Digging into Camping and Backpacking Meals

We’ve recently added some new utensils to our lineup of backpacking gear:

The Vargo titanium spork incorporates a handy wiregate clip at the end that allows it to hood onto pack webbing or attach to other cookware:

The Vargo stainless steel ‘Scork’ is a unique spork design that includes a can opener in the end of the handle, handy for those of you who insist on carrying a tin of beans into the backcountry.

The Brunton My-Ti titanium folding spork has a folding wireframe handle that locks in place, making it much more compact than straight-handle implements:

For those of you who cast a doubtful eye on sporks, there’s a more traditional My-Ti Fork and Spoon Set as well:

How Nielsen-Kellerman Gives Back

 

Here at Sheepleg we want to do all we can to encourage good environmental stewardship wherever we can in the conduct of our business, so occasionally, we like to highlight a partner that’s taking a positive lead in the right direction. On our product pages, companies that Give Back have a Give Back logo that links to a detailed description of what that company does to Give Back.

Nielsen-Kellerman is a company that produces outdoor electronic instruments such as the Kestrel 1000 Pocket Wind-meter, a meter crucial for hang-glider and light aircraft enthusiasts, climbers, and expedition teams around the world. The company has a commendable approach dedicated to reducing its environmental impact by triple insulating its facility, using high efficiency T5 lighting (which can reduce lighting energy consumption by 65%), and a policy of powering down equipment and lighting not in use.  Nielsen-Kellerman encourages the return of damaged or discarded products for recycling and reuse of durable components with a customer care discount. Nielsen-Kellerman uses a paperless office software system, minimizes use of printed sales materials, and encourages employee use of public transportation with financial rewards, and has 20% employee participation in their carpooling program. In the future, Nielsen-Kellerman has plans to install solar roof-panels to generate half of the factory’s power needs.

Thanks Nielsen-Kellerman, for being environmentally proactive and Giving Back.

Photon Microlights for a Light and Bright Outing

 

In a world where it’s possible to find $70 police flashlights that put out 120 lumens or more and require batteries that cost $5 a set, it’s good to know that one of the most practical lights for campsite use is lightweight, compact, and very affordable. If you’re not trying to blind perpetrators, but just need to find the snickers in your bear bag, an efficient, low power, bright enough light like the Photon is perfect. The Photon series of Microlights from LRI are made in the USA, and offer a remarkable set of features for such diminutive lights. With an included split ring, they easily attach to your keys, a neck chain or necklace, a beltloop or webbing strap. The basic Microlight I is the simplest of the trio, with a simple squeeze to light button; if you want the light to be on, you squeeze the button. Next up is the Microlight II, which adds an on-off switch in addition to the momentary squeeze button, allowing for hands-free use. The top of the line is the Photon Freedom Microlight, which has the on-off switch, momentary squeeze switch, adjustable intensity, and also comes with an alligator clip and a ball-socket mount that can clip to a hat brim, pocket, or pack strap, allowing for complete hands-free use. I personally wear mine on a dog tag chain and find that just clicking the light on and hanging down on my chest, it provides enough area light for typical campsite use, and because of this I no longer carry a headlamp for trips that don’t require night hiking.