Today’s Coast Super Bowl matchup is between two of our finest LED headlamps. On one side, we have the HL5 LED headlamp; on the other, the HL7. Both make for a top-quality LED headlamp, but only one can win today’s game.
Headlamps provide all the hands-free flexibility you need when hiking, camping or even fixing a car. But there are various factors that come into play when we compare these two excellent headlamps. To begin, let’s look at the basic stats of each headlamp: (more…)
One New Year’s resolution for 2012 all homeowners should consider is to create or update their home emergency kits. The safety and well-being of your family could depend on whether or not you have the proper emergency equipment. Be it a storm, earthquake or flood, there are many scenarios in which an emergency kit will come in handy. So get out that LED flashlight and head up to the attic (or down to the basement), and start assembling your 2012 emergency kit.
For starters, pick a large, sturdy, preferably water- and fire-resistant container that can hold your emergency kit. Make sure it has a solid lid and ample room for larger items such as a backup emergency LED lantern. Next, decide where you will store your kit and make sure there is enough room for everything to fit before you go about filling it.
Occupy Wall Street began with a tent among the trees. Admittedly, the tent was surrounded by hundreds of others, and the trees were in Zuccotti Park, in the financial district, but the point remains: The people who are “occupying” Wall Street – and Portland – are living in the urban wild, with no connection to local power utilities for electrical needs such as lighting.
Whether participants in the Occupy movement realize it or not, portable LED light products – such as LED flashlights and lanterns – provide the perfect solution to their lack of power. Here’s why: (more…)
Winter is quickly approaching, and that means the days are getting shorter – not to mention the weather changes, including snow, rain and fog. Your normal running time might have fallen during daylight hours in the summer months, but now it’s likely to be dark and therefore more dangerous when you go for a run.
When running at night, you have decreased depth perception, less secure footing and often little motivation to run in the first place. Fortunately, many runners have found headlamps to be an effective method of combating these common winter running hazards. (more…)
Cold weather does not mean the end to outdoor fun. The winter season can provide an exciting challenge if you love to camp because of the new experiences it provides and because it gives you a good excuse to use your camping knives and multi-tool. Snow camping requires more preparation and special equipment than camping during other weather conditions, so you’ll need to take extra precautions and take the time to prepare in order to maximize the amount of fun you will have.
To help test out our new line of Coast LED flashlights and headlamps, we asked several of our associates to try them out and write up their thoughts. We’ll be sharing their honest reviews in a series of blog posts to help you decide on your next LED flashlight.
I’ve long preferred LED flashlights over incandescent lights, and headlamps over flashlights, so an LED headlamp was an easy choice for me. Even though you may look a little funny to some while wearing one, it’s hard to argue against the merits of having both of your hands free while you use your light. Aesthetics tend to be the first thing to go out the window when you have to work on a car on the side of the road at night, or during a zombie attack (or both).
People hunt elk for many different reasons. Some love the thrill of taking down such an enormous animal. Others enjoy providing their families with elk meat, which is often bountiful enough to last for months if one knows how to properly use a hunting knife and a deep freezer.
But elk hunting is more than just a fun way for hunters to use their guns and knives – it’s also an important way for fish and wildlife departments to balance our ecological and societal needs. As many farmers would be happy to tell you, elk hunting protects crops.
Backpacking in the Pacific Northwest can be an amazing adventure, as well as a rewarding way to enjoy the outdoors. For beginners, however, it can seem grueling at first – carrying 30 pounds or more on your back while hiking across rugged terrain requires you to develop muscles you never knew you had.
New backpackers who are looking to get some experience under their belts should start slow, with a 5-7 miles per day hike over easy terrain. It’s also important for beginners to make sure they’ve got the essential safety gear covered, including an LED headlamp and sturdy camping knives or multi-tools. Preparation is the key to any successful backpacking trip.
