Sanborn Canoe's Minnesota Paddle - Gear Review

It's no secret that we love hand made wood canoe paddles.  There is just something primal about moving your way through the water with a carved piece of wood that can't be replicated by plastic, aluminum or carbon fiber.

The artists/woodworkers at Sanborn Canoe understand that connection better than most.  What they bring to a canoe paddle simply can't be done by a robot.  Their Minnesota paddle, which we were lucky enough to test this summer, may be the ultimate "universal" paddle, transitioning from calm flat-water to heavy current rivers without issue.

The first thing we noticed was the blade shape.  The skinnier tip helps ease entry into the water, but the wider mid section adds the power you need to battle the whitecaps.  Add to the shape the fan style laminate design and you have one beautiful paddle.

The majority of Sanborn's paddles are made exclusively from Red and White Cedar, but the Minnesota gets a bit of an upgrade.  For the first time Ash and Cherry woods are added for both beauty and durability.  The perimeter of the blade is wrapped in Ash, which is much harder than Cedar, and should hold up far better to abuse.  Throw in the Epoxy blade tip and you can beat on this paddle and it will still look good when you get home.

On this year's BWCA gear test trip, we were blessed with great weather.  Bluebird skies and 80+ degrees, it was amazing.  Until we had to head home anyways.  Canoes were loaded to the gills with gear, we were riding about 4 inches above the waterline at the center yoke.  Just as we left shore the wind picked up, we were surrounded by waves far taller than our canoe, and the wind wanted nothing more than to turn our boat hard left.  I credit the Minnesota paddle, and definitely NOT my paddling skills, with getting us off the lake dry.  From rudder steering to power strokes, I got what I needed - when I needed it.

It does weigh in a smidgen heavier then their other paddles, but I am talking about 1 or 2 ounces... basically unnoticeable.  You will have to cough up $160 for one, making it one of the most expensive paddles we have tested, but it has by far the most intricate design in the laminates.  

All in all, these guys make some of the best paddles we have ever touched.  Now, I just need to get down to Winona Minnesota and see their shop, something I have been trying to do all summer.


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Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent - Gear Review

If I have learned anything over the last few years covering outdoor gear, it is that innovation and a drive to be the "best" is at the forefront of every brands priority list.  It is an incredibly competitive industry, and if you are not innovating you are being left behind.

The crew over at Big Agnes redesigned their Ultra-Light series of tents, the Copper Spur UL's, for 2012.  What I realized shortly after getting this thing set up for the first time was that it was the details that set this tent apart from the competition.  In order to play in this category it needs to be silly light (3lbs 14 oz trail weight, check), pack up small (7" x 22", check) and keep you dry (yeah, not a problem).  If you want to be at the top of the list however, you need to go a little further, to marry new technology with practicality, and that isn't always as easy as it sounds.

Let's start with the pole system.  A drunk monkey could set this thing up in the dark.  Seriously.  What initially looks a little intimidating, basically set itself up.  Once the poles are put together, it is obvious where they go, and the hooks on the tent take only one hand to attach.  I went from bag to shelter in under 5 minutes, having never seen this tent before.

With the top half of the tent completely made from no-see-um netting, leaving the fly off makes for a very comfortable "under the stars" sleeping experience.  If the weather is a bit sketchy, all the way up to hurricane status, once you throw the fly on and get the guy-lines tight, this shelter is more like a bunker.  I was camped on the crest of a hill, with winds whipping off a huge field and never once did I worry about this tent.  When I got up the next morning, I realized that many of the people camping around me were not so lucky, tents collapsed or rain flies up in the trees.  

 

As I said before. it's the details that make one piece of gear at this level "better" than another.  Smart design and quality materials make all the difference.  The zippers work smoothly, there are little supports that hold the side vents open, the walls are nearly vertical optimizing usable floor space.  This tent was built by people that sleep in tents, and you can tell.  Brilliant little touches everywhere.

As with nearly any tent, this 3-person tent CAN sleep 3 people, but it is tight.  I usually go number with sleepers +1 to get the necessary tent size.  With the vestibules, this tent can easily handle 2 adults plus a boat load of gear.  If, like me, you camp with the rug-rats, then you can easily get 1 adult and 2 kids comfortably in here.

Coming in at $499.95, this is not one of the cheaper tents in this range.  That said, this is a 3 season tent that you can literally take anywhere.  From torrential rain to extreme heat, the versatility and flexibility of this tent is unsurpassed and it is built to last, so you won't be replacing this one any time soon.  

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Sometimes, you get more than you'd ever expect...

A couple of months ago I wrote a brief post about my niece Yvonne.  She is an 11-year-old superstar that is currently battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Well, since then a great number of things have happened.  The outpouring of support from our community and from friends of Paddle Junkie Nation has been nothing short of amazing.

Shortly after her diagnosis, we set out to renovate Yvonne's bedroom.  We wanted to create a space where she could be comfortable, happy and by herself if she wanted. (The girl has 4 sisters, alone time is rare).  With the help of many many people, her room now looks like this....

Pretty snazzy...

I know, pretty sweet right? From ceiling to floor, pretty much everything is new (and either pink, black or white).   Not only does it look like a bedroom any pre-teen girl would love, but it is a clean and safe refuge for her fragile little immune system.  She loves it!

What came next was a huge surprise to me and a welcome addition to her homecoming from the hospital.  Brands large and small were eager to reach out and sent Yvonne positive mojo and gifts that helped make her both comfortable and happy.  Please support these brands, because when my favorite 11-year-old girl needed some support, they were there for her.

After the "Shock and Awe" of her new room settled a little bit, Yvonne noticed the pile of new stuff on her dresser.  Her eyes were immediately drawn to the stack of shoes; flip-flops and super comfy sandals from Sanuk and adorable shoes from KEEN were an obvious hit.  Coziness came in droves from Isis, Patagonia, Fits Socks, Icebreaker, Cocoon and Outdoor Research. And gear to make everyday life easier and more fun landed from Cool Gear, ENO Hammocks and Kelty.

In a time when this peanut had little to be happy about, this private sanctuary filled with new stuff made her smile from ear to ear.  Thank you to all those that helped to make this happen...

Inspiration in a pint sized package...  Yvonne, you are truly Amazing!

A quick update: Yvonne has endured three months of intensive chemo therapy, and IT"S WORKING!!!  It's working so well that her doctors feel that they can even scale back on the intensity of the Chemo a bit.  She will still receive treatments until December, but they should be a little less evil.  Something Pookie is very happy to hear.

Thank you again to all that have given Yvonne support throughout this ordeal.  She, and all of us that care about her, appreciate it more than we can express in words.

Much love!!!

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Jetboil's Flash Cooking System - Gear Review

I love nothing more than cooking over a campfire, but there are often times when that is simply not an option.  So when, for whatever reason, campfire cooking is not in the cards, you might want to grab a Jetboil Flash Cooking System.

Jetboil Java Flash kit

Now, the concept of ultralight camp stoves are not new, but Jetboil has it down to a science.  They have made every effort to squeeze the most out of every ounce and square inch their equipment takes up in your pack.  Our base unit was the Flash Java Kit, which is basically a standard Flash cooking system with the addition of a French coffee press.  The magic of this system is in the simplicity and efficiency.  You don't need a degree in mechanical engineering to put the thing together, in fact, there is nothing to put together.  You simply screw on a fuel canister (sold separately BTW, so don't leave home without one), push the ignition button, and you're cookin'.

FluxRing technology

The efficiency of the system is rated at over 80%, with a traditional gas burner set-up running at 30-40% efficient.  This is thanks to the FluxRing technology Jetboil developed.  A pleated ring of metal, much like a radiator, traps the heat within the ring allowing the stove to heat water to a boil at the rate of 1 cup per minute.  The increased efficiency makes for both fast operation and nearly double the production from a single canister of fuel.

Now, if you are anything like me, eating nothing but dehydrated Beef Stroganoff for a week just ain't gonna cut it.  I want bacon and eggs or pancakes for breakfast.  To accommodate the back-country foodies out there, Jetboil added a Fry pan and a 3-liter Cooking Pot to the mix.  Also super efficient, these things get hot in seconds.  Whether making spaghetti for 6, or a pound of bacon all for yourself, these two additions to your camp kitchen will make life easy.  FluxRing integrated and they work seamlessly with the flash stove.

3-Liter Cooking Pot

Fry Pan (bottom view) with included folding spatula

When I say Jetboil has thought of everything, I mean everything.  What do you do with those spent fuel canisters?  In order to put a butane canister in the recycling bin, you need to punch a couple of holes in it so that any left over gas can escape and the recycling plant doesn't go BOOM.  The traditional method of hammer and screwdriver gets the job done, if you don't injure yourself in the process.  The CrunchIt tool is like a heavy duty can opener, tough enough to turn the Jetboil Jetpower canisters into Swiss cheese.

CrunchIt Tool - Makes used fuel canisters recycling bin ready

The Jetboil line-up is all around stellar.  Compared to the rest of the market, few even come close to the level of thought in product development.  It is obvious that the people making the gear are also people using the gear, and that makes all the difference.


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Slump Test- Cocaine Energy Drink

It’s two o’clock in the afternoon and I have officially hit the mid-afternoon slump. I’ve got three hours of work left to do and I could easily take a nap. Luckily, I have a Cocaine Energy Drink. I’ll keep you updated on how this plays out.

2:03 PM: Get red can out of fridge, Spicy Hot flavor (hopefully this isn’t related to prairie-fire shots), notice the health risks. This should do the trick. Notice the energy level is rated in longhorns. This is 3 and half. Not sure how that stacks up against tea leaves, coffee grounds, or any other horned animal…

2:08 PM: Crack of can and first sip. Goes down smooth- tastey. Followed by a tingle in my nose. (Must be how they got their name).

2:15 PM: Now a few swigs in. Got a good feeling going. Not sure if it’s the caffeine or the cinnamon flavor in my throat from the drink. Tiredness still lingers, but fading.

2:22 PM: Broke out in a little bit of a sweat. Going strong at this point. Halfway through the can, the tingle in the nose goes away, but still an “after burn” in the throat. 

2:31 PM: Finished the can. Feel pretty caffeinated, but still retaining focus. 

2:49 PM: Harder to maintain focus, but a nap is the furthest thing from my mind. 

3:02 PM: Just yawned.

3:10 PM: Although this drink offered a good pick up for about an hour. The caffeine has almost completely worn off. Trying to see how long this will last before I grab a cup of coffee.

3:21 PM: Got up out of chair to get coffee. 

For the most part the Cocaine Energy Drink did the trick of boosting my mid- afternoon slump. However, the rush only lasted for about an hour. After the first swig, I thought this drink was going to kick my butt. The strong cinnamon taste and tingle in my nose lead me to believe this would be a longer rush. The taste was new and different, the caffeine boost was noticeable, but the longevity was mediocre. At the end of this trial I would recommend Cocaine Energy drink to friends looking for a quick pick-me-up. 


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Summer Set Music & Camping Festival - In Review

Well, a little over week ago, me and a buddy of mine were pulling into the festival grounds in Summerset Wisconsin for a 3 day music festival that promised to rock our socks off. I was incredibly excited for the line-up they had in store and to just be able to hang with a few friends in the sun.  After some jumping through hoops, we had media credentials in hand (OK, they were wristbands actually, but you know what I mean) and we were headed off to the sea of tents to stake our claim on a spot.  

We missed a few of the opening acts but rolled up to the main stage just as Yelawolf was getting started.  This guy is like a tattooed version of Slim Shady, but with better rhymes.  I was thoroughly impressed by everything he had to offer; killer beats, great lyrics and a stage presence unlike most of the acts that followed him.  As he played through the sunset, our night was just getting under way...

Yelawolf looked to be enjoying himself as he got his show started. 

We spent the next few hours running all over the festival grounds, trying not to miss a minute of the action.  Over to the Hockey Arena to catch a few minutes of Bassjackers, back to the main stage to see some Cloud Cult, run over to the Second stage for a little PROF then set up shop back at the main stage for Big Gigantic to close out the evening.  They were the reason I wanted to come to the festival in the first place and I wasn't going to miss a minute.  

For those of you not familiar with Big Gigantic, let me take a minute to enlighten you. A blend of electronic, jazz and jam band, they are a quintesential festival show.  With Dominic Lalli adding vocals and saxophone and Jeremy Salken on the drums, they drop some of the most inventive tracks around.  Now throw in a ridiculous light show and sound pounding so hard your eyes rattle in your skull and you have all the ingredients for an epic show... and that is exactly what we got.

photo provided by our buddy Troy Manley Photography

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

Troy had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy and Dominic for a couple of minutes.  Here's what they had to say...

• How did you get the name/ where did it come from?
• “I literally just thought of it one day man, just walking down the street.”
• What continually inspires you to push the limits of performing arts. With the live saxophone and the drums and DJing at the same time.
• “We were musicians first, we’ve been doing the instrument thing all along.”
• “We’re trying to keep that with the music, and with the electronic side keep it as fresh as we can, and keep it personal.”
• What would we find you listening to right now?
• “Robert Glass(ford?), Emancipator – it’s nice on the plane, Kirby Handcock, Radiohead when we’re flying. “Everything from that, to like mumford and sons. I love all trap music haha.”
• What brings the music and festival scene together, what is your favorite part, what is the most essential part? What is changing the face of music?
• “The fans are just as important as a music, but definitely the audio visual experience. When the lights are coupled with the music.” It’s definitely a big part of the movement.
• “Some of it takes on traits of older stuff like Pink Floyd and The Wall. That was it, but the visual stuff definitely wasn’t what it is now. Light production, and definitely the computer. That is obviously huge in this movement. Everyone can make music. You can listen to it that day. You don’t have to make a record and wait. The music can catch on super quickly. Everything moves quick on the internet."
• Interview provided by Troy Manley

Saturday brought another full day of music.  By the time I rolled my sorry backside out of my tent, got some food in me, and sat out the passing rain storm, I could hear music from the main stage.  From early in the day, great music options were plentiful.  Tea Leaf Green, Solid Gold, Excision, NAS, and Matt and Kim all filled slots on the main stage, with Umphrey's McGee killing the final set.  

NAS up close and personal

Live body painting...
photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

This was my first Umphrey's show (I know, ridiculous right?) and man, they were something else all together.  It was a conglomeration of all my favorite genres at one time.  Love me some electric guitar and pounding bass, and they are masters at both.

Umphrey's McGee 

Umphrey's McGee lighting up western Wisconsin.

The after parties were nuts too.  Take a standard hockey rink, melt off all the ice, cram the place full of people and crank up the volume.  Shows got started just after midnight and ran past 3:00 am, so if you are still ready to party, there is always one in the hockey arena.  We caught up with Midnight Conspiracy, who played the Saturday night after party.  They just seem to get it... 

• Where did the name come from?
• “I don’t really know. It’s just a name that kinda stuck. We’re not too sure if we like it 100%, it’s kind of long. We formed the group, but we were kind of lost for a name.”
• What are you guys trying to do with your music in the next couple years?
• The cool thing about electronic music is the shows are like performances. Right now we’re outside this hockey rink for summer set and you can see Infected Mushrooms stage set up. Which is inspiring to us, we’re trying build things with our eye and trying to docool things with our music and our show. It’s no longer that  you can get up there with dj’s and a mixer and rock the show. It’s now become a live performance.
• What got you into wanting to perform.
• Justice is what really got me into all this. They really grabbed the audience.
• What would we find you listening to right now? What to look out for?
•  Just streaming other peoples mixtapes and getting inspiration from their mixtapes and finding new tracks.
• I love BBC Radio 1, you can put it on and let it go forever because it’s all quality.
• The music we tend to like and perform is darker heavier electro dubstep. I’ve been listening to some of this jammier stuff, like gramatik, and I’ve been digging it. It’s new to me, different to me, but I’ve been checking it out and digging it.
• Interview provided by Troy Manley

Unfortuately, part of our crew had to skip out on the Sunday action.  Trust me, none of us wanted to leave, especially with Pretty Lights closing out the show.  Sunday's line-up was sick too...  Lotus, Black Star, Infected Mushroom, Big Wu, and DJ Abilities were all playing at one time or another.  Even casual electronic music fans know Pretty Lights.  With a blend of hip hop beats and funky soul, Derek Smith creates more than just music, he builds a mood.  He is like a musical puppet master, making 15,000 people dance with a little twist of his wrist.  

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

photo provided by Troy Manley Photography

By all possible standards, Summer Set Music and Camping Festival was a success.  I am sure it will be back next year, and we will be there.  A huge thanks to SIMShows and ExactEvents for setting us up and putting together a great weekend.  Until next time...

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