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Gear BRING CAMPER ON YOUR LIST TO A BOIL WITH YEAR-ROUND TOOL |
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Bring camper on your list to a boil with year-round tool
Journal Wire Reports
Holiday shopping for camping enthusiasts can be a bit weird. What to say? Here's a mosquito net you can use twice next year? Or here is a cook set that will sit in your basement for the next 10 months?
It's hard to give gifts that are headed for the attic or garage because their function is so specific. But there are gifts that campers can use away from the campsite.
The Jetboil PCS is a personal cooking system that boils two cups in two minutes. It's meant to serve as a receptacle to heat, drink and eat food. Campers can heat coffee, tea and dehydrated meals in the Jetboil.
It holds one liter, or 32 ounces, and can be used about 12 times on one isobutene/propone micro-canister.
The cup has a drink-through lid and the protective bottom cover can be used as a measuring cup.
A line of accessories are available, including a coffee press, companion cup and Jetpower fuel to increase efficiency and reduce consumption. Away from the campsite, the Jetboil can be brought to remote worksites, cold football games and never-ending pee-wee league championships.
Available in black or camouflage. Suggested price is $89.95 Available at Altrec.com, LL Bean stores and BackCountry.com
Tuner features HD digital radio quality
Instead of a table radio, Sony's XDR-F1HD is an AM/FM HD radio tuner component. You'll need to connect it to something with an auxiliary input (a stereo hi-fi, AV receiver, home theater system, or iPod speaker system) or even just a pair of powered computer speakers. The little Sony tuner receives analog AM and FM, as well as digital AM and FM stations that have adapted HD Radio technology to digitally broadcast audio and data in conjunction with their analog signals.
EDITORS' RATING: 4 stars, excellent
THE GOOD: Budget-priced AM/FM HD Radio component delivers extraordinary sound quality and low-noise reception; small size; remote control; bright backlit LCD screen.
THE BAD: No digital output; weak HD signals cause the XDR-F1HD to switch back and forth between analog and HD; the memory doesn't retain station presets if the radio is unplugged.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Hailed by audiophiles as one of the greatest tuners ever, the Sony XDR-F1HD is arguably the best — and most affordable — way to add HD radio to any stereo system.
CHECK PRICES: http://reviews.cnet.com/radio-tuners/sony-xdr-f1hd/4014-7866 — 7-32987435 .html
FULL REVIEW: http://reviews.cnet.com/radio-tuners/sony-xdr-f1hd/4505-7866 — 7-32987435 .htmlGO GEAR