True & New- OR Show Goodies

Here at UpaDowna, we pride ourselves on providing you, the readers, true and quality gear tests and reviews. We also like to keep you updated on those reviewed brands, as well as introduce you to new and exciting gear that hopefully we'll get to review. We hope you find this "Tried and True" list as well as the "Brand Spankin' New" list helpful and exciting!

Tried and True

Sanuk- I think it's safe to say that we like Sanuk so much that we call them the "unofficial, official shoe of UpaDowa".  Their sandals come in such a wide variety of designs and styles that they can please anyone! Working on articles at 6am and shuffling into the kitchen for my morning coffee, my Fraidy Cats help me through the day! Bunny uses his Donny's for long road trips, base camp, around the house & running to the mail box. A few of the items we were stoked to see were wedges for the women,  as well as the ever-so-popular Ibiza line being expanded.

MSRP-$16-$36

The guys will enjoy their feet being massaged by the "bubbler" footbed as an open toed flip or enclosed in the Alibi. Sanuk is experimenting with lace-ups as well for the 2012 season!

GeoPalz Activity Tracker- This recent addition to our gear testing closet has provided fun and exciting ways to keep moving. Now, it's even easier! Featuring a smaller GeoPal,  three locations to place it (wrist, hip & shoe) and step-calibration, this little guy is sure to please! For a 98% accurate accelerometer (a step above a pedometer), the $25 price tag is a deal! This "pedometer" is easy to self-calibrate after about 200 steps.

MSRP- $25

Season Five- This breathable "wetsuit" features a Atmos 1.0 waterproof and windproof fabric. Adding to their already amazing line of clothing, they are featuring new sleeveless tanks as well as arm and calf sleeves for additional layering options.

MSRP- $49-$69

Hillsound- This winter we introduced you to another player in the ice spike world, Hillsound. Their "Trail Crampon" scored big time for MtnMama during her outing to icy Ouray, CO. Now, they are adding a line of gaiters that are sure to stand the test of time (and conditions). On first inspection of the product, I immediately wanted to take them for a test run. The SuperFabric material at the base of the gaiter makes you understand why they named this line the way they did. The Armadillo.

MSRP- $65-$89

Brand Spankin' New

Ok, new, to us at least. We like to provide the readers with more equipment to help get them out and about, so here they are! 

Keen-  Yes, I have to admit that I actually bought a new pair of shoes recently. I usually head to my favorite local gear recyclers and find a pair there. This was different. Heading to the Outdoor Retailer, you need comfort. With my new kooshie pair of Keen Whispers, I headed over to their booth to see what was new. Besides the many sweet and awesome shoes, the Backseat Pack was my favorite! With choices of three different sizes from kids to adults, this flip down seat is super sturdy and easy to adjust. I thought I would squish the contents of the bag but a solid frame in the back provides a great resting spot for you while protecting your items.

MSRP- $120

YMX by Yellowman-  This "athletic fashion apparel for any sport" is exactly that. It's fashion does not outweigh it's function at all. This lightweight mix of polyester and spandex also features MadKool® fabrics to keep athletes cool and dry. Options include shirts and tops for top sports like running, cycling and yoga. But that's not all, they also have arm warmers, tank tops, hoodies, leggings and shorts. Along with all of the options for women, they also feature styles for men. Think tribal tattoo meets motorcycle bad ass, with a side of MadKool.

MSRP-$34-$110

Hoka One One- When I first laid eyes on these last year, I honestly thought they were a joke. They looked (and felt) like moon boots. As I got to know more about them (and started to hear our readers rave about them) I took a deeper interest into these shoes. The Hokas offer a soft and luxurious ride on the road and trail. Designed for maximum cushion, comfort, protection and energy return, the Hoka will automatically help facilitate a mid-sole to fore-foot strike. I'm looking forward to hopefully testing these babies out in my trek up the Pikes Peak Ascent in a couple of weeks!

MSRP-$140-$170

Gerber Gear- Besides the awesome pictures they took of us:

we loved checking out the Steady Multitool with camera tripod! It features 12 total implements incuding the tripod and blade.

MSRP- $65

Adventure On!

~MtnMama