Making turns in the backcountry is the reward of countless hours of conditioning and preparation. Food, travel, logistics, gear, safety and more. The actual riding is short, but often unmatched with untracked lines through a white wilderness.

Imagine if there was a cheat code – a way to get even one additional run with minimal effort. That’s what the PL1 Portable Rope Tow aims to provide in a compact package weighing ~10.5lbs.

With the ability to tow the average (weight with gear) skier/boarder ~2,600 vertical feet on a single charge, this Canadian-built product from Zoa Engineering hardly falls under essential gear, but if the extra weight and a price tag of ~$1,000.00USD (based on pricing information from their successfully funded Kickstarter) doesn’t dissuade you, then sign-up for updates on their website to be informed when they become available, most likely for the 2023/2024 season.

Posted by: Lawrence

The post PL1 portable rope tow for backcountry riding appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

This is a hands-on review of a hands-off surfboard (and gear) backpack carry system that is a game changer for anyone who hikes to remote surf spots.

COVID has caused significant crowding at surf spots everywhere, providing added incentive to hike to more remote spots to surf alone or at far less crowded breaks. One local spot has about a 3/4 mile hike in/out and while that’s not too difficult a hike, bringing more than one board and gear has caused tired arms before getting wet.

This past weekend we had the first significant swell in a long time and local spots were crowded… the perfect opportunity to test the SurfPack 60L Surfboard Carrying Backpack. I packed the 5/4, booties, gloves, towel, food, hydration and some basic tools. The SurfPack Gear packed easily and wax, car keys and fin key had obvious storage locations for easy retrieval.

There are two straps – one on either side of the backpack – which securely holds surfboards of any length and widths between 16-24 inches. It was initially awkward to strap my 6’4″ Cymatic and at first I strapped it in the middle, which felt too high. I re-strapped it about a quarter of the way down from the nose, allowing me to keep my arm over the top of the board for extra security. On the way back I strapped it right down the middle and trusted the system to hold and it did. I also used the exterior wetsuit hanging system on the way back and mesh pockets for gloves and booties allowing me to keep all the stowed gear and equipment dry in the 60L main compartment.

At 5lbs, the SurfPack Gear Carry System feels as durable as it looks. High quality, well-stitched fabric, strong nylon webbing, rubberized zipper pulls, secure clips, hip and chest straps and sensible areas to accommodate all your belongings.

Whether you have long hike-ins, like to surf-travel or just want to keep you gear organized before and after sessions, the SurfPack Gear is a great solution for you or the surfer in your life.

Price: $199.00 – Buy Online

The post SurfPack Gear: Hands-free 60L Backpack Carry System appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

Hookah dive systems have been around for a very long time. Typically these systems were powered by gasoline engines on deck with a compressor attached and airlines fastened to regulators. More recently we’ve seen portable systems come to market that offer versatility and affordability not seen before. There are lighter-weight gasoline and battery powered units that float along with you on the surface as you explore the depths below, letting you travel much further than a traditional system might allow.

Brownie – VS Sea Lion

Brownie offers a number of gas powered models and recently introduced a battery powered model. Considered more professional-grade, the Brownie systems can often accommodate multiple divers at once and allow for deeper and longer dives.

Brownie – VS Sea Lion Specs

• Run time: Up to 3+ hours available
• Depth: 2 divers to 65 ft / 3 divers to 35 ft / 4* dives to 15ft-20ft *With the purchase of an Add-A-Diver kit
• Weight:  Unit only 33lbs, battery 22lbs, gear bag 35lbs
• Dimensions in Storage Case: 17 L x 24 W x 14 H (inches)

COST: $5,995.00
PROS: Deeper dives, multiple divers, longer dive times
CONS: High cost, heavier weight, can not bring on an airplane

BLU3 Nemo Tankless Dive System

The BLU3 Nemo Tankless Dive System by BLU3 is another battery-powered hookah dive system that is more affordable and geared towards the hobbyist. While it doesn’t allow a diver to go as deep and lasts about third of the time as the Brownie battery-powered VS Sea Lion, it comes at a fraction of the cost. It also has Smart Reg technology, which monitors your breathing and can extend the life of your batteries by drawing power only while taking a breath.

BLU3 Nemo Specs

• Run time: 60-90 minutes
• Depth: 1 diver up to 10′
• Weight: less than 10 pounds
• Dimensions: measures less than 12″ on all sides

COST: $799.00
PROS: Lower cost, light weight, only hookah dive system you can bring on an airplane at the moment
CONS: Shallower dives, single diver, shorter dive times (you can bring multiple, reasonably priced batteries to extend dive time)

Posted by: Lawrence

The post Tankless Dive Systems appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

In the mid 1970’s I got my first skateboard and it came with Vans wheels. I thought nothing of it until I recently found out from a Vans rep that Vans didn’t make wheels; not that he knew of – and he’s worked at Vans for years. After a few phone calls he found out that Vans did indeed make a very limited run of wheels around that time-period and what I had might be of interest to Vans for posterity or their collection / company museum.

If anyone has any information on these wheels or a sense of what they might be valued at we would like to know.

Posted by: Lawrence

The post Owning a Piece of History? appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

For surfers traveling on a budget too tight for a hotel, an Airbnb, or maybe aren’t comfortable couch surfing, there’s camping. In the past you’d need to pack an extra tent or a sleeping hammock like a Hennessy Hammock, but there is another solution even more minimalist — sleep in your board bag!

© The Boardswag

Features

• Dual compartments; board and swag​
• Double density padding, long life zippers, internal compression straps​
• Multiple anchor points, carry handles and storage pockets​
• Inflatable swag structure with dual layer waterproof canopy and peg/tie down points​
• Mesh fly screen and windows​
• Removable 30mm self inflating mattress

Visit The Boardswag to signup and be one of the first to get your hands on this new board bag!

The post The Boardswag – dirt-bagging in relative comfort appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

There have been many instances where I’ve fantasized about clearing the lineup, but in none of those fantasies did I ever imagine I’d be a breaching killer whale or a shark. Whenever you can have fun, doing something fun, to have more fun – you’re winning at life. The Seabreacher^™ is an underwater mashup of a Jetski^®, an F-15 fighter jet and a mini submarine created by Innespace Productions.

Bitness first wrote about these in 2007 (Down Periscope) and they seem to have come along in their design, differentiating themselves from other mini submarines, ones designed to dive deeper and typically launched from a yacht.

Cost: $80-110K
Source: Seabreacher^™

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Good food and drink is essential for charging hard in any action sport, as is rewarding yourself when you get off the mountain, out of the water, back to camp or back to civilization. Below are Bitness.com choices for the top 5 Kickstarter campaigns related to food and drink. As Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

1. PUCKPUCK

Designed and engineered by London based design studio – Two at Six Limited – the PUCKPUCK has been developed to accompany the Aeropress® Coffee Maker at home or on the go. Small enough to fit in your pocket, the PUCKPUCK lets you make quality cold dripped coffee – wherever you are.

Estimated Cost: $15-$20 + optional vessel: $15-$20

2. GoSun Go: Boil Water and Cook Meals with Solar Power

Part camp stove, part oven, part kettle, fully equipped and rugged. Estimated Power Output: 50+ Watts. Weight: 2.15 lbs (0.975 kg). Cooking Time: as fast as 10 minutes, as long as two hours, variable depending on size of meal and weather conditions. Package includes: GoSun Go, Cleaning Brush, User Manual, Registration Card, Cook Booklet

Kickstarter Cost: $99

3. Drink&Buddy

The world’s first hygienic, multi-beverage water bottle that you can share with your pup!

Estimated Cost: $35

4. Hendrix Keg

Keep your growlers growling – no one likes a flat beer. The Hendrix Keg has an adjustable regulator, Stouts have low CO2 levels around 6 psi and wheats will run around 12 psi – beer science. Not only does this allow you to keep the correct CO2 level for your beer, it also gives you flexibility when pouring. Need more foam, turn up the pressure, need less foam, turn it down.

Kickstarter Cost: Starting at $100, with options for upgraded taps, engraving, spill-proof growler transfer adapter, etc.

5. TEAMOSA: Your Personal Tea Brewing Master

An automated tea brewing machine that uses ultrasonic extraction to retain up to 20% more antioxidants than traditionally brewed tea. Choose between our paper tea capsules which are scanned at the time of brewing for optimum results, or your own favorite loose tea leaves which you can program your TEAMOSA to zero-in on exactly the flavor and temperature you like best.

Kickstarter Cost: $279 (1 TEAMOSA Brewing machine and accessories

The post Kickstarter Top 5: food and drink edition appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

With a name that sounds like the last throws of a solo session, QuiverGrip touts itself as a “new take on surfboard storage that installs in seconds, lasts a lifetime, and will never fail.”

I’ve installed some vertical storage solutions in my garage that required a modicum of handyman skills. The QuiverGrip only requires that you know how to select a safe place and insert two screws – easy. They also have a Q-Rail system – a strip that allows you to slide in multiple QuiverGrip’s with fewer screws and slide them around to accommodate the space you’ll need based on the size of your fins.

The QuiverGrip was designed to handle long Boards, Short Boards, Fun Boards and though it’s not mentioned on their website or Kickstarter, I’m assuming it has the ability to support SUPs.

Posted by: Lawrence

The post QuiverGrip… Simple, Safe, Secure Surf board Storage appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

Typically I’m an early adopter, but for fat tire bikes I admit to playing catch-up. I’ve been mountain biking now for over 30 years and don’t even like a front suspension forks, let alone mid or rear suspension. I’ve been rigid in more ways than one, through and through.

But since a growing number of my friends have started riding fat bikes, I’ve been feeling left out of the cold – stuck inside on snowy winter days while they’re hammering powdery single track on their fat tire bikes. Or on warmer days while they’re riding sand on the outer beaches, I’m stuck with the masses on hard-pack.

Late as I am to the game and still somewhat apprehensive, I decided to go fat myself. But I wasn’t prepared to drop $1,700+ on another toy, so I asked around, did a little research, rode a few bikes and found a great bike at an unbeatable price from The House, an online retailer where I’ve bought snowboard gear in the past.

The entry point for a fat bike doesn’t get much lower and the value seems unbeatable – plus no suspension! One of the guys I ride with just stepped-up from the bike I just purchased to another bike from The House and swears by them. If you’re looking to get fat yourself check out The House and the great deals they have on offer.

Price: $649.95 USD

Posted by: Lawrence

The post Time to get fat appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.

I like gear. I collect quite a bit of it and have spent way more than I’d care to admit. Maybe it’s maturity or maybe I’m facing the reality of having to pay for two college educations, but sometimes the cost of playing is just too high.

I recently went looking for splitboarding gear and was surprised at how costly it can be. For a new minimal setup you’re looking at over $1,200.00 and depending upon where you intend to ride you might need to spend an additional $575.

Here’s the breakdown of the required gear…
$200 – Burton G3 High Traction Splitboard Skins
$460 – Burton Hitchhiker Splitboard Bindings
$562 – Burton Custom Split Splitboard

Shop Now for Snowboards and Snowboarding Gear at The-House.com!

And optional gear depending upon where you intend to ride…
$125 – Burton Spark Tesla crampons
$440 – Burton Tourist boots

Since I don’t live in the Alps or Wasatch range, my existing board set-up and MSR snowshoes will suffice for here in the Northeast USA. The $1,200.00 saved will go to help my daughter pay for “Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications” text book.

Posted by: Lawrence

The post Splitboarding – worth the cost? appeared first on Bitness.com | Geek to the Core.