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Articles about Gear

Columbia’s #Omniten 2013…

May 1, 2013 by
#OmniOutlaw banner

This is the #OmniOutlaw graphic banner I created when the the first #OmniTen were announced.

My deep seated #OmniEnvy began in early 2012 when Columbia Sportswear launched the first #OmniTen campaign. Ten Social Media influencers in the outdoor community were selected to participate in a 6 month experiment with Columbia. Some of them I already followed on Social Media channels, the others I quickly followed so I could watch this new #OmniTen thing unfold. So began my #OmniObsession and the exercise of following, friending, stalking and generally creeping out the original #OmniTen…and so began the #OmniOutlaws.

I was not alone, the #OmniOutlaws grew into a small group of less-than-influential individuals on Twitter. The one thing that brought us together was a fondness for Columbia Gear and an acute case of #OmniEnvy. Columbia makes some great gear and it was fun to watch and interact with Columbia and their #OmniTen as they featured new gear and posted about their adventures. I have had the opportunity to meet and create friendships with most of the original #OmniTen and they are a great group of people.

Then the Winter #OmniTen were chosen. Once Columbia proved that they would be choosing a new set of ten for each season, envy turned to hope. It now looked like there may be a chance in the distant future for an #OmniOutlaw to turn #OmniTen.

Well it happened! Columbia has made my year by inviting me to the 2013 Spring season of #OmniTen! I’m still stalking the #OmniTen, it’s just not as creepy because I’m one of them. It is now time to lower the #OmniOutlaw flag and point my ship toward a new adventure proudly flying the #OmniTen colors.

There’s still a few people that haven’t checked in yet, but if you’d like to join me in following the adventures of the new 2013 #OmniTen I’ve provided links to their Twitter profiles below.  This is an awesome opportunity and I intend to make the most of it.  Columbia has promised it will be amazing!

#omniten invitation box

My #OmniTen invitation box…

Columbia #OmniTen Spring 2013

David (me!)
Adam
Aleya
Anne
Tori
Justin
Eric
Julie

more to follow!

You should also be following Columbia Sportswear on Twitter and the #Omniten hashtag.

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Teton Sports Mammoth 20° Double Sleeping Bag Giveaway…

March 26, 2013 by

Teton Sports has been working with Trail Sherpa and the Trail Sherpa Network to promote a couple of their sleeping bags.  The Mammoth Double Sleeping bag was the focus of the spotlight, but I also got to review the Super comfy Fahrenheit Sleeping Bags.  These are a great line of camping sleeping bags that offer plenty of warmth and creature comfort.  They are by no means backpacking bags, unless you’re into carrying your own bodyweight on the trail…no judgement here, have fun with that.  But for car camping, where the tent is a stone’s throw from your trunk, these are perfect.

mammoth sleeping bag

Tim’s review of the Mammoth shows how well the Double Sleeping bag works for families with smaller kids, “We took the three kids (my buddy and his daughter were camping with us) into the tent, got them snuggled in the bag, and started a movie for them.  The three of us sat around the fire talking about what had just transpired.  We talked for 45 minutes about it in fact.  To the kids, it was probably the coolest fort ever…I asked Tater the next day what he thought of the bag.  He said it was ‘way soft and super cushy’.”

Amelia also had a chance to review the Mammoth with her young ones, “Nothing like taking your cozy bed from home camping with you.  The Mammoth does just that with a plush interior, great sleeping weight and the option to make it as big as your family needs.  It is made for the camper that doesn’t want to sacrifice comfort in a tent…”

Teton Sports makes a nice sleeping bag.  Check out this video from Shawn at Teton Sports discussing the technology and design behind the Mammoth and Fahrenheit bags:

If you would like to win a Mammoth Sleeping Bag of your own, use the Rafflecopter widget below for multiple entries into the giveaway.  The contest ends soon, so get your entries in and Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Testing out a new chest rig…

March 14, 2013 by

A couple weeks ago I went on a short hike in the Superstitions with my camera gear.  For the first time in a long time, I carried my ridiculously heavy tripod out into the field.  Carrying the D300 along with a couple of lenses AND the tripod adds a lot of weight to the pack and can make it awkward to carry.  I also hate carrying the camera in the backpack just because of access issues.  This normally results in me carrying the camera through the entire hike.  I like to have my hands free when hiking, it’s part of the reason I can’t seem to make myself use trekking poles.  So, last week I decided to fix this situation and try some ideas I had.

A quick stop at the REI got me what I needed (some of the stuff I already had) and I was set up to test a new camera rig.

testing the new chest rig

 

I picked up a LowePro Top Loading Camera Case from REI.  I had to find something that would have quick access D-rings at the top corners of the case or it wouldn’t work (I also made sure the case had a rain cover).  I then added a couple of ultra-light carabiners to my GeigerRig RIG1600 at the shoulder straps.  Then, to connect the camera case to the carabiners I used lighweight S-biners.  These gave me a little wiggle room with the location of the case and set the top-load flap at a good height for access.  The S-biners come in a large variety of sizes so you can customize the hang of the chest rig to fit your sizing.

This setup worked great all weekend.  The only problem I had with it is the incessant chirping of the metal on metal as I hiked.  But that was easily resolved with a little duct-tape where the two biners rub together.  After that, it was perfect.  I found the LowePro case on sale and I already had the biners so the whole rig only cost me about $20 to set up.  You can buy camera chest rigs from manufacturers but most run $80 and up.

This worked great for me, fit my camera well, allowed me a hands-free hike with quick access to my camera on the trail.  It is also really fast and easy to take on and off when you need to remove the pack.  Now I just need to figure out an easier way to strap my tripod for quicker access.  The only problem I ran in to with this was not being able to see my feet on technical terrain.  That is easily resolved by merely unclipping one side of the camera case.

Filed Under: Gear..., Hiking... Tagged With: , , , , , , , 12 Comments

Gear Review: Zamberlan Boots…

January 6, 2013 by

My name is Jabon and I am a wilderness explorer and photographer now living in the Phoenix area. I have spent my entire life exploring.  Starting as a child camping with my family in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, I later relocated to Colorado Springs. Colorado is filled with epic adventures and I quickly got hooked on climbing 14’ers (14,000 foot tall plus mountains). I was deeply bitten by the summit bug and have climbed the highest mountains in Colorado, California, and Arizona. Now living in the warm desert of southern Arizona, I have discovered the mystique of Indian Ruins and petroglyphs left behind by the native tribes of the Hohokahm, Salado, and Sinagua to name a few. I spend hours investigating images and leads to hidden gems of the southwest then plan excursions in to the wilderness to find them.

Zamberlan Boots in ColoradoWhile in Colorado I worked as a fireman and assisted in search and rescue cases.  I also worked a few major wild land fires including the biggest in Colorado’s history. I relied heavily on very diverse and specialized equipment to perform my job with confidence and to explore in comfort. Having used a wide array of outdoor gear, I have learned to become especially critical of my choices before each purchase. This is what led me to the Italian footwear company, Zamberlan.

The first premium hiking boot I ever purchased was a pair of leather Zamberlan boots. I had previously avoided slushy spring time hiking to avoid inevitably cold, soggy boots.  When I was ready to make my purchase, I walked into a local sporting goods store in Colorado Springs and reached to the top shelf for a rugged looking boot named Zamberlan Civetta. This began my love affair with Zamberlan boots.  Over the next ten years, climbing and hiking more than 1000 miles in the Colorado Rockies, these boots always did what I pushed them to do allowing me to focus on the trip and destination. This suddenly changed when I realized I had worn my boots out! The Vibram lugs were worn smooth. The leather uppers, which I had religiously waterproofed every season, had become paper thin from countless scuffs and abrasions. I was in denial and tried to keep these old boots alive with glue but they had finally succumbed to the abuse.

Zamberlan Boots hikingI then began the quest to replace my favorite boots and was impressed with the new features and advances Zamberlan had made. There are many new models to suit any footwear need.  I laid my eyes on the Vioz GT and read through the specs.  The Zamberlan Vioz GT represents cutting edge technology carefully crafted with age old techniques dating back to just after World War I. Giuseppe Zamberlan began shoe production in 1929 after a short time as a shoe repairman and the design and manufacture of these products reflects his love of the mountains. Zamberlan was an early adopter of Vibram soles for his footwear and these technologies come together with time tested synergy. The full grain leather upper treated with HydroBloc and the Gore-Tex lining make these a truly waterproof boot.

True to form, my second pair of Zamberlan boots has carried me to high mountain peaks and scrambled down red sandstone to splash in the rivers bellow. The Zamberlan Vioz GT’s are equipped with the toothy Zamberlan Vibram 3D soles which are made of a softer rubber than the old style Vibram sole, therefore they grip with more assurance.   These new soles bite into any surface allowing me to climb virtually anything that stands in my way, fulfilling my childhood comic book superhero fantasies.

Each and every Zamberlan product is made entirely in Italy and are designed and tested by the Zamberlan family. The modern technology such as Gore-tex membranes, Hydrobloc leathers, and Vibram 3D rubber soles are on the long list of features Zamberlan incorporates in their footwear. User comfort is ensured by minimal torsional flex and a solid heel cup. This is noticeable when walking on grapefruit sized rocks as the stability of the boot reduces stress on the ankle. I have found the factory laces have to be double knotted or they loosen up.  However when replaced with a simple flat lace, they stopped creeping on me.

Zamberlan Boots in snow and waterEven after 14 hours of pounding feet along a trail, these comfortable boots are the last thing I take off before zipping up the sleeping bag. I have now owned the Vioz GT for 3 years and have worn them in 115 degree desert heat, summited Arizona’s Humphrey’s Peak in the rain, and hiked in cold, snowy canyons all in perfect comfort. Every time I lace up my Zamberlan boots and point them towards the next adventure, I can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic, walking on more than 80 years of Italian tradition and quality.

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Book Review – Paddling North…

December 30, 2012 by

 

What would it take for you to drop everything and disappear into the wilderness for two months…alone?

Paddling North from Patagonia PressFor Audrey Sutherland, all it took was a good hard look in the mirror before deciding that she needed to cross a few things off her bucket list while she still could.  That introspective moment led to a 3 month adventure paddling over 800 miles of southern Alaskan coastline in a 9 foot inflatable canoe solo.

Sutherland, then 60 years old and living in Hawaii, quit her job as an Education Coordinator and Vocational Councilor to pursue her dream of solo-paddling the rugged coastline of Alaska.  After months of planning, researching and coordinating food drops she found herself alone in a grand wilderness unlike any other.  Paddling North is her story of that journey pulled directly from her trip journal with, in some cases, very little editing.

The book reads at times like a blow-by-blow account of every headwind, paddle-stroke and rainstorm.  At other times it swirls and splashes in the philosophical, introspective pools of thought that are an inherent part of long solo adventures.  In a way, this makes for some tedious reading at first but as you are pulled in to her story it is this very stream-of-consciousness story-telling that brings you ever closer to her adventure.  By the time I had reached the second half of the book I had fallen in to her rhythm and the daily pattern of her travels.

Take down camp, load the boat, launch, paddle…

Then it’s sun or rain, headwind or tailwind, encounters with sea life or other people.  It’s the map and compass and scouting the terrain for a pullout.  She details her very specific requirements when evaluating a location for camp.  Very high on the list are cabins and hot springs, as well as a place to set up a proper kitchen.

Paddle in, unload boat, tie-off boat above high-tide, make camp, make dinner…sleep.

Food is a major theme of the book.  I think anyone who has traveled the backcountry knows that food factors in heavily and paddlers, more than anyone else I know, focus on fine food.  Sutherland has put so much thought and effort into her meal planning that the book is as much a culinary guide as it is a paddling journal.  She often supplements her condensed, reconstituted, pre-packed delicacies with wild ingredients collected along the way.  Nearly every meal is accompanied with specially selected wines and cheeses which she takes great care in rationing so as to not run out before a resupply point.  Many of her more successful recipes, which she speaks very highly of, are included in the book at the end of each chapter.

Wake up, make breakfast, take down camp, load the boat, launch, paddle…

Paddling North interior pagesThe book took some effort to get in to, but Sutherland’s attitude about adventure and her fortitude at taking on an arduous solo paddling trip in such unforgiving country endears her to the reader.  She talks about wanting to feel as though she is as much a part of the natural environment as the wild animals she encounters.  I think she finds that balance as she settles in to the cyclical rhythm of survival.  She seems to emerge from the other side of this journey feeling closer to the wilderness than to civilization.  She is asked, “aren’t you afraid alone?”

“Of what?” She responds, “…I was safer here than in a city or on a highway.”

Toward the end of the book as she reflects back on the trip, she writes:

‘Are you safe alone?’ People ask. I’m certain that I am safer.

With elaborate maps of her route, nice illustrations and littered with original recipes from her trip, I did really enjoy this book.  If you are a paddler, or a solo-adventurer I think you will find this book very relatable.  If you are considering an extended solo-trip you just might find this book educational.  I certainly found it to be both.

-

I would like to thank Patagonia Books for providing me with this book.  If you would like to check out more titles from Patagonia Books like Paddling North or the next book on my list The Voyage of the Cormorant, visit their website.

About the Author:

Audrey Sutherland author of Paddling North

Audrey Sutherland was raised in California and has lived in Hawaii since 1952. She raised her four children as a single mother, supporting her family as a school counselor. In 1962 she decided to tour the coast of Molokai by swimming it – and towing along an inflatable raft with supplies. She has ever since been an inveterate water traveler, during the past several decades in inflatable kayak because it’s transportable, light enough for her to handle comfortably and relatively inexpensive.

For more about Audrey Sutherland, read this interview by Dale Hope from Patagonia Books.

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Dear Santa…

December 4, 2012 by

‘Tis the season for one and all to come out with all manner of gift suggestions for the holidays.  We all browse through the lists and suggestions, looking for ideas and clues for special things for our family and friends.  But there’s so many choices, so many lists…

There are lists for men and lists for boys…
lists for climbers with lots of toys…
lists for paddlers and lists for bikers…
then there’s always lots of lists for hikers…
or a down bag for two and plenty of whiskey
for when you and yours are feeling frisky!
There are watches and phones with GPS gadgets,
knives and axes and short-handled hatchets…
That list there has lots of clothing
for when the snow really gets going.
But none of these lists are all that complete,
and for what I need they can not compete.
My list is different, my needs are unique…
so I’ve created my own, please have a peek…

So here it is, since I won’t presume to tell you what gifts are best this season for you…this is MY Wish List this Christmas.  And maybe you’ll find a few gems in here that might work for someone you know as well.

Dear Santa, what I want for Christmas…

  1. The Shag Master Hoodie from TADGear.com looks like an awesomely soft and comfy winter jacket.  I’m sucker for soft, fluffy sweaters and jackets…and it usually means lots of hugs from pretty girls my beautiful wife when I’m wearing one. ($200)
  2. Goal Zero Guide 10 solar charger - I’ve been looking at these for a long time and keep talking myself out of buying one…maybe Santa will bring me one so I don’t have to agonize over the decision anymore. ($120)
  3. Kurgo Dog Pack - I have been wanting to get Wiley her own pack for a while now.  This pack from Kurgo is the one I’ve been checking out, it seems to be a pretty universal fit and is a reasonable price. ($30)
  4. Snow Peak Mini Hozuki Lantern - Snow Peak has been coming out with some cool lantern designs.  The Mini Hozuki would be a nice little addition to my hammock setup. ($40)
  5. Snow Peak Titanium Cook Set - This comes highly recommended and everyone loves Snow Peak.  I also have a couple of stoves that will nest nicely inside. ($45)
  6. Jetboil Sol Ti - I love my Jetboil enough that I would really like the smaller solo titanium version for lighter trips. ($150)
  7. Snow Peak Chopping Board and knife - This super cool travel cutting board/knife combo will make camp cooking prep easy!  Not really a backpacking setup, but I am working on putting together a nice camp-kitchen. ($40)
  8. MountainSmith Modular Hauling System (4 piece) – This is good little package for organizing camping/travel gear.  I’ve seen this on a few other “gift suggestion” lists as well. ($100)
  9. GoPro Hero 3 - this is THE HD camera to have it seems…I have to admit that I love the images it produces and it would allow me to start doing more video.  ($400)

I left off the unreasonable items that Santa would have trouble fitting into his sleigh.  What is on YOUR wish list this year?  I want to know what fun little gadgets and goodies you guys are looking for this year…who knows, I might find some inspiration to add to my own wish list!

Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah to all!

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Sharing my Love of Hydroflask…

December 1, 2012 by

To my dear Hydroflask,

I am truly blessed to have you in my life.  Since the day we met, you’ve been by my side…through thick and thin, through simmering heat and aching cold.  You’ve always provided comfort, even when comfort was impossible to find.

I am lost without you.

I have forsaken all others for you alone.

Forever yours,

WD

The one that started it all, my 18 ounce Hydroflask in Arctic WhiteI was first introduced to Hydroflask in May 2012, at the Overland Expo near Mormon Lake outside Flagstaff.  The guys from Overland Gourmet had a pile of Hydroflasks for sale at their table and on the last day I decided I would try one out.  So I picked out my favorite: a small 18oz wide-mouth in Arctic White.  The size was perfect for sliding in to the side-pocket of my pack and easily fit in to any cup holder.  Without ice at camp, it wasn’t until I got back to Phoenix that the love-affair began.

May in Phoenix is pretty warm, but really just the beginning of the slow, miserable death-march of an Arizona Summer.  As the average highs quickly soared above 100 degrees, then above 110 degrees, my little 18oz miracle began showing off.

“Ridiculously awesome insulating properties. Large enough for a days worth of fluid.” - from TrekTechBlog.com

Winderness Dave using the 18 ounce wide mouth HydroflaskI’ve been in the desert now for nearly 20 years.  I don’t go anywhere without water.  If I go to the grocery store, I take water…a quick drive to a meeting, I take water…heading across town for dinner, I take water.  For those who have never visited a desert in Summer, you have to understand what happens inside a vehicle in heat like this.  When it’s 120 degrees outside, the inside of your car (with the windows up) can easily blast past 160 degrees.  I know people who have had CDs melt on their dash, and others who have literally burned their hands by touching the steering wheel.  The inside of your vehicle is an inhospitable place during the Summers out here.  Especially for bottles of water…

For many years now, I’ve used reusable bottles.  I try not to use plastic water bottles if I can help it.  I’ve tried most, if not all, the bottles on the market and quickly realized that I needed an insulated bottle if I wanted my water to remain drinkable during the summer out here.  I had tried a few, but they were miserable.  Enter Hydroflask…

Assorted Hydroflask bottles

I think the moment I was sold on these little technological wonders was after an especially long afternoon meeting.  I had packed up and headed out, Hydroflask in tow as usual.  The bottle had a half-dozen or so ice-cubes and the rest was filled with room temperature water.  My expectation was simply to have cold water on the way to the meeting and I would get more after.  I drove out to the job site, offering no shade to park under, and left my truck sitting in 115 degree heat.  The meeting ended up lasting over 3 hours (way longer than I like my meetings to last).  When I got back to my truck I could barely stand to be inside of it as I fired it up and cranked the AC to high.

“Unlike other bottles we’ve tested, this thing actually works!” – from Gizmodo.com

my 40 ounce Hydroflask bottle in blueNot expecting it to be drinkable, but needing something after the marathon meeting, I picked up the Hydroflask and heard the tell-tail sounds of ice clinking against the metal interior!  No way!  I unscrewed the lid and there it was, waiting for me…icy refreshment.  After more than 4 hours in a vehicle that surely reached temps well above 140 degrees I still had ice.

Since then, I’ve learned to rely on it.  I’ve left it in the truck for up to 6 hours of brutal Summer punishment and still found icy goodness.  I’ve left it full for 24 hours in 100 degree (daytime) heat and still had ice.  I’ve read some reviews where testers have left the Hydroflask bottles for 3 days in near 90 degree weather and still found slivers of ice in the bottle.  This thing performs above and beyond expectations every time.  The only problem I have had with it is mainly a result of the amount of use and abuse I put mine through.  After about 4 months of daily use, the strap that connects the lid to the bottle broke.  I’ll eventually order another one (or maybe Hydroflask will send me one) and that problem will be solved.  Otherwise, Hydroflask is a Rock Star product.

The Hydroflask collection...

 

“I filled the 18oz bottle with 190ºF water and 4 hrs later the temp was 174ºF at 8hrs it was 161ºF and a full 24hrs later it was 119ºF! Which is still pretty darn warm. As for the cold claims I put 6 regular ice cubes in with cold tap water and 3 days later I still have some small slivers of ice in the bottle. The average temps that the bottles were in hovered around 65ºF. But I will say that we took one of the bottles into a sauna for 45 minutes at 165ºF and the water was still ice cold! All of these number will of course change depending on how often you open the bottles etc… but it should let you know that they really do work very well.” – from Steve “Yeti” Hitchcock at Upadowna.org

A Thank You from Wilderness Dave…

an assortment of Hydroflask insulated bottles

WildernessDave.com has reached a few milestones recently and it’s all because of you guys, my loyal readers (which, thankfully,  has grown beyond my mom).  We all know it’s not about “fans and followers” but I do appreciate that you guys take the time to LIKE my FB page and follow my ramblings on Twitter.  I’ve done some giveaways here and there, mostly with products donated for reviews.  But this time it’s special.  Hydroflask really is my go-to, everyday, never-leaves-my-side gear and I want you guys to have a chance to own one.

So, I reached out to Hydroflask and asked if they would be willing to offer up something for you guys.  And they said yes!  So someone will be winning their choice of two (2) 21 ounce standard mouth bottles (you pick the color) courtesy of Hydroflask.

THEN…I will pick TWO MORE WINNERS and each of them will get a brand new 18 ounce wide mouth bottle (I have one in black with the hydro-flip lid and one in red with the standard wide-mouth lid).

Get your entries in below.  I’ll make it super easy, just be a FB fan or Twitter follower and/or comment on this post below.  Make sure you confirm your entries in the Rafflecopter widget so they get counted.  And if you follow my posts on G+, just leave a comment letting me know (and give it a +1 while you’re at it!).

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Suunto Ambit mapping vs. OpenGPS…

November 28, 2012 by

Side by side comparison of the map and stats of the track recorded on the Suunto Ambit and simultaneously tracked using the OpenGPS app on my 4G phone.

Ambit

The data from Movescount.com and the data stored on the watch says 2.38 mile total distance. But when I load the GPX track in to Google Earth (via GoBreadcrumbs.com) the track distance is 2.8 miles.

OpenGPS

The actual stats from OpenGPS show a total distance of 2.9 miles AND you can see in the map below it shows MUCH better accuracy of the route. If you zoom in on the map you can see the THIS track actually follows the trail indicated on the map very closely. The track above from the Ambit does not perform as well.

My biggest problem with this comparison is the Ambit’s distance tracking. I don’t mind a sloppy GPX track, especially if I’m just tracking fitness runs. But the half-mile difference in distance (especially considering the total hike route was less than 3 miles) is troublesome.

Speed Tracking

This is another place where the Ambit advertises superiority. The Suunto speed tracking software us supposed to be super accurate and sensitive to stops and starts. Looking at the speed charts below, I think you can see that the Ambit does perform better when tracking overall speed and variations in speed.

Ambit

OpenGPS

Has anyone else experienced similar issues with the Suunto Ambit? I’d really like to test it against Garmin’s new Fenix if they’d let me.

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Winter Gear Giveaway – FINAL WEEK!

November 23, 2012 by

Winter Gear Giveaway is almost over!

Win lots of great winter gear

This is it you guys!  The final week of giveaways.  This package is a BIG ONE!  Starting Thanksgiving Day, you can win fantastic outdoor gear from these fine bloggers:

Don’t miss out on this massive offering of winter gear.  If you entered the previous two weeks but didn’t win, don’t worry because I have a good feeling about this week.  SOMEONE is going to walk away with all this gear!

Here’s what we have to giveaway this time:

Week 3

Enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Lessons about knowing your outdoor gear…

November 20, 2012 by

Have you ever made a mistake?  A stupid mistake?  The kind of mistake that makes you kick yourself for doing something you KNEW you shouldn’t have done?  No?  Then stop reading, this isn’t for you.  Piss off.

We all make mistakes from time to time.  We get complacent, or hurried or distracted and we do things we otherwise wouldn’t do.  Sometimes these mistakes make us laugh at our own folly, but (particularly in the backcountry) mistakes can be very dangerous.

I’ve had my share of mistakes.  One night camping in the mountains around Mount Graham outside Safford I hurriedly tossed the rain fly on my tent in the dark as a storm was starting to move in.  It wasn’t long into a pretty solid downpour that I discovered I had put the fly on upside down.  Turns out those waterproof-breathable fabrics they use for protection only work one way.  I knew that, I just missed it.

Another time, on luckily just a short hike, I had performed a quick check of my small pack, checked the hydration hoses, filled the bladder, packed a snack and shortly thereafter shot out the door to make my hike.  It wasn’t until I arrived at the trailhead and picked up my unusually light pack that I realized I had left the full hydration bladder on the counter, right by the sink, right where I had set it after filling it up.  A stupid mistake because I wasn’t fully paying attention to the process.

There was also the time I loaded my tent for a quick backpacking trip and discovered, a day’s hike in to the middle of nowhere, that I had grabbed the rain fly, not the tent.  Luckily I was able to easily make a bivvy shelter with the fly and it wasn’t a total catastrophe.  I’ve also packed my tent with the wrong set of poles before…that was fun.

This most recent mistake learning experience was a result of simply not paying attention.  I even remember second guessing myself and some little voice telling me, “nah, it’ll be FINE…”

My Snow Peak 450 Insulated mug on the SoloStove cook system - outdoor gear

I had just built a nice little fire in my new SoloStove.  I had received one to test out and was anxious to put it to use.  I prepped my fuel, built a beautiful little top-down fire (as instructed) and had quite nice burn going.  Now I just needed to boil some water, time it, record it and round one of the testing would be in the books.

I’m in the process of moving so I don’t know where half of my stuff is currently.  I could not find a camp pot anywhere with which to boil a little water.  In haste, I grabbed my Snow Peak Titanium mug and filled it with water.  There was a piece of me that hesitated, but I couldn’t put my finger on why and dismissed it.  I set the mug on the stove and watched the flames lick at the titanium.

Now, this is for a review, so I’m taking pictures, recording a little video, talking about the technology of the burn system and why the fire was built top-down…so I’m distracted.  The nagging hesitation was set aside so I could focus on the review.  Then it hits me!

The Snow Peak Titanium 450 Double Wall mug is an insulated mug.  The outer shell of the cup is made up of two walls of titanium with air space in the middle to serve as an insulating layer.  This helps reduce heat transfer through the wall of the cup.  This means it will NOT heat efficiently, it is not a good cooking vessel.  More importantly, and the reason for my sudden anxiety, is that the super-heated air trapped between the two layers of titanium will expand when heated and can cause the weld seam to burst.  Depending on how well the seams hold, this could be a pretty dramatic rupture or simply a small hole to let the air escape.  Once I realized this error I pulled the cup off the heat.

Luckily, my seam held and the only real damage (aside from severe discoloration) is a slightly bulged and rounded bottom on the mug.  Not the end of the world.

In the privacy of my own home, I can simply kick myself for being stupid and potentially ruining an expensive piece of gear.  In the backcountry, we can’t afford to make those kinds of mistakes.  This sort of thing is a reminder of how easily, and innocently, mistakes can be made.  It’s a reminder that we really do need to slow down, pay attention and think through our actions…especially in the field.  It’s also a reminder to know your gear.  Know it’s intended uses, it’s limitations, be familiar with the technology and why it works.  The proper gear can save your life, but only if you know how to use it properly and do so with thoughtfulness.

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I’d love to hear about YOUR gear related mistakes.  Comment below if you’ve ever made a mistake with your outdoor gear…it’ll make me feel better about my own stupidity. ;)

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