Ibex Jersey reviewed in New York Times

The fashion and style guide at New York Times featured fleece and wool gear today.

About the Ibex Shak, the review says "“Gorgeous!” is how Ms. Chism described this pure merino wool hoody. “I felt very posh in it.”...The wool was “breathable and very thin” but cozy. She was surprised at how soft and “not itchy” it was. Ms. Chism also laundered the top in her washing machine, and then placed it flat to dry, per its care instructions. It dried “beautifully,” she said, and “didn’t wrinkle or stink like wet wool.”"

Buy a women's or men's Shak at BayingHound.com and get free shipping with code freeship50.

Nathan Designs Stainless Steel Straw Bottle Review

A review of the Nathan Designs bottle from our friend Chris of the Quintessential Quill:

"Nathan, oh Nathan, how do I love ye! Let me count the ways!

1. Nice wide mouth to put in ice;

2. Great designs; stylish and nice;

3. A handy straw; flip up for a sip;

4. And hook it to your belt with a handy clip!

Bad poetry aside, I love, love, love this stylish bottle. It holds ample amounts of water to see you through an outing; it has an awesome flip straw that lets you drink your fill without tipping the bottle. Its wide mouth lets you clean it easily, as well as add ice to keep your drink cold. The stainless steel means no leaching of harmful chemicals and the designs give it the extra kick that Klean Kanteen is lacking.

Best of all? The clip, oh the clip! Ever overload yourself and need an extra hand to carry the water out to the car? Well, trouble no more! Clip your bottle to your belt, backpack, diaper bag, purse…it can clip to almost anything.

This bottle is all-around awesome. It has replaced my Siggs (sorry Sigg) and is used more than my Klean Kanteen, though it is a toss up there. The Klean Kanteen does come in different sizes; something that Nathan might want to consider. If that happens, it will be only Nathan’s for me!"

BPA free stainless steel Nathan bottles hold 24 ounces and are available for $24.55 from our store in 4 designs and 1 solid.

Klean Kanteen vs. SIGG

We asked our friend Chris Jonard of the the Quintessential Quill to help us cover our most frequently asked question: Should I get a Kleen Kanteen or a SIGG?

Here is Chris' review:

With all the media coverage about BPA and its potential hazards, as well as the massive waste generated by disposable water bottles, getting a reusable water bottle makes sense. There are several options out there, but which one works the best?

Reusable plastic bottles are an option, but for those that want to be BPA free, plastic is kind of scary right now. This leads to metal water bottles. The top contenders are SIGG and Klean Kanteen. In a personal trial between the two, the clean winner came out to be Kleen Kanteen for a variety of reasons.

First, let’s talk SIGG. The SIGG bottles have different designs on them, many of which are just too cool for words. There are some seriously beautiful and extremely cute bottles out there. But judge not a book by its cover, as they say, for looks are not everything. I found that with everyday use, the SIGGs dent extremely easily. In fact, my first SIGG dented before it was even used! However, that is cosmetic and can be overlooked—though for the price one would think they would be a bit sturdier. I do have a friend, though, who says the liner on the inside has cracked due to a particularly deep dent. This however, has not been my experience (yet?) Also, the lids leak—thanks to a VERY determined toddler! Overall, I just am not sold on these, which is sad because, as I mentioned before, they are beautiful!

Kleen Kanteen has sleek lines that make them attractive, though not nearly as pretty as SIGG. However, rugged use with my KKs has yet to dent them at all. They are much sturdier (and a bit heavier) and the sports lid, so far, has been leak free. Oh! Another WONDERFUL thing about the KKs is that the mouth of the bottle is wide, so you can fit in a regular cleaning brush to clean it. The SIGG needs a special brush to get in there to scrub. Also, you can easily put regular ice in the KKs. My ONE complaint about the KKs is they are kind of boring compared to SIGG design-wise, but that is a minor complaint. They have spiced things up a bit by adding colors—I can only hope that designs are soon to follow?

So, to sum it up—the SIGGs are eye candy, but for a meaningful, long-lasting relationship, the trusty, sturdy Kleen Kanteens are the way to go.

Lovin' the EcoClutch and Shak Full-zip

When our new fall gear came in, I decided to try the EcoClutch and Shak Full-zip. Both pieces appealed to my laid back eco-chic style. After a few months of use, here are my thoughts:

The EcoClutch is a very small handbag with tons of style for only $29.95. After two and a half years of carrying a big diaper bag, my daughter finally potty trained and I wanted a new purse. I am walking and riding my bike often and carrying just a small amount of "stuff" appeals to me. The EcoClutch fits just what I need for day to day use: a billboard wallet, phone, keys, and lip balm. It's comfortable to carry over the shoulder and easy to throw in a bigger bag or bike trailer. Here it is at the coffee shop today:

(Sorry about the blurry pic. I still haven't figured out how to use the camera in this phone well.)

What surprises me about the EcoClutch is how durable it is. I'm not very kind on purses. When I wrote "throw" in the previous paragraph, I was serious: I toss the handbag on the floor, in the bottom of the trailer, wherever. I expected with this kind of abuse that the yoga mat material would scuff or smudge, but it still looks brand new. Or brand re-new, I should say, as the material is in the second cycle of reuse after being a yoga mat scrap.


My other fave from the fall line is the Merino Wool Shak Full-zip Jacket. This is a lightweight merino jersey with a zip down the front and single pocket. Once the weather finally turned cool here in central Ohio, there is rarely a day I don't have this jacket on for at least part of the day. I wear it around the house, on walks, hikes (above), and bike rides. I am wearing it right now layered over a QuT.

The jacket is breathable and lightweight but still provides considerable warmth. The cut of the jacket is body hugging without being tight. It fits true to my usual size and hasn't shrunk or stretched through multiple washings. It dries in about 4 hours hung on a line or clothes rack. The small pocket is just enough for a cellphone or keys, all I usually need at the playground or on a walk. In sum, the Shak Full-Zip is so comfortable and designed just right for everyday use. Right now, the full zip is on sale for $119 (women's) and $123.25 (men's).

Guyot Designs Microbites Review

When first given the Guyot's “MicroBites” eating utensils, I was skeptical. I mean, it is plastic AND a spork—how good can it be? But one use has made a believer out of me! Although not actually used in a camping context (that will come this weekend), I used the utensils to eat my dinner the other night (gotta love it when hubby has dish duty!). They work a treat! The knife cuts really well—even through steak—and the spork is effective as—well both a spoon and a fork. With the wonderful feature of being able to clip these to a pack, these utensils are seriously all you need to camp or travel—in the wilderness or in the urban jungle. Carry these in your purse or briefcase and no more will you need the flimsy plastic silverware handed out at fast food joints. Not to mention the green aspect—no more tossing away plastic to sit in a landfill for decades. .

All in all, MicroBites are easy to use, work surprisingly well and are very cost effective! A perfect addition for any camper. Or mom. Or business person. Or...well you get the point. Now get some of these!

Review by Chris Jonard, the Quintessential Quill
~When quality is quintessential~
*editing, writing, and research services available*

Microbites specifications:
Material: BPA free nylon polymer
Weight: <1 ounces (22 grams)
Length: 6 inches
Heat safe: to 450 deg. F
Color: tomato red, tangerine orange, slate grey
Cost: $4.95 at Baying Hound

Ibex Echo-T Review

So what's all this hype about merino wool? In my outdoor pursuits (cycling, backpacking, general use) I've been wearing synthetics for years now. I perspire heavily, and I find cotton to be very uncomfortable, especially in the summer. I've been wearing synthetic underwear and shirts as I really like the wicking properties and comfort factor. The downside to synthetics is that they can be the cause of strong odor after heavy exertion. I find this to be true even of the high end products that are supposed to prevent this.

The one exception to my synthetic wardrobe are wool socks. I've been wearing merino wool socks from Smartwool since I was in high school with great success. Not only do they resist odor (more on this) but they are incredibly durable and last a good long while even under heavy use. I would estimate their lifespan is 5-10 times that of a comparable cotton product. Rachel has had a similar experience with her wear of wool socks. With this in mind, we decided to find a product made of merino wool that we could carry. After much research, we settled on Ibex Merino Wool clothing.

For product evaluation purposes, I decided to try out an Echo-T from Ibex. This is a basic t-shirt made with retro styling. The Echo-T comes in a choice of base colors with accents on the neck, sleeves and back in a contrasting color. The one I chose is Coconut Shell/Burnt Red.

The fit is very nice on me. While it is not a fitted garment, it is certainly not overly baggy. It has enough length to reach below the waist, and the quality of manufacturing is excellent.

Of course the highlight of the shirt is the material from which it is made. It is made in the USA from 100% New Zealand Merino wool. The weave is very tight, and the fabric has a pleasant natural stretchiness to it when worn. Like synthetics, it wicks perspiration away from the body. It also has very nice temperature regulating properties. So far I have found it comfortable in all temperature ranges I have worn it in (50 F - 75 F). It insulates in the cooler temperatures but breathes very well at the same time for wear in hotter temperatures. Being only April, I have not tried it anywhere very hot yet. I will update when I do, but I expect the same results. The shirt also has all of the anti-odor properties as advertised. Even after heavy perspiration and wear, there is no detectable odor. This fact was verified by family members (lucky volunteers) who happened to be close at hand after a long cycling session. The material wicks very well, but it does take a little longer to dry than a synthetic fabric. However, the thermal properties are unchanged when wet (unlike cotton).

My final opinion is that this is a really well made t-shirt that is comfortable, stylish and attractive for many different settings. Also, I expect that this shirt will last far longer than a comparable garment made of cotton or a synthetic material. The price is higher than you would pay for a regular t-shirt, but not much different from a high end synthetic made by Patagonia, Marmot or any other top end manufacturer. It is a nice way to try Merino wool clothing without the extra expense of the Ibex Qu-T.

Finally, this is a nice sustainable product. Merino wool is harvested from the same sheep year after year. Ibex certifies its suppliers as providing a quality product that also comes from sustainable, environmentally friendly and humane production methods. Synthetics can be made from recycled material, but the majority come from new production of fabric with fossil fuels (crude oil) as the base source.

Check out the Echo-T, I think you will be very satisfied.

Guyot Designs Squishy Bowls review

Items: Squishy Bowl Set and Travel Shots

Specifications:
Squishy Bowl Large Bowl - 3.3 oz, 4.7" diameter x 3" tall
Squishy Bowl Cup - 1.7 oz, 3.45" diameter x 2.45" tall
Travel Shot - 0.5 oz, 1.95" diameter x 1.42" tall
Made of food grade silicone.
Available in tomato red, tahoe blue, lime green, and slate dark grey.

Guyot Designs asserts that the squishy bowl series is flexible, durable, dish washer safe, and heat resistant. We submitted the Squishy Bowl set of Large Bowl and Cup ($15.15 together in our store) and Travel Shots ($7.55 for a set of two) to several (unbiased, but not entirely scientific) tests of these claims.

First up, flexibility. The large bowl and cup are easily turned completely inside out and returned to normal shape with a simple flexing of the sides. The travel shots were more difficult to turn inside out, but it is possible. We poured liquid in all three sizes to test whether this flexibility interfered with drinking. If you grip with one hand, the bowls form a little spout that is easy to sip from.

We also took the bowl and cup on a picnic. They packed easily and cleaned up well too. They nearly bounce if you drop them, so no worries about shattered plastic or scratches. The slightly matte finish on the outside does tend to attract dirt and hair which are easily brushed away.



For the durability test, we engaged our toddler and dogs. They were allowed to play with the bowls at will. The hounds even licked them clean and carried them around with no punctures or damage to be seen. Certainly a longer test range is necessary to say these are unbreakable, but from a few weeks use they pass our durability check.

The dishwasher safety was another easy one. All bowls went through the dishwasher a few times. There was no damage to the bowls, but water does tend to pool in them. If your dishwasher is as inefficient as the model we used, some of the pooled water may have food bits floating in it. Ick. Washing is so easy by hand that we recommend hand washing even though it is possible to throw Squishy Bowls in the dishwasher.

Finally, the fun one: heat resistance. First, we tried making hot tea by pouring boiling water over a tea bag in the cup. The squishy cup performed beautifully. The silicone is thick enough on the bottom and sides that little heat transfered to the outside of the cup. The tea stayed warmer longer than in our standard stainless steel camping cup. On a backpacking or camping trip, the boiling water test showed these would be great vessels to make instant meals or hot cocoa right in the bowl.

Next, we had to try baking in them. I was making bran muffins and poured batter into the buttered large bowl, cup, and travel shot. I baked these on a cookie sheet in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven. After baking was over, I allowed the muffins to cool for about 10 minutes.



Then I squeezed the bowls from the bottom to release the muffins. The results:


Pretty cute, huh? The bottom of the cup one broke off a bit, which is why it is not quite spherical. The 'cap' on the top of the travel shot muffin could be prevented by adding less batter in the future. Both undersides were slightly overdone which could probably be prevented by baking in a bain marie.

As for the bowl and travel shot, they seem no worse for the wear after baking. Cleanup was easy because the inside of the bowls is smooth. It's good to know that for special occasions I now have a way to make spherical baked goods.

Because we want you to try the Squishy Bowls, we will include a FREE travel shot (random color) with each webstore order between now and Earth Day, April 22. Let us know how you like it!

The SIGG bottles with 'Touch' finish are sweet

My one complaint about SIGG bottles to this point has been the slick enamel finish on most bottles. It looks great, goes well over SIGG's unique designs and is no problem to hold with bare hands. However, if you put gloves on, it is very slick to hold.

Enter the 'Touch' finish.

The touch finish is an epoxy coating with a texture additive. It is very simple, and under use has proven itself to be very durable. The texture coating offers a firm grip but it is not uncomfortably rough on bare hands. Currently SIGG offers this finish in both their 1L Traveler water bottle and in their .75L Active style.

The downside to the 'Touch' finish is that it can't be applied over any of SIGG's unique designs. While there is no official word on why, I would suspect the texture additive exhibits too much opacity to allow effective use in a clear coating. For my personal tastes this is no problem as I naturally prefer the solid colors.

I recently used the 1L Traveler Blue Touch on a two week trip to Mumbai, India. While there I put it through its paces as my primary drinking accessory. If you travel in the third world, it is good to have a plan for your drinking water. Even in Western-style hotels and modern cities, the water supply can be contaminated with a variety of objectionable nasties. I poured boiling sterilized water into it with no harm to the inner liner or to the exterior paint coating (try that with a Nalgene bottle!). I treated water inside it with Sodium Chlorite tablets at no detrimental effect to the bottle. And finally, it survived 16,000 miles of airline travel with no problems in my checked baggage.

I used it extensively in my hotel rooms and while traveling to various companies I was visiting. I was always able to maintain a good grip on it even when wet and had no problems with the 1L size.

For my purposes, this seems to be the perfect water container.

BPA - The silent killer (or at least the estrogen assassin)

I was previously a journalist for my high school newspaper in my younger years. During this time, I learned the impact that images could have on a written story.

With this in mind, I felt it was only appropriate to lead off with the skull n' crossbones.

I started writing this post after reading the following article on CNN this morning:

AP story on BPA

So what exactly is BPA? I had to look this up as I haven't seen it before. Its full name is Bisphenol A, which is a phenolic compound used in the synthesis of many different types of plastics. Most notably for our purposes, BPA is an important component of polycarbonate. For our interest, polycarbonate appears in most hard plastic water bottles that are available for consumer purchase. While BPA is simply a precursor chemical, it does appear in the end product as chemical reactions are rarely fully completed. As such, it can leach from the completed polycarbonate material into the surrounding environment.

As far as health effects go, it is a compound known to interfere with estrogen in the human body. This leads to a wide range of potential problems that can arise.

For more info on BPA, check out:

BPA information from Wikipedia

What are the solutions? Buy a SIGG water bottle of course. While they are lined with an epoxy compound (another type of polymer) they are completely BPA free. Or, if you really want to go for polymer free try one of the stainless steel flasks which we offer. Only slightly heavier and very durable.

Happy Holidays and drink safely!

Metro Mug Review

Item: SIGG Metro Mug

Specifications:
Materials: High quality double-walled Stainless Steel
Volume: 8.5 ounce /13 ounce
Height: 7 inches / 9 inches
Diameter: 2.5 inches / 2.75 inches
Top: plastic screw top with stainless steel vacuum top
Colors: pastel pink (8.5 ounce), pastel blue (8.5 ounce), deep blue (13 ounce), silver (13 ounce)

Review Summary: This is a lovely, stylish, quality container for your hot or cool beverage.

My first impression of the metro mug is stylish. The slimmed profile looks light and airy, not chunky like your grandfather's thermos. The colors are rich and the finish is slick and smooth.

I tested the pictured pastel blue 8.5 ounce metro mug. The day we received these mugs, I washed one, poured in near boiling water, threw in a tea bag, took it out in five minutes, screwed on the lid, and walked out the door. A half hour later I unscrewed the top to take a drink and the tea was still near boiling hot. I left the lid off for about ten minutes and it was finally cool enough to drink. I took a few sips and had to be on the go again. When I got home and remembered the mug five hours later the tea was still hot! SIGG says these mugs will keep beverages hot for six hours and I tested it to be true.

The stainless steel bottle opening is perfectly designed to give you a cool, easy drinking lip. The lip is full enough to comfortably sip with no dribbles. I was surprised to find that the lip remains cool even when the drink is hot.

This mug is not well suited for drinking and driving because you must unscrew the top each time you drink. I typically take short drives within the city or ride passenger, so this is not a big downside.

The 8.5 ounce size is sized for a single serving of a drink. I use the 8.5 ounce as a mug at home and refill from the coffee pot throughout the morning. It keeps the coffee extra hot. However, for the commuter, 8.5 ounces of beverage may not get you through the morning. The 13 ounce size is great for the commuter, or for transporting hot cocoa for two.

I did not test the handling properties of the metro mug for cold beverages. I do not prefer iced drinks even during the summer. I do know a little about thermal properties - double walled construction should work equally well for both temperatures. SIGG claims cold beverages will stay such for 12 hours.

My biggest complaint about the metro mugs is that the small size only comes in pink and pastel blue. Both of these look feminine. I would like to see something more gender neutral, especially for people looking to give gifts. The dark blue 13 ounce size is a stunning color for men

Rating: five howls (out of five)

SIGG Personalization Option

One special feature of Baying Hound's SIGG bottles is that we offer a personalization option. For 99 cents we will create a unique label for your SIGG. We can print labels with up to 12 characters of text, numbers, and symbols. We chose this kind of label to be durable enough to stick to the soft touch bottles, but can be removed with a razor blade or other sharp edge.

You'll never forget which SIGG is yours!

SIGG Kidz Bottle Review

Item: SIGG Kidz Animal Farm 0.4L Water Bottle



Specifications:
Material: Aluminum
Volume: 0.4L/13.5 oz
Height: 8 inches
Diameter: 2.5 inches
Top: Kidz mouthpiece with orange dust cap

Review Summary: Cute, great size for toddler, could use improvement in dust cap

Our test subject for this review was 2 year old Lillian. She immediately liked the look of this bottle and named the pig, horse, and cow. She also liked the look of the orange dust cap, but cannot remove it herself. (From a parent's perspective this is a good thing because it prevents spillage.)

I opened the dust cap and unscrewed the top one quarter turn to unlock it. Lillian started drinking with no problem. I tried a sip. The flow rate is slightly more than a standard baby sippy cup but less than an adult cycling water bottle.

We used water for our taste trials because that is what Lillian drinks most of the time. I noticed a cleaner fresher taste for water coming from the SIGG versus water from a plastic sippy cup. (Yes, just for you readers I tasted water from a plastic sippy cup.) The SIGG company describes the inner coating as an epoxy based enamel that is elastic and unbreakable. It is FDA approved for food use with even acidic fruit drinks and carbonated beverages.

When in the unlocked drinkable position, this water bottle does leak if turned upside down. When locked, Lillian could not get the bottle to leak even when I prompted her to try.

The size of this bottle is great for a toddler. It is light enough when filled that Lillian can pick it up and drink easily, yet big enough that I do not have to refill often. The bottle is big enough that I feel comfortable drinking out of it without someone thinking, "Is that woman drinking from a sippy cup?"

Lillian has only had the bottle a few days, but it has survived drops on tile, wooden, and carpeted flooring with no dents or scratches. The surface paint appears very durable. Washing is a snap because the top is big enough to allow a regular bottle brush inside for thorough cleaning.

Lillian did not like the dust cap hitting her face while she was drinking. She could not figure out how to hold the bottle and keep the cap away from her face at the same time. The adult SIGG Active Bottles have a flip top dust cap that stays away from the face when drinking. It would be a great improvement to the Kidz series work in the flip top manner.

I recommend this bottle to anyone who has a young child. It is hard to keep children hydrated and having a nifty looking attractive water bottle helps keep them drinking. I like that the SIGG company keeps manufacturing in Switzerland so they can ensure positive labor relations and high environmental standards. Although I expect this bottle to last for many years, I also like that I will be able to recycle it entirely when it is no longer useful as a bottle.

Overall Rating: 4 howls (out of 5)