I/O Merino’s Elemental Jacket is a 260 gsm zip-up top designed to be a streamlined, layer that is both fashionable and functional, offering a good look while still boasting the performance of Merino wool.
Everyone talks baselayers now-a-days, but not a lot of attention is placed on Mid-weight layers. A Good mid-weight layer complements your baselayers by providing insulation in cold or windy weather, when an outer layer isn’t necessary and your lightweight top isn’t enough. If you don’t have a good Mid-layer, I recommend you start looking out for one.
Let’s take a look at the features and then try it on for size.
Features
Made from 100% wool ‘Colossus’ MircoMerino® waffle fabric. The waffle texture of this fabric has great thermal properties by capturing the body heat between the ridges.
Weight: mid weight (260 gsm)
Raglan sleeves for ultimate backpack compatibility
Contrasting coloured zip and vintage-look arm badge, to get the real I/O Merino look
rear-facing back pocket
MSRP: $79.95
Testing
This jacket has been a go to merino midlayer for those cold mornings, afternoon bike rides, and evenings fishing on the lake.
What do we think?
We continually extoll the benefits of Merino wool. If you haven’t heard our ranting, here’s a quick list of its benefits:
Sustainable and Renewable (Good sheep!)
Naturally Antimicrobial
Resists Odour build up
Great Thermal regulation with its naturally hollow fibers
Moisture wicking – Quick Drying
Insulates even when wet
Super soft
Machine Washable
First thing to note is its fit. It is definitely an athletic fit. It’s very comfortable to wear, but to give you an idea of the fit if my sleeves are rolled up then it’s obvious by the bulges… I try to pass them off for bigger muscles.
To prevent the bulging pockets problem, I/O Merino scrapped them, except for a pocket on the pack that fits a medium sized wallet. It’s definitely improves the look.
The waffle weave is really comfortable and it does a great job of insulating. It was an obvious choice in Canada’s cold spring mornings.
If I’m honest, I had to look up what a “raglan sleeve” was. It’s that style where the sleeve’s seam is right at the collar and not at the shoulder. It means you have one solid piece of fabric, and less discomfort when carrying a backpack. It’s a good choice, especially for those that are backpackers.
Those of you who frequent the blog know I often complain about the length of tops. Too many tops I’ve tried are short, especially when you lift your arms for activities. Fortunately, the hip length of the Element Jacket is long enough that I don’t get a cold waist when raising my arms.
The price of the top is $79.95. This is frankly a great price for a midweight top, especially for merino wool.
The full length zipper adds weight to the top, but it adds flexibility for temperature regulation.
On top of this jacket being a great midlayer for outdoor activities, it looks good. I’ve worn this to work countless times and often to semi-formal events. It looks good and performs great.
Conclusion
I/O Merino’s Elemental Jacket is a great looking, high performing merino wool mid-layer. The price is right on target, the fit is great and it’s a great part of a good layering system.
While I’m a fan of lightweight trail runners, there are times when they just don’t cut it. For muddy trails, heavy loads and adventures off the trail I need something tough, supporting, but not too heavy. My go-to boot for these tasks in the past year has been the Ahnu Coburn.
This is a long term review of Ahnu’s Coburn Boot that I was sent for review last spring. It’s been through a lot of testing in that year and not only are they still going strong, they’ve found a permanent space in my footwear rotation.
The Ahnu Coburn hiker is an aggressive, overbuilt mid-height hiking boot equipped with e-vent waterproof breathable technology. Let’s look at the features and then talk about our experience.
When you get a high-end hiking boot, you have to put it through its paces. Over the last year we’ve trudged through thick mud, hiked through and across rivers, packed in heavy loads, Trudged through ice and snow, ambled through hot summer days, carried canoes and driven for hours on a stick shift. So, what did our year of testing teach us? These are some pretty awesome boots.
In depth analysis
Let’s start with Numentum Technology. From Ahnu’s site, Numentum Technology is their approach to lightweight footwear designed to provide stability, and flexibility while decreasing fatigue.
From their site:
Reduced weight equals less fatigue, so you can keep on hiking. Take on rugged terrain with forefoot flexibility and an anti-stone bruising plate. Heel stability and second density support make the difference with every step.
A typical waterproof leather hiking boot weighs in at 2lbs or more, whereas the average weight of the Coburn is only 1lb 8 oz. With footwear, that’s a big deal, and you notice it. Heavy footwear takes a toll on the distances you can travel.
Despite the cut in weight, there is, in our opinion and just-right level of support. The Mid-height design is above the ankle, providing support for those with weaker ankles or those needing to carry heavy loads.
The Padding of the dual density midsole provides comfort, but without making you losing touch completely with the terrain.
These boots are truly waterproof. Even after a year of abuse, mud, canoe launches and rivers, our feet are still dry. The tongue leaves no room for water to come in, so I’ve been able to go up to the tops of the boots while still staying dry.
What about the e-vent technology? First off, we don’t believe that anything is truly 100% waterproof, while being 100% breathable. That said, I have been impressed with how well the e-vent technology does perform. Several times I’ve worn heavy merino wool socks with these boots in summer just to see how well the technology works. Despite getting warm and sweating, the e-vent does a great job of managing that moisture. I have never gotten blisters or sore spots in these boots and I don’t end up with wet socks after a days use. If I do the smart thing and wear weather appropriate socks then the clamminess disappears. So yes, the e-vent technology performs very well and does what it’s supposed to do.
These boots are going to last. Ahnu opted for double rows of stitching all over this boot to help them stand up to abuse and make them more durable. It’s nice to see that kind of attention to detail.
Kudos to Ahnu for adding the toe cap. Honestly. I’ve torn the toe right off other footwear on light hikes, but despite heavy use over the past year the toes on these boots are undamaged and they look great too.
Ahnu opted for metal eyelets and lace hooks and they hit the spot. They’re strong without being too heavy. I abuse my footwear, but these have held up well with no friction wear to the eyelets or hooks. Ahnu did replace the laces for me once, but that’s par for the course when it comes to me. I’ve worn out countless pairs of laces on countless pairs of shoes. Still a slightly heavier duty set of laves would hold up a bit better.
The combination of the support, insole, midsole, outsole and multi-directional lugs provide excellent traction. I can heft heavy loads (i.e. children, canoes, backpacking gear for a family of six) any not have to worry about sliding around in my boot or on the terrain.
An additional benefit is that they can handle a set of trail crampons without problem.
The Coburn boots come in at $165 MSRP. That seems to be the sweet spot for hiking boots right now, and they’re priced right for what they offer. Having seen how they performed after wearing them for a year, I’d probably pay more (but don’t let them know that).
Conclusion
Ahnu has nailed it with these boots. They give excellent support, comfort and waterproofing while being breathable, lightweight and feeling like shoes. If you need a pair of heavy-duty, but lighter weight waterproof hiking boots for backpacking, hiking, or other backcountry adventures then you really need to try on a pair of Ahnu Coburns. Expect a long, comfortable life from these boots with many dry miles on rough terrain. For $165 you won’t be disappointed.
As kids we’d spend summers in bare feet, exploring through the woods and hopping along rocks, only groaning and complaining when we had to put shoes on… and then groaning and complaining again at toes that were squished into a small toe box. Our feet were dirty, but they were healthy and strong.
Ever since I started hiking, I’ve felt strongly about the importance of healthy, strong feet. traditional hiking boots have their place for heavy loads, but most of the time what we need is almost nothing. That’s what I like about Lem’s Boulder Boots.
Lem’s designs footwear around a simple philosophy:
shoes should be flat, and fit the natural shape of the foot, allowing movement without any constraint or restriction. – Andrew Rademacher Founder of Lems Shoes
The minimalist footwear movement has been popular for a while now. The idea is that modern footwear makes us run in an unnatural way, and that we would be healthier and less prone to injury if we retrained ourselves to run properly, building up muscles instead of relying on footwear to do all the support and cushioning.
Yes, the debate rages on, and you can find proponents for both sides (and critics as well). I’m just here to tell my story.
Lets talk about the features of the Boulder Boot
Features:
Last LemsLast™ foot-shaped
Upper 100% 1200D Nylon (100% Vegan-black boots only, the rest are part leather)
Sole 9.0mm LemsRubber™ injection rubber
Insole Removable 3.0mm MoistureWick
Lining 100% Cotton
Stack Height 9.0mm Drop 0.0mm
Weight 9.9oz (Sz 43)
I’ve had these boots for about 4-5 months and have taken them out as formal footwear, to my day job and out hiking. Although I have fairly healthy feet, I followed the recommendation of slowly accustoming myself the shoes before taking them out on long walks and hikes.
What do I think?
I had forgotten how much most footwear compresses your toes. The Boulder boots give a huge amount of space in the toe box. it actually took me a week or two before my foot started to de-crumple (that’s a word, really) and my toes started to spread and give me more stability. Since that time, I’ve started to feel more stable and more in touch with where I’m walking.
No, I’m not being all hippy-like. As a kid, I would run around and climb boulders on creeks barefoot. I loved how I could curve my feet around uneven surfaces to get more traction and control. I feel like I’ve regained some of that with these shoes.
The sole is a very comfortable and flexible air injected rubber. It’s so soft the boot can be folded in half without any effort. It’s light, protects your feet from sharp objects, but still allows your foot to conform to surfaces, allowing better contact.
There’s also a removable insole that gives a bit more padding, and that you can remove when you get more comfortable with the shoe. I choose to keep mine in as it provides more breathability.
As far as the upper is concerned, there’s not much to it. It’s a 1200 denier nylon. It’s comfortable, breathable and… well it’s not much else, because there isn’t much there. The seams are very sturdy and show no signs of wear. NOTE: these shoes are not waterproof and mud can be challenging to remove from the fabric.
It really is a minimalist shoe. As they say on their site,
There’s absolutely nothing to this boot, no heel counter, no shank, and nothing stiff that would irritate the foot.
Oh, and the nylon is 100% vegan… so… ya… there’s that.
In the spirit of barefoot running, the zero-drop design encourages a more natural step where you land on your mid-foot instead of your heel. I was never much of a heel striker in the first place, so you may notice the difference more than I did.
The $115 price tag is on par with a lot of niche footwear brands, especially for a high-top boot. It may be steep for some, and I totally appreciate that. I can say that I tend to destroy footwear, and these have held up extremely well despite that. There’s no sign of excessive wear and I see them lasting me for another year or two.
Conclusion
The Boulder Boot is a great, lightweight alternative that suits for trails and town, and that contribute to a healthier, stronger foot.
Disclaimer: I received the Boulder Boots for review, free of charge. All opinions offered are my own, and what I’d recommend to family and friends.
Up here in Canada we run studded winter tires on our cars… and now, on our feet. Well, almost. With Kahtoola’s new NANOspikes we have a lightweight traction device designed to give you traction in icy conditions that would normally stop your daily activities.
The NANOSpikes slip on over your normal footwear to allow you to navigate treacherous terrain more safely. We’ve all seen the video of “Man slides down driveway” and as entertaining as that may be to watch, let’s face it: we don’t want to be him!
We’ve been extremely impressed with the quality construction and effectiveness of the NANOspikes. Don’t stop walking your dog, training for that marathon or delivering newspapers! NANOspikes have you covered. Heading out on that frozen lake to do a bit of icefishing? No problem!
Let’s talk features:
10 Tungsten Carbide spikes (6 on the front and 4 on the heel)
Elastomer Construction
Stainless Steel fastners
Packs down to 5 3/4″ x 4″ x 2 1/4″
Weight:
Small 7.5 oz
Medium 8.0 oz
Large 8.3 oz
1 year Warranty
MSRP: $49.99
Performance:
We were immediately impressed with the build of these Traction Devices. Last year we tried a competitors product that failed miserably after two runs. These have held up to abuse and show no signs of wear.
The Traction that they offer is excellent. Carefully spread studs re unobtrusive, and well placed so that you have excellent traction over a full range of motion.
The fit is excellent. Whether worn over hiking boots or running shoes, they provide a secure fit. They’re easy to put on and remove, but they don’t come off when you don’t want them to.
Our only complaint about these is the colour. They’re fuscia. Everyone that knows me knows I’m not a fan of fuscia. They certainly keep you visible, so it’s a small price to pay 😉
Conclusion
The NANOspikes by Kahtoola are a great addition to the Kahtoola line of Crampons and traction devices. The price point is perfect. It’s nice to see a brand that constantly impresses with overbuilt gear that performs as advertised.
Take a look at the video above for a full review and to see them in action.
Disclaimer: The Outdoor Adventure received this product free for review. All opinions reflect our thorough testing and are what we recommend to friends and family.
Today we take a look at Bushnell’s Powersync Solarbook 850, a Solar charger and battery pack locked away in a durable, adventure-proof case.
The Solarbook 850 is the Solarbook 600’s big brother, cutting charging time by 2.5 hours. Check out the features and then take a look at the video to learn about how it performs.
Features:
Dimensions: 9.25″ x 8.3″ x 1.3″
Unpacked length: 53.25″
Amorphous thin film solar panels (better for charging in less than ideal sun conditions)
2x 5v, 1a regulated USB Output, 1 Micro USB input
XXXX maH Dual Li Ion battery (no maH rating listed)
I’ve had this panel for over a year and it’s been tested on week long canoe trips, Day trips, camping trips, you name it. I’ve used it to charge cameras, video cameras, cell phones and more.
My Thoughts
Check out the video above for my thoughts and see how it performs on higher end devices.
Pros:
The internal battery means that a regulated power output that higher end electronics will accept as charging sources (a problem for stand-alone solar panels).
Amorphous Panels mean improved charging in indirect sunlight
Dual charging ports are always a plus
Heavy duty case can take abuse
Attachment points are a plus
Cons:
The plastic fastening clips can come off
Did not charge my iPad mini (a problem for most solar charging systems that don’t have 2.1a USB power)
More expensive than comparable solar panels.
Conclusion:
A good all-in-one portable solar charging system that will handle the majority of your electronic devices. Bushnell has made a sound entry into the market and their products are definitely worth checking out.
I was asked to review the Catalyst Waterproof Sleeve by Paul from The Outdoor Adventure. When I agreed, I wasn’t too familiar with the product, I actually thought it was more for the iPhone. Turns out it’s rather larger, and fits an iPad, or a small laptop. I figured I could still run some tests on it to see how it performed. And my roommate has a tablet, so I could check out its for and durability.
This sleeve is designed to carry and protect your tech devices pretty much anywhere. Stylish and functional, they come with a carrying handle, and an over the shoulder strap to carry like a tote or purse. Or two that make it a small back pack of sorts. Personally, I like to be able to tuck the sleeve itself into a backpack for traveling security and protection.
The waterproof construction has a double seal water tight closure. With
cushioned high grade EVA foam, and a velcro folding flap to keep devices inside. You can literally go anywhere in any weather with your device, and feel secure. It can also work to keep sand out of devices at the beach. Or just store anything from your wallet, to pictures, or a book. Maybe even for carrying some important papers.? It really work wonderfully no matter what you’re using it for.
It Passed the Obligatory Shower Test!
Likes:
Works great. I tested in my shower filled with toilet tissue, and completely submerged it in the bathtub. And all the tissue came out perfectly dry. Love the sleek black color.
Dislikes:
Maybe the price of anything. At $44.99 it is kind of expensive. But in retrospect, you probably have paid more than that for an iPhone case. So really not bad to keep your valuables protected.
Overall:
Great product that should last a long time and be extremely durable, while still protecting your devices from weather. I like it.
Specs:
The maximum internal size: H 300 x W 220 mm. Will fit pretty much any tablet or iPad comfortably. And a smaller laptop (11 inches) just fine.
Fits:
iPad (all versions), iPad Air, 11 inch Macbook air, Microsoft Surface Pro 3, and most 9 to 11 inch tablets and laptops.
I am not currently an ambassador for Catalyst. I was asked to review a product as an independent blogger. I received this product for free, in return I agreed to test it and review it. In no way did this offer influence my review. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.
It’s nice to finally see an overbuilt solar home lighting system that performs the way its meant to. d.light Design’s D20 solar home lighting system has impressed me because it is built for the developing world where off the grid is the only option and where durability and functionality are what drives design.
While most solar lighting that we see on the market has the quality of those solar patio lights that end up in the trash every fall, this setup is built for real-world use, making it ideal for your backwoods cabin, hot tent, lakeside boat house, or wherever you’ll need a real solar system that will work for years to come.
Let’s look at the features and then discuss in more detail why I like this system.
Features:
5w solar panel with 20 foot power cable
2 solar lamps with attached cables and switches (one has 13’ cable the other a 20’ cable)
cordless solar lantern
3000mAh battery pack cable of running up to 4 lights
USB output and six adapters for charging most USB devices
Take a look at our video review below to get an idea of how easy it is to setup:
Testing
Currently this system is setup and my parent’s cabin/shed by the lake. It’s been up for 6 months with the solar panel set up on a Southwest facing wall (not ideal).
Setup was a breeze with a pocketful of screws to fasten the various components. The Switches are heavy duty utilizing a tap system to switch between low, high and off. There are two switches, one for each light, meaning you can turn on the lights separately (great if you have multiple rooms in your cabin or tent).
The setup includes a solar lantern that charges via the battery pack. There are an assortment of connectors, meaning you can charge your usb powered devices with it as well.
The battery pack has a 3000 maH battery. It’ll run the two lights on full power for 7-8 hours or 15 hours on low level. You can also buy additional lights to run a total of four off this battery pack. It can be precharged (and therefore used separately) or charged via the solar panel.
The solar panel is 5 Watts, and is of course weather proof. It is permanently attached to its power cable, so you don’t have to worry about losing it.
There is plenty of attached cable to power these devices. The switches are also installed inline giving plenty of distance to set them up in separate rooms in a small home or cabin.
The two lights were able to provide adequate lighting to read a book in the evening in a 16×12 shed and the hand lantern does a fine job of lighting your way should you need to go out for a midnight excursion.
Conclusion
The d.light systems are specifically created for the developing world, meaning they’re meant to handle long term use in real-world, daily life. As such, they don’t disappoint in simplicity or functionality. The price point ($200 MSRP) is excellent for this setup, making it a great choice for your cabin, tent, or even the kids’ playhouse.
disclaimer: dLight gave me this system to review free of charge. As always, my opinions are my own and what I would recommend to family and friends.
If you’re looking for an easy to read book to satisfy your survival and homesteading skills I recommend you take a look at Tim MacWelch’s book: “Prepare for Anthing: 338 Essential Skills” published by Outdoor Life.
This full colour book (available for kindle, in paperback and hardcover editions) offers 338 “essential skills” that are supposed to prepare your for anything. The topics range from choosing the right outdoor vehicle to escaping from armed robbers to understanding which garden vegetables to plant to preserving foods to trapping animals… and more. While some of the scenarios will likely never happen to you, it’s an interesting and informative read that offers literally hundreds of practical tips and Saturday projects that will keep you busy for years. What’s more, it’s designed to be easy to read and easy to do. They present the topics visually through diagrams, photos and comic book style stories. There is no shortage of artwork, leaving little room for confusion on “How to”.
I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t appreciate many of the easy-to-follow tips in this book, and I’m sure all of us would find ourselves engrossed in this engaging read. While I personally think that the whole post-apocalyptic “prepper” view is over-dramatized by some in today’s society (you won’t find me building a bunker in the woods), and despite the fact that some of these scenarios would never happen, I still thing this is an entertaining and informative read.
What’s the book about?
There are three main topics covered:
Gear
Skills
Survival
(see full list of content at the end of the article)
Format: Instructional, using full color diagrams, comics, DIYs, etc.
Oh, and the high gloss pages mean it would probably burn fairly well, but wouldn’t serve as very good toilet paper.
This book is ideal for the DIYer and homesteader. It’s a great book to read on rainy days before you head out to try it yourself. I know there are many projects that I plan on working on this summer… NOT the emergency Tracheotomy.
While some of the material may be familiar to outdoorsy-types, there are lots of great ideas and uses of common products that I hadn’t thought of. It’s great to have it all in one place too. Did I mention the knots? Knots have always been my weak point and I love the “knots to know” section.
All in all, this book is a great read and an excellent resource and the ideal gift for that would be adventurer. The level of information is great for both beginners and experienced outdoors people.
Sure, you might be able to survive without the book and with only an axe and a pair of underwear, but with this book as a resource you’ll probably fair much better.
Complete Table of Contents:
Understand Situational Awareness
Sharpen Your Strategy
Know the Steps
Color Code It
Know What You’re Preparing For
Understand the Crisis
Get Familiar with the Scope
Learn Your Task
Create Your Family Emergency Plan
Conduct Drills
Back a BOB for Any Situation
Stock a Home Survival Kit
Pack Something Weird
Make a Fire Kit
Waterproof Your Matches
Be Fire Smart
Know Your Fire Types
Check Home Safety Basics
Stay on Comm
Know Your Region
Stock the Right Supplies
Disaster-Proof Your Home
Fool the Bad Guys
Reinforce Your Home
Don’t Forget the Garage
Bar the Door for Real
Shop Smart
Start with the Basics
Power Up with Protein
Go Carb Crazy
Stash Some Little Luxuries
Pack It in PETE
Plan for the Long Haul
Don’t Forget FIFO
Count Your Calories
Store Food Right
Go Cuckoo for Coconut
Sleep On It
Figure Out How Much Water
You’ll Need
Be Chemical Safe
Harvest the Rain
Let the Sun Shine In
It Could Happen: Wes’ Jungle Fever
Hold Your Water
Think Outside the Sink
Banish Bacteria
Pool Your Resources
Suit Up for Safety
Get Wild and Woolly
Walk Tall
Be Your Own Bootblack
Dress for the Occasion
Build Your Tool Kit
Get Creative with Your Toolbox
Rip It Up with a Hammer
Make Fire with a File
Don’t Get Caught Without: Vodka
Spotlight On: Evan & Scot Hill
Meet the Hill Brothers
Get the Gear of the Hill People
Stick to Your Guns
Grab a Gun (Or Two)
Be Gun Safety Savvy
It Could Happen: Paracord Escape
Own 8 Essential Knives
Tie 7 Simple Knots
Have a Financial Plan
Shelter Your Funds
Stash Your Cash
Know the Right Amount
Understand Your Fuel Types
Know Your Color Codes
Make It Last Longer
Store Fuel Right
Determine How Much Fuel You Need
Burn This, Not That
Live on Solar Power
Get the Most from a Propane Stove
Make Recycled Briquettes
Get Ready to Get Around
Buy the Best Vehicle
Upgrade Your Ride
Charge It Yourself
Provide All the Air
Get the Tools for Your Car
Don’t Get Caught Without: Paracord
Know Basic Life Skills
Revisit Home Ec
Build Your Survival Skills
Build Your First Aid Kit
Improvise Medical Supplies
Level Up
Check Vital Signs
Assess and Control Bleeding
Bandage a Wound
Disinfect a Wound
Know CPR
Treat for Shock
Set Broken Bones
Identify and Treat Burns
Perform the Heimlich Maneuver
Build a Fire in the Rain
Get the Best Materials You Can Find
Make Char Cloth
Learn the Tricks to Tinder
Don’t Get Caught Without: Sardines
Know Your Water
Disinfect with UV Light
Disinfect with Boiling Water
Keep Clear
Use Your Canner to Distill Water
Build a Solar Still
Double Up
Dig Your Own Well
Get the Water Up
Make a Gypsy Well
Boil in a Bottle
Maintain Your Perimeter
Be Your Own Chimney Sweep
Keep Your Fortress in Good Shape
Stock Your Home
Plumbing Toolbox
Clean with the Basics
Start Outside, Then Bring
It All Inside
Stock Your Safe Room
Grab the Popcorn
Don’t Forget Your Pets
Alert the Authorities
Board Up
Stock a P.B.O.B.
Prepare to Leave Them Behind
Train for Disaster
It Could Happen:
Rooftop Escape
Do Your Research
Pick the Right Spot
Get the Dirt
Place Your Plants
Go Urban
Take it Easy
Build a Food Wall
Grow the Right Veggies
Build a Raised Bed Garden
Feed a Family of Four
Scare Off Critters
Grow Your Own Medicine Chest
Make a Self-Watering
Container Garden
Know Fido’s Risks
Spotlight On:
Rod Morey, Medicine Man
Take Charge of Your Own Wellness
Bred Rod’s Favorite Remedies
Know Three Essential Herbs
Build a Backyard Chicken Farm
Raise Chicks
Get a Good Egg
Feed Free-Range Chickens
Kill a Chicken Humanely
Prepare Your Chicken
Consider Other Fowl
Include Quail in Your Homestead
Avoid Salmonella
Find the Right Feed
Raise Rabbits
Breed Rabbits the Right Way
Build a Rabbit Hutch
Raise a Cavy
Build a Barrel Abattoir
Kill Small Animals Humanely
Dress a Rabbit
Create a Conflict-Free Homestead
Don’t Forget the Poop
Make Goat’s-Milk Cheese
Avoid Cattle, No Bull!
Make a Canning Kit
Can in a Water Bath
Learn to Pressure-Can
Get a Lift
Yes You Can . . . Meat
Plant a Canning Garden
Follow These Golden Rules
for Pickling Produce
Jam or Jelly Your Favorite Fruits
Dry Out Your Fruits
Drop Some Acid
Spotlight On:
Rick “Hue” Hueston
Survive the End Times with Hue
Forage Hue’s Top 10 Wild Foods
Cook Hue’s Squirrel Stew
Make a Cardboard Box Smoker
Smoke Out Your Vegetarians
Get Fishy
Make Jerky
Brew Your Own Alcohol
Brew Mead
Craft an American Amber Ale
Make Blackberry Wine
Tie 7 Helpful Knots
Improvise a Solar Lightbulb
Make Your Own Fuel
Assemble an Oil Lamp
Make Candles
Build a Bicycle-Powered Generator
Power Up
Brew Coffee Without Power
Make Power with Water
Build a Water Turbine
Consider the Biodiesel Switch
Know Your Diesels
Make the Conversion to Bio
Get Running on French-Fry Oil
Turn the Right Oils into Fuel
Be Safe with Home Chemistry
Get the Supplies
Learn the Process
Be Biodiesel Smart
It Could Happen: Cougar Face-Off
Avoid Conflict
Throw a Power Punch
Hit the Spot
Block and Counter
Choose the Right Knife
Stand and Deliver
Get a Grip
Throw a Knife
Sharpen Your Blade
Don’t Get in a Knife Fight
Make a PVC Bow
Fletch Your Own Arrows
Shoot Your Bow Properly
Don’t Get Caught Without:
Duct Tape
Learn Safe Gun Handling
Stand and Shoot
Avoid Four Common
Trigger Mistakes
Drill Home Accuracy
Build Your Own Blowgun
Use What’s Close
Chart Your Survival Priorities
Assess and Respond to Emergency
Survive Anything
Obey the Rule of Threes
Develop an Attitude
Decide Whether to Stay
Ask for—and Give—Help
Share Your Skills
Plan Your Bug-Out Camp Supplies
Embrace the Plastic
Create Order with Areas
Make Camp Life Easier
Signal Your Rescue
Turn On the Radio
Use a Survival Mirror
Don’t Get Caught Without:
Space Blankets
Understand Major Blackouts
Create Flare Contingencies
Don’t Panic After a Pulse
Laugh in the Face of Darkness
Employ People Power
Understand EMP Danger
Protect Electronics with
a Faraday Cage
Charge a Cell Phone in a Blackout
Hack Your C-Cell
Be Ready for Storms
Prepare for Hurricanes and Cyclones
Fight Back Against Flooding
Find a Quake-Safe Spot
It Could Happen: Natural Disaster
Get Ready for a Fall
Stock Up for the Crash
Build a Team
Hail the New Chief
Understand the Real Threat
Choose the Right Leader
Don’t Screw It Up
Lead like the Great Ones
Spot a Sociopath
Pick a Compound
Remember the Basic Tenets
Build a Defensive Perimeter
Create Observation Posts
Build a Basement Bunker
Make a Bucket Bathroom
Create Layers of Security
Keep It Breathable
Have Some Comms Handy
Keep It Dry
Spotlight On: Kirk Lombard
Catch a Weird Fish
Poke Pole for Eels
Follow Kirk’s Foraging Tips
Select Your Trap
Cover Your Scent
Build a Deadfall
Bait Your Trap Correctly
Know Your Neighborhood (Animals)
Bag a Backyard Buck
Break the Law (If You Must)
Hunt Better with Bait
Catch Live Critters
Tan Your Hides
Use Your Brain
Smoke Tanned Hides
Enjoy Sun-Dried Foods
Dry It in the Dark
Whip Up Some Hardtack
Make Your Own Pemmican
Make a Good Trade
Get Your Balance
Spotlight On:
R.P. MacWelch, Tim’s Dad
Survive Like Dad
Learn an Art
Develop New Skills
Spark It Up
Make Fire from Rocks
Build a Fire Like a Pro
Use a Fire Plow
Make Charcoal from Firewood
Mix Your Own Gunpowder
Build Your Own Backyard Forge
Forge Your Own Knife
Heat with the Sun
Warm Up Safely
Use Bricks and Stones to
Heat Your Home
Consider These Heaters
Master Six Advanced Knots
Don’t Get Caught Without: Beer
Multitask Your Meds
Stockpile Essential Meds
Repurpose Street Drugs
Deliver a Baby
Use an EpiPen
Apply a Tourniquet
Don’t Try This at Home
Save a Toe (or Finger, or More)
Save an Eye
Don’t Spill Your Guts
Open an Airway
It Could Happen:
Tracheotomy To Go
Survive a Gunshot Wound
Take Care of an Impaled Victim
Decompress a Chest Wound
Suture a Wound
Survive with Nothing
Know Your Lines of Shelter
Scrounge for Nourishment
Diagnose and Treat Ailments
Back in 2013 when I hiked the John Muir Trail I took two tops to keep me protected from the sun and comfortable in the cool mornings and both of them were by Terramar Sports. The first was the now discontinued Smartsilk BaseLayers and the other was the Terramar Sports.
With a ~15 lb baseweight and a 40 litre pack I was going for lightweight packability that would be warm enough for the cool mornings, protect me from the sun and of course keep me smelling fresh after a week on the trail. The Thermawool 2.0 Half-zip did not disappoint.
Let’s take a look at the features and then move on to my thoughts.
These items have not been retired in the two years I’ve had them… except for one caveat (read on and I’ll explain). I’ve worn this layers with other base layers (the Smartsilk for example) as well as alone on the John Muir Trail and countless other adventures since.
Performance:
We are huge fans of Merino wool. The characteristics of these super fine natural fibres makes it an ideal outdoors and backpacking fabric. It’s warm, breatheable, non-itchy, and odor resistant.
The flat stitched seams mean that even when warm by itself when wearing a backpack for long days of hiking we didn’t develop sore spots, rashes or itching. Even when we were caked with salt due to perspiration we didn’t feel discomfort.
The 180g fabric is typical of the lightweight merino wool offerings of most brands. It’s light enough to wear in warm days by itself and provides sufficient warmth for cool mountain mornings when layered with a lighter base layer. We did develop a small hole when we snagged it on a sharp object, but that’s expected (and it hasn’t grown). And no, that’s not the caveat.
A half-zip is the ideal choice for a layer in my opinion. The slight increase in the weight of a zipper is worth the benefits of temperature regulation that it offers.
The MSRP of $65 is right in line with similar Merino offerings and matches the details of the high performance and popular Merino Wool.
So what’s that caveat I was speaking about? Thermawool is apparently a girl magnet. No, I don’t mean it makes you irresistible… although that may be true. I mean that my wife has claimed all my Thermawool layers for herself. So if you want to pick up some Thermawool layers, you may want to pick up the ladies version as well.
When you’re packing for a hiking trip, you need a balance of enjoyable meals and caloric density. Your body needs fuel to keep you going through your day, but that food needs to be packable and tasty. Enter Greenbelly Bars.
I’m always on the lookout for new options for Backpacking food, so I was happy to receive a set of Greenbelly Bars for the trail. I’m happy to say, that after testing, they are kid and adult approved.
Brand Background:
Greenbelly Bars was founded by Chris Cage, a world traveller and thru-hiker. His expeditions led him to develop food ideal for the adventurer. He worked with a food scientist to ensure a good mix of what the body needs in a bar that you’d want to eat. The end result were bars that account for 1/3 of your regular nutritional and caloric needs (600+ calories per pack) and that come in one of three flavours: Dark Chocolate Banana, Peanut Apricot and Cranberry Almond.
The Greenbelly Bar is also socially and environmentally conscious. In addition to partnering with Leave No Trace, they’ve partnered with the Atlanta Food Bank. For every bar you purchase, a meal is given to someone in need.
Let’s take a look at the Features, the brand and the taste of these bars:
33% of your daily nutritional needs (~600 calories per bar)
MSRP: $49.99 for a 12 pack ($4 per bar)
Testing:
I ate them… well not all of them, I shared them with my son. I was given one pack of each flavour (each flavour contains two bars). We divided use between a winter adventure and a day at the office. Since these are bars designed for all travel use I figured I’d see if they still tasted good when I wasn’t on the trail.
First off we found them to be very filling. Some foods leave you hungry soon after being eaten. The combination of ingredients left us feeling satisfied without weighing us down.
My son obviously preferred the Dark Choclate and Banana, but I found that all of the bars had a good flavour. I was expecting something tasting much sweeter than these do, but because a significant portion of the calories come from fat, it can be almost savoury.
I had to do a double check for my tastebuds and I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but when I went for a day eating the bars I found that I much preferred them to the candy bar like options that one finds on the market today.
These bars come in at $4 each, which may seem steep, but here’s how I look at it. First of all, they provide as many calories as a Freeze Dried Meal, which costs much more ($7+). They require no cooking time, so you can leave the stove behind. There’s no mess or clean-up. They taste good. You’re helping a good cause.
Kickstarter Campaign
On March 3rd, 2015 Chris is starting a Kickstarter campaign, so check out their site GreenBelly Bar for more details.
As a part of the Terramar Tribe I’ve had the opportunity to test out a lot of gear. Each piece has its role, and today I want to talk a bit about the Terramar Sports TXO 2.0 Men’s Crew.
Features:
Layer type: 2.0 – Midweight Base Layer
Synthetic fabric embedded with Activated carbon (will not wash out)
Fast-drying, breathable and soft
UPF Rating 50+
All-flat seam construction
TXO Brushed Inside
18% Spandex
82% Polyester
Fabric weight: 175 grams
MSRP: $55
Testing:
I’ve had this crew for about a year now. It is a warmer base layer, and I use it with a 1.0 layer in cold mountain evenings when I’m not moving, or by itself on cold days when I’m active. For example, I took it out canoeing with the kids the week before the lakes started freezing over and was very comfortable in it. (see the video below)
What are my thoughts?
What originally turned me away from synthetics years ago were memories of 1990s rayon and polyester that didn’t work with my body type. They literally stank… so they metaphorically stank as well. Then, newer generations of synthetics started to have odor blocking technologies like active carbon or similar treatments which allow them to be used longer outdoors without developing that all too familiar musk…of muskox. I’m happy to say that even on active days when I sweat, I don’t clear the room in this top, I’m still huggably fresh!
Despite being a heavier fabric, it does a great job of wicking. There’s no magic fabric, but synthetics don’t absorb moisture the same way some natural fibers do, meaning they can pull it away from your skin where it can evaporate.
What is extremely important for me about this top is how comfortable it is. The inside is brushed, meaning it’s very soft. The collar is extremely soft as well, which for a bearded guy is extremely important. On top of that Terramar uses flat stitched seams, which is hugely important for those of us that carry packs. You don’t get hot spots or sore spots from welts like you would with a lower end top.
The thumb holes in the sleeves are a great addition for keeping your wrists warm, and prevent cold spots when you’re wearing gloves.
The sizing feels a bit small for me, especially for a 2.0 layer.It is an athletic fix with its 18% spandex, but if you’re on the higher end of medium, I’d recommend going for a large. You’ll appreciate the additional length and space for putting a 1.0 base layer underneath.
Conclusion
Terramar Base Layers offer a number of options for your personal base layer preferences. Whether you’re a silk, wool or synthetic fan, you’ll find lots to choose from. All their layering items form a system (1.0 – 4.0) that works together to combat pretty much any weather you’re likely to face.
The TXO 2.0 is a cold weather technical piece suitable by itself when active in cold weather and layered in even colder weather. It wicks moisture, which makes it quicker to dry and its embedded active carbon means fresher smell and therefore longer, cleaner smelling use between washes. While it could benefit from being a bit longer, it’s a great choice for a midweight base layer.
The Sandmarc telescoping pole is a simple piece of equipment. It has one purpose in life. It functions as an extension of your arm to get your GoPro camera farther away from you.
Lately, these extension poles are also being referred to as selfie sticks. While that term may sound negative, there are times when nothing will help you to take as good a picture or video – unless you happen to have your own photographer/videographer to follow you around.
Think about the times you’ve used your phone to take a selfie with your friends. Unless you happen to be an Orangutan, your arm simply isn’t long enough to get the camera far enough away from you to take a good picture. Instead, you and your friends have to gather cheek-to-cheek to get everyone in the shot. Personally, I like the closeness of a cheek-to-cheek picture, but all of your selfies come out looking the same. And forget about getting much of the background in your shot.
Want that great picture of you and your family with the Taj Mahal in the background? Before these selfie sticks, you were forced to stop a stranger, ask them to take your picture for you, and hope they didn’t muck it up. You also had to hope the stranger didn’t desire your camera more than you.
It’s advertised to fit all GoPro cameras, including the latest GoPro 4. The only non-metal parts are the rubber handle and the lanyard. The rest is all aluminum. Even the camera mount itself is aluminum and a beautiful aluminum knob is also included. The benefit of aluminum is that you’ve got a strong, lightweight, virtually unbreakable pole that will never rust. Feel free to use it underwater!
The mount is detachable, so you can also use it to mount your GoPro to standard tripods. Conversely, you could detach the mount and if you have a standard screw-on camera attachment, you could use the pole for your other non GoPro cameras.
The pole is comprised of three sections that enable you to extend the pole to any length you need, from the fully collapsed length of 17” all the way out to 40” at full extension. The extensions are loosened or tightened by a knurled knob. It takes nothing more than a quarter twist to either loosen or tighten the fittings.
That’s the nuts and bolts of the Sandmarc pole, but how does it really measure up?
I like it. A lot!
There’s nothing cheap or flimsy about this extension pole. Everything about it feels like quality. It’s sturdy, stylish, and I wouldn’t worry about breaking anything on it. I can’t say the same about some plastic accessories I’ve come across.
Despite the robustness, Sandmarc has managed to keep it very light. It weighs-in at a mere 8.5 ounces (0.25 kg). Before I had the chance to try the stick, I was a little concerned that, while snowboarding down a long slope, it might be too heavy to hold at arms-length, fully extended with my GoPro attached to the end. I needed not worry. Even fully extended, I never really felt the weight.
The rubber grip is very firm rubber. At first, it almost feels like plastic. But even in the snow, I never felt like it was hard to hold. I suspect that in the long run, the harder rubber might even be a little more durable than soft rubber.
As I’d stated earlier, the knurled grips can be loosened with a quarter turn, extend the sections to your desired length, and then locked-down with a quarter turn back the other way. I never needed to apply anything more than a gentle turn and the extension would lock in place with no fear of subsequent collapse.
The camera mount is a thing of beauty. All GoPro mounting accessories I own are plastic. Mind you, the GoPro mounts are quality pieces in their own right and I’ve never had issues with any of them, but this Sandmarc mount really appeals to my aesthetic sensibility. The mount appears to be machined from a solid billet of aluminum – even the threaded nut was machined from the block.
As impressive as this mount is, there is a minor issue worth noting. Since the mount is machined from a solid billet, it’s very solid – it doesn’t flex at all. When I mounted my camera, it took a great effort to screw the mounting knob in tight enough to prevent the camera from rotating inside the mount. I happened to have a pair of pliers handy and I had to give the knob an extra little turn with the pliers before it was finally tight enough so the camera wouldn’t move. I can easily envision many people not having the finger strength to get it tight enough and also relying on a pair of pliers. There are aftermarket GoPro knobs that give your fingers a little more torque. There are also aftermarket GoPro wrenches available for tightening and loosening the knob. Or you could just use a screwdriver or a pair of pliers.
To test the pole, I mounted my camera and headed to the ski hill for a day of snowboarding.
I can find no fault with the Sandmarc extension pole. As I stated earlier, it is lightweight – even with the camera mounted to the end, it is high quality construction, and it’s stylish. If I had to nit-pic, I simply didn’t know what to do with it when I was done using it. Even fully collapsed, it’s 17”, so it’s not likely to fit in any of your pockets. My choices were to take it back to my car or go to the ski hill’s village and hope to get a locker for the afternoon. If you’re out on a hike, it’s light and small enough to carry (or put in a backpack or large purse), but while on the ski hill, I didn’t want to finish my snowboarding trip carrying the pole throughout my remainder of the day.
It also seemed to gather attention from other skiers and boarders. You’re not exactly inconspicuous speeding down the slopes, holding a camera three feet out in front of you. But that’s just my own issue. Maybe if I was a more impressive boarder, I’d feel less dorky filming myself.
Despite my feeling that I was attracting attention to myself, I really feel that you can get some of the best pictures and video of yourself while using an extension pole. The pole can provide an interesting perspective that you simply can’t get any other way. Additionally, mounting your camera on the end of a pole has an interesting effect – it smooth’s the video significantly. When my GoPro is mounted on my helmet, the video can be very jerky and rough. All my motions (bumping, jostling, shaking) is transferred from my body, through the helmet, and into the camera. I’m not sure how the pole seems to automatically smooth everything out, but it does. I’d guess one’s arm is a natural shock absorber.
Features
Compatibility : Fits all GoPro® Hero Cameras (including Hero 4)
Durability : Water Proof, Aluminum Locks, Tripod Mount & Thumbscrew
Unique Feature : All aluminum build quality
Compact : Retracts 17″, Extends 40″
Lightweight : 9.5 ounces / 0.25 kgs
MSRP: $49.99
All-in-all, I really like the Sandmarc extension pole. I’m happy to add it to my arsenal of accessories and I know I’ll be using it a lot. I recommend it highly to anyone that wants to start adding new perspectives to their videos and pictures.
The Outdoor Adventure Giving you tips, tricks & recommendations to help make adventuring in the Outdoors fun, safe & exciting for you and your kids.
