New gear and shakedown hike!!

Spring is here!! And, with spring, comes more outdoor time! That being said, I have picked up a few items over the winter, and want to do a small review on them, as I did a nice little shakedown hike today to try some new gear out.
The items I will review are
My Kelty Redwing 3100 pack ( have owned this for about a year now, but haven't put any mileage on it yet)
Keen Gypsum mid hikers
OR insect resistant gaiters-short
Backcountry Navigator program for my SGII

First, lets start with the feet. These shoes I found on sale, and got them cheap. Keen has been making a name for themselves as quality hiking footwear in the past couple years. I figured I couldn't go wrong picking up a pair of these. I subscribe to the "light is right" theory of footwear. By that, I don't wear heavy, full leather boots. First,. they simply don't fit my hiking type-unless I am in a scree field, I don't see a need for heavy boots like this. Second, my experience with the heavier boots is that, although they are waterproof-this also causes my feet to sweat, heavily, thus negating the waterproof claims. Don't fool yourself-even with goretex, you will likely experience sweating. The majority of sweat glands exist in our feet, and, as such, the more boot, the more sweat. Instead, I prefer a lighter weight short cut shoe, that is breathable. If my feet get wet, they will dry out. Even if they are soaked, at the end of the day, they will mostly be dry by morning-and, with a dry pair of socks on, you likely wouldn't even notice any remaining dampness.
Next up is fit. I get hotspots on the top of my feet. Its hard to find shoes that don't do this for me. These haven't created that as of yet, and that makes me happy. The overall fit is nice-I prefer my shoes a little big, as my feet have a tendency to swell when walking a lot, due to numerous stress fractures they have suffered throughout my tenure in the Army. So, I like a little room in the toe area, and buy accordingly. With shoes in general, a size in one brand doesn't necessarily translate to the same size in another-and, these are no different. They are size 9s for me, where I would usually go with an 8.5 (yes, I have small feet). But, the 9s fit me best, so I went with those.
I did about 4 km in them today, both on trail, and off (mostly off). I am happy to report that, after that little trial, there were no hotspots, no issues, and, even with a soaking crossing a swamp, they remained comfortable. I didn't even notice my foot was wet, until I looked down, and saw it was discolored. Although, I think this is more due to the warmth of the standing water, than anything else.All in all, these Keens work for me. They fit my criteria as affordable, durable, good quality, and good fit.
Next up, the OR gaiters, the Bugout model. These I bought, again, on sale. According to the tag, these are repellent for ticks, mosquitoes, and chiggers, for up to 70 washings (I honestly don't know anyone who washes gaiters though). What can I say-throughout my bushwhacking, they kept the crud out of my low cut shoes. And kept my pants bottoms tucked in. I didn't have any ticks on me-I cannot definitely attribute this to the gaiters themselves, but I can attest to them doing what they are supposed to do-keep all that crap from getting in your shoes. I spent more time off trail than on, and they worked flawlessly. They are tan in color, and likely will not remain so for long. Personally, I don't care if they look dirty-they are outdoor gear, and are going to get that way. So be it. But, the dirt definitely shows on these. Be warned, if that's something you don't like.
Next up, my Kelty Redwing 3100. I haven't really put any mileage on this yet, so this will be an ongoing project. I got this particular model because, well, its very popular, and got great reviews. I wanted a pack I can use for up to a week, but isn't so giant as to be unwieldy. I tend to pack minimally, so I thought this would fit the bill. Here are my likes:
First, I had about 27 lbs in this. I put my hammock, tarp, and pegs in there, a small first aid kit, and the rest was water. I had a 100 oz camelback (there is an internal pocket for this), and a bunch of 1L bottles, filled with water. I prefer this method, as, if the weight it too much, I can empty the bottles. My pack weight I want to keep under 30 lbs, with water, and this pack is rated to about 35. Carrying the weight I had wasn't a problem.
Overall, this pack is a decent fit. It isn't spectacular, but neither is it horrible. I have had packs that fit like a glove, and some that, no matter what, hurt your back. This was neither. The overall fit was good, but, without a truly adjustable back, its sort of a one size fits all. Which, works for most people. I just found myself shrugging to readjust every now & again. It wasn't bad at all, just something to note.
There is an aluminum stay that provides rigidity. If I spend the time getting this adjusted to my back, this would improve my carrying it greatly. I like the single stay idea myself.
The shoulder straps are easily adjustable, for both length and the load lifters, and are comfortable. There is a sternum strap as well, that is actually long enough to fit my chest, without being completely extended. I DEFINITELY liked that feature!!
The hip belt, I am not so fond of. As this is a multi-use pack, the hip belt is kind of flimsy. It certainly did its job, and I didn't experience any rolling of the belt-even when off trail and scrambling. Long term, I want to keep an eye on this though.
As for space, this has plenty of space for my hammock, tarp, sleeping bag, underquilt, clothes, food, and camelback. I have packed it full previously, but didn't hike with it. Its a tight fit, but it works. I am a minimalist when it comes to clothing, preferring to carry only one spare clothing set, no matter the length of the hike. I got this pack with the idea that, with less room, I would pack less, and that works. It is a great size for a 3 day trip, but, if you are like me, you could do a week, or longer, with it, no problem.
Last up, Backcountry Navigator. I like to record my trips, and this seems to fit the bill. They offer a free 2 week demo, and the full version is $9.99, available in the Google Play store. Its simple to use, and setting waypoints is dead easy. It recorded my entire hike, to include time, distance, elevation gain and loss, and even has a way to pause it, if you take a break (which I did). There is an ability to download local maps to your SD card as well. As I JUST got this app today, I haven't had the opportunity to play with it fully yet, but, expect a full review on it when I do. I suggest that, if you are looking for a decent mapping program for your phone, try it out-you have 2 weeks, and it costs nothing (some things may be disabled though in the trial version).
Overall, it was a great day to be out. I decided to be a little adventurous, and dust off my old navigational skills. Fortunately, it worked out. I really want to get out and start playing around with a map & compass again-perhaps look into some orienteering courses. I have missed playing like that. The place local to me is ideal for orienteering-terrain variety, good hills, easy to recognize on a map. Someday.....

New gear coming this week!

I haven't posted a whole lot, and I promised to do more this year. I hope to get more outdoors time this year, be it shooting, hiking, kayaking, or whatever. Being a homeowner, a lot of my time is getting taken up with that. Which I am ok with!
If you aren't familiar with me, I am a firearms owner. My pistol of choice is Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm. This is my carry gun, range gun-my only pistol. If you aren't familiar with the platform, one of the shortcomings-the only one-is that the magazine release is hard to manipulate with smaller hands-which I have. Chris Costa, of Magpul fame, started his own company. He had made an after market extended magazine release, specifically designed to address this. I ordered one, and will be trying it out next weekend, so stay tuned!
Update as of 4/14/12: I have been told these are backordered, and not to expect one until May. So, review will be at a later date

Tying it all together

Ok, I am linking my online blog to my Google+ account. This will hopefully get me to start posting more, and spending less time managing things. I REALLY want to dump FB altogether, but, as I have been a part of it almost since the beginning, its kind of hard to wean myself off. But, this should help get things rolling. We will see!

A new year!

So, happy new year! I have a few things I want to accomplish this year. Get in shape, become a better piper, get some home improvement done, things like that. I have some goals to achieve as well, to help accomplish these this year. First, I am going to enter a zombie 5k obstacle race in may. That's my first fitness goal. Second, I am going to attend a 2 day shooting school this summer, which is both fitness and shooting goals. Last, I plan to attend a piping workshop, to improve my skills. My reward? A 7 day cruise with my girlfriend next year. So, here's to accomplishing goals!

Tactical Medic class

I had the opportunity to attend a Tactical Medical class over the weekend of 21-22 November, 2010, put on by Code One Training Solutions (www.code1web.com). The primary instructor, Ian McDevitt, invited me personally to attend the class. The course ran through the weekend, and was approximately 6 hours each day. The course is designed for people that have some sort of valid medical training-be it a first responder, EMT, paramedic, or some other qualifications. The course is an introduction to performing these duties while in a role of a medic assigned to part of a SWAT or SRT team. It assumes you have the necessary basic qualifications for performing in that role. Not that the information is above a laypersons head-I am not currently certified in any of this, but have been a certified first responder, combat lifesaver, have taken wilderness first air courses, and currently possess Red Cross cert for first aid/CPR/AED, for adults & children. I attended this course for the knowledge, and the opportunity to train with others. And, I was certainly NOT disappointed! Now, on to the class!
The class consisted of a number of police officers, several EMT-Bs, a paramedic, and an ER nurse. I was THE most unqualified person there. That isnt to say I didnt know what to do-as I stated, I am familiar with the material, just not as up to date as everyone else. The first day was spent going over the concept of tactical medicine, the applications of it in today’s world, and the differences between the role of a tactical medic on the civilian side vs. a military role as a medic. The focus during both days was on the 3 phases of tactical medicine, and where to apply each phase. The 3 phases we dealt with were Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and CASEVAC. The focus of the weekends training was primarily with the first phase, and touching on the second phase. Its important to note that, like anything else when in these types of environments, the phases are VERY fluid-often going back & forth between the first 2 phases, as the situation develops. This is where we focused our attention.
We covered topics such as pressure dressings, hemostatic agents, tourniquets, and when all of these are applied. Through handouts, videos, real world scenarios, class discussion, and practical application, we all had a thorough understanding of the use of all of the above-what works, what doesnt, and why. Ian has extensive experience in this subject, in hostile areas, and had plenty of stories to relate to us. He also had several videos to show us, as well as numerous pictures, of proper & improper wound treatment. By the end of the first day, I felt fairly confident that I knew what I was doing, what the phases were, and, through several iterations of practical application, how to handle the equipment.
Day 2 was the practical application day. We started off with a mental exercise. We were asked to plan the casualty phase of an operation. This is similar to paragraph IV of an op order, for those in the military. It consisted of locations of different medical facilities, what was available, route planning, etc. This was a higher level exercise, but it drilled into us that, although care STARTS with you, there is a large support chain there to assist with care. Once we were done that, Ian went over some of the packs he has used. Some worked, some didnt. And, he was honest in his assessment in all of it. If gear didnt work, he called it out. If he recommended a particular brand, or piece of equipment, he provided the dealer, and the website, so that anyone who wanted to check it out, could. Once the gear fondling was done, we broke up into 2 groups, with LE working together, and the civilian side working together.
I worked with several EMTs, who had a LOT of practical experience with the medical side, but limited tactical experience. The scenarios called for both. I FINALLY felt I could bring something to the table! We ran through scenarios where we had an officer down, and we had to get to him/her. We varied between the area being secure, to us being under fire. As was explained to us the first day, the transition between the first 2 phases is fluid-and, with these scenarios, we went back & forth between them several times, with each scenario. We even ran one where we never left phase 1. After running through 7 scenarios of varying degrees of difficulty, we then broke for lunch.
After lunch, we secured an abandoned building, and the whole group worked together. In the real world, this is how it would actually work. The LE have their jobs to do, and the tactical medic is there primarily to deal with casualties after the LE have done their jobs. So, we broke it down so that everyone got a turn doing their jobs. LE did their various response scenarios (workplace violence, officer down, etc), the tactical medics followed up with them when they were called forward, operating in both the 1st & 2nd phases, and the casualties were taken to the ambulance, and treated by the EMTs & paramedic in the CASEVAC phase. All phases were covered, and everyone got a chance to rotate into the tactical medic role. I felt that the whole class benefited from this integrated training. It allowed the LE to see the benefits of having a dedicated medic to their team, and the civilian side got to see how the LE operates for different callouts. I learned a lot talking with individual officers, as to what their SOPs are-and, they vary greatly from anything I have done with the military-and, even from what I thought they would be. I wont go into detail, but their level of response, and how the respond to certain situations, was a real eye opener to me,
In conclusion, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this class. Some of the knowledge was new to me, some I had some experience with, and havent used in a while, but, in the end, it was all beneficial. The instructors are VERY knowledgeable, and have many years experience between them. They have been there, and done that. By sharing their stories, providing handouts, to include a book on tactical medicine written by Ian, videos, slide shows, demonstrations, and practical applications, I have a newfound reverence for those men & women who risk their lives, every day, so that others may live. The experience I walked away with will remain with me for a long, long time. Even as a civilian, a lot of this can be applied. Self aid is something we ALL should know-and knowing what works, and what doesnt, can be the difference between you living or dying.
I want to thank the following for a great weekend: first, to the Old Saybrook PD. Thanks for attending, working with us, and demonstrating your tactics to us. Stay safe, in the line of fire. Second, to the EMTs & paramedics that attended; your lifesaving skills dont go unrecognized by us civilians. Your dedication to your profession, and your interactions with people on a daily basis who arent at the best point in their lives, doesnt go unnoticed by us civilians. Your skills may sometimes be taken for granted-but they are ALWAYS welcome when needed. Stay safe.
Last, I would like to thank the instructors, who, without them, this course wouldnt exist.
Ian McDevitt-primary instructor. Paramedic, CCEMTP, Tactical Medic, FARMEDIC, graduate of CONTOMS & H&K tactical medicine, as well as a few other creds. On top of all this, he has also served with the Army as an Infantry officer. Ian has worked in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central America. Ian, I want to personally thank you for inviting me to this course.
Tony Maggio-EMT, paramedic, and EMSI. Tony, thanks for your guidance and help, with someone who doesnt know all the cool lingo you guys use.
Rory Leslie-paramedic, and is an OIF vet, who served with the 101st. Thanks for your crafty scenarios-it helped drill in the fluidity of going back & forth between phases.

If you are interested in attending one of these, you can go to www.code1web.com for further information, or contact TacMedic here on the forums via PM. Again, this is a very informational class, and is geared towards SRT/SWAT scenarios, where a team medic would be attached. It helps to have a basic understanding of BLS, as your role would require you to perform at LEAST at a level of First Responder.

BCB Crusader Integral stove updae

This is a follow up to the review I did in August, with pics.

I wanted to write this review for a while now, and just finally got around to it. I have been using the NATO canteen for about 2 years now, and recently purchased the Crusader burner and digicam zulu pouch from Bestglide. As a result, I wanted to review the whole kit. I am in no way associated with, or compensated by, either Bestglide, BCB International, or any of their affiliates. All items were purchased full price, and I was neither endorsed, nor compensated, for this.
I purchased all the following items separately, but, on the Bestglide site, you can purchase them as a complete set as well. Here is my setup I purchased:
NATO water bottle with plastic mug
Crusader metal canteen cup
Crusader cooker
Zulu pouch.
Green Heat
Additional stuff I have in the pouch:
12 Pur microtabs
2 pieces of heavy duty aluminum foil
small lighter in plastic bag
LMF Scout firesteel
titanium spork.

Review.
I did a test run a few weeks ago, in my kitchen, to try the stove system out. I used 8 oz water, straight from the tap, and started the test. I left the cup uncovered-honestly, I didnt even think of covering it. In this controlled environment, I achieved the following times:
Water achieved small bubbles at 6:38
Flame went out at 10:27.
Its important to note I did NOT cover the cup, so I lost a lot of heat that way. I was a little concerned with this initially.

Today I did the outdoor test.The weather was about 70*, slightly overcast, minimal to no wind. A nice day to be outside, overall. Not a great time to test gear, as it isnt testing limits, but it was great to get a baseline, where I can post reviews in inclement weather at a later date. As before, I used 8 oz tap water. However, this time I used a piece of tin foil to cover the lid of the cup (the complete kit apparently comes with a plastic lid; I dont have one, as I have heard bad reviews of it melting on the first use, so I didnt purchase one). Here are the results:
Rolling boil achieved at 5:24
Flame went out at 14:14
Two things of note here-of course, covering the cup increases boil time. In this case, it actually caused the water to boil. The other thing was the longer time until flame went out-I burned the package (it didnt burn completely, but it came close), and this gave a few more minutes of flame time. It also reduces waste. There was a very slight breeze as well, and this may have helped both the boil time & the flame out time too, as I did notice the flame increase slightly with the breeze.

Things to note with this set. First, the canteen itself. There is a little retaining plastic thing that keeps the lid from getting lost. I broke it, within the first week of use. I am a dumb grunt, and it was FAR too fragile for me. The button on top of the cap broke, so I removed it completely. Its no great loss-its been over 2 years, and I havent lost the lid yet.
Second, if you get the Crusader cup, do NOT get the PFTE coated one. The inside of the cup is peeling, as you will see in the accompanying pics. The outer coating is fine-I think that the boiling water does something to the coating. Get the SS one, and get some stove paint, and coat the outside. Me, I am gonna boil & scrape till the internal coating is gone. Not really a fun project.
Third, I am in love with the zulu pouch. This holds the complete kit, plus accessories. There is a pocket in the inside of the lid, that can hold purification tabs. There is also an internal front pocket, that holds additional fuel packets, tin foil, and my fire gear. Hell, I could stuff the spork in there too, but I usually just shove it wherever. There is room in that little pouch for small items. I have a few boullion cubes in there, just in case. It comes with a shoulder strap, and is MOLLE compatible. Really, it doesnt get any better than that....
Fourth, Green Heat is a decent product. It heats quick, you can light it with a firesteel, it doesnt smell, and you can burn the packet. It doesnt leave any residue afterwards (it certainly doesnt have the fish stink Esbit tabs do). This leaves the stove relatively clean, and ready for the next round. It being a gel, you cannot add to the stove when its burning. Which isnt a big deal, I suppose. You could always add small pieces of fuel though, to keep it going, if needed.

All told, this is a great little set. In fact, its the set I take with me for dayhikes & geocaching, as opposed to a small pack. Between the set, a small FAK, an altoids kit, and my pocketknife, thats all I really need. If you are looking for an all in one kit, something that can take some abuse, and doesnt require any more fiddling than opening a packet & lighting, this is for you. Its rugged, relatively light, compact for what is in there, and stupid resistant (soldier-proof). This kit is a primary component of my BOB kit, and can be used on its own, as needed. The only major downside is the PFTE coating-but, again, my mistake is your gain!

Crusader Cooking Set, test I

Ok, so I tried the cooking set inside. Here is what I did; I used 16 oz water, measured from my Nalgene bottle. The water was room temp, roughly 78*. I poured the water into the metal canteen cup, lit the gel, started my timer, put the cup on the cooker, and waited. Here are the times I achieved:
From start to first bubbling: 6 minutes, 48 seconds. There was never a true boil achieved. The water did begin to boil, with occasional small bubbles, but never a rolling boil. The gel flamed out at 10 minutes, 27 seconds.
I think that the water was likely hot enough to either make noodles in, or to add to a freeze dried dinner-but certainly not enough to boil water for consumption. That being said, there is enough room in the cooker itself to stuff little pieces of wood, if needed, to keep the flame going. I may try that on the the second test.
Overall though, this is my baseline for testing. I will do an outdoors test this weekend.

BCB Crusader Cookset

I haven't written anything of substance in a while, so I figured I would jump right back into it, by doing a review of a nice, robust, outdoors product. Today I am going to discuss the BCB Crusader Cookset. This is, from what I understand, standard issue with the British forces. The set consists of the following items: a plastic cup, the water bottle (1L capacity, I believe), the cooker, and the holder. Lets start with the holder.

The model I currently have is an older style canteen holder. It DOES hold the entire set completely, albeit a little on the tighter side. The closing mechanism is a sort of plastic clasp. The back of it is a padded loop, with snaps, designed to snap over a web belt )or any belt, but, the thicker, the better). It looks to be ideally suited for a 2" wide belt. There are also aftermarket holders for these, one of which I have ordered. They are a little larger, and have MOLLE straps on the back, as well as a shoulder strap of sorts. I have seen them in DPM (british camo), black, OD, and digicam. I am quite sure there are other colors out there as well. If none suit you, there is always spraypaint :).

Next up, the canteen itself. This is a 1L canteen, and is marginally bigger than the standard USGI 1qt ones issued to American forces. The canteen itself is black, and is a little thicker than the US ones. In my opinion, it is a little more rugged. The black color actually aids in warming up water in the container when placed in the sun. This is good for winter use, as you can place ice into some water, set it out in the sun, and let the bottle go to work. The neck of the bottle is a little wider as well, exactly for this purpose. The cap is attached via a molded plastic lanyard. There is a loop that attaches it to the bottle, and a molded button attached to the cap. My experience, and others I have read, this breaks fairly quickly. Mine broke in the first 2 months of use.

Next up is the plastic cup. This cup, from what I understand, is usually ditched by troops. As a soldier, I can see that happening. However, as a civilian, I like the cup. It allows you to eat & drink at the same time. Putting a hot beverage in the cup, and making ramen, or something similar, in the canteen cup, works out for me. Besides, you dont burn your lips on the plastic. The cup holds 22 oz, full to the top, according to my highly accurate Nalgene measuring device (a water bottle).

The canteen cup is made out of stainless steel, and comes in 2 finishes; black (pfte coating) or stainless. Mine is black. It is similar to the USGI canteen cups-hip shaped, with two swing out handles. The cup itself holds a full 28 oz-almost as much as the USGI issue canteen! This thing is built rugged as well-being made out of SS, it should stand up to some abuse. The pfte coating on mine is starting to wear out a little, but, I am not too concerned.

The last part of the kit is the cooker itself. This is simply another piece of stainless steel, shaped similar to the canteen cup, but slightly larger, to allow the cup to rest on it. There is a hinged arm that opens up for storage in the holder, and closes to put the cup on. There is also a little burn cup in it, where you put fuel into (more on that in a moment).

This all fits together into the holder. You put the burner in first, with the concave part against your body, and the arm of the burner raised. Next, in goes the canteen cup, which nests right into the burner, when its open. Then, the canteen fits in next. Last, the plastic cup goes in, inverted, as a sort of lid. Close it up, and you are good to go!

A couple of notes. First, you will want to throw some extra stuff into the bottle holder. The older issue holder will make this a little harder than the newer ones. In mine, I have the following items stuffed into the holder: a titanium spork, a LightMyFire Scout firesteel, 8 Pur waterpurifcation tabs, and 3 greenheat gelpacks (fuel).

Now, about the gelpacks. These neat little items are gelled fuel. From their site, this is Ethanol derived from sugarcane and other renewable agricultural resources. Its, safe, clean, non toxic, non explosive, burns clean, and only emits water vapor and EXTREMELY low CO2 emissions. Translation; in an absolute emergency, this can be used indoors, without any ill effects (it IS still fire though, so, PLEASE, use common sense). Best of all-when its burned, there is NO mess to clean up!

Ok, so thats the kit. I plan on doing 2 tests with this. The first, indoors, in a controlled environment. I want to test boil & burn times. Boil times are between 6-8 minutes, from everything I have read, and burn times are approximately 15 minutes.