News, reviews and articles about outdoor gear and accessories.
The RETREEV Compact Retrieval Tool from TEC Accessories is a tool that any spy, ninja or MacGyver wannabe would love to add to their collection of gear. The RETREEV looks like a small flashlight, but it’s actually a grappling hook that will fit in your pocket. It’s made of aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum with a […]
TEC RETREEV is a pocket grappling hook for your Ninja toolbelt Read More
Carabiners are handy clips that allow you to attach items together, but the Qlipter goes one step farther by combined a carabiner with a 360º hook. The Qlipter (say it like “clipter”) is a multi-purpose tool made of a light weight, durable aircraft grade aluminum alloy. It is available in 5 colors and features a
Qlipter is a new twist on carabiners Read More
I take good care of most of my tools and equipment, but my garden hose is an exception. I think it’s because we share a mutual dislike. The hose kinks when I uncoil it, then tangles and resists when I try to put it back neatly. And the connections between hoses and nozzles always manage
Gilmour LeakFree garden hose system review Read More
It is not that the Logitech Alert video surveillance system we use has become all that long in the tooth. It still works well enough. The fact is I want/need to expand my coverage and their outdoor cameras are difficult to get ahold of and surprisingly costly when you do. Julie and I have been discussing surveillance
DIY Project: Dropcam Pro outdoor enclosure Read More
I recently reviewed the Eton Blackout Buddy, which is a combination night light, emergency pathway lighting, and flashlight in one compact unit. It’s a great way to have a flashlight in your home with constantly charged batteries when you need one. Eton’s new Blackout Buddy H2O is a perfect flashlight for your emergency kit in
This new emergency light needs only water to operate for 72 hours Read More
I am the quintessential handyman…always building, repairing, and/or tearing out something. I started my first home improvement project nearly 25 years ago. Back in the day, there were limited battery operated tools and work typically involved dragging electrical cords everywhere you went. As battery technology improves and becomes much more cost effective, we find it powering devices/tools
LOFTEK 10 Watts Rechargeable LED Floodlight review Read More
For those who wear boots regularly, lacing and unlacing them can be a drag. Properly laced boots can have a big impact your performance while wearing them, but sometimes you may need to lace them quickly. I stumbled upon TacLace (see what I did there?) when I was researching boots to wear during a GORUCK
TacLace makes lacing easy, and could save time when seconds count Read More
A couple of weeks ago I told you about the Skydrop sprinkler system which uses your soil conditions and local weather to better schedule when it waters your lawn. That system was priced at $299. If you want a slightly less expensive solution, consider the Rachio Iro smart sprinkler system. Priced at $249, this system also mounts on
Rachio Iro smart sprinkler system keeps your lawn green while saving water Read More
I’m starting to see the benefit in the multi-purposing of devices. ZeroHour takes a flashlight and uses the batteries to also serve as battery backup for devices powered by a USB cable. As I usually carry two separate items in my car or pack to accomplish the same goal, I’m now able to cut back to just
ZeroHour XD Tactical Flashlight and Battery Backup review Read More
With the Camco “Big Red Campfire” Propane Camp Fire, you can have a fire without having to gather firewood first. It uses standard LP gas and has a built-in gas regulator with a 10-ft hose. Camco says the “realistic log pieces and full ring burner help create the natural look and ambiance of wood log
Safely enjoy a campfire anywhere Read More
You’ll be ready to take down a tree at a moment’s notice with the Pocket Chainsaw in your gear kit. The chain has 124 bi-directional teeth, and it’s made of high strength, heat-treated steel – specially coated for rust resistance. It’s 28″ long, and it comes with hooks and handles; it all stores in a flat tin
Carry a chainsaw in your pocket Read More
These tent stakes are made of 6000 series aluminum, so they are built to last. The UCO StakeLights also have an LED light that marks the perimeter of your tent with light and makes the location of the guy lines clearly visible. The LED is encased in a highly water-resistant TPE housing (IPX 6), and it uses
Never trip over your tent’s guy lines at night again Read More
Skate technology has come a long way since the first patented version of roller skates from the 1760’s. Things like polyurethane wheels over steel wheels, strap on skates over lace up boot skates and four wheel inline over the quad version skate. So, where’s the next big improvement? The Cardiff Skate Company thinks they have
The Cardiff Skate Company S1 skate review Read More
I don’t know if this is the world’s only solar light bulb, but the Nokero Solar Light Bulb certainly looks useful for off-grid situations. It charges its AA-sized NiMH batteries with a high-efficiency solar panel, and it can provide 6+ hours of 13.5 lumens of light from its four LEDs. The bulb has a shatter-resistant polycarbonate globe,
The Nokero bulb is the “world’s only solar light bulb” Read More
The Seven Year Flashlight from Hammacher Schlemmer is a rechargeable flashlight that can hold a charge for seven years. It has “specially-designed nickel metal hydride batteries that minimize power loss, ensuring reliable, full-power light for seven years on a single charge.” It produces 200 lumens of light for 6 hours on a full charge,
The Seven Year Flashlight will be ready whenever you need it Read More
Well, the title says it all. This Rightline Gear tent is bottomless, so you can set it up without emptying the bed of the truck. It’s made of gray and orange water-resistant polyester fabric with tape-sealed seams (PU 2000mm), and it has fiberglass poles. It has two gear pockets, a lantern hanging hook, glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls,
Each of these little 3.25″ diameter X 1.1″ thick canisters contain emergency supplies. The containers are made of 5000-series aluminum and have knurled screw-on lids; they are waterproof and have waterproof labels. When you pull the label off, the the lid is a serviceable signal mirror. What’s inside these little canisters are the kits that can
Survival Pucks Compact Emergency Kits Read More
These days, it is impossible to conceive of life without our phones, tablets gaming and other mobile devices. And I would guess for most of us having a backup power source is a must. But what happens when you decide to go off the grid to go camping or worse yet, you end up in an area
SunJack Phone portable solar charger review Read More
Whether you’re preparing for the apocalypse, want to become the next Katniss Everdeen, rob from the rich like Robin Hood or just enjoy shooting arrows with a bow, the Compact Folding Survival Bow is a bow that takes up very little space when it’s not in use. Folded down it’s only 23″ long x 1.5
Be ready for zombies or the hunger games with this folding bow Read More
The next time I go camping will be never, but if you love that activity, the Buck Knives 941 Travelmate kit is a nifty addition you should consider adding to your camping kitchen gear. It packs a knife, fork and other tools in a convenient sheath that even prevents the spread of bacteria. Let’s take a
Buck Knives 941 Travelmate Kit review Read More