Field Test: Maxpedition pocket organisers (the mini and the fatty)

A quick look at a couple of maxpedition pocket organisers for backpacking and trekking. The organisers are usually used for EDC but make great organisers when backpacking. They can be used for all your little gadgets and such as well as used as a first aid kit or survival kit. The two pocket organisers are the 'mini' and the 'fatty'.  The mini is a smallish EDC pocket organiser, while the fatty is larger and deeper. Generally, the mini is more than adequate for carrying items for backpacking trips but if you need extra storage the fatty is a fair bit larger and has the addition of another zipped pocket that can be used for an interdependent first aid kit.

Mini Tech specs:

Very compact 4 x 6 x 0.75 size

Drops into pants cargo pocket or backpack/bag

Full clamshell opening main compartment with dual zips

Inside left: Slip pocket; key ring; elastic organizer with 6 divisions

Inside right: Slip pocket; tie-down loop; elastic organizer with 4 divisions

Front exterior: 1.5 x 3 loop field for patches; mesh slip pocket with hook-and-loop closure

Back exterior: Carry handle; attachment webbing

MOLLE compatible

Attach using two 3" TacTie Attachment Straps (optional accessory)

1050-denier nylon construction with reinforced stitching throughout

Fatty Tech specs:

Compact 5 x 7 x 2in size

Drops into or attaches onto backpack or bag

Full clamshell opening main compartment with dual zips

Inside left: Slip pocket; key ring; tie-down loop, elastic organizer with 9 divisions Inside right: Zipper pocket; elastic organizer with 6 divisions

Inside center has additional elastic loop

Front exterior: 2 x 3in loop field for patches; mesh slip pocket with hook-and-loop closureBack exterior: Oversized carry handle; attachment webbing

Field test: Buck hartsoot neck knife

I did a review on the Rat Izula some time ago and championed it mainly due to its lightness and size for lightweight backpacking. If you want to go even smaller and lighter than that one, without sacrificing too much functionality, it's worth taking a look at the Buck made hartsook neck knife. Obviously this knife is too small for major bushcraft activity but it makes an excellent lightweight cutting tool and perfect for a backup or survival kit knife. If you are just using a knife for lightweight backpacking and for small cutting tasks this is highly recommended. Larger handed people may, however, find the blade handle a little on the small side.

The blade itself is black oxide coated and made of S30V stainless steel and comes with a small sheath and weighs less than 15g.

Tech specs:

Blade Steel: S30V
Length Overall: 4 1/4" (10.8 cm.)
Blade Length: 1 7/8" (4.8 cm.)
Blade Shape: Talon
Handle Material: S30V Steel with Black Oxide coating.
Carry System: Reinforced Molded Nylon
Weight: .5 oz. (14.8 g.)

Field test: gearpods

 If you are anything like me and always lose small things while backpacking or wonder where you put them, these new storage containers are very useful. While many storage containers exist these new gearpods bring a modular twist to storing small items of gear. 

The gearpods themselves come in a variety of sizes which are sold individually or as sets (including pre-made survival kits). The sizes range from the small (1.5 inches) to medium (3 inches) to large (4 inches) to extra large (6 inches). They are made of durable light plastic which can be tightened till they are fairly waterproof (although I have not tested this and they do not have O rings)*. The whole novelty to these storage devices is that they can be joined together using connectors to form a kind of modular multi-kit. At present I use the largest gearpod for my main tools, the medium one for first aid and the smallest for firelighting materials. The possiblities for these containers are really down to the individual (they make good fishing kits too).

*EDIT: The first generation product used a neoprene O-Ring. The second generation products use a friction seal negating the need for the O-Ring.