Outdoor Adventure Expo

This year's NY/NJ Outdoor Adventure Expo featured canoeing, kayaking, rock wall climbing, geocaching and archery

One of the great events we look forward to each year is the Outdoor Adventure Expo hosted by Monmouth County Park System in the New York, New Jersey area.  This year's event at Turkey Swamp Park, Howell NJ was one of the best to date.  It gave us a chance to test out new equipment and meet local representatives from all types of outdoor clubs, sports experts and retailers.

Shipman Magda has Swimming Certification

On the Water

New Jersey is known for its beautiful beaches and of course water sports and boating activities. We took canoeing lessons through a program taught through the county park system. They showed us how to choose oars of the proper height, fit and adjust floatation vests, transport and launch our watercraft and navigate on the waterways.

Magda, in the lead photo and here additionally took swimming lessons with a certified swim coach which I highly recommend. As kayaks and canoes can easily capsize, it's important to know how to swim to avoid panic and survive.

We really enjoyed trying something new and since we have already had canoe lessons, getting going with the kayak was pretty easy.  Mountaineers Books has a new release, Sea Kayaking by Dan Henderson, so check it out in the left hand column. An Outdoor Expo like this allows you to test various types of equipment to see what kind of gear best suits you.  Good to know as you don't want to end up renting or purchasing outdoor goods you absolutely hate to work with.

Bare essentials inside my Ribz Front Pack

Packing Light - Ribzwear

We always like to test out new gear at the expo and this year brought the Ribz Front Pack to carry everything. I was able to fit both my digital and video cameras, SOL Origin Survival Kit, cell, Aurora Fire Starter, Mission Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel, a full sized hoodie and more in the small Ribz.  

We were able to take it in the boat but did not wear it as it would interfere with our flotation vests. The items we packed are the most bare-bones items I would take.  Here they are:

SOL Origin Survival Kit-This kit offers the most bang for its compact size. If were somehow got lost in the outback this kit has a floating compass, whistle and signal mirror to help us be found. It also has fish hooks, wire, a knife with a light, aluminum foil, fire starter and Tinder Quik.  The case itself water proof so if it got wet, everything in it would still work for you...even the fire strike & tinder.

Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter-It is always good to have a secondary or backup fire starter. However the Aurora is my first choice for a fire strike. It quickly lights your tinder, (I carry cotton balls smeared with Vaseline) and will work even if it gets wet.  If you are lost and need to signal for help, start a fire and lay some green vegetation on top.  It will give off white smoke visible for miles.  You can also use it and the aluminum foil to boil / purify water, cook the fish you just caught and stay warm. I started the fire here with some newspaper, alcohol sterno cooking fuel and the Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter.  As you can see it cooked our wienies and chili beans to perfection.

Mission Enduracool Instant Cooling Towel-This towel has so many uses!  With a SPF of 45 it can serve as a sun blocking head or neck cover.  Wet it and give it a snap.  It will cool you off in seconds.  Roll it up, it's a pillow, roll it out it's a sun cover.  It's recommended that you carry a bandanna in your backpack because it has so many uses.  The same concept here only better as this towel has sun blocking and cooling properties built in.
Be sure to check out the VIDEO from the event day at the top of this webpage and get a FREE KAYAKING Lesson!

Enjoying the great outdoors Geocaching!

Ribzwear Front Pack

Ribz Front Pack stowed neatly in its own compact sack.

Two of the main issues with day packing and hiking is packing too much and then not being able to access what you've packed without taking the pack off.  Sometimes you just want the lightest pack possible because you've made plans to leave most of your gear in the car or at base camp.

When first I saw the Ribz Front Pack, I knew they were definitely on to something.  Not only did the size insure that you'd only bring the essentials (similar to a lumbar pack), but the positioning of the zippered pockets up front was revolutionary.  I've hiked the NJ Pine Barrens with the small sized Ribz and had full access to my binoculars, camera, snacks and water bottle (clipped on by a carabiner).  Other hikers commented & complimented me on my packing gear and I was much more comfortable on the trek than the others.  I also enjoyed the hike more because I could quickly get out my camera and binoculars when I needed them.

The Ribz Front Pack can be worn by itself or with a traditional backpack.  I've used it both ways and it was very comfortable, allowing quick access to things I needed along the way like that Clif Bar!  The big zippered compartment pouches are next to the body with a smaller outside zippered bag.  I stow my tissues, Mission Skin Care SPF 15 Lip Balmer, an Ultralight Watertight Medical Kit .3 and other comfort essentials in the larger sectioned part.  My camera and cell phone go in the outer pockets.
You can tighten the padded straps to hold the pack close to the "ribz" when doing activities or loosen them for more casual hiking.  Having the straps loose allows for better air circulation, thus lessening sweat.

Packing Your RIBZ

Here is the Ribz folded down into it's sack which is about the size of a coffee bean bag.
Shown here being worn with a backpack, it allows you to balance the weight of your gear more evenly.  My digital compass easily clips on the straps so I can take frequent readings.  

This First Aid kit is the perfect size for the Ribz Pack

First Aid First
I definitely would recommend taking along a small first aid kit.  No matter how light you're packing, always make room for possible medical emergencies.

The Ultralight Watertight Medical Kit .3 by Adventure Medical Kits is small but very complete and waterproof should you be fly fishing, boating or trekking across streams of water.  Having it in the Ribz Front Pack will give you quick and easy access to first aid in case of an emergency.  Seconds are important and you don't want to waste precious time rooting through your pack.

Fired Up

Along with a small, waterproof first aid kit, you'll also want to have a good, dependable fire starter along.  I have a whole survival package that contains Adventure Medical Kit's SOL Origin, a small container of Vaseline petroleum jelly and an Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter.  The ability to build a fire is one of the essentials of survival and the Aurora is small and light enough to fit easily in the Ribz Front Pack.  Use it to build a fire to cook, dry your clothing or keep warm. Use it to boil water to make it safe for drinking, (the Origin comes with a piece of aluminum foil for just that purpose).  You can see in the video below that the Aurora Magnesium Fire Starter is extremely easy to use.  The rubber sealing band keeps water out and this type of fire starter works even in wet conditions.  Weighs only 1/10 th of a pound so there is no reason not to have one on you.  Really this is one piece of gear in your Ribz that could save your life.