Reviews by jps246

jps246 says "Protects my toothbrush wherever I go - Toothbrush Holders" about Coghlan Toothbrush Holders

jps246 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:50:00 GMT

I almost never travel without my Toothbrush Holder from Coghlan's. It's the perfect way to protect your toothbrush on any trip, whether it is a night at a hotel or a night in the woods camping.

Really just an enclosed plastic cylinder, the Toothbrush Holder is a convenient way to store and protect your toothbrush while traveling. Mine comes on both camping trips and more traditional travel.

The plastic cylinder pulls apart roughly in the middle and you just slip your toothbrush in and then put the two pieces back together. This seals your toothbrush in the holder (it isn't air and waterproof though) and protects your toothbrush while you have it packed away in your suitcase or in your backpack.

I love how handy this Toothbrush Holder is. I don't have to fight with bags or stuff my toothbrush in my toiletry kit somewhere. I just stick it in the holder and it's ready to go. When I get back from my trip, I take my toothbrush out, rinse out the holder and let it dry and then it's...

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jps246 says "I love my Pelonis Oil Filled Radiator Heater" about Pelonis WM-HO202C Oil Filled Radiator Heater

jps246 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:35:36 GMT

Over the years I've come to find that my Pelonis Oil Filled Radiator Heater has been a great way to keep rooms in my house warm when I haven't wanted to heat the entire house. Why's that? It provides a nice steady heat when it's running, the entire unit is practically silent and I just think it's safer to use than your standard ceramic heater.

The Pelonis looks like one of the old fashioned radiators you'd find in an older home and when it comes to the way it functions, it really follows that model. There's an electrical element inside the radiator that heats up the oil inside. The oil in turn warms the radiator itself and that lets Pelonis gives off a steady stream of heat and provides some warmth after you've turned it off, since the radiator coils and the oil stay warm for a bit.

There's a standard plug with the Pelonis and the cord is about 6 feet long. That's enough to move your unit around in most rooms. In addition, the wheels on the bottom of the unit make it even easier...

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jps246 says "A piece of history in Lake George - Fort William Henry Museum" about Fort William Henry Museum

jps246 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:39:13 GMT

Are you in Lake George and looking for something to do beyond the typical tourist stuff? You might consider visiting the Fort William Henry Museum. It is a great place to understand the historical significance of the region during the French and Indian War during the colonial times.

Fort William Henry was host to a fierce battle between the British and the French. The Fort was built by the British and protected the southern end of Lake George, which was also the beginning of a portage to the Hudson River. Whoever controlled the area controlled the flow of people and goods in a north-south corridor between New York City and Canada.

The British established Fort William Henry to protect that route and the French attacked in 1757 to win control over the route. While the fort fell in the battle, eventually the British were victorious, preventing the French from cutting the American colonies in half.

The original Fort was destroyed in its final battle by the French in 1757. The French...

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jps246 says "Have your matches always work with Coleman Waterproof Matches" about Coleman Waterproof Matches

jps246 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:47:51 GMT

If I'm camping or even just in the outdoors on a day hike, I want to be able to make sure I can start a fire or light my camping stove if the conditions are less than perfect. That's why there's always a pack of Coleman's Waterproof Matches in my backpack and my cookware set

The Coleman Waterproof Matches are basic wooden match sticks except that they are treated with a waterproof coating that lets you still strike and light the match, but will keep them protected from damp conditions and even the occasional splash or submersion in water. Each box of matches probably has about 50 matches or so in it, so they do last for quite a while (unless you need lots of matches to start a fire).

I have always kept a pack of these matches in my backpacks over the years. I've never had a problem with them and they have worked in all kinds of conditions. They do cost a bit more than standard wood matches, but they work a lot better in a larger variety of conditions.

My Take

If you are looking...

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jps246 says "I always find a way to use the Coleman Deluxe Links" about Coleman Deluxe Links

jps246 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:46:41 GMT

The Coleman Deluxe Links are mini carabiners that are a convenient way to easily clip on and off various items and also clip items together. They are not real climbing carabiners though! You cannot use them to go climbing even use them to hang large amounts of weight. Instead the Links are for small items and are a great way to clip a bunch of gear on to packs.

The Links are fairly small and are about 3 inches in length, a bit smaller in width and only weigh a few ounces. Their body, made from aluminum is formed in a "D" shape.

Using the Deluxe Link is easy. The gate opens which gives you a chance to "clip" onto small items. The gate then pops back in place and secures whatever you have on the link since the gate opens inward and items clipped in are pushing outward.

I like to use the Link to hold together small items and to secure my gear while I am camping. I keep a couple attached to my backpack on most trips, so I can use them to hold whatever I can find a use for it. They are...

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jps246 says "Easy way to have lots of water at your campsite" about Reliance 5 Gallon Collapsible Water Carrier

jps246 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:35:34 GMT

When I'm car camping I like to have a lot of water at the site, especially if I don't have a water spigot nearby to be able to quickly refill bottles. Not only that, but when I'm out backpacking sometimes it's handy to have the ability to have plenty of water at the campsite, especially when you've camping with a big group.

In those cases, that's where the Reliance 5 Gallon Fold A Carrier water container comes in handy.

Basically a big 5-gallon plastic bag, the Carrier is made from heavy-duty polyethylene. This material is a plastic material that resists cracks and dents and remains pliable. It's not completely indestructible though, the Carrier can rip or tear.

On the bag there is a plastic handle on top that let's you carry the bag and there's also a spigot that you can turn on and off to get the water out of the bag. The spigot unscrews and you can fill the Carrier that way.

I usually have the Carrier when I'm on car camping trips. The Carrier holds enough water at my campsite...

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jps246 says "I use the Thule Stacker to transport my kayaks" about Thule the Stacker

jps246 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:48:45 GMT

I've found that the Stacker from Thule is a good kayak car rack for people who have one or two kayaks. It's very easy to install on your existing roof rack, is fairly easy to use and is a good choice for a kayak rack. That said, you will have to be a bit more comfortable with loading the boats on the roof of your vehicle and strapping them in than you do with some other kayak racks

The Stacker requires that some sort of roof rack be installed on your vehicle before you can use it. This can be a standard factory car roof-rack or a Thule rack you've installed after you've gotten the car. Either way, The Stacker fits on the rack and is tightened down with the enclosed screws.

When you get your Stacker, you get two of the "stacker" units, which are just metal loops. They each have a large, lower loop and then a smaller loop up top. This allows you to wrap the strapping that will hold the kayaks in place around and through the stackers to better secure the boats. The kayaks themselves rest...

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jps246 says "The Gay Kama Sutra is an enjoyable read" about The Gay Kama Sutra

jps246 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:39:48 GMT

The Gay Kama Sutra by Colin Spencer is a decent book that attempts to adapt the original Kama Sutra so that it encompasses and celebrates male homosexuality.

I'm not sure how faithful to the original this text is, but the book does provide a decent overall look at gay men's sexuality and sexual expression. I found it to be an interesting read and figure that most gay men will probably learn a thing or two.

There are six chapters in the book that tackle a variety of issues, from the art of love to how to find yourself a partner. These chapters include erotic and more mundane kinds of information. The book is illustrated with a mix of photographs and illustrations that depict a number of sexual activities along with men just engaging in life activities.

There's also a list of books that the author suggests for further reading, an index to the book along with a short introduction in the beginning of the book and acknowledgments at the end of the book.

This has been a fun book to have. ...

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jps246 says "We enjoyed our stay at the Wilmington Notch State Campground" about Wilmington Notch State Campground - Wilmington, NY

jps246 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:28:31 GMT

I had the chance to spend several nights at the State run Wilmington Notch Campground, located in Wilmington, New York and had a good stay. The campground offers basic campsites along with hot showers, toilets, great scenery and some really nice camp sites.

The overall layout of the campground is a series of small loops that are inside of each other that break down the site into just over 50 sites. Most of the sites have some sort of tree cover (in some places pretty thin) and while most of the sites aren't on top of one another, most are fairly close without any real physical break in between them. The sites on the exterior of the loop, which included ours though, tend to be slightly more wooded and a bit more removed from each other and the sites on the interior portions of the loop. Our site was located on the outside of the back corner of the loop and the campground so we were basically all alone in our area. There were people across the loop road from us, be we had quite the area...

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jps246 says "The New Balance 474 Sneakers have served me well" about New Balance M 474 for Men

jps246 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:12:14 GMT

I've been on a New Balance sneaker stretch for the last few years and my current pair of sneakers is no exception. While the 474 is a running shoe, it's turned out to be a good all around pair of shoes that's lasted well.

Now I'm not out running with my 474's so the wear and tear is probably less that it would be for a runner, but I do a lot of walking and use them as my general purpose workout shoes in addition to wearing them most of the time as I go through each day.

The New Balance 474's fit well, have plenty of support and have a good hold on the ground. There is also mid-sole cushioning and support along with a sole that can really grip as you are walking along, even on rougher terrain.

What I like...

I like that these sneakers are versatile. I wear them when I'm out walking, when I'm at the gym and all around as a general purpose sneaker whenever and they have done a good job. Of course there's some wear and tear after almost a year and a half, but any sneaker, subjected to...

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jps246 says "The Appalachian Trail Guide to MA & CT helps plan your hike" about Appalachian Trail Conference Appalachian Trail Guide to Massachusetts-Connecticut

jps246 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:40:50 GMT

If you're interested in exploring the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts and Connecticut, you need to get yourself the Appalachian Trail Guide to Massachusetts-Connecticut from the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC).

The Appalachian Trail Guide to Massachusetts-Connecticut covers the roughly 141-mile length of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut and Massachusetts. From the Vermont-Massachusetts border in the north to the Connecticut-New York line in the south. There are three separate maps that cover the entire length of the Trail in the area. Each of the chapters in the guidebook are then indexed to these maps to make it easier to follow the trail descriptions. The maps are printed on tear-resistant and waterproof paper. In addition to getting a topographic map with the trail route shown, you are also given a vertical relief map. Since the maps are waterproof and tear-proof, they are very easy to fold up and slip into your pocket without having to worry about damaging the...

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jps246 says "The Patagonia Men's Capilene Midweight Crew Shirt is good" about Patagonia Patagonia Men's Capilene Midweight Crew Shirt

jps246 — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:30:49 GMT

If you are a looking for a decent midweight long-sleeve shirt for your outdoor adventures, the Capilene Midweight Long-Sleeved Crew Shirt from Patagonia is a good choice. I've found that it's a good base layer in colder weather and the capilene material wicks your body's moisture away from your skin and dries quickly, leaving you feel comfortable.

Capilene is a synthetic fabric, like the earlier polypropylene that outdoor clothing was made out of. However there have been a few improvements over the years. Capilene feels more like a natural fabric. It isn't quite cotton, but it is close and is comfortable to wear next to your skin for long periods of time.

Unlike earlier synthetic clothing, Capilene doesn't trap body odor to the extent that the polypropylene did. You may still notice a slight odor, but the odor doesn't build up as much and after washing, it does come smelling fresh.

Anyone who is active in the outdoors, especially in colder weather, should be happy with Patagonia's...

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jps246 says "Introduction to Skiing & Snowshoeing in Maine - Winter Trails" about Winter Trails Maine

jps246 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:14:20 GMT

Winter Trails Maine does a good job at providing a wide cross-section of the skiing and snowshoeing trips available throughout Maine except for areas in Aroostook County and the Downeast region, where coverage seems to be a bit spotty at best.

The book opens with an index map that shows all of the trails covered along with a table of contents. The introduction provides some basic information about the proper equipment, clothing and preparation for winter trips in Maine since many of these areas are quite remote and some special precautions for your trip might be needed.

The trails and trips described are located throughout the state, but the majority of the trails are located in western Maine, roughly in the Rangeley region (aka the mountains of western Maine). There are also some areas covered in the mid-coast region, around Moosehead Lake, near Millinocket and Bar Harbor and a few in the Presque Isle/Fort Kent area. However for Downeast explorers, the Downeast region is only covered...

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jps246 says "Catch up with AbFab in Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Special!" about Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Special

jps246 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:56:06 GMT

I love Absolutely Fabulous and the Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Special DVD presents two of my favorite AbFab specials in one place. You'll Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout and Absolutely Fabulous in New York. The specials answer those age old questions, what would happen if Saffy got married and what would happen if Eddy found her long lost son, Serge?

The DVD gives you a chance to get even more of the outrageous British duo of Edina and Patsy. It's hard to provide much background on Absolutely Fabulous, since it's unlike most anything found on TV in America and it's almost counterproductive to go into too much detail with the series since as you attempt to explain it, the fabulousness of the series is tarnished.

The humor emanates from the outrageousness of the two main characters, Edina (Eddie) and Patsy. The two are the most fabulous people they know. British humor tends to be an acquired taste and you either love it or you hate it so I can't really say if you'll like...

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jps246 says "Great idea that didn't work for me - CamelBak MULE Pack" about Camelbak Mule Hydration Pack

jps246 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:23:51 GMT

I thought I'd really like this daypack, but it turns out that it never felt quite right when I was wearing it and I wasn't all that happy with the storage potential. However, my partner has enjoyed the pack now that I'm not really using it, so I guess it's more a personal thing than anything else when it comes to whether or not you'll enjoy the CamelBak MULE Hydration Pack.

Mixing a small daypack with what is basically a water bladder holder, the MULE tries to be a pack that you'll want to take on shorter hikes and other outdoor activities. It doesn't do a bad job at that, but the space is kind of limiting and the comfort probably depends on your body type.

The Pack

The biggest reason to like the MULE is the 100-ounce water bladder that it holds. This lets you bring just about 3 liters of water with you on a hike without having to worry about water bottles. This is enough water for most hikes, especially shorter hikes that you'd be taking with the MULE.

As for storage, it's a bit smaller. ...

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jps246 says "The last Keurig coffee blend I'd drink - Hazelnut Cream" about Green Mountain Hazelnut Cream K-Cup

jps246 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:16:40 GMT

If there's one box of K-Cups that's going to take a long time for us to get through, it would be the box of Hazelnut Cream that's been sitting in our pantry since we got it.

Out of all the flavors I've tried, this is one I don't even want to think about drinking. It's not just me either, my partner, who loves flavored coffees, doesn't like this one.

Basics

The Hazelnut Cream K-Cup does produce a coffee that's rich and creamy, but it's really, really rich and creamy. There are hints of butter and nuts and the coffee is very sweet and creamy even before you add any sugar or cream to it. My problem with this coffee (other than not liking hazelnut all that much) is that it's just too sweet and too creamy, even without sugar or cream. My partner likes traditional hazelnut coffee, but with this blend, he says that it is just too sweet. It's not just the two of us either, we've had people over and almost everyone who tries it, wants a different cup of coffee after trying it.

It's hard for...

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jps246 says "Discover Mt. Washington and the Presidential Range's Trails" about Hiking Guide to Mount Washington & the Presidential Range, 6th Books

jps246 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:44:34 GMT

While the Guide to Mountain Washington and the Presidential Range is really just an excerpt from the larger and more comprehensive, White Mountain Guide from the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), this guidebook does have its place in most White Mountain hikers' libraries.

That's because you might be doing a lot of hiking along the Presidential Range and why would you need to bring along the larger, heavier guidebook to the entire region when all you need is something that covers Mount Washington and the Presidentials in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

The AMC Guide to Mount Washington and the Presidential Range provides comprehensive descriptions of all the trails throughout the Presidential Range. It begins with an introduction to Mount Washington and the Presidential Range. The introduction reviews Mount Washington's reputation and conditions and offers advice for novice hikers and climbers new to the area and also reviews regulations in the White Mountain National Forest.

Following...

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jps246 says "The only guide you'll need for hiking in NH's White Mountains" about Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide

jps246 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:25:44 GMT

If you are looking for a guidebook to the trails of New Hampshire's White Mountains, you need to get yourself a copy of the Appalachian Mountain Club's White Mountain Guide.

The White Mountain Guide truly is the guidebook that all others for the region are measured from. You'll get in-depth descriptions of just about every trail in the region and a 4-sheet map set that covers most of the trails described in the book.

The book begins with an index and key to the eight maps (4 sheets, maps on each side) included with the book, followed by an introduction to the White Mountains and the area. Following the Introduction, the trail descriptions are broken down into chapters that review the various areas in the White Mountains. These include:

Mount Washington and the Southern Ridges
The Northern Peaks and Great Gulf
Franconia, Twin and Willey Ranges
Carrigain and Moat Regions
Cannon and Kinsman
Moosilauke Region
Waterville Valley Region
Mt. Chocorua and the Eastern Sandwich Range
Carter and...

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jps246 says "Stark is in the heart of New Hampshire's North Country" about Town of Stark, New Hampshire

jps246 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:12:07 GMT

The Town of Stark, located in very northern New Hampshire might just be what you think of when you think of a small New England town. There's one main street, a church, a one room schoolhouse and a covered bridge. The only problem is that's about it. Most services are located either in the Town of Grovetown to the west or the City of Berlin to the east.

That said, Stark does offer plenty of scenery and access to a number of hiking trails and other, often practically empty backcountry areas of the White Mountain National Forest.

Located along Route 110 between Route 3 and 16, Stark is nestled amongst the "North Country" of New Hampshire.

You'll find trails to the south into the Kilkenny and Pilot Mountain Ranges. To the north you can climb the Percy Peaks and explore the National Forest along the Sawyer River Road.

Not only that, but you can enjoy the scenery of the Town center itself. Walking across the covered bridge, taking in the view of the cliffs just above the Town and exploring...

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jps246 says "Ben's Max 100 keeps the bugs away" about Ben's 100 Max Tick, Mosquito & Insect Repellent

jps246 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:18:04 GMT

Do you hate bugs? Are you looking to avoid ticks?

Then you should try out Ben's Max 100 100% DEET Insect Repellent. With 100% DEET in this repellent, you get protection from black flies and mosquitoes along with a number of other bugs. The only thing to worry about is that there is so much DEET in it. You can't put it directly on your skin and if I were you, I'd avoid putting it on children entirely.

Even with that limitation though, Ben's Max can work miracles just by spraying the stuff on your backpack, your hat and your clothing. It's strong enough to keep the bugs away from you without actually being on you.

While some bug sprays also repel other humans with their smell, Ben's really has no smell. There's just a hint of ‘bug spray' odor, but compared to some brands, it's not bad at all.

You get 1.25 ounces in a single bottle of Ben's. There's a spray pump top on it, so you can easily spray the formula over your clothes and your gear. Even though 1.25 ounces doesn't sound...

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