GEAR OF THE YEAR
Good gear can save your life. This past year, as I competed in a dozen ultra-endurance adventures around the country, the value of top-notch outdoors equipment continually hit home.
A case in point: Three days into the Primal Quest Adventure Race in Utah this past July, my body was wrecked. Sun blasted down. Temps hit 120 degrees. But my shoes, clothes, backpack and trekking gear – all specialized equipment made for the desert – let me keep on for another five days to finish the event.
From the deserts of Utah, to mountains in Vail, surf in San Luis Obispo, and whitewater in West Virginia, the following 10 products stand out as gear that kept me going this year through tough and epic times in the great outdoors.
Heat-blocking cap
My head would have fried in the deserts of Utah without the OR Sun Runner Cap, which has a wraparound neck skirt to ward off the rays. A bill blocks sunshine on the face; mesh strips on the side let your head breathe. Plus, it’s light enough to wear in temps high above 100 degrees.
($26; www.orgear.com).
Smith Reactor Max
Corrective eyewear in the outdoors can be annoying. But Smith does it right. My Reactor Max glasses and accompanying Rx lenses are intact and scratch-free after months of abuse. An interchangeable lens system lets you switch out clear lenses for tinted ones in the sun. The prescription is sharp and dead on, too.
($265 with one set of prescription lenses; www.smithsport.com)
Hydration pack
It’s not sexy, but the Camelbak Omega reservoir was my constant hydration companion during weeks of adventure this year. I drank almost exclusively from this bladder’s bite-valve for a week straight in Utah. It never leaks. It’s strong and burst-resistant, and water tastes good from its generous 100-ounce depths.
($30; www.camelbak.com)
Tough, light backpack
For eight days straight I wore the Macpac 35 Amp backpack in the Utah desert. It’s perfect for adventure racing, mountaineering and ultra-light backpacking, with 2,200 cubic inches of capacity. Intricacies include hip-belt pockets, shoulder holsters for water bottles, a small removable sleeping pad that doubles as back support, and a sternum strap buckle with built-in whistle.
($130; www.macpac.co.nz)
Ultimate bike light
The Light & Motion Arc Li-ion Ultra was my big-gun bike light for the year, allowing me to ride technical singletrack through the inky black of night. The HID bulb seems nearly as bright as headlights on a car. The Arc Li-ion is not cheap, but for its task there’s nothing better.
($600; www.bikelights.com)