Nov 1st The Best Rechargeable Headlamp – UCO Gear Air Headlamp Review

Air Headlamp UCO Gear recently came out with an amazing headlamp that is not only rechargeable but also extremely lightweight. The New Air Rechargeable Headlamp is ultra-light and ultra-bright.

UCO is a company that is based out of Redmond, Washington and has been crafting outdoor gear since 1971. It’s name tells you all you need to know about this innovative company.

U = Utility

C = Comfort

O = Originality

They specialize in mostly lighting and fire gear, such as headlamps, lanterns, grills and firepits. This latest product being offered by UCO is incredible.

The Air Rechargeable Headlamp will light your way and change the way you see the outdoors… (at night anyway)!

Weight and Specifications

The Air Rechargeable Headlamp weighs less than 2 ounces (1.6 oz WITH BATTERIES). Making it the lightest and thinnest headlamp currently on the market.

The lamp itself measures about 2.3 inches across. It also has the ability to tilt allowing the user to move the light beam without having to move his head.

Rechargeable Headlamp

The headache free headlamp features a hook and loop Velcro strap that is very durable and extremely breathable. The neoprene inner lining of the strap also lends itself to drying out easily and quickly.

Brightness Settings

There are 3 brightness levels as well as a red light option.

10 Lumens – lasts for 5 hours
60 Lumens – lasts for 1.5 hours
150 Lumens – lasts for 48 minutes
Red light

The 150 Lumen setting on this headlamp is incredible. It has a broadcast range of about 154 feet. I also love that there are 3 settings as most headlamps really only have 1 option.

And of course every backpacker or hiker loves the red light option that allows you to read or look for something in your tent or around camp without blinding people or disturbing others who might already be sleeping.

Rechargeable – USB Port

The Air has a 170 milli-amp lithium ion battery that is rechargeable via a standard micro USB cord. However, the Air Headlamp does not come with the charging cord.

Personally I think including even just a small USB charging cord would have been a nice touch, but these days most people have those lying around anyway.

Colors – 5 Options

Currently UCO is offering the Air Headlamp in 5 different colors.

Black
Camo
Pineapple Party
Reflective Grey
Sporty Stripe

Price – $34.99

The Air Lithium Ion Rechargeable Headlamp is priced at a reasonable $34.99 on the UCO website.

I received my headlamp via the Cairn Subscription Box that is delivered to my front door every month. It was a very pleasant surprise and so far I’ve enjoyed all of its features especially how comfortable and lightweight it is.

This would also make a great gift for anyone that enjoys the outdoors and camping. I actually plan on buying 2 more to give as Christmas gifts this year. I won’t tell for who just in case the happen to read this post. (wink, wink)

Posted in Gear Reviews and tagged Headlamps, Lighting, UCO Air Rechargeable Headlamp by Elizabeth with no comments yet.

Oct 27th Cairn Outdoor Subscription Box Review – October 2017

This month’s Cairn Subscription Box included some great outdoor gear. I was pleasantly surprised and can’t wait to use some of these products.

The total contents of October’s box had a value of $68.93.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the items:

Hydrapak Stash 750 ml Collapsible Bottle – $18.00
Air Rechargeable Headlamp – $34.99
Skout Organic Energy Bar – $2.95
Portland Bee Balm – $2.99
Tribe Pilot Adventure Planning App (4 GB free) – $10 value

Cairn Scout Newsletter

As always, the box comes with a small newsletter that is made of recyclable paper. The newsletter includes product descriptions as well as valuable coupon codes for the items in the box.

Cairn Newsletter

There are also a few short articles designed to inspire and motive your next outdoor adventure.

Hydrapak Stash 750ml Collapsible Bottle

The Stash 750 by Hydrapak is a collapsible bottle that only weighs 2.5 oz. It has flexible walls that flatten easily to pack away, which gives you even more room in your backpack.

It retails for $18.00 and comes in 3 different colors… Malibu (light blue), Mammoth (green), and Mojave (orange).

UCO Air USB Rechargeable Headlamp

This item really impressed me. Everyone needs several sources of lighting when camping or backpacking and the headlamp is one great way to go. It frees up your hands and lets you move freely about camp.

The Air Lithium Ion Rechargeable Headlamp is lightweight and comfortable. It features 3 various light selections (up to 150 lumens) as well as a red light option that is easily adjusted via the Infinity Dial.

It is also rechargeable with a standard USB cord. I love this option because carrying extra batteries all the time can get tedious and this feature eliminates that need.

Skout Argentinian Peanut Butter Organic Bar

Skout Backcountry uses plant based organic food to produce the most powerful nutrition. This energy bar only has four ingredients… Organic Dates, Organic Argentinian Peanuts, Organic Oregon Pumpkin Seeds, and Pink Himalayan Sea Salt.

I love most protein or energy bars as they are super convenient and usually quite tasty. This particular bar was very good tasting and although I wasn’t sure about the sea salt at first, I found that I rather like it. Calories for this bar are 130, which is pretty common for these types of bars.

The bar retails for $2.59

Portland Bee Balm – Oregon Mint

The mint flavoring of this bee balm is actually quite nice. It’s not too overpowering and has a slight sweetness to it. It is made with all natural ingredients including local Pacific NW beeswax and Oregon peppermint essential oil.

The Portland Bee Balm Company supports their local bees and their keepers. The tube is surrounded by a handmade wooden wrapper made by a Portland woodworker.

Portland Bee Balm retails for $2.99.

Tribe Pilot Adventure App

Included in this month’s box was a downloadable adventure planning app. The code gives you 4GB of free storage on the app that is valued at $10.

I don’t know too much about this particular app, but at first glance it looks like it would be perfect for those who like to plan trips with their friends or family. This app allows you organize everyone together and finalize everything from dates to meal plans.

Box Recap

Click here to read more about Cairn Subscription Boxes

This month’s box arrived on Oct 21, 2017.

Number of Items included: 5

Water Bottle
Headlamp
Energy Bar
Bee Balm
Adventure App

Retail Value of Items: $68.93

Price of Monthly Subscription: $29.95

Sign up here NOW to get in on the next month’s box

Posted in Gear Reviews, Products and tagged Cairn subscription Box, Outdoor Gear, Outdoor Subscription Box by Elizabeth with no comments yet.

Aug 22nd The Best Camping Stoves of 2017

Having the right camping stove can mean the difference between an awesome camping experience and a mediocre camping experience. While cooking over the camp fire is always fun, sometimes a proper camp stove is necessary in order to put out great meals for the entire family.

There are tons of different kinds of camping stoves to choose from and finding exactly what will work best for your situation is key. Will you be backpacking and need a lightweight camping stove or will you need a 2 burner camping stove in order to feed a big group?

I’ve compiled a list of the best stoves in each category below.

Pro Tip: It’s always a good idea to have more than one type of stove in your camping kit. It can always be used as a backup in case of emergency or if your main camping stove suffers damage or is inoperable.

Best Backpacking Stoves

Backpacking Stoves tend to be lightweight and compact. They often are 1 burner and use minimal fuel. When looking for a stove for backpacking, be sure to find one that boils quickly and can withstand the various conditions you might encounter (wind, rain, freezing temps, etc).

1. Jetboil Flash Cooking System – $99.95

Fuel Type: Canister
Fuel: Isobutane-propane
Auto Ignition
Integrated Pot
Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 4.1 inches
Liquid Capacity: 1 Liter or 33.8 fluid ounces
Weight: 15.25 ounces

This is actually a full cooking system that includes the pot stabilizer, supports and jetboil cooking cup. The only thing not included is the canister of fuel. It comes in 6 different unique colors/patterns including a realtree camo print. Boil liquid in just over 2 minutes. Enjoy an easy push button ignition that gets you quickly started heating your meal or beverage.

2. MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove – $44.95

Fuel Type: Canister
Fuel: Isobutane-propane
Average Boil Time: 3.5 minutes
Dimensions: 7.25 x 5 x 4 inches
Weight: 2.6 ounces

This is one of my favorite compact stoves that is perfect for backpacking. It simply attaches to the fuel canister and it holds a variety of sizes of pots. I love how much space it saves in my pack and that it doesn’t require a lot of set up. It has a fully adjustable flame making it easy to choose between a rolling boil or a soft simmer. Gourmet meals in the backcountry are easy to whip up with this little gadget.

3. MSR DragonFly Backpacking Stove – $139.95

Fuel Type: Liquid
Fuel: Diesel, Auto, White Gas, Jet, Kerosene
Average Boil Time: 3 min. 30 seconds
Dimensions: 6.3 x 5 x 3.5 inches
Weight: 14 ounces

This is a completely durable stove that features great stability and the ability to accommodate large group cooking situations. The DragonFly can actually be utilized for more gourmet outdoor cooking including baking for those that want to try their hand at it.

Best 2 Burner Camping Stoves

Having more than one burner on your camping stove allows you to cook more than one thing at a time or to cook more of the same thing for a big group. Whatever you situation, a 2 burner camping stove is a lifesaver in most campsites with more than 2 people.

1. Camp Chef Summit 2-Burner Camp Stove – $99.95

Fuel Type: Canister
Fuel: Propane
Auto Ignition
Heat Output: 20,000 BTUs
Average Boil Time: 2.5 minutes
Dimensions: 23.5 x 11.5 x 4.25 inches
Distance between burners: 12 inches
Weight: 12 pounds

The Summit 2-Burner stove is a workhorse with 2 big 20,000 BTU burners. There is also a temperature control that allows you to fine-tune the flame. With a strong steel cooking grate, you can even use heavy cast iron cookware without damaging the stove. Cooking for a large group is so easy on this surface as well. I’m also a fan of the adjustable legs on the bottom of the unit that let you level out the stove if you are on an uneven surface.

2. Camp Chef Mountaineer 2-Burner Stove – $229.95

Fuel Type: Bulk Tank
Fuel: Propane
Auto Ignition
Heat Output: 20,000 BTUs
Average Boil Time: 3 minutes, 10 seconds
Dimensions: 27.25 x 14.75 x 7 inches
Distance between burners: 11.5 inches
Weight: 15 pounds

The Mountaineer is a heavy duty, slightly bulky 2 burner stove that can handle whatever you throw at it. It is made from corrosion-resistant aluminum that is lightweight and super durable. Table legs can be purchased and added in order to use this stove for tailgates or barbeques. With an regulator and a 5 ft hose, the Mountaineer is designed to be used with a bulk propane tank so you can cook virtually anything that requires more fuel and longer cooking times (like game-day chili).

3. Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Camp Stove – $349.95

Fuel Type: Canister
Fuel: Propane
Heat Output: 10,000 BTUs
Average Boil Time: 3 min, 15 seconds
Dimensions: 9.8 x 4.6 inches
Weight: 9 lbs. 5 oz.
Integrated Pot
Liquid Capacity: 5 Liters or 169 fl. Oz

This camp stove system includes a 5 L FluxPot and a 10 inch ceramic coated fry pan. I like this stove because it can fold up easily but still allows you to have a 2 burner stove while backpacking or camping. It is a lot easier than carrying around one of the larger briefcase style 2 burner stoves.

Best Electric Camping Stoves

A lot of campsites now come equipped with electricity and water, so having a portable electric stove is definitely an option. This is also a great alternative for people that are in a Pop-Up style camper

1. Kung Fu Master Single Burner Electric Stove – Buy Now

Adjustable temp controls (Lo, Med, High settings)
1,000 watts
Stainless steel drip pan
Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 inches
Weight : 2.85 pounds

The Kung Fu Master electric stove is so convenient and small. When you need a simple single plate stove top and you have access to electricity, this is the best option. The temperature controls range from Lo to Med to High for various cooking needs. This is also a great addition to any dorm room (which if you think about it is a lot like camping sometimes.)

2. Elite Cuisine Maxi-Matic Electric Stove – Buy Now

7 inch and 6 inch cast iron flat cooking plates
Dual adjustable temp controls (Lo, Med, High)
1,440 watts
Dimensions: 18.5 x 11.5 x 3.6 inches
Weight : 8 pounds
Portable for convenient cooking (camping, college dorms, offices, tiny houses)

The Maxi-Matic electric stove features 2 different sized cast iron cooking surfaces (7 inch and 6 inch). It is powerful at 1,440 watts and is small, so it won’t take up too much room in your camping gear. This stove is also perfect for tiny houses and pop up campers.

Best Wood Camping Stoves

Cooking with wood is great because wood is usually very plentiful and you don’t have to worry about running out of fuel. If you are camping in an area that allows you to gather firewood then a wood stove is also going to save you money.

1. Solo Stove Lite – Compact Wood Burning Stove – $69.99

Packed size: Height 3.8 inches, Width 4.25 inches
Assembled size: Height 5.7 inches, Width 4.25 inches
Weight: 9 oz
Materials: 304 stainless steel, nichrome wire
Fuel: sticks, twigs, pine cones and other biomass
Boil time: 8-10 mins (32 fl oz of water)

The Solo Stove is designed with a double wall that has unique airflow properties. This makes it extremely efficient. It runs on just a handful of twigs or an alcohol burner. There is also very little smoke produced by this stove as a result of the design.

Solo Stove is the 2017 Gear of the Year winner and is a Backpacker Magazine Recommendation. It is a must-have for all serious backpackers, survivalists, and campers.

2. WoodFlame Ultra Lightweight Wood Burning Camping Stove – Buy Here

Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.25 x 6 inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Easy set up and take down
Collapsible (Folds Flat)

The WoodFlame is a light weight, collapsible camping stove that is made with high grade stainless steel. It folds flat and comes with a nylon carrying case.

3. Ohuhu Portable Stainless Steel Wood Burning Camping Stove – Buy Here

The Ohuhu Wood Burning Stove is easy to set up and extremely affordable. It has a stable cooking platform (3 arm pot support system) that reduces the chance of tipping over. There is no feeding slot on this stove, so you cannot add more wood while there is a cooking pot in place. However, this design gives the stove a consistent, hot and efficient burn that feeding slots would interfere with.

4. EcoZoom Rocket Stove Versa – Buy Here

Dimensions: 12.5 x 11 x 11 inches
Weight: 16 pounds
Refractory metal combustion chamber
Abrasion-resistant, lightweight ceramic insulation
Two hinged doors
3-pronged universal cast iron stove top

The EcoZoom Rocket Stove is great for outdoor patio, camping and emergency situations. It is eco-friendly and energy efficient. Cooking can be done with wood, charcoal, or solid biomass fuel. The Versa is also extremely durable and has reinforced doors to ensure that it will last for a long long time.

Best Solar Camping Stoves

Solar stoves are a great way to utilize the power of the sun to cook your meals. When fuel is not available or wood cannot be burned because of burn bans, the use of a solar stove is priceless. Having at least one solar stove in your camping or survival gear is a very good idea. It makes a great backup stove and is also great for the environment.

1. GoSun Sport Solar Stove – $279.00

Max Temp: 700 degrees F (371 deg C)
Material: Durable Borosilicate
Cooking Chamber: Evacuated glass tube
Stainless Steel cooking tray
Weight: 9 lbs

The GoSun is a extremely fast and powerful with the ability to cook a meal in 20 minutes using only the heat from the sun. It reaches temperatures of over 550 degrees F. It can bake, boil or fry any food you want.

2. Sunflair Mini Solar Oven – $79.95

Solar Stove

Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 13 inches
Weight: 1.25 pounds
Max Temp: 285 degrees F

The Sunflair solar oven utilizes the sun to gently simmer liquids or food. The 3 wall system helps to capture and reflect the sun’s rays. Included is a thermometer to help you know what temperature you are cooking at. Many people use this particular cooking method by setting it up on the dash of their vehicle.

Posted in Gear Reviews, Uncategorized and tagged Backpacking Stoves, Best Camping Stoves 2017, Camping Stoves, electric Camping Stoves, Solar Stoves, Wood Burning Camping Stoves by Elizabeth with 4 comments.

Jul 7th Wise Company Cheesy Lasagna Review

Wise Company Survival Food Reviews

Today’s Wise Company Survival Food Review features Cheesy Lasagna. The overall taste, ease of preparation, and price point are reviewed by yours truly. Let me try before you buy!

Product: Cheesy Lasagna
Brand: Wise Company
My rating: 9/10

About the Brand

Wise Company takes great pride in helping people prepare for the unexpected. They offer emergency food kits, long-term food kits, and emergency supplies. They also have a camping food selection for those who just want convenient options while camping or backpacking.

With over 99% satisfaction rate, Wise Company is the nation’s leader in emergency preparedness. Their products are made with premium ingredients in the USA to ensure a long shelf life and great taste.

My Review

The name “Cheesy Lasagna” may be a little deceiving. Obviously this being a package meal, it wasn’t really a traditional layered lasagna. It was more of a pasta dish with all the flavors of a beef lasagna. The noodles that were used were small tagliatelle noodles which helped it resemble a lasagna a little more. Had they used elbows or spiral noodles, it would have been weird.

This package served 4, and we prepared it while camping on the beach. I loved the fact that is was a “just add water” preparation. This made it extremely easy and aside from stirring it occasionally, there was no other prep involved.

The taste was fantastic. I thought that all the flavors of a lasagna were there, except maybe for the ricotta cheese. As I said, the noodles were small and flat and slightly curly. The tomato sauce was very good. Sometimes pasta dishes can have an acidic quality, but this one was perfect. It also tasted like it had been prepared from scratch… not like the canned ravioli or pasta dishes you find in the grocery store.

Product Info

Ingredients

Tagliatelle Pasta (Semolina Flour [Wheat], Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate [Iron], Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboavin, Folic Acid), Sausage (Freeze-Dried Pork, Salt, Spices, Sugar, Sodium Phosphate), Textured Vegetable Protein ([Soy Flour, Caramel Color], Soybean Oil, Salt, Natural Flavoring [Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Maltodextrin, Natural Smoke Flavoring], Dextrose, Spices, Garlic Powder), Dried Tomatoes, Sweet Whey Powder, Food Starch – Modied, Potato Flour, Salt, Parmesan and Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk, Salt, Cheese Culture, Enzymes), Coconut Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Natural Flavors, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Spices, Onion Powder, Guar Gum, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil, Oleoresin Paprika and Turmeric (Color), Sodium Caseinate, Mono and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Caramel Color.

Nutritional Information

Other Information

7 year shelf life
Easy to Prepare… Just add water
Affordable Price (Case of 6 for $41.99)
Convenient Packaging
Net Wt = 6oz

Who is this product for?

Campers
Backpackers
Preppers
Emergency Planners

Final Thoughts

Pros:

This product was incredibly easy to prepare, just add water. I love that there weren’t any other complicated steps or several packets to open and add throughout the cooking process. Just one package that gets added to boiling water…. Perfect. It also has a 7 year shelf life.

Cons:

This particular meal didn’t resemble actual lasagna, however the flavor was excellent.

My Rating:

9/10

Where Can You Get it?

Wise Company products are available at wisecompany.com

Jun 1st GoPro Hero Review

Everyone has a video camera device these days, but which one is really the best? I personally prefer the GoPro Hero brand of Cameras. They are so versatile and in combination with the many various attachment accessories available, you can get killer videos in any extreme situation or adventure scenario.

This past Christmas, I received one of my all time favorite gifts from my husband. It was a GoPro Hero camera. I had been wanting one for so long, but never pulled the trigger and bought one. Well, my sweet husband recognized my overwhelming desire to own this awesome camera and he surprised me on Christmas morning!

I immediately put it to use on my wedding anniversary. We rented a small cabin on the Guadalupe River and I had a chance to film my fly fishing sessions with my new GoPro. The picture quality is incredible and the wide angle allows you to get great footage all while enjoying what you are doing. In other words, once you hit record, the GoPro does all the work… you just have to give it a subject worth filming.

One thing I absolutely love about my GoPro is that I can control it from my phone. I downloaded the GoPro app and it connects wirelessly to the camera. I can hit record on my phone or view previous footage that I’ve shot. It really is useful and a great feature to have.

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Posted in Gear Reviews and tagged cameras, filming, GoPro, helmet cam, product reviews by Elizabeth with no comments yet.

May 1st Govino Unbreakable Wine Glass Review

Have you ever been out camping or traveling on the road and wanted to relax with a nice glass of wine? Sounds like an easy thing to do, but you have to pack (carefully) glassware unless you plan on drinking straight from the bottle. Enter the Shatterproof Wine Glass!!!! It’s a game changer and it’s useful for more than just camping…. poolside parties, hot tubs, picnics…. anywhere you don’t want breakable glass.

Product: Govino Shatterproof Wine Glasses
Price: $12.95 USD (set of 4)
My rating: 10/10