by Matt Robinson
22.11.2009
We all love our gear here at WideWorld – whether it’s the essentials to take up a mountain, into the ocean, or just under cover in a warm tent. We’ve put our heads together to bring you a selection of neat ideas for this winter, so if you’re stuck for ideas to treat yourself with, or happen to be shopping for the most demanding outdoors types, we reckon you’ll find something here.
1. Kathmandu Alopex Jacket
£349.99
Strictly high-end Gore-Tex jacket with three layers for alpine and hiking activities. There’s a host of smart features built in to this design too: seamless panels at the shoulders so they won’t rub while carrying heavy packs and a fleece chin guard to keep your extremities from frosting up too badly. There’s even a neoprene pocket that’s specifically for your mobile phone too.
The fabric is tested to Gore-Tex’s most extreme rain tests, and the inner of the 3-layer material is created with their ‘Micro Grid Backer Technology,’ a clever construction that reduces snagging as well as weight and increases the overall breathability of the jacket.
2. ErgoRace
£1,399
The ErgoRace is the ultimate cycling companion, which allows you to create the outdoor racing experience in your own home. Users can enhance the experience further by connecting the computer display to their plasma TV screen and follow the Tour Concept training software, which includes 3D maps (sold separately).
The ErgoRace offers an intensive workout; including 48 different programmes to chose from, including five, which are pulse controlled. This product is not something for the faint hearted. It is targeted at the serious trainer who is willing to commit to a structured and varied programme.
3. Braun PocketGo Shaver
£14.99
The PocketGo Shaver is the must have essential for every man when travelling. It fits easily into your pocket and offers a smooth comfortable shave. Battery powered, the PocketGo is the only shaver of its kind to offer a precision trimmer. However, it is very small and does not provide you with the ability to refine your sideburns to the standard expected from normal daily electric razors.
That said, for its size it is the perfect travel accessory providing a quick shave. It is easy to clean and comes with a protective cover for the blade. Batteries are included.
4. Dr Bronner’s Magic Soaps
18-in-1 Hemp Pure Castile £4.99/Travel Size 2fl oz £2.99/Solid Bar £3.50
www.cultbeauty.com www.victoriahealth.com www.foodforthoughtuk.com
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is currently the USA’s No. 1 selling natural soap brand and the leader in organic and Fair Trade skin care. The soap, which is best used with a towel or sponge can be uses for your body, bathroom, kitchen, clothes, even your teeth, fruit and vegetables. It truly is a remarkable product.
This is great product for hikers in particular because the soap covers their every need. They can clean themselves completely with it as well as their clothes. You need not worry about taking any other cleaning material Dr Bronner’s Magic Soap covers all bases and alarming cheap prices.
5. Cold Gear
£34.99
ColdGear is the ultimate in under-garment protection. Its 7oz fabric and double knit construction create a microclimate next to the skin, which keeps the wearer warm without overheating when exchanging in substantial physical exercise.
The armour is both wind resistant and windproof, constructed with a laminate to block out 100% of the wind. Venting built into the garment where heat accumulates ensures that you stay cool in extreme heat. It is also fully waterproof ensuring that you can brave all the elements.
6. Powermonkey eXplorer
£65.00
The Powermonkey eXplorer is the ultimate charger for your mobile, PDA or iPod. Simply charge your Powermonkey eXplorer up via the mains, the USB port or by using the solar panel and have power available for whenever you need to give your favourite gadget an extra boost of power.
This is great for those moments when you’re stuck out and about and unable to reach a power source, whether that's in the middle of a field or stuck on the train.
The Powermonkey eXplorer holds sufficient power to recharge a mobile phone three times, or give an iPod an extra 40 hours of playtime. It comes with a worldwide main power adapter and is available in yellow, pink, grey and blue. Best of all, it comes 60% pre-charged, meaning you can start using it straight away.
7. Powerbreathe
£29.99 - £49.99
Powerbreathe is the perfect device for improving your general fitness and all-round sporting performance with the primary aim of building up resistance to fatigue whilst out on a expedition or at high altitude.
Scientifically and clinically proven to improve breathing strength, these handheld devices are very easy to use. Designed to help train and develop the muscles we use to breath. It is advised that you complete 30 breaths a day, which should take about 5 minutes to complete.
8. Speedo Aquabeat LZR
£142.31
The Speedo Aquabeat LZR is a completely waterproof MP3 player, which comes complete with waterproof headphones, which can be used full submersed in water. This is the perfect gadget for aquatic athletes, divers, swimmers or anybody that loves engaging in water activity. The Aquabeat LZR makes it possible for all these people to enjoy their favourite tracks without worry about their MP3 breaking or suffering water damage.
Safely useable to a depth of 3 meters, with a 2GB capacity this nifty MP3 player holds up to 500 songs in MP3 format or 1000 WMA tracks. A lightweight and compact design means that it can float on the water too, enabling quick recovery as well as being easily attachable to your swimwear or wrist. The large buttons make song selection incredibly quick and easy – just the job for when you’re halfway across the channel and fancy a bit of Iron Maiden to get you across.
9. Solargorilla
£137
Solargorilla – use the biggest power source known to man to keep your laptop battery charged. This tough, portable photovoltaic charging station is water resistant and is currently being used by the British Army in Afghanistan – and won the Outdoor Industry Award 2009.
It’s able to charge laptops under 40 watts, mobile phones, iPods, handheld games consoles and many other devices from the 5V USB output, while the technically advanced solar panels made of glass ensure superb power and reliable performance, all housed in a tough outer casing.
10. iRooms (iPhone Application)
Free
www.inventiveit.net/irooms.php
This is the only product in this guide that is available to you for free! iRooms is the perfect application for iPhone users, and gives you the ability to book hotel rooms direct from your iPhone. The product is the brainchild of Inventive IT, in partnership with LateRooms.com. It is designed for UK tourists, holidaymakers and business travellers and is the first independent application of its kind on the market.
iRooms not only enables customers to book hotel rooms via their iPhone, but also allows them to search for rooms in specific areas, make lists of favourite destinations, and store booking confirmation details. It is incredibly simple to use and offers a wide range of hotels, making booking on the move simple and easy and very secure as customers only pay for the hotel when leaving their hotel and the end of their stay, although credit card details are required to authenticate bookings.
Using social media – including Google Mapping – iRooms looks set to take the market by storm having launched at the beginning of November this year.
11. Atomic Floyd TwistJax Headphone
£129.95
www.atomicfloyd.com www.store.apple.com/uk/atomic_floyd
Whilst they are not cheap at £129.95, these top cans offer superb sound quality: incredibly sharp and clear across the range. They make listening to music a far more pleasurable experience than your ordinary standard headphones.
The design is very futuristic, the string cord is lightweight and strong, while the metal earbuds literally twist to fit into your ear. Once enjoying music, it is impossible to hear any surrounding noise, although a word of warning: if you crank up the volume too much you may get complaints from the people around you, as the sound leakage isn’t great.
That’s a very small issue though; it is impossible not to fall in love with the TwistJax from the moment you put them in your ears. Your music listening experience will never be the same again.
12. Olympus µ TOUGH - 6010
£299.99
If you are rather accident-prone and have broken the odd camera in your time then Wide World have found the solution. The Olympus µ Tough 6010 is the toughest mainstream camera around. It is shockproof to 1.5m, waterproof to 3m and can be frozen to -10°C.
This is the perfect peace-of-mind camera for those that enjoy mountain biking, skiing or a day at the beach. No matter where you are or what you’re doing the chances of this camera failing on you are very slim, unless of course you drop it at the top of Mount Everest or into the Pacific Ocean.
Available in an assortment of colours, the 6010 generates razor sharp images up to 12 megapixels, which can be blown up to poster style prints. It comes with a wide zoom function which is ideal for group shots and close ups of eye-popping landscapes.
A wide zoom function is great for group shots and close-ups of distant subjects. An intelligent i-Auto option allows the camera to automatically adjust to five common scene modes and Dual Image Stabilisation avoids blur-free images even in rough-and-tumble environments.
13. Zoca female sports wear
Jacket £50, Sport Flare £45, Support Vest £35.
Zoca sports wear are the perfect clothes to keep you motivated to keep fit during the cold winter months. Designed in mind for fitness, yoga, and running, the stylish range, available in a range of colours are made of Aquamove fabric, transporting moisture away from the skin leaving you feeling dry and comfortable after a long work out.
The Support Vest, Sport Flare and Performance Jacket are extremely comfortable. The vest has a high neckline while the sporty flare is styled with a cord for security. The jacket has a double-ended zip and is very elastic providing ease, comfort and support during a workout.
ZOCA will also donate 1% of all their sales to CARE International, WideWorld’s charity partner. The range is available from January, just in time for the beginning of your gym membership.
14. Kinetic 3-n-1
£163.00
This is one cool coat. In fact, it’s three coats in one. The coat features a Merrell Opti-Warm insulated liner, 2-layer fully seam-sealed, a waterproof-breathable shell, and detachable hood. There’s also an innovative M-Connect snap-in, inside-out liner system, which makes it incredibly simple to snap the liner of the jacket in and out.
You needn’t buy a coat ever again with the Kinetic 3-n-1, whether it be warm or cold, wet or dry with the Kinetic 3-n-1 you are always covered whatever the weather. Perfect for the unreliable British weather.
15. Trace Me Luggage Tracker Tag
£12.50
After the chaos that was caused after the opening of Heathrow Terminal 5, I’m sure there are many of people who wish they had purchased the Trace Me Luggage Tracker Tag.
The Trace Me Tag has a unique serial number and barcode, which are linked to the owner through the world’s largest property ownership database. The tag itself carries no personal data, but if luggage is misdirected it can easily be traced and identified by scanning the tag or entering the serial number. This then sends email or text to the owner.
The product was recently voted top in product testing at Budget Travel Magazine in New York. Once you purchase your tag, there are no additional charges – registration is for life.
16. GoGels
£1 per sachet
The sports nutrition company Science in Sport (SiS) fuels thousands of amateur and elite athletes across the world including Olympic winner Chris Hoy. Go Gel is the result of independent research carried out at Loughborough University by Stephen Patterson. The aim was to investigate the effects of carbohydrate gel on performance.
Go Gels are available in Orange, Blackcurrant and Tropical flavours. Every sachet contains 25 grams of isotonic carbohydrate energy, which is enough fuel for 20 to 30 minutes of exercise. As the product is isotonic, it delivers energy without the need for extra water.
These products are ideal for those wanting to enhance their training and to give it a little boost. The gels are very each to digest and come in a range of flavours, which set you up for a great exercise work out and don’t compromise on hydration.
Where can you still beat the tourists?
New luxury designs from the Norwegian gear gods
For rain or shine, but mostly rain
Comments (5)
Mark Shercliff
27:02:2010
Awesome!
irene julian
02:02:2010
nice one !
iain maciver
02:02:2010
would love this gadget
Ruth Worthington
29:01:2010
I think i just need an Ergorace for my husband, I am so sick and tired of him getting punctures on the roads !
john
26:01:2010
just the gadget i have been looking for, i know what the next pay check is going on
View all | Add comment