For some newlyweds, a honeymoon spent lounging on the beach or luxuriating at a posh resort just isn’t enough. For the bride and groom looking for adventure, gear guy Paul Hochman was invited on “Today” to offer suggestions for a few action-packed trips, and the stuff needed to go with it.
Tandem bicycles Tandem bikes are the fastest growing trend in the bicycle business. The reason: A tandem allows two cyclists of differing strength and ability to ride together; nobody is faster, so no waiting; and a tandem turns a bike ride from a solitary game into an activity shared by a couple.
We have two tandems — one from the high-end custom cyclery "Seven Cycles," which is designed to the riders' dimensions and constructed with titanium tubing. It features ultra-precise "s&s" couplers, which allow the bike to fold up into a case you can easily take on a plane. At the other end of the price spectrum is the Diamondback Wildwood tandem, made of high-quality steel, which includes front suspension forks and a 24-speed Shimano drive train.
Seven Cycles tandem bike; $4,500-$9,500; www.sevencycles.com
Diamondback tandem bike, $599, www.diamondback.com
Nemo "Sako" inflatable tentThe least expensive way to experience a romantic connection is to take a long walk in the woods. The fastest way to break up a romance is to spend three hours pitching a tent.
Nemo has come up with an incredibly cool, patented solution — pneumatic tent poles ("air beams" that look like straight bicycle tires) that are inflated with a feather-light foot pump. The airbeams are protected by a rugged outside fabric and contain twin tubes. You can raise the 6.5-pound tent in a matter of seconds, and if one of the inflatable chambers is punctured, it can be fixed in minutes. Nemo "Sako" inflatable tent, $495, www.nemoequipment.com
Sweetie-Pie Sleeping Bag Doubler
The award-winning Sweetie-Pie Bag Doubler turns a single sleeping bag into a bag built for two.
The doubler comes in three weights and zips into most standard sleeping bags, adding an additional 5 feet of width across the shoulders. The bag can even zip into itself to create a separate child's sleeping bag. Good to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.Sweetie-pie Sleeping Bag Doubler, $79-$99, www.functionaldesign.net
Classic Sport Illuminated Foosball Table
Consider the coolest foosball table in history — the Classic Sport underlit Illuminating Foosball Table, which has a translucent, PVC playing surface and sleek steel players. The table is sturdy, attractive, and easy to clean up after a champagne spill. Classic Sport Illuminated Foosball Table, $799, www.classicsport.com
Sea Doo RXP jet ski
If you're going to have a romance, you're going to need a vehicle in which you get to ride off into the sunset. Or, in this case, burn out into the sunset. The Sea Doo RXP is a two-seat jet ski with muscles. Its supercharged, four-stroke, three-cylinder, fuel-injected single overhead cam engine made it Outside magazine's "watercraft of the year." The RXP even has a "learning key," which limits speeds for beginners. Sea Doo; $10,500; www.seadoo.com