Tag: gear

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Nalgene 1L Polycarbonate Water Bottle

I’ve heard about the durability of Nalgene bottles for the longest time but for cost reasons (they’re around P900 for a 1L bottle) I have put off getting one. That changed when I spotted Nalgene bottles selling at bargain prices (around P300 for a 1L bottle) on a recent trip to HK. I got one for myself and now I’m absolutely exultant. So what makes it so good?

  1. Of course, its legendary durability. It’s said to be indestructible though I’ve read about a bottle breaking when run over by a truck (duh!). I’m not in a habit of leaving my gear where they can be run over by trucks so I guess this won’t be a problem.
  2. It can handle boiling water. I don’t usually drink hot drinks but it’s nice to have that option. You can also use this to dry wet clothes by wrapping them around the bottle.
  3. It has a big mouth opening. You can easily (Look Ma! No spills!) transfer water from your other bigger containers to it. You can also easily pour in powder milk, coffee, juice or even ice cubes.
  4. It has a loop-top. The loop-top prevents the cap from falling down and getting dirty or, worse, getting lost. It may also be for carrying though it seems a bit flimsy for that purpose.
  5. It doesn’t leak. But then those are the same claims that I heard for my CamelBak and Platypus containers. They leaked so we’ll just have to see.

I guess those are compelling enough reasons, yeah?

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Gerber EZ-Out

This is in memory of my Gerber EZ-Out which I lost somewhere not so long ago.

The EZ-Out is a lockback folder with a modified clip point blade that is partially serrated. A non-serrated version was available but I chose the serrated version for the flexibility. The blade has a thumb hole for rapid opening with either hand.

Its handle is Zytel plastic with Kraton rubber inserts to provide better grip. The handle is pretty durable. The Kraton inserts disintegrated over the years and I had to remove them for aesthetic reasons. But the Zytel was still going strong.

Finally, it has a strong clip so it can be secured to your pocket. Unfortunately, it can’t be switched to the other side so if you prefer it on another side, you’ll have to compromise.

The total package is small, light, and handy. You can carry it everywhere. Which is what I did. I carried it at work, at play, to hills, the occasional mountain, caves, swims, and even dives. And through all these it often came in useful: cutting cardboard, rope, vines, wood, preparing food, even for prying. Even when it was not needed, it always gave me comfort that it was there ready for use.

I’m going to miss it.

Rating: 5/5

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Oakley Unknown

The Oakley Unknown is one high-speed, low-drag (HSLD) piece of gear. It is has a sleek wraparound frame design that provides a wide field of vision. The frame is made of plastic (“O MATTER” in Oakley marketing parlance) which makes it very light so it doesn’t get burdensome while worn. Rubber (“Unobtainium”) earsocks keep a good grip and keep everything in place during rough activity.

The polycarbonate lenses (“Plutonite”) are very effective at blocking the sun but are extremely clear (“High-Definition Optics”) sometimes I think they’re not even there. The lenses supposedly exceeds ANSI Z87.1 Industrial Standards for impact protection. This means it can withstand a shotgun pellet from 30 ft but personally, I don’t want to find out if this works.

But what I like best is that it’s got that famous Oakley “mad science” look without being overly loud like some of their other designs.

Rating: 5/5

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Princeton Tec Impact XL

The Impact XL is an underwater flashlight that can also be used for above-water outdoor activities or, if you prefer, an above-water flashlight that can also be used for underwater activities. Per manufacturer specifications, it is waterproof up to 100m. It has a single Luxeon LED bulb which can throw 170 lumens of light as far as 50m. 4 AA batteries provide burn-time of up to 50 hours. Its tough plastic body is clad in molded rubber for grip as well as additional protection. A lanyard loop at the tail end allows for the attachment of a lanyard, wrist strap, or clip. The switch is a rotating bezel. It has enough rotations to minimize the chance of opening and flooding the batteries while underwater. However, you turn it in to activate so there’s a chance, albeit pretty small, that a push, say from water pressure, will move the head in and activate. Other than that, I’ve no real complaint about this light. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4/5

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Gerber River Shorty

When it comes to a cutting tool for diving, simple is the operative word. Face it, you won’t be fighting off a hungry great white. Heck, you’re lucky if you see one. More often than not, you will be using it for cutting lines and ropes. So a simple one will do the job. In fact, experienced divers sometimes use a simple kitchen knife. But kitchen knives can’t usually be used for prying.

This is where the Gerber River Shorty comes in. It can do everything a kitchen knife can. Plus the blade is also thick enough to be usable for prying. There is actually a version with a flat tip designed for prying. The blade is sharp and is 50% serrated/50% straight. The spine has ribbing for control with your thumb. The handle is molded plastic with ribbing and cut-outs for grip. It also has a no nonsense solid plastic sheath with a clip for attaching to your flotation vest or belt.

It’s light and small. Unobtrusive but there when you need it. I’ve dived quite a few times with it and it has held up well for a knife originally designed for river rafting. Saltwater can cause some rusting but nothing a good washing and oiling can prevent.

Rating: 4/5