After hugely successful launches in Japan and Europe, Nintendo's Wii Fit exercise game is coming to the United States May on 19th, where it is sure to find sales success. But Wii Fit is hardly the first example of an attempt to meld videogaming and exercise — it's not even the first fitness offering from Nintendo.

Atari Joyboard (1982)
In 1982, Atari released the "Joyboard," a simple four-switch balance board controller for the Atari 2600 that stuffed the guts of a standard joystick into a ridged, black plastic slab. A single game was released for the Joyboard. Dubbed Mogul Maniac, the game emulated the experience of slalom skiing with all the subtlety a four-position digital sensor could provide.

The Joyboard is generally considered a failure, too finicky for nuanced control. In fact, one of the most interesting uses for the Joyboard involved not triggering its switches: some claim, perhaps apocryphally, that engineers building the Commodore Amiga used to manage development stress by sitting perfectly motionless on the Joyboard in zazen, leading to the "Guru Meditation" verbiage in the Amiga's crash warning dialog. Game developer Ian Bogost developed a game of the same name that uses the Joyboard as an interface, in which fully motionless sitting causes an on-screen guru avatar to slowly decamp from his mat into the air with yogic flight. [Image: AtariAge.com]

Had the Joyboard seen retail triumph, it's conceivable Atari might have developed a proper exercise game, complete with weight statistics and performance tracking.

Jamie Zawinski sells beer, does battle with unix derivatives and rides bicycles. He has posted to the Internet his collected wisdom regarding the latter subject.

"City bikes" and "road bikes" are designed for some Jetsons-slick hypothetical future city that I've never seen. Or maybe for the bike paths in Los Altos or something. Here in real cities, roads are shit, and if you want your wheels and tires to survive curbs and potholes, you need a hybrid. They're a little heavier and a little slower. Are you racing? No? Then you don't care.

We moved to Pittsburgh a few months ago from rural New Mexico, so have been considering the bikes: the city has a similarly compact, hilly landscape to San Franciso, from whence jwz's tips come. Reading this might just have convinced me to give it a whirl.

the collected jwz bicycle wisdom [jwz]

The nut: The Brunton Solaris 52 is a big panel in a small package — at least when it's folded up — but you'll want a good battery like the Brunton Solo 15 to go with it in most situations, which affects the overall portability — and price.

For backpacking, the Brunton Solaris 52 isn't too big; the flexible solar panel array folds down into a pack that's only 11-inches wide, about the size and heft of a college textbook. And unlike most portable solar panels, the Solaris 52 can power big hardware — even laptops — provided it's getting enough sunlight to convert into DC power.

If you were only going to use the Solaris 52 for emergency back-up power, it would do its duty ably, outputting to a standard 12-volt car charger plug, one of four DC input tips (check your device's rating, of course!) or the included car battery clamps. But if you're relying exclusively on the Solaris 52 to power your devices (like I did when I took the gear into the woods), I'd suggest pairing the solar panel with a battery like Brunton's own Solo 15. Charging up a battery which in turn charges your devices allows you to keep the backup battery topped up while using your devices elsewhere, continue to draw power at night, and charge devices that need a more wattage than the panel can provide on a overcast day.

Then again, adding a battery adds more weight: four pounds in the case of the $650 Solo 15, added to the already wincingly prohibitive $1,300 price of the Solaris 52. But this sort of gear isn't for the casual backpacker who wants to top up their iPod battery — there are plenty of cheaper solutions for that, including units from Brunton themselves. Instead, this level of gear is for people who intend to spend serious time away from the grid with relatively serious hardware.

Just don't plug the Solo 15's DC-to-AC inverter directly into the Solaris 52's 12-volt output or you might get the same puff of smoke that I did. (To its credit, the inverter still worked!)

The Solo 15 unit I tested was a pre-release unit, but there was one annoying flaw that I hope the company will address before shipping: the charge indicator on the front of the battery seemed finicky, sometimes showing a full charge when the button was pressed, other times not showing anything at all. Worse, the three stage LEDs — three for full, down to one for empty — seemed to skip the middle LED almost completely, going from full- to low-power in just an instant. Rechargeable batteries are by nature finicky bags of chemicals, so be sure to follow best charging practices to squeeze the rated 12 amp hours out of the Solo 15.

The Solo 15 comes with the same adapters as the Solaris 52, as well as an AC input, making it possible — and recommended — to top its reserves off at a power outlet before setting off to rely exclusively on the sun's generosity.

I love novelty velocipedes, and so I've already developed a fondness for this Treadmill Bike for sale from Bike Forest. It's stupidly impractical and inefficient, but it makes up for that with goofy charm: the video on the official site touts "you can bring it on the bus" as a major feature, yet cuts away just as the handle bars smack into the door frame. Another bullet points out that you are unlikely to be transformed into a gelatinous smear by an SUV while riding the Treadmill Bike, since "the Treadmill Bike's elevated running platform means you'll be seen over the hood of even the most heinously overbuilt motor vehicle." Goofy charm only goes so far, though: I'm not sure that it's worth $2,500 Canadian to be the biggest doofus on the bike path.

Treadmill Bike [Bike Forest via Gizmowatch]

Although its taking a bit of a drubbing as it passes through the chuckling locker room of gadget blogdom, this pedal-powered charger isn't as daft as its out-of-fashion powder blue design might imply. Called "Energized by You" — or at least that's what we're going to call it, since it appears to be one of those Chinese products that has so many names it's impossible to tell which one is the brand or model — the concept should be obvious to anyone at a glance: pump the pedals to recharge the battery.

And what's wrong with that? The little under-the-desk pedal exercisers might be a bit goofy, but working out while working is an idea that seems to be building momentum. Gym-class cardio machines are getting iPod docks; why couldn't the machines also use your exertion to top off your iPod's battery? Harvesting excess energy, however incidental it might be, is a solid idea.

If you'd like to purchase this particular implementation, Japanese retailer Rakuten is selling them for ¥14,800, plus shipping.

Catalog Page [Rakuten.co.jp (Machine Translated) via TFTS via Gizmodo]

Week before last I attempted to work from the woods for a few days powered only by the sun and pluck. It sort of worked out. Here is the video proof.

"Beer Pong" is some sort of drinking-based sport, the object of which is to bounce a ping-pong ball into a plastic cup. (I was the guy trying to explain to dudes' girlfriends the emotional impact of Aeris' death in Final Fantasy VII when I went to frat parties, so I may be a bit murky on the specifics.)

Lest you think Beer Pong the sort of game that can be played on any table at hand — or failing that, on the backs of two interlocked pledges bent ninety degrees at the waist — "Pong A Long" would like for you to consider its "Portable Beer Pong Tables," marked with official areas for cup placement and easily folded to fit into the back seat of a taxi.

If you like manhandled plastic balls in your beer, their currently running a $5-off promo, bringing the price of the seven-foot model to $60 and the eight-foot "Pro" model down to $85 (plus shipping) using code "MI-PONG".

Product Page [PongALong.com]

Joel's secret to wilderness success.
Jordan Guelde [via Yanko Design]

Despite some equipment setbacks compounded by my embarrassingly poor grasp of the fundamental nature of circuits, I am computing to you from a hill overlooking the Hudson on a Lenovo X300 laptop being recharged by a Brunton Solo 15. The Solo 15 was recharged by our sun through a folding Solaris 52 solar panel. I'm also sipping water — well, coffee — cleaned by a SteriPen while taking the occasional phone call.

(I'm listing all this stuff by brand name both to catch up anyone who hasn't been following along. Also, because man is this stuff getting dirty; I'm hoping the more I mention the products by name the less blank stares I get from the companies when I return their mostly intact but dusty gear. Still, typical review caveats apply: If something sucks I'll say so.)

It was my intention to actually do some more blogging out here, but my internet connection using the X300's built-in EVDO modem is stuck at 1xRTT, which is usable, albeit slowly. Like days of yore, I am loading only a single web page at a time. For a brief moment this morning I had a strong EVDO signal and speeds to match, but like the fog it vanished with the sun.

In short, things are going better than I could reasonable expect, but I wouldn't advise anyone to make the same attempt. The solar gear works but is heavy. The internet works, but barely. The camping comforts I left to make room for all the electronics are missed.

Yet I'm still looking down into the valley below and it's lovely — when the trees fill out their leaves it will be stunning — and am able to answer emails, upload pictures, post stories, and live a muted analog of my normal work day.

But these are supposed to be work days, however awesomely indulgent they may be, so I'm going to pack up in the morning and head back to Brooklyn. I've tested all the gear I've brought (and shot video, coming soon). I'll lose most of the day tomorrow to travel, but better three light posting days than four, I figure, especially since I'm bopping off to Costa Rica next week for what will be — save a few video shoots — a proper vacation.

I'll be writing up full reviews of all this gear after I get back. Except for the inverter that came with the Brunton Solo 15 that coughed up some smoke when I plugged it directly into the 12-volt (estimated!) outlet on the Solaris 52 solar panel, everything has worked very well. (And the inverter is still working right now, although it will occasionally make a little snapping noise to remind me it is not long for this world.)

Oh, I almost stepped on a rattlesnake. Then almost fell on it when I jumped in fear and nearly lost my balance. Then sat in the shelter chain smoking recalling all the times I've sneered to someone, "Oh, they're more afraid of you than you are of them." Because if that's true that snake had a hell of a poker face.

Anyway, lots more to come, but I realized I hadn't checked in since this morning. Thanks to everyone who sent me "Complete the circuit, dummy!" messages while I was rigging up the plug this morning. Every time I got one a little more drool dripped from my smiling, idiot mouth.

Previously • Video: Week in the Woods [BBG]
• In the Woods: Brooklyn, we have a problem [BBG]
• Gadgets in the wild: Is Joel Dead Yet?; Update: Sirs, I am not [BBG]
• Week in the Woods: Final checklist; Leaving tomorrow! [BBG]
• Week in the Woods: Need to Get My Computer Decision Made [BBG]
• Help Me Plan a Week Working in the Woods [BBG]

Okay, I'm going to try to make this quick, since I may be running out of battery sooner than I thought.

I left a connector for the Solo 15 at home, which means I have no way to get power from the Solaris 52 solar panel into the Solo 15. That wouldn't be a problem except I haven't been able to charge the X300 laptop directly from the panels in the past, although I may be able to if I get enough sunlight. (I think it just wasn't driving enough voltage through the inverter.

I've got about an hour-and-a-half of laptop battery left, so I'm going to attempt meager use until I'm sure I can get more power into the laptop. Oddly enough, EVDO is working this morning; I've got a nice little connection. If I could get power, I could even upload some more videos.

One plan for jury-rigging the Solo 15: the connection is just a wire. (It's actually a 12-volt car plug with two of the standard power plugs on the end. Obviously it's running DC out of the panel into the battery. I just so happen to have on a bracelet that my kid sister made for me from CAT-5, so I'm thinking about stripping the ends and just jamming them into the inside holes between the panel and the battery. (The battery has a circuit that prevents it from dumping back into the panel, so I'm not worried about juice flowing the other way. There's no intelligence in the standard wires.)

My only question: I don't know in a DC connection if you need more than one wire. The outside is a ground, right? But you don't actually need a ground if you're just putting juice down a wire? If so, I'll have to figure out a way to connection the second wire to the connectors, which won't be nearly as easy. (Why didn't I bring electrical tape?)

If you happen to know the answer to this very simple problem, feel free to ring me (347 495 0610) or send a direct message to me on Twitter, which is passed directly to my SMS.

I'm actually really tickled about all this. Everything's gone so well I was wondering when the real difficulty would show up.

Oh, and to you haters that said I'd freeze to death if I didn't bring a pad? Slept like a baby. Like a baby on a slab of wood. I was even sweating a little!

Update: Well, crap. While I was trying to rig up a plug I decided to plug the inverter directly into the panel to try and see if I had enough sunlight to charge the laptop without using the Solo 15 battery at all. As far as I know, that's a standard way to use the inverter. But as the USB was humming along charging a spare phone battery, there was a pop and a puff of smoke. I opened up the inverter case and while the fuse isn't blown, something on the board has scorched. I'm not sure if that leaves the inverter completely unusable or not. I tried it off the Solo 15 (which still has a little juice left) and the USB out on the inverter seemed to be working fine. But if the AC out doesn't work I won't be able to charge the laptop, even if I can rig up a way to get power to it.

This may be it for power. If that's the case, I'll probably pack up and head back to Brooklyn tonight. No need just to stay out here enjoying nature with no internet.

BoingBoing Gadgets supremo Joel Johnson arrived in the woods earlier this afternoon, and reports that he is half-way to his night's destination. Both gadgets and mental faculties remain operational. (See what he's taking along in the checklist post)

His twitter feed is already starting to fill with short missives from the frontier:

"Crossing black river hot with sun. Man has been here."

Indeed. The picture is from his flickr, similarly about to be loaded with proof that nowhere is free of modern life's electromagnetic tendrils.

Update: I'm here. I have internet, although it's not EVDO, but just 1xRTT, which is awful slow. Still, success! Here is the video to prove it.

Obviously I'll have some real world numbers soon, but I'm sitting here waiting for my second train out of Secaucus to Harriman and am topping off the Lenovo X300's battery from the Brunton Solo 15, and it got me thinking: how many times could I do this if the Solo 15 wasn't getting recharged from solar?

Then I realized you guys are smarter than I am, so I stopped trying to figure it out and thought I'd just Lay-Z-Web it.

Here's the specs for the X300's 3-cell battery: 11.2 V dc, 2.44 Amp/Hr,

And for the Solo 15:

# Peak Power = 77 Watts, Nominal Power = 39 Watts, Total Power = 154 Watt Hours
# Storage: 12 Amp Hours @ 12.8 volts
# Max Output: 14.6 Volts
# Max Power: 77 Watts

So I looked at the amp/hour and thought, okay, about six times. And maybe that's right. Remember: I'm dumb as a shed. So dumb I'm not even sure that's the right metaphor. Or if that's a metaphor or a simile. See?

Keep in mind, because I couldn't find a car charger for the X300, I'm going out of a DC Solo 15 into an AC inverter, then back out to the standard AC/DC adapter, so there's got to be some loss in there. But I'm not interested in exact numbers, really, just a general idea. And even more important, what the probably simple equation that I'm too dopey to understand might be.

Okay, I better pack up. My train is coming soon.

Look, I know you're paranoid. I can see it in the way you're nervously trying to catch a rearward reflection in the glare of your monitor as you read this post. Relax. No one cares about what you're doing right now.

It's when you head out to your car that you might consider, oh, I don't know, casually making a circuit around all four wheels, looking for tell-tale scuffs in the dust along the chassis, the relief of a steadying hand. (Amateurs!) Because you know what you did. You know where you're going to go next. And so will they.

So consider ordering this "GPS Tracker Defence" device that, when plugged into your car's 12-volt socket, emits a GPS-jamming chorus of electromagnetic screams in a five-meter radius. Which should be enough to knock out any tracking device that's been clipped to your undercarriage. Probably. How sure is your knowledge of how GPS really works?

Here's a test: you'll know the £150 fob is working if your life continues steeped in the same plodding weariness to which you'll never become truly accustomed.

You look nice today.

Catalog Page [TrackerShack.co.uk via SpyReview.co.uk via Coolest-Gadgets]

Tomorrow I'm heading out to the woods to make an attempt to work on the internet using only solar power. It's not going to be a full week as I'd planned, as I'll probably be coming back Friday — or if my constitution, food or internet supplies fail, sooner.

One immediate problem: I'm not quite sure where I'm going.

Well, I do. I'm going to Harriman State Park. But my exploratory overnight trip, whereby I was to test where best to get an EVDO connection, never happened. (I was waiting on equipment that didn't arrive until Friday.) So this will be a bit by the seat of my pants. Worse — or better, depending on how I feel — you can only camp in designated areas in Harriman, so I'll have to move locations every day. That's actually sort of neat — as long as I can continue to get a good connection. At worst I can work on posts and videos and such at my campsite, then hike up a hill to get an EVDO connection and upload.

Worst case, I just don't end up having the live connection from my campsite I was hoping to get each night. That's okay. This whole thing is going to be an adventure.

One shelter I want to try to reach is the Big Hill Shelter. It looks like a nice place to spend an evening.

I'll be posting updates to my Twitter stream. I've found that EDGE and SMS often work well even in remote areas. If nothing else I should be able to inject blips to the web that way while I try to find good EVDO coverage from Verizon.

Another problem: My pack is coming in too heavy.

The story has been developing all week, but once Wal-Mart decided to stop carrying bottles that use Bisphenol A — a chemical which may or may not induce hormonal changes, especially in children — bottle-maker Nalgene has announced they'll ditch the chemical in their manufacturing process.

Reports the Times:

Nalgene’s decision to drop the plastic that transformed it from an obscure maker of laboratory equipment into a consumer brand does not mean the company is leaving the drinking bottle business. It has long made bottles from other plastics that lack the glasslike transparency and rigidity that made polycarbonate popular.

Last month, Nalgene introduced a line of bottles made from a relatively new plastic from the Eastman Chemical Company, Tritan copolyester, that shares most of polycarbonate’s properties, including shatter-resistance, but is made without the chemical

Bottle Maker to Stop Using Plastic Linked to Health Concerns [NYTimes via Treehugger]

I don't mind admitting it: my once god-like body, nut-brown and taut, has devolved into a gelatinous structure of mayonnaise-like consistency over the last two years.

It's my career: I am a blogger. My lifestyle is sedentary. Every day, I wake up groggily at noon, ready for another thrilling day filled with adventure. By 12:05, my gastropoidal bulk begins its day's suppuration against the moist, stenching fabric of my office chair. By 12:10, I have cracked open the first beer of the day. And from 12:10 to approximately 2:00pm? The only caloric expenditure is my own rapid digital cycling between Control+C and Control+V.

So I joined a gym a few weeks ago. Since I live in Germany but don't actually speak German, it was difficult to find a gym that could accommodate me. But eventually, I found a great one, and my physical regimen is overseen by an Aryan Achilles by the name of Andreas.

Andreas is a riot. Because he often does not know the English names of the exercises he wants me to perform, he identifies them by the name of the Rocky film in which they first appeared. And when it came time to measure my body fat, he had me grab the digital BMI meter with two hands for ten seconds. Examining it afterwards, he arched one eyebrow cynically, declared the reading a gross underestimate and then, without looking, tossed it over his shoulder in an effortless arc to land in a trash can behind him. He's a good yegg, Andreas.

When I met with Andreas for the first time, he asked me — in an incredulous manner indicating that he well knew the answer must be "no" — if I'd ever exercised before. In truth, though, I had. Two years and thirty pounds ago, I was in the best shape of my life, thanks to a wonderful virtual fitness program called Yourself! Fitness. But I knew that informing Andreas that I had once been a muscular Adonis thanks to the tutelage of an imaginary woman who lived inside my computer would probably tax both of our skills in poly-linguism.

But, you know, Andreas might have to get used to the competition of virtual trainers... particularly bobble-headed ones. Wii Fit, Nintendo's own answer to living-room personal fitness, is due out in the states on May 19th, with a street price of $89 including both the software and wireless balance board accessory. I'm not likely to grab it — I've learned from experience that without having the routine of going to the gym, I'm likely to procrastinate a day's work out indefinitely — but I really am glad to see more video game companies try to whip flab-beasts like me into shape. As the ten pounds I've lost in two weeks of admittedly strenuous exercise shows, there's simply no reason in the world why getting in shape needs to come at the cost of a twelve-month, no-money-back commitment.

Wii Fit craze set to launch May 19 [Crave]

Alan Henry carried around the SPOT Satellite Messenger device with him for several months, a $170 device (plus $100-a-year subscription) that allows you to beam updates or a "Help!" message if you're too far to get your phone working.

The SPOT device is only half of the equation. The other half is your SPOT profile, which you can manage from any computer with Web access. You get an ID number with your SPOT, and with it you can go to the company's Web site, log in, register your device, and configure your alerts. The SPOT can send three different types of messages: check-in messages, help requests, and emergency/911 messages. Each message is sent with information to help find your location, including your latitude and longitude, your device number, the nearest town to your location and how far away it is, and a link to a Google Map with your position indicated on the map.

The device is also endorsed by Les Stroud, the ballsy survivalist who hauls his own camera gear into the wilderness to film his show, Survivorman.

Hands-On: The SPOT Satellite Messenger [Gearlog]

We've all been there: staking out a Little League game, trying to get photographic evidence of the neighbor kid picking his nose. (The only saving grace of blackmailing families with no vices is that even an inconsequential social transgression can be all it takes to shame them into mowing your lawn for the rest of their lives.)

But what if you've misjudged? What if Father Jones notices your telephoto rig hidden inside your giant foam "We're Number 1!" hand? What if as his brings the tiny aluminum bat down onto your noggin you realize your ball cap disguise offers no cranial protection?

Before you go after the Smiths — their strong work ethic exactly what it will take to get three coats of paint on your house — invest in Spycatcher of Knightsbridge's "Protective Insert for Baseball Cap," a polypropylene helm that slips under a standard baseball cap. It's charmingly abbreviated in the product code as "PDLCAPINS," which I can't help but parse as "Puddle Captains."

It's £5. A landscaper wouldn't even start your lawnmower for that.

Catalog Page [SpycatcherOnline.co.uk via Red Ferret]

The 'EMT Paintball Sentry Turret' is a built-to-order motorized turret that can be operated from the safety of your nearby bunker. Or if you opt for the 2.4 GHz wireless version — then boost its transmission range with an optional 2-mile transmitter — from the comfort of your own home, snifter of brandy at hand. Only common infantrymen get dirty while killing.

The basic dual-barrel Turret can rotate 350° laterally with up to 90° of tilt. (The question, of course, is how quickly it can turn.) The basic hopper holds 200 paintballs, but like almost everything else on the Turret this can be upgraded. Want night vision? Upgrade cameras? Video recording to flash memory? An attached target that will enable enemy soldiers to temporarily disable the Turret? Winterproofing? For a price, EMT will add all these to your little three-legged Action Jackson Pollock.

Prices start at $1,400 for the wired version, quickly climbing into the middle thousands with all the trimmings. For the first time in my life, I wish I was the manager of a cubicle farm.

Product Page [EvolutionModelTechnology.com via Technabob via Oh Gizmo]

Below is a sponsored advertisement from Builders League United:

These bejeweled gas masks were one-offs created by artist Diddo Velema for the "Luxury Show 2008" in Bucharest, Romania. I'm not normally one to be swayed by the gold-and-crystal crowd, but I could totally wear one of these to the club, slipping it on just before hijacking the sound system with some Kompressor and releasing my own VX mood fog.

High Fashion Protection [DiddoVelema.com via DVICE]

Nike has announced the new Nike+ SportBand, a bracelet that tracks pace, distance, and calories burned (estimated, of course) just like the Nike+ iPod package does—minus the need for an iPod. No price announced yet, but I expect it'll be inexpensive. Most of the other Nike+ stuff has been so far.

In the same manner that the Nike + iPod Sport Kit allows shoes to send information to a nano, the Nike+ SportBand is a wristwatch that also monitors a runner’s steps. But now a runner can check time, pace, distance and calories burned at a glance of the wrist. The Nike+ SportBand watch face is a detachable LINK that captures all the run data from a sensor located in the runner’s Nike+ ready footwear. Once a run is completed, the LINK conveniently plugs into a computer like a USB drive, so data can then be sent to nikeplus.com where a runner’s progress is tracked.

Update: Gizmodo says it'll sell for $60.

Press Release [BusinessWire.com via Engadget]

Previously • Nike Amp+ iPod Remote Watch [BBG]
• Nike + iPod Stats Tracking Coming to Gym Cardio Machines [BBG]

Update, Wednesday, April 16, 2008: Stuff got their hands on the SportBand and like what they found.

Apart from this, it’s a doddle to use when you hit the pavements. There are only two buttons – the ‘toggle’ beneath the screen and the main button on the Link. To get running you just hold the main button for three seconds to establish a connection, and press it once to start and stop. The toggle lets you scroll through stats while you’re running, and when you’ve finished lets you scroll through the time of day, your last run data, your total weekly miles and, most satisfyingly, your total cumulative miles.

Uploading your run’s stats couldn’t be slicker. Pop it in the USB port and the widget opens automatically and, if you have an internet connection, so does nikeplus.com. From there you can fiddle around with the excellent new Coach functions and challenges to make sure you don’t slip back into your doughnut-scoffing ways.

Nike+ SportBand review [Stuff.tv]

"Glove Radar" uses a small microwave Doppler radar unit to measure the speed of baseballs caught in any attached mitt, accurate to within 1 MPH from speeds from 20 to 120 MPH. It's seventy bucks and is designed to stand up to dust and impact.

Product Page [BaseballTips.com] (Thanks, Charles Pescovitz!)

A Cool Tools reader gives a rousing endorsement to "StrechCordz ," a simple belt with a rubber tether that makes it possible to swim endless laps without installing an expensive wave pool.

I wasn't sure I'd need the belt, frankly, since our pool is big enough for actual swimming. In practice, however, even though our pool is 32 feet long, it's not really enough to be comfortable for laps. The belt is an elegant solution. There's no more constantly calculating the strokes left till the next turn. Swimming in place allows a steady, relaxed rhythm that would otherwise be impossible. I find I can swim longer on the belt and get more of a workout. Our pool is 18 feet from side to side. The short belt (4 ft.) is plenty long enough for me, but there's a longer version for larger pools.

You can pick up a StrechCordz for around $30—far cheaper than other endless swim options. (Except for my technique, which is to start at the top of the open sea, then swim down.)

StrechCordz Short Resistance Training Belt [Cool Tools]

Ben Saunders is attempting to travel to the North Pole in record time, solo and unsupported by re-supply drops. He aims to complete the trek in less than 30 days.

He's posted his equipment list online, including the following gadgets, as well as tools like a Gargin E-trex and a Leatherman Skeletool. He's also taking a shotgun and ten cartridges for "bear safety."

• Spare GPS (exc batteries) Garmin eTrex
• Chart NOAA JNC5
• AA Cells Energizer Lithium AA 1.5v
• PDA HP iPAQ
• Argos satellite platform Telonics
• Iridium phone - battery Motorola 9505
• Digital Camera Nikon
• Video camera

Makes my little week in the woods trip seem much less daunting.

Equipment List [North.BenSaunders.com via Kottke]