Ice cleats for winter running

We've posted this before, but thought it was appropriate for those of you still looking to run outdoors despite the snow and ice.





Supplies you'll need: A drill, 20 or so 1/4" sheet metal screws with half 3/8" long and half 1/2" long, and a 1/4" bit driver. Obviously you'll need shoes as well. This process shouldn't harm them at all, but if you're leery you might not want to use a brand new set.

Canoe and Kayak Demos for sale

Canoe and Kayak Demo Sale list

Canoes Material Color Sale Price Regular Price
Wenonah Spirit II Royalex Green $999 $1399
Wenonah Aurora Royalex Yellow $899 $1299
Wenonah Wilderness Royalex Red $799 $1199
Wenonah Argosy Kevlar White $899 $1779
Wenonah Adirondack Royalex Green $949 $1299
Wenonah Fisherman Royalex Green $799 $1199


Kayaks (CD=Current Designs, OT = Old Town)
Boat Material Color Sale Price Regular Price
CD Kestrel 140 SOT Fiberglass Yellow $999 $1699
CD Kestrel 140 Rotomolded Sandstone $699 $975
CD Whistler (14.5’) Rotomolded Orange $749 $1049
CD Kestrel 120 HV Rotomolded Orange $599 $699
CD Kestrel 120 OC Rotomolded Orange $599 $699
CD Vision 135 (13.5’) Rotomolded Green $749 $1099
CD Oracle GTS (18’) TCS Yellow $1499 $1999
CD Kestrel 120 Kev/Fib Green $1349 $1849
CD Kestrel 120 Rotomolded Red $599 $699
CD Kestrel 120 ‘07 Rotomolded Orange $499 $699
CD Kestrel 120 Rotomolded Sandstone $599 $699
Prijon Calabria (14.5’) Rotomolded Yellow $599 $1349
Dagger Specter (14’) Roto w/ rudd Blue $599 $1125
Dagger Exodus (17’) Roto w/ rudd Yellow $749 $1449
OT Otter Rotomolded Blue $269 $329
OT Voyager Rotomolded Orange $399 $499

Sale begins Saturday October 10. All boats are sold as is. Sale price reflects original price of the boat and its condition. No holds or reserving boats, sold first come, first served.

BPA in your Sigg bottle

If you've been following outdoor news or purchased a reusable water bottle in the last year and a half you've probably heard about all the concerns regarding BPA (Bisphenol-A). The big news from the past two weeks, however, is that aluminum bottles sold as healthy alternatives to plastic--including Sigg and Laken-- contained BPA as well.



An investigative article on August 19 from SNEWS, an outdoor and health and fitness industry publication, broke the first direct admission from Sigg that until August of 2008 their aluminum bottles were lined with an epoxy containing BPA. The chemical has been shown to mimic estrogen and is linked to a host of health issues including early-stage cancers, uterine disease, and other developmental and reproductive problems.


Among other revelations, the article stated, "Steve Wasik, CEO of SIGG, and Greg Garrigues, president of Laken USA, each confirmed to SNEWS their respective companies were aware their bottles were being made with an epoxy lining that contained BPA long before the smoldering BPA brushfire turned into a wildfire in late 2007 and into 2008."

Aluminum bottles have been on shelves all over the country touted as a "healthy" alternative to plastic and in many cases were labeled in stores and online as "BPA Free" when, in fact, they were not.

Fin & Feather's stance

At the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008 we chose as a store to phase out all bottles that contained BPA.


Camelbak introduced a new hard plastic bottle that was BPA free in 2007 so we introduced those as well as Klean Kanteen, a stainless steel bottle that required no lining on the inside to make it food grade.

Bottle sales skyrocketed all over the country in 2008 with Camelbak, Sigg, and Klean Kanteen leading the way. Despite having an open account with Sigg, though, we chose not to bring their bottles into the store. Aluminum has known health risks and as such all aluminum food containers must be lined with a material to make it food grade and safe for use.

Sigg, at the time, refused to say what their lining was made with, instead saying it was a proprietary mixture they wanted to protect internally and that it didn't leach BPA. They wouldn't say it was BPA free.

We declined to bring Sigg into the store despite booming sales for the brand because we knew these things:

• Aluminum and tin must be lined with something.
• The majority of those linings contain BPA.
• Sigg wouldn't say what was in their lining, but as a company tested their bottles for leaching BPA.
• So if your bottle doesn't contain BPA, why would you test to see if it leaches?

And that is the conversation we've been having with our customers for the past 18 months.

While we are patting ourselves on the back here somewhat, we also think it's important to let our customers know that the "healthy" aluminum bottle purchased to replace a BPA-laden plastic one likely contains BPA as well. And for other retailers who had been selling Sigg and say they were duped: the information was out there if you were willing to look for it.

There are several things to take away from this.

One, Laken was willing to disclose its lining contained BPA to anyone who asked (we did) and was quick to redesign its liner once it was determined BPA could be harmful. Laken is now spearheading an initiative to eliminate BPA from products used by infants and toddlers--the group (along with pregnant women) most likely to be affected by BPA.

Two, Sigg bottles leaving warehouses now are BPA free, but it doesn't mean the old lining isn't still on shelves. Check the interior of the bottles to be certain. A link to the original SNEWS article is below with a picture that shows the difference between the linings.

Three, it's somewhat disconcerting that the PR line coming from Sigg is they didn't realize the concern was about BPA being in the bottle at all, not whether or not it leached into the liquid. It seems odd to be an industry leader and not have a pulse on what's happening within it. It's also rather convenient to disclose the lining contents now that there's a new alternative ready for sale.

There's tons of information out there (some posted below) about this if you want to read more, plus we're always happy to lend what information we have. A big thanks to SNEWS as well for getting to the bottom of this and getting it out the consumers.

-Matt Berry
Fin & Feather

Additional Reading

Original article from SNEWS

Interesting article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that investigates the similarities between the plastics industry fighting BPA and big tobacco's public relations efforts.

SNEWS also posted an article yesterday about a class-action suit against Sigg for misleading consumers. The Courthouse News Service article is here.

Iowa River boating closure

Due to bridge construction, the Iowa River will be closed to boating just south of Sturgis Ferry. More information on the Iowa City governement web page.

Canoes, Kayaks, and Paddles

It's that time of year to start thinking about paddling. Kayaking has been one of the fastest growing sports in the country for the last decade and lots of people are picking up paddling as a way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors.

Maybe you've been renting from a local paddling destination, or kayaked on vacation, or borrowed a friend's boat and are ready to get one of your own, you'll need to know what type of canoe or kayak fits your needs.

Canoes
Tracking (paddling straight) or maneuverability? Kevlar, Fiberglass, or Plastic? Down river or open water? These are the questions you want to ask yourself when chosing a canoe or kayak. Learn about the differences in canoes in this episode.



Kayaks
The waterways in Iowa and the surrounding areas are a combination of small rivers like the Iowa, Cedar, and Maquoketa, as well as numerous small lakes. When deciding on a kayak, think about if you'll mostly be on rivers, or open water, or both. While a shorter kayak might maneuver well for river use, often you'll lose a lot of speed and tracking ability you'd see with a longer boat.

Another thing to consider is the layup, or material the boat is made from. In a kayak like the Kestrel 120, the weight drops from 48lb to 32lb going from a rotomolded plastic boat to a kevlar/fiberglass hybrid. You might pay more initially, but the stress you save on your body portaging and lifting it on and off your car adds up. In many cases the 8-15lb can be the difference in getting a boat on your car or not.



Paddles
So you bought a kayak. How are you going to paddle it? Consider this: the paddle is going to be the driving force of the boat. You, combined with the paddle, are the engine that makes your kayak go.

Paddles tend to increase in price as the weight drops. At the lower end paddles will generally have a metal (aluminum) shaft and a plastic or nylon blad, whereas higher-end paddles will have fiberglass or carbon-fiber shafts and blades. A lighter paddle over hundreds of strokes can make a huge difference and often can extend the amount of time you spend comfortably on the water.

Spring Turkey Hunting

Join Mark to see the latest decoys and calls to bag a bird this Spring.

Part 1


Part 2

Now on Facebook

We're on Facebook! Another great way to get updates on promotions, sales, events and other things going on in the store.

We'll be uploading photos of your adventures and big catches so you can share them with your friends and ours.

Click the link and become one of our fans.

Nordic Walking

Check out this video from Leki, the premier manufacturer of trekking and Nordic walking poles. There have been several articles recently touting Nordic walking as a great way to boost calorie consumption during your normal walks, or a chance for those with joint and back problems to increase their fitness level and overall health.

If you'd be interested in a Nordic walking clinic at Fin & Feather, let us know. We're currently looking at options to host a free seminar.

Outdoor Retailer - Mountain Boy Sleds

Every Summer and Winter Fin & Feather sends a team to the bi-annual Outdoor Retailer Trade Show. The goal is to find the newest and best outdoor products to bring to you, the good people of Iowa.

Of course it's not all work and no play. This year's Winter show featured an outdoor demo day called Backcountry Base Camp where industry professionals could come try out the latest outerwear, alpine and cross country skis, binding systems, and snowshoes at an Olympic ski resort.

So what technical equipment did we test out? Sleds.

Mountain Boy Sledworks out of Silverton, Colorado let us try out two of their flyer series sleds. Each sled is handmade with a patented turning system that we were told is precise enough for a hockey stop. What we were more interested in was the radar gun clocking the sleds at 35mph.

A one word review: "Awesome." Tight handling and ridiculous speeds made it hard to imagine sledding again without one. Too bad they don't come with their own Olympic snow park.

Waterproofing Boots

To keep a pair of boots for the long-run, they require some upkeep. We show you how to clean and reapply the waterproofing to your leather boots. A good pair of waterproof shoes will have a waterproof membrane below the upper material that keeps your foot dry.

When you apply a coating to the upper of the boot, it's in order to prevent water from soaking into the material, which breaks it down and can leave the boot feeling heavy and smelling funky.

Crow Hunting

John, Mark, and Clint show how to get set up for a successful crow hunt.

Winter Car Emergency Kit

Any time of year it's a good idea to have a few essential items in your car in case of emergency. Winter in particular brings a greater chance of breakdowns and accidents. In order to make sure you can get yourself out of a tight spot, or just wait out the tow truck, Matt discusses some car emergency essentials.

A couple things you should think about keeping year-round are: a first aid kit, a CPR face shield, and a multi-tool like the Victorinox Rescue Tool. In the Winter, staying warm is the first priority. Keeping a spare jacket and gloves, or an emergency blanket and poncho will go a long way to keeping you warm and dry. If your heat still works, you should only run your car engine a few minutes at a time while a window is cracked to prevent carbon-monoxide inhalation.

Finally, a collapsible shovel can help you get out of a tight spot in the snow. Some waterproof matches or a lighter and a can of the Magic Heat we show can also be used to melt snow, as well as keep you warm.

Winter Running Part 2

For those looking to keep running during a cold Iowa Winter, here are a few tips on how to stay on your feet. We discuss YakTrax Pros and how to create your own ice cleats with your current trail running shoes using 1/2" and 3/8" sheet metal screws.

Trail runners make ideal winter running shoes. The beefier lugs on the outsole provide extra traction by themselves or, in this case, added length to fit our screws. Many trail shoes also come in Gore-Tex versions that keep the wet slush and wind out. A dry and wind-resistant shoe will let you test the elements in the great outdoors instead of being leashed to the treadmill or the indoor track.

If putting screws in your trail runners doesn't appeal to you, YakTrax, or the more burly MicroSpikes by Kahtoola offer the kind of traction you'll need to stay afoot. Now your only problem is there's no excuse to stay indoors.

Ice Fishing Part 4

Some catches, releases, and outtakes with Mark and Lloyd highlight the fourth part in our ice fishing series.

Ice Fishing Part 3

Mark explains different types of jigs and jigging techniques in the third part of the ice fishing series.

Cross Country Skiing Part 2

Cross Country Skiing Part 1

Ice Fishing Part 2

Ice Fishing Part 1

Winter Bike Commuting

Winter Running

Holiday Gift Guide 2

Holiday Gift Guide 1

Winter Footwear

Layering for Shotgun Season

Hunting Boots

Hunting Safety