PAC Outdoor delivers tough as nails courier bags that stand up to rooster tails and the spray of passing trucks. These bags are made of durable WXtex bond coated material with welded seams and cable pull zippers. The WXtex is top of the line moisture barrier that can withstand even pressurized water on a flat coated surface. Reflectors are attached to keep you visible while a waste strap compliments the shoulder strap keeping the pack centered on your back and off of your peddling knees. The interior comes decked out with pockets, clips, and mesh enclosures so everything you need has a place to be battened down.

Moyer Cycles is a one man operation. Whitney Moyer crafts unreal frames for track, city, and road bicycles pouring his heart and soul into his work. Outfitted with precision welds, top of the line components, and custom sizing Moyer Cycles is as much artwork as anything. Each frame is custom built and unique with either lugged, brazed, or Tig welded steel joints. Whitney offers an array of options from tubing upgrades to stainless ornamentation adorning the frame.

Take your golf game up a notch with no extra skill on your part! The Nike Karma golf ball has improved once again on the mundane with a softer core for longer drive distance, 312 dimples to give your shots some added lift, and a softer shell so you have better feel and control on those precision swings. So the next time you’re out with the boys for a game of skins throw these little guys in your bag and let them know what’s up.

DC Apparel and SE Bikes joined brains and style to build the Quadangle. This is a 24” wheel, single gear cruiser that is the 2008 revamp version of the PK Ripper. Outfitted with specially styled DC-SE head tube badge and pads with a dope low gloss black finish the Quadangle is a collectors bike fit to shred the city streets.

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Every ounce counts when you are exploring the low and highlands. Although traditional hiking boots can offer support and protection there is a weight price to pay. The Lowa AL-T Orix cross-trainer gives your feet the shock absorbing protection they need with firm fitting, flexible range of motion and light weight construction perfect for attacking the outdoors. The uppers use Monowrap technology incorporating split leather, polyurethane wrap, and Cordura nylon mesh the AL-T Orix can bounce you through rivers, mud, and rock while remaining comfortable and secure. The removable EVA inserts keep the hotspots at bay and facilitate quick dry time to keep you on the go. At just under 1kg the Orix are a great alternative for the lightweight hiker or alpinist traversing the ridgeline.

If you wanna blow 3200$ on a bike it might as well be this doozy. Hand crafted by Danish manufacturer Cykelmageren the Tourist is a steel frame, zinc paint, Brooks leather saddled marvel of bicycle production. These frames are not crushed out for the masses by some poor sweatshop robot. With detail and precision each frame is custom built to satiate the rising appetite the public has for Gjesling’s bikes. Started twelve years ago as an alternative to said production methods Rasmus decided to focus on quality and not the bottom line. That being said, you pay his bottom-line with the hefty price tag attached to these beauties.

It may seem out of season for a down parka …that is unless you have a streak of adventure in your blood and are looking to tackle some alpine peaks in the near future! During eUPGRADER’s trip to Mount Rainier we battened down the hatches in Cloudveil’s Inversion Parka. Weighing in at a packable 32oz with 700 fill down the Inversion has baffled sleeves and abrasion resistant paneling on the shoulders and wrist areas. We chose the Inversion for its space saving features, the fact that down is a tried and true insulator during mountaineering expeditions, the oversized hand pockets and attached down hood, and its super light Cirrus nylon taffeta lining. During expeditions at altitude or the backcountry during harsh conditions their will be times when you have to stand still for certain tasks (belay, navigation, feeding). During these times it is essential to fight the chill. While on Rainier the Cloudveil Inversion’s breathable and water resistant WINDSTOPPER shell fought the brutal winds and biting cold. Outside of the essential protection the Inversion offers the level of comfort was gladly welcome in such unforgiving terrain as the glaciers of Mount Rainier.

We took the Petzl MYO XP headlamp up the slopes of Rainier this spring to see what we could see. The XP has three lighting settings which is typical of headlamps these days but something we noticed right away was the addition of the Wide Angle Lens which flips up and down depending on your needs. With the lens in place you get a diffusion of the light for a more even visual field. With it folded down you get one powerful pillar of light darting forward. To aid you on your way for particularly tricky sections or for trail finding there is the Boost mode. By holding down the Boost button you increase the beams power and your depth of vision from 85 lumens to 150 lumens (also fun for blinding your partner)! This could also be used for signaling in emergencies or for communicating with the team. Featuring a new LED that is 3 times brighter, 180hour burn time max, 175 grams trail weight, and strapping keeping it secure whether on your head, hat, or helmet. The bulb body is adjustable up and down to aid your vision from close up cooking and reading to scouting and setting up camp.

We tested out the Sierra Designs Asp 2 (two person, three season) in the Alpine country and the lowly bogs of New England and were thoroughly impressed with the planning of this tent. As a big fan of featherweight hiking (less weight, less work, happier body, better trip) the Asp 2 ticks in at 5lbs trail weight. Another key feature I have grown to appreciate is the stand alone design which means less staking out… key if you are in rocky/rooty type terrain. Next thing I noticed on the Asp 2 was the Quick Pitch Swivel Hub. What this feature accomplishes is the tricky crossed pole region of a dome tent that can be difficult to set up with the traditional pole in sleeve layout. The Swivel Hub has the two cross poles pre-threaded into the plastic middle so all you have to do is clip the tent to the pole structure and it’s up. The Asp 2 also features two doors so your partner doesn’t have to crawl over you to tinkle in the middle of the night…also great for ventilation. The main vestibule opening has double zippers which means the whole door can act as a “porch roof” with the aid of some trekking poles. Overall the Asp 2 is efficient, extremely water proof, tough (rip stop nylon), roomy (34sq ft) and a feel good safe haven out in the backcountry.

The Millet Expedition 65 backpack is the true mountaineer’s heaven sent pack: tough, waterproof, comfortable, light, with all the bells and whistles (literally). That being said, the versatility of this pack lends itself to even the weekend adventurer with its size and volume versatility and downright functionality. At just 1.5 kilos (about 3.3lbs) the EXPE65 has volume enough for an extended summit bid of something like Rainier, a multi-week traverse of the Alps, or a simple night at camp with the boys. This internal frame backpack has: “Ergo Lite” ergonomically contoured padding, ice axe holding clips and strapping, gear loop clips on the waist belt, is hydration pack compatible, has specific design pockets for camera and map, an extendable skirt that increases the volume at the top of the pack, a rescue whistle built into the buckle on the chest strap, and best of all a length wise zipper to reach the gear you packed all the way at the bottom! The EXPE65 is an extremely effective piece of equipment that looks the part (Millet knows mountaineering), feels great (which means you’re happy), and functions flawlessly.