Hey ENOpians!
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!
Check out our mini photo shoot for the Earth Bag! Our model, Bella, is doing a pretty great job!
Each Earth Bag packs small enough to fit in a purse or pocket and can easily carry up to 25 pounds. But everyone makes a reusable shopping bag, right? Maybe, but our Earth Bags are made of excess materials from our hammock manufacturing, making them especially strong, packable and good for the world! They come in an assortment of colors, your bag will be of the following colors:
Click HERE to pick up your own!
Heyo ENOpians!
We’ve mentioned before that hammocks are beneficial to get a good, restful slumber, but in areas of South America, they are beneficial for so much more! Doctors in Colombia use specially-designed hammocks to help care for premature babies. The hammocks, that measure only 20 inches long, are placed in the incubator to assist in keeping the babies on their back and breathing easier. According to the BBC, Colombian pediatricians first started using the technique in 2006 and haven’t turned back since. Dr. Freddy Rodrigeuz, one of the doctors the BBC reports are behind the scheme, says the hammocks “make the babies sleep longer which helps their growing and development.”
What an awesome way to make use of hammocks! Here at ENO we hope all the premature Colombian babies grow healthy and happy!
On a similar note, we recently received an email from one of our ENOpians, Christopher Cochran, who visited Uganda, Africa on a mission trip and interacted with the children there. His ENO came in handy with one of the babies in a similar fashion to the babies in Colombia. Here is what Christopher said:
“We went on a mission trip to Uganda. These pictures were taken on the porch of the missionary house where I (Chris) slept every night with my ENO Guardian Bug Net. These ENOs were hung during the day for us to relax and take a break from playing with the school children. We also ate lunch and supper in these hammocks. At one point, the DoubleNest even became a baby rocker for the adopted baby of the missionaries. Great trip!”
We love to hear our hammocks can be used in more ways than one! Keep the stories coming and keep using those ENOs to inspire!
Christopher Cochran in his hammock in Uganda, Africa
Still need a few last minute gift ideas for those empty stockings?
Check out these DoubleNest ideas courtesy of a few of our ENO friends!
ForMenGifts.com suggests the ENO DoubleNest, citing positives such as super comfortable, easily packable and convenient setup!
Uncooped also recommends the ENO DoubleNest, reminding followers, “Who doesn’t like a hammock?” Touché Uncooped!
OpenAirLife touts the ENO DoubleNest on the basis that the hammock’s instant relaxation abilities and soft-ball sized stow-away size is perfect for all!
Naturally, we also think all our ENO hammocks are super gift ideas! So click HERE to get one for you, your friend, or your favorite holiday elf!
The DoubleNest in Powder/Orange/Khaki!
The Art of Backpacking are running a fabulous ENO giveaway competition right now, and to get you in the spirit, they’ve put together “5 Reasons to Make Room for a Travel Hammock in Your Backpack.”
Here they are for you (in a condensed form!) Click HERE to see the full version!
Click HERE to get your own ENO hammock and start world travelling! Alternatively, click HERE to enter the Art of Backpacking competition!
ENOpian Gabriel Andrade Bravo and friend relax in their ENO in Colombia, South America.
