Category Archives: Outdoor Equipment

Some Equipment Can Be Used For A Number Of Outdoor Hobbies

January 10, 2012

Depending on what your outdoor hobbies are, you may well find yourself accumulating a lot of outdoor equipment. If your outdoor pastimes are varied, you will find that some of this equipment will be specifically for just one area of your outdoor pursuits.

Think about it, if you like to fish, you will have all kinds of rods and nets, bait and lures, you will collect them over time and have quite a collection. But they will not then nessecarily be used for other hobbies you have, such as shooting. You will have another set of equipment that you will pack, just for your when you go out shooting.

There will be some practical tools that you find useful for all of your outdoor hobbies though. For example a knife, or multi tool, these could be taken when you go outdoors, and provide you with a handy tool.

For fishing a multi tool would be useful to have for cutting any wire or line you may be using. If you take a look at the video for the Leatherman Skeletool below, you can see just how easy to use it is, and how many tools it has with it.

I think that you would probably get a lot of use out of a tool like this, a small, but very practical piece of outdoor equipment. That you will soon begin to rely on, it is always reassuring to know it is in your pocket. Being light weight it will not be a burden to carry, and fits easily into your pocket.

Another good idea would be to sort out some of your kit, or tools, that are also useful for all of your hobbies. You could include a first aid pack, for example, then pack them all in a good compact bag and it will be ready for you to pick up when you are going out. This will save you some time having to sort these things from one pack to another, and also save you money from having to buy any duplicate bits and pieces.

 

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How Long Can Shooting Glasses Last?

January 6, 2012

A couple of years ago I signed myself up for a charity rally between the UK and Mongolia.  At the time I was much, much wealthier than I am now (i.e. I had a few quid, and now I don’t), so a few months before I set off on the trip I spent a few grand getting my eyes fixed with laser surgery.  I didn’t fancy the idea of fiddling with contact lenses with oil covered hands in the middle of a sandstorm, so despite my abject terror I took the plunge. 

Did it work?  Well, kind of.  My vision was perfect, but I fell into that vanishingly small percentage of patients who suffer unpleasant side effects from the laser.  In the months following the surgery I noticed that I’d become photophobic – extremely sensitive to light.  I found it difficult to drive on sunny days.  The glare from the sun really screwed with my vision, and after a few close calls I had to stop driving for a while.

After a hell of a lot of worry – I was due to drive 10,000 miles across the world a month or so later – the solution presented itself.  I bought a pair of the best polarized shooting glasses I could find, and my problem was gone.  Simple. 

Shooting glasses are designed, as you may have guessed from the name, for hunters and marksmen.  They’re a step up from regular sunglasses in that, not only do they offer great glare protection, but they’re also designed to surpass the ANSI Z87.1 impact standard.  That means that a pair of shooting glasses can take a ricochet or an impact from an ejected shell without shattering.  

My Allen Company shooting glasses can take an impact from a 1.1lb object dropped from a height of 50 inches without cracking, which is a feature that comes in damned handy when you need a pair of sunglasses to survive a trip across the world.  

Today, three years after I made that trip across the world, I’ve still got the same pair – and they’re still in great condition.  Since day one they’ve been with me on a 50 day trek to Mongolia, a three month driving tour of the US, four months diving in Thailand, up to 15,000 feet in Tajikistan and across much of China on foot.   As I write this, in a hotel room in Beijing, my glasses are sitting beside my laptop without a scratch.  Not bad, for $25.

 

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How to Keep Your Dog Warm During The Winter

December 14, 2011

Keeping your dog warm during the winter is one of your key responsibilities. There are many ways to help your dog stay warm, but the best method for your dog will depend on several factors. The type of dog you have, the age of the dog, where you live, and whether the dog lives primarily indoors or outdoors, will all play a part in how you go about keeping your dog warm.

For indoor dogs that go outside for walks or exercise, various types of clothing will be sufficient. Even if your dog has a heavy coat, they will need protection from the cold. Indoor dogs do not acclimate to cold like an outdoor dog can. There are many types of sweaters, vest, and other types of clothing that will help keep your dog warm. Small short-haired breeds will need heavier clothing than large dogs with heavy coats.

If you live in the south, light clothing will do, but if you live in the north, you will need insulated clothing. Older dogs will need more clothing than younger dogs, and providing your dog with a heated bed will help them warm in the winter. By keeping your dog warm in the winter, it will be less likely to get sick. Spending money on petmeds can get expensive, so always use a petmeds coupon code, but hopefully you will have a happy and healthy dog throughout the winter.

A very important consideration is to protect your dog’s feet when they are walking on ice, snow, or sidewalks that have been salted. There are many types of boots for dogs; if you live in the north, you should start your dog wearing boots as a pup. This will get them used to the feel of having something on their paws. For outdoor dogs, the first line of defense is a well-constructed, insulated doghouse.

Their house should be insulated and the door turned away from prevailing winds. Make sure your outdoor dog has a heated water dish to keep their water from freezing. These are just a few of the items that can be used for keeping your dog warm this winter.

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Happiness is a Warm Coat

December 2, 2011

So, winter is here and the temperature has hit the deck, gone through it and come out on the other side of the earth.  Right now the air outside my window is sitting at -22 Celsius, and it’s only set to get colder.  By the start of January the night time temperature here in my little corner of northern Asia will be -40 Celsius, and without serious protection it will be impossible to go outside for more than a few minutes without serious danger.

This is my first year in seriously cold temperatures (I grew up in the relatively pleasant United Kingdom), and before I arrived I was a little concerned about surviving the season.  When I learned I’d be heading out to the steppe for the winter I invested in a Canada Goose Expedition parka, though, and after a few days testing it seems my fears were unfounded.  This coat is so frickin’ warm that I have to pull down the zipper even at -20 – not for long, though, lest my belly button freeze and fall off.

It’s kinda pleasant to discover you can survive a winter like this.  I used to watch documentaries as a kid that featured tribes living in northern Asia and the Canadian wilderness, and I always wondered just how the heck they managed to stick it out.  Now I know: they have decent coats.

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Buying a leather jacket or leather coat

September 14, 2011

A leather jacket or coat is one of the best apparel you can include in your wardrobe.  But we should know a few important things before buying a leather coat or jacket. 

Most of us start looking for apparel warm and fashionable during the winter months.  You might be lost for choice as you have so many options to choose from.

Leather jackets are the best to help you stay warm and fashionable during the winter. These jackets are in fact perfect for all season and occasion for their sleek and stylish look and comfortable feel.

Leather jackets are expensive and you should e able to know if you are getting a quality product. One of the most important things to check is the type of leather.

Coats made out of cow or sheep are popular but lamb leather is much lighter and comfortable to wear. You should also check the lining of a leather coat before buying it.

A leather coat with a good lining not only indicates a good craftsmanship of the coat manufacturer but also ensures durability for the leather court.

A leather court should last you many years if you buy the right product and take proper care of it. So buy a leather court and enhance your personality and appearance today.

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