Recent content by EmberMike

  1. EmberMike

    Camp kitchen (chuck box) options/suggestions

    I'm starting to realize that my kitchen gear is just way too disorganized and all over the place. I need a more centralized unit for storing and accessing kitchen equipment. I've looked at chuck boxes but they seem bulky, heavy, and since they're often made of wood maybe not the best...
  2. EmberMike

    Overnighter in NJ

    Did a mid-week overnighter last week with my 3-year-old son. We went to The Great Divide in Newton, NJ. Really great spot for family-friendly car camping and RV camping. We got a "primitive" site, no water,electric, or other hook-ups of any kind, but they offer all sort of amenities in other...
  3. EmberMike

    Family Tent recomendations 3 1/2 season

    I just saw this Coleman 10-person tent in Costco the other day. It's listed over $200 in that Amazon link, but at Costco I think it goes for $170. No idea if it fits all of your requirements, but I think it's got you covered on height and overall space. If you have a Costco near you and you're...
  4. EmberMike

    Mick Dodge??

    I caught an episode the other day. Seems highly staged/scripted. I can't watch any of these shows knowing they're all fake. This artificial reality tv thing everyone is doing lately is garbage.
  5. EmberMike

    Boyscouts and backpacking

    I don't think it's a matter of when we grew up. There are plenty of adults in scouting who have the right knowledge, experience, and wisdom to safely and successfully run a troop. Leaders like the ones ponderosa mentions have always been around. It has always been a matter of knowing who the...
  6. EmberMike

    Cheapest High Quality Bushcraft Knives?

    I use a Condor Bushlore. Not as cheap as a Mora, they retail for about $35, but you can often find them on eBay for $25. Even at retail price I think they're a bargain, though. Out of the box they have a matte gray blade finish and the handles can be a little less than perfect. But some...
  7. EmberMike

    Cold Weather Camping

    I like cold weather camping, despite a bad experience as a kid. I slept in a tent on snow using gear that wasn't suited for the temperature. Got a mild case of hypothermia but learned some valuable lessons on that trip. Aside from the obvious one about adequate gear for the weather, I also...
  8. EmberMike

    Topo Designs

    Just found this company: Backpacks Made in USA, Gear Bags & Backpack Accessories | Topo Designs Pretty interesting. Their packs are especially nice, sort of old-school designs but looks to be good quality. Hand-made in Colorado. Anyone know anything about the company or the products? I...
  9. EmberMike

    Blade on You?

    I've carried a bunch of different small knives for day-to-day use and I think my favorite is the Buck Vantage series. The small ones, 2.75" blades. They're good and cheap, a combination you don't see much these days. The above pictured one with G10 and S30V runs about $50. They make a...
  10. EmberMike

    FlameStower phone charger

    Yeah, I'm changing my vote back to the BioLite after giving this some thought. I had seen the BioLite before the FlameStower, and I thought the FlameStower might be more useful tapping into an existing fire to generate the charge. But as has been mentioned already, getting a campfire flame to be...
  11. EmberMike

    Recommend a camping stove...

    I've had a Peak1 (Coleman) white gas stove for about 20 years and it is still going strong. I've also known people to have Coleman propane stoves last as long or longer. From time to time Coleman might make a lemon, but I think for the most part their products are solid. There is a good reason...
  12. EmberMike

    FlameStower phone charger

    FlameStower - The Fire Charger In the same category of product as the BioLite Stove, but a little cheaper and a little more one-use-type (just charges stuff, not a kettle and cooker). This seems way more practical for backpacking. 1/4 the weight, smaller and folds flat. The one...
  13. EmberMike

    Oddest Experience While Camping

    I had a couple of stoners walk into my site once, generally just being friendly but acting kind of weird at the same time. Harmless, but definitely enjoying the effects of whatever they were on. The one guy was carrying a large pie, looked homemade, and offered it to us. The whole thing, not a...
  14. EmberMike

    Washing Dishes

    Biodegradable soaps will have less impact on water over time because they'll break down faster. But they still can have an immediate negative impact on the environment, especially bodies of water. Fish and plants that come in contact with any soap can be harmed. And even away from water...
  15. EmberMike

    Washing Dishes

    Actually it's not fine within 200 feet of any body of water. Within 200 feet, soap residue can still make its way to the water through rain, runoff, erosion, etc.
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