review

• ·       Set-up stool size: 29 x 15 x 29cm
• ·         packed stool size: 22.5 x 18* cm x 3cm (*18cm at the widest point 10.5 cm at thinnest)
• ·         Weight with case: 25.3 oz / 1.586 lbs / 0.72 Kg
• ·         Weight without case 23.15 oz / 1.448 lbs / .66 Kg
• ·         Good for up to 80 kilos (176 lbs)

It’s a bit short. I foot tall is a bit small for me. It does fine and it’s comfortable but they could have added another few inches (without affecting the size too much.)

All in all though, I’m happy with the chair despite a couple of improvements:

Every… ok, most knives have their time and place. There are crowds that prefer fixed blades and those that swear by folding knives. I have had my share of knives… I still do in fact. I still play around with making my own fixed bladed knives. But, as a father who just started backpacking with his 5 year old I realize that every ounce is important and that wherever I can cut down on weight and/or space I should. So out comes the gerber mini paraframe.

This little $10 fella has really impressed me. I’ve had it for years now and even though… or maybe because this thing is so small and light I take it everywhere with me. I’m strongly considering taking it as my ONLY knife for backpacking. Let’s talk specs.

This thing is only 3 inches long when closed and weighs in at a mere 1.4 ounces. Even then it has over a 2 inch blade (2 1/4).  It’s made of high carbon stainless steel and takes and holds an edge really well.

As far as features, it’s pretty simple. It uses the paraframe, kind of like a skeleton to cut down on the weight, but maintain its strength. It’s held open by a framelock that takes a bit to get used to if you haven’t encountered it before. I have had more than one person struggle to figure out how to close it. The lock works really well. It’s nigh on impossible to close it accidentally (I’m sure someone will find a way to do it, but I haven’t had any success) and when open, the knife holds together very solidly.There’s no flop or looseness like other cheap knives. In addition to all that the pocket clip is super sturdy. I don’t see that thing coming off ever.

Gerber has done a great job with this thing. I can’t think of a way to improve it. It comes in a fine edge and serrated edge and for the money is one of the best knives I’ve used.

I’ve done a lot of fishing in my time. Some days are good and some are bad. Now a days I use barbless hooks for one reason only: I don’t like getting fish smell on me. I find that I can usually unhook the fish and get it off without transferring the almost permanent smell onto my hands. It works until it swallows the hook or until I catch something that I want to eat. After that it’s all hands on and I suffer with the consequences of trout stink that no amount of washing gets off. Or at least didn’t. 

Enter De-fishing soap. I saw it on Jason Klass’ blog and had to give it a try. Michelle Innis was kind enough to send me some samples, which packed in for my backpacking trips this summer. So, what’s my take?

Overall I was very impressed, and while not perfect (but honestly what would be apart from a scent free fish?), De-fishing soap will be a companion on all backpacking trips for a few reasons: 

1. It’s the best soap I’ve found yet that removes fish smell. I’ve tried many a different soap and in the end the trout smell is still there strong. All the ones I’ve tried don’t seem to cut through whatever causes that smell and I’ve gone to bed camping many a times with my hands well away from my nose. After two careful washings the smell is almost completely gone. With the combined star anis scent you’re left with a pleasant smell that isn’t overpowering.

I won’t lie, it isn’t perfect. I did for a short time after have a faint fish smell that would probably have completely disappeared with a third or more thorough second washing, but nowhere near as bad as with other soaps. They recommend using a scrubber and warm water (which I didn’t follow either time).

2. It is biodegradable. The low impact of the soap makes it a lot more appealing to environmentally conscious hikers/fisherman. It’s also made in the USA which means the impact is even less!

3. It’s a fish attractant in itself… Huh? I should have read their website before going fishing. As said previously it uses star anis which in itself is a fish attractant. In addition to masking human scent it actually could attract fish to your hook simply because of the odor it leaves on your hands! On their website they suggest using it before fishing just to help us poor, unsuccessful anglers!

These are just a few of the reasons to use De-fishing soap. It really does get rid of fish smells from your hands and does it much more easily in my experience than other soaps. Take a look at their website to see more benefits and where you can get a hold of this neat little product.

Have you used it before? What are your thoughts?

P.S. I have not received nor do receive any money from this review. If you want to try it for yourself, Look at their website for distributors near you.

You know the old saying, “don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs”? Well it applies to trekking poles. My dad used to use old ski poles on hiking trips, he has for a long time. We sometimes thought he looked silly. Just like those bell bottomed pants of his that we laughed at, he was right AND they came back into fashion.

Trekking poles have slowly moved from elitists to common place (a sure sign of this is that they are sold at Walmart). Thanks to studies about their benefits and the popularity of Nordic Walking, this once niche item is become mainstream and the focus now is making them compact (for when you don’t need them) and light (to make carrying them more enjoyable and less work).

Two reasons they have become popular are their ability to add stability when dealing with rough terrain and the fact that you can use your upper body to carry some of the weight and thereby increase your endurance. Having an extra point of contact on the ground has saved me from many a fall in the past including a fairly rough drop off that I braved because I had my poles. I also find myself going faster and farther because I push off with each step. Yes it burns more calories, but I can stand to loose a bit of shape.

While you can spend upwards of $200 for carbon fiber trekking poles that way only 4 oz., most of us are going to choose the light but less expensive aluminum poles as they fit our budget ($20+). There are great options out there that you can pick up without forking out too much, which I recommend so you can decide if hiking poles are for you.

When travelling in South America I picked up some Altus Light Ascent trekking poles for under $50. Altus is a spanish company that produces a wide variety of trekking gear for the european market. If you’ve followed this blog you’ll see me use them in a few videos. Some of the features that stick out to me are as follows:

• Contoured cork handles – Much comfier than hard or even soft plastic, it’s a feature that you tend to find only on the more expensive poles.
• Angled foot – The foot has tread and is thin and long, as well as on a 45 degree angle. I’ve found it really useful for hills as they grab a lot better and hold traction.
• Weight – At 8.5 oz each, they’re incredibly light for the price.

Icebreaker heading up into the Cordillera Real, Bolivia

If you travelled back thousands of years you’d find people wearing wool. Big and bulky, but warm. It is still warm thousands of years later, but bulk and weight are a thing of the past. Icebreaker has taken some of the best quality wool out there (merino) and removed the itchiness, bulk and weight and left us with some of the best trail clothes around. The most essential of which (in my opinion) is the base layer.

If you haven’t tried merino wool or Icebreaker, It is definitely something you should consider adding to your gear list, whether it be the bodyfit base layer line or an insulating layer. 

A look at the funky looking swiss ranger solid fuel stove. It is military quality (and weight). Coming in at 14 oz for a windshield, canteen and 2 cup aluminum cup for about $10, this little unit is a cheap way to get into backpacking.

It isn’t slow, it isn’t fast. It isn’t light and it isn’t heavy. It is cheap. All in all, it is a middle of the line entry level stove to start you off hiking.

Take a look at the demo video below and if you want to buy one, try Cheaper than dirt. Wish I made a commission selling it 🙂

Today I posted my first guest post for Seattle Backpacker’s Magazine. If you haven’t considered Merino wool as a member of your backpacking arsenal then take a looky-see: http://seattlebackpackersmagazine.com/2011/05/24/icebreaker-bodyfit-review/

If you haven’t seen Seattle Backpacker’s digital magazine then why not?
http://seattlebackpackersmagazine.com/

Over the past few weeks here in Bolivia I’ve been eying the backpacks. Most are a pretty decent deal at around $95 with the potential of knocking off another $15 by bartering alone. However, when I noticed that one of the embroidered logos wasn’t straight I got in contact with the manufacturer. After a couple emails an some photos he confirmed my suspicion. It was counterfeit… they all were.

Typically, we encounter cheap knock offs or imitations under different names from the original. Actually, branded fakes have been generally limited to Asia where they are produced. Unless buying from your friend’s cousins neighbour off the street you  often wouldn’t come across anything fake. Unfortunately, those days are gone.

On April 6th, 2011 The Chicago Tribune posted an article about a man in Skokie selling over $250000 worth of sports apparel that he counterfeited himself and sold from his own shop front. No dark alleys, no great deals in his garage. Daylight, storefront fakery. That is a lot of money that being made at the expense of others.

I know, I know, you may be saying, “Hey, it’s all good and I’m saving money.” Well, in some areas, the fake gear can serve the purpose as Erik Fearn notes in this star online article. If you can get by the moral obligation, maybe the down will do you fine… I mean, what’s the difference with fleece? Maybe nothing. In South America I’ve come across several professional looking jackets (supposedly name brand) with “Gore-Tex” hangtags (some with correct spelling on the labels, some without). Now if you’re expecting waterproof and breath-ability get ready for disappointment. 

Don’t expect to save a ton of money either. Everything that I saw was priced between $50-$150 for rain and winter jackets and $90 to 200 for backpacks. Why so much? We’re not talking about cheap imitations, we’re talking about branded gear with fancy hangtags that could pass for the real thing… at least in looks. They leverage the fact that they look pretty good on first inspection and that it bears a name brand.

You can find everything from sleeping bags to outer wear to backpacks to climbing gear… Yes, that’s where it gets nasty. That’s where it gets dangerous. Many have probably heard about Petzl’s problem of imitation gear. In February of this year (2011) Petzl encountered exact duplicates of several of its products, down to the same design, color and logo. Exact duplicates, except for the strength.

For years they have encountered copies which had their logo, but this is the first time that they have encountered exact duplicates of ascenders, carabiners and Rescue pulleys. On the above link, they say, “An end-user will not be able to tell the difference between these counterfeits and authentic Petzl products”. Their gear isn’t made for fashion… it’s made to save lives. The Chinese knock-offs don’t handle the same stress levels and after looking at the photos on the above link, Do you want to save a couple bucks or a couple of bumps?

What can you do? 

• Know the manufacturer’s product line. Petzl’s problem is more of an exception. Most knock offs borrow the brand, but their products look different or have different names. I came across a Deuter ACLANTIC (Christian Lechelmayr, International Sales Area Manager for Deuter says they don’t produce a model with that name). I also came across a Trans Alpine (yes, it is a real model name) but with a 55 liter capacity (they only make up to 30L).
• Buy from a reputable dealer. Go online and find out who the official distributors are. All gear (unless bought through closeouts) should be sold through distributors listed on their website.
• Examine the stitching and labels. Often the labels or stitching are clearly of inferior quality. Several times I’ve come across spelling mistakes in the labels and hangtags. 
• Watch out for online auctions. This is pretty standard, but do your research. Who is selling this? Why? Where did he get it? Is it a realistic deal? 
• Contact the manufacturer with photos. They will be happy to help you out and know their product lines. (Deuter told me that their hangtags were completely different).

The Real Deuter Trans Alpine (unlike the copy to the right)

I  might have bought a pack if the name was different, but blatant counterfeiting just doesn’t float my moral boat. Although these photos are of deuter branded packs, I encountered in the same store counterfeits of the North Face, Lowe Alpine, and more.

After speaking with a worker there I found out that your only safe bet is Doite (a chilean company), High sierra, and some Columbia gear (that will stick out by price). The rest are just copies.

That said, there are some local Bolivian brands that produce decent quality clothing for a very low price! The quality is the same but because they don’t borrow the logo, you should be able to save a lot more money.