This is an "In The Field" (ITF) review on Columbia River Knife and Tool company's M16 12ZER (Emergency Rescue).
SPECS:
3" Tanto with Serrated Edge
AUS 4 Stainless Steel
Auto-Lawks 1 handed open and close
4.25" Closed
3.6 Ounces
Zytel Fiberglass Orange Body Handle
Great Knife for anyone who needs a pocket blade for small to medium duty tasks out in the woods. Fits nicely in the hand, strong blade, holds an edge well and accepts sharpening easily. Well balanced, even feel. Partially serrated blade helps with certain tasks. One handed opening and closing. Removable (and durable) pocket clip. Sells for around $50 (or less).
Best Uses: Camping, Small to Medium Duty, Hunting, Pocket Blade
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
Was this a gift?: No
See my review on YouTube (video ID): fMgkB4Xd3UM
Great Knife for anyone who needs a pocket blade for small to medium duty tasks out in the woods. Fits nicely in the hand, strong blade, holds an edge well and accepts sharpening easily. Well balanced, even feel. Partially serrated blade helps with certain tasks. One handed opening and closing. Removable (and durable) pocket clip. Sells for around $50 (or less).
In this step by step walk through, in accompany with my YouTube video on the subject, I show you how to build an A-Frame Debris Shelter.
The A-Frame Debris Shelter is a versatile design that can be utilized in the summer or winter months, in dry or wet conditions. The shelter requires minimal tools if the proper steps are taken in site selection and debris gathering, making it a good option for someone caught unprepared to spend the night outdoors. However, with a few small pieces of equipment (such as rope, a good knife, and/or a small saw) one can make an extremely durable and weather resistant temporary shelter.
There are many variations on this design and no specific way is more correct than another. In a true survival situation the best method for building a shelter is whatever method expends the least amount of energy while sufficiently protecting you from exposure to the elements. That may involve using the "Y" of a tree to rest the support beam, instead of building an "A" for the support beam to be tied to. Again, your preparedness beforehand (having rope, or other tools available) will likely dictate this.
This shelter is such a great option to have in your survival skill set because it is easy to build and can be adapted to suit a variety of conditions and situations (for example extra insulating layers of debris in winter). There are many different environments you might face in various regions of the world, but nearly everyone of those will provide the natural debris necessary to create this shelter.
Below I have included the link to my video walk through of how to build an A-Frame debris shelter. You can use both the video and walk through here in conjunction with one another.
Site Selection
Selecting the proper site is important regardless of what type of shelter you are building. Every situation will be different, but there are a few general rules to keep in mind.
Avoid areas where any of the following may be an issue:
Areas that may pool run-off water, or be susceptible to flash floods.
Areas that may be more susceptible to frost (hollow bottoms).
Areas that animals may use as a primary route to water.
Any other unstable areas where dangers such as avalanches or rock slides could occur.
A few considerations to keep in mind:
Certain areas will get more sunlight during the day than others. (ie the North face of a hillside versus the South face.)
What direction is the wind blowing from primarily? Orient your shelter and fire accordingly.
Choose a camp as close to necessities as possible. Quick access to food, water, or debris in this case.
I chose an area where the wind was mostly blocked by a group of pines, and where I would be in the sun for as much of the day as possible. The area also had a significantly larger amount of debris than anywhere else in the vicinity.
Main Support Beam
You want to find a stout beam that will have the strength to support the structure. This beam needs to be strong enough to hold the weight of the roofing beams, and their debris. If it is winter, consider that snow fall could also significantly increase the weight being held by the beam. Wind will also be a factor.
I chose a dead fall tree that never actually fell to the ground. It was stopped by a neighboring pine, and the way that it fell caused it to curve. I liked the curvature that it gave the beam, because it will make the process of adding the roofing beams easier. The beam that you choose should optimally be a few feet longer than you are tall so that you can lay down in the shelter completely. But do not choose too long of a piece. The longer the beam, the larger the shelter will be, the more debris will be required, the more area will need to be heated by the fire... and so on.
The A Frame Beam
The beams you select to create the "A" should be of a similar size and strength as the main support beam. They too will hold a significant portion of the weight. The length of your "A" beams will depend on your size and preference. I like to be able to sit up and/or kneel at the entrance of my shelter. Therefore, I select the length of the "A" beams accordingly.
I chose a beam almost identical in size to the main support for my "A".
Connecting The "A"
This is also a very crucial step in the construction process. Make sure you choose two beams that are long enough to allow you to fit in the shelter. If you are cutting the two beams from one longer piece, always be on the safe side and cut them so they are longer than you think you will need. You can cut off the excess later.
Place the "A" beams in the approximate position that you want the opening to be. Figure out what width you want at the base, and how/where the beams rest most securely on the ground. Once you have found this, connect the beams IN THAT POSITION. Attempting to connect the beams while laying down on the ground and not in the position they will ultimately be in will make more work for you, and will cause you to get a less secure connection between the two.
Securing The Main Support Beam
Once the "A" is tied off, grab your main support beam and rest it on the "A" temporarily. Adjust the angle of the "A", watching what it does to the height of the shelter. Remember to also consider the length you need to lay down in the shelter. It is nice to have an over hang with any shelter, but that will compromise the integrity of the shelter's strength. I angle the "A" less than 90 degrees back towards the main support beam.
Once you have your frame in the place that you think will work best, fortify where the frames are resting on the ground. You can use rocks, logs, or you can dig a cavity in the ground for the frame to rest in as I did here. This is my preferred method.
Here I show the main support frame secured. I secured the other two frames as well. For the support beam I dug an angled cavity about 8" deep and placed it in. A rock or heavy log resting on top can also work.
Once you have secured all the frames, secure the main support frame to the "A" if you can. I used 550 para-cord as shown below.
No particular knot or method here. Tie it tight enough to get a secure fit. If you can shake any of the frames loose or out of position once tied, you need to go back a step and secure the frames on the ground better.
Prepare The Ground
Before you start to place the roof beams on the frame, take a shovel, knife or whatever else you have available and churn up the earth will you will be laying. This will create air space which will make it easier to insulate later. We will cover this area with boughs, duff, and pine needles to increase insulation before sleeping gear is laid down.
Churn up the earth to create air space on the ground.
Mid Support Beam
This is required but I like to secure a frame about half way down the main beam. This will make stacking the larger roofing frames easier. This helps keep the larger roofing beams closest to the "A" from falling over accidentally while building the shelter. This is especially helpful when working with wood that isn't straight, or if you are forced to build on uneven ground.
Stacking The Roof Beams
Now it is time to start placing the roofing beams. You can start at whichever end you want. Make sure the beams are long enough to extend above the support frame. Use the approximate angle of the "A" so that your shelter doesn't change width along its length. Also keep in mind that the steeper the angle the harder it will be to get a base layer of debris.
Don't forget to remove any branches that might be sticking off the roof beams. It's not fun to bump into them at night!
Alternate the roofing beams on each side of the support frame and try to keep the spacing between each beam as minimal as possible. Angle base your angle for each roof beam off of the "A" beam to keep things even. As you get closer to the back of the shelter use smaller sticks, on a smaller angle.
Make sure to use good pieces as the roofing beams will also support weight.
Make sure that none of the pieces might bend and collapse once weight is on them. Also check the angle to make sure things are even.
Prepare The Roof For Debris
The easiest way to prepare the roof for debris is to add sticks to increase the surface area.
Vine and sticks like this work well. If necessary you can weave the vine in between roofing beams, but this will take extra time and is not much more efficient than just evenly applying a layer on the roof.
Collecting And Placing Debris
Now it is time to start collecting debris. This is going to take some time and energy, but if you selected your camp site well hopefully your work and travel will be as minimal as possible. Here I use a tarp and pile on debris, then carry the tarp back to the shelter. You can just use the tarp to dump the debris on, but I like to get an even base layer first, working from the bottom up.
Its okay if there are some sticks, dirt or other miscellaneous debris included. A certain amount is inevitable. Just make sure you don't pick up any snakes!
Use your hand to feel where the debris layer is light and add to it. Also be sure to pack it down as best as possible. Don't break your roof frames, but compact the debris a reasonable amount. This will retain heat more effectively.
Don't forget the top!
Inspecting The Base Layer
Now its time to check your work. Go under the shelter and look for daylight. You will want to cover and add a layer to any thin areas. Even though you will cover these later with the other layers of debris, it is important to do this because these areas will be more susceptible to heat loss and precipitation if left alone.
Look for daylight under the shelter. Take a stick and run it through the opening so you can find the thin area outside and add debris to it. If not heat will escape easier through these areas, and may also allow precipitation into the shelter.
That's it for part one. Keep your eyes peeled for Part 2!
Thanks for stopping by. Please be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and this Blog!
Please Continue to Contact Your State Representative!
Last week, a vote on two amendments that would put an end to organized bird shoots in Pennsylvania was postponed due to your telephone calls and e-mails. These amendments have been rescheduled for a vote in the state House tomorrow.
Please call AND e-mail your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to protect a Pennsylvania sporting tradition and vote AGAINST the Maher amendments to Senate Bill 71. This long-standing shooting tradition, practiced for over a century, boasts esteemed historical participants like President Theodore Roosevelt, Annie Oakley and Ernest Hemingway.
For help identifying your state Representative and their contact information, please click here.
Don’t forget to forward this alert to your family, friends and fellow supporters of Pennsylvania’s sporting traditions. Urge them to also call their state Representative to help put a stop to “animal rights” activists because they won’t stop until all hunting and sporting traditions have been banned in Pennsylvania.
No Surprises Here-- BATFE Wanted Fast and Furious to Justify Gun Control
Friday, December 09, 2011
From the first moment that the American people became aware that senior BATFE officials ordered agents in the field to allow guns sold in the U.S. to be smuggled on an all-but-certain path to Mexico’s vicious drug cartels, many of us have wondered “why.”
What possible legitimate purpose could be fulfilled by allowing a large number of guns—over 2,000, by some estimates—to disappear across our southwestern border without the Mexican government’s knowledge?
There has been only one logical answer possible. Someone within the BATFE or higher in the Department of Justice wanted the smuggled guns to be recovered at crime scenes in Mexico, and traced to sources within the U.S., so that the Obama Administration could claim a need for one or another gun control measure being pushed by anti-gun groups. Someone who values gun control more than the lives of innocent people killed by cartel operatives armed with the BATFE’s “walked” guns. Someone who believes, as one BATFE official put it, that “to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs.”
Until now, there was no proof, however. But this week, CBS News reported that the BATFE “discussed using their covert operation Fast and Furious to argue for controversial new rules about gun sales.” In particular, agency officials wanted guns to fall into Mexican drug cartel hands and be traced back to gun dealers in the U.S. to make a case for requiring dealers to report individuals who buy more than one detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifle over .22 caliber in a five day period.
According to CBS, “emails show they discussed using the sales, including sales encouraged by ATF, to justify a new gun regulation called Demand Letter 3. That would require some U.S. gun shops to report the sale of multiple rifles or ‘long guns.’”
CBS singled out a July 14, 2010 email sent by BATFE Field Operations Assistant Director Mark Chait to Bill Newell, the agency’s Special Agent in Charge in Phoenix, from which Fast and Furious was based. In the email, Chaits asked Newell to “see if these guns were all purchased from the same [licensed gun dealer] and at one time. We are looking at anecdotal cases to support a demand letter on long gun multiple sales.”
Pro-Second Amendment U.S. Senator John Cornyn (Texas), the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee, quickly responded to CBS’s revelation, saying “If these reports are true, even by Washington standards this reaches a new level of arrogance and corruption.” With Attorney General Holder again appearing before Congress to testify about Fast and Furious this week, Sen. Cornyn added, “again, the Attorney General has some explaining to do.”
Also this week, CBS reported another means by which Mexico’s drug cartels have acquired a large enough number of U.S.-made firearms to partially explain the high tallies repeated time and again by Mexican president Felipe Calderon, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder, and other gun control supporters.
Apparently, hundreds of firearms sent to Mexico by U.S. firearms manufacturers, through Direct Commercial Sales approved by the State Department since 2006, cannot be accounted for by Mexican officials and are presumed to have made their way to the cartels. As CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson relates it, “The Mexican military recently reported nearly nine thousand police weapons missing. Yet, the U.S. has approved the sale of more guns to Mexico than ever before.” The government of Mexico now buys more U.S.-made firearms than Iraq, whose security forces American and allied troops trained from the ground up, after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Providing some insight into the scope of the problem, after one U.S.-made rifle sold to the Mexican military ended up in a cartel arms cache, the State Department asked Mexico to account for 1,030 more rifles, but received no reply. Between 2006 and 2009, 2,400 firearms were sold to Mexico through direct sales. But trying to avoid further embarrassment, State refuses to provide the numbers for 2010 and 2011. Attkisson says, “With Mexico in a virtual state of war with its cartels, nobody is tracking how many U.S. guns are ending up with the enemy.”
Please Contact Your State Representative IMMEDIATELY!
Animal “rights” activists have once again talked state Representative John Maher (R-40) into sponsoring two amendments that would put an end to organized bird shoots in Pennsylvania. These amendments to Senate Bill 71 are scheduled to be voted on TODAY.
It is important for you to call AND e-mail your state Representative IMMEDIATELY and urge him or her to protect Pennsylvania’s sporting traditions and OPPOSE the Maher amendments to Senate Bill 71. For help identifying your state Representative and their contact information, please click here.
Organized bird shooting is a traditional international shooting sport widely practiced in more than thirty-five states across the nation, not just in Pennsylvania as opponents falsely claim. For over a century, shoots have been held in Pennsylvania by law-abiding, ethical shooting enthusiasts.
Radical national animal “rights" groups, led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), have organized and funded efforts in Pennsylvania and around the country to ban this longstanding traditional shooting sport. Extremist animal “rights” groups seem to envision a future where all of the shooting sports are banned. Here are a few examples of HSUS activities:
* Led a 2006 ballot campaign to ban dove hunting in Michigan (contributing $1.6
million to the effort).
* Funded a ballot initiative in 2004 to ban traditional bear hunting in Maine.
* Successfully lobbied for the cancellation of the 2006 New Jersey black bear hunt.
* Opposed hunting on National Wildlife Refuges.
* Opposed state pheasant stocking programs in Pennsylvania and across the country.
Don’t forget to forward this alert to your family, friends and fellow supporters of Pennsylvania’s sporting traditions. Urge them to also call their state Representative to help put a stop to animal “rights” activists, because they won’t stop until all sporting traditions have been banned in Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the ongoing effort to fully vindicate the fundamental, individual right to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense took a major step forward with House passage of H.R. 822, the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.” The bill, sponsored by Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), which has 245 cosponsors, was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 272-154.
Several amendments were offered to undermine the bill’s protections. Every one of these amendments was soundly defeated by an overwhelming bipartisan vote, and included:
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s (D-Texas) amendment to establish a national database of permit holders (defeated 284-139);
Rep. Jackson Lee’s amendment to require permit holders to notify law enforcement officials in other states of their intention to carry a firearm in those states (defeated 299-123);
Rep. Steve Cohen’s (D-Tenn.) amendment to exclude permit holders under 21 years of age (defeated 276-150);
Rep. Alcee Hastings’ (D-Fla.) amendment, intended to exclude permit holders whose states do not require permit applicants to apply in person (defeated 277-148);
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy’s (D-N.Y.) amendment to apply the bill only to states in which the state legislature votes to accept it (defeated 274-147);
Rep. Rob Woodall’s (R-Ga.) amendment to allow states to create their own agreements which would exempt them from the bill (defeated 283-140);
Rep. Hank Johnson’s (D-Ga.) amendment to apply the bill only to permit holders who were required to participate in a live-fire exercise to be eligible for their permits (defeated 281-144); and,
Rep. David Cicilline’s (D-R.I.) amendment to create a patchwork of recognition (and resistance) by applying the bill only between states where the attorneys general, state police chiefs, and secretaries of state have affirmed that their states’ carry laws are similar (defeated 277-146).
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee provided crucial support to H.R. 822’s progress over the last several months, opened debate on the bill by describing in plain terms what it does. “This legislation requires states that currently allow people to carry concealed firearms to recognize other states’ valid concealed carry permits, much like states recognize driver’s licenses issued by other states,” Rep. Smith said. Anticipating the claim that H.R. 822 would override state carry laws—a claim that would be made over and over by House members opposed to the bill—Smith added, “The bill recognizes the right of states to determine eligibility requirements for their own residents [and] laws and regulations regarding how, when, and where a concealed firearm can be carried that apply to a resident will apply equally to a nonresident.” Rep. Smith concluded his opening remarks by expressing the central motive behind the bill, saying that the “fundamental right to bear arms . . . should not be constrained by state boundary lines.”
As the author of the bill, Rep. Stearns expanded upon Chairman Smith’s arguments, saying “[I]t’s long overdue that we take action to enhance the fundamental right of self-defense for all law-abiding citizens of this country. The right—the simple right—to defend yourself and your loved ones from a criminal is fundamental. And it's not extinguished when you simply cross a state border. . . . . [U]nder this legislation, lawfully issued carry permits will be recognized in all states that also issue carry permits. There are now 49 states that issue these permits. Most of these states also recognize permits issued from at least some other states, while some states recognize all valid permits issued by any state. But herein, simply, lies the problem. The non-uniformity of the laws regarding reciprocity makes it difficult for law-abiding permit holders to know for sure if they are obeying the law as they travel from state to state. While preserving the power of the states to set the rules on where concealed firearms can be carried, this legislation…will simply make it easier for law-abiding permit holders to know that they are simply in compliance with the law when they carry a firearm as they travel this wonderful country of ours.”
Rep. Stearns also put to rest several self-serving claims recently made by a small number of groups which claim to support the Second Amendment, but never seem to find a viable pro-Second Amendment bill they can support. These groups regularly oppose important pro-gun reform legislation, either complaining that it does not achieve all of gun owners’ goals in a single stroke, or expressing a paranoid fear that the legislation contains a hidden, insidious mechanism that will lead to the destruction of our right to keep and bear arms.
“This bill does not set up a federal carry permit system or establish any federal regulations of concealed-carry permits,” Rep. Stearns said. “That power remains with the states. Additionally, this legislation does not include any new federal gun laws, nor does it call for additional federal regulation of gun ownership. In fact, it does not allow for new federal regulation, for it amends the part of the Gun Control Act that allows only such regulation as is necessary, and in this case none.”
Some of the other House members speaking in favor were Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), John Kline (R-Minn.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah), and Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), each of whom reiterated that H.R. 822 does not establish a national licensing scheme or federal carry permit system, or any other federal regulation relating to carry permits or gun ownership.
Since the House debate, some of the same critics have focused their complaints on an amendment by Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) that would require a study of law enforcement officials’ ability to check the validity of out-of-state permits. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. It is important to note that any member of Congress can request a General Accounting Office study of any issue at any time, with or without legislation. More importantly, this study will have no effect on the provisions of H.R. 822. Certainly it wouldn't force the states to use "biometric identifiers" on permits, an idea that so far exists only in the minds of these naysayers.
Special thanks also go to Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who rose time and again to defend H.R. 822 against the anti-gun amendments its opponents put forward. Additional thanks go to Reps. Steve Austria (R-Ohio); Howard Coble (R-N.C.); Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.); Jason Altmire (R-Penn.); Dan Boren (D-Okla.); Mike Ross (D-Ark.); Trent Franks (R-Ariz.); Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.); Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.); Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.); Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.); Candice Miller (R-Mich.); Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.); and Don Young (R-Alaska) for speaking in support of H.R. 822 during the debate, and to Rep. Rich Nugent (R-Fla.) for managing the Rule which provided for consideration of the bill.
This critical legislation now moves to the Senate. Please contact your Senators and urge them to bring H.R. 822 up for a vote at the earliest possible opportunity!
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed an important self-defense measure that would enable millions of Right-to-Carry permit holders across the country to carry concealed firearms while traveling outside their home states. H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, passed by a majority bipartisan vote of 272 to 154. All amendments aimed to weaken or damage the integrity of this bill were defeated.
“NRA has made the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act a priority because it enhances the fundamental right to self-defense guaranteed to all law-abiding people,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “People are not immune from crime when they cross state lines. That is why it is vital for them to be able to defend themselves and their loved ones should the need arise.”
H.R. 822, introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), allows any person with a valid state-issued concealed firearm permit to carry a concealed firearm in any state that issues concealed firearm permits, or that does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms for lawful purposes.
This bill does not affect existing state laws. State laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within each state’s borders. H.R. 822 does not create a federal licensing system or impose federal standards on state permits; rather, it requires the states to recognize each others' carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards.
As of today, 49 states have laws in place that permit their citizens to carry a concealed firearm in some form. Only Illinois and the District of Columbia deny its residents the right to carry concealed firearms outside their homes or businesses for self-defense.
“We are grateful for the support of Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor, Majority Whip McCarthy, Judiciary Chairman Smith and primary sponsors Congressmen Stearns and Shuler for their steadfast support of H.R. 822. Thanks to the persistence of millions of American gun owners and NRA members, Congress has moved one step closer to improving crucial self-defense laws in this country,” concluded Cox.
H.R. 822—the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011” is scheduled for a vote on the U.S. House floor this Tuesday, November 15. We’ve told you the truth about why the legislation is very good for gun owners and now it is imperative that you contact your U.S. RepresentativeIMMEDIATELY and urge him or her to vote for H.R. 822 WITH NO AMENDMENTS.
As we have been reporting all along, H.R. 822 is a good bill for gun owners. The bill will enable America’s millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states by requiring states to recognize each others' lawfully-issued carry permits, just as they recognize driver's licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards.
H.R. 822 does not create a federal licensing or registration system; does not establish a minimum federal standard for the carry permit; does not involve the federal bureaucracy in setting standards for carry permit; and it does not destroy or discourage the adoption of permitless carry systems such as those in Arizona, Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming. Again, this critically important bill will be on the House floor on Tuesday.Please IMMEDIATELY contact your member of Congress and urge him or her to vote for H.R. 822 WITH NO AMENDMENTS.
You can find contact information for your U.S. Representative by using the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org. You may also contact your Representative by phone at (202) 225-3121. Additionally, you may CLICK HERE TO EMAIL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS. H.R. 822 is a good bill for gun owners. Don’t listen to false claims. Read the bill yourself and READ OUR FACT SHEET to get more facts.
On this "In The Field" review, I take a look at GSI's Pinnacle Dualist cook kit. This kit is designed to be a two personal cooking and eating system. You can tell it is designed with the backpack camper or minimalist in mind. It is light weight, efficient, and takes maximum advantage of space by "nesting" - basically fitting as much in to as small of a space as possible.
The kit includes a 1.8 Liter pot with folding handle which doubles to hold the lid on when in storage mode, 2 20 fluid ounce drink bowls with sip tops, and 2 20 fluid ounce food bowls. The kit includes 2 sporks as well, but IMO these are a weak point of the kit (and about the only one). The bag the kit comes in even doubles as a wash sink for after the meal is done. Total kit weight is 20.7 oz. Dimensions: 5.9" x 6.4" x 5.9"
Price: ~$60
You can take the nesting even one step further as I have, an carry your stove and fuel source without increasing required pack volume. I carry my MSR Pocket Rocket and one fuel canister within the system. The two systems work extremely well together.
The Pinnacle series of cookware uses technology that is something special in itself. GSI uses special coatings within the metal used in the pot to dramatically improve radiance on the cooking surface, virtually eliminating hot spots and enhancing even dispersion of heat across the cooking area. This all boils down to faster boil times... pun intended!
Whether you are a casual camper, serious backpacker/hiker, minimalist, camp hunter, shtf survivalist or anything in between, this kit deserves a spot in your pack.
This "In The Field" review (ITF for short)
focuses on MSR' Pocket Rocket camp stove.
The pocket
rocket is small, light weight, but powerful and fuel efficient making it
appealing to just about everyone. Backpack campers, hikers, hunters, and anyone
else who needs to cook something will find this to be an excellent piece of
camp cooking equipment.
It is 4.1"
x 2.1" x 2" and weighs 3.0 oz without a fuel canister. Great size and
weight! Runs on isobutane-propane, MSR recommends only using their brand, but
any will work. (gigapower, msr, primus, jetboil, optimus, etc.)
100 gram
canister is said to burn on full power for 26 minutes. 100 gram fuel canister
is said to be able to boil 6.8 Liters of water! (Source: MSR)
Pros:
Compact but
powerful and efficient
Fits every fuel
canister I've ever tried
Quick boil time
Adjustable burn
Cons:
No auto-ignition
No wind screen
(IMO these are
unnecessary anyway)
To sum it up
this is a great camp stove and comes in around $35-$40. For the power that you
get with this can, it is well worth it.
Monday, October 31, 2011
In this "In The Field" Review, or ITF, I review Blackhawk's Hydrastorm Strike Cyclone Pack in ACU. The pack is a versatile medium sized, heavy duty pack. This pack would work best as a short term, in and out kind of bag. Its good for a few days in the field or woods (3 day assualt bag) or one day of heavy work requiring you to bring a lot of gear. Just my perspective. Not the size I would want for a end all be all "bail out bag" but its possible if you are a minimalist/very skilled and resourceful in the woods.
The pack has over 100 different MOLLE attachment points to incorporate outher pouches and miscellaneous gear, allowing you to store more, in addition to the already large capacity of 32 Liters the pack has in its inherit design. It also has quality conponents in sinch straps, padded shoulder straps, a heavy duty drag handle, waist belt, grommets for drainage, and a sternum strap.
The inclusion of a 100oz microban anti-microbial hydration bladder is a big plus for this pack. It inludes the drinking tube and tube sheath (color matching the color of the pack). I would say the maximum loadout for optimal weight distribution is somewhere around 30-40lbs. I have had this pack weighing in over 50lbs with gear contained within, in addition to my added pouched, and another few pounds loaded on the the modular webbing outside of the pack (fishing rod, sandals, empty gallon container, etc.). Because the pack is not tall, but rather deep, it makes it more difficult to carry those loads... That being said the quality of materials used are strong enough to stand up to the task!
This pack isn't designed to carry that much weight, so don't take that as a negative, take it as a positive that it didn't fail under that use. If you need a pack for a week long hike then you need an internal or external frame, something larger than this.
In this video I detail how I prioritize tasks based on situation when setting up a camp. This could be applied to a survival situation, or anytime you find yourself outdoors for an extended period of time.
There are many important factors to consider when analyzing your situation. Some main ones are Water, Food, Shelter and Fire. In this video we will be focusing on Shelter and Fire. In videos to come, I will go into more depth on these, as well as Water and Food.
In this video I review the Trailblazer Sawvivor Saw in the 18" model. In this new take, I give you what I have appropriately called an "In The Field" Review. ITF for short. Its impossible to have gunfire and explosions in every video I make, but hopefully reviewing different items in the environment in which they are to be used will be more beneficial than embedding footage of when I have used them over a review on the table top in my workspace.
Anyway, this is a great light to medium duty tool for the outdoorsman trying to keep size and weight down to a minimum. 18"x3" (LxW) when folded down and only about 10 ounces. Able to cut through about 5.25", depending on situation. 5.25" is the distance between the blade and the top frame of the saw. You can cut wider diameters, within reason, if you can get the wood fall away as you are making the cut to allow space for the frame to saw within (as I show with the larger limb). But for a standing tree you would be limited to the 5.25". This saw can take abuse and also dish it out to wood that stands in your way. It is a perfect size for a minimalist or someone who likes to keep size and weight down to a minimum.
IN DEPTH BLOG EXCLUSIVE:
A saw like this is a great addition to the gear pile for anyone who enjoys spending time in the woods, and is required to procure, and cut their wood to workable dimensions for a fire. Saws like this are a great option for making perpendicular cuts to standing or fallen wood alike to allow for easier movement back to camp. These saws don't replace a survival knife, like the RTAK 2, but have their own advantages. The energy level required to take down a tree with a saw like this is much lower than the striking that would be required with a survival knife, and energy conservation is something that is important to most campers who go on self sufficient trips (ie not in the backyard or out of the back of a truck). The size and weight advantages of this saw compared to full size saws or axes is also a major advantage. A full sized axe or saw would be great for a camper that is driving to their campsite, but carrying that weight is not very effective if you have a long distance to your location and are carrying everything in your pack. Those that would argue otherwise, are only showing their lack of experience. You can not argue with the fact that a small saw like this that weighs a thirteenth of a full sized wood axe is more efficient to carry into the back country.
As mentioned, the perfect combination of wood procuring tools is a small packable saw like this and a survival blade. The saw obviously can be used to cut the tree down, or separate it from the stump if fallen, and then use it to divide the log into manageable pieces. The knife enables you to easily remove branches before subdividing with the saw, finish off horizontal cuts that run into knots in the wood, and also increasing the space created with a cut if the wood is larger in diameter (5.25"+). Additionally, and one of the most important steps, is then batoning the wood. Obviously the knife should be your first choice here. While you could split the wood in smaller dimensions with the saw if its all you had, it would be a lot harder and require a MUCH larger expenditure of energy.
All in all this saw is a great stand alone tool, and when paired with an appropriate survival knife makes you more than capable to do some serious work.
In this video, we take a look at BownHunter's compound bow, the Martin "Cheetah", and build a mount to attach his Kodak Playsport. To me, its counter-intuitive to have a camera mounted on the part of the bow that is supposed to absorb vibration from the release... so we created out own set up for under $5 using metal and synthetic washers, a bolt, and a nut.
Detailed description:
We used a bolt to thread through an "Insane Archery" mount, with 2 metal washers and 3 synthetic washers (with a diameter wide enough to span the space of the bow structure) placed to provide strength and ridigity (the metal washers) and absorb vibration (the synthetic). Specifically, the synthetic were in contact with the bow, and the third synthetic was at the end up of the top of the bolt. We used a nut on the other side with a lock washer to secure everything in place. It is very easy to adjust or remove if necessary.
It is my goal to get at least one whitetail harvesting on film this year, and with as many hunting trips as are planned we shouldn't have a hard time exceeding that goal.
A link to my video on a trip in the woods with Jemma.
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In this video I go to some isolated land, just under approximately 4,000 acres in size in the north eastern USA. I've got three goals on this trip, in no particular order:
1) Scout for whitetail deer. This is a newer location and as such I do not have as much information on deer patterns, bedding, feeding and watering locations. I was here late last season once or twice, but only did a little scouting. While I may not get enough information in time to do any serious damage before the end of this season, there are a lot of tags left until very late in the season for this management unit, so it may pay off. If not, it certainly will pay off for next year after I've had time to put in some work.
2) Scount for bivouac camping sites. In particular, bivouac sites that allow for fishing, and obviously provide a water source. I have done my research with high resolution satellite imagery on my handheld GPS's program (Delorme PN-40 on TOPOUSA software) and have found a few isolated small lakes that may provide this, assuming there are natural occuring fish present. None of these lakes will be stocked because of their isolation, and relatively small size. Apart from the water source, it would be beneficial to locate an area of older woods, that will be populated with sufficient standing dead wood to sustain a fire easily without having to drag the limbs long distances.
3) Introduce a new member to the channel: Jemma the sheepdog! Jemma is my 1 year old border collie. I am taking her out to get her use to exploring with me off leash, listening to commands, and having a good time. Taking a dog out into the woods with you (as anyone that has done it can tell you) is a very rewarding activity. It builds a strong bond between you... and its a hell of a way to get the dog a serious workout!
Welcome to NoMoreOp4's Blog! This has been created to keep you up to date with everything related to NoMoreOp4's YouTube Channel. If you have followed a link here from my channel thanks for stopping by. Please subscribe, check out the blog and drop me a comment! Admittedly, with work and other obligations quality videos on gun and gear reviews, shooting, hunting and camping, are not always possible as frequently as I would like. So I created this to keep you updated on whats going on! I will also post relevant topics that my subscribers may be interested in, such as links to political issues, or sales on gear!
If you've stumbled here and are not sure exactly what you've found, I welcome you. My channel is centered around gear and gun reviews, hunting, camping and shooting videos. I got started with my YouTube Channel when I decided to review a handgun, and it snowballed from there. I had used other people's reviews hundreds of times when considering a purchase, and was frustrated with unorganized low quality mumblings of tacticool ninjas. For that reason I created my channel. My goal is to provide detailed gear and gun reviews, and to contribute and help those who share my common interests. Thanks for stopping by, and again, welcome!
