And yes, we're trying to figure out how we can sneak pictures of all of our office dogs onto that page too.
-Connie
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Amen, Ibex.
It's not just the New Hampshire/Vermont connection talking here, Ibex has always been one of our favorite New England Outdoor Brands. We love the tribute to dogs on their website.
And yes, we're trying to figure out how we can sneak pictures of all of our office dogs onto that page too.
-Connie
And yes, we're trying to figure out how we can sneak pictures of all of our office dogs onto that page too.
-Connie
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sharing Camp with Bears in the Enchanted
In case you need a bit more inspiration to get out this weekend, Nicole in Customer Service just forwarded this email over from Derrick, who recently completed a 27 mile round trip in the Enchanted Valley (Olympic National Park) with his wife:
-Connie
You didn't mention in the specs that the tent was bearproof, that came in handy too! They were in our camp all weekend and didn't bother a thing. Nice job NEMO, keep up the good work. Attached are a couple of pics, one of our camp with the bear, another with my wife Angela making coffee after our first night in the Meta 2, and one close up of our campmate/bear! Looking forward to many more trips this summer in our new tent.
-Connie
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Longtreks Morocco - The Trailer
Admit it, you've been waiting all year for this.
From the mouth of Adam C. himself:
From 0 to 70 kmph on their skateboards and now 0 to 2000 kms, Long Treks on Skate Decks is BACK! Adam Colton, Paul Kent, and Aaron Enevoldsen teamed up in 2010 to revisit the pain, anguish and hilarity of traveling across countries with longboards. Following along the Long Treks Peru Y Bolivia documentary which cost them brutal sun burns, horrifying crashes, broken boards and near starvation, the three missed each other so much they had to do another trip. Morocco seemed to be the first choice as it is paved, culturally rich, and safe for tourists. They soon find out what the real struggle is… each other. In the attempt to circle the entire country by longboard, they lose their minds and go completely insane. So put on your 3D goggles and pour yourself some mint tea, you might find out something new about Morocco!
-Connie
From the mouth of Adam C. himself:
From 0 to 70 kmph on their skateboards and now 0 to 2000 kms, Long Treks on Skate Decks is BACK! Adam Colton, Paul Kent, and Aaron Enevoldsen teamed up in 2010 to revisit the pain, anguish and hilarity of traveling across countries with longboards. Following along the Long Treks Peru Y Bolivia documentary which cost them brutal sun burns, horrifying crashes, broken boards and near starvation, the three missed each other so much they had to do another trip. Morocco seemed to be the first choice as it is paved, culturally rich, and safe for tourists. They soon find out what the real struggle is… each other. In the attempt to circle the entire country by longboard, they lose their minds and go completely insane. So put on your 3D goggles and pour yourself some mint tea, you might find out something new about Morocco!
-Connie
Stawberry Fields Forever
Today's Triva:
Strawberries are not true berries, botanically speaking. True berries, like blueberries, cranberries, currants, etc. have their seeds on the inside, protected by fleshy goodness. Since strawberry seeds are on the outside, they are considered "accessory fruits." I'm a big fan of gear accessories as well as accessory fruits.
What really gets me is that while a strawberry is not a berry (it's right in the name!), the grape, tomato, banana, watermelon, and pumpkin@! are all considered true berries.
All this to say it is strawberry season in New Hampshire. Cons and I went on an early morning bike ride from the office to Lull Farm to pick 'em straight from the patch. Here are a couple cell phone pics of our bounty.
As NEMO's move gets closer, we are appreciating more and more the incredible local agriculture Hillsborough County has to offer. Can't wait to explore the farmlands of the seacoast near NEMO's new space on two wheels.
-Suzanne
Strawberries are not true berries, botanically speaking. True berries, like blueberries, cranberries, currants, etc. have their seeds on the inside, protected by fleshy goodness. Since strawberry seeds are on the outside, they are considered "accessory fruits." I'm a big fan of gear accessories as well as accessory fruits.
What really gets me is that while a strawberry is not a berry (it's right in the name!), the grape, tomato, banana, watermelon, and pumpkin@! are all considered true berries.
All this to say it is strawberry season in New Hampshire. Cons and I went on an early morning bike ride from the office to Lull Farm to pick 'em straight from the patch. Here are a couple cell phone pics of our bounty.
As NEMO's move gets closer, we are appreciating more and more the incredible local agriculture Hillsborough County has to offer. Can't wait to explore the farmlands of the seacoast near NEMO's new space on two wheels.
-Suzanne
Bolt Replacement in the Land of Aloha
Anna Pfaff and Camilo Lopez, two of NEMO's climbing/mountaineering ambassadors, are spending a bit of time in Hawaii, replacing worn out, rusted anchors. Here's a recent report from Anna.
Aloha from Hawaii!! It’s been quite an adventure here for the anchor replacement /rebolting mission here on the beautiful island of Oahu. I have been working with my climbing partner, Camilo Lopez, to assist Mike Richardson, the owner/founder of Climb Aloha, in the replacement of rusted, worn out bolts to new bomb proof glue in titaniums. We have been focusing mainly on the area of Mokuleia, located on the North Shore. “Moku” as the locals call it, has around 40 routes ranging from 5.8 – 5.13 and is definitely the most developed area around. Mokuleia has more route potential and the bullet proof basalt is of excellent quality. I definitely have my eye on a few new lines, but first we must finish our rebolting project making the area safe for everyone!!
The “Hawaiian Top Rope System” works well for routes with no pro or old rusted bolts!! We have been spreading the word about the new glue ins, letting climbers know they can now start leading without worry!!
Mike and Climb Aloha have been supplying us with all we need to get the job done. The bolts ,glue, drill and everything in between. He has been working on the replacement for a few years and has replaced quite a few of the routes already. Our goal is to help him replace the rest so all the routes will be safe and fun for many years to come!! Stand by for the next report. We are planning to check out a few undeveloped areas and hoping for big potential!!
Aloha from Hawaii!! It’s been quite an adventure here for the anchor replacement /rebolting mission here on the beautiful island of Oahu. I have been working with my climbing partner, Camilo Lopez, to assist Mike Richardson, the owner/founder of Climb Aloha, in the replacement of rusted, worn out bolts to new bomb proof glue in titaniums. We have been focusing mainly on the area of Mokuleia, located on the North Shore. “Moku” as the locals call it, has around 40 routes ranging from 5.8 – 5.13 and is definitely the most developed area around. Mokuleia has more route potential and the bullet proof basalt is of excellent quality. I definitely have my eye on a few new lines, but first we must finish our rebolting project making the area safe for everyone!!
The “Hawaiian Top Rope System” works well for routes with no pro or old rusted bolts!! We have been spreading the word about the new glue ins, letting climbers know they can now start leading without worry!!
Mike and Climb Aloha have been supplying us with all we need to get the job done. The bolts ,glue, drill and everything in between. He has been working on the replacement for a few years and has replaced quite a few of the routes already. Our goal is to help him replace the rest so all the routes will be safe and fun for many years to come!! Stand by for the next report. We are planning to check out a few undeveloped areas and hoping for big potential!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Bar Code Appreciation
A belated tribute to Alan Haberman, who was one of a handful of people responsible for bringing the UPC barcode into our lives. The obit is definitely worth a read, as it describes the joint efforts of retailers and manufacturers to adopt a universal system to encode product data. If not for his efforts, we might be looking at bullseye patterns or other random geometric symbols instead.
And what a pity if that was the case, because we're just starting to see some great offshoot designs that begin with the barcode as the base of all the inspiration.
-Connie
And what a pity if that was the case, because we're just starting to see some great offshoot designs that begin with the barcode as the base of all the inspiration.
-Connie
Friday, June 24, 2011
Great American Campout
The National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Campout is this Saturday – are you in? Whether you’re camping in the backcountry, at a local campground or in your backyard, NWF encourages everyone to get out this weekend and spend a night under the stars.
I did a little polling around the office to hear what the NEMO crew had planned:
Connie & Suzanne – camping out in Suzanne’s great big new backyard in York, ME
Tom, Sarah and their 15 month old daughter, Rachel – on their family’s land in Washington, NH
Kate, Mike and their dog Charlotte – somewhere near Northfield, NH after the Claymore Challenge Slopestyle Mountain Bike event at Highland Park.
Nate, Lindsay and Lyle – bike touring and camping around Portland, ME
Where will your adventure be?
~Kate
I did a little polling around the office to hear what the NEMO crew had planned:
Connie & Suzanne – camping out in Suzanne’s great big new backyard in York, ME
Tom, Sarah and their 15 month old daughter, Rachel – on their family’s land in Washington, NH
Kate, Mike and their dog Charlotte – somewhere near Northfield, NH after the Claymore Challenge Slopestyle Mountain Bike event at Highland Park.
Nate, Lindsay and Lyle – bike touring and camping around Portland, ME
Where will your adventure be?
~Kate
Monday, June 20, 2011
New Product Design - Real World Testing
As many of you know, we sometimes work on projects other than tents and sleeping pads. It keeps our creative juices flowing and gives us a breather from our normal design work – a great way to stimulate new ideas.
Oftentimes, we're approached to design a product that solves a certain problem. Last year, we were asked by some of our military colleagues to design a new litter bivy. This particular group was looking for something to cover a patient who is loaded into a Stokes Litter, and then airlifted via helicopter to the closest receiving facility.
The new litter bivy needed to protect the patient from rotor wash, allow care providers easy access to the patient for communication and taking vitals, be breathable, easy to use, adjustable, durable, and not claustrophobic. That's a lot of 'musts'.
After many hours of research, design, and prototyping, we created a litter bivy that we thought would rise to the challenge. But real world testing is where you find out if your product’s got what it takes. So, we asked the crew of Mountain Rescue Service in North Conway, NH, who operates primarily in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, if they'd be willing to test it out. Lucky for us, they said yes. And even luckier for us (although not for this person), they were recently able to put it to use.
Below are some pictures of the Litter Bivy in use during a rescue from Mount Washington’s Huntington Ravine. After an 8 hour carry out in near freezing conditions and rain, the team got the patient safely out of the mountains and to a nearby hospital. While they weren't able to get a helicopter assist for this one, they did provide us with some valuable feedback. And while the Litter Bivy far outmatched their old system of burrito-wrapping the patient in a tarp, a few suggestions were made, which we’ll be included in our next round of prototypes.
A big thanks to the MRS crew and Mike Pelchat for the photos. Stay safe out there.
~Kate
Oftentimes, we're approached to design a product that solves a certain problem. Last year, we were asked by some of our military colleagues to design a new litter bivy. This particular group was looking for something to cover a patient who is loaded into a Stokes Litter, and then airlifted via helicopter to the closest receiving facility.
The new litter bivy needed to protect the patient from rotor wash, allow care providers easy access to the patient for communication and taking vitals, be breathable, easy to use, adjustable, durable, and not claustrophobic. That's a lot of 'musts'.
After many hours of research, design, and prototyping, we created a litter bivy that we thought would rise to the challenge. But real world testing is where you find out if your product’s got what it takes. So, we asked the crew of Mountain Rescue Service in North Conway, NH, who operates primarily in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, if they'd be willing to test it out. Lucky for us, they said yes. And even luckier for us (although not for this person), they were recently able to put it to use.
Below are some pictures of the Litter Bivy in use during a rescue from Mount Washington’s Huntington Ravine. After an 8 hour carry out in near freezing conditions and rain, the team got the patient safely out of the mountains and to a nearby hospital. While they weren't able to get a helicopter assist for this one, they did provide us with some valuable feedback. And while the Litter Bivy far outmatched their old system of burrito-wrapping the patient in a tarp, a few suggestions were made, which we’ll be included in our next round of prototypes.
A big thanks to the MRS crew and Mike Pelchat for the photos. Stay safe out there.
~Kate
Friday, June 17, 2011
Office Construction, Part 1 of Infinity
We're in the beginning stages of an office move up the coast. Instead of the Band-Aid method of moving (fast and painful, but ultimately short lived), we're doing the slow painful easing-into-the-space method of moving. There's a method to the madness though.
We're interested in the long haul, not the short term future, and making a workspace that is distinctly "NEMO" isn't a one week (or even a one month or one year) job. In fact, it took us 9 years to gradually transform our current space in Nashua from this
to THIS.
In other words, you can't force it. Our new space is in Seacoast, NH which ultimately puts us closer to the mountains and waves, and cuts down on a lot of our commutes. The space is 3x bigger, and will allow us the space to grow in many ways. In the meantime, we have a monumental task list planned, but are buoyed by the knowing/embracing that the journey is the reward (though, ask us in a month when we are in Hour 238 of painting, and we may have a different answer).
We'll all be giving updates along the way, but one of the first things to get built is a photo studio that is double the size of our current one. Forgive the low quality pictures, but here are a couple quick shots of Bill framing out the floor.
-Connie
We're interested in the long haul, not the short term future, and making a workspace that is distinctly "NEMO" isn't a one week (or even a one month or one year) job. In fact, it took us 9 years to gradually transform our current space in Nashua from this
to THIS.
In other words, you can't force it. Our new space is in Seacoast, NH which ultimately puts us closer to the mountains and waves, and cuts down on a lot of our commutes. The space is 3x bigger, and will allow us the space to grow in many ways. In the meantime, we have a monumental task list planned, but are buoyed by the knowing/embracing that the journey is the reward (though, ask us in a month when we are in Hour 238 of painting, and we may have a different answer).
We'll all be giving updates along the way, but one of the first things to get built is a photo studio that is double the size of our current one. Forgive the low quality pictures, but here are a couple quick shots of Bill framing out the floor.
-Connie
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Quote of the Day
Great quote from Bucky found on the blog of the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design:
“When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.” R. Buckminster Fuller
I feel like it sums up a lot of how we approach the design process at NEMO. One of my favorite art teachers once told me that being an artist isn't hard, it's knowing when your art is finished that is tough. We come up with thousands of ideas here, but it's knowing which solution is right that separates us from the crowd.
Looking forward to checking out MMID. It's exciting to have such an interesting industrial design focused space right here in New England.
-Suzanne
“When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.” R. Buckminster Fuller
I feel like it sums up a lot of how we approach the design process at NEMO. One of my favorite art teachers once told me that being an artist isn't hard, it's knowing when your art is finished that is tough. We come up with thousands of ideas here, but it's knowing which solution is right that separates us from the crowd.
Looking forward to checking out MMID. It's exciting to have such an interesting industrial design focused space right here in New England.
-Suzanne
Monday, June 13, 2011
Summer Trips Abound
We're chock in the middle of summer and are stoked to keep hearing from customers who are getting out every chance possible. Michael N. sent us this picture from a trip out to Black Balsam Knob in Shining Rock Wilderness, NC (Pisgah range). The picture was taken on the peak just below BBK (which was already taken).
-Connie
-Connie
Thursday, June 9, 2011
More Fun Customer Pics
Another set of customer pics from Tara P, with comments included. The first one remind me of the Hipstamatic type images that are seemingly all over the Interweb these days—but better and touches that sweet spot of depth and texture. The last picture is one of my favorites in a while, for obvious reasons (mostly the commentary).
Photo taken by a Canon AE-1 SLR camera, I love the film texture.
My friend Terry's Meta 2P, day and night at Ma On Shan, Hong Kong. The front view is Sai Kung City.
Woke up and saw a bird around my Morpho 1P. Left a shit on it too... -_-
-Connie
Photo taken by a Canon AE-1 SLR camera, I love the film texture.
My friend Terry's Meta 2P, day and night at Ma On Shan, Hong Kong. The front view is Sai Kung City.
Woke up and saw a bird around my Morpho 1P. Left a shit on it too... -_-
-Connie
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Bridging the Pond with Voice
An interview with Connie was just published as part of series of Sports Technology Podcasts with a group from Loughborough University. Founded by Mike Vasquez, Henry Hanson, and Bryan Roberts, the Sports Technology Podcast aims to provide a platform for industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and researchers to discuss their work and share their thoughts on the evolving role of technology in sports.
-Suzanne
Monday, June 6, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Report from Damascus
Fried pickles and dirty hikers were still very much a part of this year's Trail Days celebration in Damascus, VA. Here are a few more photos from our stormy visit.
Old friends were caught up with and new friends made. A special shout out to all the wonderful people we met who are currently thru-hiking with NEMO tents.
We also met up with Sheri and Randy with Backpacker's Get Out More Tour. Awesome folks who had probably organized the biggest attraction of the whole weekend - a huge gear giveaway.
Our road trip was filled with other amazing sites like the nearby tornado ravaged town of Glade Spring and these tasty crabs covered in Old Bay in Baltimore (a must do when ever traveling through BWI)
-Suzanne
Old friends were caught up with and new friends made. A special shout out to all the wonderful people we met who are currently thru-hiking with NEMO tents.
We also met up with Sheri and Randy with Backpacker's Get Out More Tour. Awesome folks who had probably organized the biggest attraction of the whole weekend - a huge gear giveaway.
Our road trip was filled with other amazing sites like the nearby tornado ravaged town of Glade Spring and these tasty crabs covered in Old Bay in Baltimore (a must do when ever traveling through BWI)
-Suzanne
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Something About Old Dogs and New Tricks
It's never too late to find a new hobby/love. 76 year old Lloyd Khan gives some priceless longboarding advice:
-Connie
Safety gear, safety gear, safety gear. I have a helmet, knee pads, elbow guards and gloves with hockey pucks attached to the palms by Velcro. There are a lot of people who skated when younger and gave it up. I encourage them to get back into it, because the equipment is so good nowadays.
-Connie
Trail Days / Trail Dames
This year at Trail Days, we ran into Anna H. (Founder of Trail Dames), who thanked us in person for a donation we made to a silent auction coming up at the end of June. Trail Dames is hosting The Summit, a hiking and backpacking conference for women.
The Summit will be in Harrisonburg, VA on June 24-26. It's always great to see grassroots organizations springing up—especially those celebrating the outdoors.
The Summit will be in Harrisonburg, VA on June 24-26. It's always great to see grassroots organizations springing up—especially those celebrating the outdoors.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Memorial Day Camping, Part II
Meanwhile, 200+ miles out to the coast, a wonderful first: backcountry camping in Isle au Haut (Acadia National Park) via car-ferry-bike-hike. Pre-June, the ferry only drops off at Town Harbor. Biking via unpaved roads/trails is the way to go, but you still need to hike the last bit to the lean-to shelters.
The island is partially inhabited by full-time residents. In the summer, the population swells a bit, but over Memorial Day, there was hardly a peep heard on the few streets that exist. We did see some fun house constructions, and admired the many old-timey cars/fixtures/feel around the island.
-Connie
The island is partially inhabited by full-time residents. In the summer, the population swells a bit, but over Memorial Day, there was hardly a peep heard on the few streets that exist. We did see some fun house constructions, and admired the many old-timey cars/fixtures/feel around the island.
-Connie
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