Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Aquamira Frontier Pro Water Heater Adapter Aquamira Frontier Pro Water Heater Adapter at OutdoorReady.com [AQ67008] - $5.95 : OutdoorReady.com, Be Ready To Be Outdoors

Aquamira Frontier Pro Water Heater Adapter Aquamira Frontier Pro Water Heater Adapter at OutdoorReady.com [AQ67008] - $5.95 : OutdoorReady.com, Be Ready To Be Outdoors: "Aquamira"

Talk about preparedness! Thanks Robby for pointing this great little item to me!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Blog TV Tonight!

I'm broadcasting on @blogTV.com now, come see me! http://www.blogtv.com/people/Equip2Endure

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Snugpak Stratosphere, a cold and wet day of testing.

I had to wait for some nasty weather to film part two of the snugpak system tests. Lets just say I forget how miserable being cold and wet could be. Although I have some ideas to improve for a winter setting it was a good test overall. The video should be up soon.
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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Down Range and Other Manmade Danger in the Woods.



Yesterday morning was range day at work (perfect score day I may add), and as I was looking down at my shotgun I thought about hunting seasons and the dangers for non-hunters out in the woods. Now if you're like me this season is some of the best hiking / camping, no bugs and I'm not sweating to death. 
One thing to remember is this time of year you better not be dressed like a deer stomping around on game trails. This is especially important for our four legged trail buddies. All joking aside, this can be a dangerous time of year, and not just because of the weather. 
This line of thinking brought me to the next thought; we should be where we are supposed to be in the wild. One thing I always caution people about is so called stealth camping, to include hiking off trail. The dangers of stealth camping this time of year are not only a stray bullet from a hunter's firearm, but from a person who believes you're not supposed to be there all together. 
Between injuries, wildlife, and weather we all know the dangers of the wilderness; but we rarely take into consideration the human factor. Between the crazy trail guy, the hunter with poor aim, or the drug dealers whose marijuana farm you stumbled upon. These have all been realistic dangers that people don’t anticipate as a threat. 
So what can you do to minimize your risk? Stick to the trails, the state parks, and other areas your access is permitted. Tell someone were you are going and how long you are going to be gone. Bring the proper equipment for the proper excursion. Be smart, be safe, and don't take unreasonable risks, you will be able to enjoy this seasons for years to come.

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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Someone tell my wife I want this for Christmas!

Here is a nice idea for dad or any that would appreciate a great knife. This is the Benchmade Bone Collector with walnut scales. Rentals at $ 120, a great stocking stuffer from santa!
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This knife's marketing is un"Bear"able

So I'm sitting at the doctor's office waiting for my wife and I pick up the November issue of Men's Journal. Before opening it up I think to myself, I bet the Bear Grylls knife will be in here. There on page 30 is the knife with the caption "A blade to live by"! Yeah....
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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Well as the holiday comes closer, gear, gadgets, and gizmos are
taking the spot light with only ten shopping days left.   So I have
taken the time to focus on some low budget but high pay off items, in
regards to some great outdoor gear.


First off is one of my favorites; the Standard Stainless Steel
Nalgene.  At a price averaging at the $25.00 range, it's a great
container that not only stores water but can be used to boil it as well.
The fact that you don't have to worry about BPAs or an open flame, it's
well worth the weight.


Next would be Petzl Tactikka XP Headlight, although it a little
pricey at about $50 it has both great design and great functions.  With
plenty of extras like 4 filters, 4 settings, and a 40 lumens power
boost, you get great value for the price, and look ma'am no hands!
      


Third would be from our friends at Maxpedition, the Fatboy
Versipack.  At a price between the $45.00 and $60.00 mark this Versipack
is easy on the wallet but a great value to organize all your gear.  The
Fatboy is great for a small trail bag, a survival kit, or a bug out bag.
Maxpedition's stuff is all made tuff.  Like I have said before it not
only wears like iron, but has many load configures to fit your exact
gear carrying needs.
       


Last but not least and one of my favorite tools for the price is
of course the Becker BK-2 or Becker Campaign Knife.  Although the
standard sheath is little to be desired, the knife itself is a tank.
For a price around $65.00 it can't be beat, and trust me I test several
knives against it!  Here at Equip 2 Endure we take pride in our
practical prepared approach and the Becker BK-2 embodies those values.
       


Well I hope this helps, maybe you should forward this blog to
your spouse as a hint.  Take care, and remember:  If you're not always
prepared, you're never prepared!
- Adam

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Ultimate Survival Fail!

If you have not had the chance check out the video. Although I am not the one to focus on pure negative reviews, I believe this knife has to be discussed. The fact that a very prominent public figure is not only endorsing this knife, but has his named slapped over a entire series of knives from gerber causes me dismay after learning of the quality behind the "ultimate" knife. And unless "ultimate" is british slang for piece of crap construction, I believe we have a problem.

So thank you internet from letting us know about this one as soon as possible. For my $ 60 , I will stick with Uncle Ethan's BK2. This is more of a rant after a long day than a review. I have not had a chance to get one and hope I do. Who knows how long the Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife will be around now that the cat is out of the bag.
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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Winter Wilderness Excursions



Winter wilderness excursions have there own set of challenges and rewards.  There is nothing that can take the place of a winter evening in front of a camfire with a warm beverage.  Adversely so, nothing can be more miserable then freezing your butt off during a cold winter night.
So, like most things, preparation is key when camping in colder climates.  The problem that presents itself is packing the appropriate amount of items and choosing a quality level of gear to meet your minimum needs.
I'm a big fan of packing light.  Over the years I have slowly whittled away the amount of items I require based on my skill and required comfort level. I am by no means a true ultra-lighter; those guys are amazing in what they accomplish with so little.  I am the guy who likes to pack redundancies for those "what if" scenarios.
The problem with winter camping is I am forced to bring "more" due to the climate.  "More" encompasses every facet of gear; from more material because of heavier clothing, more dense sleep/shelter system, to more calorie-heavy foods.
This problem usually translates to spending more money for the most high-speed, low-drag winter gear on the market.  It's not like we are preparing to climb Mt. Everest, but sometimes we have that attitude with our perceived needs.  So what's the balanced approach?
I believe that defining your actual needs along with your required minimum comfort level is the first place to start.  The next step is having a realistic understanding of your true skill level; not your skills on a good day, but on a bad day.  This is a crucial step; don't over estimate your skill set - that will only get you in trouble.  Next, establish a budget and stick with it.  Be prepared to have to carry more stuff, so planning and packing are going to be more labor intensive.
Don't let all the work turn you off, some great times are to be had in the winter months.  Although they incorporate more challenges they have great rewards.
-Adam