SwiftyPaddler's Reviews & Views

About a year ago,  I decided it was time to replace one of my favourite old tents, a 16 year old MEC Wanderer 2.   After years of use and abuse, it was pretty much finished! The only reason I had kept that tent for so long was that it almost perfectly met my specific needs.  So when I went looking for a replacement, I did my homework, studied a lot of specifications and gathered feedback from the amazing outdoor community.  My decision? A Hotcore Products “Mantis 2” tent.   Hotcore Products Mantis 2 I’ve now used the Mantis 2 for three seasons.  Am I happy with my purchase?  Did the tent fail me at the worst possible time?  Should you consider a Hotcore tent?  Read on for answers to these pressing questions! First, a few caveats.  I do a variety of camping and already own multiple tents.  The tent I use most often is an MSR Hubba NX, a small, very lightweight but versatile solo tent.  The one I use the least is a Snowtrek...

Over the years I’ve had the chance to use many different kinds of water filters.  Filters that you pump, filters that you squeeze and filters that you fill up and then let drip.  Even one that you stick in the water and suck on like a straw!  The GRAYL GEOPRESS Purifier is the the first one I’ve used that you operate just like an AeroPress or french press coffee maker, exactly as the name would lead you to believe.  GRAYL also makes some of the most impressive purity claims of any filter I’ve used!  If you want to learn more, read on. Earlier this summer the folks at GRAYL asked me if I’d be interested in reviewing their product, no strings attached.   Always one to try something new, I said “Yes, absolutely!”   I had never heard of GRAYL before, so I had no idea what to expect. The GRAYL GEOPRESS Purifier When the product arrived in the mail from GRAYL Canada, I was surprised at the size of the device.   It’s taller than a typical Nalgene bottle,...

In 2007, I bought a used MEC Wanderer 2 tent for car camping and easy backcountry trips with only one or two short portages.   The extra room over my ultralight backpacking tent made it great for outings with family members.   The two huge vestibules with paired separate entrances made getting in and out easy, even with loads of gear, and provided great ventilation. My Old Friend: A MEC Wanderer 2 Well, after countless trips over 15 years, in all four seasons, it needs to be replaced; it's now beyond simple mending and seam sealing. Before pulling the trigger and making a purchase, I reached out to my Instagram community and asked for comments and suggestions.  Many people kindly took the time to engage, and I received great feedback and detailed comments.  I had a lot to think about! I took a morning to do some research, collect information, and pull together a summary of the key attributes of the various tents I was looking at, based on what’s important to me...

While planning for a remote, solo backcountry adventure recently, my wife insisted I had some means of communication should I find myself in trouble or injured. I’m generally very careful when travelling solo (keyword, generally), but, accidents do happen. It feels like the longer you’re away, and the deeper in backcountry you go, the greater the risk of something going wrong.   So, in addition to meal and route planning, I found myself researching and considering a number of satellite based, personal communication devices. Zoleo Global Messenger I selected the Zoleo Global Messenger device with accompanying service plan. For a modest price, I was able to have two way text messaging and/or email no matter where I was, even without cell service. Most importantly, emergency services were always available, simply at the press of a button, literally. This provides unbeatable peace of mind for the important people in your life. While there are several competing products to chose fr...