Ah, the end of another year. Time to get nostalgic and reflect on the great gear we had the privilege to try and review. A few products stood out from the rest, as always. These items scored a nine or better on our ten point scale. And they were consistently chosen for use even after they completed the initial tests. Below is that list in alphabetical order for hiking, biking, fly fishing, skiing, travel and more.
AKU Bellamont Mid Plus Hiking Boot
AKU has a winner on its hands in the Bellamont Mid Plus. The mountain-inspired styling is great. It fits perfectly right out of the box. The sole provides plenty of grip, and it’s light enough to tear around town all day long. Find them at Sierra Trading Post.
Bergans Cecilie Fleece Hoodie
Bergans is used to supplying products for extreme temps and long winter nights. The Cecilie is one such example. The product represents just one member of the Cecilie family designed in collaboration with the Norwegian woman mountaineer Cecilie Skog. It’s made of 100% polyester fleece, features the aforementioned hood and two front pockets. The wrists close with elastic and Bergans provides thumb holes so you can use the jacket as a partial glove to keep your hands warm in a pinch. Available at Moosejaw and Campsaver and other retailers.
Dolly Varden Roaring Fork Shirt
What you do get with the Roaring Fork is a very attractive shirt that doesn’t scream “I’m here just for the fishing.” It’s good looking and will work around town, on a plane and in camp. The one chest pocket on the Roaring Fork is zippered and big enough for one medium fly box. When not in use, that pocket is subtly hidden, part of the interior of the shirt and nearly invisible when not in use. Around the side, the company places another hidden, zippered pocket, also large enough for a fly box, sandwich or whatever else you might need on the river. Find it at Dolly Varden.
Niterider Sentinel 40 Tail Light
We love this innovative tail light. The Niterider Sentinel 40 is of course 40 lumens strong. It connects easily to the rear seat post with a universal rubber mount. It also has four light modes, two steady and two flashing. But the coolest feature of the Niterider Sentinel 40 is the laser lanes it projects to give drivers a visible safe distance indicator. Absolutely awesome. Find them at Amazon.
Own Only Blazer
Online custom clothing is where Own Only fits. Their process of ordering was cool and quick. Customer service delivered ahead of expectations. And the product was pretty impressive. Fabric was of nice quality. The fit was spot on. Everything was good through the shoulders and chest. Jacket length was right on too. Delivery was prompt. And their prices are definitely reasonable. They even gave me a friends and family discount to share. You can get it by clicking on this link.
Under Armour Keepz Sunglasses
Under Armour continues to kill it with their line of sunglasses and the Keepz is no exception. It’s lightweight and quite good looking, our favorite of the bunch. Under Armour offers a number of different color and lens combos. Our sample was a cool horizontal striped tortoise with brown lenses. They fit the face well. Construction was also solid. No bargain basement feel or components coming loose. The Keepz aren’t cheap at north of $100 but they’re well worth the price. Find them at Amazon.
