GearFlogger

Zeus Portable Jump Starter

Portable jump starters with lithium batteries are as common as they are useful these days. The Zeus joins a crowded field, but manages to set itself a little bit apart by including some uncommon extras.

The Zeus uses something called high-level voltage multiplier, leveraging the four internal battery cells to work as one to start larger engines like diesels and to help the battery last longer. Features include a flashlight with strobe function that is actually usable, battery capacity indicator, dual USB ports and dual DC output. That's a nice selection of outputs that give you a lot of flexibility to run a lot of different types of equipment.

The inputs aren't neglected either, including a 2-prong wall adapter and a cigarette lighter power adapter. And speaking of adapters, they include a USB to micro USB charging cable, and a cigarette lighter output adapter so you can plug in anything with that type of interface. The battery and all the cables come packaged in a nice stiff-sided zipped case, so everything stays where you need it until you need it.

If you're like us the primary use of this device will probably be charging cell phones and tablets in a pinch, so make sure you have a compatible cable (e.g. USB to lightning) in the car. This is probably different from the reason you bought the Zeus, which is peace of mind for a dead car battery. Have no fear, in case of emergency unzip case, plug jumper cables in, connect them to the dead battery, and as soon as the light on the box that the cables are attached to goes green, you have 30 seconds to get in the car and crank it over.

All in all the Zeus is a nice addition to a crowded field because of its packaging and cables, and its ability to start even large diesel engines. 

$124.99 at Uncharted Supply Co.

Mystery Ranch Robo Flip Daypack

If you're looking for a daypack that can go to school or work during the week, and then get abused at your local crag on the weekend, you need to look at the Mystery Ranch Robo Flip. It's a small pack that easily does double duty, and when the going gets tough... well, it's a Mystery Ranch, so it just shrugs it off.

The Robo Flip is named for the top fixed lid, which has a small zipped external pocket and zips 3/4 open to allow access to the single main compartment, about 1,300ci. Inside is a suspended and padded laptop sleeve for up to 15 inch screens, and on front of that a slim tablet pocket. Both collapse flat if you're just stuffing gear inside, and you could use the laptop sleeve to hold a hydration bladder if you're into that kind of thing.

For those of us who prefer bottles, there's a quart-sized bottle sleeve against the side of the interior. We've never used an internal bottle sleeve before, but now that we have we like it. There's still plenty of room next to it for books, climbing shoes or whatever, and if you don't want to use it, it too folds flat and out of the way. It's a nice flexible arrangement that lets the interior of the pack transition seamlessly between organized work/school use and stuff-it-all-in weekend day trip use. The grab handle is bombproof, so feel free to stuff it full of books and electronics.

A few more features enable light technical duty. There's a vertical center daisy chain, four compression straps and four tie down points on the top. You can easily lash trekking poles, umbrellas, tripods or even ice tools to the outside, and shove crampons into the bottle pocket inside. The lack of a hip belt means you'll generally want to keep the load light or the trips short, but there is sufficient padding on the shoulder straps to make the Robo Flip carry comfortably from car to crag, or from bike to classroom.

The only thing we wondered about was the lack of a sternum strap, but our fears were unfounded. The contoured shoulder straps stayed put and we never felt the Robo Flip was going to flip out - or off. If you're looking for a clean school/work pack that transforms on Saturday morning into a backcountry day tripper, and especially if you're the type who is harder on your gear than an over-caffeinated baggage handler, check out the Robo Flip.

$99.00 at Mystery Ranch

Black Diamond 9.9 Single Rope

Black Diamond brings sexy back, at least for mid-diameter climbing ropes. It's new 9.9mm single rope really is a work of art, a perfect balance of weight and strength that makes it a standout in its class. It used to be that when grabbing a thicker cord like this, you just knew you were sacrificing handling for durability, but not any more.

The 9.9 non-dry rope, available in 35, 60 and 70 meter lengths, is billed as a "go-to rope for year-round rock climbing" and that pretty much nails it. The rope has a great hand, feeling supple and strong and the same time, with a clearly marked center and ends that are whipped tightly enough that getting them to fray has become a personal - and so far failed - obsession.

At 64g/m it's not too heavy, and it's rated at six UIAA factor falls so feel free to bring it along for that beginning lead climbing class. Or just save it for your summer projects. Either way you'll feel no reservations when you grab the Black Diamond 9.9. It's an every day, no-days-off rope that knots easily, belays smoothly and catches falls until you're ready for a cold one.

$89.95 to $179.95 at REI

Stanley Fubar

Sometimes you need to wreck something for a good cause. Sometimes that thing that needs to be wrecked requires something bigger than a hammer or that expendable piece of yard art you never liked anyway. In those situations, go big with Stanley's Fubar.

The Fubar is billed as a forcible entry tool for first responders who need to get inside a house or car in extremis. They don't have time to mess around, so they need a heavy object with sharp and blunt surfaces to poke, pry, slash and crush their way in. Stanley has a bewildering array of tools designed to do just that, but we like the Fubar, and not just for the name.

The Fubar comes in two sizes, a handy 18 inch, 6 pound model and a larger 30 inch, 9 pounder. Both feature jaws sized for 2x lumber with a recessed fire hydrant nut wrench, a gas shutoff wrench, nail remover and beveled prybar. Both also feature a hammer head, with the one on the 30 inch model being significantly larger. All the features work intuitively and as designed, and as a bonus both can be used to break glass and rake the windowsill to remove the poky bits that will otherwise slice and dice you as you climb in or the rescue-ee climbs out.

We like the shorter model for our vehicle and the longer one for the house, but it's nice to have a choice between two great tools. One small change we'd like to see is using the grip material from the longer tool on the shorter one. The longer tool grip has better traction, is lower profile and kinder to the hands. We see the need for a harsher grip on the shorter tool since you'll likely have to use more force due to the decreased leverage, but maybe the grips could be made to be interchangeable so you could choose your material. It's a small suggestion to improve an otherwise great set of tools.

Around $64.99 at Amazon

Garmont Tikal Travel Shoe

It's no secret we're big fans of Garmont on our feet, so when recently we planned a three week trip to Europe with carry-on luggage only, we had an idea of where to look for do-it-all footwear. OK, do-it-most footwear, but hey - we're traveling with a seven-year old, so BASE jumping will have to wait.

I wanted something that could do light trail hiking, lots of cobblestone mileage, the fancy French restaurant on the Sheflogger's itinerary, and oh yes - be comfortable to wear in the 90F+ temps we were expecting. I ended up in the Garmont Tikal, and apres-trip I can tell you they do indeed do it most. With a pair of sport sandals, everything fit in a small daypack and did everything we asked and more.

From freezing temps on the Jungfraujoch glacier saddle to the streets of charming Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and stomped to the floorboards of a rented Mercedes Benz on the autobahn, the Tikal was comfortable, cool and stylish. The thin reversed leather uppers shed light precipitation and breathed very well, and as a bonus they wore extremely comfortably without socks thanks to a coconut hair footbed. The softness of the leather was really appreciated when shoes became necessary to protect sunburnt feet.

Transitioning off trail or on hard cobblestone streets the Tikal's EVA and cork midsole made for pain-free walking around more castle walls than you can shake a stick at. Seriously, you would get tired shaking a stick because some of those walls go on. The Tikal is a standout in the active travel category. With shorts, jeans or technical travel slacks the Tikal will get you through most any nontechnical scenario you can imagine. Available in men's and women's and highly recommended.

$150.00 at Garmont North America

Slumberjack Carbine 2500 Pack & Pursuit Vest

Slumberjack has really been on an innovative streak the past few years. Their latest gear to impress us: two load carriers decked out in Kryptek Highlander. Both are part of their Kryptek collection of tactical and hunting equipment.

The Carbine 2500 is a exactly what a hunting pack should be. It's light at 3lbs 11oz but still has a large 2500ci capacity hung off a stout frame that efficiently transfers even heavy loads to a wide and comfortable waist belt on your hips. The organization is simple and efficient: the main compartment is wide open with just a hydration sleeve on the back and another multipurpose divider sleeve on the front. The top lid zips open in a big U for easy access, and there's a zipped flat storage pocket underneath. Need more? There's plenty of lashing points on the exterior, so go crazy.

The two side pockets zip as well, and each encloses an additional open pocket area that's perfect for bipods, spotting scopes, and the like. The front panel has three zipped pockets - one with a dozen ammunition sleeves - and floats so you can stuff layers or other bulky light things in. Best of all, there is a rifle buttstock sleeve in its own little storage compartment at the bottom, so you can vertically carry your rifle safely and securely between the floating lid and the main body of the pack. Another nice touch: the carrying handle has a quick-release buckle so you can quickly secure the pack to the side of a vehicle, boat or tree stand.

The Pursuit vest is one of our favorite things, a versatile vest with lots of storage options that doesn't interfere with a pack or with carrying anything around your waist. The Pursuit has a wide and comfortable yoke around the shoulders, plus two pockets on each front strap and a larger pocket in back with a hydration sleeve.

The back pocket is medium sized for a small hydration bladder and an extra layer of clothing, and three of the front pockets have elastic organizers inside, nice for securing smaller items like lip balm, monoculars, trauma kit items and such. All straps are adjustable across a wide range of sizes, great for multi-season use over varying layers of clothing. It's a great fast and light setup, and it goes easily over a chest holster if you're carrying a firearm in bear country, something we do often here in Alaska.

If you're looking for well-made, well-thought-out tactical and hunting gear that easily does general outdoor duty, check out Slumberjack. Their gear is innovative, high-quality and best of all won't break the bank or your back.

Carbine 2500 pack: $199.95 at Slumberjack
Pursuit vest: $89.95 at Slumberjack

Gregory Sula 18 Pack

Small packs are often interesting, because they have to focus since there's not enough room on the pack for every option. Gregory always makes interesting packs, because that's pretty much all they do. Combine that dual focus and you end up with an outstanding pack like the Gregory Sula 18. The irony here is that this pack does a whole lot of things very well, thanks to clever design and a feature you don't often find on small packs: a frame.

At first glance the smooth and svelte Sula 18 is clearly a day hiker, with a smaller capacity appropriate for fast and light excursions. Look closer, however, and you'll see the technical features that are the mark of a true multi-role pack: an outside stuffer pocket, outside zipped and padded pocekt, internal hydration sleeve with both loop and hook, internal zipped organizer pocket, ice axe/trekking pole loop, dual mesh water bottle pockets, compression straps, a minimalist hip strap and glove friendly zipper pulls. When you realize it's also got a fairly stout little frame on it, it suddenly dawns on you: I could stuff this thing to the gills and use it for anything, and in any season!

And indeed you can. The Sula hits all the right notes to be a quiver of one for a small pack. For winter climbing, it'll carry an axe and crampon pouch. For summer cragging, plenty of fluids, shoes, rope and rack. For ultralight overnight, a tarp, food and summerweight sleeping bag. It even excels for school use and travel; there's way more organization than you would expect on a pack this size, and you can put a mid-size laptop in the hydration sleeve and the frame will keep it from bouncing off the floor. There's even load-lifter straps, a sternum strap and keep loops on the shoulder straps to dial everything in once you're loaded. You can also reverse the hip belt to function as a lower compression strap for smaller loads and lighter days.

The frame is really the key to this pack. You can put a deceptively heavy load in it, but thanks to the frame and hip belt it'll carry like a champ. The other big plus for the frame is the airflow. It's been a hot summer everywhere, and the Sula 18 means your shirt won't be plastered to your body within seconds of starting a trek. The Sula 18 is a beautiful pack, not just on the outside but on the inside where it counts: the frame, that is. Absolutely consider at the top of your list if you're looking for a do-it-all small pack.

$99.95 at Backcountry

Muc-Off 8-in-1 Bicycle Cleaning Kit

Sometimes it's just easier to get the kit. In the case of the Muc-Off 8-in-1 bicycle cleaning kit, you're going to pay a bit more than if you bought everything individually, but that's generally the gist of it with kits: you're paying for someone else to put it all together. The Muc-Off kit repays the price premium by including everything you need to get the harshest grime off your bike, all wrapped up and ready to go.

If you're like us, you've got a lot of gear. At some point you just get tired of assembling kits to clean and repair twenty different things for twenty different pursuits. In this case, our frustration led to a great solution: the Muc-Off 8-in-1 bike cleaning kit. Everyone knows a good cleaning starts with chemicals, and the 8-in-1 includes a liter bottle of the good stuff, Muc-Off biodegradable bike cleaner. This ubiquitous pink bottle is what you see at bike cleaning stations everywhere, because it just works. After application you can use the mechanical aids, in this case a sponge and four different brushes for soft to hard cleaning, including a claw for the hard to reach and truly stubborn parts that always seem to pop up.

Once you've cleaned it all, it's back to the spray for a protectant and you're good to go. The whole kit is packaged in a convenient bin that doubles as a wash tub. About the only you might want to add is a degreaser, but you can get by without it. The kit works for any style of bike, and it's not just us gear-swamped people who like it; if you know someone just getting started, the Muc-Off 8-in-1 kit takes the guesswork out of assembling the necessary cleaning supplies, and will kick-start good cleaning habits that will make maintenance easier and extend the life of all components. Not to mention keeping performance tip-top while looking good, at least at the start of the event.

$70.00 at REI