Reviews (gear, books)
150 Easy Ways for Kids and Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future
By Judy Molland, review by Mary Reed
Get Out!, aside from having a great name, has other good qualities – namely, it is a tidy little book of 150 quick ideas to get kids out in nature and to teach them basic green habits.
By Attila Horvath
What makes for great pack-in backcountry meals? The folks at Packit Gourmet have asked the same question, and the answer is largely satisfying.
By Ken Burns, review by Mary Reed
If you missed this on PBS, no worries: The National Parks, a 12-hour documentary series by Ken Burns, is available on DVD.
2009 was yet another year stocked with regionally produced gear and regional book titles, advancements in cradle-to-grave green gear and lots more. Here’s our recap:
By Mary Reed
If you’re into gourmet backcountry cooking or even if you’re just a gearhead, wow your friends at camp by whipping out the aluminum Bemco Backpacker Oven.
By Mary Reed
No need to triple Ziplock your field journal – get a Rite in the Rain notebook and don’t worry about inclement weather. This waterproof writing paper really works.
By Mary Reed
This puppy comes in at just two ounces, so it really does make it easier to spend quality time with your pet in the outdoors.
By Mary Reed
This hammock will have you planning all of your trips around it. Beach? No way. Desert? Nah. You need trees.
By Jaclyn Boland
Ride the wave of comfort with Surf Ohio t-shirts. That’s right, surfing Ohio’s greatest rivers.
By Jerrell Goodpaster, review by Attila Horvath
If you’re getting bored with pedaling the same old roads this season, grab this guidebook and start scheming.
By Mary Reed
File this one under Great Idea – or maybe, Idea I Wish I’d Had. The Element Bar is a DIY energy bar that you make with the click of a mouse.
By Jaclyn Boland
Looking for something to knock your socks off? Woolrich Ten-Mile Crew socks will make you do just the opposite. When I first put my foot in this sock, I stopped because my foot was in sock heaven.
By Tamara York, review by Mary Reed
The 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles concept is one of the best things that has happened to guide books in recent years, and 60/60 Cincinnati is no exception.
By Attila Horvath
Ya know what stinks – literally? Synthetic clothes. After a day of outdoor pursuits, a polyester base layer will reek.
Two non-toxic bug repellents that really work
By Mary Reed
DEET is nasty, toxic – and effective. Problem is, non-toxic alternatives tend to do little more than give mosquitoes a nice hit of aromatherapy before they pierce into your skin. Not any more.