Roger Caffin
Latest
Sno-Seal Original Beeswax Waterproofing for Leather
Treat your leather nicely, THEN abuse the ever-loving daylights out of it.
MYOG Technical Note – Catenary Curves
The whys and wheres of catenary curves, with downloadable spreadsheet for calculating your own MYOG curve masterpieces.
Make Your Own Gear – A Titanium Potty Trowel
The venerable Coghlans orange potty trowel is a fine idea, but it weighs 51 grams and has been known to crack and break under heavy use. Can we do better with some titanium sheet?
New Balance MT875OR Joggers Review
Totally synthetic, luggy soles, and a breathable draining upper, plus a range of width fittings including really wide (4E). (Updated 9/22/09)
Made in China – A State of the Market Report
If almost everyone is taking manufacturing to China, what are the short- and long-term consequences for both the developed and developing worlds?
Heat Exchange Stove Shootout: Part 3
Heat Exchanger Stoves
When do these stoves offer a weight reduction when compared to the baseline of Part 2 of the series?
Heat Exchanger Stove Shootout: Part 2
Upright and Remote Canister Stoves
Setting a baseline: we survey a good range of conventional canister stoves for performance, setting us up for the comparison in Part 3.
Heat Exchanger Stove Shootout: Part 1
Introduction and Test Method
The performance and efficiency of canister stoves, put to the test. When the dust (and CO2) settle, which one will be left standing?
Stoves, Tents and Carbon Monoxide – Deadly or not?
Supplement 5: Snow Peak GST-120 Lite Max
The Snow Peak GST-100 GigaPower stove is widely regarded as the 'Gold Standard' for upright canister stoves. It weighs about 74 grams. Snow Peak has released a new stove in this series: the GST-120, or Lite Max, weighing only 56 grams, reviewed here. Does the Lite Max live up to the reputation of its precursor, the GST-100 (which is still available)?
Make Your Own Gear – A Thumbscrew for the Steripen Adventurer
The Steripen Adventurer has many firm believers, but almost everyone agrees that the screw which holds the lid of the battery case shut is awful. So... replace it with something better, cooler, and made by hand!
New Balance MT1110GT Joggers Review
Totally synthetic, good soles, and a XCR membrane for wet weather use, plus a range of width fittings including really wide. Very good under some winter conditions, but with a curious defect which limits their use.
Make Your Own Gear – Down Quilt or Sleeping Bag
Making a baffled down quilt is simple compared to making a baffled down sleeping bag. Both are described in this article, with the emphasis on the quilt.
MSR Hyperflow Microfilter with Modified Cartridge Review
The MSR Hyperflow was previously reviewed in 2008, and was found to be light and convenient for crystal clear water, but it died very quickly in any other water. MSR acknowledged this problem and modified the cartridge to handle poorer water quality. The modified cartridge is tested here to see if there is an improvement.
Stoves, Tents and Carbon Monoxide – Deadly or not? Supplement 4: Jetboil Helios
Jetboil releases its first remote canister stove. Does this work well enough to be a good winter stove?
Make Your Own Gear: Light Fleece Pullover Top
This light fleece top is designed as a light winter pullover for snow conditions. It is very simple and styled as an anorak, rather than opening right down the front.
Essential Canister Stove Maintenance
There you are, way out in the wilderness in bad weather, getting ready for dinner, and your canister stove fails. Now what? Rescue in the field is possible for many problems: learn rescue how-to and the technical details of why it has happened.
Pitching a Tent in the Snow
Want to try tenting in the snow, but haven't done it before and not sure how? Haven't time in the evening to build a snow cave or an igloo just for one night? We walk you through the basics of what gear you need, how to choose a good site, how to create a platform, and how to pitch your tent (or a tarptent if you are brave).
Stoves, Tents and Carbon Monoxide – Deadly or not? Supplement 3: Brunton Vapor AF
Measurements of carbon monoxide levels produced by the Brunton Vapor AF Stove.
GSI Outdoors nFORM Ultralight Nesting Bowl and Mug Set Review
Two nesting bowls, strong polypropylene, ~20 fluid ounces capacity each, about 1.5 ounces weight each and US$8.95 for the set: they can't be too bad!
Make Your Own Gear: Snow Stakes Revisited
After using the original snow stakes in extreme conditions, the design has been enhanced to extend the life of both your snow stakes and your guylines.
