I launched into my daily bike commute with the Legend C in my pack’s outer mesh pocket and locked on to six satellites. Every 30 seconds, the receiver silently dropped a digital bread crumb on the tack-sharp map. Out on the streets, the feature is a novelty, but in the wilderness it’s a lifesaver. As you wander the tundra, the waterproof Legend C will automatically store up to 10,000 of these plot points, each noting your heading, altitude, and lat/long position. Ask the unit to guide you back to, say, the Cessna landing strip and it will retrace your steps via clear onscreen prompts—while discreetly truncating the giant meandering circles you’ve been wandering in for hours.

Specs:>> Weight: 5.5 ounces >> Screen: 1.3 x 1.75 inches, 256 colors >> Battery life with backlight off: 36 hours

The post Garmin eTrex Legend C – GPS Devices: Reviews appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

Probably the easiest to use right out of the box, the waterproof eXplorist 500 is also a pocketful of power. After a quick off-trail jaunt (exactly 1.44 miles) on a local hill (676 feet up, from car to summit cairn), I graphed my hike’s vertical profile in brilliant color right on the screen—a nifty feature that will appeal to athletes. With backlight on, the eXplorist also offered a crisp display that proved easy to read in blinding midmorning sun. Change maps in seconds by popping in SD memory cards or uploading regions from the company’s MapSend Topo 3D desktop software ($149). One downer: The proprietary, digicam-style lithium-ion battery means you need to spring for a spare ($35) for more ambitious expeditions.

Specs:>> Weight: 5.4 ounces >> Screen: 1.8 x 1.4 inches, 16 colors >> Battery life with backlight off: 17 hours

The post Magellan eXplorist 500 – GPS Devices: Reviews appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

From the school of “one less device” comes a GPS-enabled mobile camera phone. Sign up at www.nextel.com ($10 a month) and download a dozen or so map or aerial-photo “tiles” from Trimble Outdoors—covering your intended travel area—onto a compatible Motorola phone. I followed my position on a hilly ramble, even when cell reception conked, and the built-in 0.3-megapixel camera locked in my lat/long coordinates whenever I snapped a pic. Back home, I wirelessly pinged Trimble’s server and then viewed clickable thumbnails of my hike on the PC mapping software. Cool stuff, though you can’t scale maps on the phone.

Specs:>> Weight: 4.8 ounces >> Screen: 1.75 x 1.5 inches, 262,000 colors >> Battery life with backlight off: 10 hours

The post Motorola i860 with Trimble Outdoors – GPS Devices: Reviews appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

WHAT IF MICHAELANGELO HAD PICKED UP skateboarding and moved to Big Sky Country? The result might have looked something like Bottega Montana, a line of exquisitely solid tables, desks, stools, and—yes—longboards designed and manufactured by Italian transplants Marco and Francesco Gillia in tiny Lima, Montana.

Bottega Montana Skateboards

NEW WORLD MASTERS: Marco, left, and Francesco Gillia in their workshop.

“When we start designing a new piece,” says Francesco, 33, “we picture the Colosseum, and how it has lasted 2,000 years.” He’s not kidding: Thanks to the Gillias’ revolutionary joinery work, which locks together thick slabs of sustainably harvested white oak and black walnut without a single screw or nail, a Bottega Montana piece hardly needs an extended warranty. While the sheer massiveness of the designs—the monastery-style dining-room table weighs 350 pounds—gives them an almost medieval flavor, the exposed tongue-and-groove joinery lends a clean midcentury-modern look.

The Gillias first fired up the shop tools two years ago, after Francesco, who’d been working as a footwear designer in Hermosa Beach, California, invited his brother Marco, 30—then working toward his architecture certification in Italy—to join him on a new venture. The pair set up on the family ranch, in southwestern Montana, pulled together some instructional DVDs and how-to books, and began experimenting with tables and desks. Despite their hurried and informal schooling, they were soon turning out creations unique and refined enough to catch the eye of modern-furniture giant Herman Miller, which will exhibit several of the pair’s Charles Eames–inspired stools at its National Design Center, in Chicago, starting in June.

As for the longboards, “they are gorgeous; there is nothing like them in the industry,” confirms Dan Gesmer, who supplies hardware for the boards and sells them online at for between $543 and $675. “The tongue-and-groove joining technique is straight out of the Renaissance.” Just like the guys who build ’em.

The post Smooth Groove appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

Dash-top satellite navigation looks flashy enough in car commercials, but—thanks to clunky interfaces, cluttered onscreen maps, and obnoxious spoken prompts (“make an immediate U-turn!”)—it rarely lives up to the hype. Enter the TomTom Go, a polished new Dutch import about the size of a half-grapefruit. Suction-cup the Go to your windshield and enter a real-time video game starring you. The unit shows little else but the road ahead, plus labeled side streets, from an intuitive 3-D perspective. Need directions? In the time it takes for the light to change, you can input any address in the country by tapping on the touchscreen. From there, one of several optional voices (we prefer the librarianesque tones of “Lori”) rides shotgun. Stray off course and Lori keeps her cool, effortlessly calculating alternate routes on the fly.

TomTom Go

TomTom Go

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Ten years back, when the first ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Buyer’s Guide hit newsstands, a soft shell was a menu item at Red Lobster, a GPS receiver was about the size of a shoe box, and, if our earnest product tutorials were any indication, in-line skates required nothing short of an engineering degree to master. “Wheel hardness is rated by a durometer number,” we wrote back in 1995.

gear of the year

Ouch.

History is indeed a brutal judge, and, perused today, the inaugural edition of this magazine would offer the sophisticated gearhead page after page of hindsight-powered giggle fits. But it also underscores a greater truth: ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø equipment and apparel are as much reflections of the day as music, food, fashion, television, or any other slice of the grand Google database that is contemporary American consumer culture.

We can already hear the purists slumping in their external-frame packs. “There’s nothing trendy about gear, and that’s the way it oughta be,” these old-schoolers will argue. “Never mind what color it is,” they’ll huff; “does it have a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and a tear strength of at least 60 pounds? Does the hipbelt offer adequate padding over the iliac crest?”

True, these things are important, but good design does more than just solve engineering problems: It generates an emotional response. It harmonizes with that ineffable thing called style and the complex connections of trend. And though there have been significant improvements in, say, the available colors and cuts of backcountry-ready apparel—well, for women, that is—we still have work to do. Walk into any specialty gear shop and take a look at the inevitable wall o’ shoes. Bet you an ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø subscription that it’s a stylistic dirge in the keys of moss, slate, and mud.

To be fair, almost every classic outdoor brand—from Cloudveil to The North Face to Marmot—is tinkering with street-smart pieces, and some are rather sweet. The technical DNA is still very much present in these shirts and pants, but you can also wear them around town without looking like you just trekked down from advance base camp. Other innovators are finding ways to reach new buyers—66°rth, a gorgeous technical-apparel line from Iceland, is flying off the racks over at Urban Outfitters. Victorinox is at Bloomingdale’s. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Wolfe, cofounder of the Detroit-based gear chain Moosejaw, is using the Web to reach urbanites who might be too intimidated to venture into that shop with the big-wall-climbing diorama in the window.

The truth is, our world has changed. We’re opening up the lens on a brand-new golden age of cool, one that flips easily between backcountry and front. Today’s shoppers—and, yes, we’re talking about hardcore guys—are unapologetically style-savvy. They know what not to wear. And they’re in the market for hip performance clothing that can carry them from the trail to the office, out on a weekend getaway, or just down to the local java spot for a Saturday-morning dog summit.

Which brings us to this new, expanded, reinvigorated—dare we say, somewhat sexed-up—2005 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Buyer’s Guide. You won’t find any waffled long underwear here. Nor will you find a lot of royal blue. Instead, for every corner of this guide, we’ve sought out brands and products that work as hard as you do, pieces that have durability completely nailed but also look sharp while performing. When you’re outfitted to look good, you feel good. Job done.

Recognizing that not every moment of your active life is spent on belay (though maybe you wish it were), we’ve introduced a lifestyle section. There you’ll find a wicked espresso machine and a new scooter, plus digital music players, laptops, PDAs, urban attachés, sporty sunglasses that don’t scream “outdoor geek,” and those quintessential pieces of beach-poaching gear, the flip-flop and sandal.

Not that we’ve gone soft on you. You’ll still find our top picks for the best expedition equipment ever—each candidate was subjected to our trademark regimen of torture trials. Tents were set up in the dark in driving rain high in the Cascades; digital cameras were grip-tested on vertical granite faces in British Columbia; luggage was thrown from the roof of a bus in Panama; and at least one bag was peed on by primates in Nevis (yes, really).

As in past years, we’ve bestowed our coveted Gear of the Year awards upon 17 superlative pieces of gear, from sleeping bags to binoculars to kayaks. When it comes to the equipment and apparel you’ll trust with your life, we take our jobs very seriously indeed.

Question from the back row—the gentleman in the glacier glasses? Yes, you’ve got a point: Today’s ice-blue soft shell will look about as au courant ten years from now as the neon-pink jogging tights in our first issue do today. But you want to look good out there now, right? Then that’s the price you pay, brother.

The post Rebirth of the Cool appeared first on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online.

Ten years back, when the first ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Buyer’s Guide hit newsstands, a soft shell was a menu item at Red Lobster, a GPS receiver was about the size of a shoe box, and, if our earnest product tutorials were any indication, in-line skates required nothing short of an engineering degree to master. “Wheel hardness is rated by a durometer number,” we wrote back in 1995.

gear of the year

Ouch.


History is indeed a brutal judge, and, perused today, the inaugural edition of this magazine would offer the sophisticated gearhead page after page of hindsight-powered giggle fits. But it also underscores a greater truth: ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø equipment and apparel are as much reflections of the day as music, food, fashion, television, or any other slice of the grand Google database that is contemporary American consumer culture.


We can already hear the purists slumping in their external-frame packs. “There’s nothing trendy about gear, and that’s the way it oughta be,” these old-schoolers will argue. “Never mind what color it is,” they’ll huff; “does it have a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and a tear strength of at least 60 pounds? Does the hipbelt offer adequate padding over the iliac crest?”


True, these things are important, but good design does more than just solve engineering problems: It generates an emotional response. It harmonizes with that ineffable thing called style and the complex connections of trend. And though there have been significant improvements in, say, the available colors and cuts of backcountry-ready apparel—well, for women, that is—we still have work to do. Walk into any specialty gear shop and take a look at the inevitable wall o’ shoes. Bet you an ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø subscription that it’s a stylistic dirge in the keys of moss, slate, and mud.


To be fair, almost every classic outdoor brand—from Cloudveil to The North Face to Marmot—is tinkering with street-smart pieces, and some are rather sweet. The technical DNA is still very much present in these shirts and pants, but you can also wear them around town without looking like you just trekked down from advance base camp. Other innovators are finding ways to reach new buyers—66°rth, a gorgeous technical-apparel line from Iceland, is flying off the racks over at Urban Outfitters. Victorinox is at Bloomingdale’s. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Wolfe, cofounder of the Detroit-based gear chain Moosejaw, is using the Web to reach urbanites who might be too intimidated to venture into that shop with the big-wall-climbing diorama in the window.


The truth is, our world has changed. We’re opening up the lens on a brand-new golden age of cool, one that flips easily between backcountry and front. Today’s shoppers—and, yes, we’re talking about hardcore guys—are unapologetically style-savvy. They know what not to wear. And they’re in the market for hip performance clothing that can carry them from the trail to the office, out on a weekend getaway, or just down to the local java spot for a Saturday-morning dog summit.


Which brings us to this new, expanded, reinvigorated—dare we say, somewhat sexed-up—2005 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Buyer’s Guide. You won’t find any waffled long underwear here. Nor will you find a lot of royal blue. Instead, for every corner of this guide, we’ve sought out brands and products that work as hard as you do, pieces that have durability completely nailed but also look sharp while performing. When you’re outfitted to look good, you feel good. Job done.


Recognizing that not every moment of your active life is spent on belay (though maybe you wish it were), we’ve introduced a lifestyle section. There you’ll find a wicked espresso machine and a new scooter, plus digital music players, laptops, PDAs, urban attachés, sporty sunglasses that don’t scream “outdoor geek,” and those quintessential pieces of beach-poaching gear, the flip-flop and sandal.


Not that we’ve gone soft on you. You’ll still find our top picks for the best expedition equipment ever—each candidate was subjected to our trademark regimen of torture trials. Tents were set up in the dark in driving rain high in the Cascades; digital cameras were grip-tested on vertical granite faces in British Columbia; luggage was thrown from the roof of a bus in Panama; and at least one bag was peed on by primates in Nevis (yes, really).


As in past years, we’ve bestowed our coveted , from sleeping bags to binoculars to kayaks. When it comes to the equipment and apparel you’ll trust with your life, we take our jobs very seriously indeed.


Question from the back row—the gentleman in the glacier glasses? Yes, you’ve got a point: Today’s ice-blue soft shell will look about as au courant ten years from now as the neon-pink jogging tights in our first issue do today. But you want to look good out there now, right? Then that’s the price you pay, brother.

Gear of the Year

Road Bikes & Mountain Bikes

Giant TCR Composite 2 $2,100

You could pay more than twice as much for a bike and not have this much fun. With a one-piece carbon frame, competition-worthy components, and intuitive handling, this Gear of the Year winner is an entry-level racer that moves “entry level” into the same neighborhood as “elite.”

1. For all its strengths on the hills, the Giant TCR really sparkles on the flats. Settle into a steady groove and you’ll sense that every fiber—in both the hyperefficient carbon frame and your muscles—is working to propel you forward.

2. Descending steep switchbacks or rounding city corners at speed, the TCR dives in and holds its line without any of the nervous twitchiness that can make some race rigs unsettling.

3. Giant has always offered great parts for the money, and the TCR doesn’t disappoint. Five years ago, a frame of this quality could have cost close to $5,000. To get it hung top to bottom with Shimano’s precision Ultegra drivetrain for just over two grand is unreal.

4. The TCR is available in five sizes, with Giant’s compact road geometry allowing for enough seat-and-handlebar-stem combinations to keep pretty much anyone comfortable and properly posi-tioned for the big ride.

5. The compact frame design and one-piece construction keep this 17-pound-seven- ounce rocket light and rigid—no extra tubing or complex joints to add weight or flex. You’ll climb faster. Period.

GT i-DXC 1.0 $2,600

GT designed its new i-DXC around the latest version of the company’s superefficient i-Drive suspension setup, so it rides as comfortably as a cross-country bike—without sacrificing race-day speed. Whatever your singletrack agenda, this Gear of the Year winner is equally equipped to play in the backcountry or jump into the competitive fray.

1. GT’s ingenious i-Drive isolates the drivetrain from the suspension to keep the distance between the cranks and the rear wheel constant. This eliminates the annoying chain “kick” that plagues many suspension setups.

2. The aluminum frame provides a rigid and necessary counterbalance to the cushy suspension. The rear triangle holds up under aggressive turns and hard, side-to-side cranking.

3. Wildly popular Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals top off a great components mix—including a Shimano XT drivetrain that’s precise enough for racing yet burly enough to spare you a lot of expensive visits to your mechanic.

4. Four inches of travel adjust on a dime with Fox’s 3.5-pound F100R fork. Laterally stiff and sensitive as you want it to be, the front suspension improves handling in all situations.

5. Fox’s new Float RP3 rear shock really shines. By flipping a small lever, you can adjust pedaling efficiency as conditions dictate—more for climbs, less for drops—without losing any big-hit reserves.

Gear of the Year

Digital Cameras & Digital-Audio Players

Apple iPod Photo

Apple iPod Photo

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V3 Pro $600

Sony’s 7.2-megapixel DSC-V3 nabs Gear of the Year by combining the soul of a pro-level SLR with silicon guts capable of punching out truly tack-sharp images. Thanks to a blindingly fast processor, you won’t have to forfeit now-or-never moments to “shutter lag”—that maddening pause between hitting the button and nailing the snap.

1. Thanks to its Real Imaging Processor—one of the speediest in the biz—the V3 will fire off eight pics at a respectable two frames per second before coming up for air. And that’s at full resolution.

2. Some of the best photo ops occur after dark, but it’s tough to set up a shot you can’t see. At least, it used to be. Select the V3’s infrared mode and frame up your otherwise blacked-out subject via a surveillance-cam-style black-and-white view.

3. The V3’s magnesium-alloy-and-plastic body flies in the face of the market’s tiny-is-best obsession. A good thing? You bet. While the V3 still fit inside my pack lid, its rubberized right-hand grip was easy to hold on to—even with sweaty digits—during a white-knuckle Latin America bus ride.

4. Almost all digicams—and let’s not forget some cell phones—can shoot movies, but few offer the V3’s TV-screen quality and 30-frames-per-second clarity. And with its anti-reflective 2.5-inch LCD preview screen, reliving your directorial debut is easy, even in bright sun.

5. You won’t find a competitively priced digital camera that can capture movement with such rapid autofocus and shutter response. Even with the zoom fully maxed out, I snapped a perfectly focused shot of a mountain biker coming in hot around a bend at dusk.

Apple iPod Photo $499

The killer app of the digital music revolution leapfrogs the pack by inviting your camera to the party. This 40-gig Gear of the Year champ easily organizes and pumps out 10,000 songs—or up to 25,000 photos, which you can spin through about as quickly as you can shuffle a deck of cards.

1. The lightning-fast 220-by-176-pixel LCD display renders your digital photos in 65,536 brilliant colors. View splashy album-cover art when playing a tune or set some shots to music before plugging into your plasma TV for a very 2005 slide show.

2. Apple’s iTunes Music Store—accessed via free OS X and Windows software—offers an impressive music catalog. Albums typically run $10, while single tracks go for 99 cents a click. Jam out to iTunes exclusives from the likes of U2, plus celebrity playlists.

3. No other player offers so many cool accessories. To wit: A media reader will transfer photos directly from your digital camera’s memory card to your iPod, FM transmitters will pipe your tunes through your car stereo, and a voice recorder will archive memos, interviews, and lectures.

4. Store contacts, reminders, and text files on the iPod’s calendar and scheduler, compatible with Microsoft Outlook and Apple’s iCal. An alarm gets you to your meeting on time, and a sleep timer lets you doze off to the Shins without sucking your battery dry.

5. Stuck in Layover Land? Apple stocks its iPods with diversions aplenty. Play solitaire, Parachute, Brick, and other vintage video games. Then test your knowledge of your own music library via Music Quiz, Apple’s equivalent of Name That Tune.

Gear of the Year

Camping Tents & Sleeping Bags

Sierra Designs Reverse Combi $240

At six pounds 13 ounces, the Reverse Combi is the heaviest of the eight new-for-2005 shelters we tested—and is probably the most tent you’ll want to carry. But this Gear of the Year’s thoughtful design and creature comforts threw our usual light-is-right rules out the mesh window. Perhaps bigger is better.

1. When you’re not obsessing over pounds, you can draw from a more appetizing menu of features: The Reverse Combi’s color-coded webbing speeds setup; pole tips lock into grommets for stability; and doors tuck nicely into side pockets to stay clean and out of the way.

2. If the Combi feels roomier than its 4.5-by-seven-foot floor plan suggests, it’s not the single-malt talking. Sierra Designs cleverly located varying diameter pole sections to create steeper walls and more living space than other similarly configured tents.

3. While many of today’s tents are cut prosciutto-thin to shave ounces, this shelter’s floor, body, and fly are made of heavier-gauge 70-denier nylon or taffeta nylon. With a new antimicrobial finish—designed to head off potential stuffsack funk—the Combi conveys a reassuring air of solidity; I expect it will still be inviting abuse in 2015.

4. Many side-entry tents have just one door, and heeding nature’s call can also mean waking up your camping chum. Luckily, the Combi gives each occupant an escape route. Another twofer: dueling 11-square-foot vestibules, each with a door that rolls up and out of the way.

5. With the rain fly staked out taut, the dome hunkered down like a tortoise, scarcely shuddering during a night of meteorological Sturm und Drang below Washington’s Mount Stuart. One quibble: The vestibules have pretty small windows.

Marmot Atom $229

Behold the Gear of the Year: A 16-ounce, 900-fill-down wonder that’s destined to be the new sleep standard for fastpackers and anyone else who appreciates gossamer weight in a three-season bag. Marmot’s ultrastuffable Atom practically vanishes into your pack.

1. How feathery is the Atom, with its Ÿber-premium down and superlight Pertex fabric? It reminded me of a chunk of San Francisco fog I once spotted scudding along California Street. How compressible? Picture a cantaloupe.

2. The Atom’s trapezoidal footbox—the bag’s bottom end swoops upward like a ski tip—won’t force you to splay your feet sideways.

3. Its 40-degree threshold might seem sketchy, but this nocturnal nest is all you need for most late-spring-through-early-autumn outings: It kept me—as well as several eager-to-try-it friends—toasty on a chilly September summit attempt yet stayed cool on summer car-camping trips to my local crags.

4. With its half-zip, the Atom won’t be mistaken for a stateroom, but it slips on like silk pajamas and is roomy enough around the shoulders for sleepers who don’t toss like a Maytag all night long.

5. Not many above-freezing bags sport a mummy hood, complete with an insulated face muff, and a cinch cord to batten down the hatches on brisk nights. Outfit yourself with a wool cap and some merino long underwear and push the Atom’s rating down to the frost line.

Gear of the Year

Road Runners & Trail Runners

Nike Free 5.0 $85

For decades, world-class athletes have conditioned their feet—and upped the speed at which they shift from one foot to the next—by leaving their shoes at home. Nike gets barefoot-running religion with the Free, which distills the training shoe to its very essence. For an ultra-minimalist platform, this year’s Gear of the Year winner is an astonishing performer.

1. Try out the Nike Free sans socks. Even sockless, there’s no chafe: Soft synthetic suede covers a seamless elastic-mesh upper. On both longish runs and quick neighborhood trots my feet felt solidly encased—yet were free to move where they pleased.

2. Most running shoes are designed to flex underfoot in front of the laces. The Free, scored on the underside like a chocolate bar, can be squished down to the size of a mango, and the shoe moves and bends every direction your foot would naturally.

3. Forget rock-solid heel plates locking your dogs in place. The Free instead offers a millimeter of elastic mesh. Thus liberated, my feet found a neutral, ultra-comfortable zone—instead of one dictated by multiple layers of material.

4. Acknowledging that every foot has its own idiosyncrasies, Nike sells the Free with two sculpted inserts. Start with the thicker one and, as you strengthen the muscles in your feet, move on to its thinner counterpart.

5. The midsole and arch support are much thinner and softer than those in conventional shoes, but there’s still enough lift and protection to guarantee some stability without compromising freedom of movement.

Montrail Hardrock Wide $93

When we finally terraform Mars, the first colonists will doubtless be issued Montrail Hardrock Wides—kicks perfectly suited to the dusty slopes of 78,740-foot-high Olympus Mons. OK, admittedly, we’re reaching, but our 2005 Gear of the Year trail runners have more than proved their worth on this planet, moving effortlessly from scree to sandstone to the blacktop that took us there.

1. The Hardrock Wide’s firm and deeply sculpted heel cup fits as if it’s been bone-grafted onto your foot. Superstellar. It’s impossible to fumble your stride with your heel so locked in place.

2. Size-EE feet feel at home in the Wides yet never go unsupported—thanks to a full-length polyurethane plate that wraps up, taco style, around the midfoot for torsional control. (There’s a standard width available for skinnier feet.) Overpronation is regulated with the authority of a strict school nun.

3. Montrail embraces chaos theory on the outsole—it’s bristling with triangles, bars, and dots—and the result is traction uphill, downhill, and sideways in dirt. On rock, the rubber lugs are shallow and stiff enough to grip tightly.

4. A midsole of dual-density EVA and a gel insert in the forefoot lend perfect plumpness—enough for forays on asphalt (not always the case with trail shoes) without the foot/trail disconnect that gives you that whoa! feeling on steep switchbacks.

5. Nylon mesh in the uppers ensures good ventilation, and copious synthetic leather embellished with raised rubber bumpers fends off rock scrapes and debris collisions.

Gear of the Year

Storm Shells & Soft Shells

REI Taku $199

Remember that high school buddy who souped up an old Datsun 510, then went looking for suckers to race? The Taku is his kind of jacket. At first glance this 2005 Gear of the Year pick is just another storm shell, but a closer look reveals a whole lotta functional horsepower.

1. The co-op deploys both “hard” and “soft” fabrics in all the right places, tapes all seams, and pulls off impressive abrasion resistance throughout. Swaths of Elements—REI’s three-layer waterproof-breathable fabric—shed Cascades-grade deluges on hood, shoulders, and cuffs.

2. An inside zipper flap shuts out drafts and keeps this jacket looking sleek, while rubberized pulls make opening and closing effortless, even with chubby gloves.

3. Thanks to stretchy, snug-fitting side panels, the Taku’s hood cinches around both your head and face for a fit that feels custom-molded. Even in the whipping wind at Point Reyes National Seashore, the hood stayed put, my peripheral vision remained clear, and I could actually hear what my friend was saying.

4. A single sidepiece, span- ning from waist to wrist, prevents the Taku from riding up when you reach, midcloudburst, to clamp your bike down on the roof rack. Near-invisible core vents, positioned out of the path of pack straps, afford full access to your base-layer pockets.

5. Go ahead, layer it with a deep-pile fleece. The Taku’s well-tailored, articulated design—seven fabric panels per facing side—won’t make you feel like you’re wearing a snowsuit.

Patagonia Ready Mix $199

Sick of the bulk and crinkle of traditional shells? The doctor prescribes the new bargain-priced Patagonia Ready Mix, an airy dream of silky, stretchy protection that packs down to the size of a pomelo. This sensual soft shell is all you need for everything but the soppingest, most high-impact endeavors, which is why it gets Gear of the Year.

1. Cycling in Portland, Oregon, one particularly nasty day, I was amazed by how the supple Ready Mix thwarted a spanking rain. As I madly pedaled my way to an espresso joint, Patagonia’s durable water-resistant Deluge finish kept me dry as biscotti.

2. Spacious chest vents eliminate the need for pit zips—and double as glove compartments, without significantly sacrificing airflow. Plus the Napoleon pocket can easily stash a couple of hoagies.

3. Inside and out, welded seams fuse 3.4-ounce double-weave stretch panels, which are oriented for pitch and yaw to allow maximum freedom of movement. Reinforced shoulder, elbow, and hip panels—constructed of beefier 5.5-ounce poly—protect chafe points. She may be soft, but she’s tough, too.

4. Dig the subtle touches: an offset zip that ends up next to—not under—your chin; a self-cinching hood; a smushy visor that holds its form; Swiss-cheese-like hook-and-loop closures at the cuffs to shave weight; and watertight zips.

5. The smart design of the Ready Mix meshes slinky comfort with serious utility. Like a classic shell, it’s fully featured, but its cocktail of unbeatable breathability, easy one-hand cinching, ultralight heft (only 14 ounces!), and windproof fabric shifts the paradigm.

Gear of the Year

Luggage & Backpacks

Eagle Creek Switchback Max ES 25 $295

Here’s a cleanly designed multitasker with the right goods for road tripping, globe-trotting, or anything in between. Trundle this 2005 Gear of the Year fave up to the reception desk at the W Hotel without looking like you’re fresh off the mountain, then zip off the bomber backpack to launch into the urban jungle—or more challenging environs.

1. Don’t sweat the baggage handlers. The Switchback protects your possessions like a fortress, with a tough skid plate, corner guards, and beefy ripstop-nylon construction. Because the design gurus deploy heavier fabric only at abrasion hot spots, the whole package stays relatively light: 11 pounds.

2. As far as wheelies go, this 4,300-cube hybrid hauler drives like a dream, thanks to an ergonomically curved locking handle that shifts your load onto the rollers. A side-haul grip and padded top handle offer good grab when the time comes to muscle the Switchback up into the TGV vestibule.

3. Forget futzing with extraneous organizational doodads in the main compartment. Zip open the top panel to reveal a spacious interior rigged with an adjustable mesh-buckle system that compresses and secures take-alongs, plus a zippered laundry pocket.

4. The detachable daypack ain’t no afterthought—at 1,500 cubic inches, it’s plenty big for urban or rugged forays. (It easily garaged my laptop for morning caffeine recon missions.) Dual stow-away water-bottle holders inject trekking DNA, and the front zippered pocket sports sleeves for gizmos and paperwork.

5. In bipedal mode, the zip-out backpack suspension and 3-D lumbar material are downright plush, especially where it matters most—over your tailbone. Sculpted shoulder, sternum, and load-lifter straps are all fully adjustable—and ready for any multi-day trek.

Osprey Atmos 50 $199

At first glance, this hauler might seem born out of Lockheed’s Skunkworks, but relax: Our Gear of the Year pack will get you there and back in a flash. A matchless mesh suspension setup saves aches and ounces, while the main compartment smartly stows as much or as little as you like. You’ll be sure to uncover something new every time you take the Osprey out.

1. Like a stretchy cotton hammock, the breezy back panel keeps you happily cool while it supports up to 3,000 cubic inches of swag. Hinged aluminum stays direct weight to the hipbelt, and the shoulder straps comfortably bear the balance.

2. A sleeping bag, clothes, food, and other sundry items slide easily into the main compartment, while accessible twin side pockets hold Nalgenes, fuel, or even a flask filled with whiskey—you devil, you! On the outside, diagonal compression straps tote trekking poles and the kitchen sink.

3. Shoulder straps and hipbelt are perforated to save weight without skimping on comfort.

4. Helpful extras make a good pack better: A supple shovel pocket can stash just-in-case raingear; there’s a bonus cubby behind the mesh back panel for an extra hydration pack (or a smelly shirt); and bottom compression straps batten down a sleeping pad nicely.

5. Don’t be the fiddler. Light and fast means well-placed straps and seams that steer clear of pocket zippers, grant-ing hassle-free access to your must-have stuff. On a sun-drenched trail, I easily shed and stored layers—without adding frustration.

Gear of the Year

Light Hikers & Kayaks

Garmont Eclipse XCR $120

Stripped-down light hikers can leave weekend adventurers craving a little more of everything. But, just like my pre-ramble, all-you-can-eat Southern breakfast, the Eclipse XCR fills the plate. Balancing strength and flexibility, this waterproof Gear of the Year winner made a meal of Alabama’s rugged Pinhoti Trail in a hard winter rain.

1. Ankle sprains are the Achilles’ heel of low-cut footwear, but the Eclipse XCR fights back. A high inner cuff stabilizes the joint to discourage it from rolling inward, while a rigid leather strip lining the outside of the upper cuff kept me secure on the scree.

2. Many load-bearing hikers have overbuilt heels that impart a ski-boot gait—not pretty when you’re negotiating a crowded pub with a full, après-tramp pint. However, the back of the heel on the Eclipse swoops upward, for sneaker-like strolling.

3. Smallish tongues can shift, often leading to chafing at the intersection of ankle and foot. To reduce slippage, Garmont equipped this hiker with a broader tongue that extends down toward the ankle on the inboard side of your foot.

4. Even after shouldering a 30-pound pack, the plastic web in the cushy midsole kept my feet in the game. I could feel the material working like an in-shoe backbone, supporting my soles and lessening fatigue without compromising flex.

5. You won’t slosh around in these bad lads, thanks to a Gore-Tex XCR membrane, which functions like a pair of rubber galoshes. But watch out: XCR can choke in high temps; my toes felt damp after trekking through steamy ravines in the soggy Chattahoochee National Forest.

Dagger Crazy 88 $1,150

Ready to go pro? Then you already know that tricks are for kids—and success hinges on huge air. Enter Dagger’s Crazy 88, our Gear of the Year selection. This boat is a masterly equation of length, width, weight, and volume distribution, all of which pull together when the time comes to skip off the lip and into the big time.

1. The upswept cockpit increases the boat’s overall buoyancy; while popping out of front flips and back flips, I felt like I was on a trampoline.

2. Dagger equipped the Crazy 88 with an add-on called an Overthruster. The detachable plastic pod—about the size of an airline meal tray—increases the boat’s volume, ergo its buoyancy. Plunging into the same hole avec and sans Overthruster proved its worth: an extra foot or so of vertical.

3. The Crazy 88 was designed for radical maneuvers like aerial backstabs—picture a back-to-front rotation at a 45-degree angle—but Dagger also softened up this boat’s lines. Result: You’ll quickly recover from a botched stunt—and maybe even call it a new move!

4. An inch or two svelter than the rest of the Dagger fleet, and boasting a flatter hull, this 28-pounder—among the lightest of the ten boats I tested—is both spry and damn fast.

5. Simple and lightweight outfitting—the padding that keeps you snug and comfy in the cockpit—dials in a perfect fit with little fuss. A removable wedge raises the seat to deter thigh cramps, and your perch moves fore and aft on a track to accommodate your height.

Gear of the Year

Sunglasses & Binoculars

Rudy Project Maskeryna $125

Rudy Project hits the sweet spot where sportsworthiness becomes fashion and vice versa. This frameless wonder fends off 70-mile-an-hour winds as effectively as ski goggles, but it’ll also turn heads in Santa Barbara. Add dreamy optics and negligible weight and the result is a Gear of the Year award.

1. The whole shebang—lens and tendril earpieces—is a springy unit that holds onto the head delicately yet quite securely. Without being conspicuously sport-shield-like, the Maskeryna gives all the protection any athlete could ever need.

2. The no-frame wraparound uni-lens is undeniably chic—but it’s also trs sportif, at just over half an ounce. You’ll forget you’re wearing it. Plus the Maskeryna slayed the wind when I stood up in a convertible doing 75 on the Ventura Freeway.

3. The best polycarbonate lenses are injection-molded under very high pressure—and Rudy pummels these shades with over five and a half tons of it per square inch. The result? Crystalline clarity and acuity, plus improved scratch resistance.

4. A warm orange-brown tint blocks blue light—a bane of sharp focus—rendering everything suitably crisp and 3-D. But don’t blink; you might miss the perfect view: This tint also helps speed up visual navigation and, by extension, your road- or mountain-biking pace.

5. Silicone-compound schnoz pads anchor the Maskeryna when you’re sweaty and taking hits and dips from the trail and can also be adjusted for fit. Vanity points: These slender, teardrop-shaped grippies don’t leave deep, red nose-dents.

Brunton Epoch Zoom $1,900

A couple years back, Brunton bagged its first Gear of the Year award with the burly, waterproof, scalpel-sharp Epochs. For 2005, greatness gets an upgrade. The new Brunton Epoch Zoom invites you to view the whole horizon, then drill in tight with the touch of a lever. Result? Another trophy for the mantel.

1. The gunmetal-gray synthetic-rubber coating is simultaneously supple and grippy, and helps these big barrels stand apart from the competition you’ll find at the local wildlife refuge.

2. Most zoom binoculars are gimmicks, with the required extra glass and adjustment lever contributing little more than weight. But the Brunton Epochs are a serious high-performance tool; they allow you to optimize magnification—from 8x to 15x—for the task at hand.

3. A burly but light magnesium-alloy frame keeps the weight of these feature-rich magnifiers at a respectable 32 ounces, while also providing a stout chassis to rebuff the knocks and dings of heavy field use. Oops, backed the Land Rover over your Epochs? The company will resupply anywhere in the world at no charge.

4. The view through these binocs is bright and true: no fogging, color aberration, or distortion on the edges, thanks to nitrogen-filled barrels and fully multicoated lenses and prisms.

5. A supersize, center focus wheel hooked to a variable-speed focusing system—offering fine-tuning close in and lightning-quick target acquisition farther out—makes for smooth transitions from that warbler in the willows to the hawk on the horizon.

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1.) BUCK/WHITTAKER’s SHORT REVOLUTION is one well-crafted piece of sharpened steel. The handle on this two-and-a-half-inch blade swivels 180 degrees, then locks in place to double as the sheath. You get the strength of a fixed-blade knife in one slim unit. ($75; 800-326-2825, )

2.) The CRICKET SS by SPYDERCO is the Jack Russell terrier of knives: small but tough. Its discreet beak-shaped cutter—no thicker than three stacked quarters—swings into action anytime you need a handy edge in a pinch. ($65; 800-525-7770, )

3.) LEATHERMAN’s CHARGE TI has strong titanium handles and stainless-steel pliers, locking blade, saw, scissors, diamond file, and 14 other quick-draw tools. ($124; 800-847-8665, )

4.) The four-ounce GERBER NAUTILUS multitool offers all the basics—locking blade, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, scissors, and bottle opener—plus a nifty switchblade-style LED to throw a beam on the task at hand. ($60; 800-777-6805, )

5.) Sure, you can whittle with the VICTORINOX SWISSMEMORY, but the killer app here is data storage—there’s an onboard 64MB flash memory card that plugs into a computer’s USB port. The tool is a 21st-century update of the floppy disk: Use it to store your travel diary (with photos!), and update it at any computer. ($69; 888-658-0717, )

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It’s an infinite planet of adventure—but you want trips that inspire, excite, recharge, and revolutionize your sense of possibility. You just hit the motherlode. From trekking the classic heart of Patagonia to exploring British Columbia’s wilderness coast (with African safaris, polar epics, and Italian idylls spicing up the menu), your dream journey is here.
PLUS: The Trip of the Year winners—we select the world’s ten best adventures.

For the daring traveler, Russia offers a fantasyland of empty mountains, crashing whitewater, and untrammeled backcountry.

Affordable satellite phones make far-flung expeditions safer. But if you never hang up, you lose the solace of the wilderness.

Contributors: Jason Daley, Kimberly Lisagor, Amy Marr, and Tim Neville

The Road to Lanceville

If your hero is a guy named Armstrong, you’ll need a hero’s ride. We pick 2004’s best.

2004 Road Bike Review

WANNA RIDE JUST LIKE THE BIG TEXAN? Guess what—you’ve got company. Road-bike sales nationwide increased 35 percent between 2001 and 2002, from $187 million to $252 million, a trend that is expected to continue. Cycling-industry consultant Jay Townley confirms that Lancemania is indeed driving first-time roadies into America’s shops. But Townley, who heads up an ongoing bike-retail study, attributes the spike to “diehards who understand what they’re doing.” Maybe that’s you—or perhaps you just hammer the odd half-century with your buddies. Whatever your passion, if you’re lusting for a new mount, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø‘s bike-obsessed editors have already done your homework for you, pooling a combined 63 years of saddle time to extensively test seven eminently worthy rides. You’ll find your perfect setup here, including, of course, one that goes very well with yellow.

GIANT OCR1, $999
THE PITCH A weekend workhorse for club riders, charity cruisers, and heart-rate checkers.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… At two ounces shy of 22 pounds, including Shimano pedals, the OCR1 is porkier than the other rigs on these pages, but you’re getting bomber durability and a comfortable ride at a fetching price. Giant built the frame with 6061-T6 aluminum, a gold-standard bike-tubing alloy, and added a bump-dampening carbon-fiber front fork, taller head tube, adjustable stem, and slightly longer wheelbase. The rider pedals in a somewhat upright, stable stance, which lends confidence to those who might otherwise get the jitters crouched over a carbon-fiber hot rod. To keep the price under a grand, Giant marries a mixture of Shimano and SRAM parts in the drivetrain. Meanwhile, a carbon-fiber seatpost and beefy 25cm tires—road bikes typically run 23’s—help soften the bumps.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? Punish your shiny blue OCR1 with a decade’s worth of rain, sleet, slush, and snow, or take on 10,000 miles of road-expansion joints—it’ll still be there for you. Giant’s forgiving, compact geometry invites new roadies to build up their mileage and confidence without endless ibuprofen hits. On the other hand, in tests this bike climbed and accelerated like an 18-wheeler: slowly. “I wouldn’t attack my own shadow,” said one tester. But remember: You’re not chasing trophies, just having a blast. This bike rewards with quick handling during evasive maneuvers and near-gyroscopic stability on ripping descents. Get the OCR1 up to its ideal cruising speed, around 17 miles per hour, and you’ll never want to come back down. (800-779-2453, )

Worldwide Wild

Kenya, Tanzania, Ethopia, Zambia

Kenya
Climbing Mount Kenya
[2004 Winner]
Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, has 2,283 feet on 17,058-foot Mount Kenya, but Kili is mainly a trekker’s mountain, whereas Kenya offers challenging technical climbing. (You need to have at least solid 5.6 skills.) On this 14-day trip, you’ll spend four to five days acclimatizing while hiking from tropical to high-alpine terrain and camping at sites with sweeping vistas. You’ll climb 15 to 20 pitches of 5.6-5.8 rock on Shipton’s Route, to one of Mount Kenya’s twin summits, 17,021-foot Nelion Peak. (The next day you can do the optional 17,058-foot Batian.) If you’re ambitious, sign up for an extension to climb Kili’s Umbwe Route, and determine for yourself which peak is the true African king.
High Point: You’ll encounter none of Kili’s midmountain Coca-Cola vendors.
Low Point: You’ll encounter none of Kili’s midmountain Coca-Cola vendors.
Travel Advisory: You’d better like your climbing partners. The hut atop Nelion barely sleeps four, and there’s hardly room to sit up.
Outfitter: Mountain Madness (206-937-8389, )
When to Go: November to March
Price: From $3,975
Difficulty: Strenuous

Tanzania
Mountain-Biking the Savanna
Being outpaced by a cheetah as you roll through the savanna isn’t out of the question on this 13-day, 300-mile ride from the base of 14,979-foot Mount Meru to the Ngorongoro Crater. You’ll bike up to 40 miles a day along dirt roads and singletrack and check in on animal hot spots like Tarangire National Park (ostrich habitat), the shores of Lake Manyara (pink flamingo country), and the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater (the whole cast of The Lion King).
Outfitter: KE ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Travel (800-497-9675, )
When to go: June and September
Price: From $2,595
Difficulty: Strenuous

Ethiopia
Trekking the Highlands
Explore Simien Mountains National Park on this 17-day adventure, more than half of which you’ll spend trekking through terraced farms, along volcanic escarpments (home to Simien fox and walia ibex), and to the summit of 15,158-foot Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s highest peak.
Outfitter: World Expeditions (888-464-8735, )
When to Go: January and November
Price: $3,390
Difficulty: Moderate

Zambia
South Luangwa Walking Safari
On this two-week safari, you’ll hoof four to seven miles a day across the northeastern woodland savannas of 3,500-square-mile South Luangwa National Park, escorted by an armed ranger and a guide who will track giraffes, elephants, lions, hyenas, zebras, and, if you’re lucky, the rare African wild dog. In the evening you’ll wind down at comfortable bush camps like the Chikoko, on the roadless banks of the Luangwa River, and open-roofed (don’t worry—you’ll be there during the dry season) bungalows at Mwamba.
Outfitter: The Africa ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Company (800-882-9453, )
When to Go: June to October
Price: From $3,995
Difficulty: Easy

Worldwide Wild

Antarctica, Canada, North Pole

Antarctica
Following in Shackleton’s Footsteps
[2004 Winner]
Ernest Shackleton crossed the Southern Ocean to South Georgia Island in a dinghy. You’ll make the trip aboard the 295-foot, 110-passenger MS Endeavour, sailing from Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, to the west side of South Georgia in five warm, dry days, and under the capable leadership of veteran mountaineers Peter Hillary and Dave Hahn, as well as Shackleton historian Kim Heacox. It took the famed explorer only 36 hours to cross South Georgia on foot in 1916, but you’ll be glad to take five days to hike and ski the same route, roping up for the 24-mile traverse past 9,500-foot glaciated peaks. This rare 15-day trip was 12 years in the planning and is the only commercial expedition to follow Shackleton’s exact path across the island, from King Haakon Bay, on the western end, to the whaling port of Stromness, on the east coast. As you cross, look for white-camouflaged snow petrels and compare notes with Shackleton’s observations. (How far have the glaciers receded since his trip?) You’ll discover firsthand that “the Boss” was a mad genius after you ice-climb up and rappel down 4,387-foot Trident Peak—a section Shackleton did with only nails driven through his hiking boots and a hemp rope to slide along. This is a self-supported expedition, so be prepared to haul gear-laden sleds and backpacks and camp on the ice. If comfort is your priority, no one will fault you for skipping the crossing altogether and staying on board the Endeavour for the sail to the other end of the island—the traverse party will beam back daily reports and images.
High Point: Wandering through a colony of 40,000 king penguins in a remote bay accessible only by sea.
Low Point: Storms. Pack the Dramamine, because you could get 25-foot swells for five straight days as you travel to and from the Falklands.
Travel Advisory: As in the Gal‡pagos, the wildlife on South Georgia has little fear of humans, so don’t get too close to that rutting elephant seal.
Outfitter: Geographic Expeditions (800-777-8183, )
When to Go: November
Price: $9,200
Difficulty: Easy to strenuous

Canada
Backpacking Baffin Island
This 12-day, 70-mile trek passes through the rolling hills, rivers, and summer tundra of Baffin Island’s Auyuittuq (translation: “The Land That Never Melts”) National Park, established in August 2000. This is Arctic Canada at its best: a northern landscape blooming with purple mountain saxifrage, moss campion, and mountain avens. Glacier-draped peaks form granite faces like the one on 5,495-foot Mount Thor, and you can spend a day front-pointing on Turner Glacier. Or just look for eider ducks, gyrfalcons, and arctic foxes from your camp.
Outfitter: Equinox Wilderness Expeditions (604-222-1219, )
When to Go: July
Price: $2,795
Difficulty: Strenuous

North Pole
Arctic Ski Tour
(New Trip)
Follow explorers Richard Weber and Mikhail Malakhov—the only people since Robert Peary, in 1909, to have successfully traveled unsupported to the North Pole and back—on this 13-day, 70-mile nordic-skiing expedition to the top of the world. The route heads over shifting pack ice from Ice Station Borneo, around open stretches of the Arctic Ocean, and below 50-foot-tall pressure ridges of broken ice. After your accomplishment has sunk in, you’ll call home on the sat phone, then camp on the snow before choppering back down to Borneo’s heated tents.
Outfitter: Mountain Travel Sobek (888-687-6235, )
When to Go: April
Price: $17,850
Difficulty: Strenuous

Worldwide Wild

California, Maine, Alaska, British Columbia, Montana/Alberta

California
Backpacking the John Muir Trail
[2004 Winner]
Every mile on this classic American ramble along the spine of the Sierra has a highlight. If you’re not marveling at sheer granite cliffs or clear alpine lakes, you’ll be stopping in grassy meadows to admire the surrounding 14,000-foot peaks. The 15-day, 146-mile hike begins at Florence Lake, near Kings Canyon National Park, and travels south through some of the Sierra’s classic must-see sections, including Evolution Creek, which teems with golden trout; 13,159-foot Forester Pass, the highest pass on the Pacific Crest Trail; the high-alpine lakes of the John Muir Wilderness; and the seldom visited Golden Trout Wilderness. Why go with a guide instead of hoofing it on your own? For one thing, a small mule train will follow behind your group, carrying food, tents, and 15 pounds of your personal gear. And with Muir Trail veteran and ecologist Jay Ericson as trip leader, you’ll get plenty of beta on the trail’s history and wildlife. By the time you exit the wilderness in Sequoia National Park, you may be tempted to turn right around and head north again.
High Point: The summit attempt on 14,494-foot Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48.
Low Point: Pack animals can be slow on the trail—expect them to show up with your flask of Jack and stash of Snickers an hour after you’ve set up camp.
Travel Advisory: Buy a California fishing license and bring your pack rod—you’ll be passing through some of the Sierra’s premier trout-fishing territory.
Outfitter: Mountain Travel Sobek (888-687-6235, )
When to Go: August and September
Price: From $3,990
Difficulty: Strenuous

Maine
Allagash Waterway Canoe Trip
On a map, the Allagash Waterway—92 miles of interconnected rivers, lakes, and ponds in northern Maine—looks like a snake that has swallowed a couple of unlucky frogs. This remote swath of North Woods wilderness will swallow you up, too, as you paddle two-person canoes for a week and set up waterside camps next to 1,222-acre Umsaski Lake and deep in boreal forests full of moose and bears.
Outfitter: Wilderness Inquiry (800-728-0719, )
When to Go: July
Price: $750
Difficulty: Easy

Alaska
Ski-Mountaineering Powder Steeps and Glaciers
(New Trip)
Your mission on this two-week tour of the remote Neacola Mountains, about 100 air miles southwest of Anchorage in Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, is all about first ascents and descents. First you’ll ski through unnamed peaks before deciding, along with your guides, which spires to summit. Then you’ll make base camp on a glacier and set out for downhill action rivaling that of any heli-ski operation.
Outfitter: Alaska Alpine ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs (877-525-2577, )
When to Go: May
Price: $4,000
Difficulty: Strenuous

British Columbia
Sea-Kayaking Queen Charlotte Strait
Well north of the waterways of Johnstone Strait, you’ll paddle tandem kayaks for six days among the sheltered bays and islands of Queen Charlotte Strait, a wild archipelago full of humpbacks and bald eagles, with B.C.’s snowcapped mountains in the distance. After dodging whale flukes, seals, and curious porpoises, you’ll set up camps on the pebbly, driftwood-strewn beaches of secluded islands like Bell, Hurst, and Nigei.
Outfitter: Sea Kayak ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs (800-616-1943, )
When to Go: August and September
Price: $1,050
Difficulty: Moderate

Montana/Alberta
Biking and Hiking Glacier, Banff, and Jasper
This eight-day international ride-athon not only covers 42 miles of Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road but also takes in 177 miles of Banff and Jasper national parks’ Icefields Parkway for a firsthand look at the massive glaciers that spill out of the Canadian Rockies. In between, you’ll stay in stately park lodges and hotels and hike the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail.
Outfitter: Bicycle ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs (800-443-6060, )
When to Go: June to September
Price: From $2,576
Difficulty: Moderate

Worldwide Wild

Italy, Greece, France, Scotland

Italy
Biking the Southern Hills
[2004 Winner]
An east-to-west odyssey across the sole of Italy’s boot, from Bari to Lamezia Terme, weaves through untrammeled Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, and Calabria—regions as beautiful as Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, minus the tourists. You’ll start the 12-day trip in Puglia, with its ancient beehive-domed limestone dwellings, or trulli, and cycle about 50 miles a day over rolling countryside to the cave city of Matera, a World Heritage Site. After visiting Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Norman ruins, hit the wilds of Pollino National Park, and wander the beaches of Cilento Peninsula, which juts into the Tyrrhenian Sea. You’ll also check out archaeological digs at ancient sites, see fresh mozzarella di bufala stretched by hand, and end the days with bacchanalian feasts and luxe rooms in cliff-perched palaces.
High Point: The ten-mile descent to Cittadella del Capo and your swanky digs for the night: the Palazzo del Capo, a five-star seaside resort.
Low Point: A fiery tongue from an irresistible pepperoncini, the Calabrese hot pepper.
Travel Advisory: Take it easy on the Cirò; wine or you might find the roadside donkeys keeping pace with you the next day.
Outfitter: Ciclismo Classico (800-866-7314, )
When to Go: June
Price: From $3,795
Difficulty: Strenuous

Greece
Inn-to-Inn Sea Kayaking, Hiking, and Yoga on Crete
(New Trip)
During eight days on Crete’s southern coast, perfect your morning sun salutation in an ancient Venetian fortress overlooking the Mediterranean, paddle through Gaudiesque caves, and hike the Samaria Gorge, Europe’s version of the Grand Canyon. You’ll sleep seaside at quiet family-run inns and lounge on white-pebble Sweetwater Beach, where clear springs flow from the rocks and bathing suits usually get left on the shore.
Outfitter: The Northwest Passage (800-732-7328, )
When to Go: May and October
Price: $2,495
Difficulty: Moderate

France
Hiking from Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean
(New Trip)
On this 15-day north-south traverse of the French Alps, hike more than 80 miles on sections of the GR5 trail, from Mont Blanc to the Côte d’Azur. Traveling up to ten miles per day, traipse through Vanoise and Mercantour national parks—home to ibex and golden eagles—and over 9,000-foot mountain passes to snooze in snug inns and mountain refuges. Eventually, the glacial valleys and granite spires give way to sunny Mediterranean villages.
Outfitter: Wilderness Travel (800-368-2794, )
When to Go: June to September
Price: From $3,795
Difficulty: Strenuous

Scotland
Highlands Off-Road Coast to Coast
This eight-day bike ramble winds 230 miles—from Loch Hourn, on the west coast, to Montrose, on the east. With plenty of climbs and bangin’ descents, you’ll pedal 35 miles a day along drovers’ roads and forested singletrack, skirting the Cairngorm and Grampian mountains and crossing the River Dee before hitting the North Sea. Your toughest day: climbing 2,507-foot Corrieyairack Pass. At night, luxuriate at charming inns, sampling Scotch whisky.
Outfitter: Saddle Skedaddle (011-44-191-265-1110, )
when to go: June and August
Price: From $915
Difficulty: Strenuous

The Road to Lanceville

Litespeed Solano, Specialized Roubaix Comp, & the Cannondale Saeco

2004 Road Bike Review

2004 Road Bike Review

LITESPEED SOLANO, $2,795
THE PITCH Reenact Breaking Away aboard this deluxe titanium long-hauler.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… A more affordable version of the flagship Litespeed Vortex, from which this steed borrows geometry and design. The Solano offers the company’s new G.E.T. (geometrically enhanced titanium) tubing. Huh? Get close and you’ll see that the top tube is three-sided in cross section, the down tube is teardrop-shaped, and the seatstays are ovalized. What this high-tech design means to you is improved strength and responsiveness. Litespeed spec’d out the rest with a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain, plus carbon-fiber wheels and fork, to make an 18-pound-four-ounce road warrior.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? This is an inspiring ride. Roadies who find themselves pulling the peloton along a straightaway will fully appreciate the Solano’s weight-to-stiffness ratio and traditional racing geometry. Sprinters will rejoice over the stubby chainstays and powerful feel. Happiest, however, will be century riders, long-distance devotees who’ll swoon over this rig’s ultraplush ride. Are there flaws? A few. The Solano likes to hold a straight line, so racers and fitness riders who charge down mountain passes may have to wrestle her a tad. Also, this bike features ugly bar tape and one of the least comfortable saddles we’ve ever straddled. But both are quick fixes on a ride that will deliver years of joy on your favorite stretch of blacktop. (423-238-5530, )

SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX COMP, $2,600
THE PITCH Everything you need in a speed rig.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… Specialized lovingly spec’d out this 17-pounder for race-day duty with carbon fiber in the frame, seatpost, headset, and cranks. The slick-shifting Shimano Ultegra 27-speed drivetrain offers ample teeth for hill climbers and flatland sprinters alike. Meanwhile, durable Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels are a nice touch for heavyweight rookie riders still working their way down to racing trim.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? The Roubaix manages to balance two conflicting agendas: a smooth ride—previously the domain of heavy or flexy frames composed of steel or titanium—and the rock-solid stiffness needed to efficiently transfer power from body to bike. It rolled like butter in tests, and we expect it will indefinitely keep you cranking comfortably and strong, even after mile 70 of your district road championships. Why? Specialized tucked six small elastomers—rubber shock absorbers that soak up all the cracks and potholes that would otherwise rattle your spine—inside the fork, seatstays, and seatpost. When the call goes out for speed, just think, “Faster,” and you’re there; the bike is so responsive, it’ll feel like it’s glued to your body. (408-779-6229, )

CANNONDALE SAECO, $5,000
THE PITCH This two-wheeled missile will spirit you to just about any podium this side of Paris.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… Cannondale’s lightest bike ever is also its zippiest. The secret is Optimo, a new house-brand aluminum alloy that the Connecticut-based company says is 15 percent stronger than the 6061-T6 metal widely used on other bikes. This gave engineers the option of either creating a stiffer frame without adding heft or shedding weight without sacrificing strength. They went for option two—and came up with a remarkably rigid bike that weighs just 15 pounds. Cannondale also saved weight by hollowing out the bike’s cranks and axle, then tricked out the rest of the ride with lightweight Mavic wheels, Campagnolo shifters, brakes, and derailleurs, and carbon-fiber Cinelli handlebars.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? It is if you’re in the market for a purebred racer. Climb, sprint, bomb a descent—your Saeco will never cry uncle. The rear triangle and oversize bottom bracket shell withstood the pounding of even our weightier (over 190 pounds) testers. Of course, as a racer the bike isn’t exactly plush—more F1 than SUV—but the shock-dampening, hourglass-shaped seatstays eat up a lot of the sting. Campagnolo’s top-shelf components are glass-smooth. Finally, with gold-plated cranks and Saeco team logo, this one is a real head-turner. If your performance is even half as good as your bike looks, you’ll be team captain in no time. (800-245-3872, )

The Road to Lanceville

Jamis Satellite, Cerv�lo P3, & the Trek Madone 5.9

2004 Road Bike Review

2004 Road Bike Review

2004 Road Bike Review

JAMIS SATELLITE, $680
THE PITCH Road-bike pricing comes down to earth.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… This 22-pound-14-ounce bike is designed to grow alongside a cyclist’s skills and fitness. The Jamis strategy: Give buyers a Reynolds-steel frame and carbon-fiber fork, then bolt on heavier, lesser-quality parts: wheels, brakes, and drivetrain.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? Yes, if you want a reliable introduction to pavement without dipping into your 401(k). The Satellite rides like a bike that costs twice as much. Out on the road, the feel was so plush and the riding position so relaxed, the Satellite reminded us why steel is a superior material for soaking up bumps in the road. The hidden price of that delicious ride is weight: The extra five pounds under your saddle doesn’t seem like much—until you reach a hill. (800-222-0570, )

CERVÉLO P3, $3,599
THE PITCH This one’s aerodynamically perfected for slicing through air and blowing past everybody else.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… The airfoil-shaped frame and seatpost, the flat carbon-fiber fork and V-shaped wheel rims—all are standard tri-bike designs. But the P3’s rear wheel cutout is not. By tucking the wheel into a sweeping, 15-inch-long curve in the frame, Cervélo effectively created an airfoil that moves air over the hoop with less turbulence. Cervélo’s aerobars and Shimano’s top-of-the-line—and lightest—Dura-Ace drivetrain fill out the complete speed package.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? The P3 delivers straight speed and little else. Crediting the frame’s low body posture and the P3’s overall ultra-efficient design, one of our testers shaved two minutes off his usual 20-mile test ride without even trying. Of course, riders will have to make some sacrifices in comfort, handling, and hill-climbing ability. The tight aluminum frame shot every bump right up our spines, its hypertwitchy feel made sprinting and traffic adventures in maintaining control, and the extremely low aerobar height made long, steep hills a pain in the back. But for triathletes who race and train on empty stretches of asphalt, this shouldn’t be a problem; it could even prove a psychological boost: When you ride a bike built for breaking speed records, you’ll push yourself harder to see how fast you can really go. (866-237-8356, )

TREK MADONE 5.9, $5,000
THE PITCH You, too, can own Lance Armstrong’s winning wheels.
YOUR MONEY BUYS… Trek engineers are so reluctant to share their carbon-fiber shake-and-bake recipe, they haven’t even filed details of the process with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Whatever the black magic, it’s allowed the company to craft an absurdly feathery (15 pounds 12 ounces), aerodynamic bike that climbs and sprints with no energy-sapping lateral flex. Trek topped things off with the trickest of components, including Shimano’s top-shelf Dura-Ace brakes and drivetrain, super-stiff Bontrager Race X Lite wheels, and a titanium-and-leather San Marco saddle. Lance rode a stock version of this bike in the 2003 Tour de France.
THE RIGHT BIKE FOR YOU? If the Madone doesn’t put you at the front of the peloton on a sickening incline, it’ll at least make you feel like you belong there. The tight, responsive frame transfers every muscle twitch into forward motion. Nothing under 16 pounds should feel this solid, but the Madone inspires confidence even during descents on sketchy mountain roads. Go ahead—stand up and stomp on the pedals: Trek’s proprietary rear-triangle design will withstand all the torque you can dish out. The Bontrager wheels and carbon-fiber frame broadcast every bump to your body, but the Madone is still surprisingly comfortable for a pure race rig. Shimano Dura-Ace components are precise, light, and as lustrous as the frame they adorn. (920-478-4678, )

The Pulse

Q&A, Doggie Fitness, & Do and Don’t

Q & A WITH
PAUL SCOTT
How long does it take to see real gains in endurance?


—Mike Wood, La Jolla, California



SIX WEEKS IS YOUR ANSWER. This time frame recognizes that endurance comes via two separate activities. One is long, slow distance to get your muscles and joints used to the miles. The other is intermittent sprint sessions to condition your body to working at higher heart rates and to increase your cardio efficiency. This holds true for elite athletes. “I find that it takes six weeks to get my endurance back after taking time off,” says Peter Reid, winner of last year’s Ironman Hawaii triathlon. “The first three weeks, I build up the volume. Then I recover for a week, and then finish by ramping up the volume for the last two weeks.” After a month and a half, you should be able to chart your gains by watching your pace increase even though your heart rate stays the same.
[DOGGIE FITNESS]
Percentages of dogs and their owners, respectively, who lost weight when sharing an exercise routine such as walking, running, or hiking
SOURCE: THE IAMS COMPANY
Do & Don’t Spring Training
DO make your outdoor cardio workouts 20 percent longer than the length of your indoor treadmill or spinning workouts.


DON’T immediately run on sidewalks or roads. Use trail running to ease your legs and back into pavement-pounding shape.


DO ease off on the duration and frequency of your strength-training sessions as your time outdoors increases, or you’ll wear yourself out quickly.


DON’T assume that you’ll be able to keep lifting the same weight after you dial back the weight training.


SOURCE: WAYNE WESTSCOTT, DIRECTOR OF FITNESS RESEARCH AT THE SOUTH SHORE YMCA, QUINCY MASSACHUSETTS

Worldwide Wild

New Zealand, Fiji, Australia

New Zealand
Sailing and Diving the Upper North Island
[2004 Winner]
Cruise the island-studded Hauraki Gulf for eight days on a 58-foot luxury yacht, exploring the northern tip of the North Island and pausing between scuba dives to fish for snapper and hike through bird sanctuaries. Spend your nights in posh wilderness lodges; enjoy five-star meals featuring Akaroa salmon; and expect perks like helicopter transport to Tutukaka, one of seven overnight stops. And what could tempt you away from, say, a 19th-century colonial villa on a private beach? Only the promise of what lies offshore: Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, where a maze of coral tunnels and caverns teems with a wild array of aquatic life. Explore wrecks like the Rainbow Warrior, where multicolored critters have turned the Greenpeace ship (sabotaged by the French secret service in 1985) into a psychedelic artificial reef.
High Point: Diving an ocean ravine as dozens of stingrays glide by overhead.
Low Point: Sailing a starboard tack while you’re perched on the port head.
Travel Advisory: The South Pacific and the Tasman Sea meet at the tip of the North Island, so expect mild to wild water.
Outfitter: First Light Travel (011-64-9-360-8320, )
When to Go: Year-round
Price: $7,700
Difficulty: Moderate

New Zealand
South Island Alpine Course
In this weeklong tent-to-hut excursion in the Southern Alps, you’ll helicopter to the edge of the Bonar Glacier for two days of mountaineering and snow-craft instruction. (You’ll spend one night in a self-made snow cave, so pay attention!) After a two-day traverse of 7,730-foot Mount French, ditch your crampons and hike the valleys of Mount Aspiring National Park.
Outfitter: World Expeditions (888-464-8735, )
When to Go: December
Price: $2,190
Difficulty: Strenuous

Fiji
Exploring the Wild Side
(New Trip)
Witness fire walking in highland villages, raft the Class III Upper Navua through a rainforest dotted with waterfalls, and snorkel the coral gardens of the Mamanuca Islands on this 15-day romp through Fiji’s remotest regions. You’ll spend nights in beach lodges and tribal villages.
Outfitter: Asia Transpacific Journeys (800-642-2742, )
When to Go: June and August
Price: $4,195
Difficulty: Moderate

Australia
Exploring Aboriginal Lands
After flying from Darwin over coastal grasslands, bed down in bare-bones camps in Garig Ganuk Barlu National Park, a swath of Aboriginal land between the Cobourg Peninsula and the Kimberley Plateau. Native guides lead you on walks to ancient pictographs, swimming holes, and waterfalls.
Outfitter: Journeys International (800-255-8735, )
When to Go: August
Price: $3,195
Difficulty: Moderate

Made to Order

The Custom-Trip Transformation

The promise of Himalayan ecstasy beckons from the cover of a slick brochure. It would be the perfect trip if it didn’t involve sharing a tent with a stranger. And, well, maybe if it started a few weeks later.

Fear not, picky traveler: The adventure industry hears you. Responding to a surge in the demand for custom itineraries, a growing number of outfitters now offer design-it-yourself tours. At Mountain Travel Sobek, 15 percent of the trips are custom jobs. And last year, Butterfield & Robinson assigned half a dozen staffers to its new Bespoke division, which customizes adventures for a quarter of the company’s clientele. “It’s part of an overall trend toward individualism,” says B&R marketing director Cari Gray. The biggest factor is clients’ desire to pick their own dates, she says, along with wanting to travel with family and friends. The best news is—as you’ll see from the sample trips below—creating your own private outing doesn’t have to come at a premium.

+ When a customer asked Olaf Malver, “chief exploratory officer” of Explorers’ Corner (510-559-8099, ), to design a kayak trip that follows a river from its headwaters to the ocean, Malver set his sights on Siberia. The resulting itinerary is a two-week paddle down the Zhupanova River. The 15-day adventure has been so successful, it’s now a regularly scheduled group trip. The $5,100 price tag remains the same.

+ For serious road cyclists, Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring (866-255-3637, ) designs high-mileage itineraries on Ireland’s back roads. Owner Tony Boyd, a Belfast native, just finished mapping a 29-day, 1,500-mile route that runs over emerald hills to pasture-fringed villages. Riding a section of that route in a one-week trip would cost a group of eight $690 per person, including maps, luggage transfers, and B&B accommodations.

+ Founded in 2002 by former investment banker Emmanuel Burgio, Blue Parallel (800-256-5307, ) offers high-end custom trips to South America. Its outdoorsy Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil itineraries can be packed with private perks like after-dark tours of Machu Picchu. A weeklong jaunt runs $4,000 to $6,000 per person.

+ If you prefer high altitude to high end, sign on with the Patagonian Brothers (info@patagonianexpd.com, ). Damian and Willie Benegas are identical twins and veteran mountaineers who can guide you up everything from a Patagonian icefield to Everest.

Stealth Health

The Latest in Smart Microbe Management

You’re yearning to see foreign vistas and exotic wildlife. But some exotic (and invisible) wildlife is yearning to see you in the worst way. The best defense against the diseases of travel are, as always, knowledge and prevention. First, consult the up-to-date warnings posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention () and World Health Organization () Web sites. And peruse our quick-and-dirty lowdown on the most prevalent bugs and how to safeguard against them.

Malaria
Each year, 300 to 500 million people contract this mosquito-borne protozoan disease, and about one million die. In recent years, strains of the disease have developed a resistance to the prescription drug chloroquine and, in some pockets, resistance to other prophylactics.
Hot spots: West Indies, Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa
Symptoms: Cold flashes, hot flashes, jaundice, and anemia
Prevention: If you’re heading into chloroquine-resistant areas, ask for quinine, Malarone, or Mefloquine—but beware the psychological effects of the latter, which can include scary hallucinations.

West Nile Virus
This mosquito-borne virus, most prevalent in the summer and fall, hit the United States for the first time in 1999. In 2003 it infected at least 8,912 people, killing 211.
Hot spots: The U.S., Africa, and the Middle East
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms that, in severe cases, lead to inflammation of the brain or viral meningitis.
Prevention: Like it or not, there is no vaccination—slather on the deet.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is contracted through contact with the stool of an infected person, so when you’re traveling in areas with questionable sanitation, religiously follow the “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it” rule. Also, drink only bottled water, and wash your hands often.
Hot spots: Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and the United States
Symptoms: Malaise, weight loss, jaundice, dark urine
Prevention: There is a vaccination, but it’s best to get a combined vaccination for hepatitis A and B as well as typhoid.

Dengue Fever
This mosquito-transmitted virus is like catching a nasty case of the flu.
Hot spots: 50 to 100 million cases of dengue occur each year in Central and South America, Central Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and even parts of the U.S.
Symptoms: A fever that causes a severe frontal headache, joint and muscle pain, and a rash—and lasts seven to ten days.
Prevention: A vaccine is under development, but until then, stay mosquito-proof.

Yellow Fever
Another mosquito-borne virus, yellow fever has been a scourge on South America and sub-Saharan Africa for decades. It can range in severity from a flu-like syndrome to severe hepatitis.
Hot spots: The Panama-Colombia border region and Central and West Africa
Symptoms: Headache, fever, jaundice
Prevention: A live vaccine provides protection for up to ten years and is almost 100 percent effective.

SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
In 2003, there were 8,098 confirmed cases of this virus worldwide, and China has already confirmed new cases this year.
Hot spots: China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia
Symptoms: Chills, headache, and fever, which can develop into a severe respiratory illness like pneumonia.
Prevention: The only way to avoid SARS is to avoid exposure—keep your eye on the news and the above-mentioned Web sites.

Ebola
Ebola is the T. rex of infectious diseases, an unstoppable hemorrhagic fever that kills 55 to 95 percent of those infected.
Hot spot: Central Africa
Symptoms: Bleeding, chest pain
Prevention: Stay out of Ebola’s path. Check WHO’s outbreak reports before setting out to to reenact Livingstone’s African epic.

Worldwide Wild

The Trip of the Year

Peru
Three Ranges Exploratory Trek
The northern reaches of the Peruvian Andes have for centuries been prime real estate for those who want to get lost—or at least remain unfound. The Cordilleras Raura, Huayhuash, and Blanca—three ranges consisting of massive blocks of nearly impenetrable ice and rock—are the setting for this intense 25-day mule-supported exploratory trek. You might recognize some of the scenery: British mountaineer Joe Simpson’s epic tale of survival, as recounted in the book and recently released documentary film Touching the Void, unfolded in these mountains. Starting in the Cordillera Raura, a two-day drive from Lima through Peru’s central plains, you’ll explore the eastern fringes of this ancient range on a four-day trek, camping in verdant meadows or along glacial moraines. Rarely will you be lower than 13,000 feet. Next you’ll cross into the Cordillera Huayhuash—a formidable mass of skyscraping peaks that include Peru’s second-highest, the serac-scarred 21,765-foot Yerupajá;. The air will seem as thick as llama wool when you reach 9,932-foot Huaraz, the Chamonix of Peru, for a two-night rest at an inn. Set out the following morning into the 112-mile-long Cordillera Blanca—one of the largest concentrations of 20,000-foot peaks in the world—for more than eight days of trekking past Inca ruins, through paperbark forests, and across 15,000-foot passes. From your campsite, you’ll have plenty of time to ogle the fluted pyramid of 19,511-foot Alpamayo.
High Point: The views of Huayhuash National Park—from your 14,350-foot campsite—will take away what little breath you still have.
Low Point: The tropical mountain-climbing paradox: high-altitude chills, intense equatorial sun. Slather on the sunblock and lip balm during the day, but don’t forget the down jacket and booties for camp at night.
Travel Advisory: Make your peace with switchbacks before signing up for this trip. You’ll climb no fewer than 11 passes in 18 days.
Outfitter: Wilderness Travel (800-368-2794, )
When to Go: May
Price: From $3,795
Difficulty: Strenuous

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“CLEAR SKIES, CALM WINDS, lows in the upper fifties.” As these words echo across much of the lower 48 this month, thoughts turn to the backcountry—and a spur-of-the-moment overnighter in whatever wild amphitheater happens to be available. (Sorry, Central Park doesn’t count.) Thankfully, the new ultralight warm-weather sleeping bags make snoozing happily under the stars a snap. The sacks on the following pages start at an ultra-wispy 17 ounces and max out at 32, which is still less heft than a bunch of grapes. They’re also highly packable—several squish down to the size of a Nalgene bottle—and take full advantage of sheer nylon shell fabrics. Of course, gossamer bags demand extra care: Flop a synthetic- or down-filled ultralight over a snaggy limb, for instance, and you’re asking for a fill-spewing gash. But user-friendly touches like simple collar-and-hood cinch adjustments, high-contrast zippers that are easy to find, and hang loops for drying make these bags as smart as they are light. Pop one in a daypack, toss in a ground pad, and add some water, a headlamp, a bagel for dinner, and an orange for breakfast. Seize the day, sure, but nab a comfy night at the same time.

Sleep right, sleep tight: cool bags for warm weather

Steals

Tobago at sunset

STEALS
WAY TO TOBAGO For $596 per person, travelers can stay seven nights at the Ocean Point Hotel, in southeastern Tobago—and get ten boat dives to boot. The 12-room white-stucco hotel, which has kitchenettes in each of its air-conditioned, poolside rooms, caters to divers with its reasonably priced gear-rental program (a BC and regulator cost $10 per dive; snorkeling gear is $10 per day). At Kelliston Drain, off northeastern Tobago, expect to see the largest brain-coral formation in the world. Contact: 868-639-0973,

ARRIBA! From now until October 31, the beachfront Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort and Country Club, in northern Puerto Rico, is offering four-day packages starting at $555 per double, with a second room for half that price, a total savings of 55 percent off high-season rates. Half-day, two-tank dives are $115, food not included. Prices are not set for multiday dive packages, so expect some jovial haggling with the concierge. Don’t worry, it’s an island thing. Contact: 800-554-9288,
NEW TRIP
Diving for Data
Global Vision International’s new research trip to the SIAN KA’AN BIO-SPHERE RESERVE, off Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, lets volunteers dive—and HELP SAVE—the world’s second-largest barrier reef. Spend two to 20 weeks gathering data on crocodile, fish, and sea turtle populations, training local fishermen, and clearing away invasive species. It might sound like work, and you’ll have to sleep in a dormlike cabana, but it costs only $1,045 for a two-week stay at a REMOTE AND TRANQUIL OCEANSIDE research station. Plus, half of your payment goes toward further studies. Contact: 011-44-1582-831300,

1.) ON THE FLOAT
Named after a hairy alpine route in the Canadian Rockies, the ANDROMEDA STRAIN by INTEGRAL DESIGNS is ideal for fastpackers going high, low, or anywhere in between. The PrimaLoft Sport polyester stuffing resists water and can withstand punishment from your Maytag. Because seams create cold spots in insulation, ID topstitched the shell sparingly, and the bag’s body-hugging “floating” liner is sewn only at the edges. If nights in your area run warmer than the 40-degree rating, just yank down the full-length zipper. ($170; 403-640-1445, )

2.) GHOST TO GO
Can a one-pound-five-ounce bag really keep you warm? Tests confirmed that the MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR PHANTOM pulls it off. The footbox smothers your toes in lofty 800-fill down, while long internal chambers known as continuous baffles allow you to shift the feathers topside, for nippy nights, or beneath, for a plush nest on warm ones. A three-quarter-zippered opening shaves ounces and gives the 32-degree mummy-shaped Phantom a friendly summer-to-fall comfort range. ($240; 800-953-8375, )

3.) MORE IS LESS
WESTERN MOUNTAINEERING’s MEGALITE is so barely there that the company includes a disclaimer in its catalog: “Not intended for general field use.” But when treated with care, this mummy bag is a solid alpine performer. A wispy nylon shell fabric allows the 850-fill down to loft like a thunderhead. Minimalists will comfortably snooze in temperatures at least ten degrees below the 30-degree rating; continuous baffles produce a generous warmth range—just wiggle the down around to where you need it. ($295; 408-287-8944, )

1.) LONG-HAUL LITE
KELTY’s LIGHT YEAR mummy bag wraps 650-fill down in a Teflon-treated nylon shell: It breathes, and water beads up and rolls right off. These qualities, and the bag’s high compressibility, make the 45-degree-rated Light Year a sweet choice for through-hikers. Cinching up the hood and neck is a breeze, thanks to color-coded pull cords. To avoid sweaty feet, Kelty added a clever zip vent at the foot. Meanwhile, multiple loops and tabs steady your pad and keep the optional liner from shifting. ($120; 800-423-2320, )

2.) THE WHITE LIGHT
MOONSTONE helped develop Polarguard’s 3D synthetic fill, and the pearly-white 3D STRATUS goes nuts with the soft stuff, coddling those who tend to get wet from condensation with layers of fast-drying insulation over cold-sensitive zones like head, torso, and toes. On hot nights, yank down this mummy’s full zip. A durable, water-repellent coating resists stains, and tests have shown that the Stratus can be machine-washed and -dried repeatedly with only a slight loss of its 32-degree-rated thermal value. ($150; 800-390-3312, )

3.) SLEEP CYCLIST
The KOMPAKT SUMMER by MAMMUT is a good fit for stowage-challenged bike campers and alpinists. The semi-rectangular bag stuffs down to the size of a two-liter bottle—tuck it into a waist pack and fellow hikers will never suspect you’re sleeping out. Made with a wispy nylon shell and liner and filled with a fast-drying hollow-fiber polyester, this half-zip 50-degree bag is intended for people under six feet tall. On cooler nights, go-light types can tuck it inside an optional bivy sack. ($159; 800-451-5127,)

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