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posts about #outdoors more →
Gifts for Outdoorsy Geeks Not Averse to Sunshine or Sweat
GoPro Hero HD Camera Review
Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
Summermodo: Gadgets Go Outside
Mammoth Innovizion 65-Inch Outdoor HDTV Is Fun For the Whole Forest
GoPro Hero Wide Sports Camera: Lightning Review
The Future of Gore-Tex
Ardica's Amazing Heated Jacket Tech: Lightning Review
Toilet Paper Shovel Provides Easy Outdoor Relief
Wired's Summer Gear Test Issue

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macpatrik
11/17/09

In reply to Gifts for Outdoorsy Geeks Not Averse to Sunshine or Sweat
I swear by Patagonia jackets. I have been wearing their jackets for skiing since I can remember. The quality is top notch, and the warmth is excellent.

$150 might seems steep, but compared to other coats it actually very, very affordable. A comparable Northface or Columbia jacket will land you in the $300-400 range. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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AmphetamineCrown
11/17/09

@macpatrik: Patagonia post-adoption of Goretex, anyway. Their Storm2No or whatever it was called sucked.

I like patagucci for casual clothes and fleece (and their underwear is awesome). Mountain Hardwear has some good kit. But, for jackets, Arc'teryx is *the* brand.

TNF (which used to be a real brand) and Columbia (which was never a real brand) are strictly for suburbanites who ski once a year.
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Edited by AmphetamineCrown at 11/17/09 5:48 PM AmphetamineCrown was starred AmphetamineCrown was unstarred

farcedude
11/17/09

@AmphetamineCrown: I still have a lightweight windproof Mountain Hardwear pullover from like 8 years ago, that I wear about every other day, and still looks and wears like it's near new.
Heh, "patagucci", heh. And I went in a TNF store the other day. Not so much. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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macpatrik
11/17/09

@AmphetamineCrown: I guess it comes down to preference. And I don't find Patagonia to be pretentious at all. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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AmphetamineCrown
11/17/09

@macpatrik: I don't find everyone who wears patagonia pretentious. The people who seem to work in their stores, yes, but I know plenty of normal people who wear the stuff. My reference to gucci was pricing related. Target can sell you a fleece for $2, but patagonia is gonna charge you $60. I realize they have to build factories that preserve all the dandelions in the vicinity and double as shelters for stray cats and dogs and will only harvest cotton under a full moon under the protection of Hesta after dancing in celebration of the cotton plant to be picked, but that kinda sensitivity to Gaia costs bucks. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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Animal_Chin
11/17/09

@AmphetamineCrown: I partially agreed with your sentiments on TNF. While the consumer-grade crap they've been churning out lately is worthless in the back-country, they used to make quality jackets. I had a Kichatna jacket for around 15 years before the gore-tex started to delaminate. I brought it into my local store to see if it could be fixed. They shipped it back to TNF for me for free and when it was determined that it was FUBAR, they gave me a store credit for $500 (everything they sell has a no questions asked life time warranty). I was able to get a new gore-tex xcr jacket, pants and a nalgene flask with it. So, yeah, I probably won't replace them with TNF when they wear out in 5 years, but that's 20+ years of dry, breathable protection.

For those that don't remember it, the Kichatna was the original "Gorton's fisherman"-yellow jacket that seems to be coming back in style these days: #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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Brian Lam
11/17/09

@AmphetamineCrown: I like patagonia stuff a lot. I like their eco policies and their design policies. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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AmphetamineCrown
11/18/09

@Brian Lam: Don't get me wrong. I like their stuff. I actually like most of their eco-friendly policies. But reading their catalog gets a little... holier than thou. And, it does come at a cost.

I also have found, over the years, that patagonia excels at insulating layers, but they have never been good at hard shells (the soft shell thing never did it for me). I'll happily shell out the bucks for patagonia boxers, capilene, R2, and fleece. But when it comes to what is on the outside, I'll take my money to Arcteryx or Marmot.

I liked Animal Chin's story about the Kichatna, but I'll go one better. I still own a Marmot Red Fox jacket -- probably the first commercial gore tex shell made -- and it still looks like it came off the rack. I bought it in 1980. (Wearing it sounds like you are crumpling a potato chip bag, but at least you were dry). #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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Brian Lam
11/24/09

@AmphetamineCrown: I dont use a patagonia hard shell, either. I go to the reno outlet's clearance and score 70-80% off, though. I have a primo down for single digit degree days, but it sweats a bit. my combo now is arcteryx shell (not pro), patagonia or hh (light) fleece, pat. cap base or hh base. would like to try some wool tops but not bottoms. not enough stretch. and i'd like a new shell of gore pro. I like pro for sloppy days.
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weatherman
11/17/09

In reply to Gifts for Outdoorsy Geeks Not Averse to Sunshine or Sweat
DMC-TS1 is less than $300 these days, and it's a damn fine ruggedized camera with a better-than-average zoom. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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CaptMoose
11/17/09

@weatherman: yup. I love mine. Great pictures and the battery life is about 2x some of it's competitors. I took it on a 6-night backpacking trip. Not carrying tons of extra batteries is important. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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OMG! Ponies!
11/17/09

In reply to Gifts for Outdoorsy Geeks Not Averse to Sunshine or Sweat
How about a good ole-fashioned multitool? Good for geeks be they housecats or Ranger Rick.

Also, telescopes (for astronomy, not spying). I try to keep my outdoor excursions to nighttime because sunlight makes me sparkle. And by sparkle, I mean radically pisses me off.

And forget about Wii Fit; go with dumbbells and chin-up bars. I've taken to watching TV guido-style, meaning I use my dumbbells while watching shitty television.

Finally, you don't have to get an entire set of clubs. A nice iron or putter is always welcome.

So there you go. You can go relatively cheap (dumbbells), midrange (a good Leatherman), possibly pricey (golf clubs), or "Here's a birthday/holiday/anniversary present all rolled into one" (the telescope).
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Edited by OMG! Ponies! at 11/17/09 3:53 PM OMG! Ponies! was starred OMG! Ponies! was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/17/09

@OMG! Ponies!: I thought Guido style exercising was making kissy faces at yourself in the mirror while telling yourself how sexy you are and standing under tanning lights.

Wholeheartedly agree with a multitool though, just don't skimp on one, get a decent one. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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KidSix
11/17/09

@OMG! Ponies!: Multitool recommendation: the Leatherman Skeletool CX. Covers the basics, lightweight, and durable. Oh, and the 25 year (!) warranty is rather choice. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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farcedude
11/17/09

@KidSix: I always like the originals (sadly since discontinued), but have found the Crunch to be quite handy (vice grips in a Leatherman) #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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AmphetamineCrown
11/17/09

@KidSix: Go simple and well built. This guy ([atwoodknives.blogspot.com]) micromanufactures some awesome tools. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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BergenCountyJC can't beat MW2
11/17/09

In reply to Gifts for Outdoorsy Geeks Not Averse to Sunshine or Sweat
Snowmobile tours are great if you get a chance to try it! #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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AmphetamineCrown
11/17/09

@BergenCountyJC can edit his name?: Try dogsledding. Awesome. #outdoorgeekgiftguide
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FooSchnickens - BPH Free
11/05/09

In reply to GoPro Hero HD Camera Review
Ugh mine is still on backorder. I was hoping to have it in time to go play in the twisty roads this weekend. ;_; #goproherohdwidecamerareview
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MrBlahBlah
11/04/09

In reply to GoPro Hero HD Camera Review
i wish this came out at the beginning of the summer. i am so jealous of your california climate #goproherohdwidecamerareview
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AqueousBeef
11/05/09

@MrBlahBlah: It's right on time for the snowboarding season! #goproherohdwidecamerareview
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MrBlahBlah
11/05/09

@AqueousBeef: yeah but for us skiiers it is a little trickier...maybe? #goproherohdwidecamerareview
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Curves
11/04/09

In reply to GoPro Hero HD Camera Review
The video was good enough for me to taste the salt water. Nice report, good details. This is why they keep Blam around. ;) #goproherohdwidecamerareview
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joetato
08/16/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
Yay solar power! Saving the planet can be sexy. :-D
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stryder100
08/14/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
Thanks for the mammarys!
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DeusExMach wonders what the hell happened to his star.
08/14/09

@stryder100: out of the corrrrrrrner of my eye...
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se.blackheart
08/13/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)

i dunno....she reminds me of something...something that keeps me from popping a wheelie...

that smile....those eyes....oh yeah;
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Bokusatsu_Tenshi
08/13/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)

Ok people, just so you know, she's a minor.
Please make an orderly line so everyone fits neatly in the party van.
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dimsum4u
08/13/09

@Bokusatsu_Tenshi: haha..Hi my name is Chris Hansen and you are on How to Catch a Predator. Do you have anything you want to say?
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The Lab
08/13/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
Heats to 140 degrees in two hours of direct sun at noon. I mean if you wanted a shower in the morning, you'd have to set it up the day before an hope the water... what am I talking about? There is underboob present. Underboob for god sakes.
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dimsum4u
08/13/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
me and my family? you mean this doesn't come with the girl in the bikini? False advertisement!
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bornonbord
08/13/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
I'll take 3.

What is it?
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puffnstuff
08/13/09

In reply to Solar Shower Heats Water In Two Hours, But You'll Need It Cold (Trust Me)
My eyes were drawn to the right too.

Fap fap fap
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Scazza
08/13/09

@puffnstuff: I couldnt help notice how gorgeous her.... back yard is. All those trees, the paving was clearly done by a master.

Also the girl is nice, I guess...
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puffnstuff
08/13/09

@Scazza:

What are you talking about you cannot see her back yard only her front yard. I do agree the paving looks nice no bush is peaking through.
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DeusExMach wonders what the hell happened to his star.
08/14/09

@Scazza: I always fantasize about women with huuuuuuuge... tracts of land...
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