If you’ve ever watched even a single episode of Vikings on History Channel, you’ll know that the craft of knifemaking in Norway is an art form that is deeply rooted in their history and culture. Granted, the real Vikings tended to prefer the axes and longswords in battle. But when they weren’t raiding they were farming land and raising animals as part of their agrarian society. This is where knives really came into play.

What I Liked

Materials and Quality Craftsmanship

The Helle Mandra—like all Helle knives—are hand made in Holmedal, Norway, one at a time. I love this because it means my knife wasn’t mass produced in a factory. As a result of this meticulous, slow-batch handmade manufacturing, no two knives are exactly the same. From handle to blade, what I ultimately hold in my hand is a heritage-style knife that is the result of a long tradition.

Helle starts the process with a high-alloy steel that is surrounded by two layers of 18/8 stainless steel, making it triple laminated. The blade extends the full length of the knife from tip to grip. The handle portion of the blade consists of two slabs of curly grained birch. The tang can be seen along the edge of the entire handle of the knife. This is called “full tang construction”. The benefit of full-tang construction means you can apply greater force onto the blade without the risk of it snapping shut at the bolster or snapping it off completely, possible with a finger in an unfortunate location.

Weight

If you think all this sheer strength of blade and handle equates to a heavy knife you’d be wrong. The Helle Mandra tips my scale at a mere 70 grams, excluding the leather carrying sheath. Add the sheath and even then, the weight climbs to a scant 110 grams. My Victorinox Trekker knife weighs in at 129 grams.

Not that I’m comparing the two knives side by side because that’s impossible. I only point this out because I’ve been carrying a 129-gram knife for more than a decade. For the ultra-lighters out there, all grams count. Still, the weight of the Mandra feels hefty enough to inspire confidence when the moment calls.

Minimalistic Traditional Design

The Helle Mandra is a traditional design. It comes with a leather carrying sheath and thong. The sheath is also made painstakingly by hand, one at a time, in the Holmedahl factory. You can wear it around your neck or you can wear it looped through your belt.

Since I don’t wear a belt, and I didn’t like the feeling of a knife dangling from my neck neck, I looped it through the waistbelt of my backpack and centered in the middle. If you do this, you’ll just need to figure out for yourself where the placement needs to be so that it doesn’t interfere with your normal walking gate. In my case I had it pointing down the middle. It looks a lot more awkward than it is. I’ve also carried it laced through the sternum strap with good results.

Performance

I ran it through the usual paces that I would put a knife through. I carved a sharp point into a stick to see how precise and smooth it cut (it was very precise and smooth), sliced a sheet of birch bark in half that had been naturally shed from a tree to start a fire with wet wood, cut a climbing rope with an impossible knot tied by someone else’s negligence, freed a snagged fishing line, shaved off intricately thin slices of cheese and sausage for crackers on a trail lunch. As much as I wanted to dress a lake trout to see how easily the Helle Mandra made it, it just didn’t happen. When it comes to fishing, I’m on a multi-decades losing streak.

I even fashioned it into a spear by securing the knife to a stick with its leather thong. I didn’t kill anything with the spear, I was simply evaluating its potential for long-range weaponry as a means of fishing without a pole. Something one would see in an episode of Survivorman, for example.

The effect turned out to be more Hollywood than realism. The blade doesn’t have a barb and the blade secured with the leather thong isn’t stable enough to securely hold a fish to the bottom of the lake or river bed until you can grab it. Seriously, don’t try this at home and expect to harpoon a Walleye or a wild ungulate. While the blade is sufficient as a spear, the three-inch handle is too short to really gain purchase.  

That brings me to…

What could be Better

Short Handle

At three inches in length, the handle is short. Even for my small girly hands. For whittling a sharp point onto a stick—for roasting hot dogs or fashioning a tent stake to replace one that got bent (it performed great at this unfortunate task, too)—or cutting rope, fishing line and food, I didn’t need to really grip it that hard to gain a solid purchase. It both met and exceeded expectations in this department.

But when I had to put some weight and effort into a downward cut, the back neck of the blade protruded into the soft fleshy palm of my hand. I get that the Helle Mandra is intended to be a minimalist EDC knife, one made in collaboration with a professional survivalist, but it can still be minimalist with an extra two inches added to the handle.

Final Thoughts

A good knife is an indispensable piece of kit for nearly any situation and Helle crafted a solid knife in the Helle Mandra. The blade is strong, it’s capable of performing most of the knife-type situations you would encounter on the trail, at the campsite, in the boat, etc. Its blade is small, sharp and mighty.

For me, it’s the combination of the heritage style and high-quality materials and craftsmanship that makes me love this knife. In an era where so much gear is mass produced to meet the demands of stockholders and evolving trends, it’s a pleasure and honor to own a piece of gear that keeps it simple, traditional and made one at a time.

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Versatile, Multipurpose Use

The Chrome Cobra 3.0 Hoodie arrived in late January. In Minnesota, January means snowshoeing, fatbiking, bike commuting, Nordic skiing, travel and staying warm when binging on Netflix.

Its construction and style make it stand out as both a mid-layer and an outer-layer, but doesn’t look like it fits specifically in any real sport or activity category. This is a good thing because its non-binary style and purpose increases its versatility—a must, in my opinion, if one is going to spend $180 on a garment.

Bulk-free Warmth & Performance

As I said above, the Chrome Cobra 3.0 Hoodie works equally well as a mid-layer and an outer-layer. With light-weight merino wool baselayer, I wore it as a midlayer with a Northface Apex softshell jacket or down vest while snowshoeing. The temperatures on these tests runs ranged from 10 to 20 degrees and I was plenty comfortable. Mostly, though, I wore it as an outer layer fatbiking, commuter biking and Nordic skiing with only a Kora Shola yak wool baselayer Merino wool baselayer.

As with anything, you have to temper your baselayers to the temperatures. For example, I was sweating like cold beer glass on a hot day the day I Nordic skied in 20 degrees with a heavyweight baselayer. When fatbiking on a -5-degree day with just a heavyweight baselayer, I was freezing (and with freezing comes whining, moaning, cryonics, etc). You get the picture. Use your best judgement.

Features

The Chrome Cobra 3.0 is a blend of Merino wool and recycled polyester to combine breathability, warmth and durability. While 100% Merino wool is my fave, I honestly didn’t feel any difference with the polyester blended in. A couple other interesting features that the Cobra 3.0 offers are:

Two-way Zipper

For fatbiking and commuter cycling, this is a must for me because I’m generally wearing bulkier bottoms. Opening the zipper four or five inches below makes for a more comfortable ride when in the aggressive cycling position in the saddle. The zipper pull here is nicely glove-friendly, too.

Thumbholes

Of all the garments I own that have thumb loops, the Chrome Cobra 3.0 is the only one in which I don’t feel any biting at the base of my thumb. This is because the arms are delightfully long. Noice.

Rear Pocket with a Full Pass-through

Great for carrying tools, ID, money, and what have you but they need to be re-thought. The zipper pulls are microscopic and most definitely NOT glove-friendly. The Cobra 3.0 is an evergreen staple in the Chrome line, going back a decade with incremental updates made each year. So I’m kind of scratching head wondering why nobody thought to add glove-friendly zipper pulls to the pockets on a Merino wool hoodie intended to be worn in cold weather. (Note: the front zipper pull is glove-friendly, just not the pocket zipper pulls.)

Style

Beautifully longer in the back as a cycling jacket should be, I love how it has an element of being form-fitting but still has just enough room to accommodate any size baselayer. I also love how high the front zipper comes up, how it doesn’t sit at my throat and the delightful snuggle-effect it gives when fully zipped. My only criticism on the style is the color. It’s only available in black. This is not to say I want an option that includes pink (hell no!) but maybe a nice dark red.

Final Thoughts

If I was anal enough to do a rating scale on a scale of 10, I would give the Chrome Merino Cobra 3.0 Hoodie a solid 9 (I had to subtract a point for the microscopic zipper pulls). It is a highly-functional, highly-versatile, warm, breathable, well-designed and durable cold-weather Merino-blend hoodie for absolutely every type of cold-weather activity on your agenda. It’s even a fantastic piece for the shoulder seasons and for Spring and Fall hiking and camping. Even you yoga-goers will love it.

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What I Liked

REACTIVE All Around 2-3 Photochromic Lenses

The Julbo Spark’s 2-3 lenses refers to category of sun protection strength. Essentially, the Julbo Spark offers two categories of sun protection in one lens—Category 2 and Category 3. Category 2 is typically the orange, blue, rose and red lenses, which are idea for shade or partially sunny conditions. Category 3 is an almost all brown or grey/smoke lens is for strong sunlight and most common category. When both the categories work together, they let in between 9% to 20% of visible light. Note: No matter the category, tint or color, UV protection is consistent because it’s applied to all lenses.

When I’m indoors, or outside when it’s cloudy, the Julbo Spark’s lenses transition to Category 2 (automagically!) and appear as normal tinted eye glasses. When I emerge outside into sun, the lenses rapidly transform into full-on, sun-protection sunglasses.

I found this adaptability to be ideal for non-high impact activities like canoeing, sea kayaking, camping and hiking when the sun goes behind a cloud, it’s overcast or hiking trails that took me through shaded forest and exposed ridges without removing them or pushing them up onto my head. Julbo’s website states that these lenses allow you to “read any type of screen”. They are correct, as I had no issues with clarity when reading from my Kindle Paper White, trail map or smartphone screen.

Non-sliding, Outstanding and Comfortable fit

You know when you were a pimply, pubescent adolescent with oily skin? Well, I still have that despite several decades beyond those pimply, pubescent, adolescent years. My principal conundrum with sunglasses is that the second my nose gets oily or sweaty, they slide down my nose. This means I’m constantly repositioning them and having to take my hand off a kayak or canoe paddle, hiking pole, what have you. Except that I haven’t done that yet with the Julbo Sparks for three reasons.

First, the nose grip technology. I have no idea what it is made from because all I could find on Julbo’s website was that the Spark’s nose grip was a “Flexible, shock-absorbing grip insert on the bridge.” Still, whatever the secret ingredient, it grips to an oily, sweaty nose like superglue (but comes off considerably easier).

Second, the weight. The Julbo Spark weighs in at feathery-light 26 grams so there is hardly any gravity working against them or your nose. Third, the ear piece. They’re not adjustable but they’re ergonomically spot-on and comfortably secure around my ears. When wearing a hat or visor whose brims sit on top of ear pieces, I never felt any discomfort or pain in my temple area.  

What Could be Better

The case. The Julbo Spark comes in a soft zippered case with a microfiber bag that doubles as their cleaning cloth. The cleaning-cloth bag is great, and wipes them clean without scratching the lenses. But the soft case doesn’t offer much protection against impact, such as accidentally sitting on them or stuffing something heavy on top of them in a backpack.  

Final Thoughts

For low-impact activity like hiking, paddling, camping or even wearing about town, the Julbo Spark is an impressive pair of sunglasses. I don’t recommend them for cycling or running because they aren’t designed for it. Aside from being attractive, they are lightweight and comfortable. But the big stand-out for me, and for the variety of activities for which I’ve been using them, is the REACTIVE Photochromic lenses and their outstanding clarity and adaptability to changing light conditions when outside.

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To do their part to flatten the COVID19 curve, North x North is offering 15 percent off all online orders and donating a further 10 percent of proceeds to DirectRelief.org to help supply frontline doctors and nurses with the PPE they need to stay safe, healthy and able to help those in need of medical attention. 

None of us really knows how long the COVID19 pandemic will last. What will last, however, is our new-found awareness. A single sneeze or cough has the potential send someone to a hospital ventilator, clinging for life. Czech researchers are showing that when worn by an infected person, even a homemade mask can trap up to 100 percent of potentially infected microdroplets.

We’re the most contagious before we start showing symptoms—and that’s if we show any at all. Along with practicing social distancing and preventive measures, wearing a mask protects others. The advantage of wearing a (for example) North x North wool kerchief or neck gaiter lies in its long-term sustainability.

Made from certified muelsing-free Australian Merino wool, one Kerchief or Hooded Neck Gaiter is a necessary piece of gear for hiking, camping, backpacking or skiing because it can be washed and reused over and over. It also has a wide range of usability, making it highly useful as a mask.

North x North’s founder, Chad North, perhaps says it best: “If you can give, give. If you can sew, sew masks for those in need. If all you can do is wear a mask when out, then wear a mask. A million masks ain’t worth a damn if no one is wearing them.”

Thanks to North x North, buying a multi-purpose kerchief not only protects yourself and others, they will donate ten percent of the proceeds to help protect our frontline healthcare workers.

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What I Liked

Insulation

The most important thing in an insulated bottle is, of course, how well it insulates. In factory conditions, the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist will supposedly keep your hot beverages hot for 18 hours and your cold beverages cold for 32 hours. In our field testing with temperatures ranging from seven degrees Fahrenheit to -5 degrees Fahrenheit, we gathered 12 hours of data from three insulated bottles and one non-insulated bottle as a control.

The other two insulated bottles were the Yeti Rambler 30 oz Tumbler with double wall plastic Magslide©  lid and the Klean Kanteen 32 oz Insulated Growler with Swing Lok© cap (no longer sold on the Klean Kanteen site). Each bottle was filled with boiling water (212 degrees F) and tested after 3, 8, and 12 hours. 

The GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist was a clear winner, even though the Klean Kanteen claims it will retain heat for 30 hours and cold for 80 hours.

In practice, after a number of frigid Minnesota days at the Sandstone Ice Park, I learned that if I wanted to drink my coffee, I had to temper it with a splash of iced coffee. Otherwise, it stayed too hot for me to drink without scalding my mouth. The insulation in the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist works so well that if you’re going to drink the contents within 8 hours of filling it, you should make sure the liquid is drinkable when it goes in.

That said, this means that the Microlite 1000 Twist lets you plan easy comforts far ahead in your outdoor adventures. Let’s say you’re winter camping and know you’ll want a hot drink or hot soup at the end of a long first day: fill the thermos with boiling water or scalding hot soup before you leave, and 12 – 18 hours later, you’ll still have hot water. Or let’s say you’re in hot conditions: fill the the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist with cold water and ice, and you’ll still have a liter of cold water the next day after everything else (you included) has baked in the sun. That ice water is going to feel great on your second day of summer adventure.

Construction

The size and shape of a Nalgene, the Microlite 1000 Twist holds a liter of liquid and still fits into any pack pouch the crowd favorite non-insulated water bottle does. With 2mm stainless steel 18/8 walls, it’s incredibly lightweight for its insulating power. The screw cap top seals easily and tightly, protecting against both leakage and heat loss, and unscrews just as easily with gloves on. The lid supposedly has a “leverage enhancing lobe making frozen bottles easier to open,” though I honestly didn’t notice much of a difference. The bottle is pretty durable, too, having been hit by falling ice from 40 meters with no real visible damage.

Price

Even though the Microlite 1000 Twist outperformed the other bottles in every technical way — weight, temperature retention, size — it is less expensive than the other bottles of similar caliber. At time of writing, it was $34.95 compared to Hydro Flask at $44.95, Yeti at $49.99, and Klean Kanteen at $54.99.

What I Didn’t Like

Washability

GSI Outdoors recommends hand washing the Microlite 1000 Twist only, compared to Yeti and Hydro Flask bottles, which are dishwasher safe. That’s it. That’s the only thing.

Final Thoughts

In full disclosure, before testing the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist, I was a diehard Yeti groupie. After spending a season on the ice with the Microlite, it’s my go-to bottle. If you’re searching for an insulated bottle and you can survive hand washing — I know, really roughing it here — there’s no better thermos on the market right now than the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist.

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What I Liked

Heat Adjustment

The MSR WindBurner Stove Combo has a radiant burner with a boil-to-simmer control and a pressure regulator for consistent performance. That means it has an amazing wind resistant stove that produces heat that is easily adjustable. It was nice to be able to cook my food and not burn it.  I could fire up the stove on high for boiling water and use a lower heat for other foods like eggs and chili.

Wind Resistance

When I was camping with my lady friends it was rainy, windy and cold (not below freezing).  We had no problems with getting the stove lit or keeping it lit because of the wind-proof radiant burner.

Stable Stove

I have three sons and they are always moving.  With the tripod set up and the pans that sort of lock onto the stove, I am more comfortable using it around them.

Locking Strainer Lid

Usually when I camp I have to bring a strainer of some sort or I burn my hands and lose noodles trying to drain the water with the regular lid.  This is awesome to have the strainer built right into the lid, and be able to have the lid lock into place so I don’t burn myself while trying to hold it.  It also helped to poor the hot water into the French press for my morning coffee.

Locking Handle

The eight-inch ceramic coated aluminum nonstick skillet and the 2.5L ceramic-coated aluminum nonstick pot have a folding Talon handle. This handle opens up, locks into place and has a coating that does not get hot.  I have used other pans where the handle moves and gets hot. That becomes an issue when you forget and you lose some of your meal or burn yourself.  The handle also unlocks and folds up for easier packing. When you fold up the handle on the 2.5L pot it locks into the lid that is locked onto the pot. This is nice because then the handle won’t flop open.

Lightweight and Packable

The 2.5L pot weighs 12.2 ounces and the skillet weighs 7.7 ounces. They are very light for their size. The stove and an eight-ounce fuel canister fit nicely into the pot (shown to the right) and the lid locks into place on top of the pot. That makes it easy to pack into you kayak, car or backpack.

Felt Pot Protector

The MSR WindBurner Stove Combo came with a square piece of felt that is used to put under the stove and gas can in the bottom of the pot when packing it up to go.  I was relived to find this in the box.  I usually dig around my house in search of something to protect the pot with, and this time I didn’t need to do that.  You can also use it to wash out the pan if you wanted to. 

What I didn’t Like

Inability to interchange

The MSR WindBurner Stove, skillet and pot work great together! The pot and skillet have a circular addition on the bottom that sort of locks onto the stove for stability and efficient burning ability. They are an integrated system and do not work independently.

Non-compact skillet

The MSR WindBurner Stove fits into the pot with an eight-oz fuel canister nicely. Unfortunately, the skillet doesn’t fit in with the compact part of that.  The pot does fit into the skillet but it has room to shift around and you would need to remove the handle (which is very easy). Just don’t lose the handle. I would also put some felt or other material in between the pans so the pot doesn’t scratch the skillet.

Final Thoughts

This set up is bigger and meant for a larger group of people (4-6).  I believe it does this job well.  I will be using the MSR WindBurner Stove Combo a lot in the future.  It will be our go to for future kayaking adventures, canoeing adventures, car camping and group backpacking when having a bulkier set up isn’t an issue. 

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They also meet ANSI Z87.1 high velocity and high mass impact standards as well as US Federal OSHA 1910.133(b)(1)(1) standards.

What do all the above numbers mean? The WX Valor can withstand the weight of a 1.1-pound projectile dropped from a height of 50”, which ensures your eyes are protected from unexpected impacts. They withstand the impact of a .25” diameter steel ball fired at 150 fps or .15 projectiles fired at 640-660 fps.

In simple terms, these sunglasses are practically indestructible.

Durable Materials

The WX Valor sunglasses were taken on multiple mountain bike rides, which included a lot of downhill. There’s always the potential of flying off the bike if you hit loose dirt, fly around a corner a bit too fast, or get a tire stuck in a rock garden.

Not saying that it did happen, but let’s just say the sunglasses may’ve flown off the face, hitting a few rocks and landing in the dirt. Not one scratch or break on the lenses or the frame.

Outstanding Clarity

The clarity of the lenses on the WX Valor was incredible. My vision wasn’t distorted in any way, and they kept my vision clear of any glaring on the trails.

The sunglasses managed the brightness of sunlight to where I could just keep focused on the path and my line-of-sight wasn’t altered or affected by any reflective areas on the route.

Comfort and Reliability

The WX Valor sunglasses stayed put on my face, which can sometimes prove to be difficult as I have a fairly flat nose. The double-injected rubber temples did their job of non-slip comfort, and the nose pads never felt like they were digging into my nasal bone even after wearing the sunglasses for a while.

Wiley X knows what they’re doing when it comes to their sunglasses.

Final Thoughts

WX Valor is highly recommended whether you’re mountain biking, canyoneering, climbing, or whatever outdoor activity you’re engaged in.

They’re comfortable, versatile, and sturdy. The sunglasses come with a black zippered clamshell case, cleaning cloth, and a leash cord with rubber grips and retail at $75.00.

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What I Love

Warmth. My testing environment for the Kora Shola 230 Crew is literally all over the board. I have worn it as a baselayer when cycling in temperatures as low as thirty-five degrees and trail running in temperatures as high as forty-eight degrees. When worn on its own, I was comfortable. When worn as a baselayer under a lightweight jacket, I was too warm. This leads me to believe that when winter’s full fury is bearing down on me, I’m covered. Yak wool, according to Shora, is “40% warmer weight for weight, 66% more breathable and is 17% better at transporting water vapor away from the skin” than Merino wool.

I couldn’t validate that the Kora Shola 230 Crew is “40 percent” warmer than my somewhat-comparable Smartwool 240 g baselayer during the test without wearing a shirt that was half Smartwool and half Kora Shola Crew, and then spending a day outside in the cold running, cycling, hiking, whatever. So I resorted to common sense and a visit to Wikipedia to learn about yaks. Yaks live at high elevation (up to 19,000 feet above sea level). Snow, wind, sleet, hail, rain, yaks are unfazed by Mother Nature’s wrath. They’ve adapted to their surroundings by growing a soft wool under their shaggy outer coats to keep them warm and comfortable all year. Merino sheep, on the other hand, generally live at 3,200 feet above sea level. It makes sense that the animal that lives high in the Himalayas is going to produce warmer wool than the Merino sheep that gets to enjoy the temperate climates at a reasonable elevation.

Just as breathable as Merino wool. No matter how much mountain biking, bike commuting or trail running I did outside in temperatures that hovered between thirty and forty degrees, I never felt drowning in perspiration.

Just as long-wearing as Merino wool. I wore the Kora Shola Crew’s every day for eight days of bike commuting, mountain biking and trail running before I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Size. Spot on. I always wear a size small and my size small sample is fitted enough to wear under mid-layer or heavier jacket without feeling bunchy or restrictive. The length is ideal. It falls at my hip, making it long enough in the back and in the arms to wear for cycling.

Soft. This blew me away. It is much softer against my skin than even the fine-grade Merino wool. No rubbing, chafing or itching. I saw a lot of yak pictures while researching these leggings. Yaks have long, scraggly, dreadlocks. It doesn’t seem possible that the Shora 230 Crew would feel as silky and soft as they actually did.

Humanely-harvested wool. Yak wool is collected only during their natural bi-annual shed when the yak farmer (almost literally) walks around the pasture picking up the shedded undercoat from the ground and giving the yak a nice brushing (which they probably love because it feels good). No shearing or sharp objects required. Merino sheep are still sheared.

What I didn’t Like

Price. At $145, it could feel like taking a bullet for some buyers. But I’m a firm believe that you get what you pay for. The Kola Shora 230 Crew is many things. It’s great for anything that involves high-intensity pursuits in cold weather like fatbiking, trail running, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. When you think about it this way, $145 for a baselayer that plays this many roles, it isn’t so bad.

Final Thoughts

You need one. I highly recommend the Kora Shola 230 Crew. Yes, they’re pricey but if you’re looking to treat yourself to a quality piece of outdoor gear to keep you comfortable outside for years to come, and for a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, give them some consideration. So far this fall I’ve been wearing it for trail running and cycling on cooler days–both on its own and under a light jacket. But I am confident that I can wear this baselayer for winter camping, snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing.

That’s why I love this baselayer so much. It’s relevant for every cool- or cold-weather activity.

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Super Eight Super Gose

Gose beer is a warm fermented beer hailing from 13th century Goslar, Germany. Its trademark flavor is high on the sour and salt and low on the hop bitterness. Super Eight Super Gose, the Dogfish Head version, is a 5.3 percent-alcohol berry-flavored salad bar of a brew containing nine ingredients: prickly pear, mango, boysenberry, blackberry, raspberry, elderberry, kiwi juices, red Hawaiian sea salt and toasted. Yes, you read that correctly. Toasted quinoa. Dogfish Head certainly wins creativity points for adding toasted quinoa. However, not long after drinking it, a canker sore erupted inside my mouth thanks to the kiwi juice (I have a food sensitivity to kiwi). Because I didn’t want to be swayed or biased by marketing, I didn’t research any of the beer online prior to tasting it. But prior to canker sore, a variety of flavors waged warfare on my taste buds. In the end, that winning flavor was a distinct after-tone of sour with the smallest hint of sea salt at the very end and slightly bitter.

Would I Drink this Again?

Yes, if they omitted the kiwi juice.

Outdoor Activity Pairing

Any activity with easy access to a drug store or urgent care for kiwi-related food allergies. Otherwise, fishing and SUP’ing.

Sea Quench Ale Session Sour

If you’ve been around craft beer for any given time, you’ve likely heard of “session beer”. The origins are somewhat debated although there is speculation that session beer was the preferred brew of the British munitions workers during WWI. While they toiled long hours in the factory, the overlords granted them “session” breaks, which they took at the local pubs. Knowing they had to return to work, the munitions builders opted for the lower-alcohol beer so they could consume in mass quantities without getting wasted. Or so the legend goes. Dogfish Head crafted Sea Quench Ale Session Sour with 4.9-percent alcohol and infused it with black lime, sour lime juice and sea salt. They weren’t kidding when they added “sour” to the end of the name. Lime was all I could taste and the taste lingered on and on and on and on. And on. Hops and limes just don’t go together, let alone black lime. Would you buy a black lime in the grocery store? Let alone pick it up and eat it?

Would I Drink this Again?

No. It tasted like a shot glass full of lime juice.

Outdoor Activity Pairing

Après mountain biking; but only if you’re with a group who brought a beer capable of diluting the oral aftershock of lime.

Slightly Mighty Low-cal IPA

IPA, or India Pale Ale, is probably the most popular and known craft beer. Its history is somewhat debatable but it began in the late 1700’s during the British occupation of India. The pale ales that regularly made their way from the breweries of England to the docks of India were lightly hopped. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the beer-swizzling British troops were hot and thirsty in India’s tropical climate. The easy fix was to add more hops to the pale ales to lighten it even more, thereby decreasing thirst and increasing moral of the troops. Fast-forward to the modern-day craft beer craze. Low cal and IPA should never be used in the same sentence. And yet Dogfish Head went there with Slightly Mighty Low-cal IPA, a 4-percent alcohol IPA. I don’t have a problem with the low alcohol content, it’s just that I couldn’t really taste anything good or bad. The overall effect was more like a watered-down Sierra Nevada than a craft IPA.

Would I Drink this Again?

Sure. Why not.

Outdoor Activity Pairing

Hiking and canoeing. With a lower alcohol content you can bring it along in your backpack or the ice chest of your canoe for a lunch beer enroute to wherever you’re going.

Namaste White Belgian Wheat

Wheat beer (Witbier if you’re a bier snob) is descended from medieval beers flavored and preserved with spices like coriander and orange peel instead of hops. It’s not unusual to have your glass garnished with a slice of orange. Personally, I love Witbiers because of their crispiness and slight tang. Dogfish Head’s take with Namaste White Belgian Wheat was to flavor an already yummy bier with cloves and lemon grass. For whatever reason, I tasted the magical flavor of refreshing coconut.

Would I Drink this Again?

Absolutely.

Outdoor Activity Pairing

For some reason, après sea kayaking and/or cross-country skiing feels the most appropriate. But really, it tastes good enough for après-anything.

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What I Liked

Easy to use. Just put the fan piece that blows heated air in to the shoe and plug it into your home or car. 

It worked at home.  I have three sons and one of them in particular always seems to end up with his footwear getting wet.  It doesn’t seem to matter where we are, home, camping, biking, hiking you name it, he finds the water and ends up in it.  Luckily, this time I had the Travel Dry DX with me.  The first time I used it was with his shoes that were completely soaked.  They were so bad that he had to wash the mud out first.  Then we put the Travel Dry DX in them and left them over night.  They were still a little wet so we left it in for a few more hours.  When we checked on them again they were dry. 

It worked while camping.  I went camping and biking with some women for a weekend and it was chilly and it rained a lot.  Luckily, we had some breaks in the rain so we could hit the mountain bike trail.  It was wet, but is was still a lot of fun.  When we got back to camp I put the Travel Dry DX in my cycling shoes and hooked up with the DC 12 volt for the car.  I cleaned up got ready for dinner and went to check on my shoes.  They were completely dry.  I was super stoked.  The next day when we went off to ride I heard the other ladies talk about how their shoes were still wet and I felt a little bad that mine were nice and dry.   

What I didn’t Like

There really isn’t anything I didn’t like. If I had to come up with something I could say that it’s not my favorite color (that does not mean I want pink) however, it does make it easy to find in my mess of a car.

Final Thoughts

I can’t wait to use the Travel Dry DX this winter.  It will be great to warm up my cross-country ski, snowboarding and snowshoeing boots on my drive to the activity.  I bet my husband will be wishing he had a Travel Dry DX just for himself.

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