From the first time I saw James Coburn play the ultimate badass in the 1960 classic The Magnificent Seven I (and I suspect many of my readers) thought, “How cool would it be to have that skill?” Possessing an awesome skill is, of course, impressive, no matter what the discipline, but let’s put this into context. Does throwing a knife make…
“Father Nature Outdoors” — Camping Blanket
Most successful bushcraft is about creative problem solving and sharing of knowledge, resources, and support. I owe a lot of my current level of experience to the generosity of others, and I’d like to encourage everybody to think about how important that is. I love the outdoors. I love the simplicity, and the isolation, and,…
New Nomad products on the way
Looking forward to a couple of new products from Nomad, who have made some innovative on-the-go charging connectors. They have a decidedly more urban focus, as you can see by their recently-announced NomadPlus battery add-on for the Apple wall lump, but the portable power option is definitely useful to many travellers. The NomadClip is something to…
Making a classic bow-frame saw
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…
The evolution of the gear closet (part 1)
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…
Nanotech tea bag creates safe drinking water, but are there better ways?
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…