It is approx 4 inches long and I believe it is pink obsidian. I know of a local person that may be able to give me a further explanation of this stone tool. If I find out more, or if you gentle reader, have any comments & ideas I will follow up on what I learn. Also will try & take a better picture, this one was taken on-site with a camera phone (I did move & stage next to flowers & contrasting rocks)

I have been excited about this product since first learning about it and eagerly placed my order. At the writing of this post there is still some time left to back the product through Kickstarter with funding ending Jul 16, 2:22pm EDT. After that look to the Peak Design website for more info.

I have high hopes for this & am looking forward to putting it to use. Look for full review to follow.

Links:
Peak Design
Capture Camera Clip Kickstarter Page

Capture Camera Clip on Backpack Shoulder Strap

Capture Camera Clip on Belt Loop

Images & video courtesy Peak Design Ltd.

These are pretty heavy duty backpacking boots & to the minds of my fellow hikers they are overkill for general day to day adventures. I prefer a stout boot though and as my adventures often lead me off trail & into quite a variety of terrain I am always happy to have something solid underfoot. Especially in thick undergrowth, wet conditions & stream crossings or moving through loose scree & shale. Add a pair of gaiters to these babies & you are bomber.

Now to get a pair of red laces to make them official.
~ DS

I will write up a more extensive review after I have covered some miles in this new pair and compare them to my old pair which I finally had to retire.

My Current Daypack - Deuter Futura 32

Here in Central Idaho the trail are slowly starting to dry out - mainly near GearVine HQ. We are located in the town of Hailey which sits on the edge of the high desert and in a gateway valley to the higher mountain ranges which include the Sawtooths, Boulders & Pioneers. Lots of snow this previous winter will keep those higher trails covered for a while.

Locally  though, it has been a pleasure to start to get out & cover some ground. Today is grey & rainy so I am taking the opportunity to clean out my pack & make sure it is repacked with the basics I always carry.

These include:

• Rain Shell
• Lightweight capilene top & bottom
• Warm hat & Gloves
• Water Filter
• Water Bladder
• Lighter
• Multi-tool
• Headlamp
• Sharpie marker & small notebook (sharpie wrapped with some backup duct-tape)
• A couple of back-up energy bars

As of today that forms the basis of what is always in my day-pack & I consider ready to go. Just refill the water, add food or snacks for the day & I am ready to head out. Repeat as necessary. Over the course of the summer I will be updating this - particularly with the addition of emergency/first-aid/repair items.

Happy Spring & Happy Trails
~ David

Deuter Futura 32

I had been eyeballing this particular hat for some time after it had been originally recommended to me by former adventure racer and mountain personality Patrick Csizmazia. Pat has covered a lot of ground out of doors and his advice on this type of thing is worth a listen. Well I think he was right because so far I am real happy with the purchase.

Listed on eBay:

Sunday Afternoons Adventure Sun Protection Hat Sand Large & Medium - Men & Women    US $29.99

Sunday Afternoons Adventure Sun Protection Hat Tan Large Medium Men or Women    US $29.99

The hat fits well, my first day with it on was in a moderate breeze and reaching back for a quick tighten on the adjustable strap was all it took to keep it secure. During periods of more extreme gusts the chin strap added the necessary extra security. Though in general the hat seems to shed wind fairly well without the large brim making it feel like it wanted to take my head off. Further jaunts during stormy weather will be necessary for further opinion on this.

Shade-wise this baby is excellent, providing an excellent amount of coverage for your face and neck - the front 3/4 of the brim is wide and fixed while the back section drapes down and can be folded up to a velcro tab for more ventilation. Two long hikes in the hat were comfortable and the mesh panels on the sides offer breathability though I did take it off at times to catch some further breeze across my noggin - same as every other hat I've owned.

Fashion-wise you will have to make your own decisions about this sun hat. The size and sun protection create a unique look but not near as dorky as I had feared and the color choices and patterned accent across the front let you choose your own panache. Lastly you can fold and roll up this hat for packing or easily strap to the outside of your pack for easy access. A couple things I will be observing over time is how well the brim holds up under repeated packing and how getting wet treats it.

Sunday Afternoons Sun Hats at Ebay:

Sunday Afternoons Adventure Sun Protection Hat Sand Large & Medium - Men & Women    US $29.99

Sunday Afternoons Adventure Sun Protection Hat Tan Large Medium Men or Women    US $29.99

	Adventure Hat Bluestone Medium List Price: $34.25

	Adventure Hat by Sunday Afternoon Hats List Price: $38.00

This summer, heading out into the field I was unable to track down my old faithful headlamp,  so I stopped at The Elephant's Perch here in Ketchum, ID and picked up a new one. The Perch is one of Ketchum's oldest and best outdoor stores, if you are ever in town I recommend you check them out. I picked out the Petzl Tikka Plus which is just an updated version of my old Petzl. This version has:

• Four LED bulbs.
• Four brightness settings - high, medium, low & strobe.
• Water-resistant case.
• Ratcheting mount to aim the headlamp where you want.
• Stretchy, adjustable strap for secure attachment to your head and compatible with a variety of headgear.
• Operates on three AAA batteries - included with purchase.
• Recessed push button on/off switch to help prevent accidentally turning on in your pack.

This is a pretty straight forward, functional headlamp with not too many bells and whistles but has most of what you need. It is very much like my old one but with the different brightness settings, adjustable beam (up & down) and push button switch. I recommend keeping the batteries separate or reversing one in the case when not in use, because even with the switch being harder to turn on accidentally it is a real bummer to find out your headlamp has been on in your pack and dead when you need it. Also, try and keep it somewhere where the clear plastic cover won't get scuffed against anything while en route to help maintain maximum clarity.

Shopping around, you will find the price of these headlamps is very reasonable for a very functional tool. Pick up an extra and toss it in your glovebox, it is an indispensable tool when most needed. If you are looking for something more advanced check out the other Petzl LED headlamps, they offer a variety of choices with different functionality - colored lenses, retractable straps, separate mounts and more. Though for basic sports & outdoor lighting this is my recommendation and they offer a selection of colored cases and straps to help you get out there in style.

NEW 2012 Petzl TIKKA PLUS 2 Headlamp 70 Lumens Flashlight Torch    US $39.85

nwot petzl tikka plus 2 head lamp retails $55 grey/orange    US $19.99

	Petzl E91 PE Tikkina 2 Headlamp, Electric Blue List Price: $19.95

	Petzl E93 PS Tikka 2 Headlamp, Storm Gray List Price: $29.95

That was last winter and so far the Yaktrax Pro has served me well. I have used them winter hiking, getting around town and shoveling the drive. The coiled springs really do help provide the traction you need. They are fairly easy to put on though I would recommend sitting down to do so. Pulling them on standing up is fine but may require practice and is best suited for those with confident balance and flexibility.

For indoors you must be very careful or remove them altogether particularly for hard surfaces as the coils don't provide the designed traction and can potentially scuff up a nice finish. I have a beat up wood floor in my place and the Yaktrax don't seem to cause any extra damage but I just can't recommend these for any surface you are concerned about scratching.

There are two models currently available - the Yaktrax Walker and the Yaktrax Pro - the only difference being a velcro strap on the Pro that goes over the top of your boot or shoe. This is marketed for more active winter users - winter running etc. If you are going to be moving fast, coming down hills or through mixed terrain I recommend going with the Pro, otherwise the Walker should be fine and a good choice for general winter use and good for older folks as well.

Winter is just now really settling in here in the mountains so I will probably be putting these to a lot more use. Check back later for my further impressions and review for the Yaktrax Pro.

Shop for deals on Yaktrax at eBay:

Yaktrax Walker With a FREE PAIR HANDWARMERS    US $16.95

Yaktrax Ice Gripers for shoes    US $2.00

Shop for deals on Yaktrax at Amazon:

	Yaktrax Pro Grip - Strong Grip All Day Long - Medium #520111M List Price: $29.95

	Non-slip Strap on Shoe Snow & Ice Grips Grabbers List Price: $19.99

I intend to pick up a couple of these for travel storage in the hopes they are they perfect first step in refining my car camping system. As of now I use some stylish thrift store suitcases and while they have some cool appeal they are bulky and don't really offer any good modular organization. Plus these pack down much smaller when not in use. Check them out at Mountainsmith.com

Deals on Mountainsmith Modular Hauler at eBay:

NEW Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 4 System - Charcoal    US $77.99

Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 4 system, lime/cinn/yel/ma    US $99.00

Deals on Mountainsmith Modular Hauler at Amazon:

	Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 4 System Travel Storage List Price: $0.00

	Mountainsmith Modular Hauler System