Josh Herder

G-Shock MUDMAN G-9300

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 05:45:18 -0600

A few weeks ago the deranged geniuses over at Casio asked us to use and abuse their new G-Shock MUDMAN G-9300 on an adventure we took into the depths of the Northern Michigan wilderness. We quickly accepted the challenge and got down to business! Featuring a compass and thermometer, the G-Shock MUDMAN G9300 is an outdoorsmen's dream watch. It's shock resistant, mud resistant and sit-on-your-butt resistant. The MUDMAN begs to be taken off-road where it's capabilities can truly shine. And that's exactly what we did!

Deuter Aircontact 65+ 10 Backpack

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:16:16 -0600

Hailing from Gersthofen, Germany, Deuter has cemented it's place as one of the leading technical pack manufacturers in the world over the past 114 years. Their new Aircontact series of backpacks are revered for their comfort and versatility and were designed with unique features such as an internal frame, pivoting hip belt, removable rain cover, and a u-shaped front panel for easy access to gear. Over the past several weeks we've gotten to know the Deuter Aircontact 65 + 10 in-and-out. We hauled it though 45 miles of pristine wilderness and at the request of the Deuter staff we didn't hold back or treat it with too much respect. It was a rough and rugged couple of treks, but we made it back in on piece and we're prepared to share our results with you!

Adidas Puremotion Golf Shoes

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:05:19 -0600

Inspired by the recent explosion of barefoot training, the new Puremotion golf shoes from Adidas have been engineering to put your feet in closer contact with the ground while still providing every ounce of traction you desire. These bad boys are said to be lightweight, waterproof and flexible. Two weeks ago our buddies at Adidas Golf set us up with a pair of their new spike-less / minimalist shoes and we hit the course!

Eagles Nest Outfitters OneLink Sleep System

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:18:13 -0600

On a recent backpacking expedition through the dense wilderness of Northern Michigan we decided to ditch our tents and sleeping mats for a more laid back approach to slumber in the forest. Leading up to our trek we called in a favor to our good friends at Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) who hooked us up with their OneLink Sleep System, which consists of a single-nest hammock, rain fly, bug net, straps and stakes. The OneLink Sleep System was designed to be ultra lightweight and keep you well rested no matter the elements.

What You Get:

Taylormade RocketBallz Irons

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:35:00 -0600

Wildly know as the #1 driver on tour, Taylormade hasn't exactly put much focus on irons in the past few years, but now it appears they're gearing up in a big way and have their sights set on dominating the irons industry as well. When TaylorMade introduced their RocketBallz irons back in December they were touted as a "game changer"... an iron set that was engineered to deliver effortless distance and a higher and straighter ball flight. Sound like something you've heard before? It's true, many golf equipment manufacturers are all bark and no bite, but recently we were approached by Taylormade and were given the opportunity to fully test and review the new RBZ irons for ourselves. It's time to separate fact from fiction!

Kelty Cosmic 35 Degree Sleeping Bag

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:27:33 -0600

Designed for three seasons of camping enjoyment, the Kelty Cosmic 35 degree sleeping bag is a lightweight mummy bag that is said to be the perfect companion for all of your summer backpacking adventures. What do we know about the Cosmic 35? Well, it's light weight (2 lbs 1oz), it's rated for chilly nights down to 35 degrees, and it's quite affordable as well ($75). A few weeks ago we were given the opportunity to fully test and review the Cosmic 35 during a three day - two night trek in the wonderful wilderness of northern Michigan.

Adidas Crossflex Golf Shoes

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:53:13 -0600

Ever wonder what you'd get if you took an ultra light running shoe, waterproofed it and then outfitted it with 96 strategically-placed triangular traction lugs? Okay, so maybe you haven't, but the engineers over at Adidas Golf certainly did and now they've officially released and branded it - the Crossflex. The Crossflex was created for golfers who want style, breathable performance, flexibility and comfort. Just last week we were given the opportunity to test and review these spike-less hybrids for ourselves!

JayBird JF3 Freedom Bluetooth Headphones

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:15:27 -0600

As the exclusive training headphone partner of USA Triathlon, JayBird headphones and earbuds are engineered from the ground up to endure the rigors of long hard workouts and come with a lifetime "sweat-proof" warranty. The new JF3 bluetooth headphones are no exception! Inspired by the fog lamp grill of a sports car, the JF3's are said to provide an incredibly secure fit which is great for training, running, biking and anything else you can through at em'. And since they're bluetooth there's no messy wires to worry about!

Casio Pathfinder PAW5000-1

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 06:47:46 -0600

Equipped with Casio's renowned Pathfinder triple sensor technology, the PAW5000-1 comes standard with an integrated digital compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer, making it the perfect companion for rugged outdoor adventures. The Casio Pathfinder PAW5000-1 also has Tough Movement, a feature found in Casio's high-end timepieces which automatically checks and corrects the hand positioning (if necessary) at the 55 minute mark of every hour. When you add it all up you're looking at a ridiculously rugged, technology packed piece of equipment. And thanks to our good friends over at Casio, over the past two weeks we got an opportunity to go hands-on with the PAW5000-1 ourselves, and we left no stone un-turned as we brought it hiking, kayaking, swimming, and biking!

Kelty Rally 45 Technical Pack

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:22:06 -0600

Designed to transport mid-sized loads ideal for weekend excursions, the Rally 45 technical pack from Kelty was engineered to keep you cool and comfortable on the trails. The Rally 45 is a member of Kelty's "Agile Series", which features the Agile suspension system; a lightweight, butterfly-shaped aluminum stay that transfers weight directly to the hips instead of the shoulders. A few weeks back we hit up our friends at Kelty who gladly encouraged us to test, use, and abuse their not too big, not too small multi-day pack on a recent 3 day 2 night backpacking trek. Well, we did... and now it's time we share the results with you!

Eton FRX 3 Safety Radio

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:04:41 -0600

Developed utilizing feedback from Eton's passionate customers in an attempt to help stay prepared during instances of severe weather and other unexpected situations. The Eton FRX 3 is a self-powered safety radio, utilizing both hand-turbine and solar energy to re-charge it's internal Ni-MH lithium ion battery. The FRX 3 also features direct power transfer technology, allowing the internal battery to charge mobile devices (cell phone, iPod, etc...) when connected via the integrated USB port. Other features include a LED flashlight, glow-in-the-dark indicator for easy location, AC and DC input, AUX in-put, headphone jack and digital alarm. Thanks to our buddies over at Eton we were able to fully test and review the FRX 3 in some extreme conditions on a recent camping expedition up in gods country, aka Northern Michigan!

Men's Reforge with ion-mask by Teva

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 05:52:46 -0600

28 years ago, Teva made it's mark on the footwear industry in a big way by creating the world's first "sports sandal." Since then, Teva has relentlessly continued to develop products that power exploration, adventure and lead the action outdoor movement. Today Teva holds over 100 US patents and has products available in 40 countries world-wide! Earlier this month we decided it was about time we hooked up with Teva to go hands-on with one of they're most aggressive and technology packed hiking shoes to-date, the Mens Reforge with ion-mask.

2012 Diamondback Overdrive Sport 29'er Mountain Bike

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:26:47 -0600

For us, summer is all about hitting up the beach, camping, golfing, and of course pushing pedals down the dustiest and muddiest of trails we can find! That's why we reached out to our good friends over at Diamondback Bicycles a few weeks ago to see what was crackin' in their neck of the woods... and with out batting an eye, they suggested we go hands-on with their pride and joy - the 2012 Overdrive Sport. How could we say no? We couldn't!

CamelBak All Clear Microbiological UV Water Purifier

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 05:54:20 -0600

Using the exact same technology that has been safely and effectively used by water treatment facilities for decades, the CamelBak All Clear Microbiological UV Water Purifier is a portable water purification system that takes all of the guesswork out of making water safe for consumption. The All Clear features a high-powered ultraviolet light that zaps 99.9999 percent of bacteria, 99.99 percent of viruses and 99.9 percent of protozoa... and it does all this in just 60 seconds! On a recent kayaking expedition we had the privilege of testing the All Clear for ourselves. The idea of gulping water straight from the river was unnerving to say the least, but we trusted the technology and CamelBak's unrivaled reputation.

Adidas Limited Edition SAMBA Golf Shoes

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:50:43 -0600

Introduced way back in 1950, the original SAMBA was created for soccer players to train on hard, icy ground and quickly evolved to become a dominant indoor soccer shoe. Today, the SAMBA has sold more than 35 million pairs worldwide and now, for the first time, golfers can showcase the legendary footwear on the golf course... and even represent their favorite major championship! A while back we were presented with a pair of SAMBAs from our good friends over at Taylormade Golf, who actually are owned by shoe manufacturing giant Adidas. Per usual we ran these shoes through the gauntlet. How did they fair? Well, you'll have to read a little further to find that out.

In the mean time check out these close-ups!