Waterproof

Blauer Clash 6″ Waterproof Boot: A Step Ahead

The Blauer Clash 6″ Waterproof Boot is a step ahead of other duty boots with technology in a boot that works, is long lasting, durable, waterproof, breathable, lightweight, and comfortable.

When I first received my Blauer Clash duty boots, I was on vacation from work for a few weeks. I was impatient to start wearing them so on they went as I got to work on my family farm cutting down trees with a chainsaw, dragging logs out with wire rope and generally putting these boots through hell. They held up through it all and I fell in love with these boots.

I’ve had a lot of duty boots over the last 25 years and I’ve always liked my Danner boots. These aren’t anything like those. These are about a 1/3 the weight and they were immediately comfortable. I didn’t have to wait 3 to 4 weeks and go through some miserable blisters to find them comfortable. I highly doubt these boots are going to last 10 plus years like by Danner boots did but I’m completely okay with that.

The first thing I noticed about these boots is the BOA Closure System, a braided stainless steel cable. If you haven’t played around with the BOA Closure System before or heard it, think Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future when he laces up his sneakers in the future. You turn a dial and the boots cinch up to a consistent tightness that doesn’t bind, doesn’t loosen, and doesn’t knot. Wearing my boots through the brush I found the boots to be a breath of fresh air with great ankle support and no snagging my laces through the sticks. They didn’t start digging in with pinch points and they didn’t loosen. At the end of the day, I didn’t have to deal with some hideous knot when I just wanted to take my boots off.

The traction pattern on the boot was perfect for uneven terrain, dirt, wet cement, and everything in between.

The boot is light, breathable, and just downright comfortable. The cut of the ankle area was perfect when sitting in a vehicle. Some boots dig into the back of your leg when in a seated position. The Blauer Clash tactical boot has a relief cut that makes your ankle and calf still liking you at the end of a long day.

All that being said, I still found myself focused on the BOA Closure System and how much I loved being able to quickly get out of my boots or put them on.

Once back to work, they polished up to looking like new and I head out. The Blauer Clash boot is a great design and I look forward to seeing how they continue to wear. Click here to buy yours now.

U.S. MSRP $139.99

Off the ground with the Napier Outdoors Sportz Truck Tent 57 Series

I have been on many camping trips where sleeping on the ground was less than ideal due to terrain or weather conditions like heavy rain. When I came across the Napier Outdoors Sportz Truck Tent, I knew I had to check it out. Particularly now that I have young kids that want to go camping, I wanted to test the benefits of taking a clean, dry, and level campsite anywhere I want. Napier Outdoors offers a selection of Truck Tents that can be fitted for any size truck bed (full, mid, compact, crew, etc). For this review, I had my tent fitted for a Chevy Colorado Z-71 (Sportz Truck Tent 57 Series).

The Sportz Truck Tent is the only one on the market that features a full-floor design to aid with keeping the inside of your tent warm and dry. It comes in one color option – blue and grey. While dimensions vary depending on truck size, this tent is designed to sleep two adults. It weighs between 23-26 pounds depending on the dimensions of your tent and comes in a durable carrying bag that is expandable. The middle of the tent reaches a height of 5.7’ – 5.8’ and provides plenty of overhead space to move around. At six feet tall I couldn’t fully stand up, but my wife and kids were able to comfortably stand to get dressed and move around. Since the tent is several feet off the ground, I would recommend bringing a step ladder — or utilizing a cooler — for easier access to the tent. It isn’t required but is definitely helpful so you aren’t crawling in on your knees.

Setup was a breeze. I did a test set-up to make sure I had the hang of it before getting to the campsite with my family. Start to finish it took me about 20 minutes to have it fully set up on my first (demo) try — shown in the time-lapse video below.

The tent features three windows to allow for excellent ventilation, and one door that fits perfectly at the edge of the lowered tailgate. Each opening also features a storm flap (vent) with multiple zipper configurations to adapt to various temperature, wind, and sun conditions. My favorite feature is the rear access panel that allows access to the truck cab through the window. While camping it is nice to be able to reach items in the crew cab to save room inside the tent. While overall ventilation is excellent and the cab access is very convenient, if you feel the urge to run your AC through the tent it is dangerous to run your truck while being inside due to carbon monoxide. Do not do it. The included gear loft, gear pocket, and lantern holder are also great features that help to maximize storage space inside. Everything is functional and very well-made.

The tent comes with six shock-corded fiberglass tent poles for easy setup and take down, and two shock-corded fiberglass and four steel awning poles. Unlike other tents I have owned, these poles are going to be difficult to break due to the quality. They also come in a thick, padded bag to protect them when in transit. Tent material for the wall, roof, and rainfly is polyester taffeta. Window material is polyester mesh. And the floor is made from tough polyester oxford. The tent has a 1200mm PU waterproof coating, and the heavy duty rainfly fully covers the tent very well unlike many other vendor products that leave much of the tent exposed. An unintended feature that I personally appreciate is that the tent does not have the overwhelming “new” smell that most have.

It is designed to specifically be a three-season tent – spring, summer, fall – although if you did use it in cold weather it would still have the advantage of being off the ground. The Sportz tent line has an MSRP of $269.99 and comes with a 1-year warranty. The 57 Series is not as expensive as other tents on the market but still offers many of the same benefits in terms of features and quality. Napier also offers other truck tent lines as well as SUV and minivan compatible tents. I would recommend Napier Outdoors to anyone looking to expand their camping location options while also boosting comfort levels by getting off the ground.

Advertised features include:

• Exclusive fully enclosed floor; keeping you clean and dry from the elements

• Spacious interior with over 5.7’ of headroom

• Full rainfly and built-in storm flaps (windows and door) provide ultimate weather protection and privacy

• Large 4’x4’ awning provides shade and a protected spot for bulky gear

• Rear access panel allows you to access the truck’s interior

• Color-coded pole and sleeve assembly makes setup a breeze

• 3 large windows and 2 ceiling vents offer optimal ventilation

• Keep organized with an internal gear loft, gear pocket and a built-in lantern holder

• Expandable carrying bag for easy storage

Loadout Room readers can use promo code “loadoutroom25” to save 25% on purchases at the Napier Outdoors online store.

*All photos and video courtesy of the author

Hitcase | The Ultimate Protection for your Phone

In a world where phone cases are quickly running out of steam and the market is demanding more protection with a smaller profile, it’s tough to find the case that doesn’t render your phone a brick. You frequently see a slim iPhone X in the most ungodly of cases from manufacturers like OtterBox and LifeProof. They fail to understand that less is more. But we, the consumer, fail to understand that complete protection comes at a cost. For a while, I accepted the fact that I would sacrifice waterproof and drop protection for something that was just going to keep the screen from getting cracked with a small drop.

Hitcase is a Canadian phone case company that has heard our cries for help and has addressed the issue head-on by creating a phone case with complete protection and the smallest profile possible. I was sent a box of their cases just prior to the desert event known as Burning Man, where the dust and mayhem can completely destroy your digital devices with swift efficiency. In such a visually stimulating environment, most “Burners” rely on their phones to take pictures of various art cars and their friends; capturing memories that could hardly be explained weeks later. So this was to be a true test of capabilities for Hitcase and my precious iPhone.

With an aluminum frame and rubber gaskets covering the ports, the Pro case hugs the edges of the iPhone X without rolling over the sides, feeling big and bulky. In fact, the case is so sleek that it feels almost natural holding the phone like Apple designed it themselves. The case comes with two top covers for the screen. One is the waterproof and dustproof cover that offers the ultimate protection needed for the active person. The other case is for your more casual environments which allows you to directly touch the screen without a protective barrier. I found that over the week in the desert, the protective cover held up incredibly well and sustained only minor scratches. This was strictly due to the fact that you often find yourself without pockets, so your phone sits inside your bag, smashing up against any number of things like water bottles, goggles and a dust mask.

Hitcase sent along three of their TrueLUX lenses to test out. On the site, they sell Superwide, Wide and Macro, but I seemed to have obtained two different Macro’s as well as the super wide. The Superwide is phenomenal and really allows you to replicate a fisheye with a simple quarter turn of the lens onto the back of the case. With the aluminum frame of the case coupled with the strong threads of the lens, you get a really positive connection without the worry of the lens falling off during active activities. However, I did notice some image quality degradation in the photos where I used the lens. The two Macro’s really allow you to pull out the smallest details in whatever subject it is you’re taking a picture of. But one of the Macro’s sent to me required that I put my phone so close to the subject that they were almost touching. I felt like I turned my phone into a microscope. So I found very little use for those lenses for any practical purposes.

Out of the box, the case has what they call a Railslide that allows you to mount the phone to various accessories to enhance the capabilities of your now waterproof device, similar to GoPro. When not in use, this Railslide is mildly annoying due to its awkward protrusion from the side of the phone. What makes it more annoying is the fact that the only way to remove the rail is with a small Allen wrench that doesn’t come in the box contents. So to go from a sanitary case to the ability to mount it and get in the water takes a little more effort than is desired. But looking at it from an engineering perspective, there really is no better alternative without some serious engineering complications. Covering the lighting port is a rubber gasket that works incredibly well at keeping the water out, but it’s also quite difficult to get open if you have slightly damp or oily fingers. Picking at the small flap over the past few weeks caused the rubber to tear leaving me unable to open the port, so I just took it off entirely. Yes, this is preventing my phone from keeping anything out, but I’m not requiring my phone to film the next Bluefin I spear on a dive trip. If Hitcase sent one or two extra’s with the contents, that would alleviate this issue entirely. With the durability of the Pro Case, I find a hard time believing it will need replacing until I upgrade to the next phone model. So this small oversight is something that I hope they will address in the future. Overall, Hitcase knocked this out of the park and have stepped in the ring with the big dog case manufacturers to deliver a knockout blow, cementing themselves as the only case to find itself protecting my most needed piece of technology.

Specs

Triple patented design
Low profile anodized Aluminum frame
IP68 Waterproof rating up to 33ft/10m
Drop-proof to 16ft/5m – MIL SPEC Shock rated
Take stunning photos/videos with 3x TrueLUX® Lenses: Wide, Macro and Superwide (sold separately)
Mount it anywhere with our Railslide mount system.
Compatible with all 8 HITCASE mounts and GoPro® mounts
Scratch resistant screen
Get your phone in and out in seconds with our super secret Shockseal design
Seamless Touch ID: talk, text, shoot, share = do all the things.

Ridgemont Outfitters Heritage boots: From the city to the mountains

I received my pair of Ridgemont Outfitters Heritage boots about a year ago and have put plenty of miles on them. The color scheme of the pair I got was the Oxford/Rust which gives the boot more of an old-school hiking boot look.

There was a break in time with these boots; around 1 week of wearing them on a regular basis. Once broken in though, they were super comfortable to wear. After they were broken in, I wore them off and on for several weeks in the snow, slush and rain. I can attest to their waterproof claim as my feet stayed dry as a bone every time I wore them.

Last year I had an opportunity to spend 7 days in Germany. I only wanted to take a single pair of footwear to minimize what I was packing. After looking at the weather forecast for the dates I was going to be there (cool and rainy) I decided on the Ridgemont Outfitters Heritage boot. Not only were they waterproof and kept my feet dry, but they blended in well with the European populace. I wore these boots every day of the trip and put several miles on them each day for seven days straight. Not once did I develop any hot spots on my feet. The boots were extremely comfortable, kept my feet dry and were casual enough to walk into a nice restaurant. Although I haven’t done any running in these boots, I have no doubt that if I had to they would get the job done.

Pair these boots with a good quality pair of Darn Tough boot socks and you have yourself a bomber combination that will keep you mobile for a long long time.

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Here is what Ridgemont Outfitters has to say about their Heritage boots.

The Heritage is a great looking, lightweight waterproof boot that is comfortable to wear from city sidewalks to mountain trails, and everywhere in between. Crafted from premium waxed & oiled leathers with a waxed cotton canvas collar and a 100% waterproof Hydroguard lining. There’s also heavy-duty metal d-rings and speed hooks for secure lacing and a gusseted tongue to keep out dust and debris. The outsole is made in conjunction with a super comfortable EVA midsole sitting on our real rubber mildly lugged tread pattern, so it provides excellent grip on loose and slippery surfaces without looking too aggressive. The Heritage also comes with two pairs of laces, one solid colored pair and one more subtle flecked colored pair. The choice is yours!

Upon return from my 7 day trip to Germany, I decided it was time to give these boots some TLC with Obenauf’s Leather Preservative.

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Photo of the day: Protecting my most needed piece of technology

Read our review on the Hitcase Pro Case

Merrell Moab 2 Mid GTX: One year update

I have worn these Merrells Moab 2 Mids on various terrain and in various conditions for 0ver a year now. They fit just as comfortable now as they first did fresh out of the box. These boots have performed exceptionally well and continue to do so regardless of whether I find myself trekking through mud, sand, or snow. The Moab 2 Mids are more of a cross between boots and trail runners than just boots themselves. The height of the boots run a little shorter than your standard hiking boots which sacrifices some ankle support to shed a little extra weight. This isn’t as bad as one might think when you realize that many thru-hikers, like those on the Appalachian trail (2,200 miles), prefer hiking all the way through in trail runners. These boots provide all the support I need for the bottom of feet and just enough support for my ankles.

Features and specifications

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GORE-TEX® waterproof membrane, exceptional breathability and waterproof performance
Synthetic leather and mesh upper
Bellows, closed-cell foam tongue keeps moisture and debris out
Protective rubber toe cap • Breathable mesh lining
Merrell M Select™ FIT.ECO+ blended EVA contoured footbed with added zonal arch and heel support
Molded nylon arch shank
Merrell air cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability
EVA midsole for stability and comfort
Vibram® TC5+ sole
5mm lug depth
Weight: 2lbs 1oz / 936G

I have seen the Merrell Moab 2 Mid GTX criticized by some owners for poor durability while others fervently attest to its toughness. I suppose you could say that experiences differ, some people love them, others not so much. I consider myself to be in the former group of people, these are my choice of adventure boots that I always take on the trails. That isn’t to say that these boots are absolutely perfect, but I do wear them on nearly every excursion and recommend them to people in the market for hiking boots. They have held up well for me so far after constantly taking them out all year and I fully expect that to continue. My fellow hiking and backpacking buddies who have tried the Moab 2 based my recommendation enjoy them as well. You can read my previous review of the boots, here.

All photos courtesy of Matt Jin