Archive for 'Gear + Product Review'
Product Review: Smartwool.
Thursday, January 20th, 2011 Posted by Rachel. Published under Gear + Product Review. No Comments.
If you aren’t immediately bored with my post by now then you need to stop reading and go to an REI (or outdoors store or I’ve even seen them at regular shoe stores) and just buy a pair of Smartwool socks already. I’m serious. Stop. Reading. Go.
Anyway, I’m going to keep this short and sweet because I think most of our readers are out there trekking around in Smartwool socks already because they’re in on the secret. Basically, these socks are made with an ingenious knit fabric combination that means they wick away moisture, dry at sonic speeds and are temperature regulators. I’ve got three pairs and counting – two off-brand pairs but still excellent and one actual Smartwool pair.
Here’s my proof:
For the ten plus years I’ve been skiing and snowboarding I have struggled to keep my toes warm and from slipping around inside my boots. I’ve tried several layers, I’ve tried those “snowboarding specific” socks, I’ve tried tights, I’ve tried ones with individual toes, but nothing really kept them warm and dry and snug in the boot.
For the first time this past weekend, I went snowboarding with a single layer of one of the off-brand pairs. What a difference. No slippery feet, no damp-from-sweat feet, and my toes were so far from being cold that I literally had to think about whether they were even a smidgen cold standing there on the mountain. And to top it off, I had already worn the pair a few times to work and around the apartment, meaning they weren’t the most fresh pair when I took them out there! They don’t even really smell now… Ingenious.
And this is why adventurers the world over will agree with me that Smartwool (or ones made in the same way) are the only option for them and us here at Against the Grind. I can’t wait to try them in summer to see how cool they keep my feet by wicking away my sweat!
As a final note, I was just browsing their website and it turns out Smartwool is owned by Timberland, which I happen to know is a very eco-conscious company! See the CEO himself tell you how here!
Product Review: Women’s Tivoli Sorel snow boots
Thursday, January 13th, 2011 Posted by Jessica. Published under Bike Tour Preparations, Gear + Product Review. No Comments.
Being from Tennessee, it’s taken me a few years to learn how to dress appropriately for the winter. My first year of college in upstate New York, I wore my Sketchers tennis shoes all winter– wondering why my feet were soaking wet and uncomfortable all the time from walking through two feet of snow. By spring, those shoes were covered in holes from the salt eating away at the fabric.
By my second year of college, I wised up a bit and dropped about $20 on a cheap pair of waterproof hiking boots. I’d spray them with leather waterproofing each winter, and they worked like a charm. Five years later, the soles finally started to crack this winter and even walking through wet pavement was making my feet soaked. It was time to get new boots.
While milling around Harvard Square with Rachel one night a few weeks ago, we walked into a shoe boutique called The Tannery. I pretty much always hate shopping for anything fashion-related and wasn’t planning on buying anything– in fact, we only went in there because Rachel wanted to look at cowboy boots. However, when I saw the Tivoli Sorel snow boots with the funky laces, I absolutely loved the look of them. “Try them on!” Rachel said (she HATED my old boots). But I was reluctant because they looked too fashionable– the upper part of the shoe is made of fabric and I thought they wouldn’t insulate my feet or keep water out. That’s when Rachel informed me that Sorel is a “pretty rugged” brand, and pointed out that the tag on the shoe said it was 100% waterproof.
Long story short: I tried them on, loved them, bought them, wore them out of the store, and threw my old hiking boots away in a trashcan in Harvard Square (they were way too cracked on the soles for Goodwill, even).
After riding my bike in these snow boots every day since I bought them, as well as spending two hours yesterday shoveling Rachel’s car out of Boston’s latest snowpocalypse, I can assure anyone considering buying these boots that they are:
Here I am, modeling my Tivoli Sorel snow boots while I'm about to dig out Rachel's car!
- Extremely comfortable. I bought half a size up from my normal shoe size, and I’d say that was an excellent decision. Whether I’m wearing thin socks or thick socks, these shoes feel great. The break-in time was maybe two days– and I never got any blisters.
- Very warm. While riding my bike on even the windiest of nights, the wind doesn’t cut through at all– even though I have my pants tucked into the shoes while I’m riding (so the chain doesn’t rip my pants off on Mass Ave).
- 100% waterproof. That little tag didn’t lie! I don’t know what the upper fabric is infused with, but I’ve worn these boots through three feet of snow and haven’t had my feet feel wet or cold yet.
- Great on ice. I was nervous about buying snow boots instead of hiking boots because I worried the soles wouldn’t be as grippy as hiking boots. I’m so glad I was wrong! These Sorels are actually grippier than my other hiking boots. I haven’t slid or slipped once!
- Pretty cool looking. At least Rachel and I think so (or at least Rachel thinks they look much better than my old hiking boots).
So there you have it, folks. If you’re on the market for some new snow boots, consider the Tivoli Sorels. I don’t think I’ll be bringing them on our bike tour (too bulky, unfortunately), but I’ll definitely be bike commuting in them for many winters to come.
Product Review: The only fleece I’ll ever wear ever again
Thursday, January 6th, 2011 Posted by Rachel. Published under Gear + Product Review. 1 Comment.
When collecting together the links to send to my parents as a typical Millennial is wont to do instead of a traditional Christmas list, I simply went to the REI website and saw they were having a sale. Clicking around, I had my gear list handy and found several different items on sale, a few not. I got pretty excited too because I have been dreading the clothing shopping part of the gear gathering. This mean they would do the shopping for me!
One item that was on sale, and that I wasn’t really that passionate one way or the other about was a warm layer – a fleece. I found one on sale on the site and sent it along. Didn’t really give it much thought.
And that makes the pure enjoyment I have in wearing this fleece all the better. It is literally so warm I find myself sweating in it. I had to wash it only two days after opening the box because I’d sweated through it! Sadly it doesn’t keep me so warm that even my toes are warm, but that’s probably got more to do with how low we keep our heat than the fleece itself. As a poor, young professional who can’t keep the drafty apartment raging hot, this is still a god-send though.
What I also like is the collar. Surprisingly, it’s both loose enough to not feel like I’m choking and high enough to remove the need for a scarf.
And finally, I do really love the color. The pale green is comforting and stimulates memories of summer camp and the smell of pine.
So well done REI, well done. I literally can’t stop thinking about how I want to live inside this fleece for the rest of my life. I have to keep myself from wearing it to work. I’ve also promised Jessica that she won’t regret getting one herself.
I think I’m in love.
Product Review: Brooks B17 S Standard
Thursday, December 30th, 2010 Posted by Jessica. Published under Bike Tour Preparations, Gear + Product Review. No Comments.
I feel like just by writing this review I’m completely preaching to the choir. I mean who owns a Brooks saddle and doesn’t absolutely love it? Regardless, today is Thursday– which means it’s time for a product review. Rachel and I have yet to fully test out our Xmas loot, so I’m reaching a bit for some gear to write about.
If you’re considering getting a Brooks saddle, I implore you to get one! I know they’re a wee pricey, but your bum with thank you for it– and if you’re nice to it and take care of it, the saddle will last decades.
Have you ever worn Birkenstocks? You know how Birkenstocks are super comfy because they gradually mold to the shape of your feet over time? Brooks saddles do basically the same thing, only to your butt. Therefore, my Brooks B17 S Standard is extremely comfy– to me. I might not find Rachel’s Brooks Team Pro Chrome very comfortable at all…unless I rode it daily for several weeks without Rachel’s knowledge and broke it in to my body structure (nice practical joke…will have to remember this April).
My Brooks B17 S Standard came with my Surly Long Haul Trucker, but I would have bought this saddle anyway. The “S” Brooks saddles are built for women (“S” stands for “Skirt”, apparently), so the nose is typically shorter and the rear a bit wider to accommodate our sit bones. The B17 is considerably less expensive than other Brooks saddles (Rachel’s included), and is apparently the most popular touring saddle.
Aside from their amazing bum-molding ability, Brooks saddles are great for touring because the leather stays cool in hot weather and the sidewalls of the saddle are angled in such a way so there’s no chafing against your thighs– even when you’re sweaty and hot and on mile 90. Some folks think lots of gel padding is what makes a great bike saddle. The gel is misleading, though! Once you sit on the gel long enough, your sit bones sink into the metal skeleton of the saddle. Sheldon Brown used the excellent analogy of sitting on a pillow on a coffee table. It’s comfortable at first, until your sit bones sink through the pillow onto the table. However, once you break in your Brooks it doesn’t really feel like you’re sitting on anything.
Some people are skeptical of Brooks saddles because they seem like a pain to take care of. True, they do require you to apply Proofide every now and then; and sometimes you’ll need to use a little spanner tool Brooks sells to tighten the saddle– but neither of these should be done very often at all. I’ve had my Brooks saddle for a year this week (happy bday, Surly LHT!), and I’ve only had to put proofide on it about four times and I tightened the saddle for the first time ever today (turned the tensioning screw about 1/4 inch). Fenders and a shower cap work wonders at protecting Brooks saddles. Check out this post I wrote over the summer about how to care for a Brooks saddle for more information!
Bike touring enthusiasts out there– what saddle do you prefer? Comment below!
Product Review: Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow
Thursday, December 16th, 2010 Posted by Jessica. Published under Bike Tour Preparations, Gear + Product Review. 2 Comments.
I bought this pillow several months ago from REI. It was right before Rachel and I were supposed to leave for our camping trip on Assateague Island and I was picking up some last-minute items. I saw the Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow hanging from the rack and it just looked so COMFY. And it was compressible! It looked like it’d be perfect for a bike tour. I waffled between getting a large or a medium for an embarrassing amount of time, and in the end I decided to go with a large. After sleeping on it for a week camping and a weekend on the floor of Rachel’s aunt’s basement, here are my notes:
Pros:
- It’s made of the leftover pieces from Therm-A-Rest’s sleeping pads– I always appreciate minimizing waste, when possible.
- Since it’s not inflatable, it’s basically puncture-proof– which is definitely a good thing when it’s going to be getting used every day.
- The outside fabric is very soft and doesn’t move around on my sleeping pad too much.
Cons:
- It doesn’t pack as small as I would like. I know that’s the burden of getting a large pillow, but it seems like it would take up a lot of space in a pannier– even when it’s compressed.
- This pillow is as hard as a rock. No joke. No matter if I slept on my back or my side, this pillow wasn’t comfortable to me at all. It puts my neck at a really uncomfortable angle. I’d say this is the most important point.
The verdict: Thank god for REI’s excellent return policy. I thought a big pillow would be more comfortable, but I was very wrong. I’ve bought an Exped Air Pillow based on Russ from The Path Less Pedaled and The Epicurian Cyclist‘s glowing review of it. I haven’t tried it out yet, but I’ll be camping for two weeks in Australia next month and I will definitely have an opinion of it when I come back– stay tuned!
Product Review of my Big Agnes Lulu Sleeping Bag
Thursday, December 9th, 2010 Posted by Rachel. Published under Gear + Product Review. 1 Comment.
Jessica seems to have some sixth sense as to when REI is having a sale and we ended up there a while back during one. As a result I gravitated to the sleeping bags knowing that I needed one, and ended up with a kind of strange one.
The Big Agnes Lulu (along with a few other of theirs) doesn’t have insulation on the bottom. Instead, there’s a pocket for a sleeping pad. And then their sleeping pads they recommend for it are nice and thick, insulated even.
While at REI, I got in the short Lulu and thought it was a perfect fit. A little bit of foot room, a few inches for my head and it zipped right up.
But. Lesson learned. Try it with a pillow AND a sleeping pad inside…it changes the whole shape of the sleeping bag and it is not adequate for a year as my bed on bike tour.
First off, Big Agnes and REI recommend using the square pad, not the mummy pad. I do think having the square one is good, and it fits pretty good (not as good as I’d like but I think that the bag shrank in the wash). But the square one really asks a lot of the fabric, so my few inches of space? Gone.
Secondly, pillows are big, even camping ones take up more space than one would guess.
And finally, I can’t even zip it up fully with the highly comfy but very thick pad inserted. All of which has gotten me to go out and buy the regular length instead.
Now, why may you ask, didn’t I look for a different style or type with so many cons? Because it’s warm and I really do like having a sleeve for the sleeping pad so that it doesn’t disappear out from under me at night. It’s also a mummy sack, but it doesn’t narrow until basically my feet, which is good for my birthing hips. And once I do find a pillow I like, there’s a little sack for the pillow so it won’t wander off at night either.
I’m planning on trying out the regular length bag this weekend as a mini home camp-out, so I’ll give you an update soon!
And of course, please comment below about your choice for sleeping bag and pad!
Product Review: Bontrager Sport Skull Cap
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 Posted by Jessica. Published under Bike Tour Preparations, Gear + Product Review. 3 Comments.
Around this time last year, I was at a bike shop in Cincinnati looking for something practical to keep my head and ears warm while riding my bike. The temperature this time of year around Boston typically hovers between 25F and 45F. I didn’t want something that would cover my entire face– I was afraid of looking like a ninja or a bank robber– so I settled on the Bontrager Sport Skull Cap. I wore it a lot last year, and I’m wearing it a lot this year. Below are my general observations.
Pros:
- It fits pretty snugly to my head, and I have a small head. But I think it would also fit bigger heads, too– it’s a “one size” kinda deal.
- It fits well over my ears. I have piercings that get really cold in the winter– this skull cap keeps my ears warm.
- There’s elastic all around the edges, which really helps to keep wind from rushing in– even when I’m wearing sunglasses.
- It doesn’t make me overly sweaty when I ride, which is always a plus.
- I’ve had it for a year and haven’t washed it once. Just sniffed it. It doesn’t stink.
- It’s thin enough to fit under my helmet without having to adjust the helmet at all.
The only con I have is that even though the cap does an excellent job of keeping my ears toasty, I quickly realized come January that it did nothing for my face. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me since it doesn’t even touch my face. My roommate let me borrow her Seirus Combo Clava and yes, it made me look like a ninja on my Surly, but it really did the job. The Seirus Combo Clava made me sweat everywhere I went (it’s made of fleece), but it kept my face from freezing off. But as soon as the temperatures started warming up again, I was back to wearing the Bontrager Sport Skull Cap. The Seirus Combo Clava is just uncomfortable in temperatures very far above freezing. I think the Bontrager Sport Skull Cap is great for between seasons, which is probably what it’s intended for.
So I’m looking to invest in my own full face mask for serious winter riding this year. I’d like to get something that keeps me just as warm as the Seirus Combo Clava does, but the sweating is pretty awful. I’d love to hear recommendations on this– please comment below!
Is stealth camping safe?
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 Posted by Jessica. Published under Bike Tour Preparations, Gear + Product Review. 11 Comments.
Rachel and I are basically on the same page for most aspects of our pending bike tour. We both want to cook as much as possible; we both want to visit as many friends and relatives along the way as possible; we both want to document as much of the trip as possible with this blog. However, one part we’re struggling with is the possibility of stealth camping.
Stealth camping, for those of you who don’t know, is any camping that’s not at a campground (or in a friend’s backyard). One might stealth camp in an empty field, in the woods, on the beach, even– so long as you don’t get caught. Many bike tourists do it to save money. I’m almost all for it– I want this trip to be as cheap as possible. Rachel, however, has many reservations about the safeness of it– which is a very legitimate concern. You are, after all, trespassing. And all it takes is one scary guy with an axe in the middle of the forest and the trip is ruined!
During my time immersed in Boston’s nerdy bike culture, I’ve met several folks who’ve gone on extended bike trips. One guy I met biked from Seattle to Boston with his girlfriend and a friend of theirs. They took six months and biked along the Southern US– sort of what Rachel and I hope to do. He said they never paid to camp anywhere; that they were often invited by nice strangers to camp in their backyards or stealth camped. He said it was incredible.
Then another friend of mine biked from Boston to Lexington, KY one summer with two of his friends. They stealth camped all but one night, when they decided to pay for a night at a campground. He said they all agreed the campground was not as nice as stealth camping at all. It was crowded and loud and ugly.
I’ve also read in other blogs and met other people who’ve agreed that stealth camping is much safer than one might think. This all sounds great to me! However, to be honest, there is a voice nagging inside of me saying stuff like, “Those bike groups had men in them. It’s just you and Rachel. Neither of you are particularly intimidating– not even Rachel when she’s starving and running on 4 hours of sleep.” I don’t want to be all Damsel in Distress here, but I need to hear some reassurance that other women cyclists feel safe doing this and have done it in the past.
Anyone with opinions or experience with stealth camping, please help us out here! Is it worth the money we’d save? Or too dangerous? It’s not like we’re going to be traveling with a shotgun or pitbull or anything.
Please leave a comment below!
Product Review: Bellwether Max Gloves
Thursday, November 18th, 2010 Posted by Jessica. Published under Gear + Product Review. 2 Comments.
In my quest to keep warm while biking, I purchased a pair of Bellwether Max cycling gloves last winter. I was tired of wearing knit gloves that barely kept my hands warm on the bike, so I was looking for something super heavy-duty and completely wind resistant. These basically do the trick, and I feel like an astronaut while wearing them.
Pros:
- It’s windproof and waterproof. I keep my bike outside all year, so when I ride in the winter I’m often brushing snow off the handlebars before I set out. My hands haven’t gotten wet at all!
- The sleeves of the gloves are “gauntlet-style” and fit over my InsulaTour jacket sleeves, successfully keeping wind from blowing inside my jacket.
- There’s a drawstring and velcro on the glove sleeve to keep it tight to your wrist– a cool feature, but one I don’t use.
- The inside is lined with fleece, which definitely helps to keep my hands warm.
- They’re durable as anything– not even a thread has come undone over the last year!
- There’s terrycloth on the thumbs to “wipe perspiration”, but we all know what that’s really used for– and it does it exceptionally.
I really only have two complaints:
- I read many reviews online claiming that the gloves ran small. I experienced the opposite problem: I bought a size small, but my fingers still feel like they’re swimming in them.
- If it’s really cold out (below freezing), my fingers will still get cold. I don’t think it’s the material though, just the design. Perhaps I’ll be asking my parents for a set of lobster claw gloves for Christmas. Since your fingers are actually grouped together, it’s much easier for them to keep warm.
So there you have it, folks. I think they’re great gloves overall, but for weather below freezing I think it’s better to have gloves that group fingers together for warmth.
And for those of you curious about how trying the 46cm Surly LHT went, I didn’t actually get to go yesterday– I got out of work too late. Sorry! I’ll update as soon as I try it out!
So sometimes I think my bike is too small…
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 Posted by Jessica. Published under Bike Tour Preparations, Gear + Product Review. 8 Comments.
Notice how much higher my saddle is above the handlebars?
I love my Surly Long Haul Trucker. You know I do. However, lately it’s been feeling a tad bit small. As you can see in the photo, I keep my seatpost up fairly high for pedaling efficiency (read my post on this subject here). However, as a result, the handlebars are pretty low– putting a lot of weight on my hands as I ride. This is especially noticeable since I broke my wrist eight months ago, causing my left wrist to feel pretty painful after even a short ride. I’ve done my best to make adjustments to the stem– going through two different stems as well as small stem raisers. I’ve even tilted my handlebars up a bit to make it easier to reach the hoods, only to make the shifters more difficult to reach.
I bought the smallest Surly LHT (42cm), thinking it would be the perfect size for me (since I’m 5’2), but I’m starting to feel like maybe if I had bought the 46cm instead my seatpost would be lower, thus bringing the handlebars closer. However, a bigger bike would also mean a longer headtube– which would also add more of a reach to the handlebars.
I don’t know what to do.
Here are the options I’m considering:
Try riding a 46cm Surly LHT. Rachel thinks I just want a new Surly– I don’t, I swear! I just want a bike I can be 100% comfortable on for miles and miles! If the 46cm Surly LHT feels way too big, at least I can rest easy that I made the right bike purchase. If it feels better, I’ll need to consider buying a new bike frame. They cost about $430 brand new, but I would definitely look hard for a good used one first.
Buy a new Surly LHT fork. The forks can be custom cut to size, but once they’re cut there’s no adding back to it. A new fork would set me back about $96, and it might be hard to find one that matches my Truckaccino Tan paint. I’m not one for style, but it would be nice if my bike frame matched. I would also have to install longer brake cables to compensate for the longer stem.
Buy a stem extender for my Surly LHT. This is the cheapest fix. REI sells one for $22. However, many touring forums are saying that these are pretty much only used until a person can buy a “properly fitted” bike. Again, I would have to install longer brake cables.
Try butterfly or mustache handlebars, which would hopefully cause less pressure on my wrists.
Anyone got any advice?
