Getting geared up for the wilderness
Phil Duffy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 04/01) - Every spring the world of high-tech gadgetry encroaches a little further into the realm of outdoor hobbies, sports, and recreational activities.
From the widely sold Global Positioning System (GPS) of satellite-tracking to an electronic bug racquet, computers and batteries have arrived in the wilderness.
"The new All Terrain Vehicles come equipped with a 12 volt adapter for the machine's cigarette lighter that provides the GPS," said Murray Watt, assistant manager of Kitikmeot Sports in Cambridge Bay.
"The ATVs in general are getting more and more advanced, with things like the electric shift and the gear display system." he added.
Devices like the Hiking Companion are becoming increasingly popular.
These gadgets are roughly the size and shape of a cell phone and have as many features as the Batmobile.
"This Garmen model comes with a 12-parallel-channel GPS receiver, a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, an elevation computer, and even a pager," said Gary Tait of Overlander Sports.
"It is capable of storing 20 different routes and 50 directional way points, it operates up to 16 hours on two AA batteries and is designed with a rugged waterproof construction," he added.
Other gadgets that are popular are wrist top computers (big, fancy watches), that have functions such as compasses, altimeters, and barometers.
The newer pedometers are state-of-the-art, too, with settings for walking, hiking, and jogging up to 1,600 kilometres, a stride length setting, and digital readout.
The wheels of skateboards and in-line skates are now gel-packed for greater life in sandy, dusty conditions.
Did you know that there are three different kinds of in-line skate blades? There are ones for hockey, freestyle, and of course the all purpose recreational variety.
Skateboards are getting more complicated in design as well.
"They are always trying to find a material that will increase the life of the board itself," said skateboard enthusiast Adam Brumwell. "The boards they're coming out with now have a Kevlar coating on them. They still break though," added Brumwell.
There are even computers you can attach to your hose so you can go play with your wilderness gadgets and your lawn will still get watered.
"We sell a few hose computers every year," said Robert Winter, a hardware store assistant manager.
The newest item to hit the shelves is the Electronic Bug Racket.
It is a novelty bug-zapper shaped like a tennis racquet with which you can actively hunt bugs by swinging it at them.
Another high-tech item is an underwater camera called Underwater Viewing Systems that's just been introduced this year.
