HikerDeals' Best-of-the-Best Outdoor Gear Deals:
HikerDeals Bargain, Deal, and Sale Archive for March, 2006
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Training for a half-marathon or even a marathon this spring? If so, you may want to grab a hydration pack for those long runs. Whether they’re on trails or roads those long runs prescribed by most training plans may not seem nearly as long as a good day of hiking, but the extra effort and speed means you sweat out a lot more. All the sensationalism about getting dehydrated and passing out aside – drinking water during a run definitely helps to keep me from getting as sore later in the day or from staying as sore for days after. …basically, I find drinking water during runs keeps me from being as sore as not drinking.
So, unless you want to carry a water bottle in your hands for over an hour-and-a-half a hydration pack is a good idea. The thing is that most backpack-style hydration packs slosh around a lot when you run. After all they were made for moving slower over rougher terrain – and to carry lunch and a shell jacket in addition to all the water. If you’re getting serious about running it will be worth considering a waist-belt-style hydration pack. They’re a lot more comfortable than having straps running under your arms while running and since the water is around your hips it doesn’t slosh as much. Admittedly these things do look a bit dorky, but so does wearing a soaked-through t-shirt and rubberized sunglasses – and it’s not like you’re training for the next Olympics anyway.
Two examples of what I’m talking about are pictured. The Camelbak Flashflo has a bladder to put the water in, and is currently $25.00 – 37% off at Sierra Trading Post. The Ultimate Direction Solitaire has a sleeve to hold a standard water bottle, and it’s currently $19.95 – 44% off at Sierra Trading Post.
Personally, I prefer the style that carries a water bottle because it’s easier to put the bottle in the dishwasher than it is to clean a Camelbak bladder.
Posted March 31st, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Apparently TNF discountinued the color black in it’s ever-popular Denali vest. I’m sure it will be back next winter anyway, but for now that gets you 30% off at Altrec.com, free shipping too on this or any order of $45+.
Posted March 28th, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
On one-day-only sale from Steep and Cheap are the Atlas Series 12 Snowshoes. These are Atlas’ highest-end snowshoes (but priced less than the lightweight DT racing and extra-burly Trail Breaker models) and still available in 22-inch, 25-inch, and 30-inch sizes.
I could go on about all the features, but Atlas has plenty of details. I’ll just keep my review to saying that the welded frame on high-end Atlas models is really durable (…still got a pair I’ve beat on since 1998 – including plenty of use without “enough” snow because it was icy and I didn’t have crampons, which is hardest on snowshoes). The binding is also really comfortable too, the rubber suspension is easier on the ankles and probably exactly what keeps the things from getting tweaked on rocks when there isn’t much snow.
Posted March 26th, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Regularly $24.95, these National Geographic topo map CDs are just $9.95 and have seamless maps for a ton of popular National Parks and destinations. Instead of buying a handfull of USGS 7.5° quadrangle maps for $30+, the CDs have the same maps data in a seamless and zoomable format. They also let you search for landmarks and plot routes complete with distance, elevation, and grade profiles.
Available parks and destinations are currently:
- COLORADO FRONT RANGE
- DEATH VALLEY
- GRAND CANYON
- MAINE
- NORTH CAROLINA RECREATION AREA
- NORTH CASCADES
- NORTH GEORGIA
- SEQUOIA KINGS CANYON
- SHENANDOAH/WASHINGTON DC
Posted March 23rd, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
44% off the regular $79 price makes this TNF Sliquid hydration pack a bargain on a compact, lightweight hydration system. Unlike the newer daypack-size packs, this one is light enough you don’t have to think about whether to bring it (at just over a pound) and it’s thin enough it can fit comfortably under a rain shell (so it doesn’t get wet and heavy during a rainy hike). The 70-ounce bladder and 700 cubic inches of storage space are still plenty for a long day hike though.
For bigger orders, remember Sierra Trading Post’s 10% off any order $75+
coupon, must click this link to have it applied at checkout (expires April 6, 2006).
Posted March 23rd, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Need a stove? The Primus Varifuel stove is a liquid fuel stove that’s great for long trips. Carrying liquid fuel instead of gas canisters is lighter and takes up less space than compressed gas – the downside is that you need to learn how to prime the stove so it doesn’t flare up or sputter little balls of flame when you start it up. Lighting the stove isn’t very hard though (Stove priming instructions: pump up the fuel canister, open the fuel valve so a little bit of fuel pools in the bottom of the stove, turn off the valve & light the pooled fuel, right before the fuel burns out – turn the fuel valve back on. That’s it. No sputtering. No flare ups.).
Assuming you’re adventurous, or already know how to run a liquid fuel stove, the Primus Varifuel is a good choice. Aside from being just $49.95, it runs on white gas, kerosene, diesel and other liquid petroleum-based fuels (not on alcohols though), weighs only 14 ounces, and has an awesome metal fuel pump that adjusts to simmer well and that you won’t melt into oblivion like a plastice MSR fuel pump.
Also, don’t forget the SierraTradingPost.com coupon: 10% off any order $75+ (expires April 6, 2006) – click through here and will be applied automatically at checkout.
Posted March 22nd, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Running shoes, hiking boots, or workout gear in the shopping plans? Check out Eastbay.com and use this coupon to get 20% off any order of $100 or more. Enter coupon code LKS1632M at checkout (expires 3/31/2006).
Posted March 22nd, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Not just a digital watch, the Nike Triax V10 is a real training tool because it wirelessly connects to a shoe-mounted speed and distance sensor to track your mileage and pace during runs. …and it’s still got all the regular watch functions like lap splits and a full-face electroluminescent backlight, plus a two-year warranty from Nike.
Posted March 21st, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
The reality of short backpacking trips is that you’re usually only hiking a few miles and want to be as comfy in camp as possible – so you need a big, easy-to-carry backpack. That’s why Gregory designed the Reality pack. It’s got all the bases covered with 4,000 to 4,650 cubic inches of space in 4 frame sizes, plus top- and panel-loading access, and Gregory’s great Wilderness harness & Flo-Form molded frame panel. Even better is the price, normally $229 the Reality is just $129.93 at REI-Outlet now – no direct-linking, so search for item # 734766.
Also, don’t forget to use the REI coupon code MEMB26 for 20% off a non-clearance item (unfortunately doesn’t apply to the Gregory Reality pack). Coupon is valid for REI members only – you may as well join and get the 10% dividend too, expires 4/2/2006.
Posted March 20th, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
eBay coupons are back! It’s a great place to get just about anything below retail prices.
Here are the coupons, three of them that don’t overlap:
If you’re new to eBay make sure to buy from sellers with a few feedback points and little to no negative feedback in the past month. Also aim for buying goods from sellers in your home country, because international shipping costs a ton.
Posted March 18th, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
Snapfish is one of the 3 big online photo services for getting digital pictures printed as real photos (no expensive ink, fuzzy edges, or tweaking colors), and a great deal over getting digital photos developed at a camera shop. It’s an even better deal if you use the coupon code GOTAPEX15 to get 15% off any order, no minimum purchases (expires April 1, 2006). And, first-time shoppers get 20 free prints.
Posted March 15th, 2006 - Trackback Link - No Comments »
(expires April 2, 2006)