For all those girls (or boys, for that matter) still slightly bitter that they never got to hop a ride in Wonder Woman’s invisible plane, the Molokini Kayak from Clear Blue Hawaii may help ease some of that pain. As ThisNexter brunurb explains, the Molokini is “an all-transparent two-passenger kayak made out of the same durable polycarbonate material used in the production of bulletproof glass and fighter jet canopies.”

“Vacuum molded you can see everything around you,” according to John and Rose, the kayak is best used for areas that experience calm ocean conditions. That may or may not apply to Joe, who comments, “Neat idea. Of course, where I come from, the primary undersea view is ‘murk.’”

Don’t get left in the dark: When it comes to hands-free illumination in the nighttime wilderness, ThisNexters prefer Petzl headlamps. Water-resistant and with white LED lighting, the headlamps can be used while camping, caving, climbing, hiking, fishing, sailing, or running at night. Both Adam Chase and Luke Miller go for Petzl’s Tikka model, which Luke dubs “perfect for travel.” (“I aspire to be as powerful and last as long as another small guy who only occasionally needs his battery charged,” Adam says of his Tikka.) But for Cedar Wright and Angela Hawse it’s all about the Petzl Myo XP: “Because this headlamp is extra bright and has an extra long burn time, which means no changing batteries on those 24 hour epics,” says Cedar of his pick. And nyenye lights up with the Zipka Plus Ultralight. “It’s so compact and versatile,” he says. “I use it at work, home, and in emergencies!”

For the hopelessly blister-prone, several ThisNext skiers, snowboarders, runners, hikers, and bikers may have found the magic solution for happier feet: Darn Tough’s Full-Cushion Boot Socks “never give me blisters and keep my feet dry,” says runner/biker GirlOutside, who loves the “soft wool that keeps on wicking and never blows out” and even recommends the product for “trampoline sessions.” Fiestafly loves the socks because they “keep my tootsies happy,” while brb729 calls Darn Tough “my new obsession for outdoor gear.” Here’s why:

“I found these socks when I started a marathon training program last Jan. They kept my feet warm, dry and blister free. I’ve used the ‘hiking’ sock for snowboarding, skiing, hiking and just everyday use in the winter. They’ve been washed so much, but they never get scratchy. Soft and cozy everytime. I guess they guarantee them for life because they can; they never wear out! These are soooooooooo worth the purchase!”

And both NEhiker and runbike assert that Darn Tough socks are the best of the best, with the former noting that “they’re awesome for all weather hiking in NE, for biking and skiing. They kept my feet dry and had excellent wicking ability.” Runbike points out that “I stopped getting blisters on my heels once I switched to these socks,” declaring: “They are made in Vermont and guaranteed for life.”

What’s the best way to get comfy sleep while camping? Several of our shopcasters vote for Therm-A-Rest’s trail comfort mattress pad, a self-inflating, superthick bed that Adam Gershon Meron dubs a “a Serta for the outdoors. But lighter.” Will R. says the “light, compact, and comfortable” Therm-A-Rest pads are “much better than older style foam or bulky inflatable mats,” while “traveling yogini” Inayat S. considers the product essential for his constant wanderings ‘round the globe. And, as a testament to Therma-A-Rest’s durability, Eric notes that he’s still got the same pad he used backpacking on the Appalachian Trail a couple decades ago. “The light weight and tiny space it takes up after rolling are also important when every ounce and cubic inch count,” Eric adds. And even though his Therm-A-Rest only supports from hips to shoulders, Eric points out that “when you’re weary that’s all you really need for comfortable sleeping in a tent.”

While I love Bonne Bell Lip Smackers (especially the Dr. Pepper and watermelon flavors) always and forever, mostly because they taste good enough to eat up like so much candy, the yummy drugstore treats don’t really offer much in the way of moisture or sun protection. Which is why outdoor athletes – skiers, runners, cyclists, and the like – need the lip-protecting power of products like Super Lysine Plus Lip Clear Coldstick w/SPF 21, recommended by Julie Kipfer (“This is the only thing that will keep my lips moist in the dry mountain climate,” the skier/biker/hiker notes). Another skier, Kristin Petrovich says Prada’s Shielding Balm SPF 15 is “great for beach and ski…hydrates and gives color.” For Andy at Memoirs of the Shoe Obsessed, the lip-smoothing beach and ski must-have is Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. Also adored by many a ThisNexter, this coconut- and sunflower-oil-infused balm “is minty and light without being waxy,” says Andy. And when Jessica Ang hits the slopes, the snowboarder applies some Origins Lip Remedy in mint – because, after all, “red, swollen, peeling lips = Bad!”

...continued: Love your lips

Everybody has a different head. Which is something you were probably already aware of, but it’s a key point for About.com to make in its guide to Bike Helmet Basics. “Even among helmets made by the same manufacturer, the shape of each model can vary widely,” the guide notes. “The only way you can figure out what works best for you is to go to your local shop and start trying on helmets.” Atlanta Bike Commuter agrees that visiting your local bike shop and checking the fit of various products is one of the best ways to simplify the “fairly daunting task” of helmet shopping.

In a post on the 10 essentials for bike commuting, Atlanta Bike Commuter selects the Bell Arc Sport Helmet ‘05 and as low-priced model that still gets the job done (“The biggest reason for a helmet to be over 100 dollars is that it will have more vents than a cheaper helmet, but still hold up in a crash,” Atlanta Bike Commuter points out. “More expensive helmets also are lighter and usually fit much better. I am a cost conscious biker and tend to stay in the 40-60 dollar price range for a helmet.”) Indeed, The Gear Junkie recently reviewed a series of bike helmets and crowned Bell’s Sweep XC as his favorite. “I felt comfortable using the helmet racing down the road and off trail on tough, muddy and root-laden singletrack,” says Gear Junkie, calling attention to the helmet’s “airy, lightweight design,” breathability, and easy-to-use twist-knob and chin-strap buckle. ThisNexters Brian Lopes and Gordon also recommend Bell helmets, with Gordon classifying the brand as “a great biking brain-bucket.” (“Little visor keeps some sun out of my face, light weight and keeps my head cool too,” he adds. “Adjusts easily and securely.”)

...continued: Best brain buckets

We all have our dreams. Some are just more unique than others. Take Paul at (At Least) One Cool Thing, for instance: “I’ve often said that if I am ever obscenely wealthy,” he writes in a recent post, “one of my eccentricities will be to never wear the same pair of socks twice. There is something about the new sock feel that puts an extra spring in your step.” Paul’s dream sock of choice is Thorlo athletic socks, which “retain that new sock feel even after dozen of washings.” Our own Gordon is a Thorlo fan as well, as evidenced by his Running Crew Socks shopcast (“A run without my Thorlos is always a bit sketchy, often ends in blisters,” Gordon points out).

...continued: ThisNext will knock your socks off

Prepping for a British Association of Snowsport Instructors course in Argentina this summer, Len Holgate - a skiing blogger who posts about his adventures in the French Alps at MegeveSki.com - picked up a copy of Ron LeMaster’s book The Skier’s Edge. Intended to help readers better grasp the “interaction between the skis and the snow,” the book is geared toward advanced skiiers who want to gain complete mastery of technique. Calling The Skier’s Edge “fascinating for someone like me who’s a real technical geek at heart,” Len says:

“The book focuses on discussing the physics and bio-mechanics of skiing and, in particular, how what you do on the skis works with, or against (!), the natural behaviour of the ski due to its shape, stiffness, etc…There’s lots of talk on “initial steering angles” and how to take control of the radius and line that you ski rather than simply riding the skis natural radius. Some of it’s pretty obvious but lots of it is less so and much is the kind of information that would take a long time to work out through trial and error alone.”

Last winter, my little sister - who just so happens to be turning 15 today, making her 13 years my junior - started taking snowboarding lessons. When I told her I’d always wanted to learn to snowboard, she gave me a sorta funny stare, then said, “I’m not sure you’d be able to pick it up at your age. I mean, everyone who snowboards is waaaaaaay younger than you.” Which I still haven’t quite gotten over, but turns out she might’ve been onto something.

Over at Highly Obsessed (“a blog about snowboarding in Canada and beyond”), blogger Adam shares some National Ski Areas Association National Demographic Study findings indicating that “the American snowsports scene is getting younger.” A few key stats:

“The number of kids under 18 participating in skiing and snowboarding rising to 15.5 percent in 2005/06, up from 12.9 percent the previous season.

“The average age of snowsports participants dropped to 35.1.”

“Snowboard participation was up three percent after several years of ‘sluggish growth.’”

As one of the most popular rock-climbing spots in the country, West Virginia’s New River Gorge offers more than 1,400 climbs within its 63,000 acres. To learn your way around the highest among those climbs WiredNut.com (a primo resource for Mid-Atlantic climbing news) suggests checking out Eric Hörst’s newly updated Climbers’ Guide to Bubba City. As “the first climbing boomtown of the late 1980s new-route gold rush in the New River Gorge,” Bubba City’s got more than 175 sport routes. Among the most fantastically named: Bad-ass Tattoo, Skinhead Grin, Tongulation, and Reaches From Hell.

It’s always so disappointing to find out you’re just like everybody else. Having just visited the Centennial State for the first time last week, I’d been fancying myself uniquely Colorado-obsessed until reading Backcountry Blog’s recent post about how all of America “can’t get enough of all things Colorado.” Backcountry’s blogger takes a break from offering “backcountry adventure, gear reviews and outdoor industry scuttlebutt for backcountry addicts” to share a little bit of snarky humor borrowed from Green Chair Marketing Group. Here, a few suggestions for Mattel’s line of “limited edition Colorado Barbies”:

Cherry Creek Barbie

This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of BMW convertible or Hummer h3. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won’t be able to afford any of them.

Ft. Collins Barbie

She’s basically Boulder Barbie, but with all the accessories of Highlands Ranch Barbie, plus a kayak and mountain bike. As for Ft. Collins Ken, I would expect his accessories to include a teeny tiny little Ph.D. diploma in entomology, which enables him to double as a professional fly-fishing-consultant action figure ($1200 graphite fly rod and miniature accessories licensed from Orvis sold separately)

Glenwood Springs Barbie

This Barbie comes with her own mountain bike. Available with SUV, complete with Kayak on the roof and dog in the back. Optional Ken doll also comes with his own mountain bike and dog.

Happy feet need happy socks - especially when you’re trudging through the outdoors on a hunting or fishing expedition, as Peter B. Mathiesen at The Gear Hound so often is. Peter recommends high-tech synthetic products like Thorlo Warm Weather Hunting Socks (shown right, and made with “well-padded bottoms and a lower density space in the arch for better boot contact”) and Smart Wool socks (soft, no-itch, and offering “great blister protection”). And to get the right fit, try this tip:

“The next time you buy a pair of boots, don’t try them on while wearing everyday socks. Instead, wear a pair of high-quality socks and a thin liner—a sock combination you’re likely to wear in the field. You might find that you’ll need to jump up a half boot size.”