GearFlogger

Adidas adiPower Weightlifting Shoes

It's hard to overstate the benefits of getting truly stronger. By truly we mean not just for a month, but gaining consistently measurable strength for years. Once you cross the line from recreational sports into the competitive realm, you realize strength training is no longer optional. Hopefully at that point you've read Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength and Practical Programming for Strength Training, and you're putting in the time under the bar.

Once you're under that bar, you realize a couple of things. First: holy s**t is it heavy. Second: there has got to be gear to make the pain go away. Well, the gear is here, but as for the pain it's like Greg LeMond said, "It never gets easier, you just go faster." Or in this case lift heavier. As Rippetoe says, the way to make a 225 squat easier is to squat 315. Or something like that, you get the idea.

The beauty of barbell training is that there are really only two pieces of gear you need: a good pair of weightlifting-specific shoes and a belt. The reason for the belt is probably not what you think, so read this and stay tuned for our upcoming review of the best belt in existence. The need for special shoes should be obvious: you just can't have a big bouncy midsole like you're used to. You need some seriously hard stuff under your heel, and the Adidas adiPower gives it to you.

The adiPower is not cheap, but you really only need to buy them once in a very long while. The adiPower features a leather upper and a polymer heel with a 24mm to 4mm heel to toe drop, perfect for the big compound lifts like squat and deadlift - you are squatting and deadlifting, right? There's an instep strap to really lock your foot in, and for the intended application you want to be as locked in as possible. OK, you're fully informed so get off that elliptical and start training.

Best of all, at the moment they're on sale for $150, but if you use the code CYBER2017 you'll get them down to $105, and if you first sign up for their email newsletter they'll send you a code for another 15% off that you can stack. Sweet deal!

$150.00 (or less! on sale from $200) at Adidas

Yaktrax Summit Traction Device

We've had a love/hate/love relationship with Yaktrax over the years. Their new Summit traction devices, despite being more of a niche product, nevertheless restores some of the gleam in our eyes for their innovative approach.

Living in Anchorage, Alaska we deal with a solid six months of snow on the ground, yet it gets warm enough to provoke frequent freeze/thaw cycles that result in plenty of ice underfoot. Whether you're watching your Jeep slide sideways while parked at a trailhead, trying to shovel your roof, or just make your walk to work, some kind of traction device is mandatory equipment.

The original Yaktrax were great, usually lasting a few seasons. The only problem was losing them since they had no keeper system. Yaktrax fixed that with the Pro version, but about that time quality seemed to take a dive and you were lucky to get one full season out of them. We're happy to report the new Summit version seems to have made it through a season unscathed, although we'll update next season as we get more long-term usage.

The Summit features stainless steel chains and 3/8 inch carbon steel spikes underfoot. There are also sole plates that function as antibot/antiballing devices. These seem to be moderately effective in wet spring snow. The big innovation is the use of the Boa closure system, which has been popping up on all kinds of footwear the past few years. The Boa uses a dial to snug up the fit and ensure your investment doesn't get left behind.

At 10 ounces for each foot they're approaching the weight of ultralight crampons, however the 3/8 inch teeth and lack of frontpoints allow you to move very quickly, especially when paired with a lighter boot or even trail runners for truly ultralight ascents in marginal conditions. Altogether the Summit system works well for specific situations. It's too bulky for trail running, and lacks the front points needed for serious mountaineering, but for casual peak-bagging and other fast-and-light backcountry use the Summit is a serious contender for your pack.

$86.31 at Amazon

Outdoor Gear News You Can Use

As you sit around the house bloated with turkey and stuffed with stuffing, take some time to catch up on all the latest news from your favorite outdoor vendors. Black Diamond talks with Exum Guide Bill Anderson about the extended column test for avalanche safety, quizzes climbers on the best way to rack your gear, and tells you dirtbags how to heal your nasty fingers. Got a Pieps? Learn how to check it. And while you're metabolizing that pumpkin pie, you might as well pull a little maintenance duty and evaluate your gear for safety.

Not to be left out, Petzl brings the flowchart to choosing the right crampon, Arc'Teryx showcases their down technology complete with a video on how to wash down, and even The Man has something for you; check out the new Global Mountain Explorer from USGS to plan your next epic. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good climb!

BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 Tire

There's a reason for the saying, "Where the rubber meets the road." The tire-surface interface is arguably the most important component of vehicle performance, the more so when that performance envelope is getting stretched. Replacing the stock Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tires on our Project Backcountry Access Jeep Wrangler was our first order of business, and the choice was clear: BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 for the win.

The Goodyears aren't a bad all-season tire for on-road use, but we wanted a true all-terrain tire for year-round driving without having to swap out to studded tires for our Alaskan adventures. While some people (who don't live in Alaska) argue about the relative merits of studded versus studless tires, Alaskans are very clear on the advantages of studs, and we have a set for SheFlogger's Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. That said, we didn't want to buy a second set of rims and have to store and swap the larger tires for the Jeep Wrangler twice a year. Luckily there is a solution, and it's called the Alpine rating.

Also known as severe service, all-weather and 3PMSF (three peak mountain snowflake, because of the logo printed on the tire), Alpine-rated tires are designed for both extremely harsh, sub-freezing conditions but are also suitable for year-round driving. The BFG KO2 is a snowflake-rated second-generation light truck tire that is generally considered the benchmark in its category. It has features designed to enhance traction, such as siping, large voids in between the tread blocks, and tougher sidewalls with beefier lugs. For everything you want to know about winter tires, be sure to visit Tire Rack's winter tire page.

The bottom line on the KO2 is that it is a tough, reliable and stellar performer on and offroad, in winter and summer, on mud and ice and at all temperatures. As a not-insignificant bonus for our daily-driven Jeep, it has very good manners on pavement, is relatively quiet and fuel-economical, and boasts a long tread life. The KO2 is a true Goldilocks tire, and having been through a full year of Alaskan driving on them we give them a solid two thumbs up.

$241.97 at Tirerack.com

The North Face Progressor Insulated Hybrid Hoodie

Hybrid jackets have been around for a few years now and are a proven product category. The format is insanely useful for high-output activities where you need some core insulation and upper body protection but still have to have the ability to vent off excess heat and moisture.

The lightweight 11.6oz North Face Progressor is a great example of the evolution of these pieces, designed as a layering piece targeted at the alpine fast-and-light crowd but useful as a standalone jacket for anyone burning up the calories outside. The Progressor hoodie has a vest area insulated with 100g of PrimaLoft Gold - gold baby! - and it hits one of our favorite design sweet spots: the collar wraps around the chin when fully zipped up, a seemingly minor feature but one that we always miss when absent in a jacket or vest.

Features are minimal by design: the zip-up handwarmer pockets are comfy and spacious, with hem drawcords in each one, and there's a full length draft flap behind the zipper, and that's about it. That's not to say the design isn't intelligent, because it hits all the right notes: the sleeves, sides and hood are a very thin, stretchy and breathable material that easily slides under a layer - and a helmet - if you need it to, and there are small holes in the armpit area that effectively aid in venting. Wearing the Progressor we found it to be curiously warm without being prone to overheating, a welcome case of marketing hype matching reality.

The Progressor is definitely a minimalist piece in weight and features, but where some minimalist gear is highly specialized the Progressor is amazingly versatile. It works well by itself or as part of a layering system for mountain biking, cross-country skiing, mountain running, and climbing. You can also find it on sale right now, so if you're looking for a perfect shoulder-season jacket the Progressor should definitely be under consideration.

$138.99 (on sale from $198.95) at MooseJaw

Contigo Matterhorn Vacuum Bottle

Everybody loves Contigo vacuum bottles, and now we understand why. They do exactly what they're supposed to do, they do it stylishly and well, and they don't break the bank unlike some of those ridiculously priced vacuum insulated products out there. Abominable snowman, we're looking at you!

The Contigo THERMALOCK Matterhorn comes in 20 and 32oz capacities, with lots of cool colors to choose from. The powder coating is very high quality and adds to the gripability. Yes, that's a word. [Ed: No, it's not.] Well, Ed -if that's even your real name - it should be.

The Matterhorn keeps cold cold and hot hot, for a claimed 36 and 14 hours respectively. We ran out of patience and drank the contents before the timer expired, so we can't verify the extreme end of that time frame but given the temperature of the contents after an overnight stay we have no problem believing the specs.

Aside from maintaining temperature, the only other thing we ask of a vacuum bottle is that it NOT SPILL! This is critical, especially if said bottle is sharing your sleeping bag on a multi-night outing. We're happy to report that our Contigo was tighter than a Russian businessman's lips after meeting with a Trump campaign official.

The loop securing the cap is bomber, fear not to lash the Matterhorn to your pack with a biner. As a bonus, you can even remove the white BPA-free plastic spout for easier cleaning. The mouth is the perfect size for drinking, and just big enough for putting ice cubes in. Overall the Contigo Matterhorn is the Goldilocks of vacuum bottles, just right in every way.

$19.99 for the 32oz at Amazon
$13.28 for the 20oz at Amazon