Orvis took 29-oz firehose grade canvas (the same stuff that firefighters drag through burning buildings, broken glass, and whatever else they find in their way) and combined it with American bison leather to create the new Five Alarm Briefcase. Despite it’s classic style points (such as the Sam Browne studs that secure the top flap), the Five Alarm Briefcase still has the modern features we demand, such as a padded laptop section and internal dividers. Orvis Five Alarm Briefcase ($300)
Powermat is the latest invention to charge all of your devices wirelessly. Simply drop one of your devices on the mat that has a Powermat receiver and the mat does the charging for you. Communication with the mat and the receiver allows for the perfect length charge every time; and with the auto-shut off function power to the device is stopped so no energy is wasted. The desktop version and the portable version are available now! ($99)
One of the dilemmas in owning an IPod Touch is finding the best case to protect it. In order to work out you need an additional armband, or case that has a belt clip on it. Well Otterbox has you covered with the Defender Series case with armband. The case has a hard plastic shell with a rubber overlay for easy grip while providing maximum protection. What makes this case outstanding is it will still slide into a pair of jeans, and goes right into the workout armband without having to dismantle the case. This makes that transition from on-the-go to workout and back virtually effortless. ($45)
Brewing coffee and tea in the backcountry is a fickle affair at best. Either choose high quality, and the supplies to go with it (french press, etc), or choose instant coffee and the after effects that go with it (known simply as “the burning rope”. Don’t ask.). Thanks to GSI, there’s no longer a need to compromise. Simply attach the H2jO to your Nalgene bottle (or other wide-mouth bottle), fill it with grounds, pour hot water over top, and leave your coffee or tea to steep. Combine it with an insulating sleeve, and you’ve got hot coffee or tea to last the whole morning. GSI H2jO Coffee Filter ($10)
Never leave your laptop behind. With the Brain Cell from Tom Bihn, you have a perfect companion for your portable computer. Available in three colors and 11 sizes, you’re sure to find one that matches your personality and your notebook. The low-profile design means that it will easily fit inside of other bags, turning any bag into a laptop bag, and the sandwich-style construction of soft foam, corrugated plastic, and memory foam, means that it will protect your laptop no matter what the conditions. Stash it inside your Air Boss on the plane, then use it on it’s own to transport your laptop, files, and power supply to your next big meeting. Tom Bihn Brain Cell ($60)
NovoThink Surge Blue
The iPhone 3Gs brought us better battery life, but it also brought us new and exciting ways to use it up, too. We understand that going without your iPhone is like going without sunlight. And that’s what makes the NovoThink Surge a must-have item. It’s an iPhone case (available in eight colors) that will free you from your charger allow you to charge your iPhone (or iPod Touch) wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. Biking, walking, rock climbing, roaming the beach, or just hanging out around town. It’s secret to success? A built in solar panel that will charge the battery in the Surge case; that’s right, the case itself is also a battery. It’s built in 1500mAh Lithium battery will more than double your iPhone or iPod Touch’s standard battery life. If you’re away from the sun (or simply live in Seattle), you can also recharge the Surge using any nearby USB port. iPhone, iPod Touch (~$70)
We spotted one of these on the streets in Berlin and were immediately intrigued. The ErockIT is the guy in the corner wearing the leather jacket at the electric bike party. It has an attitude. It has the looks. It’ll go 50 miles per hour. And it costs about a buck to charge. It looks like a cross between a vintage bobber motorcycle and a modern downhill race bike. They’re currently in extremely limited (and extremely expensive) production, but if you want a hybrid bike that might actually get you laid, this is it. (ErockIT, $44,000)
Straight out of Big Sky Country comes our new favorite travel bag; the Red Oxx Air Boss. Featuring 1000 denier cordura construction, self-locking zippers, and all-metal hardware, the Air Boss is built to last; as a matter of fact, Red Oxx recommends that you put the bag in your will. All of their products carry a full lifetime warranty. The Air Boss has three large compartments, two on the outside with straps for holding down your clothes, and a large one in the middle for your other gear (shoes, MacBook Pro, etc). All of the pockets have zippers that wrap around three-sides so that you can open the bag and lie it down flat for easier packing, unpacking, or finding that last travel size Jack Daniels bottle at the bottom of the bag. The Air Boss was designed under guidance of Doug Dyment from onebag.com and perfected by Jim and Perry at Red Oxx, two ex-military parachute riggers who understand attention to detail. Did we mention that it also comes in 12 colors? (Red Oxx Air Boss, $255)
Eschewing the typical needle, the Brunton Eclipse 8099 uses a magnetized disc to give quick accurate bearings. A rubber bottom makes the compass easy to hold, and also hides the handy weatherproof instructions in the base of the unit. The included instructions mean that even our most oft lost friends should be able to find their way out of a wet paper bag. It also features a built-in clinometer to find out how steep that sick slope was after your ride/fall down it. The only thing this compass won’t help you find is Jesus.
For the last day of the season, Winter Park and Mary Jane had 38.5″ of fresh pow and 45-degree weather. Make sure your season starts off as strong as theirs ended. The Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus gets you unlimited access to Winter Park/Mary Jane and Copper Mountain plus 6 days and unlimited Friday afternoons at Steamboat. Buy it now before the price goes up. Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus
