review

A while ago the crew behind the Cairn Box sent me a gift box to test out. I’ll start by saying that I was so impressed I bought a six month subscription of goodies as a gift to one of our faithful reviewers.

So, what is a cairn box?

well, you can look at the video above, or you can continue reading. The idea is that you pay $25 for a monthly subscription and then every month you’ll get a package of outdoors related goodies that are tailored to your tastes. The total retail value is over the $25 you pay, so it’s a huge win, and it gives you the chance to try out products you may not have heard of.

The categories of the gear that you may receive are:

• Gear
• Apparel
• Food/nutrition
• skin care

For example, my Cairn box contained:

• 1 Grand Trunk ultralight hammock – valued at $20
• 1UCO storm proof match kit – valued at $7
• 1 pack of skratch labs energy drink mix –  $35 for a 24 pack
• 1 Huma Chia energy gel – $54 for a 24 pack
• Elemental Herbs all good lips chapstick – #3.50

You can see all the different cairn boxes they’ve sent out so far by clicking here.

Earn Points

Once you’ve received the box, you can fill out a survey that will help tailor what is received in future boxes and will earn you points towards free boxes or discounts on gear they plan to sell on their website.

Shipping

Shipping is included in the $25, so there’s no hidden cost. Unfortunately, that means this is limited to the USA for now… at least until they open up a Canadian branch ;).

Subscription

You can choose to get a single month of Cairn, or you can buy as many months as you want. The more months you subscribe for the bigger discount you receive:

• 1 month – $25
• 3 month – $70 ($5 off)
• 6 month – $135 ($15 off)
• 12 month – $260 ($40 off)

What do I think?

The concept of Cairn is awesome. If you’re big into the outdoors and have $25 disposable income to spend on gear every month then you should check this out. You get a lot of bang for your buck and you get exposure to gear you may not have tried in the process. All of the items I received are useful (especially the hammock!) and stuff I’ll be trying out on my future adventures.

This is a great opportunity for brands to get their products in the hands of outdoors adventurers and gain exposure in an industry that is typically a challenge to break into. If you are abrand and want to partner with them, check them out here.

I bought a 6 month subscription, but let us know down below if you’d buy a Cairn box for yourself or a friend.

Sawyer Mini water filter review

With the advent of Sawyer’s Mini filter, I find myself wondering if the pump filter is dead. When you have a 2 ounce water filter that you can drink through, and that doesn’t require cartridge replacements, will the average user ever need to buy anything else?

I’m going to assume that we don’t need to rehash why you should filter your water and get right to the features and my opinions of the Sawyer MINI.

Let’s look at the features and then move on to my opinions of the system:

Features / Specs

• Hollow Fiber Filter,
• Weight: 2 ounces,
• Cartridge Life: up to 100,000 gallons,
• Removes: Bacteria, Protozoa (including Cryptosporidium and Giardia), E. Coli, Vibrio cholerea, Salmonella Typhi,
• Fits in your hand,
• Includes two nipples that attach to standard size hydration hoses,
• Attaches to 28 mm disposable water bottles and sawyer drinking pouches,
• MSRP: $24.95

What’s in the box?

• 1 – Sawyer MINI water filter with cap,
• 1 – 16 oz (0.5 liter) sawyer soft bottle
• 1 – 7” drinking straw
• 1 – Cleaning syringe
• instructions

Testing

I’ve had the Sawyer Mini for a year, and I’ve tested it over that time on hiking trips in the front and back country. I use it to drink straight from streams, through the water bottle and to filter water for others.

What are my thoughts?

I’ve been using Sawyer filters for years… well, actually, the same 2 Sawyer filters for years. I’ve never had a problem with them ever. I used them in South America to filter gallons of undrinkable tap water, and maintenance has always been simple. When Sawyer offered me the mini to test, I was hoping it would solve my one issue: size, and it did.

The fact that they can pack a powerful filter into the palm of your hand… and for $25 is awesome. The fact that it can attach in-line to your water filtration system and attach to a soft bottle and standard disposable water bottles makes it indispensable.

The Backflushing kit is a great (and simple) addition. According to their website, it restores 98.5% of the filters efficiency. I’ve backflushed the filter on multiple occasions, and can confirm that although I’ve not had anywhere near 100,000 gallons, I can still drink through it with ease.

The included kit is pretty well complete, although I would prefer a 32 oz water bottle included (instead of the 16 oz one).

Room for improvement?

One thing that I did notice is that the filter doesn’t properly attach to other soft bottles, only the sawyer ones. It’s not a major inconvenience as I my soft bottles are wearing out and I’ll just replace them with sawyer-compatible ones at that point.

Conclusion

Go out and get one. Seriously. I can’t think of a good reason why you would buy any other filter than the sawyer one for individual use. $25 buys you a potentially life-time lasting filter that will never need a replacement. While you’re at it though, buy a larger sawyer bottle so you don’t have to refill as much on the trail.

Disclaimer: Sawyer sent me this filter for review, and all opinions are my own.

I love tarps. If I’m going on a day-hike, to the beach, backpacking, car-camping, canoeing, or snowshoeing, I will always have a shelter with me. It doesn’t matter if there’s sun, rain, wind or snow, or simply the possibility that we’ll be spending the night out, a tarp will handle all of those things. My most versatile, durable and functional tarp came to me by way of Eagle Nest Outfitters. It’s the Flexfly.

Last year I received the Flexfly Utility Tarp to test and I’ve been putting it to some long-term testing over the past year.

The Flexfly utility tarp is  great for hammocking and much more. Over the past year, this tarp has been a constant companion on my outdoor adventures because of how versatile it is. Let’s take a look at the features to see why and then let’s talk about what my opinions on it are.

• Material: 210D Nylon Taffeta w/ Poly Urethane coating
• Includes 2 50″ collapsible aluminum poles
• Dimensions: 10′ 6″ x 10′
• Catenary cut
• Stuffed size: 14″ x 5″
• 6 attachment points
• Hammock compatible
• stitched and taped seams
• line locs
• guy line
• includes zippered carry case
• (stakes not included)
• weight: 3 lbs w/case and poles
• weight: 2lbs 1 oz w/o poles
• MSRP: $134.95

Keep reading and check out the video below to see it in action.

How did I test it?

Over the past year, I’ve used this tarp in the backyard, car camping, backpacking, and on day trips. In addition to its regular use, I’ve used it to make a kiddy-pool in the backyard (it performed very well).

What are my thoughts?

The Eagle Nest Outfitters Flexfly is correctly identified as a “utility” tarp. It’s tough and ready to handle what you throw at it. The 10-foot by 10-foot-six dimensions are plenty for a family and gives lots of coverage for a hammock and plenty of space to keep sun, wind and rain off you and your gear.

Set up is a breeze because of its catenary cut. There’s a lot of science to the catenary cut of a tarp. In at nutshell, it makes it really easy to tighten up the tarp evenly without having to re-adjust the tension on all the other guy lines. If you have the choice, always choose a tarp with a catenary cut.

The fabric, stitching, seam, grommets and poles are built for durability. A taught tarp is a must for high winds and heavy rain and to get that you really have to have taught lines. I didn’t feel I had to be gentle when tightening the guy lines to the point of a high pitch hum when I plucked them.

The inlcuded 50″ aluminum poles are a nice feature for set-up when there are no sticks, branches or trees on-site and you want a good view from under your shelter. They’d be perfect for the beach, or other festivals. When I’m concerned about weight though, I leave them behind and they shave off a pound.

The line-locs are a great feature that allows quick adjustment of the tension after it’s set-up, without having to re-tie nots.

It’s great for a large hammock shelter, but provides good coverage as a picnic table shelter, as well as an emergency shelter, picnic blanket or tent alternative.

This is definitely something to keep in your trunk for impromptu adventures.

What improvements could be made?

Although this is an excellent tarp and great for all your outdoor adventures, I always look for areas of improvement.

Although the guy-line works just fine, I’d like to see a smoother, less-stiff option.

I’d also like to see a set of stakes included with it (Eagle Nest Outfitters does sell easton tent stakes). I use a set of Mountainsmith v-stakes with mine.

Conclusion

The Eagle Nest Outfitters Flexfly utility tarp is a great all-round tarp. It has a lot to offer, works great as a campsite tarp, with a hammock or in pretty much any situation where you need a shelter. ENO puts a lot of thought and high quality into its construction and it paid off.

It’s an excellent hammock tarp, but also great as a stand-alone shelter for camping, canoeing or festivals/picnics as well.

If you are in the market for a versatile, high-quality tarp, definitely check it the flexfly out. You won’t be disappointed.

Finding a reusable water bottle that you feel sufficiently attached to that you’ll take it out with you can be a challenge. The 12 oz Hydro Flask insulated bottle is a fantastic everyday bottle that lets you take a little bit of hiking everywhere you go while not looking out of place.

The main features of the Hydro Flask are:

1. Stainless steel so it’s built to last.
2. Vacuum insulated. Keeps your cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours, and your hot drinks (or soups) hot for up to 12 hours.
3. Looks good.

The Hydro Flask has become my go to bottle for everyday water drinking. It is surprisingly pleasant to drink from and it’s the perfect size to have on hand while around the house or in the urban jungle. Because the bottle is insulated the bottle’s weight is comparable to my larger 27oz stainless steel bottle, I consider this a luxury item for backpacking and would want to carry a luxury drink (hot or cold) in it.

As a company, Hydro Flask makes several sizes of bottle, and the larger sizes may be worth carrying the extra weight out on the trail for general water consumption along with its luxury credentials. Hydro Flask also puts serial numbers on their bottles with the promise to donate 5% of its sale to any charity of your choice.

Do you use a reusable water bottle? Do you prefer plastic or stainless steel? What helps you remember to take it with you?

Graeme A

The Outdoor Adventure Team

On my first backpacking trip, I was introduced to something called beaver fever (or giardia). I remember a friend’s dad pulling out a mess of hoses and filters and a pump… and then sitting around, taking turns to filter water for a group of about twenty people. It took a long time, but there wasn’t much alternative. We didn’t get sick, but we didn’t want to ruin our trip by suffering from intestinal problems in the backcountry.

Water-born parasites are all too common in lakes and streams, especially in areas with lots of people, wildlife and/or cattle.

In fact, you don’t even have to head into the backcountry to need a backup method for water purification. At least twice a year we have boil-water advisories in our town, due to runoff from the snow and rain.

Check out these quick reviews of some Potable Aqua products and then enter to win a Coleman cooler filled with supplies for your summer outdoor activities.

Portable Aqua Ambassador

I spend as much time in the backcountry as I can, so water purification is common practice. On the John Muir Trail, I had to purify gallons of water every day. That regular need for reliable water purification was the reason I accepted when I was asked to be a brand ambassador for Potable Aqua.

Potable Aqua is a trusted name in water purification. Their product line offers several options for water purification including Iodine tablets, Chlorine Dioxide tablets and very soon a tiny, portable electrolytic water purifier “PURE”.

Here’s a quick look at what I’ve received so far:

Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets

Potable Aqua® Drinking Water Germicidal Tablets & Potable Aqua Plus

These tablets are a standby product great for purifying your water from Giardia. Potable aqua tablets are used and proved by military and emergency organizations.

How do they work?

They use Iodine to kill off bacteria like Giardia, that can cause serious problems. Two tablets treat a liter of water in 35 minutes.

Iodine Tablets

Iodine is a reliable short-term solution for water purification. They’re suited for emergency kits at home, on the trail, in a boat or in the car. The small bottle of tablets is perfect for long-term storage and they have a shelf life of 4 years.

These tablets are designed to handle even cloudy, cold or extreme pH levels in water, meaning they’re a very reliable solution.

Neutralizer

Potable Aqua Plus contains a neutralizer that can remove the iodine taste and colour from the water if that bothers you.

What we think:

Chemical tablets aren’t everyone’s first choice, but Potable Aqua and Potable Aqua Plus are a proven method to get clean, bacteria free drinking water. The 35 minute purifying time can be worked around with a bit of planning. We like to drink our remaining water at the water source, fill up, drop in the chemicals and then hit the trail.

Both of these products work swimmingly when used as directed and they really are simple to use. If you’re looking to go lightweight in backpacking, or need something compact and small to put into your emergency kits for home, fishing, camping or in the car, these water purification tablets are perfectly suited for your needs.

Potable Aqua® Chlorine Dioxide Tablets

I’m no stranger to Chlorine Dioxide. I used it to purify all my water for the 221 mile John Muir Trail. Chlorine Dioxide has the benefit of not only handling Giardia, but a wide variety of other bacteria and cysts (like Cryptosporidium) without generating harmful bi-products.

Chlorine Dioxide

Chlorine Dioxide is very commonly used; it’s even used in the treatment of water at community water treatment facilities.

The tablets are easy to use, and the boxes come in 20 and 30 tablet blister packs. 1 tablet treats 1 liter of water.

To be completely effective, the packaging recommends that you wait 4 hours for water to be completely purified. This is to take into account cloudy water, etc. It’s a long time, but a more effective choice than Iodine where water is even more questionable.

What we thought:

I like to use Chlorine Dioxide when backpacking. Typically I’ll finish off my water at a water source and refill while there. The tablets can be dropped in my water containers and I can resume hiking. If my water is clear, and not too questionable I don’t wait the 4 hours recommended unless the water is really questionable.

That said, the tablet form of Chlorine dioxide, with its 4 year shelf life is best suited for emergency situations.

Win a Cooler full of outdoors goodies!

Do you live in the US or Canada and want to win a cooler of Coleman and Potable Aqua gear? Check out these items and enter using the Rafflecopter widget:
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Ok, I’m a convert. Having spent close to thirty nights sleeping in my DoubleDeluxe Hammock by Eagle Nest Outfitters I’m officially in love with hammocks.

Over six months ago I received a massive DoubleDeluxe hammock from Eagle Nest Outfitters to test out. After extensive testing indoors, in the backyard, at the campsite and on the trail, I can highly recommend it as a heavy-duty, couple friendly, family-and-friend-proof alternative to spending the night (or even the afternoon) on the ground.

Let’s look at the features and then talk about the performance:

• Heavy Duty Triple Stitched Seams
• Breathable, Quick Drying Nylon
• Built in Compression Stuff Sack
• Aluminum Wiregate Carabiners
• 400lb Capacity
• Weight: 26 oz
• Dimensions: 9’ 4” x 8’ 4”
• Packed size: 4” x 5”
• MSRP: $84.95

Testing:

After receiving the hammock, I set up two hooks into my office walls (home office) so I could take breaks and spend nights above ground.

When it wasn’t there, it came with us car camping (where my wife and I chose it over sharing the tent with the kids), in the backyard, and most recently on a 3-day backpacking, packraft adventure in the Pacific Northwest.

The gathered ends mean that I can lie almost completely flat and sleep comfortably on my back, side and even stomach.

Most recently, I’ve had it set up at our new house so I can spend the nights while I do renos.

Performance:

The DoubleDeluxe is rated at 400lbs. I am not 400 lbs. My wife is nowhere near that mark. However, when you put both of us, plus a few of our kids you come out to that amount. The hammock, although a bit packed, managed just fine. The wall hanger I bought at Home Hardware didn’t fare as well. One of them bent! It’s pretty impressive when a steel wall hook bends and the hammock stays up! The triple stitching and wiregate carabiners show no signs of suffering.

Another benefit to the massive size of the DoubleDeluxe is that you can wrap yourself up burrito style and keep the bugs way (which I’ve successfully done on more than one occasion).

A few brands are sewing on a stuff sack to their hammocks, because frankly, it’s a great idea. I use mine to keep my smartphone in (it doubles as my 5:30 am alarm clock), and to protect my glasses.

I haven’t seen any others that are equipped with compression straps. Granted, you won’t need it on a single hammock, but when you’re dealing with something a bit larger like the DoubleDeluxe, it can save you a couple square inches of pack space.

It’s hard to compare the $84.95 price tag with other hammocks as the DoubleDeluxe is over 2 feet wider than other double hammocks (including their own DoubleNest – $64.95 MSRP). As with any product we’d like to see it cheaper than it is, but you’re getting a lot of high quality, heavy duty hammock for that price.

If you’re going to pick it a DoubleDeluxe, or any other hammock, make sure you get a nice set of tree slings, like ENO’s atlas straps, a set of straps designed to make your hammock hanging quick and easy.

What do I think?

The ENO DoubleDeluxe is a great family hammock for relaxing in the backyard, while camping and indoors. The kids love it and we don’t worry about it falling or breaking, even when all four pile into it. It’s portable and lightweight enough to hide in your pack for a relaxing day-trip or overnight adventure, or stow in your trunk for those unplanned micro-adventures.

So, have you ever spent the night in a hammock? Do you have any questions or tips? We’d love to hear from you in the comments down below.

-Paul O

The Outdoor Adventure

Are you interested in Hammock gear? Feel free to support us by shopping through this amazon affiliate link. Shop Eagle Nest Outfitters on Amazon.

The classic picnic blanket leaves a lot to be desired, which is why you may want to take a look at Eagle Nest Outfitter’s Launchpad or Launchpad double. The Launchpad is the new picnic blanket, with a durable, water resistant bottom and fleece top. Add to that it’s ability to fold away into it’s own carrying case and the included padded shoulder strap, and you can see why we take it with us on a our adventures.

Let’s take a look at the features and then go into what we think.

Features:

• Soft Fleece Upper
• PU Coated Nylon Bottom
• Hidden stash pocket
• Detachable carry strap
• Folds and zips into itself when you don’t need it
• Double: 5′ 10″ x 4′ 10″, Single: 5′ 10″ x 3′
• Weight: 46 oz (double)
• MSRP: Double $84.95, Single: $64.95

Testing:

We’ve taken along our Eno Launchpad on our car camping trips, to the beach, to lakeside picnics, games, and even pull it out to use in our backyard over the past 8 months.

What do we think?

It’s plush, that’s for sure. The coated rip-stop backing is probably it’s best feature; it can be wiped clean and provides an effective barrier on a wet ground.

The fleece is comfortable and soft, meaning it’s comfortable to lie down on, and warm when the weather turns bad. That said, the fleece can be a bit frustrating to clean on site as it soaks up liquid spills. The good thing is that it’s easy to wash in the laundry machine, and dries quickly hung up or in the dryer.

It folds up into a messenger bag with a sturdy strap, making it easy to transport and store.

Pros:

• Easy to clean,
• Quick drying,
• Can be used as a blanket,
• Folds up into a neat messenger bag with space and pockets for extra stuff,
• light and easy to carry,
• Super soft fleece lining,
• Waterproof ripstop nylon backing.

Cons:

• Can be a challenge to zip up,
• Fleece lining is not wipe-clean,
• MSRP is a bit steep.

Conclusion:

We’re fans of Eagle Nest Outfitters. We love their hammocks, tarps and tree slings, and this blanket is typical of their high-quality, well-designed products. Aptly named, the Launchpad is a great place to dump stuff and a clean, comfortable and dry spot for the kids. You can pick up the Launchpad and other ENO gear at Eagle Nest Outfitter’s website, at amazon (affiliate link), or at many other gear shops.

Do you own, or have you tried any Eagle Nest Outfitter’s gear? What do you think of what they have to offer?

Paul and Naomi O
The Outdoor Adventure Team

disclosure: We received the Launchpad for review free of charge. As always, our opinions are our own, and advice that we’d give to family and friends.

Perhaps it’s because my closet is small, or because I travel, or maybe it’s because I’m a bit of a Scrooge, but I like to have my clothing be versatile, while not sacrificing quality or having to pay too much for just a name brand. I have a packable waterproof jacket that I use for everything from running in the wet to stuffing in my backpack “just in case”. Unfortunately it doesn’t look good out of the athletic context, and it doesn’t keep me warm.

That’s what my Free Country softshell has done much better. It earns it’s hanger space while still looking good over pretty much everything. I can wear it the rain and keep off the wind. It’s not a bulky ski jacket; it’s lined in super soft fleece so it can be thrown on over short sleeves and feels cozy even in Seattle’s damp winter days, yet not too warm for sunny spring mornings or midnight fall walks. I can wear it with jeans and sneakers and then with a skirt and ballet flats for a night out. I love the tailored cut and plenteous pockets, the stain-hiding, flattering easy-to-clean fabric and the splash of fun color in the lining.

Features:

• Water Resistant
• Soft and Warm Butter Pile Fleece Lining
• Machine Washable
• Wind Resistant
• Soft Chin Protector
• Attached Hood with Adjustable Drawstrings
• Adjustable Cuffs
• Length from Center Back (Size M): 25.5″

Testing:

I received the jacket last year and have put it through four seasons in both the Pacific Northwest and the Canadian mountains.

 Pros:

• Economical,
• Easy-to-clean,
• Adjustable hood opening and sleeve openings,
• Zipped pockets,
• Super-soft and comfortable lining, and a
• Flattering cut.

Cons:

• Not fully waterproof
• Not packable

Conclusions:

I was surprised at the very comfy feel and perfect cut of this jacket, considering it’s fantastic price tag (currently it’s selling for $30!). Fantastic value. This jacket is an excellent insulated softshell, and worth the price.

Check out the other Free country softshells and jackets. Let me know what you think of what you find.

Naomi O.
The Outdoor Adventure Team

Disclosure: I received this jacket free of charge for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

Last summer, I was looking for a lightweight, compact headlamp that I could trust for the two weeks that I’d be on the John Muir Trail, so after some testing I took Pelican’s VB3 2220 LED clip lamp. It’s a minimalist, no-frills, backpacking duty lamp with a seemingly eternal battery life.

We all know the Pelican brand. It’s tough, work-duty reputation for reliability has been earned and that reputation extends into their flashlight brand. The VB3 is no exception to this.

Let’s take a look at the features and then break into my experience with the VB3.

• 2 super bright white LEDs
• 9 Lumen light output
• Beam distance: 12M
• Peak Beam Intensity 38cd
• 10 000 hour lamp life
• 180 degree flip-up head (that doubles as a switch)
• Built-in clip (grabs up to 0.5”, great for hats)
• Length 3.5”
• Takes 2 CR2032 lithium batteries (included)
• Runtime: 34 hours
• Weight: 1 oz (with batteries)
• Xylex Polymer Resin
• Water resistant
• Best Price found: $14
• Comes in yellow, black, and a multitude of other colours.

Testing

As stated before, I tested this for 2 weeks on the John Muir Trail, including through late night calls of nature, rain storms, and the before-dawn climb up to Mount Whitney. I also took this on many other backpacking trips, day trips, camp-outs and canoe trips. I’ve had it for over a year and still reach for it when weight and space are at a premium.

What do I think?

I’m incredibly impressed with this low-cost, low-weight, portable, high-quality headlamp.

Brightness

The VB3 is not a super-powerful headlamp (like its big brother the 2720). Its twin LEDs put out a low 9 lumens. Those lumens are sufficient to light up your tent, get you to the bathroom in the middle of the night and even navigate the trail. If you want more lumens (a brighter light) then you need to compromise with weight (batteries) or battery life.

Battery Life

Because of its 3V battery sipping, the Pelican’s two CR2032 Lithium batteries can give you 34 hours of light. To give you an idea of what that means, I never had to change the batteries during my John Muir Trail through hike, even though we finished with an early morning, pre-dawn summit of Mount Whitney. In fact, I took the headlamp on a couple more weekend trips before having to change the battery.

Quality

Pelican made this headlamp out of a Xylex Polymer resin. What does that mean? Well, er… I don’t know, but I do know that I’ve beat it up pretty well and hasn’t taken any damage. The potential weak spots are the 180 degree hinge which turns it on and off allows you to angle the light, and the attachment clip. Despite being sat on, stepped on, having been dropped, being jostled around in the bottom of my backpack and being exposed to rain storms, hot days and snow storms, this thing has not quit. Sure, it has scratches, but it keeps ticking. This thing is another testament to Pelican quality.

Weight

Having scanned through many “ultralight” backpacking posts, I’ve seen “ultralight” headlamp weights between  1.7 and 3.5 ounces. I’m sure there are comparably weighted headlamps, but it’s hard

Ease of use

This is a no-frills device. There are no buttons. There’s a clip to attach it to your hat/backpack strap/pocket etc. and a 180 degree swivel head that acts as the on/off switch. The swivel locks shut with pressure (and a *snap*) so it is highly unlikely to pop open in your pack (it has never happened to me).

The 180 degree hinge is great for switching between farther away targets and close-up work with your hands.

The only hassle is changing the battery. You need a small screwdriver to change the batteries… something that one rarely has to do. I always carry a leatherman squirt PS4 and that hasn’t let me down… either.

One thing that you should note is that the light turns on as soon as you start to open it. When it’s clipped to your hat, make sure it doesn’t blind you as you swing it open.

Conclusion

The VB3 by Pelican is a great, truly ultralight headlamp. The battery life is truly impressive, the durability is excellent and the weight is phenomenal. It’s brightness, while not overly impressive, is sufficient for my backpacking needs.

I’m extremely happy with this little light and keep coming back to it for all my lightweight backpacking needs.  It’s hard to believe they can pack in so much headlamp for the price.

So, let us know, have you tried any of Pelican’s flashlights? Did you know that they made them? What’s your favourite lightweight headlamp?

disclosure: I received this headlamp from Pelican for review. All of the opinions are my own, and what I would recommend to family and friends.

Jabra Sport Wireless+

It’s about time that we should be able to listen to clear audio on our earphones without having to mess with wires for a reasonable price. If we can have a microphone on it as well and the ability to control music all on said earpieces then we’re really getting somewhere.

For several months I’ve been playing around with the Jabra Sport Wireless+ and I’ve been really impressed with the features of this Bluetooth wireless headset. Let’s take a look at what they have to offer and then go into detail about the pros and cons.

Features

• Wireless Technology – Bluetooth 3.0
• Controls audio from your earpieces
• Microphone – Omni-directional with noise reduction and mute function
• FM Radio
• Supports multiple device types (e.g. I tested it on Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and Desktop PCs)
• HiFi – built for music
• Talk Time – 4.5 hours
• Standby Time – 120 hours
• Music Play Time – 4 hours
• USB Charging (Micro)
• Multiple ear bud styles (large, medium and small)
• 3 month subscription to Endomondo fitness universe
• MSRP:$99.99 (but often on sale for less)

Testing

Over the months of testing I used this to listen to music on my home computer, on my smartphone in my car (My car stereo wasn’t working), and on runs as I trained for a 10k. In my testing I did not use the Endomondo functionality.

Connecting

There are only three buttons on the Jabra: Play/pause (which is also on/off), Volume bar, and FM radio. The Jabra announces to you when the power is on, when it is connecting and when it has a connection. Long pressing or short pressing determines if you are choosing to play/pause or turn it on or off.

The buttons are simple and with a bit of practice they are easy to use. I could switch between devices without any problem.

Connecting to different device types was easy. I never had to struggle to set up a connection to a tablet, PC or smartphone. I had no problem reconnecting to a device after the battery had died.

Wireless

Obviously the most marketable feature about this headset is the fact that it is wireless. I can’t stand getting tangled in cords while I work out, run, ride or even wander around the house. The Jabra was great in that I could do what I needed to without worry about any of those problems… or the growing issue of our 1-year-old who loves to play with earphone cables.

The device does include tips on using the headset while moving. It indicates that one should keep your smartphone or MP3 player on an arm band or somewhere close to the headset to prevent breaks in the connection.  To test this I let it bounce around loosely in a pocket and notice it cutting out from several times a minute. That said, if I used an arm band, or held the device in my hand I had no issues whatsoever. I am pretty sure this is a Bluetooth issue, and not Jabra specific.

I should mention that the cable connecting the earpieces to each other is a bit beefier than your typical earphone cable, so you’ll be less likely to damage it. It’s a close-to-perfect length for staying out of the way, while allowing a bit of movement.

Audio Quality

Audio quality is good. The highs and lows are decent and I could easily listen to music on an hour run without getting tired of the speakers. The only real discomfort was listening to a podcast that hadn’t been normalized, and that I had to adjust the volume on, and that wasn’t specifically an earpiece issue.

Microphone

Although I didn’t scientifically test the earphones, I used this many times for phone calls while in my car… which is missing a muffler. I normally have to crank my volume just to hear the stereo (when it is working), but despite that, I can carry on phone calls with the caller being able to hear me clearly.

The microphone feature means that you can also use the headset in conjunction with the voice command feature on your phone.

Battery

Battery life is posted at 4 hours. It has been fine for me for runs and normal use. It helps that it charges in an hour. As with all devices, it would be nice to have more battery life (say maybe 8 hours). Battery technology is currently the limiting factor in things like this.

4 hours should get you through most training and workout, and there are USB plugins pretty much everywhere now-a-days.

Oh, and the charging port cover has held up to regular use without falling off!

Weather-resistant.

While I haven’t been out running in a rain storm, I can say that the Jabra has held up to months of dust, sweat, humidity and damp weather without a problem.

Earpieces

The headset comes with a dauntingly large set of earpiece covers. I tore a set trying to put it on over top of another set (my bad), but figured it out the human error and was able to inter-change them without a problem. My wife had trouble using the same earpiece covers as me as her ears are smaller, so we dug through the bag and were able to find a set that worked for her training. I think it’s safe to say that the majority of us will be able to find a set that works for our ears.

FM Radio

I don’t typically listen to the radio, but I did give it a squizz and found out that there are a number of stations that are still operating in our area. Quality was on par with my car radio.

Price

Maybe I’m cheap, but the $99 price tag is a bit high. That said, I notice that Amazon has it on for $60 (affiliate link here).

Conclusions

The Jabra Sport Wireless+ is a solid set of earphones built with the outdoors in mind. They are feature rich, easy to configure and easy to use.  Although the MSRP is high, the actual retail price is more than reasonable for what you get.

Check out the Jabra Sport Wireless+ and let me know what you think of wireless headsets. Do you listen to music while your workout or run?

I find myself using my many different water bottles for different uses. If I want something that won’t leak, I can grip easily, drink from with spilling, and don’t want the weight of a backpack, like when I’m out running or if my toddler wants his own water bottle, I usually reach for our Hydrapak Softflasks.

The Hydrakpak Softflasks come in several different capacities (150ml, 250ml, 350ml, 500ml and 750ml). I typically reach for SF500. I prefer it over the larger SF750, because it’s easier to handle, even though it’s only 2 cups worth of water. That said, my husband likes using the SF750 for runs, or when sharing it with the kids.

The bite valve works great, but does get damaged – ours got damaged after our older kid chewed on it for an extended period of time. That said, we’ve had similar things happen with pretty much all the valves on our water bottles, regardless of the brand. Fortunately, it does have a secondary lock which eliminates any potential leaking.

It’s a bite valve, so it’s not the nozzle to choose if you want to take great big gulps. It’s for no-spill.

Features:

• Bite valve
• Secondary twist-lock
• Flexible, thermoplastic polymer construction
• RF welding
• BPA Free
• Dust cap (connected with an elastic)
• Webbing loops and attachment points for running or storage.
• 42mm Wide-mouth screw top
• Weight: 2 oz (for SF500)
• Dishwasher safe.
• MSRP: $12.99 (SF150) to $20.99 (SF750)

Pros:

• No-mess drinking, even when lying down
• Collapses into a fist-sized lump
• Does. Not. Leak. when the lock is in the “closed” position.
• Different size flasks for different needs; interchangeable tops.
• Flask mouth wide enough for ice cubes.
• SF 500 easy to grip in hand and drink from, even when out running.
• Does not slosh and bounce like hard-sided bottles.
• Feels comfortable against body.
• Plastic is soft and almost noiseless, unlike other plastic soft-bottles (like the Vapur Element, for example.)

Cons:

• Plastic taste in the water for the first few uses.
• Silicone nozzles do not withstand chewing (but, amazingly, the bottle is still functional even if damaged, because it does not leak if turned to the “closed” position.)
• Bite valve is not easy to clean thoroughly by hand. (Does not disassemble into components that can be cleaned with a bottle brush. Try cleaning it by squeezing vinegar solution through the valve several times.)
• Secondary lock is challenging to open and close one-handed.

If you freeze the bottle, do so with the twist-lock unlocked. We broke one of our lids by trying to twist it open while it was frozen solid. They are technically freezer safe, but as with any frozen plastics, be careful!

Conclusion

This bottle stands out from the crowd for its comfortable grip and feel, and spill-proof valve system. It’s a go-to bottle for keeping everyone in our family hydrated while backpacking, running and in all our summer activities.

Be wary of letting kids chew on the nozzles. I’m looking forward to the day when bite-valve silicone nozzles can withstand extensive use and maybe even a good chew.

Do you have a silicone bite valve system that has lasted through extensive, heavy use and/or use by kids? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

– Naomi Osborn
The Outdoor Adventure Team

Disclaimer: We received these Softbottles for review, free of charge. All opinions are our own, and what we would recommend to friends and family.

Let’s be honest, I’m a Canadian and we call it a toque. That said, even though they call it a beanie, this hat is a nifty, lightweight, packable “beanie” to keep your noggin cool in cold weather and under your helmet.

Let’s look at the features and then talk performance:

Features:

• Fabric: 86% Micro Polyester, 14% Spandex, 180 gram fabric
• Flat seam construction
• Brushed Soft for warmth
• 360 stretch
• Thermo-regulation
• Odor Control
• Moves Moisture
• Midweight
• color: black
• sizes: one-size-fits all
• $14.99

Testing:

I’m a Terramar Tribe member and I requested this beanie for hiking the John Muir Trail last summer. I took it not only on that trip, but on many more in the fall and winter seasons, where it braved cold nights, cold mornings, cold afternoon snowshoeing trips and any other cold or cool parts of the day I could find.

Performance:

Like most of the Terramar line, it’s design to be a base layer. As a beanie that means it’s mean to act as a liner layer. You can wear it solo on cool evenings or morning, or when you’ll be active in winter and need some protection from the cold, but where a full on hat would be overkill. As such, it does a great job.

Because it is low-profile and has flat seams, it can be worn under a helmet comfortably. It has the added benefits of being very light and packable. So packable that I lost it for a day on the John Muir Trail and thought I had left it behind. I blame my lack of organization for that.

Polyester and spandex make it decent for wicking moisture and drying out if you do get it wet. Their odor protection kept away the reasonable levels of stink that comes with a few days of hiking.

The one-size-fits-all model isn’t going to please every head (you know who you are), but I’ve passed it between myself and my 5-year-old and it does the job. Having a small-medium and a medium-large size would give a slightly better performance fit.

Conclusion:

The Thermolator Beanie by Terramar Sports is a no-frills, functional, packable, warm (but not too warm) base layer beanie (I mean toque) that keeps odor levels reasonable, dries quickly and is great for the cool evenings and cold mornings or under-helmet warmth in the winter months.

Check it out on amazon, or in your local gear store.

What do you use to keep your head warm in the cool mornings? We’d love to hear.

Note: I received this beanie free of charge from Terramar Sports. All opinions are the same as I’d give to friends and family.