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How do you make a campfire even more entertaining for kids? Why not try adding some funky colors when the marshmallow roasting is done?

A couple months ago two little boxes arrived promising a “brilliant spectacle of colors” in my campfire. I was keen on giving it a try, so when the time was right I pulled them out. I tried them in our fireplace in the house and later (read a few days ago) in our outdoor firepit.

Let’s take a look at what they are and then look at how they performed.

Features:

• Colored Flame Crystals
• Burn Blue, Green and Purple
• Non-Toxic
• Burns for 30 minutes on your wood fire
• Indoor or outdoor use
• 3-pack
• Price: $8 on amazon.com

What do we think:

Funky Flames is a fun little treat to pull out for kids any time you start a fire. Instructions are to put a pack on the fire unopened and then sit back and watch. After following the simple steps I sat back with the kids to watch the dancing flames and to take some photos.

Instructions state to not cook over the flames. I’m not sure if that’s because of the packaging or the “non-toxic” contents, but either way we were fine waiting until after the smokies and marshmallows had run out. It gave more of a chance for the sky to darken too, so the show could be more “spectacular”.

As was mentioned, we tried this indoors and outdoors. The indoors fire was one of those fire logs and outdoors was a bit of a bigger blaze. It was immediately obvious that bigger fires would require more than one pack for a grander display… or perhaps better placement of the flames.

With a smaller fire, the colored flames are much more visible (see above photo). As you can tell, the combination of better placement and a smaller fire make for a more noticeable “show”.

With a larger fire, it was harder to spot the colored flames, but they were always visible. I would recommend putting all three packs in at once if you’re going to use them in a larger campfire. All of the colors (Blue, Green, and Purple) are clearly visible in the burn and the kids really enjoyed watching the changing colors.

Conclusion

The title speaks for itself. Funky Flames are designed to liven up your fireplace or campfire with brightly colored flames.

When correctly placed and in sufficient quantities they show off Blues and Greens and Purples amongst the yellow flames of a campfire.

One pack can be drowned out by larger fires, so be sure to add more for bigger blazes.

The concept is fun and the kids enjoyed watching the different colors show up as we say around our backyard fire.

All in all, if you have campfire plans this summer and are looking for a fun treat to spice up the campfire this summer, keep an eye out for Funky Colored Flames or one of their other products.

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?

Are you ready for the hammock-life?

To be honest I wasn’t sure if I was, and am still not sure, but have found that the Grand Trunk Single Parachute Nylon is a great way to try it out.

Why is this? For the single reason that the Grand Trunk hammock actually has everything you need to hang your hammock right in the bag.

The Grand Trunk Single Parachute Nylon hammock is packaged with the following in a 16oz package:

• A triple stitched parachute nylon hammock with incorporated stuff sack
• Marine-grade carabiners attached to the ends of the hammock
• Two 4.5ft lengths of pre knotted cord for hanging
• Instructions for hanging and getting into the hammock

Pulling the hammock out of the stuff sack it is clear that the hammock is well made and the parachute nylon of good quality. The ropes are strongly made and properly knotted. Once suitable trees (or structures) are found the hammock is extremely straightforward to set up and very comfortable to sit or lie down in. Taking the hammock down again is just as easy as it was to put up, and the hammock is easy stuffed into the incorporated stuff sack. Packed up the single parachute nylon hammock and ropes are about the size of a water bottle. The stuff sack does not have any compression straps, but the hammock can easily be compressed further into a backpack if space is a bit tight.

While the hammock comes with rope for hanging, the rope is designed to wrap around a tree about one foot in diameter. It becomes a bit of a challenge finding that sweet spot of trees that are the right diameter and far enough apart (or close enough together). That said, for someone wanting a complete hammock set in one bag, the ropes in the bag should be enough to hang and experience hammocking for a bit before investing in tree slings. Longer cordage would dramatically increase the number of available hanging options.

With the parachute nylon material, the hammock is just stretchy enough to be very comfortable and roomy. It is very easy to get into after giving the instructions a once over. On a breezy day the fabric’s breathability may make it a bit cool, so the hammock is sufficiently roomy to accommodate a sleeping pad to get the comfort experience just right.

Likes:

Light and strong material with good stitching
Easy to set up
Comes with rope for hanging

Improvements:
Including a longer rope would improve hanging options out-of-the-box
Including compression straps would allow for better packing

Specs:

16oz weight
Parachute nylon
Mildew resistant
MSRP: $54.99 (Retail is often cheaper)

At an MSRP of $54.99, the Grand Trunk Single hammock is a pretty good deal for an excellent quality parachute nylon hammock that is comfortable, roomy, lightweight and has the extra perk of some hanging rope. Everything you need to try out the hammock life and easy to expand the experience as time goes on.

-Graeme Alexander

The Outdoor Adventure Team

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Grand Trunk Single Hammock for free from Grand Trunk Goods as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.

All opinions are those of the reviewer and reflect our honest thoughts and what we would recommend to friends and family.

Several months ago I was given some flashlights to test by flashlight maker Spotlight. I almost didn’t accept them as I thought they’d be the typical dollar store junk you see all the time. To my surprise, they are high quality aircraft aluminum LED flashlights that give Maglights a run for their money.

Check out the videos down below of three of their models:

Shifter 1.0:

Features:

• Patented reflector lens system technology
• Easy twist focus
• 6:1 flood to spot ratio
• Aircraft-grade aluminum casing
• Push button operation
• Dual heat-sink DHSTM cooling system
• 3 step power control: high/low/safety strobe
• Pen clip
• Water resistance
• Unbreakable super-bright LED
• lifetime guarantee

Specs:

• Light output (Lumens): 80
• Run time (hour): 3
• Beam distance (Meter): 65
• Battery type: 1xAAA (included)
• MRSP: $39.95

Shifter 2.0:

Features:

• Patented reflector lens system technology
• Easy twist focus
• 6:1 flood to spot ratio
• Aircraft-grade aluminum casing
• Push button operation
• Dual heat-sink DHSTM cooling system
• 3 step power control: high/low/safety strobe
• Pen clip
• Water resistance
• Unbreakable super-bright LED
• lifetime guarantee

Specs:

• Light output (Lumens): 110
• Run time (hour): 4
• Beam distance (Meter): 75
• Battery type: 2xAAA (included)
• MRSP: $44.95

Turbo:

• Rechargeable LED light for your vehicle, shines 50 meter / 150 feet
• High power 0.5 watt LED bulb (35+ lumens), 180+ minutes of light per charge
• Water resistant colorful anodized aluminum body compact size less than 2 inches long and weighs 1.6 ounces
• 5-Hour trickle charge with red glow charge indicator ensures long battery life for the Ni-Mh battery
• Fits most 12 volt power outlet includes 1-year limited warranty
• $10

Did you forget your cutlery on your backpacking trip? Try this tutorial on making a wooden spoon the safe way. The results can be much nicer than you need! Keep it safe out there and have a great summer in the outdoors with your friends and family. Feel free to post a video response and/or photos of your own wood carving work!

This method can be used to make bowls and/or canoes when scaled up!

The rage in the outdoors and survival world is paracord. Why? Because everyone needs cordage, and paracord, as slim and versatile as it is one of the best things out there to fit the need. Who hasn’t been out and needed to tie up something, fix something or just make something, but lacked the materials to do that? I’ve played around with lots of rope and cord, but paracord, with its 550 lb hanging strength and multiple cords within an outer sleeve makes it the perfect thing to have on hand in an emergency.

But who plans for an emergency? That’s why you should think about getting a survival strap. The concept is simple. You carry around about 2+ meters (over 6 feet) of paracord but in a compact and fashionable bracelet… I mean Survival strap (us men don’t wear bracelets) – [strikes a tough pose and sucks in those 5 pounds of winter insulation].

Survival Straps is one of the companies out there who has made a business of braiding paracord into fashionable accessories that in an emergency can be unwound or disassembled and put to work saving your life (that’s the survival part). Plus, it’s made in the USA.

What sets their stuff apart, besides the multitude of options, dog collars, Collegiate branding, quality of construction and heavy duty, adjustable clasps is their warranty. That’s right, a warranty on a survival bracelet… I mean strap – [puffs out chest in a manly way]. If you need to take your survival strap apart in an emergency, just send a photo and story to them and they’ll send you a new one for the cost of shipping.

Here’s a quote from their guaranty page:

What kind of emergency? Well, just about anything.  If you make a tourniquet to stop you from bleeding after an airplane accident.  You get a new Survival Strap.  If you Unravel your Survival Strap to make a leash and capture a mean dog.  You get a new Survival Strap.  If you are helping your friend move and you show up and he doesn’t even have any rope, but because you’re a good friend you unravel your Survival Strap so you can tie the couch to the top of the car.  You get a new Survival Strap.

Survival Straps makes a ton of Paracord Accessories, check them out here and tell us which one is your favorite. I love the look and idea of their wide survival belt – it contains up to 200 feet of paracord.

Survival Straps sent us some for review and our Reviewer Graeme has been using his for some time now. He’s checked in with his video review and a comparison below with other companies.

Check out Survival Straps and see all the awesome paracord gear you can get to literally keep on hand in an emergency.

Paracord Bracelets Comparison

Having extra cordage available is always useful, but how to carry it with you conveniently can be difficult at times. A paracord bracelet is one of many ways to easily carry cordage with you as you wear it on a regular basis.

But not all paracord bracelets are created equal. There are several companies out there with several varieties of paracord bracelets. Here are a few of the available bracelets and their features.

Para Bracelets (Generic ones found in Fred Meyer)

These are inexpensive bracelets available at supermarkets. All the ones I saw had an 8” wrist size and there were about 3-5 colors available.

Great if you have an 8” wrist or a low budget.

Not great if you have a small wrist or if you want any custom features

Chums paracord bracelets

http://www.chums.com/category/paracord-bracelets/

These mid-range bracelets have a variety of sizes, cord length along with some custom features such as greater wrist adjustability and one that incorporates a fire steel into the bracelet. Each bracelet has 4 color options.

Great if you want some variety in design, fit, and options

Not so great if you want a really custom fit.

Survival Straps

http://survivalstraps.com/

Survival Straps are the most customizable paracord bracelets available. From size, color, and closure to even a custom dog-tag, your bracelet will be exactly as you like it. The extra features do come at a price, but it might be worth it.

Great if you want a truly customized bracelet

Not so great if the perfect bracelet is out of your price range.

Days after getting back from Bolivia I decided to stop by the inaugural Gear Up Expo in Everett to see what new things I might come across.  There were a lot of local dive shops, a couple retailers, tourism boards, talks, and even a keynote speech by Jim Whittaker (the first American to summit Everest). Here are some of the interesting things I came across.

Innova Kayak produces several heavy duty inflatable kayaks. There lightest, the Swift weighs in at only 18 lbs.

Backpacker’s Pantry has repackaged their meals to include details about calories and dietary features on the package. A nice benefit for someone like me who has GF kids.

This Toronto based inventor came up with a great and stable way of carrying a DSLR that keeps it out of the way. It’s the Ezee strap. I wore it over my Ribz a bit higher up and it was both comfortable and versatile.

After salivating over Hilleberg’s 4-season tents I finally got to see what they are all about. While not UL, they are definitely well built and would hold up to inclement weather.

First off, sorry for the poor quality. The lighting wasn’t great and I didn’t want to interrupt with a flash. Jim spoke to full seats about his life and experiences. The amplification made it hard to hear at times, but there were some gems there!

This Prepper’s Warehouse company was showing off typical gear and was my first opportunity to see a Kelly Kettle first-hand.

I spent a few minutes chatting with the makers of Mazamba Bar. The make great tasting meal replacement bars that weigh in at  around 400 calories each. You can find their bars at their site or at a handful of places around Washington.

I had to stop by and say hello to the crew at Seattle Backpacker’s Magazine. Hi!

I’ve been eyeing a Tentipi for a long time, so I was happy to hear that MansfieldOutdoors.com is now their first North American Retailer. Check them out!

You can pick up this whistle (Whistles for life) at REI. It’s a 120 db whistle that won’t be confused for a marmot!

Overall the expo was a bit small, but for a first year, it was a good turn out. It would be great to see more of the Washington based gear companies show up for this event next year!

I’m excited to share that I’m now an ambassador for Gossamer Gear!

What does this mean? It means I get to work with a solid brand that I trust over the next year on various projects. Check out the awesome crew that are already on the team here.

I already own a Gossamer Gear Mariposa that I’ll be taking on the John Muir Trail and Gossamer Gear is sending me another pack of my choice (the Gorilla) to test out and use as I see fit. As usual, all of my opinions will continue to be my own and reviews will be thorough and honest.

What’s also cool is that this is not an exclusive relationship. I’ll be testing other gear which I have and which I may purchase or receive from other companies. That said, you can expect to see Gossamer Gear on my hikes and videos. Why? Because they make quality gear that I know I can trust. That’s the main reason I applied for the Ambassador program in the first place.

Here are just a couple of the projects I have planned for this summer that I’ll be taking Gossamer Gear on:

• 3-day family backpacking trip (if only Gossamer Gear made kids backpacks!)
• Multi-day, spring snow hike
• The John Muir Trail – a quick 2-week thru-hike where fast and light is a must
• Bowron Lakes Canoe trip – A week of canoeing and portaging

Keep an eye out to see how my Gossamer Gear holds up on the trail.

Have you heard of Gossamer Gear? Do you own any of their packs or trekking poles? I’d love to hear your thoughts and what backpack you would have chosen, given the opportunity.

In my preparation for Hiking the John Muir Trail I find myself looking for videos on youtube of over people’s hikes. I’m not looking for logistics, I’m looking for the experience. Take a look at the video below of a fun and well put together time lapse of different parts of the Jon Muir Trail.

What makes the hike for you?

Carry over two gallons of water effortlessly in the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil bucket and then store the bucket in it’s own micro stuff sack that slips in your pants pocket. It is so lightweight (1 oz) and compact that you won’t even remember which pocket you put it into!

Ideal for transporting potable water, to put out a fire, or to take a sponge bath in a more secluded spot, this bucket is a useful addition to anyones backpacking gear.

The PVC free nylon fabric does not absorb the water, and is coated with a food grade TPU-coating (berry picking anyone?). There is no need to worry about not be able to dry off the bucket, as the storage stuff sack has drain holes in it to drain off any excess moisture (though it would probably not be a good idea to store it long term without drying it off properly).

The handles are as comfortable as one would expect of a bucket and are well made and are fastened very securely to the bucket.

While carrying so much water don’t worry about spilling a drop because not only is it fully seam sealed and leak proof but the water does not slosh around as you walk!

Being able to carry 2.6 gallons to the campsite is always handy but especially if the only water source is some distance away from camp. Is is not free standing but the bucket can be hung on a branch.

The Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Bucket is so compact and so lightweight that there is no reason not to take it, and makes water transportation so easy that there is every reason to make sure to include it!

Last week I did a guest host on Intense Angler’s youtube channel for his Friday tip of the week. We looked at resection or how to find out where you are on your map. It’s a really cool tip to know as it can potentially save your life and at the very least help you out of the woods/wilderness if you’re lost. Check out the video below.

Well, first a bit of background. What you’ll need is:

• a proper survey map with notes for magnetic variance
• a compass with adjustable base plate
• a pen
• 2 easily identifiable landmarks

Great Question. Depending on where you are in the world, how you adjust the compass will be different. On the bottom right of the map there will be a compass with “TN” (true north) pointing straight up and MN (Magnetic North) To one side. If MN is to the left you add the # of degrees to the compass (turn it right X degrees). If MN is right then you subtract (turn it left X degrees). Make sure your maps are current as the magnetic fields change over time.

Here, to adjust for variance, you’d have to turn the dial to the left 17.8 degrees so that the compass lines up with TN