New Performance Toe Socks Are Super Comfortable and Supportive. It’s March, and close to the end of the season for a lot of folks. If you think your gear is starting to look a little tattered, now is the time to contemplate a new way of thinking about your socks. Injinji, the toe sock company, has introduced a new line[Read More…]
Better Than $20 Off-The-Rack Sunglasses? Inspired by Red Bull Racing, the four time Formula One Auto Racing Champions, Red Bull Racing is introducing new eyewear that uses high-tech, cutting edge technology in sunglasses and goggles. Formula One racing cars use the lightweight XMP material to reinforce carbon fiber and Kevlar in principal components. Red Bull Racing thought it would be a[Read More…]
Dehydration Comes Easy When Skiing: Collapsible Water Bottle Is An Answer. Staying hydrated on the slopes is important, but rigid plastic water bottles are a pain to carry in a parka. Hydrapak makes soft and pliable water bottles that fit comfortably in the pocket. We tested Hydrapak’s half-liter SoftFlask sports bottle over a few days on the hill. The 500-ml[Read More…]
SeniorsSkiing Correspondent and Cross Country Expert Rates The Big Five Bindings. You’ve paid for your trail pass and are ready to head out on the trails at your favorite xc ski touring center. How easy is it to put your skis? In this review, I discuss five common binding types, the key features of each, and I rate them on[Read More…]
I found them at the Outdoor Retailers Winter Market. It’s the largest show of its kind in the U.S., and it’s where manufacturers strut their stuff and retailers place orders for next year. The show is the launch pad for innovative products as well as redos of existing products. I was on the hunt for products that would appeal to senior[Read More…]
Action Camera Comes With Instant Editing. It’s good to have a rival—Macy’s has Gimbel’s, the Red Sox have the Yankees, Holmes has his match in Moriarty. Everyone gets much sharper with a decent competitor. And so it is with action cameras. The ubiquitous GoPro, the current market leader, has almost become a verb, as in “I GoPro-ed my last run, and I can’t[Read More…]
Okay. It’s too big for a stocking, but it doesn’t need wrapped. A cheap but practical gift is a jug of low temperature windshield washer fluid with de-icer. Look on the label for a temperature rating that is -25 or -30 or lower. A gallon jug costs less than $5. There are some days when a certain mix of temperature[Read More…]
Some Things To Consider Before You Buy. If you google “heated gloves”, you’ll find two dozen brands in all price ranges. And more brands are advertised in ski magazines. It seems that many companies have jumped into the heated glove market. To make matters confusing, the descriptions all sound alike. “Heated gloves that work well cost about $300 – $400”[Read More…]
Buy Stuff If You Can. The 2016 Gorsuch catalog just landed on our desk with a cover model wearing $4,487 worth of ski outerwear. Inside are pictures of parkas costing in the thousands and a four-way stretch insulated “ski jean” for $2,399. Choices for guys are pricey, but nothing like the trophy garments which, based on the Barbie-looking models, must be[Read More…]
Special Thanks to Roger Lohr, Editor and Publisher of XCSkiResorts.com for allowing us to post this article which first appeared on that site. About half of all snowshoers are women, who snowshoe to experience nature, to exercise with friends and family, for backcountry access, and to have outdoor fun throughout the winter. The various snowshoe companies have been catering to[Read More…]
A Good Idea For Apres-Ski Tailgating. When we picnic or party, we usually carry glass wine bottles like most people do. Well, the people at fiftyfifty have come up with a better way to transport wine. It’s a double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottle that keeps wine at the perfect temperature—all day long. What’s unusual about the container is its[Read More…]
Who Knew Grip Strength Was A Diagnostic Measure of Aging? Over the past few ski seasons, I’ve noticed times when my wrists are weak, especially when rocking my poles. Arthritis? Age? Don’t know. A few days off slope or wearing an elastic wristband, and it goes away. Now I’m trying another approach. I have a little exercise device that looks like a[Read More…]
Gee Whiz, Seniors, Here’s What’s Coming to a Store Near You!! Shoes whose laces tighten without your needing to bend down to tie them. Wireless heating insoles controlled with a smart phone app. A small device that communicates your whereabouts and whether or not you need help when there’s no cell service— nywhere on the globe. These are just a[Read More…]
It’s Like Christmas In August. The annual Outdoor Retailers Show is going on in Salt Lake City right now (August 5-8), and it showcases gear for all outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a sneak peek at brand new innovative products as well a upgrades in existing products. The massive trade show has more than 1,500 exhibitors from around the world. Some exhibitors[Read More…]
An Electric Bike Offers A Friendly Boost To New Knees and Hips We all remember “With a Little Help from My Friends” by The Beatles. My, how things have changed in the 48 years since its release, especially for those boomers who want to come back to the slopes after major surgery on hips and knees and rotator cuffs, among other[Read More…]
Why-Didn’t-We-Think-Of-This-Department: A Gear Toting Assistant You might say, it’s about time someone came up with the Ski Dolly (TM). After schlepping backpacks, boot bags, skis (bagged or loosely tied) from car to base lodge too, too many times, we celebrate the arrival of this good-idea product. Imagine: Your favorite ski area has a reserved area for senior skiers (yes, many[Read More…]
Contributor Steve Hines’ Explainer On Humane Goose Down Harvesting. If you ski or do any winter outdoor sport you probably have or have had a down jacket. Now is a good time to evaluate what you have and will need for next winter. If down is truly the answer, then you have to know there are choices between vendors who provide[Read More…]
Poling While Hiking Is An Exercise Multiplier Roger Lohr is co-founder and editor of XCSkiResorts.com and a noted writer on all the varieties of Nordic skiing. More than 10 million Europeans of all ages and fitness levels are Nordic Walking (also known as Ski Walking) with special Nordic Walking Poles. This new fitness activity turbo-charges the normal walking regimen burning as[Read More…]
You’ll Always Have These Readers With You. Finally, you can read your cell phone, trail maps and restaurant menus with ease because you can always have these very cool reading glasses with you. And the case snaps onto your Smartphone for ready access. Now isn’t that novel! ThinOptics readers solve the problem that has plagued seniors since Smartphones were invented. The[Read More…]
Taking The Pull Out Of Pulling On Boots. Every now and then I come across a product that makes a big difference in the comfort of older skiers. I’ll explain in a minute. I always boot-up in the parking lot. The difficulty of that process advances with age. Over the years, I’ve found that using boot warmers on the way[Read More…]
Hot-Looking Helmet Channels F-15 Pilot Look. I’ve written previously about the Osbe Proton Senior, a clever helmet with an integral visor which replaces goggles, providing an effective solution to the problem of foggy eyeglasses. Swiss-based CP raises the bar with their Italian-made Camurai, which adds some significant tweaks to the pivoting visor concept. Both helmets feature a visor that allows[Read More…]
Carrying Identification Can Help The Ski Patrol Help You. Accidents happen. And when they do, the ski patrol will likely be your savior. But the patrol needs your help. Here’s what you should have with you every time you ski or ride–just in case. Carry identification. If you’re injured and can’t speak for yourself, the patrol will have to figure[Read More…]
Accessible reading glasses, even on a ski lift, make reading fine print do-able again. You’ll love these reading glasses, because you’ll always have them with you. No more passing glasses around to read the trail map or the menu. You’ll have your very own glasses, and you’ll know exactly where they are—because their case is on your phone. Now that’s[Read More…]
No more wrestling with cold, stiff boots on a crowded ski lodge bench. A few years ago, I indulged in my version of the middle-aged cliche: Instead of a red sports car, I snagged some very nice new skis and a serious pair of custom-fit boots. All was glorious but for one problem—the boots were 120’s, so stiff that by[Read More…]
A hot tip for happy hands. The fall hunting season can be the best time to stock up on the “shake ’em up” hand warmer packets that we put into our ski gloves and mittens. In my area—Salt Lake City—some big box stores have special deals on the packets in the fall when outdoorsmen are preparing to head to the[Read More…]
