Month: July 2012

Columbia Titanium Mobex Backpack REVIEW

What a bag!

I am in love with the way it is designed.  It is by far the best looking bag on the market.  At first, it may seem unpractical but in farther investigation, the amount of “hidden” pockets it has will blow your mind.  On the outside the bag has 2 zipper compartments (on top and bottom) and 2 mesh compartments on its “face”.  Peaking inside, the bag has space for a 3 liter water bladder (with opening for a hydration tube of-course), 1 large pocket with a separator, 2 hidden pockets, and a detachable pouch.  On the waist strap you will find a nicely sized pouch and a very useless bottle holder.

Useless Bottle Holder?

Yup!  As with Nissan Cube, the outside design is beautifully thought out & executed but the interior seems like the designers either ran out of money or talent.  It stinks!  Same goes with the bottle holder for this bag.  It’s impractical and your canteen will be in a way of your arm movement while hiking.  Check out the video below to see just how awful it is!

It’s a bit feminine.

We randomly stumbled upon this bag while exploring Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and I immediately had to have it.  Priced at $80 I was a bit hesitant but couldn’t get it out of my head and ended up buying it.  It turned to cost $60 at the end.  Today you can find it online for about $40 which is a great bargain.  Right.. went off track for a bit.  Just look at it!  Doesn’t it scream out Hello Kitty?.. even when it’s in black.  Maybe it’s just me.  Personally, I don’t care.  The bag is comfortable & lightweight, and at the end of a long hike these are one of many very important factors.


For day hike you say?

Even though it’s small and most of the compartments can only fit a pair of socks, with smart packing this bag can be used for at least an overnight hike (if not 2 or 3 nights).  It all depends on the amount of hiking, terrain, and the weather you are facing.  With proper rationing of water (don’t forget the terrible canteen holder), you’ve got room for some dehydrated food and clothing.  You can attach your sleeping bag, mat, hammock/tent on the outside of the bag and you are ready to hit the trails.

Overall, this bag is

awesome!  I would  highly recommend it for day hikes (and overnight hikes too!), bike rides, or morning commutes.  Please check out some additional information in the video below.

Intex Seahawk II Boat Set Review

What’s awesome: 

This raft comes with two ores, manual pump, 2 pouches (1 for motor battery, the-other for whatever floats your boat.. heh, get it?), and two blow up seats.  Although this raft is for 3 people I would only recommend it for 2. This way you get plenty of room for your fishing equipment and even room for a large dog. Since the raft is so rugged, having a dog in it is no problem…. Don’t worry about the dog’s nails, it’ll handle it!

If you plan to use this raft on a lake, I highly recommend you to get an electric motor.  The raft has special hooks and a place for a battery. If you plan to use it as a safety raft for you yacht or just for rafting down the river, than no worries, don’t bother with the motor.

Why a motor? Due to the rafts’ size and shape it gets exhausting to constantly keep rowing every time the current sends you back to land.

What’s not so awesome:

It’s white, the ores suck, and folding it back into the bag is a time consuming & strength draining task.  Can somebody please tell me whose bright idea was it to make this raft in white? Between the dirt, mud, sand, pebbles, and everything else, this raft is now between yellow and brown color.  It’s as if the designers though this will be used in a nice, clean, chlorine treated pool….. seriously?


If you decide to

ignore my idea of additionally purchasing electric motor, do yourself a favor and at least get additional oars.  The ores that come with the raft are the definition of “cheap junk”.   There are many reviews on amazon that say exactly the same thing – the ores that come with the raft will break.  Mine did during second time using them!

Check out SailboatsToGo and raft like a sir with a sail.

Folding the raft back

into the bag is a really annoying task.  Unfortunately I do not have luxury of a yacht, backyard, or a shed to keep this thing inflated all the time…  This means I must fold it back after each use and this can take up to good 20 minutes. Take your time and take care of it.

Elkmont Campground (TN) Review

Solitude/privacy: 1
Environment & Nature: 5
Available Activities: 5
Staff & Park Officials: 4
Accessibility: 5

 

This Campground is

one of the 3 most popular campgrounds in The Great Smoky Mountains.  It contains 208 platformed sites that are positioned pretty close to each other.  It’s great when a large group of friends camp out together and not so great when you are just their neighbor.. not a friend.

 

Platforms you say?

Yes-yes I say!  The cool things about platforms:  no worries about uneven, slope-like spots, tree roots, medium sized half submerged rocks, and other “awesome” nature things thrusting against your tent floor.  The not-so cool things about platforms: can’t fit more than one tent on it.  Let’s face it, very few of us travel with a 1 or 2-person tent to campgrounds.  We tend to schlep our 6, 8, or even 10-person tent with us and unfortunately only one large tent can fit on the platform.  The campground allows 2 tents per spot but because of the platforms, there is little room left for the second tent without being too close to the neighbor, eating area, your auto, or the fire.

You’ve set up your camp and

had the celebratory light beer (got to watch the weight and everything) with not so light burger… what’s next?   Since it’s the Smoky’s, time to burn those calories with hiking. The park offers many awesome trails to choose from.  Please keep in mind that even though pets are allowed on the campgrounds, they are NOT allowed on trails due to large population of bears and irresponsible dog owners.  Got Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license?  Go to the river and catch some dinner!   The park also offers horse rental, horseback riding and trails, interpretive programs and trails, and many other things you can check out here.

So you’ve done all the activities

and it’s time to wash off all the sweat, dirt, and deer ticks.  Sorry friend, you are out of luck.  Although this is a pretty large and very popular campground, it still pretends to be hidden somewhere on the path of back country trails.  There are absolutely no showers in the campground!  I was told there are some paid* showers at Lazy Dayz… where ever that is.


Camp by the river…

… if you can get a spot.  There a few spots available by the rive for tent and RV camping which has it’s ups and downs.  The ups are that you have quick access to wash bacon grease off of your frying pan after which take a dip in to cool off and go Rambo on the fish…. or just dip your feet in and spend some quality time with the kids catching diner.  The downs are that the river noise tends to mute the sound of your neighbors generator and who wants that?  Oh ye, also mosquitoes.  They like shade and water, so keep that in mind!

There is no camp store at this particular campground.  There is however a camp booth with a few vending machines.

Although alcohol is allowed at this campground, driving while drinking isn’t (just like everywhere!), so don’t do it.  The park officials are very keen on taking your license away and throwing your belly full of bud light in jail!

Check out our video review!

Cades Cove Campgrounds (TN) Review

Solitude/privacy: 1
Environment & Nature: 5
Available Activities: 5
Staff & Park Officials: 4
Accessibility: 5

Cades Cove is

one of the 3 most popular campgrounds in The Great Smoky Mountains.  It contains roughly 159 platformed sites that are positioned pretty close to each other.  It’s great when a large group of friends camp out together and not so great when you are just their neighbor.. not a friend.

 

Platforms you say?

Yes-yes I say!  The cool things about platforms:  no worries about uneven, slope-like spots, tree roots, medium sized half submerged rocks, and other “awesome” nature things thrusting against your tent floor.  The not-so cool things about platforms: can’t fit more than one tent on it.  Let’s face it, very few of us travel with a 1 or 2-person tent to campgrounds.  We tend to schlep our 6, 8, or even 10-person tent with us and unfortunately only one large tent can fit on the platform.  The campground allows 2 tents per spot but because of the platforms, there is little room left for the second tent without being too close to the neighbor, eating area, your auto, or the fire.

You’ve set up your camp and

had the celebratory light beer (got to watch the weight and everything) with not so light burger… what’s next?   Since it’s the Smoky’s, time to burn those calories with hiking. The park offers many awesome trails to choose from.  Please keep in mind that even though pets are allowed on the campgrounds, they are NOT allowed on trails due to large population of bears and irresponsible dog owners.  The campground itself offers bike rental which is very popular.  Got Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license?  Go to the river and catch some diner!   The park also offers horse rental, horseback riding and trails, interpretive programs and trails, and many other things you can check out here.

So you’ve done all the activities

and it’s time to wash off all the sweat, dirt, and deer ticks.  Sorry friend, you are out of luck.  Although this is a pretty large and very popular campground, it still pretends to be hidden somewhere on the path of back country trails.  There are absolutely no showers in the campground!  I was told there are some paid* showers at Lazy Dayz… where ever that is.


Just like the North Rim Campgrounds in Arizona, do expect be positioned next to caravans and trailers. Do expect having a generator run most of the day and the fumes ruining the fresh air you came here for.  Do expect be awakened at 8AM by trucks collecting garbage and emptying sewage tanks.  Do expect pick up trucks with roaring engines passing by your tents at 5 mph throughout the entire day.  Don’t expect anything remotely healthy at the camp store.  Half the the food that is being sold there is either fried or food you are expected to cook at the campgrounds yourself (burgers, hot dogs, etc).  Coffee was OK!

Although alcohol is allowed at this campground, driving while drinking isn’t (just like everywhere!), so don’t do it.  The park officials are very keen on taking your license away and throwing your belly full of bud light in jail!

Check out our video review!