Outdoor Gear Reviews | ub Outdoors

Maui Jim Reinvents Sunglass Lens Technology with MauiPure

Carl H. Martens — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:42:30 +0000

Peoria, IL, April 16, 2011 – Never settling for anything but the best technology, Maui Jim, Inc. will change the game in sunglass lenses with this spring’s arrival of the optical industry’s clearest non-glass lenses with superior impact- and scratch-resistance. New MauiPure™ lenses are the lightest lens in the Maui Jim portfolio and make their debut in April in a new line of three sunglasses designed for active lifestyles.

Coming from the world’s fastest growing manufacturer of premium polarized sunglasses, MauiPure offers crisp optics in a new lens that blends the optical brilliance of SuperThin glass with excellent scratch- and impact-resistant properties. The hybrid, injection-molded, de-centered lenses are ultra-light with an ABBE value over 50. Maui Jim is renowned for its proprietary PolarizedPlus2® technology that affords superior eye protection from UV rays and glare. MauiPure lenses feature PolarizedPlus2 and bi-gradient mirrors to cut 99.9 percent of glare and block 100 percent of harmful UV rays. A distinguishing benefit of PolarizedPlus2 is the color enhancement that results from the use of three rare earth elements making your blues to be bluer, greens greener, and reds really pop.

“This is the perfect lens for people on the go,” said Linda Glassel, vice president of marketing at Maui Jim. “This is a light, comfortable lens that you could forget you’re wearing because it produces distortion-free, colorful views and packs all the protection you need for long days in the sun.”

Sunglasses with MauiPure lenses arrive in stores in April in three new styles. Each 8-base rimless style features beta-titanium temples and adjustable Rabalon nose bridges for ultra-lightweight comfort. Each style comes in three colors: Black, Rootbeer & Copper or Translucent Grey. Three lens colors are available: Neutral Grey offers the highest level of light reduction for bright, sunny days; HCL® Bronze enhances contrast in variable conditions; and Maui HT® (High Transmission) is the lens for when most lenses would be too dark. The MauiPure collection is covered by the company’s standard warranty. MauiPure is not available in prescription.

Olowalu is the smallest style in the collection and features a rectangular lens. Mala has a slightly curved rectangular lens designed for average face sizes. Nakalele gives a nod to a rimless aviator in a larger style. Maui Jim Ambassador and surfing champion, Mary Osborne wears Mala. “I put a lot of miles on my sunglasses,” said Osborne. “These lenses are crystal clear and everything is crisp and sharp so I don’t miss seeing a thing whether I’m hanging out on the beach or wearing them on my board. Mala has become my go-to pair of sunglasses.”

Ventana Mountain Bikes USA Launches New Website Designed by Zowbie Consulting

Carl H. Martens — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:02:06 +0000

This is news near and dear to our hearts. Our parent company, Zowbie Consulting has completed the redesign of Ventana Mountain Bikes USA’s website. The new site which launched yesterday provides many enhancements to their customer base. The bike frame pages now displays two levels of color options and provides geometry spec charts in both English and Metric. Members of the Ventana Community can share and submit pictures of their Ventana frames and custom builds. Registration is now made easy with an online form. There is even a small store where patrons are able to purchase Ventana branded merchandise. There is extensive information about the company and their manufacturing processes under the About Us section of the website. Check out the new design! www.ventanausa.com

About Ventana Mountain Bikes USA

Ventana Mountain Bikes USA was formed in late 1988 as a joint venture between Sherwood Gibson and Steve Blalock of Monterey, California. Gibson and Blalock remained partners until 1991 when Gibson became sole owner. The two shared a common interest in mountain bikes and their construction. Ventana is named for the rugged coastal wilderness in Big Sur near Blalock’s home.

Ventana Mountain Bikes USA builds mountain bike frames by hand, in-house, to the highest industry standards. The frames are art that is functionally superior as well as it is visually stunning. They design, machine, cut, weld, heat treat, powder coat and assemble their frames in their shop in Rancho Cordova, California. Pride is put into the workmanship and they strive to exceed customer’s expectations in all aspects of their experience with Ventana be it purchasing, riding or service. Ventana owners are a vital part of our growing family of loyal supporters and compatriots.

Moots Titanium Open Trail Stem and Cinch Layback Seatpost Combo Review

Fawkes Off Road Fabrications MiniMax Recovery Mount Review

Carl H. Martens — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:34:39 +0000

In uncommon fashion, this review is not universal-to-all and applies solely to 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, otherwise known as WJs. I own a 2001 that I refer to as “Dubya J”. Awhile back, I started to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. I added a 4″ suspension lift and dual steering stabilizer from BDS, 32″ BFG All Terrains, cold air intake system, Flowmaster 50 exhaust with upgraded 3″ exhaust piping, Tom Woods front drive shaft, a new I-6 engine, and anything else that would help me survive and keep me amongst the living. The one thing that I was missing was a front recovery system. Then after months of searching, I came upon a thread in the Jeep forum with a picture of a MniMax Recovery Mount…it was love at first sight…I had to have it. The majority of front recovery systems for the WJ on the market replace the entire front bumper, they are constructed of a heavy gauge steel adding weight to the vehicle and change the appearance completely. If you want your Jeep looking like something from Mad Max and don’t mind a sticker price of around $1,o00 then this might be the type of setup for you. Not my style. a) I like keeping my cars close to stock…sort of the “sleeper” mentality some sports car enthusiasts have. b) A few hundred dollars is a few hundred dollars, but a thousand dollars is enters an entirely different level of purchasing decisions…that’s a lot of money. c) overkill…it either appears really cool or you look like a complete fool amongst your friends. For reasons a, b, and c the MiniMax Recovery Mount by Fawkes Off Road Fabrications was ideal for my needs and wants.

It features a minimalist design that bolts within the front fascia of your WJ’s stock bumper. Installation is simple, 1999-2003 models need only minor trimming to fit and the front fascia cosmetics are unaffected on the 2004 model. It is constructed of United States sourced 0.25″ and 0.75″ ASTM A-500 Grade B and A-36 structural steel tubing, plate, angle, and bar stock, GMAW (MIG) welded and powdercoated. It weighs in at 42 lbs. which is much lighter than if you were to replace the entire bumper. So what…you’re plastic bumper might get a few scratches as opposed to if you replaced it with a steel bumper…it just adds character to your Jeep!

I purchased my MiniMax Recovery Mount direct from Kristopher Fox the man who heads Fawkes Off Road Fabrications. The initial phone conversation assured me that I was purchasing the product from a fellow Jeep enthusiast and someone who really geeks out when talking about the engineering and fabrication process of it. That passion that was evident over the phone lines made me confident that my decision to purchase the mount was a good one. I eagerly waited for my mount to arrive (each mount is made to order so 4-6 weeks is the typical wait). As it would work out, upon completion Kris happened to be passing through my area and offered to personally deliver and even install my mount. To make a long story short, Kris was the nicest guy, took his time and paid attention to details, he went above and beyond. It was by far the best experience I’ve had as a customer ever.

Now let’s talk about the mount itself. Two words: BAD ASS. I’ve received so many compliments about it and when I look at my Jeep it gives me an instant chubby. In regards to my most favorite upgrade to my Jeep, I’d say it ties with the lift and bigger tires. I ordered the additional License Plate Mount and shackles from Smittybilt. As soon as Kris finishes his winch cradle design and fabricates that, I’ll be adding that to my mount as well.

Functionally, it does it all. With a working load limit of 14,000 lbs. to the hitch and shackles you can rest assured that you can get out of any situation. You’ll bend the frame before you bring damage to the MiniMax. The 2″ receiver hitch is nice and allows you to move a winch cradle between the front and rear (assuming you have a 2″ rear hitch) of your Jeep. Also, it eliminates the skill needed to back your boat at the launch…just hook your trailer to the front hitch and steer normal. With the MiniMax Front Recovery Mount installed, you can maintain an approach angle identical to stock, and ground clearance is totally unaffected. Kris is so confident in the durability of his product that he guarantees it for life with a limited lifetime warranty stating, “if you can break it, we’ll replace it”.

For $350, this is a much less expensive upgrade than a suspension lift, but it will give you the same excitement in your pants every time you look at your Jeep. When I saw a picture of the MiniMax I knew I had to have one, after having it installed and using it I feel that everyone needs to have one.

Buy one today!

[Show as slideshow]

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National Ski Patrol & Utah Avalanche Center Help You Stay Safe on the Slopes

Carl H. Martens — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:19:53 +0000

Winter’s Finally Here! Know Before You Go

Mother Nature has finally brought snow to much of the Western mountain regions, and as we celebrate the bounty, it is as critical as ever to be aware of the dangers that exist. The National Ski Patrol would like to remind everyone to be as safe as possible while skiing and snowboarding, and to Know Before You Go.

Developed by the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC), the NSP is also presenting the Know Before You Go program, a free 50-minute program outlining the dangers of avalanches and what to look for, before you go out on to a slope that could slide.

The dangers of avalanches are becoming more prominent as more snow enthusiasts are buried and/or killed by avalanches in backcountry terrain, whether that terrain is accessed from a gate at the ski area or a trailhead. Recent events serve as a cruel reminder that avalanches can occur in unexpected places, even on in-bounds terrain, and the consequences can be tragic.

The Know Before You Go program includes:

A 15-minute, narrated video showing avalanches, people triggering avalanches and the destructive power of avalanches.
A local avalanche professional telling their story about close calls or accidents they have had as they learned about avalanches.
A 15-minute PowerPoint presentation about the basics of how to recognize avalanche terrain, recognize obvious signs of instability, safe travel practices, the basics of avalanche rescue equipment and self-rescue procedures, and where to obtain information about current avalanche conditions.
Please log onto http://www.nsp.org/EduPrograms/avalanche.aspx to access the program and its individual parts.

The NSP wishes everyone a safe and fun winter season

Links:

National Ski Patrol: http://www.nsp.org

Know Before You Go program: http://www.nsp.org/EduPrograms/avalanche.aspx

Utah Avalanche Center: http://utahavalanchecenter.org/

Online press release: http://pitchengine.com/nationalskipatrol/winters-finally-here-know-before-you-go

About National Ski Patrol

The National Ski Patrol is a federally-chartered nonprofit membership association dedicated to serving the public and the mountain recreation industry. For 74 years, the NSP has been at the forefront of safety and emergency care education programs. The association’s 28,000 members represent 98 percent of the nation’s patrollers. For more information, log onto www.nsp.org.

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Yakima & Outdoor Research Launch “The Classics,” a New Series of Online Shorts Celebrating Seven Classic Outdoor Adventures

Carl H. Martens — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:10:11 +0000

– From now through April 1, viewers can win Yakima & OR gear through online contests –

Beaverton, OR – February 13, 2012 – Yakima, the innovation leader in vehicle racks and cargo solutions, and outdoor gear company Outdoor Research (OR) are showcasing seven epic outdoor adventures through an original short film series, “The Classics.” The series debuted this week on Yakima’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/YakimaProducts/featured) and the OR microsite, www.whatsthedealwithdinosaur.com.

With breathtaking photography, the seven original shorts takes its viewers to iconic destinations across North America and shows off the incredible adventures to be had there, from sidecountry skiing through legendary powder on Washington’s Mount Baker, to exploring the serene Georgia coast by sea kayak, to highly technical mountain biking in British Columbia’s famed North Shore.

“There are so many epic outdoor adventures to be had across North America, and this film series has beautifully captured seven particularly amazing ones,” said Ashley Williams, Yakima Marketing Manager. “For both experienced adventurers and those just getting their first taste of all the possibilities, these films are incredibly inspirational.”

Yakima wants people to do more than admire the cool footage, however: it wants them to get out there and have their own epic adventures. To help them do so, there are weekly chances to win Yakima racks through online contests.

From February 13 through March 26, one film will be highlighted each week and viewers can enter to win gear through the Yakima Facebook page and OR microsite. Yakima prizes include cargo boxes and racks for bikes, kayaks and skis.

Week of February 13 – Featured film: Skiing (Mount Baker, Washington). Yakima prize: SkyBox Pro 16 Onyx
Week of February 20 – Featured film: Ice Climbing (Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire). Yakima prize: RocketBox Pro 12
Week of February 27 – Featured film: Alpine Hiking (The Bugaboos, eastern British Columbia)
Week of March 5 – Featured film: Backpacking (Wind River Range, Wyoming)
Week of March 12 – Featured film: Sea Kayaking (Georgia). Yakima prize package: HullRaiser, Outdoorsman Truck Rack & MultiMount
Week of March 19 – Featured film: Rock Climbing (Red Rocks, Las Vegas). Yakima prize: SkyBox Pro 21 Onyx
Week of March 26 – Featured film: Mountain Biking (North Vancouver, British Columbia). Yakima prize: HighRoller

About Yakima
Yakima is the world leader in the design and manufacture of cargo management equipment solutions for outdoor enthusiasts. Yakima’s products include vehicle racks for bikes, boats, ski equipment and gear, a line of cargo boxes and bags for a variety of needs, plus high performance multi-sport trailers. Yakima is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. For more information, visit www.yakima.com.

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RAPALA® AND STRIKEMASTER. HOLEY MOLEY.

Carl H. Martens — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:23:10 +0000

StrikeMaster Ice Augers and Mora ICE™ Join Rapala Family of Brands

MINNETONKA, Minn. (February 10, 2012) ¾ The sound you are hearing is ice-expanding…not to mention the ice fishing marketplace growing. That other sound, the musical machine clearing a path to the underside of the ice? That’s a StrikeMaster auger – a brand that has been finding passageways to frozen fish since the end of World War II.

Bolstering its already solid ice fishing selection, Rapala^® VMC Corporation (Rapala) announces it has acquired the assets of Minnesota-based StrikeMaster Corporation, the leading supplier of ice augers in the United States. In a symmetrical maneuver, Rapala also acquired the Mora ICE brand – Europe’s preeminent name in ice augers and cutting blades – from Mora of Sweden AB (Mora, Sweden).

“We have jumped into the winter business with both boots!” exclaimed Tom Mackin, president of Rapala USA. “Now we have the ability to reach anglers during all seasons. Our new ice-fishing lineup is quite extensive with tackle and accessories, augers, electronics and more. These acquisitions are directly in line with our core competencies and a perfect fit to the Rapala family of brands,” said Mackin.

“Rapala’s acquisitions of StrikeMaster and Mora ICE unite the brands that have, and continue to, set the worldwide standards for premium ice augers and accessories,” said Randy Havel, executive vice president of StrikeMaster Corporation. “We are thrilled that StrikeMaster will be joining Rapala’s family of best-in-category brands.”

“Mora of Sweden is Europe’s premier auger manufacturer under the famous Mora and Mora ICE brands,” said Fredrik Skarp, managing director of Mora of Sweden AB. “This strategic partnership with Rapala further secures that position for the Mora ICE brand, and promises to consumers that they’ll continue purchasing the most advanced ice augers on the market.”

StrikeMaster was the first to introduce the world-class MORA hand auger to North America back in 1946. Since then, StrikeMaster has been on the forefront of modernizing ice fishing. It was the first to introduce emission-free electric ice augers and fuel-friendly, four-stroke gas augers with the Strike-Lite, which by no accident is equipped with a patented composite drill made by Mora of Sweden.

This major announcement follows word of Rapala USA’s exclusive sales, marketing and distribution agreement with MarCum Technologies (Minneapolis, Minn.). MarCum is the fastest-growing, most progressive manufacturer of ice fishing sonar and underwater camera products. The MarCum LX-7, released in the fall of 2011, completely rewrote the book on ice fishing sonar. MarCum is also North America’s No. 1 selling underwater camera.

Combined, these strategic initiatives give Rapala the global leadership position in the ice-fishing category. Anglers, get ready to start your ice auger engines.

About Mora of Sweden

Mora of Sweden AB is a merger between two classic knife companies from Mora, Sweden – KJ Eriksson and Frost’s Knife factory – founded in 1912 and 1891 respectively. By the merger in 2005 and changing the name to Mora of Sweden, the already existing strong association was strengthened nationally and internationally. Mora of Sweden supplies professionals with premium quality cutting tools as knives, ice augers and ice auger cutting blades.

About StrikeMaster

The year was 1946. The boys were home from war and America needed a breather. The woods and waters provided the perfect escape. A number of manufacturers sprang up to satisfy this desire to be outdoors. StrikeMaster was one of the first. And some 60 years later, StrikeMaster continues to outfit ice anglers with innovative, high performance ice fishing tools.

About Rapala

Rapala VMC Corporation (Rapala) is a leading fishing tackle company and the global market leader in fishing lures, treble hooks and fishing related knives and tools. The Group also has a strong global position in other fishing categories and it is one of the leading distributors of outdoor, hunting and winter sport products in the Nordic countries. The Group has the largest distribution network in the industry. The main manufacturing facilities are located in Finland, France, Estonia, Russia, China and the UK. The Group brand portfolio includes the leading brand in the industry, Rapala, and other global brands like VMC, Sufix, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr Jensen, Williamson, Dynamite Baits, Marttiini and Peltonen. The Group, with net sales of EUR 269 million in 2010, employs more than 2,000 people in 33 countries. Rapala’s share is listed and has been traded on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange since 1998.

For more information on Rapala, please visit www.rapala.com or www.facebook.com/RapalaUSA and for more information on StrikeMaster, please visit www.strikemaster.com or www.facebook.com/pages/StrikeMaster-Ice-Augers/115087062995.

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Rugged Shark signs All-Star Angler Ott DeFoe

Carl H. Martens — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:42:55 +0000

Rugged Shark is proud to announce their sponsorship of Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Ott DeFoe of Knoxville, Tennessee. Ott, in his first Elite series year, captured the 2011 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, as well as the 2011 Elite Series All-Star Championship. He was wearing the Rugged Shark® Tiverton flip flop in the All-Star victory.

“I am extremely excited about joining the Rugged Shark Pro team. I wore Rugged Shark shoes all during the 2011 season and believe the Tiverton flip-flops are the best pair you will ever find – period! Be sure to visit a Bass Pro Shops near you to try on a pair of those Tivertons! You will never find a flip flop with more support and better grip on the bottom than the Tiverton. In cooler weather I wear the Atlantics and the Bill Dance Pro models.”

Ott’s fishing resume includes a Career Tour Level winnings of over $625,000, a 4-Time consecutive FLW Championship qualifier, and 2008 FLW American Series Champion – Santee Cooper, just to name a few. For the 2012 season he will be fishing in the 8 Elite Series Events, the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, and 2012 Bassmaster Southern Opens.

“We’re very pleased to have Ott join the Rugged Shark Pro Team Staff along with Bill Dance Bradley Roy, and the Army Bass Anglers” says Mike Wilkes, VP National Sales Manager for Rugged Shark. “He exemplifies the sport, is an avid professional angler, and does numerous fishing exhibitions. Everything Rugged Shark represents focuses on the enthusiast angler and boater. We concentrate on building the most comfortable footwear in the industry by building product with Phylon mid-soles, removable comfort socks and non-mark non-slip rubber outsoles. The Tiverton that Ott wears is an example of a technical thong with a comfort foot bed that won’t tire the foot after hours on the water. Our technical apparel brings breathability, UPF and technical features to the market. All the best to Ott in 2012 and thanks for becoming a member of our team!”

About Rugged Shark, LLC

Parent company SG Footwear brings over 100-years of experience and stability to the Rugged Shark Brand. It was established in 1896 and is one of the world’s largest designers, producers and marketers of athletic, casual and seasonal footwear and is also the parent company of SGI Apparel Group.

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Vertically Living Green

Carl H. Martens — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:47:51 +0000

Here’s something pretty cool that I stumbled across today. An organization hoping to build a vertical greenhouse in the heart of Jackson Hole. I contacted the public relations company working with Vertical Harvest of Jackson Hole for more information. In the meantime, check out this video!

VERTICAL HARVEST from Ebb & Flow Media on Vimeo.

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AVEX Summit Autoseal Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Review

Carl H. Martens — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:21:10 +0000

When is a water bottle more than just a water bottle? AVEX is a company that has introduced a line of water bottles and travel mugs that feature revolutionary Autoseal technology. Their products are priced at a great value and could easily sell for more when comparing to other similar products. There isn’t a whole lot one can say about a water bottle, but we’ll do our best. We think you will be intrigued enough to purchase one and give it a try yourself…for right around $20 you can’t go wrong. AVEX defines autoseal technology as the following:

The exclusive Autoseal technology offers convenient, easy one-handed drinking; no lids to remove, no spouts to open. Just press the Autoseal button to sip, and release the button to automatically seal. The drink spout defaults to a closed position, automatically sealing for 100% spill and leak-proof performance. By defaulting to a closed position, temperature retention is also enhanced.

Autoseal lids are designed with an open architecture for easy cleaning, and are top rack dishwasher safe. Lids also seal directly at the drink spout to prevent trapping of residual liquid. All materials used in Avex Autoseal products are carefully chosen to be highly engineered, durable, and BPA-free.

We were given a Summit Autoseal insulated stainless steel water bottle to test out AVEX’s technology. Let’s start by showing an image of how the water bottle was packaged…

Pretty substantial presentation, huh? Yeah…we thought so too. First impressions are everything and this one left us feeling that this was much more than an ordinary water bottle. It is.

The Avex bottle is constructed with a double wall using vacuum insulation to keep your water or other liquid cold for up to 20 hours while eliminating external sweating. To top twists off in order to fill, however when wanting a drink the user simply presses a button which releases the seal and liquid flows out. All this can be done using one hand allowing the other hand to be free. It is easy to hydrate quickly with just the press of a button. The Autoseal technology keeps the bottle 100% spill proof and leak proof.

I love this bottle. It goes neck and neck with my Nalgene bottle as my beverage holder of choice. Sometimes I’ll take both…I consume from the Nalgene bottle first and when that’s emptied I can rely on the beverage in the Avex still being cold. In this case, it is my reserve, however it is also very much a “starter” or primary as well. It is ideal for everyday usage. It is a great bottle to take in the car with you wherever you go…especially on hot summer days because it keeps your beverage cold. Don’t think this is just a bottle for car trips though, it can be used anytime you want to have a beverage remain cold for an extended period of time. It is lightweight making it suitable for hiking and camping as well.

The AVEX Summit Autoseal insulated stainless steel water bottle is definitely worth checking out. We feel that priced at $24.99 even the most critical individual will be pleased with the purchase as it is well worth the money.

KOR Delta Water Bottle Review

BDS Dual Steering Stabilizer

Carl H. Martens — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 16:53:27 +0000

Over the past year, I’ve had a few occurrences with “death wobble” with my 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. If you’ve experienced this you know how scary it is. The steering wheel shakes uncontrollably and the wheels bounce all over the road. Very scary. I try to stay ahead of repair to my Jeep and although this has only happened a few times, it was something I wanted to address right away. To start, I replaced control arms, bushings, shocks, and a bunch of other stuff. Got an alignment. Then, the ultimate insurance…I added a dual steering stabilizer from BDS Suspension. AMAZING! The dual steering stabilizer bracket kit costs about $120 and each (2 total) gas shock absorber costs $120. This is one beefy setup and something I would highly recommend to any WJ owner.

Below are some pics I took with my iPhone.

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