Eye Wear

Active Sol Sunglasses

The Active Sol sunglasses I use are polarizing class 4 glasses. These are the darkest available. Outdoor sports often come with very bright sun, especially on the water, in the mountains or in the snow. These lenses absorb at least 95% of the light. The polarization filter reduces reflections, increases contrast and allows the eyes to relax.
The El Pavana model (left) is an OTG (over the glasses) model, which I use for fishing, golf and other activities, requiring multi-focus.
The Erebos model (right) fits really close to the face, which makes these excellent for activities like cycling, skying and kayaking glasses. (When wearing lenses, I combine this with Optx lenses.)
The optional triangular SchattenBox case might be the strongest case available, with ample room for the biggest eye glasses and cleaning aids.

Optx Reading Lenses

Optx lenses are stick-on lenses that will transform any set of non-prescription or myopic eyewear into instant bifocals. They are easily applied with water, offering a secure fit, but they can be removed to put on other glasses without leaving residue. I use them inside my skying goggles, with my sunglasses and I use them inside my varifocus glasses as magnifiers for handicrafting. They are a great asset when wearing lenses is required, because these will add bifocality to the sunglasses you wear.
Their ease of use is probably the best you can get.

Igneous Ultralight Backpacking Gear

Ray, at Igneous Gear, takes ultralight/minimalist backpacking to a new level, by designing really nifty and practical tools. Using his experience and a selection of materials and techniques, he creates the gear we really really need.

The Igneous Cap & Tether System is designed as a durable cap to fit our standard disposal and ultralight bottles. Weighing just 7 grams, this is a no-brainer for weight conscious users.

The Igneous Repair Spool combines essential tools, like a meter of Gorilla Tape, 275cm of nylon string, a sewing needle, and repair patches for clothing, tents, and sleeping pads. All organized within a hollow spool to minimize bulk. A permanent tool in my MacGyver kit.

The Igneous ultralight gorilla tape spool holds almost a meter of 4,8 cm wide Gorilla Tape on a slim, lightweight spool. Another permanent tool in my MacGyver kit.

The Igneous ultralight Leuko Tape spool is a lightweight and highly efficient solution for medical tape needs. The ultralight spool provides optimal use with minimal weight. Each spool contains almost a meter of tape. A permanent tool in my First Aid kit.

The Igneous Bottle Cap Bidet transform your standard water bottle into a hygienic bidet. Weighing just 4 grams, this ultralight attachment fits most disposible bottles. A must for leave no trace hiker and thus, a permanent tool in my Poop kit.

I keep my Igneous reflective cord on their ultralight carbon fiber spool. This 1.8mm diameter reflective nylon cord spans 9 meters. Perfect for tent guy lines, tarp setups, and securing gear, this durable cord offers high visibility in low-light conditions thanks to its reflective design.
The ultralight carbon fiber spool weights just 7grams and features multiple cleating mechanisms for secure and easy access. A permanent tool in my MacGyver kit.

The Igneous Hang System has a reflective 1.8mm nylon cord attached to a cleat, allowing us to suspend our gravity water filter. When I’m going ultralight, I use it with a hydration bladder.

The Skoro Captis system

The Skoro Captis system is a, 200x100cm, multi-purpose webbing net. It is made out of well sewn polyester webbing, reinforced/layered at critical places. It comes in a looped bag. Among the countless uses are:

Rescue stretcher for carrying persons
Water Rescue Net using the Parbuckle technique
Ice Rescue Net
Emergency ladder
Cargo Lifting Net for vertical hauling of gear
Strong Cargo Securing Net on roof racks, trailers, sleds and truck beds
Hammock
Tree Swing
Car Towing
Climbing Rescue aid
Evacuation from Heights

At a mere 320 grams this is a piece of gear that might deserve a place on standard equipment lists for car camping, overlanding, basecamp, watersports (like rafting) any many other uses.

The Skoro Cat Hook

Top: **Assembled and secured**
Bottom left: **Assembled** / Bottom right: **Disassembled**

The Skoro Cat Hook, is another of their multi-purpose products. The Cat weighs 155 grams and will fit through a Molle slot. This 2-piece hook serves many purposes:

As Lifting Aid.
As Throwing Anchor for climbing.
As Retrieving Device for floating objects (like kayaks).
As Small Boat Emergency Anchor.
As (two) Storm Tent Pegs.

I use the Cat with a Whetman ‘Kraken’ carabiner which can freely move within the Cat, but has a max static load of 2 kN. An assembled Cat will not fit regular climbing carabiners. Disassembled, it will take smaller climbing biners (like the 4 kN DMM XSRE).

Fernhurst Practical Companions

These handy flipover books are great introductions to many, if not all, aspects of water-based activities. I chose the ones that are relevant to seakayaking, but with 19 titles there is plenty to choose from (at a very fair price).

Folding Trekking Poles

My Origin Outdoors Trekking Poles ‘Micro-Fold‘ are well made, reliable poles. Their prime feature is the folded size of a mere 37 cm. At 556 grams per pair (278 each) these are lightweight poles. In combination with my mud baskets, they do not get stuck or get pulled apart (a serious risk with spring-operated poles). Height adjustable from 120 up to 136 cm. One of the reasons for chosing these poles is the fact that they are not shock absorbing. I do not appreciate the loss of ‘feeling’ that shock absorbing brings, especially when used as wading aid. Both the clasp lock end the tip tend to oxidize, but a little oil or grease will do wonders. All in all, these are decent reliable poles at a very fair price.

ways carry these when I expect a need for securing rented gear or ski’s, bikes and such. It’s small enough to carry in your pocket.I have different colour versions in use.

Coolado Air Pumps

top: ePump
bottom: tPumpX, tPumpP & tPumpXL

The tPump X is a portable ‘pressure pump’. An air compressor capable of pressures up to 10.3 BAR / 150 PSI, at up to 10 liters per minute. The tPump can handle your tire needs, whatever vehicle, bike, wheelbarrow or other contraption you have. It’s high-pressure conforms very well heavy vehicle use.

The tPump XL is the double ‘pressure pump’. An air compressor capable of pressures up to 6.9 BAR / 100 PSI, at up to 40 liters per minute. The tPump can handle your tire needs, whatever vehicle, bike, wheelbarrow or other contraption you have. The digital LCD touch screen provides pressure information so you can accurately measure and set the correct tire pressure. It’s many features conform very well vehicle / motorhome / camper use.

You’ll find the complete comparison of these great pumps on the Coolado website!

Gold Pans

This Gold Claw Pan Bundle contains a three sizes of pans and comes with a First Gold Experience Kit containing paydirt with real gold in it, a snuffer bottle and a vial.
The (smallest) Pocket Pan is a great option to carry in your backpack. The (medium sized) Original Pan is ideal to have at basecamp or in the car permanently, whilst the (biggest) Production Pan goes through loads of paydirt in a wimp. The pans are made from Tritan plastic, which makes it durable and virtually indestructible.
I use the Stainless Steel Folding Shovel as well. It’s not part of the bundle.
Wether you expect, hope or need to get rich quickly, or just want to have a relaxing time with a chance of finding some gold: this is a great set, to do it with.

Straps

These FixPlus straps are the best ever for securing and bundling equipment. The one hand operating ties are an awesome solution to strap stuff to your backpack, into your boat, onto your boat, onto your helmet, whatever! All you do is lead the strap through the buckle hole, bend it backwards and hook it onto the to secure it. These come in loads of colours and lengths. I went for all black and have the 66, 46 and 35 cm versions, along with some (blue) strap keepers. The strap keepers are useful for keeping the ends tied in windy situations (e.g. roof rack) or if the ends could get stuck (e.g. bicycle spokes). FixPlus straps are tear resistant up to 90kg and are resistant to UV, Cold and Salt water.