JetBoil - Flash Cooking System

JetBoil - Flash Cooking System

Cost: $99.95
Pros: Light weight, simple to use, convenient for advanced or beginner backpackers, reasonable price.
Cons: Smaller amount of water able to boil at once.
Worth the buy?:  Yes.

I love getting outdoors, be it a day hike up a local mountain or a weekend trip with good friends. Some people enjoy protein bars, power bars, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when they are hungry. However if you want to save space, travel light, and have quick warm meal then you want to carry a JetBoil Flash. What sets a JetBoil Flash apart from most backpacking stoves?
1) Its compact and light weight - It takes up very little space in a day pack or large backpacking ruck.
2) It is simple to use - all you need is water and your fuel source. Unlike some other stoves this one comes with a built in ignition, which gives you one less thing to worry about.
3) Price - Considering the importance of having a good warm meal, the price point of $99.95 is a great deal.

Coming in at only 14 ounces, it only takes about 2.5 minutes to boil two cups of water. Those two cups of water are perfect for almost any freeze dried meal you can buy for about $4. This is what makes the JetBoil great, the ability to feed 4 people in around 10 minutes with only one unit if your in the mountains and on the move. On the other hand you can bring along a JetBoil to your next kids soccer game and make some hot cocoa on a cool fall afternoon. The JetBoil is a great piece of gear for a wide range of activities and well worth the price for such a convenience.

Get the JetBoil here!

Red Line Gear - WOD Shorts

Red Line Gear - WOD Shorts

Cost: $59
Pros: No Velcro fly, durable, multifunctional.
Cons: Slightly bulky around waist.
Worth the buy?: Yes.

I am a Crossfit Coach who spends the majority of the year in workout shorts. I've worn everything from lightweight running shorts to the traditional mesh shorts for everything from Crossfit workouts, obstacle course races, endurance events, and just a simple day at the beach. Surprisingly, there are very few companies that make a pair of shorts that are great for all of these activities. So what makes these shorts so special and different? Red Line uses a four way stretch material for the fly where most companies make a similar design but use velcro that is too rigid to be comfortable. They use the same four way stretch material in the crotch for ease of mobility. Lastly, the polyester material they use for majority of the short, its durable, does not absorb sweat the way cotton does and can take a serious beating. Red Line is a young (less than a year old) apparel company that makes a great pair of shorts for a reasonable price. If you are in the market for a versatile short, here they are.

Get the awseome shorts here!

Outdoor Research - Men's Foray Jacket

Outdoor Research - Men's Foray Jacket

Cost: $215
Pros: Lightweight, waterproof, packs into own pocket, fully adjustable hood, armpit zippers, four season.
Cons: N/A
Worth the buy?: Absolutely! Everyone should own a waterproof shell. This is one of, if not the best fully waterproof shell (for the money) regardless if you use it in the mountains or on your way to work.

My thoughts...
   I have used this waterproof shell for over a year, it comes in handy all the time my only regret is that I didn't get one sooner. I have used it on multi day trips in the mountains as well as during cold, slushy, New England winters while shoveling snow for hours. It has always done the one thing I bought it for, keeping me dry. One of my favorite features is the fully adjustable hood. All I need to do is tighten up the three pull strings and I'm good to go, without having to worry about my vision being restricted. The other great features include the ability to fold the whole jacket up into one of the hand pockets as well as the two way zippers that run from the torso to arm pits for ventilation.

*Side note regarding Outdoor Research: They want you to use their products, don't be afraid to get them dirty and take them out into the elements. If something happens to your OR gear when you are using it they have a lifetime (what they call "infinite") warranty and amazing customer service.

Grab the OR Foray Jacket here!

Voormi - Men's Thermal II Baselayer Review

Voormi - Men's Thermal II Baselayer

Cost: $129
Pros: Comfortable, stretch, warm, looks great by itself.
Cons: One color option, price.
Worth the buy?: If you are in the market for a great baselayer (one you will actually use as a baselayer) that is made in America by people who love the mountains, this is a great buy.

My thoughts...
  I've been very excited to try out the merino wool baselayer from Voormi and put it to the test. It's soft, stretches well and has an "athletic" fit. The athletic fit is snug enough where it stays close to your body but not so extreme you feel like your wearing a wetsuit. Warm enough to wear by itself on a cool spring morning and a great start to a complex layering system in the middle of winter. That being said, because its made of merino wool, you will not "overheat" as if you were wearing fleece or heavy cotton. When I am not outdoors I wear it mostly when I coach Crossfit because it looks good (always a plus) and doesn't restrict movement. If you have the money and are going to use it for it's intended purpose, a baselayer, then I certainly recommend the Voormi - Men's Thermal II Baselayer.

Grab the baselayer and more here at voormi.com