ACTION WIPES - Powerful trail hygiene in a compact pouch!

About a month ago, Nic Beem, owner/operator of S.L.O. Camp `N Pack Army Navy Outdoor Store asked me to try out a product he is now carrying on my next outing. The product is called ACTION WIPES and is billed on the website as, "...a refreshing, natural travel wipe for the entire family as well as athletes, campers and people on the move!" The wipes come in a sealed foil pouch, like a wet-nap, that measures a compact 3" by 5" and weighs only .5 ounces, so very light in the pack as well. 

ACTION WIPES packet

 

Nic said they are made with a proprietary formula that uses Tea Tree Oil, so they are an alcohol free body cleanse, are completely natural and additionally have bug-repellent qualities...I especially like that! Nic gave me 2 wipes to try out. I checked out the company's website and it stated the wipes were invented by Martha Van Inwegen after she recognized the need for, "a natural wet wipe to clean and refresh the body after a ride, run, hike or a long plane ride."

Skipping ahead, this past weekend, me and my buddy Chris hiked into the Santa Lucia Wilderness to do an overnight camp out, so I took the packets of ACTION WIPES along to give them a try in the field. Water can be scarce and/or suspect where we were headed due to Mercury mining operations in the region, and we had to conserve the water we carried for consumption; there would be no trail bathing with water.

On the Trail



My pack load...46 pounds

 

The hike in was warm, about 82 degrees and we were mostly hiking sun-exposed trails. I had a 46 pound pack load, and it wasn't long before I was breaking a decent sweat. After a couple of hours of hiking we arrived at out campsite and set up for the night. Winds were strong and sustained all throughout the day, so there was a fair amount of dust in the air.

My tarp shelter

 

Having established our camp, we set about to have some fun. We spent some time throwing knives at a target plank I'd brought along, as well as exploring the local terrain and mineral rich rock formations in the area, which hosted a Cinnabar mining operation.

 

Throwing blades [I broke the target plank...whoops!]

 

Interesting rock formation with a Yucca

 Plant [also called The Lord's Candle

And Spanish Bayonet].

 

As evening fell I decided to wash up and change into some dry socks and clean moisture wicking long underwear. I cannot stand to sleep dirty and itching in a sleeping bag, so I was anxious to try out the ACTION WIPES and get a comfortable night's sleep. I stripped down and opened the package, removed the wipe, and unfolded it. It opened into a large 9" X 10" square wipe, and was saturated with the solution. The wipe itself is a very soft fabric material, not that abrasive paper one usually gets in a typical foil wrapped wet-nap. I also later discovered the wipe is very tough...more to follow on that.

 

The unfolded ACTION WIPE

 

I found the Tea Tree Oil fragrance very pleasant and began wiping myself down, top to bottom. The wipe was completely adequate for cleansing my entire body and I also rubbed my scalp/hair to ensure no hitch-hikers were hiding there. The ACTION WIPES web page bills each wipe as having the cleansing equivalence of a 25 gallon shower. Given the drought, it's been a long time since I helped myself to a 25 gallon shower, but I will say I felt completely clean after wiping down.  Clean again, I enjoyed a very pleasant and itch-free sleep that night.

 

Packing out the next morning, I took the spent wipe and placed it in my pack. Upon arrival home I began cleaning my gear, which had been soaked and dirtied by a thick fog that had rolled in during the night. I used the fabric wipe with a bucket of soap to clean my camp tarps and other gear. It not only held up, but it retained the Tea Tree Oil scent even after 2 bucket loads of soapy water. It occurred to me that I probably could have dampened the wipe with fresh water and re-constituted or at least extended the life of the wipe, and thus my camp bath, the night before had I wished to. The spent wipe certainly would've functioned as a camp kitchen scrub for my mess kit and utensils.

 

Having cleaned my gear, I then placed the wipe on the dashboard of my truck and allowed it to completely dry. I then decided to see if it would take a spark from a ferrocerium rod and function as an emergency tinder for lighting a fire. On the third strike, the dried cloth ignited and burned very well for about 1 minute.

 

ACTION WIPE as fire tinder

 

Even after the wipe appeared consumed, it continued to smolder with bright red embers for a few minutes, and likely could have been blown back into flame.

 

Red-hot embers still glowing in fabric

 

In conclusion, I think this is an excellent product of great use to the outdoors enthusiast who wishes to perform personal hygiene at the end of a trail run or a day's hiking and where water is not abundant or need be conserved. Plus, it is compact, lightweight, and easily stowed in a pack.  I am convinced of this product's utility and will definitely be adding some to my pack kit for future trail outings.

 

If you wish to purchase some ACTION WIPES and are not in the local area and thus are unable to visit S.L.O. Camp `N Pack, not to worry! You can order ACTION WIPES online direct from the company, or you can visit Nic's excellent online business CNP TACTICAL and order through them, as well as peruse their quality line of outdoor and tactical gear products.

 

Happy Hiking!

 

GOBLIN RANGER/

FACEBOOK: BUSHCRAFT WOODS DEVIL

YOUTUBE: BUSHCRAFTWOODSDEVIL

Frederick Burnham - The King of Scouts

Frederick Burnham

Sketch by Robert Baden-Powell

 

Since a young age I have always been interested in the great Frontiersmen and Scouts of history; the Pathfinders like Jedediah Smith and Joseph Walker who found the passes and forgotten trails that opened the West to the settlers who followed. Of course, there were many, some not so well remembered. One of the great Scouts I have always admired is Frederick Burnham, who was a great adventurer and the man who inspired Lord Robert Baden-Powell to form the Boy Scout movement. Here's his story:

Burnham was born in 1861 on a Sioux Indian reservation in Minnesota. As a baby he narrowly escaped death during a raid on his town by Sioux warriors. As a child, Burnham learned woodcraft skills from the Native Americans. Later in his teen years his family moved to California. There he took a job as a dispatch rider for the WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. His travels on the trails of California and Arizona brought him into contact with old-time Cowboys and Frontiersmen who shared the skills of Scouting and Tracking with him. Always hungry for adventure, Burnham soon joined the U.S. Army as a Scout-Tracker in their efforts to capture the Apache leader Geronimo.

Apache ambush

 

During his U.S. Army experience, Burnham came into contact with experienced Scouts like the infamous Al Sieber, who advanced his knowledge and skills. Burnham credited an old Scout named "Holmes" with teaching him desert survival skills, such as celestial navigation and locating water.

 

Burnham was briefly drawn into the Arizona Cattle Wars of the Tonto Basin. It was there he learned to use a revolver, to shoot equally well with either hand, and while on horseback if necessary. Burnham soon left that melee, disgusted by the wrongs and injustices he had witnessed there.

 

During the 1880's Burnham held many jobs, working cattle, mining, and working as a lawman. At age 23 he returned to California and married. He tried farming, but the hunger for adventure was strong. The American West had been pretty much pacified by this time and Burnham cast his eyes overseas. In 1893 he sold his belongings and moved his wife and child to South Africa where he joined Cecil Rhodes pioneers.

 

Upon arrival in South Africa, Burnham learned that a war had begun between the Pioneers and the Matabele native peoples as led by King Lobengula. Burnham joined the British South Africa Company as a Scout and participated in the several of the conflicts of that era. It was during that time Burnham met Robert Baden-Powell and together they discussed ideas for teaching bushcraft skills to youth which would later form the basis for the Boy Scout movement. Years later, Mount Baden-Powell and neighboring Mount Burnham in the San Gabriel Mountains would be named for them and Burnham is referred to as "The Father of Scouting".

 

Scout Burnham [L] in Africa, 1896

 

Burnham left Africa to join the Alaskan Gold Rush. When the Spanish-American War broke out he rushed home to volunteer, but that brief conflict ended before he arrived. He returned to Alaska to prospect for gold and was there when he received a telegram from the British Commander in Africa requesting he return and serve as their chief of Scouts in the Boer War Campaigns.

 

Burnham was ambushed and badly wounded while scouting for the British, and was sent to England to convalesce. He received several awards, including the British Empire's second highest award, the Distinguished Service Order [D.S.O.] and was hailed by the British press as "The King of Army Scouts".

 

Major Burnham, D.S.O.

 

After healing from his war wounds, Burnham returned to private life and used his outdoors skills in mineral and petroleum exploration, served as a security director for a Presidential border visit, and worked at wildlife conservation efforts. He retired to ranch life in Santa Barbara, CA.

 

Major Burnham died in Santa Barbara in 1947. He and his wife are buried together in the Three Rivers Cemetery, Tulare County, CA. 

 

Major Burnham left a legacy of service to Our Nation. His son served in the Vietnam War, and his Grandson, Russell Burnham, also entered the U.S. Army and was selected as the U.S.Army's SOLDIER OF THE YEAR in 2005:

 

Spc. Russell Burnham,

U.S. Army SOLDIER OF THE YEAR 2005

 

In the interest of brevity I have left out many details of Maj. Burnham's life. It is fascinating reading and the story of an incredible life of action, adventure, and family, and of a man who left a legacy for generations of Boys to grow up with outdoor skills and values still available today,; values very badly needed in today's morally-confused world.

 

Maj. Burnham's own book, SCOUTING ON TWO CONTINENTS, is still available in print.

 

"Spring Fling" ... Throwing Knife Fun

About 20 years ago I was very active in attending Buckskinning or "Mountain Man" reenactment events. These were gatherings where folks would dress like the Trapper's of the 1820's Rocky Mountain Fur Trade era, shoot muzzleloading rifles and muskets, throw tomahawks and knives, and generally just have great fun! I especially enjoyed knife throwing, and used a heavy Bowie style made from a truck spring.

My "Primitive" Thrower

A little history: I first became enthralled with knife throwing watching my Dad throw. He'd been a Paratrooper in WWII and learned the skill in the military. I remember him telling me how he had acquired an M1 carbine bayonet because of the dagger blade shape and balance, and how he felt it made a good combat/fighting knife. He'd worn it on his hip, opposite of his M1 Garand bayonet. Several times as a youngster, I had seen him pick up a knife, test the weight in his hand, and then make a "Cold Throw" and stick it.

Anyways, today the pre-Spring weather was so beautiful and I was feeling nostalgic, so I dropped into my favorite shop S.L.O. Camp `n Pack to see what they might have in the way of throwing knives.  They had a selection from inexpensive to high quality [expensive] throwers. I selected a set of  UNITED CUTLERY "Screaming Arrow" throwers.

I chose these because they have a blade edge measuring 3" in length, permissible under local ordinance for the park I wanted to throw at. Additionally I could find no references or language specifically prohibiting knife throwing in a park or open space. I should be lawful as long as I practiced safely, away from people, and not damaging any public property in the process.

After purchasing the throwing knife set, I drove out to the park and selected an isolated spot where I could be safe and easily see if anyone started to approach and create an unsafe situation. I brought along some small planks for targets; it would be unlawful and injurious to throw into a live tree. I braced my target against a dead tree, sadly killed by the Pine Blight that went through here several years ago.

The knives were lighter than I was used to, and it took awhile to get my throwing distance set, but once I did the little knives started sticking consistently...great fun!

Sticking it!

 

One thing about these knives was their light construction. The tips bent and this was easily remedied with a twist from the pliers on my multi-tool. But that's okay...these were designed to be thrown and used, not kept pristine.

Bent tips, easily straightened.

After I got home, a few raps with the hammer and a little work on my sharpening stones and the knives were ready for my next outing.

Straightened and re-sharpened

 

Technically, you don't really need to sharpen throwing knives, since the intent is to put them point-in to a target, but I like getting a "stick", even if it is under or over rotated, over a "miss".

There's so much to possibly learn about knife throwing, I could not hope to cover it all here. But I will cover a few tips I have found useful:

- Throwing knives come in all sizes. Some people like smaller ones, say 6, 8 , or 10 inches. Others like larger 12 to 16 inch blades. Just remember, the larger the heavier, so pick something you can comfortably fling...!

- Throwing distances will vary depending on the length of the knife and the technique of the person throwing it. The handle is a good indicator of range. If your knife hits the target with the handle up, move forward a few inches [too much rotation before hitting the target]. If the handle is down, back up a few inches [too little rotation].

Over-rotation, upper right knife

- Note your leading foot location and mark the spot, so you can place your foot in that same exact place every time you throw. I like whittling wooden stakes and driving them solidly into the ground to form a "gate" [see photo below].

"Throwing Gate"

- Don't "snap" your wrist when you throw your knife. I like to think "Fling"...just an easy "flip" of sorts. To my mind, it's like golf. If you try to "power hit" it rarely drives the ball as far as if you focused more on technique.

- Get in the habit of "flinging" it exactly the same way each and every time you throw. Be consistent on every aspect of your throwing...consistent stance, focus, grip, wind up, release and follow-through are hugely important.

- To get a smooth release, don't mentally think of releasing the knife...just relax your grip and allow it to slide out of your hand. Other wise you'll end up releasing too late [throwing into ground] or too early [throwing over target].

- A properly balanced knife will throw equally well from the handle or the blade. The balance point should be at or near the center of the knife. Generally, a knife that is handle heavy, throws better when gripped from the blade and a blade heavy knife throws better gripped by the handle.

- Targets:  For smaller knives you can practice on a box with layers of cardboard cut and packed into it. Heavy blades will stick well in soft wood planks, or log rounds. Unless extremely sharp, my experience is light knives won't stick bounce off these. Avoid hard wood rounds [Eucalyptus sucks!].

- Knives are pretty easy to lose if you throw outside in deep grass or leaves. I once lost a treasured one that was a Father's Day gift from my daughters and searched for HOURS until I found it buried in sand. Choose a location where they're not apt to become easily lost.

- Finally, CHECK LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES BEFORE STARTING KNIFE THROWING ANYWHERE! In some jurisdictions [such as parks] weapons of any kind are prohibited.

Anyways, there's just a little bit of info on knife throwing. In conclusion, I have to say I personally do not see this as a practical skill either for combatives or hunting, but rather, just an outdoors sport based in some aspects of history. I see it more as a recreation, something to pass time at camp or for the "Seneca Run" at a Mountain Man Rondy.

Hope you all get outdoors and enjoy the Spring weather as it arrives!

GOBLIN RANGER/WOODS DEVIL

Kilimanjaro Gear Trail Hike

Dayhiking with KILIMANJARO GEAR 3-Way Modular Deployment Bag #910103 and BALLAST Multi-Tool #910053. Gathered some Hummingbird sage and made a woodsman's tea along the way. Check out my review of this great trail gear at GoblinRanger.blogspot.com and visit their website at Kilimanjarogear.com. 

 

Also, for an excellent Bug-Out Bag gear checklist, visit S.L.O. CAMP N' PACK

 

 

Dayhiking with the KILIMANJARO GEAR "BALLAST" multi-tool

So today after work, I went out to the park where I volunteer [ADOPT-A-PARK] to check the trails and collect litter. I decided to see if I could find a few tasks I could test the KILIMANJARO GEAR "BALLAST" (tm) multi-tool on. I spotted a fallen Oak branch and tried out the little saw blade on it. Worked pretty well. The saw blade is less than 2" in length, so you are pretty much relegated to branches no more than an inch or so:

Saw blade function worked well

 

After that I tried out the blade on whittling a point and no surprise there because it was sharp as delivered: 

 

Whittling with straight blade

 

It was a beautiful day outdoors. We'd just had some rain the night before and everything was fresh and green, like this Hummingbird Sage [love the tea from this]:

 

Hummingbird Sage makes a nice tea with

Decongestant medicinal properties 

 

I saw a lot of Dusky Footed WoodsRat dens scattered off the trails in the woods:

 

WoodsRat den

 

I wore the knife and sheath to work last night at my second job [stock clerk] pulling pallets and stocking shelves...lot of movement. I checked the sheath and just as I'd expected the flimsy web loop was already stretching. The stitching was starting to stretch as well:

 

Stiffer belt loop fabric needed

 

The sheath needs a thicker/stiffer piece of nylon, sewn flat against the backing...such that you can barely slide belt through. It'll stretch a little with time, but this is not going to last. You'd have to carry it in a pack to avoid losing it.

 

I found a downed green Willow branch so I used the straight blade and the serrated blade to craft a tent peg and a spindle for bow drill [when it's dried] and they worked just fine:

Camp craft whittling

 

I attempted to sharpen my pruners with the file blade, but the file is too soft and couldn't scratch the pruner's blade. In fact, the double-cut checkering started wearing away. I tried it as a wood rasp and it worked okay, so that's the most you can expect from the file function. That was a disappointment:

 

File will function as a wood rasp

I also tried the Phillips Head screwdriver out. I tried screwing a wood screw into some Douglas Fir 1 X 3. This is one of those "Half Phillips" in which the cross tips are ground short so it doesn't require as much space in the handle [and thus a slimmer handle profile]. These are stinkers because they slip out of the Phillips slot, but worse, the Phillips blade kept collapsing under pressure because it does not lock. So, I gotta say, there's room for improvement here. But KILIMANJARO GEAR does offer a Lifetime Warranty [original purchaser/no abuse] and that's not bad! 

Anyways, it was a good outing. Oh, and I managed to gather up about a pound of litter from the park and trails. Last time I added it up a couple of months ago I figured I'd gathered over 50# of litter:

Take some litter out with you. Leave the

Trail better than you found it! 

 

I've got some more testing to do on this multi-tool, so we shall see. It's an attractive design and I really like it, but there's a few things as mentioned that I'd fine-tune to make it an even better product.

 

Have a great week!

 WOODS DEVIL / GOBLIN RANGER

Kilimanjaro Gear...A new trail gear company!

One of the people whom I enjoy following on FACEBOOK is Joel Lambert, former U.S. Navy SEAL team member and host of the DISCOVERY channel's "LONE TARGET" program . In LONE TARGET, Lambert travels around the world and challenges elite military, police, and border security units to pursue and apprehend him as he travels cross-country. He uses his skills and training to evade them, and, with a little luck, will successfully reach an extraction point. Traveling light, he uses only a minimal amount of carefully selected gear to accomplish his task. 

 Joel Lambert

[joellambert.com]

 

I greatly enjoy the show and Joel's cagey humor. My favorite episode thus far was one in which he caught a stray dog and tied his sweaty bandanna to it's collar, and then loosed it to run wild and draw off the pursuing tracking team's dog, which were hot on his trail. The search dog took the bait and boy, were those guys PISSED when they caught onto the ruse! BTW Joel has his own official web page with lots of useful personal safety tips. You can visit it at Joel Lambert.com

About a month ago, Joel shared a gear drawing from a new outdoor equipment company named  KILIMANJARO GEAR [or "KILIGEAR" for short].

Kilimanjaro Gear logo

[Kilimanjarogear.com]

I visited their FACEBOOK page and saw that they were seeking outdoors men to field test their gear. I then went to their website and was pretty impressed by what I saw, and so I posted an offer to test their gear on their FB page. I was pleasantly surprised when Mr. Andy Somerville, KILIGEAR's Director of Marketing, contacted me and advised me they had selected me to help test their gear. Mr. Somerville very kindly invited me to select a couple of items from their product line for evaluation.

I studied the KILIGEAR web site's product line with a mind to what kind of test would I want to conduct. A few months ago I went on a minimal gear outing in which a gentleman named Jesse came along and carried all of his kit for the event in a deployment bag, which is visible in the photograph below:

Jesse's Deployment Bag kit

 

I'd been very impressed that Jesse had carried a stove, cook set, food, tarp and blanket, cordage and more in just a single shoulder bag. Ever since that outing I'd been thinking of acquiring a deployment bag and had been looking at various models online and at my favorite go-to trail & military gear store  S.L.O. Camp n' Pack Army Navy Outdoor Store [S.L.O. Camp n' Pack is 100% Veteran owned and operated, offers quality brands, and they operate an online sales business as well which you can visit at CNP Tactical.com]. After some consideration, I selected the KILIGEAR  3-way Modular Deployment Bag #910103 and their  BALLAST (tm) Multi-Tool .

I'll be describing the features of both products in this blog, and then in the coming weeks I'll actually take them afield and use them on an outing involving at least 1 night outdoors [I'd prefer to do 2 nights, but my current job's work schedule doesn't allow me 2 days off at the present time].  

I received both KILIGEAR items in the mail a few days ago, and I'll begin with the Deployment Bag:

KILIGEAR 3-way Modular Deployment Bag

I requested their tan colored Deployment bag. The bag is nicely compact, has heavy-duty zipper closures, and measures about 17" in Length x 8" Height x 7" Depth. It is constructed from tough, 600 denier polyester fabric. The bag can be configured for shoulder carry using the included removable padded shoulder strap, or mounted on a belt, such as a USGI pistol belt for use as a fanny pack.

Front of Deployment Bag

 

 

Back of Deployment bag

The bag has PALS webbing and straps on the back so it can be attached with MOLLE compatible gear [or you can use old school ALICE gear "meat hooks"]. It also has a heavy duty handle sewn onto the top of the bag and could be carried in that fashion. The deployment bag has three drain holes into the bottom should it become immersed. I like that there is not just one hole and they are spaced evenly to quickly drain the bag. All of the stitching on this bag is solid bar stitching.

Interior of main compartment

There are 4 compartments to this bag. Inside the main compartment is a lightweight mesh divider. It's pretty roomy for larger items. A smaller compartment is located on the front of the bag and it has a solid divider sewn in the center with 2 pockets sewn onto the divider. Finally there are two small compartments at either end. The front and side pockets have PALS webbing so you can lash gear on or add additional MOLLE pouches to fit your needs.

Front compartment interior

 

The side pockets [open in above photo] are *almost* large enough to hold a USGI quart canteen, but wouldn't zip closed when I placed a canteen inside. I would've liked these compartments just a bit larger to hold a canteen and canteen cup for light treks, but it's no big deal because I can just attach one to the PALS webbing with ALICE clips and still have those compartments for other gear [or just choose a smaller water bottle for those outings]. Overall I think it is a solid bag and should stand up very well to rugged use.   

So maybe you're an urbanite and never go out on the trails to hike and camp and thinking, "I don't need this." Well, the urban landscape is just a different kind of wilderness to navigate and survive in every day. Deployment bags are, to my mind, a modern evolution of the old "Possibles' Bag" of the Mountain Man of yesteryear. The Possibles bag was used to carry small items that might possibly be needed throughout the course of a day. Ever been to a Barbecue and found no one remembered matches [more common as less people smoke these days]? Been without parking meter coins? Been on a tight schedule and wished for a snack bar? Have you ever needed a little flashlight to see the lock on your front door when coming home late at night? Needed to clean up a scratch and had no band aids or alcohol wipes? No, quite obviously there's a need for a modern "Possibles Bag" in the course of our busy daily lives, and a deployment bag can answer those tasks admirably.

EDC gear can be uncomfortable in pockets,

Making a tactical bag very practical

 

Shoulder bags not manly? eh, maybe it used to be that there was a stigma against men carrying a shoulder bag, but I think we've grown beyond such nonsense and everywhere you go these days, you see folks carrying computer bags or bike messenger sling bags around town. Actually when I see someone with one it piques my interest and I wonder if it's a Bug Out Bag or just a savvy commuter. In fact one avid outdoors man I know, Tactical Bushcrafter, carries his gear bag on his daily commutes to and from work, just in case his vehicle becomes disabled and he has to hike home. 

Interesting to me is that these bags are "NTOA member tested and recommended 2014". NTOA is the NATIONAL TACTICAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, a professional organization for SWAT trained peace officers. I retired in 2012 after a 34 year career as a police officer, the last 12 of which I served as a Patrol Sergeant/shift supervisor. I was also a firearms instructor, & training manager, and had received training from NTOA, including Active Shooter Response Training. NTOA is a serious and eminently professional organization, so I am quite certain the NTOA would not hang their name nor reputation on just anyone's gear. It says a LOT that their members approve and recommend KILIMANJARO GEAR.

I also know many peace officers and lawfully armed citizens that use tactical shoulder bags to carry their gear on their daily commutes. Believe me, this makes a lot of sense. While your firearm should be worn concealed on your person, it is extremely uncomfortable and noisy to carry spare magazines or speed loaders, handcuffs, O.C. spray, and the other tools of the job in your pockets. A small tactical bag makes excellent sense.

Next up is the BALLAST (tm) multi-tool. This came nicely packaged in an attractive clam pack: 

BALLAST(tm) multi-tool

 

Reverse side showing sheath

 

This multi-tool really caught my eye when I perused KILIGEAR's catalog. It is a very heavy-duty, stainless steel multi-tool, made in China, and weighing in at about 9.5 ounces. It feels very solid in the hand, unlike some *cheap* multi-tools that are sold on the market. Open length is about 6" and closed roughly 4".  It has 13 tools:

- Pliers.
- Long Nose Pliers.
- Wire Cutters.
- Knife blade [Sheepsfoot or Scramasax style blade about 2", very sharp].
- Serrated knife blade [about 1-3/4" ].
- Wood Saw [1-3/4"].
- Double Cut File.
- Single Cut File.
- Phillips Screwdriver.
- Large Slotted Screwdriver.
- Medium Slotted Screwdriver.
- Can Opener.
- Bottle Cap Lifter.
 

"BALLAST" 13-in-1, Multi-Tools deployed

I opted for the black "tactical" finish. The finish is very nice and even. I can't say for sure whether it's anodized or a baked-on epoxy. The plier head appears to be a casting and has some tool marks visible, but nothing severe; it's just the price of doing business that in order to deliver an affordable product to the consumer a lot of time cannot be spent on polishing out tool marks. Heavy duty steel springs are provided for each tool, and are held together by three rivets on each side, as well as the hex nuts securing the Plier head to the handle assembly; basically it's built like the proverbial "Russian tank". 

BALLAST is a solidly built multi-tool

As delivered the multi-tool was very tight, but my experience is that with time and use they loosen, sometimes too much and thus become difficult to use because they want to close on you. At <2" the saw blade is probably relegated to small chores like notching a hearth board or making tent pegs, but that's okay. I like the sax shaped knife blade; for carving and drilling it should be just fine. Surprisingly the can opener blade has an edge I could feel on my finger. I'm not sure about the single cut file, but I will try it at sharpening my pruning tools at work, which is what I use the file on my other multi-tool to do.
 
One thing I disliked about this tool was the lack of a lanyard loop hole or stud. I believe in attaching a retention tether with about 3' of paracord to your multi-tool. I usually make a loop and attach the other end to my belt via a carabiner. In this way if you drop it, it cannot become lost or disappear down a ravine; you just reel it back in. I now work for a County Parks Department and often do trail maintenance and other projects and it's common to drop my tool wrestling branches and vines [For the same reason, when I was in law enforcement I used a tactical retention lanyard on my issue P229-R, because there's a high incidence of primary gun hand wounds in fights and I wanted to make sure if I dropped it it would follow me as I retreated to cover or started reeling it in with my support hand].  

The sheath is a snap closure belt pouch made of a Cordura like nylon. The pouch is formed with a plastic or nylon rigid liner. When you pop the flap it stays open, which is nice for re-holstering ease. One thing I did not like is the belt loop which is made using a flimsy piece of nylon webbing. It seems sloppy and should be made using a stiffer/heavier webbing. I suspect that this loop will probably stretch and wear pretty fast. Otherwise I like this sheath's construction a lot [A Tip: Using a carabiner through a knife sheath loop allows it to function as a dangler and you can remove the sheath without having to unfasten your pants belt. It also drops the sheath a couple inches below your T-shirt, so you don't have to lift it to access the knife or multi-tool].

Some folks might deride the BALLAST's "MADE IN CHINA" construction, but heck, every manufacturer has products from China in their line these days. Listen; my day-to-day Multi-Tool is a LEATHERMAN "SUPER TOOL 200", USA made and I've used it hard for several years and it has loosened up very badly and I have to keep a rubber band around it to keep it from clicking and clacking. The saw blade is bent and the wire cutters are mangled. Higher quality? Yeah, but you buy what you can afford and remember that nothing lasts forever. The suggested retail on this BALLAST Multi-Tool is about the same as Gerber Gear's "SUSPENSION" Multi-Tool which I believe is also made in China, and in my opinion, the KILIGEAR offering might just be a little better quality. 

In conclusion, my initial impression of these products is that they are appropriate quality for their suggested retail price point. Of the 2, I rank the bag a better quality product than the knife. I am looking forward to the field test and assessing them in actual conditions, especially the multi-tool. I won't abuse it, but it's going to get worked, so stay tuned.

Stay Safe & Happy Hiking!

WOODS DEVIL/GOBLIN RANGER

2015 New Year's Day Hike - My first outing of this new year!