E-Bikes, Swedish Axe, ‘Revolutionary’ Merino Wool… GearJunkie Week In Review

[leadin]Recap: Top stories on GearJunkie, week of July 11-17, 2015.[/leadin]

1) Patagonia Unveils ‘World’s Most Advanced Base Layer’  — What sets it apart? The Merino Air Baselayer has merino-poly yarn that is exposed to a type of high-pressure air gun, resulting in “exploded” fibers that are soft and stretchy in the hand.

2) Alleycat: Urban Street Bike Race Marks 10 Years: As alleycat bike races go, the All City Championships holds sway as one of the biggest events in the U.S.

3) Suspended Sitting: ‘Chammock’ Is New Backcountry Chair: A light, portable camping chair lets you hang in the breeze far from the car.

4) Hike The PCT In Three Minutes: A Pacific Crest Trail through hiker captured the epic trail in one-second videos, spliced together to experience the hike in minutes.

5) Full Throttle? Polaris Expands E-Bike Line: Polaris e-bikes will exhibit at the Outdoor Retailer convention next to tents, water filters, and backpacking products.

6) How To Ditch Your Life & Travel The World: Travel the world on a small budget. No excuses. Do it now, with 10 tips how to live the most adventure filled year yet.

7) ‘Torpedo’ Is Easy-Use Battery Pack: The Brunton Torpedo combines the convenience of a car charger with the portability of a battery.

8) GJ Animated: ‘Speed Hiker Scott Jurek’: A new cartoon feature for GearJunkie by Anders Nienstaedt, this week we look at Scott Jurek and his record on the AT.

9) Swedish Steel: Hand-Forged ‘Damascus Steel’ Hatchet: This axe by a Hults Bruk master forger won’t be easy to buy, but its little brothers will be in stores in the U.S. soon.

10) DIY: Convert ‘Craigslist 10-Speed’ To Rad Urban Fixie: Classic bikes abound, and they sell for cheap on sites like Craigslist. Our contributor stripped a 10-speed to build a svelte urban fixed-gear bike.

11) Appalachian Trail Record: Scott Jurek grabbed the record in 46 days, 8 hours, 8 minutes, ending his journey in Maine on July 12th.

See all the week’s stories here.