Hi ENOpians!
We are pleased to announce the wonderful winner of February’s photo contest…Kaitlin Miller! Her photo, taken in Sayulita, Mexica, shows John Brakeall trying out his new Christmas gift on the beach! A great shot of a relaxing moment! Check it out!
Kaitlin Miller took this shot of John Brakeall relaxing in his Christmas present on a beach in Sayulita, Mexico!
The winner of the photo contest wins a great selection of ENO goodies! A winner is selected every month, so keep the photo of your favorite ENO moment coming in for your chance to win! Click HERE for more photo contest info.
Hey ENOpians!
Did anyone see that football game yesterday? You know, the Super Bowl? Well, aside from the exciting play, there was an arguably even more exciting half-time show featuring Madonna, LMFAO and a guy named Andy Lewis. Never heard of him? He was the guy bouncing around on the tight-rope looking thing! Impressive, huh?!
Although his slick jumps and breathtaking flips looked more cirque du soleil that sports, what he was actually doing is called Slacklining…and he happens to be very good at it!
Slacklining is a popular sport in outdoor communities, such as Boulder, CO, that originates from climbing camps in Yosemite during the mid-seventies. It involves strapping a piece of narrow, flexible webbing low to the ground between two anchor points. Once you’re set up, you can do anything from crawl across it, to, as Andy Lewis very skillfully pointed out, jump and twist and flip!
Check out this video from the Super Bowl of Lewis in action…
Although the slackline used by Lewis in the Super Bowl half time show was made by Gibbon, ENO also has been selling them for years! This sport is hitting the mainstream, and thanks to Madonna and her toga-clad slack lining superstar, it’s going to get even bigger!
Click here to get your own and start practicing those moves! Who knows, maybe you’ll be featured in next year’s Super Bowl?!
ENO’s SlackWire Slack line One of our own attempting some Slack lining action!
If you want to see a bit more Andy Lewis and what he can do on the wire, check out this link.
Hey there ENOpians!
I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, but here at ENO we aim to RELAX…Well, we just discovered a certain group of individuals who may need a helping hand! They are so far away from relaxation, in fact, they would be found under ENOs synonym in the Thesaurus. They are the people of the Red Bull 400!
It all began when we came across “The Tougest 400 Meter Race in the World?” on our Twitter feed. These brave individuals race for 400 meters up a mountain that boasts an average gradient of 45%. Wowzers. To get an idea, check out the video below! Well that has got us thinking…what these people need is an ENO hammock station at the top to throw themselves into and tend to their poor, burning legs grumbling after 400 meters of pure, up-hill hell.
We also went a tad further – we compiled the top 3 craziest events adrenaline junkies compete in. If these guys and gals don’t need an ENO hammock moment – the original in hammock relaxation – I don’t know who does!
1) The Red Bull Crashed Ice – This event involves a combination of hockey, downhill skiing and boarder-cross. The toughest ice-hockey beasts compete head-to-head in a course up to 500 meters long involving chicanes, jumps and rollers. Expect to see pushing, sliding, sprinting, shoving and a whole lot of pain. These guys are most certainly in need of a little ENO relaxation.
2) The World Gurning Championships – This eye-widening event involves individuals contorting and distorting their faces in order to out-do their competitors. Weirdly, they also sometimes do it through a horse collar that looks suspiciously like a toilet seat. Granted this event is isolated to the face, but we still think a little nap in an ENO DoubleNest may give them some much deserved rest.
3) Red Bull Flugtag USA – Maybe the most well-known of our 3 options, the Red Bull Flugtag competition involves creative humans to build their own, human-powered flying machines, then ‘fly’ them off a 30 foot drop into the ocean. Need we say more? These kids definitely need a swing in an ENO Double Deluxe to recover from their belly flops, face smushes and whiplash they will undoubtedly suffer from.
After reading through these, our advice to you is go to our Web site, get yourself a brand new ENO hammock, then string it up on the sidelines of one of these fabulous events and watch the fun from the safety of your ENO – the original in hammock relaxation.
The wish they were relaxing on this beach with an ENO!
Hola ENOpians!
We all love to take trips, visit new places, and see sights we’ve never seen before, but sometimes it just isn’t practical. It may be because of time or lack of company, but these days money can be the biggest issue. Here at ENO we believe in great adventures to relieve stress, spend time in the great outdoors, and to relax in your ENO! Luckily, we stumbled across this great article that lists the 10 cheapest weekends to travel in 2012. Now there’s no excuse! Grab your ENO and get out into the world!
Airfare Watchdog’s George Hobica identified all weekends below after studying historical data.
1) Feb. 3-5 – This is the last really cheap weekend of the winter to travel! It is also THIS weekend! After this weekend we have school vacations, President’s Day weekend, Spring Break season then summer, so the prices of travel escalate accordingly.
2) Sept. 7-9 – This is the first weekend after our kiddies go back to school, so not surprisingly it is among the cheapest weekends to travel! Really, as soon as we pass Labor Day, fares take a big dip.
3) Sept. 14-16 – These dates are actually NOT a weekend, they fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but that’s precisely why they’re so cheap!
4) Sept. 21-23 – Hmm we’re seeing a recurring theme of September travel dates here…but it’s only because September is the cheapest month! George Hobica suggests visiting the Caribbean, but do be aware that it is hurricane season, so you’re ENO may potentially blow away in the wind.
5) Sept. 28-30 – Yup, you guessed it! The last weekend in September is also a cheap one!
6) Oct. 5-7 – Although October is not September, it still counts as the “off-peak” travel season so it’s a great time to get away!
7) Oct. 19-22 – By this weekend in October it’s beginning to get cold, or at least cold enough to want to visit those warmer climates. Luckily, it’s only the northern states that really get antsy, so the fares remain cheap for the rest of us!
8) Nov. 3-5 – Because of Thanksgiving taking up most of our excitement the latter part of November, it stands to reason the first half is cheap! Most people will be saving up for turkeys and football tickets which gives you the window to sneak in for some unbelievable holiday savings.
9) Nov. 30-Dec. 2 – Thanksgiving’s over and people are focused on Christmas; vacations are all but a dream. But that means they’re also cheap! Low demand equals cheap fares, so maybe this would be a prime time to go ENO on a beach in Hawaii?
10) Dec. 7-9 – This is the last “in-between” weekend of the year, and so the last time you can nip of for a cheap vacation. And who knows, maybe you just happen to have all your holiday days saved up?! Go ENO somewhere crazy to get in the mood for the holidays!
To get you further in the traveling mood we thought we’d share some of our ENOpian’s holiday pics from 2011! Just click on any pic to enlarge it! Also, if you have more questions, check out George Hobica’s Q&A page to get all the info you need to have a fabulous ENO getaway!
Watch out for the storm! The SUN storm, that is. According to the BBC, scientists say our planet is currently being attacked by high-energy particles unleashed by the strongest solar storm since 2005! Should we be worried? No, not really. The primary concern about the uninvited particles is for satellites, but they can also cause problems for aircraft communication! To counteract this, airplanes have taken precautions and have re-routed flights according to the National Post.
Although today (Wednesday, 25. Jan) is probably the last day we could feel the effects, it is still a great reason to take a step back and think about the impacts of nature. And hey, what better way to do this than in your ENO!
So take the morning off and get some fresh air, go for an afternoon stroll, or save up for a wooded camping trip this weekend and immerse yourself in the great outdoors. After all, if we disrupt it too much the sun could hurl another storm at us!
ENOpian Kaitlin Miller took this snap of John Brakeall relaxing on a Mexican beach with horses, after hiking through the mountains. Now THAT is getting your fill of nature!
Hey ENOpians !
We’ve posted before about how we like to help people who help others, and boy do we have a good example here!
Scott Brelsford first crept onto the ENO radar with some awesome ENO photo contest entries a year ago. We saw all the fabulous places he visited with his ENO – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Congo, Boston to name but a few – read about his eye opening hammocking experiences – escaping from a knife wielding mugger in Buenos Aries and sleeping in the tree tops in Boston – and laughed over his original ways to use a hammock – “‘hammock acrobatics.’ Backflips, front flips, 2 person backflips, handing upside down.”
Somewhere between these adventures, Scott joined the non-profit Sports4HOPE, an organization aimed to prevent and reconcile conflicts by inspiring hope, improving the quality of life, and empowering youth in conflict-affected areas through sports and peace education. Working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Scott and his team have permanent accommodations in the large hub Bunia, but have to travel to smaller, more rural villages (where a large part of the recent conflict has occurred) for up to a week at a time.
Realizing the villages would not have any accommodations for them, Scott had an idea and came to us with an interesting proposal! He explained what they were doing, how they were doing it, and where they would be traveling and based. Describing how they are still in need of bug nets even though they have been vaccinated, and how it will be the rainy season when they’ll be there, Scott asked ENO if we would like to donate the required items (hammocks, rain tarps and bug nets) to himself and his team members. How could we refuse?
After Scott’s team makes the initial connection with the villages, they work to introduce a soccer league that marks the beginning of a peace education program within the individual communities. Eventually, they will expand the soccer league to link all the villages they work with. An unbelievably inspiring mission!
We think this is an awesome project and are super happy to be able to help out! You can read more about the organization and Scott’s personal exploits on their Web site and on Scott’s blog, “Kicks From Congo.” We will also provide updates from his progress as and when they come! Enjoy! And next time you’re in your ENO, just think that somewhere in Congo, Scott and his team are hanging in their ENOs trying to inspire peace.
ENO is currently in Salt Lake City, Utah for the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show! The trade show, that runs twice a year, showcases qualified retail buyers of outdoors stores and brings them to you! Aside from being part of quality, emerging trends, the OR show gives us a chance to show off our upcoming, new products: the HotSpot and the Reactor Hammock.
The ENO booth at the OR Trade Show Winter '12
The HotSpot will change hammocking forever. Fitting easily into any ENO hammock, the HotSpot slips around any standard size sleeping pad and holds it securely in place. The HotSpot’s insulated wings and stretch panels wrap comfortably around you, effortlessly extending your hammock-camping season. It is made from 210D Nylon with 6mm Closed Cell Foam Wings and designed to fit any 20”wide sleeping pad.
The Hotspot will be available at the beginning of February!
The Reactor solves the sleeping pad conundrum: if you’ve ever tried to put a sleeping pad in your hammock, inevitably it ends up sleeping on you. But, with our new Reactor Hammock, we introduce the most versatile hammock to date. The Reactor incorporates a second layer of breathable nylon which creates a sleeve to secure your sleeping pad during the night. Whether you want to feel the breeze or hide from it, the Reactor delivers.
The Reactor will be available in REI at the end of February and on our Web site in March. It also comes in Red/Charcoal.
The HotSpot will be available for purchase at the beginning of February, and the Reactor will be available at REI at the end of February, and on our Web site in March! We hope you enjoy them! ENO love to all!
Hey Hey ENOpians!
Alas, it is Blue Monday. The day that psychologist Cliff Arnall dubbed the most depressing day of the year (although we’re pretty sure Ravens’ and Giants’ fans may argue otherwise!). Asked in 2005 to figure out which day made us weep the most, Arnall plugged away at intricate math formulas before deciding upon the third Monday in January as the culprit. Why you ask? Well, there are a number of reasons…
Surprisingly – (not so much) - some people question the validity surrounding his hypothesis. Arnall was originally asked to make the discovery by a public relations firm marketing the travel company Sky Travel. The plan was for Arnall to work out which day we were in the biggest mood on, Sky Travel would then advertise it, and we would go ahead and book wonderful summer holidays with them as something to look forward to. Today, in 2012, it has now become “officially” the most depressing day.
But hey, if you weren’t told it was Blue Monday, would you have known? If, by chance, you were feeling a bit down today, take a look at all these cute puppies in their ENOs to lift those spirits!
Let us know what you think about Blue Monday on our Facebook page and Twitter. Smile ENOpians! We love you!
Happy New Year ENOpians!
To celebrate the first post of 2012, we thought we’d give you a few ENO-related suggestions for popular New Year’s Resolutions, according to USA.gov.
1) Drink Less Alcohol
While being a very common New Year’s Resolution, it is also a very important one! According to Livestrong.com, drinking less alcohol keeps “your heart and liver healthy and reduce(s) your risk of alcoholism. Drinking less can also give you a chance to branch out and explore healthier activities with friends and loved ones.” To help you out, you could start drinking more of other things, like tasty juices and good-for-you sports drinks. What could make it even better is getting your very own ENO Liberty Water Bottle so you can look good while drinking good!
The ENO Liberty Water Bottle
2) Eat Healthy Food
This is a very sensible New Year’s Resolution! To get some ideas and motivation as to how to get started, check out ENO sponsored Compass Green’s Web site. Compass Green is a mobile education project that knows all there is to know about sustainable agriculture and the right way to eat and live. Not only this, but they drive around the country in an awesome greenhouse truck. They were also featured in our Oct. 26, 2011 post if you want some further reading!
The guys of Compass Green and ENO's owners Pete and Paul Pinholster.
3) Get Fit
4) Lose Weight
To help keep number 3 and 4 up, you could start practicing Anti-Gravity Yoga in your hammock! Mentioned in our Nov. 16, 2011 post, Anti-Gravity Yoga is said to help decompress tight joints, stretch your muscles, create better body awareness and agility, increase yoga skills and abilities and provide a great workout. Plus, if you watch the video, it looks an awful lot of fun too! If you don’t fancy Anti-Gravity Yoga, two of our fellow ENOpians, mentioned in our Sep. 14, 2011 post, tried out some yoga moves in their DoubleNest! Check out the post for inspiration!
5) Manage Stress
6) Save Money
7) Take a Trip
To tick 5, 6 and 7 off your list, why not combine them! Instead of splashing out on a hugely expensive holiday, why don’t you grab your ENO hammock, DayTripper Deluxe and some sandwiches, and go on a weekend woodland adventure. In fact, go on several! Not only will you save some dollars, but according to About.com’s Stress Management page, you’ll decrease your stress levels by being outside with nothing but Mother Nature. Not only this, but you’ll be taking a trip at the same time!
ENOpian Brittany Norris and her boyfriend were lacking on funds for a big Spring Break camping/hiking trip, so they went to Stone Mountain, GA, for a picnic. "PB&J cheez-it special washed down with gatorade spiked water from my ENO thermos was one of the best lunches I've ever had," she said.
8 ) Volunteer to help Others
This is a wonderful Resolution that gives you a chance to give back! To help find a volunteer opportunity that you’re excited about, you can use ENO retailer REI’s Get Out and Volunteer search engine! It’s quick and easy, and at the end you’ll be able to cross yet another resolution off your list! Give it a go!
ENOpian Will Lindsey is a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Peru. In this picture, it looks like they've also found volunteers to substitute as trees!
Good luck with all your New Year’s Resolutions! To read USA.gov’s full list of popular New Year’s Resolutions, click HERE.
Merry Christmas ENOpians!
We hope you are all having a wonderful, festive, hammocking day!
Love from your ENO friends!
