Outdoor Gear

In 2003, I attended the famous Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were so many different new products there, that by the time the show was over, I really couldn't remember all of the new products that I just browsed through. But one particular item caught my attention. A new line of hybrid shoes produced by the company Keen.

Martin Keen, the founder/designer of Keen Shoes has produced a new product that isn't just a shoe nor is it just a sandal. The Keen Newport is a hybrid, a mixture of shoe and sandal. The shoe has a closed toe and a shoelike sole, yet the rest of the upper is designed just like a sandal. I was so impressed with the new Keen shoe, that I wanted to buy a pair right there at the OR show. Unfortunately, for me, Keen Footwear had another show to attend and did not have enough to just sell them to anyone there at the show. But, with the success of this new design, it wasn't long before I found them in my local R.E.I. I bought a pair and I've found them to be a great all around shoe. I still wear them more than any other shoe that I own and I've had them over a year now. While the keen shoe will get you lots of attention becuase of its looks, you'll love them becaue of their versatility. For more information on the Keen shoe product lines, visit: www.keenfootwear.com

When I was about 16 years old, my friends and I decided that we wanted to go on an over night backpacking trip in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. I was pretty new to the outdoors and I didn't have much of the gear that would be considered a necessity by many backpackers' standards. Our trip went pretty well, but it only took that one trip for me to realize that there had to be some better products and equipment than what I was using.

Well, in 1994 the internet was not what it is today and so I couldn't just logon and start researching gear. Instead, I visited the local R.E.I to see what type of gear real outdoorsmen use. While I was browsing through all of the cool stuff that R.E.I. has, I noticed tag stitched or sew into different clothing items. "Gore-tex®". I didn't know what goretex was, but I knew that there had to be something to it because everything that had the goretex label was priced considerably higher than other similar products. Wanting to know more, I called one of the helpful R.E.I. staff over and asked them what it was. If you are asking that same question, let me help you out.

Goretex was developed by W.L. Gore & Associates. You will usually hear or see phrases like "Guaranteed to keep you dry®" associated with goretex. The makers of goretex claim that products utilizing this technology are both waterproof and breathable. So what is it? It is actually a thin membrane that product manufacturers usually laminate to the inside of a fabric, like nylon. Without getting too techi, the goretex membrane is a polymer (plastic) called ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethlene). Goretex has billions of these tiny polymer fibers overlapping each other. This micro-porous membrane, as it is called, has 9 billion pores per square inch. The pores are so small that liquid water cannot penetrate the membrane, but they are big enough that perspiration can escape.

So there you go. Goretex is a pretty simple concept, but it has really revolutionized the outdoor industry as far as clothing and footwear comfort are concerned. Goretex is used in many other applications including tent fabric. So, the next time you see that goretex label on something, you'll know why it costs so much more.

If you watched any of the last winter olympics you probably saw a few interviews with some of the top athletes from each winter event. What were most of the top snowboard and ski contenders wearing to protect their eyes? Most of them were sporting Oakley goggles of one style or another.

Oakley has been making sport eyewear for 30 years. With all of the knowledge and experience they've gained from being in the business so long, they know how to make the right goggle for every sport. I found this video clip that Oakley provides on their website featuring some top freestyle snowboarders that you'll want to check out Click Here .

Oakley sponsers many of the athletes that you see wearing Oakley goggles and eyewear. So you may be inclined to think that the athletes wear the Oakley brand just because they have to. Well, just the opposite is true. Oakley's founder Jim Jannard first entered the celebrity sponsor market soon after he was contacted by Tour de France Champion Greg Lemond, who wanted to know if Oakley's Eyeshades came in different colors.

Oakley goggles are at the high end of the goggle and eyewear market. You can expect to pay much more for a pair of Oakleys goggles than for most any other brand. But the style is not all that there is to the eyewear. Try on a pair and you'll see why everyone is wearing them.

I recently came across a great kayaking blog, Paddle Tales that is frequently updated with new pictures and descriptions of some great places to kayak in the Florida area. Well, I asked the author of the blog, Peggy Sherman, if she wouldn't mind providing my readers with some advice on what to wear for the type of kayaking that she does. She was gracious enough to provide the following detailed advice and suggestions:

"As a paddler in Florida, my experience and recommendations tend to reflect weather conditions ranging from very hot to mild, as well as flatwater kayaking rather than whitewater.

If you live in a cold climate, or an area where the water temperature stays cold through much of spring, you will want to dress accordingly. The general rule to follow in those conditions is to dress for the water temperature, not the air, which could include a wetsuit in case of a capsize. Meanwhile, in warm-weather and -water climates, comfort is the way to go. From top to bottom: Consider a brimmed hat, rather than just a visor. Not only does this protect your scalp and ears from sunburn, but the full brim will keep the sun from coming into your eyes from the side if you are out as the sun is getting low in the sky to your right or left. Since you are going to be paddling, be certain that your shirt is loose enough to accommodate the paddling motion of your arms and shoulders. Columbia clothing company makes an excellent shirt with an SPF rating and a vented back panel. It's lightweight, short-sleeved, and extremely cool and comfortable (they also make a longsleeve version). T-shirts and tank tops also work. Don't forget to apply sunscreen with a high SPF to all exposed areas. You have lots of choices of pants styles. If the weather is cool enough to wear long pants, do not wear cotton sweatpants--in the event that you capsize, they will soak up water, which could hinder rescue, and they will basically never dry and you will be very (potentially dangerously) cold while they are wet. Consider layering with cold-weather Under Armour leggings or shirts under nylon-blend pants and shirts if it's nippy out. Shorts are cooler than long pants in hot weather but offer less sun protection. When you get dressed, remember that you will be sitting, so be certain that the waistband is loose enough for comfort in that position and not just while you are standing; elastic is best. If there is any chance you will be wanting to go for a dip in the water during a stop or after your paddle, you might want to consider shorts made of the new quick-dry materials that can be worn in the water and will dry rapidly when you get out. I do not recommend denim in any weather conditions. If you can find pants/shorts with a zippered cargo pocket, this can be a good place to carry your car key. If your key has an electronic chip in it, there is a small chance that it will not function if the key gets wet, so you might want to put it in a waterproof ziplock bag before putting it in your pocket, if you choose to carry it on your body rather than in a dry bag. One excellent choice of pants, particularly during the change of seasons from spring to summer or summer to fall, is "convertible" pants. These are long pants that have zippers that enable them to easily be converted from long pants to shorts and back to long pants again as the climate warms or cools. I have found it to be very easy to go from long pants to shorts without exiting the kayak--I've never tried to go the other way while on the water. Several clothing companies make these pants and they can be found at outfitters as well as online stores such as Campmor.com and REI.com. Your choice of footwear is largely based on personal taste. I paddle barefoot but carry sandals with me during the summer. I wear waterproof socks with a liner sock under them during cooler weather. You may be paddling in an area where the shoreline consists of soft sand or mud. If this is the case and you are going to be getting out of the kayak along the shoreline, you will want to carry or wear footwear that will stay on your foot if you sink several inches into shoreline muck! I strongly advise against getting out of a kayak along any shoreline without having something protective on the bottom of your foot, whether it's a sandal sole or waterproof shoe. Even if it's hard sand, there may be sharp shell fragments just below the surface that could cut the bottom of your foot as you step out.

In summary, dress for comfort in loose clothing while kayaking on a calm lake or river in warm weather. Alway apply sunscreen before you go out. Do not wear denim or sweatshirts or sweatpants. Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, if the water temperature is in the hypothermia-causing range.