Gear Review Part Duh.

We’re packing! More gear worth reviewing has appeared:


JOBY Gorilla Pod:
This thing is AWESOME. It’s a miniature tripod with three (duh) flexible legs that can wrap around trees, park benches, and priceless antiques for perfect self-portraits and photo ops. The legs are made up of numerous ball-in-socket type joints so they flex in any direction, and the feet are made of a sticky rubber that grips to surfaces. I wore it on my head for a while today with the camera on it and it was pretty sturdy - the Val Cam.


Macabi Skirt: This skirt is made of a quick-drying nylon, has an elastic waist, and most thrillingly, can be worn FOUR different ways - long skirt, short skirt, long pants (Hammer Time!) and short pants (shorts.) I can already tell that it’s going to be cool and comfortable to wear, easy to wash and dry, and a dream to pack - the large zippered security pocket flips inside-out to become the storage pouch. This may be one of my wardrobe favourites!


Sea and Summit Outhouse Waterproof Toilet Roll Holder : This, THIS is my most treasured piece of travel gear. It’s a miniature stuff sack, so it’s totally waterproof when sealed, and it’s the perfect size for a roll of toilet paper. There’s even a snap rod inside for easy dispensing and a cord to wear it around your neck when your hands are, um, occupied. Picture a St. Bernard with a hygienic, lightweight, waterproof roll of toilet paper around your neck and you have me, only instead of the St. Bernard you have --------> me. I’m probably doing a wretched job of describing it, so you’ll have to take my word for it - it rocks.


Pacific Outdoor Equipment Pneumo Stuff Sack: Made of a waterproof, lightweight ripstop fabric with welded dry construction (whatever that means), this stuff sack holds a ton of clothing and can be compressed down further by using the purge/fill valve for load compression instead of trying to squeeze the air out while rolling down the end AND clipping it shut. This stuff sack even doubles as a travel pillow when partially stuffed and partially inflated. The seal is so watertight that it could be a floatation device in a water-based emergency.


Reuseable Emergency Blanket: Most emergency blankets are tiny, single-use things that don’t keep anyone terribly warm OR dry, but this one sets a new standard - it’s big enough for two people, stretches, and can be used over and over (though I should hope we don’t need to use it over and over!) It can also be used as an emergency tent, emergency tent floor, or emergency picnic blanket.


My bag is packed. It weighs around 35 pounds, and only a quarter of that is clothes. The rest is the toiletries, the shoes, and the gadgets (and I believe I mentioned the first aid kit earlier.)


I’m as ready as I’m going to be, I think. I’ve been eating a LOT of chocolate in preparation.