Video: Masters of Movement – Bear Grylls

Posted by gumptiongear on May 18, 2012 in Blog | 0 comments

Bear Grylls almost needs no introduction.  The English writer and adventurer was once a member of British Special Forces and the youngest man to ever climb Mount Everest.  He received his love of climbing from his father, a former Royal Marine.

In the following video, part of Degree’s new advertising campaign, Bear summits the iconic Tombstone Rock in the Canyonlands National park near Moab, Utah.

The SOLE Sport Flip

Posted by gumptiongear on May 17, 2012 in Gear Reviews, Go Outdoors | 1 comment

Since time immemorial, the flat flip has reigned supreme.  Like the sworn Knight of the Kings realm, people turned to the flat flip for comfort and peace of mind.  Yet in reality, the flip flop has been little more than a feudal lord with paper promises of comfort.  All the while, treating our feet like a peasant toiling the fields of futility.

Now, a revolution is afoot.  The time has come to overthrow the tyrannical reign of the flat flip.  Led by SOLE, where classic design meets comfort-enhancing tech, feet will finally be provided the true freedom, comfort and support for which their fore-footers have longed.

New Balance MR00 Minimus Running Shoe

Posted by gumptiongear on May 15, 2012 in Gear Reviews, Go Run | 0 comments

With a heritage of design and innovation spanning over 100 years, New Balance continues to establish itself as a prime player in the minimalist running shoe market, crafting an extensive lineup of shoes for both the road and trail.

Blending barefoot freedom with shod protection, this award-winning, close-to-natural line of footwear performs as good as it looks.  One of the newest additions to this line-up is the MR00, a road running shoe that delivers a minimal, fast and light experience, but with a 0mm heel-to-toe drop helping you to run natural and  free just as Mother Nature intended.

Columbia Powerdrain™ Water Shoe

Posted by gumptiongear on May 14, 2012 in Gear Reviews, Go Outdoors | 1 comment

The North, South and Middle Forks of the American River originate in the grandeur of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.  From glacial lakes, the American twists and flows through spectacular granite lined canyons into the soft rolling foothills of California’s historic gold country.

Along the American the occasional gold panner can still be seen seeking their fortune, next to fly fisherman rhythmically casting their rods to and fro in hopes of snagging a Striper or Salmon.  Hikers from around the world make their way to the region to be rewarded with glorious vistas.  Rafters experience the best white water rafting in the Golden State courtesy of a multitude of Class IV rapids as the Middle Fork wobbles and sways through isolated canyons.  In other words, it might just be one of the best places in the world for Trying Stuff like the Powerdrain™ from Columbia Sportswear.

Video: Experience Zero Gravity

Posted by gumptiongear on May 11, 2012 in Blog | 0 comments

Think of this film as a visual poem about the other-worldliness that is base jumping.  Experience Zero Gravity takes you to Norway Switzerland and France where people are jumping off cliffs as high as 6,000 feet.  The makers of the film wanted to give viewers the feeling and emotion associated with the experience of Base Jumping in the most scenic locations of the world.  We think you’ll agree… they’ve accomplished their task.

ashmei Trail Running Socks

Posted by gumptiongear on May 10, 2012 in Gear Reviews, Go Outdoors, Go Run | 0 comments

Socks lead difficult and thankless lives. They are expected to perform flawlessly for hours on end under harsh and sometimes abusive working conditions. Much like the hard-working coal miner, socks are subjected to dark, dingy, and claustrophobic confines. After forcing them to perform in these conditions, we peel them off, roll them up and toss them into the funk factory (aka hamper) only to endure countless wash cycles.  All the while, we expect them to look and fit as great as they did on day one.

It takes a lot to be a sock, and even more so to be a performance sock.  Ready for the dauntless task of serving your hard working feet, ashmei has designed a new performance trail sock crafted from high-tech materials they believe is better prepared to perform under the harsh working conditions they will endure.

OneGood™ Earphones: Never Miss a Beat

Posted by gumptiongear on May 8, 2012 in Gear Reviews, Go Outdoors, Go Run, Go Tri | 0 comments

For many of us, tunes have become as essential to our running or training routine as a quality pair of shoes.  Music can be a powerful motivator that helps provide that extra dose of inspiration when energy dips or doubts creep in.

While science is actually discovering that there are some benefits of listening to music while training, there is a flip side: listening to your peppy playlist via the traditional dual ear bud system can compromise your safety and well being by removing you from your physical environment.

The Business of Gear: Q&A with Soleus

Posted by gumptiongear on May 7, 2012 in Gear Reviews | 0 comments

At Gumption Gear we strive to provide our readers with in-depth,  informative, and balanced reviews of the latest outdoor & adventure lifestyle products.  Through our new feature “The Business of Gear” we strive to  introduce our readers to the personalities and ideas behind your favorite (or soon to be favorite) gear.

We recently reviewed the Soleus GPS 1.0, a no-frills, easy to use yet highly functional GPS watch for runners and offered at a price that won’t put a crunch on your wallet.  After working with the GPS 1.0 we once again reached out to the Soleus team and asked them a few questions to provide you an opportunity to learn a little more about the brand.

Our thanks to the Soleus team for making this Q&A session possible.