NationalOutdoors.net Updates

Want to listen to tunes while you swim, surf or kayak? Put the Freestyle Audio Waterproof MP3 on your Christmas List. This MP3 player goes far beyond where you'll traditional iPod can take you.

Freestyle Audio Soundwave MP3 Features

If you're interested in a turning your love of the outdoors into a career, try to attend the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) gatherings in Portland and Seattle.

Join the OIWC and other outdoor enthusiasts to network and discuss the group’s recently launched online “how-to” guide for navigating the outdoor industries entitled, “The OIWC Guide to Turning Your Passion into Your Profession,” sponsored by Keen Footwear and plum (www.thinkplum.net).

Other highlights of the event include:

It's nice to see big brands supporting small (but collectively large) stewardship efforts. Here's how Cordura is supporting the building and maintenance of trails:

As part of our Urban Outdoors initiative, we've highlight outdoor gear that's suited for an urban lifestyle. The selected products are useful for outdoor excursions, yet don't compromise style.

I was surprised to find out that there are affordable, earth friendly kids sleeping bags still made in the America by Exxel Outdoors. These sleeping bags are made from 75% recycled polyester. The Haleyville, Alabama manufacturing facility recycles over 95% of their industrial waste which saves 30 Millions pounds of waste from entering the landfill each year. These bags retail for under $20 and are sold in Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart-Sears, Big 5 Sporting Goods, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Hand Cut, Nick Waggoner's first full length ski film, will premier this September at selected locations around Colorado. Nick gave me a peek at the film at the OR show... and I've since watched a few more clips on Sweetgrass's Website.

As I leave the show, I think about all the great people I've met over the last four days. It's cool to see the hard working people behind the products and companies. Most conversations begin with the standard product pitch and end with a swapping of stories about our outdoor adventures. I love hearing about how fellow parents are introducing their children to the outdoors. At the end of the day (and the Outdoor Retailer Show), we're all after the same goal. Making a living doing what we love.

Coolmax held a press conference this morning at OR to announce the launch of their new EcoTech fabric. This new eco-friendly fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles.

Andrew Skurka(http://www.andrewskurka.com/) spoke after returning from a gear testing trip in Iceland and in California. He said after a 600-700 mile hike the socks held up very well. They were perfect for the cool, wet environment of Iceland. Once the socks got wet, he’d hang them on the back of his pack and they would dry within a few hours.

VICTORIN0X SWISS ARMY makes high quality watches and swiss army tools. They've mixed a USB flash drive into a swiss army knife. You can get a variety of flash memory sizes, and have all the features of a swiss army knife, including a small ball point pen and an LED light.

NOMAD makes small journals you can take with you on the road or on the trail. They've introduced a new waterproof journal that's small enough to fit in your daypack or fishing vest. Usually our best ideas come when we're outside, so this a nice product to keep in the back.