Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, you’ve already figured out that it’s a smart idea to have some emergency preparedness gear handy in case of bad weather or power outages. A few gallons of water, a first aid kit, some candles and matches and, of course, a good flashlight. Homeland Security recommends that you add a few things too, including a three day supply of food, a whistle to signal for help, a can opener, local map and some way to charge your cellphone as necessary.

Most of these make no sense to tote around in your car. All cars should have a basic first aid kit, though, and a good flashlight. Problem is, a flashlight left in a vehicle is a classic challenge for most people because you have to remember to check and ensure it still works before the emergency situation arises. There are also lots of vehicular emergencies that can require a bright flashlight too, from dropped keys to a flat tire.

That’s why when I was equipping my daughter’s car with some emergency basics, I opted for the super bright Nite Ize^® INOVA^® X2 LED flashlight. Powered by two AA batteries, it can put out 280 lumens for almost two hours, plenty enough to flag down a passing vehicle. In its lower illumination mode, it’s still offers plenty of light to check a potential flat or work on the car as needed.

Since I know my daughter won’t check her flashlight on a monthly basis, the INOVA X2 retains its battery charge for a long time. Nite Ize assures me that even untouched for an entire year the flashlight will still work for hours in an emergency situation.

Since I want to instill good habits in my daughter with safety and preparedness, I am going to have her get into the habit of checking her flashlight and first aid kit every three months. This is easily implemented by checking on the first day of each season, which has a secondary advantage of reminding her to add some cold weather additions too.

If you also drive into snow and other potential bad weather, you too should remember that in addition to a reliable flashlight and first aid kit you should be packing jumper cables, a few flares and an ice scraper, at a minimum. 

There are few things more scary than having car troubles when it’s dark out and you’re far away from assistance. Having a Nite Ize flashlight as the cornerstone of her preparedness kit helps me feel better, knowing she’ll be able to handle most any emergency situation.

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Quick Facts | Nite Ize INOVA X2 LED Flashlight

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I am a trail runner, not a cyclist or mountain biker. The one time I did own a bike it was a mountain bike + it lived on the trails with me. Riding a bicycle in traffic is terrifying to me -- I don’t trust that the people behind the wheels of all the cars will be paying enough attention to guarantee my safety. Not to mention the fact I don’t necessarily trust myself atop a bike. I’m far more comfortable in my running shoes with only thin rubber between me + the ground.

All of these fun facts were ignored when I decided to cycle the coast of Croatia...in July...for nearly a month...on a cobbled together bike...with my life strapped to the frame.

My game plan was to cycle from northern Croatia to southern Croatia over the course of about four weeks. I needed to venture out of the Schengen Region of Europe to stay within the regulations of my visitor visa + I wasn’t about to just hang out on a beach. I wanted something more, something exciting + something hard. So when it was suggested I cycle the coast of Croatia I jumped all over the chance to take on adventure.

Instead of thinking about how much was stacked against me I focused on how much fun it was going to be. Not to mention how miserable it was going to be. I was looking at about 400 miles of cycling in the heat of a coastal country’s humid summer sunshine. Needless to say, I’ve had better ideas.

Nite Ize to the Rescue!

I mentioned this idea to the crew at Nite Ize about two months before I took off + they were even more stoked about it than I was! They asked how they could support my crazy. Nite Ize specializes in outdoor gear gadgets + some pretty spiffy bicycle accessories. Of course I wanted their help + support! It was a perfect fit! They supplied me with some awesome gear that came in incredibly handy when I was packing up my gear + decking out my new-to-me bike.

The bike lights were amazing + made my bike incredibly visible, which alleviated a lot of my stress about being visible on the highways. I strapped the INOVA STS Reachargable Headlamp to the front of the bike + the LED TwistLit to my back fender. This covered the basic requirements for bike safety, but I wanted more. I love color + what’s more colorful than multi-colored SpokeLits to spice things up?! Yea, no one was going to miss me on the road! But for good measure I packed along bright colors + reflective gear, because safety first!

Another great product that Nite Ize has created for cyclists is the HandleBand mount for your GPS/phone. It straps to your handlebars + keeps your phone right in your view. I quite literally depended upon this gadget! Since my route was created as I went it was integral to have my phone with Google Maps in front of me at all times. I even rigged up some Gear Ties to hold a battery pack to my bike frame so I’d always be able to check my route.

The Gear Ties also came in handy to strap my tent poles to my bike frame + keep all of my cords intact [yup, I took along electronics -- that’s the life of a digital nomad!]. I also found nearly a million uses for the CamJam XT Cord Tightener, which could be paired up with paracord to become a bungee or clothesline or...whatever else you could possibly need with adjustable paracord. We washed our clothes in campground sinks, so we put the CamJam clothesline to good use!

They were also kind enough to send along a cycling jersey to make me feel legit! I am not a cycling short convert, but the jerseys are rather incredible with their back pockets! It’s the little things in life I tell ya.

Adventure Bound // Cycling Coastal Croatia

I arrived in Rovinj, Croatia via bus after more than 24 hours of travel. I drug my bagged up bike over to a tiny park near the bus station, unpacked it + put it all together. Within about 30 minutes of getting off the bus I was on the road, following my phone’s GPS toward a campsite about 10km away. The sense of accomplishment I felt when I arrived at the campground + managed to set up camp without incident was glorious. I did it! I rode a touring bike + didn’t fall over [at least not entirely!]. I had remembered enough of my gear to at least set up my tent. Boom...I had this! I was going to do this!

This all changed the next day when I spent the entire afternoon sprawled out in the shade, willing myself not to vomit everywhere. In my excitement to ride I had forgotten to eat or drink for the entirety of a very hot, very sunny 20km/13mi jaunt. By the time I arrived at camp I was trashed. My ego was crushed...I am an ultra trail runner, I was supposed to be smarter than this!

Later that day my friend, Sophie, arrived via plane with her touring bike in tow. We were planning to spend the next few weeks cycling together. She knew cycling, I knew suffering. It seemed fool proof.

It definitely wasn’t a fool proof plan. It was a plan made by fools. We knew we were pushing our limits, but we were optimistic. Over the next few days we learned exactly what our limits are + how unprepared we were. Phew. Did you know Croatia is crazy hot + insanely humid in mid-July?! Well, it is. Heat + humidity are brutal, especially for a mountain girl [me!] + a girl from the United Kingdom [Sophie!]. The conditions ate us alive + eventually we gave in. Or, in my mind at the time, we gave up. We rented a car.

The car was barely large enough to fit our tire-less bikes into it, but it came with air conditioning + a motor. That’s exactly what we needed in that moment. It took some time for me to accept the feeling of failure that came with this tiny European car, but in the end it was definitely a worthy decision. The car took us inland where we were able to explore Plitvice Lakes National Park + Krka National Park. Both were incredible + would not have been possible with our bikes + schedule.

We spent a week in the car, then returned it for a few more days of cycling once we arrived in southern Croatia. It actually felt good to get back on my bike as I rode along a nearly empty road leading from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Hercig Novi, Montenegro. It was freeing + calming. I loved it more with every pedal turn. After a few too many days of wishing my bike tires would just fall off I was now plotting how I would take it back home with me.

I will always identify as a trail runner first...but at my core I am happy to get outside, however I can. Even atop a bicycle that I learned how to put together in the days before a four week adventure.

Between the bikes + the rental car we were able to visit Pula, Zadar, Split, Makarska, Plitvice Lake NP, Krka NP + Dubrovnik in Croatia. From Dubrovnik I head to Herceg Novi + Kotor, Montenegro while Sophie ventured north to Munich, Germany. I closed out my Croatian adventure with a stop in Zagreb, then met up with Sophie before we both returned to the mountains of Switzerland.

You can read up on more of the adventure over on my website: Heidi Kumm // Oversharing Life. You’ll find the full story, a run down of the logistics + the details of how I packed my life into a few pannier bags. I learned a lot while roaming + exploring on a bike...so much so that I’m fairly certain I will be acquiring a new bike this summer. While the bike I used in Croatia did come back to Colorado with me there’s a very high chance I’ll be popping my colorful SpokeLits on another new-to-me bike. One created for trails, to mesh a bit more with my trail running ways.

It feels like yesterday that I watched my oldest son exit the bus as a second grader for the last time, while I explained to my five-year-old son that he was still a whole summer away from starting kindergarten.

“That’s, like, a year away!”

And in kid time, he’s right. But in adult time, summer goes by in seconds. I must have blinked a little too fast, because it's already time to shift from sunscreen and summer camps to books and backpacks. Transitions are hard for kids and adults alike, but here are solutions that help my family get back to school smoothly (while retaining some semblance of sanity).

MOOOOOOOM, WHERE IS MY…

Children’s ability to learn is almost as impressive as their ability to forget, which makes S-Biners a lifesaver for keeping easy-to-lose items secure and accessible. With a variety of colorful clippable solutions that can be connected to backpacks, gym bags, lunch boxes, water bottles and more, S-Biners keep the chaos (relatively) under control.

FORGET FIDGET SPINNERS

Kids are programmed to keep their minds and bodies active. By keeping a handful of brightly colored Gear Ties stored in their backpacks, kids can use them for everything from fixing broken lunch box handles to sculpting Gear Ties into their favorite creatures. Our new Gear Tie Key Ring is both fun and functional, offering busy bodies a perfect way to fidget quietly.

Sometimes fixing a lunch box is a lot easier than convincing a five-year-old that his Twilight lunch box (don't ask) isn't the best lunch box ever.

BIKE FOR BETTER GRADES

A recent Danish study that followed 20,000 school-aged kids determined that bicycling to school impacts concentration more than eating a healthy breakfast. Outfitting bikes with SpokeLit Disc-O Select and See'ems for side visibility provides safety through fun and colorful lights kids love. For walkers and riders, magnetic TagLits are super bright and easily attach to bags, jackets and more.

After sitting in school all day, kids need to move their bodies—a feat made more difficult by shorter days. Closing out each day tossing around the Flashflight Jr. or playing catch (with or without Fido) is a great way to combine family time with fun time.

GOODNIGHT MOON

When it’s time to crawl into bed, the BugLit makes for a perfect reading light that kids can enjoy while they rest up and get ready to do it all over again the next day.

Have you ever been out for a night ride and had a car pass by too close for comfort? Do you ride with a repair kit at the ready to handle any setbacks or quick adjustments on the go? Do you and your love ones, practice good habits when riding or sharing the road? Whether you’re a casual cruiser, the competitive cyclist, or a considerate motorist it’s always great to double check that you’re prepared and knowledgeable for any misadventures that the road or trail may throw at you. May is National Bike Safety Month, and I’d love to share some thoughts to keep you out and keep you safe.

For an easy tip, here’s rule one… wear a helmet! I’ve seen this first-hand, wearing a helmet can save your life… no matter how slow you’re riding it’s only to your benefit. There’s a ton of options out there, so if you want a casual or a high performance life saver you’re going to be covered, literally. Here are a few great brands to consider: Nutcase, Bern, Smith, Giro, and Poc. The key to a great helmet is all about fit, as well as making sure it’s appropriate for the level of activity at hand. Be sure to pop into your local bike shop and try on several options to ensure you get the best fit possible.

Safety is a necessity in our lives, though the concept of the word doesn’t exactly inspire joy or fun I’ll admit.To explore that a little further, you may believe bike lights aren’t as necessary during the warmer seasons ahead. To some degree you’re right; however, you may be interested to learn that most cycling accidents occur during daylight, as well as low-light times such as sunrise or dusk. So how do you add safety and a little character to such a dry subject? Easy, you add LEDs. Thanks to LED lighting you can ride with a little extra personality. It’s always important to BE SEEN & BE SAFE… but you don’t need to be bland about it. For front & rear visibility I’d suggest a simple solution, like the TWISTLIT - LED BIKE LIGHT which is an easy “on-the-go” item. It’s a small, simple, and easily stowable form of visibility that can give you that extra bit of attention to others on the road. Another safety item with a bit more color for your night ride is the SPOKELIT - LED SPOKE LIGHT. The SpokeLit is a quick and easy install to your wheel spokes, and greatly increases your side to side visibility. There are a ton of color options as well. But that’s just the bike… what about keeping you seen? This is where one of my favorite Nite Ize products comes into the fold... the  SLAPLIT - LED SLAP WRAP.

The SlapLit takes me back to my youth and the days of the Slap Bracelet. I mean come on, we all had them… and how do you make that better? Yep, you add LEDs. What was once a toy from my early days is illuminated to keep you visible in the dark, and it’s completely bike friendly as well. Most riders wear the SlapLit around the ankle for visibility and to keep your pant leg away from the chain. I personally prefer wearing it on my wrist, which enables me to use the light as a turn indicator to motorist that may not be able to see my arms clearly on dark roads.

There’s more to safety than visibility though, you also need to be prepared. It’s great to have a general knowledge of your bike and how to maintain it. A great resource for this is your local bike shop or REI as most will offer free courses in basic bike maintenance. These resources keep you connected with your local cycling community and are a great way to pick-up the skills to keep your bike in proper form should you get a flat or need to make some basic adjustments. Before every ride I suggest checking that your brakes are working properly, and that you have good tire pressure. To that effect, you should always be ready to tackle these issues when you ride. I highly recommend carrying:

1. A new tube/patch kit
2. A bike tool
3. A tire lever
4. An air pump/CO2 system

Having these items with you, as well as the knowledge to put them to use can be the difference between a ride and the dreaded “hike-a-bike” home. One of my favorite ways to keep your repair kit organized is to keep them together with our new BETTERBAND™ 5" ADJUSTABLE STRETCH BANDS. This is an easy way to secure your tools together, and keeps them easily stowable in a jersey pocket.

 
So let’s do a quick recap: now you have a great fitting helmet, you’re ready to illuminate the day or night to be seen and safe, and you have some basic tools and bike knowledge to keep your rig rolling. That’s a great start, but be sure you know the rules of the road and how they keep you safe in your area. Here are a couple good resources to consider: bikeleague.org, safekids.org, as well as peopleforbikes.org. You may also be able to find some great programs in your neighborhood. Local to Colorado, I’ve had the great fortune of working with two programs that are reaching out to increase bike awareness and safety for children. Both are actively engaging youth communities to be safe, knowledgeable, and courteous riders. Our very own Boulder Valley School District is working with various age groups to develop good fundamentals early, as well as put these techniques to work on the road. It’s pretty inspiring to see a local education program coach student health and safety at such a priority. Another great program is tripsforkidsdenver.org which works with at-risk youth to foster life skills of personal empowerment. They focus on kids who have had no experience on a bike, while all the way creating achievement based programs in which these young participants can even earn a bike.

The important thing to remember on the road is to be safe, be courteous, and always remember to enjoy the ride. I can still remember when my Dad took the training wheels off my bike. For me it was a day of accomplishment and triumph… I found a new sense of exploration and freedom. For my family it was a sense of trust, a belief that they had instilled the proper knowledge and respect in their son to keep him alert, safe, and happy. I can say first-hand that this passion is still alive inside me today. I hope that you too have the same smile on your face during every ride.

Stay safe - Rubber side down,
Brian

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year because it's one the few times when both young and old get dressed up in silly, or scary, costumes for a night of fun and celebration with their peers. Some people take the holiday to the extreme by creating haunted houses in their garages or dressing up in costumes that cost hundreds of dollars, while others, like me, look for ways to add a little extra flare without breaking the bank.

If you're like me, and want to add a little extra bling to your Halloween without spending an arm and a leg on something that you'll only use once a year, then keep reading to learn 5 Nite Ize tricks that will help you stand out in the pumpkin patch this year.

1. Illuminate your costume - Whether or not your costume requires a lighting element, the simple addition of an LED can really make you standout from the crowd at this year's Halloween party. Costumes like Iron Man, for example, benefit greatly by the addition of a few TwistLits worn on your hands or from a SpotLit necklace to illuminate the "arc reactor" in Iron Man's chest.

2. Use a SpotLit to light-up your pumpkin - Using a SpotLit in your jack-o-lantern is a great way to safely light your pumpkin this year. Not only will the long battery life of 20 hours be enough to light your pumpkin all night long, you can also put the SpotLit into flash mode to add the effect of a strobe light to the pumpkin.

Even better, unlike a traditional candle, there's a variety of colors to choose from. Choose a white SpotLit for that traditional pumpkin look, red LED for a spookier effect, or go with the blue or green LED SpotLit for a look that is more fun and inviting. Want to get even crazier? Pick up a Disc-O colored SpotLit and have the only color-changing pumpkins on the block.

3. Gear Tie-ify - Let's face it, with countless ways of using a Gear Tie they are a must have in your Halloween kit this year. Whether you're a Do-It-Yourself costume maker or master decorator, having a few reusable rubber twist ties around the house is always a good idea.  You can use them to add structure to a costume, to join pieces of a costume together (e.g. when creating extra arms in a spider outfit), or to hang/mount/secure your Halloween decorations.

4. Pets need flare too - If you have a furry friend in your house, and a few kiddos too, then taking your pet trick-or-treating with you is a great way to include them in the festivities. But don't just bring them along for the walk, include them in the celebration with the simple addition of a SpotLit or PetLit LED to their collar, or go all out with by lighting them up with a Nite Dawg LED Collar, or the new NiteHowl LED Safety Necklace.

5. Be "that house" on the block - You know the one I'm talking about. Every neighborhood has one, it's "that house" that gives out the full-size candy bars every year to the local kids. Well, just think how cool your house would be if you gave away a SpotLit, SlapLit, or BugLit to your closest neighbors.  Now, I realize that this might not be the least expensive way to win over the neighborhood hoodlums, but I am willing to bet that if you did giveaway some Nite Ize swag that your house would be put on the "don't teepee" list.

If you have any other creative ideas involving one of our products then we'd love to learn more about it by reading your comments below. And, who knows? We might even feature your idea in one of our upcoming blog posts, and send you a Nite Ize goodie bag for your suggestion.

Be seen and be safe this Halloween!

There is an almost imperceptible shift in the days, nighttime falls sooner, the leaves are still green yet somehow seem crisper. The summer heat is at its peak, and still a suggestion of change is in the air, a new season is approaching.

The end of summer is a bittersweet time for parents. We all want our children to have the same fond memories of their summers that we do: feelings of unburdened freedom that can only come with youth, sunshine, and carefree fun with their friends. We feel a bit bad for looking forward to our own adult freedoms that come with the fall, until we remember a different kind of excitement and trepidation – back to school.

We can’t prepare them for everything they will face in the upcoming year, the challenges this “tech” generation faces we can only begin to imagine but, as parents, we do our best to send them off with smiles on their faces and the right tools for success.

Back to school shopping starts with the usual supplies, and then we move on to new shoes and outfits for the ever-growing crew. I can’t claim to have the faintest idea what new gadget or device is the cool, must-have item for 10-year-olds this year (I am certain that saying “cool” is also considered very lame by 10-year-olds), but I’m sure I will find out soon enough. However, these are the types of items that concern me the least. As someone whose background is in the preparedness industry and now works at Nite Ize, my mind goes to the “in between times”. These are the times when the kids are heading to and from the bus, the times when they are waiting to be picked up after soccer, the times when riding their bikes or walking to a friend’s house, the times when I need to know that they are safe.

As you may have guessed, I am an anxious mom! Fortunately, working for Nite Ize, I have knowledge of, and access to a lot of products that help to put my mind at ease. Fortunately for my kids, Nite Ize has done a phenomenal job of disguising these safety products to make them look really “cool”.

Exhibit A: The See ‘Em, TwistLit, and SpokeLit LED Bike Lights:

I guarantee, no one can ever claim they didn’t see my kids coming! We have their bikes lit up like Christmas trees! They love it, and I have peace of mind that I’m doing my part to keep them safe.

Exhibit B: Backpacks – as far as I’m concerned, the brighter the better.

I have SpotLits clipped to their bags, to our keys, and to just about anything that’s portable. They’re helpful when you need a light, but also add another spot of visibility on the kids as they’re walking home on these shorter days. For the younger kids, I like to wrap a BugLit or two around the straps on their bags. They are cute and fun little characters crawling up the strap, but can be used as a flashlight, or put in strobe mode to give the kids important visibility.

Exhibit C: I like to save the best for last.

SlapLits are my kid’s favorites. That’s right, remember slap bracelets? They’re baaaack! And apparently kids still love them as much as we did growing up (OK, I’ll be honest I might still really love them too). The Nite Ize SlapLits use the same “slap it to snap it” style, but have the added benefit of being illuminated by a red LED that glows and flashes – so as you can imagine, endless fun, and not just for the kids, I wear mine any time I go jogging in the evening.

Whatever your back to school shopping list looks like this year, just remember it’s not only about the “cool” stuff and the new stuff, it’s about the important “stuff” too. So, we do our best to prepare them, send them off with that smile, and now, it’s time to sit back, relax, grab a cocktail, and enjoy the peace and quiet of autumn. Happy back to school everyone!

As we head into the winter months, we must adapt to the shorter days this time of year. In Boulder, as well as many other cities across the country, commuting to work or school by bike is the preferred method of transportation. You might be looking for some daily exercise, maybe you don’t want to deal with parking a car, or you might be interested in a greener method of getting to work. Or perhaps, commuting to work is a New Year’s Resolution you want to set for yourself. Whatever the reason, bike commuting is becoming more and more popular throughout the world. For those of you that want to continue that habit on days when daylight is limited, it will be important to integrate lighting for safety and visibility during your commute.

Here are some tips to consider when planning what bike LED lights you might want to use:

• A “Tail Light” – When you think about cars, they are required by law to have working tail lights. A Tail Light on your bike is just as important. Red tail lights are the most useful and visible. It is good to have a light that can be in a solid mode or a flashing mode. Most tail lights attach under your seat. For additional safety, you can add a light to the back of your helmet as well. Items by Nite Ize to consider for this category are the SaddleLite Bag, the TwistLit in Red, the BikeLit and the LED Helmet Marker Plus.

• Handlebar Light: Having an led headlight that attaches directly to your handlebars is another essential item for commuting. You want the light to be at least 150 lumens to provide you enough projected light to see where you are going, but also to allow you to be seen by oncoming traffic. You might want to consider a flashlight attachment system so you can remove your flashlight from your bike and take it with you. The Inova X3A and Inova X2 Bike Lights have that option.

• Side-view Lighting: This is a category that is often overlooked because we don’t think about cars seeing us from the side. However, it is a very important aspect of safety and visibility. The way to be seen from the side is by using a spoke light. The color of your bike spoke light is not as important as just having lights in your spokes. For that reason, the spoke lighting allows for some fun and “bling” while keeping you safe at the same time. Nite Ize makes SpokeLits and See'Em in a variety of colors.  Their most popular SpokeLit color is “Disco” which changes colors, adding another element of fun to your bike commute.

• Clothing Lighting: The final area to provide visibility while riding your bike is by adding an LED accessory to your clothing. You might want to have lighting on your wrist or arm, so you can be seen when signaling. An LED vest is another option to ensure vehicles see you. The flashing option is helpful to add to your clothing. Some items from Nite Ize that work well are the SlapLit, the LED Marker Band, LED Sport Belt, and the LED Vest.

• Day Time Lighting:   The importance of visibility during the day is often overlooked. Even though it is not dark, having a flashing light on your bike makes it much easier for vehicles to see you during the day.  The Nite Ize Twist Lit in the flash mode attached to your handlebars is an easy and safe addition to your daytime riding. You can use your rear tail light during the day as well. Flash mode works best for daytime riding.

Remember, just because the daylight hours are dwindling, that doesn’t mean you need to stop riding your bike to work or school. Just be sure to Be Safe and Be Seen and you can continue to enjoy your bike commute!