Gadling Gear Review: G-Form Extreme Portfolio And Extremed Sleeve 2 For iPad

by Kraig Becker on

Last fall we favorably reviewed the G-Form Extreme Sleeve for the iPad, lauding it for its ability to protect our expensive devices while traveling. In developing that product, G-Form created new materials that are designed to stiffen on impact and absorb up to 90 percent of any impact. That ability was demonstrated very effectively with a video that shows a 12-pound bowling ball being dropped on the product from a height of three feet, leaving the iPad completely unscathed.

Since then, Apple had released a new iPad and G-Form has some new offerings of its own. The company has continued to refine its technology and now offers expanded options for other products as well. But the core of their business is still centered around their “Reactive Protection Technology” (RPT) and its ability to protect our gadgets while on the go. Here are a couple of those products that iPad users will find particularly interesting.

Extreme Sleeve 2
The Extreme Sleeve 2 is the evolution of the product we first reported on last October. It features a slightly larger interior that can accommodate both the new iPad and iPad 2 while equipped with Apple’s Smart Cover. In our previous review we noted that the Extreme Sleeve was too snug to fit the original iPad outfitted with Apple’s first case, and it had issues with Smart Covers and the second-generation tablet as well. Those issues have been addressed in the new sleeve, allowing iPad owners to travel with double the protection.

A larger interior isn’t the only upgrade to the Extreme Sleeve either. G-Form has also added an extra layer of their RPT material to the case and that layer now extends under the zipper, providing edge-to-edge impact protection for the iPad inside. The result is an all around better product for travelers who want to take their iPads with them without worrying about damaging it in transit. Those who like to travel light will be happy to hear that these new enhancements have not added weight or thickness to the product either.Extreme Portfolio
G-Form has also introduced a new Extreme Portfolio case that works with all iPad models or any other 10-inch tablet for that matter. Larger and thicker than the Extreme Sleeve, the Portfolio provides even more protection against external impacts while also offering functionality that isn’t available in the more compact sleeve.

Unlike the Extreme Sleeve, the Portfolio features a zipper that runs around three of its four sides. This allows for better access to the interior of the case, making it easier to take your tablet in and out as needed. The iPad is held snugly in place by rugged corner pieces, made out of G-Form’s proprietary RPT materials that enhance protection along the device’s edge. The front face of the case even includes an internal polycarbonate layer that adds yet another level of protection for the beautiful, yet fragile, Retina Screen. The result is a lightweight, yet tough, product that provides a satisfying level of security for tablet computers.

The Portfolio has a few other tricks up its sleeve as well. For instance, it includes a nice internal pocket for carrying important documents and folders. It also has the ability to act as an easel of sorts, standing the iPad up in either landscape or portfolio modes. This is a nice feature to have when watching videos on a plane, making a Skype call from your hotel room or giving a presentation at a meeting.

Both the Portfolio and Extreme Sleeve are water resistant, which adds yet another layer of protection for the electronics inside. This is good news for travelers, as the case easily keeps out liquids from accidental spills or surprise rain showers. Just keep in mind that they are water resistant and not waterproof, which means that while these products will repel a lot of moisture, immersing them completely in water probably isn’t a good idea.

I personally like to slip my iPad into the Extreme Sleeve before putting it into a backpack for travel. This gives me a good sense that my tablet is well protected while stuffing it under an airplane seat or in an overhead compartment. I think other travelers will appreciate that same sense of security when traveling with their tablets as well and considering the price of a replacement iPad, the $69.99 investment for the sleeve is well worth it. The Portfolio will set you back $89.99, but as indicated above, that case has a few extra features that could easily make it worth the extra twenty bucks.

Adventure travelers will especially appreciate both of these products as they allow you to take an otherwise fragile device with you to places you might not normally take it. For example, I can’t imagine visiting Everest Base Camp without the Extreme Sleeve and it would come in handy when trekking the Andes, climbing Kilimanjaro or cycling through the Alps too. If you’re visiting extreme places, you’ll probably want an extreme case to go with you. I recommend these two products.

Gadling Gear Review: Eureka Warrior 230 IR Lantern

by Kraig Becker on

One of the great things about spring camping is that the warm days are perfect for being outside and the cool nights make for wonderful sleeping. There are few things better in life than hiking all day with friends only to return to the campsite to cook a wonderful meal and curl up in a warm sleeping bag with a good book. However, once you get comfortable in that sleeping bag, you don’t want to get out. Invariably, someone has to draw the short straw to see whose job it is to turn out the lights at the end of the night. Fortunately, Eureka has created the Warrior 230 IR lantern to prevent just those kinds of disputes from ever happening.

Anyone who camps regularly knows the value of good lighting while sitting around the campsite or in a tent at night. The natural darkness of the wilderness can be impenetrable at times and a good lantern is a must for those outings. The Warrior 230 IR emits plenty of light (230 lumens!), has great battery life and can illuminate a wide area, all of which makes it a perfect choice for family camping trips. But those are all features that you would expect out of just about any lantern you choose. What sets Eureka’s offering apart from the crowd is its remote control.

Yep! You read that right. This lantern includes an infrared remote control that allows campers to turn the light off and on from up to 25 feet away. This is a fantastic option for those times when you are snugly tucked away in your sleeping bag and just don’t want to climb out to shut off the light. The remote also allows you to dim the lantern from a distance. The LED lamp on the Warrior 230 can be adjusted to shine at any brightness level between 10% and 100% of its total rating, which makes it versatile enough to be used in just about any situation around the campsite. As if that wasn’t enough, the remote also includes its own built in LED light, making it act like a tiny flashlight, while an integrated carabineer ensures that it always stays close at hand.Powered by three D-cell batteries, the lantern has an impressive battery life. Eureka says that it can run for 48 hours straight on its highest setting and I’m inclined to believe them. While testing the Warrior 230 under typical circumstances, I never needed to replace the batteries. That includes using it on its highest and lowest brightness settings and a range of illumination levels in between.

Solid and rugged, Eureka built the Warrior 230 to withstand the rigors of camping and the outdoors. Not only is it water resistant, but also its plastic housing is largely encased in rubber, which helps to protect it from normal abuse around the campsite. Surprisingly small and lightweight, the lantern tips the scales at just 1.9 pounds with batteries. That means that it is light enough for children to comfortably carry around with them and the small, rubberized handle seems built to accommodate smaller hands. The lantern stands less than eight inches in height, which means it is compact and easy to pack as well.

Trekkers and backpackers will likely find the Warrior 230 a bit too heavy and bulky for their needs, and a good headlamp remains the best option for those types of travelers. But most campers will love having this lamp at their disposal. It is bright enough for working around the camp in the evening and can be turned down low enough to not disturb others when it is time for bed. The included hooks make it a breeze to hang either inside a tent or outside on a branch, and the choice of LED light makes it a much safer option than a gas lantern when used around children.

If you’re in the market for a new camping lantern, I highly recommend the Eureka Warrior 230 IR. Its combination of bright light, rugged construction and campsite versatility makes it a winner. The fact that you’ll never have to argue over whose turn it is to get out of their sleeping bag to turn it off is just icing on the cake. With an MSRP of $64.99 this is a very good value for families and car campers alike.

The Sardine Can Camera from Lomography

by Pam Mandel on

When I first started taking photos, I used this stuff called “film.” You loaded it into your camera, fiddled with a bunch of settings and then pressed the shutter and prayed. You didn’t get to look at your pictures right away or tweet them to your friends or post them to your blog – oh ho ho no, you first had to take the film to a place that knew what to do with it. In the ’90s, you could get your pictures on a CD, making them a zillion times more portable, but before that, you got prints and negatives or maybe slides. Hey, I still have a box full of yellow envelopes stuffed with fading memories of trips past.

Now I shoot primarily with my iPhone 4s, a device to which I am enslaved for all kinds of reasons, though I also shoot a Pansonic Lumix, which is a tiny pocketful of awesome, and sometimes, a Nikon D200 if I’m feeling like I want a lot of control. I LOVE my digital kit, I think digital photography is nothing short of voodoo magic and if you’re addicted to over-processing and HDR, well, I’m not that into you but I get where you’re coming from.

La Sardina (The Sardine Can) Camera from Lomography takes all that away from you and puts you right back to 1979 when you weren’t at all sure what you were going to end up with, when you had a film safe bag for the X-ray machine and every now and then you posted those little black plastic canisters back home. Godspeed, little memories, I’ll see you when my Eurail pass expires.

I absolutely love the look of this little camera. It’s nothing short of adorable. It comes in a bunch of different patterns, there’s one that’s kind of steam punky and another with reptile scales and it’s cute as a bug. Everything that comes with it is designed to make your eyeballs happy – the big fold out instructions and the book that teaches (or re-teaches) you “lomography,” aka lo-fi photography. The packaging is gorgeous and the design work is inspired. I loved unpacking the camera; it was a joy.All that is grand, but that’s not what a camera is about for me. A camera is a tool for making pictures. I tossed the little sardine can camera and three rolls of film into my bag for a fall trip to Hawaii. I’ll experiment, I thought. After all, I already have a zillion pictures of the islands so what’s the risk?

I didn’t shoot a single photo. I was too attached to the results to give up the control that digital photography gives me. Oops.

A few months later, I tried the same thing. Only this time, I left my DSLR at home and opted for just my phone. I shot a roll of high color saturation film while on the Washington Coast. I used the camera wrong for about the first half of the roll, something I learned while rereading the instructions after a day of shooting at the beach. The second roll came out… well, I don’t know yet, do I? See, I haven’t taken the film in for development yet.

I’ll repeat something I said earlier: I LOVE photography. In college, I learned how to develop my own film and how to print my own pictures. I had a photography mentor – a cranky old architectural photographer who shot an 8×10 and let me use his immaculate home darkroom for my own projects. I have inhaled my share of toner while losing hours under the red lights. I have a box full of film camera gear in the basement and for a while, I had all the stuff to set up a home darkroom.

I am no less devoted to the weird combination of magic and science that happens when you substitute a camera for your eye. But I am content to leave the chemistry out of the process. I like the instant review, of knowing that an image sucks and I need to retake it. I’m addicted to the instantaneousness of modern digital photography and I don’t want to give it up. You can’t teach a new dog old tricks – or something like that.

I wanted to fall in love with film again. Everything about how the camera is presented is designed to make you do that, to fall in love with film and the process. It’s just so COOL (in all caps). The sample images look awesome and there are whole communities sharing their lomo work (in a digital environment, ironically). You might totally dig going lomo; people are doing great work with lomo gear. But it’s not for me. I don’t want to go back.

You should decide for yourself, though. La Sardina cameras start at about $59. Add a flash for $69, or get a kit that includes one for $109. For inspiration, check out the La Sardina galleries or those on Lomography.com.

Gadling Gear Reveiw: Osprey Atmos 50 Backpack

by Kraig Becker on

I’m one of those people who almost exclusively uses a backpack when traveling. I simply prefer carrying my gear on my back rather than dragging it behind me in a piece of luggage, particularly when navigating through a busy airport. Over the years I’ve managed to collect a number of packs in a variety of sizes, which makes each of them useful depending on the length of the trip. Whether it’s a weekend escape to the coast or a month’s long expedition to the Himalaya, I have a pack suitable for the journey.

My favorite pack by far is my trusty Atmos 50 from Osprey. Not only is it comfortable and spacious, but it is also rugged enough to withstand the rigors of the road. It is so good in fact that it has been a constant companion on trips to six different continents. When I heard that Osprey had updated the Atmos with a new model I was eager to discover if they had managed to improve on the already great design or if their tinkering was ultimately detrimental to the product that I already loved. I needn’t have worried one bit.

Fundamentally the Atmos 50 remains largely unchanged. As the name implies it has a capacity of 50 liters, most of which is contained in its cavernous main storage compartment. A removable storage pocket on the lid is perfect for keeping small gear items close at hand while two large front pockets help to keep other essential items well organized. An integrated hydration sleeve allows backpackers to stay well hydrated on the trail while removable sleeping pad straps and tool attachments extend the carrying capacity beyond just the pockets themselves.As you would expect, the trademark Osprey comfort remains intact on the new Atmos packs as well. An easily adjustable harness makes it a cinch to find the right fit for nearly any body type and a new, thickly padded, hip belt can be adjusted quickly and easily without ever having to take the pack off. The shoulder straps cinch up tightly to keep the Atmos locked in place while on the move, yet still allow the wearer nearly unrestricted motion, even while carrying a heavy load.

One of my favorite features of the original Atmos 50 was the integrated AirSpeed frame, which allows for the passage of air between the wearer’s body and the pack itself. This feature comes in very handy on long days on the trail as it provides some ventilation to the back, keeping you as comfortable and cool as possible, even while carrying a lot of gear. The new version of the Atmos has a redesigned frame that is smaller and lighter yet still manages to perform at the same level as the original. Because the new frame design is more compact and flexible, it is much easier to get this new pack into an overhead compartment, which is always appreciated on crowded flights.

Despite all of the things I love about the Atmos, both old and new, there are still areas where it could be improved. For example, as good as my original Atmos 50 is, its design sometimes made it a challenge to find gear items that I had packed away at the bottom of the bag. On more than one occasion I’ve wished that there was an alternate way to access that gear, either through a bottom zipper or a side panel. Other packs that I own have this ability and I had hoped that Osprey would find a way to add this feature as well. I was a bit disappointed to discover that alternative access wasn’t part of the new design, however, which means I’ll have to continue to dig for that elusive pair of hiking socks that I invariably stuffed to the bottom. Smart packing can help alleviate this issue to a degree but it seems no matter how well you anticipate what you’ll need, Murphy’s Law will ensure something is always just out of reach.

That minor quibble aside, if you’re in the market for a new backpack for an upcoming trek, or like me you simply prefer to travel with your gear on your back, the new Atmos 50 from Osprey is a real winner. Lightweight and comfortable, yet still able to carry everything you’ll need, the new version of this old classic refines the product in some important yet subtle ways.

This is a pack that will see you through many adventures both big and small, but if you feel the need for even more capacity, Osprey offers the Atmos in a 65-liter version as well. That pack is nearly identical to the 50 in every way other than size. MSRP on the Atmos 50 is $199 while the Atmos 65 will set you back $240. Both packs are worth every penny and will last you for years to come.

Gadling Gear Review: Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom

by Kraig Becker on

The advent of inexpensive point-and-shoot and SLR cameras had turned us all into travel photographers and has made documenting our journeys easier than ever. Capturing just the right shot still takes plenty of practice and skill, however, and occasionally it is nice to have a tripod in our packs to assist in that area. Unfortunately, traditional tripods can be heavy, bulky and inflexible, which doesn’t always make them the best travel companions. But the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom from Joby isn’t a traditional tripod and it eliminates those issues through its ingenious design.

Looking a bit like something out of a science fiction movie, the Gorillapod line of tripods uses a series of articulated legs that are unique in design. The individual segments on each leg can all be bent, twisted and reshaped as needed allowing a photographer to adjust them to stand securely on nearly any surface. Gorillapods can even be wrapped around objects, such as tree branches or rock ledges, to capture shots from vantage points that aren’t possible with other kinds of tripods. This level of versatility opens up a new host of options for photographers on the go.

Lightweight and yet rugged, the SLR-Zoom version of the Gorillapod is designed to hold a camera and lens weighing up to 6.6 pounds. Most consumer level cameras don’t weigh anywhere near that, even while outfitted with a large zoom lens. For example, my Nikon D90 weighs in at 1.5 pounds and adding a 70-300mm lens doubles that to about 3 pounds. Professional photographers will want to upgrade to the Gorillapod Focus, which is a bit larger but can support weights up to 11 pounds.

The SLR-Zoom features a universal 1/4″ screw as well as a 3/8″ adapter, which makes this tripod compatible with virtually any camera on the market. An included removable ball head adds the ability to tilt and hold the camera at just the right angle to catch the perfect shot, while a built-in level helps to ensure that your photos don’t come out completely cockeyed. That same level will be your best friend while first learning how to incorporate the Gorillapod into your photographic arsenal as it proves very useful when setting up shots.While this tripod is a great piece of equipment to have in your photography bag, it definitely does take some time to get use to. Adjusting the legs is a simple affair but getting them set just right takes practice. You’ll definitely want to play with the Gorillapod before you take it on a trip or out into the field, otherwise you run the risk of spending more time fidgeting with the tripod than actually taking photos. Using the SLR-Zoom isn’t rocket science by any means but gaining some experience prior to traveling will serve you well, particularly when setting up timed self-shots in unique locations.

Overall, the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom is a very high quality product that any photographer will love. It is sturdy, compact, durable and breaks down to a reasonable size for inclusion in our packs. It also comes with an affordable price tag of just $49.95.

Joby has a full line of Gorillapods available at a variety of prices and sizes. The SLR-Zoom may be overkill for many travelers, but one of the other options may better fit your needs. If you’re in the market for a versatile, high quality tripod to carry on your travels, the Gorillapod may be the perfect solution.