Atlas 1025 Snowshoes

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Tank

Got these back in November 2011…Finally got a chance to test them out.

The size of these snowshoes is fantastic – nice and compact without sacrificing performace. Relatively easy to pack, lightweight, and as far as I can tell, quite robust. The 1025’s also feature a system that make them extremely simple to put on, cinch tight, and remove – all while wearing winter mitts/gloves.

While trekking I found these snowshoes to be very comfortable and worked well in different depths and textures of snow. The All-Trac™ Toe Crampon really does help with traction and the dexterity and control on uneven terrain is awesome. The Heel Lift Bar is a great feature and is a tremendous help when moving uphill. Running with these snowshoes actually wasn’t too bad at all…pleasantly surprised – great general purpose snowshoes. One thing I did notice: Every now and then, this model has a tendency to kick up snow behind you (so wear the right type of water-repellent gear).

In a survival situation, hold the snowshoe like a shovel and the end portion of these snowshoes can be used as an improvised snow tool with which to help construct a snow shelter. Flipping up the Heel Lift Bar really helps with upward shovelling.

Overall I’m very pleased with these snowshoes. Although the 1025’s can easily accommodate a wide range of winter footwear, I find the Bogs® Classic Mid boot work very well with these snowshoes as they are a very clean boot with nothing to snag or get tangled up.

If you are in the market for quality all around snowshoes, consider the Atlas 1025.

Cost: Around CDN $190

www.atlassnowshoe.com

From Atlas Snowshoe’s website:

“Atlas snowshoes are the choice of professional guides, elite athletes, the US Military Special Operations Forces and wilderness expeditions.”

Discover winter in the mountains with the rugged, Atlas 10 Series and Spring-Loaded™ Suspension. When the terrain gets more demanding, the 10 Series delivers with a climbing bar to ease calf strain and SLS for classic Atlas maneuverability and articulation. The addition of the new Wrapp™ Swift binding blends technical fit with the comfort and ease of use provided by a positive toe locator, warm EVA padding, and straps that cinch and release like a breeze. The tempered steel All-Trac™ toe crampon and Traverse Trac™ rails add sidehill control and confident strides. With dedicated men’s geometry for the proprietary Atlas 6061 aluminum V-frame, you’ll feel content hiking all day long.

V-Frames

A proprietary Atlas shape, our sturdy aluminum V-Frames are the key to an efficient, natural stride. The V shape tracks straight in deep snow, and the tapered tail pulls less snow as you step forward, saving your energy. The turned-up tail of the V-frame rolls easily into each step for a natural gait. Built with lightweight, durable 6000- and 7000-series aluminum, the V-frames are used on all Atlas snowshoes, including our new Youth Series.

Spring-Loaded™ Suspension

An Atlas tenet from the beginning, Atlas’ patented Spring-Loaded™ Suspension (SLS) keeps the snowshoe close underfoot for easy maneuvering and suspends your foot so it can move freely with its intended articulation. The suspension absorbs impact and lets your foot flex naturally side-to-side for a comfortable, stable position on traverses and uneven terrain. SLS enhances traction control too, as the flex provides deeper crampon penetration into the slope, especially on steep or off-angle terrain.

Heel Lift Bar

On steep climbs, calf muscles tire quickly and traction decreases when your foot matches the slope angle. The heel lift bar eases fatigue and ties directly into Advanced Aft Traction for grip.

Nytex Decking

Flexible Nytex decking is forgiving and quiet when hiking in the cold, providing durability without the weight.

All-Trac™ Toe Crampon

The time-tested geometry of our All-Trac™ toe crampon provides traction in all directions. Wider traction tabs on the sides and corners complement sharp front and rear points for confident hiking.

Traverse Trac™ Rails

The sharp ridges of our side rails augment the downhill function of the heel cleat, running parallel to the snowshoe frame for solid footing, even on firm sidehill terrain.

Wrapp™ Swift Binding

Built on the renowned fit and arch support of the Wrapp™ platform, the Wrapp™ Swift binding blends technical fit with great comfort and ease of use from the positive toe locator, warm EVA padding, and straps that cinch and release like a breeze.

Patagonia Better Sweater Jacket

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Tank

Bought the Patagonia Better Sweater™ last November and I’ve been wearing it pretty much every day since – I absolutely love it. Very cozy, simple and functional. No unnecessary pockets or accessories. Well made and works great as a mid-layer.

In a survival situation, shelter and protection from the elements is critical. Don’t forget that your clothing is your primary shelter and clothing should therefore be well thought out.

Shelters are effectively micro-climates which allow us not only to survive, but to live and settle in environments that would otherwise be quite inhospitable. Proper clothing is what allows us to leave our shelters (homes, buildings, vehicles etc.) and move around. Therefore it is essential to think of our clothing as a shelter… After all, our clothing does in fact protect us from the sun, wind, rain, snow etc…

From Patagonia’s website:

Central California’s dedicated surf community is very rarely afforded the luxury of conducting dawn-patrol surf checks in shorts and a T-shirt. We created the Better Sweater™ Jacket for just those mornings. It’s made of polyester fleece that has a sweater-knit face and a fleece interior for warmth, cozy zippered pockets to keep your fingers toasty, a stand-up collar with a zipper garage so your neck stays comfortable and soft microfleece trim at the collar, cuffs and hem.

Details

Fabric has a sweater-knit face, fleece interior and heathered yarns
Full-zip jacket with zip-through, stand-up collar and zipper garage
Raglan sleeves for pack-wearing comfort
Two zippered handwarmer pockets
Micropolyester jersey trim on cuffs, hem and back of neck
Can be worn with layers as outerwear or as a midlayer under a shell
Hip length
9.5-oz 100% polyester with a sweater-knit exterior and fleece interior
464 g (16.4 oz)
Made in Thailand.

Cost: Around CDN $130

www.patagonia.com

Helly Hansen HH Dry Revolution Baselayer

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Tank

Bought two Helly Hansen Dry Revolution Long Sleeve Baselayers last week and tested one of them on a hike in North Vancouver, B.C.

Over the baselayer, I wore a Patagonia Better Sweater™ as a midlayer, and a North Face Venture jacket as a wind/rain shell.

After roughly 40 minutes into my ascent I was expecting my baselayer to be at least somewhat damp, but was surprised to find it basically dry to the touch.

On a cool day (which it was) the HH Dry Revolution is warm without being too warm – just enough to take away the chill. During the decent, I packed away my midlayer and was perfectly comfortable with only the baselayer and my shell.

The fit of this particular baselayer by Helly Hansen is “skintight” without feeling like you’re suffocating or being constricted. This is a good thing since your baselayer should be worn close to the skin so the fabric can properly capture perspiration and wick it away from you. The fabric is ultra soft, stretchy, and has no seams, so it’s very cozy.

Overall I am pretty happy with the HH Dry Revolution LS baselayer. It’s lightweight, packable, very comfortable, and effectively wicks away moisture.

In a survival situation, shelter and protection from the elements is critical. Don’t forget that your clothing is your primary shelter and clothing should therefore be well thought out.

From Helly Hansen’s website:

HH DRY REVOLUTION LS

With long sleeves for warmth and all-over wicking power, this baselayer has everything you need for maximum comfort. The HH® Dry Revolution fabric is made from new Lifa® fibres that are even softer and more effective at drawing excess heat and sweat away from your skin, allowing you to maintain an optimum body temperature throughout your activities. It has a minimum of seams, sewn with flatlock stitching for a smooth look and feel, inside and out. Lifa® stripes add a splash of colour to the lower sleeves.

HH®Dry™ Your second skin and the heart of our effective 3-Layer System™. It is a moisture super highway creating a dry layer next to the skin, keeping you comfortable during highly aerobic activities in a wide range of conditions.

Cost: Around CDN $70

www.hellyhansen.com

Suunto A-30 Recreational Compass

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Tank

If you’re not a fan of the MCA sighting compass we previously reviewed, consider the A-30 Compass from Suunto. The A-30 is very affordable and offers exceptional value. Although it’s labeled a “recreational compass” it could quite easily be the only compass you’ll ever need (unless you’re traveling in a hemisphere it’s not calibrated for).

This particular model features a luminescent bezel and directional arrow, which helps not only with functionality at night, but also with general visibility of the compass itself in low light conditions. The A-30 also features a magnified glass, which can be used to start fires by concentrating sunlight. Though the MCA has a sighting mirror which can be used as a heliograph in a survival situation, it doesn’t have a magnified glass or luminescent properties for nighttime visibility.

It can certainly be argued that the luminescent features of the A-30 are frivolous as most people don’t tend to wander around at night with a map and compass (if you do, please pack a head-lamp and/or flashlight). Nonetheless, the bright yellow glow helps your compass stick out in the dark, reducing the chances of it getting lost, stepped on, damaged etc.

Like the MCA, the bezel is easy to grip and turn, but not so loose that it will turn on its own. The design of the A-30 is a very simple yet highly functional which will serve most of your navigational needs quite sufficiently without breaking the bank.

As with the MCA sighting compass, the red string that the A-30 came with was too small to serve as a proper lanyard. Instead, swap it for some Mil-spec 550 Paracord.

If you’re looking for a simple, functional, affordable and reliable compass – consider the A30 Recreational Compass from SUUNTO.

Extremely Lightweight and Thin

Sufficiently Durable

Simple and Easy to Read

Luminescent Bezel

Magnified Glass

Very affordable

——————

Made in Finland

Cost: Around CDN $20

www.suunto.com

Fishing Hooks in your Survival Kit…

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Tank

Pack Smart: Small hooks will catch both large and small fish, whereas large hooks will likely only catch big ones.

The North Face Montana Mitt

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Tank

Got these over the holidays as a gift and so far I’m quite pleased. Although not for extreme winter conditions, they are very comfortable and excellent for mild winter weather. The rubberized material on the palm provides great traction on slippery surfaces.

From The North Face website:

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

All-around, all-mountain snowsports mitten for cold days at the resort. Designed with a waterproof, breathable, HyVent® 2L fabric at exterior, insulated mitt features slightly different amounts of insulation at palm and back of hand for warmth and mobility where it counts.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Fabric: back of hand insulation: 150 g Heatseeker™

Fabric: insert: HyVent®

Fabric: lining: brushed tricot

Fabric: palm insulation: 100 g Heatseeker™

Fabric: palm: PU

Fabric

shell: HyVent® 2L

HYVENT®

The North Face® HyVent® clothes are highly waterproof and breathable and deliver long-term performance for skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers and climbers. Learn more about our innovative HyVent® fabric at The North Face®.

Cost: Around CDN $60

www.thenorthface.com

1000 feet of 7 strand,mil-spec 550 Paracord

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Tank

This should last us for a while…

Patagonia Tech Web Belt

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Tank

I’ve been wearing this belt for over a year and its fantastic. The Tech Web belt from Patagonia is simple, very rugged, and stays cinched. In terms of functionality, the buckle doubles as a bottle opener! Won’t need to buy another belt for a very long time.

TIP: In a survival/emergency situation, a belt can be used as a tourniquet.

Product Information from Patagonia’s website:

Our Tech Web Belt has the holding power to keep your pants adhered when you’re running through O’Hare to catch the 6:15 to Boston. The forged aluminum buckle is lightweight and strong and cinches tight for a reliable hitch; it’s also handy as a bottle opener at the end of a hot day. The 1.5-inch-wide nylon webbing endures abuse and dries quickly.

Cost: Around CDN $30

www.patagonia.com

BCB Signal Mirror (Heliograph)

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Tank

Super thin, ultra lightweight and very small – you’ll barely notice you’re carrying it.

A signal mirror is an essential piece of survival gear. This particular model is issued to the British army and can be aimed very accurately at a target.

In a survival situation, do not underestimate the functionality and effectiveness of this device to attract attention. A flash from a heliograph can be seen from a tremendous distance. Not only does the BCB signal mirror give off super intense flashes, but it also has instructions stuck on the back in case you forget how to use it.

From the BCB website:

Mayday Signalling Mirror (Compact)

These innovative mirrors are lightweight, and robust.
Highly reflective giving it a range of approx 10 miles for the compact, and longer for the advanced. Designed for one handed operation.

• Accurate and effective
• Floats
• Robust
• Quick and easy to use
• Useful as a personal travel mirror
• Lanyard hole
• Instructions printed on reverse side

Size: 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 in)

Cost: Around CDN $10

www.bcbin.com

Saw-vivor: Bahco Laplander Folding Saw

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Tank

A saw is a great tool to limb trees in a clean and sympathetic manner towards the tree itself. Although a small forest axe can accomplish most of your lumberjack duties quite readily, a saw can often be a better choice. In many instances, using a saw is a safer and better use of energy than wielding an axe.

If you aren’t able to pack a “Swede” type saw due to its size, a small folding saw is a great alternative.

Small and lightweight, this trusty little companion folds and locks into place quite securely. Because the saw blade folds into the handle, it can be packed safely and easily. The locking saw blade also adds a level of security which is always welcome.

When used properly (and not for jobs best reserved for a larger and/or different tool), the performance of the Bahco Laplander folding saw is excellent. This little saw allows you to precisely cut timber according to your needs in a way that would be very difficult with an axe.

In a survival situation, a bright orange handle really helps to keep it instantly visible which helps to prevent loss, stepping on it (leading to damage and/or injury) etc…

The handle and overall length of this saw makes for great ergonomics and control.

Although the saw blades are replaceable, I’ve been quite pleased with how well the saw’s teeth have held their edge (haven’t had to replace the blade yet).

Simple
Functional
Robust
Lightweight
Safe
Portable
Well Priced

Great Value.

Made in Sweden

www.bahco.com