FoodSaver GameSaver Deluxe
by Becca Moffat
Many of our friends have big, commercial sized vacuum sealers at home. Although they seemed handy, I was always reluctant to purchase one based on size and cost. Sure, I could see how it would be handy to vacuum seal our own meat and fish at home, but at around $1000 and the size of a small chest freezer, it seemed like an awfully big commitment. I had heard about the tabletop sealers from companies like FoodSaver and Seal-A-Meal, but wasn't sure how much I would actually use one. Luke purchased our FoodSaver GameSaver Deluxe as a gift for me at Christmas two years ago, and I don't know how I ever survived without it! The ability to vacuum seal in both bags, jars, or canisters has truly revolutionized the way I buy, cook and store food products. Since I began using our FoodSaver I have yet to throw away a single thing due to freezer burn, and some of our leftovers I have defrosted and eaten up to 6 months after packaging!
Cooking Systems
By Les Welch
Choosing a cooking system for the backcountry; boils down to 3 things for me.
1) Reliability, it needs to be tough. It needs to light and run even though it gets banged around for weeks on end every fall, and endures rain, wind, snow, and 13,000 feet.
2) Weight- This is easy. When packing for a backpack hunt I am counting fractions of an ounce. The lighter the better as long as it remains reliable.
3) Efficiency, of the 3 although important, this is what I worry about last. Once I have decided it is reliable and light enough I look at the fuel burn rate, and boil times.
We are going to take a look at the Jetboil PCS, Modified Jetboil with Soto stove adapted, and the Esbit stove.
Havalon Knives
By Aron Snyder
Anytime you start looking at lightweight gear you can pretty much count on dropping $100 for every ounce saved, but with a Havalon knife, you will be saving several ounces for under $40.
JETBOIL SOL
By Aron Snyder
When the original Jetboil was first introduced into the backpacking world it was a huge success, brining to the table an all in one system for cooking in the backcountry. Seeing all the rave reviews online and in magazines, of course I had to try it for myself.