One of our testers brought along a couple of pairs of Darn Tough Vermont Merino wool hiking socks.  In my opinion wool is one of the best ways to go when you are putting a bunch of miles on the trail over multiple days.  Merino wool does not stink up a quickly as many synthetics I have used, and they are as comfortable as anything on the market. They wick like no other fabric,  and tend to be pretty durable.

The Darn Tough lived up to their moniker and remained tough on the trail.  While they did not make it through to the end of the trail for reasons unrelated to the socks, they were ready to take on much more, and continue to pull hiking duty on a regular basis.  While these are not the fanciest sock on the market, they are good quality well cushioned socks that have all the right technology to function just as they were intended; as hiking socks.

While this watch is primarily designed to use a fitness training aid,  I see real potential in this type of gear while hiking.  First, it is programmable to display different screen, such as altitude, speed, distance etc:  All sorts of GPS and non GPS generated data that would be cool to have at your fingertips while hiking.  Second,  you can come home and download your routes,  and manipulate these routes all sorts of ways using Google Earth and other programs.  You can even track how you were performing during the hike, including pace and heart-rate.   All this combined in a watch that you would already be wearing.   It is true, that a unit like this is not going to allow you to navigate,  but you are also not carrying an extraneous piece of equipment on the trail.

What do you think?   Would a GPS training watch be a benefit to hikers?

Princeton Tec is introducing a new headlamp called the Byte.  This $19.99, 64 gram wonder is perfect for throwing in your back pocket during a day hike, or tossing into your pack for that multi-day adventure.  They claim up to 146 hours on a charge, and best of all it comes with an integrated LED.   I did a review of it’s big brother  the Princeton Tec Remix several months ago,  and if the Byte performs as well it will be a winner.

In addition to the Byte,  Princeton Tec is introducing the Push Bicycle light for those looking to ride the trail or asphalt in low light conditions.  This single unit light has red LEDs on the side to help create a 260 Degrees of visibility. The push is going for $49.99

The Anza Borrego is an unforgiving environment, and with that in mind it is critical to be prepared for just about anything. I have hiked in the afternoon sweating away in the ninety degree heat, only to set up camp to freezing rain and an unbelievable wind chill. One of the things I alway carry in my winter trips in the desert is a light weight way to stay warm if the weather turns cold. We think of deserts as hot places, but in reality they are places of extremes, and when it gets cold it gets really cold, just as when it gets hot it gets really hot.

The insulation piece I carried through most of this last winter was the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Hooded Jacket. This extremely packable featherweight 800-fill power down jacket packed down to grapefruit size, and was (pun intended) light as a feather. Whats better it came with a hood to keep my noggin warm as well.

The jacket has been through a lot of trips in various environments, and has held up very well. In fact it still look pretty close to new despite being stuffed in every conceivable nook in my pack, roughly yanked out to get me warm, and then unceremoniously stuffed back in a dark corner. The jacket has been my impromptu pillow for numerous nights, and has even graced my 5-year old daughter as an warm dress as she pranced through the unexpectedly cold Laguna Mountains. When I received the jacket, I had some concern as to the durability of the fabric, as it was thin and soft, the last six months have proven this to be unfounded.

The Nitrous Down Hooded Jacket is not the most substantial insulation piece on the market, but it will keep you warm and comfortable when the thermometer drops. I have worn this jacket down to the mid-teens, and have been comfortable. The narrow horizontal baffles help keep the down spread evenly across the torso and arms, and make the jacket efficient. The hood also adds to the warmth factor and is big enough to wear over a helmet, but does not have any method of cinching it around the face to keep put the breeze.

The fit of the Nitrous Jacket is meant to be close. There is no room in the cut of this jacket to fit bulky layers underneath. In opinion, the jacket would benefit from a looser cut, allowing more flexibility when layering. Perhaps I should get narrower instead? The good part of the close cut, is that is does fit under a waterproof shell without bunching and pinching. I would suggest that you go one size up for all but the thinnest builds.

If you are looking for a light, warm technical insulation piece that will not break your back or fill up your pack, the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Hooded Jacket may be the ticket to keeping you warm in the backcountry.

This last year Leki introduced the new “speedlock” system to the collapsible joints on their poles, which significantly enhanced their speed and reliability. The old system which used in internal compression fitting which you had to spin the shaft of the poles in order to get them to lock, was always unreliable, and prone to user error. I could not count the number of time I had to stop to figure out why my trekking poles were not working only to realize that I was spun the shaft too far in the open position, and the fitting inside was not engaging. I then had to pull apart the poles and tighten down the fitting to get it to work. Way to much when one is itching to get on the trail. The new “speedlock” system uses external clamps which are easy to operate, and clearly show the user when they are and are not engaged.

Beyond the locking system, the Leki Corklite AERGON poles feature segmented aluminum shafts, comfortable plastic and cork handles, durable “Carbide Flextips”, and interchangeable baskets.

Trekking poles are not something that go with me on every dayhike, but they are indispensable when I am carrying a backpack, or on very rough terrain. This year the Leki Corklite Aergon trekking poles have been with me a lot, and I have put a lot of miles on them. They have seen duty in the desert, the mountain, and even in the snow. They have held up perfectly despite the numerous times I have abused them. As I mentioned before, I am not a big fan of the old locking system used by Leki, to the point I would avoid their poles. My opinion has changed since the new Speedlock system, and these poles are now my go to set when I am headed out the door on a backpack.

I really like the feel of the cork inserts in the handles, and the tips to not show any significant wear. These poles are functional without being complicated. There is no shock absorption, or other bells and whistles that in my opinion get in the way of the function of a trekking pole; support. If you are looking for a good set of poles that are easy to use and will be with you for the long haul, take a look at the Leki Corklite AERGON Trekking Poles.

These shoes have been working out well for me as an all around run around suddenly have the urge to hit the trail shoe.  They blend in in the city,  not screaming out outdoor geek,  but perform admirably while dayhiking on the trail.  The offer enough support and rock protection, while breathing well enough that my feet are not bathed in blister inducing sweat.  The soles are a little bulky for my taste, but do provide good cushioning, and protection on rough rocky trails.  They  are plenty grippy,  and seem to be wearing really well after a moderate number of trail miles.  These shoes are going to see some miles both off road and on road, as I navigate both the urban jungle and the backcountry.

Now if you are looking for a real bad-a** survivalist for a little advice,  be sure to check out Gavin McInnes who makes Bear Grylles look like a college professor.

Here is a recap of my initial report on the Kona Zing Deluxe:

Kona Bicycle Company has a longstanding reputation for making high quality mountain bikes.  They describe the Zing Deluxe Road Bike as “that bike the badass Kona mountain biker would ride if they decided to get into road riding”.  This sounded good to me as a long standing mountain biker with no recent experience riding a road bike.  After putting a few good miles on this bike,  I can say this a pretty good description of the Kona Zing Deluxe.  The riding position of the aluminum framed, carbon forked Zing Deluxe is similar to the stance on my mountain bike.  It is more upright than some of the other road bikes I have recently test ridden.  This works for me at this point, but does provide a little more of an aerodynamic challenge when trying to go fast and far.

The components the bike comes equipped with are very solid.  The drive train in primarily Shimano 105,  with the addition of an Ultegra rear derailer. The wheels come from Mavic, and seem solid.  The rest of the build are a combination of FSA, Mavic and Shimano making for a solid, dependable if not a little heavy ride.  The aluminum frame is well  design and beautifully crafted, with oversized tubing, and a red and black pinstriped paint job that looks custom.

I have been riding this bike for a lot of miles over the last months, and it really has become “my bike”.  I have it dialed pretty well  to work for me,  although I am making adjustments as I progress through my road biking learning curve.  This a a bike I am growing into,  and do not predict I will outgrow anytime soon.  The joy I get from riding it really ht me a couple of weeks ago when I was in Huntington Beach,  riding north on the Pacific Coast Highway one early Sunday morning,  and I ended up mixed in with a bunch of riders competing in a Triathalon.  As the front runners were blasting by me,  I decided to pick up the pace a bit,  and keep up with the middle of the pack riders.  I cranked it up a couple of gears and pick up the pace a little,  and realized I could truly ride in this environment without embarrassing myself.   It was at this point I really became connected with the bike,  and let the simple beauty of pedaling a bike with the wind in my face overtake me.  Despite the complexity of the machine involved,  the process has an elegant simplicity.  A pair of lungs, a beating heart and a few muscles propelling rubber and metal through space.

After multiple months of riding, the Zing Deluxe remains a solid performing bicycle, that is a good value for it’s price.  The well built aluminum frame, and for the most part, solid components make for a comfortable and reliable ride. Kona’s has recently released the 2011 version of the Zing Deluxe,  and it looks even sweeter than before.  They have upgraded the clunky FSA crankset to Shimano FC M550’s.  It also appears that they are also offering a triple in addition to the compact cranks that were the only choice on my bike.  While looking more closely at their component list,  the new bikes have gone away form any FSA components, and began offering Kona own handlebars, seatposts etc.  The wheels are now Shimano RS-10 wheelsets, rather than the Mavics that grace my bike.   I love my bike, and I know a person who is looking to find a road bike to grow with could do a lot worse than the Kona Zing Deluxe.

On the other hand,  while dayhiking in the summer,  as well as an occasional light and fast overnights,  I have changed my approach.  A pair of low height, light weight, airy hiking shoes have become my footwear of choice.  These shoes come in the form of The Lowa Vento LO- Breathable Light Hikers which were sent to me a couple of months ago.

I have been logging a bunch of miles in these shoes and they have become the poster child of summer hiking shoes in San Diego.  They are well made,  put up with the abuse I have heaped upon them,  and still look good enough to wear out and about in town.  One of the things that I always appreciate about quality footwear is the use of intelligent well designed padding, rather than floating a foot in a heap of unsupported foam on the chance that they will be comfortable.  The Lowa Vento LO’s really illustrate this concept,  using just enough padding in the right places to hold the foot comfortably, while allowing the rest of the shoe to do it’s job of being supportive while walking comfortably.

The sole of the shoe is plenty beefy for the trail,  while not so aggressive that it makes street walking clunky.  The midsole is what I am most impressed with.  The Monowrapped construction wraps fairly stiff rubbery plastic ribs up the side of the shoe to protect and support your foot, while it has cutouts to reduce weight and allow for flexibility.  The sides of the shoes are leather to maintain durability, and the entire top is made of mesh to keep things cool.

While the primary purpose of these shoes are for light hiking with no or a little load,  I invariably would throw my youngest daughter on my shoulders while on the trail,  and did not notice any issues with 40 lbs of awkwardly poised wriggling weight on my shoulders on mild trails.  I have occasionally forgotten that these shoes are not waterproof, and have unintentionally dipped my toes in water, only to quickly be reminded that the tops are made of mesh.  The fortunate part is they then dry just as quickly.  If I had one criticism of these shoes is with the finish.  There were several places with dents from air bubbles in the molded pieces, and several threads that have straggly ends.  The good part is that none of these have affected the performance in any way.

San Diego has a plethora of warm dry weather.  A pair of light hikers fit the bill in so many situations, and the Lowa Vento LO are a great choice for those warm weather days on the dirt.

Road ID makes several different types of identification products that can be worn on your person in case you are not able to communicate after an accident. In addition to two styles of bracelets, the Wrist ID Sport and the Wrist ID Elite, they have the Shoe ID, the dogtag style Fixx ID, and the Ankle ID.  All are customizable to provide specific  emergency information.  On mine I had my name, date of birth, numbers of my wife and father,  in addition to my insurance company and a reminder that “Pain is Temporary” which is a great motivator during a tough workout.  The Wrist ID sizing is customizable, and so comfortable I rarely notice I am wearing it.

Road ID also has an interactive version which allows emergency personnel to look up a more complete medical profile by going to a website, and entering a serial number printed on the back of the tag.  This could be critical for people who have specific medial needs that could not be communicated on a small tag, or with people with changing mendical needs that would require reprinting the tag regularly.

I have in the past had the dilemma of where to stash my drivers license on my person.  With the Wrist ID, I do not need to worry about it.   The Wrist ID is not just a good idea when I am working out,  it is a great idea when backpacking. This piece of gear is really innocuous, but has the potential to be a lifesaver on that one occasion where something happens.   At $30.00 for the most expensive ID offered, it is a no brainer.

Road ID Web Site

Testimonials on the Road ID site

Summertime in California demands sun protection.   Whether is be the sun on the coast, or the brutal high altitude rays in the Sierras,  one must protect themselves from turning crispy red while on the trail.  Sunscreen is always an essential component whenever I am outside.  (My doctor just the other day called me a “mole factory” as he was checking them out to conform that none of them had mutated into a cancerous form.) But I am increasingly turning towards other forms of sun protection, such as UV protective clothing.  The advantage being you always have a consistent level of protection throughout the day, and there is no glopping on sunscreen multiple times  on exposed skin.  Not all clothing is equal when it comes to UV protection.   A white cotton t-shirt is generally rated at UPF 7 (not so hot) while there are  expanding lines of clothing that is designed with sun protection in mind.  Some of the best has been coming from ExOfficio, a company that has been making high quality hiking and travel apparel for years.  I have had the opportunity fo the last several months to use their new Vent’r pants, and Exhale long sleeved button down shirt. These articles of clothing feature sun protection in the 30+ UPF range.

Both the Vent’r Pants and the Exhale shirt address the issue of keeping cool in warm climates.  Both these articles of clothing feature large panels of mesh that help keep one cool.  While this is not a new concept,  most clothing with ventilation hide the mesh under panels of solid cloth, significantly hampering it cooling potential.  The Vent’r Pants and the Exhale shirt have laser cut mesh that is welded into the inner leg of the pants, and the sides of the shirt,  where they are effective, but out of the way.

The pants are made of very lightweight material,  and feature a zippered cargo pocket and one zippered rear pocket.  The material is treated with “Repeloff” to resist stains, wrinkles, and water. The waistband is lined with a soft tricot material which make the pants are really comfortable.  They have a nice loose cut that help enhance the cooling components of the pants.  I was hesitant about the inner leg mesh lining, and how badly it would expose my pasty white thighs.  This proved to be irrelevant, as it takes some looking to even know that there is a different material on the inner thigh.  It is kind of like my cool little dirty secret.

The shirt is stylish enough to wear everyday, and very well designed and constructed.   The mesh panels let in a good amount of air, that can be supplemented by unzipping the two deep, mesh lined chest pockets.  The shirt uses snaps instead of buttons on the shirt front, and the tabs to hold up the sleeves.  The shirt fits nicely, and has a comfortable stand up collar to further block the sun.

I have washed both the pants and shirt numerous times, and they come out of the wash looking fresh and wrinkle free.  I often stuff them into duffel bags and packs, and they unfurl with a minimum of permanent wrinkles.  all the hardware is functioning just as it did on day 1,  and I have yet to blow a seem on any of the Exofficio garments I own.   I you are looking for cool, lightweight, well made sun protection,  give the Exofficio Vent’r Pants, and Exhale shirt some consideration.  I was very satisfied,  and think you will be as well.