PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
2016 FORD FLEX LIMITED
The 2016 Ford Flex Limited road-tested during my trip to New England proved yet again that this automaker remains a solid contender in the SUV / CUV market . And it happens to be manufactured right here in Canada at Ford ’ s Oakville plant – a fitting home for any true Canadian adventurer to appreciate . With more than ample seating for seven adult passengers , the Flex is one of the roomiest most ergonomic vehicles in its class . That said , its exterior could be misleading – the style shouts hard-core adventure , but behind the wheel of this nearly 5,000-pound people hauler , the ride is as smooth and comfortable as anything I ’ ve tested to date . Anyone whose judgment is based solely on aesthetics could be turned off by that boxy appearance , but they would miss out on one great vehicle .
The model I tested had a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 twin-turbocharged gasoline engine under the hood , kicking out an impressive 365 horses with 350 lbs-ft of torque . Cruising the coast in the Flex was effortless and thoroughly enjoyable . The new Flex introduces Ford ’ s upgraded Sync 3 infotainment system to replace the My Ford Touch system with a pinch-to-zoom and swipe-capable screen . Sync 3 ’ s overall appearance and responsiveness is excellent . Overall , the Flex falls between the Edge and Explorer in price , but for long trips with multiple passengers it ’ s the most practical choice in my opinion . For more info on this powerful ride , check out ford . com / new-suvs-crossovers .
BUSHNELL ELITE 20-60X 80 MM SPOTTING SCOPE Bushnell spotting scopes have a personal connection since they are the very first product I field-tested , more than 15 years ago . I was writing a review of the Bushnell Spacemaster scope for the now defunct Canada ’ s Outdoor Sportsman magazine . Back in that day I thought I had died and gone to heavy with such impressive optics to report on . Oh how things have changed ! The latest Bushnell spotting scope to travel into the Outdoor Guy ’ s back forty is the incredible Elite 20-60 by 80 mm , featuring
45-degree angle viewing . This scope is a far cry from that old Spacemaster – though that was no slouch – but with the advent of ED Prime ( extra-low dispersion ) and multi-coated lenses , optics today offer better clarity and less colour loss . Many high-end optics , like this Elite series , now compensate for what was previously a loss of natural colour compared to what the viewer would see with the naked eye . ED glass , sold by a variety of companies , is a scientifically designed lens which produces superior viewing by limiting light dispersion .
As Bushnell ’ s top-of-the-line spotting scope and likely the best product on the market today , the manufacturer has maintained its reputation as the best of the best with its Elite line of products . I have for years tested Elite series binoculars and rifle scopes and appreciate that this new spotting scope is SLR camera adaptable for anyone into digi-scoping . Some of my best wildlife images have been captured through a spotting scope . As with Elite rifle scopes , this new scope comes with Bushnell ’ s Rain Guard HD to stop condensation from your breath ( or rain or snow ) from fogging the glass – and as most sportsmen know , these are common conditions during hunting season . Overall , the new Elite spotting scope worked flawlessly for me and could just as easily be used for bird watching or star-gazing . More info at bushnell . com / hunting .
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
BRINNO TLC120 WI-FI TIME LAPSE CAMERA
The new Brinno TLC120 takes the best features from our proven line of time lapse cameras , packs these features into a small pocketable cube and adds wi-fi , app control , weather resistance , instant sharing a rechargeable battery and more . The TLC120 is the first in an exciting new generation of Brinno cameras . Perfect for travel , education , research , remodeling projects and daily fun .
• 1.3MP 1 / 3 " HDR Image Sensor
• 19mm f / 2.0 Aspherical Lens ( 35mm Equiv .)
• HD 1280 x 720 Time-Lapse Videos
• Time Interval : 1 sec to 24 hr
• App for Remote Control via Smart Device
• 802.11b / g / n Wi-Fi , Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• IPX4 Splashproof & Weather-Resistant
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery
• Includes 8GB SDHC Memory Card
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