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| Adventure Journal and Inka Pen |
Inka Pen / Nomad Adventure Journal
There’s a little Ed Abbey in all of us. These two tools make it inexcusable not to get those thoughts on paper. The features of the Inka Pen—“Writes in heat! Writes in cold! Writes underwater!”—sound like the space pen we got at the Smithsonian when we were kids. But the Inka delivers. It’s small, lightweight and worked well in heavy rains, even after sitting in an ice-tray for two days. It’s easy to lose parts, though, when converting to a full-size pen. Nomad journals come themed for different genres of outdoor pursuits from birding to climbing to music festivals. Pen: $25; 303-443-5121; www.inkacorp.com/Journal: $25 (with case); 303-823-5832; www.nomadjournals.com.
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| Julbo Max |
Julbo Max
Few eyewear companies have as much outdoor cred as Julbo, and with this new model, they’ve coupled that functionality with a street style that won’t make you look like a geek when you hit the bistro for an after-hike sandwich and brew. Instead, you’ll be decidedly mod. The organic, category-three lenses block 100 percent of UV rays. Add a pair of Chums or Croakies, and you’re ready to go. $79; 800-651-0833; www.julboinc.com.
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| Highgear TrailAudio 512 |
Highgear TrailAudio 512
An iPod it ain’t, so get over the fact that the TrailAudio can’t store 40 gigs of Dick’s Picks and Zappa. But it offers 17 hours of continuous play on one replaceable AAA battery (very key in the field), FM radio, recording capabilities and a rugged, splashproof body. Plus, it weighs only 3.5 ounces. Think of the TrailAudio as a flyweight champ who likes to go backpacking. The test group gave unanimous thumbs up to the player, the only bickering point being the headphones, which some found uncomfortable. $225; 888-295-4949; www.highgear.com.
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| ProBar |
ProBar
A climbing team from Iceland descended into their 14,000-foot camp late in the day after summiting Mt. McKinley, and they were unloading their unnecessary food to climbers still ascending. I was one of those climbers and happily accepted a couple of PROBARs, the best tasting energy bars I’ve eaten. These thick, two-serving bars of whole nuts, dried fruit and grain are blended, not baked, together. Eat one in a sitting, and you’ve got 126 fat calories and 50 carbs, making it a good choice for endurance activities. $3; 800-921-2294; www.theprobar.com.
