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Solio‘s Magnesium Edition solar charger can store enough juice to recharge your cell phone three times ($170; solio.com).
Like nearly everything Crank Brothers makes, the new Cobalt XC mountain-biking wheels are as beautiful as they are high-performance. You’ll want to wash off the mud before you even hit the finish line ($1,000; crankbrothers.com).
They might be cute, but Guyot Design‘s silicone Squishy Bowls are also packable, tough, and practical ($16; guyotdesigns.com). Guyot Design Squishy Bowls …
The narrower nose and arrowhead shape of Selle San Marco‘s Mantra saddle were designed to minimize chafing ($260; sellesanmarco.com). Sella San Marco Mantra Bike Seat…
What are the 10 things I should always have in my pack? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
What's the most reliable tool for starting fires? The Editors Santa Fe, New Mexico
I’m going backpacking in South Dakota’s Badlands, and everything I read says that you have to bring in your own water. For a four day trip, that could mean as much as five gallons. What type of water containers should I use to most effectively carry this much water? Junior Minneapolis, Minnesota
I just read that Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) has pulled all polycarbonate water bottles from its shelves due to safety concerns of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). Should I be worried? With a retailer of that magnitude deciding to no longer sell polycarbonate bottles, it makes quite a statement. Brian Columbus, Ohio
I'm in the market for a new snow shovel and debating between a collapsible and a removable handle. Any suggestions? And what is the best/easiest way to pack it in the Black Diond Covert 22 Bag w/Avalung? Seth New York, New York
I was told to avoid plastic water bottles containing Bisphenol-A (e.g., Nalgene bottles) because of the health risk they are thought to pose. So, I recently acquired a Laken aluminum bottle. Is this really an improvement, health-wise? Ron Orleans, Ontario
I’ve always packed clothes in zip-lock-type bags, but I’m sick of my clothes ending up in different places in the pack. I’d like to switch to one dry compression sack. Any recommendations? Also, is there anything lighter than the Ursack that you would recommend for food storage? Dan Vail, Colorado
I plan to travel for four months in eastern and southern Africa, and I intend to use 50 percent DEET (spray or lotion) and permethrin-treated clothes and nets. But I have no idea how much of either of these items I will need for this length of time. Can you provide any enlightenment? Daniel Dublin, Ireland
Would trekking poles be a help or a hindrance on an extensive hike, such as the entire AT? Also, is there a real benefit to shock-absorbing poles? John Redlands, California
Window shopping is nice, but there's nothing like wrapping your fingers around the sharp, hard edges of a new pair of skis to spark the urge to give (or get). To help you savor the mood this holiday season we present the year's best bounty in all its lust-worthy forms. From the slickest bike to the toughest laptop, these are the gifts you'll want to have—a
Boost performance and play in perfect comfort by investing in innovative made-to-order gear
Are polycarbonate water bottles safe? Rumors are floating around the Internet that certain chemicals leached from polycarbonate water bottles may increase the risk of miscarriage and cause birth defects. Should I throw away all my Nalgenes, or is this just typical Web fear-mongering? Randal Canmore, Alberta
I'll be camping in Yosemite this summer and curious about bear-proof canisters. Any reviews or suggestions on what to buy? Stuart Houston, Texas
