by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag has been around for years. It’s the go-to duffel for Patagonia fans, but is it any good if you’re not a Patagonia brand fan? It’s just a duffel bag, right? Yes and no. Here’s the thing: The Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is rugged but relatively lightweight. That’s good, but the Patagonia Black Hole is darn near perfect in its physical design. The angles, handles, zippers — and even the backpack straps — all come together so that the bag functions very well. This is about angles and shapes. Patagonia has it dialed in. Last of all, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, particularly the 55L version with the Fitz Trout graphic, looks fantastic in person. Yeah, other duffel bags will get the job done, too, but the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel is growing on me. To learn more, ready my full Black Hole Duffel review at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
When YETI first introduced its ultra-rugged folding-style YETI Hondo Base Camp Chair a few years ago, the outdoor gear world took notice. Everyone’s question was, “Is a $300 camp chair worth it?” Clearly, it turned out to be a hit. However, I wasn’t convinced that the form-factor was sufficiently travel-ready for the kinds of camping I do. I mostly tent camp in dispersed camp sites. I prefer collapsible camp chairs simply because they’re so easy to pack. You can stack them horizontally, tuck them into weird spots in the back of your loaded pickup — and you can even stack them upright alongside the edges of your pickup to help support other gear. So when YETI introduced its Trailhead Camp Chair, I knew it warranted a closer look. After spending some quality time camping with the Trailhead, I came to appreciate the bomber quality and excellent ergonomics. The Trailhead is tough and flat-out comfortable. To learn more, check out my full YETI Trailhead review at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
The trouble with rugged rotomolded coolers is the weight. They’re all heavy. Even if you’re a very strong and large man, packing heavy and awkward coolers around can get old. This is where the new RTIC Ultra-Light Cooler comes into play. It has a camping-friendly 52-quart capacity, yet it weighs about 10 pounds less than comparable rotomolded coolers. How did RTIC do it? Injection molding instead of rotomolding. This process uses less plastic to reduce weight. But how does it cool? Very well. RTIC keeps the insulation thick so it can still compete well against heavier rotomolded coolers. To learn more, check out my full review of the RTIC Ultra-Light Cooler at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
My favorite day-trip cooler is the YETI Roadie 24. It’s super rugged, keeps things chill for hours on end, and you can sit on it when you need an extra chair. The previous Roadie 20 was awesome, too, but the new YETI Roadie 24 is taller. Why is this important? The Roadie 24 is tall enough to let you stand a 2-liter bottle of soda upright. Same goes for a bottle of wine. All-in-all, if you want a simple cooler that does its job without fail, check out my full review of the YETI Roadie 24 Cooler at Man Makes Fire to learn...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
There are a few important reasons to use a net when fly fishing. The first reason is that most fly fishers catch-and-release the fish they catch. A good net is safer for the fish because it lets you land the fish before the fish gets too tired. If you wait until the fish is too exhausted to move, the build up of lactic acid in the fish can become lethal. For beginner fishers, a net also lets you handle the fish in the water without squeezing it, which also lets you more quickly and easily remove hooks. A rubbery net material helps keep the protective slime on a fish. Those are the benefits to the fish. To an angler, a net will help you successfully land more fish — and maybe even land the fish of a lifetime. Lots of winning with nets. To learn more, check out my guide to the best fly fishing nets at Man Makes...
by Chris Maxcer | Adventure
When I hunt, I like heading out into the woods with a great backpack. For starters, if you can carry your gear, including a first-aid kit and layers for bad weather, you can stay outside longer and go farther. That just makes the whole experience better. But what if you’re successful? How can you get the meat back to civilization? That’s where a load-hauling hunting backpack comes into play. My favorite hunting backpack for the kinds of hunting I do now is the Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45. It’s a roomy hunting daypack/overnighter that expands to let you haul an entire elk quarter — or more if you can physically handle it. To learn more, check out my full Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45 review at Man Makes...
