Base Camp

    I was recently thinking that I wanted to build something. I thought for awhile about what that something would be and eventually settled on a sled. I decided to build a sled because I have never been that satisfied by the store-bought models and thought I could make something better. I believe that I can build a sled that goes faster, lasts longer, and is possibly more comfortable than the store bought models. I am using downhill skis for the base of my sled because I know that they have very little resistance and people using them can go quite fast*. The top of my sled will be either some boards or a bench-press or similar cushion if I can find one. This post will cover my plan for the sled, the materials I am using, and what I have done so far for the project.       If you build or replicate this, be careful when using it. In the words of BrutalEfficiency  ^ on instructables:  "How do you brake? You don't. Brakes were invented by cowards. ...

The headlamp I have use this headlamp on multiple occasions, when camping and not camping. The new Black Diamond Storm headlamp works very well and I am pleased with its performance. The light is very powerful at a max of 250 lumens of white light. The minimum amount of light is 4 lumens. There are also red, green, lock, and close-up light options. The range is 80-2 meters. Another very useful feature on this headlamp is that is IP67 rated. This means that it is water and dust proof. It also means that the headlamp can be used up to 1 meter underwater for 30 minutes. This was useful recently because it was snowing out and I had to keep going inside then out again to bring gear into a cabin. The snow melted into water when I went inside and accumulated again once I got back outside. The headlamp worked fine the entire time and the water/snow/cold did not affect the headlamp at all. The only problem was that the snow reduced the range that the headlamp could light, but that would...

The sleeping mat inflated and on the ground Intro and Specs:      The Sea to Summit UltraLight Sleeping Mat is a inflatable sleeping mat made for backpacking. This mat is generally used in conjunction with a sleeping bag. A sleeping mat is used to insulate the person sleeping on it from the ground. This particular mat is made by the Australian company Sea to Summit. The company makes high quality products for hiking, backpacking, camping, and other outdoor activities. I got this sleeping mat because it's really compact and more compact than most of the other kinds of sleeping mats. The packed size of this sleeping pad is 3 by 8 inches or 7.5 by 20 centimeters. The sleeping pad has an R value (Amount of insulation) of only 0.7 This is fine during the summer but it may be better to use in conjunction with another, more insulating sleeping pad during the winter. On the other hand, If you are willing to spend more money for a better insulated sleeping mat, you can g...

The Multi Tool when it's folded The Gerber Multitool I have is a great tool that I carry almost everywhere. I have needed it many times to fix many different things including a euphonium, tent, open boxes, and more. This multitool has a pair of pliers, knife, 3 screwdrivers, a bottle opener, can opener, a file, and wire cutters. The tools I have used most are the pliers and the knife. Every tool on this multitool is locking. This includes the pliers. This multitool fits well in a pocket and is very versatile. Despite being slightly heavy, the usefulness outweighs the weight. All-in-all, this is a great tool that is inexpensive and useful.