Coghlan’s Flint Striker – Video Review

CamelBak Flow Meter

For years I have had the frustration of not knowing how much water was left in my hydration unit without opening my pack and physically looking.  CamelBak has come up with a solution to this problem. The CamelBak Flow Meter.
Some people don’t feel they need to know how much water they have. I have ran out of water while in areas that had no water accessible. This occurred because I was unaware of how much I had been drinking. The CamelBak Flow Meter lets me know how much water I have available and then  make decisions based on this.

Here is what CamelBak says about their Flow Meter:
Convert any CamelBak reservoir into an intelligent hydration system with the CamelBak Flow Meter. The water gauge measures how much water you drink, and how much is left in your reservoir. Programmable to monitor personal hydration goals and easy to integrate with any CamelBak reservoir.

Now for my experiences with the Flow Meter.

A Quick Guide to Installation:
Unless you buy the CamelBak Omega Deluxe Reservoir with Flow Meter which is a reservoir with the flow meter already attached, you will need to install it on the drink tube. I’ll provide more detailed instructions on installing the Flow Meter in another post. For this post, just make sure you put the reservoir in place in your pack and make a mark on the tube where you will cut the tubing for the Flow Meter to be installed. Placing the cut tubing under hot water will ease in the installation of the Flow Meter.

Here is the rundown on what I have encountered using the CamelBak Flow Meter:

I have used this device while backpacking in spring and summer conditions as well as in the winter while cross-country skiing.  I don’t use all of the functionality that the flow meter has, I just need to know how much water is left in the hydration reservoir.

My Flow Meter was installed on a 3 liter CamelBak Omega reservoir. I changed the Flow Meter to metric settings to match my gear. After filling the reservoir with 3 liters of water and setting the Flow Meter to 3.0  liters, I was ready to take it out for testing. This first test would be in the snow, cross-country skiing.

With the Flow Meter installed, I did not notice that any additional effort was required to get a drink. The flow rate appeared to be the same. While cross-country skiing, I found that the unit had a tendency to freeze. This was mostly due to me not drinking enough and not having the drink tube insulated. The water in the tube was slightly slushy, but still moved. While skiing I found that I was not drinking nearly as much as I thought I was. After 2.5 hours the Flow Meter showed I had drank less than .5 liters of water. Upon opening my pack and inspecting the reservoir, this was correct. I drank more water during the trip and after I was back at our car the Flow Meter info was checked against the water level in the reservoir. The level of water remaining was very close to the amount the Flow Meter stated remained.

While hiking in the high desert, the unit was invaluable in helping me stay hydrated. Again, I was not drinking enough. Water levels were checked against the Flow Meter and again, the amounts were very close. At the end of a twelve mile day hike, the amount of water that was remaining was close to what the Flow Meter showed.

Accuracy:
If you let water drain out of the drink tube, the accuracy of the Flow Meter degrades. It appears that the Flow Meter works best when you are drinking through the bite valve. When I filled my cooking pot with water from the CamelBak by just squeezing the bit valve and letting the water drain, the accuracy was lower than when I just drank from the reservoir. Knowing this, if I filled my pots from the reservoir, I would adjust the Flow Meter afterward to match the amount of water in the reservoir. Since I was usually at camp when this was happening, it was not as big a deal as if I was moving on the trail.

When testing the accuracy of the device, I measured 1, 2, and 3 liters of water into the reservoir and then drank 1 liter of water each time. The Flow Meter showed the correct amount of water that was left in the reservoir to within a couple ounces. If I just let the water drain through the bite valve the accuracy was not very good. Again, it appears that the Flow Meter works best when you drink through the bite valve.

I did not blow the water out of the tube and back into the reservoir since it appeared that this affected the accuracy of the Flow Meter.

Conclusion:
Some people think the Flow Meter is crazy and useless, and others think it’s great. I think it’s a great idea and use the CamelBak Flow Meter on every trip I take. For me, knowing the amount of water I have available is an asset. If I am near a stream or other water source, I can look at the Flow Meter and know if I need to stop and refill without having to open my pack. If I am in a region with no water, it helps me to manage my water intake so that I don’t run out.
It is accurate enough that I have not ran out of water prematurely. The Flow Meter has also helped me know when I was not staying hydrated enough. For me the peace of mind this device brings is worth the cost.

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Eton Scorpion

While reading a National Geographic magazine, I noticed an advertisement for the Eton Scorpion emergency flashlight / radio unit.  My current crank powered radio is large and old so I decided to try the new Eton Scorpion.

So here is my real-world experience with a Eton Scorpion production unit.

Instruction Manual
The Eton Scorpion comes packaged in a clear plastic shipping case. The instructions are not in a separate manual, but printed on the inside cardboard packaging material. The instructions are printed in fairly small type.  Most functions of the Scorpion unit are straightforward, but one item that may cause some user problems is the USB charging because the instructions are not very clear on how the USB charging operates (more info on this item later).
Easier to read instructions for the Scorpion are available on the Eton website at http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=1517029

Batteries and Charging
The battery capacity is shown on a small LCD display (just like on a cell phone) with 3 bars being a fully charge. The unit arrived with a charge of 1 bar.  I powered on the flashlight and let it run until the power was drained to ensure accurate test results going forward.

To achieve a full charge on the batteries required approximately 500 turns of the hand crank. At a steady pace this took about 2-3 minutes.

After the batteries were fully depleted, I placed the unit outside in partly cloudy skies to test the solar charging.
The batteries were fully charged using solar power in about 5 hours.

Flashlight
The flashlight uses 3 white LEDs and provides good forward illumination up to about 20 – 30 feet. The flashlight is either on or off. There is no brightness selection or beam adjustments.
With the flashlight on (no radio) the batteries kept steady illumination for about 3.5 hours.  The light continued to shine after this time, but the illumination dropped off quickly.
Of course a few turns of the crank would restore the flashlight to full illumination.

Mode Selector

The Mode Selector panel has up/down tuning control arrows, +- volume controls, M mode selector (for radio bands and cell charging), and a standard on/off power button.

Radio
The radio is a standard AM/FM/Weather band radio. It is digital, so there are no dials to turn while dialing in frequencies.  Just use the up or down arrows to select a station.  The sound quality is about what you would expect for a single speaker radio. The external antenna can be used to improve reception if needed. Most of the stations (including weather bands) did not require the antenna to be extended.
With the light turned on and the radio volume set to 25 (top volume level is 30), the radio operated properly for a little over 2 hours. The flashlight continued to function even after the radio stopped.  Again, just a few turns of the hand crank would recharge the batteries so that the radio would function again.

Clock and Display

The Scorpion’s display also doubles as a digital clock.  The time is set manually and was still accurate after 7 days.
If the batteries are fully discharged, the clock will need to be reset since there is no battery backup.

Input / Output Connections

Earphone Jack
There is a standard earphone jack and when in use disables the external speaker.

AUX Input Jack
The aux input jack allows you to plug-in an iPod and use the external speaker instead of headphones only.
This requires a male to male cable that is not included.

USB Charging
Cell phones can be charged using the USB port on the Scorpion.  To use USB charging, you must press the mode button until the display shows ‘cell’. If the unit is not set to cell mode, you can crank all day and there will be no power to the phone.  Once the cell mode is enabled, and your phone connected (USB cable not included), you need to turn the crank about 1-2 times per second. If you try to turn the crank faster, a clutch type mechanism engages that lets you know to turn more slowly.
The only phone that I have that uses USB is a Droid smartphone.
For my Droid, 30 minutes of slow cranking only provided enough power to turn on my phone. As soon as I attempted to use the phone to place a call, the power was depleted.
If there was absolutely no power available, I could probably spend enough time turning the crank to get a couple minutes of talk time, but this would definitely be emergency use only.

Adapter tips are available for numerous cell phones (not included).

The Eton website states that 10-15 minutes of cranking can provide about 1 or more minutes of talk time. Since all phones have different power requirements and battery usage, your mileage may vary using the USB charging feature.

The solar charging feature does not work on the USB port. This appears to be a hand crank only option.

DC Power
The unit has a DC power port that allows an external power source to be connected (DC adapter not included).
This feature was not tested during our review.

Splashproof
The Scorpion is rated as IPX-4 Splashproof.

In technical terms, the unit is protected against spraying water from all angles at 10 liters/min at a pressure of 80-100kN/m2 for 5 min.

In real-life terms, this means the unit can withstand splashes of water and some rain. It cannot be submerged or exposed to a constant spray of water.

During testing, while the unit was powered on, a steady rain hit the unit without causing damage.
A water hose was used to gently spray the unit while it was powered on and it also continued to function properly.

There is a rubber flap that covers the input/output ports. This flap must be kept closed when in use around water. Failure to do so can allow water to enter the unit through the various input/ output ports..

It does not appear that there are any gaskets to seal the unit, so I would caution that the Scorpion should not be used where it could be exposed to water or rain for long periods of time.  The antenna and hand crank should not be used while exposed to water. Again, this unit is only water resistant, not waterproof and cannot be submerged.

Bottle Opener?

Yes, it has a bottle opener integrated into it’s side. The bottle opener is sideways in the unit which is slightly awkward to use, but it does work.

Design
The Scorpion appears more rugged than it actually is. It does have a rugged rubberized exterior, but the unit is plastic.
An aluminum carabiner clip integrated into the unit allows it to be attached to various items. It has flat sides that allow it to be stable when placed on flat areas.
The LCD display is small, but usable. A larger LCD would be nice, but this would also require more power.

Conclusion
The Scorpion is billed as being “Power Packed for Extreme Outdoor Condition.”
If it were waterproof, not just splashproof, I would be more inclined to agree. For what the unit actually is, a splashproof self-powered emergency flashlight and radio, the Eton Scorpion works well. The flashlight gives good illumination and the radio works well on all frequencies. Battery life is good and can always be extended by using the hand crank. The rubberized exterior protects the unit from accidental drops.
I wish the unit was fully waterproof and that the USB charging would use solar power and charge my smartphone.
Even with these issues, the Scorpion will find it’s way into our home emergency supplies and also into my vehicle.

Video Review of the Etón (Eton) Scorpion

Specs
Dimensions: 5.25” x 2.5” x 1.75” (W x H x D)
133 x 63.5 x 44.45 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 8.5 oz. (241 g)

Features
• Digital AM FM Radio Tuner
• NOAA Weather Band
• Built-In LED Flashlight
• Large Solar Panel
• Crank Powered
• USB Cell Phone Charger
• Audio Line Input
• Aluminum Carabiner
• Splashproof
• Rugged Exterior Skin
• Battery Charge Indicator
• Bottle Opener
• No Batteries Needed
• DC Power

SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger

As many of you know, EveryTrail is powering www.spotadventures.com, the site that lets users of the Spot GPS Messenger track and share their adventures from anywhere in the world. Thanks tothe EveryTrail relationship with Spot, they are able offer a great deal on Spot devices to the EveryTrail community: When you enter the promo code EVERYTRAIL23, you will receive a year worth of free tracking. Please see www.findmespot.com/everytrail for more details.

If you have not used EveryTrail.com before, you should. Especially since it is a free service.

You can see some of my trips on EveryTrail by visiting http://www.everytrail.com/profile.php?user_id=55953

You can also find some of my trips on Spot Adventures by visiting http://www.spotadventures.com/user/profile?user_id=42872

SPOT II Satellite GPS Messenger

I recently purchased a new SPOT 2 Satellite GPS Messenger to replace my SPOT 1 Personal Tracker.
The smaller size and lighter weight is what initially drew my attention to the new unit. I have not field tested the SPOT 2 extensively, but testing during short day trips have shown the unit to work as expected. Initially there was a voluntary recall due to battery issues with the SPOT 2. I waited until the issues were resolved before making my purchase.

My initial impressions of the SPOT 2 are positive. The smaller size, lighter weight, and better satellite reception are welcome features. The new unit also is more intuitive in its use and function. The Help and SOS/911 buttons are also covered so that they cannot be accidentally activated.
The SPOT 2 has shorter battery life when compared to the SPOT 1. Also, the SPOT 2 does not float. I have never dropped  my original SPOT 1 into the water, except for testing, but this is an item worth noting. The new SPOT 2 does not have an integrated belt clip. It does come with a neoprene cell phone type belt case with a small carabiner. The case also comes with an armband attachment.
In regards to battery life, the original SPOT 1 had fairly long life. The new SPOT 2 has shorter battery life, and this is also affected due to the amount of clear sky the unit has access to.

So far I am very happy with the new unit. It acquires a satellite lock quickly. The help and SOS/911 buttons are covered. The unit is smaller and lighter. The new unit also has an additional custom message button. (I use the custom message button to let my family know when I have reached a summit).

The battery life may be a concern on longer trips, but so far my initial testing has shown that the batteries are lasting slightly longer than the spec sheets state.

The original SPOT 1 served me well last year. Trip were created and shared on the spotadventures.com website and friends and family could follow along live using the google maps sharing features.

I’ll post an updated review specifically for the SPOT 2 after I have a few more field tests completed.

Remember, this is not a true PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) but is a great tool to keep friends and family updated on your travels and to request assistance if needed.

Here are the basic specs for the two units:
SPOT 1
Battery Type:    AA Lithium
Power ON, unused:    Approx. I year*
Tracking mode:    Approx. 14 days*
S.O.S./911 mode:    up to 7 consecutive days
Check / OK:    1900 messages*
*Under normal usage a full battery charge should
meet or exceed these amounts

SPOT 2 – 100% Clear View of Sky
Battery Type:3 AAA lithium batteries
Power ON: ~ 3 months
Tracking Mode: ~ 7 days
S.O.S./911 Mode: ~ 6 days
Check-in/Custom Message: ~ 700 messages

SPOT 2 – 50% Clear View of Sky
Battery Type:3 AAA lithium batteries
Power ON: ~ 3 months
Tracking Mode: ~ 3 days
S.O.S./911 Mode: ~ 3.5 days
Check-in/Custom Message: ~ 350 messages

Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Cook Set

My initial reaction to this set was positive, but after using it a few times, I have have ran into issues.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good lightweight cook set, but I am looking for a few features that it does not have.

The Snow Peak cook set includes a 28 oz. (.82 l) pot, 10 oz. cup, lid and storage sack. The system is very lightweight at 5.9 ounces including the storage sack. It nests together and can hold a 110 gram fuel canister and the Giga stove. You can also store 2 110 gram fuel canisters inside the pot without the stove.

When everything is nested and placed in the storage sack, it tends to be noisy. The cup and lid do not fit tightly and if not placed in your pack properly can become an annoyance from the rattling sounds.

Unlike the Snow Peak Starter Kit which uses stainless steel for it’s handles and lid, this set is all titanium. It seems odd that some of the Snow Peak pots have fill lines, while others, like this set, do not. Only the cup has fill lines which makes putting the proper amount of water in the pot a two step process (measure the water in the cup and then pour it into the pot).

The handles on the pot and cup do not lock into place. The flip up handle on the lid has no lock to keep it in an upright position. If you push the handle tightly to one side it will stay upright most of the time. If the lid handle falls down, you may need a knife or pliers to safely grab the handle and remove the lid. You may be able to cut a small notch in the hinge so that the handle would stay upright when pushed into the slot.

As with all titanium cookware, heat transfers quickly. You can burn your lip when drinking out of the cup due to the quick heat transfer.

I really wanted to like this cook set, but the various issues I have encountered are causing this unit to be returned. My search will continue.

View of nested cook set.
The handles are titanium, but do not lock into place.

Top view of pot with fuel canister and Giga stove inside.
I always store the fuel canisters upside down with the plastic cover in place.

The pot is fairly tall and when placed on the stove can easily tip over if not located on a flat stable area.
The tall pot can hold 2 110g fuel canisters (without the stove).

Top inside view of pot.
There are no fill markings on the pot.
You could scratch a line on the inside for various fill levels if needed.

The cup has fill lines in both ounces and milliliters.
I don’t like for the idea of having to use the cup to measure water for the pot.

Snow Peak pot placed on the Vargo Decagon Titanium Alcohol Stove
The Decagon stove will not fit inside the pot, but can be placed on top of the set in the storage sack.
The pot worked well with both canister and alcohol stoves.

High heat output from the Giga stove caused some discoloration on the bottom of the pot.

Total weight of the pot, cup, and lid is 5.5 ounces.

Total weight of the pot, cup, lid and stuff sack is 5.9 ounces.

Borah Peak – Idaho Highpoint

I know this climb is a couple years old, but anyone wanting to summit should start getting in shape now.

Click here to see the trip with EveryTrail

I know there are a lot of opinions about Backpacker Magazine, but if you want a subscription, click the link below for one of the best deals I have found, 1 year for $5.95.

Backpacker Magazine – 1Year for $5.95

Click here to search for other magazine titles.

Vargo Decagon Titanium Alcohol Stove

After performing a control test for boil times, we took the Vargo Decagon Titanium Alcohol Stove into winter conditions to see how it fared in the snow.  The first attempt to boil water failed after the flame blew out.  We let the stove cool down, refueled and restarted the test.
Check out the video to see how the Decagon stove worked in winter snow conditions.