January 26th, 2010 by admin

Back in August I wrote a review of the Newport Backpack from Keen. At the time, I wrote about how I was impressed with the build quality of the pack, which had quickly replaced the commuter pack that I had been using for years, and while it continues to impress me months later, it is still a far better for schlepping around town than hitting the trail. I said as much in that review, giving the bag kudos for versatility, but having a few nits to pick with its trail performance.

Fortunately, the designers over at Keen haven’t been resting on their laurels, and their newly released Newport DP pack is a far better option for hitting the trail. The new pack shares its older siblings build quality and commitment to the environment. The DP is tough and rugged, with a quality feel across the entire product. The pack is constructed from high quality materials with reinforced seams and heavy duty zippers and belt clips.

Also like the the regular Newport pack, there is plenty of storage options, including a hydration bladder sleeve with enough capacity for a three liter bladder. The main compartment on the DP has a great, large capacity, mesh pocket built in, and a secondary compartment offers multiple sub-pockets for keeping your gear organized and within easy reach. A handy clip keeps your keys safe and sound and both compartments are wide and deep, ensuring that you have plenty of room to carry everything you’ll need for a day out on the trail.

Another new addition to the pack that helps to define it as more of trail pack is the increased padding along the back. While the original Newport had some padding, which aided in making it a comfortable commuter pack, the DP takes it up a notch with ample cushioning on the back panel. In fact, it has some of the thickest, most comfortable padding I’ve found on any daypack, which made it a joy to use all day on the trail. The lightweight, yet sturdy, breathable mesh shoulder straps only add to the level of comfort.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, there are a couple of other nice features that help set the Newport DP out from the crowd. For instance, there is a built-in rain cover in the bottom of the pack. If you happen to get caught in a downpour, simply unzip the cover and pull it up and over the pack, keeping it, and all of the contents inside dry. The DP also has a removable hip belt, which is a nice option for those who don’t like having something restrictive around their waist while hiking. I personally prefer a hip belt to help keep a pack from moving around too much, as I move, but it is a nice option to have none the less.

After using the original Newport pack almost daily since August, I can already tell that I am in love with the DP as well. It’s high quality construction and thoughtful design elements make it a no brainer as a recommendation for anyone looking for a new daypack. Throw in ample storage and a comfortable fit, and you have a pack that will fit your needs for years to come. And at $90 it won’t break your bank either.

*Disclaimer*: This pack was provided to me by Keen for review purposes.

January 24th, 2010 by admin

The annual Winter Outdoor Retailer gear show is currently underway in Salt Lake City. As usual, the show is hosts all the major gear manufacturers, as well as plenty of minor ones too, as they show off all their new products that will be available later this year.

For gear hounds, the week of the show, and it’s summer counterpart, are generally a lot of fun, as there are always new and interesting pieces of gear to get excited about. You’ll find new tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and a whole lot more. And of course, I can almost hear my bank account weeping in anticipation.

As always, there are some good websites covering the event, and showing off the new stuff. I always appreciate the coverage over at Trail Space, as they do a good job of showing off the latest trends. True to his name, the Gear Junkie does a good job of hitting the big stories too, and his coverage can be found in the Daily Dose. Also, The Goat blog from Backcountry.com is showing off all kinds of goodies too.

So far, I haven’t seen a lot of stuff that has blown me away. It seems like most of the gear is more evolutionary than revolutionary. There is a continued focus on being more eco-sensitive and making products that respect the environment. There are updated fabrics and materials being applied to clothes, bags, and so on, making the gear lighter, stronger, and more resistant to the elements. All good things of course.

Stay tuned. If I see something is particularly interesting, I’ll be sure to spotlight it.

September 2nd, 2009 by admin

I recently got my hands on the Newport backpack from Keen, who are more famous for their light hiking and water shoes than their packs. None the less, the Newport immediately gave a good impression, that would end up being a lasting one, albeit with a few caveats.

The first thing that struck me when I began using this backpack was the great build quality. The materials are all solid and wear well, and the zippers are thick and solid in every regard. The fabrics are water resistant and tough, and there are lots of nice little touches, such as a rubber bottom that will help keep the contents of the pack dry and an easy to use draw system that keeps your gear in place. The fact that the bag is made out of nearly 100% recycled materials, including the aluminum frame and interior lining, makes it even more impressive. This bag is both environmentally friendly and well constructed.

The Newport is definitely a versatile pack, trying to offer a little something for everyone. The inside has both a laptop sleeve and a hydration bladder pocket, showing Keen’s commitment to making a pack that is both urban and trail friendly. There is also plenty of space, both in the main compartment, and a nice, large exterior pocket that is lined with soft cloth to protect what ever items you put inside of it. A small mesh pocket on the inside rounds out the storage options, although there is also a nice exterior space for carrying shoes or a bike helmet as well.

Personally, I found the Newport to make a better commuter pack than one designed for the trail. Make no mistake, it can straddle the line between the two quite nicely, but I wasn’t overly fond of the hydration tube port, nor the way that you could integrate that tube into the shoulder strap. That’s a minor thing when you’re using the pack around town, but can make for an annoyance when out on the trail all day. It felt a bit like hydration pack integration was a bit of an after thought.

The styling of the pack is one of the things that set it apart, and one look at it, and you can tell that it has been designed by Keen. The Newport closely resembles the Keen sandals that share its name, and while some find the design a bit off putting, I personally liked it and the way that it fit in with Keen’s other designs across its product line.

Overall, the Newport backpack is very nice, and I recommend it highly. Especially for anyone looking for a new urban/commuter pack or a travel pack for carrying on an airplane. I do think there are a few better options out there for the trail, but if you’re looking for a single, versatile pack that can be used in multiple environments, this pack will pull double duty reasonably well too. I love the fact that it is an Earth-friendly piece of gear too, which makes it even easier to recommend. The MSRP on the Newport is $100, which is a reasonable price to pay for such a well built and designed pack that will last you for years.

All of the above said, the highest compliment I can give this backpack is that it ha snow replaced my usual urban pack that I’ve had for years, and was long overdue for retirement. I’ve finally found a worthy successor. Thanks Keen!

June 17th, 2009 by admin

In recent months I’ve been in search of the Holy Grail of daypacks. Something that I can use for travel, everyday use, and on the trail as well. Sure, I have a number of excellent backpacks in my gear closet already, but none of them were versatile enough to pull off what I needed, and they were all either a little too large or too small to fit my needs. The issue was exasperated in April when I went to the Amazon, and needed a carry a DSLR with lenses, a video camera, my netbook, rain gear, and more. I ended up using a pack that was best designed for use around town, rather than around the jungle. While the pack worked, it was less than ideal in that environment, and I came home vowing to not make another trip under the same conditions.

Fast forward a month, and I was preparing to go to Australia. I had a new, larger DSLR, and the need for a new pack was even more evident. Enter the REI Traverse Pack, a 30 liter daypack that came hydration ready, sporting six separate compartments for my gear, and a back panel specifically designed to allow for air flow, keeping me comfortable in a variety of environments. In short, was exactly what I was looking for at the size I needed.

Loading up the pack for my trip, I was immediately impressed with how much stuff I could get inside. Not only did I get my various cameras and lenses, my netbook, iPod, and other assorted travel gear into the Traverse, I had plenty of room left over for more, and better yet, the pack was still comfortable to wear. On top of that, it’s made out of a polyester fabric that is tough, durable, and resists moisture very well, meaning that it can withstand the rigors of a rainforest, while doubling for day to day use in an urban setting.

On my Australia trip, the Traverse was my carry-on item while flying and then became my daypack for wandering around town and hitting the trail. The pack was used on the beach, rainforest, and the outback. It sailed the Whitsunday Islands and across the Great Barrier Reef, and survived seven flights. It did all of that while keeping my gear safe and sound, and dry, and riding very comfortably over my shoulder or on my back.

As you can tell, I found a lot to like about the Traverse Pack. It was easily adjustable for fit and comfortable to wear for extended periods. The pack is well constructed, and even though it was abused on the journey, it showed no signs of wear, and still looks as good as when I received it. I was especially impressed with the deep main compartment, which held a ton of gear, and yet remained easily accessible and simple to pack. The shoulder pads and hip belt, which has a small, yet convenient, pouch, were well padded and added to the overall feeling of quality. All of this for just $79 at any REI store, which seems like a great bargain for this bag.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the Traverse Pack also happens to be eco-friendly. The polyester fabrics that I mentioned above are largely made up of recycled materials. REI is fond of pointing out that every Traverse Pack keeps 24 plastic water bottles out of our landfills and that is certainly to be applauded. The company has dedicated itself to protecting the environment, both with its stores and the gear they sell, and that is very evident in this backpack, which was designed from the ground up to be a great piece of gear that also happens to have a very minimal impact on our planet.

Great pack at a good price. Tough and versatile enough to be used just about anywhere, and comfortable, even with a full load carried over an extended period of time. If you’re in need of a new daypack, you could do much much worse than this pack, but you can hardly do better.

June 11th, 2009 by admin

Outside Magazine has posted a sampling of their 2009 Gear of the Year (Summer Edition) online for all of us to drool over and covet in some not-so-healthy ways. They promise that by mid-month, the entire buyer’s guide will be online, but for now, we’ll have to settle for this sample to whet our appetite.

As usual, the selection of gear items is quite impressive, offering up the best in outdoor toys for the year so far. Broken down into categories, such as Road Bike, Mountain Bike, Backpacks, and so on, it’s pretty simple to find the items that you are most interested in.

A couple of the items that caught my eye include the Adrenaline 20 sleeping bag from GoLite, the Aegis Jacket from Marmot, and Sony Ericson’s new 8.1 mega-pixel camera phone, the C905 Cyber-shot Mobile, which looks really nice, but won’t replace the iPhone for me anytime soon.

Be sure to check back on the site in the next few days to see all of the gear that was tested. It should be added soon, and give us even more insights into what’s new in gear shops at the moment.

April 29th, 2009 by admin

Each spring, just like clockwork, a young man’s (and woman’s!) heart turns to thoughts of sunshine, blooming flowers, and of course new gear! We’re all heading outside to take in the great weather, many of us for the first time in months, and nothing gets you excited about playing outside more than new outdoor equipment. Thankfully, National Geographic Adventure is here to help us spend some of that hard earned cash on the best new products for spring. (Economic crisis? What economic crisis?!?)

As usual, you’ll find an interesting mix of gadgets and outdoor equipment to keep us busy in the months ahead. Adventure starts the list off with a pair of speakers from iHome Audio, that when paired with an mp3 player, will have base camp rockin’. From there, they move into the serious stuff, including four great packs, like the ACT Trail 32 from Deuter, which is a great daypack with easy access and the ability to carry a solid load. There are plenty of other great items on the list as well, including some suggestions for a new bike, road or mountain, a waterproof camera phone from Casio, and a cool new tent that includes a garage for your bike from Mountain Hardwear.

Obviously Adventure has a few suggestions for all of us, no matter what our outdoor passion is. Whether camping, hiking, paddling, cycling, or just relaxing, they have new items that you’ll want to add to your gear closet. Be warned before clicking on over, “Gear Lust” is a vary real phenomenon, and I’m not responsible for increased credit card bills or angry spouses.

April 23rd, 2009 by admin

It’s like Christmas came in April! The 2009 Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide is now available online. As usual, the guide has some great reviews and insights into the best gear available for outdoor pursuits.

The best of the best is compiled into the Backpacker Editor’s Choice Awards, which in addition to their category winners, include two special awards as well, the “Editor’s Choice Green Award”, which went to the Big Agnes Salt Creek recycled tent. The other separate award is the “Editor’s Choice Gold Award”, which was given to the MSR MugMate Coffee Maker and the North Face Base Camp duffel bag.

Other great gear that won Editor’s Choice honors include the Garmin Oregon 400t gps unit, the New Balance 1500 Rainier Boot, and the Osprey Sprint Series of packs.

And if that wasn’t already enough gear to get you salivating, and your wallet crying, checkout the Backpacker Gear Guides for Backpacks, Tents, Boots, Sleeping Bags, and other Essentials. Be warned though, reading through this may cause an unexplained urge to head out to your nearest gear shop.