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.

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.

I recently had a chance to try out the Princeton Tec FUEL headlamp and I have to say… headlamps have come a long way since the old days. I remember winning a headlamp in Boy Scouts in the ’80s and back then it was pretty uncool to strap what looked like a car headlight to your head unless you were exploring a cave. Of course I was a cool kid so I only used my headlamp for spelunking trips Anyway, all of Princeton Tec’s headlamps have a cool factor that their bulkier predecessors didn’t have plus the FUEL is much more than a headlamp.

Princeton Tec Fuel

The Princeton Tec FUEL light retails for $19.95 to $24.95. It comes in three colors – pink, grey and green. According to Princeton Tec, the FUEL weighs 78g, emits 35 lumens of brightness and can last up to 160 hours on three AAA batteries. The light has three brightness settings and a strobe setting, allowing the light to be used for general outdoor hiking, reading in your tent, or as a beacon in case you want to attract attention in an emergency.

The three ultra-bright LEDs give off plenty of light. The most noticeable feature is the wide field of view or what Princeton calls “Focused Wide Beams.” The light uses three bright LED bulbs to send a beam in front of you and a beam to your left and right. Unlike a light with a single bulb pointed in one direction and a reflector that diffuses the light, the FUEL’s three LED bulbs produce a wide swath of bright light that fills your peripheral vision. As a result, I didn’t feel like I was walking down a tunnel.

You can easily adjust the direction of the light by rotating the base up or down. The head strap seems comfortable and is easy to adjust. Most importantly, the strap kept the light in place while walking. I didn’t try running with it, but I suspect it would stay put even while jogging.

Aside from the basic functionality of the FUEL, the one feature that really makes the FUEL more than a headlamp is the fact that you can easily remove the light from the elastic head strap and attach it to any 1″ webbing.

I was able to attach the light to the sternum strap of my backpack and illuminate the trail in front of me without wearing the FUEL on my head. I also attached the FUEL to some gear with Molle webbing, which kept the light out of the way but immediately accessible when needed. With its long battery life, compact shape, excellent wide illumination and overall versatility the FUEL light is a great addition to your kit. I anticipate using it in place of a regular handheld flashlight. Overall, I give the light two thumbs up!

I gotta admit it: I’m a big fan of flip-flops. They’re super convenient, take up very little space when packing, and are generally pretty comfortable. For these very reasons I probably wear them many times when I shouldn’t, like when walking in the woods or to formal occasions. Anyway, this spring I got myself a pair of Teva Elixer 5 flip-flops and they really improve on the advantages of the classic flip-flop while adding some impressive outdoorsy features.

I’m a form follows function kinda guy so I’ll start by talking about the features you’ll find on the Elixer 5 flip flops. The soles truly feel like they came right off a trail running shoe and provide great traction even in wet conditions. Speaking of wet conditions, you know how your foot slips off most flip-flops when you try to walk with them in the rain or across dewey grass? Not an issue with the Elixer 5s - the foot bed is extra grippy and comfortable. Teva knows how to design wet footwear and it shows.

I’ve been wearing my Elixer 5 flip flops on frequent hikes in the local nature preserve and I’ve found that sticks and rocks aren’t even noticeable underfoot. The toe area is also curled up slightly which is great at protecting toes from stubs and sticks on the trail. The uppers on these flops are constructed from suede and neoprene, making them feel solid and dependable - I’m sure I’ll be wearing these for years to come. The foot bed (or topsole in industry terms) is treated with Microban to control foot odor - too bad I can’t just douse my feet in the stuff

In terms of style, you won’t find a better, more outdoorsy looking flip flop. The suede leather almost gives these a sandal look and I’m almost tempted to wear my Elixer 5s to church this summer. These flip flops look so good I actually feel guilty for having such ugly feet - maybe a pedicure is in order

If you love flip flops but are looking for a more solid footwear choice for the campground or the river, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of Teva Elixer 5s. Just don’t email me when your boss says you can’t wear them to work.

Note: We’re re-posting this article in case you missed it - get your writing sample in today! As a blog contributor you’ll get a byline, free gear, and valuable outdoor industry exposure.

Looking for an excuse to get outdoors this summer while testing the latest camping and hiking equipment? We’re looking for two enthusiastic writers to contribute to the TripleBlaze blog on a weekly basis with product reviews, trip reports, and commentary on camping and hiking in the US. Aside from being featured on the #1 Camping & Hiking Blog we’ll also hook you up with brand new outdoor products to test and keep.

We’ll be taking applications through the end of April and all you need to do to apply is submit a written review of a piece of outdoor equipment you own. Read the Tripleblaze blog archives and our mountain biking blog to get an idea of the tone we’re looking for and follow these tips to optimize your submission:

• Product reviews and outdoor trip reports should be between 350-500 words.
• Include great photos of yourself on the trip or the product in use outdoors. We like to include about 1 photo for every 150 words.
• For product reviews, it is helpful to organize your article around the pros and cons while providing an overall recommendation to sum things up.
• Trip reports are usually best written chronologically and should focus on the unique aspects of the trip and/or location.
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So what do you have to lose? Submit an article to info@tripleblaze.com along with a brief bio and if we like your style we’ll publish your article on the blog and set you up with more review assignments and free gear. Get outdoors this spring and tell us about it!

I’m a bit of a fanatic when it comes to outdoor GPS units and over the past 7 years I’ve owned nearly a dozen different models. I recently got a chance to use the Earthmate PN-40 from DeLorme and I have to say it’s one of my top 2 choices for camping and hiking.

The PN-40 is a color-screen, palm-sized GPS that uses 2-AA batteries. At first I was hoping for the unit to use a rechargeable battery but it turns out serious trekkers prefer the portability of replaceable batteries (no where to charge up on the trail!). The PN-40 has a rugged, rubberized case and it’s waterproof to IPX 7 standard meaning you can dunk it under 1 meter of water for 30 minutes and it will still work. The screen is readable in all but the brightest sunlight though some map images were harder to read than others (more on that later). The buttons on the PN-40 give you quick access to the most commonly used functions like marking waypoints and searching for points of interest but can be difficult to press with gloved hands.

Since the PN-40 was designed for hikers and bikers it comes with an incredible set of topographic maps via the DeLorme Topo USA software. I’ve been a fan of Topo USA for a while now - well before I tried the PN-40 - because it includes some of the clearest, most detailed outdoor maps available. You can transfer detailed topographic maps to the PN-40 to take on the trail, though unfortunately the process can be a bit tiresome using the slow serial-USB connection. The PN-40 comes with plenty of memory to fit detailed map coverage and you can add up to 32GB of additional memory though the SDHC slot.

Once you’ve loaded detailed maps on your PN-40 you can start using it as soon as you walk out your door thanks to its ability to provide driving directions. It won’t talk to you like your Nuvi or Tom Tom but it will help you navigate to an unfamiliar trailhead. Once you’re at the trailhead you can queue up a downloaded GPS track of the trail (Topo USA and the PN-40 support GPX formatted files) and follow it just as you would a road. The PN-40 even chirps like a bird when it’s time to turn - pretty outdoorsy if you ask me.

The PN-40 also has the (fairly) unique ability to view satellite and aerial imagery on the GPS itself. You’ll need to download the imagery before you head out and the imagery isn’t free (about $30 a year last I checked) but once you’ve loaded the images it’s like having Google Earth in the palm of your hand! Some satellite images were hard to read in direct sunlight and the images aren’t nearly as clear or detailed as some online services like Google Maps. Satellite images can certainly come in handy but at times I at times felt like it ruined some of the suspense and adventure of hiking. Instead of being surprised to find that the top of the mountain is bald, now I can see it before I’m out of the trees…

Of course the PN-40 also includes all the functions you’ve come to expect from an outdoor GPS - time, distance, speed, etc. but it also includes some helpful functions like a digital compass, barometric altimeter, and fishing and hunting functions. If you’re looking for a good all-around GPS to use in the great outdoors and you’re tired of paying for extras like detailed maps (ahem, Garmin) the DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 is a good choice that won’t break the bank. Just don’t forget to bring extra batteries