Condor H2O Pouch

Winner!     

I LOVE my new Condor H2O Pouch! It is perfect for day hikes, excursions from base camp and emergency kits. It carries everything I need to stay hydrated on the trail and make a hot lunch with cup of hot tea. I can even carry it around in the city for a hot "Cup O Noodles" in the park without looking like a tool.

Combine the Condor H2O with some of my other favorite kit such as the TOAKS Ti Pot and Vargo Ti stove and I'm good to go.

Spork shootout

Shootout!

 
Jason Klass of Gear Talk claims "there is no such thing as having too many sporks". I'll need to dedicate an entire kitchen drawer to sporks at this rate... Why am I enamored with finding the perfect spork? I don't know. I have the same issue with flashlights. I have three favorite sporks which I alternate between depending on need.

TOAKS Titanium 750ml Pot

Winner!     

I'm completely satisfied and would highly recommend the TOAKS mug/pot (although I wish they kept the long cover) and feel it is an improvement over previous distributors.

Mountain House Chicken Teriyaki with Rice

Fail!

Mountain House makes the best freeze-dried, just-add-water backpacker food I've consumed to date but the Chicken Teriyaki with Rice fails. Here's why:

VCP John Muir Trail

Meh.

Looking for some local trails to break in your boots or test your gear before you hit the back country? Stuck in the city? Tired of fighting through the throngs of tourists in Central Park? 

I recently hiked the John Muir Trail. I'm not referring to THE John Muir Trail of Ansel Adams and Yosemite fame. I'm talking about the just slightly less well know, infinitely more convenient and marginally less dangerous John Muir Trail in Van Cortlandt Park located in the Bronx in NYC.

Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit

Winner! (so far)

Product description: Maximize the performance of waterproof; breathable outerwear and skiwear with this Nikwax care kit. Tech Wash cleans and revitalizes breathability and water repellency. TX.Direct wash-in waterproofing restores the water-repellent finish Extends life and enhances performance of Gore-Tex®, eVent® fabric, REI Elements® and other waterproof, breathable coatings and laminates.

During a back packing trip through the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite the sky cut loose on us after about 4 miles in. We all threw on the rain gear, backpack condoms, etc. Ben and I both had similar high-end breathable outer shells. (Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket). Ben and I found, as the week went on, our shells leaked across the backside because of our packs rubbing. By the end of the adventure my shell needed a tune up.

Bear Grylls

Fail!


LOLZ!