Hiking Cat, Homemade Bow, Women’s Bike Clinics: GearJunkie Week In Review

A recap of top stories for the past week, March 19 – March 26, 2016.

1) Women Teaching Women: MTB Clinics Expand Nationwide

New courses specifically for women teach the skills needed to shred singletrack.

2) Zero Tolerance ‘Copy’ Surpasses Original

This knife, based on a benchmark Hinderer design, improves on the original and results in an exceptional heavy use folder.

3) Meet Tuxie, The Cat Who Loves To Hike

Tuxie is the real deal hiking cat, pawing up to eight miles a day on adventures across the Southeast United States.

4) Fold-Up Sunglasses: ‘Popticals’ Fit In Egg-Shape Case

Wrap-around sunglasses that fold up and fit inside an egg-shape case, Popticals are quality sunglasses you can store anywhere.

5) Theft-Resistant Plug ‘Locks’ Bike Bolts With Magnet

Install this little gizmo on hex-head bolts for keyed security in less than three seconds.

6) Strong, With Child. How Kikkan Randall Keeps ‘Pregnant Fit’

How does an elite athlete and XC skier stay healthy and fit when a baby is on the way? We sat down with Kikkan Randall to find out.

7) So iLL Climbing Shoes Blow Up Kickstarter

These climbing shoes from So iLL are hot on Kickstarter. We talked to the brand’s founder to find out why.

8) ‘FireWater’ Bottle Doubles As Camp Lantern

Hydration and illumination meet in an unlikely hybrid product from Seattle Sports, dubbed the FireWater Multi-Bottle.

9) Skier Shreds Hard, Earns Turns … On One Leg

This video of rippin’ skier Vasu Sojitra is the most inspirational thing you’ll watch today.

10) Vargo Titanium ‘Basically Indestructible’ Tent Stakes

These could easily be the last tent stakes you ever buy.

11) 800+ Miles Across Arizona, By Mountain Bike

Bikepackers tackle the Arizona Trail as an unsupported race. Rider Lael Wilcox pushes her limits in an attempt to break the record.

12) How To: Build Entirely Natural Bow & Arrow

This video boils down the somewhat complex process of building a bow and arrows into a simple and information-filled five minute video tutorial.

13) Hyalite Alpine: Climbing Ice With Conrad Anker

More than 20 years after meeting the legendary climber for the first time, we swing axes together on a test-piece in the mountains above his home in Bozeman, Montana.

14) Kids & Knives: Teaching The Primary Outdoors Tool

When’s the right time to teach a child how to use a knife, how do you do it safely, and what type of knife is best to start?

15) Cheap Fire-Starting Kit To Make At Home

You can build this simple kit for just a few bucks, and it has all you need to start a fire.

16) KEEN Versatrail Launch & Shoe Giveaway

KEEN takes aim at the ‘light hiker’ category with the Versatrail, and GearJunkie has 25 pair to give away!

17) SRAM Kills Front Derailleur, Introduces 1X12 Drivetrain

The high-end SRAM Eagle lineup confirms what we’ve thought for years: The 1x drivetrain is the future of mountain biking.

18) Artificial Gills To Breathe Underwater: A Million Dollar Scam?

A new company promising ‘artificial gills’ to breathe underwater for 45 minutes has raised huge money on Indieogogo. But experts doubt it will work.