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Nitecore’s EDC27 is Slim, Flat, and Perfect for Your Vest
Over and over, Nitecore has innovated in the flashlight and electronic category and has found its way into my paddling kit. With the introduction of the EDC27, a everyday carry (EDC) flashlight, I’m now using three different Nitecore devices for various trips. The first device is lightweight NU25 headlamp that I carry on all my canoe and kayak camping trips. The next is the NB10000 power bank. The final is the EDC27. What is the EDC27? The Nitecore EDC27 is a high-performance EDC (everyday carry) flashlight. This flashlight has an ultra-slim and flat design that’s easy to carry in your life vest, but is packed with features. It’s most eye-catching…
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DIY Sawyer Gravity Filter
One of the challenges of a group paddling trip is treating enough water for everyone. According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine you need about 3.7 liters of fluids a day for each man and 2.7 liters for each women. For my family, that’s around two gallons to three gallons of water a day. To meet the need, we’ve been using a DIY Sawyer gravity filter system. I’ve experimented with it over the last several years and think that I’ve finally found the right combination of gear to make it work for us. Note: I’ve updated my system. Read my DIY Gravity Water Filter System article…
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Alpine Start Instant Coffee Review
After hearing about First Ascent Instant Coffee blasting into space to quench the thirst of decaffeinated astronauts aboard the International Space Station, I decided to order some up from REI. I figured if it was good enough for astronauts, it’s good enough instant coffee for canoe and kayak trips. Unfortunately, REI only had Alpine Start Instant Coffee REI had three flavors: Alpine Start Original, Dirty Chai Latte and Instant Coconut Creamer Latte. The Lattes came with five instant packages and the Alpine Start came with eight. Each cost $9 at the time of this review. You could also buy a bulk bag of 30 servings of Alpine Start. I’m an…
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Right On Trek Mac and Cheese Review
A challenge with canoe and kayak travel can be finding good food to take canoeing or good food for kayaking. That’s where Right On Trek has come to the rescue. I’ve reviewed their service in the past (Read: Adventure Meals by RightOnTrek Review). The short of that review was that I like it. Recently, they revamped their backcountry meals and sent me over a few samples to try. I thought the Right On Trek Mac and Cheese deserved it’s own review. Spoiler: It’s great! Here’s how Right on Trek describes their take on the classic Mac and Cheese recipe: A no-compromise version of a classic comfort food. Our Mac and…
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Flextailpump Tiny Pump Review
For last several years I’ve been using an inflatable air mattress for camping (I like my Exped Ultra 3), which is more comfortable than the self-inflating Therm-a-rests that I’ve used in the past. Since I started using it, I’ve used several methods of inflation, including pump sacks and the Exped Mini Pump. I’ve had the Flextailpump (yes, they smash everything together into one word) for awhile, and I used it again last weekend. Without further ado, here’s my Tiny Pump review. Is it the tiny camping mattress pump that could? The Flextailpump Tiny Pump is a lightweight, rechargeable electric pump designed to inflate camping mattresses. It comes with a bunch…
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Duk Gear Phone Case Review
Earlier this year, Duk Gear sent me out a phone case for review. I used the case over the last few month for kayaking and canoeing. These are my impressions. What is it? The Duk Gear Waterproof Phone Case is a soft plastic phone case that floats. It holds an IPX8 certification which means that it can be submerged in depths greater than 1 meter. The manufacturer determines the distance, and Duk Gear says it is waterproof up to 65 feet. The plastic is touchscreen compatible. It has a clear plastic opening on the back for your phone’s camera. It comes with a carabiner and lanyard. Multiple colors are available.…
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Best Deck Bag for Kayaking
The best deck bag for kayaking is no deck bag. Seriously, don’t buy one. They all are a terrible idea. Instead get an underdeck bag. See below for why you don’t want a deck bag, and for a recommendation if — and only if — you ignore everything in this article and decided you need a deck bag. The best underdeck bag for kayaking is the North Water Underdeck Bag (read our review: North Water Underdeck Bag Review). The primary reason is that they make your deck higher, which interferes with paddling. This is especially true on kayaks with high decks already. While I think that you should have a…
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Nitecore UT27 Headlamp Review
Nitecore’s latest headlamp, the Nitecore UT27 Headlamp, offers a lot that paddlers will get excited about. I got my hands on a pre-release copy of the headlamp and this review will focus on my initial impressions. The Nitecore UT27 features a waterproof (IP66) and lightweight body with the total weight of 2.61 ounces (74g) including the headlamp, headband, and battery pack. The battery pack has a built-in USB-C charging port, and the headlamp accepts both the rechargeable battery or three AAA batteries. Like many modern headlamps, the UT27 has both a spotlight and a floodlight for different situations. The spotlight uses a 3,000K bulb for a slightly yellow or warmish…
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Fenix E12 Flashlight Review
The Fenix E12 V2.0 AA Flashlight for Everyday Carry is a flashlight designed to fit in your pocket and be forgotten until you need it. Because it weighs less than 1 ounce without the battery, it made me wonder if it would be a good replacement for a headlamp. So, let’s dig deep into a Fenix E12 Flashlight for Everyday Carry Review. As with my other Fenix reviews, I received this flashlight in exchange for an honest review (see Fenix PD36R Flashlight Review and Fenix HM65R Headlamp Review). While I love headlamps, there are downsides. One of the downsides has to do with people who use headlamps but aren’t familiar…
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Best Waterproof Map Case for Paddling
Wet paper maps equal a bad day when paddling. That means if you use paper maps for canoeing or kayaking that you should use a map case. Map cases also protect waterproof maps from blowing away or sticking together when they dry together. Instead of an article that lists every single waterproof map case that you could use for paddling, like all the affiliate marketing sites do, we’re going to tell you the BEST waterproof map case for paddling. This is part of Best Series articles (as an example see: Best Pump for Kayaking) in which we tell you what the best currently available piece of gear is. Best Waterproof…
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Fenix HM65R Headlamp Review
Headlamps are the most convenient way to light your way through the dark. When paddling, they point where you look, and when in camp they help you see the area so you can complete your chore or just kick back with a good book. I recently received a Fenix HM65R Headlamp for review. In the past I reviewed another Fenix light and liked it. The Fenix PD36R was a solid flashlight. I was looking forward to trying another one of their lights out. So, how did the HM65R do? Fenix HM65R Headlamp Description The Fenix HM65R Headlamp is a rechargeable headlamp constructed from a lightweight magnesium. It features a USB-C…
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KÜHL Sun-Protective Shirts Review
Being outdoors and on the water exposes us to harmful UV from the sun. The leathery outdoors person is a typical cliché, but if you spend a lot of time outdoors, that’s the look you’ll get. According the the Skin Cancer Foundation, “An estimated 90 percent of skin aging is caused by the sun. People who use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen daily.” This doesn’t even touch on the health issues, such as skin cancer, caused by sun exposure. That’s where men’s sun-protective shirts and women’s sun-protective shirts come into play. They help…
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Sawyer Water Filter Bottle Review
After using this product on my 11-day, 160-mile trip, I feel like it’s time to do a quick Sawyer Water Filter Bottle Review. Usually, I like to get 30 days on a product before reviewing it, but in this case it’s based on technology from Sawyer that I’m comfortable in providing my full thoughts. I’ve used both the Sawyer Squeeze and Mini before. This water filter bottle uses the Mini. Sawyer Water Filter Bottle Description Here’s what Sawyer says about the product: At just 4.5 ounces in weight, this durable BPA FREE water bottle can deliver clean water as fast as you can drink it. Use the included filter with…
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Nightcore P30i Review – an impressive wide-throw flashlight
Recently, Nightcore reached out and asked me to do a Nightcore P30i Review. The P30i is a wide-throw, long-range and rechargeable flashlight. The opportunity to do a review on a Nightcore product was exciting, because I’ve heard great things about the Nightcore NU25, a lightweight headlamp of just over an ounce that gained popularity in the lightweight hiking world. The P30i is a completely different beast and to let the cat out of the bag early, a flashlight that I’ve fallen in love with. Reviewing the specs of the Nightcore P30i makes it seem like an impressive flashlight. At the strongest setting, it outputs 2,000 lumens and throws up to…
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Superior Fleece Hoodie Review
For this Superior Fleece hoodie review, I’ll review the Poplar Hoodie. Recently, I was trying to figure out how to get a Melanzana hoodie. They are nearly impossible to get. You have to apply to a lottery in order to get a chance to buy one. When I mentioned that I was trying to get that hoodie, someone said I should look at Superior Fleece. Superior Fleece was selling on Etsy at the time, and I ordered a hoodie. I bought the hoodie four months ago. After wearing it nearly nonstop for months, I feel like I’m willing to give it a review. The short of it: my wife says…
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