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No matter the theme of the issue, every Popular Science highlights some of the best gear available—be that shiny embodiments of ingenuity or familiar products that, even decades later, still pass every test. For the gearheads in our family, we decided to showcase—in one place, all handy and organized—every product from our latest issue, which is all about extreme weather. Without further ado:
“Unlike other space blankies, its flip side is bright orange, making you easier to spot in an emergency.” $6.
“The Pentax KP DSLR (with weather-resistant zoom lens) would have been a lot more convenient. Rubber gaskets seal the magnesium-alloy body at 67 critical points, keeping out moisture, dust, and sand—all of which could damage the 24-megapixel image sensor inside.” $1034.
“For Sanity Step one: Explain to any nearby children what playing cards are. Step two: Enjoy games like Go Fish or Slap Jack with the Hoyle Clear waterproof deck.” $8.
“The Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme lets you use your inside voice. On its lowest setting, it registers just 35 decibels (shhhh, that’s library level); on the highest, it’s less than 50. That’s roughly one-quarter the din of the average fan.” $90.
“The typical hard drive is about as durable as a Fabergé egg, but the G-Technology 1 TB G-Drive ev ATC can protect precious data from a 6.6-foot drop.” $170.
“The Black Diamond Storm Headlamp works in 3.3 feet of water, so it’ll keep shining in a deluge.” $50.
“Columbia made the breathable membrane just porous enough to keep rain out while allowing evaporated sweat to escape.” $199.
“The Gerber Center-Drive’s bit driver (one of eight appendages, including pliers and blades) lines up nicely with the device’s center, making it easier to hold, and providing better leverage and torque during tough tasks.” $90.
“Each Meal Kit Supply MRE pouch provides a two-course meal that cooks itself. Water triggers a chemical reaction that warms up grub in about 15 minutes.” $45.
“It’ll automatically interrupt with National Weather Service emergency alerts affecting your county.” $59.
“To provide that crucial extra protection, Ray-Ban—makers of the iconic Wayfarers so often imitated by service-stop specs—crafts their lenses from a sandwiched stack of specialized materials.” $460.
“The Backpacker Extended First Aid Kit by REI includes sponges for bleeding, a moldable splint for bone breaks, and a bandage for making a sling.” $55.
“You might not know it from the fabric exterior of the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, but a watertight chamber underneath this Bluetooth speaker’s skin lets it survive under 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.” $99.
“Just over half a pound and under 7 inches long when closed, the Titan Mini hides neatly in the bottom of your everyday carry or in a jacket pocket.” $19.
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“Teardrop-shaped vents in the underlayer let wind whoosh out the top, withstanding gusts up to 55 miles per hour. In such harsh conditions, you’ll be glad the massive 5-foot canopy has room for a friend to help you hold on to it.” $45.
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“Carbon ligaments in the Solo’s frame keep it flexible, so while it might invert when gusts hit, it won’t snap.” $99.
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“The asymmetrical tread displaces just enough water to make the Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R road legal, but it really belongs on a racetrack.” $193.
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“Sipes across the asymmetric treads increase traction and funnel water out of the center grooves, while a solid rubber rib along the edge of the tread aids cornering.” $100.
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“Those tiny cuts across your tires’ treads are sipes, and they’re heroes of winter traction. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 has a ton of them, plus deep voids near the shoulder to increase grip.” $200.
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“The 35 percent Kevlar sidewalls resist punctures, which is handy, because they sometimes have to work just as hard as the tire’s bottom.” $176.
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“The waterproof walkies have gaskets at every potential leak point and a built-in flashlight for navigating trails — or making scary faces around the campfire.” $99.
“The Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station—a favorite of barometer-tracking fanatics— delivers a personal, hyperlocal forecast from your own backyard. A suite of highly accurate sensors tracks the plunging pressure that precedes a storm, the winds in the buildup, and the downpour that follows.” $625.
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“The multi-chamber Whistles for Life can reach up to 120 decibels (as loud as a thunderclap).” $7.
The text in this article originally appeared in the Extreme Weather issue of Popular Science.
