Archive for the 'Camping' Category

Suction Is The Best Cure

Monday, August 24th, 2009


Last weekend at the local army-navy shop I spotted this handy, inexpensive snake bite kit. Poisonous snakes can be found in just about every U.S. state (except Maine; snakes, unlike many Northerners, have the good sense to avoid bone-crushingly cold winters*), and quick treatment is key. According to a venomous snake fact site:

The low mortality rate [of bites] is based on prompt emergency medical treatment and anti-venom availability in areas with large populations of venomous snakes, ie. Southern California, Texas, Florida.

(more…)

An (Almost) Eternal Flame: Stormproof Lighter

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

While poking around recently in REI’s camping gear, I saw something that at first made me scoff: a $55 “stormproof” camping lighter, right next to the five-buck “stormproof” matches. But then I checked out the specs: the Windmill Delta Stormproof Lighter uses a catalyzer coil that will hold a flame even in 70 - 80 mph winds.
(more…)

Hot or Not? Toolbox-Style Portable Gas Grill

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
hot-or-not4.jpg

We’ve heard a lot about portable grills that fold like briefcases or look like Crock Pots, beer kegs, woks, or UFOs.  Is the Tool Box Grill just another novelty, or is it a decent cooker?

The construction is mostly sheet metal with a porcelain grate and shield (the heated components). The manufacturer’s site says the 10,000 BTU stainless steel burner tube provides “even cooking heat,” though user reviews cast some doubt on this. The grill’s dimensions are 19.5″ x 8.75″ x 10.5″, or 173 sq. inches of cooking surface, which is a fine size for a portable grill.  Its design lets you store tools and propane inside the box and, at 19 lbs., you can carry the whole thing in one hand.

But while a portable grill should be lightweight, the flimsy construction might require some extra care. Also, we found conflicting information about the propane tank;  the manufacturer says the grill uses a standard 1lb. “camping” style canister, while a reviewer at About.com notes that it actually takes the 14 oz. disposable bottle found in most stores’ tool section.

At around $65, this grill could be a good grab for camping, picnics, and cookouts while traveling — if the griller treats it gently and doesn’t mind low heat.  Let us know what you think in comments.

The Tool Box Grill [Hans Plads]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

One-Handed Fire Starter

Monday, April 20th, 2009

Unlike many fire starters, the BlastMatch from Ultimate Survival Technologies allows you to start fires using only one hand.  You might not think this is an important feature until you’re alone in the wilderness with an injured hand.

(more…)

A Whole Lot Of Cutting In One Package

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Designed to be part of your basic camping gear, the 15″-long Gator combo axe by Gerber packs an axe and a razor-sharp 6″ saw in one 1lb 12oz package.

(more…)

Shop Death: Irwin 6″ Quick-Grip

Monday, October 6th, 2008

It’s always sad to see a tool die in the line of duty.  Until this week, I owned eight of these 6″ mini-clamps from Irwin.  It seems that a 3-foot drop with a 2×4 in its jaw was a bit too much for one of these little blue clamps to handle; it snapped like a twig and sent  the smaller jaw skittering across the shop floor when it hit.  So now I’m down to seven — depressing.

(more…)

The Vital “Survival” Stove

Thursday, August 21st, 2008
Vital Stove

I love my Coleman two-burner propane stove for camping, but it’s a little bulky and I’d recommend bringing extra tanks if you don’t want to run out in the middle of cooking a meal. In contrast, a small stove like this Vital Stove from SolHuma burns whatever dry combustible fuel you have, including wood, cardboard, twigs, straw, natural fibers, or animal dung — I’m not to sure about the last one — and leaves little residue.

(more…)

Quick Project Cover

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
EasyUp-450.jpg

Quick temporary shelter — a shed when you need storage, a greenhouse for that last unexpected frost, or a portable outdoor workspace when the weather is getting nasty — can make the difference between ruin and success. With Finley’s Easy-Up structural resin joints you can quickly put together a structure with a peaked roof and lean-in sides for stability. And since the only lumber it requires is square-cut 2×2’s and 2×4’s, you don’t have to cut any odd angles or measure any miters.

(more…)

Reuse Plastic Bottles

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Tarp Hook

With Homax’s Tarp Hook you can reuse your empty plastic water or soda bottles by turning them into weights to keep your tarp in place. You can also make a bird feeder or insect trap out of ‘em, clip ‘em to your pack to carry some extra water, or replace those nailed-up baby-food jars with ‘em.

(more…)

Power-Drill Tent Stakes

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

drill-in-peg-2.JPG

Pounding tent stakes into hardpan, into tree roots, into rock — into just about every impossible plastic-stake-breaking, metal-stake-bending situation there is — has been an American pasttime for as long as camping has been. These ScrewPegs should take some of the pain out of the situation.

(more…)

Dealmonger: Bessey K-Body Clamps On Sale At Woodcraft

Friday, June 20th, 2008
bessyclamp.jpg

Woodcraft is having what they dub a “blowout” on Bessey clamps. Sunday car-sales pitches aside, they’re knocking about ten bucks off the larger Bessey clamps they have in stock, like 24” and 40” K-body clamps.

The clamps feature steel jaws and a non-marring, glue-resistant casing. It’s a “while supplies last” type of thing, so either they’re trying to get rid of overstock or Bessey is coming out with a new model soon and they don’t want these hanging around taking up space. Either way you can save a few bucks on some big clamps and add to the collection in the shop.

Bessey K-Body Clamps Sale [Woodcraft]

Bye-Bye, Kaleidescope! Hello, Personal Planetarium!

Friday, June 6th, 2008

SkyScout front view.jpg

Have you ever gazed up at the starry night sky and wished you could remember more from high school astronomy than just the Big Dipper? With the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium, you just point, shoot, and learn. The SkyScout uses GPS technology, calculation positioning software, and gravity and directional sensors to identify celestial objects and tell you all about them.

(more…)

Hot or Not? Campfire Grill

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

hot-or-not4.jpg
Explorer Campfire Grill.jpg

Ah, summertime: it means camping, fishing, swimming, and, of course, burning your mouth on blackened hot dogs you jabbed on a stick and held too long in an open flame. Or does it? A variety of manufacturers make inexpensive campfire grills that claim to produce edible hot dogs, or even snazzier grill fare like kebabs. Most either screw-mount to a metal stake or have folding legs that can stand on uneven ground.

I’m inclined to think the stake-mounted model is preferable since you have more control over the distance between the heat source and the food. With the folding legs, you just have to hope it’s not sitting right in the fire or perched too far above the heat to cook properly. Also, the models from CampfireGrill feature a raised edge on all sides, which seems like a good idea (hence their slogan, “Our weenies never fall off!”). Street pricing starts around $15.

What do you think? Do campfire grills live up to the hype, or should I just go strip a branch and poke my dog the old-fashioned way? Let us know in comments.

Street Pricing [Google Products]