GearFlogger

Maloja DorliM Women's Shirt

Those in the know, know to look to Maloja for inspirational design that stands out from the crowd. The new DorliM shirt for women is not just about its good looks though; it uses a unique merino wool/polyester blend that has all the right moves for a performance piece.

The DorliM is a long-sleeve shirt with a generous hem, flattering sidecut and deep 3/4 length zipper. OK, maybe we'd call it a 2/3 length zipper, but the point is you can seriously vent this shirt well beyond what you can do with the more common 1/4 zip format. The zipper has a nice full-length flap behind it that prevents zipper bite. It also has a spring-tension to it so it lies flat and doesn't jingle all the way, if you know what we mean.

The Thermopile Merino traps heat next to your skin for a nice touch of warmth, but it breathes very well and is ideal for high-output pursuits like cross-country skiing, winter biking and shoulder season hiking. The polyester in the blend adds four-way stretch so the DorliM will move with you without binding you up.

The DorliM is cut snugly, but it's not a problem because the stretch compensates, and the close fit means easy layering of insulation and shell layers over the top. The stars print is uber-cool and complements the classy colors well, so be prepared to be asked "where did you get that?" a lot. For the men out there, note to self: the DorliM is a great gift for the active woman in your life.

$199.00 at Maloja

Tuffy Console Safe for Jeep Wrangler

So you like to go topless in your Jeep, well we encourage that. We also encourage the use of secure storage options inside your Jeep for peace of mind while you're off doing your thing. Tuffy knows secure storage, and chances are that whatever space you want to secure in your Jeep, they have a solution. One obvious area the can use a security upgrade is the center console, so we took a look at the Tuffy Console Safe for 2011-18 Wrangler JKs.

The safe is basically a lockbox you slide into your center console. It's made of 16 gauge steel, about 1/8 inch thick, with a nice powder coating to prevent rust. Install is very straightforward and takes less 30-60 minutes. Remove the rear trim piece above the rear cupholders, disconnect the rear window wiring connectors, unscrew the four T20 torx screws and remove the lid and the upper tray, which you won't be able to put back in. Slide in the Console Safe and either reassemble everything, or for extra security - and why wouldn't you want that? - mark two holes as per the instructions, remove the safe and drill those holes out. Put the safe back in, tighten the bolts and you're good to go.

We were expecting a basic steel box, but Tuffy is serious about their products and they put a lot of thought into both tamper resistance and usability. The ten-tumbler keyed lock comes with a pair of keys so you can keep a spare for when - we mean if! if! you lose one... The hinge is welded and has a pin lock, so it would be hard to damage and you can't easily tap it out. On our 2012 Rubicon we have a cigarette adapter and USB port on the inside, and both are still easily accessible in the Console Safe. There is a small shelf along the driver side top of the safe, which is handy for small items. Tuffy even thought of noise reduction, and they include two small stick-on rubber bumpers to isolate vibration between the metal lid and the safe body, and another pair to put on the console armrest where it meets the safe. Nicely done!

You do lose the inner shallow tray and about a quarter of the width of the storage area, but there is still plenty of room to secure phones, wallets, even a medium size handgun and bear spray canister. All in all we feel its a worthwhile tradeoff to prevent any kind of casual smash and grab, as well as keep the odd non-child-safe item away from prying little hands when you're briefly out of the vehicle. If you're really serious about secure storage, Tuffy also makes a full center console replacement, but for most of us the Console Safe is the way to go.

$134.00 at Tuffy

Kahtoola EXOspikes Footwear Traction

With apologies to Mr. Frost, if two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and one of them was really icy and wanted wear, you would definitely choose that one. If, that is, you had your Kahtoola EXOspikes on your feet. We love all our Kahtoola traction devices: the NANOspikes for bare ice, the MICROspikes for more challenging terrain, and for everything in the middle - mixed snow and ice on mostly flat or low inclines - there is (are?) the EXOspikes.

EXOspikes are basically NANOspikes with protruding lugs around the spikes. This gives more traction in mixed snow and ice, the kind of conditions we see here in Anchorage, Alaska for most of the winter. For hiking and running in these conditions the extra purchase is noticeable and appreciated.

The uppers are the same as the other devices in the XXXspikes line, secure and comfortable. We haven't lost one yet! They are easy to put on and take off, which is nice when you're walking to a grocery store like the one on our block that has slick hard tiles on the floor. Or you want to avoid marking up your new hardwood floors. It's hard to go wrong with Kahtoola's footwear traction lineup, and the best part is that unlike many of the competitors we've tried over the years Kahtoola's products are made to last, they're no one-season wonders.

$59.95 at REI

Scepter 5 Gallon Water Can

Sometimes you just need to bring it with you. Liquid, that is: gasoline, water, beer, whatever it is, look to Scepter to have a container for it. Scepter jerry cans - jerry as in Germans, who pioneered the use of these cans on military vehicles in the Second World War  - are still in use by militaries the world over. They have plenty of civilian uses too, wherever you need a rugged container built to stand up to major abuse.

The Scepter 5 gallon (20 litre) water can is made of BPA free, food grade plastic and is tough as nails. It's exactly in the standard 5 gallon dimensions so you can use an compatible carry system, like our favorite the MORryde side-mount tray on our Jeep JKU. 

Available in sand, black or green the can is clearly marked WATER to avoid any unfortunate confusion. The large filling cap has a smaller pour cap and breathing hole cap so you can control pouring into canteens and other small containers. The handle is comfortable, which is good because five gallons of water weighs about 42 pounds, so hit those weights! The bottom of the can has a wavy design that's nice because it gives you some room to run straps around the can without having to lift it.

$57.60 at Amazon

weBoost Home MultiRoom Signal Booster

Everything is going mobile these days, if it already hasn't. That includes internet connectivity for a lot of people, including my parents who live "down the holler" in rural Missouri. They have a land line still because it's more reliable, but like everyone else they mostly just want to use their mobile phones all the time. They have an additional wrinkle in that they can't get any form of internet connectivity except via a cell modem/hotspot or satellite, the latter being too expensive.

However, being literally down in a small ravine off the rural highway in the hills means poor cell signal strength. They have tried everything to improve it, but nothing worked to the point where they could do one particular thing they truly want to: videoconference via Zoom/Skype/Facetime with their kids and grand-kids. Long story short: the weBoost Home MultiRoom Signal Booster kit (470144) solved the problem, and they are now able to happily connect over video to all the little rugrats. Read on for details.