G-Shock DW-6600 Review

One of the things you should never have to think about before jumping in a lake or doing an aggressive bushwhacking adventure is whether or not your watch is going to fill with water or get caught on something and fall off. The G-Shock DW-6600 by Casio is a watch that hasn't let me down since I got it over two years ago.

I have a few other watches that have their place, for instance social or formal situations, but even though they are waterproof, I would never bring them camping or use them for sports. One has a strap made of nylon webbing, which absorbs sweat faster than a frat boy can chug a pint. At my desk one day, I was trying to pinpoint the source of a certain unnatural stench, only to discover in horror that it was my watch band. The other watch I have is metal, and has fairly sharp corners. I worry that if I fall suddenly and brace myself with my hand, I might gouge a hole in my wrist.

Merrell Sawtooth Review

Living in Canada is amazing. That is, unless you have a military gear obsession for items manufactured in the US. Not only is the MSRP twice as much in Canada, but many items cannot be shipped here. The amount of product that cannot be exported for one reason or another has ranged from Magpul DVDs to thermal fleeces, and from lasers to night vision. And while I can see why certain things have been put on the do not export list, some things really baffle me. Example: Merrell Sawtooths.

Why a boot is exclusive to the US is beyond me, but maybe the challenge and the exclusivity is what draws me towards these crazy gear purchases. I contacted both physical stores and online stores and none of them would ship to Canada. Even if I wanted to have them shipped to a US address, they were asking me for a credit card that was linked to a bank in the US.

After a bit of poking around, I talked to a few friends who knew of a store that would ship to Canada. However, when they went through customs, they incurred a $100 duty charge! Long story short, I had a buddy who was going to NY, and also wanted a pair. We called in advance to put some aside and he picked them up no problem. (Sorry it took three paragraphs to get to the actual review…just wanted to advise you that purchasing these boots was not a quest to be undertaken lightly.)

Garmin Foretrex 101 Review

Going for long hikes many years ago had two guarantees, the first was that it was going to rain, even if the forecast called for sun, and the second was that once I was put on point, we were getting lost...without fail. Well, in the end, instead of doing the right thing and brushing up on my land navigation, I went and bought a Garmin Foretrex 101.

Before investing in one, I borrowed a buddy's to try out on a day hike, and I loved it; it was easy to use, takes AAA batteries, and best of all: I didn't get lost! This allowed me to spend less time off our planned route, and more time traveling efficiently (albeit more time looking at my wrist than at the amazing forest I was hiking through).

Petzl Tactikka XP Review

If you've spent anytime outdoors at night, you've probably had the pleasure of fumbling with a flashlight while trying to accomplish a task (like gathering firewood or preparing a meal). It only takes a few seconds to realize that having both hands available is better than having just the one.

I used to rely on flashlights for overnight outings and camping, but after seeing a few people using headlamps, and the freedom and versatility that they enjoyed, I knew I had to have one. After doing a bit of research, I found the Petzl Taktikka XP. One of the things that drew me in was that it was powered by AAA batteries. They are easily purchased at most stores and are very cheap, especially if you use rechargeable batteries.