A Word in the Woods

Looks like there’s a new pack in the works. It may be a bit on the pricy side, but some might not mind paying that much for a pack, if it delivers on its promise, and can last them a lifetime. I expect no less from any quality tool, and a pack is just as crucial a tool for your comfort, organization, and mobility in the woods.

Whether it lives up to the hype remains to be seen, since past Ray Mears products have seemed a tad silly (like the ~$50 luggage tag, or the ~$100 belt). I don’t doubt that the products are good quality, but the premium pricing seems to bank only on the celebrity name association, while not bringing any extra value to the table.

By the description of this pack, however, there seems to be promise. I’d be very interested to see this pack in action.

Details:

• Total volume: 90 litres
• Volume of main compartment: 58 litres
• Volume of side pockets: 10 litres each
• Weight: 1.8 kg
• Fabric: Waterproof 1,000 denier Cordura Nylon
• Colour: Olive Drab
• A bespoke item, produced in small numbers
• Designed by Ray Mears
• Exclusive to Woodlore
• Made in Great Britain

Features:

• Large main compartment with PU Nylon snow valance and drawcord closure
• Spacious lid with elastic trim and buckle closures
• 2 x fixed side pockets with buckle closures
• External front pocket with lockable zip closure
• External, slim-profile pocket on lid with lockable zip closure
• Concealed, slim-profile pocket on underside of lid with zip closure
• Drain holes fitted in the main compartment and side pockets
• Heavy-duty YKK zips used throughout
• Contoured and padded shoulder straps with adjustable top-tension buckles
• Adjustable chest strap
• Adjustable, heavy-duty waist strap with extended padding on hip area
• Lightweight internal metal frame, housed in fabric sleeves
• Breathable and padded mesh-lined back panel, for improved comfort and air flow
• Sturdy grab handle
• 2 x full-length internal storage sleeves on back lining, perfect for SAM splints (not included)
• Velcro loops for tidying away excess shoulder strap webbing
• Embroidered Ray Mears Bushcraft logo on front pocket

See the full product page and details on the official Ray Mears site.

Tags: Gear, hiking, pack, product, ray mears
Posted in Bushcraft, Gear, News, Packs | No Comments »

I’m the first to admit that despite my love of the outdoors and the woods, I’m relatively unschooled in the fine art of woodworking compared to some. Natural wood has a life and character unlike any other material, and it’s hard to ignore those who make this craft their pursuit.

I love to listen and learn from passionate people, and this past week, I had the pleasure of learning how to make a classic frame saw from Steven Der-Garabedian (see his work at blackwalnutstudio.ca). Steve is absolutely fanatical about woodworking, and it comes through in every action and every word he utters. Not only is he patient and accessible, but he has that other quality that distinguishes good craftsmen from good teachers—his love of his art is infectious.

(more…)

Tags: diy, education, saw, skills, woodworking
Posted in Bushcraft, Courses, Gear, Technology, Things to try | 1 Comment »

Gear: Fit is everything. Good gear selection comes from knowing what you want out of it, and a large part of finding that out is by knowing what it’s like to deal with an inferior product, or having to improvise to fill an unanticipated need along the way.

I wrestled with myself for quite a bit before deciding how to approach this article. I’ve wanted to write a “getting started” guide for a while, but this post has – like the gear list it touches on – evolved into a direction all its own.

Over the years, I’ve collected and invested in a fair amount of gear, some of it quite expensive, some of it ridiculously cheap, and some not at all used for its intended purpose. With all the gear on offer by outfitters, it can be overwhelming for new and experienced outdoors enthusiasts alike, both from a choice and cost perspective.

So how does one maintain balance? How do you decide what to buy, beg, borrow or build. And then, what to bring?

(more…)

Tags: buying, Gear, improvised
Posted in Gear, Technology, tips | No Comments »

I recently read a brace of posts from fellow outdoor blogs, The Oak and the Mountain, and Wood Trekker talking about survival kits.

Now, the reason I came across these posts was because I was actively looking for survival kit ideas. I thought it was high time I re-visited my personal kit. Given that it’s covered with duct tape that hasn’t been removed in years, I have no idea what’s in my Altoid’s tin, or if it’s even useful. What I bring with me on a daily basis has changed, my skills have changed, and so have my perception of needs.

No, this isn’t the same old discussion about how to pack fishing gear into a hollowed-out walking stick handle, where to buy equipment, or even what to put in your EDC survival kit. Those topics are covered quite well in other resources on the internet, and in an excellent book on the subject, Build the Perfect Survival Kit.

No, these bloggers are taking the (controversial?) stance that the much-revered survival kit has no place on a walk in the woods.

(more…)

Tags: emergency, shtf, survival, survival kit
Posted in Gear, HowTo, tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »

I’ve been thinking of trading in my folding PakCanoe for a lighter, more maneuverable vessel (I have the 17-footer, but I would be fine with a 16-, or even 15-foot), but not because it has let me down in any way. For any of you who are unsure as to the viability of the PakCanoe or PakBoat on a rough trip, take a read through Cliff’s trip report in which he describes his canoe through many rapids, linings, portages, and drags in Norway with the owner.

Read the full article on Paddling.net

Tags: folding canoe, pakcanoe
Posted in Canoe, Gear, News, Trip Reports | No Comments »

I came across an article on this subject from the Ontario Parks Insider enewsletter. It’s a quick overview of the main tasks to think about when you’re squirreling your gear away for the off-season, or just to give your gear a good clean after some hard use.

(more…)

Tags: enewsletters, Gear, maintenance, Ontario Parks Insider, storage
Posted in Gear, HowTo, tips | No Comments »

io9.com has an article on Nanotech sachets that use inexpensive materials (nanofibres and activated carbon particles) in a ‘teabag’ form, to use with individual-sized water bottles. Although it seems like it would be very affordable, I’m not convinced it’s such a good thing, as these disposable teabags only will purify one litre of water, but I can see it being used in an emergency. Then again, I’d rather have a sustainable ceramic filter, or the very compact activated-chlorine-dioxide (like in Pristine water purification) for point-of-use filtration. The former is heavy and requires a (small) effort, but is great for canoeing, since you can filter nice clean water on the go. The second is nice and light and small, but is not as sustainable, and requires waiting time. The focus is on relief efforts and helping under-developed countries, but I can’t help but think a proper, larger-scale purification method would be better for the long term, and for the smaller scale solution, something like the Lifesaver bottle might be more appropriate.

Nanotech tea bag creates safe drinking water instantly, for less than a penny.

Posted in Gear, News, Technology | No Comments »

(What I carry is nowhere near as nice as this, but the concept is essentially the same. These are from J.a.G Woodworking)

I’d like to talk about one decision I’ve made when it comes to kitchen on a canoe trip. There’s a part of me that wants to go as ultra-light as possible, knife and a flint striker and some rope, and improvise from there, but there’s another, more obsessive side that wants to bring every gadget possible. Somewhere in the middle is the ideal camping kit. That ideal pack obviously is different for each individual, and indeed, changes for me on a constant basis.

One peice of kit that has started coming with me on any canoe trip longer than three days is my version of a wanigan. Bill Casselman’s “Canadian Word of the Day” site describes it better than I could.

(more…)

Tags: Canoe, food, kitchen, tips, wanagan, wanigan, wannigan
Posted in Canoe, Gear, HowTo, Things to try, tips | No Comments »

So, I’m long overdue on the trip reports. I started a new job last year, and I’m coming up on my first anniversary in a week. The time has flown by, and the crunch of new responsibilities has died down a bit. I’ve gone on a few trips, and I’m ready to start keeping up with the photos and reviews and trip reports. This is a bit of a year of firsts.

The first first on this trip was going to an entrance point I’d never been to: Entrance 16, on the East side of Algonquin.

(more…)

Tags: algonquin, Canoe, canoeing, Entrance Point 16, flickr, Gear, Little Hay Lake, summer, Trip report
Posted in Canoe, Gear, Trip Reports | 2 Comments »

Looks like I may not be able to pick up my car tomorrow, I’m a bit under the weather – but hey, at least I’m getting into the habit of posting again!

I’ve failed to mention a great set of finds that I managed this past winter/fall. An old Coleman Lantern, and a Coleman two-burner stove. Heavy and heavy-duty, they don’t mess around with the good old stuff. The lantern still has its original box and runs on white gas – same as my lightweight camping stove. It’s in great condition, but I’m going to probably burn out some rust and dust in the innards, as it’s from 1976!

I’m looking forward to keeping them both in the car as part of my safety kit, but first things first, let’s get that car!

Tags: coleman lantern, coleman stove, sick
Posted in Gear | No Comments »