Teva has been on a tear. Some of their competitors might choose to say terror. We are sorry to loose Simple but are optimistic that Teva will continue to up their game and be our shoe of choice as the seasons progress. We appreciate the multi sport functionality of most of their shoes and the waterability of the rest.

They have been pumping out new shoes all spring and we add another shoe to our – hope to test soon list. These launch in January 2012 and they look awesome.

More than half of Teva’s spring 2012 collection is comprised of new styles that appeal to active and adventurous consumers while staying true to Teva’s commitment to water, which continues to define the brand’s DNA.

The soon to be issued new style is the ReForge ion-mask™ and is beinc called by Teva the next evolution of the classic hiker. The moment you exit a watery environment, water drains through the midsole’s Drain Frame channels and the ion-mask-treated upper shrugs off water droplets. Unlike membrane waterproofing technologies, ion-mask is not a physical barrier to water, rather, it is an invisible nano-coating that makes the fabric totally hydrophobic. Being only nanometers thin, ion-mask does not add any weight and does not wash out or wear off with use.

The ReForge will be available on Teva in January 2012 and will sell for $130.

These shoes look awesome and they look for traveling, camping, journeying to a backcountry hut or anytime you want to lighten your load. I love light shoes and seek them out with tons of effort. No need here to have a baller watch the size of a iPhone or a pair of heavy shoes. I find them both useless.

The women’s styles are $45, and $50 for the men’s, which, compared to other weight loss solutions, is a steal. They are available now at retailers worldwide and on Teva.

Finish on Men’s Journal.

Throughout 2011, Teva will continue its commitment to clean water through a new initiative called “Pair for A Foot.” The program will help protect one linear foot of global waterways for every pair of Teva shoes and sandals sold in 2011 through donations to clean water non-profits including the Ocean Conservancy and long-time partner Waterkeeper Alliance. Teva estimates “Pair for a Foot” will help preserve 4.3 million feet of waterways in 2011.

“The Teva brand was born on the water and we feel a strong obligation to help protect our most precious natural resource,” says Joel Heath, Teva Global Marketing Director. “We’re proud to support organizations that do vital work to protect water for the environment.”

Last year, Teva donated $100,000 to the Waterkeeper Alliance’s “Save Our Gulf” initiative, a fundraising and awareness campaign fighting to protect the Gulf Coast’s communities and environment from the long-term devastating impacts of the BP oil disaster. The emergency donation from Teva assisted in the effort to save marine life, wildlife, beaches and waterways that are relied upon for both fishing and recreation.

“Teva has been a terrific corporate partner for Waterkeeper Alliance and we’re thrilled about the Pair for a Foot campaign, both from a fundraising and an awareness standpoint,” states Marc Yaggi, interim Executive Director for Waterkeeper Alliance.

The “Pair for a Foot” program (www.teva.com/cleanwater) extends Teva’s commitment to clean water and its partnership with Waterkeeper through 2011 and beyond. “Over the years, we have participated in numerous community river clean-ups with local Waterkeeper chapters. We are excited to be making a deeper, long-term commitment to water with this initiative,” says Heath.

“We look forward to working with Teva to promote the healthy oceans and waterways that are the heart of our mission,” says Vikki Spruill, President of Ocean Conservancy.

Nice going Teva.

“This photo was taken on our hike at Grey Rock. We left pretty early and there was a lot of fog…I thought it made for a nice photo on the river.” – Brianne

Thanks to www.briannejanaephotography.com for the photo.

Andy B
twitter.com/outsideallday

So, I am beginning to see a trend. A friend gets an iPhone and they disappear.

Surf sessions are missed because they stay up late uploading apps. They spend hours playing ‘angry birds.’ At a dinner party with cool music they keep on yelling out the band, song and album name because they are obsessed with ‘shazam.’ I get it. Technology has captured us. And I kind of dig it.

Think of it this way. The next time you paddle out at trestles it might be empty. Because everyone is playing with their iPad. You are out for a trail run and the single track is in great shape because no one biked it during the rain tearing it apart. They weren’t biking in the rain because they were playing with their new apple product.

What do you think?

Last mental picture, you train for months to prepare for a half-marathon. On race day you find yourself passing dozens of people on a small climb. As you pass them you look over and see that everyone is playing with their iPhone. They didn’t do the training because they were playing with their iPhone4 32G. So now they are hunting for a song to pump them up and get them over the hill.

Tell your friends about the new phone and then join a club to keep yourself motivated so you can beat said friend at the next 10K.

The drive to the show fills my head with things I should be doing once I arrive. I am the guest of Evolv Climbing, they are the shoe company I work with as a climber and I am really excited to see what the booth looks like as well as the whole show. 7.5 hours later I roll into the city and find my way to the convention center. Once inside, I become lost amid the booths and displays. I must look lost, because once I find a friend Ian, he points me in the right direction with a laugh and kick in the butt.

The feeling around the floor of the mammoth center is awesome. Every company I ever heard of is there with the gear and clothing that makes me giddy with happiness.

As I’m hanging out in the booth a bit, getting my bearings, I bump into a guy by the name of Jeremy Collins, he is a very talented climber and illustrator who the year prior had illustrated a piece I did for Rock & Ice. I feel like we are old friends in that we both have a shared strong faith in our lives, as well as trying to balance the climbing and family life we both love. I end the first day late in the afternoon and head out to meet my friend who I will stay with, of course before I leave, I get lost again…I may need to do the bread crumb thing tomorrow.

The second day I meet with companies and work on product sponsorships. Being a photographer, I don’t look for money from companies, which for the most part makes the choice easier for them. I do however need gear to do the things I love, and selling yourself nonstop is tiring and a bit weird. It’s hard to feel like you deserve the things they want to give you, but I feel like together with the companies I like, I can do good then if I try to go it alone.

I also meet with my friend Fitz Cahall who is the creator of The Dirtbag Diaries and The Season. Both showcase his amazing story telling ability and for the up coming Season, he has asked me to be an athlete that he and his partner Brian will profile. Talk about being humbled, I am excited but in the same breath, scared that what I do is really just not that big a deal. Fitz senses my angst, since he begins to tell me that we will work together to make something we are proud of, which relaxes me almost as fast as he says it.

I head back to the booth and finally ask Chris Sharma for a photo, he is sponsored by the same shoe company, but is the best climber by far in the world right now. The cool thing about him is he is so darn humble and nice, the total package, and has been at the forefront of climbing for over 10 years now.

The last day is spent making deals, getting shut down by some and embraced by others. My new friends at Friksn Climbing apparel are super cool, and the team of Evolv just continues to blow me away with the love and support they throw my way.

As I power back up the hill past Park City and enter back into the flats of Wyoming, the first answer seems to be clear for me know. I went to meet people and to see how I would fare in a market of elite companies and athletes. The second question only got cloudier, in fact just an hour into the drive, I was aching and asking the same question over and over…

Craig DeMartino
outsideallday.com

More info at: www.homelessgear.com

Follow on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/homelessgear

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Mission:
The mission of Homeless Gear is a simple one. Collect unwanted outdoor gear (packs, sleeping bags, tents, tarps, etc) & outdoor clothing (coats, rain gear, boots, etc) and re-distribute these items to the homeless. Homeless Gear intends to find a home for all unwanted outdoor gear and make the outdoors a little more like home for those without permanent shelter.

Why:
A segment of the homeless community can not gain entrance into an overnight shelter because there are no more beds available or they have issues with drug or alcohol use. Even if they do find overnight shelter they have to spend the majority of their day outside in the rain or snow. Imagine what a warm coat, a good pair of boots, a blanket, or sleeping bag could do for someone forced to sleep or spend the day or night in their car or outside exposed to the elements.

A large percentage of the homeless move from one location to another and need a means of transporting and storing their personal belongings. A pack (any size) is perfect to help them organize, store, and transport their personal property. Cardboard boxes, shopping carts, and other similar containers simply don’t meet the needs of someone constantly on the move.

There are organizations already in place to provide the homeless with vital services such as shelter, medical care, food and substance abuse assistance. Clothing is generally available. The central focus for Homeless Gear is collecting and distributing outdoor gear (packs, sleeping bags, etc) and outdoor clothing (coats, rain gear, boots, gloves, etc.) to the homeless.

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I’m decided to reach out to this organization to see how I can get involved. It’s been on my heart for a while. Long term, I would love for both of my boys to be able to serve people within Fort Collins. I’m excited to see what might happen.

Andy B
outsideallday.com