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Are you a racing fan? Do you know someone who is? Then these fūl backpacks are for you. These NASCAR racing-inspired bags make great gifts for anyone including yourself and can also be used as school backpacks.

The fūl NASCAR backpacks feature the colors and numbers for Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The bags feature side webbing pockets, padded shoulder straps, internal organizer, and a padded mesh back panel.

Plus, many of these bags are affordable at under $20!

Pumping your legs up and down, you can feel the burning in your thighs as you climb the grade. Riding with the group, you hope to make the grade. Unsure of whether the legs or the thirst that gnaws at you will stop you first, you persevere. With the CamelBak HydroBak hanging on your shoulders, it won’t be your thirst. Its large 50-ounce insulated HydroTanium reservoir and taste-free PureFlow tube satisfies your body’s need for water. Drinking as you go along, there’s no need for frequent stops to find something cool.

While the CamelBak HydroBak has a small zippered compartment, your North Face Roo II around your waist has enough space to carry everything you need for a day of biking. It’s only 10-ounces empty and light enough not to weigh you down. Your buddies on the ride struggle with the heat of their equipment against their bodies. Your North Face Roo II with its breathable foam back panel stays cool and comfortable. You can smile and keep on riding. Built for comfort, this bag rarely reminds you that it’s hanging around your waist.

Your girl looks great with her pink Mountainsmith Dart strapped around her middle. Its petite 2-ounce weight is great. The 24-ounce bottle in a padded holder is available for cool refreshment when needed. She looks over and smiles while pulling her bottle free to take a sip or two on the downside of that hill. In her Mountainsmith Dart, she is carrying her valuables, keys, and some sunglasses that she now slides on in the midday sun.

In the middle of the afternoon, you stop with the group for a rest. Several of the bikers are peeling off their packs. After a time for refilling water and having a snack, it’s time to get back on the road. Everyone slips back into their gear and mounts up to hit the road and finish a great day of riding.

Article by Allen Teal from AssociatedContent.com.

If you love outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, biking or climbing, then you probably know how frustrating it can be to try to use a pack that seems like it was designed by someone who spends most of his or her downtime vegging out on the sofa. No one can really design an effective backpack unless they’ve been spending time in the great outdoors. Black Diamond backpacks are popular with outdoor enthusiasts because the people making design decisions spend time in the outdoors, too.

When you shop for Black Diamond packs, you’ll notice features like hydration systems, tool loops and super tough shoulder straps. You’ll also notice that there are packs that are much less expensive than some of the others. These packs are geared toward people who are new to the sport the packs are designed for. They are well made and very functional, but don’t have all the bells and whistles of more expensive packs. Often, these more basic packs are smaller, as well, which makes them the ideal choice for teens who want to learn to hike, ski or climb. As the beginner becomes more skilled, he or she will probably want to upgrade to a slightly more expensive pack to take advantage of more options.

Snowboarding is a fun activity, but not many people can go out on a daily, year-round basis — which means they have to store their gear away for the hot summer months. Even if you can go out often, taking care of the equipment should be a regular part of the sport. Here are some easy gear care tips for those looking to maintain their gear year-round:

Tennis players can be quite a stylish bunch; an entire industry revolves around clothing and accessories that are created specifically with them in mind. If you are new to the sport, it can be helpful to get a feel for the key pieces that make up the outfit. Here are some sample items that you will almost always see drawing attention on the court:

• The tennis skirt. Always classic, you will see this garment on many of the women on the court. These days fun patterns are as in style as the classic solids.
• Caps and visors. These items are popular with outdoor tennis enthusiasts and the variety of choices out there is truly staggering. Sometimes players like to match them to their outfit.
• Ankle socks. It is rare to see any knee-highs lurking around the courts.
• Tennis racquet backpack or bag. These items have become the fashionable way to carry one’s things on and off the court.

These standard pieces are all customizable to reflect an individual player’s sense of style and taste. Each season new patterns and colors become “hot” and there are also a staple of classics that people tend to gravitate to. Other items that make the list include headbands, tennis shoes and the racquets themselves.

Keeping sports equipment organized can be a challenge, especially for families with children who are always on the go. The last thing you need as a parent is a frantic search for a baseball glove or hat when you are already pressed for time. Consider putting everything together in one place in a baseball backpack or baseball bag so that you can just pick everything up and head out the door. No fuss.

A backpack can be a good solution, especially if you find one that has the right compartments for gear. If you prefer, consider a bag designed especially for the sport. Most bags like this will have a reinforced zipped area where the bat or bats can be stored, as well as a section to hold extra balls and a glove. Some have mesh areas on the sides for the bats. No matter which you choose, you’ll be thankful the next time you are in a rush and need to get things together quickly.

Besides the gear itself, keep in mind little things that can help you stay organized during a hectic week. A plastic container in the kitchen that stores quick food items like breakfast bars and fruit snacks can be a lifesaver when time is crunched. You may also want to add a wooden peg or two by the door so that baseball caps can be stored on for easy access.

Skateboarding gets more popular each year, and the gear that has come into play with the sport is all being customized to suit the riders. The great part is that you don’t have to be Ryan Sheckler to get top of the line skateboard backpacks and bags, you just have to know what’s out there. Here are some great features on some of the latest:

Nothing is easier to use than the simple drawstring gym bag. These lightweight bags can be employed for a multitude of uses; everything from bringing a change of clothes to the health club to serving as “team” bags for sports uniforms or towels. The basic design and definitive closure makes it very user-friendly, even for younger children. Basically, although they are often called “gym sacks,” they can be used for just about anything.

Some drawstring bags also have straps so they can be worn as a backpack as well, making them versatile in terms of carrying things. Most are designed for use with more lightweight items, such as clothing, but some can be made from heavier fabrics, allowing for a bit more latitude in terms of what you can toss in.

Those who like to get things done quickly will find these bags work for them, as they are very simple to pack and unpack. Designed for fast and easy transport, they are perfect if you’re looking for convenience. If you are especially hard on your stuff, keep an eye out for those bags that have reinforced grommets; they can hold up better in the long run.

Staying hydrated is important when doing any type of exercise. Yet it can be easy to neglect this fact when the day is beautiful and you’re out on a good hike. However, dehydration can be very serious, causing symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to delirium — or even unconsciousness in the most severe cases. There is no easy way to tell exactly how much water you need for any given outing, but symptoms such as thirst, lack of sweating and urine that is a darker color than normal can all be signs that the body needs fluid.

So what is the best solution? Prevention. Making sure that you are drinking water at regular intervals can help make sure you don’t get too far down the path to becoming dehydrated. Unfortunately, lugging water bottles around can be a real drag as well as just plain inconvenient. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, consider a hydration backpack for a much easier water delivery system.

Hydration backpacks can come in many different forms, but most have some common features. The majority are either designed to fit on one’s back like a regular backpack or to fit inside another backpack. Most have a tube with a valve for access. These items can be a terrific choice for those looking to maintain their fluid intake while enjoying the great outdoors.

A mixture between soccer, hockey and basketball, lacrosse has its roots in Native American culture and is considered the oldest team sport in North America. Early gear for the sport was made out of natural materials such as wood or clay, and back then there was no such thing as protective equipment. As the sport evolved, the modern equipment we see now has gradually developed.

Protective gear used today can include everything from gloves to helmets to goggles, and fully-dressed players may even resemble a football team; that is until you see them carrying the sticks with netted heads on the end of them. Modern balls are made out of rubber and come in a variety of colors. The sport has been updated and is gaining in popularity even today. It is played by both men and women.

With so much gear, lacrosse bags have become an important piece of equipment in and of themselves. Most bags offer a very sturdy construction, allowing players to carry everything they need inside, including their cleats. A multitude of compartments helps protect the netting from getting damaged and still allow for easy transport of all the gear in one well-made container. Because of this, bags designed specifically for the sport are popular items among players.