Here a comparison of Mongoose mountain bikes with Rating and a list of the most reviewed Mongoose Mtb (dual suspension, 21 speed, black-comb, full suspension, etc…) to help You get multiple source of info to buy the best that fits Your needs.

Mongoose Tyax Comp Men’s Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels): Rating 4 of 5

Mongoose Tyax Features: Formed 6061 heat treated alloy frame; SR Suntour XCM-MLO 100 mm travel with mechanical lock out; Shimano Acera rear w/ EZ Fire trigger shifters 24 spee; Promax V-Brakes; Jalco AX430 double wall rim w/ Formula hubs. After some research, I found this bike to be the best deal for the money. Good shifts, rim breaks are not as good but yet the stopping power is not any worse then a specialized HardRock with Disk breaks (i.e.), the fork does not have much (if any) damping. If $300 to $500 is your budget, then go for it. (I got mine for $330)

Mongoose Tech 4 26″ Men’s Full Suspension Mountain Bike: Rating 3 of 5

The Mongoose Tech 4 full-suspension men’s mountain bike brings you a high-performance, 4-Bar Link, 18-in suspension frame matched with Rock Shox Judy J1 fork for easily handling rough terrain. This bike has a front and rear V-brakes for dependable stopping power and a 24-speed SRAM 4.0 shifting system for responsive gear changes. It also comes equipped with a WTB Speed V saddle and 26-in wheels with Kenda Kharisma XC tires.

The gears did need a little tweaking but after that it’s been smooth sailing. The Shimano derailleurs are nice, the dual suspension is terrific (my first bike with any suspension). With probably a few upgrades to components this could be a hardcore bike. For this price it definately competes with $1000 bikes.

Mongoose Pro Wing Elite Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike: Rating 3 of 5

With a stealthy, pitch black paint scheme, 100 millimeters of plush front suspension, and an advanced four bar rear suspension system, the Mongoose Pro Wing Elite is ready to hit the trails right out of the box. Designed as a formidable and versatile trail bike, the Pro Wing Elite is designed to tackle a variety of varied terrain with ease–including single track, technical climbing, and simply cruising around the neighborhood.

The bike’s 3.5-inches of supple, yet efficient rear travel and optimal overall weight will allow it to descend with ease as well as climb like a nimble mountain goat. To ensure that those thrilling descents stop when you want them to, a Tektro mechanical disc brake system comes outfitted on the bike. The advanced braking system allows for easy one or two finger braking, and the system uses standard bicycle brake cables instead of hydraulic fluid, so there’s no need to worry about complicated brake maintenance. Other great features include a durable 24-speed Shimano drivetrain, beefy double wall alloy rims, and trail hungry 26 x 1.95-inch tires.

If you want a bike that will take a beating and not cost you a fortune than this is it. Make sure you get the right size frame though. This bike will handle most anything you throw at it, the tires have great traction, the brakes handle well and don’t lock too easily, and shifting gears is as smooth as butter. I haven’t had a problem with the bike at all other than there were a few scratches in the paint when it got to me(but most people are going to put a few more anyways if you ride hard).

Have taken bike on paved roads, rough tracks, hard packed earth roads, and even through a shallow stream, and it rode smoothly all the time. Road up steep slopes and hills, and gearing was excellent to make such climbs easy. Raced it downhill and clocked speeds of 22mph and felt happy. Bad things I experienced; Front tire was fitted in wrong rotation direction, and there’s no way to turn in round, because the brake disc must fit into the caliper on the right side. Seat hurts a bit. Handle bars hurt my palm, and I can’t get the bars to come higher. Have read the manual repeatedly to achieve this to no luck.

Mongoose Otero Super Mountain Bike: Rating 4 of 5

Heated treated 6000 Series aluminum frame gives you a lightweight and solid ride. Rock Shox Tora 289 U-Turn front suspension offers 55-130mm of smooth, long travel performance for your all-mountain rides. Air sprung, rear shock soaks up the rough stuff. Shimano/SRAM drive-train and SX5 trigger shifters provide flawless gear changes and performance every time. Kenda Komodo tires use a non-directional tread design to shed mud without compromising speed. Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes provide low maintenance, all-weather stopping power in all conditions. Includes Montague CLIX front quick release.

The breaks really stand-out as super. The bike looks great. The gears change nicely the suspension does a good job. The gears available are well selected. Keep attention to the breaks, because when I spin the rear wheel, the breaks are providing a friction which make the wheel slow down. Also, the front de-railer needs to be adjusted because when in the middle gear You could hear a noise when in combination with some of the rear gears. It is a little wide at the handle bars but it’s a solid bike and takes a good beating. Truly a great starter bike and worth upgrading as you go along.

Mongoose Maneuver Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels): Rating 3 of 5

The Maneuver is equipped with a lightweight, responsive alloy dual- suspension frame that works to give you a smoother overall ride by absorbing harsh bumps. Riders will also dig the 21-speed Shimano shifters and SRAM drive train, which seamlessly switch gears on straightaways or hills. Other details include front and rear alloy linear pull brakes and levers for powerful and reliable braking and an alloy forged three-piece crank set.

Sure this bike probably can’t compare to the more expensive bikes you get at the local bike store…HOWEVER, if your main use for this bike is commute, or the only surfaces you bike are on paved bike paths, trails with no more than 1-foot drops, then this bike will do the job to satisfaction. Once You’ll decide to go into the woods or mountains where. You’ll be taking 5-foot drops, I suggest You to get a $1000+ bike.

It is a bit heavy, but hardly noticeable when riding. It maneuvers very easily, and it goes through the gears very smoothly. This bike feels very solid, and so far You wont have mechanical problems whatsoever (a friend of mine rides about 45 miles a week on the street and bumpy trails with no problems). I guess the only problems (if you want to call them that) with this bike are the sounds it makes. The suspension makes a creaking sound, doesn’t bother me at all. Also, the breaks make a sound when I use them but I am sure I can fix that.

Use this bike to decide whether or not you really enjoy this sport, in the end you’ll be much happier! So overall, this is a good bike, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested. I do not think you will be disappointed. One piece of advice, just make sure the handlebars are on as tight as possible, they got a little loose on my first ride because I didn’t tighten them down enough.

This is not the usual Christmas gift list about “Top 10 of…” or “The best presents for…”

It’s a list of presents ideas and suggestions for a traveller who likes the outdoor adventure activities….don’t forget the solar battery charger too

The best gift for a people who likes travels is sure a trip.

You can learn how to organize a trip for him here.

Here the big list of gift suggestions

Accessories
Carabiners

Carabiners are aluminum ovals with spring-loaded gates, used to clip two pieces of gear together or gear to a rope.

Here You can read a buyer’s guide to learn how to find them
Swiss Army knives

A Swiss Army knife (SAK), is a brand of multi-function pocket knife or multitool. Generally speaking, a Swiss Army knife has a blade as well as various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers.

You can buy different types of swiss knifes here. For tech lovers it’s also possible to buy the “Swissbit”. A knife with an USB pen integrated.
Flashlights

A flashlight torch is a hand-held portable electric spotlight. Here you can search and compare for Flashlights offers
Handheld water purifier

Water purifier is an useful tool that uses the UV radiation as an effective viricide and bactericide. Disinfection using UV radiation is more commonly used in foreign countries or not verified water sources before drinking. Here more info to buy it
Telescoping walking stick or trekking poles

Trekking poles (also known as hiking poles, hiking sticks or walking poles) are a commonly used to help hiking. Unlike ski poles they are often made in two or three sections and can be extended and retracted as necessary for use.

Here an useful tutorial about how to choose trekkign poles
The Notebook portable flat-folding barbecue

It’s a lightweight and easy to carry accessory. It can be unfolded into an instant barbecue. You can buy it from Gadgetshop.com
The PacSafe TravelSafe 100

It is a very handy tool to safe passport or extra money while touring. The Travel Safe 100 is a compact, lightweight security pouch that allows you to lock up your valuables wherever there is a stationary item to attach it to, in or out of doors. You can read a detailed schedule here
Technology
SPOT Satellite Messenger

It’s a GPS device used for emergency. It sends alerts and broadcast the sender’s GPS coordinates. It can be used also as a tracking tool to let Your contacts know where you are and that you’re OK.

On Findmespot.com you can find more info on how it functions.
A portable UV monitor

It’s a great gadget that lets you know exactly how strong the sun’s rays. It tells you how much sun is getting to your skin and how much is too much. Useful in case of long walks during summer period or location under the sun (Mountains, Deserts, etc…) You can find more info here
A solar backpack

It’s a normal bag equipped with a handy solar panel which stores energy from the sun while you are hiking along. Very useful for long trips. It helps to generated energy that can be used to charge devices like cell phone, cameras, etc…More info here
Universal charger

Solio Hybrid1000 is an universal charger that link a solar panel with a battery. It can power an array of mobile devices, from MP3 players and cell phones to digital cameras and a GPS.

Here where to buy it
Books & co.

Amazon is the best website where search for books and related.

You can do a little search to find

* Personalized books (guides, magazines, travel, outdoors, etc…)
* Guidebooks and maps to places your travelers would like to visit

Photography

Instead of the usual digital cameras, why don’t you choose a webservice where You can create your own hard covered photo books with the pictures of your travels.

The services that do this are:

* My Publisher
* Shutterfly
* Kodak Gallery
* Apple’s iPhoto

Here a simple tutorial to help you build a list of the essential gear to carry with you while travelling.

By reading this article you’ll find info on:

* The checklist of equipment to pack
* The list of comparing websites
* A buyer’s guide
* List of links to review websites
* The directory of brands in alphabetical order
* A list of tips to pack your gear

List of site where compare products

* Sporting Goods
* Sports and Outdoors
* Sportswear
* Camping & Hiking

List of buyer’s guide

* Sportsauthority.com – How To Buy General Camping Accessories
* Cbssportsstore.com – How To Buy A Backpack
* Cbssportsstore.com – How To Buy A Sleeping Bag
* Cbssportsstore.com – How to Buy Hiking Boots
* Away.com – Outdoor Gear Guide
* Ebay.com – Camping Buying Guide
* Ebay.com – A Quick Guide to Choosing a Backpack
* Ebay.com – How to Choose a Sleeping Pad
* Ebay.com – Tips on finding the right trekking poles

Links to review sites

* Reviewcentre.com – Compare reviews of camping equipment
* Epinions.com – Sports & Outdoors
* Backpackinglight.com – Reader Gear Reviews
* Backpackgeartest.org – Backpack Gear Test
* Gearreview.com – Adventure Travel Reviews
* Rei.com – Camp/Hike Expert Advice

List of brands

* Rei.com/brands – Alphabetical links of brands of outdoor gear and clothing
* Nomadik.com – Brand Directory

List of gear

* 1 Liter water bottle
* Alpenstock
* Anti-bacterial cream
* Anti-diarrhea medicine
* Backpack
* Bathing suit
* Batteries
* Boots
* Bug repellent
* Camera
* Clothes
* Convertible backpack
* Convertible pants
* Copies of important documents (Check, passport, visa, etc…)
* Cotton underwear
* Extra camera batteries
* Extra pair of glasses
* Garlic Tablets
* Gloves
* Gore-Tex jacket and pull
* Hat
* Headlamp
* Maps
* Money belt
* Multitask knife
* Parts
* Rain poncho
* Rehydration salts
* Rollers
* Rucksack
* Saddles
* Safety Pins
* Shaving Accessories
* Shoes
* Shorts
* Sleeping bag
* Sleeping mat
* Socks
* Sticks
* Sun cream
* Sun glasses
* Toilet Paper
* Torch
* Trash bags
* Trousers
* T-shirts
* Watch
* Water proof jacket
* Water treatment
* Wipes

How to Pack the Right Equipment for Hiking

Packing tips

The trick to packing for adventure travel is to pack:

1. Light
2. Inconspicuous
3. Cheap

* Luggage – Think small and inconspicuous. Dark colours like brown and black will attract less attention. Pack as small as possible (30-45 liters)
* Clothing – Think light and breathable. Choose ones with collars to keep the sun off your neck. Choose pants with cargoes to zip off the legs and turn into shorts. Take care to underwear and socks to stay warm.
* Shoes – 1° of all don’t let your shoes outside the door to dry.
* Instead of a suitcase, carry a big, soft, rugged duffel bag.
* Throw out film boxes and take new clothing out of a trash package.
* Bring along small toys to help break the ice with local kids and adults

Before a trip

* Ehow.com – Prepare for a Hiking Trip
* Ehow.com – Food for a Backpacking Trip
* Ehow.com – Pack food for Backpacking
* Ehow.com – How to Cook in the Snow When Backpacking

Read more

* What to Pack: Adventure Travel
* Gear and clothing necessities
* Packing list [PDF]
* Backpacking Checklist (Gear List)

Big list of training programs and tutorial

The Skiing season is started. If you are not a professional skier, keep attention to your preparation.

Bad training could cause damages, especially for legs and articulations.

So let’s go learning how to build and prepare our body to enjoy the next ski season…
Exercises for Skiing

* Get Ready for Skiing Workout – Pictures and a list of exercises designed to help strengthen the muscles used while skiing (legs, abs, back and arms) and challenges your balance, core strength and stability.
* Skiing fitness exercises – Your skiing fitness program should begin a minimum of 8 weeks prior to your time on the slope. The key areas to look at are, muscular strength and endurance, especially in the muscles in the legs. Flexibility, having a good range of movement in your joints will enable your body to adjust to any sudden changes in your direction and also help prevent injury when you fall. Aerobic training will enable you to ski longer, as fatigue results in poor concentration ending in injury from crashing.
* Skiing fitness and conditioning exercises [PDF] – Tips from a personal trainer to draw up a program that you can do at home. All you need is a Swiss exercise ball, a rubber stretch band and a willingness to prepare yourself.
* Advanced Skiing Exercises – If you already have a solid base of conditioning (cardiovascular training 30+ minutes 2-3x/week and strength training 2x/week) try adding these two power exercises to get your core, shoulders, and legs ready for some great skiing.
* Getting ready for that ski trip – List of pictures and exercise for Stretching and Strengthening.
* 10 Quick tips to get in top shape for the ski season – The article describe exercises for Cardiovascular conditioning, strength, speed, agility, flexibility, power and balance.

Conditioning exercises to make skiing less painful

* Fit for Ski Season – Being in good physical shape can enhance your skiing skills, prevent fatigue and injury, and help you enjoy a great day on the slopes. However, certain forms of fitness training are more “ski specific” than others. Here are some conditioning ideas that will get you in superb slope shape for ski season.
* Harden Your Abs for Skiing – Crunches tone your abdominal muscles, and strengthen your core to help your balance, stamina and even agility while skiing or snowboarding.
* ACL Injuries While Skiing – Nothing can spoil a skiing vacation faster than an injury, especially if it’s a serious one. One of the most common injuries affecting skiers today is damage to their Anterior Cruciate Ligament. The ACL is a tough tissue that restricts forward movement of the thigh bone over the shin bone. But, there is good news. There are a number of things you can do to minimize the chances of injuring your ACL.
* Improve Your Balance While Skiing – One of the easiest ways to accelerate your skiing ability is to learn the proper skiing stance. This exercise will help you to locate the “sweet spot” on your skis.
* Stretch Your Upper Thighs Before Skiing – Your upper thigh (or quadricep) bears a large burden as you zip your way down the slopes. Properly preparing your thighs contributes to even more fluid skiing.
* Stretch Your Neck Before Skiing – Though not the most integral muscles for skiing, loose and relaxed neck muscles translate to a more relaxed body from top to bottom.
* Prevent Ski Injuries – While skiing can be an enjoyable sport, there is nothing enjoyable about getting injured. The following guidelines will help you have a safe and pleasant ski season.

Ski machines simulators to exercise

If you have money and space, Ski Simulator and Elliptical Machines are great tools to help you training at home

Garmont Men’s Momentum Snow GTX Winter Hiking Shoe

Garmont’s Momentum trekking shoe is really a compact model designed for wintery weather. The roomy toe box gives place for thick socks, while Gore-Tex lining wards off water and 400-gram Thinsulate maintains the cold out in sub-zero conditions. This shoe contains specialized lacing to support snowshoe bindings, along with a D-ring for connecting a gaiter. Garmont’s G-Grip dual-density outsole includes soft, textured lugs that stay pliable for reliable grip regardless of how cold it gets.
Features: The top is abrasion proof suede with mesh to permit foot cooling air flow with the water-proof membrane layer TPU spine cushions and balances within the mid and rear while flexing easily right in front Vibram TSO sole wears hard and extreme lugs maintain grip on from steep climbs to off camber corners.

Salomon Men’s Snowtrip TS WP Winter Shoe

If trekking up a snow-covered mountain in freezing cold conditions is the concept of winter fun, than the shoe was created specially to suit your needs. Salomon’s water-proof Snowtrip is light-weight, versatile and designed with full functionalities to keep the feet comfortable and properly protected in your most adventurous treks. Insulated with Thinsulate®, the shoe keeps the cold out right down to an icy minus 18 degrees, as the signature outsole remains pliable and gripping even just in cold weather. The Snowtrip blends old-fashioned leather with Salomon’s modern undertake the snow shoe. The faux-furry lining could keep the feet comfortable and comfy and also the water-proof leather could keep cold snow out. Obviously, any modern/classic fusion shoe is totally lost should you wear ice. Luckily, Salomon built the only using the sci-fi looking Contragrip. Tread with full confidence. Leather Thinsulate leather Faux-fur lining Water-proof Rated to 0°F

Hi-Tec Men’s Yeti Ii 200 Wpi Insulated Hiking Shoe

This Yeti shoe from Hi-Tec includes a water-proof full-grain nubuck and synthetic upper with ion-mask water-resistant technology without a doubt protection from the elements. A inhospitable winter season outsole with Anti Freeze rubber and MDT traction have better winter grip. Water can’t pass through this excellent shoe. The Yeti II Shoe includes a near-impenetrable tissue layer that keeps humidity from finding its means by. With Thermo-Dri water-resistant / insulated construction along with a water-proof bootie inside, there is no doubt your tootsies are safe. As well as for warmth, you’ll relish 200 grams of Thermolite insulation like a cold-air buffer. The remainder: Soft Comfort-Tec foam sock liner; Light-weight, compression-molded EVA midsole cushions to soak up shock; Winter traction, siped outsole rubber pads on anti-freeze rubber outsole; Each Shoe weighs approx. 22.6 oz..

Wenger Men’s Yeti Insulated Shoe

You are able to overcome any obstacle within the Yeti shoe from Wenger. This hiker features thick padding for additional comfort, a higher cut for ankle stability, full insulated for warmth, along with a grippy rubber outsole to beat any rocky or uneven terrain. Stay dry and comfortable within the Wenger® Yeti men’s winter shoe, featuring a water-proof construction and Thinsulate™ insulation. It’s crafted utilizing a comfortable mixture of split suede and polyester, and also the rubber outsole provides great grip on slippery surfaces.

Timberland Men’s Chocorua 8″ Gore-Tex Shoe

Made of top quality full-grain, water-resistant leather, the Timberland Chocorua 8-inch Gore-Tex shoe for men is perfect for comfort and sturdiness. A Gore-Tex membrane layer gives outstanding breathable comfort as well as an extra level of water-proof protection. The long lasting rubber outsole provides you with superb grip on a myriad of surface types. ThinsulateTM insulation gives excellent warmness, while a totally removable molded EVA footbed, padded collar and tongue ensure comfort.

Here a list of useful tutorials, articles and news about hiking activities during winter months.

Winter hiking and Walking guides

• Backpacking – Great website that offers information to create awareness that hiking is year-round sport and promote appropriate winter gear. It gives a list of resources about Tips & Techniques on Winter Hiking; Snowshoeing and Winter Outdoor Gear [Clothes; Boots; Snowshoes; Snow Poles & Ice Axe]
• Hike the whites – This website is a collection of information about winter hiking. It lists info about Water and Food; Boots; Clothing; Links and Trip reports.
• Winter Hiking for the First Time – Forum discussion on Clubtread.com on tips for a first time winter hiker. The discussion is focused on giving the basics; daytrips or half-day trips and gear advices.
• Winter Hiking – Here Bob and Gordon provide a great map of all gear to use with pictures and detailed info. Just click on an item and find related tips and info. In their website they offer also trip reports and photos.
• Clothing for Winter hiking – Here a great article about how to be Warm and Comfy Outdoors in the Winter. They provide useful tips on Heat management with info on how to dress to keep warm and comfy; To eat to keep warm and comfy; To avoid overheating, and thus getting sweaty, damp, and cold. They finish with a list of useful elements to wear like: Polypropylene; Pile; Dacron, Polyester, Acrylic; Spandex or Lycra; Wool and silk; Nylon and similar synthetics; Gore-Tex and Vapor barriers.
• Harvard – Well written checklist of things to consider bringing on a winter hiking trip.

How To Dress Warm For Winter Hikes

• Adk.org – [Use as example and guidelines] Great article on safety tips while winter hiking. They offer gret info about trip planning, weather and avalanches info, food and water, clothing and gear.
• Love to know – With the right winter hiking gear you can enjoy hiking year round and avoid that inevitable winter flab. You can learn about Footwear, Waterproof Boots, Socks, Gaiters, Snowshoes or Cleats and other clothes.
• Hit the Trail – Another great article about equipment and preparation necessary to have a successful and enjoyable outdoor adventure.

Useful news to read

• Tips on Choosing Snowshoes [Check out the activity before investing in the gear.]
• Keep Your Cool in Cold: Quit Hibernating and Get Outside [Dressing for the weather is the most critical part of outdoor exercise.]
• The Joys of Winter Hiking
• Winter Hiking [See the pictures...really really awesome]

Tutorials and Guides

• Maximize Safety on a Winter Hike – Winter hiking allows you to experience the beauty of nature in a relatively unpopulated wilderness. Take the following precautions to ensure safety.
• Winter Clothes When Hiking – Carrying a few indispensable items in your pack, your time on the trail can be comfortable and hypothermia-free.
• How to Pack for Cold Climate Hiking – Extreme low temperatures can affect every aspect of your hike, including your choice of clothing, cooking methods and sleeping options. Take precautions and follow these tips when planning a cold climate hiking trip.