A G.O.O.D. Area Light (Pico LED Lantern)

UST Pico LED Lantern (Batteries Not Included)

More GOOD gear to chat about. This time it is the UST's (Ultimate Survival Technology) Pico LED Lantern.

This compact lantern is well made and reasonably weatherproof, too. It runs on 4x "AA" batteries, not included - of course. 

This unit sells for about $30 in many retail locations that sell UST products. However, if you have frugal blood in your veins, you may be able to seek even better prices from online vendors, like www.dvor.com. 

When the lantern arrived, I proceeded to test it with my re-chargeable batteries.....I was a little concerned at first. However, after giving the batteries a re-charge I instantly realized it was my partial charged batteries causing the dim glow. With charged batteries this little lantern can really share the shine!!

Pico Stats - 120 Lumens & 22 Hours Run-Time

UST Pico In Area Light Mode

The unit can be used as a sit or hang lantern or by removing the lantern shade/globe this nifty light can also be hung upside-down by a fold-away hook on the base of the unit, to be used as an area light.

There are 3 setting for the switch, Hi, Low & SOS strobe. In high, the lantern produces 120 lumens and can run for 22 hours. If used in a tent during a prolonged camping outting that means you will probably be charging the batteries every 4 to 5 days. Not too bad at all. On the low setting the lantern produces 15 lumens and will run for 91 hours. Not too much light, a strong glow to navigate by, like marking the location of the latrine. In a total darkness environment, say in a cave or tunnel...your eyes would grow accustomed to this light level and would be more useful. If left on for 12 hours a night, expect to re-charge your batteries once a week.

In SOS strobe mode the lantern can run for 120 hours. If I were to ever use any lantern/flashlight in SOS mode for rescue, I would first layout a mylar space blanket and then I would place the lantern/flashlight in the middle to maximize the strobe/flash effect.

I hope these gear reviews are working. If so, please post a comment. If not, post a comment and tell me what I am missing, please.

VAM.

A G.O.O.D. Stove for Your BOB

The New Stove and an Altoid/Sucrets Tin

 Howdy. I have been thinking about this blog for some time now and maybe I am not utilizing it to the fullest.

So, I am going to try an experiment and input some gear reviews as often as I can.

To start with, let's have a look at an affordable stove for your bugout bag (BOB). 

This compact stove was purchased through Amazon.ca and it shipped from Gadgest Super (Hong Kong).

Coleman Peak 1 & The New Stove

Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.ca/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Stove-Ignition/dp/B00AXV1YGK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1421895714&sr=8-3&keywords=camping+stove

The stove I received arrived in 17 days from Hong Kong. Shipping was only $0.98 per stove. Quite affordable. The stove itself was only $8.80. So, this is a $10 compact backpacking canister stove.

In the second picture you can see my tried and trusted Coleman Peak 1 Canister stove from the '90's.....and it cost over $65 at that time. My Coleman is a very small and light stove, but you can see that the new stove is half the size. And about half the weight, at 3.9 oz. 

The new stove fitted up nicely to a Primus butane/propane canister and lit up right away. The burner, although a small surface area, seems to put out a lot of heat. The valve control is very smooth. Simmering may actually be possible with the new stove. Field tests yet to be conducted.

If you are in the process of gearing up a BOB, you may want to consider this stove. It is affordable, light, small and fits the common butane/propane canisters.

Until the next gear review,

Keep your BOB packed and ready!

V.A.M.