Muscles Not Motors Gear Review – April 2009
By
Ryan James LeClerc
Posted April 3rd, 2009
Meteorlight
Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.
RUFFWEAR SUN SHOWER WATERPROOF RAIN JACKET
Even though dogs seem as happy being drenched to the bone as when they’re chewing on a bone, humans are not always thrilled with a soggy doggy jumping into the front seat or on the loveseat. Chasing Nellie or Baxter around with a towel is one way to save your upholstery, but then you’re left with a towel that needs to be burned and then buried. A better way is to avoid a wet Weimaraner, a sodden Saluki, or a dripping Dandy Dinmont altogether. If you think it’s going to rain, outfit your best friend with the Ruffwear Sun Shower. Made of waterproof and breathable rip stop nylon, it will keep Rudy or Lily Wiggles warm and dry when it’s raining cats and dogs. It even has a removable hood and to ensure a perfect fit for your Shih Tzu, your Schnauzer, or your Sheep Dog, it is available in sizes XXS to XL. $74.95. www.ruffwear.com.
LIGHT UP DOG TOYS: FLASHLIGHT DOG BISCUIT AND METORLIGHT
When I was in college, I had a glow-in-the dark Frisbee. By simply blasting the thing with light from a super high-powered light source, you could play Frisbee in the dark, without needing to recharge the glow, for a solid three-and-a-half minutes. Then it would start to fade and become harder to see and harder to judge, and would invariably end up smacking you in the nose or forehead. I can’t afford any more blows to the skull, so these days, I use a Flashflight light-up flying disc. With LED technology that provides 25+ hours of light and fiber optic strands that push the light to the rim, I can play with a disc that is as visible in the night sky as the (broken) nose on my face. For folks whose favorite disc partner has four legs, they make the Dog Biscuit, a durable, chomper-proof disc for playing fetch. In my opinion, this is the greatest dog toy ever made, and for dogs who prefer playing ball, check out the awesome Meteorlight, which has all the features of the Dog Biscuit, only in a spherical form. Dog Biscuit, $13. Meteorlight, $10. www.flashflight.com.
RUFFWEAR APPROACH PACK
Nothing beats taking a nice hike with your trusty pooch at your side. As a responsible owner, you should take along plenty of water and maybe even a snack for the old boy or girl, but that doesn’t mean you should have to lug it. With the Ruffwear Approach Pack, your dog can share the load. The weight forward saddle bag design and the Web Master Harness will ensure ideal positioning and a comfortable, secure fit. Aside from food and water, important pieces of gear can also be carried, such as the Ruffwear Sun Shower, in the event of rain, or the Flashflight Dog Biscuit, in the event of a nice open space. $59.95-69.95. www.ruffwear.com.
