A Better Trip!

Things I personally own and use. I’m going to include my personal commentary as well. It’s my hope that my readers might find something useful here.

Click the pictures to check the price.

GoPro HD Motorsports Hero -I absolutely love this thing! I’m trying to figure out if I can even replace bringing my larger canon camcorder set up and just bring this on my next trip to save space and weight. For motorsports, active sports, and just moving around in wet or unforgiving environments, this camera can’t be beat. Check out my motorcycle video here or here to see how smoothly it handles movement. Make sure you get the HD it’s the way to go.

GOPRO HD Motorsports HERO

Condor Machete – If you read my review you’ll know I’m really impressed with the quality of my Condor Kukri Machete. I’ve used it in the garden a few times and it’s a really nice workhorse of a chopper. Right now if I could only take one blade on a very rugged trip, this would be my one blade. It can cut like a knife and still chop wood just fine.

Merrell shoes – Love them. They work great. For hiking I wear the Moab ventilators in mid height.

Hiking socks – Love them to death. I like the smartwool socks as well as the REI real wool socks.

5.11 pants – Love them. Wear them pretty much anytime I don’t have to dress better. I also wear the cheaper LA Police Gear house brand.
Although I have no relationship with LA Police Gear, I spend quite a bit of money there and find their gear pretty good.

Leatherman Charge TTi – Really handy. I haven’t had to use it “in the bush” yet, but it’s handy around the house so I keep it on my pretty much every day (again, unless I have to dress up).
http://bit.ly/qmlWlQ

Condor Rodan – I’m really waiting for an opportunity to use this tool, but it’s rare I run into a situation where I need to baton wood or make a fire or whatever. I’m just too close to civilization. I’ll probably use it more when I go camping. Still, it’s easy to carry, the sheath (included) is good enough, and I’d trust my life with it. Just remember it’s a tool knife, not a fighting knife and you won’t be disappointed. Update: It’s great for preparing crab too! Check out the video here.

REI vented shirt – Awesome. I wear these on my trips to SE Asia and China and everywhere else. Any time it might get hot, I wear it. Good pockets, too.
I have no relationship with REI, so just head over to their website and check them out.

5.11 Rush 24 – It’s very rugged and although it’s not a light pack by any means, it looks like it’ll take a real beating and come out of it only looking more rugged and better than it started. If Clint Eastwood were a backpack, this would be it The yoke system they use for the straps is among the best I’ve ever tried (my experience being mostly with regular backpacks, and I’ve never tried a real hiking frame backpack). The way the yoke supports the weight my neck and shoulders feel great and with the semi-rigid backing in the pack, my back didn’t get too sweaty either. I’m going to give this a solid thumbs up.

Condor pouch – It’s a pretty cheap accessory, but I put my basic meds (allergy, tylenol) and first aid supplies in there, as well as a pad of paper and a pen, a backup folding tool knife, firesteel, etc.. in there. It just sits around like that ready to go and I was testing weight so I strapped it on my pack and took it along. It has built in straps that work well with molle, so it’s easy to go on and off the pack.

Barmah hat – It’s pretty awesome. If you don’t mind looking like something between a cowboy and like you’re going to be waltzing with matilda, and I don’t mind, it’s really a great way to go. It’s leather topped and brimmed with a nylon(?) mesh for the sides. This makes it breathe very well in hot weather and also allows it to be crushed to go in your luggage. I’ve taken this hat all over the world and when the sun it hot, it’s a potential life saver.

Split Pea Lighter – Zippos are great. I even have a Zippo or two. BUT, the problem with Zippo is that they can dry out waiting for you to use them (unless you smoke or something and use them all the time). The split pea lighter on the other hand has an o-ring seal, so even if you put it away for a month or two, it’ll still have fuel in it when you need it. That’s good for me, as the only time I’m lighting a lighter is for a birthday candle most of the time! However, when camping or out, I’ll need one and I found that the split pea lighter on a lanyard is a very convenient way to carry a waterproof (when closed) highly dependable, high quality lighter.
You can get it at CountyComm. I have no relationship with them, but they’re great guys.

Casio EX-FC100, my current favorite point and shoot and really the best one I’ve ever owned. I use it for all of my youtube HD videos, as well as for my primary point and shoot camera. The poor thing has taken quite a beating, as it’s been dropped, blown over on a tripod, and handled roughly (unintentionally!). What can I say? Sometimes stuff happens. It still runs fine. In fact, I’ve even used the slow motion feature a few times!.

update: Casio now has the EX-FC150, which adds a CMOS with image shake reduction.

Fujifilm F30, up until I got the Casio, this was my favorite point and shoot. In fact it’s SO popular that even though they are no longer made, they still command a high premium for new-in-box cameras. The reason is simple. Incredible low light photos. (note: given the new technology, I’m not recommending that anyone run out and buy this camera at this time. It is in my arsenal of cameras, though, therefore I mention it. The last time I checked, this camera is commanding an $800+ price on Amazon!)

Fujiflm F200EXR, my replacement for the Fujifilm F30. I bought this at the same time as the Casio and it was my full expectation that it would be the F30 killer and my new favorite in the stable. However, I found that because I do so many youtube videos, that I became enamored with the Casio instead. So far I’ve put very low ‘miles’ on the Fuji, but that may change in the future as I continue to travel and take photos. I’m very interested in putting the HDR mode through it’s paces and seeing what it can really do.

The current model is the F550EXR

Joby Gorillapod, I just use the smallest and cheapest one. It’s enough for a point and shoot digital and still offers the flexibility to go from tripod to hanging the camera off a branch or pole. It weighs only a little bit and takes up very little room in your day pack.

Camera Extender, I use this quite a bit. Any pocket camera with a hold for a tripod can screw onto the extending pole and you hold it out for a much better view than you can get with just holding it at arm’s length. I highly recommend getting one of these for yourself. The difference between this and a tripod is that you can lean it off the side of a boat or a moving tour tram and still get the shot or video.

Nikon D200, my “travel photographer” camera. A pro-level DSLR, I have taken some outstanding photographs with it. Combined with the 18-200 VR lens, or the relatively inexpensive Nikon 70-300mm G lens I’ve been able to reach out and get some outstanding photographs, like the Vietnamese boat lady found here. For longer exposures, I use the SLIK AMT tripod. When I need additional light, I use the SB-800. I have it set up for remote commander mode and try to shoot with the flash off of the camera.

Update: I still shoot with my D200, but I also picked up the D5100 for a bit of a lighter weight travel camera. The kit lens is excellent an the quality of the video has been impressive.

The Slik tripod is exactly the right size and strength for my D200 with the big VR zoom lens, flash, and anything else I hang off the camera. It’s excellent, but due to weight I don’t bring it on every trip. Perhaps someday I’ll upgrade to carbon fiber. In the meantime when weight is paramount I go with a lighter tripod or use a pocket cam and pocket tripod for self shots and the big camera for everything else.

Nikon SB-800, I use the SB-800 as my on and off camera flash and it is a really terrific flash unit. Unfortunately they have been discontinued and the price on remaining inventory has skyrocketed all over the marketplace. The formerly $420 flash unit is going for over $800 now! The new model is the SB-900, which has a wider zoom range, faster recycle time, and more power, but is also physically much larger is the one to go for now. You’ll need a bigger pocket in your bag for it, though!
Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Flash + Batteries + Cord + Bracket for D5000 D3000 D300s D90 D60 D40 Camera

Canon HF200, recently aquired, it replaces my Sanyo Xacti VPC E1. The Sanyo has been great for travel and the waterproofing makes it dust resistant, but I needed a video camera that could record in 1080i for my videos. I’m happy using either. The Canon video quality is amazing.

update: I’ve had a chance to work with it for quite a while now and you can see the results in my videos. I absolutely LOVE this camera. It takes very high quality video and I’m very happy with the results.

Apple iPhone 3GS, the best camera is the one you carry. Sometimes, it’s what is convenient, or low-key, or the only thing I have on me. The built in camera is great, and VideoPano and TrueHDR are amazing apps. I use them quite a bit.