Standing alone in the plethora of solar panels offered by various manufacturers at Outdoor Retailer is Blue Freedom, a personal water turbine which can be placed in running water to generate power (5 watts). The internal lithium polymer batter has a capacity of 5,000 mAh.
Blue Freedom is 7.75 inches across and weighs 20 ounces. Currently, Blue Freedom is not designed to generate power from the wind, but they told me they are working on it.
I don’t know which influenced me more, my time in Scouting or my time in the military, but I love compasses, so whenever I see a new one, I want to check it out. This is Brunton’s Axis Pocket Transit.
First off, it’s a transit, so this isn’t the orineteering compass you keep in your daypack. Created by a geologist, the Axis, it requires only one measurement configuration for strike & dip, trend & plunge, bearing & vertical angle, increasing efficiency and accuracy of measurements. Additionally, Compass North is parallel to the main hinge axis, making the Axis the only transit able to measure strike and dip concurrently, through contact or sighting methods.
Features:
-Dimensions (Closed): 3.92″ X 2.78″ X 1.18″
-Weight: 12.5 oz
-Compass Bearing Accuracy: ±1/2 WITH 1° graduations
-Inclinometer Accuracy: ±1/2 WITH 1° graduations
-Dip Angle Accuracy: ±1 WITH 2° graduations
-Plunge Angle Accuracy: ±1/2 WITH 1° graduations
-Azimuth Graduated Circle: Model F-5012
-Quadrant Graduated Circle: Model F-5011
-Magnetism: NdFeB rare earth magnet on sapphire jewel suspension; high visibility North and South markings; induction damping for quick stabilization.
-Adjustable needle locking mechanism
www.brunton.com/products/axis-pocket-transit
Wild Country’s Revo is an award winning, bi-directional, self locking belay device. It can be loaded from either side and if the rope moves too quickly through the device, it locks, regardless of which direction the rope is oriented. What’s more, it can’t be overridden when belaying or lowering a climber which will reduce brainfart accidents.
This video shows how the Revo works.
The Revo from Wild Country on Vimeo.
Salomon is very popular with SSD readers and they showed two new water shoes for 2017.
First up is the S-Lab XA Amphib. Unfortunately, S-Lab shoes are limited production so you may have difficulty finding this runner/water shoe hybrid.
Salomon also displayed the upcoming Crossamphibian Swift M which is a lighter weight alternative to the current Crossamphibian. Also, notice the tape lacing system.
The Escape Pod 1P Bivy is a two-thirds length bivy with drawstring closure providing bug protection which incorporates NEMO’s AST airbeam, an inflatable rib. Constructed primarily of noseeum netting, it weighs 7 ounces and is 24 inches tall which allows it to be packed into roughly the size of a Florida grapefruit.
Offering 200 lumens max output, the new Princeton Tec Axis allows you to dial the output up and down via the side knob. In addition to the White spot and flood LEDs, the Axis also features two Red Ultrabright LEDs. The internal battery offers up to 117 hours of burn time and the light is prodded to IPX4 specs.
Recharging the light through the mini USB port. There will also be a AAA model.
Timex has introduced a new GPS enabled watch to their Ironman line. The watch will offer real-time pace, speed and distance along with download of data and recharge via USB. The price? $99.95.
Offered in Black or White with various interchangeable strap options.
The Escape Pro bivvy features Sympatex Reflexion performance fabric that reflects over 90 percent of your body heat, is windproof and waterproof, and provides a dry sleep with a 2.5 ply Sympatex laminate that is highly breathable. Expect it to take you down to about 40 deg F on its own. The Escape Pro bivvy includes a 24” (61cm) zipper side opening, a drawstring closure hood to cinch up on colder nights and taped seams to keep moisture out. It measures 31”x 84” (231cm x 78cm) and weighs 8.5 ounces (240g). It will be available to ship February 2017.
