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I have my share of jackets in my closet and all of them have a role. One thing I didn’t have was a work jacket for all those DIYs and outdoor projects that shred lighter weight fabrics. When I was asked to review something from Carhartt, I jumped at the chance.

Carhartt is the go to name in work-duty outdoor wear. They’re the construction workers choice as they’re built to last. You tend to pay a premium for them, but that pays out in the long term. To some that means it lasting them for decades and to others that means picking them up for a steal second hand.

The Bad Axe jacket is a waterproof breathable jacket. It has a Nylon shell (with durable water repellant finish) and a 3-layer breathable/waterproof membrane. It’s seam sealed so you’re not going to get moisture in it. All of the zippers are water resistant which will keep just about all water (except when swimming!).

As for the breathability let’s start by stating that there is no such thing as a jacket that’s 100% breathable AND 100% waterproof. That said, the jacket doesn’t suffer from the sauna effect that some jackets suffer from. To increase breathablity, Carhartt adds full length pit zips.

The jacket’s pockets are huge. There are two waist pockets, an exterior chest pocket that they term a “map pocket” (which gives you an idea of capacity) and an inner pocket for your wallet or other. There’s even an internal media port so you can put your mp3 player in your map pocket and have the earphones snake out through the inside and over your ears.

What I liked about this jacket apart from the other things was that it uses heavy duty Coralast reinforcements in typical wear zones  around the shoulders, elbows and cuff.

The MSRP for the jacket is $280 and that’s the typical price that you see it at. It’s a high price for a jacket, but as anything carhartt, you’re paying for the quality, which as many people will tell you lasts decades, if not a lifetime.

So, what Carhartt gear o you own and love? Would you buy this jacket new? I’d love to see your comments down below.

I always carry a SPOT Messenger with me on my trips, but as I was going out for 2+ weeks on the John Muir Trail (and because SPOT offered) I decided to take along their new Satellite phone with me.

I love my SPOT Messenger (II), but it’s only one-way communication. I can update my position and status so friends and family know where I am, but I don’t know how my family is doing-Now that I have 4 kids that’s important for me.

It’s a good thing I had it as my son ended up in the hospital and I was able to check how he was doing, chat with him personally and work out with my wife whether or not I should be heading home.

This is just one of many scenarios that one doesn’t expect or plan for that are very good reasons to bring a satellite phone. The new SPOT satellite phone proved itself on the trip and did so while offering crystal clear service.

Let’s look at the features and then see my thoughts:

The Spot Global Phone

• Dimensions – 5.3” x 2.2” x 1.5”
• Weight – 7.1 oz
• Battery  – removable 2600 mAH, 3.7v Li-on (proprietary)
• Display – 4-line, 12-character, Color
• 99 entry address book
• 10-digit local phone number
• Receive 35 character text messages
• Free Long Distance to North America)
• Optional Data kit
• MSRP: $499

What do I think?

The peace of mind that having a satellite phone offers someone that is away, in the back country is awesome. My family felt much better knowing that I was not only able to call out in case of an emergency, but that they could call me and chat with me if they needed to.

The Spot Satellite Phone provides incredibly clear calling. I was able to make crystal clear connections every time. I could hear very clearly and so could friends and family on the other end.

The Phone is small and lightweight. A single charge gives 4 hours of talk time. I kept it off when not in use and I kept a charge for 7 day despite daily calls to check on family.

The Spot Satellite Phone uses the Globalstar network. They’ve recently launched 24 second generation satellites to improve coverage. Coverage is great,but does have a few gaps. I never had a problem making an initial connection, but every now and then after talking for 5 to 10 minutes I might lose the signal and not get it back until a new satellite came into range. That said, service was generally excellent.

When the guys who were with me on the John Muir Trail couldn’t get a signal on their cellphones they turned to my Spot phone to check in with friends and work.

Satellite phones are now offering rates similar to cellphone technology when it was taking root. Spot offers rates for as low as 25 cents a minute (I used to pay that for long distance calls to my then girlfriend on my cellphone ten years ago).

You’ll definitely want to get a phone case for it as the screen tends to get scratched.

How could it be improved?

I personally would like to see a USB charge cable for it. Pretty much everything can be charged by USB now-a-days and with the plethora of portable solar chargers out there it makes sense to go that route. As an emergency device it makes sense as well. That said, carrying an extra battery can help avoid the necessity of charging on the trip. I only charge the phone once over the course of two weeks.

A couple times movement in my backpack caused the power button to turn it on and I lost some battery life unintentionally. This is not unique to phones (I currently have the same problem with a smartphone I’m using as well) but it’s something that could be improved by a recessed power button as see on some cellphones.

Conclusions

Satellite technology is getting really economical. With more and more people venturing out of cell coverage on adventures and for work, I see more and more people turning to satellite technology.

If you’re going to be in the backcountry in areas where there’s no cellphone signal, you should consider the convenience and safety that the SPOT phone offers.

I experienced that first hand when I was in the middle of the John Muir Trail and my son caught pneumonia. I know that it offered me huge peace of mind knowing that I could call up and monitor my his recovery, knowing that a quick 911 call could get me out of there if I needed it.

Check out the SPOT Satellite Phone on the SPOT website here.

Back in the day, thorn hooks were all the rage. Check out this simple tip as we make a hook out of an acacia thorn.

Check out the video below to see how we did it:

This summer we did something crazy… and had a blast doing it. We took our two youngest kids (3 years old and 1) on a week long canoe and portage trip through the Bowron Lakes.

To be honest, it wasn’t that crazy as we had a bomb-proof Clipper 18′ 6″ canoe and used a canoe cart (dolly) to pass the portages. We kept our gear light so that the weight was low in the boat and of course, we all wore lifejackets.

The length of the canoe and lack of a keel meant tracking on the lake was a challenge, but it had the huge benefit of being virtually unsinkable. For example, on our approach to camp on Sandy Lake we hit some pretty large waves side on. Even being hit sideways, not a single drop entered the boat. Not only that, but we were stable enough to set up a sail (the winds were strong enough to cut a day off our trip!)

To hit the portages, we carried our backpacks on the back and child carriers for the kids on the front. Out of interest, we used a Boba Air and Onya Outback. The Boba Air was the ultralight option and the Onya Outback  offered lots of padding and comfort while carrying heavier kids.

This trip was largely focused on the kids. They were kept busy with toys and a comfortable seat to let them nap if needed. We did take breaks about midday to let them stretch their legs (and let our 3 year old soak himself through while playing in the water).

Campsites are amazing on the circuit. There’s enough privacy and community at the same time. and the views are incredible.

We took off before 9 every morning and paddled and portaged until about 4 or 5 (although we stopped early the day before heading down the river).

Even though the weather was sometimes inclement, the views were amazing and we only once came off the lake to avoid trouble.

Going in the end of August was a great choice as there were an abundance of berries to keep the kids busy while we setup and took down camp.

Fishing wasn’t great as the fish were deep, but we did manage to catch a few. We even saw some salmon in the lake and going upriver to spawn.

This summer we did something crazy. We took our two youngest kids on the adventure of a lifetime. With my moderate canoeing ability and my wife’s only basic paddling experience, we had an amazing trip. Hopefully we’ll do it again.

Check out this video of our experience and consider heading out on the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit soon with your kids.

Another simple butuseful trick to add to your arsenal. This one makes use of common household waste (a.k.a. dryer lint). It ignites instantly and burns for long enough to get a good blaze going.

Watch the video below and try it out!

Nervous tension as we got up for an easy 13 miles to Guitar Lake. The terrain had changed yet again and there was so much to see as we approached the cliffs of insanity (a.k.a. Mt. Whitney). The weather turned bad yet again as cloud came in and rain threatened.

I slipped into one of those thoughtful paces that had me covering miles quickly until I rounded a corner and saw this amazing beam of light shining down through the swirling clouds. It was almost supernatural and I was tempted to climb the rise and see where the beam struck.

In the early afternoon we hit guitar lake. I shaved and did some laundry  and we all sat and reflected on a long journey. It’s a bit cliche to say that the trail changed us, but it certainly offered a lot of time to reflect on life and reevaluate. Too soon evening crept upon us and we went to bed ready for an early start.

When we peaked out of our tent we already saw a long line of headlamps snaking their way up the switchbacks to the junction to mount Whitney. A boy scout troop was heading up ahead of us, so we gave them a chance to get ahead before we started chewing up the miles. We caught them at the junction and took a break with them as we contemplated the ascent.

After sizing up the clouds we took off up the trail pushing towards the summit. The snow was blowing sideways and I was forced to put on a few more layers before I got to the summit.

It was a more powerful experience than I thought it would be standing on the top of the tallest point in the lower forty eight states. It was much more powerful to think that this trail had been carved for stock animals by hand many decades before I was born. We had ultralight gear and ultralight freeze dried meals, but they would have taken a slower pace… and would have taken in a lot more nature than is still around to be seen today.

It honestly felt a bit silly writing in a book at the summit, but you do it anyway to say you did.

I found myself doing a lot more thinking on the way down from the summit, realizing that it would be years before I made it back this way… if I ever get the chance to do it again… and trying not to think the overwhelming thought of how to re-integrate with the busy-ness of life.

Now, several months later, I really do miss being out on the John Muir Trail. I still watch this last video below and have to fight off tears.

My dad always talked about how birch bark was one of the best tools to start a fire. We would choose it because it was high in resin and would burn even when wet. Add to that the fact that it burns for a long time and you can really see it’s hard to beat.

Check out the video below where I start a fire using birch bark ignited by a fire steel (ferrocerium rod).

It was round about this time that the finality of the trip started to set in. There were less than 50 miles left to go, and although are bodies were ready for them, I don’t think our minds were.

We crossed Glenn Pass and then stormed up the ascent to Forester Pass. Forester pass is just amazing. It’s carved out of the hillside and tops out at 13200 feet. I couldn’t help but scream something triumphant (see video below) when I reached the top.

From there we travelled down another amazing set of switch backs on our way towards Guitar Lakes.

Check out the video below (it’s only 5 and a half minutes) to see the second last leg of the trip.

Weather was fickle. We were really put to the test when a monsoonal front came through and hit us all hard. Despite choosing our sites fairly well, rain water pooled everywhere and some was even driven up between the fly and the inner tent.

2 of the 3 tents survived the night and one of our team ended up spending te night in one of the still standing 1-person tents. It took all morning to dry out, but we managed to soldier on.

Check out the video down below to get an idea of the experience:

Leaving the Muir Trail Ranch was the turning point for the weather. From there it just kept getting more and more challenging. The Muir Pass was the first real rain and it got worse.

The views continued to be excellent, despite of the whales lurking around every corner and the switchbacks getting harder.

Take a look down below at the video of the next stage of our trip.

A while ago I was sent a Grand Trunk Double Parachute nylon hammock to review. What can I say more than awesome?

When I was a teen and working a hard summer job I had a hammock. I’d set it up by our pond after work and take a nap listening to the birds. It lasted until visitors came over and the girls thought it would be fun to see how many of them could fit in it. I miss those days of relaxing, and I will say that Grand Trunk has done an excellent job allowing me to revisit those days… and for making a hammock that is built like a tank.

Let’s look at the facts:

• 2-person hammock
• Material: Parachute Nylon
• Features: Triple stitched seams, mildew resistant
• Dimensions: 10.5 feet by 6.5 feet
• Capacity: 400 lbs
• Style: Gathered
• Includes: attached stuff sack/pocket, nautical carabiners, rope, setup instructions
• Weight: 20 oz. all included
• Price: $65

What are my thoughts?

Right out of the bag it’s ready to go. I was able to figure out setup in no time at all. The hardest part was finding trees! There’s nothing complicated about this and everything comfortable.

I give two thumbs up on the construction. The included hammock and rope is very durable. The first time we set it up my wife and 4 kids were there watching. Although built for two, we ended up piling in the whole family (a little over 400 lbs!) and had no complaints from the hammock.

The 6.5 foot width gives plenty of room for sitting up, lying down with two people and/or closing the hammock around you to keep out bugs. Just yesterday I was in the backyard and despite the abundant wasps (it’s a really bad year for them where I am) I remained untouched while I slept.

The only improvement I would say out of the box would be to include longer rope. The ropes are good for up to about 16-18″ diameter trunks. Anything bigger and you’ll need to add more.

If you’re looking for a backyard hammock, something to take camping or even day hiking/funpacking I strongly recommend checking out the Grand Trunk Double Hammock.

Take a look at our video review below to see it in action.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Grand Trunk Double Parachute Nylon Hammock for free from Grand Trunk Goods as coordinated by Deep Creek PR an Outdoor Industry Public Relations Company in consideration for review publication.

It was actually hard emotionally to start going after loading up my backpack with food. I don’t know if it was the fact we were about half way done, or maybe the idea of leaving behind civilization on the way to nowhere, but it was hard.

Fortunately we met some amazing views and after a day or two were right back in the swing of things.

I also had my privilege of giving someone their trail name (four socks). We met a guy who had been trying everything to figure out how to stop his blisters. He finally reached the conclusion: four socks… on each foot.

One of the big things that changed after the ranch was the weather. After the ranch we encounter all sorts of wild weather, showers, storms, monsoons, you name it. The rain was a nice change on the first day, but it quickly became the big factor in drying gear and deciding whether or not to go an extra mile or two.