DULUTH CRUISER COMBO PACK
Duluth Pack (taking it’s name from the city of Duluth, Minnesota where the company was born), has been making the world’s best portage packs since the company was founded in 1882. The portage pack is a traditional piece of luggage used in canoe travel, particularly in the Boundary Waters region of northern Minnesota and Ontario. A specialized type of backpack, made from heavy canvas and leather, that is roughly square in shape in order to fit easily into the bottom of a canoe. These packs are designed to be portaged, along with the canoe, between lakes on wilderness canoe trips, so they have to be water resistant, tough and roomy.
Although the term “Duluth pack,” has been Coke-ified over the years — becoming a common term for any portage pack — the quality of the haulers made by the original company, in my experience, far out strips any competitors.
The typical Duluth portage pack consists of a single large compartment, which is closed by straps and buckles rather than a zipper. The pack is carried by two shoulder straps, although some designs also include a waist belt, or a tump line to be placed across the forehead to balance the load. The bags are made in several sizes, traditionally referred to by numbers (#2, #3 and #4).
The Cruiser combo is my personal favourite of all of the Duluth styles because of its versatility. It comes with a tough wicker basket that helps to reduces jostling and impacts on the contents, so on a long trip so is perfect for food and other perishables. The Cruiser Combo is also equally at home on summertime picnics, and weekly trips to the local farmers market. It’s stout, hardy and provides timeless style.
My one consideration is that even the #2 (smallest in this style) is still quite large, so its not the best choice for everyday use.
The basket also comes with a webbing set up, so it can be carried separately if you run out of space.
RAB JACKET
In my opinion, Rab down clothing is simply the best down clothing on the planet. I have several friends who work in outdoor garment manufacture — and one who is in the military Special Forces –and they all contest that Rab takes the prize, hands down.
Established by Rab Carrington, a British mountaineer and climber of Everest, Rab has consistently produced the best down expedition wear. Don’t get me wrong, Rab is not a cheap option, but you pay for what you get without a doubt.
Apart from making the finest expedition down insulated gear Rab are also famed for supplying the British S.A.S with their cold weather gear, made to military specifications, and for putting out a line of exact replicas of the expedition gear used by the Hillary team, reproduced in modern materials, made to an extremely limited order. Which is to say that stuff cost an arm and a leg and a chunk of torso, and was rarer than the proverbial rocking horse manure.
I tested the Microlite jacket, which is one of several very light weight down zip tops that entered the market a few years back, trail blazed by Patagonia’s Down Sweater.
As a rule I tend to be an advocate of the leader in a field, i.e.: if they came up with the concept, then they get the cookie. With the Rab Microlite I had to change my view, however.
It’s Pertex shell, it’s goose down, fill power of 650+, and it’s hand warmer pockets means it’s warmer, dryer, lighter and more comfortable than it’s mounting competitors. I rest my case!
(Truth be told, though, I don’t like the colour options much).
POST OVERALLS
Primarily a vintage work-wear replication brand, Post Overalls‘ products are well- suited to travel — they’re rugged, durable and stylish. Because of it’s vintage nature, the company’s’ garments marry well with both a more casual and dressier wardrobes, and as a result can help to successfully tie together various different looks.
I tried out the “Traveller” vest and the “Logger” chino. I found both items to be comfortable and sturdy, but lightweight and very strong.
I liked the Traveller vest in particular and found it to be very stylish and at the same time very useful. It has plenty of deep pockets, tough stitching and a fantastic design. Basically it’s the perfect place to keep passport, phone, cash and other essentials, without raising suspicion or looking dorky.
Be aware of the sizing on these items, however. I usually fit a small in most work-wear brands, and this didn’t come close to having enough room for me.
FILSON FOOTHILLS PARKA
Filson has been making tough garments since 1897. Founded in Alaska to outfit the gold rush, Filson still makes hard-working, all natural clothing that has stood the test of time.
The foothills parka is a fantastic item. It’s tough, rugged and warm. Made from a thick, tough, oil coated canvas, this parka will keep you comfortable in the worst weather. I couldn’t use this as my main rain gear, however, as it’s more of a utility item. Blanket-lined for warmth the foothills parka has a couple of huge stow pockets on the front that fit plenty, as well as a couple of deep, lined slash cut hand warmer pockets with an inside, zippered valuables pocket.
This parka, which has plenty of room underneath for a down layer or chunky sweater, is a great piece to have in the back of the truck, or keep in the cabin for a hack through the brush.
This parka is great — but it is worth mentioning that it isn’t a lightweight item. In other words, I’d shy away from hiking or canoeing in this parka. Also, although there are jersey-knit cuffs in the sleeves, the bottom or the coat has no draw string so on a windy day this would be a problem.
ETON SHIRT
Now, I believe the Swedish company Eton makes some of the finest shirts on the market. I am a little dubious, though, of some of the more elaborate colour schemes–that said, I’m a real fan of classic, style over modern design and Eton produces exactly this.
For the gear test I chose a plane white button-down shirt. Apart from the fantastic cut, the main selling point of an Eton shirt is the fabric from which it’s crafted from, especially since in most cases the garments boasts an ‘Iron free’ or ‘stay pressed’ quality. In other words, the shrt still looks okay even if you don’t iron it before you go out.
With this in mind I took my test shirt straight out of its packaging and shot it on our amateur model (and professionl artist) Derrick Hodgson without the ubiquitous steaming that any garment normally undergoes before being the subject of a photo shoot. I took it on a night out after it had been stuffed into a bag on the way back from the location, and after a few minutes under a jacket, all the creases had dropped out.
Then I decided to give it a particularly attention-free wash, screwed it up to dry then wore it out. Once again, after a few minutes under a jacket it was wrinkle-free.
I really like these shirts and intend on getting a few more for my wardrobe.
I do have one criticism, or maybe more of a caveat: Eton shirts look super smart all the time, so a couple of times during my trial runs I’ve felt a little over dressed. But keep it in context, and this shirt will do you well.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (
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.
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.
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 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.
