Hands On | Evolving Consumer

Hands On: Eton FRX3

As super storm Sandy and other natural disasters have shown us, you never know when the power might go out. To that end it is good to have a flashlight, at least three days of food and water, but a radio or other communication device is a good idea too.

We’d recommend taking it a step further with something like Eton’s FRX3 – a multi-powered, multi-functon smartphone-charging, weather alert radio that can help light the way. We didn’t get to test the FRX3 in an actual emergency – for which we can be grateful – but we found that it does power up quickly by cranking the hand turbine for just about a minute. That is just enough to get a good 15 or so minutes of news, weather and even music – because in a disaster nothing beats some music. As a radio the unit provides a way to hear AM/FM and even NOAA weather band digital radio.

If that was all the Eton FRX3 did we’d still appreciate having it for those times when can’t simply turn on the TV or radio. But this unit, which can also be powered by the sun via a solar panel, can be used as an LED flashlight or beacon, and most importantly can charge a mobile phone.

There are certain devices you shouldn’t head out without, but this is one device that should be in the home as well as the campsite.

Eton FRX3 Official Website

Hands on: Okole Stuff

For any cyclist who has spent numerous days in the saddle back to back, just rides long distances or is treating a saddle sore knows that a bike seat can become a hot seat of sorts. Many a rider has probably used some sort of ointment or cream in the skin area that comes in contact with the seat. These creams and ointments are not designed for daily use to mask an improper positioning or poor quality saddle, but rather they are designed to aid and treat the irritations or sores that arise from excessive time in the saddle. A few months back we were sent a chamois ointment, Okole Stuff by Enduro Stuff, to put to the test.

Any type of cream or ointment product is difficult to review since ingredients can react differently to each individual. For the past few years I have been using a ‘Euro-style’ chamois crème on rides that are longer than 100 miles or times when I have a skin irritation in the saddle contact area of my body. I have become accustomed to this type of creams that contain menthol which have a ‘tinglely’ feeling when applied, but my wife cannot use those products containing menthol due to the irritation that they cause to her ‘lady parts’. Continue reading Hands on: Okole Stuff

Hands On: Epic Comp 29

Recently I mentioned the demo day and test bike programs that bicycle retailers and manufacturers have in place so that the consumer can really test drive a bike before purchasing. With bikes costing several thousand dollars, it only made sense that the customer would really want to make sure that their new bike investment was the right one. Out of all of the mountain bikes that I have, only one is full suspension and it only has a little over one inch of rear travel. Since my days of racing for Pro-Flex in the late 1990s, I have been turned off of full suspension bikes. Realizing that there have been many advancements in bike technology and now that I am a little old (translated…more body pains), I think it might be time to add a full suspension bike to my fleet. Continue reading Hands On: Epic Comp 29

Fitness Journal: Water, Water (Bottles) Everwhere – Here’s on Hands On Test Recap

Over the past month we rode, we drank, we tested. We tried out many water bottles and wrote up the findings. Here is a recap of Brian O’Connor’s hands on tests of this year’s water bottles:

Nalgene ATB Bottle with Black Closure
The 32 oz version didn’t fit many cages, but the wide neck opening of the bottles made dropping in an ice cube no problem at all. Read the full review.

Specialized Purist
No bad taste, just pure water with this bottle, which mostly rinses clean. Read the full review.

BioGreen ProX
Want to use the same water bottle in a century? Most of the time you can, as the bottles aren’t so biodegradable – but the BioGreenX is made from 20 percent post industrial recycled plastic and should biodegrade in just two years. Read the full review.

Hydrapak Gel-Bot
Like a burst of energy with some gels? The Hydrapak can supply water and gel from one bottle. Read the full review.

Polar Insulated Bottle
On a hot summer ride nothing is better than a cool drink. Too bad most bottles let the liquid heat up to a temperature resembling bath water. Not the Polar Insulated Bottle. Read the full review.

Clean Bottle
Getting a bottle clean can sometimes be no easy task. Wouldn’t be easier if both the top and bottom came off? Oh wait, with the Clean Bottle they do! Read the full review.

CamelBak Podium Bottles
Ready to make a dash for the finish line. The CamelBak Podium Bottle might just have you on the podium. Read the full review.

Nalgene Bottles
Are you tired of the same old bottles? If so consider the variety offered by the Nalgene Bottles that are made from Tritan plastic. Read the full review.

Hands On: Nalgene Bottles Made from Tritan Plastic

KineticShift.com concludes our hands on test of water bottles.

All good things come to an end, including our hands on test of water bottles. We wrap things up with the Nalgene bottles, which use Tritan copolyester plastic. The line includes the All-Terrain Bottle made from low density polyethylene, the On the Fly (OTF) and the On-the-Go (OTG). Here is our test.

Nalgene Bottles Made from Tritan Plastic Description: Each of the bottles tested (unless noted) are manufactured using Eastman’s Tritan copolyester plastic.

Everyday Tritan
BPA-Free High impact resistance
Resistant to staining
Won’t retain odors
Withstands sub-freezing to boiling temperatures
Dishwasher safe away from the heating element
Max temperature: 100 degrees C/212 degrees F
Min temperature: -40 degrees C/-40 degrees F

Bottle Sizes: Varies – 16oz to 32oz
Plastic: Eastman’s Tritan copolyester
Country of Manufacture: USA except for the flip tops – those are made in China
Retail Price: Varies – $6.75 to $14.99 Continue reading Hands On: Nalgene Bottles Made from Tritan Plastic

Hands On: CamelBak Chill and Ice Insulated Bottles

KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.

The company that invented the backpack with a water bladder built-in has some new offerings in the water bottle category too.

CamelBak Chill Description: The CamelBak Podium Chill Bottle is a soft, lightweight, easy-to-use insulated bottle. Keeps beverages cool for hours. Perfect for cyclists, runners, and other outdoor athletes. With great thermal performance and innovative features, the Podium Chill Bottle sets a new standard for insulated bottles.

CamelBak is the official hydration sponsor of Team Garmin-Transitions, and proud to support the team’s 100% Clean initiative for untainted sports performance.

CamelBak Ice Description: The ultimate insulated bike bottle, the CamelBak Podium Ice bottle keeps water cold four times longer, to maximize your performance and keep you focused on your ride.

Bottle Sizes: 21oz
Plastic: Polypropylene
Country of Manufacture: China
Retail Price: $12 (Chill) and $20 (Ice) Continue reading Hands On: CamelBak Chill and Ice Insulated Bottles

Hands On: Clean Bottle

KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.

It is time to come clean about a sad fact about water bottles. Some bottles just never get clean when used with energy drinks, and even water can transform bottles into something that you’d never want to drink out of – but the Clean Bottle might just have the solution.

Clean Bottle Description: Flat tires. Getting dropped. Bad drivers. Stinky, moldy water bottles.

We can’t help you with the first three, but we can  do something about the fourth.

Introducing Clean Bottle, with a patent-pending, leak-proof , screw-off bottom. Gone are the days of trying in vain to wash out that funk at the bottom of your bottles. With Clean Bottle, cleaning and drying are easy.

Clean Bottle is made with 100% non-toxic, BPA-free plastics, making it safe to use over and over. Clean bottle is also top-rack dishwasher safe, so you can run it in the dishwasher without fear of it breaking down.

Bottle Sizes: 22oz
Plastic: Polyethylene (body) and Polypropylene (caps)
Country of Manufacture: China
Retail Price: $9.95 (22oz) Continue reading Hands On: Clean Bottle

Hands On: Polar Insulated Bottle

KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.

The Polar express is up and running. Polar Bottle returns with its latest insulated water bottle that is thinner, making it easier to squeeze, yet still keeps water comfortably chilled.

Polar Insulated Bottle Description: Polar Bottle is the original insulated plastic sport bottle. It keeps liquids colder longer than other water bottles. We innovated the industry back in 1994 by creating a bottle that would actually keep water cool during any outdoor activity. The bottle has evolved in the years since with brightly colored foil liners and patterns and an innovative removable valve system. Made in America, Polar Bottle is popular throughout the world.

Bottle Sizes: 20oz and 24oz
Plastic: Low Density Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: USA
Retail Price: $10.99 (20oz) & $11.99 (24oz) Continue reading Hands On: Polar Insulated Bottle

Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up – Specialized Purist with the Watergate Valve

KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.

Specialized’s Product Description: In creating the next generation of water bottles the team set out to solve the puzzle of how to combine the two most desired elements in the ideal bottle – the ﬂexibility and safety of a sports bottle with the purity of taste from a drinking glass.

Introducing Purist – With inspiration from nature we have created the ﬁrst water bottle that offers a taste as pure as drinking from a glass, with all the advantages of a ﬂexible bottle. With a simple rinse, mold and residue are removed ensuring that water drunk from the bottle does not taste like plastic or impurities, but clean and fresh. All you taste is the water. Even in extreme conditions where tomato sauce is left in the bottle overnight, Purist shields the bottle from the taste, smell and staining. Nothing sticks, so your bottle stays cleaner and your water tastes pure.

Nothing tastes better.

Bottle Sizes: 22oz and 26oz
Plastic: Low Density Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: USA
Retail Price: TBD Continue reading Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up – Specialized Purist with the Watergate Valve

Hands On: Kinect for Xbox 360

Kinect for Xbox 360 delivers a whole new way to interface with games, as advertised. Just be sure to have a seven-year-old on hand to help mount the hardware. Shaun Conlin, editor of Evergeek.com explains.

There’s no denying that Nintendo took Microsoft by surprise when its comparatively wimpy little Wii became a runaway hit with general consumers, not just gamers. Wii’s simple and somewhat sloppy motion-sensitive controllers were key to its success.

After some presumed head scratching, Microsoft set about the none-too-small task of one-upping the competition. Taking the controller out of motion-controlled gaming altogether, the Xbox people delivered last week a true evolution of interactive entertainment, one where the player’s body waves and flails and prances about – and sometimes speaks – to invoke on-screen actions of the playable character on screen. Awesome idea there, Microsoft. Continue reading Hands On: Kinect for Xbox 360

Hands on: Water Bottle Round-up – Elite Corsa

KineticShift.com continues our hands on test of water bottles.

Serious athletes are often considered the elite. But does the Elite Corsa water bottle, which is used by professional cycling teams including LiquiGas and HTC during major races including the Tour de France, have what it takes to stand up to the true elite? And does it have what it takes for those who tend to use the bottles over a season instead of tossing them to the road after a single use? Here is what we found.

Elite’s Product Description: Soft squeezable construction; New triple- function cap with soft push-pull nozzle is easy on the mouth and delivers fluid fast; Easy to grip bottle with ergonomic shape; wide mouth opening for easy filling and cleaning; dishwasher safe and BPA- free; 550ml liquid capacity

Bottle Sizes: 550ml (approximately 22oz). The Super Corsa is available in 750ml
Plastic: Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: Croatia
Retail Price: $7.00 (est.) Continue reading Hands on: Water Bottle Round-up – Elite Corsa

Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up – Nalgene ATB Bottle with Black Closure

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. That is unless you have a water bottle like the Nalgene with you.

As part of our round-up of water bottles, we’re starting with this the Nalgene All-Terrain Bottle. It says all-terrain but how does it really stand up?

Nalgene’s Product Description: You can rely on the NALGENE All-Terrain Bottle wherever you go. It’s great for carbohydrate/energy beverages, easy to use, and simple to clean. Your ATB fits standard bicycle cages

Except the 32oz. That does not fit in any cages, waist packs or backpack pockets. The hinged Co-polyester mud-cap keeps the drinking spout clean, and the slim profile and textured grip give you firm handling in virtually all conditions. The wide neck opening easily accommodates ice cubes for chilled drinks, and the neck configuration works with most major water purifiers and filters.

Bottle Sizes: 22oz and 32oz
Plastic: Low Density Polyethylene
Country of Manufacture: USA
Retail Price: $7.58 (22oz) & $6.83 (32oz) Continue reading Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up – Nalgene ATB Bottle with Black Closure

Hands On: Water Bottle Round-up, Let it Flow

Working out requires that you remain hydrated. For those on bikes that means bringing liquid refreshment in water bottles, Camel Backs and other similar containers. The water bottle concept isn’t really all the unique either. Since ancient times travelers in hunter/gather societies carrying a variety of packs to bring water while on the go.

The earliest “water bottles” were made from animal skins and organs, as well as from clay pots. Each presented its own distinct problems. Over time liquids were carried in glass and metal containers, but in the post-World War II era, plastic became the miracle material for transporting liquids. Some could probably argue the tin can, but for long rides plastic bottles remains the de facto container. While the familiar shape means many bottles look alike, advances and innovations have come a long way. This week we begin a round-up of the state of water bottles.

This water bottle round up has been in the works since Interbike 2010 at the end of September. It was delayed by either the manufacturers delivering product to KineticShift or defective product that needed to be replaced. We ended up with almost 15 bottles to evaluate and it did not seem fair to do a side-by-side comparison since the features and functions differed. This is a roundup of the bottles at Interbike that are currently on the market now and any comparisons that are made will be to either a previous model of the same bottle or the classic Specialized cycling water bottle – considered by most to be the standard.

All of the bottles had to pass a few basic standards:

Hold cold liquid without leaking when the valve was closed and the bottle was squeezed with the same pressure that is required when in use
Hold cold liquid without leaking when the valve was closed and the bottle is turned upside down
BPA free

After the basic tests, each bottle was rinsed and water was filled and tasted to see is there was any lingering plastic taste or smell. After that, each bottle was tested to evaluate the main individual manufacturer’s claim of that bottle. Those claims ranged from ‘won’t retain taste and orders’ to ‘simply rinse to clean’. Accelerade Sports Drink was used in any bottle that claimed to retain no taste or smell from an energy drink.

Please check back over the next few days as we offer the results of our hands on bottle test.