Timbuk2 & Tippy Canoe.

Recapturing A Memory Part 2: Master Backwoodsman by Bradford Angier

2012-01-29T17:55:00.002-05:00

This is a bit of a sequel of sorts to a previous entry. I called it "Recapturing A Memory." Retelling of the first knife my Mother ever bought me then I lost and my search for a replacement for my collection. You can find the article here.

I can't quite remember when I fell in love with the outdoors. But I can remember when I first received a book on the subject. It was the first book I ever read, and that was a feat back in the day let me tell you, that taught outdoor skills. Both survival and bushcraft. As well as just old fashioned "Woodsmanship" as I call it.

Much like the previously mentioned pocket knife I had no idea what the name of this book was. I had lost it years ago. Not sure when or where, but all I knew is that I did. All I did know was the cover. A guy, circa mid to late 1970's in a pair of shorts, shirt and a headband with a big external frame backpack on. A number of years ago I tried without much success over at the ETS Forums for anyone who might know the title. Years went by and nothing. Then finally two weeks ago. Someone mentioned a title that seemed like it could be it. I searched and low and behold it was.

"The Master Backwoodsman" by Bradford Angier. (No, that's not him on the cover)

Some of my older readers might be familiar with him. He is, or was (Wikipedia Article Here.) the author of over 30 books. And according to the back of the book jacket (1978) he was "America's number 1 outdoorsman." Originally from the East Coast of Boston as a journalist who set off for self-sufficient living along the Peace River of British Columbia, Canada. Shortly after he compiled all of his knowledge and experience into his first book "Living Off The Land."

To the 21st Century outdoorsman the book reads like a survival manual, when in truth it is not. It is perhaps the last book written in the 20th Century which teaches you how to camp and survive in the backwoods because.....that's how things were in Bradford's day. No GPS unit. No flashlights. No ATV's. There is an amusing paragraph or two about the "Metal Match." We know it now a a simple ferrocerium rod that so many companies sell. The book even features an equally amusing entry about Aerial Photography for maps. It's your Grandfather or even Great-Grandfather's style of backcountry camping. One picture sums up this man.

Bradford back in the day with his Irish Wolfhound as a pack animal. It harkens back to what I often call "The Days of Canvas, Cotton and Leather." Field & Stream even went so far as to call him "THE Master Backwoodsman." Skills long forgotten are in this book. How to properly use a canoe and even how to outfit yourself for a whole year in the woods by yourself. Not to mention a chapter dedicated solely to pack trains with mules and horses. It's just a delightful book with some forgotten skills. Especially regarding cooking bear and beaver.

Having read it all last night I was amazed at how simple everything was for the outdoorsman prior to advanced technology coming into play. You had to be 110% sure of yourself and memorize vital things by heart if you wanted to venture into the back country. It also paints a very romantic picture of how the outdoors once were. It certainly appeals to the romantic outdoorsman, I can tell you that. It's worth buying and reading just for that sake. Not to mention the invaluable old school methods you can rely on when you are out of batteries.

It's available, used copies of various quality, at Amazon.com.

Your Thoughts on "Eneloop" Batteries.

2012-01-28T15:34:00.001-05:00

I have been using them for roughly a year. I am finding that their advertised information is not quite accurate in real life applications, storage and scenarios. Provide some feedback and thoughts on your experiences, if any, on Eneloop Batteries.

For my own feedback I will say this.

Discharges when stored just as quickly as any other NiMh battery.
Drains just as quickly in low and high use applications as any other NiMh battery.
Battery "memory" is affected just like any other battery.

I've transitioned now over to Lithium batteries in my EDC Bag. They're lighter than the Eneloops it seems. Also a good thing aside from the obvious longer shelf life and run times.

Leatherman Unveils New Tool; "One Handed Tool."

2012-01-20T17:02:00.002-05:00

With SHOT Show 2012 ending today and frankly most of us already knowing about the "Rebar" as well as a few other goodies, Leatherman finally dropped officially the announcement on their new multi-tool. In a radical departure from their traditional designs and taking a page out of Gerber's design playbook, they unveiled the "One Handed Tool."

Coyote Tan OHT (One Hand Tool) Begins Shipping Approx Fall 2012. MSRP = $85
Spring-action Needlenose Pliers
Spring-action Regular Pliers
Spring-action 154CM Replaceable Wire Cutters
Spring-action 154CM Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters
420HC Knife
420HC Serrated Knife
Phillips Screwdriver
Small Screwdriver
Medium Screwdriver
Large Screwdriver
Saw
Strap Cutter
Can Opener
Bottle Opener
Oxygen Tank Wrench
#8-32 Cleaning Rod Attachment
Integrated Lanyard Attachments
Stainless Steel Body
Closed Length: 4.5 in | 11.5 cm
Blade Length: 2.37 in | 6 cm*
Weight: 9.9 oz | 280.66 g
*Primary Knife Blade

The picture's don't do it much justice, but the pliers actually slide in and out instead of folding out. The entire point of this knife appears to be meant to be operated solely with one hand. Google the Gerber "Flik" for how that works. Of course it's not all one handed. Just the main four tools at the bottom of the tool. Obviously this tool is designed for the Military market. The color patterns and obvious military/law enforcement applications. Oxygen tank wrench, cleaning rod attachment and the 154CM replaceable wire cutters. The wire cutters seem to be making their way onto more and more of their tools, which I like.

It's certainly an interesting design and a radical departure from their very traditional designs. With an MSRP of $85 I am surprised it's not around $100. Although I dislike that Leatherman seems to be not putting scissors into more of their high end models. But I guess, as I said being this is a Military themed tool, you don't come across much construction paper in war.

I look forward to picking one up in the future.

Leatherman also finally released what the MSRP will be on their "Rebar" tool. $50. Which will translate to anywhere between $40-45 at most vendors websites I suspect. Really, really good price point.

*Promotional Pictures obtained from Leatherman's public Facebook page.

Changing of the Bags.

2012-01-18T20:52:00.001-05:00

After using, and loving my Maxpedition, Kodiak I realized....that sometimes a tacticool bag doesn't look so good everywhere. I've moved back to the tried and true L.L. Bean Khaki Canvas Satchel. Don't bother looking. They don't make it anymore, but do have few neat bags that are similar. Everything fits in it nicely with some room to spare. I wish I had gotten the larger version, though.

Has a nice padded, perforated foam strap with a cellphone (only fits circa 2004 cellphones, but does hold Multi-Tools well!) pouch. The strap is adjustable through a pair of D-Rings and is rubberized to prevent slippage.

Victorinox Swiss Tool "Spirit X" Review.

2012-01-13T21:52:00.001-05:00

Goodies for the pockets.

2012-01-09T22:25:00.000-05:00

It truly is the Porsche of Multi-Tools. The Swiss Tool "Spirit X." The sheath it came with is outstanding, too. Aged brown leather with a nice stainless steel Victorinox logo. Sadly it's velcro closure. I would've liked a nice old fashioned button. Still outstanding. I may have found a new EDC Multi-Tool. Weight is only 7.4 ounces, too. Lighter than the Leatherman "Wave."

And I've certainly found a new pocket EDC light in the Streamlight "Microstream."

Perfection.

Leatherman "Rebar" pictures.

2012-01-08T19:35:00.003-05:00

I'm a bit tardy to the party on this one. I figured I'd post the link to the prototype pictures of Leatherman's scaled down version of the Super Tool 300. Incase you cannot access their Facebook page album, here's a picture that says it all.

Wave/Blast sized platform that is, as I said a scaled down ST300. Pretty cool, pretty cool. If it had some scissors I'd be much happier. But Leatherman clearly is seeing the sales figures. And by that I mean more people are turning to models that Leatherman puts out which feature actual full size tools and not the thin "Bit Holder" bits featured on the Wave and Surge. Those bits, while a neat concept, don't always work so well. I welcome this model and I am glad to say you won't have to wait much longer. Scheduled to be released in March. When in March? Don't know. They say "March 2012" only.

Oh, and the price? At first I was concerned about that. Being that the ST300 retails for anywhere between $60 to $80 I thought to myself "Damn. It's going to be at least $50." Some vendors have it for preorder and they range from a low of $37 to a high of $49. Which is unusual considering the "Wingman" and "Sidekick" (Which I doubt I will buy after testing a friends. Maybe in another year) are not priced much differently. If this right out of the gate is available from Amazon.com for $44.95? I'll take it. Who am I kidding, though? I'll still take it. There's a big market for a scaled down Super Tool. A big one.

The coming of the "Sidekick", "Wingman" and now "Rebar" are perhaps the early signaling, as I feared, of the phasing out of the "Kick", "Fuse" and my beloved "Blast." And while I am fearful of what direction they will go in with entry level Multi-Tools given my experience with the "Sidekick" and "Wingman", after seeing the "Rebar" I more hopeful than I previously was.

I just wish Leatherman wasn't going the spring loaded pliers route......

But in the meantime I'll be putting my new Victorinox "Swiss Tool Spirit X" through it's paces. Should be here tomorrow. Stay tuned.

*Picture obtained from their public Facebook Page.

What you EDC can and does save lives, folks.

2012-01-03T16:32:00.002-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Any Plans for 2012? A few.

2011-12-31T12:00:00.001-05:00

Gerber Legendary Blades Warranty Review.

2011-12-24T16:39:00.003-05:00

I received the package 30 minutes ago. They replaced the knife with a new one, which works quite well. Turn around time was 24 days exactly. I would have liked some kind of e-mail, phone call or other customary contact, though. But people have reported to me that this is typical of Gerber. You send your knife in and weeks later randomly get a package and it's either repaired or replaced.

It worked out well, but was a sterile affair. I say sterile because of the rather impersonal and cliche little post card I got in the package.

"Dear Valued Customer, Your Gerber Legendary Blades product has been replaced. We hope you continue to use our products for many years to come. Thank you for being part of the LEGEND!"

Seriously? Oh well. You can't really complain or argue much with a company which for all intents and purposes did uphold their warranty agreement. So they pass. Compared to Leatherman, which at least had the humanity to contact me and tell me "it's being handled", Gerber was like dealing with a robot operating on punch cards that go to a 19th century loom. I'd give them a B+. In this day and age getting a company that honors their warranties without fuss is difficult, so well done Gerber. Now tell your parent company, Fiskars, to invest more time in quality control. Products missing screws and knife blades severely off center (Which is dangerous) shouldn't reach the hands of consumers. Especially when the target demographic (Don't worry...no Don Draper joke here) is children.

PS: Like I said before....this is actually a pretty good knife. I hate to say it, but it is. I'll discuss it and the "instructions" which came along with it in a future review.

Update On Gerber Warranty.

2011-12-15T20:29:00.001-05:00

It has now been exactly 15 days (Dec. 1st) since I mailed Gerber the "Bear Grylls Scout" for warranty replacement and/or repair. They received the package according to the USPS website tracking information on December 3rd. No e-mails. No phone calls. Nothing. According to their website the turnaround time is 3 to 4 weeks. Frankly that's acceptable, but at least letting you know that the package was in their possession would be nice. So we're still within their posted turn around time.

Doug Ritter/Benchmade Mini Griptilian 558 RSK Mk.1 Orange Review.

2011-12-12T19:10:00.003-05:00

Small knife updates.

2011-11-30T18:09:00.000-05:00

Seems I now have two knives being sent back.

First is the Bear Grylls "Scout" I picked up and is dreadfully off center. Actually a better knife than you would expect. I hope to report good things about their warranty service.

The other is the new orange Benchmade Mini Ritter Grip. I received it today. There was a small amount of black staining on both sides of the orange scales. Seems either black plastic got into the mold or oil of some kind (unlikely since the plastic used is chemical resistant) from the assembly process stained it. Not sure. Either way it's no big deal. You can't expect a company to produce thousands of things and not have a very small fraction of blemishes. But you can expect me to get one because I have bad luck like that. In everything I buy.

They both mail out tomorrow. I'll get a review on Gerber's warranty experience up as soon as that is settled. I'll also get a video review up of the Mini Ritter Grip.

Outstanding Deals at Wal-Mart.

2011-11-21T22:46:00.000-05:00

Every year from the week before Thanksgiving to days after Christmas I scour Wal-Mart like some....scouring.....thing that scours. Most years I come across some really great deals on otherwise middle of the road gear. Knives mostly. Usually Leatherman. This year though? Sheesh. Good year...Good year...

I went by the local Wally World and snapped a few shots with my iPhone. I neglected to take a picture of a previous Gerber knife set (Two knives. One a copy of a Kershawk Leek, the other a Buck Strider) I got for a gift exchange, but the pictures I did get are of the good stuff. As you can see I'm still at war with Gerber. Sort of.

First up we have the Kershaw "Crown." Usually retails at Wal-Mart for around $19.95 to $24.95. Tons of them for $10. The neat thing is I've never seen the "Crown" in blue. If it's a limited thing, which Kershaw sometimes does (The "Chubby" especially) then this is a nice collectors piece for the Kershaw fan. The "Crown" is a nice EDC blade for gentlemen.

Next up is the Kershaw "Select Fire." Basically your standard folding knife plus "kit kit." I've never had any experience with this particular model. Looks a bit utility knife niche market aimed. Still pretty cool. In both black and blue. And before you ask....I checked....no orange. I would've so gotten an orange. Again $10.

Next up is one of two (2 knives in each) gift tins Buck is selling for $20 each. This particular one looks pretty nice. Labels say Ebony and Burlwood. One a very nice one handed gentleman's folder and the other a nice "stockman" style knife. Obviously they're the overseas made Buck's (I didn't see anything on them denoting where overseas) but it's still Buck.

Next up is something I've never seen before. A similar duo, but with zytel/FRN scales from their "Boone and Crockett Collectors Series." Not bad, not bad. Two solid looking lock back knives. Good for the boys out there who want a knife for the holidays. Again overseas no doubt, but still Bucks.

Finally we got a duo of really good deals by SOG. First is their "Fasthawk" tomahawk styled....something. I'm not quite sure what SOG is going for with this design. Lighter more chic and tacticool looking version of a hatchet. I won't lie. I'd probably use one if I had one. Again just $20. I didn't notice any sheath for the head, though.

Lastly a really cool find. The SOG "SOGFari Machete." Your typical machete with a saw back. Not bad, not bad. I didn't check to see if it had a sheath either. I'm sure this would come with it even at this price. A must for anyone who likes to trail blaze or simply just keep the garden in ship shape.

I'm pretty impressed with this years special offers. No to mention Wal-Mart is selling some AR's (Rifles for you non-gun folks) for $395.95 in limited numbers. My Wal-Mart had only one in stock. I was hoping to see the Leatherman "Wingman" and "Sidekick" in stock by now, but alas no...

So if you're looking to shop for a friend, family member or....well yourself? These are some pretty neat finds.

And now for Gerber's generic reply...

2011-11-17T23:15:00.000-05:00

"Thank you for contacting Gerber Legendary Blades regarding your Gerber product. Gerber warrants to the original consumer purchaser that this product will be free of defects, in material and workmanship. This warranty does not cover damage due to acts of Nature, accident, improper use, abuse, negligence, loss of product or modification of or to any part of the product. Normal wear and tear is not covered under the warranty. If the product failed while being used as it was intended to be used, we will service under the warranty. At Gerber’s option, defective product will be repaired, replaced, or substituted with a product of equal value. If you feel this is a warranty issue, please send the product for warranty service. To obtain warranty service, send the product, along with an explanation of the defect, your name, address, and phone number, to the address below:

Gerber Legendary Blades
Attn: Service Dept.
14200 SW 72nd Ave
Portland, OR 97224

It is recommended that you send your package via UPS, FedEx, or insured mail. Turnaround time is approximately two to four weeks. Return freight is incurred by Gerber Blades.

Information regarding the warranty can be found on the Gerber website at http://www.gerbergear.com/Meet-Gerber/Support/Warranty-Info. The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page can answer many of your questions.

Please do feel free to send your product in. We would be very happy to accommodate you at no additional charges to you. Should you not have a receipt; that is fine."

Bland. And generic. No apology even. Sheesh. We'll see how it goes...

What is wrong with you Gerber?

2011-11-12T22:18:00.001-05:00

So I actually got my hands on the "Scout" model of Bear Grylls knife. Picked one up on sale for a gift. First one was missing a screw in the pocket clip. Took that back. Second one is so horrible off center when the blade folds in that it catches on the rubber liner-less interior and has to be forced back in and even then does not enclose entirely. I'm not taking the second one back. I'm going to see how Gerber's "warranty" is. Let's see how they compare to a quality company like Leatherman.

It's a real shame, too. Because it's actually not a half bad knife for a kid. The one I returned the first time actually worked flawlessly minus the missing screw on the pocket clip. Was actually so hyped on how good it was for a beginner and aimed towards kids that I was going to do a video. No, no videos. It doesn't warrant one.

Your move, Gerber....or should I say Fiskars. I mention the parent company of Gerber "Legendary" Blades because I own a lot of Fiskar's products. Scissors, pruning shears and so on and they're great. Why can't you make Gerber the same?

Flexx's Paracord Lanyards Review.

2011-11-05T20:43:00.004-04:00

Columbia River Knife & Tool "M16-12ZER" Review.

2011-10-12T20:48:00.001-04:00

Want a Custom Benchmade "Griptilian" or "Mini Griptilian?"

2011-10-10T17:51:00.003-04:00

In my last post I discussed how much I love orange knives. Love 'em. I commented that I wish more knife companies produced orange scaled knives. Especially Benchmade. I would absolutely love a Benchmade "Mini Griptilian" in orange. Not to mention in a few other blade and steel types.

Well.......I must be living under a rock.

I woke up this morning and the first comment on my recent video (on YouTube) was by a user saying "just fyi mini grips come in whatever color you want. the benchmade website now has a custom tab!!!!"

What? When? Are you serious?! Hold the bloody phone this was news to me!

Now I've browsed the Benchmade site quite a few thousand times and in depth, but I never knew they did this. So I went back to the page and scoured it for at least an hour. Finally on their homepage under the "Services" tab they offer "Customize a Griptilian." Sweet tap dancing Jesus, I said.

The prices are excellent, by the way. $125 And $115 for the Griptilian and Mini Griptilian respectively. That price includes your choice of the following without additional fees...

Color Scales (You can actually get mismatched colors if you want!). Coyote, OD Green, Yellow, Light Blue, Pink, Orange (Yes!), Purple, Royal Blue and Black.
Plain or Half Serrated Edge.
Your choice of Drop Point, Tanto or Sheep's Foot.
154CM Steel. (Additional Steels are offered at a modest cost. D2 $15, N680 $15 and SV30 $20).
Axis Lock, Liner & Screw Colors. Your choice is either silver or black. You can mismatch these if you wish.
Your choice of clip designs. Standard Black Enamel, Black Oxide, Split Arrow Silver, Split Arrow Black Oxide or no clip.
You can also have a laser etched image and text inserted on both sides of the blade.

Amazing! You can basically create more than a dozen variations (So long as you select 154CM Steel) for a flat price of $125 and $115. That's in-freaking-credible. At the most you'll only shell out $145 if you select the Griptilian with SV30 Steel and $135 for the Mini Griptilian. That's pretty incredible for a knife of this quality. But of course these are custom. Currently they're only available in the U.S. and Canada. The manufacture and ship time is 3-4 weeks. Tough, but fair.

But still. For $140+S&H you can make an orange Griptilian with a half-serrated sheep's foot blade made of N680 (Similar to Spyderco's H1 Steel & Benchmade's X15. Salt Water Resistance.) and high visibility stainless steel silver pocket clip as a rescue knife. Take a look for yourself....

You can find the "Build a Grip" page here.

I gotta go find my credit card.....

Spyderco Orange Delica FFG Review.

2011-10-08T17:59:00.001-04:00

EDC First Aid Kit & Blowout Kit Update.

2011-09-14T23:05:00.002-04:00

An Interesting Article on Self-Reliance.

2011-09-12T20:47:00.001-04:00

Are You Really Prepared?

I really like how he used bungie cords incase of seismic activity to keep canned foods and jarred foods on the shelf.

He also in the past did a very good article on finding space for a food pantry.

Finding Space For A Food Pantry.

Burt Gummer would be proud.

By Request: Survival Carabiner Kit.

2011-09-10T20:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I mentioned that I would be using the "Paracord Storage Lanyard" recently done as a DIY at ITS Tactical as part of their Knot of the Week feature. I specifically mentioned I would be using it as a way to store 4' of paracord on my Survival Carabiner. I was asked by a reader to show this kit off. It's nothing more than an evolution of an earlier "Key Chain Survival" kit I made late last year. With the addition of a Pill Capsule (Holds a fishing kit & spare batteries) and the previous mentioned 4' of paracord.

Paracord Storage Deployment Lanyard.

2011-09-09T19:28:00.002-04:00

This one comes compliments of ITS Tactical. Great bunch of guys. I was having problems with a good and effective way to carry 25' of spare paracord. Thankfully their "Knot of the Week" helped out. Check out their video below. I do recommend, as I've found that, you might want to build a jig if you are OCD about your loops like I am.

They also have another great video on how to store a small amount of paracord in a noose style lanyard. This is both functional as a way to store paracord for a Carabiner Kit (Which is what I did just now) or comparable pocket kits. It's also actually a really cool knot/lanyard for knives or lights. It's similar to the "Chris Reeve Coil Knot," but a whole lot simpler and better! Also a good idea to keep on your EDC bag as a field expedient tourniquet.

Gotta love them guys over at ITS Tactical.

How About An EDC Pocket Dump?

2011-09-02T16:05:00.000-04:00

By popular request..

From left to right.

iPhone 4 in Otterbox™ "Defender" Case.
Victorinox 91mm Leather Belt Pouch.
Wenger "Tradesman" Swiss Army Knife on homemade coil lanyard with S-Biner.
CountyComm.com Maratac™ AAA Flashlight. Medium mode, 18 lumens output for 4 hours, Low mode, 1.5 lumens output for 50 hours, High mode, 80 lumens output for 48 minutes.
Timex "Expedition Adventure Tech" Digital Compass Watch. This is the British version of this model.
Benchmade Model 556 Mini-Griptilian. Added a Chris Reeve Coil Lanyard fob.

How About A EDC Bag Dump?

2011-08-30T20:37:00.000-04:00

New pouches came in. Removed a few things, which broke in the process. Annoying as hell, but whatever. Enjoy the pretty pictures.

Bag alone weighs 3.5lbs. Total weight with contents is about 8.75lbs. Well within my comfort level.

Anyone with questions feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me. I will answer it ASAP.

Some Math on Rainfall.

2011-08-30T14:50:00.001-04:00

As we all know there is some serious flooding going on in New England due to Irene. Mostly from massive amounts of rainfall in a brief period of time. This leads to swollen rivers, highland drainages and eventual cresting of riverbanks and dams. I found something that will make you all a bit nervous next time it rains heavily. But...

Yes, Math!

Okay, okay. Settle down. I'm afraid of math, too. Clearly.

Okay. Say it rains 1". Not per hour or per minute. Don't worry about the timeframe just yet. Just 1". You get 0.6 gallons per square foot if it rains 1".

Let's think on a bigger scale. One square mile. That's 27,878,400 feet. So let's work some scary math.

27,878,400 X 0.6 = 16,727,040 gallons.

That's more than an olympic swimming pool which is only 660,000 gallons.

Now imagine you are getting more than an inch per hour or multiple inches in a rapid period of time.

Always Remember Your Knife.

2011-08-28T19:57:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting story.

Pasadena Freeway crash leaves good Samaritan neighbors in shock

Something to think about next time you forget to put your pocket knife, swiss army knife or multi-tool with you when you leave the house. Even if you're in your yard it comes in handy. It could've saved a life.

More on Irene: Something to think about.

2011-08-25T20:46:00.000-04:00

At the present moment the center of Irene is only roughly 250 miles from where I am sitting. We're getting a few of the outer bands on the "good side" of the storm. Wind picked up today at around 3PM. Ever since then we've had rolling bands of heavy downpours lasting around 5-10 minutes. Had about 4-6 of them today so far. Winds will pick up tomorrow at an estimated 45MPH in the form of gusts. According to Stormpulse.com we're (ie. My Area) is just coming into the circular projection of Tropical Force winds. Six hours from now it'll be over. Just as well. We could use the rain.

As I mentioned earlier Long Island isn't in a good position. Nor is New England. Here's a picture of the forecast model and wind pattern for +66 hours from now of the area.

Just look at the major populated coastal areas that will be affected by that. Keep in mind this is from the 8PM forecast model, which now has the storm coming into the Northeast in New Jersey. A slight improvement for Long Island and New England, but still in the bad side of the storm.

I wish you the best, New Englanders. Should be interesting.

The New "Long Island Express?"

2011-08-24T17:26:00.000-04:00

Back in 1938 New England, primarily Long Island, was struck by a former Cat 5 that made landfall as a Cat 3 hurricane. It killed between 600 to 800 people. No one knows just for sure. Damage was visible and seen for nearly 20 years in the affected areas. To date it remains the most costly and deadly hurricane in New England history.

Here is a historical track of that storm, which is often called the "Long Island Express."

Strangely familiar, isn't it? It's a bit North of where Hurricane Irene has come from and forecasted to go. But still quite close. The difference is of course Irene is going to be skirting most of the East Coast from North Carolina up to Maine. There is a consensus among the forecast models that it will maintain it's course along most of the East Coast, as well. We're still 69 hours or so out from predicted landfall and things could still change, but there is a rather noticeable "fix" among all the different models. In other words they've not changed much.

That's not to say the storm won't make a shift and skirt the U.S. lightly and putter off into the North Atlantic. Still might. Will it? Probably not. The positive thing you could look at is the U.S. will be on the "good side" of the storm. But that ends when, according to the models it will make a direct hit, if current course does not shift much, across Long Island and into New England. As I stated before I hope the people involved in all the areas affected are not complacent. They have a saying in the Navy SEALS. The only easy day was yesterday. Well guess what? Yesterday is when you should've gotten your shit together. If you haven't and you're reading this go now. I'm not kidding.

Also? Don't panic. Even people here in Florida panicked earlier in the week when I was at Wal-Mart picking up some spare D-Cells. I find it funny that people bought all the incandescent flashlights that break and last maybe 2-4 hours, and left the LED's (priced only one-two dollars more) alone.

....Good luck.

Victorinox Safari Family Complete.

2011-08-19T21:26:00.002-04:00

Neat Wal-Mart Find.

2011-08-12T16:38:00.000-04:00

I was looking for Super Glue today. Namely to fix a broken piece on my new 1 Terabyte Hard Drive Enclosure. Wasn't worth sending it back. I fixed it.

Anywho...

Came across for a $1 each these cool 4-in-1 Pen Screwdrivers. By some unknown company called "Ultrasteel." Must be one of those Chinese only Wal-Mart operations. But these are great for EDC.

Comes with two bits. One is a PH0 & Flathead 1/8". The other is PH1 & Flathead 5/32". The four most common you'll ever find yourself needing. I picked up two. One for the EDC Bag and the other for back-up.

Article By S.E. Cupp on Knife Laws in NYC.

2011-08-08T14:50:00.001-04:00

I was turned onto this article by Knife Rights. As some of you know there is a rather intensive and aggressive campaign by a D.A. in NYC against knives and guns. To such the point in some cases, as you will read in the article, you cannot even keep in the safety of your own home without breaking laws. Scary. Here's the link to Ms. Cupp's article from Town Hall Magazine.

I'm a fan of Ms. Cupp. Even more so know knowing she collects CRK&T and Ken Onion knives.

What is really shocking is the attack on persona liberties. I'm not a political person, but if you can't keep things in the privacy of your own home then things are problematic. I suspect D.A. Vance will be elected out of office soon. I can't imagine many people are happy with him.

CRKT Ken Onion Wal-Mart "Ripple" Review.

2011-08-07T22:31:00.002-04:00

Buck 750 "Redpoint" Review.

2011-08-06T18:22:00.000-04:00

Halfway to the 108mm Family Completion.

2011-07-25T14:45:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned in my previous posted video I am collecting the entire 108mm lineup by Victorinox. They're somewhat of an obscure lineup that originally originated from the "German Army Knife" designed by Victorinox. The line was discontinued in 2007. Which if you ask me is a real shame because these are some damned fine knives that are minimal, elegant and quite functional.

On the right you have the aptly named "Solo" also known as the "Adventurer." On the left you have the "Solo+." I already own the "Safari Trooper" in OD Green which is the civilian, non-German marked version of the "German Army Knife" otherwise known as the "GAK."

I was able to get these in a trade, actually. I contacted my go to guy (SOSAKer's who who he is. It's a super secret!) about trading a Benchmade 556S Mini Griptilian and paying the difference. These two knives together matched the value of the 556S. So it was an even trade. A good deal and fun.

Three 108mm's down and....let me do the math....

Only 3 to go. A gentleman in England is selling the three I need for a very modest price together. I have to do a bit of haggling with him still.

That's not to say that's ALL of the variants of the models they made. That is just the base variants. I still would have to get the NATO badged Trooper, German Army Knife and Stag scaled "Hunter." And of course the extremely limited only 50 in existence "Swiss Shark" model. Least of all the extremely expensive special edition "Mauser."

It's doable. And it's a whole lot of fun.

Victorinox Tinker Family Complete.

2011-07-23T15:49:00.001-04:00

The End of An Era.

2011-07-20T22:04:00.000-04:00

Hours from now the final STS Mission will be over. Then the fleet of well used Shuttles will be sent to various museums. I grew up watching shuttle launches. From my home I could see them and where I spent my summers on the beach was a mere 10 miles away. They were a source of great enjoyment and pride in my community. But now the end of an era is here. I guess the private sector is winning the "New Space Race."

One interesting thing that always made me happy was knowing that each Astronaut on Shuttle Missions carry Victorinox Swiss Army Knives. The model in question? The "Craftsman." Originally it did not feature the Pliers, Chisel or Fish Scaler. They made 10th and 20th Anniversary Editions for the Apollo 11 Mission.

There is a story floating around (no pun intended) that when one of the Space Shuttles docked with the Russian Space Station "Mir" there was a standard/metric system mix up. According to this story the tool given to him by NASA did not open the hatch on Mir. The solution? He pulled out his Swiss Army Knife and got it open.

And for some posterity here is a commercial Victorinox ran in the 90's...

SAK Knife Organization Complete.

2011-07-11T19:37:00.001-04:00

Out of the 8 boxes I bought I've only filled up 4 1/2. That's just fine with me. 4 spares for future purchases.

I thought about filling the rest of them with all of my knives. Specifically my Leatherman Tools since I have plenty of those worthy of being called a "collection." Still might. But for now it is as it. Safe from the dust and the rest of the generally blanketing dog hair thanks to The Survival Pug.

And of course the latest additions to the collections. Spartan, Fieldmaster and Hunter.

This past Spring in what was a rather one sided trade I came into possession of a hardwood scaled "Spartan." I say one sided because I came out ahead in that trade. Trust me. But I felt like getting the cellidor red scaled version since the hardwood (They also released a Rosewood "SwissChamp") is a great piece of artwork. The "Fieldmaster" is the same load out as the "Huntsman", but with the phillips head screw driver in place of the corkscrew. "Huntsman" being famous as the knife everyone more or less settled upon as being "The One" MacGyver used.

The "Hunter" is cool. A rare olive drab with the red and white decal shield and deer head. A real treat. It's a sidelock, which I prefer and oddly the scale that features the sidelock is thicker than other sidelock equipped Victorinox knives. Really weird and despite it's "combo tool" equipped design? It's actually just as thick as any the "Trekker" and similar thickness outdoor gear models. It's also my first experience with the "gutting hook" before it eventually evolved into the various "rescue blades."

Now if only it would cease this constant on and off raining I could get outdoors. Sheesh.

Vintage Knife Find: Kutmaster "Scout/Camper" by Utica Cutlery, NY.

2011-06-29T17:49:00.000-04:00

It's funny how there are things in my town that even after 25 years of living here...I HAD NO IDEA WERE HERE! I went downtown today and scoped out a local antique store for vintage knives. Nothing, although I did see a pretty good set of straight razors that would make ArtOfManliness.com squeal. I knew that we had another "large" antique store on that same block. But I had never been. I stepped in and it's a old 3 story warehouse.

Amazing stuff EVERYWHERE.

I asked the woman at the counter if she had any vintage or antique knives. She said "Here, there, third floor and some more down there." I stood there like "...Wha?" It was as if I had found the Holy Grail and even Sean Connery was in the sidecar saying "And in this kind of race there isn't a medal for second place. Go man!"

I went. I browsed and had a lovely chat with an older gentleman who seems to be their knife guy. Knowledgeable and we talked about the sadness that is the lack of US Made cutlery companies left operating production facilities in the states. I checked out some here and there. I finally found a knife fitting what I was looking for.

Before you ask....No, sadly no vintage Victorinox or Wengers....this guy seemed smart enough to know to price those properly and he insinuated he has "buyers" waiting in the wings for such knives.

I managed to come across as of yet still unknown to me model by Kutmaster, a product brand of Utica Cutlery. This is a company that just last year celebrated their 100th birthday. I was not familiar with them. Once again I refer back to my experience with primarily European cutlery companies. They're still in operation and producing knives under a few banners. Kutmaster.com is their address.

So, I am sure by now you're wanting to see what I found. As the title of this post implies it's a Scout/Camper layout. Exactly the same as the Imperial Schrade "Kamp King" I recently posted about. Pictures or it didn't happen, right? Of course.

After I took the pictures I hit the knife up with the dremel. It's slightly more shiny, but some of the blackening is obviously from chemicals the knife came in contact with over the years. Overall it's a good collection piece. Only the awl/reamer and can opener have play, and it's very slight play. A little sewing machine oil and it'll be good as new more or less.

As for the date I've got a few leads thanks to KnifeForums.com as well as an e-mail sent directly to Kutmaster.com's FAQ.

The "Antique Mall" as it's called has a few other prospective future purchases. One that I'll possibly purchase for resale on the open market for a profit. Another I'll be eyeing and depending on it's manufacturer or legitimacy will be a collection piece.

Knife collectin' sure is fun.

Recapturing A Memory.

2011-06-23T18:16:00.001-04:00

You all know by now that I am a knife guy. Very much so since an early age. For about three years now I have been looking on and off for one particular knife. First let me take you back with a bit of a story behind this long search...

I was about 7 or 8. My school started an after school program for children interested in the outdoors and nature. For the life of me I can't recall the name. Youth Nature Group or something. I don't know. The teacher who was in charge of the program (A Montessori School) was friends with a biologist and park ranger at a local state forest. We would go out and hike along canals, through wetlands and amongst scrub and slash pine forest intermixed with oak hammocks.

After we began to gain some steam and about a dozen students we setup a camping trip at the state forest. My first ever without my family or relatives. I was bigger and I needed a new sleeping bag. My Mother took me to Wal-Mart and we bought one. What was really special was I somehow talked her into buying me a new pocket knife for the trip. It was the first she bought me. This was of course many, many years ago back when Wal-Mart sold entire product lines by Case, Schrade and Victorinox.

The knife she bought me was lost years ago and the memory of the model and make along with it. Thankfully I was able to search about the internet based on the general appearance of the pocket knife and found out what the model and make was. An Imperial Schrade "Kamp King." Three years later and I found on eBay last week a brand new one still in the blister pack. The price? $8.99 with free shipping. Came in 3 days. Today was the 3rd day.

I broke "collectors etiquette" and opened the package. I wanted to get my hands on this memory.

Sweet, sweet memories. It's your typical "Scout" or "Camp" style knife first pioneered by Victorinox in their "Soldier" and "Pioneer" models. Blade, can opener, bottle opener and reamer-awl. It's just as tight and strong as I remember it being all those years ago. Brass liners even. They don't make them like this anymore here in America. Although this particular model which the package said was made in 1987 was made in Ireland by hand. This particular model has a long history going back to the 1950's as being a cheap, tough and favorite knife of young boys. I saw one reference to it's price in 1959 as being only $2.99.

It won't get much use as an EDC or carried. Just a nice collectible of a happy time in my life.

R.I.P. Mr. Hood.

2011-06-22T16:40:00.001-04:00

Well, this is pretty shitty. Ron Hood, of Hoodlums and Survival.com fame passed away in his sleep last night. He had been battling cancer over the past year. The whole survival community is quite upset over this as am I. If you're not familiar with Ron, he was one of if not THE FIRST guys to start doing outdoors, primitive techniques and survival demonstrations on VHS and DVD with his Woods Master and Urban Master series. He designed knives and most recently developed a great knife with Buck Knives that he had been promoting like crazy.

Before Les Stroud, Bear Grylls and others....Ron was already there. For decades. You can find one of his first documentaries on YouTube on some old PBS Preservation Channel, I think. Circa 1970's. To many of us he was the quiet, gentleman of the survival and preparedness community. The forum he established is very family oriented and I was quite welcomed when I signed up over there a handful of years ago. The people there are some of the nicest people I've ever met in a forum. Someone once said you can judge a man's character by the company he keeps. Well, he kept good company over at the Hoodlums. I think that should say enough.

Many of us had the chance in the last year to meet Ron. He was at the SHOT Show and most recently at the Blade Show. I should think those who met him recently would consider themselves lucky. I never had the pleasure of meeting him face to face, but we did exchange e-mails last year. He and his wife Karen (A lovely, lovely woman) were setting up "Survival Quarterly." As I understand it, it has been on hold since Ron was diagnosed with cancer, but I digress.

Some months prior I had done a review of John McCann's "Pocket Survival Tin" here at Timbuk2 & Tippy Canoe. I don't recall how, but I got in touch or maybe John McCann was the one that got in touch with me. Ron had put out a forum post requesting articles to be submitted. I think I mentioned having done the review of John's kit and then John himself sent me a message via the Hoodlums Forums. I think that's how it went.

He (John) suggested I submit it and being my usual self I said "No, no. It's not that good." And John quite plainly said "What's the worst that could happen? He says no that's all." So I spent literally 5 hours polishing the review from stem to stern. I even had a friend who has her B.A. in English Literature edit it for me and tweak things. I took some of my own photos, then asked John if I could use his stock photos. We went back and forth I think a few times over a 3 day weekend.

Finally I submitted to Ron and he seemed quite pleased with it. It lead to writing a second article for submission, too. Neither made it passed the editors desk or to print, but considering who I was competing against (Hoodlums has some REAL pros in various fields) I wasn't too annoyed. Plus I think the hectic thing of having to start a magazine, even a quarterly one can lead to a lot of "I better pick the right stuff so this works" decision making.

My point is this. Ron didn't once in his replies say "This isn't good" or "I can't use it." He was quite nice about it. He thanked me and said that it might make it. Stuff that you don't normally expect from people in this day and age. It reminded me a lot of my own Father who is close in age to Ron. Guys from a time where you just were plain nice. Ron was just a very friendly during the whole process. I like to think he saw my website and said to himself "I like this kid."

Often when people pass away and personally know that person they say "You didn't know him/her and that is your loss." I didn't know Ron personally or have a chance to spend some time in the dirt with him at a gathering and that is, indeed my loss. But I still consider him to be my friend because I think if we had spent time together we would've been friends.

He's survived by his wife and son. Maybe one day I'll get a chance to meet his son out in the dirt at a gathering. I'd very much like that. When I get a chance to scout out that new Canal Trail I think I'll carve Ron's name into a tree. It seems appropriate.

Planning Ahead: Gear for the Canal Trail Trip.

2011-06-21T22:19:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to find some time to brave the new Canal Trail at Lake Woodruff. I mentioned it in an earlier post. I've got my T.A.D. Litespeed packed and ready to go. I thought I'd do a bit of a "pocket dump" or rather "bad dump" of the gear I'll be bringing with me. I'm a man of redundancy as you can tell. When you don't have it and need it you sing a different tune, after all.

It's not a long trip. Roughly 3.30 miles in and you guessed it 3.30 miles out. So 6.60 miles roundtrip, assuming the trail is blazed all the way to the lake. Now that may not seem like much to you Northern folk, but down here? It's 100 degrees with a "Real Feel" of 110. Add that onto the fact it's wetlands/swampland and you have horrible humidity. And maybe even a thunderstorm blowing through unexpectedly. Don't knock it until you've had to hike through those conditions.

Hopefully I'll get around to it sooner than later. Weather permitted.

Preparing For A New Trail.

2011-06-18T16:25:00.001-04:00

Over the past handful of years the staff at Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge along with the Friends Of Lake Woodruff have done a bang up job. First paving the roads and parking lots. Then expanding a neglected trail to allow for wheelchair bound individuals. Things seem to be really stepping up at the refuge. Which is great. But there has been one trail that up until recently was quite neglected.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Lake Woodruff NWR it is a series of controlled wetlands. Maintained and kept at certain levels to ensure species prosper and flourish. Preservation 101 kind of stuff. It is named after a large lake of the same name. Lake Woodruff. There is a wide canal that connects the Western half of the wetlands to Lake Woodruff. For many years I have passed the canal, which is at the Southern opening of Jones Island. Incidentally there is a trail that follows to the left of the canal.

But...it's been heavily overgrown for a number of years. But about a week ago as I was researching how to become a member of "Friends of Lake Woodruff" (I might donate a bench!) I came across one of their most recent newsletters. It's typical newsletter stuff. What they did and what they have coming up. It seems that this canal trail has been largely cleared since last February! It's been under my nose the whole time and I never even knew it. What a drag. Here's the map I've made of the area.

The plan, according to the newsletter is to completely clear the Canal Trail to Lake Woodruff (The blue dot on the trail marker I made in Google Earth) and build a viewing and fishing platform of some kind. This is really cool for me because it opens up Lake Woodruff itself and Tally Lake, which until now has been impossible to get to. They haven't said whether or not a trail with lead to Tally Lake, but I am certain they will. For fishing it'll be great. The trail is roughly 1.45 miles. So it should be enjoyable even though it's brief in distance.

I was able to get onto Bing Maps and do their "Birds Eye View" setting. It's essentially aerial photographs, but not viewing straight down from the belly of an aircraft. More of a looking out the passenger side window at low altitudes. So I was able to get a fairly good aerial scout at 4 different vantage point angles (N, E, S, W). As best as I can tell the trail does, though not cleared at the time of the photographs obviously, does go all the way to Lake Woodruff.

Not quite sure when I will get a chance to make it out there. Between the 100 degree heat, which will be magnified in the swampy wetlands thanks to humidity, and the now rainy season of thunderstorms finally arriving....it's not quite at the top of my list just yet. But it wouldn't be the first time I've gone out there in stupidly dangerous weather. It's up there on my things to do list, though. I'll be sure to do a GPS Track and upload it to my Every Trail Account for download.

"Big Book Of Everything." Download it NOW.

2011-06-12T17:45:00.001-04:00

A lot of us "Contingency Planners" as I like to call ourselves have over the years compiled binders, books and files. All containing vital information. Birth Certificates, Social Security, Health and Automotive Insurance...etc, etc. Basically in the event of a disaster you have vital information on a myriad of levels both personal and extending to your entire nuclear family. Stuff that as you rebuild your life in the wake of Joplin-esque situation...makes it possible to rebuild.

Most of us have made Ad'Hoc versions. Photocopies of actual documents and this and that. Nothing formal, though a few of us have. My binder is Ad'Hoc, but no longer. Thanks to the friendly fellow known as "MDinana" over at the Equipped To Survive Forums I now have a more formal system. It's called the "Big Book of Everything." A template created by a man named Erik A. Dewey (...Possible relative? I think so!) who is a published writer. It was primarily directed as a form of information for a person's loved ones to find in the event of their death, but as you go through it you can see it is helpful for disaster planning as well.

The Big Book Of Everything can be downloaded in PDF format HERE. An alternate download link can also be found HERE.

In a nutshell you print it out and fill it out. At 44 pages it's not too taxing on any printer ink supply or printer. This is going to be filled out to encompass not just myself, but also the entire family as a whole. It's a good template for beginners, too. Simple. Concise. Tells you what you need and what you might not think you need. I recommend that you fill it out and if you can manage it keep it in a safe location. My choice will be in the vault at my local bank where I maintain a safety deposit box.

PS: Here is another helpful tip along the vein of putting your life back together after a disaster. Insurance companies often require pictures before they will pay your claim. But I was informed recently that some insurance companies will not replace anything that is taken with still photograph. Evidently due to the increase and easy access to photo manipulation software it becomes easier to fake certain objects. Worst of all some pictures can't prove that they were actually in your home or belong to you. They do accept videos. Do a video walk through and close-ups of everything in your home which you want to replace. Put that onto a CD or DVD (Depending on the video file size, of course) and put that into the "Big Book of Everything" binder as well.

Timbuk2 & Tippy Canoe Now Mobile Device Friendly.

2011-06-08T16:12:00.001-04:00

The site is now mobile device friendly for those of you on the go.

Man-1, Nature-0.

2011-05-28T20:41:00.001-04:00

I have no idea who this man is, but he's obviously a badass. Mother Nature decided to pull one of her "100 Year Flood" moves on the people of the Southern half of the mighty Mississippi River. But this guy wasn't having it. Like a ninja drop kicking a foe so hard his heart exploded, this man pulled what I am coining. The John Deere Maneuver. A move so powerful that even God would step back and say "Easy, Bro. I don't want any trouble." And if that's how God reacts then you can imagine how Mother Nature felt when she saw what this guy had done.

This guy didn't have much to lose. Of course he would lose his home and everything it, but in the end he didn't have anything to lose by trying this. It's like Winston Zeddemore from Ghostbusters said. "We have the tools. We have the talent." Well, if you got some farm equipment you can do some pretty cool stuff. It's reported that this guy stayed in his house for six days keeping vigil over his property. According to reports eating only a sandwich a day. As you can see people nearby brought him sand bags and gasoline for his John Deere tractor run pump.

You'll be happy to know that on another user channel (since deleted for privacy reasons, I suspect) they showed after the water went down. His house was fine. He was fine. He opened up part of the levee for his truck, but he said "I'm leaving it up for a while."

Just goes to show you. If life gives you lemons......get your farm equipment and make lemonade and dump the stinging liquid into Mother Nature's face with your ingenuity.

5.11 Tactical "Taclite Pro Pant" Review.

2011-05-25T23:31:00.002-04:00

Smartphones & Survival.

2011-05-22T20:35:00.000-04:00

I'm a child of the 90's. I can recall when my family got our first "mobile phone." It was around 1994 and about the same time when a lot of people were first dabbling into the cellular telephone craze. It was quite large and for the life of me I cannot recall what they were called or who made them. They had a calculator-esque screen and you called people and that was it. Throughout the 90's and into the early 00's the family had a handful of different models. Mostly compliments of one of my parent's vocations requiring him to be contacted and called to work 24/7. A pager on one hip and a cellphone on another.

But now we've entered into the second decade of the 21st century. It's kind of strange to say that or think that, isn't it? And now we have "Smart Phones." Pioneered first by Palm (Now owned by Hewlett Packard) and Blackberry (Research In Motion) and now Apple and Google have gotten in on the game. Phones that have the same computing power in the palm of your hand that are literally hundreds of thousands of times more powerful than the ones used to land on the Moon. And still yet thousands of times more powerful than what computers were just ten years ago. All capable of doing a variety of things that can influence and impact a person's ability to survive in a variety of situations.

"There's an App for that!" has been the new slogan of this generation. A variety of companies make applications for iPhones, Androids, Windows Phones and Blackberry Smart Phones. Much like the computer and the internet connected everyone on Earth via a compendium of all Human knowledge, these apps on smart phones now allow you to do just that no matter where you are. In some cases the apps don't require an internet connection or data link to be used. With this we can now carry with us entire books inside our pockets.

One app that I have been using for sometime now and to great affect is a first aid app. It's called "iMedJet." It's a joint cooperative between Adventure Medical Kits and iMedJet, a travel first aid planning and assistance company. With a few index finger taps I can find out the proper and exact way to provide CPR on an adult, child and infant. Complete with step by step instructions and pictures. This is one of the less obvious features a smart phone can play in survival. It's an obvious one once you realize it, but not quite as obvious to some people.

The more obvious features are the ones marketed to use. Namely how the majority of smart phones (if not all) feature GPS Chips. I am unsure if they are WAAS Enabled Chips or not, but having a GPS in your phone is one way to survive. Knowing where you are can often mean the difference between walking to that highway just over the bend that is out of sight or heading down a river that leads deeper into the woods. I can only testify to the accuracy of the GPS Chip in my iPhone 4. It "syncs" with the satellites quite quickly, but takes around 90 seconds to give me true position. In addition to the GPS Chip there is also a built in electronic compass. Also helpful. I have been informed that many telecom companies are able to "ping" phones with three or more cell towers to triangulate a person's position and in some cases access the GPS coordinates to give to Search & Rescue.

Smart phones also because of their complex nature tend to have better power management properties. Their software is also more intricate and thus provides you with a little better battery life than a traditional cellphone I have noticed. These are tiny computers, as I said before. And like all computers smart phones feature "sleep" settings. Like turning off various things inside of your laptop to save on battery power, you can turn off Wi-Fi, GPS or enter what many phones call "Airplane Mode" or "Flight Mode." This turns all receiver and transceiver functions to allow use while on an airplane without interfering with the pilot trying to keep you alive.

Of course probably the best feature of any smart phone and cellphones in general is Text Messaging. It has truly "renovated" the way many people talk to each other on a daily basis. The next logical evolution of E-Mail as it were. Sending a text message requires very little power and often is capable of being sent when you have no reception at all. A few bits of letters requires less power and open bandwidth than a 911 call. I can recall a number of stories where this was the saving grace for many a lost or injured person.

There is one feature that is on many smart phones now, but I do not believe has been fully realized in the way of emergency use. That is the camera and the increasing ability to have video conference calls even over cellphones. At present time my iPhone 4 requires a Wi-Fi connection to make "FaceTime" (Apple's video conferencing, but that is going to change soon. What exactly does video conference calling mean for emergencies and survival? Well fairly soon a person will be able to make a video call to emergency services and a more accurate diagnosis can be made of the situation. One of the saving graces of 911 is that the operators are trained to keep you calm and stay on the line with you. Soon they'll be able to be a face on your phone to keep you calm. A much more amiable situation than just a voice in the darkness.

But anytime you take electronics into the woods or in any emergency situation there is a trade off. As I said before these are things that require electricity and are fragile electronics. Moisture, sand and grim can cripple them. But if you build a proper emergency energy kit to accompany you and your smart phone on outings and trips then you just might be okay. But a recent BBC report stated that rescues were increased 50% because hikers relied too much on their phones. Still it is something that I feel safer having, but I'll still do what I do best. Have a back-up plan for the back-up plan. A normal compass and a map always at hand.

No School Like The Old School.

2011-05-09T21:29:00.001-04:00

At long last I have found a modern day version of a classic. By that I mean a quality leather hiking boot that is both elegant, old school classic and functional. Memory foam inside makes it more modern, I reckon. The thanks goes to my Father who is a man of few words, but enjoys giving gifts.

The Johnston & Murphy "Ridgemont Trek Boot." Beautiful and damned comfortable. Waterproof lining. Lambskin interior. Waterproof nubuck upper. Outstanding. Going to get a lot of miles out of these babies.

I have two pairs of 5.11 Tactical "Tac-Lite Pro" Pants from LAPoliceGear.com that these babies will look beautiful with. Also unlike many other boots these look good with shorts, too.

T.A.D. Gear MOLLE Panel Review.

2011-05-01T16:47:00.002-04:00

Being Recognized Is Cool.

2011-04-27T14:49:00.000-04:00

Today I planned a trip out to Blue Spring State Park. As some of you know I free dive. Very limited free diving now because of an ear injury. But I still enjoy the naturalist aspect of it as much as I did the adrenaline rush. The trip was quite nice and I spent from 11AM to 2PM diving and generally swimming around. Swam right into a huge school of freshwater mullet and that was amusing.

But the best part was when I was talking to two women. They were telling me how they love Blue Spring and it was their first time. We talked and I told them about Alexander, which they said they were staying at with their RV and about Juniper and Salt Springs, which they were going to check out soon. Afterwards they asked me what I did. I said "Sort of a traveler writer, I guess" and then one of them said "Are you that tippy canoe guy?! My Father saw your site about this park. I'll have to tell him about this! He loves your site."

Awesome.

And I also got to break in my new Canon Powershot SX130IS. Twelve zoom and 12 Megapixels. Outstanding.

T.A.D. Gear "FAST Pack Litespeed" Review.

2011-04-19T19:07:00.001-04:00

100,000 Visits.

2011-04-17T18:33:00.003-04:00

100,000 Visits since around 2008. Not bad for a bum like me.

Videos to come..

Review of Triple Aught Design Gear's FAST Pack Litespeed.

And here's a little photographic preview of the Litespeed.

FYI: The removable MOLLE/PAL Panel (Also known as the Beaver Tail for shooters) is epic.

T.A.D. Gear Pathfinder Jacket Review

2011-04-05T22:54:00.002-04:00

Disclaimer: This was sent to me for review by T.A.D. Gear.

Lessons Learned From Wednesdays Tornado.

2011-04-01T12:24:00.001-04:00

Well, I learned a few lessons on Wednesday. I'll go through them very briefly. Some of them I am very shocked I didn't remember, know already or have on hand. Lessons learned, though.

Remember what oil weight you originally started with in your generator. That way when you pass 25 hour and 50 hour use you can easily replace it. The manual on my generator is quite vague and some engines don't allow for replacement of oil if you STARTED with organic or synthetic. By that I mean if you started with organic you may have to stick with organic. The manual isn't clear on that. But I called up Briggs & Stratton. The lady said "Just use straight 30 weight." So I made sure to make a big note of that in my Engine Manual.
With the "digital tv switchover" done don't expect to get any television signals if your cable or satellite is down. Old portable TV's are useless. I am going to be purchasing a small portable digital TV and a Digital Tuner for my largest television. That way if the cable and/or satellite is down there is still the ability to get news. AM/FM Radio is worthless now for news I have found.
If you are worried about downed limbs and are too frightened by a chainsaw and having to mix oil and gasoline there is one alternative. It was brought to my attention by a forum member at the Equipped.org Forum. Purchase a battery operated reciprocating saw and put on a high quality, long pruning blade. It'll do the job. Still..towing a tree away in Low Gear with my SUV was more fun.

Generator Setup & Then the Resulting Tornado 5 Minutes Later! (Real Life Situation!)

2011-03-31T11:45:00.002-04:00

So basically everything worked according to plan. Here's the three pictures I took.

Then this morning we had a lot of rain. Flooding. One of the drainage systems has a broken/rusted pipe and it eroded away a bunch of dirt that now has exposed my electrical, cable and phone lines. Swell!

Bower .45X Wide/Macro Lens For Flip Video Recorders

2011-03-27T21:41:00.002-04:00

A Prophetic Article From Popular Mechanics.

2011-03-20T17:57:00.001-04:00

A few days ago I got in the mail the April issue of PM. Been a subscriber for about 4 years now. Never paid. I cash in my points at the end of each year from the boxes of soda I consume in massive quantities.

But I digress...

So, the April issue comes. Aside from the typical awesome stuff there is a very interesting article that obviously was authored and went to press long before this Japanese nuclear reactor "problem" even happened. The article is on page 20 incase you're browsing a news stand near you in the next few days. The article discusses the infamous 130 page publication put out by the U.S. Government in 2010. It was handed out to local authorities and has in it planning for a 10 kiloton nuclear bomb going off. Which if I may pause for a moment and tell you this. 10 kilotons is really, really small and borders on not even a nuclear explosion. Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren't that small. Think about that. Maybe the U.S. Government isn't prepared to frighten people with the reality of a 20+ Kiloton blast or maybe they figure the terrorists aren't bright enough to manage anything bigger than a 10. Who knows.

The publication, according to the PM article says that anyone outside the blast radius should get into basements or any other type of underground space. Obviously! Recommended time to stay below ground is around 12 hours. This is mostly because fallout drops 90% within the first 7 hours of detonation. Of course the reason they tell you go to to ground is because the harmful "rays" put off by radiation cannot penetrate certain metals, earth and concrete.

I found this easy to understand picture to explain what would really take 250 more words that would do it no justice.

All of these particles are put off by radiation. Either from fallout of a nuclear explosion or a leaking nuclear energy plant.

What makes this article especially eerie in light of recent events is that is discusses what to do if you are above ground. How to make fallout shelter out of most things in your home. Naturally in many places of the World there are no basements. Florida for example has no basements because of the low water table. So this really applies to me and will be photocopied (the article) and put into my disaster file.

Here's the 4 steps they list.

Find a solid table, desk or workbench that is tall enough to fit survivors and supplies.
Surround it with shielding, such as books, mattresses or furniture. Several inches of protection is enough to stop radiation.
Gather your supplies. Don't go overboard-you may only need 12 hours worth.
Block the entrance, but include two small vents for air flow.

It also goes onto to list the following as "supplies." The bold are my own little insights.

Handcrank Radio: Listen for updates on fire and radiation risks.
Bucket: Use for personal sanitation. (I cannot imagine that making a small area smell great...)
Medicine: Fill prescriptions so that you always have a few days' worth. (ie. Call 3 days ahead when you are due for a refill.)
Food: Opt for snacks and bottled water.
Dosimeter: Emerge when the pen sized device detects "low ionizing" radiation; a safe level depends on how long it will take to find a new shelter. (Which really is quite vague....)

The thing I am reminded by this article is that a fair amount of radioactive waves can be blocked by things as thin as paper. That's not to say you will be 100% "clean" of any radioactivity if you did what Popular Mechanics discussed for an above ground furniture, mattress and book "shelter." It'll just shield you, but not 100% protect you. A way to be shielded for a time and when the fallout dies down, you can then move to a safer shelter.

Weird article, right? Really weird.

Wenger "Evo S10" Review.

2011-03-15T21:59:00.001-04:00

For My Friend Christina.

2011-03-15T21:47:00.001-04:00

When you hit a certain age you begin to recall places. I'm that way now. Specifically a place I hadn't gone to in literally ten years. I spent three to nine weeks every summer there thanks to family property until I hit the absurdity of teenage lunacy. It's very close and weird how I hadn't gone back until recently. Why didn't I go back? Who knows. Life takes you through changes and stuff happens. To quote Stephen King "SSDD." I'm sure you somewhat well read people will get the reference. But on the plus side it's right next to Turtle Mound State Park and Canaveral National Seashore. So adventures be happenin'.

But I digress....

One great thing about this sleepy seaside town on a barrier island (I know. Bad in a disaster.) is that it is the hometown of Bob Ross. Yes, the white man with the afro from PBS and his "happy" bushes and trees.

What makes this sleepy town so funny is that it has a Bob Ross store! My friend Christina is a children's book illustrator. I mentioned to her once that Bob Ross lived nearby and that we had a Bob Ross store. She was quite surprised. I believe she said that her first set of paints were Bob Ross paints. So for her...I present this picture I took today.

The Bob Ross store! Surrounded by two different chinese food places. Weird, right? Right.

EDC Emergency Power Kit.

2011-03-13T18:27:00.002-04:00

Outdoor Products "Cellphone Dry Box" Review.

2011-03-12T00:21:00.001-05:00

"Outdoor Products" Combo 3 Pack Ditty Bags Review.

2011-03-06T21:46:00.001-05:00

"Outdoor Products" Packable Day Pack Review.

2011-03-05T19:09:00.001-05:00

RIBZ Front Pack Review.

2011-03-04T21:01:00.002-05:00

New Products from "Outdoor Products" at Wal-Mart.

2011-03-04T00:11:00.000-05:00

Fishing Season Is Here.

2011-02-23T20:24:00.001-05:00

Well, I wasn't quite sure that Spring was totally here. The Bass have been making their beds, but we suddenly had weather that went from the low 60's to the mid to high 80's. It shocked all of the bass away from the beds I had marked on my GPS during a recent trip to Lake Woodruff NWR. I do a good 50% of my fishing there. Accessible, plenty of fish and hiking all rolled into one.

How am I sure? Yesterday evening I sauntered on down to the pond, the smallest of two, behind my house. I have been making afternoon pilgrimages to it since the first of this month. Not a bite. Not a single thing. Plenty of fish were visible thanks to my polarized Oakley "Half-Jackets." But they weren't biting. Then quite suddenly yesterday they were. In the span of 45 minutes I had landed five noteworthy bass. They were repeatedly quite violent against my lure (Chatter Frog. Check Wal-Mart) in between the five I was able to hook. I took this as a good sign.

But I still wasn't quite sure until this afternoon. The temperature was dropping and the fish had collected in the last two feet of Sun drenched water. If the fish would be biting it would be there and if Spring had come they would be biting. Sure enough today exceeded yesterdays totals. The fish were quite energetic as I quickly reeled in my lure hoping not to get bites, but to allow the rattler inside to annoy the fish and bring them about. But sure enough despite my rapid reeling they caught on. So now I am sure.

And now that I am sure I've assembled my kit and will be venturing out soon to Lake Woodruff NWR among other locales to get in some back country fishing.

Not seen of course is my hook puller, which was outside from today's enjoyable fishing. I put on some fresh 6lb. Fluorocarbon line onto my Ultralight Rod. Why ultralight? Because a full size rod in the back country is annoying. Besides this is more than enough rod for what I catch. I go with an assortment of everything from soft plastics, jigs all the way to crank baits.

And wouldn't you know it? My new 10x4" Bottle Holder Kit goes quite well with my Survival Resources orange RIBZ Front Pack turned back country tackle box.

PS: Vintage "Green Lantern" t-shirt. You know you're jealous.

Putting Together Your Own Maxpedition 10x4 Bottle Holder Kit: A Look Inside My Own.

2011-02-22T22:51:00.002-05:00

Often when I want to make something I need visual reference. Inspiration. A muse. And in this line of hobbies and interest that means pictures of other people kits. The contents lists. So forth and so on. So I thought I'd break it down for all of you what I have in my 10x4 Kit. Both the components, both internal and external. Hopefully it will give you an idea of how to proceed with your own versions, variations or clones.

Maxpedition 10x4" Bottle Holder.

I would not touch on this now, but it is a curious thing I noticed that could save your life. The bottle holder works as a solar still. If the temperature outside is warmer than the water inside, naturally the bottle sweats. In a survival situation put the GSI Cup into the bottom. It will collect the condensation and give you more water than you actually have. On a recent hike I acquired five ounces.

Onboard Pouch.

Empty for now. Holds two king size Snickers bars, though!

Front MOLLE/PAL Webbing.

Leatherman Small MOLLE Pouch. Holds anything from the "Blast" all the way up to the "Super Tool 300." Can also hold 111mm Victorinox Locking Knives. I am going with a Super Tool 300.
Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS Unit. Kept safe on neoprene pouch, which as best as I can tell has been discontinued. But an alternative, which is actually better, can be found here.

Maxpedition Cocoon Pouch.

Condor Outdoor/ModGear Gadget Bag. (An affordable clone to the Maxpedition M1.)

First Aid Kit. (Equivalent to 2 AMK Pocket Medics+Medicines.)
Emergency Poncho.
John McCann Survival Resources New Pouch Survival Kit.
1 One Quart Emergency Water Bag.

Timbuk2 2" Strap, Timbuk2 Cross Strap, Maxpedition 2" Strap Pad.

With the setup the way it is, I find it all quite well balanced. There is still one row of MOLLE/PAL webbing beside the Cocoon that allows for either another Cocoon Pouch (I recommend that) or something of similar shape and size, be it sheath or another type of pouch. If you want to carry the Leatherman Pouch on your belt and the GPS as well then you have two rows of MOLLE/PAL open and free, but only two high which does limit you to pouches of similar height and width to the Gadget Bag. There are various ways to configure this kit. Especially if you choose to get the larger version of the bottle holder, the 12x5" Bottle Holder.

10x4 Bottle Bag Kit: Final Verdict & Maxped Strap Pad Review.

2011-02-20T18:12:00.001-05:00

Maxpedition 10x4 Field Test.

2011-02-15T17:23:00.002-05:00

When I returned home I managed to find my "Timbuk2 Cross Strap" as it is called. I've enclosed a handful of pictures of how the setup works. It is not quite as stable as it is on the actual Timbuk2 Messenger Bags, but it works quite well.

The strap by itself.

The strap assembled and on the 2" shoulder strap.

Assembled and worn.

Gate clip of cross strap connected to the right D-Ring on the 10x4 bag. If you sling the kit over your left shoulder, then connect it to the left D-Ring.

Survival Resources 1 Quart Water Bag Review.

2011-02-12T15:35:00.002-05:00

Survival Resources Neck Pouch Survival Kit Review.

2011-02-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

Maxpedition 10x4" Bottle Holder Kit.

2011-02-10T20:47:00.001-05:00

Where Do I Find GPS Maps For Garmin Units?!

2011-02-08T19:05:00.000-05:00

You have a GPS. I know you do. For all their faults and reliances, we do have them. I have one. I love it. Problem of course is who the Hell wants to pay for maps that for all intents and purposes are free if they were printed onto paper? I sure don't. But fortunately some time back, and I'm quite amazed I haven't shared this with my readers yet, I found a site that has free maps. It's all user submitted, too.

It's called GPS File Depot. They're still somewhat small, but over the past year I have found that the map I downloaded, which is literally all of Florida, has been updated several times. I actually deleted the paid for map memory card and put their Florida Topo Map onto it and it's far, far better. So if you have a Garmin and want more maps or don't want to pay for new updated maps check them out.

Fishing Spot Scout at Lake Woodruff NWR.

2011-02-08T17:59:00.003-05:00

Here is the overlay of waypoints I found today.

I wasn't able to get into the back country because of renovation. I'll have to make an effort to get back there to do some spotting. One side feeds directly into Lake Woodruff itself and has much greater numbers of invasive species turned sport fish for Floridians.

Victorinox WorkChamp Review.

2011-02-07T23:18:00.003-05:00

Drop Leg Field Test.

2011-02-06T16:55:00.004-05:00

So, there it is. I'm really pleased with it. There was some concern on my part and others that it wouldn't work out so well. I find that I will probably use this along with my RIBZ or a vest. I also in a previous post commented how I would use it as a platform for survival gear while backpack camping. So that option is there as well.

As for the modifications I will make. I'll probably order the "Neck Pouch Survival Kit" by Survival Resources.com. It's the same as John's "Pocket Survival Tin", but in a waterproof pouch and on neck lanyard. I'll get all the goodies of the tin kit which comprises the core of all my other kits, but in a nice flat waterproof pouch. Throw in an emergency poncho (Which I took out of my Falcon II for today) along with one of John's 1 Quart Emergency Water Bags and I will be set with this kit.

Naturally if I am hiking with just this rig much there will be the obvious lack of a water container. To drink while hiking. Incidentally I finally have gotten around to ordering Maxpedition's 10x4 Bottle Holder. A favorite among Survival Kit builders lately. So I figure that'll be a future product. But the great thing is I can go lightweight and just add the strap from an old Timbuk2 bag to the bottle holder to accompany the drop left system. I might actually cover some ground quicker in the more rough terrain.

The 10 NEW Essentials For Outdoors. (Link Repaired).

2011-02-03T21:57:00.001-05:00

I browse the forums quite actively. Especially on days like today when I endure some oral surgery, take a nap, eat a whole milkshake and chicken strips (A new personal record). I came across an interesting PDF that a Seattle media outlet put together. It's the new 10 essentials for the outdoors. It's quite informative and interesting. You can find it here.

Drop Leg Survival Kit.

2011-02-02T19:38:00.001-05:00

End of January 2011 Hike.

2011-01-31T16:10:00.002-05:00

3 Good Books For The Outdoorsman.

2011-01-29T17:11:00.002-05:00

The Final Verdict On The Super Tool 300 Ordeal.

2011-01-28T20:58:00.003-05:00

More Things That Make Me Happy.

2011-01-27T23:15:00.000-05:00

Condor MOLLE/PAL Thigh Platform. Leatherman MOLLE Pouch (Awaiting that ST300). Condor Gadget Bag (FAK and PSK inside, naturally). ESEE Izula.

Perhaps a video to come, I should think.

EDC Hygiene Kit.

2011-01-27T19:55:00.002-05:00

Musings On Why We Document and Share Our Adventures.

2011-01-26T20:11:00.002-05:00

I get embarrassed easily in some situations. Not because I stumble or stutter. I do, of course do those things quite often. But I get embarrassed when I find myself talking into the lens of a camera as I round the bend of a trail then quite suddenly finding other hikers. So far none have laughed at me, but they always give the same reaction. They give you that kind of look you see in a Western movie. You know the look. When the protagonist walks into the saloon and everyone from the bartender, piano and card players looks at him. It is a look of no real meaning. A look that baffles and embarrasses. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Over the past decade technology has afforded men like I the ability to document. Everything and anything we so choose. For those of us who love the outdoors we document both in still and moving picture our adventures. We all know who we are and each other thanks in no small part to the Internet. It has given us the ability to share our lives in the outdoors. From simple camping trips, day hikes all the way up to bare bones essential outings with only blankets of wool and shelters made of garbage bags. It’s really funny sometimes when you think about it. How simple it has become to learn a skill that once would require thousands of miles of travel, now requires a ten minute video. Then you’re out of the door and ready to test it in the field.

It wasn’t until recently that I really began to wonder why we do this. Men, and some women, of the outdoors who document and spread their experiences across the vast gulf of the internet. I never gave it much thought beyond a simple sharing of information. That is until I ran into a man in a local state park I frequent. He asked me why so many Americans, he was from the UK, go outdoors and record what happens. The man almost seemed to be displeased with it. At the time I did not notice it, but looking back I could tell he was not an outdoors man. Generally when I meet people from another country I enjoy being a little xenophobic. I like to play the pompous American just to rile their feathers. I replied...

“Oh, it’s an American thing.”

The man was less than thrilled with my reply. Do not mistake me for a cruel man, though. I have had be my fair share of jabs taken at me by foreigners. At a wedding in a local hotel visiting European skydiver commented that Americans take themselves too seriously at weddings. He told us we should “rewax” in his thick accent. This all happened in the span of about 90 seconds in the hotel elevator on the way to the after reception party in the suite. The attractive bridesmaid I was with laughed a little. But I digress. Why do we do it?

Often when I am presented with a problem or dilemma of a philosophical nature I reflect on history. Specially the time after Christopher Columbus accidentally discovered the Western Hemisphere. Exploration is a word that means so many things to me. I once in a similar article of musings wondered if there was any “frontiers” left in the World. I admire men like Vasco da Gama who looked at the end of maps. They asked themselves what is beyond the blank of the maps. Eventually the Western Continents were tamed and America was born.

Why do I specially move ahead to America? Nepotism, perhaps. But growing up in America we learn so much about American explorers. At least in the schools I went to we did. One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson was perhaps one of the first explorers. In just about every field known to man, but more importantly the Natural World. It was during his presidency that he purchased for fifteen million dollars the territory of “Louisiana” from Napoleon Boneparte. It more than doubled the United States, but Jefferson did it also in the hope that there would be new sights to see. Animals, plants and people. He even mused that maybe Mammoths still walked the Earth.

Exploration. The Natural World. Two things that go hand in hand with one another in my opinion. One often furthers the other. Those who wish to see what is beyond the edges of the frayed maps bring along those who want to see new life. Vice versa as well. It was Jefferson who commissioned the famous expedition we all know now as the “Lewis and Clark Expedition.” They were of course not the only men to have gone across the Midwest and into the Pacific Northwest in search of the Pacific Ocean. But why they went was quite unique. Lewis and Clark, both skilled woodsmen, naturalists and mapmakers went to see what was out there.

They documented everything. Sent back bones, plants, drawings and all manner of Native American artifacts. Many of them are in museums and Jefferon’s home in Virginia. It was a uniquely American journey. Incidentally it was the first recorded time in American history that a woman and a black man voted. This expedition opened the West to the American people and onward to the United States we know of today. The outdoors and America go hand in hand. A hearty people who tamed a mighty continent.

I may sound a fool by neglecting to mention that for thousands of years Native Americans lived and traveled the continent long before any European ever knew of it’s existence. I am no fool, though. I count it because that woman who voted? She was a Native American. We all know her name. She even managed to be immortalized on currency. She the most vital person on that trip. She guided Lewis and Clark all while carrying a baby in her womb and then with the aid of William Clark gave birth to a son. The father was a French trader who aided Lewis and Clark. Like I said, hearty people.

My point in all of this is that we grew up hearing about these stories. Men like William Clark, Merriwether Lewis, John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt. Explorers, but naturalists firsts. Men who respected nature and studied it closely. Who realized how interconnected humanity really is with the World around them. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again the hippies got it right. We’re dependent on the Earth and not the other way around. I know that may be controversial, but I believe it to be the truth.

Back to the question at hand. Why do we do it? Heck. I don’t know. Some do it because they just plain enjoy it. That might be why I do it. Others do it to remember men like I’ve mentioned above. Or by practicing primitive living skills one is connected with those that have come before them. Many do it to further better understand the natural world and to preserve it.

Theodore Roosevelt said it best when he created national parks and wildlife refuges. He wanted America’s wild spaces to “last the ages.”

I’m not quite sure there are any words in the English language or any language to name what it is that draws us out into the outdoors. I think it’s about remembrance and kinsman ship. Living a life that is similar to those great men who’s knotche's are high upon the measuring stick of history which makes us feel like them. In some ways that is how I feel about the subject. We document it to share. To last the ages, perhaps? Perhaps.

Well played, Leatherman.

2011-01-26T16:36:00.003-05:00

I was quite surprised today, I must say. Usually when I have a product break, fail or come defective and in this case return to me still un-repaired none of the companies give a crap.

So! Naturally I was ready to put on my "I have been wronged!" war face. This is that face.

But I did not need my war face. When I returned home I got a nice e-mail from the Director of Product Management at Leatherman. Or at least one of the directors. Her e-mail is as follows...

"I wanted to contact you directly concerning your warranty claim of the Super Tool 300. I’ve actually been following your blog on line and completely understand your frustration.

I asked to review your tool and it seems that the issue is that the handle springs were not pre-loaded properly. The springs seem to be deformed which could have been caused by a variety of issues from initial spring bending to heat treat. Clearly, the resulting loose latches are completely unacceptable. My even bigger concern is that this tool reached the hands of a customer. As a lean manufacturing organization, the deformed spring should have never made it past manufacturing to assembly. I don’t have an explanation as to how or why you received this faulty product, but it was clearly a mistake on our end.

Providing customers with high quality products and excellent customer service are part of our core values at Leatherman. We aim to exceed expectations of our customers on the performance and quality of our products and service. Clearly we did not do that with our initial interactions with you, so please accept my apologies and know that your feedback is important and helps us find errors in our current processes that results in better products and service for all.

A replacement product is being shipped to you today.

Kind regards,

Anna

Anna Martens

Director of Product Management

Leatherman Tool Group, Inc."

Well played, Leatherman. Well played indeed. My expectations were not very high. I figured I would a the very least get a tightened up and not wobbly Super Tool 300. Which would have suited me just fine. At the best I figured I would get a refurbished Super Tool 300 from their Warranty Center. Well, Leatherman did right. They did something so few companies do. They said, as you read above, "A bad one got by. We're sorry. We're going to correct this. A new one will be shipping today." That, my friends is called making things right and doing what you can to keep your consumer.

This has give me new faith in Leatherman. True, they do have one strike against them in my book. But it is one that has an asterisk next to it with "see notes" in the back of my book. Where it will promptly say "They fixed it. It's all good." But still new faith in the company none the less.

One thing I learned from this experience is this. If you are an outdoor blogger and your outdoor product fails you, one which you are A.) Testing and B.) Going to be using for personal use? When you e-mail the company don't just sign your name. Sign your name and your blog. Let them know "Hey! I am the unseen free advertisers that...you know....help you guys...a lot...often." I find they treat you much more appropriately.

Cocoon Survival Pouch.

2011-01-24T20:57:00.002-05:00

Lake Woodruff January 2011.

2011-01-23T18:33:00.000-05:00

I managed to get some time outdoors. Between writing two books (Yes, they're still being worked on. Two at a time. I'm a weird guy) and being lazy I didn't get to it till Sunday. Sadly it was not a good day. A beautiful day, but as the video shows too many people. And a rather annoying boat making a lot of noise.

Victorinox "Adventurer" and "Atlas" Reviews.

2011-01-21T19:31:00.003-05:00

Fix it, Fix it, Fix it, Fix it!

2011-01-19T22:23:00.001-05:00

Leatherman gets my returned Super Tool 300 in 6 days. I presumably will get it back 8-16 days after that. I hope.

Things That Make Me Happy.

2011-01-19T19:24:00.000-05:00

Now if I could only get some International Orange or StayGlow scales for my Victorinox OH-Trekker.

Leatherman Unveils 2 New Tools at SHOT Show.

2011-01-18T19:39:00.002-05:00

Tragically I didn't get the chance to go to the SHOT Show this year. Next time it is at the Orange County Convention Center I will surely go. If I can get a pass or just sneak in. I hear it's fairly easy.

And speaking of sneaking. I was told by a friend that Leatherman unveiled two new multi-tools today. And while by the time I got the news via e-mail, the goons at Leatherman's P.R. department beat me to the punch. It's all over the web, but I'll post it here anyway.

The "Sidekick."

The "Wingman."

Very interesting, if I do say so. The information on them is quite fascinating as well. It seems they're entering into a little more cost affective pricing according to the information I was able to find out about them. Here is the press release/facebook announcement I was able to find.

"Hey all-
Thanks for taking a look here at out new products for 2011. The idea here was to eventually replace the older Kick and Fuse with two new models that not only have tons of features, but also an updated look – including the outside accessible blades/features like the Wave. The best part is we’re going to be offering these at a very wallet-friendly MSRP of $29.99 for the Wingman and $39.99 for the Sidekick. And no we didn’t go overseas to make these :) Keeping those jobs right here (or there cause I’m in Vegas right now) in Portland.

So you’re probably wondering what’s in these little guys…Oh and “little” is not just a fun word here. These are actually on a bit smaller fame than our normal “full-size” tools where they measure 4” closed. The Wingman and Sidekick are pocket friendly and pretty light. I’ve listed the size measurements below with the specs.

After about a year of consumer, “channel” (the retailers and what they want) research, materials and manufacturing research and testing, these two models are a very strong answer to what we found people were looking for. Many of you are seasoned multi-tool owners. The Sidekick and Wingman are definitely geared more for the first-time buyer. Someone who may not be familiar with how helpful a multi-tool can be, but isn’t sure they want to invest just yet in a Wave, or Skeletool, or maybe a Super Tool looks like a little more than they’ll need.

I know many of you will have questions about why we didn’t add this or that, or why it’s this size or configuration vs. that. That’s what I love about all you fans, you are always asking and challenging. I’ll try to get back to your questions as soon as I can, but I’ll be at the show most of the day; just got up early to post these so you were truly the first folks outside Leatherman to see these.

Sidekick SPECS
Stainless Steel Body
Spring-action Needlenose Pliers
Spring-action Regular Pliers
Wire Cutters
420HC Combo Knife
420HC Serrated Knife
Saw
Wood/Metal File
Ruler (1 in | 2.54 cm)
Small Screwdriver
Medium Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Bottle Opener
Can Opener
Wire Stripper
Carabiner Bottle Opener
Removable Pocket Clip
Lanyard Ring
Closed Length: 3.8 in | 9.7 cm
Blade Length: 2.6 in | 6.6 cm*
Weight: 7.0 oz | 198.4 g

Wingman SPECS
Stainless Steel Body
Spring-action Needlenose Pliers
Spring-action Regular Pliers
Wire Cutters
420HC Combo Knife
Package Opener
Wood/Metal File
Scissors
Small Screwdriver
Medium Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Ruler (1 in | 2.54 cm)
Bottle Opener
Can Opener
Wire Stripper
Removable Pocket Clip
Closed Length: 3.8 in | 9.7 cm
Blade Length: 2.6 in | 6.6 cm*
Weight: 7.0 oz | 198.4 g"

What's this about entry level marketing? People who may not be familiar with Leatherman tools, but still willing to invest an MSRP of $29.95 and $39.95 respectively? People who don't want to invest in a more expensive tool like a Wave, Skeletool or Super Tool 300. It maketh me thinketh that Leatherman has replacements for other tools in the works.

MSRP obviously means it won't be selling (Oh, it will for a little while, actually) for that price. They'll probably be selling for $25-27.95 and $35-37.95 for a brief period of time. But I suspect you will see vendors (Amazon, namely) selling them for around $19.95 and $29.95 respectively not long after they hit the market. Maybe a quarter after initial release you will see a drop.

Don't get me wrong. My recent unfortunateness with Leatherman didn't affect my opinion at all. But believe it or not these tools actually are making me feel a little better about what direction they're heading in. I think they went into the wrong direction by scaling down the "Skeletool" in the form of the "Freestyle" and revamping and introducing various keychain multi-tools. I'm much happier to see them back after about I guess an almost six or seven year break in renovating, or in this case reintroducing full sized multi-tools. That is a good thing. I think Tim Leatherman decided to get back to the bread and butter and work on the full size lineup again. Smart, Tim. Very smart. I actually mean that. Tim's a good guy who is the Steve Jobs of Multi-Tools.

The question you're all asking is right now do I recommend them? Of course. But true to the press release they do appear to be "beginner" and "introductory"full size models for new users. Will I pick them up? Certainly. I'm a collector and reviewer. I can honestly see the "Sidekick" as being something cost affective one could throw into a survival kit. The "Wingman" looks like a good urban EDC multi-tool. The question is will I like them or not? Yeah, probably. Leatherman knows what they're doing.

*Pictures are promotional images released by Leatherman. No copyright infringement.

What's Your Favorite Swiss Army Knife?

2011-01-17T15:33:00.001-05:00

An Update on Leatherman.

2011-01-15T13:30:00.004-05:00

Today in the mail I received the pre-paid UPS Ground envelope they are providing me. It is decent and good. Has a tracking number. I think I can schedule a pick-up on the UPS website for Monday. That means the ST300 will probably get to them by the following Monday. Weather permitting, of course. Amusingly the woman who I am dealing with must be a blonde. There were a few stray very long blonde hairs stuck to the envelopes taped lip. Appears to be bleached as the roots are brown. That's the scientist in me coming out, I suppose.

Sadly they included their typical Warranty/Repair Form. I guess I gotta fill that out again. It's a bit annoying and if you don't fill it out properly they don't accept it. I have horrific handwriting, too. So good times, good times indeed.

Hopefully this time around they will fix this ST300. And as usual here is a clip from Futurama to convey my feelings about wanting the ST300 to come back working properly.

Alox "Farmer" and "Harvester": Bushcraft Buddies.

2011-01-13T14:55:00.001-05:00

Well played, Leatherman. Well played.

2011-01-11T17:27:00.005-05:00

Well, today I woke up and found out that I had a cracked tooth. Yeah, sucks. Went to the Dentist and got a cleaning. I go tomorrow when he has time to do the repair work. It's an old filling that was about to go anyway. It's all good.

But I did just check my e-mail. Sure enough Leatherman contacted me. It warranty department forwarded the e-mail to one of their specialists.

Here is the e-mail...

" Your e-mail has been forwarded to me as I work closely with the Warranty Dept. Oh my, I apologize for the condition of the ST300 that you received back. I’m not sure what part you are referring to that was not tightened, but we certainly want to make sure you have a returned tool that is usable for you. (We’re very happy to know that your Sideclip is fine).
Due to these circumstances I would be happy to send you a prepaid envelope to get that ST300 returned at our expense. Please confirm your address so I can coincide with your records on file. Did you have it returned to your business address or to your home address?
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and I hope to hear from you soon."

I'll keep you all up to date on the process.

Still No Word From Leatherman.

2011-01-10T21:13:00.006-05:00

Today is Monday. The day when all of us, well most of us (Excluding struggling, starving artists) have to get up and go to work. The start of the work week. The holy and yet horrific day we all dread when Sunday rolls around.

So I expected to get some kind of reply from Leatherman's Warranty Department. In the past I've gotten replies within a 18-24 hour period. No reply as of yet. Granted I did send my complaint in on a Saturday. Granted Monday must be the day when they're swamped with weekend overflow answers.

Those the Victorinox "SwissTool" and "Spirit" are getting prettier and prettier the longer this takes Leatherman.

What? C'mon, Leatherman.

2011-01-08T12:51:00.004-05:00

So as some of you know I mailed in my Super Tool 300 along with another MT for warranty repair. The 300 came to me from Amazon.com with wobble and loose parts. I mailed it out on the 30th to Leatherman for warranty repairs. Never got any e-mail from them telling me they got it, which they say they will do. I finally got it back today in an unmarked beat to hell envelope mailer package. Nothing inside. The tools were not even wrapped or packaged for safety. Oddly they tell you, the user to wrap the tools when you send them in. They did not.

The "SideClip" they tightened as I requested. The 300? They did nothing to it. They didn't tighten or replace it.

Depending on the outcome of their reply to an e-mail I sent to their customer service center defines whether I will continue to use their tools. If they do not replace the 300 I will be forced to end an almost 15 year old long consumer relationship with them. I will continue to use my Leatherman's but I do not foresee purchasing newer ones in the future. I'll take my friends advice to heart. "Buy a Spirit by Victorinox. You and I both know that's guaranteed to come out of the box working like a Rolls Royce."

Sad, really. This just reaffirms the rumors that Leatherman's quality is going down the hills.

Maxpedition Single Sheath Review.

2011-01-07T22:12:00.001-05:00