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.”
I wrote a long blog about my search for a new bike that you can read here. All I have to say about that is getting a bike that fits is 100% worth the money! If you’re in the market for a new ride, go to a bike shop and skip the ‘Mart. You won’t regret it.
“A place for everything, everything in its place.”
Ah, it’s the oft-quoted backpacker’s mantra. Hiking supplies are one of the places that I’ve spent some money I’d like back. First rule: anything made by that ubiquitous company with the green packaging that you find in the sporting goods section of every mega-mart is much cheaper than the name brand. There’s good reason for that. It’s junk. It’s too big, it’s too heavy, and it’s too prone to failure. Less is more when it comes to camping and hiking supplies and buying quality items is paramount. My advice is to think long and hard about what you’re buying and what purpose it serves for your hike. Every ounce you add to your pack is an ounce you’ve got to tote around the woods. Buy items that are great multi-taskers. Buy items that are more durable than you think you’ll need. And plan your pack with the quote above this paragraph in the front of your mind.
“All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.”
For those that move, let me recommend a great gift: Socks! Nothing will ruin an adventure faster than the wrong footwear. I now have special socks for hiking, biking, and running and I am a firm believer in the magic of sock technology. I just bought some poly-blend running socks made by Mizuno, and they’ve completely stopped the blisters I was getting, they keep my feet warm and dry, and they even have built-in arch support. The socks I have for hiking are tall, warm and use moisture-wicking technology. That amazing advance keeps my tootsies nice and comfy even on winter hikes. Forget stuffing my stocking this year- the stocking is what I really want!
“Diligence is the mother of good luck. By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.”
When we were out biking on the Katy Trail this summer, we came across some people pushing a bike with a flat tire along a stretch of trail that was at least 10 miles from anything. It was also over 100 degrees outside at the time and they only had half of a small water bottle between them. Laura to the rescue! When I cycle, I bring a patch kit, a hand-pump, a tire tube and tire changing tools. I also always have flashlights and at least a minimal first aid kit. When it’s hot (and usually even when it’s not) I bring more water than I think I’ll need. You won’t regret the money you spend on preparedness, because in my experience, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ you need it, it’s a matter of when.
“The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”
If you’ve a mind to catch happiness, I suggest you start with a good pair of running shoes. I’m sure you’re sensing a theme here, but don’t go to super-mega-shoe- store! More often than not, small specialty stores have well-trained staff who will be happy to share their expertise and don’t mind spending extra time with each customer. I went to a running store in Bloomington, IL recently. There, I tried on a half-dozen pairs of running shoes and ran around the block in each before I decided which shoes to buy. Try running out of a department store to test shoes and see what happens! Wait… no, don’t try that. The point is, no matter what kind of gear you’re shopping for, you’re about to drop your hard-earned money, so don’t settle for sub-par service. Most specialty stores employ people who share the same interest as you do, and they can teach you a lot about how to select the right gear for your activity. (For those curious, I ended up buying Mizuno Wave 7s at Often Running in Bloomington, IL)
There are lots more great pieces of gear out there, but those are just a few of my thoughts from this year. What’s your favorite piece of gear? What gear do you wish you could return? Leave comments below!
Laura Sievert
