Always looking for new ways to test the welded seams on our silicone nylon teepees we took a group out for an extended weekend of backpacking in Michigan’s UP. We think the results speak for themselves but our updated seam welding process easily stands up to the attack of two backpackers. In the video below we let them have their way with two pieces of silnylon fabric welded with a 3/4″ seam.
Arapahoe Outdoors
www.arapahoeoutdoors.com
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February 7, 2012Welded seams usage in tents at Arapahoe Outdoors – a strength test the backcountwayFebruary 2, 2012Lightweight wood burning backcountry stovesMake your cold weather camping a lot warmer with a collapsible backcountry stove. Wood burning, made of stainless steel, lightweight, easy to use and durable. Coming soon to join our ultralight teepees in your field or on your mountain.
Early photos of the original prototype. Check back soon for product photos, specs and availability of our stoves. December 20, 2011Everybody like a good deal – the story of a drybag
Dry Bag, 8L Waterproof Drifting Dry Tube Bag, Random Color Today: $3.49
But when they say a picture is worth a thousand words sometimes it is best to heed that warning. Looking at alternate product photos there were glaring issues – mainly stitching all over the product. I’ve seen this happen to too many good friends, their supposedly waterproof bag full of cellphones and other valuables becomes a MSR Domedary as soon as they capsize their canoe. So yes, I could have had a drybag for about $3, made by who knows what aged person under what conditions but sometimes the better deal is the product you know was made by American hands and will last you a lifetime.
December 12, 2011We kicked the canWhat can we say, we got busy, we kicked the can down to road a month on our blog. Stay tuned though we’ve got some big thing coming up.
October 25, 2011Spoonful – The story of a spork and one great power trioBurton’s Ti Spork is an entry to file under just good products. Purchased 3-4 years ago for probably under $10 this titanium sporks is something I would rebuy in a heartbeat though I never think I’ll have to. Let’s face it, sometimes the sharp point of a knife or the blunt end of a spoon just doesn’t cut it. Your fork on the other hand isn’t going to scrap a bowl clean or serve you soup so a spork is really the only choice for weight conscious campers.
So now that we’ve touched on function we can talk a bit about durability. No more melting cheaper Lexan sporks, actually no more melting at all. The blue hue on this bad boy is thanks to a night inside of a raging campfire. I don’t’know of too many other eating utensils, pots, pans or kettles that can say that.
What could turn this black bear into a grizzly? We’ll a wire gate clip to start would be nice. To get to polar bear we’ll need a built in bottle/can opener. Vargo is trying their best right now. October 21, 2011October Canned Beer – Wild Onion Brewing Co’s Jack Stout
-Nice Can! October 10, 2011A room with a viewFile this one under good times thanks to our friends at River Valley Hunting. As the wonderfully cool nights of fall decent upon us we’d just like to offer a photo of encouragement to everyone. Get out there, enjoy and don’t forget the dog (in this case a Norwegian Elkhound that made sure we were safe all night)!
September 28, 2011The New Urban Water Bottle
Be it chemicals leaching from plastic water bottles or from the liner of your metal bottle; hopefully the whole BPA debacle is behind us. But for those of you who have totally lost faith in the industry we present a rather novel idea – the reusable glass water bottle. Of the three R’s, reuse is probably the most overlooked and undervalued. Sure recycling a hundred small plastic water bottles to get a big new one is great but that doesn’t come without further environmental impact.
The glass bottle pictured here has served as my trusty sidekick for over 9 months now and the water taste great. In my opinion anything made with plastics or even stainless will impart some additional flavor on the water, not the case with glass. I’m not endorsing taking this puppy into the field, glass and camping generally don’t mix maybe with the exception of a nice scotch, but for around town it is hard to beat and hard to break. This one has even survived a few collisions with the floor.
So let’s add it all up. Strong + large capacity + clean tasting + $3 = Our favorite new water bottle for the urban adventurer. My one complaint is the cap, over the months my original cap became a little distorted and didn’t totally seal anymore. A pretty easy fix but if someone could just make a glass screw on top we’d be in heaven. As with the water bottle a little light washing inside the threads of the cap every few months can go a long ways. September 26, 2011September Canned Beer – Central City Brewing Red Racer Pale Ale
Another installment of the wise words of Kevin the AO beer master. After having the fantastic Red Racer IPA I was excited to try the Pale Ale. I was disappointed. It’s not that the Pale Ale is bad its just not as spectacular as its bigger sibling. The nose is nice, kind of your usual California Pale Ale, piney with some citrus peel. Taste follows along but the hops didn’t seem prominent enough. It is very bitter but the hops seem old, faded, could have been an old can that I tried. Overall a pretty average, if a little stale, Pale Ale.
ABV 5.0% – Style: Pale Ale
September 15, 2011Hanging with Hammocks – hammock campingAnd on the 8th day (insert your divine power) created hammocks allowing campers to hang from trees, free of bugs and while feeling the breeze. Apparently the 8th day repeats itself a lot, we’ve noticed a lot of new companies jumping into the hammock business lately. I’ve been camping in a Hennessy Hammock for a few years now and consider it to be one of the best three season camping shelters I’ve ever been in, my go to if I know trees will be around. Each one has its little special touches, the Hennessy amongst other features has an easy in and out were you enter into the center of the bottom sling instead of over on of the sides – very convenient and effective.  One of the best summer camping shelters on the market. It is no big secret – the knock on hammock camping is the arch in your back. When humans lay down we prefer to be flat. A few companies are deploying a series of straps to spread the hammock base out but there is an easier way. All that you really need to do is put the upper half of your body and head on one side of the center axis and you feet and legs on the other – poof, magic – a flat sleeping surface.
While great for warm weather hammocks present a few issues as the temps begin to drop. Your standard sleeping pad can supply enough insulation but that requires that you stay on top of it – not always an easy task – though many hammocks are starting come with integrated pad sleeves. Underquilts are a good consideration for extending your hammock into the early four season range.
Other hammock camping related post from the blog world: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1615737438/kammoktm-no-longer-bound-to-the-ground
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