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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — With temperatures rising and snow beginning to recede in the higher elevations, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors before the Memorial Day mob sets in. Here’s a quick look at four great products that might be worth checking out this year:
Priority 174HUDSON Stack Packable Helmet ========================================
Price: $79
Grade: A-
There are several good options on the market for packable helmets, including products from Morpher and Fend. The Stack stands out because it has many of the same benefits as the competition and is more affordable.
This helmet only weighs 330 grams and packs down to half its size, making it ideal for commuters who need to store a helmet during the day. You can easily stash it in your backpack.
If you’re unfamiliar with packable helmets, you may wonder how safe they’d be in an accident. It’s a fair question, but rest assured that The Stack is CSPC certified and offers excellent protection.
Wūru Sports Wool ================
Price: $10
Grade: A-
Whether you’re running, hiking, skiing, cycling or any other type of athletic pursuit, blisters can be an unwelcome friend. Wūru aims to eliminate this issue with an extremely low-tech product: wool.
For decades, folks in New Zealand have been using loose wool to keep their feet dry and prevent blisters. It’s a simple approach, but even in this world of synthetic solutions, wool holds its own. It absorbs moisture, cushions and minimizes friction, and helps to keep your feet feeling fresh and pain-free.
Each package of Wūru contains enough wool for about 30 applications. Just apply some to your heel, around your toes or to any other area you want added protection. Rather than use tape to secure it, simply sliding your sock on will keep the wool in place.
Lifetime 77 Quart High Performance Cooler =========================================
Price: $179
Grade: A
Utah-based Lifetime makes a wide range of outdoor products, with its new 77-quart cooler serving as an example of the quality you can usually expect. It’ll preserve your ice up to nine days, which is plenty of time for most excursions. Plus, it’s built tough enough to hang with more premium-priced coolers like the YETI Tundra 75. Apparently, it’s even been “bear tested.”
This cooler is a brute, but can still be toted for short to medium distances. Because of its width, it’s a little tricky to carry indoors where narrow doorways and halls require you to do a sideways shuffle.
The Lifetime 77-quart cooler has a stainless steel hinge rod, which keeps the lid sturdy and secure. It’s sealed with a pair of rubber latches. The bottom has “slide guard” feet that prevent skidding, which is especially nice when you’ve set the cooler on a table or counter. To top it all off, the whole thing is backed by a five-year limited warranty.
Cotopaxi Nepal 65L Backpack ===========================
Price: $230
Grade: A-
One of Cotopaxi’s biggest backpack is the Nepal 65L. Interestingly enough, it’s also one of the most comfortable, mostly thanks to its customizable suspension system. The mesh shoulder straps have the perfect amount of padding, while the adjustable back panel keeps things ventilated and pleasant even on long hauls.
To allow for easier access to cargo, the main compartment has a butterfly zippered opening. There are also two zippered pockets, plus a removable place to stow items on top. Other features include an internal hydration sleeve that doubles as an ultralight backpack, all-around compression straps, tool attachments and a rain cover.
The Nepal 65L weighs less than 5 pounds, and when weight is crucial, you can shave an additional 1 1/2 pounds from that by removing the rain cover, summit pack and other add-ons.
What are your favorite gear picks for 2019? Comment them below.