Cool New Outdoor Gear - GEARBLAZER

Created in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Skout Trailbars are a relatively new entrant in the crowded energy bar market. Skout graciously send us a sampler pack of their trailbars to taste and test out in our own adventures. We had the opportunity to try all five of their current flavors – Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Coconut, Cherry + Vanilla,  Apple + Cinnamon, and Blueberry + Almond.

The best word we could describe the trailbars would be “cakey”. The bars were moist yet had a soft crumbly texture to each bite. We found the taste to be sweet but not overly sweet. As with most energy bars, a bottle of water to wash it down is necessary. Our favorite flavor of the bunch was Chocolate Coconut. It offered a strong chocolate flavor that was perfect during a long hike while the coconut added just enough to make it seem special.

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The Vibram FiveFingers Speed ($100) will definitely turn a few heads. This unique footwear is built on their popular Bikila platform but has the look and feel of a vintage running shoe. The Bikila was Vibram’s first model created to try and mimic a more natural running experience through a more efficient forefoot strike. The Speed offers a breathable nylon/poly mesh upper, 3M Scotchlite reflective trim, and a traditional lacing system.

Those who don’t have a Camo Marshmallow Bow ($25) should be careful where they leave their stash of campfire marshmallows. This bow holds up to 25 “rounds” and can hit targets 30 feet away. As a bonus, the bow is dishwasher safe so cleanup is easy.

Get an entire pride of mythical Ligers by WXtex ($20) to hold up and protect your tent or tarp. These unique tent stakes are made of 50D DRS nylon and 7000 series aluminum. They only weigh 1.5 ounces each so its easy to stow in your pack.

The XTERRA XR-1.0 ($95) is an all-purpose trail running shoe. Featuring a blazing orange design, the XR-1.0 offers support and stability in a lightweight frame. It’s made to handle the roughness of trails yet versatile enough to handle road running too. The shoe features WILDTred technology and XHale mesh.

Perfect for protecting that tasty Merlot that you picked up at the vineyard, the Bottle Armor XXL ($27) is reusable and leak-proof. It helps protects bottles in your checked luggage from being battered, bruised, and broken from the rigors of air travel. It features a see-through window, extra-strength zip top seals, and even holds a corkscrew in the back pocket.

Dash the Dino Bed Tent ($10) is a great way for kids to get introduced to camping in a fun and playful way. Designed for indoor use only, this colorful tent sets up quickly, folds flat for easy storage, and has a low price.

The new Kodak PlayFull HD Video Camera ($149) offers a sleek portable design that’s easy to bring with you on all your adventures. Featuring 1080p HD video and 5 MP photos, the PlayFull offers high quality images with a few more bells and whistles. The camera can instantly share photos to your favorite social networking sites by plugging in the built-in USB arm. There’s also fun capture effects like black and white, sepia, high saturation, and 70s film. Available in a few color options.