This is a pretty cool item that didn’t get a lot of press (which actually makes it even cooler): last month Hi-Tec donated 900 pairs of hiking boots to Haitian earthquake victims. The company gave the boots to Souls4Souls.org which will distribute them to men, women, and children in Haiti. Not ones to toot their own horns, Hi-Tec makes no mention of the donation on their website - all I was able to find was this short press release on another site:

Hi-Tec has donated 900 pairs of men’s, women’s and children’s boots and shoes to soles4souls.org for distribution to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

“Our hearts go out to our Haitian neighbors as we struggle to comprehend the magnitude of this disaster, and we cannot forget how important basic necessities – such as shoes – will be in the ongoing rescue and rebuilding efforts,” said Bill Berta, CEO of Hi—Tec USA. “We deeply appreciate the work of Soles 4 Souls and encourage everyone to look into their own closets in support of this tragedy.”

And as you can see from the image at the top of this post, Hi-Tec also supports our National Parks and other great causes. Kinda makes us feel good to see outdoor companies stepping up and helping out…

These days it’s rare for me to head out for a hike without a GPS unit in tow and over the past few weeks I’ve been putting the Garmin Colorado 400t through its paces. The Colorado 400t is a rugged, high powered, and full featured GPS that’s ready for any adventure you can dream up.

Hardware

Before we get into software, let’s talk hardware. The Colorado 400t is compact - about the size of a cellphone, only thicker and a bit heavier. The case is rated IPX7 waterproof which means it should be safe for up to 30 minutes of accidental immersion in water (though sadly it doesn’t float so be prepared to dive after it!). The GPS runs on 2 AA batteries which in my opinion is a mixed blessing: yes, you can power it continuously in the field by replacing batteries as needed but it’s not nearly as convenient as a rechargeable, integrated system for trips closer to home.

Perhaps my favorite hardware feature on the Colorado 400t is the Rock ‘n Roller input wheel. With one hand you can quickly navigate from screen to screen, even with gloved hands. The input wheel also makes entering descriptive track and waypoint text a cinch, an operation that is painful on most other Garmin GPS models.

The Transflective color TFT screen offers up plenty of detail in brilliant color but I found I needed to use the battery-sucking backlight in all but direct sunlight. For hikes that move in and out of tree cover, an ambient light sensor would certainly do the trick in adjusting backlight on the fly to save battery power.

Satellite fixes were snappy and I even got a decent signal indoors thanks to the high-sensitivity WAAS receiver on board. There’s an SD card slot to expand the Colorado 400t’s built in memory, though sadly accessing it involves removing the batteries.

Software

There are 3 different versions of the Colorado 400 and the letter on the end of the model name designates which pre-loaded maps your GPS includes. The 400t, which I tested, is the topographic version and includes topographic maps covering the US baked right in. To those who may be new to the GPS game, this is a big deal because in the past you had to buy topographic software separately and even then it was nearly impossible to fit maps of the entire US onto your GPS at one time. I’m don’t know if future map updates are included with the Colorado 400t but fortunately topographic data doesn’t change very often. The pre-loaded maps also include roads and other landmark data, though you’ll need additional software to use turn-by-turn navigation features.

Marking waypoints (custom points of interest) is simple: just hold down the center button on the input wheel while viewing the map and your current location will be marked. Recording tracks is a little more difficult and involves resetting previous track data before heading out but once you’re done the Colorado 400 includes a cool tool for cleaning up your data. When you save a recent track, the Colorado 400 prompts you to find the start and end points for the track using the input wheel so you can cut out the trek across the parking lot or the part where you accidentally left the GPS on for the car ride home. Name your recorded track and the Colorado 400 saves the data to a standard GPX file. Simple.

Speaking of GPX, the Colorado 400t is one of Garmin’s most compatible GPS units to date. To load a GPX data file on your device, just plug the GPS in via the included USB cable to your Mac or PC and drag and drop the files in place. You can also access track files created on the Colorado 400t via drag and drop. No need for clunky desktop software, especially now that basemaps are preloaded.

Garmin has taken openness a step further and includes support for custom KMZ-formatted basemaps. I won’t go into a ton of detail here but basically you can create your own maps (or download them online) to overlay on top of the included Garmin basemaps. Garmin even has a great tutorial for creating your own custom maps on their website to help you get started.

Aside from the basics of track and waypoint management, the Colorado 400t has a raft of features to help you find your way outdoors. From wireless sharing between Colorado units to location-based games and geocaching-specific tools, the Colorado 400 can do it all. There’s even a 3D view to help you visualize terrain that’s connected to the internal compass so you can spin around your surroundings to get an idea of what lies ahead. I also noticed a data field for temperature - both air and water - though I couldn’t find references to this feature in any of the printed or online literature. In any event, at a glance the temperature readings seemed fairly accurate.

Summary

If you’re looking for a GPS that can do it all - from geocaching with the kids to multi-day backcountry exploration, the Colorado 400t is up to the challenge. With powerful software in a rugged, easy to use package, the Colorado 400t is quickly becoming the GPS of choice for serious adventurers everywhere.

Congrats to our December contest winners, SCGuide1 and jamesh32, for their contributions to Tripleblaze.com last month. We expect things to heat up over the next few months as the temps bottom out and the days start getting longer so get your contributions in for your shot at $25 from REI! (details here)

Just as a reminder, all submissions to Tripleblaze.com should be your own work and may not be copied from other websites. We take copyright issues very seriously and we can’t accept photos or written content without permission from the original creator. If you suspect any content on Tripleblaze.com has been copied without authorization, please contact us with the specifics.

Here’s a super cool product for 2010 that we’re filing under why-didn’t-someone-think-of-this-before: GearPods. GearPods is essentially a modular adventure gear system that’s perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or even trail running. The “pods” are interlocking tubes that sorta look like those vacuum tubes they use at the bank or Home Depot and can be purchased as full kits or empty containers.

The Backcountry GearPods kit is packed with enough survival gear to sustain any adventurer for days in the wild and features items in the following categories: first-aid, basic survival, and even cooking. We’ve seen plenty of compact and portable first-aid kits but the Backcountry takes things to an entirely different level with matches, fuel, a CookMug, purification tablets, fishing tackle, whistle, compass, mini saw and knife, flashlight, and much more. Everything fits into a modular and durable package that’s roughly 9.5 inches high and 3 inches in diameter - the perfect size for an adjustable diameter bike bottle cage or side sleeve on a daypack. Fully stocked the Backcountry kit weighs in at just 18 ounces.

GearPods are water-resistant which means your important survival gear should stay dry even if you don’t. Although GearPods aren’t entirely waterproof (don’t drop yours in a lake, for example), you can enhance the water resistance by sealing the screw connections with duct tape (which is actually included!) or bicycle tubes and rubber bands. Before GearPods I often used zip lock bags for keeping things dry and organized but I found they often punctured inside my pack. GearPods are constructed of polycarbonate so they’re tough plus you can see what’s inside just like a plastic bag.

Beyond being insanely useful, GearPods are simply beautiful. From the iconography to the tight and neat packaging you can see that a lot of thought went into creating each GearPods kit. The orange caps and connectors make it easy to spot the kit inside a pack and the simple labels let you know what’s inside each compartment at a glance. There’s a raft of compatible kit components from aerated caps (for drying damp gear) to the GearPods Barista which turns your CookMug into a French press coffee maker.

Contents of the survival kit. The first-aid kit contains standard first-aid items.

As with any survival or first aid kit, it’s important to periodically check your kit to make sure things aren’t expired or broken. Even more important, check to make sure you replace any items you may have used in your last trail “emergency” - kits are only useful when they’re complete!

One GearPods enhancement I’d like to see is the addition of a simple survival guide. Many of us are probably already familiar with outdoor basics but in an emergency situation it’s important to make the most of your resources. I for one could probably start a fire using just one match but I’d struggle to use the included fishing equipment successfully. Some items, like the spool of thin wire, may require a little explanation. Should it be used for building small game snares? Fixing broken equipment? If it’s the former, I’ll need a primer, preferably with diagrams. The Backcountry does include instruction cards on signaling and CookMug operation but I could definitely use a little more info in the field.

Now that I have the Gear Pods Backcountry kit I sorta hope I get lost on my next epic hiking or mountain biking trip. Even if I don’t have to use my kit, at least I’ll be more confident when I head out into the woods, ready for any situation. Besides, I can think of worse things than turning a day hike into a 3 day adventure!

Thanks to the folks at Gear Pods for providing the Backcountry kit for review. If you’re looking for more info, check out the video review below.

I’m a big fan of any outdoor gear I can use even when I’m not on the trail. I use my camping headlamp to find help me stuff in the attic and install windshield wipers in the driveway after work; in college I used my sleeping bag as a comforter on my bed; and these days I’m wearing my Marmot Leadville jacket to walk the dog when I’m stuck in suburbia. Now if I could only find a weekday use for my tent and camp stove…

The Marmot Leadville Softshell is a fitted jacket that’s pretty much perfect for fall and even winter conditions here in the southeast. It’s designed to fit over your base layer and I’ve found it fits well over everything from t-shirts to sweaters. It’s also thin enough to fit under a down or fleece vest if necessary.

Don’t let this jacket’s everyday good looks fool you - it’s actually packed with some serious outdoor tech. To start, it’s equipped with Gore Windstopper which means it’s water resistant yet breathable, perfect for misty summit hikes in the fall or spring. The Marmot M2 softshell adds a layer of wind resistance and durability in an attractive low, maintenance package. My favorite part? Dog hair doesn’t stick like it does on my North Face fleece jacket.

The Marmot Leadville is also great at blocking the wind thanks to a sporty, high collar and velcro wrist closures. It seems like Marmot thought of everything, right down to the elastic waist cincher that is accessible via the front pockets. No need to get your hands out into the cold to make adjustments, this jacket has you covered. There’s even a small inside pocket for your iPod with access for headphone cords. The inside front is covered in a super soft microfleece that almost feels a little too luxurious.

Marmot says this jacket is ideal for hiking and backpacking, high aerobic sports, mountaineering, and “urban.” I definitely give it the thumbs up for the first two, though the third (mountaineering) is a little questionable. I probably get the most use out of my jacket on the urban side of things but this jacket works equally well in the city as it does in the backcountry. Even if you get dirty and sweaty in the Leadville, it’s a cinch to clean - just toss it in the wash! In fact, washing this jacket is the best thing you can do to prolong its water resistant capabilities for the long term.

When I say that I wear this jacket all the time, that’s really not an exaggeration - I absolutely love the versatility of this jacket. In fact my Leadville has probably already paid for itself since I’m wearing it in the house and keeping the heat below 68 degrees this winter. Pick up a Marmot Leadville Softshell to stay warm and dry on your active adventures this fall and winter!

Thanks to W.L. Gore for providing this jacket for review.

Ok, so apparently hiking boots aren’t the only pieces of outdoor clothing getting juiced these days. Mountain Hardware has two jackets - the Radiance and Refugium - that make use of the Ardica Moshi Power System to heat the jacket AND charge and run your electronics on the go.

The Ardica power supply is basically an array of flexible lithium ion batteries and is sold separately from the jacket. The battery array has two power outputs - one to power the two USB ports for gadgets (left and right pockets), the other connected to the integrated heating elements within the Mountain Hardware jackets (3 elements, 2 front, 1 rear).

The power pack is recharged by plugging into one of the USB outlets in the jacket and LEDs mounted in the wall unit let you know when the battery is charged. Just don’t forget the battery when you toss the jacket in the wash. I wouldn’t want to fall into a lake or get caught in a downpour in this jacket either.

Word is the entire battery system weighs just under 300 grams which is great news. One charge will get you 3-9 hours of heat or 20 charges for your iPhone (or whatever device you’re packing). The jackets start around $230 and the battery array will set you back another $150. Cool… er, warm.

Quick shout out to SCGuide1 and Asfyxiate for winning $25 REI gift cards again in November. With cooler temps creeping in you may be tempted to hang up the boots and pack away your tent but there’s lots more to come this year. Even if the weather does have you sidelined and sitting in front of the computer, how about adding pics and reviews of your favorite adventures from this summer to Tripleblaze.com!

This winter we’ll also be introducing some other contests over on our Facebook page where we’ll be giving away even more REI gift cards. Become a fan before you forget so you’ll be able to keep up with the latest!

Here’s a cool gift idea for anyone who will be spending time outdoors this winter: The Beard Head. This machine-washable, wool/acrylic face mask should keep your head and face warm in all but the most blustery conditions. There are several color combos to choose from including “viking,” “pirate,” and “lumberjack.” I vote for a new color, the “Yosemite Sam” in fire red!

The cool thing about the Beard Head is that you can even switch out the mustache for a different look. The Fu Manchu adds a slightly longer, droopy mustache while the Mario looks like, well something out of a video game. There’s also the Walrus mustache which I think I’d call the Flanders instead. I never realized how many cartoon characters had facial hair.

The Beard Head is just $29.99 and the add on ’staches are less than five bucks each. I’m hoping this points to a trend in creative but functional winter masks. Maybe this means we’ll be seeing fewer of those stupid ski and snowboard hats with horns on the slopes this winter.

Although I’d much rather be hiking or mountain biking the day after Thanksgiving, it’s tough to pass up great deals on outdoor equipment. Here are a few deals you need to know about this year.

REI: The first 300 customers through the door at REI stores on Black Friday will receive gift cards ranging in value from $5 to $100. Stores open at 8am so there’s no need to wake up before dawn - sweet.

Bass Pro Shops: Apparently there will be different deals at each store from 6 to 11am on Black Friday. For example, my local Bass Pro will have a $39.99 dog bed for just $14.94 and a digital food dehydrator for $70 off the regular price. Check here to find your local store and view the deals in your area.

Dick’s Sporting Goods: The folks at Dick’s are being coy with their deals this year and to find out what’s on sale you have to check the website after 6pm EST tonight. Doors open at 5am on Black Friday and if you’re shopping online you’ll get free shipping on orders over $49 all weekend. Honestly I’m a little confused about what’s on sale where and when so it may be worthwhile to call your local store.

Backcountry.com: No Black Friday deals as far as we can tell but their “Secret Stash Sale” is going on right now with up to 25% off 10,000 items.

Cabela’s: Ho-hum, Cabela’s is offering free shipping on orders over $99 through December 1. Of course there’s also the everyday “Bargain Cave” with thousands of items marked up to 70% off where you may find a decent deal.

That’s all we got so far, if you know of any Black Friday deals on outdoor equipment we missed, fill us in through the comment section!

Just wanted to let everyone know about a few things we’ve got cooking here on Tripleblaze.com this fall.

Interactive hiking trail locator map: Just click on the Hiking Trails link in the header and you’ll see a map of the US showing the locations of nearly 1,000 hiking trails. Some of the locations are approximate so we can use your help filling in the gaps. If you hit a trail with a white push-pin icon, click the link and find the box that says “Help us locate this trail on a map.” On this page you can click the correct trailhead location which we’ll use to update the map.

Facebook: We’ve had a fan page on Facebook for several months now but honestly haven’t promoted it at all. Now we’ve made it easy for you to become a fan - just click the button in the Facebook box on the right of any page here on Tripleblaze and you can join our crew! Fans will see short blurbs from the blog in their news feed so it’s a great way to keep up with camping and hiking info.

Twitter: We just signed up for Twitter a couple weeks ago and clearly this is something people were looking for. Check us out at twitter.com/tripleblaze to get the latest.

Get outside more this fall - weather is never a valid excuse!

The Bugathermo heated hiking boot from Columbia is certainly an, errr, interesting idea. Plug your boots in the night before an epic slog through snow and cold temps and you’ll have up to 8 hours of heat keeping your tootsies warm. The Bugathermo has three heat levels, dual heating elements, and an LED display, all powered by an integrated lithium ion battery. The boots also feature Omni-Tech, Columbia’s version of Gore-Tex plus Thinsulate Insulation rated down to -25° F. These boots are certainly rugged looking but they aren’t cheap: $250 for the men’s version.

If you’re like me you can probably see there might be some problems with these boots. First, it seems like adding a lithium ion battery to footwear might make it a tad heavy. There’s no info on where the batteries are located (sole? uppers?) but wherever they are, they can’t be comfortable. Then there’s the whole issue of replacing the batteries when they stop holding a charge.

Columbia says these boots are perfect for mountain trekking or Arctic exploration but I’d add a caveat to that and say you need to have access to electrical power to make these boots effective. For other users like ski lift operators, these boots seem like they may be well suited.

I always hated buying those chemical heaters for outdoor winter sports and the heated hiking boot is certainly an interesting alternative. For now I think I’ll keep heating my feet the old fashioned way: extra socks and vigorous physical activity.

I don’t know about you but I’ve always thought pop-up campers were a little, er, ugly. Of course I’m no RV enthusiast but the idea of a pop-up camper is mildly appealing - it is, after all, sorta halfway between a tent and a RV. The Opera is a new pop-up camper design that’s turning heads in Europe and is scheduled to begin production in 2010. Even the logo is pretty sweet if you ask me

As you might have guessed the Opera takes its name from its design inspiration, the Sydney Opera house. The arched canvas cover keeps the sun and rain off the wine cabinet and espresso bar inside (no kidding). The post I read mentions that this pop-up camper will be targeted to the high end of the market so don’t expect to get one of these on the cheap anytime soon. Let’s just hope other manufacturers get the hint and start giving camping enthusiasts more stylish choices!

Just a quick shout out to our October contest winners, SCguide1 and Asfyxiate. Both guys will receive $25 gift certificates to REI for their contributions, start adding your campground and hiking trail reviews and photos now and you could be a winner next month!

Stay tuned to the blog for upcoming outdoor product reviews and info about our trip to visit the Gore-Tex folks last month.

Congratulations to our September content contest winners, SCguide1 and Mountain Rest Cabins. SCguide1 is a two time winner and he’s already out in front for October. Mountain Rest Cabins snuck into second place with just 4 photo uploads last month - and they were of their own property - how great is that? As you can see it’s easy to get your $25 REI gift card - just add your reviews and photos and you just might win this month! Read details here.

In other site news, we launched the a Google map showing the locations (exact and approximate) of thousands of  campgrounds across the US. We still need your help zeroing in on exact locations for many campgrounds - hit up the white pin points and let us know where they belong.

We just added a new feature to Tripleblaze last week that we’re super stoked to share with everyone: campground and trailhead maps. Select campground and trail pages include a map showing the vicinity and an icon to mark the campground or trailhead. You can even click the “Directions” link (indicated with the blue arrow above) to get driving directions from your house. We already have maps and coordinates for nearly 700 trails but we need your help to fill in the rest!

Trail and campground listings that have not been located yet have a small link in a yellow box just above the trail/campground title that says “Help us locate this trail/campground.” Click the link and you’ll see a Google Map with an approximate location. Zoom around until you find the right spot and click the map to add a marker. Submit the location and you’re done!

Once we get more coordinates we’ll post a US map showing all the hiking trails and campgrounds and we’ll even add features to help you find trails close to campgrounds and vice versa. Questions? Hit us up via email: info@tripleblaze.com.

On the road to Clingman’s Dome in GSMNP.

If you’ve ever camped in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) you know there aren’t showers at park campgrounds - but have you ever wondered why? Is this an idea no one has considered before? The Chattanooga Times Free Press has some answers.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and it’s still the most visited of all the National Parks (9.3 million visitors in 2006 alone!). Despite offering primative (by some standards) camping facilities, it can still be tough to snag a campsite in summer. So are hot showers being withheld to keep the crowds down?

It turns out the real reason has to do with cost and environmental concerns. Park managers want to keep fees low (GSMNP is still one of the few large National Parks that doesn’t charge a gate fee) and building showers would add to the cost of campsite rentals. Then there’s also the issue of what to do with all that extra wastewater in such a beautiful and natural area. Unfortunately GSMNP already has the distinction of being one of the most polluted parks in the NP system due to all the vehicles driving through each year and adding more pollution isn’t good for anyone.

The cool thing is that many of the facilities and campgrounds are just as they were nearly 75 years ago when the park was first designated and visitors get to experience a little history along with the nature beauty. Like someone once said: you don’t mess with a good thing!

The Outdoor Federation recently released the results of its survey on camping participation in the US and there are some pretty interesting trends to talk about. The big number that everyone is focusing on is the annual increase in camping in 2008 over 2007: 7.4% in the US. That’s a pretty good jump and the authors (along with sponsor Coleman) think this may be a reflection on the economy.

The report found that 33.7 million Americans went camping in 2008 and each camper spent an average of 14 days in the great outdoors. That seems a little high to me but I guess there are some really dedicated camping enthusiasts who are bringing the average up for everyone else.

What areas of the country boast the most campers? According to the report the Pacific region (CA, OR, and WA) had the most campers followed by the Southeast (GA, NC, SC, FL, VA, WV, and MD). From what I could tell the report didn’t adjust for population numbers so this could be a little skewed toward high population states like California. Even so, the Pacific coast boasts some of the best weather and most scenic locales making it a great place to camp.

The most popular activities to participate in while camping are hiking and swimming (no surprise here). And RV campers are more likely to choose privately-owned campgrounds than tent campers (also no big surprise).

You can read more details about the report here.

Wow, can you believe it’s already September? Many of you are probably planning Labor Day camping trips before summer is over but here at Tripleblaze we’re just getting started. We camp and hike all year long!

For those who don’t know, we’re running a contest each month to reward our top hiking and campground reviewers with $25 REI gift cards. This month we even created a contest standings page so members can see how they’re doing during the contest - check it out and see who’s in the lead this month!

In August we had two clear winners: Mongoose and SCguide1. Mongoose racked up an impressive 284 points while SCguide1 wasn’t too far behind with 172 points. Start snapping camping and hiking pics and adding reviews now - the end of September will be here before you know it!

I saw this video on CNN.com last week and it reminded me of a Yogi Bear cartoon:

Of course this was a real bear and I’m not sure the campers were treating it with the fear and respect they should have. Is it really worth risking your life over some food in a cooler? Next time, let the bear take the food and keep as far away from him as possible!

We love new camping gadgets as much as the next person but sometimes manufacturers take things a little too far. Case in point: the Coleman Quickbed with built-in MP3 speakers. I personally have no problem with the integrated battery powered pump (who wants to blow up such a huge air mattress?) but MP3 speakers cross the line. And these aren’t just over-sized headphones we’re talking about either - these babies include a built in amplifier which we assume is powered by the same batteries used in the QuickPump. With that extra power you can certainly annoy your camping neighbors all night long!

According to Coleman this air mattress supports up to 600 pounds which is almost as ridiculous as the MP3 speakers themselves. I suppose two 300-pound campers might want to use this mattress but I’m thinking they may have a hard time fitting on the same mattress and in the same tent in the first place

The queen sized version will set you back less than $60 on Amazon.com which is about the same price you’d pay for a decent self-inflating Therm-A-Rest air matress. Of course the Therm-A-Rest is only wide enough for one and is less than 2 inches thick inflated but it also doesn’t weigh 14.4 pounds like the Coleman Quickbed.

What’s next? A camping stove with a built-in internet browser? A tent with a digital thermostat? We’ll keep you posted…

Via GadgetGrid.