Blog on a Log
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Thunder Bay Students-Only Blowout Sale
Thursday, October 16th from 7-9 Thunder Bay students are invited to Wilderness Supply for a one-day-only sale. Find unbeatable pricing with discounts up to 80% off on clothing, footwear and gear.
Find the perfect travel bag to see you through that backpacking adventure you're planning, grab a jacket to keep you warm while tromping around campus, or get your hands on the gear you need to tackle your weekend adventures. Whatever your reason, you don't want to miss these exclusive deals, available to students this one day only!
Thursday, October 16th
7 - 9 pm
Wilderness Supply, 244 Pearl Street
Show your student card for entry and get exclusive access to deals up to 80% off!
Friday, August 8, 2014
Transport Canada Paddlecraft Safety Requirements
Friday, August 8, 2014
Pack Smart: The 7 Best Bags for Fall 2014
No matter your age, September always feels a bit like back-to-school. Even if it's been a while since you checked off a school supply list, your book bag may be due for an overhaul. So whether you're sending the kids off to kindergarten or packing the computer for the daily commute, our experts have picked the 7 best bags to get you through your fall commute in stye.
Best Messenger Bag
SealLine Urban Shoulder Bag
$179
The Urban Shoulder Bag is fully waterproof, making it the perfect companion for those who bike or walk to work. Ride easy knowing that even if you get soaked by a passing car your books and compy will be snug and dry.
A shoulder strap, grab handle and waist strap provide a plethora of carrying options, and the QuickClip closure allows for one-handed fastening and unfastening so you can grab a pen (or that between-class snack) without breaking stride.
Best Hybrid Bag
Osprey Pixel
$149
Is it a backpack? Is it a messenger bag? The Pixel takes shoulder bag functionality and turns it 90 degrees, creating a svelte option for those who like to keep their tech close. A zippered side panel adds 4L for days when you suddenly need to squeeze in an extra book or two.
The main laptop compartment is padded with easy zip access. Small electronics or sunglasses will appreciate the scratch-free pocket in the front flap, and the organizer panel underneath features a key clip and multiple sleeves to keep your organized. Includes a hip belt and sternum strap to keep your load steady no matter your commute.
Best Biker Bag
Deuter Giga Bike
$139
With the internals of an office bag and the externals of a biking backpack, the Giga Bike makes an ideal commuter combo. A vast number of nooks and crannies give you space to store your stuff, and it's comfortable to carry both on and off the bike.
Designed for those who ride to work or school, the Giga Bike showcases a bunch of bike-specific features. A ventilated back system and bike-specific hip wings provide stability and support without compromising air flow. The front map pocket, stowable helmet holder, and detachable rain cover make this our top choice for those who ride on two wheels.
The Giga is also available in non-biking and flat models
Best Everyday Bag
Deuter GoGo
$69
If you want a bag that can do a little of everything, look no further than the GoGo. Practical features meet a sleek, athletic design for a bag that's at home on the commute, at the gym, or hitting the trail. Deuter's Airstripes back system minimizes back contact and maximizes airflow to keep you comfortable, and includes a removable hip belt for hiking or biking when you need a bit more support.
The spacious main compartment has room for books, gym clothes, or everything you need for a day's hike. Additional features include an interior security pocket perfect for wallets or keys, an easy-access front pocket for essentials, and an inner wet pocket for storing soggy workout or commuting gear. Rugged construction means the GoGo will do just that, this year and for many to come - no matter what you're getting up to.
Best Value Bag
Osprey Flap Jack
$99
For value for money, you'd be hard pressed to beat the Flap Jack. This streamlined bag features high-spec design at an unusually low price point, designed to make your commute as comfortable and convenient as possible.
The padded harness and removable waist strap provide excellent load-bearing without compromising ventilation, with stability to see you through hiking or biking on variable terrain. The spacious main compartment includes padded laptop and tablet sleeves, organizational pockets, and enough room to store your lunch with space left over for some extra clothes or a jacket. Reflective graphics and a bike light attachment point round out this attractive commuter option.
Best Kids Bags
Deuter Kids and Deuter Junior
$45 and $49.99
Many elementary students carry as much as 30 lbs back and forth each day from school. Combine this with growing bodies, and a poor-fitting backpack can lead to back pain or even injury that can stay with them the rest of their lives.
Get your kids off on the right foot - whether they're making the trek into daycare or mastering their first hikes on the trail. The Kids bag is designed for users 3 and up, and the Junior size is perfect for those 5 and up--or visit us in store for a personal fitting.
With Deuter's tested support system and weight distribution designed for small bodies, your little ones can rock the playground in style, while you rest easy knowing they've got the support they need.
Top tip: don't forget weight their backpacks once in a while. Kids should never carry more than 10% of their body weight - usually 10 lbs or less for elementary students.
All Wilderness Supply backpacks come standard with a free fitting from our trained staff. Get yourself traveling in style this fall with smart bags designed to fit your life, and everything in it.
Prices were checked at time of posting, but may be subject to change. Shop online or
contact your nearest store for the most updated colours and availability!
Monday, June 23, 2014
2014 The Last Year for Royalex Canoes
If you want a Royalex canoe, you'd better move fast.
Over the last 30 year, the nearly indestructible material has become the top choice for whitewater paddlers, river runners, or families needing a boat that can handle a few decades of abuse. It edged out aluminum, explains Winnipeg Free Press' Bartley Kives, due to its lightweight buoyancy and ability to keep its shape while taking a pummelling.
"There are numerous tales of Royalex boats falling off moving vehicles or getting wrapped around rocks in high-volume rivers and still surviving to paddle another day," writes Kives, "the mere existence of Royalex boats meant many rivers once deemed too rocky to paddle were suddenly navigable. You no longer had to be a perfect paddler to go tripping in remote places."
And that's what really made Royalex a game-changer. Its forgiving composition allowed less experienced paddlers the chance to get out and tackle more challenging water without risking getting stranded by a wayward rock or branch. Since our store opened, Royalex canoes have consistently been our top sellers, providing families and backcountry trippers the rugged reliability to keep their canoe floating for years to come.
But as of this year, Royalex is no longer being produced.
Despite its ubiquity, all Royalex for manufacturing canoes was produced by a single plant in Indiana. When manufacturers Uniroyal were bought out by international plastics company PolyOne last year, all production of Royalex was halted. As Kives explains, "PolyOne was simply too big to bother producing a product that was only used by canoe manufacturers."
With all production having been halted last year, this season's Royalex models are the last that will be available. Esquif has been working on a possible replacement material 'tformex,' which will have a prototype ready by the end of this summer. Given time, it's very likely a material will emerge to replace Royalex--whether it's tformex or otherwise--but until it does, many manufacturers have been left with a large holes in their boat selection for next year.
If you've had your eye on a Royalex boat, 2014 is the year to buy. Though we've stocked up, word is spreading and available boats are moving quickly. Of course, that's no surprise - until a successful Royalex replacement is developed and tested (which will take time) canoe buyers will find their options significantly limited--and paddlers may have to scale back their trip plans until they've got a boat that can handle the punishment.
Read Kives' full article "Get your Royalex while you can".
This article was edited to add information on Esquif and tformex.
Photo: CC via ****u**** on Flickr.
Friday, June 20, 2014
3 Ways to Beat the Bugs this Summer
It seems this summer, after taking its dear, sweet time in coming, has decided to bless us with more than our fair share of buzzing, biting critters. If you want to sleep soundly through the summer months, an ounce of prevention is worth at least a pound of cure - so we've lined up our 3 favourite ways to keep your adventures bug-free this season:
1. DEET: The 4-Letter Word
For convenience, you can't beat a good quality bug spray - the most effective of which contain DEET. Several decades of staff and customer testimonials have us pretty convinced on this one, but if you need more proof Consumer Reports has shown a direct correlation between concentration of DEET and hours of bite protection. The higher the percentage of DEET, the stronger the repellant - we carry a high, 30% concentration for unbeatable wilderness protection.
There's a down side to DEET, though. Since it's a chemical solvent, it can dissolve some plastics, leathers and synthetics, making it a questionable item to keep around your gear. A leaky container can do serious damage to your dry bags or rain jacket--so if you're using a spray with DEET in it, be sure it's packed carefully and don't spray on or around any waterproof or rubber gear.
It's also important to note that there have been some studies suggesting prolonged exposure to DEET can be detrimental to your health. Though there has not been conclusive evidence, always follow the directions when using DEET products and keep away from small children and pets.
2. Going Greener
If you're looking for a spray without DEET's downsides, you've got to check out the new Natrapel spray from Adventure Medical Kits. The 20% Picaridin formula has tested equal or better to DEET products in independent clinical tests, making it one of the first non-DEET options to offer comparable protection.
The big bonus? It's completely safe to use around your rubber and synthetic gear! Though it doesn't have DEET's longstanding history, high test results and a gear-safe formula definitely make this one worth a look, even if you've been let down by natural sprays in the past.
3. The No-Spray Way
There are some completely natural means you can take to lessen your buggy-appeal. Mosquitoes are attracted to scents, so lay off the perfume and body wash. In fact, lay off the shower full stop - you won't smell pretty, but that's kind of the point. In our experience, mosquitoes don't like B.O. anymore than you do.
If you don't have time to work up a four-day musk--or just don't want to face a tent full of the pungent perfume of unwashed adventurer--bug clothing is the most natural and effective way to keep the critters off. These mesh clothes are designed large enough to quickly pull over your regular gear. The mesh allows airflow while stopping troublesome bugs, making it perfect for hot, muggy days where covering yourself top-to-toe seems unbearable.
In situations where bug spray fails, there is simply no way to beat a physical layer of protection between you and the nearest bloodsucker, and bug clothing has been a longstanding favourite in our store with folks who'd rather eschew sprays of any kind. Sure, you might look a little funny, but you'll be the one laughing when you're friends slap themselves raw as you sit around the campfire in perfect comfort!
Whatever method you choose, solid bug protection is one of the most important items in a Canadian's pack. Don't let bugs hold you back this year. Now that summer's arrived, get out and make the most of it...without turning yourself into a meal!
Photo: CC by John Tann on Flickr
A version of this article was first published back in 2010 - but we thought this bug situation this summer merited a revisit and revamp!