EasyAcc Rugged Power Bank IP67 Rating Twin USB Ports TEST of the SEA!

Hi all just reviewed this Rugged Power Bank from EasyAcc. It's a IP67 rated twin USB charging device full of Li-ion 18650 cells. You can recharge many USB powered devices with it. I gave it a thorough dunking in the sea and looked at the flashlight function as well. It should charge GoPro batteries as well.

EasyAcc Rugged Power Bank powering up a GoPro Hero2 action camera

The GoPro Camera can be powered directly from the EasyAcc Rugged Power Bank. This will allow you an extremely long shooting time, perfect for time lapse!

You can also charge the GoPro battery with the EasyAcc Rugged Power Bank.

RED Charging light ON- GoPro Battery being Charged in situ.

 Also do you like reading whilst out camping? How are you going to charge that Kindle???

Here's how:

EasyAcc Rugged Power Bank battery pack charging a Kindle book reader

Check it out.

JaktKit KNV2 Follow up

The question is am I still using the KNV2 from JaktKit of Sweden?

Of course I am!

Despite  uninformed and basically troll type comments from the stirrers on Blade Forums. I stand by what I said about this knife in my blog and on my video review.

YES it's manufactured in China. When I read "Made in China", to me means generally products are of low quality. However, when non Chinese (or Chinese companies) companies pay particular attention to quality control and R and D then there is NO reason why products manufactured in China can not be of high standard. Unfortunately there is so much junk coming out of that country from companies trying to make a fast buck and don't give a stuff about the negative connotations.

Enough of that now. JaktKit KNV2 is well made, comfortable and stays sharp under tough field usage, that's a fact.

I don't care if the Alloy is called XYZW5543Cr steel. What I really care about is does the product perform according to the manufacturers product blurb. That's all. 

And the KNV2 does exactly and better than what Jaktkit says. Good enough for me. Let's face it, the knife is Designed in Sweden. It's making waves due to it's quality and price point. People don't like that.

Here are the Facts once again:



Construction: Drop forged, meaning super tough aligned microstructure (impossible to achieve via milled stock removal made knives).

Steel alloy: Ahonest Changjiang Steel Company Ltd. made 99CrMoV (proprietary formulation for Jaktkit) ESR production (Electro Slag Removal) for quality raw material.
99Cr19MoV has carbon of 1,08% (tolerances 0,96-1,2 % )

Convex hand ground edge.

Top quality TPEE polymer handle over moulded onto a full 5mm thick tang.

FOX KNIVES FX131 MGT PRO HUNTER 

Fox knives Pro Hunter, I've had my eye on this model for a very long time. Why? Because i think it's a good knife and now I'll tell you why.

Like most of higher end FKMD's or FOX Knive's products, the blade steel, is that now classic N690 Cobalt stainless steel from

 BÖHLER Edelstahl and let's face it, i think

after many years of field testing knives made from this steel, it's a very very good premium stainless alloy for outdoor knives.

The FX131MGT (PRO HUNTER) feels great in the ungloved hand. The handle is just right for a hunting and camping knife, nice and grippy so there is not going to be some blood and slime soaked knife slipping out of your tired wet hands at the end of a long day's hunting.

There is a well placed finger gimping 

and a swedge 

for nice blade penetration durning butchering too.

The scales are made from FOX's 3D machined micarta,

attached via allen bolts. The blade has Fox's black teflon coating. From experience this coating will start to wear off after heavy use ( but I mean heavy use!). I've got several knife models from FOX with this coating and after about 3 months solid use the coating will wear a bit. It's really only cosmetic and doesn't worry me in the slightest. 

The blade length of just 105mm as measured from the guard. This is within a good range for a hunting blade  (under 170mm) as too long will make skinning too tiresome on the hands not to mention very slow. A short blade like this will deliver lots of power to the joint when butchering too. The maximum blade thickness I measured at 4.5mm, 

Blade thickness measured from the
ricasso

perfect for a hunting knife. Generally speaking I don't like "hunting knives" thicker than say 5mm at the  spine, otherwise they start to become more of something else.

It's a drop point with a full flat grind to a beveled cutting edge.

There is a generous lanyard hole

 and extended pommel, with a milled surface that sits perfectly for a reverse grip (though I have no idea why one would need to grip this type of knife in this manner- no matter, it's there).

The FX131 MGT comes with a very nicely stitch leather scabbard belt mountable.

This model is also available with a Santos hardwood handle as shown here.

When I'm hunting, I want a knife I can use around the camp to both help with prep and feed myself too. i don't want to have to carry dozens of knives with me. The FOX Knives FX131M or otherwise listed as the FX131MGT feels like it fits the bill for me in this department.

Anyway, stay tuned, a video field test and review will be coming out soon here.

ZOMBIE ATTACK!!!!

Zombie ATTACK!!



How about this just for fun!

Thrunite TI5 Flashlight Review

Recently I was asked by the flashlight company Thrunite if I was interested in reviewing a small penlight torch of their' the TI5. It's been doing the rounds on YouTube land and I saw a couple of those reviews, checked out their website (Thrunites) and thought, Ok, why not.

Thrunite is a CHINESE company, not a foreign company trying to make their goods cheaper in China. First thoughts were it looks well made, sturdy, good components (at least the light source, a CREE XPG2, i.e. CREE's second generation follow on from their successful XPG in the XLAMP line. Industry proven single die LEDs.

I still have a FENIX flashlight which is now over two years old, again made by a CHINESE company, FENIX BTW is now well established in the lighting industry. That Chinese made Fenix torch is still going strong and I've beaten the daylights out of it. The Thrunite TI5 looks to be of similar quality and therefore I see no reason why it won't go the distance.

I see that CHINESE companies are slowly but surely trying to shake that "Chinese made crap" which is so acknowledged from the "Made in China" tag. In fact nowhere is it stated the TI5 is "made in China" simply the company address is listed at the end of the torches user manual as in China. This is understandable.
Main features are:
120 hours (from 900mAH battery) on 0.03Lumen mode (Thrunite's FireFly mode setting and the default on setting at power up).

6.5 hours at 10 lumens their "Low mode" followed by, 100 lumens for 30 minutes burn time and 100 lumens strobing at 1 hour duration. Anyway check out my review and see what you reckon.

The torch/penlight/flashlight can also be seen here:

http://www.thrunite.com/thrunite-ti5-series-penlights/

Kizlyar Supreme Bush Mate Machete

Hey everyone here is a quick review based on, as always  practical field testing. Kizlyar Supreme's Bush Mate Convex. This exact model was previewed at SHOT 2016 and sent kindly by Kizlyar Supreme for me to review in the field. Prior to this extensive tests were done on designs and suitability of this machete. As it stands, it is a prototype at present. The design is reminiscent of the Australian classic machete, with a proven track record for performance in hacking at the undergrowth and jungle.



Anyway here I show it's use clearing some marsh grasses for a hide. These grasses can be very damaging to a blades edge if the heat treatment is not up to standards, as the grasses have a high silica content. No problems here, the Bush Mate retained it's razor sharp edge. Check it out! The Bush Mate Convex from Kizlyar Supreme Made In Russia!

TCT Dry Bags The Camping Trail 20L and 5L Field Review

Hi ok here I field test and review TCT The Camping Trail 20L and 5L Dry bags



I put them through some tests that might well simulate a good dunking from a canyoning trip etc TCT is a new Australian company whose staff are outdoors people. TCT were good to their word when one bag got a tear in it. They said and I will follow up on this, that they will send  a replacement bag.  Anyway see what you think.



BCT