The Loadout Room
Professional Gear Reviews
Barbara Hodgin, who was once president of the Pacific Crest Trail Association, is old enough to remember a time when, if you asked a backpacker what was for dinner, the standard answer was either “brown in a cup” or “green in a cup.” A clever hack for trail pad thai was an envelope of unsweetened lime Kool-Aid. Now, […]
The CRKT Pilar, designed by Danish knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes, offers high-end design and quality at an astonishingly low price. Perfectly sized for everyday carry virtually anywhere, the compact Pilar has been a huge hit for CRKT who have been working hard to keep up with the demand. The 2.4-inch blade is comfortable to use thanks to a generous forward […]
This minimal cooking set idea came from Kyle Defoor. I’ve been following Kyle’s blog for a few years now (One of the only blogs I follow). Kyle is a very innovative individual with a lot of field experience both in the military and civilian sector. Because of his background, skill sets, and overall stand-up guy […]
Whether you’re an ultralight backpacker or minimalist traveler, your goals are generally the same when it comes to the gear you carry on your back. Pack less and live more. A first aid kit is one of those items that you’ll find in almost any backpackers or travelers kit, whether it’s custom-made or bought off […]
Summer is upon us and the sun’s incessant heat is piling up in the triple digits. You can choose to become a hermit until fall, or plan ahead with the proper equipment to win the day and enjoy summer. Such a piece of gear is this 32 oz insulated water bottle from Vanquest. Agua es […]
By Chad McBroom People are constantly asking me for recommendations concerning defensive blades for every day carry. This is always a difficult question for me because it’s more complex than just recommending a particular knife. It’s actually more akin to answering the question, “What car should I buy?” Well, that depends. Are you a construction worker in need […]
This is the annual cost concept of living and operating as a modern vagabond with moderate (world) travel and minimal luxuries. “Vagabonding is relatively like any way of life with deliberate budgeting and moderation. Furthermore, there tends to be less unnecessary bills and committed financial strains of a “normal” stationary lifestyle.” – JOHN V CAIN […]
Olamic Tactical’s motto is “never the same,” and that perfectly encapsulates their custom approach to production knife making. The overall design of every Wayfarer 247 knife that leaves their California shop is the same. But each has seen hand-finishing, and many arrive with their own touches like sculpted backspacers, finishes, and artful handle sculpting. “All the handwork allows […]
The Lil’ Nilakka is based on Spyderco’s now discontinued Nilakka folder. Both the original and the Lil’ Nilakka are Pekka Tuominen’s interpretation of a traditional Puukko knife. They also share the same ambitious blade geometry. The blades are full-flat ground straight from the spine to the edge without a secondary edge bevel. Also known as ‘zero-ground,’ this keen and […]
I pack ultralight living out of a backpack as a vagabond traveling the world but I’m also actively survival prepping and this is how… “Survival in any form for any environment is an act of prevention and or recovery, best enacted by preparation.” – JOHN V CAIN (Founder of VINJABOND) Standard “prepping” is the practice of stockpiling […]
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