The Bug Shirt Prototype-Sale

This prototype bug shirt has a hood and face protection designed to keep the insects out of your life without the use of Deet. Its a medium, sleeve length 27 inches.

It weighs only 3.5 ounces and even has some mittens built right in. I created a fold back top to these mittens, with velcro closure. Sort of an all out solution to a very annoying problem when you're sleeping under a tarp, hiking in the mountains, or just watching someone target practice in the dense woods.

I made the head protection as a hood so that the neck can be totally protected. The netting over the face can be lifted up and rolled back if you want to eat something. I made the hood oversized so that a cap worn under it would make a nice Bee-Keeper sort of situation.

Once again, this prototype is something I do as a hobby, a learning process. I roll the seams, and create something that will last while I learn about product designs. You can get this trail-all purpose no see um netting shirt for only $25. There's only one of course, so first come first served.

http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html

Eureka Kotey 35 Degree Bag, Sale

This bag is 6 feet long and I was able to test it one night in Georgia. So, its nearly New, only $30. Check out the
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html for details how to buy it. I'm selling it to make room in my studio .

You can read my review at:
http://www.trailquest.net/BRfile.html#How

I swapped out the heavy compression stuff sack for a silnylon sack I make for my line of gear, called Brawnygear. This blue stuff sack has that label in it.

Stuff Sack and Water Set

This set has a lot in it and weighs a total of 3.75 ounces, not even 4 ounces. Complete set is only $25.

You get:

a water sack (3 quart capacity)

6 - 2x3 resealable plastic bags

6-3x6 resealable plastic bags

one stake bag(stakes not included)

two ditty bags- 4x4.5, and 4 x 5

black stuff sack 8.5 x 15

blue stuff sack 8x13

green stuff sack 7 x 11

small blue stuff sack with bottom loop 6 x 8

All of these bags are new. Seams are rolled. Made with 1.3 siliconzied first quality silnylon.

This is a water sack in action. You can fold them and carry to the water source in your pocket. Hang on the tree when you get back. Easy to pour out of, too.

This set is now sold. We'll be offering another set soon, Stay tuned.
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html for details on how to buy this.

The Bag Liner on Sale

I've started a Page, located on this blog, where new and used outdoor gear will be for sale.
http://brawnyview.blogspot.com/p/sales-page.html

Today I'm starting with this blue sleeping bag liner.
sold- check out another prototype bag liner on July 14, 2011
It is made of 1.1 ounce ripstop, and folded it fits into this sandwich Ziploc bag. It weighs only 5.5 ounces. Its purpose is to add warmth to your sleeping system, keeping it clean. Also, on hot nights it can be unbuttoned and used quilt style.

It measures 90 inches long by 31 inches wide and is only $25. Brand new., . The seams are rolled. That's a very strong way to finish seams so they don't fray or pull out. I created this special process way back in 2001 when I began sewing tarps for people.

I love to sew and create new prototype gear.
At some point, I give it away, or sell it to make room for more projects. Read how I designed it on this blog March 21, 2011.

That's the story of most of the items that will be sold on these pages. Stay tuned for more.
If you're interested, click on the Sales Page where there are directions on how to proceed.
sold!
Happy Trails!

I Still Use Silnylon, not Cuben

Hi Carol,

I've been enjoying your channel. I wanted to ask you if you've had any experience with cuben fiber material for shelters. Cuben fiber seems to be the latest thing but not many videos out
                                                                   --D.


For all you readers,
I'm still using silnylon, 1.3 ounce silicone impregnated ripstop. Its lightweight, very strong, comes in many good colors.
Here's an exchange between a friend and I on YouTube videos.



Hi D,

I know a guy who sews it, Mountain Laurrel , and its very expensive stuff. The only colors available at the time (and with research) are not in my acceptable range. I do stealth stuff.

The weight savings are not that dramatic, in my opinion. Keep your gear sized to fit you, simplified in design and structure is my best advice.

best
Carol



Carol,

Well now you got me thinkin'. Cuben fiber is certainly very expensive. I contacted the material manufacturer and it seems the manufacturer has a tight grip on who received material and what its being used for. I'm not very good at rigging guy lines, so ... I might scrap the tarp shelter idea, however I do like your tarp shelter with a floor. It didn't seem to have all the stakes as those other tarp systems require.

Thank you for your reply. I've learned a lot from you.

D

Rusting Minds and Air Filters

"Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather become frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind"--Leonardo da Vinci

I love this quote. Leonardo, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci, has credibility in the Creative World.

Another favorite quote goes something like this: If you're not living life on the edge, you're taking up too much space.

The world needs some innovation. We're in a mess. Our current sources of power include oil, coal and nuclear. These things are hazardous.

For my part, I love the solar powered LED lights, my little '96 Geo Metro that just keeps on going, and a life style of voluntary simplicity.

The other day I finally got my air filter replaced. Because the car is 15 years old the part was a special order. Last time it was replaced it cost only $10. This time it was $20. The auto parts store guy put it on for me while I watched. Easy.
So, when I got the old one, it looked like the filter on my vacum cleaner. Its washable and reuseable. Its a no bag vacum cleaner and been going for years, a very excellent system.

One thought led to another until I decided to wash this air filter and see what happens.
After dumping out the dirty water, it is now drying. Looks like new.

Any of you car buffs out there want to warn me about using it on my car,please do. Once the brand new one gets dirty, about two years from now, I plan on trying this.

Even Huddle House Offering Coupons

No one can say times are not rough when even the local Huddle House is offering coupons.
Even a dollar off if you buy something over six bucks.

Seriously. Our little town here has had two banks closed and taken over by other banks (FDIC shut them down) and several decent restaurants. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy, Dairy Queen and Huddle House, in that order, seem to be doing the most business.

Hopefully people are putting in gardens cause  with the new immigration laws, Georgia farmers are worried they won't be able to find enough workers to harvest the crops. They say Americans just don't last in the fields. It gets upwards of 100 degrees and no shade. That would be rough.
Maybe if they looked at improving conditions, like shady breaks, more pay, some recruitment of high school kids for 5-6 hours a day, they could find solutions.

When I lived up north, teen agers picked corn. It was something that happened every summer, and they would bus them from the high schools.
Now, sometimes its a research facility for a seed company, or sweet corn, or detasseling. But the point is the teenagers could make some money, spend time with friends and get in some work experience.

Just saying, there has to be a solution, in these tough times, with so few jobs.

My Second Book Is Now Available

My new book is now available through Kindle at Amazon.com. It's an ebook, which means you can be reading it within minutes and its available worldwide.
I used the photo below to create the cover. I'm crossing Lyle Creek on the Pacific Crest Trail. My good friend, Cobweb took it for me.

To see
Everything Except Corn Pasta
just click on this link.

The book contains recipes for on the trail and preparing food at home for backpacking and camping. There are trail stories  and photos, information for those who like to use slow burning stoves and bake and much more.
The ISBN is 0-9728145-1-4. I posted the Table of Contents to give you an idea of what you'll find.

Table of Contents

Forward—4

Things I Learned Trailside—7

Appetizers and Beverages --11
--includes dissertation on Trail Mixes

Breakfast--21
--hot and cold food for your most important meal

Soups and Main Dishes--30

Meat, Cheese, and Proteins--42

Breads—49

Desserts--60
--life’s joy

Dehydrating Foods--68

Everything Except--80
--spices, make a cozy, food list for bear canister

The Backpackers Trail Kitchen--89

Special Tricks for the Ultralighter--98
--making miles and alternative gear

The Raisin File--115

Index—121

The Trail Kitchen

Gallon Ziploc, quart Ziploc, sand which, then the smaller resealable bags all make packaging food easy. Keeps garbage to a minimum. I hate it when people throw their garbage in a fire ring, thinking it will burn. Just makes a mess. Pack it in, pack it out. But, keep things easy by repackaging into Ziploc bags first.

Plastic Bags are esential to any backpacker's trail kitchen. I like spices, too, so I carry some in a tiny plastic bag.

This basic cook set weighs just 8.5 ounces.

This ultralight cook set I used on the Appalachian Trail. It only weighs 3.5 ounces. 
The soda can stove in the basic set is the one I used with the kit. I placed a new one in this photo to facilitate the shoot.

My Journey Available at Kindle Store

Amazon has provided the way for authors to upload and sell their books in a digital format.
They can be bought and read within a few minutes of purchase. If you don't have a Kindle reading device, there's a free download for PCs. That's what I did. Right now I have five books in my Kindle library.
I love the fact that you can own a ton of books without needing a large home book shelf. Also, they won't get damaged or lost and are less expensive.

Kindle Store at Amazon

I have put my first book into e-format, and you can buy it now. The beauty of this is there are no shipping fees, no waiting for the post office, or limitations because of which country you live in.

Here’s the link to
My Journey To Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking in the Kindle Store.

You can read a description of my book at
Trailquest.net and check out reader's Reviews
This book was printed in paperback by Fire Creek Pass Publications. It is the exact same book now being offered at Kindle.

Right now I'm working on my second book. I'll make it available as an e-book via Kindle.
It is a compilation of trail stories, trail recipes, and all things culinary for the ultralight backpacker. I plan to have it ready in July. Stay tuned!