Scraps of Scraps

As a continuation of the Ditto stories we've previously posted (the Ditto Backpack , repurposed design , and the Ditto Tote), here's another look inside the process as well as a sneak peak at something new.

The big story is that we have been looking at repurposing our old samples, manufacturing seconds, and outdated raw goods as a single step of a greater movement to make sure we are being as conscious of our environment as possible. The closer look shows that even when we make cool new bags and packs out of old tents, we still have waste that makes it to the landfill...as small as it might be, and as hard as we try not to. We use a computer and hand calculations to optimize the layout of pattern pieces on the old tent panels, but there ends up being odd shaped spaces that are too small to fit another piece.

I've been collecting these scraps and we are now starting to produce and even smaller product, the Ditto Wallet. Here's the sneak peak since we won't have enough to sell until 2010:






-Suzanne

Single Wall Airbeam Update

We've been getting several calls and emails recently about the status of single wall airbeams. NEMO started development of single wall airbeams to compliment our existing airbeams by providing an ultralight and compact alternative. These new beams will not replace our existing technology but will offer another option for specific applications.

Last fall, after much development work into the fabric construction and welding process of single wall airbeams, we made production samples for testing. We had high hopes of bringing this generation of development to market. But, during testing in a thermal chamber in a lab at MIT, we found that high temperatures (140-160F) caused the weld strength to decrease significantly. While it's extremely rare that the air temperature would ever reach those levels, it's not unusual for temperatures to be that high inside a tent in direct sunlight on a hot day as a result of absorption of thermal/radiant energy (think glovebox or trunk of your car on a hot day). In the end, we just weren't comfortable releasing a product that we weren't 100% confident in, and decided to do more development work to get it right. In fact, we basically started over from the very beginning to make sure we're on the best possible path.


Since then, the team of designers and engineers at NEMO has been steadfastly working on new single wall airbeam constructions that will better withstand extreme heat. We know some of you are really anticipating this new technology from us, and after being teased with the possibility of seeing it this season, you're anxious for us to make good on our promise. We're impatient too and we're sorry to make you wait. But we also know you expect us to deliver a top quality product that you can depend on under any circumstance. So it might be a little while yet before we're ready to debut single wall airbeams, but we're working hard on this project and we'll post an update again down the road a bit.

-Connie

Bill and Kate, Plus More

Kate and Bill are returning this week from a trip to Idaho and Montana for photo shooting, testing, meeting the press, and generally soaking in the beauty of the west. We noticed Bill got a shoutout on the Bicycle Retailer website this morning showing off a 2010 prototype.

More stories to come from this trip.

-Suzanne

Museum of Science Washburn Climb

Bradford Washburn is a name you should know. Calling him a jack-of-all trades almost seems to dilute his accomplishments and the depth to which he pursued his interests.


Washburn and his wife Barbara put up numerous first ascents on major Alaskan peaks (she was the first woman to climb Denali). He also pioneered the use of aerial photography in the analysis of mountains/mountain climbing. Washburn was renowned for his cartography skills, creating notable large-scale detailed maps of not only Mt. Everest and Denali, but also of ranges closer to home of Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range. In his later years (at age 29), Washburn also helped to establish the Boston Museum of Science, building the museum into one of the leading institutions of its kind.


In celebration of an incredible man's life (and the need to fundraise), the Museum of Science sponsors the Washburn Climb every year, a challenge to climb Mount Washington twice in one day. This year's climb is on July 13, and an invitation is open for both climbers and donors.


-Connie

T.A.E. - Little Known Trials Enthusiast

Thomas Alva Edison is most well known for having invented a mass-producible filament light bulb, but it's the other 1092 patents he holds that make him one of my biggest heros. Its pretty hard to imagine a contemporary inventor having the same impact on the world.

What I didn't know about my idol is that he too was a fan of trials riding. I came across this video on Kottke.org of a man performing some rather modern tricks on a turn of the century bike. It seems the person holding the movie camera (a relatively new device in 1899) was T.A.E. himself. Presumably a fan of thinking outside the box, its understandable why he might have been drawn to the art of figuring out what to do with a bike that doesn't involve sitting on the seat and riding it like a normal person.



If you make it to the end of the clip, you'll see a crash that would make the outtake reel of a Danny MacAskill video. Ouch. I wonder if someone did the physics equations first...

-Suzanne

June's Beach Cleanup

Yesterday, NEMO had its monthly cleanup on Jenness Beach. Despite the relatively light load we carried off the beach (73 lbs), there was a large tally of dead animals including 2 seagulls, 2 large fish, 1 duck, and 1 beaver (?!). We decided to leave those on the beach.

The waves were mostly waist high chop -- nothing like the glassiness that Tom, Suzanne, and I had fun on the morning before. We had fun though, and look forward to the new system that will bring in more waves next week.

-Connie

Surf Flicks and More

International Surfing Day (June 20th) is coming up soon, and there are a few exciting events going on next week. If you haven't heard of this holiday before, don't worry -- it was established in 2004 by Surfing Magazine and The Surfrider Foundation, as a world-wide celebration of the sport of surfing. Maybe this is where marketing folks got the idea for National Camping Month? In any case, I don't know about you, but I'll be inquiring to the higher ups here to see if we have International Surfing Day off.


For East Coasters, come join us at the film premiere of Ben Keller's BlueGreen on June 18, 7pm at Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit, ME. Tickets are $8 at the door.



There will be more surfing fun on Saturday, June 20 from 6pm to 9pm. Be there or be square, and you'll enjoy equipment to demo (if the waves gods comply), bbq, hotdogs, desserts, live music, bonfire, raffles on the beach at the end of Union Ave in Old Orchard Beach.

As a reward for those who have read this far, check out this stunning shot in HD of a breaking wave (thanks kottke.org)


-Connie