I try not to put money in someone else’s pocket when I can do the work myself though.  This is an easy DIY project that gives you multiple rod holders and an convenient storage tote for all your fishing gear.  Best of all it only costs you a few bucks or a few hours scrounging for materials.

Low cost or scroungeable materials needed:

1. An old milk crate – There is one of these in everyone’s basement.  I think they come with the house.  If you don’t have a basement, your local grocer is your best source.  I bought an extra crate from the grocery for $2.00.
2. 2 inch diameter PVC pipe – I had some of this laying around too, but a 6 foot section of this was $3.00 at the hardware store.
3. Zip ties – Get a big package of these.  The more zip ties the more stable your box will be.

Just cut your PVC pipe into lengths that fit flush with the top edge of your milk crate.  Next zip tie as many of the pieces of pipe to the inside corners and sides of your milk crate as you like.  The 2 inch diameter will accommodate your fishing rods, net handle, or even an umbrella for a little shade.

On the next version of my fishing box I’m going to have two of the pipe pieces placed at an angle so my rods aren’t pointed straight up.  Fishing under a low hanging branch and hearing your rod tips crunch and crackle is about as fun as leaving your antenna up in the car wash.

The ProLite is so thin and compact when it’s still in the shipping bag I didn’t even take it out.  It went right from the FedEx package into my pack.  This is when I first learned the importance of always checking your gear before a trip.

The ProLite slept like a dream for about three hours that night; right up until I woke up sleeping on the ground.  I had to blow it up three times before the night was through.  A slow leak in my brand new, sate of the art Therm-a-Rest cost me any refreshing sleep that weekend.

Patching a sleeping pad is a skill every owner will need at some point, so I guess it’s just as well I had to learn right from the start.

The first step is too identify the spot of the leak.  The bath tub test works best for this.  Just inflate your pad and put it in a tub full of water.  Therm-a-Rests can be folded in half and completely submerged.  This makes spotting the leak quick and easy.

My Big Agnes Air Core is a little more unwieldy.  I have to use more of a dunk and rotate method to get every part of that big girl under the water.

In either case a tell tale stream of bubbles will let you pinpoint your leak.

Now to patch that leak.  This is where a trusty tube of SeamGrip comes in.  This stuff is pure magic.  In terms of multi-tasking, SeamGrip is just below duct tape and zip ties.

I’ve used it to fix the sole of a blown out boot, repair the buckle on my backpack, and even plug the leak in aluminum boat.  Its also the best thing for patching sleeping pads.  There is always a tube of this stuff in my pack.

Just put a few drops on the leak and give it a good 8-10 hours to dry.  After a miserable night on a leaky pad a few drops of SeamGrip can save the rest of your trip.

Dryer lint is my tinder of choice.  It just takes a little to do the job, it catches a spark easily, and you can cram a mound of it into an old film canister.  Best of all, there’s a never ending supply of it coming out of the laundry room.

The missing piece was a trusty ignition source.  I try to approach my gear selection from a survival and emergency state of mind.  What’s going to be weather proof, not run out on the trail, and work quickly when time is a factor?  The Swedish Firesteel meets all of those requirements.

There really isn’t a learning curve, just spend a few minutes running the striker over the Firesteel and you’ll get the picture.  You can use any metal object as a striker too.  I find my knife produces a larger and slower burning spark than the included striker.

I first saw the Swedish Firesteel in use on a Ray Mears video.  Ray always gets his tinder lit on the first strike…as much as I may pretend I am no Ray Mears.

I got a pair of these crazy Vibram Fivefingers last week.  They are supposed to give you the comfort and freedom of walking in bare feet with the protection of a running shoe.

The Vibram web site shows people running, mountain climbing, and even swimming in them.  They coin the phrase “barefooting” and call it a sport. Take a look at this bit of PR goodness:

No matter which FiveFingers model you choose, you’ll experience a level of performance and a sense of connectedness no other footwear can match. Vibram FiveFingers footwear acts like a second skin to offer a gecko-like grip over a variety of terrain. It protects bare feet from rocks, gravel, and sharp objects. And it promotes a natural walking motion, reducing impact on your knees, hips, and lower back.

I haven’t climbed any mountains yet, but they sure did freak out the people at the convenience store.

They’re supposed to have some special anti-microbial stuff in the sole so they won’t get all funky like my old pair of Teva sandles.  My dog won’t even go near my Tevas.

Here’s a YouTube video of some guy giving his Fivefingers a bit more of a workout than I have:

Ray really got me into the idea of survival and self-reliance.  Back then I envisioned myself trekking all over the woods of the world, surviving off the grid and off the land the way Ray does.  It didn’t work out like that.

Lately I’ve been thinking alot more about Ray’s methods and I’m dying to try more of them out on the trail.  I plan on showing more Ray Mears clips in the future too.

Deprived of a local kayak shop, my purchase was made without the benefit of putting my hands on the boat.

I depended on the Internet for all the reviews and specs that helped me make my decision.  What really annoyed me was that I could never find more than a few pictures here and there.

Well, here are some up close and personal pictures of the Native Manta Ray 12 fishing Kayak in excruciating detail.  We’ll talk more about this great boat soon.

You can get larger versions of these pictures in this photo gallery .

This popular tent from REI just kicks butt.  It’s a reliable low cost alternative for camping and backpacking.  I’ve had mine for 3 months and have taken it on 7 overnights.

Full tent deployment takes about 4 minutes.  The shock-corded aluminum poles almost assemble themselves.  There’s plenty of room for me and the dog once it’s up.

REI has also added some great additional storage space with corner mesh pockets and even a gear loft.

There are two doors, both with an ample vestibule.  I had no problem getting all my gear safely stowed and out of the weather during a nice afternoon rain shower.

This workhorse has alot of the same features you’ll find in tents by MontBell, Marmot, and Big Agnes for half the price.

The color scheme is the only thing I have issue with.  I know bright colors are used on tents for rescue and safety reasons, but it’s a little too yellow.

The newness has worn off my REI Half Dome, but it is holding up like a champ.  Because the Half Dome is inexpensive ($137.00 after a promo code) I’m not as sheepish about abusing it on the trail.

If I had a $500.00 dollar tent I’d only feel comfortable setting it up in the living room.

I do try to shake it out and hang it after every use.  No funky smells yet.

This little folding army can opener is a P-38.  It was designed for the army back in the 1940′s, and has become a prized piece of camping and survival gear for many.

It folds flat and can be hooked on a key chain or lanyard.  This thing feels indestructible, and it beats the heck out of my $4.00 Wal-Mart can opener.

So far I have used it to slice through the box on a new router, eviscerate the blister pack for a headlamp, and chew through the can of chick peas above.

I’m sure I’ll find lots more uses for this well designed little tool.  It just replaced my ex-girlfriend’s house key on my key change.  You see…the P-38 even helps you let go of the past.

If you want to find out much more about the P-38 I recommend you check out Georgia Outfitters.