SUMMER 2020 GEAR GUIDE - GEAR

Montbell Seamless Down Hugger 900 #2 Sleeping Bag

While it would be nice to only review highly innovative and breakthrough products that doesn’t always happen. We love how much Montbell is innovating in the world of sleeping bags. First, let’s look at the word “seamless.” Rather than relying on traditional baffles to keep the down in place, Montbell came up with what they call “Spider Yarn” to stick to the down, acting like a spider web inside your bag, thus allowing the down more space to loft and in turn eliminating cold spots. All I can say is wow. Just as more outerwear is incorporating more stretch, Montbell realized that many of us are active sleepers, and the less our movement is restricted, the more comfortable we’ll be. I don’t know about you, but I really value my sleep, and I realize I’ll be able to enjoy my next day of adventures that much more if I’m well rested. Their theory is that if the bag moves with you, you’ll get more even coverage and thus stay warmer. I appreciate that. If you haven’t tried a Montbell bag with stretch, I highly recommend it. It’s a bit of a game changer. Bravo Montbell. They took their sleeping bag innovation and technology to the next level, just so we can all get a good night’s rest in the backcountry.

Thermarest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Pad

We’re glad to return to Thermarest to check out their latest ultralight pad. We’ve been swayed a bit by trying pads by Sea to Summit and Klymit that are both comfortable, light, and very packable. So, it’s nice to see Thermarest join those ranks in terms of weight and packability. The NeoAir ticks those boxes. Also, their new valve is much improved. The pad inflates easily and with a twist, dumps the air when it’s time to pack up camp. It’s always a mental game with sleeping pads, doing the math to see what comforts you’re willing to give up to get a packable and lightweight pad. I saw the weight on the regular size is 8.8 ounces. That seemed reasonable. I’m 6 foot, so the 72 inch length should cover me. As a side sleeper, the 20 inch width could have gone either way. I slept fine, but for long term happiness, I’d have to step up to a large, which comes in at 12 ounces, but giving me that extra five inches of width. Time will tell on durabliity, but I’d have to say it’s stable and not squishy and it’s quite comfortable. For me the comfort that extra 5 inches of width will provide will be worth the extra 3.2 ounces. With this pad, Thermarest enters the world of fast and light with true comfort. 6 footers like me should probably pop for the large.

POC Axion Spin Helmet

POC’s new trail/enduro helmet is a great, simple helmet for only $150! The visor is easy to adjust. Click, click, click. Also, the visor has what POC is calling the Break Away system, where the visor will come off easily in the event of a crash to eliminate unnecessary twisting motions and thus reduce neck injury. With that same concept in mind. their SPIN system, which stands for Shearing Pad INside. POC says its well ventilated and while I haven’t logged any hot hot rides yet this summer, I’d have to agree. And of course what it all boils down to aside from durability and crash protection, is that it’s just plain comfortable. I hardly notice it on my head. And for those of us that care about aesthetics, it’s nice piece of design. This is my favorite helmet in a while.

TORI’s take on the Axion Spin:

It’s been years, and I thought I’d always be left to have mountain bike helmets that almost fit just right. They’d seem great when I was trying them on… and then fail on trail one way or another. Visor too low. Weird rub spots on the forehead. Worst of all none of them seemed to consider people with thick hair that needs to be tied back. Most of the time this usually means a ponytail somewhere low around the neck because you can’t fit long or thick hair under a helmet well. But the ponytail inevitably hit up against the back cage, so on drops or rough terrain the helmet would slip forward, OVER MY EYES WHILE RIDING, forcing me to either over tighten the band to hold it in place (which only kind of worked and created headaches) or try and push the helmet back up before the next impact. Either way, not great.

The POC Axium Spin is the first helmet to ever solve these problems for me. There is absolutely no rocking or sliding forward. Even on the biggest drops and hardest hits, this helmet stays in place. Though there aren’t a ton of vents, my head doesn’t overheat in it. The SPIN technology gives me extra protection-- something I highly value as I’ve had more concussions than I’d care to remember in my years, and while I’m not planning on falling (who does?) would really like to prevent another. And I love the pop of color it gives me when I’m riding, making me easier to find for my riding buddies and look great on the trail. For the super reasonable price of $150, you’re getting a helmet that fits great, is packed with technology and is better at saving your brain then most. That’s what I consider a deal.

POC Aspire Clarity Glasses

I love what POC’s done with these glasses. They work for several reasons. First, the frame is comfortable. It fits well. Second, the frame has great flexibility, which make it easy to swap lenses. I’ve been testing the CAT3 Silver mirrored, which has been great for road, though seems a bit bright for full sun days. a clear trail lens, which has been bright and perfect for riding in the trees. Apparently POC has developed these lenes in partnership with Carl Zeiss. Dropping that name makes most photo geeks drool. They make the best optics for photo lenses. I’m not generally a big fan of white frames, since they draw so much attention to themselves, and I tend to notice them more out of my peripheral vision. But POC does offer some nice options. I think the tortoise shell option looks cool. They’re big, they fit great and they work. This is my first run with POC shades, but if they’re all this good, I’ll definitely try more.

Shimano RX8 shoes

When it comes to cycling footwear, we tend to stick with brands that fit our feet and work for the kind of riding we like to do. I still remember the first pair of Shimano SPD shoes. They were all grey, and design-wise they actually looked quite a bit like Giro’s new shoes below, kind of a Nike Lava dome vibe, but with SPD cleats. Fast forward to 2020 and it’s all about gravel-specific product. Yes, the RX8 is Shimano’s dedicated gravel shoe. They’re lightweight shoes with carbon soles for power transfer. Like most high end shoes these days, closure is BOA, with a velcro strap over the toe box. I love these shoes. They’re super comfortable and they work great on the bike. I have only two complaints. One is no half sizes, so I’m forced to size up a half size, which means these shoes fit better if I wear thick hiking socks rather than cycling socks. Another way to put that would be that I have some extra room in the foot. Second is the platform effect you get with Shimano race shoes. The only flat parts of the sole are a small contact patch on the heel and forefoot, which is fine in soft conditions, but on pavement or rocky surfaces, you end up hobbling a bit off the bike. I’m going to keep campaigning for flatter soles for cycling shoes. Still, these are well worth checking out, especially if you plan on racing gravel or just like going as fast as possible.

Giro Ventana shoes

Well this is more like what I was talking about above. Flat, walkable soles on a cycling shoe! Why do you care about walking in shoes when you’re going to be riding? These days we like to do all-day rides that involve some mucking around. That could mean getting off and taking photos of your friends, it could be a little scramble to an old fire lookout. It could be miles of unrideable terrain when bikepacking a new, unknown route. And like any good Californian company, Giro is thinking about ventilation in hot conditions, so airflow is good on these. So much so, they I have them pegged as summer shoes. That’s not a bad thing, they just probably won’t be my year-round picks. I like that Giro is working hard to shed weight in their shoes. Again, like the Shimano RX8 these only come in full sizes, so again I have a bit of extra room in the foot box. Why is that a thing? Half of us will have a hard time making this shoe fit exactly right. Half of you will love this shoe. Who knows if you don’t try. Still, kudos for lightweight and walkability. In terms of color choices. Black and Army green are the only options here. But you’re an adventure biker, so things like colors don’t bother you. You’re too busy researching new routes…and stuff.

Seal Line Pro Zip Duffel

I have a thing for bombproof luggage. I volunteer most years as a photographer for Trans Cascadia and that’s one of the best tests I’ve found. I’m also a bit of an overpacker - I mean if it didn’t rain every day, it would be overpacking, but who knows…it could. Anyone that knows the Pacific Northwest in late summer/early fall knows it’s a crapshoot. It could be bluebird, just as much as it could be dumping rain or snow. So, when you’re roughing it and you need to bring all that stuff, look no further than the Seal Line Pro Zip Duffel. It’s durable and waterproof. So waterproof, in fact that they rate it submersible in a meter of water for a full 30 minutes. So, yes if you keep that aquaguard YKK zipper closed, your gear is guaranteed to stay dry. It’s got two removable shoulder straps for times when you picked that isolated camp site because you like your beauty rest. They offer a 40, 70 and 100 liter version. I’m messing with the 100 and it’s borderline too big, but better to have room to fill than stuffing your bag, I say. My only complaint with this bag, is that I wished it opened up a bit bigger. Could you make a zipper that opened on 3 sides. Sometimes it’s so hard to find that one item that’s hiding, but maybe that’s just duffel bag life. Overall, a bomber large gear carry all that should last a lifetime.

Platypus Gravity Works Water Filter System

I’m a bit obsessed with filtering water in the backcountry. Nothing gives me more joy than finding a good, flowing water source with fresh clean water. But you know what, not all water sources are created equal. Some are just dirty. Sometimes the choice is dirty water or no water. You’re going to pick that dirty water every time. But it’s not a problem, because it’s the end of the day and your crew has entrusted you to get water for the group’s meals. Just fill up the reservoir labeled “dirty”, hang it from a tree and it filters 4 liters in just 2.5 minutes! If you’re used to pumping, like with the MSR Trail shot, or wating for a SteriPen to disinfect your 24 ounces. Solo, most of us won’t take the pack size or weight, but it’s hard to imagine a better system for a group that would rather spend their time doing other chores or simply relaxing and enjoying their adventure buddy’s company. Also, each filter is said to be good for 1500 uses! That’s a lot! We love the speed and simplicity of this system. All the parts click apart easily and all are easy to replace should you lose one piece. Sometimes simple is best.

Platypus Platypreserve 27oz. Flask

Hopefully y’all already know about the excellent Platypus soft bottles. They come in a range of size. I like taking an extra 1 liter bottle bikepacking, since they’re extremely packable, durable, and easy to use. This is the way to transport wine or water in the backcountry. Wine lovers will appreciate the food grade lining that is completely taste-free and won’t alter the taste of your wine in any way. Secondly, you can put the cap on partially, squeeze the remaining air out of the flask, just as you would at home with a vacuum pump. Brilliant, right? Simple, effective. These are very affordable too at just $10.

Nuun Hydration

As much as I’m obsessed with water resupply, I’m also obsessed with proper hydration on a ride. It’s not like you can’t complete a ride on just water and a power bar. Sure you can, but it’s another way to take care of yourself and make sure that nutrition and hydration aren’t a reason to not complete your ride. It’s the same with doing a training ride and not taking your recovery window seriously - 20 grams of protein, people! You won’t die, but you also won’t get as much benefit from your work. I have to admit too, that I’m no scientist. Most of us just swear by what the sports nutrition scientists tell us. For me, I trust Stacy Sims. She’s a hydration expert and former pro athlete. She came up with formulas for Skratch, and then OSMO, and more recently this Endurance formula for Nuun. But don’t take my word for it. Do your own research, look up Stacy’s credentials, better yet do your own experiments. Figure out what works for your own body - on short rides, on long rides, in cold weather, in hot weather. You get the idea. Get to know your body and what it needs. For me, Nuun is easy and it works. I especially like the new Vitamins, Immunity, and Rest tablets. Here’s what Nuun says about their Immunity tablets: “Nuun Immunity is a potent blend of electrolytes, anti-inflammatories, and antioxidants that provides total immune system support.* For 7 dollars for 10 tablets, that seems like a pretty good investment for COVID times, or if you have a bit of travel planned. Thanks for keeping us healthy, Nuun! We love what you do.

Modern Medicinals CBD Oil, CBD for Pets

This isn’t the first time we’ve featured Modern Medicinals. We keep coming back to their product to take care of life’s aches and pains and to ease our COVID anxiety. Stress is a real thing, people, and if there is anything this pandemic has taught us, is that we need to take care of ourselves and be up for life when the alarm rings in the morning. These days I’m avoiding the alcohol and reaching for CBD instead. No, CBD is not a replacement for a couple beers or a glass of wine. It’s medicine and it’s calming and helps with muscle and joint pain. Alcohol is both a depressant and an inflammatory, both things I want to avoid right now. As far as weed goes, I’ve learned that my body doesn’t really want THC. It’s too stimulating. And contrary to what they would tell you at a dispensary, you don’t need THC to activate the CBD. I’m trying to stay positive and keep my energy for what needs to be done. As I said in the Nuun review, find out what works for your body and stick with it. Life is an endurance sport, not a sprint. Memphis, our 12-year-old dog isn’t getting any younger and has developed arthritis. She absolutely loves this CBD and she seems to be up for more activity during the days when we give her 50ml the night before. There is a lot of snakeoil out there in the world of CBD, so stick with local folks that are making the good stuff from organic flower and they don’t use any chemicals in the extraction process. That sounds right to me.

Heart Coffee - Guatemala Amate, Ethiopia Worka Sakaro

It’s a hard time for small companies, and we’re happy to keep supporting folks like Heart Coffee. They’re still over on Hawthorne cranking out exqusite bags of coffee for mailorder. Their Burnside and Woodstock cafés have repoened and offer TO GO service only. We recently tried their Guatemala Amate and their Ethiopia Worka Sakaro. Sadly these aren’t currently available in their shop. That’s just a function of how long it takes us to compile these gear guides. If I were ordering today, I’d probably pick up an Ethiopia Yurko and a Brazil Diogo Dias. As we mentioned in our last guide, Heart has updated their roasting process and it’s amazing how much control they now have over their light roast process. They really have taken coffee into the third wave. Or are we fourth wave now. I lost track. I’m sure someone will let me know. I’m just trying to stay motivated and keep the good vibes flowing.

Elevator Coffee - Roule Blend, Gilda Garrascal, Benedicto Monsalve

I reached out to Elevator’s roaster, Andrew Coe not long ago. It was still the early days of the pandemic, and he mentioned Elevator would be putting more emphasis on roasting and shipping since the cafe was obviously doing less business. We miss the cafe with its well-priced baked goods and breakfasts. Secretly I don’t miss the cafe as office vibe, but I do miss meeting for group rides at Elevator. Anyway, I digress. All three of these bags were spot on delicious and I recommend them all. Andrew knows his beans and he roasts them well. Keep supporting your friends like Elevator and hopefully they’ll be there when this pandemic is over. Coffee is truly essential.