Your Nano is a Watch!

Apple's dropping the ball a little on this. Why? Because no one has heard about it yet. Simply buy a special band for $30 - $80 and turn your iPod Nano into a watch. Awesome. That's all I'm saying.

Hi-Tec Rainier Event WPi Boots

My nightstand clock says 5:15 a.m. In 15 minutes the alarm will go off, but there's no sense in waiting around. It may be the second weekend of hunting season, but it's the first chance I've had to test out my new Hi-Tec Rainier Event WPi hiking boots.

A light drizzle has been coating the Tillamook State Forest for the past 24 hours, so I'm excited to see how effective the Hi-Tec ion-mask waterproof technology holds up to the Oregon rain. According to the shoe tag, ion-mask is a plasma coating that penetrates all exposed surfaces of the boot, allowing it to repel water, dirt, and mud. The process means there's no uptake of moisture in the fabric itself, which makes the boot highly water repellent and stain resistant.

The first thing I notice as I lace up the Hi-Tec Rainier boots is how durable the rustproof hardware feels. As I cinch down the laces, I can feel the TPU heel locking system around my ankles. The height of the TPU feels a little uncomfortable at first, but after walking around a bit, the leather starts breaking into my stride and evening out.

By the time I reach the Tillamook State Forest, the rain has stopped and the fog is settling in. While the ground is soaking wet, the temperature isn't much colder than 60 degrees, so I'm glad this version of Hi-Tec hiker isn't insulated.

The instant cushion of the 4:SYS, six density PU / CMEVA backpacking midsole doesn't disappoint. While the leather around the ankle needs to be broken in a bit, the midsole and insole are comfortable right out of the box.

My first trek takes me up a 4-wheeler trail beneath a transmission line. It's mixture of wet, packed mud and large, slick rocks are the perfect test for the Rainier's exclusive Vibram® backpacking outsole. The boot's lugs grip the terrain well. The mud cakes a bit but releases as I make my way up. And while my pants slowly start soaking up moisture, the waterproof, full-grain leather upper stays nice and dry.

Several hours later, I find myself trudging up a near vertical hill full of downfall. The slope, which looks seemingly innocent from a distance, turns out to be knee-high vines, dead trees, and shrubs. The Hi-Tec Rainier's Stabila-flex elite, contoured thermo-plastic bi-fit board keeps me sure footed as I make the ascent. It wasn't till the descent a little later that I felt my back heel start rubbing a little - something that's to be expected when you're testing a backpacking boot with zero break-in period.

All in all, the boots are great. They're comfortable, stable, and keep my feet dry. They're the second pair of Hi-Tec boots in my closet - the first being the Jackson Hole 400s. Hi-Tec's instant cushion combined with stable platform continues to win me over, especially in their upper-tiered product.

Hi-Tec Low Temps

Trout Creek is a small Montana town at the southern tip of the Kootenai National Forest. It’s a stone’s throw from Idaho and a hop, skip, and a jump from Canada. Its relatively low elevation provides a wet climate that still sees freezing temperatures throughout the winter, which is why it was the perfect place to test out my new Hi-Tec Jackson Hole 400 boots and Black Jack Parka.

The Walk About:

My gear’s first task was the walk about - general use in snowy, wet conditions. The temperatures hovered around 30-degrees Fahrenheit while the sun rested behind thick clouds. I laced up my Jackson Hole boots over a pair of thin, wool-blend socks. The combination allowed me to be comfortable inside the house and hopefully, warm once I ventured out.

The Black Jack Parka’s 3K/3K Dri-Tec shell is waterproof and seam sealed, so I wasn’t worried about the wet snow that covered the ground. Its 100-gram Mycro-Tec insulation, however, gives the coat a thin feel, so my main concern was how it would handle the cold mountain temperatures.

Jackson Hole 400

The Boots: I trekked through the snow for several hours, stopping long enough for my body heat to stabilize and to give the Montana air a chance to penetrate my gear. Although the leather part of the Jackson Hole’s upper appeared wet, my feet stayed warm and dry. The 400-gram Thinsulate performed as advertised while the Thermo-Dri waterproof construction kept the moisture out.

What I noticed even more than the waterproofing was the comfort of the CMEVA midsole and siped rubber outsole. Unlike my old pair of Danners, I could feel substantial rebound and cushion in the CMEVA. I don’t know what a lengthy trial would deduce, but in the short term, I was very pleased with the boot’s comfort and responsiveness.

Black Jack Parka

The Parka: The Black Jack Parka provided a similar result. The Dri-Tec nylon shell blocked the wind gusts and repelled the water and snow that fell from the trees. While the coat has a thin feel, the Mycro-Tec insulation combined with a cotton sweater kept me plenty warm. And if I chose to forgo the layers, and the lightweight, waterproof construction should also perform well in the warmer, wetter climate of Portland, Oregon.

Day one’s results were good. While I didn’t push the product to the limits, I was pleased with how it performed in normal weather conditions. But I wanted to see more.

Ice Fishing:

My gear’s second task took me to a frozen inlet on the Clark Fork Reservoir for a day of hooking perch, trout, and pike. I knew ice fishing would create a unique challenge for the product since it involves packing gear into a location and then sitting for the rest of the day, exposed to the elements.

My boots handled the ice, water, and snow with ease.

The Boots: I wore a thicker wool blend sock to combat standing on a sheet of ice all day. I was a little worried that the thick socks would be too snug in the boot since the thin wool socks fit so well. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised. My feet were comfortable all day. The wicking properties of the wool combined with the Comfort-Tec sockliner kept my feet from feeling clammy during my hike into the lake while the insulation kept the warmth in as the hours ticked by.

4" - 6" of wet snow fell while we were on the lake.

The Parka: I wore a light cotton sweater under the Black Jack Parka so I wouldn’t overheat on the trip down to the lake. The parka had plenty of insulation to keep me warm while I trudged through the snow. After setting up and drilling some holes in the ice, I added a fleece layer under the parka to keep the cold out while I fished. The Black Jack Parka’s midweight design is light enough so layering isn’t cumbersome but warm enough to stand on its own in mild conditions.

After a couple of hours on the frozen lake, a wet, heavy snow began to fall. My Hi-Tec boots and parka didn’t disappoint, staying dry during the extended flurries. I have no doubts that Hi-Tec makes a product that can stand up to whatever the average outdoorsman can throw its way. It's a brand on rise and deserves a second look by anyone in the market for new gear.

iPhony

Yahoo asked 'why the iPhone does so well without being the best'. The answer is simple. Tech consumers have a hard-on for Apple. Simple as that. Ask anybody in the creative industry what kind of computer they have and they'll scoff at you like that shouldn't even be a question. Of course it's a MacBook Pro. Of course they have an iPhone. Of course their iPad is being shipped today. The creative industry is dog loyal to apple and they're not afraid to admit it. And since it's a creative's job to recognize trends, market goods, and design ads, they've become pretty convincing brand ambassadors in their personal lives. They sell in everyone they meet and Apple cashes the checks.

The folks making the new Windows ads probably cringe as they concept and edit their commercials on Macs; secretly planting subliminal messages that counter-sell Apple to the unsuspecting public. It's a skinny jean conspiracy that won't end until Steve Jobs rules the world.

So do I have an iPhone and a MacBook? No. Do I want one? Of course I do. I work for an advertising agency. It would be blasphemy for me to think otherwise. At least that's what my creative director tells me everyday as I check my email on my Droid. Hey, back off! I can't get good reception with AT&T at my house. Now if you'll excuse me, I think my computer is about to crash.

New Shoes, Maybe

I've been needing a pair of new shoes for the last 4 months. My Saucony Courageous sneakers have been solid for almost a year, but it's time to move on. I'm just not sure what to get. I'm leaning towards the Nike Trainer Low but don't really want to spend that much. My biggest hurdle is that I don't wear different shoes everyday. I may have a couple of pairs, but I usually stick to one until they're completely worn out. So they have to work with jeans, shorts, on the trail, and on the town.

I'm supposed to be getting the hook up on some And1 Downtimes at work, but the gravy train is a little slow to the station this time. Pretty soon I'll have to break down and actually pay for something. Any recommends out there?

Best iPod Dock for the Money

Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a big spender. And usually that means I end up with a lot of cheap shit. But the iStereo is one of the best buys I've ever found...and it works really well. Most good iPod docks cost upwards of $100-$150 bucks; at least anything that has decent speakers in them. No joke, the iStereo is $25 at Walmart.

I've had mine for over a year now. The remote broke quickly, but the sound still rings true. For the price you can't go wrong.