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First Ascent Downlight Sweater Review

By Ken Kamada | Published: November 27, 2011

Made by Eddie Bauer, the First Ascent label defiantly takes aim at the high end, performance outerwear market with its slick designs and top grade materials. The Downlight Sweater offers high quality, 800 fill down and fuzzy pocket liners to keep you toasty when you need it most.

2012 Ski Gear Preview – Winter Is Here

By Ken Kamada | Published: November 14, 2011

Telemark Northwest founder, Ken Kamada, offers an exciting preview of cutting-edge ski and Winter gear for the 2012 snow season. Revolutionary, fat skis, comfy and versatile ski and telemark boots, sharp outerwear and goggles – learn about this season’s home run gear and get equipped for some pow.

Crossing the Himalayas, The Roof of the World

By Justin "Trauma" Lichter | Published: October 18, 2011

Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry set off to hike the length of the Himalayas from the easternmost 8,000 meter peak in the world, Kanchenjunga, to the westernmost 8,000 meter peak, Nanga Parbat. The ambitious traverse spanned an approximate distance of 2,500 miles and it took three months for the hikers to successfully make their way out of the highest mountain range in the world. This is their story.

Outdoor Retailer 2011 Summer Market Highlights

By Jennifer Olson | Published: August 9, 2011

AtlasOmega brings you to Outdoor Retailer’s 2011 Summer Market, where equipment makers showcased their newest and most cutting-edge new products. This year’s show featured technical fabrics woven to produce a vintage look, ultralight gear made to propel the outdoor athlete faster and further than ever before, and of course a host of great parties for the work hard/play hard crowd.

Brunton Powers Up Your Adventures

By Misty Burrows | Published: July 29, 2011

Brunton’s portable power solutions provide freedom to those used to being tethered to wall sockets. The Solaris 4 USB Solar Panel and Inspire Portable Power Device make for a sleek, lightweight and durable power duo, for folks needing extra juice on the go or out in the backcountry.

Armored Transport: Think Tank Photo Camera Bags

By Stewart L. Sy | Published: May 24, 2011

Think Tank Photo offers a smart tandem of camera bags for the traveling photographer: the cavernous StreetWalker HardDrive camera backpack for the long-hauls, and the fast, purpose specific Sling-O-Matic 20 sling bag for day trips.

Get Around Without a Spill, Humangear GoToob

By Calvin Tang | Published: May 3, 2011

GoToob is a smart, flexible line of travel containers offered by Humangear, Inc. The small, silicone tubes employ several smart features for easy identification and mess-free storage, transport and usage. In a world of messy travel, this is a product that promises to keep things tidy.

Sierra Designs 2011 Herald and Revival Backpacks

By Ken Kamada | Published: April 25, 2011

Sierra Designs is offering two new backpacks, available in versions for both men and women. The Herald is a versatile, 30L daypack that’s stylishly rugged and thoughtfully designed. The Revival is a 65L, lightweight, roomy backpack that’s perfect for multi-day hikes and climbs. Both packs employ Sierra Designs’ innovative Fulcrum Suspension System.

Staying Warm and Dry with Terramar Baselayers

By Ken Kamada | Published: April 6, 2011

A great insulation baselayer will keep you warm when it’s freezing, and cool & dry when you’re working hard. For decades, Terramar has been fusing together high quality natural textiles with cutting edge, synthetic fabrics to create comfortable and functional insulation layers.

Octovo: Make Your Kindle 3 Everything-Proof

By Calvin Tang | Published: March 28, 2011

The Octovo Tirim Splash-Proof cover for the Amazon Kindle 3 is the perfect companion for those who like to read while enjoying an active lifestyle. The case is also perfect for those who have littles ones around or are accident prone.

Japanese Tsunami Aftermath on Midway Atoll

By Tony Ernst | Published: March 26, 2011

Tony Ernst describes how his trip to photograph the wildlife of Midway Atoll was interrupted by the March 2011 Pacific Tsunami. He relates his experience during the tsunami itself, and his participation in two days of rescue operations undertaken to help the wildlife affected in its aftermath.

2012 Rossignol S7 Ski Preview

By Ken Kamada | Published: March 8, 2011

The 2012 Rossignol S7 excels in almost any condition, be it deep powder, small stashes, hard snow, tight lines or open faces. The only thing it doesn’t do well is cater to pansies.

The Life of a Professional Ski Guide

By Donny Roth | Published: March 8, 2011

Donny Roth offers a behind-the-scenes look at living the life of a Professional Ski Guide. Juggling life in both hemispheres, Roth manages to ski over 200 days a year as he chases Winter around the globe.

Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses

By Ken Kamada | Published: March 1, 2011

Kaenon Polarized employs cutting-edge, patented lens technology in their rugged but stylish line of sport sunglasses, providing unsurpassed optical clarity and sharpness. The young company is taking the eyewear industry by storm.

Appalachian Trail Ultralight Hiking Guide

By Justin "Trauma" Lichter | Published: March 1, 2011

Less than ten percent of those who set out to hike the Appalachian Trail successfully complete all 2,174 miles of it. Justin Lichter has done it, twice, and offers useful advice to those seeking the adventures promised by one of America’s most famous and historic trails.

Release the Fleece, Time to Get Down

By Ken Kamada | Published: February 22, 2011

The evolution of the down products make for jackets and vests suitable for any occasion; whether on a mountaineering expedition of epic proportions or just out and about town on a chilly day – it’s time to get down.

The Ultimate Ski Pant: FlyLow Chemical Pant

By Ken Kamada | Published: February 10, 2011

FlyLow aims to blend together the best elements of traditional, lightweight ski pants with the durable and ergonomic design typically reserved for mountaineering gear. The result is the rugged, featherweight FlyLow “Chemical Pant”, which promises to be a skier’s best friend.

Three Great Midlayer Insulation Jackets

By Ken Kamada | Published: February 7, 2011

Midlayers are arguably the most important piece of clothing in the layering system. Outershells can only do so much. Midlayers are the true barriers between the extreme conditions in the environment and your body. Bomber fabrics combined with solid engineering and design have produced a bevy of insulation options.

2011 Black Diamond Push Telemark Ski Boot

By Ken Kamada | Published: February 3, 2011

Black Diamond Push Boots. Photo: Calvin Tang

A look at Black Diamond’s most popular telemark boot, the “Push”, featured at Outdoor Retailer’s Winter Market in 2011. AtlasOmega Equipment Analyst, Ken Kamada, takes us through the major and minor improvements to the flagship boot model – including changes that increase performance as well as comfort.

Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market Highlights

By Ken Kamada | Published: January 27, 2011

AtlasOmega Gear Junkie, Ken Kamada, attends Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Show and provides an in-depth analysis of all the shiny new gear on the way to you in 2011. Some of the highlights include extremely lightweight outerwear and backpacks, stunningly functional ski boots, and some novel approaches to storing gear and power.

Photographing the Bald Eagles of the Skagit River

By Tony Ernst | Published: January 26, 2011

Hundreds upon hundreds of majestic bald eagles converge on the Skagit River in Washington State each year. Wildlife Photographer, Tony Ernst, shares his methods in capturing the beauty and behavior of the soaring avian predators, as they voraciously feed on the spawning pacific salmon.

The Seventh Summit: Carstensz Pyramid

By Ryan Waters | Published: January 3, 2011

carstensz-pyramid-tyrolean-traverse-highlight

Professional mountain guide and polar explorer, Ryan Waters, travels by helicopter over dense Indonesian jungle to reach base camp at the Seventh Summit, Carstensz Pyramid. Waters and his team then employ trusted climbing equipment and sharpened techniques to make a difficult traverse, and eventually reach the summit of the rugged, 16,024-foot mountain.

Long-Distance Ultralight Hiking

By Justin "Trauma" Lichter | Published: November 24, 2010

Justin Lichter, a.k.a. “Trauma”, has hiked over twenty thousand miles during the past eight years. Trauma brings only the essential gear along with him on the trail, and most if not all of those items end up doing double-duty. Learn more about how an ultralight approach to hiking has allowed him to cover huge distances while also making the most out of his time on the trail.

Latest Generation Amazon Kindle 3 Review

By Calvin Tang | Published: October 3, 2010

Amazon’s wildly popular Kindle reading device improves yet again with a new generation Kindle that is faster, lighter, smaller and boasts longer battery life. The Kindle works in 100 countries and territories with no subscription fee. Its crisp, non-backlit display is perfect for lengthy, enjoyable reading whether you’re at home in bed or on the road. Amazon’s sprawling library of available content for the Kindle and its seamless “WhisperSync” technology makes it one of the most enjoyable companions a person can have. Learn about the new features offered in the latest generation Kindle device, the pros and cons of its[...]

Light & Rugged Gear is Key to Expedition Success

By Eric Larsen | Published: September 22, 2010

Polar Explorer Eric Larsen shares his decision making process when it comes to evaluating the equipment he uses during his lengthy expeditions. Several key factors come into play when he decides what gear ‘makes the cut’, including weight and durability.

Photographing the Grizzly Bears of Katmai

By Tony Ernst | Published: September 6, 2010

Tony Ernst describes the techniques and equipment he used to photograph grizzly bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. From lens selection to proper waterproof clothing, Tony gives you the tips you’ll need to photograph these huge (and dangerous) animals in the wild.

Expedition Fitness Training

By Eric Larsen | Published: September 5, 2010

Eric Larsen shares the importance of pre-expedition fitness training. He describes his routine, what it takes physically to endure polar expeditions, and how he prepared for climbing Mt. Everest. Also, Larsen explains how proper physical training beforehand helps to avoid problems during the expedition. Learn more about how Eric Larsen stays in shape after the jump.

Mt. Rainier Summit

By Eric Larsen | Published: August 15, 2010

Just back after a pretty tough couple of days. We managed to summit Rainier via the Emmons Glacier but just barely. My friend Paul Nanawa and I hiked in through White River on Thursday morning. We had a fairly casual walk up through an incredible stand of firs and pine eventually making our way onto the inter glacier. As a precaution, we roped up and continued to ascend. We had gotten a slightly later start than we had hoped and the snow in the late afternoon sun became soft. Post holing our way up the incline, we struggled under our[...]

Aerial Photography In The North Cascades

By Tony Ernst | Published: August 5, 2010

Glacier Peak Rising Above The North Cascades In Morning Mist

Tony describes a last-minute opportunity to capture some potentially great shots from high above the Cascade mountain range of Washington State. The Pacific Northwest offers many beautiful landscapes, but lighting and precipitation present common obstacles to obtaining that great shot. Tony describes the process behind getting a perfect shot of the fog lifting from the mountains.

Surviving the Antarctic Chill

By Eric Larsen | Published: August 2, 2010

I awoke to discover that blowing snow had drifted violently against the tent’s vestibule during the night, nearly smashing our pot and stove. I had to repeatedly punch the hard-packed drift loose just to open the flap. I was groggy from a fitful night’s sleep, during which I had been haunted by strange dreams. The loud train I imagined must have been a subconscious interpretation of the wind pounding against the thin nylon. It’s the first morning of my 2009 South Pole expedition in Antarctica, the beginning of my Save the Poles Expedition—a first-ever journey to the South Pole, North[...]

Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3GS

By Calvin Tang | Published: July 21, 2010

I’ve had the good fortune of testing out a Mophie rechargeable external battery case, the “Juice Pack Air“, designed to work with the iPhone 3GS, for the past few months now. This combination iPhone case and external battery pack allows you to recharge your iPhone on the go, even if the iPhone is completely dead. Initially I did not realize how useful the Mophie unit could be – until it came through to save me in a pinch on several occasions, when I would have otherwise ended up with a dead iPhone. Ever since, the Mophie is something I always keep[...]

Stay Organized with the Booq Mamba Shift

By AtlasOmega | Published: July 16, 2010

The Mamba Shift sports a glimpse of bright red fabric under its black exterior. That’s a fashion choice rather than a practical one – part of a pattern that keeps the Mamba Shift from being a great product. It’s a solid choice in the laptop backpack market, but it sacrifices too much function for style. Construction The Mamba Shift is about as well-constructed a laptop backpack as you’ll find. We slung it around on a weekend hike and a cross-country flight without so much as a loose thread. The isolated laptop pocket should become standard in this product line –[...]

- Youngest Person to Sail around the Globe
  
  Laura Dekker, a 16-year-old Kiwi, has become the youngest sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world, a year after going to court to fight Dutch authorities for the right to attempt the feat. Her journey culminated at the Caribbean island of St. Maarten.
- NatGeo Photo Contest 2011 Standouts
- Marble Cathedral of General Carrera Lake
- Starling Filled Sky

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