outdoors

What is it about outdoor music systems that makes manufacturers insist on designing them to look like ice buckets? Are they supposed to look like coolers or ice cream makers to blend in with the poolside decor?

Whatever. SkyMall, everyone's favorite catalog at 30,000 feet, is the latest to offer one of these picnic wannabes with its "Boombucket iPod Music System." Like others of its ilk, the $150 bucket claims to be "weather-resistant" and can play an iPod up to 8 hours per battery charge, though we wouldn't recommend dunking it for laughs.… Read more

This orange abomination might look like a really ugly iPod speaker, but it's actually a device that promises to keep mosquitoes away and restore your summer evenings to a more sanguine state by emitting a "natural, chemical-free" odor. (But it doesn't say how bad it smells.) You can clip the Mosquito Shield onto your belt (um, dorky) or put it on a nearby table or porch in an attempt to declare hegemony over your exposed skin when the bugs might be biting.

Here's the problem: I doubt it actually works.

You see, mosquitoes are vehement … Read more

The weather must be changing, because we're seeing more items that actually involve the outdoors (and not snowplowing). Just yesterday, for example, we noted an anti-insect LED lightbulb to be used outside, but Gizoo's "Wind-up Magic LED Lantern" does it one better: It doesn't need any batteries or power outlets to work.

How is this possible? It's called a hand crank, Sparky. Just one minute of winding will get 30 minutes of light from the lantern's five LEDs, according to SCI FI Tech, and it can stay lit for up to four hours … Read more

LEDs continue to pop up everywhere, from music players to your head, and one company from Japan is taking them to new frontiers in the great outdoors.

Like all LEDs, Iwasaki Electric's "Bouhantou" is remarkably efficient--it can last for 40,000 and requires far less energy to operate than standard bulbs. But Gizmowatch notes that it has one important distinction: The Bouhantou doesn't emit ultraviolet light, which means it won't attract insects.

And that, in our entomophobic opinion, is the best thing about it.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are hesitant to go camping these days because of their overwhelming dependence on gadgets: digital cameras, iPods, BlackBerrys, cell phones, and the like. Spending several days without the ability to charge said gadgets would be, well, torture on the level of being forced to listen to that Darwin audiobook. But now there's a solution: the Eureka N!ergy tent, which comes with a "power pack" to keep your electronic gizmos juiced up. It'll set you back $300. (Pocket change!)

The catch is that the Eureka … Read more

It may not seem like it, but winter will end someday. And when it does, you'll wish you'd gotten an "Ultimate Outdoor Theater." Cal Spas, a hot tub manufacturer that's almost synonymous with the California lifestyle, has taken a giant leap into the upscale realm with this all-in-one system. And we do mean all in one. In addition to an anti-fog, anti-glare 63-inch LCD television, surround sound, a DVD player, iPod docking station and satellite radio receiver, BornRich says the setup includes a five-burner grill, wet bar, weather-proof recliners and two fire pits--with everything built … Read more

Remember that bird-watching gizmo that interprets bird calls for you? I could've sworn it would be considered anathema to the whole raison d'etre of the pastime. But then one of our editors, Harry Fuller, who happens to be really serious about bird-watching, said that it was actually a cool device. So maybe I'm wrong when I think that certain classic professions are being corrupted by geeky gadgets.

Nevertheless, I think this one is a little much. Called the FishCam, this device is a $362 souped-up fishing rod with a camera attached to the line so that you … Read more

The country is experiencing record swings in temperature this winter and $1 billion in failed citrus crops due to freezing temperatures in California.

What a great time to think about pool sports.

The AquaClimb is a rock climbing wall for your pool. And who knows, you may not have to wait until summer to use it if temperatures swing back into the 70s, as they did on January 7 in the northeast.

There is no limit to the weight that the wall--a stainless steel frame with fiberglass panels and nonslip coating--can hold, according to the company. AquaClimb's base screws … Read more

In a controlled environment, shooting things can be kind of fun. After all, I had an awesome time a few weeks ago trying to learn the ropes of Big Buck Hunter Pro. (Emphasis on "trying.") Clay shooting is great, too. And the one time I went paintballing, I enjoyed it quite a bit despite the fact that I was quickly disqualified for accidentally shooting some kid in the ear.

I've got to say, though, that I was pretty surprised to read that British paintballers are adding tanks to the mix. Isn't running around in a vulnerable … Read more