There’s nothing like the arrival of Spring to think to yourself, “damn, I gotta get some new gear.” Whether it’s a new set of bottles, shoes, or even a whole bike (if you play your cards right) any piece of new gear is a good way to start a season of adventures.
Filed under gear
Bags are definitely one piece of gear that I have no shortage of, but for some reason I don’t really have a good size bag for around-towning. I either leave the house with nothing more than a musette or a large messenger-style backpack; so I’m looking around to see what’s out there..
My friends at Giro hooked me up with a pair of their winter mountain bike boot that they call the Alpineduro. I’ve been wearing the Terraduro shoe for a little while and was really excited to see how its winter brother performed once it got a bit colder. So far it’s been through winter road rides, frozen trail rides, and even some commutes when the morning chill was strong enough to justify it- those days it was hard to even take them off even once I arrived at work due to how warm and comfortable they are. Continue reading
Filed under bike, field test, gear
Most of this year’s holiday gift guide is mostly gear but is that really so bad? Nah, course not.
1. Better Bicycle Bell by Spurcycle, $49
2. Woolrich blanket cap by Fairends, $48
3. Lars Rover 650 headlight by Portland Design Works, $110
4. Trabec helmet by POC, $150
5. Hauser 10L pack by Acre Supply, $195
6. M-Back Climber pants by Outlier, $225
7. Puffer vest by Topo Designs, $149
8. Kanpai Bottle 350 by Snow Peak, $69.96
9. Courier saddle bag by Tanner Goods, $125
10. Alpineduro boots by Giro, $200
I stumbled onto Black Rock Gear out of Seattle, WA while I was looking for a down filled hat- please feel free to call it a toque, beanie, watch cap, etc. Though bigger brands like Outdoor Research and Mont-Bell have their own take on the piece neither of their shapes look quite right to me, nor are they made in the USA like Black Rock’s. At $65 for the original hat and $85 for the lighter, yet warmer HadronS they’re a bit pricier than the surplus wool watch caps I buy every Winter (I lose at least one per Winter season, guaranteed).
*Sadly, the woodland camo version with matching gloves is no longer available but it was too good to leave out.
Other notable products that caught my eye is their packable down filled quilt and a serious balaclava. If that’s still not enough insulation for you then keep your eye out for the old Eddie Bauer down-filled mask,-they pop up on ebay every once and a while.
Suggested reading: The Rivendell’s, first down
This season Topo Designs updates some of their staple bags like the Daypack with new colorways (the clay cordura is a beaut) and expands their collection of apparel. Notable pieces from the apparel line for me include the wool work shirt (also comes in plaid flannel) with it’s mismatched pockets and the soon to be released puffer vest filled with lightweight Primaloft.
Also, be sure to check out their feature on Colorado Makers to learn more about one of my favorite gear companies out there.
Really digging the design of this saddle bag from Tanner Goods that I had previously noticed on their edition of Cielo builds. The double ring strap is a nice alternative to a buckle or toe strap, I imagine it holds the bag to saddle rails really well. With it’s heavy duty 10z canvas, 18oz twill, thick leather, and brass hardware it’s definitely not the lightest saddlebag around but it’d surely look great on a classic steel road or city bike. Check out the bag in the other two great colorways as well as Tanner’s handlebar and frame bags on their web shop.
OYO Mountain Products is the side brand of Colorado gear brand Topo Designs that was created to function as the in-house line for their flagship store as well as a way to make some items that they wouldn’t normally with Topo. Items like frisbees, hacky sack bags, and other multicolor accessories. And of course there are bags, how could they not? A quick look at their tumblr reveals what inspires OYO: vintage ACG, hardtails of the 80’s and 90’s, Group B rally cars, hi-vis sportswear, and pretty much everything else dreams are made of. Looking forward to seeing what else they come up with this Summer.
cork grips 