Gear We Like


YakTrax Walker

Snow, mud, ice, slush: 'Tis the season for sloppy and slippery weather conditions. If you're going to be participating in outdoor activities (like walking around town or traipsing through the forest) you may want to protect your footing. Try YakTrax outdoor performance footcare ... if you're really going places and don't want to end up on your rear end instead.

Cost: 
$20

Simplici-Trees

I found this nifty little holiday solution for travelers, cabin living and small spaces: The Simplici-Tree. Perfect for your RV, cabin or home, the Simplici-Trees comes decorated with stars or Christmas balls and little bells and pom poms to hang your own favorite ornaments on. I love love love it!

Cost: 
$49 - $59

Skoy: Earth-Friendly Cloth

This is the snazziest thing since sponges first swam in the sea - 700 million years ago. It's called a Skoy and it knocks paper towels off the shelf. Skoy cloths are:
• 100% biodegradable
• Absorbent
• Re-usable
• Machine washable
• Made from natural cotton and wood pulp
• Non-toxic and chlorine-free
• Made using water-based colors and inks

Cost: 
$6.99/pack of four

StorMate Broom

The Perfect Combination of Function & Practicality

Having the comforts of home is great, but space is always an issue on the road. One answer is StorMate, a collapsible broom compact enough for RVs, but rugged enough for home use.

• 3-section aluminum shaft – with twist locks – telescopes up to 50 inches!

Cost: 
$19.75

Battery-Powered Blender

Just because you're out in the woods doesn't mean you can't whip up smoothie for breakfast or a frosty margarita around the campfire.

Cost: 
$59-$79

Fish Grilling Basket


I love contraptions and the spirit of invention. "Where there's a will there's a way," as my grandmother - the McGuyver of little old ladies - would say. She would have loved this this fish basket, which is the snazziest way to cook fish since the Native Americans used wood frames against an open fire.

Cost: 
$14.99

Alpen Wings Binoculars


By Scott Staats, OL&R's Gear Head

Cost: 
$572

2011 Octane Lumbar Reservoir


Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drinking water during summer sporting activities is important to your performance, endurance and overall health. Don't leave home with out plenty of fresh water. To help you, Camelbak makes a great line of hydrating systems to make it simple for you. The Octane Lumbar Reservoir is made especially for activities that will have to jostling around rough-and-tumble trails.

Cost: 
$89