Check Out: Magnesium Pedals, Slim Stash Packs, Fancy Tube Holders, & More
A lot of gear comes across our desks here at Pinkbike. Check Out is an occasional round up of everything our tech editors have gotten their hands on. Sometimes it's products we're doing long-term tests on, other times it's stuff we're stoked on but don't have time to fully review. And, sometimes it's crazy shit someone sent us unsolicited and we're having a laugh.
Occam Designs Apex Strap
Features
• X-Pac fabric
• BOA L6 Fit System
• $34.99 USD
• BOA L6 Fit System
• $34.99 USD
 | There are all sots of ways to attach a tube, tire lever and a CO2 cartridge to your frame, but Occam Design's Apex strap takes things to the next level. It's constructed from a light and tough material called X-Pac, which was originally developed for use as a sail material for racing sailboats. Attached to the fabric is a Boa dial, which makes installation and removal quick and easy, and allows the strap to work with almost any frame shape. At 28 grams it won't weigh you down, and the clever design is an easy way to stand out from the ski strap and electrical tape crowd. |
Camelbak Stash Belt
Features
• 3D ventilated mesh
• Weight: 93 grams
• $35 USD
• Weight: 93 grams
• $35 USD
| I try to go as light as possible when I head out for a ride on a hot summer day, and for the last few weeks Camelbak's Stash Belt has been my go-to gear holder. It's super low profile, with just enough room to hold a phone, energy bar, multi-tool, and maybe a couple other smaller accessories. I'll admit, it feels a little strange stepping through it and pulling it up over my shoes and shorts, sort of like I'm putting on underwear when I'm already dressed, but once it's on it's barely noticeable. It works best if it's positioned in the same spot that a belt would be, a little lower than where you'd wear a hip pack. It also works well for lift served riding, a minimalist way to hold the bare essentials that doesn't put you in a weird position when you're sitting on the chairlift. For the fast (or slow) and light crowd, the Stash Belt is a handy accessory. |
Crankbrothers Stamp 3 V2 Pedals
Features
• Magnesium body
• 10 pins per side
• 5 year warranty
• $119 USD
• 10 pins per side
• 5 year warranty
• $119 USD
| Crankbrothers' Stamp 3 pedals received an update this season, switching from an aluminum body to a magnesium one, a move that saved 100 grams over the original. The pedals spin on an igus bushing and two cartridge bearings, with 10 adjustable pins per side. There are two platform sizes available, allowing riders to pick the dimensions that work best with their foot size. There's also a 5 year warranty, which is impressive for a product that's going to be smashed into rocks and roots over and over again. |
Dirt Gloves
Features
• Four way stretch material
• Microfiber thumb
• $24.95 USD
• Microfiber thumb
• $24.95 USD
| It's easy to want to leave the gloves at home when the mercury climbs, but somehow whenever I do that I seem to end up off the bike, sliding with my hands on the ground, so I usually go with the lightest gloves I can find instead. Dirt Gloves' new summer gloves fit the bill, with a synthetic leather palm and mesh fabric over the back of the hand to keep the air flowing. There's no velcro to wear out, or any padding to speak of, and the microfiber material on the thumb is handy for dealing with sweat and snot. |
Polar Sport Insulated Bottle
Features
• BPA-free
• Tri-layer insulation
• $11 USD
• Tri-layer insulation
• $11 USD
| Taking a big swig of warm water isn't all that refreshing, which is why Polar has a whole line of insulated water bottles that are designed to keep liquids cool on those sweltering days. The version shown here is the all-around option, with a handle to make it easy to grab and go. The bite valve works, but I'd pay a little more to get the Surge Valve found on the more bike-specific Breakaway models. Those bottles ditch the handle and get a softer bite valve that's easier to drink from while riding. |
Ergon GD1 Evo Factory Lock-On Grips
Features
• Colors: orange, stealth, moss / oil slick
• 144mm overall length, 120mm usable area
• $39.99 USD
• 144mm overall length, 120mm usable area
• $39.99 USD
| Ergon recently updated the downhill-oriented GD1 grip, tweaking the pattern to provide more cushioning around the thumb. I have a handful of rides in on the slim Factory edition (no pun intended), and so far they've been treating my hands just right. I liked the previous version too, but the new profile feels even more comfortable. I'm also a fan of the wider aluminum clamp and the 3mm hex key bolt for extra assurance that they won't ever slip. |
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FTFY
Anyone have any first hand experience with such a thing happening?
They were brittle as hell though and would break constantly when bikes were dropped, crashed or if you just hit your pedal wrong.
Primo magnesium tenderizers.
Mags are soft, so the traction pins bend the pedal body when they take a hit. That was my main beef with the old MG-1's. But good lord those cheap old Wellgos kept spinning a lot longer than most fancier pedals (that were probably made by Wellgo). I wonder if these Stamps are a different magnesium alloy and a bit stronger?
I'm just getting back to riding after a month off due to stitches at the bottom of my palm. My gloves were cuff-less like the ones in this article, and the bottom end of the glove just lifted out of the way when my hand slid over a rock and provided no protection to that part of my hand. And the knuckles on my other hand were sliced up too, because a thin layer of lycra does very little.
If it's crashes that are shredding your hands, then heavy gloves are the only answer.
Most MTB gloves don't have much of a gauntlet because it makes them hot
Also recently got an email from Milwaukee, they have a new IMPACT Demolition Glove, they looked pretty stout, but a bit spendy, so I picked up a pair, from a local Tool place when they were on sale
But haven't worn them yet, cuzz the Ironclads have a bunch of miles left in them
www.ironclad.com **have a look around, there are many styles to choose from
www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Work-Gear/Gloves/Gloves/Impact-Demolition-Gloves
**Too bad the Milwaukee's don't come in all black, the red on the backside is kind of loud
www.ironclad.com/glove/impact-360-cut-a5
In my experience a standard glove palm is enough protection for me, as long as it stays on. And just a bit of knuckle padding has been enough. Dirtpaws are great, but lesser gloves have been enough protection for me
I once had a pair of Specialized Enduro gloves that were the perfect balance of summer comfort and protection for me, but I recently found out they were discontinued. I did some more searching since I posted and found that Specialized has a new Ridge model to effectively replace the Enduro, and it looks pretty good
It doesn't cost anything to be featured in a Check Out article - any company that has something interesting they'd like us to try is welcome to send it our way.