Great Outdoor Blog

W’s Fire Road $90

M’s Fire Road $90

A common question I get about trail running shoes is, “Can I run on the road in these?” and my answer is usually, “You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it.” Not any more.

I recently received a pair of the New ’08 Fire Roads from the North Face and have been wearing them about a month now. It is definitely one of the cushiest trail shoes I have ever run in. I wouldn’t hesitate to wear this trail shoe on the road. On the trail, it is almost too soft for my taste. However, I think many people who have complained over the years about trail shoes being, “Too Stiff” or “Not enough cushion” will find this shoe a dream come true.

Overall, I think The North Face has hit a home run with this trail shoe. Good fit, great looks, and most importantly, performs well.

Features

• Abrasion-resistant, synthetic leather with highly breathable open mesh
• Structured TPU welds for lightweight support
• Northotic™ ergonomically-designed footbed with Poron® forefoot and heel inserts
• Ultra lightweight, compression-molded EVA midsole
• X-2™ polymer rearfoot crash pad provides cushioning and reduces overpronation at heel-strike
• Semi-straight lasted, with a flat waist and midfoot medial post to provide an extremely stable and consistent footprint on uneven terrain.
• Innovative ESS forefoot Snake Plate™ gives ultimate protection from stone bruising without sacrificing flexibility
• UltrATAC™ outsole, incorporating firmer density lugs under the ball and waist, provides responsive ride through toe-off

Chad Baird, Footwear Product Manager

M’s Watermaster II Waders by Patagonia

The Watermaster II Waders are the toughest, most puncture-resistant breathable waders on the market, and feature our innovative internal suspension system that allows “relief” without removing jacket or vest.

These days, waders have to do more than just wade. They need to breathe easily and resist the thorns – from blackberries to Argentine Califate – that guard our favorite waters. Patagonia’s Watermaster II Waders feature a proprietary 3-layer HydroStorm waterproof/breathable polyester fabric package that’s quantitatively tougher (not to mention 25% more waterproof) than the competition. An innovative internal suspension system provides quick, layers-on “relief” without hard-to-operate and failure-prone zippers, safety when taking an unexpected swim, and cool comfort when worn at waist height in hot weather. Strategically placed reinforcement fabric, patterned neoprene feet, contoured crotch and knees, grit-stopping gravel guards and a built-in wading belt round out the package. Field repair kit included

» More Patagonia Fly Fishing

GUIDE TESTIMONIAL:

I wanted to take a minute and express my admiration for the Patagonia Watermaster II breathable waders. Frank, owner of the Pere Marquette River Lodge had told me how well they held up, but I was a little skeptical. After all, I not only guide steelhead and salmon on Michigan’s Pere Marquette River in the spring and fall – I spend the entire summer guiding 7 days a week on the Naknek River in Alaska, from early June until the snow flies in early October. This includes a lot of days hiking into wilderness streams and dodging bears in thick brush, not to mention dragging jet boats on and off of beaches, putting docks in and out of the water, refueling boats, etc.

Last summer, I went through 3 pairs of waders and by the first week of July this summer, I was already on my second pair. When Frank fished with me in early July, he saw that I was in need and left his Watermaster’s for me to test for the rest of the summer.

Amazing hardly begins to describe the difference. Not only were they dry and comfortable to hike around in, but, at the end of the season, I was still wearing the same pair. I had completely wore of the pair of wading shoes that I had started the summer with (not Patagonia’s shoes – another brand) but the waders were still going strong. I didn’t even need to use my patch kit.

I am only half joking when I tell my guests that I spend more time in my chest waders that I do in a pair of jeans. For the last couple of seasons, I have started out almost every day by pulling on a 7 or 8 year old pair of silkweight Capilene bottoms, an equally old and beloved pair of Patagonia fleece pants and then switched to a different companies waders. No longer. Patagonia’s commitment to quality and durability has convinced me to look to them for their waders as well.

I have already spoken to Frank about a pair of Patagonia wading shoes for next summer. I have been hearing only rave reviews from other guides on the shoes as well, and I can’t wait to put them to the test.

Thanks for the great products – keep them coming.

Jim Johnson
Owner, Alaska’s Naknek River Camp

It felt like Spring today and I headed out to test drive the Ride 135 by Wilderness Systems. As a fisherman, boater, and general outdoor enthusiast I have seriously been eyeing this boat since it entered the shop.

I have been looking for a boat that has the versatility to handle flat water at good speed, run some class 2 rapids, and cover the distance with a boat load of gear to experience more primitive campsites. Oh, did I forget to mention a boat that I could take on my family vacation to the beach so that my nephews can climb on, dive off, swim, and then get back onto. I had a strong suspicion this boat was going to be the one.

Being 60 pounds it took two of us to get it on top of my truck and off into the water (If you are taller than 5′6″ and have a shorter car this won’t be as difficult). This drawback was soon forgotten once I began cruising the water with great speed despite having my 70 pound puppy in the rear tankwell. Right from the start this boat had a very comfortable feel with it’s new cushy seat system along with great design that allowed for all the essentials right at my fingertips. Switching between paddling and fishing was a breeze with the rod/paddle holders and I was even able to stand and cast because of the Ride’s pontoon style hull. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this technique for a novice and their canine friend.

This hull enabled me to glide thru water only 6 to 8 inches in depth but not prohibit me from great tracking and speed when I wanted to get up and go. Wow, I was impressed and starting to think I would be the proud owner of this boat in the very near future. I’m already planning a float, camp, and fishing trip down the Watauga River in eastern TN to run those rapids. I have no doubt that beginner thru experts alike, the Ride will not leave you yearning for more. Enjoy ~Rudy (Charlotte shop manager)

POSTED on SNEWS 12/03/2007:
The hottest development in stove technology the past few years has been heat exchangers—devices that transfer heat directly from a stove burner to a pot to avoid heat loss and make stoves more efficient. The trend began with the Jetboil, and other manufacturers now offer their own variations on the theme. MSR’s Reactor may be the best of the bunch, and this is not only due to the performance of its heat exchanger. The burner itself represents a leap forward, allowing the stove to cook quickly while remaining whisper quiet and pretty much impervious to wind.

The Reactor cooking system includes a 1.7-liter pot with an enclosed heat exchanger welded to the bottom. The pot also has a metal handle that is very stable when in use yet flips up easily for tidy storage, plus a clear lid. The final piece is the lightweight burner, about the diameter of a hockey puck, which accepts fuel canisters. The stove kit weighs 21 ounces, and the burner and a fuel canister can be stored inside the pot. MSR even supplies a small pack towel that can be used to wipe moisture from the pot after cleaning, while it also prevents the burner and canister from clanking inside the pot.

The burner has a couple of unique elements that make it perform exceptionally well. A perforated metal shield surrounding the guts of the burner captures surrounding air and prevents this air from escaping as it is forced into the burner. This not only makes the most effective use of available air, but also speeds it to the burner to increase efficiency. While most stoves just use convective heat (heat rising from the burner), the Reactor burner also has an enclosed piece of metallic foam that delivers radiant heat for greater effect. Basically, these technologies allow you to cook quickly and save fuel.

The shield around the burner and the encased heat exchanger also block wind. We tested the stove by placing a high-speed fan about 6 inches away and we were able to light it with no problem. The convex mesh screen atop the burner fits into the concave bottom of the pot, further eliminating the effects of wind.

The stove is also extremely quiet, even when running full bore. Dinner around the campsite is so much more pleasant when you don’t have to shout at your buddy over the roar of a stove.

We also appreciated that the Reactor is easy to light, and we didn’t suffer any flame-ups or singed hair. To light the stove, you simply place a flame at a spot at the burner’s edge, (marked with the MSR logo), and then turn the flame adjuster (a flip-up tab) to the position of maximum heat. In less than 30 seconds, the steel mesh atop the burner transitions from being covered with a blue flame to glowing orange, indicating that you’re set to cook.

We tested the Reactor in warm temperatures and cooler, 40-degree weather, and it boiled 1 liter of water in 3.5 to 4 minutes (running at full strength with a half-full canister). That’s pretty swift. A half-liter of soup (Campbell’s Chunky Grilled Chicken and Sausage Gumbo…mmm) completely heated in less than three minutes. But we had to keep stirring the stuff to prevent scorching, and this is the one drawback.

The Reactor burns extremely hot, even when the flame adjuster is nearly cranked to the off position, so this stove is not suited for meals that require simmering. On the other hand, if you have been slogging through rain and cold and need a hot drink pronto, this is an excellent product.

Compared to its main competitor, the Jetboil PCS, the Reactor has a simple, yet distinct advantage—the cook pot is larger. The Jetboil pot can be filled with 0.5 liters of liquid (without it boiling over), while the Reactor can be filled with 1.6 liters. Therefore, the Reactor does a better job serving the needs of more than one person.

One negative about the Reactor is that the convex burner prevents it from being used with other pots. Integrated systems such as the Reactor and Jetboil PCS simply do not allow a person to match the stove with the variety of pots from other manufactures already in the gear closet.

Despite this limitation, the Reactor excels at its job. We definitely recommend it for anyone seeking lots of heat, delivered immediately and in the nastiest weather conditions.

SNEWS® Rating: 4.5 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)

$139.95

POSTED on SNEWS 11/19/2007:
The Walkstool from Sweden made us stop in our tracks when we saw it at a trade show earlier this year. It looks like a regular tripod stool, but we noted some intriguing differences we wanted to examine more closely.

The stool comes in five models, with three made in Sweden with higher prices and more features and two made in China with slightly downsized features and prices that are correspondingly lower.

On first sit we were in love with the comfort of the mesh seating and the practicality of how easily it could fold and transport in a small, lightweight package. We especially liked the feature that allows a user to not telescope the legs, leaving it looking almost chopped off where the three legs would normally join in the tripod before they flare back out again to the ground. This allows a user to sit on the stool in situations that require seating for very low uses such as gardening, working on a bike, or perhaps getting closer to a campfire, while still having the option of reaching, turning and even pivoting on the foot pods without having to get up or dare toppling over.

We and the SNEWS® team used it in a variety of situations – on dirt, gardening, indeed working on a bike, on asphalt, while throwing a ball to the dog, and even on carpet. While we still like the low seating option that avoids forcing someone to crouch, kneel (ouch!), or sit on the ground, and we generally liked the mesh seat, we discovered a couple of negatives:

First, the stool doesn’t work well on carpet. In fact, the feet stick to the carpet and can cause difficulties in spreading the three legs to their largest diameter, which causes the mesh seat to bunch up and become a narrower and deeper seat. The feet can also catch on rugs, so you can’t just slide it or move it without closing it up or even knocking it over. OK, we can go with the fact that it’s not really meant for carpet. But the first reason, above, caused this second negative to some users: Our male testers found that if the seat wasn’t spread out tautly — i.e. the legs weren’t fully extended — the top of one of the tripod legs that ended up in front of you could, well, jab uncomfortably in all the wrong places. To avoid that … uh … jabbing, you had to make an extra effort to tighten the mesh seat outward, sit farther back in the seat or sit slightly askew. Now, that didn’t seem to happen as often on smooth surfaces, such as asphalt or flat dirt. Nevertheless, our male testers were put off a bit.

Where the Walkstool really shines is in its packability as well as in that ability to sit in low positions while saving strain on the back. Or to have a quick seat available for other situations such as hiking, birding or photography outings.

The stool comes in several sizes so you can determine how high or low you want to be, which height works better for your leg length, or which seat width best fits your back side. The “comfort” models made in Sweden have bigger rubber feet, higher quality metal, and more comfortable seats. The “basic” models, made in China, have smaller plastic feet, slightly smaller seats, and unventilated seat material. The three made-in-Sweden models also come in a lightweight pouch for no-brainer schlepping.

We still like the stool for certain uses – it WAS a dream when we worked on our bike or gardened in a low position – and would be great for a million other uses — as long as it’s not on carpet.

SNEWS® Rating: 4.0 hands clapping (1 to 5 hands clapping possible, with 5 clapping hands representing functional and design perfection)

We stock the Comfort models, $70-$100

FROM SNEWS: Finding the perfect versatile pack is a dicey proposition. Even an ultra light, ultra minimal overnight bag is usually too big for much else. And versatile daypacks often lack the type of technical features that make the best light-and-fast overnight bags so successful. Osprey’s Talon 33 manages to combine all the best features of a quick overnight bag with all the ease and versatility of a go-to daypack.

The pack was minimalist without being ridiculous in many ways. It opens up in one large 2,200-cubic-inch compartment that we were able to stuff full of gear, but still featured a handy top pouch for wallet, keys and sunblock, as well as a stuffable front panel for an extra shell (or, as one tester found, extra kids clothes). Plus, the waist strap pockets fit a digital camera and energy bars perfectly. All of this at just 2 pounds.

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UPDATE 8.29.07: View our Complete Fall 2007 Arc’Teryx Selection

SAVE THE DATE:
EVENING OF INNOVATION with ARC’TERYX & Great Outdoor Provision Co.
- Winston-Salem: Sept 25, Raleigh: Sept 27
More info to follow

Great Outdoor Provision Co. is proud to offer the new lineup of Arc’teryx outerwear for Fall 2007. Here’s what Bob, our technical buyer, has to say about Arc’teryx…“Arc’teryx is responsible for most of the recent innovations in high-end outerwear. Features like welded seams, waterproof zippers, die cut findings like wrist closures, and Velcro refinements if not invented by them were certainly brought to the apex of design in their clothing. As such, they represent what I think are some of the best products ever designed for our industry. If you look at the attention to detail of the finish and the care taken with selection of materials, I think you will agree. With the addition of Arc’teryx, we can easily meet or exceed any customer’s expectations.”

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I have been hiking since my family’s trips out west when I was still counting my age on two hands and I started backpacking about as soon as I was big enough to carry all the gear for a night out. Being a particularly observant outdoorsman (when it comes to gear), I quickly came to associate trekking poles with older hikers. Mind you, the word “older” here is used in the loosest sense of the term since pretty much everyone looks old to a particularly scrawny 12 year old. I took my share of tumbles, but continued to rock hop across streams, bomb downhills, and sprint uphills. All of this energetic frolicking, of course, had no aching repercussions the next day.

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The challenge and fun of single track trail runs takes on a new dimension with the GoLite Trail Fly and Sun Dragon. Protection and superb traction are the dimensions that shine above all. The shoe’s outsole adapts to rugged terrain using “trail-claws” that improve stability and performance. I found the “grip-stick” claws excellent For hill climbs up wet terrain. The trail-claw footbed works well to provide great displacement over uneven terrain and improves confidence for downhill plunges over mid-sized scree (golfball to baseball size). The mesh upper has been very comfortable on these hot days. Great addition to the trail.

• Trail Fly : $110
• Sun Dragon : $95

I have had a chance to put the Santee Expedition on the water at two of our local demos and with a variety of different customers. The goal of the boat’s designers was to create a crossover or “hybrid” boat that blends the characteristics of a touring kayak and a recreational kayak. More specifically, this particular hybrid was designed with high displacement to accommodate larger paddlers.

The Santee Expedition is far more stable than a pure touring kayak for big folks like the Capella 173 (for example). However, it is nearly as stable as a Santee 116 and considerably more efficient. The Expedition tracks well and can be edged (to some degree) to allow for better maneuverability than a Rec boat of the same length. Also, the Santee Expedition has less drag than the typical Rec kayak of the same length -an average paddler can expect to cover 3-3.5 miles in an hour.

This boat is too roomy for me (I am 165 lbs). Based on what I’ve seen at our demos, the Santee Expedition could handle a 320 pound paddler and still behave well. This is the first really good design for bigger folks in the Hybrid category I’ve seen in a premium construction. We have additional info on our Hybrid Kayaks Page. Click on the Santee Expedition for detailed info.

If weight savings (only 52 lbs!), good performance/stability and reasonable pricing is high on your list of priorities, the Santee Expedition is the best choice for a Touring/Rec Hybrid for larger folks. I can’t think of another kayak that offers what this boat does for less. Stop by your local shop or Boat Demo to check one out.

MULEteam Price: $1095
Reg: $1189