At this point, it’s probably not much use to tell you what you already know – we are living in unprecedented times. And what I hope you all know without it needing to be said – that we hope each of you in the Nite Ize community and beyond are safe and healthy, and reading this from the comfort of your homes. And, more pertinently, if you happen to share those homes with tiny humans who call you mom or dad, we hope you are not going absolutely insane yet. In case you are flirting with that brink however, we thought we’d share a few ideas on using your Nite Ize products to keep those kiddos entertained and cut you a break.

 

1. Build a Fort

If you haven’t started fort building, this one is a life saver. You put in a little effort on the front end of putting it together, but then your kids have their own hideout - a new space in the house that is all theirs. Fill it with soft blankets, kid chairs, toys, whatever they are into right now. Then sit back and enjoy your space – the rest of the house – quietly. Genius. With Gear Ties and S-Biners, you can rig a quick lean-to style fort just about anywhere with just a couple blankets. My personal favorite style fort is a fan-powered dome one. This is a childhood-special – shout out to my big brother for the engineering expertise behind it.  Basically, you’ll need blankets and a box fan, then you need to create a semi-airtight boundary for your fort. Blankets secured over tables and chairs work great (if you get a leak, just use a Gear Tie to secure the blanket to table leg).

Next, throw a bed sheet over the top, seal the edges, and make sure it’s snug around your box fan (I also use a Gear Tie here to keep the sheet from blowing down). *Bonus if you can spot the kid in the photo below*

Then turn on your fan, and boom, you’ve got an air-conditioned, fort-extraordinaire to keep those little muchkins busy for hours.

 

2. Digitize That Fort

Okay, the fort itself should buy you at least an hour a day of entertainment, but once the novelty and old-fashioned fun has worn off, buy yourself some more time with our good friend, technology. I set up the Steelie Bendable Arm in our fort, stuck the iPad on it, and FaceTimed Grandma.

The kids loved it, Grandma loved it, and I loved sitting quietly in the next room, drinking an entire cup of coffee, in one sitting, while it was still hot.

And, if you make your fort big enough, you can make it feel like your own cozy indoor movie theater. Just use a dark sheet instead of a white one, use flashlights or a mini lantern to get everyone settled in, bring in a big bowl of popcorn, and you’ve got a cozy family movie date, day or night. 

 

3. Elf on the Shelf? How About BugLit on the Bookshelf?

Ok, maybe it doesn’t have quite the same ring or pizazz as that lovable little Christmas helper, but BugLit is pretty darn cute, and his bendable, grippy arms and legs make it easy to hide him in fun places all over the house.

Pick a new spot every day and the kids will have a blast looking for him, and you get down time while they do. You could make it a countdown till Easter, or countdown to the end of social distancing, or pick a timeline that makes you happy. And if you get really bored, the Bug is a pretty good listener. Sometimes he and I enjoy a cold beer and smooth tunes at the piano after the kids go to bed. Hey, whatever gets you through…

 

4. Get Outside, Even After Dark

Turns out, lots of people are getting outside to walk their neighborhoods and local parks during this time of isolation. That’s great! ...But, it is also making social distancing guidelines difficult to follow as trails are getting overly crowded. A great way to avoid the crowds but still shake out those stir-crazy legs is to head out for a family ride in the evening - and luckily, we are headed towards more and more warm nights. If you’re a Nite Ize junkie, chances are your family’s bikes are already loaded up with lights and you’re set to go. If not though, click for our recommendations on front, rear, and side/wheel lights.  Enjoy the fresh air together and sap the last of the kids energy before bedtime. Win win.

 

If there’s ever a time to tighten the bonds of our online community, this is it! Please share your tips and tricks for keeping the kiddos entertained at home in our comments section below. Bonus if it includes Nite Ize gear, but we love to hear all your creative suggestions.

They may say, “you can’t have it all”, but every now and again there’s someone or something that we can all agree truly does. When it comes to utility tools, Nite Ize Gear Tie Reusable Rubber Twist Ties are exactly that – the “Belle of the Ball” and undoubtedly, the envy of all other utility ties.

If you’ve never used a Gear Tie, it may be difficult to understand just what a game changer they can be in your everyday life. If you have used them, then you, my lucky friend, are among the enlightened.

Many people are used to grabbing a rubber band, tape, or a zip tie when you have a problem that needs wrapping or securing. Once you’ve learned the ways of the Gear Tie, you’ll never make that mistake again. Sure, rubber bands are cheap and convenient, they come free with your bundle of asparagus and might be ok for that job. But let’s be honest, other than making a rubber band ball to impress your friends, they lack in any other impressive abilities.

I will admit that duct tape has some pretty fun uses (and gets some notable press), and it is especially great for taping ducts… but let’s be honest, it’s not reusable and it leaves that sticky film on everything else. And okay, zip ties may have a certain sexy-Hollywood appeal associated with Liam Neeson films where he adeptly incapacitates bad guys with them. But a quick internet search will show you how even mere mortals can defeat zip-tie handcuffs like a boss (see here, just in case you’re ever taken captive via zip tie).  But most likely, your most memorable experiences with zip ties are of them popping, and then something that you worked very hard to put together breaking, or if you’ve ever worked trade shows, your memories may be filled with cutting hundreds of them apart at the end of a show and tossing them in the trash.

Enter, the Gear Tie. A truly better, more versatile, more eco-friendly option which will give you magical MacGyver-like problem solving skills in any situation.

Gear Ties are made with a grippy, durable rubber exterior which makes them waterproof for indoor and outdoor use. That tough exterior is molecularly bonded to the bendable wire interior, so it won’t pull apart or let you down. With sizes ranging from 3” and 6” cord-wrapping Gear Ties all the way to 64” Mega-sized, doubly-strong Gear Ties, the possibilities of what you can do with them are endless. And the Gear Ties themselves are endlessly reusable – no guilt of adding anything else to our landfills. That is love. And that my friends, is why the Gear Tie really does have it all. We should all be so lucky.

What is your favorite Gear Tie use or problem-solved story? Please share with us in the comments section below.

Last year, we worked with our friends at AWExpeditions to create a scholarship for one woman to travel to Nepal for a mountaineering trip of a lifetime. We are excited to announce that we have again partnered with AWExpeditions to bring the Summit Scholarship back for year two! We caught up with Melissa, last year's Summit Scholarship recipient, to talk about her experience trekking to Everest Basecamp and summiting 20,305ft Island Peak with AWE. Read her interview here and prepare to be inspired.

 

Q: Hi Melissa! First off, tell us a little about yourself and how you got into mountaineering.

Sure! I have lived in Boulder, Colorado the last 8 years where I’ve been enjoying the Rocky Mountains, but am originally from California where I grew up exploring the Sierras and Cascades. I work as a water resource engineer and hydrologist, and feel lucky to work in a profession in which I can connect to the outdoor places I love. Although I enjoyed the outdoors growing up, moving to Colorado after college multiplied the opportunities for getting outside. I made a conscious effort to try every activity that sounded fun and at least a little bit terrifying, all of which led me to appreciate the numerous dramatic peaks in the Rockies. I had the opportunity to learn how to ice climb, started overcoming my fear of heights by scrambling (climbing low-grade exposed rock without a rope), then transitioned from resort snowboarding to backcountry skiing to spend more time in the wilderness. Simultaneously, I pushed myself to move higher and further on my trail runs. I started snow climbing after recovering from a near-death accident in order to conquer my PTSD and fell in love with it. I realized that all of these activities could naturally blend together as interesting and fun mountaineering objectives. 

 

Q: Why did you apply for the AWE x Nite Ize Summit Scholarship and how did it feel to win?

The AWE x Nite Ize Summit Scholarship embodied my journey into outdoor independence. Although I found great outdoor communities, nearly all my foundational experiences in the outdoors relied on a male partner.  I often depended on a significant other to plan objectives and felt like I needed him there to feel secure in challenging environments. If I wasn’t invited on outings or my partner wasn’t available, I felt like I couldn’t do the things I wanted to. After being excluded from a series of trips that I felt prepared for because I was told I couldn’t handle them, I decided to take charge of the situation by training myself to execute trips independently. I started getting outside more on my own and took classes to educate myself. I realized that many other female friends felt a similar lack of empowerment and began pushing others to do more all-female trips. The AWE x Nite Ize Summit Scholarship emphasizes female empowerment in the outdoors to encourage more equality in high altitude mountaineering and break down some of the barriers women have historically faced in getting into the sport. While I had spent a lot of time building the essential skills for mountaineering, I still wasn’t sure how to put together a high altitude expedition. Sunny Stroeer and her partners have recognized that this is a huge factor in the lack of female mountaineers and this scholarship was a great opportunity to break into the sport in a more controlled environment led by a woman that encompassed all of these values.  I was incredibly honored to win this scholarship. From what I understand there were women from over 20 countries who applied for this opportunity, all of whom had incredible stories. This speaks to the importance of the work Sunny, Nite Ize, and Lowa are all promoting.

 

Q: How did you train for the expedition to Everest Base Camp and Island Peak?

 Living in Colorado, I am lucky to have access to many peaks in the 14,000 ft elevation range. We had a fairly long winter prior to the expedition, so I spent the spring climbing and skiing the taller mountains in the state using the technical gear (crampons and ice axe) I would use on Island Peak. Over the summer, I got up to 14,000 ft. one to two days a week by squeezing in trail runs and scrambles up high into the dark hours after work and doing longer (7-12 hour) pushes on ridges at altitude on the weekends. I had just transitioned from graduate school to a full time job so efficiency was essential. My main goal was to stay acclimated and prolong my endurance as much as possible. Speed was not as critical as the expedition would require long days carrying a heavy pack at altitude.

 

 

Q: What surprised you the most while on your expedition?

 This was my first trip to the Himalayas, and I made a point not to look up photos of the hiking region prior to the expedition apart from the necessary technical aspects of the climb. I was blown away by the dramatic, lush canyons below treeline and the enormous rivers we crossed over precarious suspension bridges. Once we climbed into the alpine, the mountains were on a scale that dwarfed every previous experience I had. It is an incredible feeling, hiking on a plateau at 14,000 ft. and seeing mountains stretch more than 10,000 ft. above you. That said, I think the Sherpa people were just as impressive. They live at elevations up to 17,000 ft. and are the loveliest and most generous people I’ve encountered.

 

 

Q: What was it like to reach the summit?

 Reaching the summit was even more satisfying and fulfilling than I anticipated. I say that because I had tried not to put too much pressure on myself to reach the summit so that I could embrace the experience regardless of the outcome. However, at about 19,000 ft. I really began to struggle physically with the altitude and wasn’t sure if I could finish the route. I think I had become weaker from having issues with sleep apnea at altitude a few days before summit day in which I would stop breathing at night and wake myself up. The final push is a 1,000 ft., steep headwall on which you need to simultaneously ascend with a jumar in one hand while climbing with an ice axe with your other hand. My team noticed that I was starting to deteriorate and provided an enormous amount of emotional support to help boost me up the final part of the climb. Pushing through that mental barrier was huge for me in recognizing my potential. It was also wonderful to celebrate with the team on the summit with a 100% success rate. One of our Sherpas celebrated by taking his shirt off (at 6,000m!) and opening a can of beer to share with the team. And I suppose I should mention that the views were spectacular!

 

Q: What Nite Ize product came in most handy on the trip?

I enjoyed using a variety of Nite Ize products on the trip, but I really relied on the INOVA STS PowerSwitch headlamp. Throughout the trip we had minimal to no lighting at night in our teahouse rooms and on our summit day we spent the first many hours hiking in the dark through technical terrain. I have often been disappointed with the brightness and reach of headlamps I’ve used, but this one is incredibly bright on high power. It also has a dimming feature to conserve power, as well as a red light function to use in the evening at camp when you don’t want to blind your climbing team. The other feature that was really helpful was the ability to swipe the top of the headlamp to change the settings and toggle it on and off. On Island Peak I was wearing enormous mittens and usually trying to press a button on a headlamp is challenging, but this technology allows you to have full functionality without exposing your hands. The other great feature is that the headlamp is both rechargeable and uses AAA batteries so you have backup methods for charging. I should also mention that the Nite Ize team was incredible to work with and was very generous in its support of this scholarship.

 

Q: What was your favorite part of the trip as a whole?

Everything! But if I have to choose something, I would say the relationships I formed along the way. I shared a room and tent with Kerry, one of my new role models and the other female participant on the trip. We bonded over our suffering, laughed at the deteriorating state of our cleanliness and ultimately pushed each other up the summit. I had wonderful talks with Sunny and her husband Paul, a climbing icon himself, about making goals happen and about general life wisdom. Alex, the only male participant kept the climb light-hearted with his humor. This team of strangers quickly became more like a family to me and I know these relationships will last the rest of my life. On top of that, our two Sherpas, MIngma and Phurba, introduced me to a completely new culture and became good friends. These two had climbed Everest multiple times as well as many more technically challenging peaks - coming from the land of super-athletes in Boulder, this was definitely a humbling experience.

 

Q: What’s the next adventure you hope to tackle?

This year I have a few smaller objectives including skiing a few more of the volcanoes in the Cascades  and completing the longest and steepest ultra running race I’ve done. However, next year I would like to try to ski Denali. It is almost exactly the same elevation as Island Peak, but has more relief and more objective hazards. I love Alaska and think skiing a high altitude peak would be incredible. Immediately after the trip I thought I wouldn’t be interested in more high altitude climbs because of the health challenges, but my memory seems to change over time...

 

We're excited to take the Summit Scholarship into year two by sponsoring one woman to join AWE on their expedition to climb Kilimanjaro this fall! If reading this has piqued your interest, applications are open on www.awexpeditions.org from March 16th - April 15th, 2020.

Nite Ize unveiled a variety of new innovative products during the Showstoppers media event at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and they are now available to the public! Scroll through to see what we're excited to debut.

 

 

Our Family of RunOff Waterproof Bags Just Got Bigger

RunOff® Waterproof Phone Pouch

Keep your phone protected, secure, and accessible whether at the beach, on the boat, or at the waterpark with the RunOff Phone Pouch. The clear, touchscreen-friendly material lets you use your apps, plus your front/back cameras – even underwater!

 

RunOff® Waterproof Phone Case

This unique soft case protects phones from water, dust, and sand with a slim design that can fit in your pocket, or be attached to the included lanyard. Like the Phone Pouch, the clear material is touchscreen-friendly and allows for the use of your phone's front and back camera.

 

RunOff® Waterproof Tablet Case

Now you can use your device while protecting it from water, dust, and sand with the RunOff Tablet Case. Read an e-book at the beach, take photos on the boat, or watch a movie by the pool without worry of water or sand damage.  Integrated anchor points and a removable, adjustable lanyard keep your tablet secure, convenient, and accessible.

 

RunOff® Waterproof Small Packing Cube

Meet our newest, smallest member of the RunOff Packing Cube family. This bag is perfect for protecting and organizing everything from small electronics to mess-prone items like cosmetics. Waterproof, dustproof, and compressible, this small packing cube is as convenient as it is compact.

 

Paw-some New Pet Gear

NiteDog™ Rechargeable LED Collar

Take the guesswork out of trying to spot your dog in a pitch-dark yard. This durable, light-up collar is available in two colors and four adjustable sizes, and features optical fiber technology that transmits light throughout its entire length in either constant glow or flash mode. Keep you best friend visible and safe – day or night – with the NiteDog Rechargeable LED Collar.

 

NiteDog™ Rechargeable LED Leash

Keep yourself and your dog visible from dusk 'til dawn with this rechargeable and highly visible light-up leash. Like the NiteDog Collar, optical fiber technology transmits light throughout the entire length of the leash without loss of light output, and offers both constant glow and flash modes. Featuring a comfortable, padded handle with a built-in anchor point for clipping necessities, this durable weather-resistant leash is made to last.

Fun fact: Our (very cute) dog models are all Nite Ize family members and friends! Modeling our new NiteDog collars and leashes are Roo, Britta, Moose, Chewie and Duchess.

 

When You Need a Little Light...

BugLit® Rechargeable Micro Flashlight

Our classic BugLit Micro Flashlight is now rechargeable! The bendable Gear Tie legs make this compact light easy to attach and stand anywhere from your bedside table to your camping tent. The BugLit has been putting the fun in functional for many years, and we couldn't be more thrilled to introduce this rechargeable option.

 

Radiant® 100 Keychain Flashlight

At 100 lumens, this small-but-mighty flashlight is compact enough to fit right on your keychain! The included S-Biner MicroLock makes this lightweight keychain accessory easy to attach and detach when needed.

 

Radiant® Rechargeable Microlight

The compact Radiant Rechargeable Microlight features four modes, a durable impact-resistant body, and is easy to attach to keychains, zipper pulls, and more using the included S-Biner.

 

Radiant® Rechargeable LED Glow Stick with Disc-O Select™

Say goodbye to disposable glow sticks with this high-quality rechargeable LED glow stick that can be used over and over (and over) again. With no chemicals to worry about or batteries to replace, this long-life glow stick blends the convenience of rechargeability in an adventure-proof body. Keep it in your emergency kit, clip it to your pack for nighttime safety, or hit the summer festival scene with this versatile, waterproof glow stick equipped with an S-Biner for easy attachment/detachment. Disc-O Select allows you to choose from three colors, or color-changing Disc-O mode.

 

When You Need More Light...

Radiant® 170 Rechargeable Clip Light

Turn your hat into a headlamp in seconds! The Radiant 170 Rechargeable Clip Light offers the convenience of rechargeability in a compact design that clips securely onto hats or straps. With 170 lumens of flood lighting that's perfect for tasks from backyard grilling to changing a tire. This dual-color light offers four modes, adjustable tilt, and a detachable body that can also be used as a handheld light, making it a great addition to your car kit.

 

Radiant® 170 Rechargeable Headlamp

Much like the Clip Light, the Radiant 170 Rechargeable Headlamp offers a high feature-to-value ratio with four modes, red and white LEDs, a compact design and the convenience of rechargeability. This headlamp is perfect for campouts, night walks, working around the house, or to keep in your emergency kit. This 170-lumen hands-free lighting solution is impact and water resistant, and features a body that can be tilted 180° so you can shine your light exactly where you need it. The detachable body can also be removed and converted into a handheld light!

 

INOVA® T7R™ PowerSwitch™ Rechargeable Focusing Flashlight

The T7R lets you easily transition between a powerful 713-lumen spot beam to a wide flood beam with a simple twist. Featuring PowerSwitch technology, the T7R is rechargeable while offering the versatility of being able to run on two non-rechargeable CR123 batteries when needed.

 

When You Need a Crazy Bright Light...

INOVA® T11R™ Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight + Power Bank

At 5800 lumens (yes, you read that right), and the ability to project a beam over a quarter mile, the T11R is our premier tactical lighting solution. Shockproof and fully waterproof, this rechargeable flashlight features a built-in power bank capable of charging other electronic devices.

 

New Colors + Styles

Our S-Biner® SlideLock® Stainless Steel and S-Biner® MicroLock® Stainless Steel are now available in an eye-catching "Spectrum" finish!

 

The iconic BugLit® Micro Flashlight now comes in four fresh new colors: lime, bright blue, coyote, and if you really want to get crazy, red/teal/yellow!

 

You can now sport our popular SlapLit™ LED Drink Wrap in a USA flag pattern! Show off your patriotism as you sip that cold one.

 

Which new products are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments and be sure to tag your photos featuring a Nite Ize product on Instagram with #LifesAdventureKit to be entered into our monthly photo contest to win a Nite Ize Adventure Kit!

Once every four years, we get an extra day in February as part of our Leap Year, called Leap Day. As a result, we have a 366-day calendar year in 2020. What will you do with your extra 24 hours?

 

1. Hit the road with an adventure in mind.

An extra day means an extra chance to check something off the bucket list, whether it’s an adventure to a small nearby town, a hike to a hidden lake, or a sledding trip with the kids. If you’re planning to be around water or snow, bring a RunOff Waterproof Pocket to keep your phone, ID, and cards dry and accessible. Don't forget your Steelie to help navigate your way to adventure!

 

2. Clear out that cluttered basement or garage.

Leap Day is your opportunity to take on that cluttered part of your home without losing time. Grab 3 boxes and label them “keep”, “donate”, and “trash”, placing items into their respective boxes as you make your way through the space. Once you’ve cleared out the mess, use Gear Ties to organize tangled cords and bundles, and large S-Biners to hang up old backpacks, tools, and supplies. 

Tip: If you struggle letting go of things, use Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method. Hold each item in your hand and see if it “sparks joy” or makes you feel happy. If it does, keep it. If it doesn’t, donate or toss it.

 

3. Get Moving.

While it may already be the last day of February, there’s no time like the present to start working towards your health goals. Pull the bike out of the garage or take off on an evening run to get some fresh air and be active at the same time. You can even bring the whole family along to spend quality time together while working up a sweat. Clip a TagLit Rechargeable Magnetic LED Marker to your clothing or a SpokeLit Rechargeable Wheel Light to your bike so you remain visible to drivers when you're out after sundown.

 

4. Give Back.

One surefire way to make yourself feel proud is to volunteer for a cause you're passionate about. Volunteering opportunities are endless, but some ideas to get you started are helping out at a local food bank, animal shelter, or senior center, participating in a public spaces cleanup, or you can even opt to donate blood. Websites like VolunteerMatch and JustServe are helpful resources for finding projects and organizations in your area. You'll be amazed at how good you'll feel after giving back to your community.

 

5. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your extra day off.  

In the same way that Leap Day adds balance to our calendar year, this extra day can add balance to your life, too. If you’re always sticking to a schedule and on-the-go, this is your chance to recharge, guilt-free. Crack open a cold one (with an Ahhh... Aluminum Bottle Opener of course), recline that chair, and enjoy a free day of relaxation, binge watching, and maybe even a nap. And if you took our advice on #4, you definitely deserve it!

 

What are you planning to do with your Leap Day? Let us know in the comments and we wish you an adventurous, productive, or relaxing free day!

The shelves are lined with pink cards, chocolate boxes, and teddy bears holding red hearts when you walk into any drugstore, which can only mean one thing: Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Fortunately, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, and on a three-day holiday weekend for some. The stars might be aligning for a quick weekend getaway with your Valentine’s date – whether they be a significant other, friend, family member, pet, or yourself (flying solo is fun too)! Here are some ideas to kickstart your inspiration, and some tips that might be a help along the way.

 

Where are you headed?

You might be already a step ahead of us and have already booked something. But if you’re more of a spontaneous person, you might consider somewhere driving distance if flights are already too pricey and hard to find. Look for cool places to visit within a few-hour radius around you ­– maybe there’s somewhere you’ve been thinking of visiting but haven’t had a chance yet. This might be the perfect time to book it! Browse some hotel or vacation booking sites and see what you find. If you live in a warmer climate, you could even consider camping or renting a camper van.

 

How are you getting there?

Already have plane tickets? Brilliant! Hitting the road? Fantastic. We have tips for both.

To help make packing easier, our RunOff Waterproof Bags are a great solution. For flying, the 3-1-1 Bag is a big help for consolidating your liquids for TSA. Plus, because the bag is waterproof, you can rest assured your shampoo won’t leak all over your date night attire if it bursts open. Because this is likely a short trip, you’ll probably want to opt for carry-on luggage only. The Medium and Large packing cubes are compressible, so you can fit more clothes into smaller spaces.

 

For the road trip set, you’ll want a solution to keep your phone handy for GPS and music without having to mess with it in your hands while driving. Check out our Steelie mobile phone mounts to help you out. Don’t forget to make a playlist!

 

Pics or it didn’t happen

Don’t fall victim to the feeling of coming home from an amazing vacation that you forgot to document with plenty of photos. Thankfully, we all carry cameras in our pockets these days, so be sure to use them. Snap some cute selfies with the help of a trusty FlipOut Handle for your phone, or keep it securely on your person with the Hitch Phone Anchor + Tether.

 

Light up your “nite”

If you’re headed somewhere with a jacuzzi or soaking tub, pack some Disc-O Select NiteGems for some flashy fun. They’re waterproof AND they float!

Bringing along your favorite beverage? Keep it cool and colorful with a SlapLit Drink Wrap. You wouldn’t want to lose sight of your drink in the dark, would you?

Cross your fingers for a clear night – stargazing is a thoroughly under-appreciated activity. Better pack your headlamps so you can find a good spot to take in the show.

 

Remember, your dog is always your #1 valentine

Whether you’re celebrating with a significant other or not, your pet should be a part of the fun too. Check out some gift ideas for your dog here! If your furry friend is joining you on your vacation, a NiteHowl or SpotLit Collar Light is a great way to keep track of them during evening activities or potty breaks.

Are you planning a getaway of your own? Comment with your own tips or suggestions!

By Guest Blogger Colin Boyd of Afuera Vida

While every van dwellers’ home is unique, we all suffer the same challenges found in a nomadic lifestyle. A few that come to mind are - illumination, keeping our home strapped/tied down for bumpy drives, and keeping our kit organized. When planning to write a guest blog for Nite Ize I simply began looking around our 1978 Mercedes 508D converted fire truck for inspiration and realized that Nite Ize was quietly sitting in the background, providing us with greater ease with smart and effective solutions for the van dweller. So for those of you looking to increase your satisfaction with van life or wondering what application one of these nifty products may be used for, here is a list of our top six products in no specific order.

 

1. RadDog All-In-One Collar + Leash

This smart and user-friendly collar constantly saves our butts. When we pull over in any new spot, we are comfortable letting our dog Lola hop out and do her business knowing if there’s leash laws or other dogs passing by, we’ve got her covered. I can’t tell you the number of times we couldn’t find a leash, but the collar was already on - letting us go ahead without searching every corner for it. Hands down, if you own a dog that behaves just as well on or off leash, you need this product.

 

2. RadDog Collapsible Bowl

Over the past year we’ve covered over 18,000 miles in every corner of the states and we  love to take our young family out on adventures when and wherever we can. With two toddlers - both of which who typically need a lift on any walk over an hour - we have little space for extras and Lola (our dog) is usually left to finding her own water or slurping out of a water bottle and my hand with most landing on the ground. The packable dog bowl is lighter than a toothbrush and literally takes up less space than one. It has kept Lola charging longer and makes it way easier to keep her happy on the trail.

 

3. Radiant 314 Rechargeable Lantern

When your family of four lives in less than 120 square feet, any light can affect bedtime routines and early mornings. With three dim settings, a handy clip, and a USB charge port out, the lantern is a swiss army knife for the van and mobile charging. I’ve found myself packing this during the day if we need extra cell phone juice and also having enough light to read bedtime stories at night. Since it’s lightweight and super durable, we often use it out of the van to light up our camp for the night and give it to the kids to play with.

 

4. Gear Ties

The Nite Ize Gear Tie is quite possibly the most useful item in our gear kit. I have this holding bananas and books in place, my shower nozzle on, organizing my electric cords, and strapping our backpack guitar to the ceiling. In some of these instances rope may work, but with the simple twist and the guaranteed hold up over time, I’d find myself reaching for a Gear Tie over rope in many low consequence circumstances.

 

5. Radiant 300 Rechargeable Headlamp

Light is so critical and I never know when I will need it most. It could be a break down at night, taking our oldest out for a pee in the middle of the night or heading out on a backpacking or biking adventure. In any case, a Radiant 300 Rechargeable Headlamp is always close by and since I have USB ports all over the van, recharging is easy ensuring I’m all set for the next night.

 

6. INOVA T8R PowerSwitch Rechargeable Flashlight

I retired my Maglite after firing up the INOVA T8R PowerSwitch Rechargeable Flashlight. Bringing 762 lumens to the dark sky in a pocket sized light, this beast is my new best friend. Just the other night, we found ourselves (typically) arriving at our planned destination well after dark. The dirt road deteriorated quickly and we were entering what appeared like rock crawling terrain in the desert. With the high beams on, there still wasn’t enough light to assess if we’d be able to get out if we drop any further along the single lane track. With the INOVA T8R  in hand, I tripled my vision out the window and on further inspection by foot scouted the rest of the track and the campsite from over 300 yards away. In the past, I would have likely opted for the safe route and just shut it down before getting myself too deep up the creek without a paddle. With the INOVA T8R I feel so much more confident showing up to difficult boondocking sites at night. 

As a practicing minimalist, I am very picky about what makes it into my space, and all of these truly have saved me time and energy over the course of the past few months. Literally from the moment I received a grip of Gear Ties, they went to use and the Steelie is literally my steadfast driving companion in any driving situation. If you are a van lifer or are looking to buy something for one close to you, consider any of our top choices as none will sit idly in a cabinet as the utility for the van life application is the perfect fit.