Multitool.org Forum
Outdoor Section => The Outdoor and Survival Forum => Topic started by: Grant Lamontagne on December 07, 2016, 10:11:19 PM
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No, I'm not trying to survive having nephews!
Each year I'm never really sure what to get my nephews. I could just get them Google Play cards and let them do whatever they want, but I try to encourage them to be active. Usually it's Nerf guns or something like that, so they can chase eachother around like maniacs.
This year I decided to do something different- my brother and his wife just bought a trailer in a park lot last summer, so they will hopefully be experiencing the outdoors a bit more. Also they spend a lot of time with my parents, who live out in the woods, so I thought an Outdoor Kit would be a good plan.
A couple of weeks ago I ordered some paracord bracelets, whistles ad little compasses on eBay, and the bracelets came in today, which got me motivated to get some more stuff.
I started with one of the sling pods that I bought last year (http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,64468.0.html). It's remarkably tough, and at a whopping $30 it is a great bargain too. I also grabbed some half liter Nalgene bottles, Light My Fire Sporks, Ultimate Survival GITD flashlights, Coughlan First Aid Kits and a no name carabiner.
I doubt any of the stuff will get used, especially not for what it is meant for, but I have to at least try!
And before anyone mentions knives or fire starting equipment, I don't think that is on the approved gift list. Those are things for their father to do for them, not Weird Uncle Grant.
Here's a photo- I duplicated everything, right down to the color so there would be no fighting over which one is which! :D
Def
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Duplicating the kits was a good idea to prevent fighting but they still need to be able to identify their own so I suggest something like personalized dog tag zipper pulls. You might consider a small plastic trowel so they can dig up rocks and shells and stuff and a small net bag to put the rocks and shells and stuff in. Then throw in a couple of bags of beef jerky and trail mix and the boys will be all set to disappear for hours at a time.
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Duplicating the kits was a good idea to prevent fighting but they still need to be able to identify their own so I suggest something like personalized dog tag zipper pulls. You might consider a small plastic trowel so they can dig up rocks and shells and stuff and a small net bag to put the rocks and shells and stuff in. Then throw in a couple of bags of beef jerky and trail mix and the boys will be all set to disappear for hours at a time.
Some good ideas there but the trail mix is out as the older one has a peanut allergy.
Def
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Man I was gonna say ferro rod and a SAK or MT :( :D
Little boys need lighters and knives :dd:
I do understand that parents don't always want kids to have these things as they see them as destructive but they need to learn to use them properly at some point :cheers:
My great grandmother gave me my first lighter and no one said a thing to her about it :D She was at the age she did what she wanted no matter who told her yes or no :rofl:
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Maybe a smaller scissor or small plier based LM that doesn't have a blade :think:
The LM Leap does come to mind :D
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What about some type of survival handbook or bushcraft guide :think: That would be good for a survival kit :tu:
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My older nephew is 19 now and I got him his first LM about 8 years ago, a LM Wave that I got dirt cheap still new in the pack :o He carried it everywhere with him and now has a few more that he has added along with a few other knives and the like that I have given him over the years as well :cheers: I did get the idea cleared through his parents first though ;) My youngest nephew is 9 now and I am going to see about getting him a LM next year as well :cheers: I may start him out with a Leap though as his mother might not be as into the idea as much as his father would be :D
A side note the older nephew has many similar interests as me as well and I have encourage that over the years as well :whistle: :D
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Great idea to go along with the trailer your brother bought. Maybe a button compass and outdoor book which can be anything from identifying plants to insects as well as fun camp crafts.
I know from my own kids when you give them gear they cannot wait to use it and more importantly explore. I think its in most kids nature to investigate outdoors.
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I'll third the idea of fieldcraft books but those you should give them outside of the bags so they know they are for both of them and they have to share them. Unless you want to get them identical books as well.
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Great Idea! :tu:
How about adding some cheap binoculars and a magnifier glass?
That kept me occupied many summers. Looking at birds, bugs, neighbours, girls and so on. :D
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Maybe a smaller scissor or small plier based LM that doesn't have a blade :think:
The LM Leap does come to mind :D
Both of their birthdays are between now and the Spring. They will probably get Leaps for their birthdays.
I am hoping that the compasses and whistles I ordered on eBay come in before I have to send these, or else they will get those for their birthdays too.
I'm not sure a book is really going to mean much to them though.
Def
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..............not Weird Uncle Grant.
With that title, cutting edges and fire-making should be included :like:
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You would think so, but that's also the exact reason that it shouldn't happen... :P
Def
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:rofl:
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You have the whistles on order. Now, large, bright orange trashbags at a minimum or a couple of clear contractor bags and a Heatsheet (or just space blankets if you don't like them THAT much). And duct tape.
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I bet the rest of your family awaits special occasions in fear...
Fear that uncle Def WILL give something sharp and pointy this time!
:rofl:
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You have the whistles on order. Now, large, bright orange trashbags at a minimum or a couple of clear contractor bags and a Heatsheet (or just space blankets if you don't like them THAT much). And duct tape.
The trailer they stay in is in a big field with dozens of other trailers. It's a 37 foot model and they have their own room, complete with big screen TV and video game consoles.
A space blanket is never going to be used, except when they take it out of the packahe, run around with it until it tears and then forget about it. They won't be at the trailer until probably May, so half of the stuff will be lost, broken or forgotten about before it even gets anywhere.
Def
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I bet the rest of your family awaits special occasions in fear...
Fear that uncle Def WILL give something sharp and pointy this time!
:rofl:
Pretty much yeah.
The older one told me point blank last year that he doesn't want to do any thing because of he doesn't do anything then he can't get in trouble for doing something he shouldn't be doing.
I can't honestly tell you how much that concerns me. Kids need to push boundaries in my opinion and I always try to encourage them to do more, whether it's things that get them in trouble or not.
Of course I'm not a parent so I can't say much of anything, not having walked a mile in those shoes. So, I try to encourage the kids to do things when I see them, and by sending gifts that I hope will encourage and inspire them.
Def
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A good old orange plastic bivi/survival bag is always a good idea. If nothing else they're great fun for sliding down snowy hills. :D
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I bet the rest of your family awaits special occasions in fear...
Fear that uncle Def WILL give something sharp and pointy this time!
:rofl:
Pretty much yeah.
The older one told me point blank last year that he doesn't want to do any thing because of he doesn't do anything then he can't get in trouble for doing something he shouldn't be doing.
I can't honestly tell you how much that concerns me. Kids need to push boundaries in my opinion and I always try to encourage them to do more, whether it's things that get them in trouble or not.
Of course I'm not a parent so I can't say much of anything, not having walked a mile in those shoes. So, I try to encourage the kids to do things when I see them, and by sending gifts that I hope will encourage and inspire them.
Def
Like when I got my first SAK...
Cut 2 fingers open within 15min.
I have NEVER (knock on wood) cut my fingers with a SAK again.
Lesson learned the hard way, and rememberd ever since because of it.
You can't learn to ride a bike without scratching your knees!
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Great thing about kids is their imagination. When I'd take my kids on hikes their imaginations guided the trip mostly. Sometimes I'd give each a pad of paper with a list of items we'd "hunt" for. We'd look for lichen, flowers, rocks, birds, trees, small animals, tracks, and we all carried out any trash left by other hikers.
This way we weren't just walking. They'd have purpose if you will. I also made sure to let them use any "tools" we brought along. They made walking sticks for poking and impromptu sword fighting.
Having a fun kit to bring along should prompt them to explore more so they can use the kit.
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I'd say as the others, add a Magnifying glass and Binoculars, those are basics for the expansion and growth of the exploring mind of a child.
Then add the tools, I'd say many options fit the category, but I personally don't like the Leap so I'd go with some basic SAK, a Gerber dime or the infamous Pinnah's combo (from Bladeforums) which is Squirt + Opinel.
That way they have many gadgets, useful stuff (for threading needles, stitching, splinter picking, file capability, woodworking blade, prying device, etc.) and learn how to appreciate the time proven designs while taking care of the tools themselves.
All in all you've got quite a gift prepared there, boss!
I wish somebody gifted me one of those as a kid :salute:
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You an me both, although I don't know if I would have appreciated it properly then either. :P
I'll probably bring them a set of binoculars each when I visit them next, although I don't know when that might be. Should be well before spring though.
I like the Leap idea simply because of the blade issue. It is a way to give them a multitool without having to take responsibility for the blade issue- their parents can decide to or not to install it.
Def
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The whistles came in today!
They are gold colored (painted) aluminum so they shouldn't be easily broken. Of course I bought three of them because I need one for testing purposes.... :whistle:
BTW, it's also very loud acording to my neighbors....
Def
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The whistles arrived in time but the compasses didn't. I didn't want the gifts to be late so I sent them off yesterday.
I guess compasses will be along with their birthday presents in a few months. :D
I really wish I could be there to see what they think when they open it all, but I have the feeling it might take a back seat to any electronics they may get.
Oh well, I'm sure my father felt the same way when I was a kid! :P
Def
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Electronics are hard to compete with these days. In my day it was bikes and sports equipment. The great thing is they'll have that gear for when the urge to venture out strikes.
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As a kid I wanted a SAK because I thought it was "cool". Even though it was laying in a drawer most of the time, since there's not quite the outdoors where I grew up (something in between city and rural area).
However, when I grew up and my interests changed from software and downloading mp3's, shifted towards being prepared for the stuff life throws at us, that little SAK became more and more valuable to me.
Maybe the boys won't appreciate the gift to the max right away, but chances are that one day they'll look back at uncle Def's gift and think "actualy that stuff is awesome".
Time will tell! And in the meantime, you're doing your best in getting them out to explore ;)
:2tu:
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The package arrived at my brother's place today. I guess the boys have seen the bags and are excited. All of the other stuff is wrapped and placed inside the bags, so they don't know what's coming.
I'm looking forward to hearing their reaction when they open them. :D
Def
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The package arrived at my brother's place today. I guess the boys have seen the bags and are excited. All of the other stuff is wrapped and placed inside the bags, so they don't know what's coming.
I'm looking forward to hearing their reaction when they open them. :D
Def
I still have stuff from when I was a kid that someone else had this mindset to get me as well :cheers: I always loved gadgets and different types of sharps and shinys but some of that took a back seat as I grew up only for me to find it later on as a younger adult and then I came to appreciate it even more :tu: They will like it but it just may not be as much now as it is later :cheers:
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The package arrived at my brother's place today. I guess the boys have seen the bags and are excited. All of the other stuff is wrapped and placed inside the bags, so they don't know what's coming.
I'm looking forward to hearing their reaction when they open them. :D
Def
Me too :D
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The package arrived at my brother's place today. I guess the boys have seen the bags and are excited. All of the other stuff is wrapped and placed inside the bags, so they don't know what's coming.
I'm looking forward to hearing their reaction when they open them. :D
Def
I still have stuff from when I was a kid that someone else had this mindset to get me as well :cheers: I always loved gadgets and different types of sharps and shinys but some of that took a back seat as I grew up only for me to find it later on as a younger adult and then I came to appreciate it even more :tu: They will like it but it just may not be as much now as it is later :cheers:
That was basicaly the clue behind my story xD
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Weird Uncle Grant.......and you got them whistles? :rofl:
Their parents are sure to hate you :rofl:
I was just going through some of my more memorable xmas presents, and I figured if the boys are our kind people the kits will rank pretty high for them, as it would've for me back then! :tu:
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Well their grandmother beat me to getting them a drum set so I had to come up with something else! :ahhh
I doubt that it will lure the older one away from the video games, and I worry that it might empower the younger one to wander off even more and get into more trouble.... :ahhh
On the average, they are a great kid!
Seriously, I love those kids, and I hope this gift helps them get out more and enjoy their time outside more. If not I'll go back to buying Lego and Nerf guns.
Def
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Well, if the grandmother already got them drums, you could always get them some Bagpipes.
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Excellent plan. I hadn't thought if bagpipes!
Def
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An accordion might also make a nice gift. Or harmonica's if the shipping costs for the accordion is too much.
Being an uncle is so much fun!
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An accordion might also make a nice gift. Or harmonica's if the shipping costs for the accordion is too much.
Being an uncle who lives far away and is never going to be asked to babysit is so much fun!
Fixed.... :D
Def
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I was talking to my brother a little while ago, and the younger one is actually pretty excited about the kit. He is really looking forward to using it on outdoor adventures this year. He is by far the one more likely to use it or go adventuring.
Of course, monkey see, monkey do, so when the older one saw the younger one getting excited about it, he also started to get excited about the stuff as well.
I think this summer I am going to try to arrange for a short adventure with them- maybe a short hike (very short, for my sake as much as theirs!) or maybe a little kayak trip. There are lots of islands we can paddle to, set up one of my stoves and make lunch then play a little before paddling home.
Def
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Good to hear to boys are excited. I guess thats the first step. Opportunity and someone to show them how to use the kit is another step. I hope you can get over there and show them how to use it and how much fun it can be.
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Been wondering how these went :cheers: Glad to hear they were excited about them and now you just need to get them a small adventure and they will be totally loving them :tu: :like:
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Absolutely. It's too bad I won't see them until the spring at the earliest. It's a bit of a haul from getting stuff to being able to use it.
Def
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Just to bring this one back up- I have taken the suggestion of binoculars to heart, although not in the way you may think. Knowing full well that both kids are probably more interested in their electronics than they are in any outdoorsing products, I have bought some monoculars for them that have tripods and brackets for their phones. This way they have an item that they can use with their phones or without- and even cooler, they can take photos of the things they see with it. Naturally of course I bought one for myself too, you know, so I can make sure it's good enough for them. :D
Def
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Very cool idea. :tu:
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Sounds like an excellent idea. :tu: Got a link to the one you picked?
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I'm on my phone so no direct link but here's a screenshot.
Def
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That looks prettt\y handy actually :o I have thought about getting stuff like this but never took the plunge :D Let us know how they are please :pok: :D I may end up with one :ahhh :like:
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I got a cheaper version of this setup yesterday and it's actually not too bad. Check it out here:
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,76190.0.html
Makes me look forward to these ones even more.
Def
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I got a cheaper version of this setup yesterday and it's actually not too bad. Check it out here:
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,76190.0.html
Makes me look forward to these ones even more.
Def
Yes, that's the correct way to go about binoculars...
:whistle:
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Once again I am completely blown away by cheapo optics!
The fancy zoom lenses that I got for my nephews (and me too, purely for testing of course) were waiting for me when I got home, and I assumed they were going to be as dinky (and impressive) as the small one I looked at in the other thread. I was not prepared for what I got, and I am still dumbfounded that I only paid $10 each! :ahhh
The cheapo one that I was impressed with (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,76190.0.html) has a maximum size roughly the circumference of a C Cell battery, and a length of about that of a cigarette, while the new one is the size of a half of a standard set of binoculars. The clamp is nice, but in order to use it there's a bit of a setup to ensure that the camera is lined up properly, and the clamp/phone holder isn't large enough to grab my phone with the Otterbox Defender on it, so I had to take it off. In the photos below I am standing in the front room of my house and looking in towards the kitchen. In the first photo you can barely see the spice rack, and with the zoom lens you can almost read the spice labels!
I am really impressed with this one, and I'll get more photos of the unit soon. I'd say that despite this one costing almost 5x as much as the other, and being a bit more difficult to use, I'd take this one any day over the ultra cheapo. Besides, what else can you do with $10 these days?
Def
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Very cool. For $10? Hell yeah.
Now get out there and capture a picture of Squatch. :tu:
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I'd have to be pretty lucky to manage that, given this thing's very limited field of view!
Even so, I am thinking my nephews will be thrilled with it. Both of them have birthdays coming up, and I really like that this can be used as a monocular in addition to a camera zoom- and even more so that it has a standard 1/4" tripod mount, so you can use the teeny desktop tripod it came with, or, as in the photos above, a proper tripod.
I am astounded at this. If it weren't for the cheesy compass stuck to the top of it, I'd swear this was the kind of thing you'd see at Cabela's for $69.95, and you'd probably pick it up on sale for $49.95 and be happy with it.
Def
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Just doin't point it in your neighbour's back yard...
Seriously though, that's some cool stuff.
Now, Def, to complete your set, you need to add macro lenses to it!
Got a lenskit myself for €3 which contains a macro lens, wide angle lens (which actualy increases the field of view on my phone) and a fish eye lens.
The macro works superb!
And that way you've got all ranges covered :pok:
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Got a kit like this:
(https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1SV9aSpXXXXaEXpXXq6xXFXXXw/APEXEL-2-in-1-Phone-Lens-12X-Macro-24X-Super-Macro-lens-Camera-Phone-Lens-Kit.jpg_640x640.jpg)
Different branding (none at all actualy) but same principle with changeable lenses.
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As promised, here is some more info on these things.
The box simply says HIGHQUALITY TELESCOPE with no brand or anything on it. According to the box the "FIELD OF VISION IS INFINITE AND WONDERFUL." I'm not sure how infinite or wonderful it is, but it is a lot better than the junk I was expecting! It also warns you not to look at the sun directly or it will hure your eyes. I am not sure what huring is, but it doesn't sound pleasant, and I think I would prefer my eyes to be unhured whenever possible. I love bad translations- they amuse the heck out of me, and I could spend hours at a time enjoying the stuff at engrish.com.... but I digress....
This is the whole package, with my trusty yellow scaled Compact for size reference:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2819%29.jpg?m=1521818247)
Sorry for the awful photo, I hadn't realized it was that bad or I'd have taken another one. It's never good to discuss photography equipment and start off with a blurry photo of said equipment, but it's hardly my first faux pas, so let's try and work past that. :facepalm:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2818%29.jpg?m=1521817931)
The unit is fairly sizeable which would make it a bit awkward to EDC, but it comes with a nylon pouch to keep it in, and the pouch is not the worst one of it's type that I have seen, and that has to count for something. It has a removable rubber eyepiece cover and an attached pull out type cover on the big end. I'm sure there's a proper name for the big end, but I don't know what it is, so I will be referring to it as the big end. On the top there's an adjustment/focusing knob and a small compass, and on the bottom is a standard threaded tripod mount that you can attach to a tripod (duh) or to the lanyard that includes a small screw to go into it. The lanyard seems to hold pretty well, at least in the limited testing I have done so far.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2814%29.jpg?m=1521817930)
Oh yeah, there's a compass on it. I don't know why, not do I have any intention of using it to save my life, but it's there and it doesn't really take up space or add weight, so why not.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2815%29.jpg?m=1521817930)
The ocular is also interesting, in that it extends with a twist.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2812%29.jpg?m=1521817929)
I don't know what it is for, although the instructions (again, poor translation) say something about eyeglasses. Specifically it says:
The monocular has the characteristic of rubber eyepatch that can be turndown. The user who wears glasses can use this monocular after fold up the eyepatch, the user who does not wear gasses can use this monocular directly. This make the vision more convince and more comfortable.
After reading that my eyes need some comfort.... :facepalm:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2813%29.jpg?m=1521817930)
The clamp folds up nicely into this little package, then folds out quickly and easily to fit over the ocular when needed. One screw will loosen everything nicely and then tighten the clamp around your phone. This is the part that takes some time to line the phone camera up properly, but it is well worth it or the photos you can get out of this thing. The clamp is a bit cheap, and won't actually hold my Samsung Galaxy S5 while it is in the Otterbox Defender, but does hold it well enough when I take the phone out of the case, something I very rarely do. Kind of a pain in the bum, but I am sure a solution can be found at some point.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2810%29.jpg?m=1521817928)
I suggest before you get to clamping, you put the lens on a tripod, but I'd also suggest that you don't waste time with the included one as it is absolute crap and can barely hold the weight of the lens, let along the phone. More realistically, it will be used like this:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%287%29.jpg?m=1521817928)
As you can see, your phone can be held in portrait or landscape mode, or any angle in between, although it doesn't really matter as you will only be taking a circular photo anyway, as seen in my above post.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%289%29.jpg?m=1521817928)
Even considering the small tripod and the polishing cloth made from the highest quality burlap they could find on the street outside I consider this thing well worth the $10 I spent on it, and I plan to take it with me on many of my adventures this year. As I mentioned, it is quite a bit larger than the other zoom lens I bought:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Miscellaneous/Cell-Phone-Zoom/Zoom%20%2820%29.jpg?m=1521818253)
Still, I see it being a great way to take wildlife photos in the woods when all you have handy is a cell phone. And, if it gets destroyed, who cares- you can buy a cup of coffee these days that costs the same amount!
Def