TRuC Reviews

Out of the Box :
Roadworthiness: 3
Ease of Use: 2
Cost Vs. Value: 3

In a nutshell: "It's better than most aftermarket iPod car audio accessories I've seen."

5 - You better get this before you're the last loser on the planet without one
4 - You know that kid that you went to school with that smelled like used diapers, had perpetual big neon-green boogers and never brushed his teeth? You'll be that kid if you don't get this
3 - It's alright. Your parents might even think it's cool
2 - I like it, no, I hate it...no, actually I like it but sometimes I hate it
1 - Worse than getting kicked in the balls/boobies and tossed headfirst into a port-a-jon

Final Eval: Jury is still out waiting on a warranty replacement 5/29 - update (7/15/09) Well. I've tried to make this work, but apparently, the LiquidAUX has some issues revolving around the remote control communicating with the power adapter after the car has been turned off. I still have to disconnect and reconnect the iPod to reset the connection so the remote will work.

I hate to give this a poor rating, but it is a product that isn't functioning like it should. I called Kensington again and asked for any known issues, which there were not. My report is "being checked out by the R&D team and they will get back in touch with me when a possible resolution is found." I asked if it was plausible that Kensington sent me two malfunctioning units in which the customer service rep said yes. Unfortunately, this places a fault within their Quality Control Department.

I still use it as is, and I reset the connection when I know that I'll be driving for awhile where skipping or replaying a track will be needed. I've relocated the remote to the emergency brake handle to keep my steering wheel clear and free. I've found that the e-brake handle makes a great location for the remote.

In this day and age, an iPod is about as common as a toothbrush - everyone has one and those who don't, should probably get one. For some, having an iPod is such a no brainer that it's not uncommon to have more than one. For others, it's about as hard to accept having an iPod as it is to open up a Facebook, Myspace or even an iTunes account. But this isn't about getting an iPod, it's about how to play the damn thing in your car.

The iPod accessories market is as saturated as that of the mp3 player itself. Companies came out of the woodwork to battle the iconic digital player, and even more came out to create the accessories. I've tried out several different iPod products and accouterments ranging from the simple AUX Cord to the fancy wireless systems.

I felt compelled to review the Kensington LiquidAUX (K.L.) because I was pretty excited to have a cleaner set-up in my car. It was obvious that Kensington focused on the aesthetics for this one. The benefit of a wireless steering wheel mounted remote was icing on the cake...especially for Heidi who has to deal with the 75mph, white knuckle ride on the rumble-strips while I searched for the perfect track.

So to use the K.L., you have to have an Auxiliary jack. Newer cars have them as an option on the dash but for us less privileged folks, it's pretty easy to get around it. I've been installing aftermarket car stereos in my own cars since 93' and even then, couldn't imagine putting in a stereo without an AUX jack. If you're not savvy on installing and you're so far behind on the times and still using a tape player, you can put in tape adapter. Those of you who have neither and your stereo is straight out of the factory, I guess you're screwed.

Set-up with the K.L. was pretty much plug-and-play. It's so simple in fact, the manual only uses illustrations. As with all mp3 aftermarket car adapters, the power adapter goes into the cigarette lighter. The beauty of this set-up is that the AUX. cord is wired from the power adapter and you just plug the other end into the AUX. jack, attach the wireless remote to the steering wheel and voila, you're set.

The remote is simple and gives you the options of play, skip forward, backwards and shuffle. I had minor reservations about putting it on my steering wheel because it kind of becomes a speed bump in the smoothness of the steering wheel itself- which could be a problem if you're like me and like to lightly let go of the steering wheel to let it correct itself. I also had to tell myself a couple times that it was more function that it was form - I wasn't a big fan of the obvious aftermarket look.

Despite the simplicity of the plug-and-playability, there are some complications to the operation. The main issue that I had came when the process of turning the car off after using the system and then turning it back on; this rendered the remote dead and useless. I had to unplug and replug the system from the iPod to get it to work again. This became quite annoying after awhile. I believe the problem lies in the systems' "smart" function and how it puts everything in "sleep mode." I tried several different shut-off and on combinations but to no avail.

Now, amidst all the contempt I've developed for this device, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I called Kensington this morning and reported my problem. Not only was there a surprisingly short hold period, the company decided to replace the complete system at their expense. Even though Kensington has a 2-year limited warranty on the K.L., the operator didn't ask me the date of my purchase and promptly gave me a replacement confirmation and asked that when I had the opportunity, to call back with the serial number.

So, with that, I'll be gladly giving this a second chance.

See you out there,

T

Out of the Bag:
Roadworthy: 5
Fit: 5
Construction: 5
Quality: 5

Final Eval: 5

5 - You better get this before you're the last loser on the planet without one
4 - You know that kid that you went to school with that smelled like used diapers, had perpetual big neon-green boogers and never brushed his teeth? You'll be that kid if you don't get this
3 - It's alright. Your parents might even think it's cool
2 - I like it, no, I hate it...no, actually I like it but sometimes I hate it
1 - Worse than getting kicked in the balls/boobies and tossed headfirst into a port-a-jon

I'll first start this off stating that I am an employee of Outdoor Research (OR). I'll follow that stating that this is not a bias review. Although I do enjoy many (if not all) of the OR products, you'll find only a few that I will consider putting on this page. A lot of their equipment goes without a need for a review, but you'll see a couple things here that are well worthy of mentioning in this blog. So moving on...

The Ferrosi Hoody came out for Spring 09' and has quickly become one of the coolest jackets I own. I probably own too many jackets, but this one has such a unique style and purpose to it that I think it's something that everyone could enjoy having in their arsenal.


Made out of a Cordura®/Lycra® blend with a weather-resistant DWR finish, the Ferrosi not only equates to a breathable shell, but more importantly, boasts 2 excellent features that any climber would want - full-stretch and durability.

Out of the bag, the Ferrosi looks like a way chill hoody with minimal frills and no loud colors or designs - something that OR has always managed to pull off. Putting this thing on is something else. The thought of a Cordura/Lycra blend against your skin conjures a cold, starchy and potentially abrasive feel. However, it's quite the contrary, while you can't hide the fact that it is Cordura, it feels like a tough skin of silk.

The fit is great - I've seen people of all shapes and sizes wear this jacket and it's neither a frumpy sweatshirt-hoody nor the skin-tight shirt my high school wrestling coach would wear. It's just right. No excess fumblage or flappage to snag on cat-claws or the like on the approach. The cut and fit of the jacket is designed for sure movement over stone as well as against it. At 5'7", I found that the small was a perfect fit.

As I mentioned before, this jacket really shines in the stretch and durability department. The lycra blend smoothly extends on those long dead points and allows plenty of flex for those ball-busting scrunch fests. Implementing stretch on climbing/performance clothing is nothing new to the industry, but where those companies zigged wrong, OR zagged right and instead of incorporating "stretch paneling" they implemented "full coverage stretch" (beer bellies rejoice).

On durability: Heidi, my wife, was getting thrashed on a feet-cutting dyno to a finishing jug that had a piranha-forearm-eating bulge to it. She sent after deciding to wear the jacket, which came out unscathed...the same could've been said about Heidi if she thought about it earlier! Me, I've worn this thing on roofs, slabs, offwidth approaches, stuffed it, stepped on it, rolled in the dirt, and beat chalk off of holds with it. A simple wash made it new again.

The Ferrosi isn't designed to be a warm jacket. In fact, this is a single layer soft shell with no insulating attributes. What it does provide is a decent wind barrier throughout and water repellency on the shoulders - not ideally what you'd want to wear climbing in a north facing dihedral in December (although with adequate layering you could probably pull it off). Any other season of the year you'll find yourself looking for any reason to wear it. The hood provides minimum to adequate coverage depending on the size of your dome - don't expect a monk robe style hood on this one.

You can check it out HERE.

See you out there,

T

Out of the Bag:
Looks: 5
Construction: 5
Padding: 5
Size: 5

Final: 5

5 - You better get this before you're the last loser on the planet without one
4 - You know that kid that you went to school with that smelled like used diapers, had perpetual big neon-green boogers and never brushed his teeth? You'll be that kid if you don't get this
3 - It's alright. Your parents might even think it's cool
2 - I like it, no, I hate it...no, actually I like it but sometimes I hate it
1 - Worse than getting kicked in the balls/boobies and tossed headfirst into a port-a-jon


Flagstaff, AZ based crash pad and climbing hold company Voodoo has come out with a new version of their successful Highball 4000 crashpad. Built at a favorable dimension of 48"x41"x4", this pad is perfect for most bouldering heights - not overkill for that lowball and not too small for that 10+ foot sloper mantle.

I received my red velvet 4000 a couple weeks ago straight from the hands and hot off the press from the Voodoo fabulous duo - Gina and Frank. Packaged like a Sherman tank, this thing looked like a life-size SpongeBob SquarePants in a body bag. I had it shipped to my office and that thing caught the eyes of every passerby. It is hot.

The newest addition and biggest change to the 4000 this year are the Voodoo stamped metal buckles. While I had little to no concern with the prior 4000 plastic buckles, I guess Voodoo thought it was maybe time to satisfy the metal-buckle-heads. The closure is tight for worry-free jamming of shoes, chalk and whatever else can be rammed into it. The buckles are laid out with two closing the long side and one on the top and bottom.

Another new development I noticed over my last 4000 was the density of the foam. The "...top & bottom layer of 1/2" closed cell foam for force dissipation and 3" of open cell foam for energy absorption" provides a pretty unique landing pad. It almost feels like landing on a fuzzy, gelatinous love pod that really gives you no reason to be afraid of falling.

Being that this pad has only had 2 weekend trips out since it was made less than a month ago, it was a little stiff to fold into its taco-style design. When you release the buckles, you're guaranteed a super flat and seamless bed to bail on. Voodoo claims that their pad will outlast the competitors...I can't imagine this foam wearing out and getting soft for a really long time.


Construction is bomber. Indestructible 1680d ballistic nylon shell (the toughest), industrial grade upholstery fabric landing zone and bar tack reinforcements make this a bad ass pad.

The real love for the 4000 is of something that Voodoo has long shown in it's 17+ years, originality and what they call "unapologetic style." I'm not exaggerating when everyone looks at my pad and says something about how pimp the 4000 is.

When Voodoo came out with a pad in the early 2000's, you knew that it was going to be good; and still, almost a decade later, I won't be going back to any other pad...and now I probably won't ever have to.

In case you haven't already, check out Voodoo Here and read up on why these guys are the bomb.

See you out there,

T

Welcome to my review blog; something that I've kind of always wanted to do but just never got around to doing. I'm not saying that I actually have more time on my hands, but lets just say that my fruitless searches for reviews on certain things have led me to start this in hopes of providing more random reviews on things that make me excited enough to write about.

Case in point:

I love trips. I love camping. I love car camping. I feel that I have dedicated enough of my youth to backpacking that, well, I just don't find it fun anymore, whatsoever. Some may call me a wuss, but you know what? I can handle the defaming in exchange for a nice relaxed evening with a super grilled bbq, propane heaters and an adequately roomy tent for me, my wife Heidi, and our dog. A good nights sleep always sets you up for the next days send...not to mention a potentially limitless night of fun and antics by all your friends, regardless of ability.

Ahh, I remember the day I decided to shed the backpack and all the super light, gram shaving, titanium-tyvex-whup-de-doo-dad for the fat Coleman double-burner, 3-fold crash pad-turned-sleeping-pad, 2 tents (1 kitchen and one for sleepin') and all the great creature comforts associated with car camping.

So, with that little bit of background on me, lets get on with the review!

About a year or so ago, the car camping gurus at Coleman put out a toaster oven . A big, heavy and heavy duty propane toaster oven. At first, images of the typical Coleman family portrait enters the imagination complete with monster size SUV's, gargantuan tents, Eddie Bauer flannel, Jansport day packs, Mossy Oak camo bibs, finished with his, hers, little his and little hers ATV's.

But then you think "Hmmm. Toast." How great would that be?! Well, it'd be awesome if you could justify spending as much as $115 on one. Reviews of this thing tout some wonderful foods to bring to the campground (i.e. pizzas, blueberry muffins and yes, toast). I checked one out at a local store one afternoon and suddenly got the urge to get one, but got cold feet before totally committing (the evil "recession" voices got to me).

Later that week, I told Heidi about it and she found this rickety stove top toaster that I, in my spoiled and stubborn man-ego mind quickly shut down and said "I'd rather eat cold bagels than cook with that thing." A week later we were sitting in the cold shadows of a mountain, eating crumbly, cold bagels that went down the gullet as easy as an unchewed, sideways tortilla chip. I decided to check out this little toaster.

Enter the Coghlan's Camp Stove Toaster

At less than $5 bucks, I figured it would be worth a shot. The box that it comes in has an image of nicely toasted slices of bread that makes you wonder if the science behind the design actually can toast that evenly.

The following weekend, I was looking forward to trying this thing out. Images of crunchy, toasted bagels danced around my head as I smacked my lips in anticipation. Heidi, opened up the contraption and started putting it together. 4 wiry brackets snap and click to their place...at least they were intended to. A little fussy in the design, the ends didn't want to stay hooked in their base plate homes and popped out occasionally during initial set-up.

Once everything was put together, you slap it on top of the burner on your stove and crank it to high. The heat caused the plate to oxidize and seemed ready to warp but those Canadians at Coghlan designed and assures that it wouldn't. Sure enough, it didn't but I'd make sure to give it some time to get hot and expel any heat reactive fumes before putting anything on it for the first time. One of the wires 'poinged' out of it's holes under the heat but with a couple of forks as our hands, we got it back to it's home.

We loaded it up with 4 bagels. It's maximum capacity. You're instantly hit with that homemade-toasty smell. Something that kind of brings a smile to your face. After about 2 minutes I flipped my bagel and toasted the outside and a minute later - TOAST.

So if you have never had a perfectly toasted bagel or slice of bread while camping (I'm not talking about skewering your bread with a stick or knife and rubbing the flames in a wax-on, wax-off motion), you owe it to yourself to get one of these things. It worked like a charm. After the initial burn, the toaster set-up, took-down and cleaned easier than a pair of nail clippers (you get the idea).

You just can't go wrong with something this inexpensive and easy.
Here's a great breakfast recipe that we made (credit to my fellow co-workers):

1 tomato - sliced thin

1 avocado - sliced thin

cream cheese - however much you typically like on a bagel

2 bagels (I found that an Asiago Cheese Bagel)

Salt and pepper to taste

Serves 2

See you out there!

T