While we can hope we won’t need gloves for a while, Safariland Groups’ Hatch has released its news series of duty glove models with touchscreen capability. The new Hatch gloves features integrated ATS (Advanced Touchscreen System) technology that allows law enforcement and other wearers to be able to touch the screen without exposing the hands. The gloves also include touchscreen capability into the knuckle – just don’t punch the screen and hope this will work!
Category: Low Tech
Minimal Blade
We do live in an era where more can be less – it is called minimalism, and the Ontario Knife Company Bushcraft Field Knife truly maximizes the value of minimalist design. This hand-crafted knife is made of high-end carbon steel, with hardwood handle, and features a design that is aimed at survivalists, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
The full-tang OKC Bushcraft Field Knife measures 10.12 inches, while the five inch blade culminates with a high, off-center point. The flat-ground design allows for an increased cutting surface and a fine wood carving and meat cutting ability. The industrial grade 5160 carbon steel ensures the OKC Bushcraft Field Knife will hold its edge longer and sharpen easily.
Tour Yorkshire
The Tour de France will be heading to the countryside of Downton Abby – namely Yorkshire, even if the show isn’t filmed there. And even if you can’t ride with the pros you can get a chance to head out on some of the same roads in a guided tour. Olympic silver medal-winner Lizzie Armistead will be leading tours of the Yorkshire countryside in advance of this year’s race.
[Via BikeRadar: Lizzie Armitstead to lead Tour de France fan rides]
Up a Creek With a Stand-Up Paddle
If you’re heading to the water you should do so with Aqua-Bound line of stand-up paddles from Branches. The new stand-up paddles include “The Spark,” for beginners, “The Freedom,” for intermediate paddleboarders, and “The Challenge,” for more seasoned paddlers.
This offshoot of the 1960s surfing culture in Hawaii has a true Polynesian ancestry, but only arrived in California in 2004. The sport has since migrated throughout the United States, including to inland lakes and rivers, and Branches is finding that it is increasingly be paddled by women of all ages.
With this in mind Aqua-Bound has created StandUp Sisters to inspire and support women who don’t want to be up a creek (river, or on any body of water) without a (Standup) paddle! Continue reading Up a Creek With a Stand-Up Paddle
Made in America: Kit Up
Simple is the way that some people roll, and the EDC Bike Kit is truly as simple as it gets. These tools are all made in America and are just what you need for the daily commute – hence EDC (Every Day Carry). The idea isn’t just to make it simple, which it is, but also to make it pocket friendly, rugged and there when you need it.
The EDC Bike Kit includes two hex keys, a pair of mini pry bars for quick tire changes and a glow in the dark compass to ensure you find your way. It is all tied together on a quick release brass key ring.
Made in America: The River Cuts Through It
White River Knives is a new company but it is now producing knives that suggest years of experience. It now offers ultra high quality all American products made with all American materials. White River’s production methods involve a blend of CNC machining and handcrafting processes utilizing a variety of woods, synthetics, cork, and stag for handles and a wide variety of standard and exotic steels.
Among the new offerings is its fillet knife, which the company claims is probably the best in the market for a couple of reasons: It is constructed of American made 440C high-carbon stainless steel, while these knives are designed to cut fish flesh as thin as a sheet of paper if desired. It also offers 54 Rockwell C scale steel blades that are very flexible and yet hold a razor edge that is still easy to sharpen. Continue reading Made in America: The River Cuts Through It
Cast Off
Fishing is generally easy to pick up, but fly fishing can take some work to master. Patagonia looks to make it a little more accessible with its Patagonia Simple Fly Fishing Kit, which includes tenkara rod, the book “Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques for Tenkara and Rod & Reel,” which offers basic fly fishing techniques, a line, leader, and a box of one-dozen already-tied flies. About the only thing missing is land with a river that runs through it.
Mullet Not Included
Bubble gum, check. Bobby pin, check. Birthday candle, check. Yep, this sounds like it is all there. Ifixit has released the Action Hero Toolkit, for those who want to be like MacGyver.
Better Caliber of Hobo
This economy certainly has left some to do more with less. Case Knives even introduced a liner of so-called “Hobo” knives including the Camo Caliber Hobo. While it isn’t designed for an upscale hobo, it does offer a blade, fork and spoon in a single package. So perhaps it is for the upscale hobo – one who also desires a bit of camouflage.
The Zambulance Makes a Difference
At Interbike last year we heard about the Zambulance, a bicycle ambulance, developed by ZamBikes. The developers of this bike believe it can make a difference in the developing world. The president and co-founder, Dustin McBride recently shared a story on how much of a difference this can be.
A Letter From the Director:
I don’t cry often. And when I cry, it’s usually because of a tragic loss of a loved one or some other serious pain that is ‘close to home’. Last week I visited some villages in Kamuli, central Uganda to check on Zambulances that we’ve distributed in partnership with Plan Uganda a few months ago. We visited many patients and the stories were touching, powerful, and some very hard to hear.
One story we experienced was about a woman, Susan, who was pregnant with twins. She gave birth to the first twin at home in the village but because of complications was struggling to deliver the second baby. The Zambulance was able to transport her to the hospital where she had a C-section and safely gave birth to the second twin. In a way, the story seems beautiful and victorious. But the story doesn’t end there. Susan has mental disabilities and is HIV+. We assume she was raped since the dad is in hiding and Susan can’t identify him. Because of her mental state, her healthy, beautiful twins were sent to an orphanage in another town. Continue reading The Zambulance Makes a Difference
Dear Abbey
The Stu Stick is simple but it gets the job done. Named for the famed cyclocross team mechanic and retailer Stu Thorne, this new aluminum offering from Abbey Bike Tools weighs just 44 grams, so it is lighter than steel rotor tools, but also includes a bottle opener. Not everyone might need a brake rotor straightening tool, but considering this one is so light there is no reason not to have it on race day.
The Bicycle Game
If you can’t get out and ride you can still enjoy bicycles on the table. The Schwinn Biking Game allows two to eight players – ages four an up – to race around the board and be the first cyclist back to their parking spot to win the game. If a player’s bike lands on a Schwinn Bike Shop square, the player immediately moves his or her piece to the bike shop and reads a Fun Fact card aloud, ending his turn.
The game is being produced by Michigan based board game company Education Outdoors.
Time to Walk
Given the seemingly endless winter that is still going strong in many parts of North America and it might be a tall order to get people out and walking. However, Dr. Andrew Weil in partnership with Vionic Footwear and celebrity trainer Juliet Kaska kicked off the annual Walkabout – a 28-day quest for good health – this week. The Walkabout campaign encourages the public to make a commitment to their health and start walking as little as 30 minutes a day.
“Walking is what your body is designed to do. It strengthens almost every major organ in the body, promotes bone density, and boosts the immune system,” says Dr. Weil. “There’s no special skill, training or equipment needed, just the right footwear.”
Hopefully Mother Nature will let up a bit and let more people get out and get walking, as research has shown that walking as little as 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 40 percent.
Participants in the Walkabout will receive fitness tips from Juliet Kaska to increase the walking challenge from Juliet Kaska and healthy recipe ideas from Dr. Weil via weekly emails and social media in addition to the chance to win prizes. The grand prize winner, who completes the walking challenge will win a trip to L.A. and train with Juliet Kaska to get ‘Red Carpet Ready’ and be well on their way to achieving fitness and improving their odds in beating heart disease.