Countour rugged GPS camera adds Bluetooth and mobile viewfinder app

Countor hands-free video cameras are extremely popular in the outdoor world – and rightfully so. Their cameras have captured some of the most extreme outdoor shots ever made. Whether you mount it on your helmet when you go mountain biking, or strap one to the landing gear of a plane, these cameras are designed to survive.

Earlier this year, Contour added GPS to their lineup, and they are using the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show to launch the Bluetooth enabled CountourGPS camera.

Bluetooth access inside the ContourGPS is not just a gimmick – the wireless connection can acutally be used to turn your iOS or Android device into a mobile viewfinder – a first on any rugged outdoor camera. In addition to this, the mobile app also provides access to a variety of settings on the camera.

The camera retails for $349.99 and is on display at CES booth #35155 and at Countour.com.

Contour introduces hands free video to watersports with new Surf-Wake Mount

Contour just announced the newest accessory for their wearable HD camcorder lineup. The new Surf-Wake mount attaches to a surfboard or wakeboard, and provides a sturdy yet flexible mount for recording activities in HD. Once inside the new mount, the ContourHD camera is fully waterproof, and buoyant, just in case the camera takes a tumble.

The new mount is also surprisingly affordable – at just $39.99, it is quite a bit cheaper than most other waterproof camera mounts. Thanks to a rubber ball assembly, the camera can be rotated 360 degrees, so you’ll always be able to find the best angle for your shot. In the video clip above, you’ll get an idea just how impressive this new mount is.

The new Surf-Wake mount is one of almost 20 different mounting solutions for the ContourHD camera – other products allow for helmet, bike, goggle and windshield attachment. A full overview of the various solutions can be found on the accessories page. To learn more about Contour, check out their site, which is chock full of stunning video clips made with their cameras.

VholdR top 5 snowboarding clips shot with the ContourHD helmet camera

Fans of the great outdoors probably don’t need an introduction when it comes to the VholdR ContourHD helmet camera – but I can highly recommend taking a few minutes out of your busy Friday to check out the results of their Lib Tech snowboard video contest.

The five clips posted above were all shot using the ContourHD camera – and every single one of them is simply amazing (though the winning clip is just mindblowing). So, check out the clips, and if you feel you need to document your own antics, head on over to vholdr.com to check out their assortment of products.

Gadling’s gift guide for the outdoor and adventure traveler

In this first of several Gadling gift guides, we’ll follow the tradition of all other sites by suggesting some great gift ideas for travelers. Today, we’ll take a closer look at some impressive kit for the outdoors and adventure traveler.

Since I am more geek than adventurer, you’ll notice a trend towards battery powered gadgets. Some of these great products were featured here on Gadling this year, others will be reviewed in the coming weeks, so keep paying attention to our product reviews!
Contour HD camera

The Contour HD is a lightweight HD digital camera that can be attached to almost any surface. It features a really impressive wide angle rotating lens. To top it off – the camera also features 2 lasers, which help adjust the camera so you know exactly what you are shooting.

One of the coolest features of the ContourHD is its large sliding record button, which allows you to immediately start recording whenever you want, without having to fiddle with small knobs. The slider is large enough to operate when you are wearing gloves.

The camera itself is only part of the package – once you have recorded some awesome adventure footage, you can share it with the world on the VholdR ContourHD community. If you have recently paid attention to Mike Rowe on “Dirty Jobs”, you’ll have noticed him climbing off the edge of a building using one of these cameras to record his antics. We’ll have a full review of the ContourHD here on Gadling next week.

Price: $279.99 (Contour HD) and $329.99 (Contour HD 1080p)
Where: ContourHD retailers

180s Quantum Vent gloves with Tec Touch

There is very little “high tech” about most gloves, unless those gloves are the new Quantum Vent gloves by 180s. These gloves are obviously designed to keep your hands warm, but they also feature an adjustable venting system and a goggle wipe.

The really cool feature comes from 180s patented “Tec Touch” system. This nifty invention allows you to control your iPod or other capacitive touch screen device without having to take your hands out of your gloves. Metal conducting fabric on the inside of the gloves, and a metal tipped finger make it possible to switch tracks or start your iPhone fart app on the slopes.

Price: $75
Where: 180s product page

Garmin Oregon 400t

You can tell I’m not much of an outdoors person, because I’m the kind of person that would pick a GPS unit before even thinking about good boots. Still, a good outdoors GPS device can be a real handy piece of kit.

One of the best outdoor units is the Garmin Oregon 400t. This device combines a waterproof touchscreen GPS unit with a compass, barometer and even wireless connectivity with other Oregon devices. You can plot tracks, view topographic maps and of course, find your way back to basecamp (or your car).We reviewed the 400t earlier this year.

Price: $499.99
Where: Garmin product page

Eagle Creek Take 2 ORV Trunk 28

Adventure travel is not always lightweight travel. If you need to haul a lot of gear, then check out the new Eagle Creek Take 2 ORV Trunk. This large rolling case features 2 separate compartments, with enough room for a ton of kit. The bag works as a rolling trunk, or as a shoulder bag (with the included shoulder strap). If holds 49 liters of stuff, and weighs just 12lbs when empty, which is really impressive for a bag this large.

Compression straps help reduce its bulk. and “off road” wheels let you pull it through smooth hotel floors as easily as through muddy trails. A full review of this bag is coming up later in December.

Price: $350
Where: Eagle Creek product page

SPOT Personal satellite messenger

If you really love the outdoors, you’ll regularly find yourself well out of range of cellphone signals. This is where the SPOT personal satellite messenger can help. This small device communicates with a constellation of satellites to relay your position, inform people that you are “ok”, or send an emergency message in need of immediate assistance.

Sure, it may not be a replacement for a true emergency beacon, but at just under $150, it is a really handy tool, with a proven track record of saving lives. We reviewed the previous (larger) generation SPOT unit last year.

Price: $149.95 + $99 annual subscription
Where: SPOT retailers

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TX1 waterproof camera

Heading to cool locations is great, but if you’d like to share your trips, you’ll need a camera that can survive the elements. The Panasonic DMC-TX1 is a waterproof and shock/drop proof digital camera. Its internal 4.6x wide angle zoom lens shoots in 12 megapixels, and allows you to record HD video clips. We reviewed the Lumix DMC-TX1 here.

Price: $379.99 (MSRP)
Where: Panasonic Lumix retailers