PETZL NAO – Powerful Self Adjusting Headlamp | the GearCaster

Petzl Nao Headlamp - photo: the GearCaster

One of the show favorites by far, amongst all the attendees at Outdoor Retailer, was the new Nao headlamp from Petzl. Using an integrated light sensor technology, the headlamp beam instantly adapts to the changing conditions around you, giving you ideal lighting at all times with little manual intervention.

Called Reactive Lighting, the new Petzl headlamp technology features an integrated light sensor that can automatically asses your proximity to an object, your current level of activity, and your desire to see in the distance, adjusting both the beam pattern and light output accordingly.

Read more: Powerful Self Adjusting Headlamp

PETZL NAO headlamp automatically dims or brightens | Trailspace

Once in a while, a headlamp comes around that changes the game for others. Enter Petzl‘s Nao auto-adjusting headlamp, which dims or brightens according to the level of ambient light.

The Nao uses Reactive Lighting Technology, which is comprised of a sensor and an associated microprocessor. That allows the Nao’s two LED’s to dim — and for batteries to last longer — in brighter light, and to get stronger as it darkens outside.

Reactive Lighting Technology will prove especially useful for alpine starts, moonlit cloudy nights, or any other endeavor where ambient lighting changes over time. Plus, you won’t have to fiddle around making manual adjustments.

Read More: PETZL NAO headlamp automatically dims or brightens

Daniel Woods on his new problem, Mirror Reality | PETZL

Woods on the glassy lip of Mirror Reality. Photo: © Cameron Maier - bearcammedia.com

I first got word from Dave Graham in May of 2011 of a potential new project in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. The climb is located a few hundred feet past the Moraine Park turnoff, on the right hand side of the road. An obvious landmark to look for is the raging river filled with house sized boulders, running underneath the road bridge. You park in a pull out just past the bridge on the right and run a few hundred feet up the hillside into the woods.

Eager for new boulders, I decided to take a solo mission and check it out. The nature of the rock is glassy with large chunks of crystal seamed together, creating just enough friction to hold on. The beginning is steep (45 degrees overhanging), but as soon as you reach the lip, the angle changes to a bulged-out slab. You begin with a four move 8A+, the crux of which revolves around a low-percentage first move. The theme of the problem begins (most of the time concludes) at the half way point of the boulder. Here you take a flat full-pad edge with your right hand and a flat half-pad edge with your left, place your right toe on a needle-tip piece of crystal, and jump blindly over the bulge to a glassy sloper with your left hand. This one move in itself is around 8A and is tough to stick from this point, let alone from the beginning. The exit is a four-move 7C/+ with a hard right-foot rock over to the finishing edge. At this point you are relieved and can walk off to the right.

Read More: Daniel Woods on his new problem, Mirror Reality

Quarante: The 2012 OR Winter Market

Skiing in support of the Big City Mountaineers, aprés Outdoor Retailer.

This OR Winter Market was my fortieth Outdoor Industry tradeshow. I began going to the shows in the summer of 1991 (that year it was in Reno), and I’ve been at almost every one since. I missed one after having a serious bike wreck on the day before I was supposed to leave for the show.

So this was number “40,” for me, or “quarante” as they say in French. That’s a nice round number that makes me think. Continue reading

Announcing Patagonia Footwear

We here at PEMBA are excited to announce that we have entered into a long-term agreement to represent Patagonia Footwear in the Midwest. In our line of work, it’s rare that find a company to work with that is so close to the core of what you believe. Patagonia Footwear completely aligns with our values, ethics, and aesthetic, we believe the line is well positioned for the needs of the Outdoor Retail specialty store.

In addition to shared values, Patagonia Footwear and PEMBAserves are also closely aligned with our approach to growing business. Patagonia Footwear has a deep quiver of marketing brand-tools that are very similar to our own, with opportunities for field events in support of local outdoor advocacy groups, a strong on-line presence, and a social component to business operations. Patagonia was a founding member of 1% for the Planet, and PEMBAserves was the first rep agency in the country to join the organization.

Continue reading

2012 Teva Winter Mountain Games Sponsor! | Atlas Snowshoe

Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, the leader in snowshoe innovation and snowshoe racing, is the official snowshoe sponsor of the inaugural Teva Winter Mountain Games in Vail, Colo., February 10 – 12, 2012.

The human powered, environmentally friendly Teva Mountain Games, founded in 2002 has quickly grown to the point of hosting more than 2,500 adventure athletes and 40,000 spectators over the course of the annual four-day summer event. As a seemingly natural evolution, the Teva Mountain Games present the winter competition this season in it’s first year, offering events that include ice climbing, on-snow biking, telemark skiing, Nordic competitions, running, dog events and a Ultimate Mountain Man/Woman combination event.

“When creating events, we always look to those who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk in the outdoor industry to team up as partners,” said Shelley Woodworth, Vail Valley Foundation, organizers of the Winter Teva Mountain Games presented by Eddie Bauer. “In this spirit, we look forward to having Atlas Snowshoe Company as part of our snowshoe competitions at the inaugural winter celebration of mountain lifestyle.”

The cross-country snowshoe race brings competitors to the top of Vail Mountain, February 11, 2012 at 12:30 pm, for challenging 5k and 10k snowshoe courses that start at 10,000 feet in elevation. From running up Kloser’s Climb with variable snow conditions to corduroy-groomed areas and stints of deep powder, this sometimes single-track challenge will leave competitors gasping for air and earning their bragging rights. For those brave enough to take on the 10k challenge, a $4,000 prize purse will be awaiting the winner

“Provided Atlas’ nearly two decade long involvement in snowshoe racing and long standing relationship with Vail, it seemed a perfect fit for Atlas to get on board as a sponsor and to bring our Atlas Race Team’s top-tier trail racing ability to the first ever Teva Winter Mountain Games,” said Connor Folley, Marketing Manager, Atlas Snow-Shoe Company.

Alpine Shop Wins 2012 National Retailer of the Year Award

In a presentation in Salt Lake City, Utah, Alpine Shop – a St. Louis-based independent outdoor recreation retailer – received the 2012 SNEWS/Backpacker Magazine National Retailer of the Year Award for Growth of Outdoor Sports. This award goes to the business that performed the best job in the nation at introducing people to the world of outdoor sports during the 2011 calendar year.

“I didn’t get into this business to get rich. And let me tell you, I didn’t,” joked Alpine Shop owner Russell Hollenbeck upon receiving the award. “Getting people outdoors is why we do this. It’s behind everything we do.”

Read More: Alpine Shop Wins 2012 National Retailer of the Year Award

Outside Magazine Gear of the Show Award: PETZL NAO Headlamp

Peer into the darkness to check on your buddy (or maybe scan the trail to the outhouse) and Petzl‘s Nao headlamp shines a bright, focused beam. Look down to fiddle with your gloves or glance at your map, and the Nao’s sensors instantly adjust both the intensity and type of light shining from its LEDs. The Nao could make manually adjusting your headlamp between tasks a thing of the past, and those sensors even increase burn time by dimming the light when you don’t need it.

Read More: Outside Magazine – PETZL NAO Headlamp with Reactive Lighting

Introducing the PETZL NAO Headlamp

The rechargeable NAO headlamp adapts its two high power LEDs instantly and automatically to the lighting needs for greater comfort, fewer manual interventions and longer battery life.

NAO is the first Petzl headlamp with REACTIVE LIGHTING technology: a sensor measures and analyzes the ambient light. The OS by Petzl software, free for download at www.petzl.com/OS, allows the NAO’s potential to be maximized with the option to personalize the headlamp and its performance.

www.petzl.com/NAO

Introducing New Speed Series Snowshoes | Atlas Snow-Shoe Company

Atlas Snow-Shoe Company, the leader in snowshoe innovation, introduces the newly redesigned Speed Series snowshoes. The all-new Race and Run snowshoes will debut at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012, booth #34101.

Atlas engineers drew inspiration from the experts of the Atlas Racing Team in the complete redesign of the Speed Series. The new Race and Run snowshoes provide a new bar of performance in running snowshoes, designed for those who refuse to settle for second. Utilizing ultralight materials like titanium and 7075 aluminum, Atlas has developed their lightest snowshoes to date, while maintaining the durability seen throughout the line.

“Having raced on Atlas snowshoes for more than 15 seasons, I’ve seen them evolve to become state of the art, lightweight and top-performing running snowshoes,” said Adam Chase, captain of the Atlas Racing Team. “There’s a reason you see them at almost every snowshoe event: they are easy to use, durable, superlight and practically exude energy.”

FEATURES:

  • LightSpeed Bindings – New LightSpeed Pro and LightSpeed Bindings are the lightest bindings Atlas has ever constructed, developed to hold the foot securely and ensure exact placement on technical trails.
  • Spring-Loaded™ Suspension – Atlas’ signature suspension system offers natural articulation of the foot for an uncompromised running stride.
  • Speed V-Frames – Crafted from durable and lightweight aluminum the Speed V-Frame shapes are designed to prevent frame clipping while still providing maximum flotation.
  • Nytex Decking – Lightweight and flexible, Nytex decking ensures the durability that trail running demands while effortlessly shedding snow for an easier stride.

Atlas Race: 7075 Aluminum Speed V-Frame, LightSpeed Pro Binding, Titanium Toe and Heel Traction, 22” SRP: $319.95

Atlas Run: 6061 Aluminum Speed V-Frame, LightSpeed Binding, Aluminum Twin-Trac™ Toe Crampon with heel cleat, 22”  SRP: $209.95