Explore It!

Contest season is in full swing in the outdoors world.

While many contests are ultimately more work than others, great things usually don’t come easily.

Here are a handful of contests currently underway that you’ll need to put some effort into in order to make it worth your time:

Eastern Mountain Sports Gear 4 A Year

The only thing Eastern Mountain Sports likes better than getting outside is seeing you outside – in their gear.

In true technology-meets-the-outdoors style, to enter, you just have to submit a video by Dec. 15 showing how much you love being outdoors – in EMS gear.

EMS contest Web site

Of course your 2-minute (or less) video can’t have other brand names noticeable or profanity or nudity or all that other potentially offensive content.

The public will judge the videos between Dec. 16 and Dec. 23 to narrow down the five finalists. Then EMS judges will pick the winner “on or about” Jan. 5 based on “creativity, originality, appeal to EMS customers and overall entertainment value.”

Oh yeah, and if you win, you’ll receive a new piece of EMS gear every month for a year.

That ranges from jackets and backpacks to sleeping bags and gloves.

What’s Your Everest

Everybody faces challenges. If you think your hardship is better (aka: worse) than everyone else, then listen up! By creating a video or writing an essay that tells the tale of your trials, you could end up with $10,000 to help achieve your goal.

Have a disability but want to climb Denali? Enter the contest. Have 10 kids and can’t get away to hike a part of the AT? Enter the contest.

Just make it fun and submit your entry before Dec. 31.

The top 100 entrants, as voted on by the public, will then be judged by Hanesbrands (the sponsor of the contest, which owns Champion). You’ll be judged on authenticity, having a clear plan for achieving your goal, creativity, having a positive outlook and how it fits with the Champion brand.

Get your Kleenex ready and submit your story (and go vote on other stories or videos).

Living the Good Life

Upload a photo of you enjoying the good life. Get friends, family and random strangers to give your photo a “thumbs up.” Get more “thumbs up” than the hundreds of other entrants. Win gear.

That’s pretty much the only thing you have to do for Gregory packs’ monthly photo contest.

Gregory Living the Good Life contest Web site

Unlike many contests throughout your life, you won’t have to sign up for a mailing list or make an account to vote on someone’s photos – I did it in about 2 minutes after looking through all of the entries. And you can vote for more than one photo.

The person whose photo gets the most “thumbs up” during the month will win either a Gregory Z25 or women’s Jade 25 backpack. Plus, you’ll get your photo plastered all over Gregory’s Web site and anywhere else the company wants to put it.

The contest, which starts over every month, is slated to run for “the foreseeable future.”

Snow At First Sight Contest

Colorado’s trying to spread the flakey love with its new Snow at First Sight video contest.

The new contest, which runs through Nov. 9 (yes, that’s soon), is meant to make someone fall in love with snow – and Colorado – for the first time.

That means the international competition is limited to people who haven’t spent a “significant” amount of time around snow.

The three winners then spend all-expenses paid 3 months in Colorado doing everything from skiing and snowboarding to sledding, snowshoeing and partying.

To enter just shoot a video that’s less than a minute long about why you deserve to win. You then upload your video to the Snow at First Sight Web site to be judged by your peers and a panel of judges.

For more information on how to spend a full 3 months in Colorado this winter enjoying the snow, visit the contest Web site.

Petzl’s Tikka2 Contest

When it comes down to it, the bigger you are the more gear you could win. With Petzl’s Tikka2 contest, you have the chance to win your weight in Petzl gear.

Headlamps, carabiners, belay devices, ice axes, crampons, helmets, and pretty much any other Petzl gear could be yours. And that’s just the first-place winners of the photo and video contest. If you finish in 2nd through 50th place you still walk away with at least a Tikka Plus2 headlamp.

Petzl Tikka2 contest Web site

To enter, create a photo or 2-minute video that shows “The Power of Light” or “what do you do with your headlamp.” Do what you must to spice it up because you’ll be judged by a handful of professional photographers or videographers.

But there’s a catch. If you’re one of the two grand prize winners, your schwag can’t exceed 10,000 euros (about $15,000). Regardless, wipe the drool from your chin and go shoot some spectacular video footage or photos.

More easy-to-enter contests

SmartWool Rocky Mountain Rendezvous – All you have to do is enter all your contact info (and a little more) by Nov. 30 for a chance to win transportation for two to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge or Keystone. You’ll also get two days and two nights lodging at the resort you choose, two days worth of lift tickets for both of you and a stash of SmartWool gear. And if you don’t win in this round, you can enter again between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31.

K2 Sweepstakes – Just by signing up for the Broadway Books and First Ascent e-newsletters, you get a chance to win “K2: Life and Death of the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain” by Ed Viesturs, and a host of First Ascent gear. First Ascent is a brand launched by Eddie Bauer this year designed for mountaineers – no matter your experience level. The contest runs through Nov. 30.

There’s 14 inches of fresh powder blanketing the resort and the flakey goodness is still floating to the ground. The lift lines are short, it’s not too cold, so you pause to look around.

It doesn’t get much better than this.

But it does.

Imagine standing in the lift line later and noticing a killer snowboard graphic – and it’s exactly what you designed.

REI and Arbor can make that a reality.

REI and Arbor contest Web site

The two companies are sponsoring a contest that allows you to “design it, submit it, win it and ride it!”

Starting today, you can submit your artwork for a chance to have your graphic featured on a 2010-11 Arbor snowboard in addition to receiving a $1,000 REI gift card. And four runners up will get a $500 REI gift card.

People can submit designs until Dec. 31, but voting continues until Jan. 10, 2010 – the same day the top five designs will be announced.

Those top five will be chosen by popular vote (via REI Community Members) and the overall winner will then be picked by Arbor’s judges and be announced Jan. 15, 2010.

Check out the contest’s Web site for more information and how to submit a design.

Petzl Zipka Plus 2

• Pros: Retractable band holds tightly; Easily attaches to a variety of objects; White and red LED settings
• Cons: Doesn’t tilt; Not a separate switch for red and white LED; Battery indicator light alerts too early
• Bottom Line: While it’s more expensive than comparable headlamps on the market, there are very few, if any, that also contain a red LED and have the versatility of the Zipka Plus 2 for a similar price.
• MSRP: $43

Petzl’s Web site

With a retractable, corded band, the Petzl Zipka Plus 2 headlamp has increased versatility that many other headlamps on the market don’t have.

Unlike a traditional elastic headlamp band, the Zipka’s band is made from a very thin Dyneema fabric that’s incredibly strong. Not only does the cord make the headlamp less bulky because you don’t have to contend with a normal band, it increases the versatility.

Whether you attach it to your head, wrist or nearly any other body part, the cord holds fast. But it can also be easily attached to handlebars, tent or trekking poles, paddles, and more.

I was pleasantly surprised when the cord didn’t loosen or move much when wearing it while running – yet it’s not uncomfortably tight either.

Petzl Zipka Plus 2

The 2.5-ounce headlamp has a three-mode white LED – high, low and blink – to make sure you can see while moving around at night (or ensure others see you when it’s in blink mode). It also has a two-mode red LED – on and blink – to preserve night vision.

And the Zipka Plus 2 automatically turns on in the setting you used last. That’s a convenient feature but has the potential to be bad.

For instance, if you were using the white LED on high (50 lumens) last time, but next time you want it on the steady red LED to preserve night vision, you’re eyes are screwed. Any chance of preserving night vision is virtually gone as it takes 2 seconds of pushing the on/off button to switch from white to red (and vice versa).

However, that problem could be eliminated by always putting the setting back on the steady red LED when you turn it off.

Using the white LED on high, it’s said to shine up to 35 meters for up to 55 hours. That goes to 13 meters for 140 hours on low. And using the steady red LED, it’s said to last 100 hours. Plus there’s a battery indicator that alerts you when the 3 AAA batteries are 50 percent dead – which is pretty early for most uses.

My biggest gripe about the headlamp is it lacks the ability to tilt.

I found that, in most cases, the light shined too far forward for me. I could angle the entire headlamp down, but then it was slightly uncomfortable – or impossible if I was wearing a baseball cap.

It would be nice if Petzl somehow redesigned it to tilt – especially when using it inside a tent or when reading.

Mountain Hardwear women’s Nitrous Hooded jacket

• Pros: Deep hood fits over ponytails; Zippered hand pockets; Feminine cut and style
• Cons: Hood doesn’t cinch; Compresses into separate pouch instead of into pocket; Front zipper catches on inner fabric
• Bottom Line: The Nitrous Hooded jacket is a stylish outer layer that’s perfect for mild fall days or active winter adventures, but its price tag is a little steep compared to other lightweight down jackets.
• MSRP: $240

Mountain Hardwear’s Web site

Form meets function with Mountain Hardwear’s good-looking, technical down Nitrous Hooded jacket.

The 800-fill goose down jacket weighs 11 ounces – about 25 percent of which is down.

That’s not bad for a hooded down jacket that can easily withstand temperatures as low as 35 degrees when wearing a base and mid-layer – as long as you’re being active.

The Nitrous Hooded jacket, which first hit shelves in September, is made of ripstop nylon with a durable water repellent coating.

However, the jacket barely, if at all, beaded drops of snow or mist – which is uncharacteristic of DWR – and caused the drops to eventually soak in. But it quickly dried.

Mountain Hardwear women’s Nitrous Hooded jacket

But much to my (and my wife’s) dismay, the jacket isn’t nearly as wind resistant as other similar down jackets like the Rab Microlight Alpine.

With a big hood, the Nitrous Hooded easily accommodates ponytails, but it definitely catches more wind than smaller hoods. It’s also not big enough to wear comfortably with a helmet.

The fleece chin guard, the hem cord and the elastic cuffs help round out the quality features.

Aesthetically, the jacket has a very feminine cut, which looks great as well as functions better, and it comes in a couple girly colors like “pale orchid” and “grasshopper” in addition to brown and black.

The jacket also has a wavy quilted pattern – unlike its non-hooded sister, the Nitrous – which is a nice change from the traditional horizontal quilting found on most down jackets.

Sadly, though, the jacket doesn’t pack into one of its two zippered hip pockets. Instead, Mountain Hardwear includes a Chipotle burrito-sized pouch in which to stash it.

As far as the men go, they get a more masculine version of the Nitrous Hooded, which has many of the same features and qualities.

Eating the same energy bars over and over and over gets really old.

That’s part of the reason I love fall – many manufacturers produce seasonal flavors or at least new products around this time of year to keep it interesting.

While not all of these are simply flavors, here’s a handful of new products from food manufacturers designed with adventurers in mind. This is by no means comprehensive. It’s merely a list of products from companies who responded to my inquiry. If you know of more, let me know.

Clif Shot Roks

Chocolate Clif Shot Roks

The bite-sized protein balls, which have a crunchy outer shell and a chewy inside, are meant as a post-activity snack.

Filled with 2 grams of protein per malted-milk-ball-sized Rok, the balls also have at least 21 grams of sodium, 27 calories and almost 4 grams of carbs.

The Shot Roks, which Clif recommends eating within 2 hours after activity, come in chocolate, chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter. They cost $2.99 per package of 10.

Cranberry Orange Nut Bread Clif bar

Cranberry Orange Nut Bread

As it has for years, Clif is producing seasonal Clif bar flavors. This year, in addition to Spiced Pumpkin Pie and Iced Gingerbread, the company created Cranberry Orange Nut Bread.

The new flavor has a great cranberry orange flavor unlike any other bar I’ve tried. That being said, if you aren’t a fan of the combination normally – like my wife – steer clear.

The new flavor is currently available for $1.30.

Eddie’s Pumpkin Spice energy bar

Eddie’s Pumpkin Spice energy bar

Making 28 bars at a time in a Vermont kitchen, the Eddie’s Energy Bars family concocted a pumpkin spice energy bar just in time for fall.

While I haven’t tried the energy bar, it sounds delicious. It’s made with honey, oats, pumpkin, pecans and a host of other ingredients.

The company, a very small startup comprised of founder Michael Adams, his dad “Eddie” and his mom Jeanne, bakes, batches, cuts, packages and labels everything by hand. Plus they get as many of their ingredients locally. That’s pretty impressive.

Eddie’s currently sells a box of 12 bars for $18 on its Web site.

Honey Stinger 10-gram protein bars

Honey Stinger 10-gram protein bar

In a direct response to customer feedback, Honey Stinger started creating 10-gram protein bars.

The new bars are available in Peanut Butta, Cherry Almond and Cocount Almond – the same flavors as the company’s 20-gram protein bars.

The decision to do so was based on consumers who wanted a compact bar but the same taste and ingredients as the larger sizes.

The smaller bars will be available for $1.80 starting Nov. 15.

Justin’s Nut Butter chocolate flavors

Justin’s Nut Butter chocolate peanut butter

Adding to its already tasty lineup of natural and organic nut butters, Justin’s Nut Butter is launching a chocolate line of peanut, hazelnut and almond nut butters.

The new butters, which are currently available in select areas and will be available nationwide in January, are all natural.

But the best thing about the new flavors is how they’ll be sold.

As with many of the company’s other flavors, the chocolate ones will be sold in 16-ounce jars as well as 1.15-ounce squeeze packs. The squeeze packs add crucial versatility for people on the go.

The new flavors will be sold for between 60 cents and $1 for a squeeze pack and $6-10 for a jar.

Gerber Crucial multi-tool

Pros: Compact; Ergonomic design; Lifetime warranty
Cons: Feels heavy in hand; Belt clip and carabiner clip are redundant; Blade doesn’t always fully lock
Bottom Line: The Gerber Crucial multi-tool is perfect if you want the basic multi-tool functions and nothing more, and it rivals other comparable models in weight, size and functions.
MSRP: $59
Gerber’s Web site

As the lightest butterfly-opening multi-tool in Gerber’s line, the Crucial tool is built for the outdoorsperson who wants basic features and nothing more.

The Crucial, which first hit shelves in July, weighs just 5 ounces and includes a pliers, a blade, and little else.

Gerber Crucial multi-tool

Likely as a response to Leatherman’s Skeletool, the Crucial has all the features you really need and absolutely nothing you don’t.

Besides the needle-nose pliers – which of course contains a wire cutter – it has a combination straight and serrated locking blade that easily opens using one hand and your thumb.

There’s also a flat-head and Phillips screwdriver as well as a carabiner clip that doubles as a bottle opener.

As a second attachment option, besides the carabiner clip, the Crucial has a belt clip. Plus, it comes with a carrying pouch.

Gerber could have easily eliminated one of the clips to save weight.

It’d be nice if the company eliminated the carabiner clip and incorporated the bottle opener into one of the screwdrivers to possibly shed an ounce.

At 5 ounces – I confirmed the weight on my scale - weight isn’t much of an issue, but the multi-tool felt heavy in my hand. However, its ergonomic shape was comfortable no matter what tool I used.

For $60, the Crucial definitely rivals comparable multi-tools on the market.

Leki Thermolite AERGON Antishock

Pros: Ergonomic hand grips; Adjustable, comfortable straps; “Super Lock” system keeps extended poles in place
Cons: Twist-lock system harder to adjust than other methods; Shafts vibrate considerably; Antishock technology did little
Bottom Line: Leki’s Thermolite AERGON Antishock poles have comfortable grips and straps, but the antishock system does little and the twist-lock tightening system is overdue for a change making them not worth the price.
MSRP: $140
Leki’s Web site

The thing that sets Leki apart from many other trekking pole manufacturers is its ergonomic hand grips, which are comfortable no matter how they’re held.

Leki’s high-end, lightweight Thermolite AERGON Antishock pole is no exception.

Leki Thermolite AERGON Antishock trekking poles

The pair, which weigh 16.2 ounces (1 ounce less than a pair of Black Diamond carbon poles I’ve tested) have molded foam grips and adjustable wrist straps.

Unlike other pole grips that are seemingly designed for flat trails or ascending, the Leki’s are just as comfy descending steep trails as they are going up or trekking the flats.

Each hand hold has a molded index finger notch and a shaped grip that makes for an ergonomic fit and a content hand no matter how long you’re hiking.

And the wrist straps can be adjusted for both small and large wrists – something many other poles can’t accommodate – and the quick-adjust system is easy to work on the trail.

When descending steep trails, the top of the poles, which are oblong, are slightly convex to better fit in the palm of your hand. By turning the poles backwards and palming the top of them you get the needed support.

The 7075 aircraft aluminum AERGON Antishock poles, which have been available since February, also have a carbide tip that have trustingly gripped nearly any surface.

But the antishock technology left something to be desired. Compared to other high-end poles without the added feature, such as the Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Carbon, I found little benefit while on mixed-terrain trails.

While the Thermolites cost $10 less than the Contour Elliptics – and weigh less too – the inner spring and “elastomer” that gives the Lekis suspension did little when on mixed terrain. But I could feel it when on pavement.

Leki hand grips

And Leki’s twist-lock system to tighten the poles after adjusting them was another big negative – which is probably why the company is incorporating a new SpeedLock system, comparable to Black Diamond’s FlickLock, on some of its 2010 poles.

If I twisted them tightly, it was difficult to loosen them if I had cold hands or was wearing gloves. And often my wife and other female hiking partner couldn’t loosen them if I twisted them too tight.

While some people don’t adjust them throughout the day, I don’t use them all the time while hiking. That means I have to adjust them a handful of times each day.

To the system’s credit, Leki’s Super Lock technology gripped tightly. No matter how much weight I put on the poles, they didn’t loosen.

When striking the ground, they also vibrated or reverberated more than other poles I’ve used. Other poles, like the Black Diamonds, dampened that vibration more, which translates to less hand fatigue.

In its nearly 100,000 square feet, which includes a research and development center, warranty repair center, custom fitting area, product shot location, warehouse space and a pingpong table to work out the stresses of the day, the Pearl Izumi headquarters in Louisville, Colo. seems to have it all.

The running and biking gear manufacturer, which is owned by Shimano, is located just outside Boulder, Colo., and I recently got an inside look.

Like many outdoors companies, many of Pearl’s roughly 100 employees run or bike to work – exuding the company’s image, said Kody Riley, Pearl’s marketing coordinator.

Pearl Izumi’s prototype and repair area

That’s understandable also considering there is a large bike storage area as well as locker rooms with showers just inside the back door.

While the building isn’t very glamorous – much of it is one large warehouse-looking space with departmental dividers – it’s a true headquarters.

If someone makes a warranty claim that needs to be fixed, it’s sent to the area where about a dozen sewing machines sit at the ready.

Those sewing machines are also used to make prototypes of new products that are designed 30 steps away in cubicleland.

The company also has a tent-like area set up to custom fit the Garmin-Slipstream professional cycling team. Of course the team’s gear is then created on site.

And a small fenced-in corner is where all the product shots are captured – lifestyle gear shots are typically shot in and around Boulder, Riley said.

Pearl Izumi’s employee bike storage

As for warehouse space, the building houses nearly all of Pearl Izumi’s inventory – except for a fairly insignificant amount of gear stored in Germany.

And because the company was formerly owned by Nautilus Inc. (until being sold to Shimano in early 2009 for $69.5 million), the building has a wide range of exercise equipment set up for employees to use.

Plus there’s a pingpong table to foster some lunch-time competition.

As you could guess, Riley said it’s a pretty sweet place to work.

Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody

Pros: Stretch soft shell fabric lets you move easily; Very water resistant; Curved front zipper
Cons: Only found extensively in spring and summer; Too thin for cold weather; No interior pockets
Bottom Line: The Ferrosi Hoody is a great spring or fall jacket designed for active pursuits but is just as nice bumming around town. Its versatility makes it worth the money.
MSRP: $125
OR’s Web site

Launched in spring 2009 as a lightweight, thin soft shell, the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoody is perfect for the cool weather of spring and fall.

The stretch soft shell is durable, incredibly water resistant and breathes really well. Not to mention it looks great.

The body is made of a nylon/spandex mix while the shoulders are a Cordura/Lycra blend with a durable water resistant coating.

2009 OR men’s Ferrosi Hoody

I’ve hiked in a light rain and only after an hour did the shoulders of my under layer get wet.

The Ferrosi Hoody, which could be used as an outer layer or even a mid layer, has two zippered hand pockets as well as a napolean pocket (for the men’s) or a sleeve pocket (for the women’s) to stash gear. And the curved zipper keeps your chin happier when the Hoody is fully zipped.

The athletic cut, which I found to be true to size, combined with the stretchy soft shell fabric allows you to move freely in it. And, unlike many other long-sleeve tops, it has long sleeves to fit people, like me, who have long arms.

Unfortunately, the company only makes the Ferrosi Hoody in spring. You can find it now on clearance at many retailers (especially online), but you’ll have to wait for a few months to find a better selection.

According to the company it’ll be back in January with few changes except for color – new colors include “fossil/balsam” and “cardinal/pumice.”

Lafuma XLight Mid OT
Pros: OutDry technology keeps feet dry; Great traction with Vibram outsole; Reaches ankle bone providing better coverage
Cons: Uncomfortable insoles; Awkward tension system; Limited to people with wide feet
Bottom Line: The Lafuma XLight Mid OT hiking shoes utilize a great waterproof and breathable OutDry technology to keep your feet dry on hikes, but plan on getting an after-market insole instead of using the lackluster stock one.
MSRP: $130
Lafuma’s Web site

With OutDry technology creating a waterproof barrier and a synthetic leather and mesh upper, Lafuma’s XLight Mid OT hiking shoes keep water and loose debris at bay.

The hiking shoes, which weigh about 1 pound, 4 ounces each (for a size 12.5), provide ankle-high protection to keep out everything from debris to wintery slush.

The OutDry technology bonds a waterproof, breathable barrier directly to the shoe’s outer layer.

Lafuma XLight Mid OT

Other methods often use a waterproof membrane that lines the inside of the shoe allowing it, or any other garment, to collect water and add to the gear’s weight.

However, with OutDry, which is incorporated into the XLight, there’s little room for water to penetrate. That results in a shoe that doesn’t soak up water and doesn’t weigh down your foot no matter how long you’re standing in the creek, lake, snow or slush.

When hiking with the shoes wearing a thin, very breathable sock, I didn’t find the shoes to be overly airy. But they weren’t overly hot either. It was about what I expected from a waterproof shoe with a little bit of interior padding.

OutDry technology at work

The XLight Mid OTs utilize a twin lace pull system that allows you to adjust the bottom and top half of the shoe separately by pulling and tightening a cord. The cord then tucks away, albeit not very well, so it doesn’t flop on the top of the shoe.

Inside the shoe, I found the entire foot bed to be pretty wide – and I even have a semi-wide foot. If a shoe is too wide for your foot, you’ll have less stability on the trail.

But with Vibram soles, the widely-spaced deep lugs provided great traction on everything from loose dirt to scampering over rocks. Also, the rubber toecaps and synthetic leather and mesh uppers were durable in my tests.

Lafuma XLight Mid OT outsole

But I found the insole to be inferior to many other hiking shoes I’ve tested. After a few miles, my feet were sore on numerous test hikes. Of course, using some after-market insoles could solve that.

Besides the XLight Mid OTs, lafuma, and many other companies have other gear that utilizes the relatively new OutDry technology as well.