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

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.

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

Turn the light on...

Leatherman, known for their multi-tools, also produces an LED flashlight worth noting… the Serac S3.

As we all know, a flashlight typically has at least a few fragile components. Therefore, often it is essential to take close care of your flashlight. That does not work for me because I treat my flashlight just like any other piece of gear. And therefore, I was breaking a lot of flashlights. Thankfully, my Leatherman Serac S3 has held up very well to the many tests I’ve put it through, ie. hiking, boating, camping and road tripping.

The Serac S3 has three settings and can put out up to 100 Lumen on high. Granted, set that high a full battery will only last about an hour but, the high setting is great for signaling and other short uses. The medium setting pushes out 43 Lumen for four hours per battery and the low (normal) setting 7 Lumen for up to thirty-six hours. The low is plenty bright for most uses including map reading, hiking, setting up a tent, etc.

Also of note, the flashlight body is made of a hard-anodized aluminum, has a 10 year warranty and is resistant to humidity, corrosion and shock. Tough… as… hell.

Get the Leatherman Serac S3 Flashlight:
-at Cabela’s
-at Amazon

Rivals...

Downtown Columbus, Ohio has a lot to offer for the guy who just loves to travel or the guy who is looking for a simple vacation with the big city feel but without the big city hassle.

First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate and densely populated with quality restaurants and bars. We ventured to Gordon Biersch Brewery, Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar and Buca di Beppo’s. Of those three restaurants Buca di Beppo, a family Italian eatery, had the best food, Gordon Biersch Brewery had the best drinks and Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar had the best atmosphere and was the perfect place to close out a night. All were quality establishments and are worth a visit.

The Arena District is so named for Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets have been in Columbus since 2000 and by the looks of it, they’ll make the playoffs this year for the first time in franchise history. Personally, I’m a Detroit Red Wings fan but, it’s always fun to catch a game in another city; especially if you can get tickets like we had… one row off the glass. Sitting that close you’ll better understand the speed and the grit that is the NHL. See the previous Black Rucksack article on the NHL experience and get tickets from StubHub!

More rivals...

Another feature in Columbus a few miles outside of downtown is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; one of the best zoos in the country. It’s a good place to relax and enjoy a sunny Spring afternoon. A zoo typically isn’t the place for a hardcore adventure (unless something escapes) but, a lot of the kids, girlfriends and wives you guys have will enjoy it.

This is just a taste of what downtown Columbus, Ohio offers… find a hotel and book it now!

Gordon Biersch Brewery – $$$
3.5 out of 5 Rucksacks
-

Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar – $$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks
-

Buca di Beppo – $$$
4 out of 5 Rucksacks

For here and there...

In all my travels I’ve found that the biggest packing problem is typically bathroom items.  Whether packing for a weekend, business outing or a road trip, it is essential to have a good pack for your razor, cologne and other like items. And let’s face it, it’s difficult to find such a pack that is durable and is truly a good fit for all your grooming items.

Most travel kits tend to be either too flimsy or too sissified. Thankfully, our good friends at Victorinox have a good solution… the Victorinox Swiss Army Zip Around Travel Kit.

Every single piece of Victorinox gear we’ve tested has performed above average and this travel kit is no exception. It has a large pocket for electric shavers and the larger bottles with liquids, a medium size pocket with a mesh separator and a few small zipper pockets. The built-in hangar is very convenient and folds neatly into the tri-fold kit.

A damn good travel kit for trips of most any length… and one I’ll keep faithfully packing until I finally wear it out or find one better.

Victorinox Swiss Army Zip Around Travel Kit
$58

Light my fire...

The Princeton Tec Apex Pro LED Headlamp is a mid-level headlamp well-suited for a lot of very different activities.  Camping, expeditions, spelunking, climbing, orienteering, general travel and road running are just a few of the activities the Apex Pro is perfect for. It’d also be acceptable for trail running, but don’t expect to use it while doing something like night cycling or adventure racing.

This headlamp will flood an area with bright white light up to 91 meters down a path and has varying focuses; narrow through wide.  It runs on two lithium batteries which are monitored by the included power meter. It also has five LEDs producing 130 lumen and is all contained in just 173 grams.

Princeton Tec Apex Pro LED Headlamp from REI.com
$90

Up Close... On The Glass...

The rush of cool air… the sound of the boards rattling after a hard check… the blur of 10 players speeding down the ice… there aren’t many experiences like attending a National Hockey League (NHL) game.

My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even though I’m a Wings fan, I still love the game of hockey more than I do any team. It is my Dad that instilled in me the importance of hockey; and how the sport has no room for the nervous.

One thing we at Black Rucksack suggest as an experience for every guy is an NHL game. While simply attending a game is a guaranteed good time, especially when the two teams are among the most exciting (like the Wings), there is more to this suggestion. To really get an understanding of the talent and speed in the game hockey, sit as near to the glass as you can. Catching a game three or four rows off the glass purifies the NHL experience.

To get good tickets, we suggest attending a game in pre-season or during the months of October or November; attendance is usually lower during those months.  Also, you may want to shoot for a weekday game as you’ll also have a better chance at getting good tickets.  StubHub.com is one of the most reputable sources to find tickets sold by other fans.

National Hockey League Game
$50 to $250 per ticket
StubHub.com

In Memoriam...

Merry Christmas!

Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Let’s start with the men on this mountain of South Dakota… Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, the 1st, 3rd, 26th and 16th Presidents of the United States. All four are consistently ranked by historians as the most successful, bad ass and effective presidents. Washington led the Continental Army against Britain, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Roosevelt helped create the US Forest Service, negotiated for control of the Panama Canal and busted apart railroad monopolies and Lincoln preserved the Union and ended slavery. All four have a long list of achievements and deserve all of the honor and praise this monument enshrines.

The visit to the monument in honor of the men listed above is a full experience. En route to Mount Rushmore through Custer State Park in the Black Hills, you’ll enjoy rugged terrain and amazing scenery. There is wildlife abound including bison and bighorn sheep. And, if you plan on hiking… know that there are also mountain lions lurking about. Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore you’ll trek through the lower part of the monument featuring a tribute to the 50 states and then onto the viewing platform and the amphitheater. Once you’re on the viewing platform, you finally get a sense of the scale of the monument and its omnipresence. Take a deep breath and take your time once you arrive.

History, wildlife, rugged terrain and a monument honoring great leaders of men…

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
$10 (parking fee)