Monday, July 30, 2018

Ready to Haul - Gregory Baltoro 75 (2018) – Trail Review



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For numerous months I have been working to review the Gregory Baltoro 75L backpack and today, the Trail Review goes up as it is time to find out if the latest version of this famous pack is worth your hard earned money.

Maine Overnight Adventure Video : https://youtu.be/9rVG9ObplV0



Link : https://www.gregorypacks.com/backpacking/premium/baltoro-75/916BAL75.html

Price : Retail is around $320 – but at the time of filming I have seen it for around $225.

Weight : 5.22lbs

Colors : Dusk Blue and Orange

Sizes : S M L

Optional Liters : 65, 75, 85, and 95 which they refer to as the pro model

Pros :

Comfort : This pack fits like a glove…as the saying goes.  It hugs the body in all of the right places while giving you good lumbar support which is adjustable.  Excellent balance between the hips and shoulders. distributes weight very nicely. straps are super comfortable

Excellent quality

Easy to access pocket and gear – U-shaped access is awesome.

Good capacity

Stylish pack – I love the orange color.

Hydration bag is also a day pack – Offers 12liters of capacity.  Very simple, not the most comfortable but it is useful.

Flexibility : Baltoro’s innovative pivoting shoulder straps and hipbelt play an important role in carrying comfort. Each piece shifts independently, so the pack remains level and close against your body while the shoulder straps and hipbelt move up and down. This feature is especially noticeable on extended climbs, where I could feel one side drop while the other raised up as I took a step

Included rain cover does what it is supposed to do; keep the pack dry. It works.

Waterproof hippocket also works to keep the rain out.

Manages weight as good as most external frame packs; 47lbs loadouts are comfortable with this pack and that says a lot.

Lots of places to clip and attach gear to.

Cons :

Weight : While Gregory has been dropping the weight of this pack over the years with each generation, this thing is still very heavy!  Over 5lbs with the hydration carry day pack and included pack cover – this is not a light pack.  With that being said, this pack is made for hauling so what you get with the weight is the ability to carry a lot of gear, food and water very comfortably.

Price : Full retail price is high; but the on sale price is great.

The Stretch Mesh water bottle pocket has a tendency to push empty bottles out while you are hiking. I’ve had this happen multiple times while on my adventures. To fix this you really have to tighten the compression straps

Breathability : while the back panel and hip belt are more breathable than ever before you are still going to get soaked in sweat when you are hiking.  There is no way around it. It’s better than before but doesn’t compare to some offerings from competitors.

Small Pocket : The only disappointment is that the water-resistant hipbelt pocket is too small to fit a larger smartphone

Summary : At nearly 5 pounds, it’s overbuilt for those who want to travel fast and light, but if you value the extra cushioning and support, it’s one of the best packs on the market.




Friday, July 27, 2018

Almost Bitten by a Rattlesnake - A Second from Disaster - Overnight Adve...



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This Luke's most recent Overnight Adventure which almost turned into a life and death situation while being literally, out in the middle of nowhere.  See what happened now in Valley of the Snakes - A Second From Disaster.


Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Camper’s Cafe - Packit Gourmet’s Good Day Sunshine Bowl (Oatmeal) - Review



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Today for this episode of the Camper's Cafe, Luke and Susie have the Packit Gourmet’s Good Day Sunshine Bowl (Oatmeal) for review.

Will it be a HIT or Miss?

Link : https://www.packitgourmet.com/GoodDaySunshineBowl.html


Monday, July 23, 2018

Ultralight! - Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 - Trail Review



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It is time for Luke it pass on his review of the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 tent after multiple months of trail testing!

Link : https://www.bigagnes.com/Tiger-Wall-UL2


Friday, July 20, 2018

Sierra Designs Cloud 35 Sleeping Bag – Zipperless Sleeping Bag Review



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Today Luke is reviewing the Sierra Designs Cloud 35 Sleeping Bag which happens to be a Zipperless Bag; recently seen in the Maine Overnight Adventure.

Link to Adventure : https://youtu.be/9rVG9ObplV0



Link : https://sierradesigns.com/cloud-800-35-degree/
Price : Retail is $270 but it is common to see this selling for around $200
Weight : 1lb 7oz
Sizes : Regular and Long – This is the Regular version.
Versions : There is also a Cloud 20 degree back which is 1lb 13oz
Color – only available in blue.

REGULAR

·       EN Limit Temp Rating: 26F / -3C
·       EN Comfort Temp Rating:  36F / 2C
·       Fill Weight: 9.5oz / 268g
·       Minimum Weight: 1lb 7oz / 0.66kg
·       Sleeping Pad Sleeve Circumference:  45.5" / 115.6 cm
·       Fits Sleeping Pad (WxH): 20" x 2.5" / 51 x 6.4 cm
·       Fits Up To: 6' 0" / 183 cm
·       Length: 78in / 198 cm
·       Shoulder Circumference: 60" / 152 cm
·       Hip Circumference: 58" / 147 cm
·       Footbox Circumference: 40" / 102 cm
·       Mesh Stoarge Bag Size (LxW): 20 x 12" / 51 x 31 cm
·       Stuff Sack Size (L x W): 13 x 7" / 33 x 18cm
·       Mummy style bag

·      MATERIALS
o   Insulation: 800FP PFC-Free DriDown
o   Shell Fabric: 15d nylon risptop
o   Liner Fabric: 15d nylon risptop



·      KEY FEATURES
o   Patent pending zipperless design for more comfort
o   Oversized integrated comforter resemble all the comforts of your bed at home
o   Insulated shoulder pocket keeps comforter wrapped around you sealing out drafts
o   Patented self-sealing foot vent allows fast and easy ventilation
o   Sleeping pad sleeve keeps pad under you for comfort and warmth and replaces unnecessary bottom insulation
o   PFC-Free 800FP DriDown® and 15d nylon fabrics

Pros :
The whole no zipper thing….it works!
Incredibly lightweight for the temp rating.  No bottom down which saves on weight. You might be saying; Hey I want my down on the bottom and the truth is, no you don’t.. When you compress down It doesn’t keep you warm.. Loft gives you warmth.

Very comfortable – because of the design you can sleep how you want to and it’s easy to manage warmth and air. Think of this bag as a mix between a sleeping bag, a quilt and a comforter as you have a lot of options when it comes to use.  You can have your arms in, arms out, you can even rotate it and use it like a down quilt.

Packs down SUPER small thanks to the high fill down.

Excellent quality and materials.

The temp rating is 35F and I believe that you can reach that rating.  The lowest temps that I have experienced in this is 40F and it was incredibly warm.

I also like the "self sealing foot vent" that allows you to stick your feet out the bottom without undoing anything if they're feeling hot. It does not seem to let any warm air out when our feet are cold.

Cons :
My typical complaint with Sierra Designs is their color schemes; it’s a sleeping bag, who really cares of the color….but wait….I do.  It’s not bad but I wish that it wasn’t so vibrant. 

Because there is no zipper while tossing around in the night it is possible to pop out because you can’t seal it shut. The bag does tuck in on itself and you will have to be conscious of what you are doing to prevent it from unraveling.  Want to prevent the unraveling? Insert a sleeping pad into the back and you won’t have this problem…but then you could potentially get cold in lower temps.

Also with a sleeping pad inserted, the hood of the sleeping bag doesn’t wrap around my head comfortably.

For summer use I like the sleeping pad sleeve….but in the cooler months I don’t because it has a tendency to pull the bag away from your body which means that you will have cold spots.

Summary : I love this sleeping bag and so does my wife.  She has stolen this from me on a number of trips because she likes the ‘mummy’ feel.


Thursday, July 19, 2018

A Cot for Backpacking? - Go-Kot Camping Cot Review



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Today Luke is reviewing the Go-Kot Camping Cot which was most recently seen in the Military Surplus Overnight Adventure.

Link : https://youtu.be/V9sx2_WfnRY



Link :  https://store.campingcot.com

Price : Reg. $150 EL. $180

Sizes : 2 sizes; Regular 74” long / Extra long 84”

Colors : Peacock Blue, Coyote Brown, Gray, Navy Blue, Red, Green, Black and more.

Assembled: 26"W x 74"L x 8"H

Carrying Bag: 8"W x 28"L x 3"H (Included)

Weight: 9 lbs.

Made in the USA
Capacity: 350 lbs.

Review :
Pros :

Truly excellent design.

Lightweight compared to many outdoor cots.

Small form factor.

Can be carried for backpacking purposes

Excellent materials.

Good length and width

Very stable

Easy to put together.

Easy to take down.

Provides lots of support for those which back, hips and knee issues.

Recognizable brand as they have been around since the 70’s.

Floor guards are included.  For this type of money they should be included and I am glad that they are. They are meant to protect hardwood floors and tent floors.

Cons :

Even though there are more expensive cots out on the market this one isn’t cheap but it is made with top notch materials and it is made in the USA.

Even though it is lighter than a lot of cots, it is still heavy at almost 10lbs.  When getting the details ready to film this video I saw a review on Amazon that stated that it’s so light that it;

“it doesn’t add hardly any weight to our backpacks!”

That’s complete rubbish as you WILL notice 10lbs of weight in your pack but; for that ten pounds you are getting a very comfortable cot to sleep on.

The cordura material is rough to sleep on; not a problem if you are inside of a sleeping bag but not the most comfortable if you have just a blanket.

Summary :

I didn’t think I would like the Go-Kot as much as I have and that’s based on my previous experiences with other cot products.. I have military cots, cots from other companies and in most cases they aren’t products that I would really recommend for numerous reason but the Go-Kot is different.

It’s a very smart product which features a truly ingenious design which I haven’t seen before.

While it isn’t the cheapest cot, it is by far not the most expensive.  Cots can be expensive with prices going up into the $300 range when it comes to backpacking models.

This cot is very easy to put together and easy to take down; can be done in a minute.  This is important because some cots can be hard as FUNK to put together…I have some which literally require two people.

The Go-Kot isn’t the lightest but when you factor in a balance of weight, price, ease of use and durability, it hits all of the important marks for a great cot.




Monday, July 16, 2018

British MRE Menu 19 - What's in the BOX? - Viewer Mail! #44



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Support TOGR with Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/TOGR

It's mail time again and as always we are honored and thankful!
By the way, I recently had this MRE in the Military Surplus Adventure and it was AWESOME!

Link : https://youtu.be/V9sx2_WfnRY




Friday, July 13, 2018

Military Surplus Overnight Adventure - -




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This is what everyone has been waiting for; the Next Military Surplus Overnight Adventure featuring Military Surplus from all around the world.

A Rare Army Tent.
Moose; the 1986 CUCV M1008 Army Truck.
Some Bushcraft.
A Camp Fire.
MRE's.
A project rifle that I have been working on.
Storms.

I hope that you all enjoy it!

Strength and Honor




Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Extremely Rare Military Tent - Nemo Switchblade 1P SE Tent



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What you are about to see is one of the rarest tents that was developed for the military by Nemo as part of their SHIELD division.




Monday, July 9, 2018

How to Properly Care for Your Tent - Expert Advice - Do's and Don'ts



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This episode is all about Tents and how to ensure that your tent will last you for years and years while continuing to protect you from the elements.  This guide covers it all; do's and don'ts!




Saturday, July 7, 2018

LACKING - Packit Gourmet Market Pasta Puttanesca Review



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Today for this episode of the Camper's Cafe, Luke and Susie have the Packit Gourmet's Market Pasta Puttanesca!

It's......Lacking....

Link : https://www.packitgourmet.com/Market-Pasta-Puttanesca.html

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Better Than a Woobie? - Israeli Poncho Liner - IDF GI Issue - Military S...





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Today Luke is taking a look at some hard to find military surplus;
The Israeli Poncho Liner.  Is it better than the USGI Woobie Blanket?
Find out now.....You will want to see this blanket.

Link : https://www.thunderheadoutfitters.com/product/israeli-poncho-liner

Weight :  Roughly 1.2lbs
Cost : $40.00




Monday, July 2, 2018

How to Backpack in Bear Country - How to Handle and Prevent Bear Encounters



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This episode is all about bears; how to handle and how to prevent encounters.  This is something that we receive a lot of questions about and we will show you all what has worked for us over almost 40 years while living, hiking, backpacking in bear country.