Outdoor Gear Reviews | ub Outdoors

April 26, 2012 in Optics by Carl H. Martens

Peoria, IL, April 16, 2011 – Never settling for anything but the best technology, Maui Jim, Inc. will change the game in sunglass lenses with this spring’s arrival of the optical industry’s clearest non-glass lenses with superior impact- and scratch-resistance. New MauiPure™ lenses are the lightest lens in the Maui Jim portfolio and make their debut in April in a new line of three sunglasses designed for active lifestyles. 

March 5, 2012 in Cycling by Carl H. Martens

This is news near and dear to our hearts.  Our parent company, Zowbie Consulting has completed the redesign of Ventana Mountain Bikes USA’s website.  The new site which launched yesterday provides many enhancements to their customer base.  The bike frame pages now displays two levels of color options and provides geometry spec charts in both English and Metric.  Members of the Ventana Community can share and submit pictures of their Ventana frames and custom builds.  Registration is now made easy with an online form.  There is even a small store where patrons are able to purchase Ventana branded merchandise.  There is extensive information about the company and their manufacturing processes under the About Us section of the website.  Check out the new design!  www.ventanausa.com  

March 2, 2012 in Uncategorized by Carl H. Martens

In uncommon fashion, this review is not universal-to-all and applies solely to 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, otherwise known as WJs.  I own a 2001 that I refer to as “Dubya J”.  Awhile back, I started to prepare for the zombie apocalypse.  I added a 4″ suspension lift and dual steering stabilizer from BDS, 32″ BFG All Terrains, cold air intake system,  Flowmaster 50 exhaust with upgraded 3″ exhaust piping, Tom Woods front drive shaft, a new I-6 engine, and anything else that would help me survive and keep me amongst the living.  The one thing that I was missing was a front recovery system.  Then after months of searching, I came upon a thread in the Jeep forum with a picture of a MniMax Recovery Mount…it was love at first sight…I had to have it. 

February 13, 2012 in News and Media by Carl H. Martens

Winter’s Finally Here! Know Before You Go

Mother Nature has finally brought snow to much of the Western mountain regions, and as we celebrate the bounty, it is as critical as ever to be aware of the dangers that exist. The National Ski Patrol would like to remind everyone to be as safe as possible while skiing and snowboarding, and to Know Before You Go.

Developed by the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC), the NSP is also presenting the Know Before You Go program, a free 50-minute program outlining the dangers of avalanches and what to look for, before you go out on to a slope that could slide.

The dangers of avalanches are becoming more prominent as more snow enthusiasts are buried and/or killed by avalanches in backcountry terrain, whether that terrain is accessed from a gate at the ski area or a trailhead. Recent events serve as a cruel reminder that avalanches can occur in unexpected places, even on in-bounds terrain, and the consequences can be tragic. 

in News and Media by Carl H. Martens

– From now through April 1, viewers can win Yakima & OR gear through online contests –

Beaverton, OR – February 13, 2012 – Yakima, the innovation leader in vehicle racks and cargo solutions, and outdoor gear company Outdoor Research (OR) are showcasing seven epic outdoor adventures through an original short film series, “The Classics.” The series debuted this week on Yakima’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/YakimaProducts/featured) and the OR microsite, www.whatsthedealwithdinosaur.com.

With breathtaking photography, the seven original shorts takes its viewers to iconic destinations across North America and shows off the incredible adventures to be had there, from sidecountry skiing through legendary powder on Washington’s Mount Baker, to exploring the serene Georgia coast by sea kayak, to highly technical mountain biking in British Columbia’s famed North Shore.