A.J. Johnson started running when he was 6 years old. Growing up he played all types of sports, from your standard soccer and baseball, to B.M.X. at a national level, and tennis at the college level. He never stopped running and eventually got into triathlon. After 10 years in triathlon, 2 of them at the professional level, he “retired” from racing and now gets outside for fun. He enjoys all variations of skiing, cycling, and running and is up for just about anything outdoors. He still enjoys competing in endurance events and has started the Endure Tour as a way to race and raise funds for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. To find out more about him, and to see what he’s currently doing, go to www.enduretour.com.
Barefoot running has taken off in recent years and with that, more products have come to market. Along with that, shoes are getting more specialized- think trail versus road barefoot shoes. Outdoor footwear innovator Merrell has brought to market several versions of barefoot style shoes, among them are the Barefoot Water Current Glove. Designed [...]
Living by the water you find yourself taking advantage of it in many ways. Surfing and stand up paddling are a lot of fun, as are kayaking and just sitting at the beach. But ocean life and adventures have their own unique set of challenges- mainly having to do with the water itself. Either you’re [...]
The Global Trainer from Timex is one of those watches that has so many features it seems like you would need a p.h.D to operate it. Equipped with G.P.S., heart rate, reading power on the bike, and the ability to be worn while swimming, it is a triathlete’s dream. I had more than one person [...]
Garmont is a company that is most well known for their ski boots, but recently they ventured into the ever expanding trail shoe market. They have come into the market with several shoes hitting different segments. The Bolt DL is part of Garmont’s 9.81 line as a lightweight trainer or racer and is a well [...]
Car camping may not be the most extreme method to get outdoors, but let’s face it, for many of us it’s that or nothing. While we may want to venture into the wild with nothing but a pack filled with supplies, more often we drive out, park and unload our gear for the weekend. There [...]
Brooks Range may not be a household name for some, but their well designed and focused products are worth a look. Brooks Range takes ideas from the professional rescuers and mountian guides and brings them to life. One of those products is the Elephant Foot, which is in essence a 3/4 sleeping bag, and is [...]
Trail running can require a shoe to perform many different tasks on the same run. Rock protection, traction, flexibility, water proof, and of course comfortable all come to mind. I am the type of trail runner who is willing to sacrifice some protection for lighter weight, so I wasn’t sure the Blur GTX would be [...]
Garmin has long been the main player in the G.P.S. bike computer market. With several models and features to choose from they cover everyone from the serious roadie to the trail obsessed mountain biker. The 705 sits at the top of Garmin’s G.P.S. line with a list of features that borders on ridiculous. It gives [...]
The Jolla from Hydrapak is one the most versatile hydration packs on the market. At 18 liters of space and holding a 100 ounce resevoir it is a great choice for those all day hikes, bikes or treks. Plenty of storage and well placed zipper and pockets make it easy to organize. Having used this [...]
Keeping your gear clean and working properly can often be a chore. Scrubbing, brushing and wiping down bikes, camping gear, your car or kayak takes time and energy. Using your garden hose to wash it down first is effective, but not convenient if you are traveling to a race or taking bikes along on a [...]
I will start this review by telling you that I am a coffee fiend. As an endurance athlete, coffee is an ergonomic aid, but I just love the taste and pick me up. Now, I’m not a coffee snob per say, but I do have my opinions on how it should be made (French Press [...]
Bellwether is a brand that for many cyclists was associated with the recreational rider, not the cool-guy roadie. Their products were geared more towards the entry level cyclist with the lime green safety vests and the like. Recently though Bellwether has changed their game and has began making some high end, but not expensive shorts [...]
This week I was fortunate enough to be a part of Specialized’s 2011 product launch in Keystone, Co. I was able to ride both road and mountain bikes, testing the latest and greatest from the brand. They have a full arsenal of bikes to choose from, so it was hard to pick the ones I [...]
Blue Bicycles is a relatively new brand out of North Carolina. There triathlon series, the Triad, is very successful and their road and cross bikes are being ridden by more and more top teams. Their mountain bikes however still seem to fly under the radar, but they are definitely worth a look. I recently tested [...]
MountainSmith is best known for their packs, camera bags and lumbar packs. Moving into the growing field of organizational bags, the BikeCube is an ideal bag for any outdoor pursuit. When I was shown the BikeCube for the first time I was expecting a bag with some basic compartments. I was surprised to see the [...]
Mammut is one of those companies that does fewer products than others, but what they do, they do very well. Every product they put out is specifically designed to fill a need. Simply put, they don’t make a product just to make it. The Creon Zip is no different. It may look like another daypack, [...]
CycleOps, the maker of PowerTap, have been at the forefront of powermeter technology from the start. Beginning with a wired version, then moving to wireless, the new the Joule 2.0, with ANT+ technology, is a major step up. The new computer displays more information, is easy to navigate and tracks more metrics than it’s predecessor. [...]
The TRX is a simple piece of workout equipment designed to allow athletes a wide range of exercises, different motions and allow you to get a gym type workout without going to the gym. Created by a former Nave SEAL, it was designed to allow someone a quick, effective workout in a small space. Building [...]
Litespeed built it’s reputation on the basis of Titanium being the ultimate material to makes bikes from. For several years titanium was the high end material to use, and then came carbon fiber. Super light, incredibly strong, and able to be shaped into radical forms, carbon fiber quickly rose to the top and still reigns. [...]
The Colorado weather is fickle and can change in 10 minutes. This is true year round and is compounded as you gain altitude. This fact makes clothing decisions crucial. You may encounter wind, rain, sun or snow, during a trail run or day hike. I don’t want to pack 3 shells, but I don’t want [...]
Snowshoeing has grown in popularity over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. You can use the same summer trails you enjoy and it requires only 1 piece of special equipment, the snowshoes themselves. Athletes that excel in summer sports use snowshoeing as a way to [...]
