By popular demand (1 person named Sean Stark) I am going to do GearReviews. Starting some time later when I am not trying to edit videos. Format of this review is I am just going to pick out something random in my car and review it every time I stay in a Wi-Fi hot spot.
Leatherman Wave: If you are going to be cutting your arm off because you got it stuck in between a boulder and a cliff face you are going to wish you had a real leatherman and not some cheap knock-off, the bone saw really could come in handy. But catastrophes aside the wave is great in particular because it has a reversible screw drivers in both average and tiny glasses size. The tiny glasses size is useful because whenever someone needs a tiny screw driver you know right where to go. We already used Clint's wave to change the batteries on a a frisbee in Denver. Another unique use I had of the wave was using the incorporated scissors to cut straggling long hairs from my dad's hair cut job, and let me tell you there were many! I have used the blade as my fillet knife and the pliers to grab and remove fish skins. Although the leatherman is heavy and expensive. I would argue that the multi-tool is one of the most important articles in an outdoorsman's arsenal so skimp elsewhere. The only improvement I could think to make is a deluxe addition with better blade materials, for those of us who don't want to carry another knife, but the blade is serviceable as is. 70ish dollars. 98% approval
Rhino Rack Aero 2500 Roof Rack
This rack is a clamp-on style rack system that seats in between the doors. Initial set up is pretty easy, but it is important to note that the directions and sizing system is generic, but your individual bars are cut to the size of your car. So don't panic like I did if one side of the measurements doesn't add up. The bars are beefy and wide. Actually very wide 3.5 inches to be exact, so some attachments from other companies will not work with these racks. Road noise is minimal and with any music playing it's not even noticeable. The durability of these racks has been pretty good, considering what I put equipment through. In the Pike National forest after spending the day going down heavily wash-boarded roads, I opened the rear drivers side door and the rack clamp dropped to the ground. The bolt had worked loose and the only thing holding my stuff on was the closed door and the cargo box. The bolt requires a special tool (another negative) and out of dumb luck alone I happened to bring it with me and was able to get it all back where it should be. Also the rubber padding's adhesive occasionally slips on the clamps, but considering the heat, exposure, and drag it's dealing with it is holding up ok. But at some-point within this first year I will have to replace the padding, which is unexceptable. Replacement pads or a imbedded padding system would be nice. Overall I have thrown a lot at these racks and they have survived. So 83% approval for around 200 dollars on sale with rebate.
Yakima Raptor Bike Rack for AeroRacks
I bought this item in haste. I had just sold my truck and had a long weekend away from work, a new mountain bike and I wanted to ride. So I went to Idaho Mountain Trading and bought the first rack I could find that fit my bars. The Yakima raptor is probably the least secure bike rack system ever made. Sure, you can buy a lock core for 17 $ but that only secures your bike to the bike rack. A bike rack that can be removed in less then 5 minutes. There is no way without warranty voiding modifications to positively secure the rack to your bars. Dumb. Other then that the rack has a few pluses, easy to take off and put on, hasn't let my bike fly off to certain doom, and no front tire removal, which is really nice. Definitely does not secure completely rigid, the rack has a lot of play and the wiggling is terrifying to view in your shadow driving along! I have just been locking my street lock to my rear tire and the crossbars. No one has stolen it, but its just a rear tire removal away from going bye-bye. 62% rating. 140 dollars.
1980's Coleman PEAK 1 Stove
This thing is pretty awesome. Runs on kerosene or basically any flammable liquid so no expensive specific fuel canisters. The container doubles as one small and medium sized aluminum pot. Weighs in at 2.2 lbs full of fuel and in its container. The lighting procedure is a little bit of a pain but once you are used to it, it is no big deal. The flame area is large so it could be used with a frying pan and to do more then boil water. The system that uses the heat generated from the flame to supply pressure for the fuel is pretty neat. The three fold out "feet" are really nice and are actually useful to keep the stove stable. There are lighter, easier, and faster backpacking stoves but for twenty-five bucks and the versatility and coolness of the old stove it is hard to beat. 90% rating. 25$
Leatherman Wave: If you are going to be cutting your arm off because you got it stuck in between a boulder and a cliff face you are going to wish you had a real leatherman and not some cheap knock-off, the bone saw really could come in handy. But catastrophes aside the wave is great in particular because it has a reversible screw drivers in both average and tiny glasses size. The tiny glasses size is useful because whenever someone needs a tiny screw driver you know right where to go. We already used Clint's wave to change the batteries on a a frisbee in Denver. Another unique use I had of the wave was using the incorporated scissors to cut straggling long hairs from my dad's hair cut job, and let me tell you there were many! I have used the blade as my fillet knife and the pliers to grab and remove fish skins. Although the leatherman is heavy and expensive. I would argue that the multi-tool is one of the most important articles in an outdoorsman's arsenal so skimp elsewhere. The only improvement I could think to make is a deluxe addition with better blade materials, for those of us who don't want to carry another knife, but the blade is serviceable as is. 70ish dollars. 98% approval
This rack is a clamp-on style rack system that seats in between the doors. Initial set up is pretty easy, but it is important to note that the directions and sizing system is generic, but your individual bars are cut to the size of your car. So don't panic like I did if one side of the measurements doesn't add up. The bars are beefy and wide. Actually very wide 3.5 inches to be exact, so some attachments from other companies will not work with these racks. Road noise is minimal and with any music playing it's not even noticeable. The durability of these racks has been pretty good, considering what I put equipment through. In the Pike National forest after spending the day going down heavily wash-boarded roads, I opened the rear drivers side door and the rack clamp dropped to the ground. The bolt had worked loose and the only thing holding my stuff on was the closed door and the cargo box. The bolt requires a special tool (another negative) and out of dumb luck alone I happened to bring it with me and was able to get it all back where it should be. Also the rubber padding's adhesive occasionally slips on the clamps, but considering the heat, exposure, and drag it's dealing with it is holding up ok. But at some-point within this first year I will have to replace the padding, which is unexceptable. Replacement pads or a imbedded padding system would be nice. Overall I have thrown a lot at these racks and they have survived. So 83% approval for around 200 dollars on sale with rebate.
Yakima Raptor Bike Rack for AeroRacks
I bought this item in haste. I had just sold my truck and had a long weekend away from work, a new mountain bike and I wanted to ride. So I went to Idaho Mountain Trading and bought the first rack I could find that fit my bars. The Yakima raptor is probably the least secure bike rack system ever made. Sure, you can buy a lock core for 17 $ but that only secures your bike to the bike rack. A bike rack that can be removed in less then 5 minutes. There is no way without warranty voiding modifications to positively secure the rack to your bars. Dumb. Other then that the rack has a few pluses, easy to take off and put on, hasn't let my bike fly off to certain doom, and no front tire removal, which is really nice. Definitely does not secure completely rigid, the rack has a lot of play and the wiggling is terrifying to view in your shadow driving along! I have just been locking my street lock to my rear tire and the crossbars. No one has stolen it, but its just a rear tire removal away from going bye-bye. 62% rating. 140 dollars.
1980's Coleman PEAK 1 Stove
This thing is pretty awesome. Runs on kerosene or basically any flammable liquid so no expensive specific fuel canisters. The container doubles as one small and medium sized aluminum pot. Weighs in at 2.2 lbs full of fuel and in its container. The lighting procedure is a little bit of a pain but once you are used to it, it is no big deal. The flame area is large so it could be used with a frying pan and to do more then boil water. The system that uses the heat generated from the flame to supply pressure for the fuel is pretty neat. The three fold out "feet" are really nice and are actually useful to keep the stove stable. There are lighter, easier, and faster backpacking stoves but for twenty-five bucks and the versatility and coolness of the old stove it is hard to beat. 90% rating. 25$
I will second this section.
ReplyDeleteI feel like us followers need some excitement similar to a realty tv show. I suggest selling off one piece of gear every two weeks. Within a few months you will be down to day pack of gear. I don't believe John Muir traveled the wilderness with a Go Pro or $2800 mountain bike.
ReplyDeleteUnknown, think of how much more bad-ass John Muir would have been had he had a $2800 mountain bike. Also, think of how many more National Parks we would have if he had a sweetly edited video of the beauty of the Sierra's and his adventures to show Congress. Not all material things are bad ;). If and or when I run out of money and want to continue the adventure then I will start selling gear and you will get your wish. When that time comes I expect you to bid and bid generously. Until then you will have to pry my mountain bike from my cold dead hands...
ReplyDelete