Podcast: Download (Duration: 33:22 — 33.4MB)

Show Notes: Episode 106

Today on the First 40 Miles, along with thousands of other folks this week, we’ll ditch the midnight shopping, the mall mayhem and the deals on flat screen TVs for a little time on the trail.  Next on today’s Top 5 List, we’ll share some gifts that just keep on giving.  For today’s SUMMIT Gear Review, a top of the line, fully featured two-way radio that has an undergrad degree in Communications, and a masters in Global Positioning.  Next, our Backpack Hack of the Week will give you the map to anywhere.

Opening

• REI’s #OptOutside started last year in 2015
• Last year audio flashback…
• Plans for this year
• Black Friday is November 25, 2016
• Are you going to #OptOutside?

Top 5 Gifts That Keep on Giving

Rite in the Rain Printer Paper

• Rite in the Rain All-Weather Copy Paper
• $30
• 200 sheets
• Paper is 20# bond weight
• Completely recyclable wood-based paper
• Copy or laser print both sides
• The gift of printable, customizable maps
• See this week’s Backpack Hack of the Week!

Gear Aid Tenacious Tape™

• …is the gift that keeps on giving because it extends the life of your gear!!
• It’s Tenacious Tape™ is a nylon tape that uses an ultra-aggressive adhesive that gets stronger over time
• You can also remove or reposition the repair tape during the first 24 hours
• Tenacious Tape comes in lots of colors, including clear, so you can either color match or just use clear
• I keep it in my 10 essentials. Don’t wrap it around your water bottle—unless your water bottle has a crack you need to repair on the trail

Wool Socks

• Nothing says love to a hiker or backpacker like a pair of wool socks
• Wool is powerful stuff!
• Wool can be worn for days without developing a stink
• Your feet will stink before the wool does
• $15-30 per pair
• Farm to Feet
• Wigwam
• Darn Tough
• Smart Wool
• Fox River
• Injinji
• TFFM Sock episode

Water Filter

• Sawyer Mini ($25)
• Katadyn Be Free ($40)
• Grayl ($60)
• The gift of long term gastrointestinal health…
• “Development of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) after Giardia lamblia infection”
• Odds of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to be increased sixfold after acute gastroenteritis
• “After an outbreak in autumn 2004 of assemblage B giardiasis in Bergen, Norway, many patients experienced long-lasting abdominal symptoms despite one or several courses of metronidazole. They were referred to the local university hospital for evaluation. Extensive work-up revealed a surprisingly high rate of duodenal inflammation both in patients with and without evidence of chronic infection [11]. All Giardia positive patients were treated successfully[12]. However, symptoms remained in many patients despite eradication of the parasite, and they were followed up regularly.”
• “The majority of patients (57.7%) reported their post-giardiasis abdominal problems to worsen after intake of certain food items. They were asked to name the food items they had begun to avoid. Milk and milk products were mentioned spontaneously by 27% of the patients. Other common food items mentioned were alcohol containing beverages (18.4%), wheat flour products (14.5%) and coffee (6%).”
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2676300/

Dehydrator with Jerky gun

• Very cool!
• If you’re doing a 1 pound of ground beef, you’ll need 1 tsp of salt and 2 Tbs of soy sauce to act as a preservative. Then you’ll need to get the meat sufficiently dried out and heated hot enough to kill bacteria.
• Jerky Guns are protected by the second amendment…they can’t take our jerky guns away.

Bonus #6: Our new book is available for pre-order!

Trail Fuel: 40 Quick & Easy Recipes for Wilderness Backpacking

SUMMIT Gear Review™: Garmin Rino 755t

Structure

• Rugged Touchscreen GPS and two –way radio
• Camera
• Three-axis electronic compass and barometric altimeter
• Bluetooth capability and wireless sharing between Garmin units
• Pre-loaded with Topo U.S. 100K maps and a one-year subscription to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery so you can easily get an idea of the lay of the land.
• Includes worldwide basemap
• Three-axis tilt-compensated compass with accelerometer and altitude-sensitive barometer
• Micro-SD card slot means you can add more maps

Utility

• 5-watt transmitter power delivers a two-mile radio range over FRS and up to 20 miles over GMRS—although, this range typically is overstated. Range depends on ability to receive signal…
• Sensitive GPS/GLONASS that locks in really well
• Integrated NOAA weather radio
• Communication and maps
• Active Weather “app” shows you forecasts with animated radar and alerts you to inclement weather so you stay informed on the trail.
• Built-in Bluetooth® allows communication through your wireless headset. Share tracks, waypoints, geocaches and more with wireless sharing between Garmin GPS units.
• Garmin Connect™ automatically uploads software updates when online.
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivers up to 14 hours of runtime.
• Capture your adventure with the auto-focusing 8MP camera with LED flash/torch.
• Built-in NOAA weather radio keeps you in the know.
• Unit-to-unit text messages let you share waypoints, tracks, routes and geochaches.
• Unique Position Reporting sends your location to other users

Mass

• Garmin Rino 755t weighs 12.3 ounces (with battery)
• 5″H x 2.4″W x 1.8″D

Maintenance

• Waterproof housing with a rating of IPX7
• 14 hour battery life
• Rechargeable battery

Investment

• $650 if you want to talk to yourself
• $1300 if you want to buy two
• Note: Can also be used with other two-way radios, however some premium features may not be compatible with other radios.

Trial

• High on features, high on price
• GPS locked in really well
• Maps were more accurate and updated than Google Maps
• Housing is extremely rugged and durable—no scratches, even after two months of use

Backpack Hack of the Week™: Free Printable Topo Maps

• FREE Printable Topo! Maps! From National Geographic!!
• http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps/pdf-quads#internalmap
• Also, CalTopo is a great option for maps—and they have a feature that allows you to have the exact map you’re using as a trackable map on your phone.

Trail Wisdom

“Come forth into the light of things. Let Nature be your teacher.”
–William Wordsworth