I’ve owned a lot of mobile phones, starting with the original Apple iPhone and including devices from Samsung, LG, Apple, BlackBerry, Xiaomi and more. They keep getting slimmer and lighter, and the boxy design of those early years has long since been supplanted by sleek, elegant, smooth materials and finishes. Problem is, it also turns out that this sleek design makes the newest generation of phones much easier to accidentally drop.

It’s an epidemic, actually, as evidenced by the fact that at least 25% of all smartphones have cracked screens or been repaired after purchase. (Not a scientific analysis, just an informal poll of friends and colleagues.) The problem is so widespread that there are now stores that are focused exclusively on replacing broken phone screens. Their stores can be found in the local shopping mall and adjacent to just about every college campus in the United States.

What all these people with damaged screens didn’t know is that the Nite Ize FlipOut™ combination handle and stand would make their phones much harder to slip out of their hands. It also would make their phones more functional too. Check out the FlipOut in action in this photo:



The FlipOut itself is an ingenious little device that sticks onto the back of a phone or phone case, flips out as needed, and can serve as a handy stand and holder when needed. Done with it? The gizmo folds flat when you don’t want it in the way. It also comes in four different finishes so you can choose the one that looks best with your case.



The real win to me with the FlipOut is that it’s also a simple and effective stand for my smartphone. I often have my phone sitting on my desk, table or other workspace, screen up, so being able to open the FlipOut and have the screen angled for optimal viewing is fantastic. It also works as a stand for vertical or horizontal viewing. Which means it’s perfect for streaming live sports or binge watching your favorite series.

Phones keep getting more expensive - my Apple iPhone X cost over $1,000 - and the cost of repairing a broken screen keeps going up too. The modest investment of a Nite Ize FlipOut can alleviate the day to day risk of the phone slipping out of your hand, and it doubling as a stand is a nice added benefit. But even if you have an entry level smartphone you’ll appreciate the functionality and flexibility of the FlipOut, so check it out.

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NITE IZE FLIPOUT HANDLE + STAND

• Stand works in both landscape and portrait orientations
• Creates secure ergonomic grip for phones
• Features 3M® VHB® adhesive for confident attachment
• Low-profile design easily fits in pockets

Learn more here.

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We caught up with Tampa-based all-star pet photographer Adam Goldberg, who is on a mission to raise $7,000 for local animal rescue charities in the next couple months. We chat about his journey as a pet photographer and how fundraising is playing a big role.

Q: Thanks for speaking with us, Adam! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into pet photography?

A: I worked at Humane Society of Broward County 2013-2015. I was originally hired to manage the website and social media. At the time, I didn’t know anything about photography, let alone how to take photos of animals. I trained myself by watching tutorials online and practicing every single day for 3-4 hours. I found taking photos of pets to be much easier than taking photos of people. Pets never ask to see the photo or to do a retake because their fur is out of place or their make up is bad!

Q: What are your go-to treats and toys to keep your photo subjects engaged?

Q: What is your secret to snapping the ultimate doggie portrait?

A: I try and keep a very calm demeanor. If I am calm, the dog will stay calm too. I also make TONS of noises to get their attention. The treats and peanut butter help a lot too! 

Q: What has been the most surprising part of your journey as a pet photographer?

Q: How did you become involved in raising funds and awareness for animal rescue?

Q: Nite Ize is a sponsor of your 2019 Pet Photo Shoot Fundraiser Road Trip. What does this trip entail and why is it important to you?

Q: What is your favorite Nite Ize product and why?

A: We love the Nite Ize Pack-A-Poo. When we travel with our dogs, we don’t always know if poop bags will be available. The Pack-A-Poo easily attaches to the dogs' leashes and even lets you roll up excess bags! Ours used to unravel constantly. Not anymore though! 

Q: If you were a breed of dog, which one would you be and why?

A: I have never been asked this question, but I like it! I would just have to pick a mutt though. When a dog is a mix of a few different breeds, they’re so distinct looking and are really fun to photograph. The more unique, the better! 

Q: How do people find you online to follow you on your road trip and beyond?

A: You can find out more about our 2019 Pet Photo Shoot Fundraiser Road Trip at agoldphoto.com/roadtrip. We also post lots of photos on our agoldphoto Instagram. 

Spring is all about change. With summer adventures around the corner and New Year’s resolutions quickly fading into the rearview, it’s a perfect time to fit fitness into everyday life. Not only does riding your bike burn off extra calories (about 50 per mile), it saves money, increases your productivity, and boosts happiness.

Whether you’re a Tour De France watching bike enthusiast or you haven’t thrown a leg over a bike in years, here are 6 tips to get started: 

KNOW YOUR ROUTE.

Not all roads are created equally. The route you drive to work may be different than the one that’s best for bicycling. Many cities offer bicycle maps that highlight bike paths, bike lanes, and low traffic streets. Google Maps also has a bike route feature that is my go-to means of finding and following bike-friendly routes.

Attaching your phone to your handlebar with the HandleBand by Nite Ize makes it easy to navigate new routes while on-the-go.

 

BE SEEN. BE SAFE.

No matter where your ride takes you, visibility is key--day and night. While bike lights were primarily used for seeing at night, the use of lights during the day has been shown to reduce accidents by 19%. Rotating lights, like the SpokeLit, are a fun colorful way to increase side visibility.

Radiant bike lights by Nite Ize offer a spectrum of high feature-to-value light options. The powerful rechargeable Radiant 750 is perfect for illuminating the path ahead, while the Day-Safe Flash mode creates an eye-catching pulse that keeps you seen from up to a mile away.

 The Radiant 125 front and tail lights offer a convenient rechargeable option, and the Radiant 50 is an affordable and compact battery-powered light. All Radiant bike lights have the convenience of tool-free installation, making it a snap to stay seen.

 

 

PACK EXTRAS, TRUST ME.

Over a few decades of riding to work, I’ve spent plenty of days walking around in ridiculous bike shoes or trying to pretend that my sweat-soaked shirt is the latest fashion trend. Lesson learned. Now, I have an extra everything at work. It’s amazing how an old pair of shoes and some badly fitting jeans can be a life saver when the alternative is wearing spandex to a 10 o’clock meeting. 

 

SHOWERING (WITHOUT A SHOWER).

Offices outfitted with onsite showers make it easy to commute on hot days, even if you have to be in business casual first thing. But for those of us without a shower handy, there are a variety of solutions. While a box of baby wipes gets the job done, there are a several purpose-made shower towelettes designed to specifically to de-funk yourself.

 

 

TO BACKPACK OR NOT TO BACKPACK.

It doesn’t take a bike commute-ologist to realize that extra clothes, lunch, and a lock can add up quickly. A backpack is great for short rides, but dedicated commuters may be interested in picking up a set of panniers. Panniers generally attach to a rack on your bike and create an easy way to carry everything you need, while your back remains backpack-free. 

 

WEATHERING THE WEATHER.

Nothing can dampen a ride like getting caught in a rainstorm. While you don’t have to carry a full raincoat and galoshes on every ride, having a small packable rain jacket works wonders. In a pinch, a garbage bag can be used to protect your gear (and even yourself) from the elements while a few grocery bags will keep your feet dry and warm. As an added bonus, you can always cover your seat with a grocery bag to ensure it stays dry during the day (so your tookus stays dry on the ride home).

Whether your bike ride takes you across town or to the local ice cream shop, it’s a great time to give bike commuting a try. After all, the best part of riding a bike is that…it’s just like riding a bike.

We are excited to welcome Suzanne (Sunny) Stroeer to the Nite Ize Field Team! Sunny is a nomadic high-altitude endurance athlete and mountain adventurer with a penchant for pushing the limits of human endurance in unconventional terrain. She recently founded an organization built upon her passion for mountaineering and female empowerment, and she has some big news to share.

Q: Hello Sunny! First off, tell us a little about yourself and how you got into adventuring and mountaineering.

I actually didn’t find my way to the mountains until I was in my late twenties.  I was mostly a couch potato as a kid, studied politics and business at Harvard University, and eventually worked long hours in finance and strategy consulting.  I started to dabble in climbing and mountain running while getting my MBA but it wasn’t until a seven-month backpacking trip after grad school that I learned about and fell in love with mountaineering and ultra-running. 

Q: What has been your favorite place you’ve visited? Is there one place you would like to revisit the most?

That’s a tough question - there are so many amazing places! I really love Nepal which is why I keep returning year after year - but I’m equally in love with the deserts of the American Southwest, and the Alps, and the Rockies, and… 

Q:You recently founded an organization called AWE (Aurora Women’s Expeditions). Tell us a little bit about the program and why you started it.

Q: Tell us about your next expedition with AWE.

I just wrapped up an AWE expedition to 22,838ft Aconcagua in Argentina a little while ago, and am now preparing to take a team to Nepal where we’ll first trek to Everest Basecamp and then climb 20,305ft Island Peak.  It’s going to be an amazing trip with a full 14 days on trail, as well as a bit of time to explore Kathmandu on either end. 

Q: Nite Ize is sponsoring one women to be a part of your next AWE expedition and you are currently taking applications for that spot. What do women who are interested in applying need to know?

I am so excited that we’ve been able to create this opportunity in the form of the AWE x Nite Ize Summit Scholarship!  I think the most important thing for prospective applicants to know is that you don’t need to be a seasoned high altitude mountaineer or pro athlete to apply. On the contrary, we created the scholarship to try and reach women who wouldn’t typically think they could participate in an expedition like this. That said, you do need to be in great cardio shape and/or willing to put in the work to get there prior to the expedition (to put that in more concrete terms, completing a 10k should not sound daunting to you). 

Applications are open until May 1st, 2019; the scholarship recipient will be announced during the second week of May. You can find the link to the scholarship page at the bottom of this blog post.

Q: What has been your most surprising experience from your adventure travels?

What’s been most surprising to me is how easy it generally is to get around on a budget and figure things out.  I specifically remember a time when I was backpacking in Fiji and needed to get from where I was staying to the airport that was two hours away, but I couldn’t afford a private car and there was no regular public transport.  I ended up putting my thumb out by the side of the road and got picked up by a school bus that was stuffed to the brim with Fijian second graders in school uniform, who were all very excited to give a Westerner with a massive backpack a ride to the airport before having to report to class. 

Q: What’s your favorite trail food or snack to bring along?

I always have an assortment of freeze dried meals from Backpacker’s Pantry - they’re easy, nutritious and taste great - and I also like to bring Wasabi peas for snacks as they’re quite high in calories and a fun treat. 

Q: What Nite Ize products do you bring on these types of expeditions and why?

I always carry the INOVA STS PowerSwitch Headlamp - I love that it’s powerful, adjustable, and USB rechargeable.  I also bring with me an assortment of Gear Ties and S-Biners as they’re handy for so many things, and I love the new RunOff bags to keep my passport, money and climbing permits safe from snow, water and tearing; and when I’m in particularly wet environments I use them to protect my phone, too. 

Q: How do people find you online to follow your adventures?

Spring is upon us and with it comes the motivation to declutter your domain and tidy up those things that “spark joy” in your life. And what’s more motivating than a few new items to help you conquer the cleanup? Here are a few of our favorite products for home organization.

THE GARAGE:

Gear Ties

Whether you’ve already been converted to the Gear Tie cult or you’re new to this revolutionary reusable twist tie, there’s no denying that this versatile solution is a lifesaver in the organization department. Featuring a durable rubber exterior that is bonded to a strong interior bendable wire, Gear Ties can be twisted, tied, and reused over and over. Better yet, they come in a variety of forms, sizes and colors so you can tame the smallest electronics cables to heavy hoses and more.

S-Biner Dual Carabiners

Another small but mighty tool is the iconic S-Biner, which also comes in an array of sizes, colors and materials. At first glance one might wonder what to do with it, but you’ll quickly learn that in addition to various other uses, you can hang items as small as keys and as large as bundled electrical cables using the range of sizes.

GearLine Organization System

Still need more room to hang those random tools and accessories laying around? The Gear Line features 10 S-Biner clips attached to individual sturdy loops, with Gear Ties on each end so you can hang it just about anywhere. Go vertical when you want to maximize storage and save wall space or hang horizontally to keep things easily accessible at eye level.

 

THE JUNK DRAWER:

IdentiKey Storage + ID System

Let’s tackle your junk drawer next. Do you spot more than one mystery key? Enter the IdentiKey Storage system. This key organizer holds up to four keys in a compact, flat cartridge and includes write-on IdentiKey Tags so you can confidently give your house sitter your spare key instead of the one to the shed – without having to spend time on trial-and-error.

Gear Ties… Again!

The great thing about Gear Ties is their variety of sizes. Use the 3” or 6” Cordable versions to wrap small electronics cables, or go larger, depending on cord size and length. You can even color code while protecting your cables with a cousin to the Gear Tie family, the CordCollar. Reinforce cable ends where they bend the most to help prevent fraying while taking the guessing game out of distinguishing similar cords and cables.

 

THE CLOSET:

RunOff Waterproof Large Packing Cube

The largest member of the revolutionary RunOff Waterproof Bag family is the Large Packing Cube. You might be wondering why a waterproof bag would help you organize your closet. RunOff bags compress and protect bulky items, so you can pack away your winter sweaters and base layers and compress the bag down to save room. They’re also great for keeping your sweaters safe from hungry moths. Until next year, winter wardrobe!

 

THOSE DARK AND SPOOKY CORNERS:

Radiant 250 Rechargeable Headlamp

You might be dreading this last spot. Need to clean out the attic or basement? Whether or not you believe in ghosts, demons or Jason Voorhees, you’ll definitely need some extra light to help you sort through those dark storage areas. A good headlamp will shed some light on the situation and keep your hands free to dust off boxes and decide if your vintage G.I. Joe collection still sparks joy.

 

Ready to tackle your Spring cleaning adventure? We want to see how you use your Nite Ize products to tame the chaos. Tag #LifesAdventureKit on Instagram and Twitter and be entered to win your own Nite Ize Advenure Kit!

By Brenda Isaac, Vice President of Marketing

This February, Nite Ize celebrates our 30th year in business. I know, I know. Why should you care? We’re just some random company looking for an excuse to have a few happy hours and pat ourselves on the back, right? While we certainly do love a good happy hour, that’s not why I think you should care. The success of Nite Ize, and in particular our founder and CEO, Rick Case, truly exemplifies the American Dream. From his “lightbulb moment” and the decision to start his own company in 1989 up to this year’s milestone anniversary, he has demonstrated incredible persistence and passion to develop innovative products, and the desire to create genuine relationships with our retailers and customers. He is a driven and passionate leader who genuinely loves what he does, and everyone at Nite Ize feels that every day. It’s what drives our desire to succeed. 

 Rick Case, CEO & Founder (2000)

I’m proud to have been a part of the Nite Ize team for 17 years. When I joined, I was a young marketer looking to get my foot in the door. I realize now that in many ways I was growing up at the same time that Nite Ize grew up. Together we would see our team grow from 25 employees to over 250. We would move from a small, rundown warehouse in East Boulder into two beautiful buildings spanning over 200,000 square feet in Boulder County. We would grow from a product line of just 25 products to a line that includes over 600 products – and counting. 

 Nite Ize Company Photo (2005)

 Nite Ize Compay Photo (2019)

What’s next for Nite Ize? I’m excited to announce a new chapter in our evolution as a company and brand. We are officially launching our new logo and brand look in 2019.

We’ve also created a new campaign that will introduce Nite Ize to millions of new customers and let them know that we are “Life’s Adventure Kit”. Whether your adventure is camping, remodeling your kitchen, or taking your dog to the park, Nite Ize products make life simpler, safer, and more fun.

Visit our Life's Adventure Kit page to learn more.

 

We want to focus on building our brand, creating lasting connections with our community of customers, and developing products that tap into the unlimited power of invention and discovery.

So, raise a glass of your favorite Boulder microbrew and let’s share a toast to Rick Case, Nite Ize, and a dream that continues to come true. Believe me, we’re just getting warmed up.

 

 

January 2019 has come and gone in a flash. So how are you doing with those New Years Resolutions a month in? At the start of each year, many of us set goals to become healthier versions of ourselves – whether that be to join a gym, go to the gym more often, eat better, bike to work at least once a week, and anything in between. The Holidays typically have us stressed with the pressures of society combined with an abundance of decadent food, resulting in an effort to live a healthier lifestyle at the start of the new year. But as time slips by, it’s all too easy to fall back into old, bad habits while you get swept up in your busy day-to-day life. So what can you do to keep yourself in check for the long haul? Here are 5 things you can do to keep your motivation flowing:

 

1. Use a Fitness Watch

 

 

If you don’t already own a fitness tracking device, this is the perfect time to pick one up. Luckily there are plenty on the market these days in a range of price points, so you’ll likely be able to find something that works for you and your budget. These devices are great for setting goals, keeping track of your step count, seeing how far you’ve run, how much elevation you’ve climbed and more. Think of your smartwatch or fitness tracker as your personal coach – and you don’t want to let them down.

 

2. Get a Workout Buddy

 

 

If a piece of technology isn’t enough to keep you motivated, find a real person who will! Having a partner makes your workouts, runs or rides more fun, and you’re less likely to skip a day. Perhaps your significant other, friend or family member has similar aspirations. You can both benefit by keeping each other on track. If running is your jam, sign up for a race with your workout partner so you have a set date to train for.

 

3. No Excuses! Even When It’s Dark

 

 

Just because it gets dark early or the sun hasn’t risen when you actually have time for your morning run or bike ride doesn’t mean you should blow it off. Nite Ize has great products for lighting your way and staying safe when you’re outside in the dark. For runners or walkers, our Radiant 250 Rechargeable Headlamp is perfect for seeing your way through dark neighborhood streets or paths. Make sure you’re staying safe and visible to cars with a SlapLit LED Slap Wrap or TagLit Magnetic LED Marker. If you’re commuting to work via bike, or simply out for a joy ride, be sure you pick up some Radiant Bike Lights for front and rear, and a couple of SpokeLit Wheel Lights for that crucial (and too often ignored) side visibility.

 

4. Journal It

 

 

It’s easy to ignore your diet or skip your workout when you’re not holding yourself accountable. By keeping a journal dedicated to your goals, you can keep track of what you’re eating, how much weight you’ve lost and what your workouts consisted of. You can plug in information from your fitness tracker as well for an even more comprehensive view. If you’re more digital than analogue, there is a plethora of apps to help you monitor your goals. My Fitness Pal, JeFit, SparkPeople and Lifesum are a few to check out.

 

5. Treat Yo’ Self

Finally, always remember to go easy on yourself, even when trying to hold yourself accountable to your goals. Reward yourself in healthy ways when you’ve been killing it at pilates or staying on track with your diet. Find self-care practices that are right for you – it could be anything from taking a nice bath, treating your workout partner to a sushi night, getting a pedicure, or anything else you enjoy that won’t completely undo the hard work you’ve put in. Another great way to treat yourself and motivate is to buy some fun new gear. You’re bound to be more excited for your next class or session when you have brand new sneakers to break in or compression pants to try out.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Even the biggest fitness buffs have a hard time meeting their goals from time to time. Keep moving forward and make your future self proud.