Survival Straps is new to Outdoor Retailer for 2011. The company is based in Florida and have been making the straps right here in the USA since 2005. The idea is simple: military spec 550 paracord is braided and connected with a metal pin to form a wrist strap. If you get into a bind in the backcountry, unwrap the strap and use as needed. So far the straps have served as tourniquets, helped build shelters and even been used to tie a brand new grill to a roof rack. I know this because of Survival Straps company policy:...
Read more »

Face it – not everyone has Chaco feet. It’s true, but some folks just don’t find Chaco sandals and shoes to be very comfortable due to the shape of their foot. I know this is a fact, because my wife is one of them. But Chaco has heard their cries, so they’ve designed new sandals and shoes to give Chaco comfort to everyone. This new line of footwear was on display at the 2011 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, and will hit store shelves this spring. First up is the Chaco Updraft Bulloo. It looks like the typical Unaweep or...
Read more »

Hike, hike, hike. Damn my pack is heavy. Hike, hike, hike. Take a picture. Hike some more. That about describes a backpacking trip to Naturalist Basin in Utah’s Uinta Mountains. Oh, and the scenery is ‘effin’ spectacular. So much so, that Naturalist Basin is one of the most popular backpacking areas in the entire range. The search for solitude is a primary reason to load up a pack and head for the woods, but you won’t find it here. No matter, because the annoyance of the crowds is far less than the experience of exploring one of the Uinta’s...
Read more »

The most comfortable hydration backpack to date: the Osprey Verve 10 Hydration Pack. It’s made specifically for women and benefits the Breast Cancer Fund so what’s not to love? Riding down bumpy trails, with the Verve 10 strapped to my back, there was no wiggle or jiggle I’ve become accustomed to with hydration packs. In fact it sat firmly against my back despite being completely full of ice water. This bag isn’t too big or too small. I could fit a jacket, snacks, and personal items in the pockets. I wore this pack primarily mountain biking and what I...
Read more »

The 3rd annual Mount Ogden 50/100k mountain bike endurance race is coming up fast. The 2011 event takes place on August 27 at Snowbasin Resort. A few changes have been made this year, most notably the deletion of the team relay 100k. Now anyone who wants to grind their pedals all day through the singletrack at Snowbasin will have only two options – 50k solo or 100k solo. The race course consists of two 25k loops for the 50K and two 50k loops for the 100k. Also new this year is an addition to the 100k course that loops on...
Read more »

It’s that time again! The Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City will soon fill with tens of thousands of outdoorsy people for the 2011 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Over 25,000 retailers, exhibitors and media are expected to attend this year’s Summer Market from August 4th through the 7th, generating over $23 million in direct economic impact to Salt Lake, and the state of Utah. According to Outdoor Retailer, this year’s Summer Market pre-registration numbers signal an optimistic outlook for the convention center’s largest annual user. With more people registered than last year to date, enthusiasm about...
Read more »

The Brighton Resort area is a great place to hike when summer heats up the valley. Wide trails, easy navigation and gorgeous views are the name of the game up here. If you don’t have a full day but want to get over 10,000′ then the answer is easy: Mount Millicent. The peak stands tall over the parking area and is a great hike for those looking to get high without the usual effort needed in the Wasatch. The hike begins at the Millicent base area. An obvious access road switchbacks up the slopes that most people are used...
Read more »

A good performance tee is a must have in everyone’s gear closet. From spring to fall it’s tough not to reach for that trusted short sleeve shirt for a hike, bike ride or a run on the trail. Moisture wicking ability, great feel and fit, and of course style are all high on the list of priorities, and Helly Hansen has it dialed with their Pace SS shirts. The Pace comes in a standard jersey cut and a half zip style; I’ve been testing them both for the past three months and can report that they are close to,...
Read more »

The Utah outdoor and professional ski community is mourning the loss of Olympic medalist Jeret “Speedy” Peterson. Peterson’s body was found Tuesday in Lambs Canyon. He died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Peterson is being remembered along the Wasatch Front due to his many ties to Utah as an Olympic Freestyle Skier. He is perhaps best known for creating the innovative “Hurricane,” a five-twist and three-flip aerial maneuver that landed him a silver medal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. According to the Salt Lake Unified Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call made by Peterson. he...
Read more »

Monkeywrencher, Tim DeChristopher, will serve two years in prison after being found guilty in March of two felony counts of sabatoging a gas and oil lease auction in 2008. DeChristopher disrupted the sale of gas drilling leases by successfully bidding on a dozen parcels (most notably some near Arches National Park) that he never intended to pay for in order to disrupt the process in protest of climate change. After the sentence was handed down by the judge, DeChristopher was immediately taken away to the Davis County Jail. Outside the courtroom, supporters and environmentalists gathered to chant, play drums, and...
Read more »

Barefoot running is all the craze right now, leading to numerous minimalist trail running shoes to meet the demand. The Tecnica Diablo MAX is NOT one of those shoes. Big, brawny, and badass are good terms to describe the massive amounts of shoe that wraps the foot in comfort and performance for those long trail runs over rocky terrain. Barefoot runners steer clear, because these shoes are the yin to your yang. Personally, I like ample amounts of bells and whistles in my shoes and the Tecnica Diablo MAX fit the bill. Heck, even compared to regular running shoes,...
Read more »