Quick Takes: Leatherman Kick

Recently I was contacted by Appalachian Outdoors to conduct a product review. Appalachian Outdoors allowed me to pick any item out of their extensive catalog (up to a certain dollar amount). I actually chose two, but you'll find more out about the other one later. Lately I had been in the market for a new multi-tool. This is one of those thing that unfolds into a set of pliers with bunch of tools in the handles. I am currently carrying a Bucklite 355 Multi-Tool everyday so it sees its fair share of abuse, but they have since discontinued this tool in the past ten years I've had it. This is what lead me on my adventure to find a new one. So when Appalachian Outdoors gave me the opportunity to review a product I knew exactly what I was looking for. It only took a little while to decide on which model to choose from, I tried to stay in the same price range as I did with my Bucklite to give it the most comparable review.  I hoped that after I ordered the Multi-Tool  I'd be able to receive the product at least a few days before writing a "Quick Takes" on it. To my surprise though, Appalachian Outdoors shipping was amazingly fast! I order this product on a Sunday evening and it was in my hands by Wednesday morning. After tooling around with my new Leatherman Kick for a week or so, I have figured a few things out, but you'll have to wait for another week or so get the full review.

Quick Takes

• Why Leatherman/Warranty: This is a simple one. When you think multi-tools or you talk to someone about them, what do they refer to them as, "a Leatherman." This is often a source of confusion as some people consider multi-tool a Leatherman, but that is far from the truth. Leatherman has built a reputation since 1983 that says about there produce and dependability. Even if you don't believe in it, they do with their 25 year warranty. This is one of the main reasons I wanted one. I am hard on things, not because I'm abusive towards them, but I carry it on my belt everyday and it gets used everyday the same. 

• Tool Variety: This is something that can be changed with purchasing different tools, but as I said before I am looking to stay in the same price range as my previous one. As for the tool variety of the Kick, Leatherman states that it has 12 tools. This includes a 420HC Clip Point Knife, Needlenose Pliers, Regular Pliers, Wire Cutters, Hard-wire Cutters, Wire Stripper, Small Screwdriver, Large Screwdriver, Phillips Screwdriver, Bottle Opener, Can Opener, 8 in | 19 cm Ruler. Although this seems a little on the light side, it still covers the basics. 

• Sheath: This is something you have a choice of as well, but the only opinion I had available was a leather one. This wouldn't have been my first choice as my Bucklite had a nylon sheath that's done great and held up well. If this sheath were real leather I think I would be a bit more receptive to its longevity, but this seems like cheap fake leather. I look for this to be one of the major down falls of the tool, as I see the sheath breaking in a year or so.

• Overall Construction: The Kick seems to feel a little more flimsy to me than other tools, even other Leathermans, I have used in the past. I am not sure if it is the plastic "comfort" inlays in the handles or if it was constructed with a lighter metal, but it just doesn't have that same feel I expected. 

Overall though I am excited to be able to test this product and would like to thank Appalachian Outdoors for providing me with this opportunity.

It's here... Quick Takes: Moultrie M-80

Image Credit: Moultrie

Just as promised, when I got home from work yesterday my new trail camera, a Moultrie M-80 was waiting in my mailbox for me. I must admit that this is a welcomed change from the big box stores, normally your order takes a day or two to process, this wasn't the case with  Custom 1 Enterprises **. After placing my order early Monday morning, I had hoped to revieve my camera by Friday so I could put it up this weekend, I was shocked when I recieved an e-mail from Chuck at Custom 1 Enterprises ** stating that he had received my order and it will be shipped out that same day and more importantly that I should have it in two to three days! I know where I'm going next time if I need a trail camera ASAP, not to mention their accessories, custom mounts, and security boxes.

Quick Takes

M-80 vs Dollar Bill

• Size: The fist thing I noticed about this camera is the size of it. It's small! Yes, that is one reason why I wanted it, but still getting it on my hands for the first time was a little awkward (in a good way) in comparison to the more traditional size of trail cameras.

• Construction / Casing: The construction and durability of camera seems to be par with most of what Moultrie is producing at the current time. One thing I am happy to see is that the housing/case and camera and one piece (compared to my older camera where the camera latched into the case), I know I had my issues before with the case. I think that having a camera that is connected to the case, allows the camera to have more protection from the elements. Where as in the example of my older Moultrie CDC 5.0, if the seal on the case wears out or becomes damaged the case can fill with water or snow and damage the camera, that would prove more difficult to happen with the M-80.

• Mount: This was the only area I am unsure of at this point. I have used a Moultrie I-65 before with this type, it is a nylon strap with a hard plastic clasp. I know it holds it to the tree fine, but I am worried about the longevity of this clasp and strap as well as the how it will fair in the snow and cold of winter.

• Overall: I am very happy and excited to get this camera out and in action. Only time will tell how it holds up, but as you all know if there's anyone out there that can test how well this trail camera will work, it's me. In a matter of days Moultrie's M-80 will be tested against Foggy Mountain. Look for a full review in the months to follow.

** I am not associated or sponsored by  Custom 1 Enterprises, I am merely trying to inform any of my readers of a good deal and what looks to be a good company with work with thus far.

Gear Review: Montana Fly Company

I am conducting this review much later than I had intended to be, but the first time I got out on the water this year was a little over a week ago and that was with a spin reel mainly. I did manage to get to play around everything enough though to get a review done on everything.

Back in mid January, the OBN announced the winners of a Gear Review Opportunity for Montana Fly Company. I entered this gear review in hopes of building up some of my fly tying materials and tools since it was barely a year at the time since I purchased my first fly rod and reel, as well as my first vise and fly tying materials. To my surprise I received the opportunity to review some great products, and you better believe I was ecstatic. First thing I did upon receiving my package in mid-February was to rip it open like a little kid on Christmas morning any good fly fisherman, to inspected the goodies I had received.

Mountain Fly Company loaded me up with some great products to test out. I received three new spools of MFC Thread (White, Chartreuse, and Dark Gray), River Camo Ceramic Bobbin, River Camo 4" Forceps/Scissor, River Camo Hair Stacker, and a River Camo Aluminum Fly Box. Once I have everything opened up and laid out for this first inspection, the first thing I noticed was the sturdiness of their craftsmanship. This is something that is very important to me, if I am going to get something, I want something that is going to be able stand up to a little wear and tear, and I will admit I am not the most gentle person at times. After saying that, I want a product that is built to last.

  A general look over of everything: the Scissor forceps seemed to be extremely strong and looked to have many uses, the ceramic bobbin looked to be a  upgrade from the kit bobbin I had been using, and the fly box seemed to be solid with a tight closing lid. That was my only initial concern about any of this products was the fact that the fly box didn't have a tab or latch to close, but you can chalk that one up to personal preference.

After my initial excitement and fiddling around with everything it was time to start testing everything. Considering I was still looking out at about a foot of snow at the time, I knew I wasn't going to be fishing much in the next few weeks so I settled in for a little fly tying. As I still consider myself a novice fly tier, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into with this review, but much like everything else I dove in head first.

The first thing I tried was the new thread and River Camo Ceramic Bobbin. I wasn't sure how much of an upgrade this could be, I was sadly mistake. As soon as loaded the bobbin with thread and made the first wrap or two around that hook, I could tell this was a huge upgrade. It actually felt like a different kind of tool, as the thread easy fed through the bobbin with limited resistance and allowed me to spend more time concentrating on what the fly I was trying in comparison to making sure the thread wasn't going to get stuck or hung up in the bobbin. I not only recommend that anyone getting into fly tying upgrades to a ceramic bobbin immediately, but I am looking to pick up a few more of them myself.

Then not until last weekend was I am to make it out an trying out some of new new fly fishing gear, I thought that if the bobbin, thread and hair stacker were make with such quality that I wouldn't have anything to worry about with the River Camo Aluminum Fly Box and River Camo 4" Forceps/Scissor. The main thing I was worried about was the fly box, I loved the feel and seeming durability of the box, but as I had stated before I was just worried about it not having an external latch to keep it from opening. But after having it in my pocket, pack, and even had it "accidently" fall out to see if it would open, and it didn't have a problem once. The internal latching systems seems to work well enough I won't have to worry about it again, this was my only worry about this box. Other than that it has a beautiful brown trout covering over a rugged aluminum box.

The River Camo 4" Forceps/Scissor were actually what impressed me the most during this review, as they has the most used for various aspects of fishing. They obviously work well in removing hooks, but they incorporated scissor is was I found most useful. Instead of having to having to dig for clippers I was able to trim my tippet/line with the forceps that are easily attached to the outside of my pack. They even did well in purring a small branch while trying to retrieve my fly from an ill advise cast. Now a pause for some laughter, as I even had to laugh at myself for this one. This pair of forceps are far and above my new go to forceps in replacing my old medical grade forceps, as they provided me with many more uses.

I would highly recommend all these products to any fly fisherman from novice to expert. They have met and greatly exceeded the expectation that I had set forth for them.

Disclaimer:
All reviews conducted on Foggy Mountain Meanderings are my honest thoughts, feelings and opinions on said product(s), I received the MFC Thread (White, Chartreuse, and Dark Gray), River Camo Ceramic Bobbin, River Camo 4" Forceps/Scissor, River Camo Hair Stacker and a River Camo Aluminum Fly Box free of charge, thanks to the product review giveaway from the OBN and Montana Fly Company, and agreed to provide a review in exchange for these products. Foggy Mountain Meanderings is not sponsored by or associated with Montana Fly Company and is accepting no other compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. 

What a way to start the week!!

Normally starting the work week is sluggish and mundane, nothing really changed that one until I checked out the OBN on my lunch break. Monday is normally the day they do the featured bloggers of the week and announce the winners of the product reviews from the week previous. This past weeks was from Montana Fly Company (MFC), now fly fishing and fly tying is still something I am a novice at and actually made a goal this year to improve these skills, so I thought I had a slim chance to review one of the three package, but if I did it would only aid me in my learning. So come to my surprise I actually won, that's right I get to review some of the great products from MFC. As ecstatic as I was that I got chosen, I had to call and tell Jay about this, because he has been messing around with fly fishing longer than I have and was actually one of the reasons I got involved in it in the past year or so. It looks like now we're going to have what we refer to as a fly tying party. Really it's just us sitting around having a few ice cold refreshments and tying flies on a random night, talking about what and when we're going to go fishing next. Now you're going to get two people to review this, we're still not sure what we're going to be tying up yet, guess that also  get determined on what kind of thread we're sent. I know the basics and Jay knows a few more advanced ones than I do, so who knows where we'll end up, but I do know Rebecca over at OBN has put in an order, so I'll be sure to get on that one first. Anyone else need anything? Haha. I would like to say thanks again to the Outdoor Blogger Network and Montana Fly Company for this opportunity, and keep your eyes peeled for my review here in the near future!!

Right there I am under Package two.