How the Post Office Can Help You When You Are Camping

General Talk

In the not so distance past, the US Postal Service was a very customer-unfriendly organization. We had to do things their way, seems someone removed the words “customer” and “convenience” from their dictionary. In the early days of Fax machines the post office tried to get Faxes classified as First Class mail, and since the USPS has a monopoly on First Class Mail, every Fax would have to be sent to them first and then hand delivered by a postal carrier. That idea didn’t work. I remember back in the ‘80s or early ‘90s the Postmaster General decided that Fax machines were competition and all these machines were removed from USPS facilities. Cooperation with UPS or FedEx? No way?

Today the USPS has a convenient presence on the internet; one can buy stamps at grocery stores, drug stores, and even Costco. You can print your own postage via private companies like Stamp.com. UPS and FedEx now deliver packages to the USPS for final deliver by the Postal Service – a benefit to everyone, including the public. You can communicate electronically with the USPS, track packages and even obtain special services via your computer for when you are away camping. Overall I think the USPS does a great job. The only time we have had problems is when we did something wrong, such as send a package to the wrong address. Here’s a couple of services we use a lot that folks might not be aware of. Continue reading How the Post Office Can Help You When You Are Camping →

Katadyn BeFree Water Filter

Backpacking Gear

This is not a Product Review

I just bought a Katadyn BeFree Filter. It came with a 1.0 liter soft-sided water bottle.

Back in 2013 I wrote about water filters and how they weren’t on my radar as something to purchase. So why did I buy this thing? Am I compromising perceived convenience for more weight and more hassle? Or am I open to considering things that just make sense? Continue reading Katadyn BeFree Water Filter →

How to Polish a Titanium Backpacking Spoon

Backpacking Gear, , , , ,

Why would one want to polish a backpacking spoon?

Sea to Summit Alpha Long Handled Spoon

For many years my favorite spoon was a Sea to Summit Alpha Long Handled Spoon. Made from anodized aluminum, it was perfect for eating meals from a freezer bag. Most of the time I “cook” my meals in a freezer bag (see Freezer Bag Cooking).  Back in February I lost my spoon on the last day of a backpacking trip (the last meal of the day).

My friend, Doug, gave me a titanium long handle spoon, which was identical in size and shape as the one I lost. Both the anodized aluminum and the titanium spoon had one quality that about drove me nuts. Continue reading How to Polish a Titanium Backpacking Spoon →

Fake News, Internet Trolls, and PopUpBackpacker

The Digital Life,

It’s big news today. Countries are hacking into sensitive websites, some media outlets publishing fake news stories, trolls on social media trying to influencing elections and generating discord among the populace. The liberals and the conservatives both agreeing our way of life is at risk. And yet no one asks the question, “Why is it that people can be influenced so easily?” Why are people not skeptical of things they hear, see, or read? Why don’t people do a little research instead of just accepting someone’s opinion or fake news report? Perhaps the problem isn’t fake news or trolls. 

Perhaps we have become our own worst enemies.

I was thinking about this when I realized that some of the popular posts on this blog reflect the same lack of skepticism or skepticism in the face of the facts. Continue reading Fake News, Internet Trolls, and PopUpBackpacker →

Should I Replace the Air in My Trailer & Tow Vehicle Tires with Nitrogen?

General Talk, ,
Picture courtesy of Discount Tire

That was I question I received from a friend who reads this blog. Further he mentioned that he had been told that nitrogen would:

  • Not leak like compressed air does
  • His vehicle would get better gas mileage
  • Perform better because race cars use nitrogen
  • Be safer because airplanes use nitrogen
  • The tires and wheels would last longer

I’m not a scientist but was once considered a tire industry expert before I retired. So we need to first look at the difference between compressed air and compressed nitrogen, and then recognize who is advocating nitrogen filled tires. We will also explore the answers to the bullet points above. Continue reading Should I Replace the Air in My Trailer & Tow Vehicle Tires with Nitrogen? →

Extended Dual-Run Fuel Tank for Honda Generators

Camper Upgrades

Recently I wrote about our Honda “EU” series generators for use in extremely hot weather to run our camper’s air conditioner. One thing I didn’t discuss in much detail was the limited fuel capacity their built-in gas tanks have. At the time I mentioned I would be purchasing an after-market extended run fuel tank. The generators barely had enough fuel capacity to run through the night, and had it been hotter or more humid they would have run out of fuel.

Disclaimer: Usually I include a disclaimer if I receive any commission from any links in a post. After researching tanks, I only found one that I was comfortable buying – that is, given my professional experience working with fuel systems, the one I bought was the only one I felt was safe. I paid the regular price, I don’t know the seller, and there is no financial benefit for me to review the product. I could have linked to some tanks that might generate income for me, but I am unwilling to do that.

This post will review the extended run fuel tank and accessories. Continue reading Extended Dual-Run Fuel Tank for Honda Generators →

“Are we out of propane, Again?”

Camper Upgrades, ,

Ah, it’s a common malady for some campers. Running out of propane on a camping trip is truly inconvenient – especially if it happens during the middle of a cold night and your furnace quits running.

Most portable propane tanks usually don’t have gauges. If they do, they don’t work well – probably better to say they don’t work at all. So what is one to do? Continue reading “Are we out of propane, Again?” →

Platypus Soft Water Bottle: Ten Year Review

Backpacking Gear

I’ve been using these for 10 years, so we can call this a real gear review, based on extensive field use.

Platypus 1 liter soft bottles in a zPacks Zero backpack.

Over the past 10 years I’ve taken them on almost every backpacking trip I’ve done. On some trips they are the only bottles I use, especially when I need the absolutely lightest pack possible, as in the picture above.

Other times I bring them as extra water storage for my night camp, when I use Gatorade bottles for drinking water as I hike during the day. I recently wrote about this in this post  where I will just roll up the Platypus soft bottles and store them in my pack where they take up little space. They Platypus bottles are light and durable, but they are far from perfect.  Continue reading Platypus Soft Water Bottle: Ten Year Review →

The “Best” Water Bottle (backpacking & hiking) is Free

Backpacking Gear,

This is a 20+ Year Product Review

When I started backpacking there was no such thing as “specialized” water bottles. We just used canteens. At first heavy aluminum ones then these plastic ones below – all found at Army-Navy surplus stores for really cheap!

Today, we have so many specialized water bottles available to us, which is kind of crazy. Do we need to purchase hiking specific bottles just to walk, when we can get free ones?

If you do a search for “water bottles” on www.rei.com   the result lists 222 items!

So which is “best?” If you do a Google search for “backpacking water bottles” many of the search links will include “best backpacking water bottles.” 

Best is what works for you. For me, most of the time, best is a re-purposed (recycled) Gatorade bottle.

Continue reading The “Best” Water Bottle (backpacking & hiking) is Free →