June 2, 2010
by Anderson Bowman

Adidas
Climalite X 2 Low Cut Socks

• ·  CLIMALITE® fabric sweeps sweat away from your skin
• ·  Antimicrobial technology kills odor-causing bacteria and reduces athlete’s foot
• ·  Low cut; Mesh top for ventilation;
• · Arch compression for support; Cushioned foot for comfort
• ·  Contrast 3-Stripes on foot; adidas brandmark on ankle
• ·  Micro acrylic / polyester / nylon / elastane / natural latex

MSRP: $12.00 US (2 pair)

The Adidas Climalite X 2 Low Cut socks came in the mail at just the right time. The weather has warmed up and this means that I am outdoors a lot more.  This also means that I need more socks to wear, because I am going to be doing something outside almost every day.

These socks look and feel very nice.  I pulled them out of their packaging and slid them on my feet to see just how well they work in the real world of sweaty summer feet and discovered that they fit just fine on my feet (shoe size 10.5) and they are very comfortable too.  They are definitely designed to be worn with hiking/running shoes and not boots, but that is not an issue for me.

At this point I am trying to get some form of running in every other day. My summer plans include a lot of trail and street running, day hiking, and even fishing trips that will involve running shoes, hiking shoes, and maybe even sandals (yes I will wear socks with sandals if needed).  I am hoping that my two pair of the Adidas Climalite X 2 Socks hold up to the wear and tear.

My plans are pretty simple: I will wear them every other day (at the least) and maybe even more. I will wear one pair of socks for a week, and then substitute them for the other pair (so one can be washed).  This means a brutal three months of wear and tear for these socks and I am going to push them to the limit. I need to know if they can hold up, keep my feet comfortable, and stay as stink free as possible during this time.  Southeast Texas (Houston area) is hot, humid, and destructive to just about any piece of gear or clothing I wear.  I will know soon enough if these socks are up to a full scale Texas summer of fun.

A summer full of fun and one special pair of socks

by Anderson Bowman
August 26, 2010

I have been using these socks for over two months and I am more than happy with them.  One of my first compliments is about the color. They are not white and they are not black. The brown color of the Adidas Climalite X 2 Low Cut socks is great. They blend in with any shoes I wear them with and to be honest, I have worn them with my work shoes (to work) on occasion and never been called out.

Over the last two months I have taken them fishing, day hiking, backpacking, trail running, to the gym, and just around town.  My tactic was simple; I used one pair of socks for a week straight, and then switched to my backup pair so the first pair could be washed.

This means that I was wearing one pair every day for a week, and hoping for the best. The good news is that I was not disappointed. The socks were more than adequate in the padding department, but they were not too light to fill my shoes (especially when hiking).  The padding did not compress or wear out over the course of the week and most delightful to me is that they have never really gotten extremely smelly after a week of constant use.

These socks were washed regularly and I consider this the most destructive time for socks. I am happy to report that despite their constant washing, they did not shrink, tear, rip, or otherwise develop any signs of wear.  I have not really tried to be kind to these socks, so they hit the wash dirty and well worn, but they have always come out looking as good as new.

What I find appealing about these socks is not only are they durable, but while not designed specifically for hiking, they do fill an excellent niche. They are low cut enough to go with low cut hiking, running, or cross training shoes and they are durable and padded enough to be used for any of these activities without any compromise in sock performance.

I will continue using these socks and report back in another month. I doubt there is much more I can do with them, but since I know they work well in 95 F + temperatures, I am hoping that I will get the chance to see how much I like them in cooler temperatures.

So please check back in a month to see how well the Adidas Climalite X 2 Low Cut socks are holding up.

The amazingly lightweight Ahnu Women's Sequoia

By Suzanne

I don’t know about the other hikers out there, but I can never seem to find a light weight summer hiker that can hold up to my abuse. I tried a well known brand and killed them within two hikes. I mean, crushed them to death. I had always figured that I was just too hard on my feet and that no shoe company would want to take me on.

But then something happened. Ahnu came along. And, suddenly, I have a pair of hikers that I’ve worn nonstop since their arrival and I have yet to notice any wearing. How the heck did that happening?

I’ve taken my Sequoia‘s everywhere in the past couple weeks. They have been running, mudding, hiking, lounging… absolutely everywhere that I have been, they have been. And they just keep on kicking.

My favorite feature of my Sequoia‘s is the weight or, should I say, their lack their of. These shoes are so lightweight! It makes them absolutely perfect for the insanely warm weather that we have been experiencing here in Maine lately. My sweaty feet can finally breathe! I am no longer stuck with stinky feet with blisters forming and puddles of sweat forming under my arch. The mesh top panels let just the right amount of moisture out while still keeping me dry enough when it sprinkles. But they don’t forgo a sturdy base to make the Sequoia‘s lighter. They went out and added a solid Vibram base that can eat rock for a midnight snack. The whole combination leads to their “QuiteLight” construction, a system that enables exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and superior comfort. And gosh darnit. They got it right with the Sequoias. I can wear them all day and still keep on. Even on the concrete floors where I work. And that says something. Concrete is never friendly. But, with my Sequoia‘s, I can kick the concrete’s butt.

Next up for my Sequoia‘s is a trip to New Hampshire’s White Mountains to really give them a workout. How will they hold up to that kind of abuse? Well, you’ll just have to check back and see!

by Dave (the turtle) Wilkes

Getting started geocaching,
just how do you do it?
It’s really quite simple,
there is nothing much to it.
Just get online and create an account
How many caches?
It’s an amazing amount!

Ok, sorry for channeling Dr Seuss. I guess I read The Sleep Book to my kids a few too many times.

Sue holding a cache & Grace in her "Geocaching skirt"

But getting started geocaching really is quite easy. All you need is a GPS, and then log into one of the geocaching web sites to obtain the Latitude & Longitude (Lat/Lon) of a cache near you. Then go out and find it! It really is that simple.

The hook is that once you find your first cache, you will want to find more. And you will probably want to log your finds so you and others will have a record of it. You also, might like to be able to load a bunch of caches for a given area directly into your GPS rather than have to print out the information and/or manually enter it in. And if you are like me, you want to be able to geocache and any time or place, so being able to access caches in your current location with your phone is an absolute must…ok maybe not a must, but it sure is cool!

So I have assembled a few links that I think could be helpful for new cachers (see below). The geocaching.com FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and Wiki (Wikihow & Wikipedia) are good places to start.

Geocaching.com by Groundspeak is probably the most popular geocaching site there is. It is where I got my start, but there are other sites that maintain their own lists of caches, and I have tried to include a few in the links provided.

My recommendation would be to visit a few of the sites, see which you like and/or have caches near you and sign up. To my knowledge they all have some sort of free signup, and then some offer additional services for a fee.

Once you sign up you can search for caches in your area or someplace you intend to visit, and you are ready to go. When you find the caches you can log your find to the site and it will keep track of the ones you have visited making it easer to find new ones. Some will even send you e-mails when new caches are created.

What do you need? Well besides a GPS, not much. GPS’s are much cheeper than they were only a few years ago, and some even have dedicated Geocaching features! I reciently had the opertunity to try out the Geomate Jr and found it ideal for kids and/or someone who wants to jump into Geocaching quickly. Good footwear is kind of important. You could end up walking quite a bit while looking for the caches or exploring the area. Many caches are placed in a location for a reason. Sometimes while looking for a cache you will find a new place to explore. A pen/pencil is a good idea for signing cache logs and taking notes. Some catchers like to trade small trinkets. This is my kid’s favorite part! So I keep a small bag or pouch with little trinkets that they use to trade. The basic concept is that what is in the cache is available for trade, simply take something and leave something else in its place (preferably of equal or higher value). There are also sometimes items in the caches that are intended to be picked up and moved to other caches. These range from custom made coins to items with tags (know as “travel bugs”). Some of these items are intended to just be moved around, while some have specific places they are trying to get to or tasks they are trying to accomplish (e.g. my daughter created a travel bug with the objective of getting its picture taken with as many cat lovers as possible).

Some caches are hidden in out of the way places. So basic items one would take on a trail hike can also be a good idea (simple first aid kit, jacket or poncho, water, snacks, maps, etc), what you bring depends highly on you, your location, as well as the conditions. Personally I also like to bring a walking stick, if for no other reason than to make sure there are no ‘surprises’ (such as a snake or poison ivy) when I reach for a suspected cache.

After you have found a cache…or 20, you just might start thinking that you wished you had a cache of your own. This is natural, don’t worry or feel embarrassed, it happens to most cachers. Creating your own cache is a bit more involved than finding your first cache, but it is still quite simple. Unfortunately, I am not going to go into the details in this article but will save that for a follow up article I plan to post very soon.

One of a kind Travel Bug

Geocaching can be done as a solo activity, as well as a family event, and there are Geocaching groups that go out together and even hold events. There are even groups/companies that offer Geocaching as a team building activity!

Links:

http://www.geocaching.com/

http://www.geocaching.com/faq/

http://www8.garmin.com/outdoor/geocaching/

http://www.brillig.com/geocaching/

http://www.navicache.com/index.html

http://geocaching.gpsgames.org/cgi-bin/ge.pl

http://www.terracaching.com/

http://www.wikihow.com/Go-Geocaching

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching

http://mygeomate.com/

“And the turtles, of course… All the turtles are free- As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”

Dr Seuss

NORTHERN FOREST CANOE TRAIL GUIDEBOOK: Enjoy 740 Miles of Canoe and Kayak Destinations in New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine

Explore the northern forest canoe trails of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Quebec. (photo courtesy of Mountaineer Books)

From the Publisher:

Publisher: Mountaineers Books
Pages: 320
Binding Information: Paperback
Size: 5.5″ X 8.5″ Inches

* Choose a weekend, week-long, or even longer paddling adventure
* Explores the history and river culture of the New England region
* Excellent resource for towns and businesses catering to tourism along the trail

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) links the waterways of New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. This is the first official guidebook to the whole 740-mile trail and reflects the broad mission of the NFCT: To celebrate the rich human heritage and diverse natural environment of the Northern Forest by establishing a water trail that traces historic Native American travel routes across the region.

The route’s variety of flat water, swift water, and whitewater-expanding across a range of rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds-provides extensive opportunities for canoe, kayak, and camping recreation. Vibrant communities along the way offer inns, B&Bs, and museums, as well as other recreational and historical attractions. This guidebook goes beyond route information to serve as a narrative of the natural, human, and cultural legacy of the region and its wonderful accessibility to visitors.

The opportunity to review Northern Forest Canoe Trails combines a few of my favorite pastimes.  I have always loved to read, anything and everything I could get my hands on.  More recently, I have come to enjoy paddling – both kayaking and canoeing.  What a great combination of the two!  I spent the last month reading and planning trips for this summer.  Luckily, I live in Maine, so I should have no problem accessing some of these spots.

The book is divided into sections by state/area.  The sections provide information on the length of each section, put ins and take outs, wildlife typically found in that area, local amenities, brief history of that area and maps.   I found the maps and access information very useful – and the history and local information interesting.  I found the book was easy to read and interesting beyond just the paddling information.  The photographs have inspired me to start planning some trips.  I found myself looking at the maps, and planning different length trips.  The information provided as far as what to take on longer trips is extremely useful and thorough.   With 740 miles of paddling available, it may take me a while to do it all, but using the book, I will be able to plan a few multi-day trips.  There is in-depth information for the person who may be interested in doing a through paddle, including portage information, resupply points and gear information.

I will be updating the review in a few weeks, once I have been on the trail.  I am most interested in how accurate the maps are, and whether this book could be a ‘one stop’ guide to paddling the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

Charlie chasing his glow in the dark ball.

The first thing I noticed was the extremely durable material that this ball is made out of. They have played for hours with them and there are not any sign on wear and tear on the ball, except the printing has worn off. It is also a very bouncy toy, and my two Labrador Retrievers love to play with them. It is listed as being “minty” … can’t really tell myself as I am not a big ball chewer, but they seem to love playing with them and seem to find them on the tasty side.

The main thing that I really like is that they are glow in the dark. Real easy to find under the bed, out in the yard at night, or on a dark flight of stairs. That is a really nice feature, and the pooches can spot it easily too. As you can see in the picture it really stands out. A very well designed toy that my pets enjoy and I can avoid tripping over in the middle of the night!

Updated Aug.  29, 2010

Well after a few months of daily nawing and chewing on these balls (by two good size labs with incredible jaw strength) they have proven to be extremely durable.  Neither one of the balls even have a nick out of it! The material used has some incredible properties to say the least. They also glow and bounce just like when they were new. They have lost their minty smell though, but after rolling in about every type of mud, weed, and grass possible I can understand that!  To sum it up though this is a very well designed product that has passed the test of time and extreme abuse well. Good job Orbee-Tuff!

Designed by Tim Sainburg from Brambling Design

Danielle Denton

I wore my Pave the Way Jacket by Columbia almost every day this week.  Being a woman I am always conscious of how my clothing fits and looks on my body.  I was very enthused when I put it on and it fit like a glove.  A lot of times with jackets I try on they either fit well in the shoulders and arms and not the bust and mid or the complete opposite.  When I put on the Pave the Way Jacket the sleeves were the correct length so I was scared to zip it up.  I was relieved to see how well it fit every area of my torso.  It is a very flattering jacket and as I’m sure anyone can relate it’s so much easier to enjoy life when you feel good in your clothing.  I am able to completely focus on the experience when my clothing meets my needs. 

It is made with Omni-Technology that keeps you dry from the inside out.  The first layer of defense is an Omni-Shield to protect even the inner layers of the jacket.  Second is a microporous membrane that provides an extreme defense to prevent water from passing through.  The layers provide many wicking properties that make the jacket waterproof and breathable.  Another great feature is the stretchiness of the100% polyester Balata Stretch fabric to allow for comfort and flexibility.  The hem and hand cuffs are adjustable for extra protection from wind and water.  The jacket has reflective detailing to keep you safe at all hours.  Something I absolutely love is the side pockets.  They are lined with a soft fabric and since I always have cold hands it is great for me to have a warm pocket.  In most water resistant jackets the pockets are worthless.  I’m positively surprised every time I put my hands in the pockets.  Those small features in my opinion make a large difference in my overall comfort and determine how much I wear certain clothing. 

I plan on wearing this jacket on a lot of outings to test out how it holds up with extensive use.  One last great feature is the back zip pocket.  It is great for my running needs.  It’s big enough to carry GU, extra food, money, IPOD, or anything I want to bring along.  Since it’s on the low my back I think it will sit perfectly and not bother me with my stride.  I put my hands in my side pockets a lot so it would be nice to have them empty and still be able to carry my extra items.  One small thing I noticed is the stiffness of the zipper.  Because of the water barrier it is hard to get up.  However, this does not dampen my enthusiasm towards wearing it for all my needs.  I can wear it in the outdoors for that practical use or just for a cute jacket to wear to school.  I’m excited to have a jacket that is not only extremely comfortable, but looks great. 

Check back in about a month to see how well this jacket can hold up against extensive use….

       Check it out for yourself

Following up with the Pave the Way Jacket……

I have had my Pave the Way jacket for a little over a month and have worn it a ton.  Ya know how you worry about having plenty of cute jackets, but usually there’s one front runner that you end up wearing 99.9% of the time?  I pretty much always grab the Pave the Way because it fits great, is very cute, and meets all my needs because it is very functional.  I have worn it in a rainstorm and it proved to be waterproof and kept me warm.  It’s not too thick and works great as a wind breaker.  I mentioned the lined side pockets before and they are still my favorite feature and are great to keep my hands nice and warm. 
                One thing I found didn’t work for me was running in the jacket.  I felt like I was swimming inside it.  It was raining one day and I decided to go for a nice 10 mile run so I put on a tank top under my Pave the Way and off I went.  For the first couple miles I was fine, but then the jacket started bugging me a lot.  It was sticking to my skin and I felt completely soaked inside.   I thought maybe it was just the humidity from the rain so I tried running in it again with a t-shirt under it this time, but it was the same.  That is my only complaint and even that won’t stop me from wearing it all the time.  It is my favorite jacket I own at the moment and I thoroughly enjoy having it on.  I feel very comfortable and most importantly, warm. 

Check back for updates in about another month and see how it holds up………

      Check it out for yourself  

Below is the description and Materials from the manufacturer:

Extended Hiking in Warmer Conditions.

WoolFusion® for durable performance.

Designed for Walking and Hiking in warmer conditions.

Lightweight style designed for lightweight footwear, for day-hiking or warm weather trekking.

Fibre Content:

40% New Wool

35% Nylon/polyamide

24% Endurofil™/polypropylene

1% Lycra®/elastane

Cushing & warmth rating – 3

WoolFusion® Technology

WoolFusion® is our unique technology that sets Bridgedale apart from other sock brands. Bridgedales WoolFusion® technology combines the highest quality natural yarns; Merino wool or Tough wool, and fuses them with high performance microfibres; Coolmax® or Endurofil™.

Image courtesyof Bridgedale

This unique technology, results in socks that perform to the highest level. WoolFusion® socks provide supreme, lasting comfort: they are warm when they need to be and wick when there is excess moisture. Overall they are extremely comfortable and hard wearing – this is enduring comfort.

I inspected the socks and found no loose treads or other signs of flaws. The single seam is strategically located above the toes (rather at the far end of the sock where it could become a friction point) and is more of a recess rather than a budge as on some other socks. The sock is clearly thicker on the bottom and around the toes and heel than on the top and where it extends above the ankle. The material is quite soft.

These socks are intended for extended wear in warm condition. As such they are thin except in locations where additional cushioning is needed (e.g. toes, bottom of foot, & heel). These socks are thinner than ones I normally use for hiking; as such I am interested in how this will affect comfort. The thinner sock should mean less cushioning, but combined with the material could result in cooler feet and better moisture management. As such at least initially, I will not use liner socks with these as I normally do. Since I also received sock liners as part of this review, if necessary I will try the Bridgedale liners first.

First usage:

I first wore the socks to work. The socks fit nicely. During lunch I took off one sock and examined it while it was slightly damp from perspiration my foot felt dry. While wearing them the material felt quite slick against my skin, similar to the polypropylene sock liners I normally wear for hiking. I wear started wearing liners to assist with moisture management as well as to reduce friction (polypropylene is quite slick, similar to silk). The fact that these socks feel as slick as the liners suggests to me that liners may not be necessary.

[Update June 1 2010]

I wore the liners the first time on the 2nd day of my daughter’s school “Environmental Camp” (Central Washington) to study the Missoula floods (specifically Dry Falls and surrounding areas). It was sunny all day with temperatures in the 50’s F and intermittent light wind. I spent the entire day on my feet from cooking breakfast (for 39 pre-teens + 8 Adults) then various trips throughout the day into the talus, rocks and hills for study and discussion, followed by cooking dinner and then a bit of star gazing (we saw Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and the Orion Nebula – first time I had seen some of these, very exciting).

The socks performed admirably. I had absolutely no problems with rubbing or moisture and my despite a wide range of temperatures (high 50 & sun to high 30’s and wind) my feet got neither hot nor cold. At the end of the day, my feet were dry and as far as I could tell odor free.

I have since worn the socks at least once a week for normal activities (work, home, etc) and some day hikes. I have to say when it comes to keeping my feet dry and comfortable these socks are tops. The only thing I have worn that rivals these are the Bridgedale Bamboo socks I am also reviewing. These socks are thicker than the bamboo version so provide a bit more cushioning, but they seem to perform just as well when it comes to keeping my feet dry and preventing friction. I have had trouble in the past with my feet getting sweaty and then developing blisters; as such, I normally wear some sort of sock liner when hiking. With these, I have found liner socks unnecessary. The temperatures here have been too cold to get a good test of how well these perform in hot weather, however in the few hikes where I have generated a good sweat, my feet stayed dry and cool, so I look forward to the coming hot weather.

During the first few weeks I hand washed the socks (mostly to keep from losing them in the wash) but have since started washing them with my regular cloths. The socks are so far showing little to no signs of wear.

[Update Aug 9 2010]

With the weather being so hot, I have not gotten a lot of use of these since my last update. However, I did use them to climb Mt Adams (along with the Bridgedale liner socks). On the way down we stopped at our camp at Lunch Counter (9,400’) for a while to regroup and pack. My feet were quite wet so I removed my boots and socks and let them dry in the sun for about an hour before we continued. The socks were warm and dry by the time I put them back on for the trip back down to the trail head. As I have come to expect I had no blisters or hotspots and my feet were virtually odor free at the end of the day.  The socks are not showing much in the way of wear, they appear to be quite durable.

I really have been impressed with the Bridgedale socks I have been testing and fully intend to continue using them.  I am also considering purchasing their heaver weight winter socks this fall.

I would like to thank the folks at 4AllOutdoors.org and Bridgedale for the opportunity to review such a fine product.

Dave (the turtle) Wilkes

The following is from the manufacturer’s web site:

Cushioned comfort. Lifestyle, Travel, and Everyday.

This cool, comfortable Crew sock is knit using a combination of Viscose- from- Bamboo and Coolmax®, this offers cushioned comfort for lifestyle, sport and everyday activities. Bridgedale unique construction ensures moisture is wicked away leaving the socks feeling silky soft and your feet comfortable all day.

35% Viscose- from- Bamboo

35% Coolmax® / polyester

29% Nylon / polyamide

1% Lycra® / elastane

This range of socks combine the advanced wicking technology of Coolmax® with the silky comfort of bamboo, a natural and renewable fibre.

I have been intrigued by the use of Bamboo in textiles since I first heard of it, so I am excited at the opportunity to test these socks.

They come in two colors Natural/Chocolate or Natural/Eucalyptus

From the product description, these socks are intended for warm conditions. Since I received them in the spring when daytime temperatures are only reaching in the lower 60’s F, I doubt I will experience temperatures that will put this to the test for at least 1-2 months. However the socks are supposed to be fast drying and have superior wicking qualities. Since my feet tend to sweat a lot, this should be something I can test. Also, I have read that bamboo fibers is supposed to be naturally odor resistant and kill bacteria, so I will be monitoring both foot odor and if these retain odors between washing.

I inspected the socks when I received them and could find no signs of flaws. They look to be well made. In trying them on they fit nicely and soon after putting them on it was apparent that they had a cooling effect on my feet (at least as compared to the cotton blend socks I had been wearing previously).

[Update June 1 2010]

Over the last month or so I have worn these socks for running, hiking, and day to day wear. I have worn them at least once a week since receiving them, and have been nothing but pleased. These socks have done a remarkable job of keeping my feet dry, comfortable and odor free. These socks have a smooth silky feel I normally associate with sock liners. Soon after putting them on, my feet feel noticeably cool, and despite a few times when I know I generated some sweat, my feet have remained dry (even when hiking in the rain).

The toughest test of these came on an annual event for us, a Community Day’s celebration. The day started out with me running a 5K race, followed by a walk to a nearby park (about 1 mile) for “Pancakes in the Park”, where we stood in line for over an hour. Then it was another ½-mile back to watch a parade, followed by donning on my old boots and mowing my lawn. Temperatures were comfortably cool and sunny (T-shirt weather), but I did work up a bit of a sweat during the run as well as while mowing. After mowing the lawn, I jumped into a much-needed shower but not before pulling off my socks and taking a hesitant sniff of one of the socks. To my surprise, I could smell nothing. NICE!

During the first few weeks I hand washed the socks (mostly to keep from losing them in the wash) but have since started washing them with my regular clothes. The socks are so far showing little to no signs of wear.

I would like to say these are my favorite socks, but right now it is a tossup between these and the Bridgedale Hiker socks I am also reviewing [note to self…never review more than one pair of socks at a time!].

[Update Aug 9 2010]

While in St Louis for business, I decided to run off some of the overeating I had been doing. The temperature that morning was around 80 F and humid, VERY humid. I have become unaccustomed to humidity over the years and was totally unprepared for the experience. Soon after starting my run it felt like I was breathing molasses and I quickly started to sweat. This ended up being a short run, between being out of shape, the humidity, and the rolling hills in the area I was running, I just was not up to it. Upon returning to my hotel, and envying the intelligence of those who were smart enough to be using the air-conditioned hotel gym,  I stripped off my wet clothing for a much needed shower and found that the only part of my body not drenched in sweat was, of all things, my feet! A hesitant whiff and…virtually no odor!

Along with some day hikes and day to day usage, I used the Bamboo Crew socks for this year’s Mt Adams trip. I wore the socks inside my mountaineering boots for the hike from the trail head up to our camp (Cold Springs Campground 5,600’) at a place commonly called Lunch Counter (9,400’). The trip was difficult. Due to some very late snow this year much of the route was in deep snow, and the temperatures reached 95F. On the trip up I was sweating so much that it was dripping off the brim of my hat. I ended up getting quite dehydrated despite trying to drink as much as I could, and experienced some nasty leg cramps. The Bridgedale socks proved to be a blessing; at least my feet were comfortable. At the trailhead I was one of the few who did not tape up their feet to help avoid blisters. After wearing these socks for a while I knew it was unnecessary. When I arrived at camp I quickly removed my boots and socks (to put on the Spenco sandals I am testing), and found my feet were blister free.

I also used these socks for my annual Mt St Helens climb. I wore them under my summer weight hiking boots despite a higher volume of snow than normal. My experience on Mt Adams had me expecting hot weather…I was wrong. Most of the trip up it was about 55F and on the upper half of the hill we had winds exceeding 30mph with light rain and fog. The glacaiding down was AWESOME! My feet were soaked for most of the trip, but also comfortable for the entire trip. When I got down I took off my boots and peeled the wet socks from my feet and was surprised there was virtually no odor.  The socks are not showing much in the way of wear, they appear to be quite durable.

As I said in the beginning of this review, I never thought too much about my socks before. However, after experiencing what a quality pair of socks like this can do I will never make that mistake again. These Bamboo socks are going to be a standard part of my gear lists for hikes & running (especially in hot weather) and I expect to use them often for normal daily wear. I could find absolutely nothing about these that I did not like, and highly recommend them.

I would like to thank the folks at 4AllOutdoors.org and Bridgedale for the opportunity to review such a fine product.

Dave (the turtle) Wilkes

GoLite
GoLite Lite-Speed Pack

May 4, 2010
by Anderson Bowman

Materials:

• Tier 1 Recycled 210 Denier Nylon Velocity™;
• Tier 1 Recycled 210 Denier Nylon Double Ripstop;
• High-Void Polyester Mesh

I am a sucker for a new daypack and when the GoLite Lite-Speed arrived I was in heaven.  I have seen and used several GoLite Packs over the last few years and it appears as if they have been busy improving their packs while staying true to their vision of lighter is better.

Just by my first casual examination of the Lite-Speed I can see it is way more complex than the old GoLite Breeze I once owned.  The first thing that jumps out at me is that it is a panel loader.  This seems to be a pack design that has disappeared over the last couple of years, but GoLite has taken a chance and done it with the Lite-Speed.  The thing I like about panel loading packs is that it allows me to lay the pack out and see what is in it, rather than digging blindly like I tend to in top loading packs.

The back (front?) of the pack has a large expandable (elastic-like) pocket and a smaller zippered pocket as well.  There are two elastic-like side pockets (for water bottles?) on either side of the pack body and two small zippered pockets on both sides of the hip belt.

The inside compartment has a hydration pocket/sleeve and I think that brings an end to my list of the Lite-Speed’s nooks and crannies.

My first impression of this pack is a good one. GoLite seems to have taken a step back from a daypack being a big bag with straps and a hole in the top to stuff things into.  Instead, they have created a daypack that offers comfort and organization without getting too complicated. Not only does it hold a great deal (2135 cubic inches of space for the medium), but it gives me plenty of places to put my little stuff so that it can be quickly and easily accessed without digging in the main compartment of the pack.

Now all I have to do is load this bad boy up and hit the trail. I am very interested to see how well it wears as well as how comfortable it is. The shoulder straps look more substantial than I would have expected and to my amazement, there seem to internal frame stays as well as a frame sheet in this pack as well. So not only a good looking and well organized daypack, but obviously one that is engineered to be comfortable and carry a load as well.  Now all I have to do is figure just how much I can really carry in this pack.

An Apology of Sorts

by Anderson Bowman
June 30, 2010

I want to start off with an apology of sorts. My first report on the GoLite Lite-Speed Pack called this little wonder a daypack, but as I have been busy using it that way for over a month, I have come to realize that it is more.

This pack has accompanied me on several trips to my favorite fishing holes which means that I have logged over 20 miles in different parts of Southeast Texas with the GoLite Lite-Speed Pack.  My main load has been lunch, a canister stove, water filter, small pot, small tackle box, water, insect repellent, and my collapsible fixing rod/reel.  While not a tiny load, it almost gets swallowed up by the Lite-Speed.  This thing has so much room for what I first considered just a plain old daypack.

I have a couple of two night trips coming up in July and I am probably going to attempt to stuff my food and one person tent into the GoLite Lite-Speed Pack to see if it functions as well as I think it will for a 1.5 day or 2 day pack instead of something that just has enough room for an afternoon outing.

This may not be a use that works in other areas of the country, but other than a tent, I do not carry a sleeping bag or other covering during the summer months in Texas. This means that the GoLite Lite-Speed Pack hopefully has more than enough room to keep me on the trail for at least a full day and night and maybe two days and nights.

One thing I have come to love is the comfort that this pack brings along with it.  The back panel and stays make the pack very stiff against my back, which I really enjoy, and make carrying with a 12-15 pound very comfortable. I wish I could report that it also keeps my back cool and sweat-free in the summer heat, but I do not think that any pack can do that here in Texas.

I also have to rave about the shoulder pads. Not only are they wide enough, but the padding is absolutely soft and marshmallow like. They are just about perfect as far as shoulder straps can be and in some ways they seem almost too much for a pack of this size.  In short, they are luxury that makes this pack just that much better to carry.

The other thing that stands out for me with this pack (beyond size and comfort) is its functionality. I love the panel loading aspect of the pack and the fact that I can load GPS, camera, and multi-tool into the hip pockets (on the hip belt) and have easy access to them without taking the pack off.  There are pockets, pockets, and pockets on this thing and that is probably why I have so much spare room on the inside. Water bottles, fishing rods, tackle boxes, bait, and gps can all be carried without putting a single item inside the main compartment of the pack.

All I can say at this point is please come back in a month. I am going to attempt to pack at least two days worth of gear into the GoLite Lite-Speed Pack and see how far I can get on the Lone Star Trail before I give up or run out of space for food in the pack. I have a very peculiar idea that with as little as I have to carry in the summer heat in Texas, the GoLite Lite-Speed Pack is going to be a lot more than a daypack and that includes size, comfort, and functionality.

An End to Summer

by Anderson Bowman
September 1, 2010

The GoLite Lite-Speed pack is pretty damned amazing. I have agonized over how to say this without coming off as an idiot, so hopefully this fifth or sixth rewrite of this last installment of the GoLite Lite-Speed report will get it across the correct way.

My basic feeling about GoLite packs is that they are either under built or over built with no middle ground. This is not a complaint, but merely an observation on my part. The Lite-Speed seems to bridge this gap in an interesting and well designed way.

The pack is full of features and is way more than just a sack with shoulder straps that so many daypacks seem to be these days.  It has a real suspension, great storage pockets, and straps that make it comfortable to wear.  I even hate myself for bringing up the “daypack” label for the Lite-Speed because of its size and storage pockets.

I have been using this pack during the hot summer months here in Texas when the daily temperatures were regularly over 95 F and the nights never dropped below 80 F.  When I combine the heat with my not using a sleeping bag during the summer, the Lite-Speed became the perfect pack for a 3 day/2 night jaunts into the Sam Houston National Forest.

Like I stated earlier, I can get most of my real gear (stove, gps, camera, filter, and cooking gear) into the various external pocket and that leaves the main compartment to hold a one person tent, food, and a water bladder.  There was no way to escape from the heat, but there was a way to carry what I needed and stay comfortable and that is was the GoLite Lite-Speed pack.

My load never topped 15 pounds on most trips and I barely noticed the pack was on my back at this weight. On some occasions I had to add a bit more water to my gear, but even as the weight went up to 20 pounds, the pack was still a pleasure to wear. Not only was it comfortable on my back, but it stayed put and did not wander around if I had to bend over or bushwhack through thick growth.

In short, this is more of a day and a half or two day pack for me, especially in the warm months. I am pretty sure I can stuff a light sleeping bag in there for spring and fall use, but that is as far as I would go. Winter, even in Texas, requires too much gear even for this work horse of a pack.

What won me over besides the comfort and size was the design. There are pockets and not just random ones thrown on in strange places, but pockets that are well placed and big enough to hold real gear, not just a crushed up energy bar.  One thing that has made my trips fun is the integral sternum strap/whistle.  While I never needed to be rescued, I did amuse myself by blowing on it while alone in the woods.  I even think I scared off some feral hogs by blowing on it once, but most importantly, it was fun.

In all seriousness though, fun is a good word for this pack. The GoLite Lite-Speed allowed me to have plenty of fun this summer without worrying which size pack I should use. For me, in warm weather, this is the one-size fits all solution for me.  Big enough for two or three days on the trail and small enough to stash fishing gear in for an afternoon on the lake.  I did not matter if I was on a good trail or hopping through the brush to get to that perfect spot on the bank of the pond, the GoLite Lite-Speed went with me.

Two of my review associates enjoying a treat after a long hike. I figured if I was to put these shoes through a true test I would try to hang with the best hikers I could.

Product Description from LOWA

Handcrafted in Europe. Updated for 2010.

LOWA’s All Terrain Collection are perennial favorites for day hiking and short-haul, weekend backpacking because they’re phenomonally comfortable, supportive and cushioned.

For 2010, our most popular boot, the Renegade, sports a new Monowrap® comfort construction for a lighter, sleeker profile with a more supportive stabilizer. Versatile, waterproof and breathable. Ideal for weekend adventures when you don’t need the protection of an ‘over the ankle’ boot.

UPPER: Nubuk leather.

MIDSOLE: PU Monowrap® Frame, a new, patented construction technique that allows us to reduce overall boot weight while retaining important lateral stability.

LINING: Seamless, waterproof GORE-TEX® lining reduces hot spots. A LOWA patented design.

OUTSOLE: Vibram® Renovo.

SHANK: Full length nylon.

FOOTBED: Climate control footbed with comfort perforations to improve breathability.

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed with the Renegade II GTX Lo hiking shoe was the fit and overall feel was fantastic. They are very comfortable and the Monowrap frame and full length shank give it great support on the trails. They seem reasonably light weight for a hiking shoe and do not seem to bother my feet in any way, which is actually rare because most shoes I try on do not conform to my feet very well.

The first time I hiked with these on the trail they seemed to be a very good quality shoe. As advertised they are great for situations where you do not need the protection of a full boot. The traction is pretty decent on soil terrain and not too bad on rocks. They do not have as quite aggressive of a tread as some of my full boot hikers, but all in all the Vibram soles still seem to provide the traction needed in any situation I encountered. As far as being waterproof, the minimum amount of water that I went through did not show any signs of leaking. Being Goretex, I would expect that, and the breath ability was decent as well.

So time will tell as I wear them on more hikes, but the few times I have had these on they seem like a nice light weight shoe for hiking in moderate temperature environments. They seem a little warm for the hotter months, but for the 32° to 70° F range they seem very comfortable. I wore them on an 80° day and they did seem a bit hot for that, but that is only my personal tastes.  For those hotter days I prefer my trail running/walking shoes and for below 32° I will have on a full boot.

And last but not least they are a very attractive shoe as well … even wore them to work a few times before I got them dirty.

Update 6/14/2010

The Renegade II GTX Lo hiking shoe fit and overall feel is still fantastic. They are very comfortable and they are the main shoe I wear when I am outdoors. I use them for more than just hiking, basically when I do any chores on the hilly property that I have I will probably have these on. They are a very stable and supportive shoe indeed. I had mentioned in the first part of my review the traction is pretty decent on soil terrain and rocks, I would have to say after another month I would now say they provide excellent traction. The Vibram soles have provided very good traction needed in any situation I have encountered. Especially on rocks, whether wet or dry, they are great. Their waterproof capabilities are very good as well, as I have had them very wet several times and unless water has gone over the top they have kept my feet dry. I should also mention these are a very durable shoe. They seem constructed to last a long time as the tread and stitching are holding up well, and they show little signs of wear.

I also had mentioned in the first part of my review they seemed a little warm for the hotter months, but after wearing them on several hikes in the warmer months they now seem fine above the 70° F range. Actually I have worn them on 80° F plus days and they are comfortable as long as you use a light pair of poly socks that wick the moisture away.

All in all these shoes do seem to be like they take a licking and keep on ticking. I have had them in some very muddy situations and all I have done is hosed them down and they are ready to wear with your nicest tux … well almost. Seriously, they do seem to be able to take some abuse and come out looking pretty close to how they looked new. I have sprayed them a few times with water repellant and that has seemed to help too.

Again more time will tell the full story, but for now I am very satisfied with the performance of these shoes. I have enjoyed having them on in about every environment that I have been in. Hopefully it will dry up and I will get a chance to test them in a dryer and even warmer environment … but that will be up to Mother Nature. Talk to you in a month!

Update 8/29/2010

Well more time has passed and these shoes are doing great. I wear these shoes almost daily and they are still as comfortable as the day I tried them on. They show no signs of unusual wear and they still look pretty good. Considering the muddy environments they have been in that is actually amazing! The stitching has held up great as well.

They seem comfortable in even the warmest weather that we have had in N.E. Ohio this year(90′s). I originally did not know if they would be okay in the summer months., but they have been fine. The traction, stability, and overall feel of the shoe on the trail has held up well too. They have never showed any signs of leaking water and have only sprayed them down with water repellant twice when I first started wearing them.  Actually they have worked well in about any outdoor environment that I have been in.

To sum it up they seem to be a well designed, tough, quality product and look forward to wearing them on about any of  my future outdoor adventures!

by Anderson Bowman
April 28, 2010

Columbia Sportswear
Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew

* Fabric: 65% nylon/35% polyester body map jersey
* Omni-Dry® advanced evaporation
* Antimicrobial
* Seamless venting
* Quick dry
* Reflective detail

I am a big T-shirt wearer and when I hike, run, or go outdoors I really prefer T-shirts over anything else.  When the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-Shirt arrived, I was impressed. It took two things that I like (synthetic fabric and t-shirts) and combined them into something new and unusual.

The first thing I noticed when handling the shirt was the feel of the fabric. It felt more like a nice cotton fabric rather than a super slick and slinky synthetic. The fabric also did not have a shiny finish to it which usually is a dead give away that it is made from a synthetic fabric. Unless I read the tag, it would have been hard for me to know that this shirt was made from anything other than cotton from its look and feel.

The next thing that I noticed (and it jumped out as soon as the shirt was spread out) was the mesh-knit vents.  Columbia claims that they are present in key hot spots, but they seem to take up a large area of the shirt. This is not an issue, but from looking at the front and back, this shirt has a lot of vent areas.  Definitely a plus in the spring and summer climates here in Texas. As far as I can tell, if there is a spot on my torso to sweat, then there is probably a vent in this shirt over the area.  The vented areas appear as a little darker color than the rest of the shirt and this has led to several comments about the shirt appearing ‘wet’ while I have it on. Again, not a big issue, but for the more stylish hikers out there, it may be something to think about.

My shirt arrived in a size large, which I requested, and the fit is just like I like it. I could probably wear a medium, but it would be tighter (not too tight) than I like to wear a t-shirt. I like to have some wiggle room in my shirts, just in case, even though I have no clue what just in case is.

Over the next few months I will put this shirt to the test while trail running, fishing, hiking, backpacking, and any other outdoor activities that I take part in. My next installment will definitely cover how well this shirt keeps me cool, how fast it dries, and how fresh it smells despite my best efforts to over come its antimicrobial treatment.

A Month or more on the Trail with the Pro

by Anderson Bowman
July 5, 2010

It has been over a month since the interesting Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-Shirt arrived.  I have been moving outside for more and more activities since the weather has warmed up and this means more use for this shirt.  At this point I have probably done about 8 days of trail running in it, mowed the yard at least three times in it, and been on two fishing trip and two day hikes while wearing this shirt.

As far as durability goes, everything has gone well. The shirt has held up well with no rips, tears or permanent stains.  Considering that these are the usual injuries that my shirts get while fishing, the Columbia Trail Prot Short Sleeve Crew T-Shirt is doing pretty well.  Of course I have only been fishing once, but there are still plenty more to come.

Summer is hot and humid here in Southeast Texas which also means I can turn any shirt I wear into a sweaty nasty piece of cloth.  The Columbia Trail Pro Shirt is no exception; it is hot, I sweat, my shirts get soaked.  The good news is that this shirt dries fast and I do have a bit more of a difficult time getting it soaked with sweat.  What I really like is that when the breeze blows, the vents seem to cool me off way quicker than with a regular shirt which is very nice.  So while hot is hot in Texas no matter what I wear, the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-Shirt does seem to offer some relief from the heat.

The one thing that I am not as excited about is the odor.  For some reason this shirt seems to get stinky really fast, after one really hot afternoon on the lake or after an hour or two of trail running (over 2-3 days).  The one thing that I will say in its defense is that on most outings I do not wear deodorant, but it does seem to get stinky rather fast.

Over the next month I will ramp up my use of this shirt since I will be fishing and running outdoors even more.  There will also be more hiking and backpacking involved and I really want to see how well this shirt works under a pack in the Texas heat. I will also wear some deodorant on my outings to see if this helps delay the amount of time it takes for this shirt to get rather stinky.

One excellent thing about this shirt is how fast it dries. It does not matter if I have sweated it up or if it is coming directly out of the washing machine because the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-Shirt dries damn fast.  Out of the wash the instructions say to hang to dry and it feels barely damp when removing it from the machine.  If nothing else, this is one useful shirt for my long hiking trips. A shirt that I can wear all day, wash at night and hang to dry with the expectation of it being ready by the next morning is a huge bonus.  I can hike all day, stink it up, wash the stink out, and have a dry shirt to wear by morning.

End of the Trail with the Trail Pro

by Anderson Bowman
August 22, 2010

One thing that I have forced myself to come to grips with while wearing the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt is that someone is going to ask; “Is your shirt wet?” It is not an issue of “IF” but of “WHEN” they will ask this.  It seems like the vented area on the shirt make it appear to have wet spots on it or at least the people I run into like to think that it has wet spots.

After more than few of these conversations at the gym, in the boat, and even on the trail, I realized that it was just part of wearing this shirt. They are going to ask and I am going to explain the vents as best I can. Part of me wonders if this would help me strike up conversations with beautiful women in bars, but so far I have kept that little experiment stored on the shelf where it belongs.

One thing that I finally go to do was a multi-day hike/back packing trip in the Sam Houston National Forest. Now summer is not the time to do this, but it is the only chance I was going to have to get out and wear the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt for several days on the trail.  Four days and three nights with temperatures over 95 F during the day and no lower than 80 F at night meant that I was going to sweat a lot and I did.

The great news is not only did the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt hold up to the rigors of being worn under a pack for hours on end, but it also held up to the constant threat of snags and tears from the bushes and trees along the trail.  I wish that I could report that this shirt kept me super cool, but nothing is going to do that in the summer heat and humidity in Texas.

What I did notice was that the shirt dried very quickly, even when soaked in sweat, and it never seemed to stick to me too much, even when soaked in sweat.  My earlier observations that the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt developed a nasty odor after just one or two running sessions have a tiny foot note added to them.  After two days and nights of constant wear (even while sleeping) the shirt did not seem to smell any worse than any other part of myself or my gear.

I guess that when everything is stinky, the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt does not stand out as being odorous.  I guess my nose is just a bit sensitive when I cling to being civilized after a nice trail run. I will not claim it did not smell, but after a few days on the hot trail, it smells no worse than anything else I wore.

As a hiker I prefer to wear t-shirts on the trail. There are no buttons or zippers to fail and they can be pulled on and off with relative ease. The Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt fits right in with the way I like to hike, run, and exercise in general. I am very pleased to report that it has held up to a lot of use (probably 3-4 days a week for the entire time I have owned it) and shows no signs of wear or fading.  The shirt looks damn good after soaking up gallons of sweat, being used to wipe my mouth (and nose), and being washed many, many, many times.

Overall, I like this shirt. It looks good on and off the trail, and it has proven itself durable as well as comfortable in all kinds of environments. I can wear the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt on a multi-day hiking trip, to the gym, or to the grocery store without it ever being out of place. Best of all, my wife even approves of it since it is not gray in color like most of my other hiking t-shirts.  She likes to believe that the Columbia Trail Pro Short Sleeve Crew T-shirt if proof that I can wear some other color besides gray or white when it comes to t-shirts.

In closing I want to say that I was a bit underwhelmed by this shirt when it arrived. While it may have seemed gimmicky in the beginning, it proved itself to be so much more during my summer out doors.  I am surprised that it still looks so good at this point (it has proven to be very stain resistant) and I am hoping that I can get another summer’s use out of it before I am forced to retire it. If it makes it through more than two summers, I am going to be in hog heaven.