Tag: outdoors

Check this out: Bay Area libraries offer unique services, tools, items to take home

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Bay Area libraries draw book lovers, of course, who frequent those literary spaces to read and borrow novels, nonfiction volumes and picture books. But those halls hold so much more. They are bestowers of free lending programs, supplied with everything from Wi-Fi hotspots to vegetable seeds, hammers and hiking backpacks for library-card holding locals to use.

Whether you’re looking for gear for a new hobby or pursuit or to expand upon an existing one, here are some possibilities, from tool libraries to seed collections, outdoor equipment, park passes and more.

Tool Lending

If Home Depot is your go-to spot for testing out home, carpentry or electrical equipment, then consider adding this library service to your toolbox.

Intended to reduce cost-related barriers associated with home improvement projects, tool lending libraries offer the community no- or low-cost access to tools and appliances. Some libraries, such as the Oakland Public Library, offer workshops on plumbing repairs 101 and power tool safety, too. And others, such as Fremont’s Irvington Library, have “makerspaces” where guests can tinker and build.

Supervising librarian Jill Tokutomi at the Tool Lending Library at the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Berkeley Public Library in Berkeley. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

“Tool lending libraries spark the public’s imagination and push the boundaries of what public libraries can be for our communities,” said Jill Tokutomi, supervising librarian for the south branch of the Berkeley Public Library.

Tool lending libraries like Berkeley’s, which includes mechanical, power and cooking tools, have been around since the late 1970s.

“After 45 years, it still blows people’s minds when they find out they can check out tools — both home repair and culinary tools — with their library card,” Tokutomi said.

Tools wait to be borrowed at the Tool Lending Library at the Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Berkeley Public Library in Berkeley. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Where to go: You’ll find tool collections at many Bay Area libraries, including the Santa Clara City Library, Oakland Public Library, Berkeley Public Library and Alameda County Library branches.

What’s available: Everything from caulking guns and heat guns to thermal cameras, extension cords, drills, chain saws, sledge hammers, ladders, baking pans and more.

Seed Libraries

Got a green thumb? There are drawers filled with free flower, fruit and vegetable seeds tucked away inside libraries in Moraga, Mountain View and beyond.

With more than 500 seed lending libraries worldwide, it’s a popular way to get people excited about gardening. Local gardens can help combat climate change and preserve genetic diversity, according to librarians at the San Jose Public Library, which has stations at six branches.

Various seeds are available at the Seed Library in the San Jose Public Library Almaden Branch in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)

In addition to distributing seeds, some libraries — in Clayton, for example, and Mountain View — welcome seed donations from personal or public gardens to help keep the collection growing. Those seeds will often do better than store-bought varieties, since locally harvested seeds have acclimated to the Bay Area’s microclimates and soils, according to librarians at the Contra Costa County Library, where 16 branches boast seed lending collections.

Where to go: Check out seeds at the San Jose Public Library, Santa Clara City Library, Oakland Public Library, Hayward Public Library, Menlo Park Public Library, Mountain View Public Library, Palo Alto Public Library, Contra Costa County Library, San Mateo County Public Library and more.

What’s available: Seeds for California native wildflowers, vegetables, fruit, heirloom varieties and hybrids

Library of Things

Browsing through a Library of Things collection is like shopping at an eclectic mall — except everything is free.

The term was popularized by a grassroots experiment that started in London in 2014 and was inspired by the concept of tool lending libraries. Over the last decade, these collections have sprung up in Palo Alto, for example, Berkeley and Brentwood.

Elizabeth Leong, of Fremont, checks out a hotpot for a party at Milpitas Library in Milpitas, Calif., on Friday, March 1, 2024. Milpitas library recently launched a new Library of Things program, where people can check out home gadgets to try and return. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

Instead of appliances or tools, these libraries offer more unexpected items. At the Milpitas Library, which launched its Library of Things in November, card holders can borrow medical devices, karaoke gear, specialty cake pans, telescopes and sewing machines, among other things. Fremont resident Elizabeth Leong, for example, borrowed a blood pressure monitor, sous vide equipment and a hot pot and grill at that library this spring.

Where to go: Milpitas Library, Palo Alto Library, Berkeley Public Library and several Contra Costa County Library branches

What’s available: Sewing machines, Go Pros, Raspberry Pis, ukuleles, children’s toys, storytime kits, bike locks, bocce kits, Wi-Fi hotspots, Chromebooks and more

Hiking Kits and Park Passes

If the great outdoors is where you learn best, then the library’s got you covered.

Several library districts, including San Mateo and Contra Costa County, offer California State Park day-use passes, which allow visitors to park for free at more than 200 participating parks — although the funding for that was on shaky ground for 2024-25. The Santa Clara County Library offers free vehicle-entry passes for 28 regional parks, and locals can check the passes out for a three-week period.

“It’s really to make sure folks who want to enjoy hiking and going outdoors can,” said Santa Clara City librarian Rachel Hughes. “They don’t have to worry about the money. It’s not going to be a barrier to their access.”

Like many other libraries in the Bay Area, Santa Clara City also offers hiking backpacks, which hold fun and practical items such as binoculars, bird and wildflower field guides, a compass, magnifying lenses and more. But the fuzzy bear-shaped food storage canister is unique to that library — and it’s surprisingly popular, according to Hughes.

“You put all your scented stuff into it, and then bears can’t open it,” she said. “Sometimes, people can’t open it, too.”

Where to go: Santa Clara City Library, Santa Clara County Library District, San Jose Public Library, San Mateo County Library, Alameda County Library, Contra County Library and more.

What’s available: Binoculars, field guides, hiking poles, magnifying glasses, compasses, backpacks and California state and regional parking passes

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Stephanie Lam

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July 14, 2024
PHOTOS: Coal Creek Canyon Fourth of July celebration

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Ember Tinsley, 3, left, smiles at her friend Ruby Rae Mitchell, 4, while playing together in front of a classic 1955 Buick Century during the Coal Creek Canyon Fourth of July celebration at Coal Creek Community Center on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)

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Zachary Spindler-Krage

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July 4, 2024
The REI CTY e2.1 Is an Affordable, Dependable City Commuter

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I fell in love with the REI CTY e2.1 the minute I saw its hot lava frame come out of the box in my garage. The racy red color and an easy-to-step-through frame screamed, “Ride me now!” There were no barriers to entry, like an app that I had to download. All I needed to do was turn the bike on and ride. (Note: If you are uncomfortable assembling the bike and live near an REI, the store will build it and also offer one year of free adjustments.)

So I did. I pedaled across the city on a scenic drive, through busy intersections, down a few steep residential streets to a cycling path that led to a rocky beach on the shoreline of Lake Superior. The bike’s upright geometry, which had me less hunched over than other e-bikes I’ve tested, made the world pop. I noticed the smell of lilacs on the breeze and the brilliant hues of green after a soggy spring, details I don’t always catch when I’m crouched over handlebars.

At the beach, I met my partner who was nice and brought a picnic. We ate cheese and crackers and sipped rosé until the sun dipped low over the hills of the city. I purposely stayed out until the mosquitoes started buzzing so I could race the sun and my boyfriend in his car back to our house. It may have partially been the glass of rosé, or the beauty of an early summer evening, but the 22-mile round trip ride on the CTY e2.1 made a Friday night especially fun.

About Town

The CTY e2.1 is the upgrade to the entry-level CTY e1.1 ($1,299). I think it’s worth the extra money, especially considering that it’s still well below $2,000 and also goes on sale quite often. The battery capacity of the CTY e2.1 is more than adequate. On that day, after a mile-long, 1,000-foot climb back up the steep hill to my house, I had 39 percent of battery power left to spare, after toggling through all four levels of assistance throughout an ambling, four-hour tour of the city.

As an urban commuter, the CTY e2.1 is a nicely packaged machine for the price. It is a class 1 ebike with a 250-watt Shimano E5000 motor, accompanied by a 36-volt, 418 watt-hour, lithium-ion battery that boosts up to 20 miles per hour, and a range of roughly 60 miles in Eco Mode. The battery runs down the entire length of the sloping downtube and, per my scale, is roughly the same weight as a sack of potatoes. But it’s still easy enough to take out with the turn of a key to charge it independent of the bike.

Photograph: Stephanie Pearson

A front fork dampens the road chatter and hydraulic disc brakes make stopping more precise. The Schwalbe Big Ben 2-inch-wide tires have a hefty tread pattern for an urban bike, offering nice traction. The tire’s reinforced sidewalls are also reflective to make you more visible at night.

Added amenities include comfy gel grips and a padded foam saddle, a cockpit with riser bars and a bright headlight, and a hefty kickstand for when you eventually need to park. No fenders, though, which is shocking as it got quite sloppy on a ride after a storm. Nevertheless, the bike is no doubt fun and navigates all manner of city streets well—from smooth, paved paths to bumpy, potholed roads. It’s not a bike to take on gravel roads or singletrack.

Affordable and Adequate

At this price point, you can’t expect to have it all. There still are some areas that could use some improvement. First, at 54 pounds 8 ounces (size large), it’s not light—a factor that doesn’t necessarily bog you down while tooling around a flat city, but it does make maneuvering it around the garage or hauling it up steps hard to manage.

Photograph: Stephanie Pearson

Also, the 250-watt hub motor is pretty standard-issue on many e-bikes, but this one only has 60 newton meters of torque as opposed to at least 80 on other e-bike motors. The lack of torque, which is the acceleration that keeps your bike moving forward especially up hills, makes the CTY e2.1 a wimpy climber. So, this may not be the best option in a city like San Francisco (or Duluth, where I live).

Finally, I love that the bike is minimalist in its e-ness, meaning it doesn’t require an accompanying app to ride. But the screen is about the size of a wristwatch face. And while it provides plenty of basic data, like mileage, miles per hour, and power mode, the push buttons are so close together and the screen is so hard to read that it’s almost impossible to see while riding—a factor that is not only frustrating, but can also be dangerous. Still, if all you need is an extra push on your multi-mile work commute, the CTY e2.1 is a good option—especially in the red color.

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Stephanie Pearson

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July 4, 2024
The Best Electric Kick Scooters

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I’ve tested a ton of scooters. Not all of them deserve a spot above, but some are still worth considering. These are a few other good scooters I like, just not as much as the ones above.

MiniMotors USA Dualtron Mini Special for $1,399: The instructions to assemble this scooter are vague, and a few steps aren’t even mentioned in the instruction booklet. (I found the handlebar grip hard to put on—rubbing alcohol is your friend.) This is also the first time I tried the MiniMotors Dualtron app, and honestly, it’s not beginner-friendly. None of the terms and functions are well explained. It’s not a scooter I’d suggest for newcomers, but once you get everything up and running, the riding experience is quite nice. It has a top speed of 35 mph, and while the company claims a 40-mile range, you can expect closer to 25 to 30 miles. It’ll handle slopes just fine, but I do find it weird that despite being fairly hefty (59 pounds), it has a max load capacity of 200 pounds.

Segway P100S for $1,500: This Segway (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is 73 pounds but has a max speed of 24 mph, so it’s a little less intense than the Apollo or Dualtron Mini Special. At that speed, I was able to get 16 miles in with 35 percent left in the tank. If you limit the speed to 20 via the app, you should easily be able to get close to 20 or 25 miles. I just hate the loud turn signal.

Fluidfreeride Fluid Mosquito for $849: If the lightweight Unagi Model One Voyager doesn’t interest you but you still want an ultra-lightweight scooter, then check out the Fluid Mosquito (7/10, WIRED Recommends). At just 29 pounds, it’s one of the lightest scooters in this guide and has a comfy, built-in grab handle for easy toting. It’s fast to fold and is powerful, with a top speed of 24 mph. But shaving down the weight on this nimble scooter does have drawbacks. The suspension is just OK—you’ll feel most of those bumps—and the wheels are narrow. The braking system works fine, but you might encounter some skidding if you make a sudden stop, and the range is lackluster (around 9 miles in my testing, going over the Brooklyn Bridge). There’s also no easy way to change speed modes on the fly; you set it before you ride.

Niu KQi Air for $1,399: I was so excited to test this scooter, but my experience with it over several months is mixed. I still like it, but a few quirks hold it back from being a top pick. The KQi Air has a carbon fiber frame, allowing it to be a mere 26 pounds with a 20-mph top speed. That makes it the lightest scooter I have ever tested. It’s easy to fold and has turn signals, a slick app, and reliable regenerative braking. The range is a bit lackluster—I usually got just under 10 miles on a single charge, but it’s so lightweight that when it died on my way home once, I strapped it to a Citi Bike’s front basket and cycled home (don’t do this!). The ride quality is great, but I had issues with it refusing to connect to my phone until I disconnected the internal power cable in the stem. There’s a theft protection that sounds an alarm and slows down the scooter if someone tries to roll it away, but bizarrely, while you can permanently turn off the alarm, the only way to stop it from braking as you roll it is to turn the scooter on. My initial model also stopped working completely and wouldn’t turn on, so Niu had to send me a second model. Oh, and sometimes, during rides, the scooter slows down and doesn’t hit its top speed until a few minutes later. I suspect there’s some thermal issue causing this. Overall, there’s a lot of promise, but it’s just annoying.

TurboAnt M10 Lite for $290: This is a perfectly fine budget scooter best for folks under 200 pounds. (I wasn’t able to hit its top speed of 16 mph.) The assembly requires a few extra steps (more things to screw in, like the rear mudguard). I was only able to get around 8 miles riding it, but I like that the folding system is quick, the display is bright, and it’s pretty light at 31 pounds. Just don’t take it up any steep hills.

Gotrax Apex for $350: The Apex is 32 pounds and easy to fold up. It has an integrated bell and a digital display that shows your speed and battery life, and it can go up to 15 mph. The Apex is reliable—I’ve gone to coffee shops, remote video shoots with a backpack full of camera gear, and the grocery store—though it’s not the smoothest ride. The 250-watt motor struggles with any slight incline, and slopes drain the battery fast. The battery usually doled out around 9 miles for me. I’m also tall, and I had to constantly outstretch my arms to reach the handlebars. You’ll want to tighten the rear disc brake; it works fine, but I wouldn’t have minded more stopping power.

Gotrax GX2 for $1,499: The GX2 is akin to the Apollo Phantom and Segway P100S in that it’s 76 pounds and packs a lot of power and range. This gunmetal scooter looks a bit like a Transformer and can hit a max speed of 35 mph via the dual 800-watt motors, but I usually rode it at 20 mph. It took me to midtown and back to Brooklyn (a total of 18.4 miles) with some juice left over. I hate carrying it up and down the stairs, because the stem is super thick, making it difficult to grasp. When you’re waiting at a light, the GX2 also switches to Parking mode after a few seconds, so you constantly have to remember to press the mode button to switch it to the driving gear. It’s super annoying, and Gotrax says there’s no way to disable it. I am a little concerned about build quality—the motor makes a noise as if something is brushing against it, and this sound disappears if I lightly press the left brake lever while riding. The latch to keep the stem upright comes down too easily, despite a sliding lock mechanism to keep it in place; Gotrax says it might just be that it’s installed too tightly. If you see any of these issues, I recommend reaching out to Gotrax and going to a local scooter shop to have them take a look.

Navee S65 for $1,099: Navee is a relatively new brand growing its presence in the US, and I had a great time using the S65 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). I was able to regularly complete 16-mile round trips at 20 mph, but that pretty much depleted the battery. It has great acceleration, thanks to its geared hub motor, and it climbs slopes with ease, but this also makes it very loud. The motor’s sound disappears if you’re in a noisy city like New York, but it can make you self-conscious on quiet streets. It’s 53 pounds, so it’s heavier than our top pick despite a similar range, and its customer service is up in the air since it’s so new. Still, I had fun riding it.

Evolv Terra for $1,231: I enjoyed my time with the Evolv Terra (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s 53 pounds and thanks to the thin stem, not too annoying to carry. It’s powerful, with the potential to go as fast as 31 miles per hour when you engage both 600-watt motors (check your local speed laws first!). Otherwise, you can cruise along at 20 mph as I did on the second gear speed setting (there are three in total) with the single motor. Range is pretty average, with around two bars left on the meter after 15 miles, so it can potentially last more than 20 miles, especially if you’re conservative with its speeds. The suspension is OK but the solid tires on rougher roads can feel quite bumpy. The fenders also seemed pretty useless to me as, after a wet ride post-rain, my back was covered in specks of dirt kicked up from the rear tire. The stem’s angle was also a little too close to my body, and the lack of a thumb throttle meant my wrist hurt after long rides. You can tweak the angle of the throttle and brakes to improve this though.

Radio Flyer S533 for $599: Honestly, I’m surprised at how well this scooter did in my tests. The folding mechanism is just a latch and a sleeve you pull down to keep the latch from coming undone while you ride. It’s super easy to fold and unfold, and lightweight at 30 pounds. It’s not a commuter scooter by any means—my range hovered under 8 miles on a single charge—and despite exceeding its 220-pound load capacity, I averaged around 14 mph of its 16 mph top speed. It’s a nice little scooter for going to the post office, grocery store, or Cinnabon when my wife asks for a cinnamon roll. However, its price doesn’t match its power and performance; it should be cheaper. It’s also worth noting that the first model the company sent me didn’t turn on and the second model had a deflated front tire. Inflating it was a quick affair and I haven’t had problems since.

Apollo Air Pro (2022) for $899: I have not tested the new 2024 model, but the Apollo Air Pro (2022) was a perfectly fine scooter (6/10, WIRED Review); I just don’t think it’s worth the high price. It goes up to 21 mph, and I was able to ride it for about 13 to 15 miles before it died. You get all the accouterments, like a front light and bell, and there’s app connectivity to tweak settings to your liking. However, the app is required to unlock the Air Pro’s true speed—otherwise, you’re restricted to 12 mph. I’m more miffed at the folding mechanism, which is more work than it should be. It also doesn’t accelerate too fast and, despite its 39-pound weight, is uncomfortable to carry due to its thick stem.

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Julian Chokkattu

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July 3, 2024
The Best Coolers for Every Kind of Outdoor Adventure
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The first thing to consider when buying a cooler is how you’re going to use it. If you aren’t heading out for days at a time, you probably don’t need an expensive high-end cooler. All the coolers we’ve recommend above are capable of holding things at a safe temperature for a day, provided you keep them in the shade. Similarly, if you aren’t going to be hiking into a campsite, don’t spend the extra money for a backpack cooler. A wheeled cooler, however, is well worth the investment. Your back will thank you.

Hard-sided coolers: These range from the old green Coleman coolers—once a staple of every camping trip—to Yetis, which cost as much as cars did when Coleman started making coolers. You might wonder why the Yetis are so expensive. That I can’t answer, but Yeti did upend the cooler industry by introducing rotational molding, or “rotomolding,” where melted plastic is molded over foam insulation in one piece. Rotomolded coolers offer seamless, uniform density in their walls and lids, which drastically improves a cooler’s performance. In contrast, those ancient, affordable plastic coolers we’ve all used have thinner walls, leaky seams, and less insulated lids. Whether you need the extra insulation depends on what you’re doing and how hot it is when you’re doing it. Want to learn more? Our In-House Know-It-All has a more thorough insulation explanation.

Hard-sided coolers generally have the luxury features you want, like leakproof lids and drain plugs, and some are even bear-resistant (check this list of bear-proof products if you’re headed into ursine country). The downside is that these coolers are generally huge and heavy.

Soft-sided coolers: Soft-sided coolers include everything from well-padded, impressively insulated sling bags (like the Yeti Hopper Flip above) to roll-down, dry-bag-style coolers perfect for those mild beach days. The best soft coolers are easier to carry, pack away easily when not in use, and have a versatility that traditional hard coolers lack. (I have used dry-bag-style coolers as, well, dry bags.) Ice doesn’t last as long, but for short outings where you don’t need a large cooler, these are what we recommend.

Electric coolers: If you’re headed out on longer adventures and have access to power, these are the way to go. You’ll need some kind of power source, but you’ll never have to worry about your ice melting. There are quite a few of these available now, and I am working on a separate guide for them, but for now I’ve included our top picks here.

Other Features to Look For:
- Drain plug: This greatly simplifies life by making it easy to drain the water out of your cooler. If you’re buying a large cooler, make sure it has one of these.
- Divider: One of our top tips for long-term cooler use is to have two coolers: One you treat as a fridge and hardly ever open, and another for drinks. If that’s not possible, you can achieve some of the same by getting a cooler with a dividing wall in it. That way you can pack one side tightly with ice to keep that meat at a low temp, and use the other side for chilling beverages with cubed ice.
- Wheels: Coolers get heavy and wheels are awesome. They won’t always work (good luck wheeling your cooler over tree roots), but when they do, they are completely worth it.
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Scott Gilbertson, Adrienne So

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July 1, 2024
PHOTOS: Final ski day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

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Molly Berman, right, and Charlotte Esposito, center, challenge each other to a drink off as they wait for the lifts to open at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Loveland Pass, Colorado on June 16, 2024. Today was the final ski day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. That would give The Legend Colorado’s longest ski season — as usual — having begun on Oct. 29 and lasting 222 days. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

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Helen H. Richardson, Zachary Spindler-Krage

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June 16, 2024
The 16 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride

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You’ve seen the bikes around your neighborhood. They look like so much fun! You want one! But ebikes have so many different specs and price points. Here’s what I would consider, in your position.

Can I build my own bike?

Many affordable bikes now come direct-to-consumer—meaning that they are pre-tuned or partially assembled in a box. As Peter Flax recently noted in Bicycling magazine, these bikes do not get nearly the testing or vetting that bikes from a bigger manufacturer get. Unless you’re not riding much or for many miles, or are experienced with modifying your own bike, I recommend working with an established manufacturer that has a dealer network. I also do not recommend a smart ebike. As we can see with VanMoof’s recent implosion, you may have difficulty getting your smart ebike repaired if the company folds.

Why do some bikes cost more?

They have higher-end components. Batteries and motors from high-end brands like Bosch and Shimano often are more powerful and cover more distance, with a 90- or 120-mile range, as compared to the 15-20 mile ranges you’ll see on more affordable bikes. However, this may not matter if you have a short commute.

What terrain do you live on?

If you live in a flat area, you’re probably fine with a 250-watt motor, which is the European speed standard. However, if you live near hills or haul a lot of stuff, you might want to consider a 500-watt or 750-watt motor and a few extras, like hydraulic disc brakes, which will help prevent you from skidding into traffic.

I would also look for a mid-drive motor instead of a hub-drive motor. Mid-drive motors are located in the center of your bike and feel more natural. A hub drive is on your rear axle and shifts your center of gravity backward, which takes some getting used to. It can throw you off balance when you’re going up steep hills.

Follow some basic safety tips.

Not sure where to start? The biking advocacy group PeopleForBikes recently released their safety education program, E-Bike Smart, which they created in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists and Bicycle Colorado. Do not leave your bike battery charging overnight, and do not let your children ride your bike unsupervised. An 80-pound child should not be piloting a 65-pound bike, even if the motor makes it possible for them to do so.

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Adrienne So

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June 16, 2024
Bear pictured in Charlotte neighborhood prompts alert. ‘All neighbors, be aware.’

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A Charlotte homeowners association issued an alert Friday after a bear visited its wooded neighborhood near Mallard Creek Greenway.

“All neighbors, be aware,” the Wellington HOA in northeast Charlotte warned in an email.

The Charlotte Observer obtained a copy of the email, which included what the HOA said was a photo of a bear in woods near a homeowner’s outdoor deck.

Where the bear was spotted

The bear appears to be a young male black bear.

A neighbor spotted the bear near Saxonbury Way, and another resident reported the bear near Garden Grove Lane in the subdivision, according to the HOA.

“911 was called, to notify in interest of public safety etc.,” the HOA said in the email.

The HOA mentioned no reports of the bear being a nuisance. That’s about the only time a state Wildlife officer would respond, N.C. Wildlife Resources Officer Sampson Parker has said.

On Saturday, Parker said he “would be fairly confident” the bear was the same one that people reported swimming across Lake Norman last month.

Those sightings were about 15 miles west of Friday’s report in northeast Charlotte, a hop, skip and jump in bear travel terms.

The Lake Norman bear was likely the black bear spotted in western Mecklenburg a couple of weeks later, Parker previously told the Observer.

“Unfortunately, it’s sticking around,” Parker said Saturday. “I’ve never known one to stay this long,” and he’s stumped as to why.

Most young male bears seen in the region over the decades were merely passing through this time of year, he said.

Young male bears search for territories to claim that are far more vast and isolated than the Charlotte area, he said. They typically end up at the coast or in the mountains.

Parker said that unlike grizzlies and other brown bears, black bears are not likely to attack humans. The bears run away when they pick up a person’s scent, he said.

“They look big and bad, but they’re not known to be aggressive animals,” he said.

Keeping bears from your yard

Leaving trash out overnight can attract bears to your yard, and so can feed left in bird feeders, wildlife experts say. So don’t do it.

Also be sure to clean your grill, and avoid leaving candles and anything else with a scent outside or near open windows, Bearicuda.com advises.

Black bear attacks on humans “are rare,” as the bears “are seldom aggressive,” according to BearWise.org, which the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission links to on its black bear site.

Stay still if you see a bear before the animal spots you, BearWise advises.

Admire the bear, then walk quietly away, according to the site.

If a bear sees you, never run, BearWise urges. Instead, “back away slowly in the opposite direction and wait for the bear to leave,” according to the site.

Keep your dog leashed during walks, according to BearWise.

This story was originally published June 15, 2024, 2:49 PM.

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Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.
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June 15, 2024
The Best Camera Bags, Straps, and Backpacks

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We’ve tested a lot of camera bags. Here are others we really like but have been eclipsed by our top picks.

Long Weekend Morro Convertible Backpack for $150: I strongly considered replacing our top backpack pick, Brevite’s The Jumper, with the Morro. They’re very similar in style and organization, with the Morro offering an extra pouch and, in my view, a nicer design (especially in the moss color). This is still an excellent backpack that doesn’t scream camera bag, and you get front and side access to your gear (make sure you add the Camera Cube bundle, which adds an extra $70 to your purchase). It’s lightweight, can fit a 16-inch laptop, and is made of water-resistant materials with a two-layer waterproof coating. My only gripe is the camera cube is an awkward fit, jutting out a bit at the openings. If the company altered it slightly, this would be my favorite camera backpack at the sub-$200 price.

Nanuk Backpack N-PVD 30L for $300: If you carry around a drone, this is a nice backpack with a compartment at the very top that can easily fit your drone kit. It’s a well-padded and structured bag that comes in several sizes (I tried the 30-liter version), and you can fit a tripod in the side pocket and hold it securely with a strap. There’s an easy-to-reach side pocket for quick camera access, but I don’t love how you access the main compartment. It’s on the rear of the bag, and the shoulder straps and waist straps constantly get in the way, which is just a bit annoying. Once inside though, there are padded sleeves for laptops and tablets and zippered pouches for extras. The main area is cavernous, so you’ll have to do some Tetris with the included Velcro dividers to lay everything out neatly.

Clever Supply Camera Sling for $224: I love the look of this waxed canvas bag and its flourishes of full-grain leather. It’s a classic and classy design that makes me happy whenever I head out the door with my camera in tow. It’s comfy and easy to adjust the shoulder strap, and there are three grab handles on the top and sides so you have a lot of carrying options. It can fit my Nikon Z 6, two small lenses, and a compact tablet. (Smaller than 11 inches; it didn’t fit the OnePlus Pad.) There’s a zippered pouch inside to store storage cards and a zippered pocket on the exterior for cables. My main gripe is that opening the main compartment sometimes requires two hands—the zipper gets stuck on the corner so I need my other hand to keep the bag in place. I wish the front pocket also had more give; when the bag is full, it feels too tight to put anything in there.

Peak Design Everyday Backpack for $280: This is the slightly bigger and more feature-packed version of the Everyday Zip we recommend above. Instead of a zipper that goes all the way around, you have two zippers for each side and a flap at the top that you can use Peak Design’s MagLatch system to cinch up if you don’t need the extra space up top. There are various pouches for organization throughout, as well as side pockets that can hold a compact tripod. I tried the 20-liter model, but if you have a lot of gear, you may want to spring for the 30-liter.

Peak Design Everyday Sling for $160: The Everyday Sling has long been one of my personal favorites for everyday carry or heading out for a day of shooting. It comes with flexible dividers you can adjust or remove, depending on how much organization or storage space you need. It comes in 3-, 6-, and 10-liter sizes. The 10-liter version has room for a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a charger, and my FujiFilm X-Pro 2 camera. If you need room for additional lenses or a larger camera body, you might want to forgo the MacBook; it can get a little tight in there. —Jaina Grey

Hex Backloader Backpack for $200: I usually prefer bags with side access, but I’ve been quite happy with the Hex Backloader. Yes, you need to take it off your back to access all your gear, but an access point at the very top makes it easy to quickly pull out the camera. The main compartment in the back is really spacious and is outfitted with tons of Velcro dividers, so you have lots of room for customization. There are organizational mesh pouches and pockets galore, a padded section in the front that can fit a 15-inch laptop, straps on one side for a tripod, and a pouch on the other for a bottle. It’s super comfy to carry around, sternum strap and all.

Shimoda Explore V2 25 Backpack for $373: I like this backpack, but it’s a touch too expensive. It’s supremely comfortable to carry, thanks to its extensive padding, and the whole thing is water-resistant to keep your gear safe. I was able to stuff it with a surprising number of items despite its relatively slim size (all of which you can access from the rear), including a tripod in its side deployable pocket that you can cinch tight with a strap. There’s side access to the camera, tons of pockets for organization (I love the little pouch on the arm straps), and a padded sleeve for a 13-inch laptop.

Wotancraft Scout Daily Camera Bag 9L for $299: If you’re after a stylish messenger, I’ve always liked the designs from Wotancraft, and the Scout is no different. It’s made of durable Cordura with some cowhide leather thrown in for the straps on the flap. The main compartment is spacious and separated by sturdy dividers, along with a padded laptop pouch that can barely fit a 13-inch MacBook Air. Two pouches in the front can loosely carry some small items, but there’s not much in the way of organization here. There is a luggage pass-through and a rear zippered pocket, but no side pockets and no easy way to attach a tripod.

Ona The Bowery Compact Messenger Bag for $209: I’ve owned this bag (the black waxed canvas version) for seven years, and it remains in great shape. It’s attractive and perfect for short outings, with plenty of padding and a divider to keep your gear protected. You’ll only be able to fit a camera and one extra lens. There’s a pouch on the back I’ve used to stow a Nintendo Switch or a Kindle, and I shove my cables, batteries, and SD cards in the pouch on the front. Unfortunately, the two side pockets are too tight to fit anything bigger than a pen or a microfiber cloth. One perk? You can quickly detach the strap to turn the Bowery into a camera cube for a bigger backpack. It comes in an array of colors and materials.

Tenba DNA 16 DSLR Backpack for $230: You can access your camera from the front of this bag, and the compartment cooly folds out, like a drawer. There’s enough space to fit a big camera and a few lenses, but don’t forget the padded laptop compartment in the back, a roll-top you can expand, and another zippered area for additional items. You can comfortably put a water bottle and a tripod into each side pocket. I took it with me on a trip to DC, and the front looks a bit scuffed up already, but it’s an otherwise fine bag.

Manfrotto Pro Light Frontloader Backpack for $234: Unzip the main front compartment and you can access all your camera gear neatly sectioned apart by the included Velcro divider system. This 25-liter bag is roomy, but that also makes it quite puffy on your back—you might bump into folks in crowds if you’re not careful. There’s side access for the camera, which is nice, but it’s an otherwise dreary-looking pack.

Tenba Fulton V2 16L Backpack for $140: I prefer bags that have some way to quickly grab the camera, and that’s why the Fulton V2 isn’t higher above: The only way to pull out the camera is by taking the bag off and unzipping the back compartment. (Technically, you can access this compartment from the roll top, but that requires undoing a lot of Velcro.) Otherwise, it’s a nice, small bag that can fit a good amount of gear, with an expandable roll top to store lunch or spare clothes, a stretchable mesh side pocket for bottles, and a canvas side pocket that can fit small tripods. Tenba says this can fit a 16-inch laptop in the padded compartment on the front, but I could only squeeze in a 13-incher. It’s water-resistant and comfy to tote around.

Lowepro PhotoSport Outdoor Backpack III 15L for $155: This pack looks good on the trail and can only fit a small DSLR or mirrorless in its removable cube (with side access!). It’ll mesh well with your other hiking gear, and there’s a good amount of room for snacks and anything else you’d want on short hikes (including a 2-liter hydration bladder). It’s made of 75 percent recycled fabrics.

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Julian Chokkattu

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June 15, 2024
Lighthouse superlatives: Exploring Florida’s oldest, tallest and most haunted lights
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The word “lighthouse” probably conjures images of idyllic beachside scenes or historic postcards that invoke a certain sense of nostalgia. They might be seen as beacons of hope to guide those in need during challenging or stormy conditions.

Every lighthouse has a story involving keepers, their families, pets and a lifestyle that could sometimes prove hard and solitary. At several lighthouses, such as Ponce Inlet and St. Augustine, it’s possible to tour keepers’ houses to be transported into the past with a simpler way of life. Other exhibits focus on Fresnel lenses, shipwrecks or the evolution of lamps from oil to electric.

While many lighthouses have been automated, eliminating the need for a full-time keeper, these historic structures serve as time capsules that take visitors into the pages of Florida history. Along different stretches of coastline, it’s possible to climb the state’s tallest lighthouse or its most haunted tower or even to stay overnight in a New England-style replica built in the 1980s.

The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is Florida’s tallest, standing at 175 feet tall. The tower and grounds are open daily for visitors who can explore the museum’s exhibits and informational displays. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Tallest: Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

While Florida doesn’t offer mountaintop vistas and overlooks from atop high cliffs, it does have a 175-foot lighthouse at Ponce Inlet, providing visitors who climb its 203 steps with a 360-degree view of the Halifax River, the Atlantic Ocean and nearby Smyrna Dunes Park. In 1835, a 45-foot tower was constructed on the south side of what was then known as Mosquito Inlet, but it collapsed into the sea in April 1836 following strong storms. The current lighthouse, now a national historic landmark, was completed in 1887 and cost nearly $200,000 with a first-order Fresnel lens.

Modern-day guests can witness this still-working lighthouse (which now uses a third-order Fresnel lens) constructed of 1.25 million bricks and wander between three original keepers’ homes, a lens exhibit building, an oil storage building and a pump house.

It’s 203 steps up to the gallery deck at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest, standing at 175 feet. The tower and grounds are open daily for visitors. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

If you go: The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is open daily at 10 a.m., closing hours vary by the season (6 p.m. through May 24, then 9 p.m. May 25-Sept. 2) at 4931 South Peninsula Drive in Ponce Inlet. Admission costs $6.95 per adult and $1.95 per child aged 3-11 (free for infants). Pets are not allowed except for service animals. More information: ponceinlet.org

The Amelia Island Lighthouse is Florida’s oldest existing lighthouse. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Oldest: Amelia Island Lighthouse

It might not tower over the landscape (at only 67 feet tall) or appear particularly impressive at first glance, but the Amelia Island Lighthouse has a few unique claims of fame. In addition to being the Sunshine State’s oldest existing lighthouse, it’s also the westernmost lighthouse on the east coast of the United States. When the lantern was taken down from Cumberland Island, moved to Amelia Island and illuminated in 1839, Florida wasn’t yet a state.

The lighthouse isn’t open for visitors to climb, but tours are available on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. In addition, the surrounding property is open for public viewing on Saturdays.

If you go: The Amelia Island Lighthouse grounds are open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays, with tours available on select dates for $10 per adult and $5 per child at 215 O’Hagan Lane in Fernandina Beach. Views of the lighthouse are also available from nearby Fort Clinch State Park. More information: fbfl.us

The St. Augustine Lighthouse glows in the nighttime as seen from Anastasia State Park. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Most Haunted: St. Augustine Lighthouse

America’s oldest city, which celebrated its 450th anniversary several years ago, has a storied past that includes Indigenous people, Spanish colonists and a brief British occupation. Long before the current St. Augustine Lighthouse was constructed, a Spanish watchtower sat closer to the ocean, evolving to meet security and navigation needs. When it became evident that the first lighthouse tower was doomed to fall into the sea, a new 165-foot tower was constructed beginning in 1871. It remains as St. Augustine’s first and oldest surviving brick structure.

Though the tower and keepers’ house have received major restoration work in recent decades, the tower modern-day guests can climb is the same one that has stood for nearly 150 years. With such a long history, there are rumored to be ghosts of young sisters who died on the property and the spirit of a keeper who fell to his death while painting the outside of the tower. Try to spot these spirits who haunt the grounds during nighttime ghost tours.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is open for visitors daily. Guests can opt to climb 219 steps to the top observation deck to see a first-order Fresnel lens that stands 9 feet tall. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

If you go: The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 100 Red Cox Drive in St. Augustine. The grounds also include museum exhibits in four historic structures, a children’s play area and Heritage Boatworks, where volunteer boatwrights build small craft using historic techniques. Admission is $14.95 per adult and $12.95 for seniors ages 60 and older and children younger than 12 (who must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the tower). Tours cost extra. Animals are welcome on the grounds but not in the historic buildings. More information: staugustinelighthouse.org

Unique Overnight: Katie’s Light

While most lighthouses give daytime visitors a glimpse into what life was like for keepers living and working in the 19th and 20th centuries, one gives guests the chance to stay overnight on Amelia Island. Katie’s Light, named for the deceased daughter of hoteliers David and Susan Caples, is a 1980s replica of Maryland’s Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. Beth Anne Caples, the couple’s other daughter, and her husband, William Kaner, gave the vacation rental property a facelift in recent years but stuck to the historic, seafaring character of the house. Though prices vary, it costs an average of $783 per night to stay in this three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom beachfront abode, complete with a wrap-around deck and a central spiral staircase inside.

If you go: Visit katieslight.com to find booking links on Airbnb and Vrbo for the property in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.

Aerial photos from March 1, 2023, show Sanibel Island five months after Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in late September 2022. While the Sanibel Lighthouse lost a leg in the storm, it has since received a new one and is undergoing exterior restoration work. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Most Resilient: Sanibel Lighthouse

Hurricane Ian, which ravaged the coast of Southwest Florida in September 2022, is forever etched into the minds of Sanibel Island’s residents and the community’s collective history. In a remarkable show of resilience, the Sanibel Lighthouse lost a leg during the catastrophic storm but remained standing, shining once again five months after the storm. Though the surrounding keepers’ cottages and buildings were leveled in Ian’s rage, the lighthouse now has a new leg and is undergoing a restoration project with a new exterior paint job.

If you go: Lighthouse Beach Park on the southern tip of Sanibel Island is open from dawn to dusk daily. Parking is $5 per hour. The lighthouse tower is not open to the public for climbing or tours.

Best Comeback: Alligator Reef Lighthouse

Though Alligator Reef might sound like a menacing place to pull up on a boat for lunch, it’s situated in the Florida Keys where there aren’t many alligators. The lighthouse is named after the USS Alligator, a U.S. Navy schooner that ran aground on the reef in 1822 and sank. The lighthouse was dark for about 10 years and then illuminated again in 2023 with solar-powered lights as an Islamorada community group is spending $6 million on a restoration and preservation project.

If you go: The Alligator Reef Lighthouse is located about five nautical miles off the coast of Islamorada and is only accessible by boat.

A restored lighthouse built in 1887 is the main focal point at Anclote Key Preserve State Park. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Off-grid Oasis: Anclote Key Lighthouse

This national historic landmark is situated a few miles west of Tarpon Springs on state park land along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Although the lighthouse was battered by Hurricane Idalia, which tore through the Big Bend region of the state in late August 2023, it recently received an $800,000 facelift, including a fresh coat of paint inside and out. The cast iron structure with a supportive exoskeleton was constructed similarly to the Sanibel Lighthouse. An off-grid residence sits just north of the tower where a ranger lives full-time and uses reverse osmosis to make freshwater from saltwater. The lighthouse is solar-powered.

If you go: The Anclote Key lighthouse, situated about three miles west of Tarpon Springs on the Gulf Coast, has open houses for visitors to climb the tower during the second weekend of each month November-May (not during summer months). Boaters can see the lighthouse and visit the island, which has no amenities, from dawn to dusk daily. Primitive camping is available on the north end of Anclote Key. Alcohol and dogs are prohibited on the island; shoes are encouraged. More information: anclotecso.org or floridastateparks.org

A stroller walks by the Mount Dora Lighthouse as the sun sets on Lake Dora in Mount Dora. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Most Inland: Mount Dora Lighthouse

Visitors to Mount Dora, a quaint Central Florida city with plenty of small-town charm, might be surprised to see a lighthouse so far from the coast. At Grantham Point Park, next to the Mount Dora Marina, take a walk around the 35-foot lighthouse and Florida’s only inland navigation aid. It illuminates at night to help boaters on Lake Dora after dusk.

If you go: Grantham Point Park or “Lighthouse Park” is open daily at 311 S. Tremain St. in Mount Dora. More information: whattodoinmtdora.com

Rain clouds skirt the coast at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a media open house March 3, 2021. The lighthouse is open to public tours on select dates by appointment for U.S. citizens only due to its ownership by the U.S. Space Force. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Citizens Only: Cape Canaveral

Owned by the United States Space Force and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse has stood for more than 150 years, now located on an active military installation. Canaveral Tours offers shuttles to the lighthouse and tours since visitors cannot drive their vehicles onto the base. Only U.S. citizens who go through security clearances are allowed access to the lighthouse due to Department of Defense restrictions.

If you go: Visit canaverallight.org for more visitor information.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.

The St. Marks Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on Florida’s Gulf Coast located in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)

Other Florida Lighthouses Open to the Public (From the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast)
- Pensacola Lighthouse
- Cape San Blas Lighthouse
- Cape St. George Light
- Crooked River Lighthouse
- St. Marks Lighthouse
- Cedar Key (Seahorse Key) Lighthouse
- Port Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island) Lighthouse
- Key West Lighthouse
- Cape Florida (Key Biscayne) Lighthouse
- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum are open daily. One building houses Fresnel lenses in an informational exhibit. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

Lighthouse 101
- In the late 1800s and early 1900s, lighthouse keepers were responsible for hauling 40 lbs. of kerosene or whale oil up to the top of the tower each evening. Keepers would also be responsible for cleaning the lens, lamp and tower, plus managing every aspect of the light station. This could include first aid, repairs, tending buoys and daily logs of activities.
- Iron braziers and candle chandeliers were once used to illuminate lighthouses before oil lamps and reflectors were implemented to amplify the light output.
- In 1814, French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel made a breakthrough in lighthouse illumination by pioneering a lens that used glass prisms to focus rays of light to shine in a specific direction. These are classified from first-order through sixth-order, from largest to smallest. First-order lenses can stand 10-11 feet tall and cast light that can be seen for up to 22 nautical miles.
- In 1789, the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment was created to allow for federal oversight of aids to navigation. In 1852, U.S. Congress passed legislation to create a U.S. Lighthouse Board to modernize lighthouses with Fresnel lenses and standardized procedures. By 1910, there were 11,713 aids to navigation of all types in the country, during the same year when the Bureau of Lighthouses was created and operated as the U.S. Lighthouse Service.
- A “daymark” refers to a unique paint pattern on each lighthouse tower to help identify one’s location on the coast. A “nightmark” is a distinctive flash pattern of the light at night.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
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Patrick Connolly

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June 14, 2024
The best backpacking and camping gear for dads

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If getting “away from the things of man” is something that appeals to the dad in your life, then you’ve got a good starting point for Father’s Day gifts. The right gear can keep him safer and more comfortable out in the wilderness — and he’ll think of you each time he reaches for supplies. We’ve got recommendations for the gram-counting backpacker, the comfort-seeking car camper and all the dads in between. Get something on this list now, and dad will be better prepared next time he heads out there.

Jetboil

The Jetboil Flash is basically inescapable on the trail. Its lightweight, easily packable design and fast boil times make it attractive to backpackers. But the MiniMo is worth the extra money and weight. It’s only one ounce heavier, but the MiniMo’s wider, shorter cook cup is easier to handle. Plus it can actually simmer things, unlike the Flash. And let me tell you, dehydrated eggs are bad enough as is, even without burning them in what amounts to a coffee tumbler mounted on a jet engine. Trust me, this is one of the best upgrades you can make to your dad’s setup.

$170 at Amazon

Leatherman

The Leatherman Free series has been a staple of Engadget buying guides ever since it debuted in 2019. There are plenty of options out there when it comes to multitools, and many of them are great. But, the Free series was a serious game-changer with its one-handed access to every tool. Plus everything, including the knife, locks into place so you’re less likely to pinch or cut yourself. It even requires less regular maintenance and cleaning than older Leatherman like the Juice series which, while great, tended to collect lint and dust in every nook and cranny at an alarming rate. Your dad might not need every tool while hiking the Appalachian, but he’ll appreciate having options other than a knife or a rock.

$130+ at Amazon

BioLite

After food, water and shelter, the next most essential thing on the trail is light. This year we’re recommending the Biolite Headlamp 425. It’s similar to the Headlamp 330 we’ve recommended in the past. It’s ever so slightly bigger and heavier, at 10 millimeters thick and 79 grams, but it also lasts significantly longer. You get up to 60 hours of illumination on low and four hours on high. That’s up from just 40 hours on low and 3.5 hours on high with the Headlamp 330. The 425 is also quite a bit brighter – hitting 425 lumens as the name suggests.

The rear battery pack now has a red light on it, with both solid and strobe modes, so that your father’s hiking companions can easily spot him if it starts to get dark. And Biolite has finally ditched MicroUSB for USB-C. All the same basic features and modes are still here that you’d expect on any decent headlamp too, including spot, flood and strobe modes, plus eye-sight-saving red light.

$60 at Amazon

Sawyer Products

More than even food or shelter, water is essential on the trail. But, dad can’t just go drinking from streams and ponds, nor can he carry enough with him for a multi-day trip. That’s where the Sawyer Squeeze filter comes in handy. There are tons of different ways to purify water, from old-school iodine tablets to boiling to pump filters. But a squeeze filter system is often the fastest and easiest to use. Sawyer’s are probably the best known for good reason — you can fill up the pouch and drink straight from the filter or use the to fill up a reservoir or water bottle. They’re not ideal for places where dad might be reduced to getting water out of shallow muddy springs or where viral pathogens are a concern. But they’re perfect for more developed and regularly trafficked trails.

$41 at REI

PackTowl

Your dad will need a towel on the trail. Trust me. Maybe he’ll be lucky enough to find a shower. Or perhaps he’ll go for a dip in a lake. Or, maybe like me, he just sweats enough to drown a small animal. Regardless, an Ultralite PackTowl is an absolute must-have. They’re incredibly small and lightweight, yet seem to have unlimited absorption power. I’m pretty sure they’re actually a portal to another dimension where the water is stored. I have two that I take with me on every trip: one body-sized and the other a face towel that stays clipped to my shoulder strap for when I need to mop my brow.

$30 at Amazon

Sea to Summit

I love my old-school enameled steel camp mug. It’s indestructible and has an undeniable classic look. But, it also conducts heat like nobody’s business. I’ve burned my hands and lips on enough white hot cups of instant coffee to know they’re just not that practical. Sea to Summit’s Frontier mug with cool grip promises to protect your little fingies from your boiling hot beverage. Plus, it collapses into a neat little puck for easy storage.

$15 at Sea to Summit

Therm-a-Rest

I skipped a sleeping pad on my first backpacking trip. I regretted it immediately. Therm-a-Rest pads are the industry standard. And the NeoAir XLite is pretty much smack in the middle of their backpacking lineup. It’s not the lightest or the warmest, but it’s probably the most versatile. The R-value (a measurement of insulating power) of 4.2 is good enough for three-season camping. And it packs down to about the size of a water bottle. This particular model has been around for a long time, and it will probably continue to be a staple of Therm-a-Rest’s lineup for years to come.

$200 at Amazon

Garmin

Full disclosure: I haven’t tested the Enduro 2. Nor has anyone else at Engadget. But, we’re big enough fans of Garmin’s sports watches to feel comfortable recommending it. But why pick this particular one? Simple: battery life. Garmin says it lasts up to 80 hours in GPS mode, which is frankly absurd. If your dad likes to quantify everything in his life, including multi-day hikes, this is a pretty great way to do it. It not only has a giant battery, but also a built-in solar charger. Plus VO2 max estimates for trail runners, heat and altitude acclimation tools for the parent that’s into mountain climbing or desert hiking, and even navigation features to keep him from getting lost. And, once he’s found his way back to civilization he can snag a coffee at Starbucks using Garmin Pay.

$800 at Kohl’s

Snow Peak

This should go without saying, but your dad needs a utensil to eat. Yes, even on the trail. And there’s nothing better than a good old fashioned spork to save space and weight. I’m a big fan of this titanium model from Snow Peak. The company makes a ton of great gear, but this simple and indestructible essential is probably my favorite. Plus, it comes in a handful of fun shades like blue, green and purple in case your dad is known for his colorful personality.

$10 at Amazon

Aeropress

If your dad would prefer to burn his lips on real coffee, consider getting him an AeroPress for his adventures. This is, admittedly, a luxury when you’re backpacking. But, I’ve tried instant coffee, coffee “tea” bags, mesh coffee steeping contraptions, camping french presses and honestly, nothing makes better coffee with less cleanup than an AeroPress. You could go for the full-size model, but the Go version shaves off a few precious ounces, which could be crucial when trying to cut weight for a long trip. But, I actually bring the full-size version when I hit the trail and have had no problems.

$40 at Amazon

Goal Zero

Not every dad wants to strap three days worth of gear to his back and walk off into the woods. Some are perfectly content driving up to a campsite, pitching a tent and building a fire. For them the Lighthouse 600 is a great gift. It is, first and foremost, an LED lantern perfect for food prep, reading or even playing cards around camp. But, he can also use its 5200mAh battery to charge his phone or headlamp. And, if he does happen to sap all its juice it has a hand crank for recharging through manual labor, and an optional solar panel.

$70 at Amazon

Joby

Obviously, part of the reason dad disappears into the wilderness is to escape from technology and enjoy nature. But I’m sure he wants to capture at least some of it for posterity. Dragging a DSLR or even a mirrorless camera into the woods is overkill, especially when he’s probably got a pretty good camera with him already: his cellphone. Joby’s unique GorillaPod tripods are perfect for the outdoors. And the affordable Action Kit is pretty flexible. It comes with a Bluetooth remote, it can hold most phones or even a GoPro camera, and it has a cold shoe adapter for a light or microphone.

$49 at Amazon

Lodge

Look, if he’s driving up to the campsite anyway, there’s no need to fight with alarmingly thin steel pans or tiny fuel canister stoves. The 14-inch cast iron Cook-it-All from Lodge is the perfect campfire companion. It can be a dutch oven, a griddle or a skillet. You can even bake a pizza inside it. ( I’ll admit, though, that I’ve never considered baking a pizza while camping.) Cast iron is heavy and bulky, but it’s also damn near indestructible and holds on to heat for a long time, which is good when you’re dealing with a finicky campfire. Plus, if seasoned properly and treated with care, cast iron is reasonably nonstick. So, dad might even be able to make some sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast.

$120 at Wayfair

Helinox

Had you asked me ten years ago, I’d have said there’s no way I would drag a chair backpacking with me. But, as age (and fatherhood) have started to catch up with me, I’m ready to at least consider giving my poor broken body some respite while I’m on the trail. There are a few lightweight and packable options out there, but the Helinox Chair Zero is the most highly recommended, and it’s easy to see why. It’s durable, reasonably comfortable, not to mention ridiculously small and light.

At just one pound for the Zero and one pound, seven ounces for the Zero L, it’s one of the few chairs – and I mean actual chairs, not one of those foam mats you put on the ground – that someone would want to take on a multiday hike. They also pack down small enough that your dad might not mind sacrificing valuable pack space to them. The Chair Zero fits in a stuff sack just 13.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches, while the L is a little larger at 14 x 4.5 x 4 inches. The difference between the two is that the L is wider and taller and can support up to 320 pounds for big and tall types.

$150 at Amazon

Gear Aid

Paracord is one of the most useful things dad can bring on any camping trip, whether it’s from the comfort of a car or thru hiking the Appalachian. The medium-duty stuff is good enough for tying down tents, hanging food bags or replacing boot laces. It can even be split open and the inner threads used as a fishing line, but hopefully your father never finds themselves in a situation that desperate. This isn’t a flashy gift, but it might get more use than anything else on this list.

$7 at REI

Will Lipman Photography / Engadget

One of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers makes an excellent camping companion. The StormBox Micro 2’s twelve-hour battery should be more than enough for casually unwinding around a fire after a day of hiking. And its IP67 rating means it should be able to take a solid beating without giving up the ghost. Add to that a strap that makes it easy to clip to a backpack or just hang from a nail in a lean-to and the ability to act as a battery bank in case you need to top up your phone in an emergency, and this is a versatile little speaker for dad to keep in their hiking bag. The sound isn’t going to blow anyone away, but it’s good enough, especially at just $60.

$60 at Amazon

Backpacks

Engadget

Last year we recommended Osprey’s Atmos AG 65 for anyone looking to be as comfortable as possible while backpacking. This year, we’re doing the same, just with some updated Osprey designs. The Atmos has been given a minor face lift, but the bigger deal is that it’s now made with 100-percent recycled materials. You still get an integrated rain cover, Anti-Gravity suspension and fit-on-the-fly adjustment system. It’s just now more eco friendly.

As part of the redesign, the capacity has been increased to better reflect the pack’s name. Before, if you bought the Atmos 65 in a small, you actually only got 62 liters of storage. Now the small is a full 65 liters. The one downside is that the new materials and carrying capacity have led to a slight increase in weight too, with the S/M Atmos AG 65 coming in at four pounds, 10 ounces.

The women’s equivalent of the Atmos is the Aura AG 65, which is slightly smaller and lighter, but has the same suspension system and similar lugging capacity. And if you’re on a tight budget this year, you can still find the older model available in some places at a steep discount.

Tents

Coleman

Obviously, one of the most important pieces of camping equipment is a tent. Not everyone’s dad wants to spend their nights in a lean-to. But their needs will dictate what kind of tent to buy. If your giftee is an avid backpacker who needs something ultra light to take on the trail, I heartily recommend Big Agnes’ Tiger Wall UL 2. It’s not their lightest offering, but it strikes a great balance between weight and convenience. It can sleep two, and has two vestibules for stowing gear, but as a single person tent it’s borderline luxurious. Even with the optional footprint, the pack weight weighs under three pounds, and the mtnGLO light system means no fussing with a lantern or headlamp to read and sort gear after dark.

If unabashed luxury is more your dad’s thing, consider REI’s Wonderland 6. At $550, this is no casual investment, but it should last quite some time. The walls are nearly vertical and it reaches a height of six and a half feet in the middle, meaning all but the tallest of humans should be able to stand upright inside. The 83-square feet of floor space is plenty of room for a family of six to sleep in, and it has large ventilation windows to keep the inside cool during the hottest months. The one caveat is that, if you happen to do most of your camping in rainy environments, you might want to shop around for something with fewer windows and better rainfly coverage.

Neither the Wonderland, nor the Tiger Wall are cheap. So if budget is an important factor, or if dad is just looking to dabble in the world of car camping, consider the Coleman Skydome 6. Coleman gear is nothing fancy. You can find it in practically any Walmart or Dick’s Sporting Goods across the country. But it’s so ubiquitous because of its rock solid reliability and reasonable prices. The Skydome 6 is nearly the same size as the Wonderland, but comes in at just $130 (or $199 if you opt for the Darkroom model). The ceiling is shorter, and the walls more angled, but if you’re only using the tent to sleep in, that shouldn’t be a major concern.

Amy Skorheim contributed to this report.

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Terrence O&#39;Brien,Terrence O&#39;Brien

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June 7, 2024
Erosion causes Mentor Lagoons trail closure
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CLEVELAND — A well-known trail in Mentor is closed due to erosion along the Lake Erie shoreline.
What You Need To Know

Kenneth Kaminski is in charge of parks in the city of Mentor and said the Mentor Lagoons trail is now closed for safety reasons

The existing trail was in place for about 30 years and was built when the shoreline was about 100 yards further out than it is now

Kaminski said erosion is a growing problem and a lack of ice on Lake Erie is contributing to the situation
Kenneth Kaminski drove along the Mentor marsh and made his way to the Mentor lagoon trail. He’s in charge of parks in the city of Mentor.

“I think the joy is the fact that we have an opportunity to offer just about every recreational experience for our residents, anything from a marina to a golf course, senior center, rec center,” he said.

The Mentor Lagoons trail runs along Lake Erie and the marsh. The trail has been eroding over the last eight years because of high water levels and because Lake Erie hasn’t been freezing.

“The erosion is happening so fast that it is actually dangerous for our people and patrons that use the trail,” he said.

The existing trail was in place for about 30 years. The shoreline was about a hundred feet further out than where it is now but has been eaten away by erosion.

“We probably had about 30 feet of beach, but as you can see now, we have no beach at all and it actually washed the stairwell away,” he said.

Kaminski said the lake just isn’t freezing during the winter, and that’s a big part of the problem.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it’s seen a decrease in ice coverage across the Great Lakes, reaching an all-time low in 2024.

As of Feb. 11 of this year, only .05% of Lake Erie was covered with ice, leaving the shoreline unprotected.

Kaminski said the goal now is to protect the shoreline that remains.

“It’s very expensive to be able to do any type of these projects. We can put up revetment, which is just big pieces of concrete on the shoreline,” he said.

But Kaminski said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources are not fans of adding these man-made barriers.

“And neither are we, because it doesn’t bring the natural setting to our nature preserve,” he said.

Kaminski said the city is moving the trail back as the erosion eats up the area, but keeping up with the crumbling conditions won’t be easy.
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Wiley Jawhary

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June 2, 2024
15 picnic essentials under $50 for your next get-together

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As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, Localish will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below*

It’s getting warm out and nothing feels better than packing up some snacks and heading to the park or beach for a picnic! A picnic is a great activity for a self-date, a hangout with friends or with your special someone. To make the experience more enjoyable find the best picnic essentials bellow.

Best picnic blankets and coolers

If you’re looking to have a fun day outdoors with a group of friends, this picnic blanket can hold six to eight people sitting up. It comes in five different colors and is made of cotton. It is machine washable and able to be folded down for portability. The velcro helps you easily pack it up and it won’t take up too much space in your tote bag.

Good GAIN Picnic Blanket Waterproof & Sand Proof

This blanket doubles as something you can bring to the beach or camping. It is sand- and water-proof. The dimensions unfolded are 78 inches x 57 inches; it comes with a handle strap with a double ring buckle, which makes it convenient to carry.

Coleman 16qt Insulated Portable Cooler

The insulated cooler will keep drinks cold on those hotter days. It has a large handle to make it easier to carry with one hand. You can use it for camping, picnics and beach days. Reviewers who’ve bought this product say that it’s lightweight and sturdy.

This cooler backpack is insulated and holds up to 30 cans. It can hold hot foods and keep them warm throughout the day, according to the brand. The backpack has an ergonomic design and back padding to give you comfort while you’re carrying multiple items.

Wicker Picnic Basket with Lid

Just bringing the food? This wicker picnic basket can hold the utensils and snacks you bring. The brand says it can fit soda, chips, sandwiches, baguettes and a wine bottle. It’s a classic, traditional-style basket you can bring anywhere.

Willow Picnic Basket Set for 2

This basket set for two is perfect for a romantic picnic date with your partner. The set comes with a bottle opener, two of each utensil, two wine glasses and a mat. The picnic basket comes with an insulated compartment. You can keep food warm or cold for four hours inside your basket, according to the brand.

Utensils and Clean-Up

250 Piece Compostable Plates

These eco-friendly plates are easy to dispose of after you’re done eating. The heavy-duty party plates are made of sugarcane fiber and the knives, forks and spoons are made of cornstarch. The forks, knives and spoons are strong enough to slice through cooked steaks, vegetables and fruit without cracking or splitting like plastic utensils.

Dixie EcoSmart Paper Cups

These 16-ounce paper cups are sustainable and affordable.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Tropical Splash Scent Hand Wipes

Make clean-up easier with these antibacterial hand wipes. It’ll keep your hands free from germs before and after you eat. The wipes are hypoallergenic and kill 99.99% of germs, according to the brand.

Protection

Equate Sport Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Spray

Protect your skin from the sun with this broad-spectrum sunscreen spray. It absorbs quickly and stays on for up to 80 minutes through sweat and water.

OFF! Clean Feel Insect Repellent Aerosol

With the change in temperatures, mosquitoes will be out and that is definitely a nuisance. Avoid bug bites with this insect-repellent spray.

Cover yourself from the rays of the sun with this sun hat. It comes with a neck flap and is available in 10 different colors. This hat has a wide brim and is made to protect against UV rays.

Outdoor Games

Himal Collapsible Portable Cornhole

Have some fun outdoors by playing classic corn hole. If you’re on a date or want to have a fun challenge with friends, this works perfectly. The entire set is lightweight and foldable. You can even flip the bean bags and board to play a game of tic-tac-toe.

Jenga is a fun game to play with multiple people or a partner. If less movement is more your speed, Jenga is still fun and can be played seated or standing.

Goodminton – The World’s Easiest Racquet Game

Grab a partner and duel to see who takes the win in a game of racquet. It’s fun and easy to play.

* By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave Localish.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these products with you, Localish is not endorsing these products. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.

Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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KTRK

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June 2, 2024
The Best Festival Accessories and Gear

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Of course, it’s good to be prepared with the essentials. But ultimately, festivals are about having fun. Here’s a list of festival accessories you might like to have on hand purely for the joy of them.

Kandi-making kits: Trading beaded bracelets is a hallmark of electronic music, but thanks to the Taylor Swift Eras tour, more music genres are joining in. Any beads will work, but I highly recommend Stretch Magic elastic ($20)—the cheap stuff falls apart way too easily.

Flow props: There are tons of toys that some dancers like to use. I’m partial to the Fiberflies Pixel Whip ($85), but the Flowtoys PodPoi ($135) are another popular choice. You can even get levitating wands and light-up staffs. These are super fun to dance with (and they’ll entertain your fellow attendees).

An instant camera: Most of us have a perfectly capable camera in our pockets. But I like bringing my Instax along when attending festivals. You’ll get physical, tangible memories, and they can also be fun to photograph strangers (with their permission).

Little gifts: Tiny ducks. Sprouts for your hair. Squishy animals. Festivals often have a culture of gift-giving. It’s not expected, but it can be nice to have something to pass out to the folks you meet. Consider bringing some trinkets with you—you might even make a new friend or seven.

A night-light: If you’re at a camping fest, moving around in the dark can be treacherous. And sometimes you just want to grab a snack from the cooler without shining a flashlight around. I like this nightlight because it provides a gentle glow—enough to see with but not so bright that I wake up everyone in the vicinity.

A camping towel: Sometimes it rains outside. Sometimes you accidentally spill an entire Beatbox in your tent. Whatever the case may be, a camping towel is handy. They’re super absorbent, and they dry quickly.

Fun clothes: When it comes to festival clothing, you can be as bold or as practical as you’d like. Don’t sacrifice comfort in the name of fashion! But if you’re looking for fun clothes to wear, I recommend checking out IHeartRaves and Rave Wonderland. These are EDM-adjacent, but they’ll work for everything from Bonnaroo to Burning Man to EDC. Your favorite artists’ merch is probably a good starting point, too. And when in doubt, you can always accessorize—consider a bucket hat or a Pashmina-style shawl to make your outfit a little more adventurous.

A bandana: We have a lot of feelings about the importance of a small multipurpose cloth. Music festivals are often dusty and dirty. A bandana works as a face covering, a sweat absorber, a quick place to sit, and an easy way to wipe up spilled drinks. Stash a few in your bag and you’ll be better prepared.

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Louryn Strampe

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June 2, 2024
Insta360 Adds 8K Video to Its 360-Action Camera Hybrid

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In practice, this is the first 360 camera I’ve used where the video footage is still very sharp and clear, even when reframed to 16:9. You still have to deal with the stitch line, which is where the edges of the two lenses meet and software (imperfectly) fills in the gaps, but otherwise postproduction use of this footage feels like, well, just editing video. I mixed it with footage from a Sony A7R II, GoPro Hero 12, and Insta360 Ace Pro, and aside from the wider angle of view, it’s hard to tell the footage apart.

That alone is enough for me to say that this is the 360 camera filmmakers will want. The 8K footage still doesn’t reframe to 4K (you’ll have to wait for 12K footage before that’s possible), but it looks good enough for anything you’re going to put online.

It’s not just the high-end specs that have changed in the X4 either. Frame speeds have been improved in lower-resolution footage, with new options to shoot 5.7K video at 60 fps, 4K at 100 fps, and 4K at 60 fps when shooting in wide-angle mode. None of that is earth-shattering, but it does give you some better slo-mo options, thanks to the higher frame rates.

The color profile options remain the same as the X3: Standard, Vivid, and Log (for those who prefer to color in post). I shot primarily in Standard and found the colors to be nicely rendered, perhaps a little on the warm side. I find Vivid too garish, and of course if you plan to mix footage with other cameras, you’ll want to shoot everything in Log and do your coloring in software.

Film Crew in a Box

Testing action cameras is always one of the best parts of this job, but it was especially fun with the Insta360 X4. I don’t even like shooting 360 video, but shooting 360 video knowing that I can crop, reframe, and still get sharp, clean footage with lots of detail and smooth pans? Yes please.

In many ways the Insta360 is like adding a small film crew to your bag, especially if you get Insta360’s hilariously oversize 9.8-foot selfie stick, which makes it possible to fake surprisingly realistic boom shots.

At $99, the new Extended Edition Selfie Stick isn’t cheap, but is well worth it for the versatility it creates when paired with the X4. Fully extended and held behind you while you walk, it mimics a low-flying drone tracking shot, but without the whole crash-in-the-trees thing.

Speaking of trees, shade, and shadow, the X4 excels in bright sunlight. High-contrast scenes like a forest floor at midday are more challenging (this is true for any camera). HDR mode can help sometimes, but then you lose the ability to shoot Log.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

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Scott Gilbertson

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May 25, 2024
Your Bike Tires Are Too Skinny. Riding on Fat, Supple Tires Is Just Better

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A few months back, my friend and fellow bicycle enthusiast Eric prepared for his first 100-mile bike ride. Concerned about how sore he’d be afterward, he wondered what he could do to improve his ride.

As a convert to the Church of Fat Tires, I was excited to share with him an idea I’d learned from other cyclists: Cram on the fattest soft-sided tires that will fit on your bike, then inflate them to a pressure that will seem surprisingly low.

I’ve been a volunteer bike mechanic in Seattle for almost 10 years and have gently modified my own midrange 1988 Peugeot into something modern and capable. Yet nothing prepared me for the impact of fat tires with pliable (aka “supple”) sidewalls and inflating them to a pressure much lower than what I was used to. I remember my amazement riding down a big hill, listening to the different sound my tires made and experiencing the sure and solid feeling the bike suddenly had. It felt grippier, more comfortable, less twitchy, and maybe even faster. In car terms, it was like going from a well-cared-for old Camry to a modern sport truck. It was exhilarating.

“Tires are probably the single most important component on your bike and the only part that touches the ground,” says Russ Roca, who has 175,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, The Path Less Pedaled, which focuses on enjoyment over speed and typically spotlights bikes that can ride on both gravel and pavement. “A wider tire means more volume and built-in suspension. It makes the bike feel more stable.”

Roca says wider tires are just more fun. “You’re not being jarred to death. You’re not bouncing off of every rock and pothole. They are the most noticeable upgrade you can make to your bike.”

This made sense, and I’d learn that not having my wrists and keister being jarred helped keep them from getting sore on longer rides.

Yet somehow, fat tires still feel like a bit of a secret. Us cyclists put pads in our shorts and buy heavy suspension systems for off-road bikes, but we’re somehow reluctant to experiment with the part of the bike that actually touches the road to help make for a nicer ride. Big, global bicycle brands still seem unsure about embracing the trend, perhaps trying to ensure that you buy a skinnier-tired road ride and wider-tired gravel bike instead of one “all-road” bike that can do both.

“Cycling has a lot of tradition, and sometimes we do things because they’ve always been done that way,” says Roca. “The industry says lighter equals good, which is easy to explain and market, but selling on ride feel and supple tires is more amorphous.”

Plus, wide tires are relatively new to the market. Models with supple sidewalls made with high-thread-count fabric and a coat of rubber thick enough to protect the weave but thin enough to let the tire be plenty flexible have become widely available only in the last decade. Throw a pandemic in there, and an industry that’s long on inventory, and you can understand why adoption has not been widespread.

Hidden in the buyers’ reluctance is the belief that a wider, softer tire is slower than a high-pressure skinny one, that the fatter tire weighs more and has more rolling resistance. But that’s not always the case.

Last year, I hit a, um, milestone birthday and bought myself a fancy new all-road bike from Rivendell Bicycle Works. It accommodates tires north of 40 millimeters wide. (I currently use 38s.) The frame is made of steel, and the bike is not particularly light, but I love how it feels and how it encourages me to ride as much as possible—and fast. A lot of that has to do with the tires.

Toward the end of a summer when I rode a lot, I ended up at a stoplight next to a spandex-clad racer on a skinny-tire bike. When the light turned green he shot off, and I thought: What the hell.

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Joe Ray

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May 25, 2024
The Gazelle Eclipse Is a Luxury Dutch Long-Range Electric Bike

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If you’re looking at bikes online—or anything, really, whether it’s headphones or monitors—you have to consider price versus payoff. Gazelle has billed its newest ebike, the Eclipse, as a long-range comfort cruiser. It is basically the expensive Dutch version of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) Rad Power Bikes’ Radster Road (8/10, WIRED Recommends).

I brooded over that price difference while I was riding, until I realized that I really was much more comfortable, and for a really dumb reason. The handlebars on the Eclipse are much narrower than the Radster’s, as well as the other DTC bikes that I have tested. Most bikes have smaller parts for smaller frames, but if you’re a smaller or newer bike company, you might standardize your handlebar sizes due to restricted supply or economies of scale. That’s just not something you would do if you’re Royal Dutch Gazelle, which has existed for more than 130 years and holds the royal warrant in the Netherlands as a distinction of high quality.

You can swap out handlebars pretty easily on acoustic bikes, but doing so on an electric bike is a more complicated matter. Finding a narrower handlebar was such an unexpected comfort. It’s just … a really nice bike. Even the paint job is nicer than other bikes I have, with four hand-applied coats and dimensional shading to make it look slimmer. If you’re not trying to pinch pennies, there are a lot of really nice things about the Eclipse.

So Much Information

There are two different models of the Eclipse. Both have an aluminum frame, but the T11+ HMB has a Shimano Deore XT derailleur gear, while the version I tested is the C380+ version, which has the Enviolo CVT gear hub and a low-maintenance Gates belt drive. May I never have a chain drop out while crossing a busy street again!

Both come in a step-over and step-through version with three different frame sizes, with the smallest being a 46 centimeters. I’m 5’2″ and was positively thrilled to find a Dutch bike that comes in a size this small as the Dutch are tall people and this is unusual. Of course, the bikes all have UL certification, which means that the bike has been certified to comply with Underwriters Laboratories safety standards and won’t inadvertently set your garage on fire.

Photograph: Adrienne So

Probably the first thing you’ll notice is the new Bosch system. It has a Bosch Performance Line motor with 85 nm of torque and a 750-Wh ginormous battery integrated into the downtube. After about 45 miles of biking up hills and hauling gear, I only got the battery down to 45 percent. It’s a class 3 ebike with a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour.

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Adrienne So

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May 12, 2024
The Apollo Go Is a Superb Commuter Scooter That Does It All

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Control is all I want in an electric scooter. OK, that’s a lie, I also want decent range, good power, and a reasonable weight. Being able to control speed, regenerative braking, and how turn signals work—if they’re even available—is not something you find on most escooters. And even if you can access those things, tweaking them isn’t always intuitive. The new Apollo Go changes all of that.

I’ve tested Apollo scooters for a few years now, and the Apollo Go is my favorite yet. It’s speedy, isn’t terribly heavy, has a decent folding system, includes perks like turn signals and a bell, and delivers satisfying range. Best of all, I have easy control over some core features through the companion app.

Good Control

The sleek-looking Apollo Go has a pretty simple setup process once you take it out of the box. Just add some screws to affix the handlebar to the scooter’s stem and you’re good to go. In the box, you get a nice tool kit for handling basic repairs yourself.

It’s worth noting that while Apollo does have service locations across the country, it recently shut down its New York City service center, citing “the current regulatory environment.” There’s still a third-party service partner you can take your scooter to in Manhattan, but you can check this map to see if there’s a location near you. It’s always smart to make sure there’s some kind of ebike or escooter servicing shop in your area before buying one.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Connecting to the app is a snappy affair, and you do need to use the app to unlock the scooter’s top speed for safety reasons. Lo and behold, you can finally customize the speed modes on the Apollo Go. Most escooters have three speed modes you can cycle through, but these speeds are usually fixed. Apollo lets you set a preferred speed for Eco, Comfort, and Sport. Now I no longer have to deal with the speed modes that are too fast or too slow. I’ve set the Comfort mode here to 15 miles per hour, the speed limit for New York City, and I can still switch to Sport mode if I need a boost. (It has a top speed of 28 mph, but you can lower this if you’d like.)

The app also lets you choose how much regenerative braking you want—this feature recharges the battery slightly every time you use the regen brake—as well as the acceleration response to increase the torque. I maxed out both of these. You can choose a max speed for the Go, control how long it takes for Cruise Control to kick in (so you don’t have to keep holding down on the throttle), and even whether the turn signals should turn off automatically after seven blinks or manually by pressing the signal button again. The best part is I don’t have to bother with the app after I’ve done all this initial setup.

Go Go Go

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

The aluminum Apollo Go weighs 46 pounds, which is manageable for me, but might be a smidge too heavy for some people. The good thing is the stem isn’t too thick to comfortably carry, and there’s a grab handle at the end of the deck for two-hand toting. If you will have to carry this scooter up and down more than two flights of stairs regularly, I’d suggest getting a lighter model.

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Julian Chokkattu

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May 11, 2024
The 10 Best Portable Grills You Can Buy
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Nothing says summer like cooking over an open flame. Whether it’s the salty sweetness on that lightly charred corn or the rich smoothness of smoked meat, warm weather begs us to get outside and light a fire.

This is time of year when, like a groundhog, the grill starts to poke out of the snow and show its rusty, neglected self. If you’re in need of a new grill this year, here’s our guide to the very best portable grills. We’ve researched and tested dozens of them to see which can brat the best.

For your other outdoor needs, check out our guides to the Best Camping Gear, Best Tents, Best Rain Jackets, and the Best Binoculars.

Updated May 2024: We’ve added the Skotti grill, some accessories for the Nomad grill, and the Ignik propane growler, and we’ve updated prices throughout.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.

The Best Portable Charcoal Grill

Of all the charcoal grills I tested, the Weber Jumbo Joe strikes the best balance of affordability, features, and ease of use. It’s big enough (18.5 inches in diameter) to smoke two racks of ribs or to fit burgers and corn for six people (admittedly, this was crowded) but small enough that you’ll still have room in the trunk for a cooler and camping supplies.

It’s one of the most versatile grills I tested. Grilling, barbecuing, smoking—you can do it all with ease. Thanks to its dual-vent system (one at the bottom, one at the top), you get the same fine-grained level of temperature control you’ll find in Weber’s full-size kettles.

It weighs 22 pounds and has a handle with a bar that fits over the top to keep the kettle and lid together for easy carrying. I tossed mine in the back of the car for trips to the lake and the park and it never tipped over. The ash catcher at the bottom makes cleaning less of a hassle by allowing you to dump the excess without removing the grill grates.

The Jumbo Joe has a considerable following on the internet. Fans have added thermometers, fastened knobs to make it easier to open and close vents, attached hanging ashcans, and come up with creative ways to cook taller items, like beer-can chicken.

It’s not perfect, though. No thermometer is included, and Weber does not make a storage cover for the Jumbo Joe. If you want to do any indirect-heat cooking, you’ll want to buy the hinged grill grate for $40 so you can feed in fresh fuel without removing the top grill, and the $26 charcoal basket is also useful. Do yourself a favor, throw away your lighter fluid and get a charcoal chimney starter ($28).

Smaller Alternative:
- The Weber Smokey Joe Premium costs $46 at Amazon and $57 at Weber. This is our top pick for anyone who doesn’t need the larger Jumbo Joe. The downside is you lose the lower vent, which means less temperature control. That’s not a huge deal unless you’re slow-cooking. The Smokey Joe was also more difficult to clean. But if you want a smaller kettle, this is a good option.
Best Luxury Upgrade Charcoal Grill

Nomad’s striking, suitcase-style cooker (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is to grills what the Yeti is to coolers: better in every way, but expensive. The Nomad is well built, sturdy, and easy to carry. It is heavier than the the Jumbo Joe at 28 pounds, but the shape and large handle actually make it easier to carry in my experience. Like the Jumbo Joe, the Nomad uses a dual venting system to achieve good airflow even when the lid is closed. The vents, combined with the raised fins on the bottom of the grill (which elevate your charcoal allowing air to flow under it), allow for every precise control of both high and low temperatures.

The Nomad ships with a single grate, giving you 212 square inches of cooking space, slightly less than the Jumbo Joe above. In practice, this isn’t a big difference. I managed to smoke nine chicken breasts, and another time I fit two racks of ribs. If you need to grill for a crowd, pick up the second grill grate for $158, but even without it I never felt cramped while cooking for five (two adults, three ravenous children). For 2024 Nomad has introduced some new accessories, one of which is essential: the ash and coal shovel ($88). The shovel greatly simplifies cleaning out your Nomad and frankly should be included when you buy one. The other thing I really like is the Carbon Steel Griddle ($168). It requires seasoning, but once you have it set up it turns your Nomad into a flattop that would make a Waffle House chef proud. Ventilation holes around the sides of the griddle help keep the air flowing and the heat up. Nice as it is, using the griddle made me realize what I’d really love is a half-grill, half-griddle option for maximum cooking flexibility. (Technically you can get this by using your grill plate on half the grill and griddle on the other, but that requires double the charcoal.)
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Scott Gilbertson

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May 4, 2024
This Ambient Weather Station Gives You All the Data Your Heart Desires

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I now have a moisture sensor in my garden bed that tells me how dry my soil is, which is an awesome way to know I need to turn on my remote sprinklers while on vacation. An air quality monitor inside my workspace tells me temperature and humidity (important to monitor for some of my acoustic guitars), and another monitor really made me open the window when cooking indoors. All of these things are trivially combined by the system and displayed alongside my other metrics on the Ambient Weather dashboard. It’s the easiest thing to set up ever.

Ambient Weather recently added a better digital display that you can buy aftermarket. As I said, the one that comes with the unit is a bit retro-chic, requiring you to use physical buttons to input logins and passwords, and with only a few selectable layouts. The new Weather Window, as the brand calls it, is much larger and more modern-feeling, and it does include touchscreen controls and variable layouts, but it’s still not as fantastic as it could be.

Photograph: Parker Hall

I wish there was a way to show the weekly weather forecast on the main screen, instead of having to tap the display to see that, among other UI niggles. I do like that the Weather Window comes with a frame-like edge, which makes placing it where you might place a family photo, or hanging it on the wall, particularly easy.

By the Numbers

Most of us don’t need such minutiae in our lives, and that’s fine. For the person who wakes up and plans their whole day based on the temperature and precipitation, or who constantly checks weather radar and talks about it, the Ambient Weather system is the closest we will come to reaching nirvana on Earth.

That might not be you, but it is almost certainly someone you know. I love being away from home and knowing how wet the soil in my garden is, that my house temp and humidity are correct. I like seeing when the sun and moon are going to rise and set at a glance, and knowing how many inches of rain, at a spot above my head, we have gotten in rainy north Portland. Every time my dad and I get together, if we’re not talking about Formula One or the local soccer team’s current woes, we’re talking about what our stations are telling us.

If learning the micro-trends of your yard and chatting, meaningfully, about the weather to friends, relatives, and strangers is your kind of thing, then an Ambient Weather system, really any of them, is probably a fun thing for you to check out. You might even find it useful.

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Parker Hall

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May 4, 2024