Backpack Review - Gama 8.0 Internal Frame Pack

So I finally decided to retire my 25 year old Army issue ALICE pack and get myself a new bag for 1-to-3 day hikes. I was skeptical about buying a budget-pack from Wal-Mart, but so far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with its performance. The Outdoor Products Gama 8.0 Internal Frame Pack is designed to provide a great pack for hiking or shorter backpacking trips. It has all of the modern conveniences that a good pack should have. For anyone who wants to use this pack as a street bag, you may not be happy with it. It has an over-sized waist belt and comes in 2 ugly colors… olive green (shown) and orange. I chose the olive green because I’m not thrilled about standing out on the trail… however I do live in Texas and the orange one might be better for protecting me from drunk, gun-toting rednecks (That was a joke so lighten up people). I took this 39.1L pack for a 2-day tryout and I must say that it met the test. I've not tried it on a longer trip or in overly rugged terrain, but for a low-budget pack I still feel pretty good about it.


For my overall assessment of this pack, READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

This bag features a suspended mesh back panel for maximum airflow and deluxe back padding with molded texture for added comfort.

After 2 days of lugging it around carrying about 25 pounds worth of food and gear, I must say that it is quite comfortable. While it does sit closer to the back versus other packs like the Osprey, it still has good airflow... This Gama Pack is equipped with a lightweight aluminum internal stay to stabilize large loads and a padded, ergonomically designed waist belt that comfortably supports heavy loads...

It also features articulated yoke-style shoulder straps with sliding sternum adjusters to get the chest strap in the position that's best for you.

The shoulder straps come with top and bottom adjustment straps for your comfort and convenience. The ends of all adjustment and compression straps are doubled back on themselves which is helpful when wearing heavy gloves or mittens.
The shoulder straps also feature webbing to attach M.O.L.L.E type gear or to run your hydration hose through as seen in the photo...

The very roomy Internal Frame Pack has a large capacity main compartment with a sleeve for a 2 liter hydration bladder (not included). At the top, there is a small Velcro strap that attaches to the bladder to help hold it high and keep it from sinking into the sleeve.
On my trip, there was plenty of room in this compartment for a tent, extra clothing, food, heavy jacket, and a few other odds and ends...

The Pack has a front stash-pouch that stores quick-access gear...

On the outside of the stash-pouch is yet another pouch for carrying your shovel, rain gear, or whatever...

The top flap has yet another zippered pocket perfect for stuffing your rain-fly (not included)...

This pack has double side pockets. The inner pocket is great for storing you water bottles and the gusset pocket can hold your sun screen, snacks, or whatever you choose...

In addition to compression straps, the bottom has D-rings that are handy for attaching a sleeping bag or other bulky items...










Pros:
Suspended mesh back panel
Compression straps galore
Roomy
Budget friendly
Sturdy build and stitching

Cons:
No pockets on waist belt
Zippers could be higher quality
No rain-fly included

Overall Assessment:
This is an excellent pack for day hikes and shorter camping trips. It is very comfortable, breathable, and has lots of pockets. I would definitely recommend this pack for day-hikers and weekend warriors.

Manufacturers Specifications:

Outdoor Products Gama Internal Frame Pack:

• Lightweight aluminum internal stay to stabilize large loads
• Suspended mesh back panel for maximum airflow
• Deluxe back padding with molded texture for added comfort
• Extra padded, ergonomically designed waist belt comfortably supports heavy loads
• Articulated yoke- style shoulder straps with sliding sternum adjusters
• Backpacker organizer located in front pocket
• Left and right accessory pockets with zipper closure
• Fits most 2L reservoirs (hydration reservoir not included)
• Vertical and bottom compression straps
• Large capacity main compartment with zipper closure

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Good Knives Save Lives...

Copyright 2012 - Human Spirit of Adventure

I love a good knife. In a survival situation, a good knife will save your life.

They are such handy tools to have around in everyday life, not to mention during the course of an adventure. In survival situations, they will help you with building shelter, finding food, first aid, defense, and a myriad of other things that pop up.

When I was in the Army, I once had a Platoon Sergeant who made the comment "Good knives save lives" and I have found that to be true on more than one occasion. In fact, the very first time I used my Gerber Mark I was to cut a suspension line away from my parachute that had wrapped over the canopy and was causing a "Mae West". Once the line was cut, the canopy inflated fully and I safely landed without injury.


I have a vast collection of blades... literally hundreds of them. But in survival situations, there are really four of them I depend on most.

The first is my Gerber Mark I (Pictured left above). This knife has been with me for over 22 years. I first acquired it when I was in the Army. A gift from a girlfriend. As mentioned earlier, this knife saved my life several times and I will never leave home without it. Gerber makes one of, if not the finest blades available.

The second is my Victorinox Swiss Army knife (Pictured above at bottom). Not enough can be said about the Swiss Army knife. It is likely the most versatile knife ever made. This blade has been used by campers, hikers, outdoors-men  and military units all over the world. It is the forerunner to most popular multi-tools on the market today.

The third is a no-name brand, Chinese-made blade that I bought for $5 at a flea market (pictured center above). I never expected the knife to hold up under any condition, nor hold an edge for very long. Amazingly, it has surpassed every expectation. I have cut rope, vines, paracord, meat, and a list of other things with it and the blade has never dulled, corroded, or rusted. I have used it as a screwdriver and a pry bar with no damage. Who knew that it would hold up so well? I don't think I would want it as my only option in a survival situation, but given that it has proven itself  it is a better option than many other brand-name knives that I own.

The fourth is a knife I carry every day for use at work. It is a Ka-bar folding knife (pictured right above). very sharp, hold a good edge, and is versatile.

When it comes to survival knives, my suggestion is to do your research, find the knife that fits your needs, and experiment with it at home before taking it on the trail. You don't want it to let you down when you need it most.

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Extreme Adventure Vehicles Pt. 1

Photo Courtesy of Sportsmobile.com

One item that every adventurer dreams of owning is the ultimate adventure vehicle. The very thought of being able to access the inaccessible is one of the driving forces in an adventure.

Have you ever wished that you could have the conveniences of an RV, but knew there was no way your Winnebago was going to make it through that rough outback trail? Have you ever spent hours thinking of how to build the perfect vehicle for your adventure needs? Have you ever wished there was a vehicle on the market that would satisfy your taste for adventure? Well, there is.

This is the first of a series dedicated to Extreme Adventure Vehicles. These are not your average 4X4... no, this is a salute to the truly EXTREME!

One such vehicle (if you have an extra $80,000) is a custom Sportsmobile. These things are great. They are a 4X4 van with many options for customization. They can be as comfortable as they are rugged and will definitely get you where it is that you want to go. It's all up to you!

These vehicles passed the test in MOAB and Baja... they just might work for you.


Check out their website and all of the custom options HERE

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GoPro HERO 3: The Ultimate Adventure Camera...

Photo courtesy of GoPro.com

When looking for the ultimate adventure camera, you can't beat the new GoPro Hero 3.

I'm not just saying that either... I'm not endorsed or sponsored in any way by GoPro, but I know what those cameras can do, and the new HERO 3 can do even more!
I mean this thing is totally cool... It can shoot 1080 HD video at 60fps or 720 at 120fps. It can shoot 12MP photos with a 30fps boost.

No matter what sport you are in to... surfing, kayaking, snowboarding, skateboarding, rock climbing... this thing is a must-have for documenting your adventure. You can mount it on your board, to your head, chest, wrist, or just about anywhere.

See all of the Specs HERE

Check out this video shot 100% with the HERO 3...

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