Top 10 Most Used Gear in 2009

gear, hiking, mountain biking | UltraRob | Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

UpaDowna and Mud, Sweat and Beers have posted their most used gear of 2009. I really liked their posts so here are my top 10.

2000 Specialized M2 StumpJumper Mountain Bike

This bike has seen more abuse than any bike should have to endure and it keeps on taking it. I’ve finished in the top 20 overall at the Leadville 100 and won an Expert 30-34 Mountain States Cup race on it. I’ve also done plenty of suffering and trying to just keep moving on it. I’ll be honest though that I hope to upgrade my ride in 2010.

Garmin Edge 705

My bike may be old but I got a cool new Garmin Edge 705 this year. I didn’t do any rides where I had no idea where I was going but on some rides in Moab and other places I used the maps to double check that I wasn’t off route. I still haven’t used nearly all of it’s capabilities.

Black Diamond Cosmo Headlamp

My Black Diamond Cosmo headlamp is a few years old. It isn’t nearly as bright as my Petzel halogen headlamp. It’s bright enough for nearly everything and doesn’t blind me hiking on snow at night. The batteries also last over 30 hours instead of 3. Not only do I use my headlamp for night hiking and around camp, I use it a lot around the house and yard.

Sidi Dominator Mountain Bike Shoes

The Sidi Dominator mountain bike shoes have been my shoe choice both on and off-road for the last several years. Because I have short, wide feet I use the Mega version. They’re stiff enough to be efficient and spread the force over the feet and still are comfortable.

CamelBak Rogue Hydration Pack

My 70 ounce Camelbak Rogue hydration pack gets a lot of use. 70 ounces plus water bottles is enough water for most rides or at least gets me to where I can refill. It also has enough carrying space so I don’t have to over stuff my jersey pockets. For rides I need more water or carrying capacity, I use the Camelbak Blowfish.

Pearl Izumi Therma Fleece Arm Warmers

Living in Colorado means that there’s a chance of needing something to keep warm. Even a hot day can turn cold at altitude when a thunderstorm moves in. That’s when I reach for my arm warmers.

Pearl Izumi Fleece Knee Warmers

Knee warmers are the perfect companion to arm warmers. Some people prefer leg warmers but with my short legs, knee warmers don’t leave much exposed skin.

Specialized S-Works Helmet

When I was a teenager, my Mom gave me the choice of getting a helmet or to stop riding my bike. I got a helmet but wasn’t happy wearing it. A couple years later, I broke it into 3 pieces. I haven’t felt safe riding without a helmet since then.

YakTrax

My YakTrax have been key to hiking the Manitou Incline during the winter. With fresh snow it isn’t too slippery but once we get some warm days it and Barr Trail can get very icy. Although the YakTrax work very well for traction, our sharp granite gravel cuts into them. I’m thinking I’ll replace them with the Kahtoola MICROspikes.

Olympus Stylus 1030SW Camera

I like to take photos of the great places I ride, hike and ski. I don’t want to have a bulky camera or one I’m worried about breaking. I have a nice digital SLR but I get lots of great shots with my Olympus Stylus 1030SW since I can take it anywhere. When I’m riding, I just slip it in my jersey pocket and don’t have to worry about it even if I crash. The newer Olympus cameras that are bombproof are their Stylus Tough series.