Hello everyone, here's my latest vid of some camping / hiking /
backpacking equipment I picked up and used quite a bit this past summer.
The ultralight burner stove
Weight: In orange case: 4.0 oz.
Burner only: 3.2 oz
Purchase price was less than $15
Pros: Very light, comes in a case, easy to use, quite sturdy, affordable price, compact size
Con:
The pin that adjusts the flame can come off, it reattaches back with no
problem but just make sue it/s snug and secure before you even attach
it to a flammable canister.
Three leg stand and adapter
Weight: 2.9 oz
Puchase price was less than $10
Pros: Light, very sturdy, affordable, compact size
Cons: None
I
used this primarily for our road trip this past summer. I had it set up
on the ground, on a table, and a countertop. i never had any issues
with it being too wobbly. It was quite convenient to have in the truck
and doesn't take up much space at all.
Overall, I'm very happy with the products. Hope this helps with your purchasing decision.
This is a quick look at the Cardshark folding knife. Purchased this for less than $10 on sale.
Some things I like about it:
Lightweight - weighs ~14gms
Fits perfectly in your wallet due to its credit card size dimensions.
Durable (so far) - I've carried this around in my wallet/pocket and so far no damage done to it.
Easy & safe to use - it has a lock for the blade so it doesn't accidentally flip on the open position. It turns into a knife in 4 motions - unlock safety, flip blade, fold smaller portion, fold large portion over that which clicks it into place.
Price (see above) - good for the budget conscious.
Some things I don't like about it:
There's only one actually - The final fold of the large portion to the smaller one doesn't always stay in place. After a couple of times, it pops open so you end up having to readjust your grip on the handle to keep it locked.
Here's a caveat: This knife might be awkward to handle for those who have really big hands.
For what it is, it's not too bad of an investment as far as having a knife with you for general purpose only.
I've been on the look out for a basic mess kit for awhile now but I didn't want to spend too much on it. I was at a local store cruising the kitchenware section, and I found the mess kit displayed next to the lunchboxes, thermos, and water bottle section. It looked like a bento box (which I have a thing for - great way to pack your lunch by the way) so I had to check it out. I was surprised to see a dish nested inside the compartment as well as a handle that attaches to the exterior of it. For $5, it was a no-brainer.
What I like about it so far:
Stainless steel
price
the main compartment is deep, even with the dish inside, there's plenty of room to stash additional supplies (fire starter kit, pocket utensil, etc.)
What I didn't like:
It had a large brand sticker on the lid which was a pain to clean up (Goo Gone did the trick).
At the very end of the video, I mentioned that I was going to test this out on a gel chafing fuel with a rack on top of it to see if it works out or if I have to make modifications to the set up. Obviously, I don't plan on cooking elaborate meals with this, just basically warm up precooked food. I'll also test boil time for water just out of curiosity. I'll post the results here of course.
Lesson learned & also a good tip for those of you who are looking to expand your camping or preparedness gear: Don't always go to the obvious places to find what you're looking for. Having a keen eye and learning to see things as having multiple purposes can help you save a few bucks.
Don't underestimate this coffee in a packet - this stuff is pretty strong. This would be suitable for the morning rush. Unlike the Trader Joe's instant coffee packet I reviewed recently, this one doesn't come prepackaged with the sugar or creamer already mixed in. You'll have to supply it yourself. Regardless, this is definitely worth picking up as a part of your food preps, EDC, ultralight backpacking or camping gear, dayhikes, road trips, etc.
This particular one is sold in packs of 3 per pouch. It varies from time to time depending on where you get it. I've seen this sold by the checkout counters in retail stores. It's also available online, of course, in larger batches and a variety of other flavors.
I picked this up recently at a local army and navy store after doing some research online. I was on the market for a backpack because my messenger bag puts too much strain on my right side.
I have another backpack that's seen better days - I can haul a bunch of textbooks in it but offers very little back support. Initially I was unsure about getting this one because it seemed too tactical-ish for use around the campus but went with it as soon as I saw it at the store.
First impressions: Nice looking pack, true to its "medium" transport size. I can see why some reviews deemed it too small - I think if you're between 5'4" - 5'10" tall this backpack should be just about right.
I've only been using this a little over a week but here's what I think of it so far:
Pros:
Comfortable shoulder straps with multiple adjustments
Sternum and waist straps offer extra support
Narrow profile with the compressions straps
plenty of pockets and compartments
waterproof
has room for hydration bladder
expandable (MOLLE)
Cost - $40
Cons:
Poor stitching in one of the interior pockets.
No interior hooks where I can put my carabiner / keys
no exterior side pocket for my water bottle
zipper pulls are not ykk metal tabs
Despite its shortcomings, this backpack is holding up to my expectations. It's been easy on my back during the commute back and forth. I can easily haul a large textbook, a binder/notebook in the main compartment. If you need to carry more than 2 textbooks, you might have problems getting that too fit in this. I haven't tried loading up my 17" laptop but I don't think it'll fit at all. I was fully aware of this when I bought the product.
Keep in mind this is my first tactical-type backpack so I'd say this is great for entry-level buyers. I use it mainly for school but this would definitely come in handy for traveling as well as dayhikes.
I'll do another update review of it after a month or so of usage but for now here's a short vid I made:
Excellent coffee for those who are always on the go.
This is not as strong as what I'm used to as far as coffee blends go but I use it mainly as after dinner coffee and for in between my classes. It's just strong enough to get me by for another few hours.
I'd say the major thing this has going for it is that it already includes the creamer and the sugar in the packet. Just add hot water.
Those of you who like their coffee very storng might find this week tasting to start off with but it's definitely worth a shot.
Suitable for:
college students
road warriors
dayhikers / campers / light backpackers
preppers on a budget
It currently sells for $1.99 / box (each box has 10 individual packets)
