mplant's Archive

Posted on: February 13th, 2012 | Written by | 1 Comment

Best Surf Bags: The Wet Dry Bag – All Sport, All Purpose Cargo – Surf Essentials Volume 1

In this Surf Essentials series we’ll give you the must have products in surf. Our first chapter will describe a bag that every surfer should own: The wet-dry bag.

Why a Wet Dry Bag?

One of the most crucial elements to any surf trek is a legit wet/dry bag or backpack. A long walk back to your car is bad enough and it sucks even more when you’re covered in the urine-filled drippings from your suit. A good wet dry bag will store your wetter, keep you dry, and help you lug all the necessities to and from the beach.

Besides surfing, a wet/dry bag can serve a number of other purposes as well. Since sealed, watertight seams are standard in most all bags you can keep your dry items dry or your wet items from seeping out and into the upholstery of your car. Fill your bag with ice and use it as a makeshift cooler, load with squid and bait and hose it out after fishing, or leave it rolled up on the beach without having to worry about the high tide soaking your phone or wallet.

Finding the Right Bag:

Fortunately for all you dollar menu connoisseurs out there, wet dry bags aren’t all expensive. They come in at a variety of different styles and prices ranging from the super gooch to the most wallet friendly of options. With that said, a solid wet dry bag is definitely worth the investment and the more expensive bags tend to offer better amenities that will let you roll up to the beach in style with all your bases covered.

<-Click here to check out all of our Wet Dry Bags->

HERE ARE THREE BAGS, AT THREE DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS, THAT ARE WORTHY OF MENTION:

1) Section wet dry bag. $130.

Dakine set out to make the best surf bag and, with the Section Wet/Dry Pack, they did just that. This bag’s got it all: A wax pocket, fleece lined sunglass/ipod pockets, waterproof zip pockets, an insulated cooler compartment, plush back & shoulder padding, a retractable bottle opener, and best of all a voluminous waterproof wetsuit compartment that cinches down when not in use. This backpack is perfect for surf trips large and small and is backed by Dakine’s Lifetime Warranty.
<-Click Here to check out a video of all the Section Wet Dry Pack's Features->
<-Click Here to check out the Section Wet Dry Pack->

2) Billabong Leap Frog Wet Sack. $69.50.

Billabong Leap Frog Wet Dry Back Pack

Coming in just under seventy bucks, the Leap Frog Wet Sack from Billabong is sick. This 100% waterproof roll top bag is great for boat trips or anywhere else you need to keep your gear dry and your belongings safe. This bag includes an extra, removable waterproof pocket area at front that’s great for electronics, fins or all your other accessories you want keep dry. The extra large main cargo compartment features super durable, water tight seams and enough space to store nearly 3 fullsuits inside. Get this if you are looking for a rugged, fully waterproof bag at a great price.
<-Click here to Check out the Billabong Leap Frog Wet Sack->

3) Creatures Wetsuit Bag. $20.

Creatures Wet Dry Bag

At a little over the price of 2 burritos this wet dry sack will turn any existing back pack into an inexpensive wet/dry bag option. It’s narrow design fits a single wetsuit and booties and then easily packs away into most backpacks or into the back of your truck. If you are light on cash then this bag is what you need to get the job done.
<-Click Here to check out the Creatures Wetsuit Bag->

Check back for Vol 2 Where We’ll list the Top Ten items to Keep inside Your Surf Bag.

Posted on: January 24th, 2012 | Written by | No Comments

Starbucks Adding Beer & Wine to Menu in Southern California

Beer drinkers of Southern California rejoice! Soon you’ll be able to order a different kind of frothy beverage at select Starbucks locations.

Yesterday the coffee giant announced that it will add beer and wine to the menu of several of its Southern California and Atlanta based locations, as well as a handful of others in the Chicago area by the end of 2012. The beer and wine selection, along with a new assortment of premium food items, will be part of an “extended menu” geared towards people looking to unwind after a long day at work.

Starbucks Brew

This is only a mock up, please don't sue us Starbucks!

Now all you lushes out there can stop by a Starbucks for your daily fix of the sweet stuff and still feel like a respectable citizen! Kidding aside, we’re thinking this makes sense, and are especially stoked to order something other than coffee when we’re trying to score free wifi!

Unbeknownst to many of the imbibers here at SWELL, Starbucks already offers this juiced up menu in five stores across Seattle and Portland. Due to popularity and customer requests, Starbucks has decided to test out this new menu in the areas listed above and, if all goes as planned, they might even bring this to a Starbucks near you!

Unfortunately they will only offer the extended menu in four to six cafes across Southern California and they have yet to announce the specific locations. We here at SWELL are keeping our fingers crossed for the La Pata and Pico joint, but as of now it’s all speculation as to where we’re going to score the new Venti beverages. Either way, I say we all start heckling other chains to follow suit and who knows, maybe we’ll be ordering a McLager with French Fires at our local Mc D’s!

What are your thoughts on Starbucks adding an extended Beer and Wine Menu?

Posted on: January 20th, 2012 | Written by | 14 Comments

Carver Skateboards – The Ultimate Surf Training Tool

Looking for a new type of cross training to improve your surfing? Check out Carver skateboards, now available at SWELL. These specialized surf skates feature a swiveling front truck equipped with an embedded spring system to propel the board forward when it’s pumped like a surfboard.

The power is in the patented, swiveling front truck!

What you get is a new type of riding that truely mimicks down the line surfing and helps keep your legs fit while you are out of the water. With the Carver boards you will stay in shape and improve your surfing even when away from the coast or during an extended dry spell.


Team rider Laird Hamilton cross trains on his Carver skate

Created by surfers for surfers, this board will turn a parking lot or driveway into your very own standing wave and is a must have for everyone’s quiver. You’ll be able to pump this board uphills or even get it going from a dead stop. This is not a skateboard, this is The Ultimate Surf Training Tool.

Grab yourself a Carver skateboard here and get ready to Surf your Skate!

Check out the video below to see the board in action:

Posted on: January 17th, 2012 | Written by | 16 Comments

Half-Pipe Wave Pool Planned for San Clemente

Greyson Fletcher tests the Wave Pool Prototype c/o OC Register
Just down the street from the SWELL hq at the Vista Hermosa Sports park a new, one-of-a-kind attraction is in its final stages of development. Surf N Turf, an 18 hole mini golf course, restaurant and 75,000 gallon wave pool combo will feature a unique half-pipe style wave pool as it’s crowning feature. It will be the first real water half pipe with sloping walls and gushing water that can adjusted for various skill levels and riding capabilities. Located right in the breeding grounds of a surfing, skating and skimming hotbed, owners hope to inspire a new type of extreme sport and raise the bar for riders the world over.

Surf N Turf San Clemente Development

Drawings have yet to be released of the wave pool, but owners said you will be able to drop into the wave as you would a normal half-pipe when completed. This pool will use the same sheet wave technology used at the WaveHouse in San Diego, but this new skating inspired design might just be a little more user friendly than its San Diegan counterpart.

Project engineer of the wave pool, Andrew Street said, “We want take this up a notch. We want to provoke the extreme attitude of athletes to come be part of our group, as well as younger children… something fun, exciting new.”

While construction of the mini golf course and restaurant are set to begin as early as spring with a completion in summer, the wave pool does not have an expected completion date as of now.

Read More about this at:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wave-335212-pool-san.html?pic=2
Photos c/o Fred Swegles OC Register