Rio Sports Sand Anchor

Rio Sports Sand Anchor From Rio Brands List Price: $25.00 Price: $10.51 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Ships from and sold by Amazon.com 10 new or used available from $8.87 Average customer review:

Product Description

Umbrella Sand Anchor. Screws umbrella firmly into the sand

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42 in Sports & Outdoors
• Color: White
• Brand: Rio Brands
• Model: XCB202CB-01

Features

• Sand anchor stops umbrellas from blowing away
• Withstands winds up to 30-miles per hour
• Decreases your risk of over-exposure to the elements
• Rust-proof, lightweight anchor sets up in seconds
• Nylon and fiberglass construction

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Customer Reviews

fine sand anchor
Bought two of these anchors, one for us and one for my folks. We had excellent luck with them. Easy to use and did the trick in the afternoon winds of the Maine beach.

Umbrella stays put!
We recently spent a week at Lake Michigan and used this beach sand anchor often. It's lightweight (important when you have to carry it up a dune!) and easy to turn into the sand....even with a little arthritis. The anchor made it a whole lot easier to get the umbrella positioned in the sand and always kept it from tipping or blowing over. One day the wind was so strong our umbrella threatened to collapse BUT it stayed anchored!

A *must* for your beach umbrella
We went to the beach with two beach umbrellas and only one sand anchor. The sand anchor did a great job of digging down deep into the sand and keeping the one umbrella firmly attached -- even in the breeze. We couldn't get the other umbrella (the one without a sand anchor) into the sand deep enough and it blew on to the people next to us, so we had to put that umbrella away.

VERY easy to use and does a great job. After I got home from the beach I ordered a second anchor for my other beach umbrella. Personally, I think it's a "must" for your beach umbrella.

A Note about my order: Although I ordered the one pictured (with a metal piece on top), they sent me the all-plastic version (twice), which I kept and works great. I would imagine they'd both work equally as well, but in all fairness this review truly pertains to the all plastic version which Amazon calls the "RIO Beach Sand Anchor for Beach Umbrellas". Even though my sand anchors are all plastic, they seem very sturdy and rigid. No problems.

Camping, Hiking and Backpacking - Must Have Essentials

Camping, Hiking and Backpacking - Must Have Essentials By H Jeffrey Davis

Many of us take to the great outdoors to escape the tediousness of our daily lives. It's a great place to get away from the stresses of our daily routines and can be quite therapeutic under the right circumstances. Under the wrong circumstances, however, the camping and hiking adventure can quickly become a nightmare. Here are a few pointers and suggestions that will keep your outdoor adventure enjoyable and worry-free.

Before setting out on a camping or hiking trip do your homework. Know the area you intend to travel to, become familiar with area maps and if possible learn to use a compass.

Plan your trip, thoroughly, let others know where you are going and when you plan to return. Never travel alone, there is safety in numbers, travel with companions.

Next the list of necessary supplies needed to safely proceed with our trip into the wilderness. Every trip into the outdoors requires us to carry a basic group of items that must be included in every backpack on the trail. These include water, extra food, a compass and maps, first aid kit, flashlight, pocket knife or multitool, waterproof matches and lighter, space blanket, twine or fishing line, and extra clothing and rain gear. These items are for surviving the outing and should be carried every time you go into the wilderness. What I'm trying to say is even though you may not use these items, having them and not needing them is much better than needing them and not having them.

The smart move when hiking and camping is to be safe in all things. Additional comfort items you might consider are insect repellent, whistle for summoning help, cell phone or some other communication device is a great addition for safety's sake and last but not least a big bag of common sense.

With these basics you will be prepared for the unexpected while on your camping trip and they could potentially save your life.

Now that you don't have to worry about being prepared for the unexpected you can pause and enjoy the beauty that Mother Nature has for you.

Enjoy

H. Jeffrey Davis authored this article. I have always has been an outdoor enthusiast. Given the stressfull demands of our modern lifestyle hiking and camping in the great outdoors is a great way to relax. This fact hasn't gone unnoticed by myself and I take great pleasure in sharing pointers and suggestions with my readers. If you're looking for top quality camping and hiking gear I recommend http://www.campoutcity.com

How To Decide On The Right Foods And Cooking Accessories For Camping

How To Decide On The Right Foods And Cooking Accessories For Camping By Gregg Hall Gregg Hall Level: Platinum Gregg Hall is a fulltime author and internet marketer living in Navarre Florida. He has been involved in a number of industries and has traveled ... ...

Camping is a great way to get away from stress and get back to nature. Planning what camping food to bring on the trip may seem difficult because aside from the regular gear that you will need, you also have to consider what type of food to bring and what tools you will need to prepare it. There are ways to make planning your camping menus a lot easier.

What Cooking Tools Do I Need?

There are a few basic tools that every camper should bring with them. One of them is a camp stove, so you will be able to prepare hot meals. There are various kinds to choose from.

The best kind to get is one that allows you to adjust the heat, so that you will be able to boil, simmer and fry. The next thing that you will need is a good set of cookware. Depending on what you will be cooking, you should be sure to include a pot to boil water in and a fry pan. You will also need to bring a lot of water with you, not only to cook with but also to drink.

What Types of Food Should I Bring?

Since camping may also include a lot of physical activity, such as hiking, boat rowing or swimming, it's important to keep your strength up by eating 3 meals a day.

Breakfast: Include milk, so that you can have cold cereal in the morning. If you prefer a hot breakfast, brings eggs, since they are a good source of protein and easy to cook. You can either fry them or boil them.

Lunch: For lunch, you might want to make sandwiches. Instead of bringing a loaf of regular bread that can be easily crushed, consider tortillas or pita bread. Another bonus to bringing this type of bread is that they are flat, so they are easy to pack. If you don't want to bring cold cuts, consider peanut butter as an alternative. It's easy to pack and provides a good source of protein.

Dinner: Dinner will probably be your biggest meal. Some people like to fish when they go camping and plan to eat their catch, while others have to rely on what they bring. Good dinner foods to bring with you are dried beans, cheese, rice or couscous and bouillon cubes. Beans are an excellent source of protein and rice and couscous provide energy giving carbs. You can simmer beans and rice or add extra water and bouillon cubes to make a hearty soup. Bring a small collection of spices with you, like salt, pepper, garlic powder or other spices that you enjoy to season your food with.

By planning easy meals to prepare on your camping trip, you will be able to eat well while enjoying getting back to nature.

CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve

CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve From Camelbak List Price: $10.00 - $15.00 Price: $5.50 - $19.00 To add to the Shopping Cart, please choose from the options below. Average customer review:

Select Color and Size

Color: (choose one)

Berry Black Blue Chocolate Fire Green Grey Ice Midnight Pink Purple Red Pine Lime Ocean Berry Choose To Re-Use Blue - Choose to Re-Use Pine - Choose to Re-Use Berry - Choose to Re-Use

Size: (choose one)

0.5-Liter 0.75-Liter 1-Liter .75-Liter .75L

Availability: Select Color and Size to view.

Product Description

The spill proof bottle that makes it easy to stay hydrated on the go. Available in 3 sizes and BPA FREE

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in Sports & Outdoors
• Color: N/A
• Brand: Camelbak
• Model: CB03
• Fabric type: plastic
• Dimensions: 1.90" h x 3.00" w x 9.00" l, .40 pounds

Features

• Easy sipping, no spilling and BPA FREE
• Quick flip close - folds flush and stays clean when not in use.
• One hand usage - just flip up the Big Bite Valve and sip. No tipping required.
• Adapts to other bottles - -standard cap size allows our lid to fit other bottles

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
The CamelBak Better Bottle represents a new standard of performance and convenience in re-usable water bottles. Available in multiple colors and in three sizes--1 liter, 0.75 liter, and 0.5 liter--this innovative bottle is also BPA- and Phthalate-free. The bottle's integrated handle makes it easy to carry with the crook of a finger or clip to a backpack with a carabiner. CamelBak's Big Bite Valve offers a proven design that contains no moving parts--just bite and sip for easy hydration. The cap fits most other bottles and the Better Bottle attaches to most water filters and fits in most cup holders. It's dishwasher safe.

The Better Bottle with Big Bite Valve makes it easy to hydrate on the go.

What is BPA?
Bisphenol-A is an ingredient used to make polycarbonate. In recent months, there has been increasing consumer demand for a bottle that is not made with Bisphenol-A (BPA), and CamelBak is proud to introduce BPA-free bottles with the same great properties customers have come to expect from polycarbonate: vibrant color, clarity, durability, dishwasher-safe, and with no residual taste. As of the end of April 2008, the entire CamelBak bottle line will be available in BPA-Free materials in North America.

What are phthalates?
Phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are a component added to some plastics to make them soft and pliable. None of CamelBak's bottles have ever contained phthalates.

What is the BPA-free Better Bottle made from?
The CamelBak Better Bottle line is made from a new copolyester polymer called Tritan, made by Eastman. It offers the same great qualities that we have come to expect from polycarbonate bottles and is 100 percent BPA-Free. The Big Bite Valve is made of medical-grade silicone for long life and taste-free performance.

About CamelBak
CamelBak is the originator and world leader in hands-free hydration systems. The first CamelBak products proved to be very popular among mountain bikers and motocross riders, because it allowed them to drink without taking their hands off of the handlebars in technical terrain. The product began to cross over into other sports when scientific studies showed athletes drank more fluids and performed better when they wore a CamelBak. Since then, athletes from an ever-growing list of sports and activities use CamelBak hydration systems for their convenience and performance benefits.

In addition to cycling, CamelBak has Hands-Free Hydration systems for hiking, running, snowboarding and skiing. CamelBak’s state-of-the-art packs and hydration systems have benefited athletes, outdoorsmen, and soldiers around the world. While CamelBak has grown tremendously since the early days, one thing hasn't changed: CamelBak still believes in the performance advantage that proper hydration delivers for just about any activity. The privately-held company is headquartered in Petaluma, California.

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Customer Reviews

Holy Grail Bottle!
If you have been looking for a great water bottle, this is it!!! I am not a hard core workout person - I just want to drink more water for my health. I use this bottle at work, going from meeting to meeting and bring it with me when I am on the go in the car. I never thought I would be so excited about a bottle, but I am - Camelbak really thought about useful features and it shows.

The bottle holds quite a bit of water (25 oz, 750mL). The bottle is leakproof. I like drinking from the straw - no tipping the bottle required. No unscrewing a cap, just flip up the valve and drink. I removed the flexible bite valve cover and just drink normally from the hard plastic straw piece since the bite valve seemed a little weird to me. I have had no problems with leaking with the valve cover removed - just flip down the valve when I am on the go and there is no leaking. The valve system seems very well designed. I generally sit the bottle on its side on the car seat or throw it in a bag with no leaking, just like a regular screw-cap bottle. The carry loop is nice - fits in your finger. It is easy to fill, with the wide mouth. It comes in lots of colors.

As for minuses, there is only one minor annoyance and that was mentioned by a previous reviewer - the straw does not reach the bottom of the bottle. Note that this size bottle does not fit into the car cupholder - would need the 16oz=0.5L for that. Also, the plastic has scratched slightly from rolling around on a sandy car mat.

I have decided to purchase another bottle so that I can have one at home and one at work. I highly recommend!

Updated 12/24/07:
I still love this bottle, although I am now accustomed to it and it is not quite as exciting as when I first got it :-) I fill it every morning and bring it to work with me and also fill it when I get home from work. It has really helped me to increase my water consumption. The plastic has scuffed up a bit, but there is no change in function. I wanted to mention that water will come out when the bottle is opened after a pressure change - like going from air conditioned space and leaving it in a hot car. Physics at work.

Updated 6/28/08:
Yes, I STILL love this bottle and purchased another (the BPA-free version). I was pleased to find that the straw in the new bottle does reach nearly the bottom of the bottle, so that annoyance has been corrected. If you already own the previous (BPA) version of this bottle, note that Camelbak makes the BPA-free bottle with a "classic cap" that can be swapped with your previous straw assembly (classic cap version is slightly cheaper but does not come in as many fun colors).

Perfect Water Bottle
This is just about the perfect water bottle. The polycarbonate is shatter proof, it holds three cups of liquid, and it has a built-in carry loop. The nozzle is easy to flip down with a built-in thumb tab, and the nozzle works by opening when you bite it. This makes the bottle pretty much leak-proof even when the nozzle is down, and since it is meant to be bitten, you don't end up with ugly teeth marks on it. The included straw makes it convenient to use, but it can be used without the straw if you prefer to tip it. I also like the vivid translucent color (I got a blue one). The only thing that would make it better is if the straw went all the way to the bottom; it stops about 1/4 or 1/2 inch above the bottom.

Was great until ......
I loved this bottle till I found green moss in my bite valve. Bad and not so bad, it had been sitting on my counter for a week unused. The problem was when I tried to clean it (I scrubbed it with a little brush, I even soaked it in a bleach solution as a last resort) I could not get all the green stuff off.

Also I have not had it that long, maybe about 6-8 months and the plastic at the base of the thumb tab is starting to go white, showing that it is stressed (and will break at some point).

I still really like this bottle but will not get another.

Camping Grills Are Making Their Way to the Big Game

Camping Grills Are Making Their Way to the Big Game By Jay Stueve Jay Stueve Level: Platinum Jay Stueve owns, manages, and maintains several web stores, is a self proclaimed seo and conversion enthusiast, web designer, graphic artist, and all around guru ... ...

If you have been to a sporting even recently you have probably noticed the hoards of people gathered in the parking lot playing games, enjoying a cool beverage, listening to music, and grilling out on little camping grills. This hugely popular pastime is often referred to as tailgating. They are basically backyard barbecue parties with all your friends only in the middle of a parking lot.

Tailgating has been slow in it's growth. It has been a very gradual process from it's original roots of hanging out in the parking lot in the car before a game into the huge production that it is today. Most sports fans are very competitive people. When they see someone with a radio, a few beverages, and a bag a chips, they want to "one up" these folks with a bigger radio and a bigger bag of chips. Well this "one up" mentality has made tailgating what it is today. With huge trailered grills, cornhole games, and large coolers, it is a site to behold.

Camping grills are a necessity for anyone wanting to become involved in tailgating. There is a vast selection available on the internet. There are even team logo grills available. All of these grills are portable, easy to use, and make for a delicious afternoon or evening full of chicken wings or burgers.

So the next time you consider arriving at the stadium a few hours early make sure you bring all your favorite backyard experiences with you. A cooler full of beverages, a cornhole set to play on, and your camping grills. You will have a wonderful time while supporting your favorite college or pro team.

sleeping bags for camping

Sleeping Bags and Necessity Items For Camping By Kelley Lang

If you and your spouse, significant other and/or family are planning a camping trip, you will want to make sure you have all of the necessary supplies.

First off, you will need a good quality tent. Make sure you look at the size so you purchase a big enough one for the number of people who will be camping. You can buy a tent that is a little larger than the number of people who will be using it, this way you will have more than ample room in the tent. You can purchase tents that have an added screened in area to relax in while sitting on chairs. This is a nice option if it rains during your camping trip so that you have a screened in shelter to sit in, talk and enjoy each others company.

Even if you are camping all on your own, you have the option of buying a solo tent. Think of the ease you will have in setting up a solo tent.

The second necessity you will need is a sleeping bag. The sleeping bag is the most important item you will need. You want to make sure that the sleeping bag is very warm and comfortable. If you do not get a good night sleep due to being uncomfortable and cold in your sleeping bag, you will be tired and not have as much fun on your camping trip as you should.

You can choose from a variety of styles of sleeping bags from the traditional to a fancy sleeping bag that will come in handy if you are hiking and an emergency comes up on where you will be sleeping. If you plan on camping when the weather is extra chilly and snow could be a possibility this tent is perfect for the elements. You can keep the pesky bugs off of your face if you will be camping without a tent as the tent offers a little canopy area over your face so you can get more air and feel open around your facial area while keeping you cozy and warm inside of the bag.

You will want to choose a cozy kids sleeping bag for your child or children. You can choose from a variety of warm kids sleeping bags with a pocket for the child to store all of his or her goodies or even kids sleeping bags with a built in soft and comfortable pillow. Make sure you choose a warm and comfy kids sleeping bag for your child or children so they awaken happy to explore the amazing outdoor world.

Another important item you should always carry with you on your camping trips is a MagLite. You never know when a flashlight can come in handy while on your camping trip.

Enjoy your next camping trip with a sturdy high quality tent, comfortable and cozy sleeping bag for you and your children and invest in a MagLite in case of the usual getting up in the dark having to take one of the kids or yourself to the bathroom or other emergency.