Black Rucksack – The Gear, The Lifestyle and The Pastimes of Men

A rugged jacket for adventuring...

You know that spring or summer rainstorm/monsoon/torrent that we all inevitably end up in at the most unexpected and inopportune time?   Say, when you need to fill the gas tank or just as you arrive at the campsite but haven’t yet setup?  ”Infrequent” may describe how often these scenarios occur, still, they happen. Good news… there is a jacket that you can rough up and will still keep your top half dry. The Craghoppers Bandero Jacket…

There is something you should know about the Craghoppers company before getting to the details of the Bandero Jacket.  Simply, they have a passion for gear.  For 45 years they’ve been producing quality outdoor gear in the United Kingdom, all started by a dream to summit Mt. Everest.  Craghoppers is a company based on a quintessential adventure and because of that, they succeed perfectly in creating worthy gear.

Craghoppers also works with Bear Grylls to create clothing specifically for the extreme conditions Bear will encounter.  While we don’t know for sure whether or not the Craghoppers Bandero Jacket was influenced by Bear, we are pretty sure it would qualify for one of his adventures.

The jacket itself is a thing of beauty… stylish, et al.  Even if Craghoppers didn’t already have a great reputation for creating quality gear, I would recommend this jacket solely on its reliability.  It’s comfortable and the fit is perfect. I am 5′ 10″ with broad shoulders and the large jacket fits like a glove.  All the pockets, flaps, zippers, seams and buttons are NOT flimsy like they can be on many other jackets.  This jacket keeps the bulk down but truly feels rugged.   A side benefit of the Craghoppers Bandero Jacket is that it could be worn in a variety of conditions: hiking, fishing, hunting, a night on the town, urban, rural, treasure hunting, fall, winter, spring and possibly even in the summer.

Specifications:
-23oz. (660g)
-Roll-away hood
-2 zipped hand pockets and inner pocket plus concealed map pocket
-Chin guard and waterproof storm flap
-AquaDry polyester fabric with water-repellent finish
-Lifetime Guarantee!

Bottom Line:
One of the best multi-use jackets at an absolutely great price.

Stand-up to the wind...

Editor’s Note: Welcome back to Black Rucksack! We took a hiatus and we’re back now; we’re moving on down the trail.

Attention adventurers!  Attention hikers!  Attention trail runners!  Attention bikers! Remember that hot, muggy summer day that suddenly turned into a cool (almost cold), muggy summer night?  Remember starting your dune climb in a blistering heat at the bottom and then upon arrival at an overlook for the ocean or a Great Lake, getting hit with a cool from-the-water wind?  Well, say goodbye to not having an easily packable piece of wind gear to protect from cool nights and lake or ocean breezes.  Meet the GoLite Dakota Wind Shirt…

This shirt has three stand-out features.  First off, this “GoLite” product really is lite; it’s only 4 ounces (103 grams) and packs down into its own (apple sized) pouch.  That makes it convenient for bringing along on any outdoor exploit or stowing in the car with other emergency gear.  Second, the stretch nylon side panels allow for maximum mobility; you’ll be able to climb, paddle and adventure with ease.  Third, the Dakota Wind Shirt’s fabric perfectly blends durability and breathability.  It’s tough enough to be worn through a trail ride spill and it won’t cause you to overheat even when you’re at 110%.  That is a rare combination, indeed.

Really, there is only one slight con to this jacket, and it’s based on a personal preference… the 3/4 zip should simply be a full zip.  A full zip would improve mobility and allow for quick, hassle-less on and off.  All in all though, we recommend this jacket.

Bottom Line:
Worthy of howling back at the wind!

Specifications:
-4 oz. (103 grams)
-3/4 Zip
-Recycled, anti-static fabric
-Stretch Nylon side panels for improved fit
-Self-stowing lower back pocket
-Reflective logos

Get the GoLite Dakota Wind Shirt:
-at Amazon.com

Shoe perfection? Close.

The Little Manistee River in northern Michigan serves as a gauntlet for any water shoe. This river has many different types of difficult to navigate riverbeds including: small and loose pebbles, soft sand, slippery clay and large boulders. The Teva Sunkosi 2 water shoe is made to conquer exactly these types of riverbed challenges.

Teva, Hebrew for nature, created an outsole for the Sunkosi 2 that is made of a durable, high friction rubber for much needed grip in the river. Teva refers to this rubber compound as “Spider Rubber”, rightfully so; the outsole is great in the water or on land.  Available in two colors, gunmetal and stone grey, and weighing in at only 10.6 ounces / 605 grams, a pair Sunkosi 2’s are comfortable and meant for freestyle canoeing or kayaking, whitewater rafting or a day of workin’ on the boat at the dock.

Teva Sunkosi 2 water shoes are built to perfection for a day on any river, including the Little Manistee.

Get the Teva Sunkosi 2 Water Shoe:
- at Amazon.com
- at REI.com

Stay dry... stay warm...

I’ve been in two violent thunderstorms while driving across Nebraska on Interstate 80 (I-80) between California and Michigan, the first was in February of 2007. Days earlier I installed new windshield wipers on my Escape, and of that I was thankful. During that storm, even though many cars and trucks pulled off the road, my Dad and I were able to keep heading toward California.

The second storm was in April of 2007 and of course, mid-storm one of those wipers decided to partially detach, leaving me looking through an opaque windshield. I immediately pulled over on the right side of the road and started to think, “do I have a poncho in here?”

The answer was no, I did not have a poncho. Thankfully, I had the next best thing, a Marmot jacket. And during the time it took to fix the wiper, I was kept remarkably dry. For spring 2009, Marmot has another weatherproof jacket… the Marmot Aegis Jacket.

This jacket is well-designed from top to bottom, from collar to zipper. The Marmot material known as MemBrain Strata serves as the main material for the jacket and is incredibly lightweight, breathable and of course, waterproof. Zippers on the jacket are water resistant and the seams are taped. In addition to that, there are useful pockets including hand warmer pockets and a sleeve pocket. The jacket also as a hood that rolls into the collar.

All in all, this is one good jacket. Buy one now and you’ll have it for the next decade.

It's grillin' time!

It’s officially grilling season here in Michigan and grilling at the park, on the road or at the beach has never been easier than this. Coleman has a grill, the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE, that is perfect for throwing in the truck or SUV and hitting the road.

This grill is propane fed, has two 10,000 BTU burners and has 285 square inches of cooking surface area. That’s a little more than 1/2 the space on an average size deck grill and good size for grilling for two to four people.  The grill also has two side tables that attach easily for extra food preparation space (or a place to set down your favorite beer).

Fully expanded, the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE measures 46″L x 18″D x 35″H. Collapsed, the grill measures 36″L x 18″D x 13″H and weighs about 44 lbs (without extras).

There are several additional add-ons including optional grill surfaces and a grill bag available from Coleman. And, if you need tools for this grill, check out the Black Rucksack article Grill Tools for Grilling Right.

EDIT: After posting this article a good friend of mine (Brad) e-mailed me to tell me that his experience with this grill was less than good.  Brad pointed out that the grill is definitely not “manproof”.  That said, from my usage of this grill I believe it is road trip suitable but I think Brad has a damn good point… it’s not tough enough for everyday use or for two-trackin’ deep into the Michigan woods.

Get the Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE:
-at Cabela’s
-at Amazon

Ducati is a prominent brand of high performance motorcycles and likewise, they hock quality apparel and gear. As an Italian manufacturer typically associated with racing bikes, they’ve also achieved notoriety for their sport/street bikes.

The Ducati Meccanica Hooded Sweatshirt is one of the many faultless ways to show your affinity for the brand. It’s one of the nine items in the Meccanica apparel line and is embroidered with the Ducati logo and  Ducati Meccanica in writing.

The sweatshirt is stylish and the perfect weight for an outside layer in cool and warm weather or an insider layer in cold weather.

You can find this hooded sweatshirt and the rest of the Ducati offered gear at the Ducati website.  And if you have time, be sure to check out the bikes too… not just the apparel.

Ducati Meccanica Hooded Sweatshirt
$114

Rugged... resilient...

The Filson company has a long, reputable history among “hunters and fishermen, engineers and explorers, mariners and miners” alike. Their gear is well-known as being among the toughest gear for the outdoorsman; the Filson Shelter Cloth Packer Coat is no exception.

This coat has several features that make it ideal for most day-to-day outdoor work and travel. It is made of a ’shelter cloth’ which is named after military shelter tents due to its durability. The oil finish and is paraffin treated to aid in repelling water. There are pockets-a-plenty on this jacket as well; perfect for tools, knives, or any impromptu item you may need to carry.

Critical to any jackets performance is its hardware. The zipper, grommets and snaps on this coat are damn high quality and will themselves last longer than the coat. With all of the above features and a moleskin-lined collar, this coat will always keep you well-protected and comfortable!

Filson Shelter Cloth Packer Coat
$275

Black hooded...

As we described in a previous article, Armani Exchange (A|X) is the trendy, accessible off-the-peg brand from Armani. A|X features stylish, branded gear such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans and jackets. One sweatshirt that is really emblematic of the uniqueness of A|X is the Zip Neck Hoody.

In jet black, the Zip Neck Hoody features a hood that folds easily into the collar. Although, you may find, like I did, that you like the hood out a whole lot better.

The sweatshirt is a medium weight and perfect for an outdoor rock concert in a Midwestern state during spring or fall.  Or, it’s good for that early fall tailgate and football game.

Armani Exchange Zip Neck Hoody
$115