Ultimate Direction Product Picks: My Favorite Gear To Use

I’m proud to be an ambassador for Ultimate Direction, especially since my outdoor adventures tend to defy easy categorization. I initially met Buzz Burrell, then Brand Manager of UD in 2014 on Longs Peak while completing the Longs Peak Radical Slam (which I’ve now done a few more times). Turned out, he was doing the same thing! Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t keep up with his pace on that day.



Luckily, Buzz found my Tour 14er trip I completed a few months later inspiring enough to invite me to become an ambassador for UD. Ultimate Direction is a local company to me, based only a few miles from my house – close enough that I’m always happy to stop by, say hello, give my feedback on products, and pet all the office dogs. Here’s a list of the UD gear that I love the most:

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Review: Nite Ize SpokeLit – Disc-O Select Rechargeable Light

Note: this product was bought by me at retail. All opinions are mine. Interested in me reviewing your product?

Purchase Options: REI | Amazon

  • Pros: inexpensive, compact, fun, eye catching light used in an angle not always thought of as a blind spot to other road users. Rechargeable via a micro USB port.
  • Cons: Probably too fun and colorful for your local bicycle curmudgeon, but buy one for them, anyways.
  • Weight: 1.2 ounces/35 grams
  • Run Time: ~ 6 hours; Charge Time: 1.5 hours
  • Price: $20
  • More information: NiteIze Website
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Salsa Journeyman Apex 1 700: Initial Impressions/Review

Note: this bike was bought by me at retail. All opinions are mine. Interested in me reviewing your product?

  • Pros: Inexpensive, light-enough, comfortable, good bike handling for endless miles. 1×11 drivetrain, carbon fork
  • Cons: You really want a tubeless setup
  • Weight: 24lbs for 54cm model
  • Interesting To: dipping your feet into All Road/Gravel bikes, winter trainer
  • Price: $1500
  • More information: Salsa Cycles Website
  • Purchase at REI or your local bike shop

Intro

With Winter slowly creeping in, I was in the market for a do-it-all road bike – “All Road” being my primary requirement.

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Review: Ultimate Direction SCRAM

The Ultimate Direction SCRAM is a large-capacity running vest that’s been toughened up and given storage capacity for all-day missions, allowing you to take it anywhere to help in supporting you doing essentially anything.

  • Pros: Classic Ultimate Direction Running Vest Design, tons of storage, tough materials, minimalist.
  • Cons: Maybe too minimalist for some? Not perfect for a dedicated running vest: if you don’t need the storage, this isn’t the best vest for you.
  • Weight: 445 grams / 15.7 ounces
  • Storage Capacity: 23.5 Liters
  • Interesting To: mountain runners, skimo, fast-and-light climbing missions, bikepacking
  • Best For: those needing a lot of capacity, but not yet Fastpack-capacity; people who are very tough on gear
  • Price: $134.95
  • More information: The Ultimate Direction SCRAM | Adventure Collection
  • Purchase at Ultimate Direction | REI | Backcountry
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Review: Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack Tent by Big Agnes

The Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack Tent

At a Glance

  • Pros: Comfortable, roomy, extremely well-designed
  • Cons: stuff sack to use as bikepacking bag is a great idea, but may need to be further developed as a solid feature
  • Weight:
    • Tent Stakes/accessories: 121 grams
    • Stuff Sack: 111 grams
    • Tent Poles: 363 grams
    • Rain Fly: 348 grams
    • Tent Body: 337 grams
    • Integrated Footprint (sold separately): 169 grams
    • Total Packed Weight: 1.13kg
  • Interesting To: Bikepackers and Ultralight hikers who want a tent rather than a tarp/bivy setup
  • Best For: Those who seek comfort and privacy only a tent can provide
  • Price: $399.95, Ground Cloth: (suggested): $65
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Sneak Peek: Ultimate Direction Bike/Tarp Conversion Kit

The Ultimate Direction FK Tarp set up with the Bike/Tarp Conversion Kit – no trekking poles required!

At a Glance

  • Pros: Easy to set up/take down, simple, lightweight, roomy
  • Cons: Tarps in general don’t have the greatest protection from bugs like mosquitoes
  • Weight: alone: 91 grams, w/FK Tarp + 6 stakes: ~544 grams
  • Interesting To: Ultralight enthusiasts
  • Best For: FKTs/Self-Supported Races, sub-24 hour missions
  • Available: Fall 2019
  • Price: around $25 – $35 for the kit (once released); $199.95 for the FK Tarp
  • More Information: The Ultimate Direction Adventure Collection
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Review: FIFTY-FIFTY Fender Mudguard for the Surly ECR (and other 29+ bikes)

FIFTY-FIFTY Adjustable Mountain Bike Fender MTB Mudguard

Currently, I’ve been setting up my Surly Bikes ECR for Winter bikepacking. This usually means really variable conditions, with lots of slop on the road and invariably on me. For that, I want fenders.

Fenders must be one of the most finicky accessories for a bike to set up correctly, and the thought of even finding fenders that would fit a 29+ (three inch) wide tire seemed fruitless. Let’s just call it what it is: somewhat of a niche market. There are a few fat bike fender/mud guards available, but they’re huge and heavy, and actually too wide – like these offerings from Portland Design Works, for what I want.

Finally, I found on Amazon these puppies: FIFTY-FIFTY Adjustable Mountain Bike Fender. Never heard of this company (fifty-fifty is a skateboard trick… right?), so I’m sure it’s just so rando Chinese brand. But, the price was right, and it seems like it would fit, so I ordered two, and gave it a try, on my last bikepacking trip.

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