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All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is strictly prohibited. Contact Us The Sun Valley Guide magazine is distributed free four times a year to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area communities. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express newspaper will receive the Sun Valley Guide with their subscription.
Gear Up by Greg Moore

Airflo™ transparent floating fly line
This super-supple fly line casts well and has little effect on how the fly lands on the water. Ridges on the line make it shoot out faster and farther as it runs through guides on the rod. Perhaps most importantly, the fish can’t see it. “It’s a big deal for Silver Creek,” says Brad Kane at Sturtevants. “Spring-creek fish live in an area where the water’s always really, really clear.”
$80, Sturtevants

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Carbon-fiber, 29er mountain bikes
These big wheels maintain momentum and roll over obstacles better than their smaller cousins. The carbon fiber frames are lighter too. They are not as nimble or fast on climbs, but fans say they’re perfect for the less technical rides
and rolling terrain of the valley.
$2,500, Sturtevants

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C4 inflatable stand-up paddle board
Stand up and surf river waves or paddle around a lake. The inflatable version of a paddle board is easier to transport than a rigid board, and it bounces off rocks.
$1,199, Backwoods Mountain Sports

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GoPro® LCD BacPac mini screen
With the GoPro mini screen, you can watch the spectacular video you just shot while you are still out in the field. The high-definition cameras mount to helmets, ski poles, surfboards, kayaks or your chest.
$80 mini screen, $300 camera, Pete Lane’s, The Elephant’s Perch,
Backwoods Mountain Sports

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Spot Satellite GPS Messenger
Casey Schaefer at Backwoods Mountain Sports reports that two local men were recently riding dirt bikes far out in the southern Idaho desert when one of them had a bad crash. They used their Spot Messenger to bring a helicopter to their exact location. You can track your loved ones and they can send you the A-Ok sign or an SOS.
Messenger $150, Connect $170, Backwoods Mountain Sports and The Elephant’s Perch.

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dEcho Ion fly reel
Aluminum fly reels are light and rigid, but tend to run about $300. Now Echo’s come up with an aluminum reel with stainless steel internal components that retails at under $100. “That is a really miraculous deal,” says Brad Kane at Sturtevants.
$79-$99, Sturtevants