The Lever Gear Toolcard

If you’re wondering what some of these things actually do or how you’d use them, check out this quick intro video. I looked at some of the functions when I first saw it and said, “That’s not going to work.”

I totally ate my words when I started testing. This thing does everything it says it can do. Manual can openers are hard to do right. They hurt your hands, take forever to open the can and create a jagged mess of the can. Read on for my can experience with the Toolcard.

What can it do?

The Lever Gear Toolcard is pretty impressive in all the things it can do. It’s sometimes awkward or uncomfortable like opening a can but you don’t buy one of these because it’s luxurious and perfect to use for the task. You’d get a nice wrench set or an electric can-opener. This is for when you don’t have any other tools and you’re stuck on the trail or the side of the road.

Tightening gear

So far I’ve used mine the most tightening things that are loose on the go. I’m out riding or fiddling with my camera tripod and something is loose. I don’t have any tools and I’m not going to be home for a while. As long as I’ve got my wallet, I’ll have the Toolcard and it can usually help.

1/4” Hex Bits

You have to figure out a way to hold the Toolcard and hold the hex bit at the same time but it works great if you just have the bits. Nice and light to carry the bits and the Toolcard.

Can opener

Lever Gear Toolcard opening a can

The salmon can I cut open had a thick top on it so it was really tough to start but once I got it rolling, it peeled the can open pretty quick. The edges press into your hand a bit when pushing hard but not like some of the other knife-edged tool cards.

Cord Cutter

Lever Gear Toolcard after cutting cord

I was surprised how fast this little thing can cut through 4mm and 5mm cord. I’m sure it can do larger but those were the only ones I had around. It ripped through them quickly. I thought I was going to be sawing for a while.

Bottle Opener

Lever Gear Toolcard using bottle opener

Pretty fast way to open a bottle. It’s really just a matter of how fast you can get it out of your wallet.

Screwdrivers

I’m using the screwdrivers the most with photography gear. Tightening tripod screws and attaching cameras to the plates sometimes requires a coin or key to tighten. Easy with the large flathead screwdriver.

Money Clip

The big clip that comes with the Toolcard is a money clip. I’ve never used a money clip so that won’t be used but it could easily double as a belt clip if you wanted to keep it there. 

Pros

There’s a lot going for this little multi-tool. Definitely more pros than cons.

Tons of functions

Having 40 different functions on there makes it a huge value when you buy it and only having to carry one thing in your pocket is a big weight savings. I’m still surprised it fits in my wallet and I can’t even tell it’s there.

Easy to use

No moving parts. Just a solid metal card. I did have to check out the video to see exactly what to do to open a can with it. I don’t tend to open cans with an opener like that.

Solid construction

While staying nice and light, the Toolcard is very strong. While pulling hard to it tightening bolts, there wasn’t much flex at all.

Nice look

The etching on it is quite pretty. There aren’t any sharp edges. They’ve done a good job finishing it.

Easy to take off money clip

I had no use for a money clip so the first thing I did was take it off. I had to see the instructions (I read the manual!) to see how to take it off and it was kind of a “duh” moment. It’s really easy.

TSA compliant

Take it with you on the plane and “fix things on the plane” as they say.

Can have them engraved

I will be getting some of these engraved soon. It’s a perfect useful gift idea.

Cons

Uncomfortable in some grips

Starting the can opening was a bit uncomfortable because of the pressure involved but cord cutting and using the screwdrivers is easy and comfortable.

Confusing to take off money clip

Confusing but actually easy. A quick look at the manual or video they have on their site and you’ll be pro.

Small and easy to lose

I feel like I’m going to lose it. I don’t want it to be any bigger because it won’t fit so nicely into my wallet. At the same time it’s so small, I’m totally going to leave it somewhere.

Verdict

So, good or bad? Buy it or not?I’m pretty stoked on this little Toolcard. It’s going to be in my wallet all the time now. My wife is already asking me for it to do things. I just have to remember not to lose it.  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Toolcard for free from Lever Gear as coordinated by Deep Creek PR, an Outdoor Industry Public Relations Company, in consideration for review publication.

The post Small but Strong: The Lever Gear Toolcard Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

I use Google Earth all the time to see GPS tracks and waypoints. The satellite imagery on the maps is so detailed in many places which makes it easier to see little features that may not show on a topographic map.

I use a Garmin Montana 600 GPS so all my GPS tracks are stored in Garmin Basecamp. I wish Garmin would add more features and update Basecamp but it’s still the best track editor and organizer I’ve found. I hope they move it all online and make sharing easier. I’ll be reviewing the premium version of Gaia GPS in the future so stay tuned for that.

Basecamp used to have a nice feature where you just click on a track and then ‘Export to Google Earth’. Because of a change on the Google Earth side and a lack of resources for updating Basecamp, they removed the feature instead of updating it.

It takes a few steps to export tracks from Garmin Basecamp to view in Google Earth now but it’s still possible.

Exporting Tracks

Select the track you’d like to export then go to File > Export Selected User Data. Select a folder and file name for your GPX file.

Open Google Earth and drag the GPX file onto the map.

A data import window will come up. You can adjust these to your liking. I prefer to use Create KML LineStrings and Adjust altitudes to ground height. These require a bit of adjustment after to get the most usable tracks in GE.

After importing, the track will show under Temporary Places in the sidemenu in GE. I always expand all the parts to the GPS track in the menu and deselect points which are all the individual tracking points from the GPS. The Path is much easier to look at.

The default path style is usually thin and grey. To change that to something more visible, right-click on the path, click Get Info, the Style, Color. Here you can pick your color and thickness of the path.

Tracks are imported into Temporary Places in GE. You have to right-click on them and click Save to My Places for them to be saved permanently in Google Earth.

If you know of a faster way to get tracks from Basecamp into Google Earth, definitely let us know!

The post Garmin Basecamp: How to export to Google Earth first appeared on Pack & Trail.

Here’s everything I’m currently using for gear. I’ll be working through this list to get reviews of everything online. If you have any questions or want to talk gear, post a comment!

Hiking

Osprey Aether 70 backpack

Osprey Talon 33 backpack

Scarpa Baron hiking boots

Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock Compact Trekking poles

Julbo Nomad sunglasses

MSR Hubba Hubba 2-person tent

MEC 10×12 Sil-tarp

Snowpeak LiteMax stove

MSR Windpro stove

Camelback Big Zip SL 3 litre water bladder 

Electronics

Garmin Montana 600 Trail GPS – Review

Canon T1i Digital SLR Camera

GoPro Wide helmet camera 

Running

Garmin 405 GPS watch – Review coming

Hi-Tec Infinity HPI trail running shoes – Review

Julbo Race sunglasses

Sugoi Helium jacket 

Skiing

Arcteryx Sidewinder SV Jacket – Review

Arcteryx Sidewinder Pant

Scarpa Spirit 4 boots

G3 Saint skis

Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock Compact Trekking poles

Colltex Skins

Arcteryx Silo 18 Ski Pack – Review 

Snowshoeing

Atlas Mountain 25 Snowshoes

Kayaking

Necky Narpa 16 Kayak

Salus Eddy Lifejacket

Gill Marine Rescue Knife

Julbo Nomad Sunglasses 

Mountain Biking

Specialized Stumpjumper Mountain Bike 

Sailing

Gill OS2 Offshore Jacket

Gill OS2 Offshore Pants

Mustang HIT Inflatable PFD with Harness

Gerber River Shorty Knife

ACR RapidFire Automatic Vest Strobe

Julbo Nomad Sunglasses

West Marine Full-Finger Sailing Gloves 

AdventureMobiles

1997 Toyota 4runner – Review

2007 Saga GY-250 Enduro dirtbike 

Clothing

Icebreaker Merino T, Longsleeve, GT Hoody, Full and 3/4 Legging

Red Ram Merino Boxers

Columbia Omni-Heat Longsleeve Baselayer

Lulu Lemon Metal Vent T

Retired Gear

Gear doesn’t last forever. It would be nice if your favourite jacket or tent could just keep on kicking for years and years but maybe it’s for the best. Technological advances are making gear lighter and stronger every day. I don’t recommend replacing all your gear every year but shaving a few pounds here and there after purchasing new equipment can definitely bump up the trip enjoyment factor.

Salomon XT Wings Trail Runners – Review 

Garmin Colorado 300 GPS

What are you using?

If there’s anything you’ve recently reviewed or just want to talk about, post a comment! There’s nothing better than talking gear (well, except using it).

The post My Gear: 2013 Edition first appeared on Pack & Trail.

I’ve had the chance to use a few different GPS over the last couple years. They were all Garmin but they all had different features that I could test out and see if I liked. There were things that I liked and things that I didn’t like. I used my friends of families when I could so I didn’t have to buy my own. I finally got one of my own and opted for the Garmin Colorado 300 because of the slightly bigger screen and faster navigation method than was the standard at the time.

Little did I know that the Colorado wasn’t going to last very long. Garmin discontinued it soon after I got mine. Fortunately I never had any problems with it and aside from one little thing I never liked about the interface, it served me well adventuring over many kilometers dirtbiking, hiking, skiing and running.

The only big problem with it was that you could only have one saved track showing at once on the map. For the most part this wasn’t a problem. If you wanted to follow a trail you displayed the track and away you went. It was an issue when I would go to areas that I had been before and had saved tracks from. I wasn’t sure where each track lead and where I had been already. I could cycle through the tracks, displaying each one in turn to see where they lead but that was incredibly time consuming. In the end, without any updates from Garmin, I was stuck viewing only one track at a time.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was heading out to check out a climbing area I hadn’t seen yet on my dirtbike. The power lines and dirt roads were rough but fairly clear. My Colorado was firmly attached to it’s handlebar mount and directing me where to go. I was following a track from a friend. On the way back, roads sloped mostly downhill. Not a problem for my knobby tires, I’ll just go slow and lay off the back brake so I don’t skid too much. I was almost back out onto the pavement and one my way home when I noticed something missing from my handlebars.

In the middle of the last little hill I came down, the Colorado and popped loose from hit’s mount and gone sailing down onto the rocks. If you aren’t familiar with the Colorado, it’s got a wheel above the screen for navigating through the menus. That had popped right off. The screen had a good gouge in it. It wasn’t turning on. This wasn’t looking good.I searched for a good 15 minutes for the wheel but came up empty-handed. I tossed the remains into my bag and headed home, wandering what would come up my mangled GPS. On one hand, I wasn’t very happy about having to spend a few hundred dollars to get a new gps unit. On the other hand, a new line of Garmin’s had just come out and promised to be one of the sweetest trail GPS yet. Sad or excited. I wasn’t sure which.

I in touch with Garmin, whom, to my surprise, directed me to their repair shop in Canada. For a decent fee plus shipping I could get a refurbished Colorado. Could I get a credit towards a new one? Nope. Ok, so another dilemma; Do I wait a few weeks and pay to get a refurbished version of a gps I don’t really like sent my way, or do I check out the brand new GPS at my local shop, Valhalla Pure.

I know which one is more fun.

Enter the Garmin Montana 600

So needless to say, I checked out the new gps units. I knew the Garmin 62 series would be nice, and there was the Oregon line that had the touch screens as well. Then there was the primo, top-of-the-line radness that Garmin had just released called the Montana. At first glance, it was entirely impractical for hiking and really anything else that I’d want to do with it.

The 62 had the best antennae you could get out of any of the GPS. But it still had the tiny little buttons that were so clunky on the 60csx and 78 series I had used before. Nice for finding things and tracking but terrible if you wanted to jot down a waypoint name. Ten minutes later you can have a nicely named waypoint.

The Oregon series is about the same size as the 62 but has a touch screen. That’s nice, solves the problem of entering waypoints. You get a nice touch screen to add your comments and waypoint names too. It wouldn’t take forever. I think the screens had been updated since the first versions that were almost impossible to see in the sun. A possible ding against the Oregon’s though.

Then I played with the Montana. Large yes, but not much bigger than a 78 series I had used before. A laundry list of new features definitely piqued my interest.

Paperless Geocaching

My Colorado was actually able to do this but I didn’t use it much. I didn’t have a premium subscription to Geocaching.com and didn’t get the hints downloaded to the unit so I had to write them down anyways. I decided to try the whole deal out. I have a premium membership now and have found 4 geocaches with the Montana. If you you geocache this is definitely the way to go. No paper and a couple clicks to get all the info from Geocaching.com to the unit and back again. My only gripe with it is that you can’t click on the geocache on the map and get the hint for it. You have to go through the list of geocaches and find it through there.

Landscape or Portrait viewing mode

It’s like holding a big iPhone. All you do is flip the unit on its side and you’ve everything turns for you. It’s definitely my preferred way to look at the map and to type in waypoints. I wish the keyboard was set up exactly the same as the iPhone’s because that’s what I’m in the habit of typing. I keep hitting the shift key when I think I’m hitting something else. I went from almost never renaming waypoints to writing full sentences about them. It’s just so nice to do with the landscape touch screen.

Enabling and disabling tracks on the map

My big problem with the Colorado was solved with the Montana. You can show and hide any tracks you want on the map. If you want to do a bunch, it’s going to take a while. You can only do one at a time. It would be a definitely improvement if they could make it easier to do a bunch at once.

Lithium ion battery pack or 3 double A batteries

I almost didn’t buy it because it has a lithium ion battery back for power. Don’t go scoffing that decision by Garmin though. They changed it up and made a really smart decision afterwards to add the compatibility of the battery pack OR 3 double A’s. The battery pack recharges right in the unit so when you have it plugged in at the computer, it’s charging for your next adventure. If you kill the battery out in the woods, pop those 3 spare double A’s in there and away you go. 16 hours for the pack and 22 with the double A’s.

Nuvi-like car controls and talking car mount

This was half the reason I ended up being it. I wanted a Nuvi, one of the in-car GPS that talks and does that great stuff. I didn’t want to buy both though. Throw the Montana into it’s powered car mount with a speaker, load up some road maps and it will talk to you just like a Nuvi. Perfect. A solid trail GPS and a Nuvi in one. I haven’t actually used this feature yet as I’m waiting for the car mount to arrive at Valhalla Pure. I’ll throw up an update when I get a chance to test the vehicular side of things. I’d like to get a handlebar mount for the dirtbike as well but I’m hesitant to have another incident that killed the Colorado.

4 inch touch screen that you can actually see in the sun

The other reason I bought the Montana. The screen is huge. 4 inches to be exact. It’s bigger than an iPhone. When you are trying to see where trails, logging roads and possible routes go on the screen of your GPS, it just can’t be big enough. The old Oregon’s had some coating on the screen that made it very difficult to see in the sun. No problems with the Montana. I was out on the weekend with it in the sun and no problems at all. No squinting, no hiding in a dark room just to see the screen. The touch screen makes all the difference in the world with navigation and typing out waypoints and geocaching notes. What would take at least 5 minutes with buttons or a roller takes less than 30 seconds on the touch screen. I am worried how on long the screen is going to last bouncing around in a backpack or in the elements. I think a hard case for over the screen is going to be on order.

Bundles of waypoints and tracks for each adventure

This might just be a new update for Garmin’s Basecamp software but now you can bundle waypoints and tracks and ship them around on and off your device. They call it an Adventure. A perfect name for a group of things. You can also add images to that if you have pictures on your Montana. I didn’t get the version with the camera but one has a 5 megapixel camera. The photos are geotagged and uploaded to your computer with the tracks and waypoints.

Adventure Time

And that is the story about how I got a Garmin Montana 600 in my pocket. I would say it’s time to head out on an adventure but it’s more likely that it’s time to hit the sac! If anyone’s got a good story about their GPS, feel free to share it in the comments!

The post Garmin Montana 600 GPS Review first appeared on Pack & Trail.

The Season Episode 11 from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith on Vimeo.Didn’t see the last one? Take a peak at Episode 10 Jonaven Gets After It

The post The Season Ep 11 Half Way Through first appeared on Pack & Trail.

The Season Episode 5 from Fitz Cahall and Bryan Smith.

You can find more info at The Season TV.

Missed the last one? The Season Ep 4 Jonaven’s Close Call

Check out the next one at The Season Ep 6 Rock Climber Matt Maddaloni

The post The Season Ep 5 A Little Bit of Superman first appeared on Pack & Trail.

For me Hornby holds a special appeal, partially because of the many memories I have of my time there but mostly because of the potential for adventure it holds. Even with a well planned itinerary Hornby always finds a way to surprise and delight. You never know who you’re going to meet or what’s going on on the island.

Several weeks ago I was thrilled when a good friend invited me to her cabin there for the weekend. Even though I was in the middle of renovating my kitchen, I knew my girlfriend and I needed a break and we packed up and left our kitchen in ruins – no drywall, flooring or anything, really. Everything that used to be in the kitchen had been unceremoniously dumped anywhere there was free space.  

Nevertheless, the adventuremobile made it’s way north with three bikes balanced on top and the back seat and trunk packed with food, clothing and gear. We got over to the island after dark and slowly made our way to the cabin then climbed straight into bed to rest before a day of riding.I got up the next morning rested and excited; Hornby’s Mt. Geoffrey is home to my all time favourite bike trail – No Horses. I decided to go for a hard solo ride in the morning and then for a more leisurely group ride after lunch and a beach trip. Both rides were stellar, 3 hours in the morning, slightly less in the afternoon. Both included a lot of climbing, a characteristic I’m trying to introduce into all my sessions; the training effect is undeniably positive but the pain is immediate and frequently brutal. Anyone wanna go for a ride?

No Horses was of course the standout trail; it flows down along an old creek bed, sending you swooping down one side then spitting you back up to the top – over and over. It mimics a mutant halfpipe, only steeper and more aggressive in its mission to throw you out over the buffed berms. The ever present imaginary soundtrack in my head was loudly playing ‘Two Shoes,’ by The Cat Empire; my mind transferred up into the trees above and I could see myself there, smoothly streaming around the high corners then violently accelerating back down towards the old creek before once again soaring up and around. Over and over, faster and faster until..

It’s flat all over and the trail is finished with you. Bummer.

Thoroughly used up, we enjoyed a fresh salmon dinner surrounded by more friends who had made their way over for the rest of weekend. The drinks and the stories continued past a characteristically beautiful Hornby Island sunset and late into the night.

Trying to keep the bicycling theme of the weekend alive, I brought my road bike to ride home on, assuming it would only be 60km or so.  After feeling slightly tired from riding across Hornby and Denman Island I was shocked when the first road sign indicated I was still more than 80km from Nanaimo.  Uh oh.   I stopped at several gas stations along the way home to fill up on electrolytes and arrived home about 3 hours later, ready to fight the kitchen.

The post Hornby Island first appeared on Pack & Trail.

We started the ride off going past the yellow gate and up the road to the trails in that area. The first thing we ran across was a small dual slalom course. This course starts up the road a ways and then ends down near where we parked.

All the trails by the yellow gate are fairly tame and don’t require a lot of technical experience. There are a few features that can be ridden by the more experienced to make the trail very enjoyable.

Heading across the metal pedestrian bridge on the bikes we hit a whole other area with more trails. We took a left after the bridge and continued on this trail that parallelled the river. There were a few sections on this trail that were quite difficult. It was very ridable in the downstream direction but much more work going the other way.

The favorite trail that day was Gay Bar. It was in the area by the yellow gate and was much longer than all the other trails in that section. There wasn’t a lot of downhill but not a lot of uphill either. It was a bit strange to see the person riding in front of you ride by and then finally end up in that spot 5 minutes later. One look at the map will show you all the switchbacks in the trail. The downside is the trail seems to go nowhere but the upside the trail goes on for a long time in every little space.

Try out these trails when you have a chance. They offer a great ride if you are looking for some fun single track to play around on but also expand in a huge array of trails for longer rides!

The post Mountain Biking Top Bridge Trails in Parksville first appeared on Pack & Trail.