~Leesa
Lately, I’ve been trying to do some Fall cleaning. I must have missed Spring cleaning… Part of this ‘cleaning’ has been trying to organize my gear. I have a good storage area for the big stuff – tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, etc. Even my stoves and lights seem to be well organized and easy to access. My problem has been the ‘small stuff’. Most of it had been residing on open shelves in a corner of my bedroom. Really not attractive at all. Then there is the problem of finding things quickly, making a mess and then returning it all to a spot that I remember. As I get organized, I’ll be posting a bit about some of my favorites.
I’m not a fan of plastic (see below), but did break down and get some large, somewhat see through tote containers. One for paddling gear, one for snow/cold weather gear and one for…the ‘what do I do with this’ gear. Ok, I know ‘what’ to do with it, but not how to classify it. After looking at most of the stuff in the 3rd container, I realized its some of my favorite stuff.
Many times a company will send me things to try out, but not necessarily for a full review. Sometimes its swag from the Outdoor Retailer show. Anyway, I have a container of goodies, and it made me start thinking (uh oh).
One of my favorite things is a glass bottle from Takeya. Here’s what they say about it:
Takeya Classic Glass Water Bottle (courtesy of Takeya)
The “Classic” Glass Water Bottle is inspired by the iconic American milk bottle, with substantial walls and a smooth rounded spout. Available in 16oz and 22oz sizes with bright colored silicone jackets, the Classic comes in green, cobalt blue, purple, black and fuchsia with suggested retail price of $19.99 and $24.99. The Classic design makes a bold statement about the importance of healthy hydration.
Here’s what I say:
The Classic is great! I’m not a fan of drinking out of plastic. I’m sure everyone has their own opinions, mine started years ago, before plastic’s issues became common information. I just never liked the taste of whatever I was drinking if it was in plastic. I also have a somewhat odd dislike of the feel. So, when I got to see the Takeya glass water bottles at the Outdoor Retailer show, I was anxious to try one out. Takeya sent me the 22 0z version, with blue silicone jacket. I was concerned that I would immediately drop the bottle and break it. I’m a bit clumsy at times…
No worries there, the silicone jacket provides a non-slip surface to grip. It also appears to provide a bit of a cushion when the bottle is dropped. So far, so good! Its definitely not a ‘light weight’ bottle. I do carry it back and forth to work, and for short day hikes. I see no problem taking it in my kayak come spring.
The most important part, and the reason for the glass (in my mind) is the taste of the water. I am totally impressed! It tastes the same after a long day, as it did first thing in the morning. No funky plastic or ‘old’ taste. Because of this, I tend to drink more water, which is definitely good for me. One Friday, I accidentally left the bottle on my desk at work. I got home and remembered. On Monday, I went into work, and it was a hectic morning. Without thinking I opened the bottle and took a drink. As I swallowed I realized the water had been sitting all weekend in a warm room. ’Uh 0h, this can’t be good’ was my first thought. I then realized other than being a bit warm, the water tasted fine.
I haven’t had any problems with the bottle leaking in my day pack or school bag. The twist on cap fits nice and snug, which is a good thing, when it is stuck in the same bag with my laptop, papers and other ‘dry’ stuff.
Join Hollis as he puts the Powermonkey-eXplorer kit through its paces. The Powermonkey is a neat solar charger kit for backpacking uses, and it makes it possible to keep all different kinds of personal electronics juiced up through the energy of the sun–no fees, no bills, and most importantly, no hassle.
