Nexus Expeditions - Dimitri's Epic Journey

Have you met our friend Dimitri Kieffer?

Photo credit: Dan Holtz Photography

He is back in Mongolia preparing to start the next leg of his journey around the globe. Kieffer is on a mission to circumnavigate the globe using only human power while connecting different societies, civilizations and landscapes. On this section of his trip he will be going to West Africa, via China, Kazakhstan and multiple other countries. 

We care Dimitri!!

Injinji: For Better Performance In All Conditions

Whether you go 2 miles or 50 kilometers everytime you run, Injinji is the performance sock your foot craves. Forget about your feet and enjoy the fresh air as your toes align naturally and blisters fade into a thing of the past.

Injinji, for better performance in any shoe.

INJINJI® Performance Toesocks from Injinji on Vimeo.

The Good Life...of An Ibex

Here is a fun video chronicling the typical life of the sheep that supply the 21 micron wool used in Ibex Outdoor Clothing. Life isn't so bad at Eskhead Station...

Innate Gear's Kaze Modular Vacuum Bottle

The very popular Kaze modular vacuum bottle is a great example of clean design with common sense features. Use it as a travel mug with the sipping collar screwed on, or remove the modular handle and use it as a slim vacuum bottle.

KAZE by Innate Gear from Innate on Vimeo.

The Big Outside Digs the Contour 70 by Gregory Packs

Michael Lanza from The Big Outside says the Countour 70L/Cairn 68L backpack by Gregory Packs is perfect for everything from a family backpacking trip to a hike of more than four days. Basically, he likes a "pack that can handle a big load and allows [him] to organize so that [he] can access items quickly. It doesn't hurt if the pack is almost a pound lighter than many top competitors."

 

To read the full article CLICK HERE.

"Why Vibram Took a Flyer on Those Crazy FiveFingers Barefoot Shoes" - The Takeaway

Listen to what Peter von Conta, the VP of Product Design at Vibram USA, has to say about risk taking and why Vibram decided it was worth it to try something totally different...

"Even if you have never owned a pair of FiveFingers--the shoe that kicked off the "barefoot" running craze--the chances are pretty good that Vibram had a role in making the shoes that are currently on your feet."

"The Takeaway: Risk is always worth it, because you can always go back."

To read the full article CLICK HERE.

Injinji 2.0 line - Product Review

Take a few minutes to read this review of the 2.0 line Injinji launched this spring, written by avid runner Alexa Dickerson. She is a member of Team Injinji, an ultramarathoner and a CrossFit extraordinair. 

Alexa likes the extra padding that was added to all of the socks, providing sustained comfort for long runs. The mesh top, allowing for better breathability, and the "Lycra band with increased compression around the ankle to keep the sock in place and prevent it from sliding down" are only a few aspects of the 2.0 line that she loves. 

To find out what Alexa thought of the 2.0 Compression socks and read the rest of the review CLICK HERE. 

Gregory’s Alpaca 22 Named “Best Luggage” as Part of Outside Magazine’s Active Travel Awards

Article taken from www.gregorypacks.com:

"Gregory, the leading pack maker for over 35 years, has been selected byOutside, America’s leading multimedia active-lifestyle brand, as a recipient of its annual Active Travel Awards. The Alpaca 22 was honored as “best luggage.”  

“We designed the Alpaca 22 and the entire Axis Travel Series to cater to the needs of adventurous travelers taking the trips of their dreams,” said John Sears, director of product development at Gregory. “With its wide-handle platform, overd wheels, and rugged construction, the Alpaca 22 is a rolling duffle that can take whatever you throw at it. We’re glad that the editors at Outside agree and have presented us with this notable award.”

To select this year’s awards, Outside tapped its global network of correspondents, who spent months on the road traveling from the Philippines to Switzerland to Namibia and then some, to report a definitive roundup of the best new adventures, secret paradises, mountain epics, stunning beaches, airline deals, gorgeous islands, and more. The result is 42 fresh trips that will change your life, plus smart travel strategies, the best travel gear, and five exciting new frontiers.

"Outside has long been one of the world's most trusted advisors for active and adventurous travelers," says Outside Editor Christopher Keyes. "In addition to truly award-worthy destinations and travel providers, this year we unearthed a handful of amazing new frontiers in active travel. Our annual edit franchise honors the year’s best trips, hotels, lodges, luggage, islands, and new destinations that will be an invaluable travel resource for years to come." 

The 22-inch, 55-liter Alpaca 22 Roller Duffle from Gregory is a burly, no-frills gear and clothing hauler suited for any travel adventure you have in mind. Constructed from bomber TPU fabric that is both abrasion and water resistant, this carry-on d bag offers the protection you need when faced with the unexpected. The Alpaca features the Gregory Custom Chassis with wide handle design to maximize interior space and deliver stable rolling. This design moves the handle frame that typically cuts through the middle of wheeled suitcases to the exterior of the bag, so that the bottom of the bag is flat. The wide bag-width handle design provides greater stability when rolling the bag, along with more hand positions for greater maneuverability. The handle also provides a generous and stable platform to support additional bags. The Alpaca's overd custom injection molded ball bearing wheels are designed to roll just about anywhere, but when faced with a steep staircase or other obstacles, the bag's deployable padded strap allows you to sling the bag over your shoulder, or wear it as a backpack.

The full list of award winners will be published in the April issue of Outside magazine, available on newsstands today, and atOutside Online."

John Fernsell: Ibex looks to bolster wool production in the U.S. - SNEWS

The article below was featured on SNEWS Outdoors this week:

"Before John Fernsell founded Ibex back in 1997, he’d been wearing a wool suit to work every day during both the winter and the summer.

The fabric turned out to be well suited for the outdoors, and Fernsell helped spur a rift in the love affair the outdoor industry had with polyester. He tells us he always overheated when he wore polyester, often stopping on the trail to take off or put on another layer.

So Fernsell gave up his investment business and founded Ibex, always with the intention that he’d like to have a majority of his products made domestically.

When you founded Ibex in 1997, was it your goal to produce gear and apparel in the United States?
It was always my intention to have the majority of our products made in the U.S. because it felt like it was the right thing to do. I saw what was going on in the food industry. People began to demand more information about the source of what they purchased, and I believed that people would begin to do the same with their clothing. It was also a way to differentiate our brand from the competition — when I started Ibex in 1997, many outdoor apparel companies were in the middle of an exodus to Asia for lower labor costs. I felt that someday people would care where their products are made. I think in the end, the consumer will tell [companies] what is important to them.

How is Ibex coming along on its goal of moving 100 percent of production out of China by 2014?
It has not been overly difficult because we never manufactured very many of our products in China. We did bolster our production staff and we have set up an office in Oakland, Calif. to work closely with our factories in the Bay Area. That being said, we still manufacture a few things in Asia, including several of our gloves that are made in Sri Lanka.

How many jobs have your manufacturing facilities created?
We employ around 60 people. But in reality, it is several times that number when we factor in the business we give to factories we work with. About six months ago, I was visiting one of our important California factories and the woman who owns it came up to me, hugged me and started crying. She said she would be out of business if it were not for Ibex. I left with a new degree of responsibility to the factories with whom we work.

Though much of your wool is still sourced from New Zealand, tell us about your experience with sourcing wool in the U.S. for the Shak Lite line.
We have been working hard towards having several 100 percent USA-made products in our line. We have worked closely with top U.S. wool suppliers, spinners and knitters to accomplish our goals. For example, we found a family-owned and operated sheep ranch in Montana known for its ultra fine wool. It was important for us to visit the ranch and meet with the ranchers directly to ensure their sheep are well cared for and that the wool is up to our high standards.

Is there any expansion of this program planned for the future?
We continue to expand our domestic “Field to Factory” program and are working on another fabric in the future.

What advice do you have for outdoor companies looking to follow your lead in terms of domestic manufacturing?
I am not sure where other apparel companies are on their U.S. manufacturing initiatives, but for us, working with U.S.-based factories is very gratifying. It is more hands-on. You need to be more involved in the process, and it takes more capital investment. It is a real commitment.

What’s the cost of U.S. manufacturing? How much more is the customer willing to pay for “made in the U.S.A” products?
I think “made in the USA” has gained interest from buyers. Although, how much more money they are willing to pay for “made in the USA” products is the question. Sometimes we have to take a lower margin to keep a product competitive. If a manufacturer is looking for the lowest cost, then “made in the USA” is not the answer. For Ibex, I feel it is the right direction to be going in. My belief is the customer base that cares will continue to grow."

--Ana Trujillo

Backpacker Magazine's Review of Gregory's Contour 70

This month Backpacker Magazine named Gregory's Contour 70 pack as the "best weight-to-capacity ratio" in their gear guide. 

Here is what they said:

"Easy: made a lightweight pack. Hard: make a lighweight pack that performs like a load monster. 'I used the Contour on a hot, humid, six-day family backpacking trip in Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness, carrying up to 45 pounds of gear, extra layers, and food,' reports our tester. 'The more I packed, the better it carried.' The pack's precise, effective compression resulted in 'excellent stability,' according to another tester, who deemed it 'supercomforatable' after five days on the Pacific Crest Trail with 65- to 70-pound loads. The secret is a lightweight, wishbone-shaped frame and hipbelt wings that pivot independently of one another to prevent the pack from shifting and throwing you off balance. That gives it big-load comfort and minimizes big-load swat. 'I noticed the added stability while humping rocking-heavy loads up steep terrain,' adds our PCT hiker, who stuffed the Contour's three main storage compartments with a three-person tent, old-school-heavy synthetic sleeping bag, inflatable down pad, and a five-day supply of food. Testers called the Contour (and its sister pack, the Cairn 68 for women) 'great for the thru-hiker who wants to slip in some luxury items.' The front shove-it pouch holds a shell, and there's a roomy zippered pocket behind it. Tip: The integral rain cover came in handy during a downpour, but if you leave it at home, the seam-sealed top lid has a waterproof, roll-top closure that turns the lid into a mini drybag."

$299; 4 lbs. 4 oz.; 70 liters; 3 sizes each for men and women