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PCH Magnum Half Zip
Looking at the calendar, I see that Christmas is only a little over a month away.
It'll be here before I know it; it always is. So it's time to start thinking about what to buy for family and friends who enjoy the outdoors. Forget diamonds or ties; nothing shows that you care more than giving outdoor gear. Here are a few of my favorite things that could go on their list, or yours.
Pocket Survival Pak Plus
Even if you take all the precautions while in the outdoors, accidents can happen and the weather can change. That's why hunters, hikers and backpackers should carry some kind of survival kit with them. The best one I've come across is Adventure Medical Kit's new Pocket Survival Pak Plus. It weighs just 5.6 ounces and comes in a water-resistant case.
The kit includes over 20 high-quality components that can save your life such as a CRKT RSK-MK5 knife, an E-Gear PICO LED light, Katadyn Micropur MP1 water
Alpen Wings 585 binoculars.
With this kit you could avoid being one of the 50,000 search and rescue missions conducted each year. The kit retails for $80. To order call 800-324-3517 or visit www.adventuremedicalkits.com.
PHG Magnum Half Zip
Hunters will love Columbia Sportswear's new PHG Magnum Half Zip. No matter if you're hunting big game, waterfowl or upland game birds, the Magnum is a super-warm layering piece for when the weather turns cold and nasty. It's not only soft and warm but is also made with 4-way comfort stretch material so there's no restriction to your movement.
The comfortable fleece lining is made even cozier with Omni-Heat thermal reflectivity - the same technology used for space blankets. The Omni-Heat captures and retains your body heat without compromising breathability or adding bulk. The shirt also has a zip-closed security pocket. The shell is 91 percent polyester and 9 percent elastane while the lining is 100 percent polyester tricot. Although made for hunting, this camo piece can be worn as an everyday shirt in cooler weather.
The Half Zip retails for $99.99. For more information or to order call 800-622-6953 or go to www.columbia.com.
Alpen Wings 585
For the quality and price there is no beating Alpen Optics. One all-around great set of binoculars is their Wings 585 8x42, which has an ergonomic lightweight design with super bright, sharp optical performance. Whether used for wildlife, scenery or concerts, the open hinge design provides comfortable viewing.
The 585 is fully multi-coated for maximum brightness with PXA phase correction coating for superior resolution and color fidelity. The BAK4 glass provides clear, bright, crisp images and the silver metallic prism coating adds to the superior brightness. The binocular is fully waterproof, fogproof and backed by Alpen’s lifetime warranty. It also has long eye relief and twist-up eye cups for eyeglass wearers and rubber armoring for holding comfort and shock protection. Also included are a deluxe travel case and wide comfortable neck strap. The Wings 585 retails for $184. To order call 877-987-8370 or go to www.alpenoptics.com.
WetFire Tinder
Here’s a great stocking stuffer for those hard-to-buy-for outdoorsy folks. Every pack should have some WetFire Tinder by Ultimate Survival Technologies. This universal lighting material is safe, easy-to-carry and not affected by wind or water. Though first designed for military troops, WetFire Tinder is now available for hunters, hikers, campers, backpackers, mountain climbers or anyone heading outdoors.
You never know when a rainstorm or snowstorm will come up and you need to get a fire lit quickly. This non-toxic fire starter is individually packaged in a lightweight solid cube form that won’t leak out on your other gear. It leaves no residue like other petroleum-based products and has virtually no odor. The cubes burn with almost no smoke and can be started in high winds, high altitude and nasty weather. The cubes actually burn longer when wet and can even light while floating in water. You can also extinguish them instantly and use over again, or even shave off pieces to start a campfire, warm your hands or preheat a backpacking stove. Even though they burn at over 1,300 degrees, they cool almost instantly when snuffed out.
WetFire Tinder is available in packs of 8 for $7.95. To order call 904-786-0033 or go to www.ultimatesurvivaltech.com.
QuikClot Home
We never like to think about it but if an emergency or disaster strikes it’s best to be prepared. While most first aid kits have bandages and gauze to stop bleeding, they usually aren't stocked to handle traumatic bleeding. It’s estimated that about 50,000 people in the U.S. die each year from bleeding related to traumatic injury. QuikClot Home by Tender Corporation was originally developed for the U.S. military to save soldiers' lives in the battlefield.
This hemostatic bandage is a must-pack addition to any first aid or disaster preparedness kit. QuikClot is a mesh bag made of a porous fabric that contains tiny beads of a mineral called Zeolite. When it comes into contact with blood it acts as a molecular sieve, rapidly absorbing smaller water molecules from the blood. Then, just the larger platelets and clotting factor molecules remain in the wound in a highly concentrated form, leading to very rapid natural clotting and reducing severe blood loss. QuikClot can even stop venous and arterial bleeding in less than five minutes. Conventional methods such as applying direct pressure can take between 10 minutes to 30 minutes to clot blood — by that time it can be too late.
QuikClot’s FDA-approved formula is completely safe and biologically inert, so there’s little chance of allergic reaction. It retails for $9.99. To order call 800-258-4696 or go to www.tendercorp.com.
