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.

A requirement for any adventure...

As I stomped through a canyon outside of Moab, Utah I stumbled upon an oddly shaped outcrop of red rock. I was intrigued and immediately started examining the surrounding area. As I moved to the sunlit side of the outcrop, my eye caught a glint coming from an object on the ground. I knelt to take a closer look at the object and as I did, I smashed my knee on a piece of glass that I didn’t see because it was covered by dirt. I found that just barely underneath the topsoil there were a number of antique bottles and such. I dug deeper and found no less than six separate bottles, mostly whole. Since I was 3.5 miles into this canyon and had to climb in numerous areas, carrying a bunch of glass out was not going to be possible. Due to this experience back in 2003, I started carrying either a rucksack or some sort of bag almost everywhere I traveled and regardless of whether or not an adventure may ensue. My absolute favorite bag is the Mark VII…

In the early years of the Second World War the British military adopted the Mk.VII bag to carry the standard service gas mask; it’s also the bag that Indiana Jones always carried with him. This bag is rugged and worthy of carrying more than just gas masks. In fact, I can think of no other bag that would be better suited to carry trinkets out of a canyon in Moab. A canvas sack with a leather shoulder strap is one of the most simple yet essential carry-all devices. Measuring roughly 11″ tall, 10″ wide and 3″ thick, the Mk. VII neatly separates gear you’ve carried in and finds that you’re going to want to carry out.

The Mk. VII has utility for a variety of hobbies and adventures. If you’re a hunter, it’s perfect to use as a shell bag in addition to carrying your knife, flashlight and a Snickers. If you’re a fisherman, you’ll find the bag good for use as a creel or to carry all of your misc. fishing gear, ie. pliers, knife, tackle, repellents, etc. And if you’re an adventurer well, it’s good for your many adventures.

I’ve ordered three replica Mk. VII’s (one for myself and two as gifts) from What Price Glory (onlinemilitaria.net) and they’ve all been very high quality.

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

Survival of the fittest...

The single most important item in any survival kit is the means to start a fire. Another necessity for every survival situation is a knife. When you combine those two functions, you get the ToolLogic SL3 Fire.

The SL3 features a partially serrated 3″ blade and a magnesium alloy fire starter. This particular type of fire starter will spark at over 2500 degrees Fahrenheit and will always spark when wet. If you watch Man vs. Wild you’ll notice that survivalist Bear Grylls often uses a similar type of magnesium fire starter.

Perfect for any rucksack at only 2.7 ounces, the ToolLogic SL3 Fire is a fundamental piece of survival gear.

ToolLogic SL3 Fire
$38

Got a light?

Much is familiar about the Zippo lighter: the “clink” they make when they open and shut, their windproof flame and the distinct shape. My Grandpa had one that he cherished and kept with him in his trouser pocket every single day. And like the few Zippo’s in my family, Zippo’s around the world hold the same two roles: lighter and heirloom.

There are few day-to-day items that carry as much history as a Zippo lighter. It was 2007 when a friend and I were driving through Pennsylvania on a road trip. We literally, accidentally drove past the Zippo Manufacturing Company in Bradford… and we then stopped. There we toured the part-store, part-museum visitors center and took in a lot of the history of Zippo. First produced in 1933, the lighter was popularized by many American soldiers of World War II and the tradition continues on; it remains one of the most popular brands to date.

In 2007, Zippo released a new line of lighter… the Zippo Blu. It’s a butane torch lighter and a must for the cigar smoker. The case design is slightly different than the standard Zippo case and thus a distinguishing feature.

The Zippo is sturdy and resilient but just in case, it also includes a lifetime guarantee. If there is a problem with your lighter the company will replace or fix it for free.

Zippo Windproof
~$18

Zippo Blu
~$38

The Climber by Victorinox

The Explorer, Ranger, Rucksack, Mountaineer, Climber or the Handyman?  My personal favorite of all the Victorinox Swiss Army knives is without a doubt the Climber, followed closely by the Rucksack.  There aren’t many pieces of gear as simple and as useful as a Swiss Army knife.  I carry mine in my front pocket just about every day.

It’s easy to see how the Swiss Army knife has become the quintessential piece of gear.  The knives flexibility and diverse set of tools lend favorably to its usability.  Compared to many other multi-tools it is far less cumbersome and the bold red shell is pretty tough.  While the Swiss Army knife is a good friend for a cautious fellow, it is also the embodiment of resourcefulness.  Choose this knife and you’ve chosen brains and versatility over unsteady, oft detrimental brawn.

Take a look at the rich history of these knives and you’ll catch a glimpse of World War I and World War II.  Since the birth of the knife in 1891 it has been a stand-by for many soldiers.  And, now in 2008 there is a new soldier’s knife that has been re-invented for this era.

The Climber and the Rucksack represent two different types of Victorinox knife.  The Climber is a traditional Swiss Army knife with the following 14 tools: large blade, small blade, corkscrew, can opener with small screwdriver 3 mm (also for Phillips screws), cap lifter with screwdriver 6 mm and wire stripper, reamer, punch, key ring, tweezers, toothpick, scissors and multi-purpose hook.

The Rucksack is a more ergonomic knife with a locking blade and contains the following 12 tools: large lock blade, corkscrew, can opener with screwdriver 3 mm, cap lifter with screwdriver with automatic locking and wire stripper, reamer, punch, key ring, tweezers, toothpick and wood saw.

Both are fine companions for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, and most any other outdoor activity you can think of, as well day-to-day use even in the office.

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife
$15 to $38

All of us here at the Black Rucksack are experienced travelers. One thing that every traveler and more specifically every hiker knows is that when the weather changes, the gear you carry needs to still be suitable. A Fall day in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula can easily start in the 70’s and end up in the 20’s. For those days we have the perfect solution for your head: The Stormy Kromer.

I can’t even count the number of times that I have pulled down the flaps on my Kromer. Yes, a few times it may have been just for the impression it gives at a local bar, but in most cases I’ve wanted to keep my ears from freezing! I also have to thank my brother, D. W., for giving me one of these hats as a gift.  It has certainly served it purpose!  Keep in mind, that the Stormy Kromer is not just a baseball cap, it’s a legend. On a cold morning in 1903 the warmth of ear flaps and the functionality of a baseball cap combined to give us the perfect hat to handle the fluctuations of nature.

The creativity, focus on fit and quality craftsmanship behind this hat are well-known to hunters and woodsmen alike. One thing is for sure, if you’re out catching some big Brook Trout and the wind picks up… you’ll be happy we told you about the Stormy Kromer.

Stormy Kromer Cap
$30