M.C.P. Gear Blog

Gear: The North Face Heathen Jacket; Asolo FSN 95 GTX Boots

2010-02-09T10:51:00.046-06:00

I'm cheating a bit today and reviewing two pieces of gear in a single post: The North Face Heathen jacket and the Asolo FSN 95 GTX boot. I've had the jacket for several months, but the boots are quite new, and both were really put to the test for the first time in the last week, together along with the previously reviewed REI Shuksan eVent pants, in the central Oregon back country (Mt. Bachelor area).

Over the course of a few days a range of activities from snowshoeing to snowmobiling allowed me to get a sense of how the aforementioned gear performed in some diverse scenarios. In particular, the generally cold weather is amplified by the speed of snowmobiling (I hit 70mph on one stretch :) and, while hustling a machine of that size is still work, you are sitting and less prone to sweating in that scenario than the more physically strenuous activity of snowshoeing.

So first up are the boots. I recently replaced a pair of beloved Salomon boots that had succumbed to sole dry rot with the Asolo FSN 95 GTX boot.

Temperature control: I was operating in temperatures largely in the 30s, and likely dipping into the 20s at night. Depending on the day, I wore either REI or SmartWool mid weight merino wool socks. Not once were my feet cold.

Moisture control: The suede and cordura upper shed water admirably and the Gore-Tex liner didn't allow a drop of moisture in. My pants had built-in inner leg gators that fit over the top of the boots nicely to further keep snow out. The merino wool socks really helped wick moisture away from my feet taboot.

Comfort/Fit: The fit and comfort was outstanding. Aside from some negligible wear around the home base, I didn't give much of a break in period for these. I've taken that risk before with horrible results, but I could tell on my limited usage beforehand that these would be fine and after some considerable snowshoeing in them that was confirmed. Some folks complain that Asolo's, in general, have too narrow a foot bed. I wear a size 13 and, while I typically wear a regular width, can definitely tell when something is on the narrow side. Not the case with these boots. In fact, I probably had the best possible result from wearing these boots after even a few days of heavy use --- I didn't notice them at all. When you can spend several days in the snow and not once notice your feet that is a great sign.

The Verdict: A super versatile boot that, with the right socks, will work in any conditions. If you look at any of the marketing materials from Asolo or the way these boots are positioned by most retailers, you're likely to incorrectly disregard this as "just a hiking boot." The hiking designation here primarily comes from the lightweight nature of the insulation in the boot and the fact that the uppers aren't full grain leather from top to bottom. From a rigidity and tread standpoint, while these might not cut it as an extreme mountaineering boot, you can throw much more at these boots....heavy pack and rough trails? Bring it.

Now on to the jacket. As mentioned above, I've had The North Face Heathen jacket for several months, but aside from some rain exposure in Texas, it had yet to get abused.

Temperature control: The Gore-Tex ProShell works really well to block the wind. I layered some REI mid-weight base layer and a North Face Denali jacket beneath this and never once felt the least bit cold. In fact, when I started breaking a sweat during a brisk nighttime snowshoe, I opened up some of the lengthy pit zips to get some relief and was able to use the feature to help modulate my temperature effectively.

Moisture control: The jacket itself has minimal features.....which is one of the reasons I purchased it. This jacket replaced a Moonstone 3-ply Gore-Tex jacket that had a seemingly endless amount of pockets, zippers and adjustment points. And all that added up to a serious amount of seems that could -- and did -- fail. The main, two pit and two pocket zippers on the Heathen jacket are all welded and the adjustment points are isolated to the waist and cobra hood to minimize failure points. The jacket performed flawlessly and looks to hold up over the long haul.

Comfort/Fit: As mentioned above, I bought this jacket because it is minimalist. The Gore-Tex ProShell is super lightweight, which makes packing this jacket in any situation a breeze. And with the right layering (or lack thereof) it can be a true four season jacket. I'm pretty tall and usually have issues in the waist and sleeve lengths of some shirts/jackets. The North Face doesn't make a "tall" version of this so I was stuck with plain old XL, but the sleeves are nice and long. The jack is cut on an angle so it's longer in the back which is plus, but the front is just on the borderline of "just right" and "could be an inch longer". Also mentioned above where the adjustment points in the waist and for the hood, the latter of which took some finagling to get just right, but I've found that with all cobra-style jacket hoods.

The Verdict: Worth every penny (unfortunately this one costs a lot of pennies :)

So that about wraps up this batch of reviews. Next time your in central Oregon, check out our friends at Elk Lake Resort for some delicious elk chili and snowmobile rentals and 4 Seasons Recreational Outfitters in Sunriver for snowshoe and ski rentals. And while you're in Sunriver you have to stop in Marcello's Restaurant for some excellent northern Italian cuisine and a delicious pint of Deschutes brewery beer.

And for a parting shot, here is some action video of us cutting fresh powder up Sheridan butte on our sleds during a 45-mile circumnavigation of Mt. Bachelor. First sleds of the day on many of the trails....sick!

- sc0rpi0n

Gear: Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra GTX Trail-Running Shoes

2010-01-11T11:12:00.002-06:00

I've been wearing these shows for nearly a year now, and with a few "seasons" (you have to put quotes around this word if you live in central Texas, where the seasons are "summer" and "not summer") I feel like I can finally give some meaningful feedback.

I've been a Salomon fan since the 90's, having had numerous pairs of and putting countless miles on both boots and trail running shoes. I have been so impressed with their trail runners that I've had five pair in a row.

The Good: Lots to talk about here.

The cord system continues to work better than lacing and the inclusion of the tongue pouch for the cord lock is handy.
The plastic reinforced webbing that replace eyelets for the cord has held up very well, whereas in earlier models the plastic eyelets alone were prone to breakage.
The sole and tread have held up extremely well under both urban and off road use.
Gore Tex membrane is wonderfully waterproof, and has held up longer than I've had in similar shoes.
Comfort is top notch -- good enough for walking or running, on road or off.

The Bad: The only gripe I have with these shoes are their ability to wick moisture. I know, I know, I just said above they are super waterproof. That is true. So wear did this moisture come from? I'm talking about foot sweat. The breatheability is just okay, and that's maybe being generous. It seems adequate for the heal and arch areas in fact, but the toe area doesn't seem to breathe very well at all and therein the problems lies. I've had other Gore Tex shoes that don't have this problem and since breatheability for other parts of the shoe is okay, I think it has to do with the rubber membrane that covers the toe area on the outside of the shoe. You can reduce, but not eliminate, this problem by wearing socks that wick exceptionally well, but if you're wearing normal cotton socks forget about it. Fortunately, the antibacterial material inside has fended off any long-term issues from this problem.

The Ugly: The shoes themselves, especially in the barf green that I have them, aren't the prettiest things. But that's not why you buy them, is it? :)

Bottom line -- a very solid shoe. The breatheability issues, while annoying, are far outweighed by all the positives and won't stop me from buying another pair of Salomon's when these have finally seen their day.

-- sc0rpi0n

Gear: REI Shuksan eVent Pants

2010-01-07T08:13:00.002-06:00

This will be a pretty quick review. Simply put, these pants are awesome.

I've worn them in some of the rainiest, muckiest conditions this year for hours and was bone dry.

There are ample pockets, all with welded zippers. The thigh pockets are pleated at bottom so they stay close to the leg when empty, but when full can carry quite a capacity.

The full length leg zips are super convenient and also feature the welded zippers.

Other nice features include built in gaiters, inner leg scuff guards and great adjustability.

Maybe the most impressive feature is the wicking ability of the eVent fabric. I got soaked to the bone by a flash Texas rainstorm. While still raining, I took off the shorts I was wearing and put these on, over my wet legs and boxers. In less than an hour all the moisture inside had been wicked away and I remained dry through the rest of the day even though the rain never relented.

The only drawback I can think of is the price (they retail for $239), but luckily enough I found these on a sale rack at my local REI retail store for less than half that price and they are worth every penny, sale or not.

-- sc0rpi0n

How To: Personal Survival Kit Creation

2009-12-29T18:15:00.005-06:00

I've been putting together survival kits since I was a kid and have lost count there have been so many. Thankfully I spent a lot of time in the woods growing up and put these kits to the test and have used the experience to refine over and over again. Over time, the carrying cases, organization and technology have changed ... but the base components have remained consistent. With a consistent, reliable "core" only a few variables need be considered based on region/climate.
Another thing I find that is constant is that if size/weight IS a factor, then the "perfect" survival kit doesn't exist. This fact leads me to categorize kits into two varieties: the home-based "disaster" kit and the "personal" carry-kit. Another way to think of this is no strings pulled vs. no frills, and its on the latter that this blog will focus. In the author's opinion, the objectives of the "personal" kit are as follows:

Small
Lightweight
Supports 1* person
Short to intermediate term
Easily accessible
Easily transferable (between packs, tactical vests, bug out bags, etc.)
Supports the ability to

provision potable water
start fires
catch and/or gather food
establish shelter

With this objectives established, let's move to contents. Here are the "core" components that I've found to be relevant in any climate/region:

Knife

I typically consider this part of the "kit", however I keep it separate so as to not be restricted by kit container size, i.e. I typically carry a large fixed-blade knife, but my kits are smaller in dimension. I have many military/survival knives that would suffice, but my survival knives of choice are the Gerber BMF, Gerber LMF-II and the Buck 184 (Buckmaster) as I've got the most history with them. Why? Both are big, sturdy, have good edge retention, can be fashioned into spear points and have sheaths with built-in diamond sharpeners.
Cheap alternative: there ain't one. A good knife will cost you (though you don't necessarily need to spend the ~$300 an after-market BMF or Buckmaster will run you these days). My point ... don't cheap out when you're life is on the line and know you're knife before you need to.

Multi-tool

I'm putting this in the "core" components section but I consider this more of an auxiliary/back-up to my main knife, not a substitute for it, although some of the more famous survivalists (see Les Stroud) have shown it to be a suitable primary tool. Given the choice, I'll carry a large fixed blade knife first every time. If you've read my post mentioned above for the Gerber BMF, you'll no doubt know that for a long time I carried an original Leatherman tool in the BMF sheath pouch. While I still like the slim lines and relative simplicity of the multi-tool that started it all, I've since moved to a SOG PowerLock (black oxide) as my primary multi-tool. Its bigger and bulkier, but all the more useful and hardcore for it.
Cheap alternative: same story as with a knife

Fire starter (magnesium, fire steel or striking rod)

Magnesium fire starters work very well and because they have the "tinder" (magnesium) and striking rod combined in a single package they're quite convenient. However, the need to shave the magnesium with the blade of your knife will accelerate edge loss. This is primarily problematic if you're relying on your knife for a long period of time and you don't have means to hone its edge.
A fire steel typically has its own striker attached, or can be struck with the back edge of your knife should you misplace, lose or damage the striker, and so eliminates the issue above with knife edge loss. The steel does introduce a new challenge in that it requires you to provide your own tinder.
The striking rod is for all intents and purposes the same as the steel albeit in a different configuration. My current kit contains a Blast Match fire starter for two reasons: it sparks like crazy with each strike --- way more than any steel or magnesium fire starter rod I've used --- and it can be operated WITH ONE HAND. Why the latter? After I read about Aron Ralston a few years ago, the hiker who had to cut off his own arm to escape entrapment by a boulder, I thought a lot about less than optimal survival situations. Even if you find yourself in a predicament not nearly as severe, but one that nonetheless immobilizes one of your arms such as a break, dislocation, etc. you don't want to make your situation worse by rendering a fire starter that requires two hands useless because you have only one hand that works.
Cheap alternative: waterproof matches (make you're own by dipping strike anywhere matches in wax) or a magnifying glass

Tinder

While I prefer to gather my own tinder (I find it to be a fun activity; yes, I'm weird), I do keep several pieces of WetFire tinder in my kit. This stuff will burn when completely wet and intensely enough to dry out small kindling in an effort to start a good fire. When the weather/conditions are playing nice, avoid using this and save it for a rainy day (literally).
Cheap alternative: cotton balls or shoe polish

Water purification tablets

There are a number of options on the market, but of those I've tried the Katadyn Micropur MP1 purification tablets meet the primary requirement of treating effectively for viruses, bacteria, cryptosporidium, and giardia and because of their chlorine dioxide nature, also treat for color and taste. And believe me, when you're in the back country you don't always find the beautiful, clear, cold mountain stream. There is something psychologically more comforting to drink water that isn't gross from a taste and color standpoint. Also, I like that these tabs come in an easily folded/separated perforated sheet, instead of the big pill-style blister pack --- makes for a more versatile storage story in your kit.
Cheap alternative: a small vial of bleach

Fishing tackle

Hooks - my kit contains about a half dozen hooks, enough to make up for mistakes, and in a variety of sizes and shapes.
Line - my kit contains roughly 50 ft. of line, again enough to make up for mistakes, breaks and alternate uses. Original Stren monofilament works great and you probably only need 8 - 10 lb. test max for this type of use.
Sinkers - my kit contains a handful of basic, cheap sinkers. This is an item you can forego in lieu of finding something natural to use alternatively, but frankly these take up very little room, add negligible weight and are far easier to attach to fishing line than a rock or something similar.
Cheap alternative: n/a

550 Paracord

From binding wood to make shelters or splints or separating the inner strands for back up fishing line, sewing, snare creation and more, the uses are countless. The main thing here is that I tend to use 550 cord as a "functional accessory". By that I mean I typically make fobs, handle wraps and sheath lanyards out of 550 cord. Its a nice way to dress up a knife and you always have it handy when an emergency situation arrives.
Cheap alternative: n/a

Compass

I prefer the k.i.s.s. method when it comes to most things (keep it simple, stupid!) and nowhere does this hold more true than with compasses. I have two watches with compass functions --- a Suunto Core and a Timex E-Tide-Temp-Compass --- but both of those require batteries and frequent recalibration. In a survival situation, you're unlikely to be carrying spare watch batteries, nor to be navigating to finely detailed way points, so a very basic, durable compass that will give you accurate magnetic direction should suffice. My current kit uses a Sylva type 12 compass that came with both the Gerber BMF and Buck 184 Buckmaster (I lost the one that game with my original BMF purchase, but fortunately have the one that game with an after market Buckmaster purchase), stored in the sheath of either knife, as well as a small watchstrap compass in the survival kit case itself, simply because there was just enough extra space.
Cheap alternative: when all else fails, use the sun to travel in a consistent direction and/or follow moving water.

First aid supplies

The personal kit doesn't need to be equipped for trauma surgery, so some gauze, assorted bandages, alcohol wipes and some triple antibiotic ointment will suffice.
Cheap alternative: n/a

Whistle

Handy if you want to be found. And depending on who you ask, handy to scare of predators...
Cheap alternative: n/a

The "Honorable Mentions" ---- these items are good to include if you have the room, but I don't in my current configuration. In making trade-offs, I determined that the ability to generate fire and construct shelter would supplant the need for a space blanket, and a signal fire would work in lieu of the signal mirror.

Signal mirror

These are pretty straightforward .... what makes a good signal mirror is the viewer so you can effectively aim the mirror at the person or craft you're trying to signal. I honestly don't know that there are any real differentiators among brands here, WYSIWYG.
Cheap alternative: use the mirror from an old make-up compact

Space blanket

Again, pretty straightforward
Cheap alternative: n/a

Okay --- so that covers the contents. How about the container? Aside from the first aid items it doesn't really matter if the rest of the contents should become wet if the kit is unexpectedly submerged, so water resistant should be sufficient. If you have something water proof, even better. I'm currently use a simple, double-sided Plano utility tackle box. Its configurable, has enough space for everything and slides nicely in a large cargo or coat pocket, though I typically keep it strapped to a bag, belt or vest via a MOLLE pouch.

In the pictures below, I've included both the Buck 184 (12" overall) and Gerber BMF (14" overall) for reference so you can get a sense of how big the survival kit case is.

Well, that about wraps this one up. Until next time....

- sc0rpi0n

Gear: The North Face Primero 85 Pack (First Thoughts)

2009-11-30T11:12:00.003-06:00

This is a "First Thoughts" review, meaning it will detail some general info about the gear, initial impressions and will act as a precursor to forthcoming long-term test feedback.

In what is quickly becoming a trend, this is the second The North Face pack I've purchased this year to replace a Lowe Alpine product (for more on this, see my post about The North Face Fulcrum 35).

First, let me say that I still love the quality and simplicity of the Lowe products I'm replacing. The reality is that the two packs in question, the Lowe Alpine Contour Mountain 40 and Lowe Alpine Contour IV, have simply seen a lot of many miles. I won't even go so far as too say "too many" miles in the case of the Contour IV as it is still fit for service, the reality is that I'm just too much of a gear-head that I wanted to try out some of the latest tech; my Contour IV predates hydration system integration after all. Given both were purchased in the mid-1990s, I feel I've gotten more than my money's worth from them. The latter saw action all over the U.S., and covered many swaths of the Appalachian trail (even extending into the Florida Scenic trail).

Okay, enough about what I'm replacing and on to what I'm replacing it with. I had a few requirements going into a new pack purchase: long haul ability (week +), adjustability (I'm 6' 3" with broad shoulders) and, I know this is slightly lame, color (I've grown tired of all the brightly colored "look at me" outdoor gear, so was looking for something either black or green). Through research, I narrowed my search down to three packs: The Osprey Argon 85 (Kelp), The Gregory Whitney 95 (Humboldt Green) and The North Face Primero 85 (Black). After trying the packs on, I found that the Whitney and the Primero fit me most comfortably. What I thought was going to be a tough decision become much easier once I read several accounts of the plastic fastener for the hip belt breaking on the Whitney. The Primero it was. After an online sale at RockyMountainTrail.com, a coupon search on top of that, and Bing cash back on top of that, I was into the $329 MSRP Primero 85 for a cool $144, shipped. Nice. Considering I got a deal on the Fulcrum 35 pack at $87 under similar circumstances at BackCountry.com...a difference of only $57 between a day pack and an expedition pack is incredible. Super nice.

The Primero is packed to the gills with the latest pack technology.

I'll start with the most noticeable: the pack body material. It's a combination of 630D Oxford nylon and dual sided polyurethane coated 210D nylon ripstop. Combined with the water proof bottom and hood and the welded seams all around, this thing is sure to take both scrapes and moisture in stride.

The next most obvious feature is the injection-molded EVA back panel with air flow channels. At first glance, the back panel looks rigid, and while it holds firm from a structural standpoint, it is quite comfortable and conforms to the curvature of your spine exceptionally well, particularly in the lumbar area. The air flow channels seem like they'll work well, but the only way to tell is to hit some long trails on a hot day, and since I now live in Texas that shouldn't be hard :)

The X Radial frame is quite impressive. In addition to the flexing to mimic natural body movement that The North Face describes, I believe it also adds to the overall lightweight profile of the pack. Unless past internal frame packs with bulk plastic or aluminum I've owned, the X Radial frame material most resembles the general size/circumference of a fibreglass tent pole, but is constructed of aluminum. The pack stretches over this much like a tent would stretch around a tent pole. Nifty.

The E-VAP foam shoulder straps and hip belt have a nice pre-curved contour to them and continue the theme of being both structurally rigid, yet comfortable and, most importantly, being very lightweight. I very nice feature on both The North Face packs I purchased this year is the horizontal adjustability in the sternum strap. The use of mesh over foam will surely provide increased breathability, but we'll see if grime build up becomes an issue there.

Other nice features worth mentioning include:

Side entry for the main pack compartment -- while I love a good top loader, sometimes you need that random thing that is in the middle of the pack, peskily out of reach from the top loading compartment and the bottom sleeping bag compartment entry.
Zipper pulls -- rubberized plastic finger loops attached to the nylon pulls on all the zippers are a nice touch
Hydration compatibility -- large internal pouch easily holds an insulated 3L bladder
Hip-belt pocket
Mesh inner pocket, key keeper within lid pocket
Stretch side water bottle pockets -- materials makes for easy retrieval and return of large water bottles such as Nalgene

So, how does it stand up to my purchase criteria?

Long haul ability: Extended, the pack's volume is a whopping 95 litres (5,800 cubic inches) allowing it to easily deal with more than a week's worth of contents and loads in excess of 50 lbs (TheNorthFace.com claims up to 70lbs.) Check.
Adjustability: Yes, not to mention comfort and sturdiness where it counts (straps, belt and frame). Check.
Color: Black :) Check.

In all, this is thoughtfully designed pack marked by sturdy construction and featuring the latest materials aimed at keep comfort up and weight down. I'm working to plan its first real field test soon, so check beck for more detail in the Long Term Test review.

-- sc0rpi0n

Knife: Gerber BMF

2009-11-25T11:18:00.005-06:00

A caveat: This will mark the first in a series of both new and long term blade reviews. I've been an avid outdoorsman most my life, and never venture outdoors without some sort of bladed tool. Over the years, I've accumulated many knives and have put them through their paces in a variety of ways. For the long term reviews such as this, there will be mostly words used to describe their efficacy as they often saw action before the digital age. For the new blade reviews, I'll try to augment with more action photos and video.

This impressive blade has seen more miles than any other I have, so I thought it best to start with it. So, where to begin? I purchased this Gerber BMF (Basic Multi Function) knife in the early 1990s (can't recall the exact year, but it was well before I could [legally] drive a car :) -- so either middle school or early high school). The knife is serial # 032242.

When I purchased this knife, it was the era for large, bowie-style survival knives, thanks in large to their popularization by the Rambo films and others of the blockbuster action ilk. I was at a gun show with one of my best friends and his father. My buddy and I were both in the market for some monster blades. I had recently been carrying a Ka-Bar USMC knife, but suffice it to say I never used it again once I left that gun show. As we meandered through endless tables of firearms, surplus gear and knick knacks our eyes darted around looking for knife dealers. Eventually, we spied a dealer with a significant offering and began to peruse his merchandise. Almost immediately I saw the BMF and asked to handle it. I was shocked by the heft of the BMF....the length and width of the steel resulted in what is to this day, the most solid feeling knife I've ever handled. After being mesmerized for a few moments, I turned to my buddy expecting to find him waiting to get a hand on it too, but instead he had the same look on his face thanks to the Buck 184 (Buckmaster) he had picked up. Needless to say, we were both sold and I'm sure the dealer was pleased as we dropped ~$100 each without hesitation. In those days, that was a lot of money for a kid (maybe it still is), but when I see used versions of my knife selling on eBay for as much as $500 I'm reminded that not only is it a sturdy, trustworthy sidekick for any outdoor adventure, it was also a good investment. But what is unfortunate about that is that the person that spends $500 on used version of this knife is likely a collector and not going to really experience it through use. It was designed to be used and abused and, believe me, it can take it (more on that below).

There were two production runs of this knife, the early knives (mid 80s) were slightly shorter in length. I was (in my opinion) lucky enough to purchase the larger version they started producing in the late 80s / early 90s, and what was Gerber's largest knife at 14.5" overall, 1/4" thick, with a 9" modified clip point 440-A stainless steel. The black Cordura sheath comes complete with a belt loop and leg strap assembly. It has military belt metal hooks and has a diamond sharpener attached to the back side. It has a pouch for extra storage and came with a (now long lost) Silva compass (for more specs and background, see the boilerplate stuff below).

So, now to the abuse :) As mentioned above, I only have current pictures of the BMF, no real good documentation of its years of service, but I'll speak to it as best I can. The typical outdoor excursion for my friends and I in our teen and college years was in Appalachia....primarily southeastern Ohio, peppered with excursions to the New River area of West Virginia, The Smoky Mountains and anything else that qualified as backcountry in the mid-west.

We spent our time camping, backpacking, mountain biking and honing survival skills. It was in the latter where the BMF saw most of the work. It is no match for saplings and small trees, and as I didn't purchase the saw back model, I've used it to hack down considerably larger trees. The sheer weight of the knife and length of edge allow it act very much like an axe. The largest tree I can recall felling with the BMF was at full 6" in diameter if not more.

In addition to felling trees, my friends and I seemed to think that any knife is a throwing knife (again, thanks to the 80's action films). While some might think it crazy, we took pride in chucking our knives at just about anything that moved (note: if you can actually hit a running squirrel at range with any throwing knife, let alone a Gerber BMF, my hat's off to you :)). More often than not, my BMF would hit broadside, on the hilt, the butt....you name it. Anywhere but the tip. The BMF is so solid that all this bouncing off of trees and rocks, landing in mud, creeks, etc. never damaged it. In fact, the non-reflective finish has done an admirable job in even resisting excessive scratching and marring through all this abuse.

From a design standpoint, the lashing points on the hilt and butt, as well as the buttcap itself, have come in handy over the years. On more than one occasion I've fashioned a spear out of the BMF using a hand cut pole and 550 paracord. I've used the spear setup for both target throwing and hunting fish, albeit with mediocre success which has a lot less to do with the knife and a lot more to do with the hunter. As for the buttcap, it's solid steel and, while I believe is separate from the blade tang is very solidly attached to the handle. I've used it to pound wooden and metal stakes, nails, and other miscellany.

As mentioned above, the BMF originally shipped with a Silva compass, but I misplaced it many years ago as I rarely carried it, opting instead to use the pouch to hold my original Leatherman multitool. The original Leatherman fits perfectly into the pouch, but most modern multitools are too big (case in point the SOG PowerLock black oxide tool I typically carry now is a monster compared to the slim original Leatherman).

One of the things I'm most impressed with in terms of its ability hold up over years of abuse is the DuPont Hypalon handle. I had never heard of that material, and frankly, haven't really heard about it since or in any other context than the BMF handle. It's at once soft and grippy, a rare combination. With all the hacking I've done, the handle never left a blister and absorbs the jarring stress to the hand that typically comes from repeated striking. It also resists tears (not a one) and is fairly water and dirt resistant, easily wiping off when it has become dirty.

With a Rockwell hardness of c-54-55, the high carbon stainless steel holds its edge well. In fact, for several years I only needed to do minor honing on the edge (using the stone ingeniously embedded on the back of the sheath) to keep it functioning well. A few years back, I had a professional sharpen it to restore the razor's edge that I simply cannot achieve using my bench mounted Lansky system.

For storage, I keep the BMF --- and all my fixed blade knives for that matter --- oiled using good old Rem Oil and store it out of the sheath. You can see it pictured along with [from bottom to top] a SOG SEAL Team Elite, a Buck Strider 890TX and a Gerber LMF II ASEK in a foam lined hard-case. And if you're wondering what's hanging off of the various knives, I've woven paracord fobs for most of my knives using pace counting skull beads.

****

The following is from the Gerber web site and information included with the original knife (note the length specs are for the early, smaller bladed version):
Brad Parrish began his career working in the Gerber plant in 1974. During the 1980's Brad began making prototype models and progressed to design. His designs include the BMF, LMF, Magnum LST, Magnum Jr., Pro-guide series, The Gator and Gator Mate series, E-Z Out Series, Spectre, Yari and the AR. Brad's work has resulted in multiple design patents.

Basic Multi-Function Survival Knife System™
Gerber's BMF is the latest generation of survival knives. From its conception, the BMF was carefully researched and engineered to be the best survival knife available today.

This tough, heavy duty survival system is designed to withstand heavy use under the most extreme conditions. The 8-inch blade is ground from tough 1/4 inch thick high carbon surgical stainless steel, with Rockwell hardness of c54-55. We have purposely lowered the hardness several points to increase toughness. The blade and stainless steel guards and but cap are treated with a non-reflective finish. The butt cap is specifically designed to endure heavy pounding, and is firmly attached to the full length blade tang. The most unique feature of the BMF is its revolutionary handle of highly compressed DuPont Hypalon. Hypalon's semi-soft composition cushions the hand during heavy use, and provides a comfortable positive grip. Each BMF is hand-adjusted so that the point of balance is approximately at the front guard, which makes it comfortable to use, even during extended periods of heavy usage.

As much engineering and designed time went into the BMF sheath as the knife itself. Blackie Collins really "did himself proud" on this one. This sheath is made from black, heavy-duty DuPont Cordura and reinforced to provide protection for both the blade and user. Loaded with features, the sheath is specifically designed as a superior alternative to the hollow handle for carrying life sustaining and support accessories. It is compact and without protrusions to snag on brush or other objects in the field. Engineered to be silent, there are no hard surfaces other than rivets. A pocket at the top the sheath holds a quality, liquid-filled, jeweled compass. Permanently attached to the back of the sheath is a fine grain diamond sharpening hone, which is protected by a nylon cover when not in use. A unique accessory strap on the front of the sheath allows a folding knife sheath, survival, or other equipment to be attached. ALICE clips allow the BMF to be attached to standard issue military battle dress and harnesses. The ALICE clips are removable so that the BMF can be worn on a conventional belt. The BMF can be tied down to the leg or lashed to other equipment with nylon cord supplied with each sheath. Dated 6/86.

Gear: The North Face Fulcrum 35 Pack

2009-11-25T10:38:00.000-06:00

I purchased this pack about a month ago to replace a 14-year-old Lowe Alpine Contour Mountain 40. This was an emotional purchase .... the day pack I was replacing had been with me on countless journeys spanning 3 continents and it performed like a champ. Until the waterproof lining rather suddently started to dry rot and shed itself all over anything I put in it. Okay, so it wasn't that emotional, but you get the point.

I spied the Fulcrum 35 pack earlier the summer when shopping for a new multi-day rig (The North Face Primero 85 ultimately beat out the Gregory Whitney 95 and hasn't disappointed, but that is another review for another time). The clever duffel like design caught my eye, but I wasn't in the market for a day pack at the time. When my Lowe gave up, I started shopping around but was drawn to the Fulcrum, based on both the interesting design, the specs and the asthetics.

The pack itself is VERY well constructed. In a matter of a few months, I've had it on a weeklong excursion to Mexico, a very wet and muddy Austin City Limits Festival weekend and long weekend to see some friends (and phriends).

Mexico:
- it lugged a rain jacket, two hard back novels, I decent sized LowePro camera bag with Nikon D5000, extra lenses and other camera kit, along with various other items.
- Because there were planes, taxies, buses, walking, etc., I really appreciated the ability to stash the hip belt inside the pack. Nifty.
- I'm fairly large (6' 3") and, although slim in form factor, the shoulder straps had ample adjustability and the padding was outstanding even for my broad shoulders. The foam back padding is excellent as well.
- The net pocket on the inside of the top loader flap is pretty spacious and, although easy to get to in a hurry, worked well to secure passport, phone, mp3 player, etc.
- Now to the most noticeable, strange, and handy feature --- the top to bottom duffel zip. When loading and unloading the pack fully, I found myself going the traditional route and top loading it. But when i needed my rain jacket during the daily Yucatan thunderstorm, I was easily able to unzip exterior and interior zippers and snatch it right out from the bottom with out unloading everything. It was also quite handy when customs was searching my stuff, they didn't have to unload it either.

ACL:
- as mentioned above, it was very wet. Every last thing in the pack stayed bone dry. It shed water like a champ, and although the main duffel zipper runs from top to bottom, the welding and taping keep the water where you want it --- outside.
- the two outer side pockets are easily accessible, but as stated in another review they BARELY fit a standard size nalgene bottle. So what does that really mean, you ask? Will it fit? Yes, absolutely. Can you slide a a piece of paper in beside it? Not a chance :) So the result is that a Nalgene bottle is hard to get in and out of one of those pockets with one hand while the pack is on. While I'm very impressed with this pack, that is the one flaw I can point to....another 1/2 inch of tolerance would have been perfect.
- for the first time I dropped a 100 oz. hydration bladder in it and it worked very well. note: there is an obvious pouch on the inside where you think it should go, but if you poke around you'll find a velcroed seam that hides a larger pocket where I believe the bladder is really supposed to go. a large bladder will fit in either place, but you'll need to open up the secret compartment to expose the drink tube exit port anyway, and that pouch will keep your goodies further isolated from any leakage, condensation, etc.

Cincinnati:
The most recent haul this pack had was probably the most pedestrian, but worth noting. I flew from Austin to Cincinnati to see some old friends, catch a couple Phish Shows at US Bank Arena, and the pack easily held 4 days worth of clothing, toiletries and cold(er) weather gear. I was happy to see capacity wasn't an issue and once once again delighted by the design of this pack. The lightweight design and dimensions of the pack make it key for airport travel.

I feel I've written a novel, but this pack deserves it....it is solid and worth every penny. Plus, when I was shopping for it none of my local gear stores carried it and so I had to rely on a handful of user reviews to make my decision. I hope this review helps somebody else.