Page 24 - June_2014

gear and beer
Each month we review outdoor gear and local beer. Want us to review
by Hilary DelRoss
something in particular? C Send a note to gear@vtsports.com.

GEAR: CamelBak Relay long as its competitors, thus reducing waste. special washing instructions required. series. As a nod to his orange Volkswagen
Its ten-cup capacity allows the Relay This temperature-regulating layer is bus named Clementine, and a unique vari-
There are lots of great water filters on the
market to help you refill in the backcoun- to almost completely fill a three-liter reser- a versatile top to wear out on the trail or ance from the pack, this white IPA imparts
try, but filtering at home can be a slow and voir in one pour, but its compact design eas- at the gym when you need to keep cool or its citrus character from clementine juice
ily fits in the door of most refrigerators to
as a base layer during colder months for ad- added along with the orange peel tradition-
spilly undertaking. CamelBak makes a new save space while cooling down. ditional warmth during winter sports. The ally found in this Belgian style ale.
water filtration pitcher that’s specifically de- The Relay comes completely apart
W2 Weightless Wool line also comes in In the glass, the texture in the unfil-
signed for fast, leak-proof filtering, which I
find to be helpful for filling reservoirs and and all parts except the filter can be run other styles for men and women including tered, honey-hued brew hangs uniformly
bottles before hitting the road.
through the dishwasher. (I wish it was as the long sleeved half zip and short sleeved
suspended while the sudsy head foams like
easy to clean hydration bladders!) Like their half zip. soap bubbles, releasing aromas of wheat
The Relay relies on a two-step filtra- other products, the Relay is covered by Ibex offers a lifetime warranty against
and yeast as they burst. Hints of spice and
tion process to cut filtering time by a ridicu- CamelBak’s lifetime guarantee for defects defects and, if you are unsatisfied for any citrus zest make an appearance on the nose
lous margin: water is filtered while filling
the pitcher and again while pouring out, at in materials and workmanship. $36.99
reason, purchases can be returned within and again on the palate from added corian-
a rate that’s just about as fast as the flow of GEAR: Ibex W2 Sport T 60 days through the Ibex Promise pro- der, orange zest, clementine juice and citrus
gram. Fun fact: when the long life of your undertones in the American hops.
your faucet. The design of the “Fresh Fil- Available just in time for the onset of the Ibex items finally comes to an end, worn Light and fresh with a juicy fin-
ter” includes pleats to increase surface area, out items can be returned to Ibex Head- ish, Fresh Slice is perfect for drinking on
allowing more water to come into contact summer heat, Ibex’s new summer-weight
with the filter to speed up the process.
wool layer for men and women is both quarters in White River Junction, Vermont a warm, sunny day. This is the brewery’s
The plant-based activated carbon in- lightweight and wicking. The W2 Sport T is for repurposing. All recycled garments are most successful summer beer in its 24 year
made from Weightless Wool, Ibex’s lightest upcycled into reclaimed felt bags. The W2 history and it should be easy enough to
side the filter removes chlorine, tastes, odors weight knit fabric that weighs in at just un- Sport T is another innovative product of- come by throughout the season thanks to
and particulates commonly found in public
drinking water. Just open the hinged trap der 6 ounces for the men’s model and under fering from this sustainability minded com- its wide distribution in the Northeast. Look
door on top of the lid and turn on the tap to 4 ounces for the women’s.
pany. It’s perfect for hiking, trail running, for it on draft and in 12 ounce bottles and
fill. Once filled, there’s no need to carefully Woven from yarn made of Australian climbing, backpacking and biking. $70-$75
cans as well as in the OCB summer season-
Merino wool wrapped around a nylon core, al sampler. 5.5% ABV
pour the contents of this pitcher thanks to this hybrid of 87% natural fiber and 13% BEER: Otter Creek
its locking lid. The snap tight lid not only
eliminates sloshing, but is also essential to synthetic material performs well as a tech- Fresh Slice
the design. The pitcher must be poured at nical layer. The fabric blend is soft and flex- Citrus IPAs are this summer’s blockbuster hit Hilary grew up in southern New England where she developed her love of nature and outdoor
ible and the flat stitched construction is du- recreation, including learning to ski at Rhode Is-
a 90 degree angle to run water through the rable and comfortable. The fit of the shirt is and Otter Creek Brewery’s offering shines land's only ski hill. After exploring the Rocky and
second step of the filtration process on its flattering, but not too constricting. Weight- in the spotlight. Fresh Slice is Otter Creek’s Cascade Mountain ranges, she transplanted to the
way into your container. The filter lasts four newest summer seasonal and the latest in Green Mountain State where she snowboards, skis,
months, which CameBak claims is twice as
less Wool has natural odor resistance and Brewmaster Mike Gerhart’s hop-on-the-bus
hikes, bikes, kayaks and stokes campfires from her
can be thrown in the washing machine - no
home base in Montpelier.

24 VTSPORTS.COM
JUNE 2014