Heavy Cover Titainum Canteen The Follow Up

Facts: The human body is more than 60 percent water. Blood is 92 percent water, the brain and muscles are 75 percent water, and bones are about 22 percent water.To keep it all working right you've got to stay hydrated. 

I've beat the snot out of it, dropped it down the sides of mountains, froze it, immolated it, I've done everything to this canteen and it done nothing but maintain and gain character. It has also gained my respect as a truly durable yet lightweight system capable of doing pretty much everything.

From Heavy Cover;

Benefits of Titanium Cookware:
Biocompatible (BPA Free, Nontoxic to the human body)
Non-porous, non-stick material for easy clean up
Rapid heat conductor , less gas/fuel and faster boil time.
Canteen won't puncture or rip like plastic water bladders.
As strong as steel but 45% lighter.
Anti-corrosive and will not rust.

Product Specifications:

Titanium Canteen/Titanium Cap Capacity= 1.1 Liter (37 ounces)
Titanium Canteen Cup Capacity= 23.7 ounces (700 mm)

Product Weight:
Titanium Canteen/Titanium Cap= 6.041 ounces (172 grams)
Titanium Canteen Cup/Titanium Canteen Cup Lid= 4.8 ounces (132 grams)

Material Thickness:
.5 mm Titanium



Here's the system as it looked on the day I got it.

And how it looks as of my last trip to the mountains with it.

There are not that many things that I come into possession of that become 'the one' to support a need or activity. I'm not hitched to much gear but there are some pieces that just fit the bill and become a permanent fixture in my kit. This canteen/cup combo has become one of those pieces.

Why is it better than the alternatives?

Weight, size, shape, versatility and durability is the short answer.

1. Weight, you're not going to find another cup/bottle combo with this capacity and lightness of weight.
2. It fits in virtually any water bottle pocket thanks to its thickness but because it isn't as tall as most 40oz water bottles while it has that capacity, it sits lower in the pocket and is more secure.
3. Because of the shape I find it easier to handle, more adaptable to pack pockets, I prefer it over the round bottles.
4. I suppose stainless steel is nearly as robust but I have my doubts. I've dented stainless steel Kleen Kanteen bottles before, as hard as I've been on this, there are no dents. More durable than stainless and half the weight.

One of the first things that comes up is the price. Currently $143, add another $10 for the Ti cap and you're sitting at $153. That's a lot of coin for a canteen/cup combo, but then I did the math. I've been buying titanium cook sets over the past several years, in search of a set that I really liked and was comfortable packing. In fact I've spent over $350 in the past three years on various bottles, cook sets, cups etc. None of them singularly or in combination really filled the niche. The titanium canteen/cup does and as a result I don't foresee buying more of the same in the future. Had I found the combo first I'd have saved money in the longer run, now I'll just save money in the longer long run!

 At 37oz the canteen has ample capacity but it isn't enough for a full day of heavy activity. Neither would a 40oz from Kleen Kanteen. You're going to want to add to it but 37oz is a good place to start. Once the winter is over a 100oz Source WXP will always be found in my pack and I do drink from it while on the move. The canteen will suffice on short excursions and mostly around camp where I'm not wearing the pack and thus not the bladder.

Something else. Even with stainless steel I would sometimes get foul smell or tasting water. I know what causes this, but not once have I had this happen with this canteen. Non once, even after storing water over a period of days. That was the recipe for badness when it came to stainless.

I never bothered using the stock plastic cap for the canteen, didn't like it's shape, weight, or design. The Ti cap is perfect.

Cooking in the cup is a breeze, and not just cooking soups and whatnot, baking in it is possible too, thanks to the Ti lid and the ability to put coals on the top. Cleanup is easy, mostly I just wipe it out after a rinse.

The only thing this set up won't do is fry sizable proportions but it can still get by. I've fried venison medallions in oil in the cup and it worked just fine.

I'm one of those people who consistently looks for better gear, or gear that'll do to ride the river with. I don't often find gear that I can check the 'near perfect' box on. This is one of them though and I can't imagine switching from this combo to anything else.

Most assuredly Backwoods Bum Approved!!!

Stumpin' In Search of Spring & Modded Stump Arrows

Spent  day bummin' the backwoods, killin some time and some stumps and looking for Spring. Still a few pockets of snow but it's mostly gone now. Still can't seem to stay above fifty degrees and in the twenties at night. Tried to snow today, but the sun broke out for a while.

Video has more stills, lunch 'in the trees' and some stump killin. HD is best for viewing.

Some pretty simple mods to my stumpin arrows. I use very heavy arrows, full lenth GoldTip 75-95 with heavy FOC, 100gr inserts, 200gr heads and they hit like freight trains. As a result when stump shooting if I hit some super hard surfaces, unseen rocks, non-rotten or unyielding stumps the head will blow which looks a little something like this;

The force of impact drives the insert and head into the arrow shaft. I tried different glue and epoxy types but none of them helped prevent this.

I saw someone somewhere use a piece of aluminum arrow to basically 'foot' or reinforce the carbon shaft and decided to try the same thing. It works.

In my case I used some 2216s donated from my friend AK Craft on the BCUSA forums. Cut them to 1" sections and installed them on my arrows. For the Gold Tip Traditionals the outer diameter is a little greater and 2219s would be needed.

End result;

The modification did not alter my arrow flight and I'm quite pleased with the end result.

The video below isn't mine but shows how much the footing helps!

Stump Shooting Day Out with Son

Spring is trying to gain a foothold here in the North. Still snow on the ground but it is losing the battle finally.

We went roaming the woods, our quarry, the prolific rotting stumps of trees long gone.

My son is to my left, and the shadow struck me. He's as tall as I am now, and it seems like yesterday he was a knee high hellion much like my current three year old.

Second son has come into his own, a woodsman and a bowman, with a keen interest in the wild places.

Our path to the backwoods is loaded with stumps, as well as many targets that we have along the way.

 For a quiver he uses a leather hip quiver inserted into a ultralight day pack. It's a pretty slick set up.

Stump shooting is about as good a practice as a man can get with a stick bow. Instinctive shooting from unknown distances, oddball angles and positions. Over time the old hair covered computer gets programmed for the bow and the arrows and you just start drilling what you want to drill. Did I mention just how enjoyable this is?

Stumping and roaming is also perfect for scouting and seeing what the winter snow has been hiding. Like this moose sign.

We found rub lines and old scrapes too, though we were jawing so much the camera saw little action.

My son's bow below, this was his thirteenth birthday present. An riginal E.T Williams Seminole Chief, made for me back in 1996. Still a pleasure to shoot, and puts his 650gr arrows screaming to their targets.

Another day out with the BisonGear chest pack equals another day of liking it more. 

Ace resting in the shade, temps actually got to between 38 and 40F today. Warm!

 

Back on the trail we hit the big woods.

 Many stumps fell to our arrows as we roamed, we talked of deer hunting, studied fungus and discussed uses, a good time spent twixt father and son.

One of those days that lives in memory. One of those days you want to make more of.