Friday, March 31, 2017

Nor'easter at 6,000FT - Overnight Adventure - INTRO



A major winter storm develops and there are a lot of unknowns.

The temperature drops...
Snow begins to fall...
The Lone Wolf Heads Out!

This is the INTRO for Luke's latest Overnight Adventure; Nor'easter at 6,000FT!

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Backpacking Basics : Tent Weight Terminology - Packed weight vs Trail We...



For this episode, Luke is going back to the basics as he explains the differences in regards to Tent Weight Terminology.  Packed Weight vs Trail Weight vs Others...

Monday, March 27, 2017

What's in the Box??? - Viewer Mail - Unboxing 20 & 21




What's in the Box????????

Today we're looking at some viewer mail that was sent in to The Outdoor Gear Review.  As always we are honored and thankful!

BTW, Susie is in this episode!




Friday, March 24, 2017

True Utility Connect Everyday Carry Bag - Review



Today Luke is reviewing the True Utility Connect Everyday Carry Bag.  Is it worth a purchase or is it a failure?  Find out now!



Connect EDC Link : http://www.connect-edc.com/edc-bags.html
Price : $26.09 USD
Colors : Olive and Black

True Utility is based in England so it keep that in mind folks from America if you decide to purchase one of these pouches.  There will an additional time needed for shipment and possible additional fees for shipping.

Product Reference: TU910B

From the Man. : This everyday carry bag is packed full of features for all of your everyday needs. It's water and rip resistant made from 100% Polyester and the Nylon stitching is rot proof. The bag features:

            12 Elasticated Compartments
            8 Utility Pockets
            4 Easy Pull Zip Cords
            3 Cushioned Inserts
            1 Internal Swivel Hook
            1 Paracord Loop
            Clear Storage Window (for credit cards/ID)
            Earphone Storage Pocket
            Large Mesh Pockets
            Magnetic Front Pouch
            Shoulder Strap
             Belt Loops



Material: Polyester
Length: 215mm
Width: 150mm
Height: 50mm
Weight: 182g / 6.41986

Impressions :

It’s made from a lighter material than some other EDC’s we’ve tested, so it’s slight less durable but weighs less so consider your needs when picking small bags. Overall I think it’s nearly perfect though, my only suggestion would be to add velcro to the front for an ID or Morale patch, and maybe some MOLLE connections. Certainly not deal-breakers though.

I like the high-viz orange interior.

I like the belt loops, good idea.

Cons :

I wish that the front pocket was able to completely unzip as it feels very limiting with the setup that is present.  This pocket feels tight when compared to the other side.

No MOLLE attachment so you can’t easily mount this one a pack.

I would like to see this pouch being slightly wider as I feel that it’s big enough, but only barely.  Just a bit bigger would make a difference.

I like the key chain clip but would like to see more of these to secure odd pieces of gear.

Not sure why this pouch has the id compartment.  It would never replace my wallet so I’m confused as to why it is present.  I would rather see an additional pocket or some additional webbing here.

The ear plug pass through are interesting but I don’t know if I would ever use that feature.

The snap for the front pocket doesn’t feel very secure to me and would like to see a stronger version of this in the future.


Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Monday, March 20, 2017

Teton Sports Deer Hunter 0 Sleeping Bag - Review





Today Luke is reviewing the Teton Sports Deer Hunter 0 Sleeping Bag.  Can it handle temps down to that temp?  Find out now!



Amazon Link : https://www.amazon.com/Sports-Sleeping-Weather-Camping-Hunting/dp/B00A4VLG6C

Teton Link : http://www.tetonsports.com/Sleeping-Bags/Canvas/Deer-Hunter-0.htm#.WKHolLGZNBw

Price : Retail $89 but can be found a bit cheaper on Amazon at the time of filming

Stated Specs : 
Size 90" x 39"
Size (packed) 38" x 9.5" x 9.5"
Pack Weight 8.5 lbs
Temp Rating 0°F
Shell Canvas
Liner 100% Brushed Poly Flannel
Fill SuperLoft Elite™ 4-Channel Hollow Fiber
Zipper Left or Right Zip
Storage Three Roll up Compression Straps
Color Brown

- Double-layer construction entire width and length of bag increases warmth and durability
- Heavy-duty canvas shell resists water
- Sturdy no-snag two-way zippers with metal pulls
- Full-length zipper baffle reduces drafts
- Right- and left-hand zippers let you zip together two Deer Hunter bags
- Rated for cold temperatures
- Mummy-style hood keeps head or pillow off the ground



Review :

Pros :
- The large size means comfort!  Lots of wiggle room to sprawl out any way that you want to.
- The flannel fabric is awesome!  Feels great against the skin. Very soft.  Also if feels thicker than other similar products on the market.
- Excellent quality.  Very good zippers.  Good stitching.
- Built in compression straps are a plus
- Very durable
- Outside material is water resistant. That doesn’t mean that you should sleep in the rain with it but if you are in a damp environment, it will serve you well.  Also good for damp mornings in your tent

Cons :
Not really suited to take you down to 0F.  When the temps dropped into the upper teens, I woke up a few times chilled and that is due to the design.  This isn’t a close fitting sleeping bag like a mummy bag so any space that is around you is known as dead space.  In other words, since this bag is so big and will be away from you skin, it won’t keep you as warm as a sleeping bag would.  With some good thermals this bag will take you comfortably to right at 20F or at least, that is the case for me.  Every human body is different and just how warm they sleep will be different too. Keep that in mind.

Since the bag is so wide, the drawstring baffles are useless unless you have 3ft wide shoulders. Cold air seeped past my shoulders all night, no matter my sleeping position with the drawstrings pulled as tight as possible and my head buried underneath.

Heavy

The Flannel isn’t truly cotton flannel, it’s polyester.

I’ve seen reports of the red coloring from the flannel coming off on peoples clothing.  I haven’t had that issue but I wanted to mention it.  If you order one, keep that in mind.


Friday, March 17, 2017

CampingSurvival.com Survival Kit Giveaway - $400 Value - Enter Now



Today for this episode, Luke has teamed up with CampingSurvival.com to do a Survival Kit Giveaway - $400 Value - Enter Now!!!
...

To Enter Sign Up Here :

https://www.campingsurvival.com/giveaway.html


Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Jacks 'R' Better Shenandoah Quilt - Review





Today Luke is reviewing the Jacks 'R' Better Shenandoah Quilt.

...

Link :  http://www.jacksrbetter.com/shop/shenandoah-standard-rectangular-quilts/

Price : $239.95–$259.95
Weight : 15oz which is less than 1lb!

Regular Size
* Length: 78 inches (1.98 m)
* Width: 48 inches (1.22 m)
* Loft: 1.5 Inches (4 cm)
* Material: 0.9 oz., 20 denier, ripstop nylon
* Insulation: 800 fill power goose down
* Weight: 15 ounces (0.43 kg)
* Temperature Rating: 40°-45° F (5° C)

Long Size
* Length: 86 inches (2.18 m)
* Width: 48 inches (1.22 m)
* Loft: 1.5 Inches (4 cm)
* Material: 0.9 oz., 20 denier, ripstop nylon
* Insulation: 800 fill power goose down
* Weight: 16.5 ounces (0.47 kg)
* Temperature Rating: 40°-45° F (5° C)

Activ-dri down™ – Activ-dri™ is a hydrophobic down treatment that keeps the down drier, while having no adverse effects on loft, fill power, or warmth retention. Activ-dri down is still down insulation and should be protected from direct exposure to moisture. All types of insulation, whether down or synthetic, will degrade in insulation capability if wetted.

Lighter than a similarly rated sleeping bag. No squirming around to get in and out. Easy to vent for temperature control. Designed for use in moderate temperatures, the “Shenandoah” Summer Quilt can be used either as a top quilt (in a hammock or on the ground) or as a hammock under quilt (JRB Suspension System sold separately). This sew through, down quilt alternative to our standard baffled, down quilts is ideal for use when temperatures are not expected to be below 40-45°. For individuals over 5 feet 10 inches tall we offer a long version (86″ in length). Includes a 1.2 oz. JRB silnyl compression sack, and can be compressed to the size of a softball or small melon 7″x7″x5″.

Additional Options
You can have the foot box sewn in if you want.
For an additional cost, they can overfill the bag.
And others.




Monday, March 13, 2017

Backpacking Basics : Terminology - Pack Weight and Weight Categories




For this episode of T.O.G.R. Luke is going over some terminology in regards to Backpacking weight and the corresponding categories.

Friday, March 10, 2017

35 Miles (On the Appalachian Trail) - Overnight Adventure





Join Luke and his son Lucas for a Multi-day adventure on the Appalachian Trial.  This is 35 Miles (One the Appalachian Trail).

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Anker PowerCore 10000mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 - Review



Today Luke is reviewing the Anker PowerCore 10,000mAh with Quick Charge 3.0.

Link : https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-10000mAh-Portable-Qualcomm/dp/B01CZV9FUW

Price : $36

Color : Black

Confusion :

One thing that I want to talk about before getting to the features here is the high amount of confusion when it comes to Anker and all of the different models of chargers that they have on the market.

This model is the A1264011 and there are a handful of different models which have virtually the exact same title listing on amazon but they are different in varying ways.  You have to go through the details in each listing with your glasses on and you will need to read over all of the details to make sure that you are getting the model of battery bank that you are looking for.

For example, Anker offers 10,000mah battery banks without Qualcom quick charging but if you aren’t paying attention, you might not notice that.

My advice for Anker is to get that mess sorted out.  It’s very confusing when you go to search for the Powercore 3.0 10000 on amazing and it brings up 4 listings; all of them seem to be identical but the prices are different.

The devil is in the details as the saying goes.

For this review, this is the A1264011 model.



Features :

•       The Anker Advantage: Join the 10 million+ powered by America's leading USB charging brand.
•       Quick Charge 3.0: Up to 4x faster than standard chargers, able to charge compatible devices to 80% in just 35 minutes. Backwards compatible with all versions of Qualcomm Quick Charge.
•       High Capacity: 10, 000mAh is enough capacity to charge an iPhone 6s well over 3 times, a Galaxy S6 over 2 and a half times and most tablets at least once.
•       Remarkably Compact: Much smaller than other high-capacity portable chargers. Possibly the most power ever packed into such a small space.

What You Get: PowerCore 10000 with Quick Charge 3.0, travel pouch, Micro-USB cable, welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty and friendly customer service.

Review :

Size : The size of this battery bank is amazing for the amount of juice that you are getting.
Roughly the size of pack of playing cards.  Very impressive.

Price : Comparable to other battery banks on the market.

QC 3.0 is definitely fast but it is a feature that is pretty much locked to android phones.  Not compatible with Apple products so this feature may go unused.  If you don’t need it, get the Anker Powercore which doesn’t feature QC 3.0.

When it comes to QC, if you have a device that can utilize it, it’s awesome!  15 minutes of charging can give you easily over 60% charge.

Charging the unit will take roughly 9 hours to complete.

Roughly 4 charges for my iphone 6s before needing to be charged again.

Holds a charge well.

Lots of builtin protections ;

Voltage protect, temperature control, short circuit protection, etc.

The include cables are often extremely cheap and a lot of people have failures from these.

The plastic polycarbonate feels a bit cheap.  Yes that does keep the weight down; just needs to be mentioned.


Monday, March 6, 2017

Vanquest FTIM SLIM Maximizer - Review



Today Luke is reviewing the Vanquest FTIM SLIM : (Fast-Totally-Integrated Maximizer).

Link Vanquest : https://www.vanquest.com/products/ftim-slim-fast-totally-integrated-maximizer.html

Link Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/Vanquest-FTIM-SLIM-Maximizer-Fast-Totally-Integrated-Wolf/dp/B017T27PL8

Price : Retail Price of $30.99
Weight : 5oz
Colors : Grey, Coyote, Black

Features :
 Net Weight: 5.0 oz | 141.7 gram
● Size: 7” (H) x 6” (W) x 2.5” (D)
● One external and two internal storage pockets with 22 elastic webbing slots
● Staggered and off-set stitching on elastic webbing reduces unusable space
● Grab handle eases hand carry and removing from pockets
● Internal 3.5” keychain fob and 1” paracord attachment loop
● 2” (H) x 4” (W) ID/Morale patch loop panel on front
● MOLLE/PALS webbing on rear for modular attachment
● Compatible with MOLLE Sticks and MOHL Adapter Panel for loop panel attachment



Materials:
● 1,000-D Military grade Cordura® fabric with water-repellent Teflon® fabric protector by DuPont®
● Subdued Hi-visibility, lightweight & moisture resistant 210-D Ripstop nylon interior.
● Durable & abrasion resistant RC-Class YKK® #8 zippers, reversed for protection.
● User-friendly circular zipper loops made from Gladding's 550 lb. tensile strength paracord (MADE-IN-USA)
● High tensile strength nylon webbings and binding tapes
● Finished with high tensile strength bonded nylon thread

FTIM™ (Fast-Totally-Integrated Maximizer™) is a series of evolved organizers that offer lightning-fast pull-down access, and gear-taming organizations. It is a hybrid of our signature PPM/EDCM Maximizer™ organizers, and the popular FATPack medical pouches.

With Maximizer staggered/offset elastic loops, high-viz ripstop pockets, and a fold-down tool roll flap, every slot/pocket in the FTIM is designed to secure your gear. A built-in "shelf" bottom further retains items stored vertically, and prevents them from slipping through. With one instinctive pull, the FTIM's contents are at the ready.

FTIM-SLIM is the smaller of the FTIM series: 7" (H) x 6" (W) x 2.5" (D). If you need a small fold-out organizer to stow your EDC items, the FTIM-SLIM is your pouch.

Two large slip pockets, two paracord loops, plus 25 vertical and horizontal elastic loops will guarantee each of your EDC items will find a home.

Sturdy grab handle with user-selectable FASTab system can quickly unzip #8 YKK lockable zippers. Loop ID panel, exterior slip pocket, and MOLLE/PALS side panels allow expansion of gear carried. Constructed of 1,000-D CORDURA® with TEFLON® by DuPont® to ensure maximum durability!

You can attach the pouch onto any MOLLE/PALS surface with MOLLE Sticks (#99MS5X4*); or convert it to a hook-and-loop attachment using the MOHL-Air adapter panel (#017700*); or use our 1" UNIVERSAL STRAP (#012001*) to carry it around your shoulder. *Optional accessories.

Can be attached to the outside of your pack using molle sticks or grimlocs

Can be carried as a shoulder bag with a shoulder strap.


Review :

Zippers : A often noticed complaint about Vanquest pouches are the zippers; when new, they are stiff and somewhat sticky.  The good news is this; over time they do loosen up.  How do I know this?  Experience!  I’ve carried the Husky for years and the zips were sticky when new.

I love this little pack! This pack allows me to keep a bunch of useful items with me at all times in a back pack. From first aid to flashlights to just about anything you might need in a pinch, just use your imagination. Whenever I'm out with my family and friends especially on vacation or just a weekend adventure I usually have this with me. Somebody always needs something....nail clippers, flashlight, first aid, zip tie, multitool, you name it, there's a good chance I've got something in this pack help someone out.

Pros:

Good quality construction and lots of loops/straps/compartments to organize your 'stuff'.
Many different mounting/hanging options.
Lighter than I expected for all the organizational options.

Cons:

Shipped flattens, which made 1st use more awkward.
Zippers are much too tight. Too much pulling force to open/close zippers.




Friday, March 3, 2017

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

35 Miles (On the Appalachian Trail) - INTRO



Join Luke and his son Lucas for an ambitious Multi-day Adventure on the Appalachian Trail.  This is the INTRO for 35 Miles, a Multi-day Adventure.

The full Adventure is coming soon.