The search for a cool earmuff is like finding cold fusion to these people. Swix makes several earmuffs, but this guy’s is one of their biggest. My favorite is the super small stealth-style earmuff you can wear without even putting on the headband—no one will notice! These are actually for wearing underneath your hat while [ more... ]

My friend’s Cannondale frame broke a long time ago and we found a bunch of Bondo inside. Apparently they’ve stepped-up quality control since then, because Dirt Rag Magazine has a tour of their facilities that’s fairly impressive (if you’re a tech dork). Check out the photo gallery if you’re more of a “picture person.”   [ more... ]

The Swiss should stick to making watches and knives for their famous army. The Swiss company Eleven has something out called the Eleven Edit Jacket. It’s in a bunch of modular pieces that you can swap to make your own unique look. A snap together jacket? It’s probably not the most waterproof or windproof thing [ more... ]

The company that specialized in river dry bags for years is taking roll top technology to the streets. The WX Tex Metro is a waterproof urban backpack. You can stand in a downpour on the highway shoulder for hours without ruining your laptop. WX Tex put one external pocket on the Metro and slapped on [ more... ]

It looks like Burton menthol, but it’s actually crusty ol’ Patagonia. The Slopestyle Hoody might be the best piece of gear Patagonia’s cut since the aforementioned Retro-X. It’s a subtle, low-tech piece of gear with a comfy feel and cut. It’s the one thing you can wear as a mid-layer on cold days, alone on [ more... ]

Faucet water too polluted to drink? Just fill up your CamelBak and add Sawyer’s inline Water Filter to your drink tube. You’ll get a little lightheaded from trying to suck water through the filter, but it does kill e. coli in case you have any meat juice leftover in your water reservoir. The Sawyer filter [ more... ]

Marmot re-released their Original DriClime Windshirt. It’s been a staple in the industry for years—dirtbag climbers wear it without a shirt underneath, backcountry skiers wear it while skinning. I’m hoping that the Original does really well and other companies start re-releasing their old jackets, too. I’m holding out for the pastel colorway Bugaboo and neoprene-lined [ more... ]

The Shimano MW02 Winter Boots would be a hell of an upgrade to those weatherproofed cowboy boots you’re riding around with. Shimano improved on their creatively named SH-W101 by giving the MW02 a Gore-Tex liner and neoprene ankle cuff. It has a pretty burly outsole so you can walk up those hills too steep for [ more... ]

Proving that the Olympics are a little closer to allowing Roller Derby, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee announced they would continue to include ski and snowboardcross in the next winter games. They’re also keeping something called “team sprint cross country skiing,” which should be pretty entertaining if it’s just like it sounds. [ more... ]

Starting in spring ’07, Patagonia will begin selling footwear that’s not made to be worn with waders. Their casual shoes will be made with Vibram’s Ecostep soles which use 30% recycled rubber and hemp or vegetable oil tanned leather. Now it won’t hurt so bad when you step on glass at Widespread Panic concerts. via [ more... ]