Friday, December 30, 2016

Hammock Basics : How to Prevent Rope Suspension Systems from Harming Trees



Today is a How-To video showing you all how to use rope based hammock straps without damaging the trees.   Simple, Effective, Quick!

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Fire Assist - Magnesium Powder Capsules - Emergency Fire Starter



Today Luke is reviewing the Epic X Supplies Fire Assist - Magnesium Powder Capsules - Emergency Fire Starter

Stanford Outdoor Supply Link :

https://www.stanfordoutdoorsupply.com/collections/fire-starters/products/fire-assist-magnesium-capsules?variant=30885806922

Price : $5.99


·         30 pills per bottle, Pre-filled simple to use capsules.
·         Magnesium is a fine -200 mesh
·         STEP1: Break capsule and pour contents onto kindling
·         STEP2: Hit powder with spark from striker or a flint
·         STEP3: and tinder or flammable material to the resulting flame




Sunday, December 25, 2016

Christmas Campfire Chronicles : Episode 4



You're welcome to join my son and I for a special Christmas edition of the Campfire Chronicles.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Friday, December 23, 2016

Varusteleka Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110 Knife - Review



You all have seen this knife in action for a while now and here comes the review!  This is the Varusteleka Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110 with leather sheath.

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Link : https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/terava-jaakaripuukko-110-w-leather-sheath/33531?ref=knives

Other Knives Link :

https://www.varusteleka.com/en/group/knives/1197

Price : 54.99 USD with the sheath - $30 with no SHEATH

Leather Sheath – plastic insert – double folded leather

Very strong

Excellent seams and stitching

Snap retention – when walking around camp, it doesn’t have to be snapped – tight enough to keep it secure

Leather belt loop

Very ridged

High scandi grind

Rubber texturize handle

Tacky.  Doesn’t slide around – tough, has lasted my months of use.

Wet or dry, very secure

I like the palm swell

Feels awesome

Full tang

Lanyard hole - Pummel

Sharp spine – finger nail

Fine quality carbon steel, traditional Finnish puukko blade profile with a slight drop point and a practical grind guarantee a razor sharp knife straight out of the box, and it's easy to maintain too. This is the shorter model, blade length 110 mm.

The Jääkäri (or Jaeger for you foreign devils, the name derives from the backbone infantry of the Finnish army) is nothing fancier than a very simple, very practical puukko knife. The Jääkäri is a buddy you can trust to get the job done and you don´t need to be too careful either, these are built for use.

Specs

Steel: Carbon Steel 80CrV2 59 HRC

Blade Length: 4.3" or 110 mm

Blade Height: 1" or 26 mm

Blade Thickness: .157" or 4 mm

Blade Edge: 23 Degree Scandi with micro secondary bevel

Spine Edge: 90 Degree

Handle: Full Tang

Handle Material: Direct Molded Textured Rubber

Overall Length: 9.5" or 240 mm

Weight (w/out sheath) 6.17 oz. or 175 g.

Blade

Traditional and proven functional Finnish puukko profile. The thickness of 4 mm makes this a bit more robust than most old timey traditional Finnish puukkos. The grind is a scandi grind with a tiny secondary bevel, truly the most common type of puukko grind.

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These knives sale VERY quickly so you will need to move quickly if you want one.
Do I recommend it?  Absolutely!  It is everything that a good forest knife needs to be.

Sharp.  Simple.  Rugged.  Inexpensive.

If this version is sold out at the time that you are watching it, I have included a link to the other knives that are for sale.  There are numerous versions including longer ones which you may want to consider.

This is one of the most impressive knives that I have seen and used in a long time.  For the money, I’m not sure if I can think of a better product that would compare to it.  In my book, this knife is trust worthy and I would equally consider it just as good as any Mora!  That says a lot!

Out of the box it does through sparks and mine has done very well but I have seen comments from others whose spine has been slightly rounded.




Wednesday, December 21, 2016

How to Make Paracord Hammock Straps – Inexpensive, Light, and Strong





Today is a How-To video showing you all how to make Paracord Hammock Straps.   Inexpensive, Lightweight, and Strong.

Monday, December 19, 2016

2016 Christmas Giveaway - Enter NOW!



Merry Christmas to the TOGR viewers!  Thank you all so much for making the channel what it is today and for what it will be tomorrow!  Now who wants to win some AWESOME backpacking gear?

Enter to win all sorts of great stuff (full hammock set up, survival knife, etc)!!!

From my family and I;

Happy Holidays everyone!
Thank you!
Be Safe!
Good Luck!


Friday, December 16, 2016

Prandi 3.011.C Axe "German type" - Review





Luke has been on a roll with axe reviews lately so here is another one!  This is the review of the very budget friendly, very impressive Prandi 3.011.C Axe "German type" - Review



Link : https://www.a-prandi.it/en/shop/3-011-c-axe-german-type.html

Cost : €38.30 Euros - 40.57 US + Shipping Which is around $20.00 or so.
“Pran –Di”

Model : 3.011.10.CH

Stats :

Head Weight :

1000gr / 2,25lb

Carbon Steel 1045

Total weight : 3lbs 8oz

Only the blade is hardened, 3 cm. Long.

Hardness value: 51/56 HRC

Extremely narrow blade which goes DEEP into whatever this strikes.  It’s beautiful!  If you’re a blade/axe drok like myself, you will likely agree.  When you show this off to fellow axemen, they all say the same thing!  Wow!

Handle :

60cm / 23,65in Hickory – Custom.  Fat but yet man-sized.

Treated with wax or water paint.  The wooden handle is pressed into the eye and it is fixed by the wooden wedge and the ring steel wedge.

Long Shoulder Hunters Axe Handle.  That is what I call it anyways, every region seems to have a different term for different axe handles.  This sort of handle is also referred to as the California Framer, or the Scout, or the House axe handle.

Typically long shoulders like this go with splitters but it’s not entirely uncommon to see.

Axe "German Type", carbon steel C45/1045, with polished and hardened blade. Varnished ash or Hickory handle, Tampoprinted, protector and lace made of genuine leather.

Made in Italy

Axe "German type", carbon steel C45/1045, with polished and hardened blade. Varnished ash or Hickory handle, Tampoprinted, protector and lace made of genuine leather.

Review :

Shaving Sharp = Scary Sharp!

This is what I call a wood-worker axe; is still an easy-to-use tool but still maintains an angry bite. I’ve brought it camping, split through my winter wood pile, and cleared some Birch in the backyard and I still expect to find many more uses for this exemplary piece of craftsmanship. It works very well, holds a great edge, and I bet that it will continue to do so for a very long time. This thing might even outlive me. Looks great, feels great, and can’t complain about that pricing. Exceeded my expectations, to say the least.

This axe's compact size bestows substantial versatility, allowing it to be used as both a lightweight work axe and a dependable packing tool. The widened blade allows this axe to perform exceptionally well as a cutting tool, while still being able to handle moderate splitting work.

If you’re looking for a great workhorse of an ax, look no further. I’ve been using this axe for the past 4 months and have found it to be an exceptional tool.

heavy enough for all around use and about the right size to put on a pack horse. I like it, the handle is put on right, no worry about it coming loose, and very good steel.

Cons :

The handles are varnished and it’s SLICK!  Almost to the point of being dangerous.  I’ve had a hard time keeping this in my hands which means that I am going to do some work on this handle. Now that I’m done with my initial testing with this axe, I am going to correct this issue and there are multiple ways to go about this.

You could wrap it, you could work with treatments such as linseed oil, or there are low tech solutions;

Pine tar, rosin, dirt on your hands, etc.


Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Random Chat, Lunch, Gear Testing : Episode 8



Join Luke at Lone Wolf Mountain as he tells stories, has lunch, talks about gear and all sorts of random things.

Strength and Honor

Monday, December 12, 2016

Teton Sports Mountain Adventurer 4000 Backpack - Review





Today Luke is reviewing the TETON Sports Mountain Adventurer 4000 Backpack.


                                                                                                                         
Link Amazon :

https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Adventurer-Ultralight-Backpacking-Mountaineering/dp/B016ZXEDCQ

Teton Web Site :

http://www.tetonsports.com/Backpacks/UltraLight/mountain-adventurer4000.htm#.WDnP9qOZNTY

Price : 137.86
Weight : 5.25 lbs (with tarp poncho) 4 lbs (without tarp poncho)
Color : Black with Orange Accents : The black pack is sharp looking, with nice color trim

Stats :

Space : 4000 Cubic Inches / 66 Liters

Dimensions : 27” x 12” x 10”

Torso : Adjustable 15" - 20"

7 total pockets

Includes a full size poncho : combo poncho/rain fly/emergency shelter

The pack is water resistant but not waterproof.  Luckily they include a full poncho!  One funny thing that I noticed with the amazon page; there is a picture of a hiker in the pouring rain with the pack getting soaked…even though this pack isn’t waterproof and a poncho is included.

Initial Thoughts :

If you are accustomed to how I do things, I regularly do what I call are previews.  Essentially a preview is an overview of a product followed by micro-review.  This micro-review includes my thoughts and feelings about the product while the T&E phase is on going.

So far, I have had this pack out for 4 overnight trips and I have roughly 35 trail miles with it. One of those outings was an Overnight Trip which you will find on this channel and it is called the Cliffside Hammock Camp.  That is coming soon. When on this trip, I posted pictures of this pack on Facebook and I noticed a great deal of positive comments about Teton!  They have a very good reputation, for many good reasons.

This pack is described by Teton as Ultralite; it is NOT ultralight, not even close but it is very comfortable.

One thing that I have noticed is that the waste belt rides a bit high.  That’s not a negative, just an observation.

The waste belt is very comfortable and adjustable.  My waste is 32” and it will go down it 28”

How does it handle weight : So far so good.  The heaviest that I have carried in this pack was around 40lbs and it handled it all just fine.

Good size belt pocket.  Just one though.  That is rather interesting as two is common.

Very versatile pack; tons of ways to lash additional gear to the outside of the pack.  To, above the lid and bottom.

Good size sleeping bag compartment but I have found that it’s difficult to access it.  The zipper is very close to the zipper cover flap and that makes it difficult to open.  Is this a deal killer?  No, but improvements need to be made here.  It will definitely slow you down.

Hydration compatible but you can carry bottles as well.  The best of both worlds.

Overall I am impressed with this pack and again, I’m impressed with Teton Sports.  Great quality for the money, tons of features.




Friday, December 9, 2016

Cliffside Hammock Camp - Overnight Adventure



Are you ready to hit the trail and to explore a section of the Pisgah National Forest?  You're about to join Luke for the Cliffside Hammock Camp Overnight Adventure.

Thanks for watching folks!

Happy Holidays.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Outback Swags Pioneer Swag Tent - Preview




Today Luke is Reviewing the Outback Swags Pioneer Swag Tent!



Link : https://outbackswags.com/products/pioneer-swag

Price : $ 299.00 $ 349.00

Pioneer swag has the following specs & features:


·              Heavy duty and Waterproof 12oz Rip-stop canvas
·              7' x 3' floor size, with 31" head clearance
·              PVC vinyl floor with bathtub construction
·              5/16" Aluminum 3 pole system
·              2 inch egg-crate style foam mattress with washable cover
·              Durable fly mesh layer and head flap for ventilation
·              Head flap opening for alternative access
·              PVC vinyl shoe mat
·              2x guy ropes and 8x pegs
·              Four compartment storage pocket
·              11lbs (20lbs including mattress)
·              Bonus canvas carry bag




Friday, December 2, 2016

Cliffside Hammock Camp - Overnight Adventure - INTRO




Who likes adventure?

This is the INTRO for Cliffside Hammock Camp Overnight Adventure.

The Full Adventure is coming soon.