Friends don't let friends sniff seam sealer
There are worse things than having to seam seal your tent. In fact, it can be downright enjoyable. Set up your tent in the backyard, grab a couple beers and go to town. Read More …
Rocky Thompson
Summer-ify Your Gear – Part III: Tune Your Stove
By: Rocky Thompson | April 14th, 2010
Oiling the pump cup
If your stove has ever turned into a massive fireball, read closely. Basically, there are two things you can do that will help prevent stove problems in a major way, according to Steve Anderson, who runs Thrifty Outfitters, a Minneapolis, Minn., shop specializing in gear repairs and secondhand gear.
“People leave old fuel in their stoves that breaks down with oxygen, and they don’t oil their pumps,” he said.
Any stove with a remote fuel canister that has a pump needs to have the pump cup oiled. Pull the plunger out of your MSR pump and simply add light machine oil. Coleman stoves have an oil port, but they work much better if you remove the plunger and put oil directly on the pump cup. Read More …
Summer-ify Your Gear – Part II: Rejuvenate Your Rain Jacket
By: Rocky Thompson | April 13th, 2010So you left your old rain jacket balled up in a stuff sack all winter and now it’s time for it to shine. Well, you might want to give your jacket a little attention before shipping off to the British Isles.
Luckily for you, most rain jackets and pants—whether they have a GORE-TEX® membrane, a waterproof laminate, or simply a water-repellent coating—are easy to clean and rejuvenate. Read More …
Summer-ify Your Gear – Part I: Wash your Sleeping Bag
By: Rocky Thompson | April 12th, 2010
Washing your down sleeping bag will make it seem like new. Natural oils and dirt from grimy hiking pollute the down and make it lose its natural loft. Over time, the bag will look less puffy and those insulating properties go poof.
Whether you’re washing your winter bag prior storing it for the season or finally washing your nasty summer bag, the procedure for down is the same. Read More …
Store Your Skis and Boards for Next Season
By: Rocky Thompson | March 31st, 2010
It’s time to quit driving around with your skis on the top of the car. Before you head for your first camping trip or bike ride, spend a few minutes putting your gear away so your expensive pair of skis or snowboard is still rideable next year. Read More …
Mission Workshop Bags: The New High-End Messenger Bag Company from the Creators of Chrome
By: Rocky Thompson | March 29th, 2010
The seatbelts started appearing on the messenger bags ages ago. Your friend would show up at your house wearing one, answer a question about the airbag on his bike, and then make a grab for his falling bag after you bashed his seatbelt’s button. Only after the sickening crunch of his laptop hitting your tile floor did you feel a little bad.
Brooklyn Boulders: A NYC Climbing Hub
By: Rocky Thompson | February 22nd, 2010
A stream of skinny people toting messenger bags bang through a busy single door in a corner of Brooklyn near the Atlantic-Pacific transit hub. It’s tucked away in a neighborhood that has yet to feel the frontal assault of gentrification. Two blocks away rent prices triple, but on this side of the busy avenue, people still occasionally park on sidewalks and drink 40′s free of hassle from the police. Read More …