Gear of the Year 2012

Our picks for the best gear of last year.

The Paddle Junkie's - Base Layer Buyer's Guide

Prepare for the cold! We run done our picks for the best base layers around.

Outdoor Retailer "Best in Show Awards;

The Paddle Junkie crew spent 4 days wandering the halls of the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City to find the coolest gear released at the Outdoor Retailer trade show. This is what we found.

2011 BWCA Gear Test

7 Guys, 6 Days, 150+ pieces of Gear... More fun than could be imagined.

The Paddle Junkie's Gear of the Year Awards

Our top picks from all our reviews of 2011.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

GSI's Java Press - Gear Review

One of my favorite parts of the day when out in the back-country is the first hour of every morning.  Roll my sore backside out of my hammock, get a fire going, and get some water cooking for a cup of joe.  Our crew has an old percolator coffee pot that has seen its fair share of trips, but we just got an upgrade.  The folks over at GSI Outdoors sent us one of their 30 ounce coffee presses to try out.


From my point of view, you really have to try to screw up a cup of coffee when you are out in the woods.  Decent beans and hot water, that's about all I need, or at least that is what I thought.  I was accustomed to having a few grounds floating around my mug and for all intensive purposes, I was cool with that.  The funky residue that was baked on the inside of our perco-pot added "character" and "flavor", right?

The coffee press system was not something I had used before, but it is about as easy as it gets.  Step 1: Boil water.  Step 2: Add water and grounds to the 30 ounce carafe and let sit for about 4-5 minutes.  Step 3: Depress the plunger and pour into cup of choice.  Out comes mud-free java that any coffee snob would be proud to pour.

From a packing and storage perspective, this beats the percolator pot by a long ways.  Cleaning is infinitely easier and with the crystal clear carafe, nothing hides in the corners.  The plunger and lid hold securely and allow for easy storage of coffee inside the unit during transport.  Another obvious plus is the multi-use nature of the carafe and its insulating sleeve, allowing me to leave redundant gear at home.

On the down side, at 30 ounces our crew in the BWCA will need to make about 4 of these every morning, but they do have a 50 ounce version for larger groups or those with a serious caffeine addiction.  Now the big question is, light or dark roast...

MSRP: $32.95

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Footbalance Custom Insoles - Gear Review

Custom orthotics, or foot beds, are just for old people or folks with some kind of messed up feet, right?  Well, the answer is kinda yes, except that about 75% of the population have "messed up" feet.  Nearly three quarters of us have issues with how our feet and lower legs line up and this causes all kinds of issues we never even realize are happening.

I always thought I had high arches, and I may well have at some point, but our feet change over time and as we increase or decrease our level of activity. Arches that are too high or low inhibit proper weight distribution on your feet.  Arch issues can also lead to misalignment of your feet relative to your lower leg (pronation) and causes a laundry list of problems too.

Overpronation - usually due to low or collapsed arches, but not always.

Step one:  Figure out how your feet and lower legs are actually functioning.  Map your footprint and measure the levels of over or underpronation you experience.
Foot analysis in action
Step Two:  Based on YOUR feet and the activities you participate in, a Footbalance specialist can determine which insole is right for you.  There are 10 to choose from including a heated model for those of us that play in the snow.  They then custom mold the footbed to YOUR foot, providing ideal support and maximum results.


I have suffered from Shin Splints for as long as I can remember.  As a runner (OK, maybe not as much anymore) it was the bane of my existence.   I have endured soaking my lower legs in 5 gallon buckets of ice water, for what seemed like an eternity, as the only real solution to this problem.  Since I was fitted for a pair of Footbalance insoles back at the OR Show last month, NO SHIN SPLINTS!  That alone is proof enough for me that these things make a HUGE difference.








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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

CRKT's Nathan's Knife Kit - Gear Review


It may be of no surprise to you that I have a bit of a knife obsession.  I have from the time I was a young boy.    I now have a young son of my own and I wanted to instill in him the value and responsibility that comes with owning a knife.  Unfortunately, several people thought giving a 7 year-old an assisted opening tactical pocket knife was a bad idea.  Huh?  Go figure.

I found an option that helps me teach my son about knives without the fear of jail time.   From how they work to how to take care of one and let's not forget how NOT to injure themselves or others with it.  The Nathan's Knife Kit from CRKT is part pocket knife, part craft project.   Think pinewood derby pocket knife...

The kit is completely pre-cut and all you need is a little glue.  It allows the youngster to see and understand what is going on between the scales of a folding knife.  Over-sized for easy construction and use, my son was able to complete the kit in about 30 minutes.  He carefully sanded down every inch of every piece before we started gluing it together.  He debated painting or staining the scales before we started assmebly, but decided he'd rather keep it "looking natural".  Yeah, his words...

Now, a couple of months after we initially put it together, it is still functioning well.  My son has had to "sharpen" it a couple of times (meaning he sands nicks and scratches out of the blade), which he thinks is one of the coolest parts of owning the knife.  Sitting on the couch next to his dad "working on his edge", how can I not be proud?  

So, for now, this is the only knife he gets.  But thanks to the kit, getting him a "big boy knife" is probably not as far off as before.  He now understands more about owning a pocket knife than most adult men in our neighborhood and has a respect for knives that you don't get from a safety lecture.   

Big props to CRKT for helping dads like me!

MSRP: $14.99


Monday, February 6, 2012

Naya Boots - A Valentine's Day Gift Idea

Review by our friends at MyRuggedKid.com


Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and if you are still looking for a great gift for your favorite gal I have got it...Naya's Quail Boots!


Living in Minnesota we simply cannot have too many pairs of boots, but now that boots are such a trend everywhere you don't need snow as an excuse. Everyone seems to have the same knee high basic boot, so I really like to find some that are more original. For these I would have to say it is the leawood stacked wedge heel and the upper strap with buckle! The buckle adds a little extra flair as well as can be adjusted to give me more or less room at my calf depending on if I am going to rock the leg warmer trend. 


You can wear these boots with just about anything. Dress them down with some skinny jeans or throw them on with a skirt for a fancier evening out. The best news yet is that it is a 3+ inch heel boot and it is COMFORTABLE! I wore them out one night to see one of our favorite bands and I was a little nervous going in. I knew we would be on our feet all night and the heel is over 3 inches....this could be bad. Honestly, I never even thought about sitting down to give my feet a break in the 5 hours we spent on the dance floor. I often tend to be the girl who leaves the bar shoes in hand and trashed socks on my feet. Not the case with these boots! The boots have a back zipper and a side zipper which makes them a breeze to get on and off. 

Naya is also a environmentally responsible company so I feel good supporting them. These boots have a biodegradable foot bed and the heel is made out of recycled cork. Their dying methods are eco-friendly and conscious, as they use vegetable tanning processes that are much more gentle on the environment, bonus.




Get them now at Piperlime.com for 159.99



Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market "Best in Show Awards - Part 2

This past week has been one of the busiest ever for Team Paddle Junkie. You should see my inbox, it's ridiculous. The sheer number of connections we made at Outdoor Retailer will enable is to vet tons of amazing new gear from brands big and small in 2012.  Here is a peek at a few more items we are excited to test in the coming year.


Granite Gear's Aji Pack:  If you need to buy just one pack for all your outdoor adventures, this may just be it.  The 50 Liter Aji and Aji Ki (women's version) packs are Uber light and ready to tackle anything from a weekend on the Superior Hiking Trail to a summer with a EuroRail pass.  The Aji sports ingeniously designed full zip access and comes loaded with every feature expected in a pack of this quality.  Borrowing technology developed for their military packs, Granite Gear has delivered a rugged, go-anywhere pack that we can't wait to get our hands on.


Vew-Do's Nub Boards:  Back a few years ago I had an balance board, you may remember them too.  What I remember is nearly killing myself dozens of times before I was able to just stand on the thing.  For those of us that are a bit balance-challenged, Vew-Do Boards has developed the Nug Board.  These boards, available in 3 sizes, have a stationary "Nub" in the middle of the bottom of the board.  You still get the balance training, with greatly increased stability and reduced risk of a broken tailbone.

Arbor's Wasteland Snowboard:  My affinity with natural materials is not a secret.  Arbor has been using real wood top-sheets for their snowboards for years.  The Wasteland is a masterpiece of snowboard technology married to amazing laser cut wood veneers.  From the local handrail to the last chair up the mountain, this board can handle it all.
Helly Hanson's H2Flow Jacket:  Helly takes temperature regulation to a whole new level.  Forget pit zips as the gold standard in ventilating your jacket.  The H2Flow blends a light weight rip-stop shell with a fleece lining, but it doesn't end there.  The shell creates both a shield from the elements and a barrier for escaping heat.  Once you warm up the inside, the holes drilled in the fleece lining act as pockets trapping warm air in very methodically/scientifically placed locations.  Zippers that run vertically along the chest allow you to dial in the amount of airflow necessary to get the temp inside just right.

Outdoor Research Blackpowder Gloves:  Leather is making a comeback in winter glove styling.  A more work glove look seems to be all to popular on the hills.  Well, beyond looking like a work glove, these actually do some work besides keeping your hands warm and dry.  Built into the middle finger is a steel ring that rotates to reveal a bottle opener.  They are sure to make you feel like the Incredible Hulk as you rip the cap off your favorite frosty beverage.