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Review: Bertucci A-2TR Vintage GMT Watch

Posted on July 1, 2018 at 6:00 am.

In This Article

The Origin of the GMT Watch
How to Use and Set a GMT Hand
Bertucci A-2TR Vintage GMT
Rotating Bezel Functions
Conclusions

Much like the ill-fated predictions that we’d all be driving hovercars and fighting cyborgs armed with laser blasters by the early 2000s, we’ve often heard it said that modern technology is bound to make the wristwatch obsolete. Despite this claim, watches seem to be alive and well. In fact, we’d even say that there has been a resurgence in their popularity in the last decade. Some of this may be due to the convenience of knowing the time without pulling out a cell phone, and some can be attributed to appreciation for the visual style of a nice timepiece.

While we can understand the appeal of high-tech smart watches with Bluetooth and internet connectivity, we tend to lean towards simpler designs for every-day carry and use on outdoor adventures. Specifically, field watches offer some distinct advantages for use in the backcountry.

A standard-issue A-11 field watch, one of the most iconic designs of the WWII era. Source: Crown and Caliber

Field watches are simple, easy-to-read analog watches inspired by vintage military wristwatch designs. As a result of this origin, they offer slim cases, high-visibility markings, and tough fabric or leather straps designed to withstand years of hard use. If a smart watch is analogous to a 30-function multi-tool, a field watch is like your grandpa’s WWII-issue Ka-Bar — it’s built for one primary purpose, and it does it well.

For more info on the history of standard-issue field watches, check out our previous review of another Bertucci watch, the A-4T Vintage Yankee.

The Origin of the GMT Watch

Although most field watches offer nothing more than a hour, minute, and second hand with high-contrast markings, some designs have a few more advanced features. Twelve- and twenty-four-hour numbering is common, making it easier to tell time in the standard civilian and military formats. A date function is also useful for tracking the day of the month at a glance.

One of the most significant upgrades seen on field watches is referred to as GMT. You may recognize this abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time, which is the mean solar time measured at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. Time zones around the world are often referred to as GMT +X or GMT -X, where X is a certain number of hours offset from the standard time in London. For example, the time zones in the United States are as follows (not including Daylight Savings Time adjustments):

Eastern Standard Time (EST) – GMT -5
Central Standard Time (CST) – GMT -6
Mountain Standard Time (MST) – GMT -7
Pacific Standard Time (PST) – GMT -8

When it comes to analog watches, a GMT function means that the watch has a fourth hand. When set and adjusted correctly, this enables the wearer to check the current time with the standard three hands, and simultaneously read the fourth hand to see the time in another zone.

The GMT watch feature originated in the 1950s, as a result of pilots who needed to keep track of time both at home and in the current destination. The fourth hand in these GMT watches operates on a 24-hour movement, making one 360-degree rotation each day, as opposed to the regular hour hand, which operates on a 12-hour movement and makes two full rotations each day. There are two ways to use this fourth hand, which we’ll explain below.

How to Use and Set a GMT Hand

If you’re not traveling, the GMT hand can simply be set to provide the 24-hour time in your current location. This makes it easy to instantly read the time in either 12- or 24-hour format without doing any mental math.

If you are traveling outside your home time zone, the fourth GMT hand can be set to your home time, and the primary hour hand can be set to the time in your current location. It’s also useful if you work or frequently communicate with people outside your time zone — just keep the GMT hand set to their time zone so you won’t mix up the scheduled time for an important conference call.

The video below from World of Watches shows the basics of how to set a 24-hour GMT hand:

Bertucci A-2TR Vintage GMT

We frequently wear the Bertucci A-4T mentioned earlier in this article, so we were pleased to hear about the release of its new sibling: the Bertucci A-2TR Vintage GMT. Like the A-4T, the A-2TR features the company’s patented solid titanium case with built-in band lugs and a matte finish.

The A-2TR has a slightly smaller case diameter (40mm) and narrower band (7/8″) than the A-4T, although this size is still substantially larger than the 30mm field watches of the 1950s — those appear tiny by today’s standards.

Top: Bertucci A-4T (44mm) / Middle: Bertucci A-2TR (40mm) / Bottom: Citizen BM8180 (37mm)

Top: Bertucci A-4T (44mm) / Middle: Bertucci A-2TR (40mm) / Bottom: Citizen BM8180-03E (37mm)

The A-2TR also features a Swiss-made quartz movement, hardened sapphire crystal, and 100-meter water-resistance as a result of its screw-down crown. These features provide the sort of durability we expect from an outdoor-oriented watch, and ensure it’ll hold up to the inevitable bumps and scrapes of daily use. The hands and face markings are treated with Swiss Super Luminous material that provides passive glow after exposure to light from the sun or indoor bulbs.

Our watch features the optional Horween Montanaro leather band, which is made in the USA , water-resistant, and fitted with a stainless steel buckle and loop. Bertucci also offers this watch with heavy-duty nylon NATO straps in black, olive green, or coyote tan. With the leather band, this watch is priced at $290. With a nylon band, it’s $270. These bands are sold separately, and their straight-through design makes them a breeze to swap out, so you can always get a few options if you’re indecisive.

As expected from a GMT watch, the A-2TR features a fourth hand (a red arrow) that moves on a 24-hour rotation. Numbers on the inside of the face indicate 24-hour time. The GMT hand is set by loosening the screw-down crown, pulling it out to its first position, and turning counter-clockwise. Turning the crown clockwise at this position adjusts the date function, and pulling it out to its second position allows adjusting the primary hands.

Rotating Bezel Functions

Another notable feature of the A-2TR Vintage GMT is its rotating bezel, indicated by the R in its model name. The bezel rotates counter-clockwise with 60 positions, each indicated by a positive click of the ratcheting bezel mechanism. This bezel offers two valuable functions for use in the outdoors:

Elapsed Time

The main function of the rotating bezel is to help you track elapsed minutes or seconds, similar to a stopwatch. To track elapsed time, rotate the bezel counter-clockwise until the large red triangle aligns with the minute hand.

As the minute hand moves, the markings around the bezel will show the number of minutes that have passed. There are markings for 1-minute increments up to 15 minutes, then 5-minute increments for the rest of the hour. If you need to time more precisely, you can align the bezel with the second hand. In this case, you’ll have to mentally keep track of the elapsed minutes after the first 60 seconds.

Breaking down challenging projects into smaller increments has been shown to improve productivity, so this is one way we use the timer bezel. It’s also helpful for tracking how long you’ve spent walking a path, cooking food, brewing coffee or tea, or working on any other task.

Improvised Compass

The other advantage to a rotating bezel is the ability to use it as a navigational aid.

During the day, you can aim any analog watch’s hour hand at the sun and split the angle between it and the 12:00 mark to find a north-south line. The end of this line furthest from the sun will be north, assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere. For a more detailed explanation, refer to our previous article on how to use a watch as a compass.

A rotating bezel will help you use this technique more precisely. Once you’ve pointed the hour hand at the sun, turn the bezel ring until the “30” mark is halfway between the hour hand and 12:00 on the watch face (i.e. south). The red arrow is now indicating north, the 15 mark will indicate east, and the 45 mark will indicate west. The other increments can be used to orient yourself more precisely to the northwest, southeast, and so on. The ring should be adjusted every hour to reflect changes in the sun’s position.

Ultralight bug out bag compass navigation

The rotating bezel on your watch is a little less precise than a compass, but it can help you stay on course.

Once you’ve established the N/E/S/W cardinal directions, bezel ring can be rotated again to shoot an azimuth, much like you’d use the bezel ring on a real USGI lensatic compass.

See the Bertucci manual excerpt at the end of this article for more details about rotating bezel compass use.

Conclusions

The new Bertucci A-2TR Vintage GMT is a modern-day homage to the classic field watches of the 1950s. The integration of features such as a date function, a 24-hour GMT hand, and a rotating bezel add value without diminishing the watch’s reliable simplicity and old-school style. The strong titanium case, sapphire crystal, and water-resistant screw-down crown subtly modernize this design.

As with the previous Bertucci watch we reviewed, the interchangeable bands are a nice touch, since they make the watch more versatile and very easy to clean. As much as we like the Horween leather band, we’ll probably switch it for one of Bertucci’s Tridura synthetic bands in the future, since the band on our A-4T has proven surprisingly resistant against moisture, dirt, and abrasions.

During our time with the A-2TR, it has made a nice addition to our EDC gear rotation, and it has been hard to find fault with any aspect of its design or construction. However, the included documentation could use some improvement — despite Bertucci’s site stating details on the use of the rotating bezel as a compass can be found in the owner’s manual, we found no mention of this feature there. The manual also makes no mention of adjusting the GMT hand, but this was easy enough to figure out. Our manual is dated 1/2017, so perhaps a future revision will add more instructions.

Update: Bertucci let us know that, as we suspected, we mistakenly received an old version of the watch manual. They sent us a PDF of the correct A-2TR-specific manual, and we can confirm that it includes information on how to set the GMT hand and use the rotating bezel. We’re told all future orders will include this corrected manual. See below for a sample of the rotating bezel compass instructions:

For more information on Bertucci field watches and the A-2TR Vintage GMT, go to BertucciWatches.com.

Nikola NZT Electric UTV

Posted on June 30, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

The Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), also known as a side-by-side, offers a number of advantages for survivalists — it’s nimble enough to overcome rough terrain, small enough to fit down narrow paths, offers seating for two or more people, and can carry a large payload of gear. We addressed many of these advantages, as well as some UTV-specific driving techniques, in our recent article “Off-Grid Driver’s Ed: Learning to Drive a UTV”.

Traditional off-road UTVs are usually powered by a small gas motor connected to a transmission, transfer case, and front and rear differentials to send power to all four wheels. This is a tried-and-true formula, but we’re always interested to see new designs that could provide some additional improvements. With the recent growth in the electric car and truck market, it’s no surprise to see some of this tech make its way into the UTV world.

Nikola Corporation, named as a nod to famous electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla, has developed a new electric off-road UTV known as the Nikola NZT. The NZT is 100% electric-powered, with a low-mounted lithium-ion battery pack and four direct-drive electric motors (one at each wheel). Nikola says this setup can produce up to 590hp and 722 ft/lbs of torque. Unlike a gas-powered engine, the electric motors produce peak torque immediately off the line, so they’re capable of propelling the NZT from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds.

The Nikola NZT offers a claimed range of 90 to 150 miles under “hardcore riding conditions”. Nikola says it can be recharged in 3 hours with the company’s proprietary 400V charger, 8 hours with a 240V charger, or 18 hours with a standard 110V wall outlet charger. An optional 4 kW solar charger will be available in the future for off-grid charging.

Although the NZT is designed for off-road use, you may be able to use it on public roads depending on your state’s laws. It will include mirrors, fenders, turn-signals, and other commonly-required features. It also comes with a slew of helpful off-road features, such as 4,500-pound-capacity front and rear winches, electronic power steering, knobbly kevlar-reinforced 33-inch tires, Method Racing beadlock wheels, and 3″ FOX Racing internal bypass shocks.

Most images we’ve seen of the Nikola NZT are 3D-rendered mockups of the final bodywork, and the video above shows what appears to be an unfinished development mule, but the platform has us interested.

The NZT is currently available for no-cost pre-purchase reservations, and the company says it will “begin delivering the UTVs in the first quarter of 2019”. The final production vehicles will start at $28,900, and upgraded models can reach $45,900 before adding options or accessories. For more information, go to NikolaMotor.com.

Looking Back: Head-to-Head Duct Tape Testing

Posted on June 29, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

Ah, duct tape. It’s one of the most universal and helpful consumables in any toolbox, and we’d consider it part of the holy trinity of quick and dirty repairs alongside zip ties and superglue (or epoxy). Whether you’re lashing together gear, patching a leak, or even bracing a broken limb, there’s a seemingly-infinite list of uses for this super-sticky fiber-reinforced tape.

However, as anyone who has walked down that aisle at the hardware store can tell you, there’s an overabundance of duct tape styles and brands to choose from. This can make choosing a roll of tape confusing, and it might mean you’ll end up with tape that looks decent but underperforms in the real world. You might even be overspending for high-end tape that performs the same as a lesser-known brand.

In the two videos below, the YouTuber known as Project Farm set out to test a variety of duct tape brands to find out which ones can take the most abuse. We appreciate that he uses a consistent method to avoid skewing the results, even going as far as to press the tape onto a surface using a fixed weight and rollers. He also states, “I don’t have anything to sell, and I’m not sponsored by any manufacturer or company”, so it’s nice to know these tests are not thinly-veiled advertisements or paid promotional content.

The first video shows an assortment of duct tapes ranging from affordable to heavy-duty; the second video focuses exclusively on the higher-end varieties, and also includes rubberized Flex Tape, which differs in construction from normal fibrous tapes. Check out the videos below, and consider the results before your next trip to the hardware store. Keep in mind that there’s no single “best” duct tape for every use — as Project Farm concludes, some excel in one area but struggle in others. Your tape choice will always depend on the task at hand.

If it’s Raining, Bring on the Training

Posted on June 28, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by our sister publication RECOIL, and appears here in its entirety with permission. For more articles on guns, training, and gear, go to RECOILweb.com.

There’s an adage in the military “If it ain’t raining, we ain’t training.” This is more or less an attempt at jovial acceptance of the fact that training needs to occur no matter what the weather is doing. After leaving the Army a few years ago, one of my contentions was that I didn’t want to ever be cold and wet at the same time again. It’s miserable.

Today’s plan was to take a much-needed trip to the woods, practice some survival skills, do a bit of writing, and relax in the way that only being by myself in the forest can allow. I was looking forward to this almost as much as a kid longs to open their presents on Christmas morning. I woke up early feeling anxious to get away for a bit and stepped outside to drink my first cup of coffee. Then I saw it. Rain. My old nemesis. My heart sank as I looked at the weather for the rest of the day and realized that it wasn’t going to be the beautiful day I had imagined. A part of me thought about just going back to bed.

Most people choose to train in the best conditions possible more often than not because it’s comfortable. Whether that be going to the range, practicing survival skills, or working out; we as humans generally prefer comfort over misery. But it’s a disservice to take the easy road. It’s much easier to chalk up the day as a loss than to drag ourselves outside to go train. All too often we make excuses and end up losing out on an opportunity to get better. And isn’t getting better the whole point of training in the first place?

You will never get to choose the conditions that surround a life or death situation.

Read the previous line again and consider the implications. Choosing to go out and train in adverse weather increases the effectiveness of your training significantly. If I can get a fire going in the middle of a thunderstorm, then I feel even more confident that I can do the same task on a sunny day. If I can hit a target in 10-15 mph wind, then I’ll be able to hit it when the wind is calm. Finding ways to work around the elements increases both your skills and your confidence. The opposite is, of course, true as well. When we condition ourselves to be “fair weather” warriors, the slightest adversity may cause the wheels to fall off. Coupled with the stress of being in an emergency situation, this could very easily mean the difference between living and dying.

So what am I doing on this rainy day? Training. I’m in the woods practicing a skill that may keep me alive. Fire making. Ask yourself “when do you NEED a fire?” Do you need a fire on a warm sunny day? Maybe not unless you’re using it to cook or boil water to drink. You need a fire when you’re at risk of hypothermia though, and you need it quickly. And the conditions that cause hypothermia generally involve being cold and/or wet. If I can’t start a fire when it’s only raining, then I’ll probably fail when my hands and body are shaking uncontrollably. It doesn’t matter at that point if I’ve made a million fires in the past, the one that I’m making now is all that is important.

This mentality should be in all types of training. Adjust your mindset into accepting horrible weather as an opportunity rather than a nuisance. Be happy to see rain, snow, wind, etc. on training days because it affords the chance to practice skills in an environment that may be the same as when we depend on those skills to work.

Training when it’s tough makes you better than everyone else who chose to stay on the couch. Embrace it because you are now more prepared to take whatever life throws at you. While you may not thank me while you’re freezing and soaked, I guarantee you will if tough training brings you back home safe from a catastrophe.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justin Vititoe has over 20 years firearms and survival experience, 17 serving as an Infantryman in the United States Army, including 4 combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. More than half of his career has revolved around sniper skill sets, to include; three years instructing at the U.S. Army Sniper School and Long Range Marksman course and two combat tours as a sniper team and section leader. Justin is an expert in marksmanship, survival, surveillance, counter- surveillance, and almost any hand-held weapon. He has instructed military personnel and civilians all over the world in survival, marksmanship, camouflage, tracking, small unit tactics, planning, land navigation and numerous other skills. Justin was also a participant of season 2 of History’s ALONE series, where he survived by himself with minimal gear for 35 days.

Justin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alonejustinv/

Video: Ambulance Converted Into a DIY RV

Posted on June 27, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

If you love the outdoors, it’s easy to see the appeal of an adventure vehicle. These trucks and vans are designed to traverse long distances over potentially rough roads, carry a large assortment of gear, and also provide a home on wheels. If you’ve got deep pockets, you can always turn to a builder like Earthroamer or AEV for a seriously capable rig. But if you can’t afford to drop a few hundred thousand dollars, it’s possible to build your own DIY RV for substantially less money.

Ian Dow recently shared some videos of his custom adventure vehicle project, which is based on a decommissioned Ford E-350 ambulance. Starting with this platform instead of a regular panel van provided a number of advantages — a large living area, plentiful storage cabinets, preexisting wiring and switches, heavy-duty suspension and brakes, exterior lights, and even a functional P.A. system.

Ian heavily modified the ambulance to add a stowable queen bed, kitchen with sink and magnetic dish rack, hardwood dining table, exterior shower with propane water heater, and many other comforts of home. He also added a carrying platform for his Suzuki dirt bike, and an above-cab roof rack with spare wheels and tires for both the van and bike.

Check out the first video compilation below, then refer to the second video for a much more detailed tour of all the ambulance adventure vehicle has to offer. Ian has already been driving around Mexico and Central America with the van, surfing, fishing, and enjoying the sights.

Infographic: Social Media Privacy Settings

Posted on June 26, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

When you really boil it down, most decisions in life are all about risk versus reward. For example, riding a motorcycle places you at greater risk of serious injury in a crash, but it’s also a fun, maneuverable, and economical means of transportation. In the digital space, we often face similar dilemmas where we must weigh security and privacy against convenience and other benefits.

Social media utilities such as Facebook Safety Check can be helpful during localized emergency situations.

Social media sites offer many upsides — they’re a great way to stay in touch with family, share photos and videos with friends, buy and sell items, and meet others with shared interests in your area. But they also pose some concerns. Former burglars have said that sites such as Facebook and Twitter make it easier to acquire information about potential victims homes, valuables, and security systems. If your accounts’ privacy settings are lax, you may be inadvertently sharing your photos and personal info with the world.

The following infographic from Panda Security shows some potential privacy concerns on Facebook and Twitter, and gives several steps you can take to reduce your risks on each platform. Click here to download a full-size version of this graphic.

Video: 25 Wild Edible Plants, Fruits, Nuts, & Seeds

Posted on June 25, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Wild Edible Plant Basics
Related Posts

Harvesting wild edible plants can save the day when modern agricultural practices fail. As we mentioned in our recent article about Primitive Technology’s yam garden, crop cultivation is the most reliable and efficient means of collecting edible fruits and veggies in a survival situation. However, that doesn’t mean that you should disregard foraging — if you know where to look and the season is right, it’s possible to gather a huge selection of tasty and nutritious wild edibles. These can supplement your shelf-stable food stockpiles, garden produce, and hunted meat.

Wild Edible Plant Basics

There are a few key considerations when searching for wild edibles. First and foremost: is it actually edible? There are many toxic plants and convincing lookalikes that can make you dangerously ill, so positive identification is the name of the game. Always be extremely cautious when identifying wild edibles, and use the Universal Edibility Test if there’s any uncertainty.

AlfieAesthetics wild edibles food plant vegetable fruit root leaves survival foraging 2

Some items, such as these Rowan berries, must be cooked to break down naturally-occurring toxins.

Another factor is recalling which parts of a specific plant are edible, and how to process them. Many can be eaten whole and raw, while others need more preparation before you chow down.

A new video from British outdoorsman AlfieAesthetics analyzes 25 different edible plants, flowers, fruits, nuts, and seeds. These include common varieties such as primroses, thistles, fireweed, dandelions, nettles, daisies, and more. Some are native to the UK, but many can be found around the world. But beyond just telling you what’s edible, Alfie explains some of the ways to clean and prepare each plant — some are techniques you may not have thought of, such as roasting and grinding dandelion roots to make a coffee or tea substitute.

Check out the extremely helpful 35-minute video below:

For more survival and bushcraft videos from AlfieAesthetics, check out his YouTube channel.

Review: Fenix UC35 V2.0 1,000-Lumen Flashlight

Posted on June 24, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

In This Article

Fenix UC35 V2.0 Updates
Our Impressions of the UC35 V2.0
Conclusions

A trustworthy flashlight is one of the cornerstones of every EDC gear loadout. Whether you’re navigating through dark rooms in a power outage, illuminating a target with your weapon drawn, or simply trying to see what you’re doing during some handyman work around the house, the uses for a reliable light source are endless. And as we’ve said many times before, that tiny LED on your cell phone might be better than nothing, but it’s certainly not up to most critical low-light tasks.

We carry a flashlight every day, generally in our left-hand pocket opposite the folding knife on our right. We’ve gone through quite a few over the years, and identified some that are great and others that are downright awful. When Fenix recently announced the release of its new UC35 V2.0, we jumped at the chance to find out where it falls on this spectrum. Read on for our thoughts after using and carrying this light.

Fenix UC35 V2.0 Updates

As you might guess by the name, the UC35 V2.0 is an updated 2018 version of the older original UC35 (released in 2014). Although there are some similarities between these versions, the 2.0 is essentially a complete redesign from the ground-up, rather than an incremental revision. Fenix looked at the category this light occupies, and went back to the drawing board to improve it.

For reference, here’s a quick comparison between the original UC35 and the UC35 V2.0:

	UC35 (2014)	UC35 V2.0 (2018)
Max Output	960 lumens	1,000 lumens
Min Output	14 lumens	1 lumen
Max Runtime	150 hours	800 hours
Throw Distance	656 feet	873 feet
Battery Type	USB-rechargeable 3,200 mAh 18650	USB-rechargeable 3,500 mAh 18650
Controls	Tail cap switch, silicone rubber mode button	Tail cap switch, stainless steel mode button
Dimensions	5.9 inches long, 1 inch diameter	5.5 inches long, 1 inch diameter
MSRP	$120	$120

So essentially, the V2.0 light is smaller, brighter, has a longer maximum runtime, and longer beam throw. This is a result of the new CREE XP-L HI V3 LED that replaced the older CREE XM-L2, as well as a slightly increased battery capacity. Pricing has remained the same, with an MSRP of $120 and street price around $90.

The 40-lumen difference in maximum output between these two lights may not seem substantial, but the high/medium/low modes are more evenly-spaced and the minimum output is down to 1 lumen. This makes for improved versatility when you’re not using the light at full-blast.

Another noteworthy change to the UC35 V2.0 is the modification to its side mode selector button. We’ll talk more about the light’s control scheme later in this review, but the side button on this light is a copper-colored stainless steel rather than squishy silicone rubber. It also features a new charge indicator LED that displays the charge level each time the flashlight is turned on.

The flashlight’s anodized aluminum body appears similar to its predecessor, but now offers more aggressive knurling on the body and tail cap. This makes it easier to firmly grip the light.

Our Impressions of the UC35 V2.0

Unboxing the UC35 V2.0 revealed the light and a few accessories. Fenix includes an 18650 lithium-ion battery, which can be charged via a micro-USB port hidden behind a rubber cover on the light’s bezel. A belt holster and pocket lanyard are also included, though we don’t see ourselves using these items.

The light’s controls will be familiar to anyone who has used a Fenix flashlight in the past. The tail cap switch turns the light on and off in either constant-on or momentary mode, and has a firm springy click action. While the light is on, the stainless side button cycles through five modes 1,000-lumen Turbo, 350-lumen High, 150-lumen Medium, 50-lumen Low, and 1-lumen Moonlight. Pressing and holding the mode selector for one second activates a full-power strobe mode.

Having used previous Fenix lights with the older silicone rubber side button, we can say that the metal button is a substantial improvement. Activation is a positive click rather than a spongy push.

This two-button control scheme is more complex than single-switch designs by competitors, but it also makes it easy to change modes in situations where you might not have the dexterity to repeatedly tap a tail cap switch. When holding the light in a one-handed overhand grip with a thumb on the tail cap, the pinky finger can be used to press the mode selector. The light will maintain the last-selected mode between uses.

The beam pattern consists of a dense central spotlight that’s rated for a maximum effective distance of more than 850 feet, surrounded by a wide gradient halo of light. We found it to be reasonably versatile, but it definitely favors medium-range to long-range use. This is a light we’d grab for night hikes or other outdoor activities, but we’d prefer something more diffuse for close-range room clearing or map reading. Light color appears neutral verging on cool white — no complaints there.

Like most rechargeable flashlights, the UC35 V2.0 has a charge indicator LED inside the mode button that displays red when it’s charging and green when it’s full. Normal charge time for an empty battery is about 3.5 hours. However, Fenix also programmed this LED as a “boot-up battery level indicator” so each time you turn on the light, you’ll know how much charge remains. The indications are as follows:

Solid green – fully charged
Flashing green – sufficiently charged
Solid red – poor charge level (light output begins to gradually step down)
Flashing red – critical charge level (light restricted to Moonlight mode)

It’s worth mentioning that this light can use a pair of CR123A batteries instead of the 18650, but these batteries can’t be recharged and will not display battery life remaining.

The aluminum body feels hefty and solid, and is long enough to use as an impact weapon if the situation calls for it. The body has plenty of texture for grip, but the lens sits pretty close to the edge of the bezel, so we’d be a little concerned about cracking it with a direct impact. However, the light is rated as impact-resistant for drops up to 1 meter and IPX-8 waterproof to 2-meter immersion.

The pocket clip is removable but is attached firmly enough that it won’t pop off accidentally. Flat spots machined into the body make it easier to draw the light without shredding your pocket hem on the knurled surface.

Conclusions

There’s no question that the V2.0 is an improvement on its 2014 predecessor, considering its numerous upgrades and smaller size. With a street price under $100 and a rechargeable battery that’ll save you money on replacements, its value also stacks up well against competitive brands. We’re still not in love with the two-button control scheme, but this comes down to personal preference — it’s still easy to use one-handed and functions reliably.

Overall, the Fenix UC35 V2.0 is a strong performer, and one that has made it into our preferred EDC flashlight rotation. For more info, go to Fenixlight.com.

Pros:

Tight spotlight beam pattern offers long throw and a halo of soft light for peripheral vision outdoors
Battery indicator and rechargeability reduce anxiety about running out of light
Tail cap switch pressure feels just right, and is easy to activate in momentary mode
Textured aluminum body is impact-resistant, waterproof, and feels good in the hand

Cons:

Sits rather high in the pocket with 1.5″ of tail cap protruding — a deep-carry clip would make it more discreet and comfortable to carry
A crenellated striking bezel would’ve been a welcome addition
Users who value simplicity may find the two-button controls less appealing than a single-button setup

Primitive Technology: Cultivating and Cooking Yams

Posted on June 23, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

One of the biggest turning points in human history was when our ancient ancestors transitioned from hunter-gatherers to sedentary farmers. This enabled them to generate a more-reliable food source, stockpile their crops to avoid starvation, and build permanent villages that would eventually become towns and cities. So, if you someday find yourself in a situation where obtaining food isn’t as simple as making a trip to the grocery store, it’s best to avoid reverting all the way back to hunting and gathering. You’ll want to know how to grow your own food.

It may not look like much, but this half-eaten old yam can be the start of a garden.

Gardening is obviously made easier by modern irrigation systems, fertilizer, and disease-resistant selectively-bred crops — but those aren’t necessary. In a pinch, you can go back to basics, and simply plant something that can already be found wild in your surrounding environment. This is much simpler and more efficient than foraging every time you’re hungry.

In his latest video, the host of Primitive Technology shows how he planted, cultivated, and cooked some yams he found in the surrounding Australian jungle. Pesky wildlife such as wild pigs and turkeys are a problem in his area, so he builds a woven fence from vines to protect his crop. Soil, dead leaves, and water are added, and vertical poles give the green tendrils the means to reach the sunlight.

The yam harvest was carefully dug from the ground using a stick, then buried under hot coals to roast. In the video description, he says, “The yam was eaten while steaming hot and tasted similar to a potato but with a crunchier texture near the outside much like bread crust… They are versatile in that they can be cooked into chips, roasted, boiled, mashed and made into a type of dough called “fufu” typically eaten with stews.” Check out the video below:

Spyderco Drunken Folding Knife

Posted on June 22, 2018 at 6:00 am.

Written by Patrick McCarthy

We recently had a chance to stop by the Spyderco booth at Blade Show and check out some of the company’s newest knives. There were quite a few appealing designs, but the one that caught our eye immediately is a new high-end folder called the Spyderco Drunken.

The new Drunken was designed by none other than Dmitry Sinkevich, the same Belarusian bladesmith who created the sleek ZT 0462 we recently reviewed. This is his very first project with Spyderco, and the resulting knife is quite impressive.

Spyderco says it “showcases [Sinkevich’s] ability to combine artistic design and unparalleled craftsmanship with practical function” — that may sound like marketing fluff, but we can say it looks and feels like a blade that could be effective for everyday use rather than a fancy display piece. We can’t say the same for a lot of other high-end folders we saw at Blade Show (we’re looking at you, WE Knife Eschaton).

The Drunken features a full-flat ground 3.5-inch blade made of premium CPM S90V steel. It features the company’s trademark Round Hole for easy opening, and a titanium frame with Reeve Integral Lock (the original frame lock mechanism) and stainless steel interface insert (to prevent galling). The opposite side of the handle features a contoured carbon fiber scale. Both sides of the handle feature a subtle wavy “drunken” machined pattern that improves grip. A matching dark blue anodized finish has been applied to the pivot assembly, backspacer, and pocket clip.

Now for the elephant in the room — this knife is for buyers with seriously deep pockets, and we aren’t referring to its physical size. MSRP for the Spyderco Drunken is $630, although third-party retailers are offering pre-orders closer to the $400 mark. Fortunately for those of us who can’t spend that kind of cash, Spyderco has also released quite a few more affordable new models this year — refer to the 2018 Spyderco Mid-Year Product Guide to see all the latest models.

The Drunken is not yet available, although various retailers are taking pre-orders prior to the release later this year. For more information, go to Spyderco.com.

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