Pentax Optio W20

I've used this point-and-shoot for several years now with excellent results. I originally bought it to use on paddling trips - for those times when my SLR's won't come out of their waterproof duffle bag. I'm talking about windblown rain and waves that wash over the deck of a canoe or kayak. Times when I would otherwise not get the shot because of a worry about the camera being destroyed. Its compact size also allows me to slip it into a pocket on my life jacket or into a deck bag or thwart bag near at hand. The optics are good, the body rugged, the interface intuitive, and images very nice. I've sold images to magazines made with this camera and printed reasonably large prints too.

Several friends have recently bought the W60, which, of course, takes it to the next level - more pixels, greater depth under water, bigger built-in memory, etc. But the basics remain the same: it gets the shots that would otherwise be relegated to memory only.

Good camera for all outdoor sport point-and-shoot situations.

Here are a couple shots made with the W20

Foam Roller

OK. Since we're on the topic of tools to keep the body flexible and pain free, this one is a must. I was introduced to it by a friend who was undergoing physical therapy for tightness and pain in his knee. He insisted I try it for my similar issue, which I did, and have never looked back.

The first few sessions were painful and my IT band was amazingly sensitive to being rolled like dough, but after several weeks of regular use the pain of use subsided a lot and so did the tightness and pain in my knee. This has been part of a daily physical therapy regimen for me over the past 3 - 4 months with great results.

KB

Thera Cane

If you are an athlete of any sort and you don't own and use a Thera Cane you are missing out BIG TIME. Honestly, how often do you take the time and spend the money to get a professional massage? We should all be good to our bodies and do this much more often, but we don't. My solution, for many years now, has been the Thera Cane, a self-massage tool that is is worth every single penny is costs. Check it out at www.theracane.com and get yourself one.

This tool gives you the ability to generate a lot of leaverage while hitting muscular trigger points, especially the hard-to-get-to muscles of the back and hips. Knots in my shoulder blades are, as I write this, screaming out for a Thera Cane session when I get home tonight.

Take my word for it please. Get a Thera Cane and use it often. The world would be a much more relaxed place if everyone would do this simple thing...

KB

Outdoor Research Chaos Jacket

With winter knocking on the door I'm starting to think about staying warm in the teeth of the storm and this has become one of my go-to pieces of gear. The Chaos Jacket is made with a WindStopper shell and Primaloft insulation and is perfect for coastal environments like we have here in Seattle. This jacket was originally designed as a belay jacket for alpine mountaineering, and it does that job well. But my primary use has been for backcountry and lift skiing (with multi-day paddling adventures thrown in for good measure).

The combination of high front collar, helmet compatible hood, total windproofness, high water resistance, and just the right amount of insulation makes this thing live up to it's name. It can deal with the chaotic weather that is often confronting us in the wilds. Pulling the Chaos Jacket out of your pack at a rest stop on a backcountry ski trip or wearing it all day riding the lifts on a cold day are great examples of where this jacket shines, especially in high humidity situations. Think skiing at Snoqualmie Pass or lower on the mountain at Whistler.

On a 2 week paddling trip on the coast of BC this past summer several of us had Chaos Jackets along for standing around camp. Good thing - we had a lot of rain, some wind, and cool temperatures and needed insulation that didn't get soggy after several days of wet.

The Chaos Jacket definately lives up to the Gear Soapbox creed - we use it, we like it, and it works.

KB

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Tifighter's take-

This might be the single most versatile jacket I've ever used. The comfort window is pretty broad; I've worn it from 10 degrees to 60 and have been quite pleased. The windstopper element really adds to insulation efficiency when it is nasty out, and if it rains, you're pretty well covered there too. Primaloft is wet-friendly. Plenty of pockets. Tall collar. Big hood is helmet-compatible,  and really gives refuge when things go sideways. Yep, I've skied in the Chaos Jacket too and found it to be great for cold mountain days. 

The only real problem is that we all like it, and struggle not all wear it on the same day for fear of looking like a bunch of guys in uniform.