Mukluk Socks from Turtle Island Imports

Mukluks are a popular footwear that provide warmth, and make a fashion statement. Turtle Island Imports offers a relatively inexpensive version of mukluk socks. The knee-length boot-socks are a wool/rayon blend with leather soles. They're good for lounging around, particularly if you're spending time in a cabin or in a yurt. The folks at Turtle Island Imports say that dancers love these products as warm-up socks. The products are made in Pakistan. At the time of our visit to the website, they sold for about $15. a pair. The company offers online ordering on their website.

If you're feeling really crafty, here is a link to a knitting pattern for mukluks involving felted versions from Canadian Living magazine.

Yoga Mat Options from Dream Yoga Mat

If you want your yoga mat to express some information about your personality, then you may enjoy some of the yoga mat designs presented by Dream Yoga Mats. The Aspen, Colorado-based company creates custom embroidered yoga mats with designs such as peace signs, om symbols, skull and crossbones and more. The company claims that their products are eco-friendly, made of: "...Thermal Plastic Elastomer (TPE), a newly developed material that is hypoallergenic, 100% PVC free and contains no latex, rubber or toxins." The company also claims that the materials are odor free and that they prevent bacteria buildup. The company offers online shopping.

2011 Outdoor Retailer Expo Winter Market to Open In Salt Lake City

Outdoor sports gear buyers, distributors and related media will converge on Salt Lake City later this month for the 2011 Outdoor Retailer Expo Winter Market. The event at the Salt Palace Convention Center will feature cutting-edge technologies involving footwear, gloves, fabrics, eyewear, heated clothing and more. The trade show is calendared for January 20-23. The All Mountain Demo is scheduled for January 19th at Solitude Mountain Resort.

Study Focuses on Ski Waxing Technicians' Exposure to Chemicals

A study by Swedish researchers suggests that ski waxing technicians have elevated levels of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) from fluorinated wax fumes. The time trend study also suggests that "continued exposure may contribute to elevated levels in ski technicians compared to the general population." The study is published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The abstract is available here.

There are several companies that sell "environmentally friendly ski wax" on the Internet.

Climbing Shoe Reviews Website Launches

A new website aims to help climbing enthusiasts choose footwear that is best suited for their needs. Climbing Shoe Review is a site "by climbers, for climbers." Climbers from around the world are invited to create a login and offer reviews of shoes that they've tried. The site also promises to keep readers informed about sales, discounts and information about new shoes.

Climbing Shoe Review.com rates rock climbing shoes in a variety of areas, including value, comfort, durability and trad climbing. Style categories include velcro, lace-ups and slippers. At the time of our visit, the website had reviews of many different shoes such as La Sportiva Solution, Five Ten Dragon, Evolv Pontas and Scarpa Mago.

Winter Camping Gear Article: Backpacker.com

Backpacker.com has produced an informative article about winter camping for beginners. Writer Steve Howe offers tips for protecting your head, torso, feet and hands, and he gives some great ideas regarding shelter and sleeping bags: "You can save a lot of money on winter sleeping bags by simply inserting a summer bag inside a three-season sleeping bag, but the combination weighs about two pounds more than the equivalent winter-specific mummy." We recommend the article, "Gearing Up for Your First Winter Overnight."

Black Diamond Unveils New Backcountry Skis

Black Diamond is rolling out the "Efficient Series," a new line of backcountry skis and boots. The lineup features six new styles of backcountry skis, and four new kinds of touring boots. The term "efficient" refers to designs that focus on lighter weight without sacrificing performance. The new ski line offers options for both men and women.

Click here for more coverage from Examiner.com.

Click here to visit the official Black Diamond website.