Kelty Cosmic 20 Sleeping Bag - Gear Review

It’s time to get ready for going up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area again and a must have on any trip to the BWCA is a top notch sleeping bag.  Northern Minnesota can be unpredictable when it comes to weather.  One day it can be a beautiful 75-80 degree June day and at night the temperature can drop to the 40’s or even lower!  This happens a lot in June in the Boundary Waters and a great sleeping bag to have is the Kelty Cosmic Down 20.

This three season sleeping bag is perfect, and has been the best bag for my spring and fall trips to the BWCA.  The 550 Fill Down and the insulated hood keeps you warm and toasty in the cool nights when keeping warm is essential.  The Cosmic is the perfect size for packing, but if you want to get a compression bag to compact the size even more you can do it with the Kelty Cosmic.

Probably the best part of the Cosmic is the price!  For a great down sleeping bag that will keep you warm and take years of abuse the Cosmic is only $120.  One thing that bothers me about some of the gear out today is the price, and what is nice about Kelty is they make quality gear for regular folks like you and me.  Let’s face it, price and quality both matter, and it is nice that somebody tries to make a great product while still trying to make it affordable for everyone.  Thanks Kelty, and I can’t wait for another season with my Cosmic 20.

MSRP: $119.95

If you like Music, Beer and Camping then here is a GiveAway you absolutely must check out.  Kelty has teamed up with the Red Rocks Amphitheater and Oskar Blues Brewery to give away a sweet trip for two to see a yet to be announced musical performance at Red Rocks along with a pile of Kelty gear and an ample supply of Oskar Blues swag and probably some adult beverages...

  Tweet

Read More

Fishing Preview - PreSeason Highlights

We are just days away from the highly anticipated Fishing Opener here in Minnesota.  Landing squarely on Mother's Day weekend, we have several reasons to celebrate this weekend.  In prepartation for the big weekend, fishermen and women are flocking to their local tackle shop to stock up.  Here is a list of fish slaying gear you should keep your eye out for when you make your run to the store.

Shimano Stradic FJ Spinning Reel:

After 3 years of redesign, the new series of spinning reels from Shimano deliver performance and durability light-years beyond current industry standards.  Casting, line management and gear strength all moved to the forefront of the creators thought process.  These reels are some of the smoothest cranking, longest casting reels we have ever seen.  I can hardly wait to get it loaded up with some line and out chasing Walleyes this weekend.

Rapala's Clackin' Minnow: 

Call the monsters of the deep up from the murky depths with the irresistible sound of the Clackin' Cadence Rattle.  The wounded minnow action and life-like paint jobs will fool even the wisest fish.  Add a pair of razor sharp VMC treble hooks and nothing is going to spit this beauty out.  Available in 13 colors and 3 sizes you will have no problem finding the right combination to fill your livewell.

Frabill's Power Stow Net (Canoe/Kayak Model):

Having a landing net when fishing from a canoe or kayak does more than help you bring in the big daddies, it saves your gear.  I can't tell you how many rod tips our crew has broken off fighting to yank a fish over the side of the canoe.  The 20" x 24" basket is large enough to handle most of the fish we catch.  Fully collapsed it takes up a space of about 10" x 39" and weighs practically nothing.

Abu Garcia Veritas Spinning Rods:

These stark white spinning rods are amazingly light and ridiculously sensitive.  You can literally feel the lure moving at the end of your line. The "naked" handle design helps transmit feedback more efficiently.  You'd think it would sacrifice comfort, but I have no complaints.  By no means last on the list if toughness.  These things are rugged, and that will pay off when it's strapped to the gunwale of your canoe on a long portage.  Even better is you get all that for under $100, that's less than half the price of most if it's competition.

Trigger X Walleye Minnows:

Bringing copious amounts of live bait deep into the heart of Canoe Country is not easy.  Just having to carry it is a pain.  While traditional thinking says that nothing can replace real minnows or leaches in your arsenal, modern artificial plastics beg to differ.  These minnows from Trigger X were designed with one fish in mind, the notoriously finicky Walleye.  From the life-like movement to the injected pheromones, the fish would have to have a PHD in anatomy to tell the difference.  

Tweet

Read More

Columbia River Knife & Tool's M16-14ZER - Gear Review

Taking the proven form factor of the M16 by Kit Carson, CRKT answered the call of Emergency Services personnel across the country with the new M16-14ZER. Their answer comes with a couple handy new features incorporated, namely a seat belt cutter integrated into the flipper and a tungsten carbide window breaker. We put this new blade in the hands of a new tester, The Urban Redneck, for a trial run... Here's what he has to say.

The CRKT M16-14ZER is what I would call a versatile knife. It comes with a polished AUS 8 steel tanto blade and glass infused bright orange nylon scales. Losing this thing is practically impossible. Using the knife over the last few months I have learned several ways to use the seat belt cutter that I’m sure were not intended, it's great for everyday things like cutting zip ties and small rope. To be honest I initially thought the knife was on the big side, but since I started carrying it I find that it is perfect. The knife stays sharp even with all the abuse I manage to put it through.

I have shared it with a few local police officers and they would love to add this tool to their utility belts. Their reaction to the knife was amazing, they could not believe the versatility and ease of this knife. They loved all the features especially the tungsten carbide window breaker. Little did I know, usually they have to try and break a window with their batons and that is easier said than done. Thanks for the input officers.

   

Far and away, this will be the knife that I carry everywhere. Why? 'cause you just never know…

MSRP: $89.99

Tweet

Read More

Millet Friction Approach Shoes - Gear Review

Are they shoes, or boots?  They look and feel like shoes, but are as tough and grippy as any hikers we've tested.  Landing squarely in a category of footwear called Approach Shoes, these stylish shoes are built to take you all the way to Everest Base Camp.

Take everything you love about a pair of bomber hiking boots, throw out anything above the ankle and you have an idea of what these shoes are like.  They are not a pair of trail runners.  They are meant for comfort, traction and fit, and speed is way down on the list.  They are heavier than a trail shoe, but at the pace I hike at, the extra weight is unnoticeable.  What you can't help but see is how every step feels like it is set in concrete.  Put a foot down and these things aren't going to budge a millimeter.

Rugged protection at the heel and toe keep everything inside safe when navigating a boulder laden trail.  The lacing system runs right to the top of your toes, giving you a precise fit and ultimate adjustability.  The insole is comprised of two materials; a more traditional fabric covered rubber and a squishy gel-like material that provides a little rebound in each step. The Vibram outsole has huge grip and is replaceable when it wears out, but the shoe still has life left in it.

This is one of the first shoes I have tested in the Approach Shoe category.  If the rest are this good, I may have to add a new section to my highly unorganized shoe storage area.  These are not meant for sissies.  I wore them around town for a while, thinking they were nice, but nothing special.  Get them off road and you can't believe how solid they are.  I would literally stack them up against any boot in my arsenal for shorter trips or afternoon hikes with the family.  Plus, they are just cool lookin'.

MSRP: $120.00


Tweet

Read More

Super Skylining... These guys are nuts

I have done a little slacklining over the last year.  Yeah, it ain't pretty.  The latest form this new sport has taken is what is referred to as Skylining.  Take a beefed up, extra long slackline and string it up over a gaping canyon hundreds of feet off the ground.  Yeah, I think I'll pass...  I know they have safety gear on, but I still think these guys are out of their minds.



Tweet

Read More

Neoprene is Sexy Photo Contest

We would like to thank everyone that submitted photos to our "Neoprene is Sexy" photo contest.  It was fun for us to see what people could come up with.  I was a bit surprised no one threw a buddy under the bus too bad.  Well, with several humorous submissions we have picked a winner.

Katherine C from Newfoundland Canada gets top prize for a little cold weather SUP action.  

Cesar T from the Netherlands is a runner-up for his chilly splash in the ocean.

Steven F and his sisters get runner-up as well for their effort to rock the neoprene.

Thanks to everyone that submitted photos, more contests like this to come.  

Winners will be contacted via email with prize information.

Tweet

Read More