Two reasons technology belongs in the wilds: you can talk on your iPhone all day without annoying a soul; and it can save your life. Roy Wallack, the Los Angeles Times sports gadget guy, (and co-author of Barefoot Running Step by Step) kindly presents four new works of technology that could make a walk in the wildnerness as safe as a walk in the park.
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti: A 6-inch-long, 3.6-ounce water purifier that uses an LED ultraviolet light to destroy 99.9% of all bacteria, viruses and protozoa in 16 ounces of water in 48 seconds.
Price: $89.95.
Neon Green Backpack: Day pack with a flexible, 14-by-10-inch panel of solar cells, a rechargeable battery and a USB port for charging your mobile devices.Price: $199.
Leki Micro Stick: Featherweight three-section aluminum pole held together by shock cords, like a tent pole. Price: $149.95
Bushnell BackTrack GPS D-Tour: Cellphone-sized device that records your route, and downloads the adventure to a PC with enclosed USB cable. Price: $119.
Read what Roy Wallack likes and dislikes about each of these in the Los Angeles Times.