SONY DCR-PC330
There are times you may want still photos. There are times when video action is the ticket. But until now digitals have struggled to do both seamlessly. Enter the Sony DCR-PC330 MiniDV Handycam ($1,700), the industry's first consumer digital camcorder able to deliver high-resolution still images at the flick of a switch. Fitted with one of the world's best digital-specific lenses, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T, the PC330 eliminates any compromises that digital still photographers and videographers have had to endure in a combo cam. The MiniDV format produces up to 530 lines of resolution while still image output is a hefty 3.32-megapixels—enough for brilliant eight-by-ten-inch prints. Low-light shots aren't a problem, either, as dual infrared systems for both video and stills make for crisp, properly exposed imagery, even in total darkness. And for image storage, the PC330 is wonderfully adaptive, using Memory Sticks or MiniDV tapes that convert in-camera to MPEG movie format for later viewing. Limitations? Artistic intuition not included. Contact 888-222-7669, www.sony.com/di.
IRIDIUM 9505
Communication junkies will be heartened to know that, these days, omnipresent satellite signals can actually keep you connected wherever you go, from the summit of Everest to Antarctica and everywhere in between. One of the premium purveyors of the latitude-busting telecommunications fix is the Iridium 9505 Satellite Phone ($1,500), a handheld unit linked to a constellation of 66 Boeing-operated satellites that now patrol that sizable 86 percent of the earth's landmass (and all of its oceans) where landline service is currently absent. The Iridium is about as easy to use as a cell, with up to 30 hours of standby time and 3.2 hours of talk time per battery charge. Twenty-one language choices are available for display prompts, and the body is constructed to be water-, shock-, and dust-resistant. Depending on the call plan, you can expect to pay about $1.50 per minute of talk time. And like your cell, voice and text messaging are add-on options (call-waiting on Everest not recommended). Contact 866-947-4348, www.iridium.com.
BRUNTON EPOCH X105
The eyes have it when it comes to our most precious sensory endowments. So we think it's reasonable that only the best optics will suffice for deep-pocketed outdoor aficionados. The most decadent ocular experience? Our vote goes to the Epoch X105 ($1,499) pair of binoculars. The hefty price tag is justified inside and out, beginning with the binos' rugged, weatherproofed magnesium alloy frame and lightweight prism glass, a material previously limited to high-end telescopes and cameras. You get the most advanced phase correction coatings available for the truest color transmission possible, and for weatherproofing, the Epoch lenses are purged with nitrogen to eliminate corrosive moisture. Scratch-resistant and anti-fog coatings also work to nix the effects of inclement weather. The multi-step locking eye relief makes the binos easy to draw and stash without finicky setting readjustment, while the Epoch's clever locking diopter function guarantees eyeglass wearers clearer performance by getting pupils close to the eye cups and acting as your surrogate specs. The final dealmaker? An unlimited lifetime warranty good anywhere in the world, no questions asked. Contact 307-856-6559, www.brunton.com.
THE NORTH FACE MET5
The North Face has pioneered a technical garment that does for jackets what heated car seats did for cold-weather drivers: in short, it does the work. TNF's MET5 Jacket ($599) plies uncharted sartorial territory with a built-in heat source that can dial in the precise degree of comfort when your metabolic output isn't up to snuff. The foundation of this midlayer is Polartec's tried-and-true Power Shield, the same tightly woven, nylon fabric used in wind- and abrasion-resistant technical outerwear. Where the MET5 departs into the realm of gear manna, however, are the jacket's embroidered Polartec heat panels, powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and controlled via a panel welded on its upper chest fabric. Chilly? Hand over heart, crank up the heat and control the output—medium or high—until you're toasty. And like the good couturier creation that it is, an LED power indicator built into the TNF logo lets you know when your jacket's on. Expect the lithium-powered MET5 to provide anywhere between three to five hours of heat per charge (depending on the heat setting). The battery can be recharged via a standard 110-volt household outlet, a car's cigarette lighter, or even a solar charger when the juice is running low out on the trail. Contact 800-447-2333, www.thenorthface.com.
IMPERIAL SCHRADE JERNIGAN
Is it cutting-edge art or simply craftsmanship at its utilitarian finest? You might find yourself questioning the purpose of the Jernigan ($400), but make no mistake, this is a serious cutting tool that exudes stylistic workmanship like few other production knives made today. Imperial Schrade collaborated with über-designer Steve Jernigan, a Knifemaker Guild member for 20 years and recipient of a slew of cutlery awards, to create a folder that's both stunning and pragmatic. The result is a 3.75-inch, mirror-polished, stainless-steel-handled knife, with handsome Picasso-marble inlaid wafers that create an artsy "puzzle-piece" effect. The 2.75-inch "Damascus-style" blade (think Roman dagger) also sports an intricate custom pattern and offers one-handed locking deployment. Premium black leather is used for the belt pouch, although the Jernigan is slim enough to carry comfortably in a trouser pocket. And to underscore this cutter's exclusivity, only 1,000 serialized pieces will be produced. Contact 845-647-7600, www.schradeknives.com.
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