escape the ordinary
Reviews of products used, and links to those products.
TL;DR - We initially settled on Peak Refuel as the brand that seemed the best for dehydrated meals, but getting a good, dehydrated dinner when backpacking is not something you get by looking to one brand. Evaluating meals individually - and ignoring the brand of each - led to a much better experience our second time around.
Have I mentioned that I'm a terrible drone pilot? As much as I love our little buddy for all the cool angles it's able to get, I'm nervous every time it takes to the air, as I know there's a good possibility that it will be the last time it flies. I knew this would be the case when I got it, and on the recommendation of Mike @mk5, I also got the DJI Care insurance. For a mere $250 dollars, they'd give me the privilege of sending in another $99 and my broken drone - up to four times…
9 CommentsTL;DR - The Kenda's have performed VERY well in all conditions (better than the S/T Maxx) and have been a great tire. I'm trying to find a way to get lighter wheels so I can keep running them. The 33x10.5 R17 Kenda Klever RT. The 33x10.5 R17 Kenda Klever RT. It's hard to believe but it was now a full year ago that I switched over to Kenda Klever RT tires. I swapped over at the same time that I swapped to 17" Sequioa wheels - hoping that I'd have more tire options than I was finding with 16"…
5 CommentsTL;DR - The lithium system provides so much more power than I know what to do with, that I find myself turning off the charger so that the battery has a chance to cycle below 90%. The cabinet that I built is good, but needs a few updates.
I've been using the Canon RF system for four years and in that time, I've come to enjoy shooting the full-frame mirrorless Canon R6 and Canon R5 bodies. I've also enjoyed the two lenses I picked up when I first moved into the mirrorless ecosystem, a Canon RF 24-240mm F4-F6.3 IS USM lens for most day-to-day shooting, and a Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM lens for wide angle and low-light situations. Both lenses have been fantastic, and for the most part when I'm out adventuring, have done everything I could hope. In fact, there's only been one situation…
1 CommentTL;DR - I tried to swap back to my OEM Tacoma seats because I wanted their functionality, but it only lasted one trip; the scheel-mann are way more comfortable.
Original TL;DR - I'm swapping out my scheel-mann seats and going back to the originals. Their functionality (sliding, folding) is better, and they weren't that much less comfortable.
Six years ago, when I initially installed my house battery, it allowed me an entirely new sense of calm when I was in camp at night. No longer did I need to worry about my fridge - or the other small electronics I might turn on or charge - draining my starting battery overnight, thus leaving me stranded. Plus, the whole system of linking the two Northstar AGM 24F using a Blue Sea Systems ML-ACR (automatic charging relay) meant that I could easily - either manually or automatically - link my two batteries for charging or more power, and unlink…
Leave a CommentTL;DR - I continue to get better gas mileage with the new 5th gear. Still collecting data.
TL;DR - We loved this water filter. It made some pretty nasty looking water look and taste like home!
TL;DR - We got the wrong tent. It has been returned.
TL;DR - Quest protein bars were a "fine" breakfast, but the Crispy Cookies and Cream were the only ones I'd buy again.
TL;DR - The Jetboil Zip was amazing. It boils water quickly and doesn't use much fuel. It is light and packs conveniently.
TL;DR - Very few of these rehydrated properly, even with boiling water and extra time. Next time, we'll probably try something different.
TL;DR - Didn't like this Exped as much as I hoped I would, but it has some redeeming qualities and I'm keeping it.
TL;DR - I liked this sleeping bag more than I thought I would and I'm glad I shelled out for it.
TL;DR - I really liked the ULA Ultra Circuit backpack and I'd buy it again, even though it needs a little more padding in a couple of places.
TL;DR - To maximize our breakfasts, we decided on Quest Protein Bars. They were all filling, none were terrible, but Crispy Cookies and Creme was far and away the best.
TL;DR - In prioritizing weight, we wanted to find high-calorie, tasty meals to eat for dinner. Reviews suggested that Peak Refuel would fit that bill, so we tried a few. They were all tasty.
TL;DR - We got a small Jetboil because we plan to have all of our cooking be for rehydrating meals. It seems spectacular for boiling water.
TL;DR - I got a high-quality water filtration system a few years ago and never used it; we will definitely be using it this time!
