Campedia

Every year a new product comes along that redefines a category. This year is no exception. The Therm-A-Rest NeoAir pad puts serious sleeping comfort into a light-weight and compact package like nothing we’ve seen before. We have the Therm-A-Rest Prolite 4 a t 1.5 lbs and 1.5 inches, the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad at 2.5 inches and 1.5 lbs, which are the two most popular pads in the industry. The NeoAir Regular 72″ x 20″ and 2.5″ thick comes in at 14 oz, a full 10 oz lighter than these two favorites. Even the large at 25″ x 77″ only weighs 19 oz. Big guys are licking their chops for the first pad that’s not bulging in their pack. I’ve been able to test the NeoAir a few times and I prefer the horizontal  baffles compared to the long vertical tubes on the Big Agnes and Insulmat Pads. There are some other air pads that come close on weight but they have a 0 R value, meaning no insulating value for cool, or hot ground. From my own experience and testimonies from others, the NeoAir Pad is the real deal and a huge leap forward in backpacking sleeping pad technology, comfort and weight

We’re coming back to report on gear for 2009. Campedia will be the place for the latest and greatest information on Gear.

Outdoor gear providers are creating products that work great and outperform the competition thanks to their eco-friendly innovations. It’s the start of a new phase in green living where the green choice is unquestionably the better choice because it actually improves our lifestyles.THIS WEEK’S GUESTS:
Jessica Ng – Marketing Manager for Arbor, maker of snowboards and skateboards designed for high performance thanks to innovative eco-aware materials like lightweight yet extremely sturdy bamboo. Arbor also makes clothing base layers using bamboo fabric, which naturally wicks moisture to keep body temperatures regulated while being active.

Zach Lyman – Co-founder of Reware, maker of the Reware Juice Bags, a line of solar powered backpacks and messenger bags. Reware also recently introduced its Power Pockets, a line of foldable, portable, and easily stow-able solar power charging kits.
SIRIUS AND LIME RADIO SHOWTIMES:
Premieres Wednesday at 9 am EST on the Lime Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio 114 and streaming live at Lime.com. Encores – Wednesdays 9PM; Thursdays 3AM, 2PM, 8PM; Fridays 2AM; Sundays 1PM.

BIG snows forecast for tonight through Wednesday!
The first section of a large winter storm hit Snowbird today dumping over 10″ of new snow at the base and setting the stage for a great day tommorow. The NWS forecast is calling for an ADDITIONAL 12″-18″ tonight and 8″-14″ MORE on Tuesday! Check the Snowbird Snow Report to see the latest snow and weather updates.

Just in from my newsletter shagging!

It’s a powder day- let the fun begin! Up to 7 inches of new snow reported yesterday at our resorts and more new snow today means fresh tracks and big powder- do what you have to do to be here now.

Don’t forget! The Counting Crows are coming to Vail on 12/9. Tickets are $35, but hurry because prices increase to $50 this Friday, 12/1! Buy now>>

When I was twelve I tried to retrofit my BMX with speakers that connected to my Walkman. I taped the speakers to my handlebars and my walkman I just put in my pocket. It worked, sort of, but you really couldn’t hear since the Walkman couldn’t punch out enough juice through the headphone jack. Well, times have changed and today I won’t need to retrofit my skiing pack with speakers and an iPod because Camelbak has done it for me. Their new Hellion Skullcandy pack has waterproof speaker on the upper straps and built in iPod and mobile phone support. Apparently it works pretty good too. Next time your making turns down the slope and you hear Dashboard Confessionals whisper through the trees, it’s probably just 1 of 250 Camelbak Hellion Skullcandy packs being sold this year.

Our intrepid roving cub reporter spent Saturday the 25th of November on the slopes at Beaver Creek. Sending repeated instant messages slopeside about blasting down the blacks of the famous Centennial run (this editor wasn’t so sure he heard them as well). No falls were recorded or admitted to, but early season boot and foot problems curtailed this otherwise awesome day.

Here are some of the shots he took.

Looking up one of the black drops on Centennial proving he had come this way before.