SurvivorDude - Cricket Eating

Thought some of you might get a kick out of Nomad75 eating a cricket…

3 comments November 6th, 2007

Gear Review - All-In-One Map Tool

All-In-One Map Tool by Brooks-Range Mountaineering Equipment Co.

• 4×7 inches in size
• Non-Glare
• Flexible Plastic to prevent tearing or cracking
• Seven Slope Indexes
• A compass rose
• A UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) Grid
• 3 UTM corner Readers

I got this product to test months ago. I feel terrible that it’s taken me this long to review it. It has traveled from the Brooks-Range Mountaineering headquarters in Freemont, CA all the way to Kentucky. Then back out to California with one of our gear testers who didn’t get a chance to use it. So now it’s back in my hands and after some procrastinating I have the low down for ya.

This tool contains all scales typically used on topo maps in the US, Alaska, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Japan. Scales include: 1:24,000 mi; 1:25,000 mi/km; 1:50,000 mi/km; 1:62,500 mi; 1:63,360 mi; 1:100,000 mi/km; 1:125,000 mi/km and 1:250,000 mi. The tool comes with instructions for how to use the various features (Just in case you don’t know the difference between an ATM and a UTM). The tool says it’s anti glare, and although i didn’t have a problem with this I did notice a slight glare in very bright areas. The flexibility of the tool is nice and I can see where it would be very difficult to crack or break. I have put it through some stress and didn’t see any signs of wear.

The tool, along with a compass and good map, is all you really need for basic orienteering. I am not the best orienteer, so a tool like this is very helpful for me when trying to measure distances and do simple things like get from one feature to another. I am also impressed with the “No Hassle” policy this product comes with. If you don’t like it… just send it back in 30 days.

Check out their full line of products at www.brooks-range.com

1 comment November 6th, 2007