Adam Broderick manages the web content at Tahoe Mountain Sports. When he is not in the office, he tries his best to be in the field doing something awesome.
Over the past century Deuter back systems and technologies have been re-designed time and time again. The brand is centered around three core principles: quality, innovation and sustainability. Their packs: function, fit and ventilation. Since Deuter has a handful of different back systems designed for all sorts of disciplines, we thought we’d make the shopping process a bit easier to help you choose the best pack.
SL – Women’s Fit
Deuter’s SL packs (Slim Line or Short Length) are designed specifically for ladies or smaller, slender guys. The shoulder straps are set closer together and are more narrow with softer edges. The back/torso length is shorter and the hip belt has a conical shape (like a cone) for a more anatomical fit. As a testament to the fact that they fit smaller guys better, the youngest person to climb Mt. Everest was 13-year-old male Jordan Romero, and he did it wearing the ACT Lite 60+10 SL. Any pack with a VariQuick torso adjustment is compatible with SL shoulder straps (sold separately), so you can customize an SL fit without having to buy a new pack. Examples of Deuter SL packs: ACT Trail 20 SL, Quantum 55+10 SL
Deuter Aircomfort The Aircomfort system is a little different on several packs, but they all share one important feature: sweat reduction. It reduces perspiration up to 25%, thus greatly improving your performance and comfort. With 3-way ventilation, one at either side and one at the bottom, you’ll feel good hauling your pack load all day long (comfortable up to roughly 40 lbs.), even in hotter temps and damp climates. Examples of Aircomfort packs: AC Lite 22 , Futura Vario Pro 50+10
Deuter Aircontact Aircontact systems spread the weight of your load evenly and keep your pack’s center of gravity close to your body’s center of gravity. These systems reduce perspiration up to 15% by leaving an air chamber between the breathable back padding and allowing warm air to escape and be replaced by cool, refreshing air. The Aircontact system is used in Deuter’s larger backpacking backpacks, and is meant for loads heavier than 40 lbs. Examples of Aircontact packs: ACT Zero 50+15 , ACT Lite 45+10 SL
Adam Broderick manages the web content at Tahoe Mountain Sports. When he is not in the office, he tries his best to be in the field doing something awesome.
I brought my girlfriend backcountry snowboarding. She blew my mind. She’s athletic to begin with and she rips on a snowboard, but this being her first tour out I didn’t expect her to do as well on the uphill. I called back to her as I searched for an alternate route around the steep, slick and sun-crusted skin track, “This is like an advanced skinning course on beginner-to-intermediate terrain!”
“What!?” she hollered back through the wind.
“Nevermind! Just keep your head up and put one foot after the other. Exactly like that!”
Coming from someone who has trouble getting comfortable in no-fall-zones and sketchy terrain, I expected her to complain and lag a lot more. I gave her a crash course on the basic climbing tips when we first popped up our heel risers, and I never had to repeat myself. Not once. Occasionally I would glance back to see how she was handling the side-stepping, weight-displacement or slippery surface crust, and she was usually steps ahead of my (unnecessary) guidance. She even figured out ‘different pole lengths on steep traverses” on her own and learned to use her pole to initiate her heel risers without my instruction. I repeatedly glanced back to catch her not struggling, but inhaling a deep breath of fresh mountain air and smiling out toward the wild world around us. She concurred with my appreciation for an aerobic workout while skinning up a mountainside: ”I can definitely see the appeal here.”
The only thing she wasn’t prepared for was bitter cold finger tips after going gloveless during the summit switchover, but she’s not to blame for that one. I told her she’d be cool with the pair of spring mid-weights she had, although they lacked the dexterity needed to handle some of the splitboard hardware, then I expected her to be fully engaged during the switch from touring to ride-mode. That was just me wanting her to get the maximum experience from an outing I’ve been praising since we met. I reassembled the first half of her board for her while she took notes for the second half, and I was happy to do so. She had impressed me plenty by this point. Plus, she’s really cute so it’s hard to let little things get under the skin. Especially something as minor as not fully sustaining yourself on your very first backcountry snowboarding adventure. She finished the switchover and we ripped back down the mountain.
Not many people have an extra splitboard setup lying around. Fortunately, I do, however (more…)
This post comes from Pam Jahnke, owner and purchaser at Tahoe Mountain Sports. Pam leads an active outdoor life and she’s all about durable, reliable equipment. She also has a fabulous sense for fashion, so she’s highly skilled in picking the top-performing and best-looking outdoor gear. We asked Pam what she thought would make the best Mother’s Day gifts for moms who love outdoor sports and travel. Here’s the useful motherly advice she had for us:
Flowers are nice, but they die. Give the wonderful outdoors loving mother, wife, grandmother, or partner in your life something they can enjoy everyday and use to keep themselves healthy! I’ve looked through everything in the store to come up with the top three products for runners, hikers and travelers that I think would put a huge smile on someone’s face this Mother’s Day.
There’s Pam, smiling about something she loves dearly.
For the Hiker ~
My friend Dayna and I are planning a weeklong backpacking trip in September so I’m all about hiking and camping gear right now.
A good hydration backpack is a must. I had the same Gregory Backpack for 10 years and just upgraded to the Camelbak Day Star Hydration Pack. Wow, what a difference! This pack feels so good to wear and provides more support than my old pack, plus at 18-liters there’s enough volume to carry everything you need. I also love the Camelbak hydration bladder with Bite Valve.
Sun protection is also a must. That means a good hat and lots of sunscreen. We have tons of great hats right now so I suggest you take a look and pick one that matches your mom’s style. For hiking I like the Prana Sally Sun Hat. It has a medium brim that provides nice coverage without getting in the way of a backpack and it’s lightweight, cute and dries quickly. I recently tried (and became hooked) on Sierra Summits Apres Ultra Light Daily Facial Moisturizer. It has a super light, silky texture and works well to protect, which is very important living at 6,200 feet with never-ending exposure to sun, wind, snow and water.
Now for a cute layering piece. The Patagonia Piton Pullover is a great deal at 30% off. It’s a more techie fleece in a cute package with a smooth face fabrication, so it’s ideal for layering and offers an athletic fit for warmth. This is a great year round piece.
For the Runner ~
There are so many fun and cute things for runners right now!
The Salomon XR Sensibelt is super lightweight with this amazing mesh Velcro belt that adjusts and molds to your body for an exact fit that doesn’t move around. It’s easy to reach your water and the bottle won’t fall out while you’re running.
Yurbuds – These little ear buds are amazing! They have completely changed my running. They come in different sizes so you get a custom fit that’s way more comfortable than one-size-fits-all buds, and they lock into place so you don’t have to adjust them while running. Click here for a useful article with more info and videos about Yurbuds.
This post courtesy of Luke Mehall and Deuter USA. Luke is the publisher of The Climbing Zine, and author of Climbing Out of Bed, a definitive collection of climbing and mountain town stories, available as an e-book on Kindle and Nook. If you’d like to read the original post on Deuter’s blog, click here: http://blog.deuterusa.com/blog-posts/birthday-challenge
This past winter was rough for many regions that were expecting higher snow accumulations, but the dry season made for better rock climbing and other outdoor sports. Thankfully Tahoe Mountain Sports is an all-encompassing gear shop, so they outfit athletes of many disciplines that train in all climates. Get gear for climbing, cycling, trail running, skiing, paddling…you name it. Deuter also makes gear for a multitude of sports, and several Deuter products were used in the making of this story.
My favorite thing about climbing is that if you try hard enough you can always be a champion. It doesn’t matter if you are the best, it matters how it feels.
The Birthday Challenge is a concept passed from climber-to-climber. The format is simple: climb as many routes as the age you are turning.
I’ve always been psyched on the concept, but my birthday is in December, a month when rock climbing and weather don’t always align.
Last spring, while climbing with a relatively new but equally psyched climbing partner, Jonathan “Badger” Mitchell, we discovered our birthdays were three days apart. To top this off, we are only a year apart in age. I told him about The Challenge, and he thought it was super cool. We decided we would do one together, except we’d bend the rules a bit and complete it in the summertime; with longer days and more sunshine it would be easier to achieve.
We immediately began training for the challenge, doing extra pitches after we’d normally retire for the day. At the peak of the summer we reached 20 laps at our local sport climbing crag, The Golf Wall, an overhanging wall of limestone. Then like the summer does it faded away and we’d yet to do The Birthday Challenge. Our dream continued into the fall, but both of us hit the road more to climb. When I returned from my climbing trip I was beat up and had a couple nagging injuries. The Challenge seemed it would have to wait until next year.
But as our birthdays approached The Challenge still lingered in the back of my mind. (more…)
You’re going to want to be at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach on Tuesday, May 14, from 5:45 to 8:00 p.m. We’re partnering with our local library and some great sponsors to host a free 75-minute yoga class at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach, led by legendary local instructor Shari Beard! After a rejuvenating yoga session we’ll turn our heads toward the runway, where a fabulous fashion show will display the hottest new clothing from Tahoe Mountain Sports. But that’s not all. Next, we’ll have a raffle with lots of great new summer trends from your favorite outdoor clothing brands! The raffle will be one of the best we have put together yet, and it’s all to benefit the Friends of the Kings Beach Library.
Snacks and drinks will be provided to keep you nourished through the event. A donation of $10 or more is suggested, but don’t worry, no one will be turned away. And since a book swap is such a great way to discover new literature, we’re encouraging everyone to bring a book and swap with someone else! Or if you’re feeling friendly, bring a few extra books to donate to our library!
A great assortment of prizes will be up for raffle. Win an amazing new outfit (of your choice!) from top outdoor brands including Prana, Horny Toad and Kuhl! Other cool prizes include merino wool base layers from Smartwool, premium leather sandals from OluKai and performance sport socks from Wigwam.
Raffle tickets are only $10 each, but you can up your odds by getting ten tickets for $50! You don’t need to be present to win, and you can purchase raffle tickets at the door or online anytime before the event. Winners will be drawn during the Yoga Benefit. If you don’t show up but your ticket is drawn, we will let you know via email so you can still collect your winnings.
Shari Beard has been gratefully teaching yoga in the Tahoe/Truckee area for the last 10 years. Shari has a strong foundation in alignment based Hatha yoga. She loves to share how the practice of asana and meditation supports us in living from the heart. Shari is passionate about building community because it lends to accountability and support in living practice of yoga.
About Friends of Kings Beach Library:
The Kings Beach Library is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year and Placer County is planning a $50,000 remodel. The remodel will help the library update their facility to improve circulation, create more space for people to sit and read or work and improve ADA access. The Friends have been asked to contribute $25,000 towards the remodel. They need your help, so let the fundraising begin!
Stand Up Paddling is getting more popular each year, and Tahoe Mountain Sports finally jumped on-board. We now carry the Shubu, an inflatable stand up paddle board from Boardworks SUP. Shubu stands for “Show Up and Blow Up”, and that’s literally what you do with it. When deflated, it rolls down and fits into an included stuff sack with shoulder straps, so you can wear it as a backpack while you walk or bike to the water. When you get there, pull it out and blow it up with the included pump. Then simply set it on the water and step on. That’s all there is to it!
We decided to carry the Boardworks SUP Shubu because we love how easy it is to transport, yet it’s still an actual board. It doesn’t feel soft like you think it should for being a blow-up board. This inflatable stand up paddleboard is perfect for lake or river camping trips because you can pack it in your trunk, and it’s great for quick jaunts to your local water when you want a good morning workout but don’t have racks on your car to support a 10-foot hard board. For now, we carry them in three different sizes: 9’2″ and wide, 10’2″ and wide, and the regular width Shubu 10’7″. They pack down to less than three feet in diameter, and they provide great support for hours on end without refilling.
Since our selection of stand up paddle boards is so travel-friendly,
we figured it best to also carry collapsible SUP paddles and keep packing and stuffing to a minimum. The 3-Piece Carbon Fiber Paddle from Boardworks SUP weighs only 1-lb., 12-oz. and breaks into sections so you can stash it in your pack along with your SUP, or toss it on the front seat and reassemble it quickly. This Carbon Fiber SUP Paddle is so lightweight you barely notice it, making paddling distances less strenuous on the arms and upper-body. The whole point is to have fun while you’re out there, not suffer from over-exertion.
The military grade UV-resistant rubber Boardworks uses for their inflatable SUPs is very durable and more firm than most would expect. You can make your SUP pretty stiff with the included pump, especially since it features a pressure gauge to help you fill it to the appropriate level, but Boardworks recommends topping it off with their K-20 Finishing Pump (sold separately) to get the best possible performance. The K-Pump only weighs two pounds and is less than two feet long, so it’s also easy to transport.
Tahoe Mountain Sports also has Stand Up Paddleboard accessories, so if you were to misplace or break something like, say, your plastic center fin, you can get a replacement fin from us and get right back out on the water. Each inflatable SUP comes with a rubber patch kit for do-it-yourself SUP repairs, but we thought it would be a good idea to also stock up on other things; things that some people consider necessities, and others may call ‘excess’. For example, a Rubber Coiled Calf Leash that secures your board to your body. Depending how you choose to use your board, a leash could be a good idea, or it may not matter so much. River and ocean surfers may appreciate the added security of a leash, but it could get in the way if you were doing SUP yoga or riding more powerful surf where you’d want to be free of any constraints. River surfers would probably also see more use in the Boardworks SUP PFD, which deflates so small it fits in a comfortable waist pack. Call it a fanny pack PFD, if you will. Only this waist pack looks much cooler than the type your mom used to wear to the amusement park.
If you’re into stand up paddling and you haven’t had the chance to try out a Boardworks SUP inflatable stand up paddleboard, do yourself a favor and give one a shot. You may realize how much easier leisure travel is when you can pack up your SUP and wear it on your back or store it in the backseat. And if you’re just getting into Stand Up Paddling, this could be your golden ticket. Save yourself the trouble of dealing with car racks and trying to carefully transport your fragile board to and from the water. Get an inflatable SUP, show up, and blow up!
This post comes from Matt Lucas, an avid explorer who, when he’s not guiding trips for Brooklyn Outfitters, adventures around the country and beyond. His writing and photography on travel and skiing has appeared in many places online and in print. Based out of New York City, his addiction to clean alpine air keeps him both sane and on the move. There is no mission too small, far, or silly that he won’t consider.
Hulk Hogan in all his glory
For those of us not lucky enough to live in Tahoe, the lake and its personalities may have an even larger presence than in reality. There’s always been something that resonated with me about it. While the area is not as “extreme” as Chamonix, in which local hero Glen Plake chooses to make his home part-time, or as fancy as Jackson, the home of top notch athletic talent in many disciplines, it has always seemed to have a certain amount of more fun to it. Maybe even American-ness, which to me is way more important, anyway.
Snowlerblading in America
Maybe it’s the unpretentious way the log cabin architecture and the roadside stands ground the area, bearing witness to a lifestyle past that was brought to us by the promise of refrigerators and automobiles that make it so approachable. It certainly was not only the ski industry that delivered tourists to the shores here, even if the 1960 Winter Olympics brought athletes of the highest level to compete on the snowy slopes, some sticking around and many others migrating soon afterward.
If one man was to ever embody dual ethos of talent and levity, or at least populism, it surely would have been Shane McConkey, who was honored by Squaw Valley Ski Resort in the third annual Pain McShlonkey Classic weekend at the end of March. For me, this would be an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Tahoe, and to take an account of his influence on skiing today. It was also an opportunity to say goodbye to the winter season, as unpredictable temperatures and lower elevations on my native east coast will close most resorts by April Fools. (more…)
Spring weather means losing the layers and getting out into the sun and fresh mountain air! Whether you’re a Tahoe local or visiting for the weekend, there’s a ton for everyone to do in Tahoe. I took the liberty of compiling some photos from our favorite activities in the area, everything from spring skiing and mountain biking to fly fishing and disc golf. With such a beautiful landscape to explore and endless recreational opportunities, you don’t want to miss out on all the fun associated with spring in Tahoe.
Of course, there’s the beach and the lake:
Miles and miles of sandy beaches
Kite Surfing on the lake
Running on the beach, stand up paddleboarding and kayaking are great ways to enjoy Tahoe’s endless miles of secluded lakefront. If you’d rather more social interaction, you can find more sunbathers and waders on the public beaches on the North and South sides of the lake. Many public beaches allow dogs, including the Coon Street Boat Launch just east of our store in Kings Beach. Kite surfing, paragliding and other airborne adventures are also becoming more popular each year, and the warm air combined with cool breezes makes good wind for flying. It’s not uncommon to count a handful of thrill-seekers charging through the waves on windier days.
The amount of options for overnight camping in Tahoe are ridiculous. From state parks with facilities like bathrooms and boat ramps to National Forest land where you can choose your own adventure and wilderness camp, it doesn’t take much effort to find a place to pitch a tent. Just pick up a map of the Lake Tahoe Basin and drop your finger somewhere in the woods – chances are you can camp there.
Many campsites are near freshwater tributaries that flow into Lake Tahoe. You know what else goes on at those creeks and rivers? Some of the best fishing in California, that’s what! The Brown Trout in the Truckee River (and Little Truckee River) are known for their elusive nature and stamina during a fight, and if you can pull one out you can consider yourself a truly skilled fisherman. Or just really, really lucky.
If you’re into backcountry skiing you know that spring is prime-time for bagging the steeper couloirs and peaks you’ve had your eyes fixed on all season. You won’t need a warm winter jacket because you can get away with shorts and a t-shirt, just be sure to lube up with (more…)
This guest post comes from Robyn Embry, a local pro downhill racer living in Kings Beach, California, for the past seven years. She can be found climbing rocks and skiing powder when not enjoying life on two wheels; her blog http://therobynator.blogspot.com contains the extended version of this and other adventures, including the fun and tribulations found within a season of mountain bike racing.
Whitney Portal – granite as far as the eye can see
Less than two weeks after returning from a mountain bike race in Las Vegas, Kit and I were back on the road again toward Fontana, CA, for yet another race. That went well and I walked away with the win, ready to enjoy some more Southern California sunshine during a week of visiting friends, climbing, surfing and riding bikes. One of our first stops was Pirate’s Cove by Newport Bay for some bouldering. Here, a crash pad is not totally necessary because of the soft sandy landing, but a pair of slip-on or Velcro climbing shoes and some Reef sandals are nice and easy to trade off between problems. There are some climbs in the shade, but the sun gets intense at the boulders directly on the beach, making a good sunscreen like Sierra Summits Adventure Sunscreen a great idea. Sun hats are good too; a ball cap just doesn’t cut it in strong sunshine. This I’ll remember next time. Something like the Prana Sally hat looks cute and protects your ears as well.
Pirate’s Cove
After the fun bouldering session our friend offered to shuttle us on the San Juan mountain bike trail, located up in the Santa Ana Mountains. One of Southern California’s premier single tracks, this trail is way the heck out there (more…)
This post comes from Pam Jahnke, owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports and mother of a very energetic young daughter. Pam spends her (free?) time actively seeking fun times outdoors on her bike, skis and feet. Whether it’s her lifestyle or her daughter that requires the most healthy and sustained energy, we may never know. But we do know this: Pam knows healthy snacking – maybe even as well as we know mountain sports. This week she unveils her latest discovery: the perfect protein snack for time on the trail and a life on the move.
I’m so excited packing up for my first bike trip to Moab! I can’t wait to sleep in a tent under the stars and wake up to the birds chirping and sounds of nature all around. Whenever we go on a camping trip I’m responsible for packing all of the food and everything related to cooking and preparing it. I like things to be easy when camping, without a lot of mess or waste yet still healthy and all natural.
Since we’re going to be biking and hiking around all day long I want to make sure we get enough protein. The best snack for high protein (in my opinion) is beef jerky. Well, so is cheese but since I’m trying to eat Paleo cheese is not appropriate right now. When I saw The New Primal jerky with added nuts and dried fruit I thought, “Bingo! This will be the perfect healthy snack for my family. It’s tail mix with beef jerky!”
I checked out The New Primal company online and, wow! After reading about this grass-fed natural jerky endorsed by my favorite Paleo blogger at PaleoOMG.com, nicknamed the Paleo Pocket, I was completely sold! Finally, real healthy food with just the right amount of protein and sugars for a fuel fix that’s easy to grab and go in one small pouch. The beef is grass-fed, the flavors all-natural, the nuts are raw and the dried fruit isn’t sweetened – what’s not to love?
The New Primal Company makes different flavors for different tastes. My four-year-old daughter likes the Trail Pack with Mango the best while I prefer the Trail Pack with Cranberries. I think the cranberries are just the right size and tartness to match perfectly with the beef jerky. They also have one called Just Jerky for those who just want to enjoy the nice smokey flavor of the beef. I think you should go out and try The New Primal Trail Packs and decide for yourself though.
Time to get back to packing. I’ve already ordered my favorite ener-treats from Kaili’s Creative Kitchen and got a case of The New Primal Trail Packs ready to go. Now it’s time to chop the fresh veggies and marinate some meat for the grill and we’ll be all set for our Moab mountain biking trip. Enjoy Spring!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the beef jerky for free from The New Primal as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations.
SL – Women’s Fit
Deuter Aircomfort
Deuter Aircontact
SL – Women’s Fit
Deuter Aircomfort
Deuter Aircontact
