Article by James Hannibal. Callsign KH2SR. Have you ever wanted to communicate with other people using Morse code, but didn’t know where to start? The MMX Morse Code Transceiver from PreppComm can help you get on the air and start operating CW (continuous wave) without knowing a single character of Morse code! The MMX is…

When it comes to GPS tracking there are quite a few options out there. Unfortunately, most of them either require a monthly plan and only work where there is cellphone coverage. Or they are able to function without cellular, but offer very short range tracking. goTele offers the best of both worlds with long range…

If you are shopping for Bluetooth speakers and are sick and tired of seeing all those tiny crummy ones out there then you should consider checking out the wireless speakers that 808 has to offer. I was fortunate to be able to test three out of their five Bluetooth speakers and have been very impressed…

If you own an iPad and enjoy drawing, then you probably would benefit from utilizing a stylus. The Cosmonaut Stylus from Studio Neat is meant to be used with capacitive touch screens (iPads) and sports a very simple and durable design that is perfect for those who prefer the minimalist approach when it comes to…

This watch is definitely built for those that frequently enjoy going for a run on a daily basis and want to see every performance stat possible. Not only will it record a detailed track of your route and speed using its internal GPS, but it will also track your movement with its built-in accelerometer, and…

Have you ever wanted to streamline your cycling experience and get back to the simplicity of a retro single speed? The Roadster Classic from Linus definitely fits the bill. Inspired by French and Italian cinema from the 50’s and 60’s, the Roadster Classic will easily bring you back to the glory days of yesteryear. The…

If you like the dapper look but feel that a standard bowtie just isn’t unique enough for you, then “The Classic” wooden bowtie made by Two Guys Bow Tie should take your snazzy look up a few notches. The Classic is handmade in the USA from Canary wood, weighs in at a feather light 0.10…

Looking for a multipurpose wristwatch for an upcoming expedition? Freestyle has a couple watches that might just be exactly what you are looking for. Mariner Tide Watch: If you enjoy boating on the open ocean, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, or even driving along a coastal road, you will definitely want to take a closer look…

If you have ever gone on an extended adventure away from your USB wall and car chargers, then you know that your gadgets can quickly become useless dead weights once their batteries run out of juice. Sunjacks solar panel products seek to remedy that problem. Both the 14-Watt solar panel and the 20-Watt solar panel…

Enjoy sustainable products? If you answered yes, then these handmade Eco- Friendly bamboo sunglasses by Woodwear are right up your alley. The Woodwear and Hermosa logos are laser cut into the bamboo of these shades. Unlike many other wooden sunglasses on the market, these have a very smooth finish, which makes them quite comfortable to…

Do you enjoy going jogging regularly? Or maybe you want to get back into jogging and would like to be able to plot your performance and see your improvement visually on a graphical display. Either way, the Runner GPS Watch by TomTom is a great option for those who like to keep track of their…

Binoculars and Monoculars are handy tools to have, whether you enjoy bird watching, stargazing, hunting, backpacking, sailing, or any of the other countless forms of recreation in the great outdoors. The Oceana 8×42 monocular and 7×50 binoculars from Celestron both have some very cool features that make them stand out from the majority of optics…

We all love enjoying the great outdoors, but let’s face it, few of us go camping or backpacking without bringing along our smartphones. Most people who take their smartphones into the backcountry typically do so for two reasons: navigation and communication. In the good old days, you might bring a dedicated handheld GPS for navigation…

Carabiners, frequently used by campers and hikers, have rarely been improved upon or reinvented – until now, that is. Enter the Qlipter, a carabiner so awesome they had to give it a new name. This carabiner has a secret weapon, a built-in wide hook that folds out and can rotate 360 degrees. The end of…

Be prepared for your next backcountry excursion or any unexpected emergency with the Combo Pocket Size 2 oz. Water Purification Solution from Purinize & the Mini Water Filter System from Sawyer. The pocket-sized Purinize Water Purification Solution comes in a handy little bottle with a pop-top opening and spout. It can easily fit into any…

Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth, it’s all you ever hear about anymore when the topic of speakers is brought up. The market is absolutely flooded with Bluetooth speakers right now. One of the problems with all these Bluetooth speakers is their inability to easily allow users to quickly switch between audio input sources. Another drawback of Bluetooth…

Be prepared for the heat next summer with the IceMule Pro Cooler. This is, of course, not your typical cooler. It happens to be one that you can carry on your back as a backpack. The IceMule Pro is essentially a dry bag backpack with an insulated and inflatable layer that will keep your ice…

Everyone needs water, especially when out on a summer adventure. The constant issue is how do you carry that water comfortably. If you are riding a bicycle, you probably have a bottle cage on your bike frame, but some bikes don’t have that, especially fixies. Then, of course, there are those water bladder backpacks. They…

Make those little ding-dong bike bells cower in fear with the Blast Airhorn from Biologic. More importantly, this horn is a safety device. Unlike those common bike bells, the Blast Airhorn is extremely loud, thus making your presence known to cars while going though a dangerous intersection. I don’t necessarily recommend it, and it may…

“The Two Man Tent” from Poler is a great addition to any car camping kit. Unlike most dome tents that claim to be “two man” (but are really more like one and a half if you want to keep your pack inside the tent), the Poler Two Man Tent could easily fit two people and…

While camping, have you ever taken a lot of time getting all tucked inside your sleeping bag all nice and cozy and then just as you settle in for the night, you realize that nature is calling? I have, and man, that’s frustrating. Maybe you would like to enjoy the evening outside around camp, but…

Okay, let’s get this out of the way up front. Yes, your smartphone has a GPS in it, and yes, you can get lots of maps and navigation apps for just a couple bucks, and yeah, you can get a rugged case for said smartphone. The problem is that your smartphone has quite a few…

If you want a pair of hiking boots that are as tough as nails, then you are reading the right review. The Kailash GTX hiking boots from SCARPA are built to take a beating from rugged terrain without breaking a sweat. During my testing, I roughed them up on boulders, used them in the mud,…

What good is an awesome jacket for rugged adventures if you don’t have pants to match? The Force 10 RS Cargo Pants by Triple Aught Design are built to be the perfect match. These pants have enough features to bring James Bond to tears. They feature 10 pockets, two of which are hidden passport pockets…

If you’re the type to pack everything plus the kitchen sink when going on adventures, then you will love the Tahoe Backpack Cooler by Granite Rocx. This backpack not only will carry all your gadgets and toys, but. it can also externally carry a flat folding beach chair, folding camp chair, beach towel, and two…

Anyone who enjoys getting out into the great outdoors for adventurous activities such as hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, or paddle boarding will know that one can work up quite a thirst. The Hydra Quiver SUP-SIP leg holster water bottle by Orange Mud allows you to carry 24 ounces of fluid on your choice of leg,…

The Stuffa Jacket is actually a vest. This vest has a classic/old school down vest styling. To the untrained eye, one might think it to be a simple vest just like the thousands we see on people all the time. However, lurking beneath the surface of this seemingly unassuming and “normal looking” vest, lies an…

Be prepared for chilly weather this season with a pair of boots that will not only keep your feet toasty warm but nice and dry as well. The Mens Riva Winter Mid WP hiking boots from Teva will do that and more with ease. Never before have I worn a brand new pair of hiking…

If you are serious about backcountry adventuring, then you need a proper set of rugged sunglasses. What better brand to pick than the one that has been designing mountaineering glasses for the last 125 years? The Vermont Mythic Mountaineering glasses by Julbo have been resurrected to commemorate the anniversary. The Vermont Mythic recaptures the traditional…

The Gaiter Trousers by Fjallraven provide you with amazing protection and functionality for adventuring in the great outdoors. They are made of wind and water resistant heavy duty G-1000 and Eco G-1000 that consists of 65% recycled polyester and 35% organic cotton. The biggest feature of these pants is their ability to convert into shorts…

The Easy Macro is a very simple, highly effective, and widely compatible add-on macro lens for any iPhone and nearly all smartphones. It consists of a sturdy blue rubber band and a tiny macro lens embedded into that band. All you need to do is stretch the band over your iPhone/smartphone and then line up…

Get out and do some real camping in the backcountry with the Scout3400 Internal Frame Backpacking Backpack by Teton Sports. The Scout 3400 weighs in at 4.5 pounds, external dimensions of 33”x17”x12”, and an internal capacity of 3400 Cubic Inches / 55 Liters. There is an internal pouch, which holds a hydration bladder as well…

If there is one thing that every single person hates while camping: it’s suffering through a never-ending swarm of mosquitoes. Most people would rather deal with a torrential downpour or miss a meal than deal with those pesky blood suckers. They spread diseases, make you itch like crazy, and are just plain annoying. I never…

Anyone who has been camping in less than perfect weather conditions and has used those collapsible camp chairs knows how poorly most of them are insulated. Yes, you can drape a blanket over the chair, but you inevitably end up with half the blanket in the dirt and mud, and it never works very well….

GSI Outdoors makes a wide variety of really cool camping cookware gear. Amongst them are the Pinnacle Soloist cook set and the ultra-light teakettle. The Soloist can hold 14 fl. oz., weighs in at 10.9 oz., and has the following dimensions: 5.00″ x 5.40″ x 5.50″. Made with a rubber coated folding handle and a…

One of the biggest problems of traveling for any considerable amount of time is being able to pack light. Of course, the problem with packing less clothing than the amount of days you will be traveling is that you will have to deal with washing them every few days. Yes, you can wash your clothes…

Get ready to feel like a fighter pilot the next time you fly down a ski slope! The Z3 Recon Live GPS, HUD (Heads Up Display) goggles by Zeal Optics and Recon Instruments will give you that Top Gun feeling during your next extreme sports adventure. These goggles are mainly marketed toward downhill skiing &…

Step aside, James Bond’s watch. Your fake laser doesn’t come anywhere close to the “REAL” high tech gadgets inside the Pro Trek, Triple Sensor, Tough Solar Analog/Digital wristwatch by Casio. This watch would definitely make the aforementioned silver screen spy hero drool to the point of dehydration. Even though the Pro Trek will appeal to…

If you own an iPad, eBook reader, laptop or other tablet device of some kind, then you know how frustrating it can be to try to get in a comfortable position while holding it up to read or watch a movie. There are a wide variety of tablet stand devices on the market now. However,…

Okay all you artists out there who own iPads and wish you could have a more realistic painting experience, then painting with your finger or a rubber-tipped stylus that feels like a ballpoint pen. The Nomad Brush seeks to make your virtual painting experience more realistic with actual brush tips made from a blend of…

Don’t you just hate it when you have to park in one of those giant parking lots where every aisle looks exactly the same? Or when you park in an unfamiliar city and end up wandering aimlessly as you attempt to backtrack your way to your car? If you have ever had an experience like…

Time to get your green on while you wash your clothes. The “Wonder Wash” will allow you to do a small load of laundry without using any electricity at all and very little water. How is the Wonder Wash powered, you might ask? Take a look in the mirror because that power source is you!…

Bring the fun of fruit smoothies and other blended treats with you on your next off-the-grid camping trip with the Vortex hand-crank blender by GSI Outdoors. This blending beast will quickly whip up your next frozen snack, and it won’t add a cent to your electric bill. Plus, you get some exercise in the process….

Water: it’s something we all need to survive. Yet, just like the Wicked Witch of the West, it spells certain death to any smartphone. This is where the Dry Case by Dry Corp comes to the rescue. There are waterproof cases out there that are custom fitted to your exact model of smartphone, but the…

Fresh drinking water, it’s one of the most important nutrients we humans need to survive. It’s something many people take for granted on a daily basis. During natural disasters and wilderness survival situations, fresh drinkable water can be one of the hardest things to come by. Water purification devices such as the Hyperflow Microfilter by…

Time to cut the cord on that laptop of yours and charge up off the grid. The 12- volt 18 watt Folding Solar Panel and 8 Amp Controller by Nature Power does just that. It comes with 10 adapter tips, which allow you to charge a wide variety of laptops. Unfortunately, it does not include…

The Class 10 32GB SDHC memory card by Verbatim is a great way to alleviate the issues of running out of space. Not only does it allow one to take more photos while on vacation, but its vast storage also solves the problem of having to keep track of all those extra 2, 4, &…

Beat the summer heat by keeping your drinks nice and chilly with a P20 12-volt cigarette lighter powered compact cooler from Koolatron. I recently took this cool cat on a 3,000-mile road trip, which included Northern Idaho, the San Juan Islands, the Oregon Coast, and Yosemite National Park. I kept all kinds of stuff in…

Don’t you just hate it when you can’t get good cellphone coverage? I know I do. I am always surprised by how certain locations in homes are total dead zones. This is where dual band cellphone repeaters like the zBoost SOHO YX545 Cell Phone Booster by Wi-Ex can really come in handy. There are several…

Time to get your freak on this summer! Isn’t it a pain when you pick up your recently purchased cold beverage only to find it has warmed up to room temperature? Cue the Freaker. The Freaker is a knit cozy that can fit on just about every beverage container on the market. The stretchy properties…

Looking for a simple solution to the problem of not having enough wall outlets for all those little single port USB chargers you travel with? The Charger 4 Pro by Arctic is a four port USB wall charger that packs a mighty power punch and might be just what you are looking for. It has…

For all those who have gone through some form of natural disaster in which power and cellular coverage was lost (sometimes for days or even weeks at a time), you know that an emergency AM/FM/NOAA weather radio receiver can become a vital tool. Such a radio is needed for keeping up-to-date on important news, evacuation,…

If you’re looking for ways to move your home into the 21st century, the Power2U AC/USB Wall Outlet may be a good place to start. The Power2U replaces your standard two-plug AC wall outlet. It still gives you two AC outlets, but it also adds two full-sized USB ports for charging any of your gadgets….

Are you’re tired of owning boring tents that look like everyone else’s around the campground? If so, you need to check this out – a VW Camper Van Tent! If you own or have owned a Volkswagen of any kind then this is definitely right up your alley. As a VW owner or nostalgic collector,…

If you enjoy camping, hiking and kayaking as well as other countless outdoor activities, you most certainly have been in one of those dark situations where you need to hold a flashlight, but you also need both hands free to set up your tent, tie down your boat, or cook your meal. The Solar Light…

The K481 by Arctic is a compact wireless keyboard that includes a small touchpad with multi-touch capabilities and two mouse buttons. (I am actually using it to write this entire review.) It utilizes the 2.4GHz frequency range, which is the same band as some Wi-Fi routers. At first, I was concerned with this choice since…

The Rewind 2.0 by Moshi is a simple and effective solution for people who need to charge more than one device at the same time. It eliminates the need to carry multiple USB wall chargers and solves the problem of only having access to one wall outlet, especially when traveling. The built-in AC wall outlet…

The iBallz shock-absorbing harness consists of 4 foam balls that are connected together by an elastic cord. They each connect to one of the four corners of your iPad. iBallz protects your iPad from medium chest height accidental drops onto flat surfaces.   It also helps protect your iPad from liquids that spill nearby and…

If you ever eat or drink next to your MacBook-Pro or MacBook-Air 13”, then the iVeil Hybrid Silicone Keyboard protector by Green Onion Supply might be just the laptop insurance plan you need. The iVeil is also great for just keeping dust and other gunk from building up on your keys and finding its way…

The Runnur is a streamlined cross-sling pack designed to hold your gadgets and adventure essentials. It keeps your pants and shirt pockets from filling up and hindering your movements. The Runnur is designed to carry your cell phone, ID, money, pens, credit cards, compact point & shoot camera, MP3 Player, glasses & a 16oz water…

The Scooter made by Insanely Great Products is a small, inexpensive dual suction cup iPhone stand made of sturdy acrylic with a non-skid base. It comes in 8 colors. It is designed and handmade in Silicon Valley, CA. The reason for the second suction cup is three-fold. It allows a user to choose either a…

“Whoosh” is an all-in-one eco-friendly liquid spray screen cleaner solution. It’s quick, easy to use, alcohol & ammonia-free, odorless, anti-static, non-toxic and comes in a bottle just within the TSA liquids limit. Included in the package is a microfiber cleaning cloth. In my testing of this product I found it to be extremely effective for…

With smartphones having touch screen interfaces there is an inherent flaw once the cold weather sets in. How do you operate the device while simultaneously keeping your hands warm? Luckily, conductive gloves have solved that issue, but each pair of gloves has its own pros and cons. The “Freehands Power Stretch 5 Finger” gloves are…