Hiking

How to determine how long you have before the sun sets

Many skills when it comes to the outdoors are perishable. If you don’t practice those skills or use them regularly, you’ll lose your edge and that could cost your life depending on the situation. One of those simple skills is knowing how much daylight you have left before the sun sets. Nowadays we have technology to assist us with this. My Garmin Fenix 5 watch displays on the dial what time the sun sets each day. Pretty easy to just look down at my watch to see how much time I have left. But what if the battery dies midday?

Fortunately, there is an easy way to determine remaining daylight left with just your hands. This is a skill I picked up in the military and I still practice it from time to time and comparing that with my Garmin watch. Below is an easy to understand picture of how to measure remaining daylight with your hands. Check it out!

Why is this important?

Well if you’re out for just a simple day hike this could come in handy so that you can ensure you have enough time to get back to your vehicle, so you’re not navigating back in the dark. That could present a whole other set of issues. If you’re not prepared for an unexpected night out, then you better know how much time you have before it gets dark.

If you’re backpacking or camping then knowing this will allow you to make sure you have ample time to prep for the evening. This could be tasks such as setting up tents and hammocks or gathering supplies to get your fire going and keep it going into the night. Waiting until dusk to start these tasks will only compound the difficulty and increase your stress level. The time spent outdoors is meant to be enjoyable.

*Featured photo courtesy of Pixabay

Summer is almost here! Pick a Hammock for your next Adventure

When out in the backcountry, the hammock is one piece of gear I hear mentioned all the time while discussing ‘what’s new’ or I’m involved in a ‘is it worth it’ type of gear discussion. It generally starts with a backpacking trip and someone sets up their hammock. In a group, you will inevitably hear, “Man, I knew I should have brought mine” or “I’ve been wanting to get a hammock for a while now.”

Hammocks can be a great alternative to a tent, especially in the summertime. Although, it doesn’t need to be summer to enjoy the luxuries of a hammock. There are plenty of ultralight minimalists that use a hammock throughout the year. With a warm rated sleeping bag and the right accessories/weather barriers, you can use a hammock just about anywhere there is a place to set one up. If you live in an area with minimal trees, rock outcroppings work great and you just have to be a little more strategic with your location. If you live in the arctic tundra, well, you may be out of luck.

Things to consider when buying a hammock:

Is this to save weight?
Am I trying to sleep more comfortably?
Will I be using this year round or just during warmer weather?
Have I borrowed one and slept in it for a couple of nights before making the purchase? This is more important for the people who are purchasing a hammock because they think it will help them sleep better. For many, they will, but it’s better to be sure before you spend the money.

We had the chance to lounge around in some hammocks and get the down-low a few of our favorite models while at Summer Outdoor Retailer. Resident dirtbag Leo has a variety of models with him on his travels from Alaska to Argentina. We’ll have some full reviews of these items in the near future. Until then, check out videos below on each of our favorite models from the show.

There is a design for every type of hammock lounger or sleeper and any of these models will make a great gift for the holidays or for a birthday.

Lawson Hammocks – The Hammock that’s a tent. This is the hammock you want if you’re looking to completely replace your tent or want something with that is reasonably light, gives full weather coverage, and adds versatility. They are a small company that puts a ton of effort into their product. Get it here.

Kammok – Durability, strength, and accessories galore. Kammok has a crazy amount of variety and includes sleeping bags and tarps that integrate with their hammocks. From ultralight to comfort lounger, they produce the most variety we’ve seen. Get your Kammok hammock here.

Grand Trunk – The camouflage hammock (released later this fall). They’re switching all of their hammocks over to a double version. Why? Because who doesn’t want more room when they sleep? The Kryptec model is perfect for the soldier or hunter who is running solo and ultralight in a forested environment. Get your Grand Trunk gear here.

If you have experience with any of these brands or have a favorite model, please, tell us about it in the comments below, on Facebook, or through the Comms Check.

How to Survive Anything: Be prepared for an inbound hurricane

Hurricane season on the Atlantic coast usually runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. So far this season, we’ve been fortunate to only see on full scale hurricane and a hand full of tropical storms meander their way toward shore. However, as history has shown, it only takes one serious storm to cripple an entire region of the nation.

If you find yourself in a hurricane’s path, there are a few things you can do around the house to help minimize your risks while you wait out the storm, as well as to help better position you for success once the storm is over… But remember, the best thing you can do to prepare for a hurricane is to get clear of the storm well before it makes landfall.

Stock up on non-perishable foods well ahead of time
Cover windows with plywood (use wood screws, not nails)
Store loose gear indoors or tie it down
Survey your property for trees or tree limbs that look like they could come down. If possible, deal with them ahead of time. If not, avoid rooms in the house near those threats.
Make sure you know how to turn off the gas, electricity, and water in your home.
Put together some water storage
Shelter in an interior room, away from any windows.

The Brush Demon Machete: Eat the Jungle

Florida often invokes a specific image, Disney Land, beaches, sun and fun style living. Which is all true, but doesn’t represent the entirety of Florida, just the places people want to go. Not many people want to cruise over to Northwest Florida, the land of sun, mosquitoes, and what feels like a tropical rainforest at times. NW Florida is a jungle, but in its lushness is the easy access to fishing, hunting, camping, and an outdoors style life. Like all jungles it’s exploration requires tools, and machetes are a common must have. The folks at Outdoor Edge were nice enough to send me a Brush Demon machete to help continue my adventures. (And maintain my yard)

I live smack dab in the middle of nowhere in a clearing surrounded by woods on all sides and I love it. That being said I have plenty of work to keep up with to constantly push nature backward. Before we dive into the slicing and dicing lets look at what the Brush Demon is.

Brush Demon Specs

The Brush Demon is a compact machete with a blade that curves slightly forward. Its blade is 13.5 inches long and the overall length is 20 inches and it weighs 1.1 pounds. As you can see it’s compact and light. The blade is made from 65 Mn carbon spring-steel and it has a black powder coat for rust resistance. Carbon steel does like to rust and living a mile from the ocean it will rust, but the powder coat will help.

The Brush Demon had a nice Zytel handle with what they call a skin molded TPR. TPR, of course, being Thermoplastic rubber. The Brush Demon comes with a nylon sheath that’s quite nice and can be worn low or high. MSRP is 69.95.

Hitting the Brush

The Brush Demon is an incredibly sharp machete. Right out of the box it’s a serious tool. Your blow can be slow and with little force and it won’t have much issue slicing and dicing through the brush. This includes sapling oaks, palmettos, vines of all types and more. Little force is required to make good cuts and because of this, you have to exert less effort.

The forward curve to the tip of the Brush Demon is almost kukri like in design, but the curve isn’t so extreme. This forward curve does make chopping easier and the blade overall more effective. This thing chews through foliage. I cleared a little area of thick palmettos, saplings, and more in just a few minutes and was blown away and barely felt like I was doing anything. My exertion levels were low and my heart rate hadn’t jumped according to my Fit Bit.

The handle and its skin molded design does feel odd when you first pick it up. It’s oddly soft but in use, it’s comfortable and absorbs shock well. It’s a little thin, but this didn’t cause issues. Throughout a day of chopping, slicing, and destroying I felt some hot spots, but never developed blisters. My hands also never felt too fatigued or cramped. The ledges on the front and rear of the grip also keep your hand from sliding while chopping and cutting. You don’t have to grip it like your life is depending on it.

The Brush Demon is superbly light so fatigue is reduced just in general use. The machete glides through the air, and through everything in front of it.

And Furthermore

The blade is a little front heavy, but its a freakin machete, do they come any other way? The geometry of the blade does lend itself to the wrist snap technique for cutting. As someone who grew using a machete for everything from sod to brush the proper way to cut is with your whole arm, leading with the elbow and flicking your wrist up or down depending on the material.

The Brush Demon is an oddly designed machete sure, but its still an effective and handy machete. The heavy part at the apex of the belly is a sweet spot for chopping thicker materials and hitting them at the right angle will chop right through them.

Since exertion is minimized safety is maximized. When you get tired with a machete you get sloppy and when you get sloppy you get hurt. The Brush Demon’s design is well suited for both beginners and experienced macheticians. (Yes I made that word up.)

Design influence

The Brush Demon was designed by Jerry Hossom who makes several blades inspired by the Greek Kopis and you can see a lot of the kopis design in the Brush Demon, down to the ledges on the handle. It also has a hellacious point, which is uncommon on machetes. This blade can be used for stabbing, be it a pesky predator who’s put you on the menu, or a piece of scum looking for a score of course my new 80% 1911 is abetter choice.

There is a defensive edge to every machete, but the Brush Demon takes it a step beyond. The ability to stab and penetrate is simply another function of an already handy tool. My only real complaint is I wish the blade was a bit longer. As a tall guy, I’m bending over pretty far to hit brush on the ground. An 18-inch model would be blissful to my 6’5” frame.

Thermacell MR150: Clean, convenient, and effective portable mosquito repellent

Who doesn’t hate mosquitoes? Save your summer with the Thermacell MR150

Mosquitoes can be a terror that make what should be an enjoyable experience quite miserable instead. Sprays work, but they can be messy and wear off in wet – or sweaty – conditions. If you’re hunting, scented sprays and repellents have the chance of blowing your cover. Open flame repellents are okay as long as you aren’t on the move and the weather permits. The Thermacell MR150 is a lightweight option that you can take anywhere and use in any outdoor environment.

The MR150 is scent and DEET-free, silent, uses no open flames, and one package can be used for up to 12 hours of mosquito-free satisfaction. Each package comes with the MR150 unit, 3 repellent mats, and 1 butane fuel cartridge. It functions by heat-activating the mat, which releases the mosquito repellent into the air, creating a 15×15 foot dome of protection wherever you may be.

Always, the skeptic, I used the Thermacell in various outdoor settings to see if it was as effective as advertised. To be clear, this product is only intended to repel mosquitoes. While you may still have gnats and other critters in the area, my entire family and I were mosquito-bite free after many hours in the presence of the Thermacell MR150. For a family like mine that normally can’t go outside to play with our dog without returning to our house with multiple mosquito bites, this product is a welcome addition to our lifestyle.

The product is light enough, but I do wish it were a little less bulky. The operation is incredibly simple. Insert the mat, screw in the butane cartridge, turn the switch to the “ON” position, wait a few seconds for the gas to start flowing, press the start button 3-5 times, and verify that the appliance light is glowing. When finished, you simply turn the switch to the “OFF” position and allow it to cool before storing.

This product retails for $24.99 and comes in a variety of colors, depending on your preference. Refill packages can be found online. It is an effective mosquito repellent option and is a great addition to your next outdoor adventure.

Thermacell MR150 Listed Features:

Active ingredient – D-cis/trans allethrin
Assembly Details – No assembly required
Batteries – N/A
Dimensions – 7.6″ x 3″ x 2″ (L x W x H)
Hours of Protection Included – 12
Light – No
Model Number – MRLJ
Rubber Armor – No
Warranty – 1 Year Satisfaction Guarantee
Weight (lb.) – 0.4
Zone Check – No
Zone of Protection Size – 15 Feet

How to Survive Anything: Make it through a tornado

There are a lot of things you can do to make sure you never find yourself directly in the path of a tornado, but despite our best efforts, sometimes we still find ourselves in some pretty crappy spots. So, while we may devote plenty of videos to getting out of dodge before something bad lands in your lap, it’s just as important to know how to survive if escaping ahead of time wasn’t an option.

So what do you do if you find yourself directly in the path of a tornado?

Hide out in a storm cellar if at all possible. If not possible, head for a basement.
If not possible, jump in a bathtub or something else that’s firmly secured to the ground. Place a mattress over you to protect yourself from falling debris.
If you are sheltering in a group, interlock your arms to ensure no one is pulled away.
Stay as low as you can
DON’T STICK YOUR HEAD OUT TO FILM ANYTHING FOR FACEBOOK
Don’t emerge just because the storm seems to have stopped. It may be the eye. Wait for the all clear on the radio or until the sounds of the storm have passed for several minutes.

Feature image courtesy of the NOAA Photo Library via the U.S. Air Force