Sony offers many portable, playable accessories: the S2 Sports Boombox, S2 Sports Radio Walkman, portable DVD player and CD Walkman Sport.
Hot toys for
having fun in
the sand and sun
With summer just around the corner and air temperatures inching toward the 90-degree mark -- the ocean off Waikiki is already a balmy 75 degrees -- more people will be hitting the beach in droves.Beach fun in Hawaii has always been more than just sand castles and picnics. The beach is part of the lifestyle here and a canvas for the latest in sun fashion and rugged outdoor electronics from manufacturers such as Sony, watch makers, outdoor gear innovators like Patagonia and retailer Magellan's, that constantly create or upgrade products to withstand sun, water, sand or, for urbanites, the occasional bump in a crowd.
* * *Hawaii's residents and visitors spend a lot of time lounging in the sun, so the traditional good book to wile away the time is only part of the tropical equation. In addition to listening to your favorite radio station, technology has made it possible to continue multitasking away from home. Watch a movie, your favorite television show or sports event in the sand, or take digital pics in the water from a palm-sized camera.
While shopping for the latest gear for yourself, you might also consider Father's Day, coming up next Sunday. You want your old man to look good and carry the right toys, don't you?
There are water-resistant day packs, waterproof pouches, specialty clothes with sun-protection factors built into the fabric, and fashionable Lycra tops and rash guards to ward off sun while keeping you cool.
Watches have become miniature weather stations measuring barometric pressure, humidity, altitude, water depth, air and water temperature, and are solar powered, usually for less than $100.
Sony's Cyber-shot digital camera, front, is meant to be palm-sized. A separate Marine Pack allows for capturing underwater images.
A day at the beach once meant getting sand in everything, then bringing it home. Save yourself the cleanup job with Patagonia's "Hawaii Sling" day pack ($85). It helps to eliminate sand or water leaks from reaching your gear, thanks to tight-fitting, water-resistant zippers for its three compartments. The compact pack is made of durable, coated nylon and is fully lined. Compression straps secure a wet towel in the back. The chest-strap pocket is lined with brushed polyester to protect cell phones or glasses. A small hanging mesh pocket inside keeps your keys from getting lost in the sand.
If space and weight are a major consideration, Eagle Creek's Packable Tote ($29.85 from Magellan's) is a miracle of engineering.
Unzip the 9-by-7 1/2-inch pouch and pull out this handy tote, which holds 1,600 cubic inches of gear securely with the zipper closure. Side mesh pockets hold water, sunglasses and other items, and two zippered front pockets are perfect for tickets or other quick-access items.
Planning a beach hike? Summer means carrying plenty of extra water to stay hydrated. The Vista H2O ($29.85 from Magellan's) is a ripstop nylon waist pack that makes it easy to carry two water bottles on each side. A padded front pocket allows you to carry other items.
To keep items safe and dry, but at a comfortable price and light weight, the Splash Caddy ($19.95 from Magellan's) is a nylon pouch that includes two leak-proof liners for protecting a camera and film from moisture and humidity. The waistband adjusts up to 46 inches.
The sun can be murder on face and head. Patagonia's Surf Cap ($34) stays put when duck-diving through surf; it's soft and quick-drying. The liberal bill is bendable for needed shade. Soft, nylon ear loops and an elastic/adjustable buckle closure ensure a precise fit.
Now, if you're a contact lens-wearing surfer, here's a secret. When pushing through surf, the bill folds down over your face from the force of the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps your eyes dry. This means when you pop up through the back of the wave, there's no need to rub the water out of your eyes to check the approaching set.
If you're looking for head sun protection on land, no product gives you more than the Travel Adventure Hat ($39 at Magellan), a lightweight (3 ounces), 45 UPF fabric that blocks UVA/UVB rays and provides 360-degree coverage to protect nose, ears, neck and face. It has a down-sloped flexible 4-inch brim, 7 1/2-inch veil to cover neck and ears, mesh panels for air circulation and moisture release, moisture-wicking Coolmax sweat band, rear sizing tape for a custom fit and chin strap. It's also water-resistant.
Patagonia's short-sleeve Rash Guard ($40) is made to last years of surf sessions. It's a tough blend of nylon and spandex; its flat seams eliminate friction, while the torso-hugging fit prevents ballooning.
Likewise the Capilene SW Island Crew ($45) is a membrane of quick-drying, moisture-shuttling comfort. Its rib-knit collar won't stretch out of whack.
Patagonia's Wavefarer Board Shorts ($54), available in several Hawaiian print styles, are made of durable Supplex nylon that stays on with a drawstring waist and hook-and-loop-closure fly.
Outfitted for summer in a long-sleeve Capilene SW Island Crew top, Patagonia's Wavefarer Board Shorts, "Hawaii Sling" day pack and heavy-duty water bottle; and Magellan's Travel Adventure Hat and Vista H2O waist pack.
NOW THAT YOU'RE protected from the elements and looking fashionable, you've got to have something to enjoy the afternoon. Simply relaxing is not an option for the chronic multitasker.
Next month, Sony will introduce its 5-megapixel Cyber-shot Digital Camera DSC-P100 ($500 list), designed to fit easily in the palm of your hand.
It's amazingly easy to use, thanks to a large 1.8-inch LCD monitor and five-area multipoint auto focus and selectable focus mode.
You're probably thinking the sand and surf would corrode this little jewel. Sony has this problem covered with a line of marine accessories including the Cyber-shot Marine Pack MPK-PHB ($199), which allows you to take the camera into the water.
If you want to watch that favorite movie, tote Sony's portable DVD Player DVP-FX700 (about $500), which also plays CDs. The 7-inch screen has 16:9 aspect ratio. With a battery life of three hours, you'll be cooked well done in the sun before you run out of juice.
If you just want to listen to CDs, Sony's ATRAC3/MP3 CD Walkman Sports ($80), with its rubber gaskets, bushings and seals, help prevent water, moisture and dirt from touching your beloved discs. The heat-resistant lid protects against high temperature buildup; the Skip-Free G-Protection Technology provides quick recovery from bumps and shocks.
There are 18 playback modes, CD Text support so you can view song, album and artist information. The unit delivers more than 50 hours of continuous playback with just two AA batteries.
The S2 Sports Radio Walkman ($49.95 list) is an arm-band, water-resistant radio with digital tuning for TV, weather and radio. It also features a stop watch with a split timer.
If big sound is your thing or you just need a durable outdoor player, try Sony's S2 Sports Boombox ZS-X1 ($100 list). It includes a CD player, digital AM/FM stereo tuner and CD-R/RW playback capability. Commit up to 30 stations to its memory.
KEEPING TIME, predicting the weather and keeping track of how deep you're diving is easy with a host of Timex watches.
The Reef Gear Temperature Sensor ($50) is a highly accurate thermometer (Fahrenheit and Celsius digital and bar graph readout), measuring temperature within a degree. Other features include a 24-hour chronograph with lap or split option, two time zones with date, daily alarm, and hourly chime. The Reef Gear Chronograph ($75) features a night light, water resistance to 300 feet and a stainless steel metal bracelet with fold-over security clasp.
For extreme sports enthusiasts, there's the Helix WRKS ($140), which measures barometric pressure, thermometer and automatic altitude every 15 seconds, your average ascent/descent rate, average altitude change, and works as a compass.
Timex's new line of camouflage watches ($45 to $65) features Photo-Real Camouflage Patterns. Timex uses an unconventional process to apply the camo patterns to all major watch components: cases, straps and, on analog watches, even dials. This is the same "immersion transfer process" used to apply camouflaging to high-end hunting rifles, binoculars and other hunting gear. Like snowflakes and fingerprints, no two watches have exactly the same pattern.
The Expedition Camouflage ($65) features a digital compass and 100-hour chronograph, and is water-resistant to 300 feet.
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