Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:
Rain proof, wind proof, warmth, dries quickly, compact and easy to pack, does not get “sticky”

Cons:
limited usefulness in freezing temperatures (but that is a problem with any lightweight fleece jacket); still no hood

The Bottom Line:
This is a great jacket to keep handy in cooler climates with unpredictable weather. It’s small size and compressibility make it easy to toss in your bag or even in a cargo pants pocket. Not recommended as active wear, since you cannot remove the outer water/wind layer without removing the warm fleece inner layer.

Just like the standard version, the 5.11 Tactical Fleece-Lined Packable Jacket provides a rain-proof, lightweight outer shell that can be easily packed into a large pocket or small go-bag – this time with the added warmth of fleece.

The outer layer does a great job at keeping rain and wind out, too good of a job for this jacket to be practical active wear. On a 2-hour hike I found it much more comfortable with the original Packable Jacket and an entirely separate fleece jacket for warmth, that way I could remove the outer during the dry portions of the hike where I could have used a little extra cooling airflow. However, think of this as an emergency jacket instead of active wear and it is built just right. There is even fleece lining on the outer wall of the pockets so you can keep your hands warm if you don’t have gloves.

In addition to the two fleece-lined pockets there is one document pocket on the outside, and one smaller pocket on the inside that is sized just right for a 4×6″ notepad.

There is still no option for a hood, which seems like it would be at home on a rain-proof, packable jacket and really wouldn’t make the packed size any bigger. Also, the sleeves are not fleece-lined like the rest of the jacket, but they feel like they are triple-layered. This seems odd at first, but after hiking with it a while it provides just the right amount of warmth and actually balances the temperature inside the jacket quite well.

Rating: 5 stars!

Pros:
Well-built, lots of attachment options, removable insulation, inexpensive

Cons:
Odd size… though that might not actually be a “con”

The Bottom Line:
Great little bag at a great price, depending on what your intended use is. If it doesn’t work out as a day pack I could see setting it up to carry a bottle of wine + accessories on camping trips.

While shopping for a small “writing” light I stumbled upon the Maratac Hydrant over at County Comm – an odd, tall, shoulder bag with enough room inside for two 1-liter water bottles.

The Hydrant features MOLLE webbing all around, a tall front pouch (with more MOLLE and elastic inside), a removable shoulder strap that attaches via two D-rings, two full-length integrated attachment straps for use as a pouch, a removable insulation sleeve, and loop-side Velcro on the lid for patch attachment. The bag is kind of an odd design, but it is sturdy and well built, and all zippers open/close with ease. I’ve been wanting a small day-hike bag with just enough room for a few munchies, a radio, and two liters of water so I’m going to give this a try and see how it works out.

The only downside I’ve noticed so far is that it only comes in OD green, not a big deal considering the low price tag and high quality.

Rating: 4 / 5

Pros:
Inexpensive, sturdy, bright pencil beam, runs cool

Cons:
Limited close-range use due to narrow beam and high output, shiny housing, made in China, lacks the “quality feel” of Surefire and Fenix

The Bottom Line:
The price factored heavily into the rating, but it is still a nice light. All things considered I would buy it again. However the Fenix T1, despite it’s odd shape and size, is still the best bang for the buck in my collection.

In search of a cheap, yet powerful, LED light to mount on my (cheap) shotgun I stumbled upon the Ultrafire C2 at Deal Extreme. For a mere $18 (and another $6 for the remote pressure switch) I figured why not. Afterall, it is rated at 210 lumens and is getting great reviews (this is not the first time I had heard of Ultrafire).

The flashlight is quite light, much nicer to carry compared to the bulky Fenix T1, but I doubt it is nearly as strong as a Surefire. Still, it seems solidly built and does not rattle at all. The C2 is a very simple single-mode light, with a switch that is on par with most other tactical lights on the market. I did find the switch a little tougher to operate with my thumb as it is recessed into the body a little more than on other lights. The switch also lacks the ability to function momentarily by pressing it slightly, which I found rather disappointing. It will handle voltage inputs from 3.6 to 9 volts, and is designed to run on two CR123A lithium batteries or one 18650 battery. Batteries can be inserted from either end of the flashlight as both ends unscrew easily. The light lacks a pocket clip, but includes a lanyard. With a lens/reflector assembly this big, you probably wouldn’t want this light in your pocket or on your belt anyhow. The finish is strong, and yes, it is really that shiny. When running, the flashlight’s housing takes about three times as long to heat up as the Fenix and Surefire models tested, and it does not get nearly as hot. I am guessing this is due to the extra space between the LED and the housing.

The beam pattern leaves some to be desired as a multi-function light or a weapon light. While the distance of it’s throw is excellent, it is a true “pencil” pattern and is best suited to long range use. It would do well mounted to a mountain bike as a headlamp. The peripheral is not totally non-existant, but the brightness of the spot tends to take away from it. After having the four test lights out side by side I am tempted to carry the Ultrafire C2 in my truck and instead put the more flood-like Surefire L4 on the shotgun.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Pros:
Comfortable and light, long runtime, common AAA batteries, perfect general work/path lighting output

Cons:
Red filter is ineffective, producing a bright orange light with lots of white bleed; only one output level

The Bottom Line:
This is a great headlight, however for only $5 more the Tactikka Plus has an extra LED, strobe setting and 3 output levels.

It took forever to get this in from Botach (seriously, don’t order ANYTHING but closeout items from them if you need it this year), but they had the best price by a good 20% and were the only place I could find that carries the camo version (the other one is black with big ugly white logos): Petzl Tactikka @ Botach.

The light itself has been upgraded from the unit pictured on the site, and has the Tactikka Plus style ratchet adjustment for tilting the light to the preferred angle. Granted we didn’t come anywhere close to using them for the advertised 110-hour runtime, but they did not fade at all on a 5 hour night hike (actually, the return leg of a 10 hour hike). They are light enough to be comfortable despite running on 3 AAAs, and are adjustable from helmet-size all the way down to thigh size.

Their built-in red filter is kind of a joke, ending up with a bright orange and a lot of white bleed out the sides. It is handy for working on something up close I suppose, though the white light is not terribly overpowering. While I still grab for my Surefire to investigate sounds or search along the side of the trail, for hiking/climbing/running it is the perfect amount of illumination for the path to see where you are going and not white-out your night vision.

In action, tested between 30 and 50 feet (click the image for details):

Rating: 4.75 / 5

Pros:
Simple, durable, compact and light-weight, easy to maintain, fast, boils enough water to make food for two, fold-up stabilizer base fits in the pot with burner and fuel for transit

Cons:
Dependence on canister fuels, a little top heavy when full (buy the fold-up base to fix this), just barely does not fit in pouches/pockets designed for a 1-liter Nalgene bottle, danger of burns from boiling water-volcano if you leave it running too long

The Bottom Line:
This is an excellent, efficient, light-weight stove that would compliment anyone’s backpacking rig well. It would also be useful in emergency kits or in the trunk of the car with a couple single-serving Mountain House dinners and a bottle of water.

Using the JetBoil is simple enough, I almost think it came with a manual just for the CYA warnings. The JetBoil really is a no brainer. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any JetBoil-branded mini canisters along the remote route we took for our last trip, so I had to settle for a full-size Coleman canister. I’ll have to take their word for the whole “2 cups in 2 minutes” thing, as I was distracted by something and came back at around 3 minutes to find my water violently boiling and the pot difficult to approach. Suffice to say it works very well, but don’t let it run too long or you might need a glove to get through the molten rainstorm to shut it off…

As I have read in reviews elsewhere, the completed assembly is a bit top heavy, especially with water in the cup. Caution around the stove, and perhaps even one of those stabilizing stands they sell separately would be a good idea. We had no problems on this outing, but I could see this being more difficult at a poorer campsite.

For some reason, when ordering the JetBoils it didn’t occur to me how easy it would be to simply boil a few cups of water and pour the boiling water into single-serving food containers. As a result, we purchased two of the stoves when one stove is quite sufficient for two people. I generally have the food packed this way anyhow so we can grab whatever meal we feel like. Of course, if you’re using individually packaged food you also have this option. If you intend, as I originally did, to finish preparing and serve your food in the JetBoil itself you will probably want one per person (or at least an optional extra cup/pot per person). Our second, unused JetBoil will be for sale shortly…

The Bad

My only real quarrel with the unit is that a JetBoil stove will not fit “anywhere a 1L Nalgene will” as commonly advertised. Be forewarned: it will not fit in the 5.11 Bottle Carrier, the Maxpedition 10×4 Bottle Holder, the Nalgene pockets of any of the Maxpedition cases and Versipacks or even in the expanding Maxpedition Mini-RolyPoly. Maxpedition does make a 12×5 Bottle pouch it will fit in, however.

Rating: 5 / 5

Pros:
Strong, stays sharp under heavy abuse, quick opening, good grip, all-metal

Cons:
After 2 years of carry – none

The Bottom Line:
If you need a good, solid, all-purpose folding knife you can count on for daily carry this is the blade to get. After over two years of abuse opening boxes, slicing cord, shaving wood and cutting .25″ steel cable the blade is still as sharp as the day I got it, the edge has no nicks or chips, and the finish is still in great shape.

My Gerber EVO has been retired since damage to the frame now prevents auto-quick opening. Yes, it was seriously abused (prying) to cause the damage. I still consider Gerber to be the best cheap steel available.

Replacing it is a SOG Flash II (the black/aluminum variant) with “SOG Assisted Technology”, which so far has been a good solid knife and goes with me everywhere. It costs about twice what the Gerber EVO does, but it is as close as you can get to legally carrying an auto-opener in communist states like California. The blade has held an edge nicely for the past 4 months or so on wood, cord and cardboard. The pocket clip is attached from the rear of the knife, allowing the entire knife body to sit out of sight. The clip is reversible to either side, or can be removed altogether. Yes, it has a “safety” to prevent accidental opening while in-pocket. The only thing I don’t like about this knife is the clip, which is way too strong and sometimes difficult to get over some pockets with reinforced hems. On the other hand, there’s little chance of the knife getting lost because it came unclipped.

Rating: 4 / 5

Pros:
Waterproof, dries quickly, extremely compact and easy to pack, good wind breaker, does not get “sticky”, also available in olive green

Cons:
Does not breathe, so it is HOT in hot, humid weather; no hood

The Bottom Line:
This is a good jacket to have handy in the desert and in cooler climates when it might rain, but when it isn’t cold enough for a jacket just yet. It also does well as an outer water- and wind-proof shell over warmer clothes in cold weather. It’s small size and compressibility make it easy to toss in your bag or even in a cargo pants pocket. I would not recommend this jacket for the tropics or humid climates, even with it’s light weight, as the lack of breatheability makes it very hot in such conditions.

I’ve had one of these tucked away in my go-bag for months now, but haven’t really had a chance to try it out until this past weekend’s thunderstorms. As usual, we decided to head out in the rain and enjoy tourist-free hiking/climbing in Joshua Tree, my lack of a lightweight waterproof jacket no deterrence. As a waterproof outer-shell the Packable Jacket performs excellently, I was completely dry the entire time up top. Well, except for perspiration which is where the jacket falls short. Unfortunately, it is quite unbreathable and gets quite hot inside, quite fast (especially in hot/humid weather). It was comfortable during the cold of the storm, but as soon as it started to clear (and warm up) I opted to open it up and take my chances. I will say this though: despite being hot inside it did not stick to me like I’ve been told so many other similar jackets do.

Drying it off is a cinch, even in humid weather, and it was ready to pack up again not 5 minutes after the rain stopped. It packs up quick and easy, and when packed the Packable Jacket will fit nicely in most small bags, a standard BDU cargo pocket or the rear-center pocket of the 5.11 Tactical Vest (no doubt intentionally).

$20 from LAPG…

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Pros:
Cheap, decent quality for the price, reasonably comfortable, fairly light-weight, no logos

Cons:
Cheap, zipper needs cleaning every few months, laces are difficult to tighten, made in China

The Bottom Line:
These aren’t a bad pair of boots to have sitting in your emergency kit, overnight bag left in the trunk of your car, or simply sitting in a box as spares. While they are pretty comfy, they lack the longevity required in an everyday boot, and will start to fall apart in less than a year with such use. The zippers are solid and reliable as long as they are kept clean.

Curved side-zips, BAD! I learned this on my last trip out to Kingman when the zipper on my Thorogood Omega split right open from the middle. Before this, they’ve always seemed to have a bad habit of unzipping during heavy activity since the zipper does not lock down. It’s kind of a bummer too, they were my favorite boots so far, but with this bad a design flaw there’s no way I’ll buy another.

Enter the Tru-spec 4050 Side-zip boots, still on sale at LAPG for $30 it was perfect timing to try out some cheapos and cover my boot emergency. These understated, logo-free boots are surprisingly good for the price. The straight zipper is a superior design, keeping the stress of wear evenly spread to prevent failure. They’re hard to scuff, handle very well on slippery wet rocks, and are quite comfortable for moderate hiking or light climbing. So far, I have not needed to change out the insole. The boots stay nice and cool in hot weather, and actually grip so well I found myself stumbling a little when they did not slip as expected. Oh, and these zippers do lock down so they aren’t coming undone on their own!

These boots do lack full waterproofness, though they’ll shrug off a good thunderstorm with no leaks. They can also be a little difficult to lace up in a hurry, as simply grabbing the ends of the laces and pulling is not enough to tighten them. I’ll be putting these in my overnight bag when I pick up my new (waterproof) 5.11 ATACs.

It would appear I’m not the only one that has been extremely frustrated by the tube of my hydration pack swinging wildly around on hikes and climbs, and the manufacturers have listened (though I may have been ignorant for a while). Enter the Tube Trap™ from Camelbak (yes, Blackhawk has one too), perfectly sized for both insulated and non-insulated tubes, and perfectly sized to attach to both 1″ and .75″ webbing (though it says only .75″).

Just $2.00 from LAPG…