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Gear ReviewsGo Outdoors

Columbia Baselayers: The Merger of Technology and Performance

posted by gumptiongear November 7, 2011 0 comments

Layering your clothing is a tried-and-true way to ensure comfort (and warmth) during those days where the mercury drops and your breath hangs in the air around you mid-sentence. The beauty of this simple concept is that it allows you to make quick adjustments based on your activity level and changes in the weather.

Thanks to Columbia, it’s time to ditch those cotton undies and the souvenir T-shirt from that U2 concert and upgrade to the Baselayers bolstered with Omni-Heat technology for warm, dry, layer-able comfort during your active cool weather pursuits.

On the Merger of Technology and Performance…
John Wooden once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

By paying detailed attention to the oft-ignored liner of our cold weather garments Columbia is inciting a revolution in outdoor performance apparel through their patented Omni-Heat technology. This thermal reflective technology manages body heat through a system of tiny silver dots. These tiny dots are the little details that work together to make big things happen. Continue Reading

Gear ReviewsGo Outdoors

Columbia’s Peak Ascent™ Beanie: Warmth Redesigned

posted by gumptiongear November 4, 2011 0 comments

Thanks to the crafty crew at Columbia, the traditional beanie just hit the next step of the evolutionary ladder.

Columbia has taken the classic design of your favorite cozy winter lid and lined it with their Omni-Heat® thermal reflective lining.  Similar to an emergency blanket, Omni-Heat’s tiny silver dots bounce body heat back at you while at the same time allowing excess heat to escape through the permeable/breathable regions between the dots thereby keeping your noggin’ from overheating.

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Gear ReviewsGo Outdoors

Rider Sandal R1 Series Flips: Taking Your Feet Global

posted by gumptiongear November 3, 2011 0 comments


Celebrating their 15th year in the US market Rider Sandals is extending its brand in 2012, expressing its authentic Brazilian heritage with “Street Summer.” Inspired 100% by the Brazilian lifestyle, “Street Summer” captures the essence of Brazil with vibrant colors and the cultural trends of Brazilian fashion; all while delivering comfort, flexibility and durability.

Rider has given the Gumption Gear Crew a sneak peak at the R1 Urb and R1 Urb Plus flips, part of the new 2012 Street Summer flip collection. As part of the “Street Summer” line-up the the
R1 Urb and R1 Urb Plus flips feature Rider mixes contemporary urban trends and distinct Brazilian beach fun with a dash of attitude and Rider specific technologies.

On Fit and Performance…

Looks can be deceiving, and out of the box the R1 Rider Series may give the appearance of a standard casual flip with swanky 3-D tread. Toss them on however and you’ll be thankful for the technological features packed away into the soul of these sandals.

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Gear ReviewsGo OutdoorsUncategorized

Native Eyewear’s Endura: Clarity of Purpose… Clarity of Vision

posted by gumptiongear November 1, 2011 0 comments

Whether mashing the gears on your bike, going the distance on the trail or sneaking away to Maui for a weekend of Mai-Tai’s, the Endura sunglasses from Native Eyewear are ready to fill the role of your lifestyle shades.

New for 2011 these sunglasses are fit for small to medium-sized faces and have a lightweight low profile that keeps the shades close to your eyes for superior coverage. Meanwhile, the venting system incorporated into the frames enhances airflow so you can work up a sweat without fogging your view during more active pursuits.

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Gear ReviewsGo OutdoorsUncategorized

SeasonFive Apparel… Thrive In All Seasons

posted by gumptiongear October 24, 2011 0 comments

“Once we rid ourselves of traditional thinking we can get on with creating the future” – James Bertrand

As an outdoor enthusiast you already know that proper layering is one of the most fundamental concepts in outdoor recreation. This method of dressing allows you to regulate your temperature by peeling-off or putting-on clothing layers — clothes that together wick moisture, insulate and protect from wind and rain. But what if there was a product that truly protected you from all that Mother Nature throws your way, without compromising your freedom of movement or agility?

Enter SeasonFive, a watersports and outdoors apparel start-up is working to introduce a new way of looking at apparel for the water sports and outdoor enthusiast communities.

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Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

First Look: KEEN Tryon WP Adventure Shoes

posted by gumptiongear October 18, 2011 0 comments

You have an epic new day hike planned, but it requires a lengthy approach over a labyrinth of demanding landscape. If that’s the case, you may want to lace up the lightweight KEEN Tryon Shoe and scramble your way to the mountain top.

These fast and furious adventure shoes are loaded with features that will give you a much needed assist in tearing up the trail.

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Gear ReviewsGo Outdoors

Wicking Towels from Discovery Trekking Outfitters – Your New Favorite Outdoor Accessory

posted by gumptiongear October 3, 2011 0 comments

Gary Ryan Blair once said, “Advancement only comes with habitually doing more than you are asked.” If those words are true, then the Ultra Fast-Dry and Extreme Ultralight Backpacking towels from Discovery Trekking Outfitters just might be the true embodiment of advancement.

Most of us have spent a lifetime wrapped in the traditional terry-cloth feel of the standard towel. Whether it’s for the beach, pool or shower, the feel of a terry cloth towel against our skin has become almost second nature to all of us.

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Gear ReviewsGo Outdoors

The Ocean Minded Storm Surf Flips

posted by gumptiongear September 27, 2011 0 comments

Whether your adventure plans include air, land or sea, the eco-friendly design of the Ocean Minded™ Storm Surf is a must.

Aiming to become the global leader in sustainable lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, the crew at Ocean Minded™ are designing gear with a higher purpose in mind: providing comfort while protecting the earth.Ocean Minded believes in utilizing recycled and sustainable materials in all their products whenever possible. Towards these ends, the Storm Surf Flip is a prime example of how the Ocean Minded design team has integrated functionality with eco-friendly design.

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Gear ReviewsGo OutdoorsGo Pack

High Sierra Sport’s Airhead: One Cool Pack

posted by gumptiongear September 19, 2011 0 comments

In today’s outdoor market, there are a slew of brands utilizing breathable stitched foam back panels to increase your comfort. But when it comes to breathability, there’s one bag that outdoes them all. The Airhead from High Sierra Sport is, quite literally, one cool bag.With eye-catching, sheer mesh construction, the Airhead is perfect for your kid’s day at school, the pool or for a weekend adventure on the trail. Multiple storage options and a front-hung monster hook to hold extra gear, this versatile, go-anywhere Airhead pack is a real breath of fresh air. Continue Reading

Gear ReviewsGo HikeGo Outdoors

In Search of the Perfect Sandal: Freewaters™ MAGIC CARPET

posted by gumptiongear August 31, 2011 0 comments

Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”  Towards those ends, Freewaters™ has combined patent pending technologies and innovative design features to forge the Magic Carpet– a sandal that has plenty of magic to get your blood flowing.

Like the pride of a racing stable, the Magic Carpet leads the pack in performance, comfort, and style. This hi-tec innovative sandal goes places you never thought a sandal could, so get used to the idea of never taking it off.

Patent pending neoprene flex panel straps are so comfortable you’ll forget they’re even there.  These innovative straps demonstrate that pressure and pinching derived from the foot flexing forward need not be a part of your flip-flop experience.  Moreover, during those rare moments you remove the Magic Carpet sandals, the straps retain form.  While this may seem like a tedious detail, few things can prove to be more insufferable than toe wrestling a flattened strap when you just want to get up and get out.  Did we mention they are also water and vegan friendly? 

Freewaters has raised the stakes in the world of flip-flop design by incorporating running shoe technology into this sandal.  The Freewaters team accomplishes this through an Exclusive Response Arch Shank which creates torsional flex resulting in a spring type action reminiscent of your favorite athletic kicks. 

Coupled with the midsole’s ‘toe spring’ which helps eliminate toe drag, the response arch shank generates an efficient transfer of energy within every stride resulting in greater ease whether you’re strolling the beach or making that long walk to the BBQ to flip the burgers.

Amidst a forest of innovative design features, there was one part of the Magic Carpet that truly resonated with our crew:  A recycled eco-rubber outsole with aggressive tread and siping providing traction that would impress the Michelin Man.  This sticky, water-channeling sole moves water away from the bottom of your sandal ensuring secure footing on slick and sketchy surfaces so you don’t have to hold back when your pistons are firing.

When constructing an outsole that excels on the land and longs for the water, the Freewaters design team put equal effort into fashioning a eva foam footbed that serves as the ultimate welcome mat for your feet.  A brushed non-slip footbed keeps you locked in and comfy cruising through life’s waterparks.  The 3D molded footbed matches your foot’s shape and cushions your steps while keeping your feet cool on even the hottest summer days.

While this sandal seems to lack the impressive arch support of the Freewaters Cruz Control, the Magic Carpet still delivers rock steady support and massive comfort for which your body will be grateful.  At a time when more than one company lays claim to an “out-of-the-box-no-break-in” fit, once again, Freewaters is king of the hill in that category.  Good news for you, because when the sun is out, you don’t want to waste any time breaking in new sandals.

Bottom Line…
They say that the elegance of art is that it enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.  If that is indeed the case then the Magic Carpet from Freewaters is the essence of art for the feet.

 
Exit Note…
If there’s one thing we like more than a quality sandal, it’s a quality sandal with a humanitarian heart.  The purchase of one pair of Freewaters allows ProjectFreewaters.org to provide clean drinking water for one individual for one entire year.  So go purchase your Freewaters sandals, you’ll be doing your feet and the world a lot of good.