Yes, outdoor-lover, I mean “big” in the sense that EMS sells a big selection of the best brands, as well as “big” because of the notable discounts.  Eastern Mountain Sports is one of the premier outdoor retailers when it comes to selection, value, and customer service.  You can get ready for  all your winter activities and sports — skiing, camping, climbing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowball fights – along with everything else you like to do — biking, running, paddling, hiking, etc.  Keep warm!  Stay dry!  Be active!  Have fun!

Get free 2-Day Air shipping when you join the ShopRunner program at EMS.com:  Click here to join now. 

If you’ve been thinking of getting a better tent, a warmer sleeping bag, a headlamp for your bike so you can keep peddling throughout the winter — NOW’s the time to get it!

Also:  EMS currently offers free shipping on orders over $125.

In general, their sales offer discounts off their already low prices.  Take advantage now.  Click the highlighted text links, the images, or banners to save a bundle on the gear you want…

Mountain Hardware Men's Exposure II Parka

Save on Ski and Snowboard Jackets at EMS.com.

Click to shop for Snowshoes.

See Mens Apparel and Outerwear.

Click for good prices on a large selection of Climbing Gear.

Click for good prices on Tents and Camping Gear at EMS.com.

Winter Tents

See Fleece Jackets & Vests to keep you warm during all your activities.

EMS has Cycling Helmets, Shoes, Apparel, and a lot of other gear.
 

And to be fair, I’ll note that Women’s Apparel and Outerwear is also on sale for good prices.  Get a gift for your outdoorsy XX chromosome pals or sporty signif other.

 
Have fun this winter, dude!

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The wheel is regarded as one of the landmark inventions, but for my money the guy that made the first bag was pretty damn smart.

Think about it:  before the bag, humans could only schlepp what they could carry in their hands, and that’s not much if you’re a nomadic hunter-gatherer.  But once you had a bag, once you had luggage, once you had a satchel, you could begin accumulating schwag.   In a sense, the guy who invented the bag invented wealth.

Update on December 12, 2011:  Speaking of wealth (and preserving it), eBags, the online retailer with perhaps the best selection of bags in the world, has a good deal right now:  Click here to get an additional 25% off on the eBags site – discount automatically applied when you click here.

We don’t know who got that first bright idea to make a bag (maybe it was a woman who was carrying obese twins) or how it arose (maybe some guy observed a marsupial and thought “Heyyy…”) but we do know that bags have evolved into myriad designs, that they’re now made with quite a variety of both ancient and space-age materials, that industrial designers try to make them hip, and that just about every student in the world carries one.

If you’ve got stuff to carry with you, whether you’re a first-grader with too much homework or a world-renowned architect popping over to the gym at lunch time, a good bag is indispensable.  I’ve gathered together some of the best bags, backpacks, satchels, messenger bags, and laptop bags here — they’re functional, stylish, and durable — and will also point you toward some of the best sources for all types of bags online.

Click here to get the 5.11 Tactical Responder 24 Backpack

Now, we know who makes the most use of backpacks and shoulder bags – students.  And maybe you’ve just returned, or are about to return, to school.  Isn’t it time to replace that frayed, drab-colored bag with something you’ll enjoy carrying?  Here’s the first recommendation:  a bag that firefighters, policemen, and military operatives use — the 5.11 Tactical Responder 24 backpack.  You’ve got to know that if it meets military spec’s, it will protect your laptop and keep your books dry.  You can’t get a more rugged, practical bag for the money.  And the red is different.  One online reviewer wrote:  “The compartments are PERFECT for storing a large-screen laptop and all the instructor materials needed for an EMS licensure class — it’s a bunch!”  Use it during the week for school or work, then toss in a change of underwear and a few other essentials and use it as the perfect carryon on a weekend trip to see the folks.  Or as a day-pack.  Or heading into the wilds of Pakistan to capture Osama Bin Laden like that guy from Denver did.  Get the Responder 24 backpack from eBags for a discount — and if you want a somewhat different design and color-choice, check out the 5.11 Tactical RUSH 24 backpack.

You’ll note that many of the bags I link to here are available from eBags.  EBags is the granddaddy of online pack/bag/luggage/handbag sources.  They’ve got good prices, excellent customer service, and frequent special sales and deals.  Plus, they’re currently offering free shipping on orders over $25.  There are very few manufacturers they don’t carry.  I’ve purchased a number of bags from eBags and have found them to be a well-run, reputable company.  Plus, their eBags brand bags are quite decent and you can’t beat the price.  When I went back to grad school, I used an eBag bag for a couple of years to lug around huge slag heaps of books.

Click to get the SOLO Expandable Messenger Bag from eBags

When it comes to bags, I tend to like the messenger style, particularly the ones that can double as a briefcase.  The bag I’m using right now is made by SOLO (yes, got it from eBags).  SOLO bags are thoughtfully-designed, well-constructed, and nice-looking.  They’ve got lots of pockets, rugged materials, and handy details like grommets through which to thread the earphones of your audio device.  Pictured at left is the SOLO Expandable Messenger bag– currently only $19.99 from eBags — a good choice for students.  Check out the customer reviews for this bag on eBags.

SOLO Vector Laptop Messenger

Another cool option, particularly for business types, is the SOLO Vector 17″ Laptop Messenger bag.  It’s got a padded compartment that will hold a laptop up to 17.3″ in size, another pocket for books, files, tools, candy bars, and whatnot, an organizer under the front flap for pens, biz cards, keys, and laptop accessories, a headphone pocket, and other handy features.   That’s it to the right.  And it’s currently discounted to only $39.99 at eBags.

The SOLO shoulder bags above will fit the bill, especially for those on a budget (like students who don’t go to, say, Johns Hopkins or USC).  If you want to move up a bit in style and materials, check out the Hamptons Hybrid Laptop Bag by bbp.  One of its claims to fame is that its carrying system will convert from a messenger style to a backpack style; customers report it as comfortable.  It’s made of rugged ballistic nylon and has a limited lifetime warranty.  It includes mesh water bottle holders and even a holder for your newspaper or umbrella.  And a luggage pass-through that lets you rest it on top of your roller.  Check it out at eBags — in particular, read the customer reviews.  Fits 15-inch laptops.

bbp Hybrid Hauler

If you need to haul bulkier stuff, you should consider the bbp Hybrid Hauler Book Bag.  It’s a little more compact than the Hybrid Laptop Bag, but has greater interior depth (the laptop divider is less padded).  Its nylon fabric is water-resistant and has a water-resistant backing.  It’s also got the warranty.  The Hybrid Hauler is also pretty cool-looking.  There’s a reason bbp bags have been favorably reviewed by everyone from CNN Money to Bicycle.com — they work.  You can check out the customer reviews at eBags.

Of course, in the midst of all these high-tech materials – Cordura, coil zippers, foam, fleece, etc. — some guys prefer leather.  And for that, Kenneth Cole’s got what you need.

See the Kenneth Cole Reaction Leather Bag at eBags for 73% off!

The Kenneth Cole Reaction line of bags and luggage has received the “Best of the Best” designation at eBags.  That means that the average rating of these bags by customers is 9 out of 10, and 90% of customers would recommend them to a friend — in other words, high praise from unbiased sources.  So explore the Kenneth Cole Reaction line (enter “Kenneth Cole Reaction” in the search bar and sort by “Customer Rating”).  For example, the Kenneth Cole Reaction Columbian Leather Flapover Computer Case — a simple, stylish leather satchel that does just what you need it to with unflappable competence.  It’ll hold a 15-inch laptop, plus a variety of business accessories and miscellaneous flat stuff.  It’s got a 10-year warranty, and the tan, full-grain cowhide leather will set it apart at the airport from the anonymous horde of nylon carry-ons.  Read the reviews for the Kenneth Cole satchel and get it for the best price online.

The eco-friendly Pike Messenger Bag is available from Bambeco

And now for something completely different, materials-wise…  The Alchemy Goods Pike Messenger Bag is made of recycled inner tubes, and the shoulder strap is made of a recycled seatbelt.  How cool is that?  Fortunately, you get good function along with your environmental form.  The bag is waterproof, has multiple internal pockets, will hold up to a 14.5-inch laptop, and looks hip.  Alchemy Goods stands behind their products with a lifetime warranty and, on top of that, you can get it from Bambeco, which also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  There aren’t many bags available that will function as a conversation-starter.  This is one.

Pacsafe CourierSafe 100 detail

If you want to feel a little more secure with your bag, look no further than the Pacsafe CourierSafe 100, which is designed to protect your laptop (and data) as you’re transporting it around the mean streets.   CNET’s reviewer gave this bag 4 out of 5 stars, praising its multiple security features.  They stated:  “Fortunately, peace of mind doesn’t have to mean lugging around a locked attaché case, as the CourierSafe 100 provides more protection than anyone other than a secret agent or industrial spy would need.”  If you do happen to be an industrial spy, the Pacsafe offers ballistic nylon construction with metal wires woven inside the material (eXomesh® Slashguard) so some ne’er-do-well can’t slash the bag and get at your laptop.  The shoulder strap is also slash-proof.  There’s a combination lock so you can anchor the strap around an object and you can lock the zippers closed.  The bag is pretty nice-looking, offers a thoughtful collection of interior and exterior pockets (the padded pocket will fit 15-inch laptops) and two water-bottle pockets.  eBags currently has it for 20% off.

Click for the versatile Mountainsmith Explore Laptop Backpack

I don’t want to be accused of being too biased toward messenger bags (though I suppose I am), so let’s get back to a backpack style:  Mountainsmith makes a number of excellent, purpose-focused packs and, if you like the daypack style, you can’t go wrong with the Explore 17-inch Laptop Backpack.  This pack will carry your BIG laptop, plus books and accessories, and will do it comfortably.  I’ve had a number of Mountainsmith packs and one thing that sets them apart is their ergonomic, balanced fit.  If you’re tired of wearing a backpack that feels like it’s cutting your shoulders in half or will drag you over backward, try the Mountainsmith.  My friends like them, too.  And it’s got a lifetime warranty.  eBags has the Explore 17-inch on sale right now for 20% off.  Ideal for commuting, road warriors, and students.

Click to get the cool Barney Rustle Blanket by Crumpler

Crumpler’s line of bags is well-known for being both stylish and well-made.  If you want a good, functional messenger bag with a number of interesting color options, try the Crumpler The Barney Rustle Blanket.  Everything you need, nothing you don’t, plus coolness.  And if you’re a photographer, check out the Crumpler line of camera bags, such as The 7 Million Dollar Home.

Chrome Berlin Bag - Pro Series

Actually, if you’re an actual messenger or bike commuter – i.e., you ride your bike a lot while carrying stuff — there are only a few manufacturers that are dedicated to the proposition that a high-quality messenger bag is not only desirable, it’s a necessity.  One of them is Chrome.  They are legendary among cyclists and they’ve branched out into a number of other types of packs and products (including clothing and shoes).  For any biking/urban commuting/vagabond world exploration situation, Chrome has a product to cover it.  For example, the Berlin Bag, part of their Professional Series (above right, in orange; you can also get it in digi camo, among other colors).  One customer wrote in his review of this bag:  “I’ve carried bundles of firewood, cases of beer, small children, even other bikes with this bag.”  Chrome’s site will repay repeated exploration and you cannot go wrong with any of their products.  They’ll ship their stuff to you for free if you order over $50 worth and enter the code “freeship4130” at checkout.

So that should about do it for your daily bag needs.  Of course, if you need a bag for a specialized purpose — to carry your CDs, say, or your snowboard — eBags has you covered there, too.  You might wonder about some brands I haven’t mentioned.  Timbuk2, for example, or Dakine — both popular names in the marketplace.  I find Timbuk2 bags not as protective or as thoughtfully-designed as some of the products I’ve highlighted.  I wouldn’t want to use one in the rain, for example, and, for the price, they’re rather simplistic.  Dakine bags are okay but I don’t find them as comfortable to carry as certain others.  I’ve singled out the best above.  If you like Dakine, however, eBags often has them for a good discount.

There is one more manufacturer I want to mention, though:  Tom Bihn.  Tom’s got a relatively modest operation in Seattle, but his bags are second to none.  Legendary quality, material, and functionality.  Like a lot of the companies here, he started making bags for himself because he couldn’t find any that satisfied him.  He’s been doing it for over 20 years.  I happened to go to high school with Tom and he was always a creative kid, marching to his own drummer.  Our school association is not why I’m mentioning his company, though.  It’s because you won’t find a better bag.  Unless, maybe, you learn to make one yourself.  (He has a retail store in Seattle and you can also buy his bags online.  I don’t have an affiliate relationship with Tom, by the way.  Wish I did.)

As I mentioned, eBags is the mother of all web-based bag retailers.  I also wanted to let you know about another company that is worth a look: Bag King.  Why?  Basically because of their excellent customer service.  They ship orders the same day (except weekends), are known for handling problems effectively (with representatives in the U.S. that you can actually talk to), and they appreciate their customers.  Plus they’re always having a sale of one sort or another.  Check them out.

Schlepp well, my friend.

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Dahon Cadenza 8

The bicycle is one of the greatest inventions of all time.  It is, for example, the most efficient form of transportation ever devised, in terms of distance and/or speed achieved versus energy expended.  (A person on a bike is 5 times more efficient than a person walking.  The current speed record for a bike with a male rider on level ground is over 82 mph; the motor-paced record for a bike is a phenomenal 166 mph.)  Bikes are also fun to ride, a symbol of the passage from toddler-hood to kid-hood, a great form of exercise, and a major source of sport and athletics throughout the world.

Of course, bikes weren’t all that efficient when first invented, but a lot of progress has been made in the intervening 200+ years.  Just as with many technologies, bicycles continue to improve in design, materials, and functionality, while prices for models sporting the latest advances continue to drop.  Bicycle companies are often among the first manufacturers to incorporate space-age materials and engineering innovations into their designs.  When you look at the bicycle landscape these days, it’s hard to believe that the development of the commercial moutain bike didn’t occur until the 1970′s.   There are now at least 6 categories of bicycles — perhaps more, if you count sub-specialties.  Go down to your friendly neighborhood bike store and you’ll find find BMX racers, triathlon bikes, cruisers, cyclocross bikes, touring bikes, recumbent bikes, and single-speed racers, not to mention ”flat-foot” bikes, trials bikes, and hybrid bikes.  Here we’re going to cover a bike in the commuter sub-category:  the folding bike.  Specificially, the best of the class,  the Dahon Cadenza 8.

As urban dwellers become more motivated to commute to work via bicycle rather than car — whether to save on gas and parking costs, to get more exercise, to help lessen air pollution, or all of the above, many are finding that riding to work can be inconvenient due to having no good place to lock their bike during the day.  And even in cases where you might have a fence or pole to lock your bike to, leaving your bike outside all day increases the chances of theft, as well as the wear and tear from weather.  However, there is often not enough room to easily store your bike in your office or cubicle throughout the day, not to mention wheeling it through lobbies and taking it in elevators.  Solution?  A folding bike.

Dahon Cadenza 8, folded

 The best solution?  The Dahon Cadenza 8. 

Dahon has been making folding bikes for over 25 years.  And they are now offering folders that look like “real” bikes, as opposed to the small-wheeled, long-seat-tubed versions that eccentric university professors seem to gravitate to.  Many folks don’t particularly like the handling characteristics of small-wheeled folding bikes, particularly during demanding commutes, and so a bike like the Cadenza 8 is a welcome develpment.

National Geographic Adventure magazine endorsed this bike, writing, among other things:  “…the rare folding bike that doesn’t make you look like a tool, thanks to full-size Schwalbe Big Apple tires and Shimano Alfine drivetrain.  In 30 seconds, it bends in half so you can discreetly stash it…”

Dahon uses top-of-the-line components for this bike, including LockJaw™ hinges, which make it almost impossible to spot that this is a folding bike.  It stands up to the rigors of daily commuting in all sorts of weather.  Features include 8 smooth-shifting gears driven by the Shimano Alfine system, a burly 7005 aluminum frame, Shimano disk brakes, a tire pump in the seatpost, and the innovative and convenient Dahon F.I.T. system that offers 50 mm of vertical adjustment to the handlebar height.  It comes in 3 frames sizes:  Small (fits rider height 5’2″ – 5’6″), Medium (fits 5’6″ – 6′), and Large (fits 6′ – 6’4″). 

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