GearFlogger

Kijaro Kubie Multi-Use Blanket

We know what you're thinking: what in tarnation is a multi-use blanket? Well simmer down now, we're about to tell you, using the Kijaro Kubie as an example.

The Kubie says it will function as an insulated poncho, ground cover, sleeping bag, pillow, hammock, hammock liner, under quilt, and shade canopy. Now it is true that it will do all these things, and probably some others that aren't mentioned, but just be aware that this is the typical Swiss Army Knife approach to gear: it does all these things, some of them well, but none as well as a dedicated piece of gear for any individual application. If you understand this, you and the Kubie will get along just fine.

The Kubie is big, at 67 inches by 87 inches. It's stoutly built, appropriate given the myriad uses it's designed for, and in hammock mode can support 250 pounds. And it has a hood, for poncho use, and tie-down loops for hammock and ground cloth applications. Basically with some carabiners and rope you can pretty much configure the Kubie any way you want, but make no mistake: it's going to take some time and ingenuity.

At the end of the day our assessment is that the Kubie is a great car blanket. It's heavy and bulky, but you can throw it down anywhere for a picnic, or wrap it around one or two people at the campfire, and you'll appreciate the warmth and coverage. It also stores nicely with a bit of wrangling into the included storage bag. If you then need to reconfigure as a sleeping bag by zipping it up well that's just a bonus round. Given the price point and versatility, if you're looking for one blanket to rule them all, the Kubie might be your ticket.

$80.00 at Amazon

Monster Towel

Some things are just so simple you wonder why you haven't seen it before. Exhibit A is the Monster Towel, or as it's known at Gearflogger HQ, the Dino-Towel, the Towelasaurus and the One Towel to Rule Them All.

The Monster Towel is a 10'x10' microfiber towel that comes with its own webbing carry strap. While others struggle on the beach to lay out two or three or four towels for their family, you just huck this thing out and BAM family is taking the sun. A small zipper pocket for card keys and the like and corner sand pockets for windy days round out the features, but hey it's basically a thin blanket so the spec sheet should be just as thin.

100 square feet is bigger than some rent control apartments in Brooklyn. There are frat houses in Tokyo with less square footage! [Ed. Note: we absolutely could not verify this. It's probably BS.] The price is even a bargain when you consider that it replaces eight 30x60 beach towels at $15 each. Plus, you've finally got that single giant towel for drying off a whole birthday party full of kids! Pretty cool, check it out.

$89.95 at Amazon

WeBoost Drive Sleek Cellphone Signal Booster

We've had good experience with WeBoost cell phone signal boosters in the past, so we were excited to try the new Sleek version that promises the easiest install yet, as well as the smallest footprint.

The Sleek did not disappoint, and in fact impressed us with its ability to deliver a consistent half-bar to full bar of signal improvement. Installation is as straightforward as it gets, and the process is well illustrated and supported by everything you need in the box including adhesive pads. Just mount the magnetic antenna outside, route the cable inside (easy with a thin USB-size cable that goes through door gasket) to the booster, route the cable to the cradle, mount it up and connect power and you're good to go!

You do have to register your booster with your wireless provider, but that's easy enough to do online. The only thing left is to put your phone in field test mode and experiment with antenna location. Generally as high as possible and on top of a nice flat metal surface that will act as a ground plane, i.e. dead center on the roof, but other locations are often more convenient and can be made to work.

Overall we find the WeBoost Drive Sleek to be a great blend of performance for marginal areas where you find yourself wishing you had jussssst a bit more signal. As usual, a signal booster can't make something out of nothing so you need at least a weak signal to start with, but if you need that little extra oomph check out WeBoost.

$199.99 at Amazon

Yakima MegaWarrior Cargo Basket

We're not normally big fans of keeping a lot of stuff on top of a vehicle. Bikes, kayaks, skis, sure, but not a lot of random heavy gear lashed down. Yet sometimes you just run out of real estate everywhere else on the vehicle, and at that point it's break out the ratchet straps time.

The Yakima MegaWarrior is one of the largest roof racks you can get: 52 inches long by 48 inches wide, spanning the top of our Jeep Wrangler. It's nice that it's so wide, since you can just grab the side of it to support yourself as you're getting stuff in and out. Racks that are narrower require more of a reach to do that.

We installed a set of Kargo Master folding hinge steps (about $80 on Amazon) which we like a lot, and that makes it even easier. Remember that rooftop cargo baskets don't generally hold a lot of weight, in this case just 135 pounds. That's probably due more to the weakness of how it attaches to your vehicle than any inherent limitation in the basket itself, but pay attention anyway. Put your bulky but light stuff up there, like tents, sleeping bags, etc.

If you need more room Yakima sells a 22 inch extension for a stout $139, and a fitted cargo net for an only slightly less stout $49, but again watch the load limit. Yakima does include the clamps with the MegaWarrior, as well as a wind deflector, and we had no problem attaching it to our Thule Aerobars. After a summer of use it's still bombproof, and really convenient for those times when you've got an extra bike or whatever that you just need to get from one side of town to the other. Plus, Jeeps need racks. Just saying.

$399.00 at REI

Arc'Teryx Cerium SL Hooded Jacket

The gear it is crazy these days. Crazy light. Crazy warm. Crazy beautiful. Arc'Teryx specializes in covetous clothing, and the Cerium SL Hoody is all of the above: a jacket that you forget you're wearing in the best possible sense. This is a first look review after just a few weeks with the product; we'll update as it wears in the coming months.

The Cerium SL, where SL stands for super light, is a 7.6 ounce (!!!) 850 fill down jacket, with a nylon shell and a helmet compatible hood. Features include two zipped handwarmer pockets, dual hem adjustment cords, and... well, that's about it. What you're paying for here is a ridiculously light and warm layer that disappears into a pack, so it's always there when you need it.

Jackets are a core piece of gear. Unlike some gear your jacket becomes a daily driver, sometimes the only piece of gear other than footwear that you grab as you head out the door every morning. As such, the best jackets foster an instant sense of connection, and the Cerium SL does just that. It fits perfectly, form-fitting without being tight or constricting movement. Go ahead, windmill your arms, you'll get no hitch in your giddy-up here. The Cerium SL also passes the critical Gearflogger Chin Test: when fully zipped up, the collar comfortably covers the chin whether the hood is up or down. A seemingly minor feature, but glaringly annoying when absent and your chinny-chin-chin is starting to become uncomfortably numb.

If there's a nit with the the Cerium SL, it's that it is so light you will underestimate how warm you will get wearing it. We've done a lot of snow shoveling the past week, and every time we started with the Cerium SL on in just-below-freezing temps, and within five minutes had to take it off as we started overheating. This isn't a flaw, just an psychological variable to remember. You just don't think it could possibly be as warm as it is, and the solution is to just treat it like a midweight jacket, great for low-exertion activities in cool to cold weather: belaying, camp duty and a midlayer while working in extreme cold. Overall a great problem to have, and we look forward to letting you know how it stands the test of time.

$349.00 at Backcountry