video

It’s safe to say that hammocks are all the rage. We’ve seen them set up on campus, in backyards, campsites and on the trail. Since finding two trees spaced the perfect distance apart is very rare, and since regular cord can damage tree trunks you’ll probably want to get your hands on what are commonly  called tree slings.

Tree slings are a type of strap (called webbing) that can extend your hammock’s reach while protecting the trees being used. I’ve been testing the Atlas straps by Eagle Nest Outfitters and have been very satisfied with their performance.

let’s take a look at the features and then get to the performance.

• 1″ Poly-filament Webbing
• 9′ long (each)
• Weight: 11 oz (pair)
• Capacity: 400 lbs (pair)
• 30 quick-attach “whorls” or attachment loops (pair)
• Included stuff sack
• MSRP: $29.95

Testing

I’ve had these straps for close to a year now and have tested them in many, many scenarios. They’ve been in backyards at campsites, and in the back country. I currently have it set up with a hammock in my house while I do renos. I’ve tested this with single and double hammocks (not just using ENO hammocks). At most I’ve supported two adults and 2+ kids. I seem to recall all 6 of our family in their at one point… although I don’t remember it being very comfortable.

The point is, that I’ve tested it very thoroughly, and there’s no sign of wear or tear.

What do I think?

They’re awesome. Yup. That’s pretty much it.

These straps are incredibly overbuilt. They’re perfect for the double deluxe and long term hanging. They show no signs of wear after extensive use.

The 9 feet length makes it around every tree that I’ve tested it on. It’s so easy to set up a hammock when you have so much range in the webbing.

The width of the webbing makes them tree-friendly. It distributes the weight of the hammock and lowers the possibility of damage to the tree. It even comes with your choice of highlight stitching colours (mine are orange.)

The whorls are an excellent idea. Clipping in the carabiners on the hammock is incredibly easy, as is removing them. There’s no fiddling with knots. If the hanging angle isn’t right then it can be fixed in a few seconds by unclipping and reclipping to a new point.

Something this durable requires beefier webbing and that means an 11 ounce weight on the straps. They still pack down to a reasonable size, and it’s great to have them if you’re going to set a hammock up in a backyard or at the campsite… where it will inevitably attract hoards of attention.

Overall it’s hard to fault the Atlas hammock suspension system by Eagle Nest Outfitters. The price is excellent for what you’re getting. It’s ideal for backyards, camping, the rec-room and even works well for backpacking and day hikes.

Check them out, and feel free to shop through our amazon affiliate link if you want to support our blog.

Disclaimer: I was sent this Hammock Suspension System by Eagle Nest Outfitters for review. As usual, all opinions are my own and what I would recommend to friends and family.

One of the most memorable aspects of my outdoors experiences is the food. Whether it was the day before we picked up our food resupply on the John Muir Trail and I was down to a pack of dry rice and a snickers bar (that I boiled for breakfast), or the 3-day Bushcraft/survival trip where I got sick of eating trout (no matter how I  cooked it), or the pizza that we scarfed down on the Choro Trail in Bolivia, food always plays a vital role, and often a delicious one.

So, to get us salivating and to take a video walk down memory lane in preparations for this Thursday’s #Trailtime twitter chat (Thursday at 3PM PST) with the Sierra Trading Post, I’ve compiled a list of some of the more memorable experiences that I’ve had that involved food. For more ideas, check out this post on the Sierra Trading Post Hub for some great (and easy) camping meal ideas.

Feel free to watch what you like and ignore what you don’t, but I’d love to hear your stories about the most memorable food experience you’ve had on the trail or at camp.
How to Make Bush Tea

There was a time when my kids loved watching survival shows. The result was many wonderful lessons learned to keep them safe in the outdoors. My son put those skills to practice by making me his own version of Bush tea. While I don’t recommend mixing this drink for yourself, this video is too cute to miss!

Family Alcohol Stove Cooking

I went through a phase where  I cooked anything and everything on an alcohol stove, from pasta, to pizza, to orange cream cake (in an orange peel) and even chocolate bundt cake. Check out this video for a look at a family picnic in the Bolivian mountains and at least soak in the amazing views of the mountains in the background.

Deconstructed Trail Pizza:

It doesn’t get much better than this. Pizza made with Gouda and Italian sausage after a long day of backpacking?

Biltong (South African Beef Jerky)

Okay, we can’t quite make Biltong the way they do in South Africa, but this is our take on the classic recipe. It was one of my early videos, so it’s a bit more cringeworthy, but watchable nonetheless. My wife usually has to make two batches, the first gets eaten before we even leave to go hiking and the other one usually keeps us through the first two days at least (we buy several roasts worth).

Survival Trip Highlights

You may not like bushcraft or survival, but if you like food, check out this video and see some fun ways to impress your friends by cooking trout on the trail.

Well. now that you’ve wasted an hour or so watching videos about food on the internet, why not go start planning your next culinary adventures, check out some tasty outdoor meal ideas on the Sierra Trading Post Hub: and Be ready to chat about Food at 4pm MDT Thursday July 17^th for #trailtime.

Oh, and have you ever tried Trail Sushi?

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.

In the end of May I headed out to the North Cascades for a 3-day backpacking and packrafting trip, with a bit of hammocking thrown in for good measure. I’ve decided to share the experience via photo and video.

Scroll down to the bottom of the post to watch the video.

We started above the Ross Lake Dam on the Friday evening and headed up the North West side of the lake on the Big Beaver Trail.

As is typical in Washington state, the trails were in excellent condition.

We are even borrowing the wrought iron rail idea for our living room.

We worried about starting a bit late as we knew we had a good distance to cover and we wanted to set-up camp in daylight.

Along the trail we spotted several large patches of wild ginger.

Despite the abundance of water, the lake water level was quite low.

Even the water in the lake was extremely clear.

We spent the nights in hammocks, my new favourite way to spend the night on the trail.

 I was using an ENO set up of Flexfly and double deluxe (which was great for hiding from bugs!

I spoiled myself with a bit of Fishpeople’s chowder for breakfast and dinner.

Because of time, and to try out my Klymit packrafts, on day 2 we took off across the lake to meet up with the trail on the east side of the lake.

The packrafts worked really well on the flat water, although not ideally suited for rapids or waterfalls.

Check out the video to see a few minutes of what it’s like hiking and paddling around Ross Lake.

Stay tuned for part 2

Summer is practically upon us and that means that it’s time to lather-up with sunblock and/or cover-up with a good sun hat. One I can happily recommend, having put to a lot of use, is the Armachillo Sun Cape cap by the Duluth Trading Company.

Hats are my primary form of sun protection. I try to avoid sunblock because of the chemicals and because of how often I need to re-apply it on long, sweaty hikes. I rely on large brims or capes to cover my neck, so when I got talking to the Duluth Trading Post, it their hat with the micro jade cooling was the first thing I asked for.

So, let’s talk the facts and then I’ll tell you how it performs:

• Ultra-light nylon with quick-dry, wicking performance
• Made-in-the-Jade fabric feels cool to the touch
• Antimicrobial finish resists odor
• UPF 40+ sun protection
• Breathable polyester mesh vents
• Polyester mesh sweatband
• Rear bungee with cordlock adjusts fit
• Extra long, wide brim for superior sun blockage
• Removable 11″ long sun cape secures with hidden snaps for a low profile when not in use
• MSRP: $24.50

Testing:

I used this hat extensively last summer, on fishing, backpacking and thru-hiking trips. The most notable test was the 221 miles of the John Muir Trail in 16 days.

Performance:

The Made-in-the-jade fabric has micro amounts of jade embedded in the nylon that it claims provides a cooling effect. The fabric itself is very lightweight as well. The result was that I could wear it in the very hot summer conditions of California without my head overheating. When I started sweating, the wicking effect helped cool down my head. The sun cape didn’t make me overheat or feel uncomfortable either.

The sun protection allowed me to avoid all sun-burns on the trail with just the long, wide brim and overlapping sun cape.

There is plenty of venting on the hat to increase breathability if you choose. It was useful for those times when I wasn’t moving and/or when there was no breeze.

Odor:

Sixteen days averaging 15 mile a days was enough to test any odors, but despite the constant sweating, my hat didn’t pick up the typical B-O that synthetic fabrics are typically known to present.

The sun protection allowed me to avoid all sun-burns on the trail with just the long, wide brim and overlapping sun cape.

Sizing:

Although the cap comes in 5 different sizes, the bungee cordlock is a nice addition to make sure it stays comfortably on your head.

Look:

I’ll be honest, my wife isn’t a fan of the cape. She just doesn’t like capes in general. She does appreciate the functional aspect, but would choose a wide brim sun hat instead.

The cape attaches to the hat by way of some plastic snaps that can be hidden out of the way when not in use. It makes it much more versatile if you’re wearing a rain hood over it, or simply don’t need to wear the cape.

Conclusion:

The Armachillo Sun Cape Hat by Duluth Trading Co. performs really well in the hot summer sun. It provides excellent sun protection, is light weight, keeps you cool and is comfortable to wear. When other companies are charging $60+ for sun hats, the $24.50 asked by Duluth is a refreshing, dare I say cool price for a really nice hat.

I’ll continue to pull out this hat (and my made-in-the-jade Armachillo shirt) in 2014 to fight off the sun and heat.

Check out their Armachillo line of products see what others have to say in the reviews.

About a month ago I purchased my first canoe. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve canoed since I was a kid (and took two of my kids on the Bowron Lakes last summer), I’ve just never had my own canoe.

I saw a good deal on a project cedar strip canoe online and snapped it up the next day. It needs a bit of work, but it’s lake worthy as is. So, I had to try it out with one of my kids.

Unfortunately, the lake where we planned to go fishing was still covered with ice, so we traveled half an hour down the road to a slightly lower puddle that we knew was navigable and went for a paddle for a couple hours.

Armed with snacks, hot tea and no expectations, the absence of fish was a fact unnoticed by my 3-year-old. We were surprised by Herons, Canada geese, a loon, red-winged black birds, and even an airplane performing acrobatic tricks.

It was relaxing to get out, enjoy some quality time with my boy and get the rods wet after a winter off.

Take a look at the short video of the adventure below and let me know what you prefer: row boat, canoe, kayak, motor boat, or?

When out and about, whether in the wilderness or not, there are some items that we like to keep on our person at all times. A sharp knife is often one of those items (for me at least) which can be indispensable to have when prepping meals as well as dealing with the small sticks needing preparation, zip ties and wrappings that are frequently encountered  on outdoor adventures, work, and children’s toys. The trouble with knives though is that some are a bit bulky for everyday use, and some multi-tools are either heavy or don’t cut all that well.

For those who really just want to have a simple blade at the ready for whatever life ends up tossing you, then the Vargo Titanium Wharn-Clip knife may be the knife for you. This knife weighs in at a minuscule 1-oz total (0.7oz knife and 0.3oz sheath) and features:

• A wharncliffe shape to the point (see the sidebar)
• A straight edge single bevel cutting blade
• A titanium alloy construction that is harder and stronger than pure titanium.
• MSRP: $59.95

The Wharncliffe blade, not to be confused with the sheepsfoot blade, is very much like a standard blade shape turned upside down. This type of blade has a totally flat cutting edge, and the spine of the blade drops gradually until the tip forms a point.
source: http://faq.customtacticals.com/geometry/shape_wharncliffe.php

At 5.4 inches long, it is only just barely longer than a somewhat average smartphone, while being decidedly thinner.

This knife has a lot going for it, particularly when it comes to the blade. At 2.7 inches long, the blade occupies half of the knife’s length, giving you a solid amount of straight edge cutting surface. The knife edge is incredibly sharp and I managed to nick myself on it at least once. As a result, cutting through food was absolutely no trouble at all, with the knife easily cutting though a good size steak along with various fruits, vegetables and bagels. On the top surface the knife’s blade tapers into a point giving it a ‘wharncliffe’ shape more gradual than other shapes. The benefit here is that you can comfortably put you thumb on top of the blade for leverage, giving a decent amount of control when creating marshmallow sticks or getting kindling ready for a fire. The point itself is perfect for foods with tough skins such as avocado as well as being able to get the blade into tight spots where zip ties are conveniently placed on electronics and children’s toys.

This knife does make a couple compromises to the handle to deliver its low weight and profile. It feels short in my hand and while you can use the sheath to extend the handle out a bit, it’s still not the ‘perfect’ feel and might even pose a challenge for those with larger hands. The lack of material on the handle is also affects the comfort of the knife. As a whole, while these compromises do make the knife a bit more difficult to handle, I am prepared to accept them given the enhancement to the knife’s weight and pocket profile.

I only have one proper gripe about this knife. Given that this knife is branded the ‘Wharn-clip’ knife, the clip itself has no appeal to me. I don’t really want a knife hanging (swinging) from my pants or pack, and a 5.4 inch knife doesn’t fit well on my key-chain. Finally, I found it easy to pop the clip off, almost without thinking. The best place for this knife is the front pocket, and that’s where it was.

The sheath does its job simply and dutifully. Vargo smartly places the rivets of the sheath so that the blade itself will not cut through the sheath, and has a good thickness to it to feel confident that you won’t stab yourself on accident. The sheath’s construction is a single piece of Kydex folded in two, and there is a small section where the blade can be pulled out without having to remove the sheath. However, realistically it takes a lot of effort to get the blade out through the gap. From a parent’s perspective, it reinforces the wise council to not leave the knife out where children can get at it.

In review, I found this to be an excellent general purpose knife that is easy to have with you when you need it. With an incredibly low weight, a slim profile, and the versatility to handle the small stuff with ease, this is the perfect knife to have in your pocket with minimum bulk.There is a large group of people out there who would benefit greatly from the Vargo Titanium Wharn-clip knife. If the most important item on your multi-tool is the knife, if you want to be able to carry a knife without looking like you’re carrying a knife, or if weight is the most important factor you are considering in a knife, then this is definitely a knife worth your consideration.

by Graeme A.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Vargo Titanium Clip Knife for free from Vargo 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.

I made it a goal that I wouldn’t let the weather prevent me from getting outdoors. Living in the great white north (read: Canada), winter can last for 10 months of the year, so instead of waiting for those two months of warmth and sunshine my daughter and I decided to head out for a Saturday adventure down a local trail.

With our ENO Double Deluxe hammock, Kahtoola Microspikes, Tubbs Snowshoes, Go-Scope, snacks and lunch we headed up the Rose Swanson trail for a bit of adventure. It was great to find a close local trail that we could have spent all day on and that is so secluded.

Join us for 2-minutes of fun by watching the video below:

Sometimes a local hike and a hot soup make the best memories.

Gear used (you can support us if you want by shopping through these amazon affiliate links):
ENO Double Deluxe Hammock: http://amzn.to/1i0OfBX
Atlas Straps: http://amzn.to/1i0OlcZ
Olicamp XTS: http://amzn.to/XyEAfG
Tubbs Snowshoes: http://amzn.to/1kbgEGh
Kahtoola Microspikes: http://amzn.to/1glf14D
Terramar Sports baselayers: http://amzn.to/1iu1LSd

Although there are a lot of camping mattress manufacturers, there are few that seem to master their market. Klymit is one of those companies that does it right, and the Klymit Static V is a great example of this.

The Static-V is Klymit‘s entry-level inflatable mattress, but don’t be deceived by the price, it’s performance is excellent.

Let’s start with a look at the specs and move on to my thoughts.

• Weight: 18.1 oz,514 g
• Dimensions: 72″ x 23″ x 2.5″,183 cm x 59 cm x 6.5 cm
• Type: inflatable Sleeping Pad
• R-Value: 1.3
• Packed Size: 5″ x 9″, 12.7 cm x 22.8 cm
• Includes: Stuff Sack, Patch Kit
• Fabric: 75D Polyester
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime
• MSRP: $59.95

I’ve tested this out for close to a year now and have yet to find a fault with it. You will be hard pressed to find a comparable air mattress that offers the quality and comfort of the Static-V at this price-point.

Klymit is big on “body mapping”, that’s their concept of making sure the padding is where you need it, while balancing the mount inflation needed and the overall size of the pad. This pad packs down to the size of a nalgene bottle,  takes no time to inflate (in 10-15 puffs) and it is incredibly comfortable. In three-season conditions it provides plenty of warmth, while not being overly heavy (18.1 oz is better than the majority of pads on the market.

I was a bit worried about the 75D polyester for puncturing, but after many nights it has held together without issue. If it does leak, the included patch kit will take care of any leaks.

I can’t praise Klymit enough for this far too cheap (in my opinion) inflatable sleeping pad that’s packable, comfortable and lightweight. Competitors products are 2 to 3 times the price.

Check Klymit products out here on amazon (affiliate link).

Disclaimer: I requested this item to review via a PR company, but all reviews are the same as I would give to close friends or family.

We know that POV footage of your gopro gets boring quickly, so anything that can help make more use (and better quality footage) of our GoPros is worth taking a look at, especially when it’s as solid as the Go-Scope Extreme.

The Goscope Extreme is a telescopic pole with a head that can connect to up to two GoPro cameras (Hero, Hero2, or Hero3). It packs away small and can extend out over 3 feet when you need it. Let’s look at the features:

• Telescoping – 17″ small to 37″ large
• Lightweight – 6 oz
• Materials – Forged aluminum poles with poly-carbonate locks and head
• Handle – High friction handle for great grip
• Wrist strap – Adjustable, large enough to fit over gloves
• Head – mount up to 2 GoPros directly using standard mounts
• MSRP – $60

What Do I think?

The Go-Scope Extreme is a great tool to add to your arsenal to make your videos look cooler and more interesting to family and friends.

The Construction is very high quality. They haven’t cheaped out on thin aluminum or plastic joints. Everything about the construction says quality. The fact that it’s poly-carbonate and aluminum means it can be used in wet weather, snow, and even salt water.

I was really happy to see a high-quality grip. When you’re hoping to catch a great shot of your stunt, you can’t afford to have your grip slip. The wrist strap adds extra security for those times when you bail on that awesome jump.

Having two mounts means an even greater number of shots. If you have 2 GoPros, you’ll want to have one facing outwards and one facing inwards just to make sure you catch all the action.

If you are looking for a high-quality telescoping pole to mount your Gopro on for any and all of your adventures, this simple, but quality tool is worth a hard look. I’ve found it to be a lot of fun as it means I can get some great shots that you just couldn’t get from a typical helmet or hand mount. Hey, you can even take better selfies… if you’re into that!

So, leave a comment down below and tell me what you would use the Goscope for?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Go-Scope Extreme for free from Go-Scope as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.

All opinions are my own, and are what I’d recommend to any friend.

Ok, it took us 16 days, but if you want to see that trip condensed down to just 5 and a half minutes then this is the post for you. Over the next few months I plan to put together a series of posts on preparing for the trail, so keep an eye out. If you have questions that you want answered, I’d be happy to help. Just post them below.

If you’re looking to hike the John Muir Trail, you should be sending in your John Muir Trail permit application ASAP.

A great book for planning is the following by Elisabeth Wenk:

It’s not every day that you see a pair of MICROspikes facing off with a golf cart. I’m guessing the thought hadn’t even crossed your mind. But, we endeavour to please and we want to make sure that gear can stand up to our rigorous testing.

Oh, and we like to have fun!

Last year I tried out a set of Kahtoola’s K10 trail crampons and was really impressed with their deep spikes that really dug in when I needed them. This year I was given a set of MICROSpikes to review and give my honest opinion of. I’ll tell you upfront, they’re pretty sweet.

Here are the stats for you:

• Made of: 400 series heat treated stainless steel and synthetic rubber upper
• 12 3/8” (1 cm) multi-directional spikes (10 on the extra small)
• Weight: 13.6 oz for the medium (S: 12.2 oz, L 14.4 oz, XL 15.6 oz)
• Warranty: 2-year
• MSRP: $64.95

What are they for?

I’m sure you can add to this, but these are great for everything from trail running to ice fishing to hiking to shovelling the driveway. Everywhere I’ve tried them they’ve given me excellent traction. They are ideal for non-technical hiking or peak bagging where trail crampons would be overkill, but where your typical footwear is insufficient. I even recommend keeping a pair in your car in case of emergencies on your winter trips. Oh, and they’re good for tug-o-wars too.

Ease of use

The rubber on the upper grips footwear really well. This is great as it keeps them from slipping off your footwear. It requires very little effort to put them on and I didn’t bother looking for instructions. They’re very intuitive and within a minute I had them fitting tightly and correctly centered on the bottoms of my boots.

Quality

They haven’t gone cheap with materials. The rubber is rated to stay flexible down to -76 degrees and is quite beefy. I can say the same for the chains and spikes.

What do I think?

The MICROSpikes by Kahtoola are a solid piece of kit that I strongly recommend you take a look at. The price is really fair for the product and I’ve already heard of people finding it on sale for 20% off the MSRP.

Check out the MICROSpikes at your local gear shop, or if you want to support us, feel free to shop at amazon through the following Affiliate link: http://amzn.to/1csiwEr