What would camping be without camp food? Fun I hear you say?

MSR Quick Cook 2 System

I took my girlfriend along on this gear test so freeze dried wasn’t really an option and I have to say, I found this to be a great little cooking system. It’s really light, weighing in at 1 lbs 12 oz / 795.6 g and consists of: (1) 1.5L non-stick DuraLite™ DX pot, (1) 2.5L hard-anodized pot, (1) strainer lid, (2) DeepDish™ plates, (2) insulated stainless steel mugs, and (1) Talon™ pot handle.

The design on this pan set is second to none. It all nests into one lightweight system, the components of which compliment each other perfectly. The two pans are non-stick DuraLite,™ which can handle even the stickiest of camp foods. At first I was put off by the plastic plates, until I realised that they act as an insulating layer to stop the DuraLite™ from scratching when the set is in the nest mode. Last but not least, the ergonomically-designed mugs are insulated in plastic, again protecting the pan while preserving the temperature of the beverage inside — and best of all the spill proof lids make them perfect for a cheeky beer while the park rangers around.

Titan Kettle

We teamed this with the titanium kettle which boils almost a litre of water (.85l) very quickly, and is also very light and super versatile. It has a great design that allows a standard-size gas canister to fit snugly inside. On a solo trek it can also be used as a bowl, mug, or pot, and this kettle is said to be the preferred cooking vessel of the SAS while on training on the ‘dragons back’ in northern Wales.

I’m a big fan of using the hiking boot, worn correctly, as a part of a stylishly casual look for fall or winter (please nothing too sporty, though).

The Zamberlan Vioz gt are falling dangerously close to this easthetic for me, although I do wear the Zamberlan Trail lite and find its classic style a perfect match for a khaki or hunting pant. This said, I think the performance of the Vioz gt wins me over, and I will happily add them to my standard winter look.

Fully lined in Gore-tex, these boots provide not only maximum comfort but heaps of ankle support, traction and breathability. The tough sole lasts and does well on dirt, deep mud and wet rock, so I might just suggest it as a one-stop-shop for climbers who want to find a shoe/hike boot combo.

Another point I like going back to is aesthetic: these boots are available in black leather, something I have never seen in a ‘off the peg’ hiking boot before. My verdict is a skyrocketing thumbs up.

Zamberlan

Soldier knife

Victorinox has had the contract to supply the Switzerland’s military for over 100 years; the official knife of the Swiss army has just changed it’s basic design for the first time since the 60’s – and this is it.

The new model features: a half serrated half straight blade, wood saw, can opener with screwdriver (3mm), cap lifter with screwdriver (7mm lockable) and wire stripper, the Philips screwdriver and the reamer and punch tool.  It also has a rubbery handle which aids grip and a single thumb opening system for the large blade.

This is a compact, stylish-looking -yet-tough-feeling  knife, which is a must for die hard Victorinox/Swiss Army fans. It feels good in the hand and pocket, but if I’m honest, it’s not my favorite product in the line. Those I will be reviewing in later installments.

You can take a gander here.

ST-5000 with PATHFINDER

Water resistant to 50m, this timepiece of beautiful design might not at once appeal to the bling-oriented wearer, but in the woods it comes into its own.

The tough titanium shell houses a Swiss-made analogue digital quartz movement and a capable compass, and the watch includes an assortment of easy-to-use settings that ensure your safety in the woods. Well, your position at least. Luminous hands and numbers allow you to see  the time in the dark. I really liked this watch and it came into it’s own on a foggy sea-kayaking trip in Maine, although it has proved very useful several times trying to navigate the bustling streets on Manhattan.

You can see more specs here.

Myth or miracle? I was introduced to Noni juice by a friend, and I thought I’d add it to the gear test because there is a lot of controversy surrounding this product’s ability to fulfil its claims.

I was intrigued because I have it on “good authority” that Noni juice makes you feel great, can heal skin problems and gives the drinker extreme amounts of energy.

Although Noni has a very strong fruity pallet, there is a pungently cheesy undertone that puts a lot of people off on their first try. I stuck with it and found it to be very much an acquired taste.

The other reviews I have read range from the devoted to the purely sceptical. I found that, placebo effect or not, the beverage seemed to give me an ongoing supply of energy over a gruelling shoot (see Lydia Hearst in the Hot Issue) and then on a ten day camping trip in the rain. I’m a fan, but you yourself must decide if it’s sacred fruit or snake oil.

Now Go-lite is an interesting little company. First brought to my attention a couple of years ago by a writer at GQ in London, Go-lite was founded in Colorado circa 1999 by Kim and Demetri “Coup” Coupounas.

After several gruelling trips, most notably the summating of Mt. McKinley in 1997, where they hauled 60lb packs on their backs and 100lb sleds behind them, the couple decided to fabricate a solution to the burden of hauling overweight equipment on expeditions.

Starting out with an integrated system of 12 ultra-lite backpacking products, Go–lite now produces a full range of clothing, equipment, and footwear for adventure racers, backpackers, hikers, trail runners, back- and cross-country skiers, snowshoers, cyclists, alpinists, and even elite military personnel.

Valhalla 2+

I have camped with the two-part ‘Shangrila 3’ for the past three years and have found it a great choice so I was eager to try out the recently developed one-piece Valhalla 2+.

She weighs in at 5 lbs, 2 oz./2.32 kg and sleeps two comfortably; three at a push.

All in all I was very impressed. It is very simple to erect, even single handed. It is roomy and has entry points either side as well as sizable porches to store excess gear, boots etc. and a full wall bug net if you like to sleep under the stars.

Unfortunately for me (but great for the test), the entire gear test took place over several days of torrential rain and the Valhalla stood up well. There was very slight leaking, so I’d advise (as do Go-lite) to use a seam sealer if you plan to make prolonged trips in damp climates.

Adrenaline 0°

The sleeping bag I opted for on this excursion was the Adrenaline 0°, an 800-fill goose down sleeping bag weighing in at 2 lbs, 12 oz./1.25 kg with a rating of –17C or 0 F. This trimmer mummy bag boasts waterproof Pertex® Endurance surrounding the head and foot that protects against condensation in critical areas.

My favourite part of this bag — and to be honest, what I think sets it apart from other bags I have used in the past — is it’s central zipper that is designed to provide an efficient solution to core temperature regulation, that in my opinion provides for a comfier sleep if, like me, you like to sleep on your side.

Ever since I first found out about Gränsfors axes a few years ago I have been a huge fan.

Gränsfors axes are handmade in Sweden to the same standards they were in 1902 when the forge opened. These magnificent axes are hand-forged from a Swedish steel specifically engineered to temper the blade of the axe to the correct toughness. Each axe is then stamped by it’s forger – mine was made by lp (Lennart Pettersson).

My first Gränsfors axe lasted me three winters of solid splitting and a very rigorous trip through the Andes and Amazon basin before I gave it away to the founder of a local orphanage. My new axe is the Small Forest Axe and I cannot express enough how good I think this item is for camping. It weighs in at 1 1/2lbs with a 3 1/4” face and a 19” hickory handle that has a truly wonderful solid feel.

It will take the limb off a tree with ease while ploughing through kindling like butter. My only reservation about this item is that it’s so sharp and holds it’s edge so well that you cannot forget you have an axe in your hand or else you’ll loose a finger.

Gränsfors itself is located in Sweden (although you can buy Gränsfors products at Lee Valley) and for more than a decade, master smith Lars Enander has been arranging forging courses in conjunction with Gränsfors Bruks. Participants get the chance to discover the potential of the glowing iron or improve their skills in the ancient art of forging in Gränsfors’ classic axe forge. Course length varies from five-day basic courses to a comprehensive forging course of 20 weeks.

Log building and handling an axe go together. Consequently, it’s only natural that log-building courses should be held in Gränsfors, home of the axe. Building with timber has a history stretching back thousands of years in Scandinavia, and these traditions are being passed on here. Participants can enjoy the pleasure and satisfaction of working together with skilled carpenters to build a complete cabin from logs.

For more info visit gransfors.com.

The Pendleton woollen mills were established in 1909, at first manufacturing blankets but quickly incorporating woollen shirts and jackets into their repertoire. Since then, Pendleton have moved into housewares, bed linens and selected leather items.

For this gear test I chose to try out three items from the Pendleton catelogue: The Glacier National Park series blanket, leather blanket strap and elbow patch trail shirt.

The Shirt.

I’m a real fan of the lumberjack shirt, and when you’re in the woods I think it’s a great option as a mid-layer. It’s tough against embers, branches and wind. It’s warm, dries quickly and wicks sweat from the body, decreasing your chances of catching a chill. The trail shirt model is a well-built and stylish choice: It’s tough, warm, and actually looks a lot better after a little bit of wear.

The Blanket.

Because the Glacier series has a medium weight to it, I’m not sure I’d trust it as my only bedding during spring or fall camping (and winter should go without saying), but it is well-made, tightly-woven and perfect for cooler nights on a summer trip, or for a picnic or to keep in the car as a stand-by.  Its light weight happens to perfectly compliment a scotch and soda on a Sunday afternoon in the fall.

The Strap.

The strap is designed to keep the blanket in order and provide a way to carry it over your shoulder. A great bargain for the price point, it did well on one of my trips away, but the leather feels a little flimsy, so I wouldn’t advise any serious trekking with this as the only means of support. Regardless, for a little light hiking or maybe a short canoe trip, this strap is the ideal accompaniment to the blanket and makes a picnic a whole lot easier, and more stylish to boot.

Would it be right to do a Canadian camping gear test without taking along a Hbc blanket? I don’t think so.

“… introduced into the fur trade in 1780, it is believed that M. Germain Maugenest first suggested to the Company’s London Committee that “pointed blankets” become a regular trade item. The “point” system had been invented by French weavers in the mid 18th century as a means of indicating the finished overall size (area) of a blanket, since then, as now, blankets were shrunk or felted as part of the manufacturing process.”  – Excerpted and paraphrased from Our History: The Hbc Point Blanket

This was the first time I had taken a blanket camping, as I usually go as light and modern as possible, but there are some real benefits to having a good old fashioned blanket on the trip. Here are two: my blanket wasn’t as affected by the moisture of the Maine woods; I discovered that if, while worn by or left near a camp fire, a stray ember will do less damage to a proper blanket than to a synthetic warm wrap.

I wouldn’t suggest the Hbc blanket as the ideal trekking campanion, but for spring/fall camping with a car or canoeing, it makes a welcome addition to the kit. As far as your cottage (or “cabin” for you B.C. folks) goes, this classic piece of Canadiana is a must.

Available in many sizes and weights to suit, see Hbc.com for more details.

The Russell Moccasin Co. is a traditional moccasin and boot maker based in Wisconsin. They have been manufacturing handmade footwear for over 110 years and have such a personable service that while boots are manufactured from high quality leathers and hides, Russell also boasts the ability to make most items from your own hunting spoils, from elk to elephant.

The Russell range seems to lean heavily towards the hunter of both North American and African big game. But there is a spattering of dress shoe options and an ample line of slippers and household mocs as well. I was recently told by a friend with a very high position within men’s tailoring that the Russell Moccasin Co. is considered, industry-wise, to be on a par with top cobblers Church of England.

I opted to test the newest product in the Russell arsenal: the Thula Thula PH moccasin.

The Thula Thula “PH” was designed for serious big game hunting…specifically tailored for a quiet, cat-like final approach for Big Five (that is: Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalo, and Rhinos…”oh my!” indeed) dangerous game hunters. (Thula Thula means “Quietly…quietly” in Zulu)

With no rubber midsole and thick, smooth leather soles, The Thula Thula “PH” is, by design, superbly quiet and provides excellent feedback from the ground for delicate stalks. Early Thula Thula testers report they were more agile and aware of the ground, which prevented inadvertent stick and rock-generated noise. Built on the famous Munson Army last, the PH is designed so that the 26 bones in the foot plus the muscles, joints and tendons can move naturally, simulating barefoot walking…allowing your foot to rock forward naturally.

I used the Thula Thulas for a week in the damp, costal areas of Maine and a week pounding the streets and clubs of Manhattan, before spending a week on the rugged Canadian shield of Georgian Bay. My verdict? Thumbs up. These shoes are a fantastic option for the beach, camping or a night on the town. Though I wouldn’t suggest too much wet weather wear, I haven’t had a problem yet.

For more info: russellmoccasin.com.