|
|
For all the gear heads and minimalists out there...here's the spot to talk about gear, ask questions, review products etc...Anything gear related can be found here ! Post pics of your gear as well!
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
This is my set up..
Tent n tarp by ZensLens, on Flickr
My tent is an M.E.C. Wanderer 2/Netting. Which I Will review in depth shortly, I love this tent!
Tarp is a Silicone M.E.C. Guides tarp, fantastic.
Pack is an M.E.C. Ibex 80...great value.
Drybag, 20L I believe, basic dry bag.
To chop wood I use..
Gransfors by ZensLens, on Flickr
It's a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe and I've never owned anything better.
My stove set up, Trangia
Trangia by ZensLens, on Flickr
Cheers,
Zen
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
You actually drag that axe around with you hiking?!?!
Those axes are awesome, but my pack is heavy enough.
“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”
-Madeline Albright | |
The axe only has a 1.5 pound head weight. It's good for splitting wood, taking down small dead trees.. I can also wear it off my belt or it packs up on the backpack quite nicely.
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
Cool stuff.
How do you purify your water? I've been using a Katadyn Vario ( http://www.rei.co...vario-water-filter) for a while, but it's kinda bulky and heavy compared to other filters I've seen. Been lookin for something new.
"Best to launch forth boldly, with or without life jackets, keep your matches dry and pray for the best"
http://www.flickr....61382323@N05/sets/ | |
I use a couple diff methods..if I am setup and not moving, I boil my water and then let it cool off.. if I am on the go I use a Pur, now Katadyn, Guide. I have had it for about 10 years and have never had any issues with it so far.
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
Posted by Jksanford
Cool stuff.
How do you purify your water? I've been using a Katadyn Vario ( http://www.rei.co...vario-water-filter) for a while, but it's kinda bulky and heavy compared to other filters I've seen. Been lookin for something new.
|
I use a filter (forget which brand; I bought it 10 years ago) but I'm thinking of getting a SteriPen to lighten my load.
“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”
-Madeline Albright | |
I looked in to the SteriPen and I came away with mixed feelings.. From the reviews I read, it kills batteries, so you always have to have spares just in case. It doesn't filter water, only purifies it, so you can be left with particulate in your water. However, the technology is proven and used world wide, it is compact and very portable and light. If you aren't drinking filthy water, I'd say this would be a good buy.
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
It would be nice if someone made a screw-on particle filter for a 32-oz. Nalgene bottle. Then you wouldn't have to worry about crud in your water not getting filtered with a SteriPen. Hmmm...
“We are not going to have the kind of cooperation we need if everyone insists on their own narrow version of reality. … the great divide in the world today … is between people who have the courage to listen and those who are convinced that they already know it all.”
-Madeline Albright | |
This one here has a pre-filter, so it goes on the bottle, you pour in the liquid and then use the steripen from what I can tell..
http://www.mec.ca/...tle-pre-filter.jsp
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
Here's my review of my stove, the Trangia. It comes with two 1 litre pots and a frying pan as well as a grip handle. I absolutely love this stove. Being an alcohol stove it makes basically no noise. It boils 1 litre of water in about 10 mins. You can simmer with these, it just takes a bit of practice. You use denatured alcohol or methylated spirits which can be found quite readily at hardware stores. Another huge bonus, no parts to break so it is reliable, I know I will have and be using this stove 20 years from now.
Cheers,
Zen
It comes in a fairly small little package
Breaks down very simply and quickly
And gets set up pretty fast as well
The burning heart
Boils 1 litre of water in about 9 mins...but it's quiet and what's the rush really?
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
A happy note from me! n that last cooking set up pic, you can see my old Coldsteel Oyabun. It was and still is my fave knife I have ever owned. I had it for about 10 years or so, 5 of them being in the military and 5 of everyday and general use camping, before I finally broke the blade. I still have both pieces and hope it can be fixed one day.
Anyhow, to replace it, I bought a Coldsteel Recon Tanto. Which I subsequently went and lost somehow, I think a contractor palmed it but I can't prove it. So, I just went out and picked up a new one! Found a great store about a 20 min drive from me, that are an authorized seller and they even sell for less!
I will post some pics and a review of it soon.
Cheers,
Zen
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
And on that note...my ColdSteel Recon Tanto..
Table Tanto by ZensLens, on Flickr
I love this knife...! Coldsteel knives have been my knife of choice now since I bought my first one at 18, 17 years ago ! 
Ken the Knife by ZensLens, on Flickr
Some stats to get started...it is a fixed blade knife made of Aus 8A stainless steel and coated with a black Tuff-Ex finish. The blade is 7" long, the handle is 4 3/4" for a total length of 11 3/4". It weighs 9 oz. 
To the point by ZensLens, on Flickr
I find it is a fairly well balanced knife and I use it as my general purpose knife for camping and in the wild. Taking it out of the box, heed the warning that it's sharp, I shaved with it. One quick pass on the arm and I was missing a lot of hair! 
Steel sharp by ZensLens, on Flickr
You can opt to get the San Mai 3 blade which is a little more expensive and I may pick one up down the road. It is not black coated.
Cheers,
Zen
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
I think I lost my Coldsteel Voyageur folder so I had to replace it. I carry it everyday and use it for cutting up boxes at work and camping for dicing veggies etc. I went to the store and lo and behold the new model is IMO a piece of crap. They are now being made in Taiwan and just don't feel the same so I ended up buying a Spyderco Endura FFG. I will have a review on it soon but so far I love it.
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
Figured I'd update this with some new stuff.
I picked up this little goody a little while back and it's been absolutely wonderful. http://www.goalzer...-10-plus-solar-kit
When I am out in the backcountry or up north I love to use my phone to use an app for night sky viewing and as that uses up batteries, my guide 10 plus kit recharges it no problem. The one issue is if you're charging a phone directly from the panel and clouds come in, it will interrupt the charging and you will have to pull the plug out and reconnect to start it again. This can be avoided however by plugging in the battery pack to the panel and the phone to the battery pack, even if clouds come in, the battery pack will keep on charging the device.
GoalZero is doing some awesome stuff, I'm thinking of getting the big generator as it can be used indoors or outdoors and you never know when you just might need one.
I also picked up a new knife as an x-mas gift from me to me lol. I bought a Spyderco military folder and it's absolutely fantastic. Made in Golden Colorado, the steel is very,very good and the g-10 handle is extremely tough and not affected by cold/hot etc. About the only draw back is the non adjustable clip for changing carry positions but it's not too big a deal. Overall, a little pricey at $200 Canadian but I'm loving this blade.
Will get some pics up eventually
Cheers,
Zen
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
@ZenCanadian, your photos are great. I'm impressed at how well you can take these (sort of) ordinary objects and make them stand out. Many if not all of your photos on this thread look professionally done. Can I ask what camera you use?
Cheers!
Dee
I wandered till the stars went dim. | |
Posted by Dee Ashley
@ZenCanadian, your photos are great. I'm impressed at how well you can take these (sort of) ordinary objects and make them stand out. Many if not all of your photos on this thread look professionally done. Can I ask what camera you use?
Cheers!
Dee
|
Thanks Dee! Some of the older stuff was shot with a Canon 1Ds mk2 and most likely a Canon 50 1.4 if I remember right. These days I am shooting with a Canon 6D paired with either a Sigma 35 or Sigma 50 Art series lens, both 1.4.
I think this was the 35,  Stranded on Superior by Zen, on Flickr
[last edit 7/14/2016 5:33 AM by ZenCanadian - edited 1 times]
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. | |
Hey Zen, what's your opinion on the folding Cold Steel knives vs. the fixed blade? Any reason you'd go one way over the other?
Here's a lockpick. It might be handy if you, the master of unlocking, take it with you. | |
Posted by Boffo
Hey Zen, what's your opinion on the folding Cold Steel knives vs. the fixed blade? Any reason you'd go one way over the other?
|
Hey Boff!
I carry both a Coldsteel Recon Tanto as my fixed blade and a Coldsteel Voyageur Tanto (the older style though, not a fan of the new ones).
I love my Tanto, I use it mostly for splitting small wood, chopping down small dead standing if it's not worth the axe.
For my edc, I have a Spyderco Military currently, but will be switching to a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 soon. The club is adjustable so you can vary the way it carries and it's a fantastic knife. If you want to get a good deal on anything, go to S&R Knives up at hwy 27 and woodbine, it's in the Woodbine Centre and generally if you pay cash you can offer them no tax, or 20% off and they usually go for it. They also have a website at https://www.srknives.com
Cheers!
Zen and the art of infiltration...
http://www.flikr.com/photos/zenslens
Zen is an uber explorer, a demi god of craning and purveyor of the finer things in life. |
Add a poll to this thread
This thread is one of your Favourites. Click to make normal.Click to make this thread a Favourite.
| This thread is in a public category, and can't be made private. |
Powered by AvBoard AvBoard version 1.5 alpha
Page Generated In: 187 ms
|
|
Ethics
