Gear We Love: June / July 2015

Goodies for your active lifestyle

Kaenon Jetty
We challenge you to find anything wrong with Kaenon shades. It’s hard to imagine bathing your eyes in a warmer, softer glow. With the Kaenon Jetty, harsh outdoor glare is transformed into usable light with a variety of lens tints to choose from. The Jetty is a unisex frame that stays firmly and naturally on your face in all kinds of rugged outdoor conditions. With grey, copper, and brown lenses to choose from, Kaenon Jetty sunglasses are all about optical excellence and rugged performance. Whether sailing with friends, mountain biking, or jogging down the beach with your dog, Kaenon makes the right specs for all your outdoor adventures. MSRP $224 • kaenon.com

Chaco Z/2 Unaweep Sandal
Your trusty flip-flops have a time and a place, but if you need truly high performance summer footwear that’s equally at home on land or water, it may be time to pamper your feet with the Chaco Z/2. With a focus on forefoot control, the Chaco Z/2 features a wrap-around toe loop that keeps your feet locked to the footbed. Chacos are well-known for handling the most demanding situations. And trust us – you can play multiple hard-fought 3 on 3 basketball games in Chacos. Try that in flip-flops! MSRP $105 • chacos.com

Picky Bars: Ah, Fudge Nuts
For those who have burned out on energy bars and feel pretty skeptical about most flavors on the market, check out Picky Bars from Bend Oregon. Their latest offering – Ah, Fudge Nuts – is a back to the basics ode to one of life’s truly great taste combinations. This bar is very chocolatey and delicious, but without that food comatose feeling associated with real fudge brownies. That’s because Ah Fudge Nuts is high in protein, and free of gluten, dairy, and soy. Made with dates, peanuts, agave nectar, crispy brown rice cereal, chocolate chips, and sunflower oil, the real theme here is chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate. This fortunate taste combination owes its yumminess to locally sourced Holy Kakow cacao powder, also of Bend, Oregon. Scarf down a Picky Bar right before an early morning run: it’s easy to eat and plenty of fuel to log some miles. MSRP: $8.99 for 3 • pickybars.com

Scarpa Ignite
The best trail running shoe is a combination of lightweight minimalism and rugged protection. The Scarpa Ignite strikes a good balance between the two. Lightweight enough to help you feel connected to the trail, Ignites will also protect your feet while logging long miles through rocky, rooty, singletrack terrain. Long trail runs lasting one hour or more are a true test for any running shoe, and that’s exactly why the proper balance between trail connectedness and cushioned support is so important to get right. Running mechanics and physical fitness will play the most important role in how you feel after a long trail run, but finding the right shoe is also crucial for success. Too much cushion and your running will feel uncoordinated; too little and you risk injury. The Scarpa Ignite might just be the perfect middle ground. MSRP: $125 • scarpa.com

Patagonia Jalama
Leave it to Patagonia, surely the coolest company in the world, to come up with a pack designed to hold both a laptop and a soggy wetsuit at the same time. Yes the Jalama sports a seam-sealed waterproof barrier in the main compartment that will keep a 17” laptop safe and secure while protecting it from your wet and sandy wetsuit and booties. Made from recycled rip-stop polyester, the Jalama has all the features you need and nothing extra including exterior lashpoints for holding a bike lock. So here we see how Patagonia makes products that allow for a work/life balance: wake up, ride your bike, surf, work, sleep, repeat. MSRP: $119  • patagonia.com

Lowa Bora GTX QC
A popular women’s-specific light hiking shoe, Lowa’s waterproof, breathable Bora GTX QC is made of split leather and CORDURA® upper with an injected PU midsole and MONOWRAP® frame. What does that mean? It means an excellent multi-function option for days on the trails or hiking through wildflower meadows. The Lowa Cross sole ensures great grip so you stay surefooted and nimble on all your adventures! MSRP $190 • lowaboots.com

Mountain House Pouch Meals
We love these packable, storable, dehydrated meals for a number of reasons. They are not only hearty and delicious but they provide a great deal of energy for those big adventures. And they’re not just for backpacking and camping. These easily-prepared meals are great to keep on hand in case of emergency, and we bet you’ll grab one now and then for a quick mid-week dinner. The wide selection that includes entrees, breakfasts, veggies, and desserts appeal to the whole family. Gluten-free, vegan, and/or low sodium diet? Mountain House has you covered! MSRP $2.69-9.99 • mountainhouse.com