#the multitool is there for emergencies not for conversations

[bludraws094]

my advice for meeting people and/or making friends in real life

get yourself a bag. my bag is a canvas one my stepdad got me from point pleasant, with a logo containing mothman and the text "MOTHMAN SEARCH TEAM \ POINT PLEASANT, WV". however, the specific bag does not matter, as long as you can move to step two without fucking it up (so do NOT use leather, pleather, or plastic, unless they have some kind of fabric straps that can be decorated. actually dont use pleather at all. pleather will fall apart. pleather is not built to last.)

accessorize the fuck out of it. mine is covered in pins and keychains. the more variety, the better. it needs to tell people things about you: your interests, your style, what you find funny or cool, or whatever you want

take the bag everywhere. chances are, somebody is going to see it and find it cool. most people notice the mothman logo on mine first, ask me where i got it, and sometimes they continue to ask to see my pins and keychains. its a great conversation starter, as i get to tell them about some of the things my pins represent

you can do similar things with other objects — i always wear bracelets i made myself, and they have started a grand total of one conversation, which is fine bcus theyre a lot more subtle in the way they show my interests and are really just for me — as long as they are eye catching and show things about you. bags are the easiest for me since they are functional and can be worn in any season or weather, but you can use jewelry, jackets, pants, or whatever!

go. touch grass. socialize. meet people.

this is the bag for anyone wondering

we got pokémon, kirby, chonny jash (specifically cccc), vocaloid, inanimate insanity, invader zim, and a lot of miscellaneous pins. im also hoping to one day add a raggedy ann related pin. no more keychains though i do not have room for more keychains

the kirby keychain used to be pink but the color faded a long time ago so now hes just floating in clear liquid

[greymouse42]

alright!!! What Malachi would do if stuck in an elevator with: -Myles -Maria -Skeeter -Jan Separately, and then bonus ask of the entire knockoff mystery gang! And then bonus bonus for Lyons. Sorry this is such a long ask but it's worth it i promise

HELLO this was very funny and I jumped on it immediately.

Myles → Myles has a multitool in his pocket and this is the moment that Mal goes “oh man I should really carry a multitool in my pocket.” They are breaking into the access panel within minutes, and I don't think they can get the elevator working again but they do have fun.

Maria → They have a really nice conversation. After pressing the emergency help button (like reasonable people), I think they both go “thank God, a break,” and sit down and Maria gets to explain the plot of whatever serial drama she's watching or has Mal commiserating over whatever latest conspiracy theory her nephew believes in. They both come out of it going “man we should grab coffee sometime, that was pleasant.”

Skeeter → same as Myles but Mal doesn't say a word the whole time and doesn't have fun, but Skeeter does actually get the elevator working again.

Jan → doesn't even make it to the emergency button… that's a meme answer — the actual answer is that it should be totally fine. Long silences with Jan are usually comfortable. But they're both usually doing something. The combo of “we're stuck” and “there is nothing to do” and “it feels like we should be talking but neither of us want to do that” and “it's hot in here—” could very quickly lead to…. /hand wave/

Knockoff Mystery Gang → Mal is wedged in the corner spectating/refereeing and pretending he's not as insane as the rest of these weirdos. He's on Maria's side no matter what she decides to do.

Lyons → 40 minutes of Lyons trying to talk Malachi out of climbing up the elevator shaft, interspersed with a few minutes of silence whenever she thinks she's successfully convinced her feral ferret of a partner to not climb up the elevator shaft, are you insane. Unstoppable Force meets Immovable Object argument. There's only, like, 12 years between them but Lyons is feeling Every Single One Of Those Years for the 40 minutes she's trapped in an elevator with this man. She comes out of the situation thinking that Mal must be moderately claustrophobic. Mal was honestly just bored and likes arguing recreationally.

[team-oliv]

Introduction: Redmond Reynard

Age: 41 Height: 5' 10" Species: Human Gender: Male (he/him) Sexuality: Heterosexual/heteroromantic Occupation: Chief Financial Officer of Cheshire Financial Group Faceclaim: Mauritzio Martini (Romeo's Blue Sky)

Redmond is not available for shipping.

About

Born in Vacuo, Redmond Reynard was a mathematical genius who graduated with honors with a high degree in both statistics and accounting. He was hired by the Cheshire Financial Group by a corporate headhunter and quickly rose through the ranks and is now effectively the organization's second-in-command. He is Ivory's father.

As the CFO if Cheshire Financial, Redmond is in control of a majority of the company's financial records and runs an extremely organized and tight ship for the company, which makes it all the easier for him to find creative and nearly imperceptible ways to manipulate the company's vast fortune for his own ambitions. Despite appearing to all as a genuine friend and asset to the Cheshire family, Redmond views himself more as a rival disguised as a business partner to Tyrael. While he has no illusions that his boss is aware of this sentiment, he has confidence that exactly how far he's willing to go to achieve what he wants.

Personality

Redmond often acts as the genial face of Cheshire Financial. He is soft-spoken, polite, and observant. He is quick to make small talk and is quite knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics. It isn't uncommon for Redmond to seek out details to discover and exploit when speaking to others. He keeps conversation going primarily as an information gathering tactic whenever possible.

Redmond's politeness is a mask for his distance, preferring to keep as many as possible at arm's length in case they become a possible threat later. Those who know him best will say he is a strange combination of reliable but untrustworthy. A deal struck with him is usually honored, if only to the letter but his loyalty is always to himself.

Abilities/Skills

Redmond is more a businessman than a combatant and will opt to out-maneuver and outsmart threats rather than take them head on. He has quite a few connections both to legitimate and black market contacts to ply toward indirect outcomes.

He only carries an intricate gun on him for self defense. His understanding of aura and semblances is entirely from a hypothetical basis and he does not use them himself. In emergency scenarios, his weapon can function as a pistol, digital multitool, and can be overloaded to unleash a torrent of electricity at an opponent.

Assorted Details

Redmond's pistol is sometimes jokingly referred to by others as "the Lightning Gun". A nickname he dislikes.

Redmond's wife, Gossie, seems to be one of the only people Redmond is genuinely comfortable around, but even she does not know of all of his activities.

[dr-drckken]

@oswaldxmarks

When the alien replied it was in a series of hissing noises, which meant that the TARDIS's universal translator did not have one for the alien's name. Which was unfortunate.

What was fortunate was that the next thing out of their mouth was, "But given your physiology, I do not think you can pronounce that. You may call me He Who Dispels Doubt, as that is what my name means." A pause. "As for your second question, yes. I am very well paid in both respect and profit, though my profession is not as you have described. I am not the Chalice's guardian. I protect any that need it. Today, it is my people's history."

"Ah, so you're some kind of special officer then?" Drakken asked, wandering down a bending hallway.

"That seems like an accurate description," He Who Dispels Doubt replied. "And you? What is your name? What is it that you do?"

Drakken glanced back, ready to say, but the alien was not addressing him. Instead their attention was on Oswald which was...fair! After all, the human was the one who has asked the questions in the first place. Drakken wasn't really good at the whole conversation thing anyway, so instead he took out his sonic multitool and pointed it at the nearest door. It slid up within a few seconds, revealing what looked like a supply closet.

He peered around inside but only found bottles of cleaning supplies, emergency med kids, cases of things like light bulbs or tubing, and other miscellaneous items that would be needed for routine maintenance. With a sigh, he continued on down the hall with the other two in tow.

A Worst Case Scenario || Blue Bug [Trope Extravaganza]

[bookscoffeeandracoons]

You don’t need frying pans for baking

Pairing: Tony x f! Reader

Words: 2704

Summary: Tony wants to visit you but you don’t expect him. You’re also nervous  after some break-ins in your apartment building. Things then go a little wrong.

Warnings: mention and fear of break-ins, a bit of violence (it’s just one solid hit), language maybe? (I’m not sure if there should be other warnings or if these are alright. If something’s up just let me know!)

A/N: This is for @nerdy-bookworm-1998 ‘s writing challenge. (Thank you so much for your patience and for inspiring me to write something new!) The prompt will be in the 2nd part, which will follow soon. It’s been a while since I wrote something so I hope you enjoy it! Feedback is greatly appreciated and reblogs would be amazing!

 A huge thank you to @pandamambo5 for reassuring me and beta reading!

Tony was sitting in his lab since hours without making any process. He was too exhausted to do more than fixing the right hand repulsor of his suit. The mission he’d just returned from had been exhausting. Well, wasn’t every mission…

He’d try to sleep but after tossing and turning without finding any sort of peace he gave up, got himself some coffee and went to the tower’s lab.

After fixing the repulsor he started fiddling around with some new projects but couldn’t get anything done. He then looked at some software he wanted to update but the programming looked like hieroglyphics to his overworked brain. Calling you had been a returning idea but he didn’t want to wake you up. He had woken you up and robbed you of your sleep way too often since you were more than friends. You never seemed to mind it but he wouldn’t even know what to say if he called now.

Maybe there was another option, though. He could just go to your place. He could quietly make it into your apartment and just sneak into bed with you. He wouldn’t be alone. As much as he hated to admit it being alone was a part of the problem with getting some sleep. He had gotten used to Pepper in his bed before their break had become an end. He didn’t sleep much but definitely more with her by his side. Then there was a whole lot of almost no sleep and then, when you were there, there was some sleep again at least. But you weren’t at a point where moving in together was the next step already. Or were you?

Tony sighed and rubbed his face. He was overthinking and procrastinating again. He got up, went to his bedroom and grabbed some fresh clothes and his jacket. Right after that he made his way into the garage and got into his Audi.

New York’s traffic was a little easier at night although the streets were still very much alive. He was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel whenever he came to a stop at a traffic light or couldn’t drive as quickly as he wanted. Luckily your apartment building appeared in front of him and he took the parking space that belonged to your apartment. The spot was always free since you didn’t have a car.

As he reached the entrance he shortly wondered why it was open in the middle of the night but didn’t think much of it.

Reaching your door he started to search his pockets for the keys you had given him. He searched every available pocket, even the bag with his clothes. Groaning he let his shoulders slump. They were in the leather jacket he had worn the last time he was here.

He came up with three possibilities. He could drive back and get them, but he was too lazy to do that. Waking you up by ringing your door bell or calling you was also an option but you’d surely want to talk about how he was, which was a normal thing since you cared for him.

Or he could pick your lock. His lazy and tired mind considered the last was the best option so he looked through his pockets again and found a little multitool he often carried around just in case. If you had an electronic lock he could have hacked it. Not that picking a normal lock was any challenge.

Tony bent down and got to work. As quiet as possible he wiggled the tool up and down to bring the tumbler pins into the right position.

After a few seconds everything clicked into place. While pushing the door open, Tony thought about getting you a new lock because if he could pick it someone else surely could, too.

That was his last thought for the moment. Tony wasn’t even fully through the door when something hit him hard enough to send him to sleep. This wasn’t the way he expected to fall asleep but he couldn’t fight it…

  You had been lying in your bed and staring at the ceiling. In the last six days there had been four break-ins in your apartment building. Two times the apartments that were robbed had been empty but the other two times the burglar had broken into apartments where women were alone at home. The lock at the front door of the building still hadn’t been changed because no matter how many people complained, the custodial engineer didn’t really seem to care. If you would have made it to the hardware store you would just have done it by yourself. You were an engineer working for the Avengers. Changing a lock was a piece of cake. The more difficult part would have been getting keys done for all the residents. Annoyed with everything you turned around again to face the bedroom door. You knew you probably wouldn’t sleep properly until the burglar was caught. If Tony was there you surely would feel safer. But he didn’t stay very often. If you spent the night together you usually were in the tower with him. He just needed all his stuff around him to fully relax. Well, as much as someone like Tony could relax. You had no idea how long you already lay there as your ears slowly picked up on a sound. It came from the hallway. Getting up and walking to your apartment door you realised someone was trying to open it without a key. Adrenaline rushed through you and you had always been a fight rather than flight type so you spun around and looked at your options. In the hallway nothing seemed like a good weapon. You really should keep a baseball bat by the door. The kitchen was next to the apartment door so you rushed in and grabbed a big frying pan. “That should do”, you muttered to yourself while taking position behind your door. With shaking hands and white knuckles you tried to breathe as calmly as possible. The burglar wouldn’t be able to see you straight away and you could land a good blow from here. After that you could alarm some neighbours and call the police.

Your heart hammered heavily and fast in your chest while the seconds seemed to pass like hours. Until the lock made its final clicking sound and the door started moving slowly. You could hear your blood rush. You stabilised your grip on the pan and lifted it over your shoulder. As soon as you could see a dark head appear you swung the pan like a tennis racket. The impact felt harder than you imagined. Just to make sure you ripped your arms back into swinging position, although there wasn’t a need for a second hit. The burglar wobbled and went down. He landed with a dull thud and his body pushed the door further open. You wanted to step over him, to turn on the lights in your hallway and outside, to go get some neighbours when you took a closer look at the knocked out man on the floor. You could see his back moving with every breath his unconscious body drew in and blew out. He seemed familiar. Even in the dark. You felt like you should recognise the proportions of his body, his size and shape.

It hit you like a car driving full speed into a brick wall.

“Tony!” You basically threw yourself to the ground and turned him around. “Oh my god Tony, wake up!”

You twisted so you could reach up to the light switch. As soon as the lights were on you searched the ground and Tony’s head for blood but luckily there was none.

For a concussion you didn’t need blood, though. You slapped his face lightly while calling his name and trying to wake him up. In his Iron Man suit he was almost invincible but without it he was just a human. A human you could apparently knock out. You needed to get him to a doctor. First you wanted to call the ambulance but then you thought he’d surely want to be in the medical department of the Avengers Tower. For cases of emergency Tony had given you Happy’s number. You scrambled up and ran to your bedroom. From the bedside table you grabbed your phone and called him. With your phone at your ear you hurried back to Tony who was still lying halfway in your apartment and halfway outside. After the third dial tone Happy picked up. His voice was gruff from sleeping.

“What?” you could hear the annoyance in his voice.

“Happy? It’s me (Y/N).”

“(Y/N)? Why are you calling me at four in the morning? Do you know how busy I am? I need to be a hundred percent concentrated-“

“Happy”, you tried to interrupt.

“-to make sure everything works the way it’s supposed to. Do you know what I-“

“Happy!”

“-have to put up with all day? No, you don’t. I need my sleep to be-“

“HAPPY! I NEED YOUR HELP!”

“Don’t yell at me. Just come to the point. Jesus Christ”, he complained.

God, conversing with this man was difficult.

“Tony is unconscious in my apartment and he needs-“

“What?” he barked into the phone. “How did that even happen?”

“I hit him with a pan”, you meekly confessed.

“Why did you do that? What the hell do you both do when you’re alone?”

“Nothing that involves a pan! It was an accident.” Oh god, this would be awkward.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. Make sure nothing happens meanwhile.”

Before you could say anything more he hung up. At least he’d bring Tony to a doctor. This situation felt like hours already while maybe it had been three minutes since you had smashed the pan against Tony’s head. You were just thinking about how you could get him to the sofa when a quiet groan left his throat.

“Tony?” you moved into his line of view.

“(Y/N)…” he looked confused, his eyes darting around your face and the surroundings.

“Does your head hurt? Are you dizzy?”

He looked as if thinking took him longer than usual. Before he answered his hand went to his head, patting the spot where you had hit him.

“I’m fine. Just a little headache”, he mumbled while he slowly pushed himself up.

“Be careful, Tony.” You took his hands and helped him onto his feet. “You could have a concussion.” Together you walked into your living room. He had an arm wrapped around your shoulders and held on for a little stability.

As you reached your sofa you let him slump down. The movement seemed to have been a little quick for him, though. He winced and reached for his temples as soon as he had landed on the sofa. You quickly went to the kitchen and got a cool aid that you brought Tony and carefully placed it on his head.

“Thanks,” he looked up to you. His soft brown eyes were still filled with confusion. You brushed your hand through his hair. He looked so tired. There were dark circles under his eyes and they looked like they were there before he had been knocked out by you. He tried to get his poker face back on. Looking vulnerable wasn’t what he wanted. But his voice still was languid when he spoke.

“What happened? I know I came here but what the hell happened then?”

“I thought you were a burglar”, the words came out quieter than you expected them to. You were just so damned sorry and had no idea how to make up for it.

“Why did you think I was a burglar? That also doesn’t explain why I was passed out on the floor in your hallway.”

“I hit you with a frying pan”, you mumbled without meeting his gaze.

“Nice swing, darling,” that was not what you had expected.

“Tony, I’m so sorry. It just didn’t sound like opening the door with keys and there have been break-ins in the last week and I anyway couldn’t sleep because I was afraid. The burglar still hasn’t been caught and the door downstairs is still broken and I don’t even have a door chain, which is really stupid. I should get one.”

“It’s okay”, he took your hand and pulled you down so you sat down with him.

“I think I forgot the key and actually picked your lock. Technically I broke in. But why didn’t you just stay at the Tower or call? You can’t stay at a place where you don’t feel safe.”

“Tony, you were on a mission and I’m not just gonna move into your apartment in the Tower while you’re not there. Also I think I would have handled a burglar quiet fine as you noticed”, you countered.

“But staying at a place that isn’t safe just isn’t clever”, he was going to argue with you. You could basically see it in his face already. His posture changed, too. His spine straightened and he turned to you. Before he could continue and monologue you into the ground Happy’s voice rang through your apartment.

“(Y/N)?” he came marching into your living. He was in his signature black suit and white shirt. Just the tie was missing and his hair looked a little messy.

“Hi,” you quickly greeted him and before you could continue he was already in action.

“Boss, I’ll bring you to the medical immediately”, he extended his arm to Tony so he could pull himself up from the sofa.

You watched as Tony grabbed Happy’s underarm and wanted to get up. Happy was hectic as usual and as soon as Tony’s hand was around his arm he basically yanked him up. If Happy hadn’t by now learned to leave Tony some space he surely would have carried him out. Before they were out the door Tony turned around.

“You’re coming with us, right?” it was a question but you knew there wasn’t an option by his stern expression. He did realise you still were in your pyjamas, though.

“Just throw something on and let’s go”, he nodded his head towards your door.

“Boss, we need to get going.”

“Why don’t you both already get to the car and I’ll follow you as soon as I’m dressed”, you offered. Happy just nodded and dragged Tony along.

Getting dressed didn’t take you more than a minute. You grabbed your handbag and sped down the stairs. Happy’s car was parked right in front of the entrance and he had just put Tony in the back. You hopped in beside him and Happy immediately took off.

The ride to the Tower was quiet and over quick. You were relieved that no awkward interrogation about how it happened had ensued.

Right after arriving Tony was checked by the doctors and given some painkillers and some other medication. They told him to rest and take it slow for the next twenty-four hours. He had a minor concussion and the medication he received would help to speed up the healing. Meanwhile you had quickly dropped by in your lab, which was only a few floors down, and left a note saying you wouldn’t come to work today. Right after Tony was done with the doctors you shuffled him to bed. He wasn’t really happy about that but as soon as you were both stretched out and you ran your fingers through his hair he dozed off. Tony lay on his side with his arm under your head. For a few more moments you watched him sleep and observed the spot where you had hit him. The skin was turning all kinds of purple and blue. You felt bad. He had wanted to come to your place. For some reason he had tried to sneak in, after he had returned from a mission. He surely didn’t feel good and then you gave him a concussion. While you started to drift off yourself, you thought that you should do something for him. Something that would at least put a little smile on his face.

[seo411]

How AV Technology Can Enhance the Learning Experience

Technology is a mainstay in the modern school, and AV technologies stand out for their ability to improve the learning experience. AV can be found in the classroom, in hallways, in labs, in libraries, in the gym - AV is ubiquitous in education. Educational AV is designed to do a lot in schools, but ultimately, it's a learning multitool, facilitating and delivering lessons in a much more engaging way. Here, we'll address what makes AV an ideal fit for K-12 campuses, and the solutions that schools frequently rely on. AV is an A+ Communicator in Schools AV was originally built for communication, as it can support better conversations and deliver better information. This communication advantage can be leveraged by schools in a few ways, including with digital signage. Digital signage is one of AV's most versatile solutions and can serve in a few roles for schools. Some of them include: - Running morning announcements - Your school is likely already recording and playing morning announcements. With digital signage, those announcements can be piped to every room on campus, as well as hallways, common areas and visitor areas. - Displaying important information - Event schedules, exam schedules, reminders about holidays and early dismissals, sports scores, weather, news, and all kinds of information can be shared through digital signage. - Strengthening the student fabric - Signage layouts can also be dedicated to school spirit-boosting messaging, such as highlighting student accomplishments and providing information about little known student clubs. - Helping people find their way - Some K-12 campuses are massive and can leave visitors and new students feeling lost. Digital signage can help point the way, which is helpful for open houses, student orientations and any event that will attract a lot of people unfamiliar with the campus. - Deliver emergency messaging - When an emergency situation arises, the front office can send an instant emergency alert to every networked signage display. Emergency messaging can include critical information to help students and teachers respond appropriately to the situation. Video Conferencing Can Bring in Expert Educators from Around the World Video conferencing is another core AV communication technology, and current generation solutions are well-built for education. That's because they're designed with usability and streamlined content sharing in mind. In the classroom, video conferencing can connect students to respected experts. Artists, scholars, scientists, engineers, doctors - there are thousands and thousands of professionals out there that can also serve as guest educators. Video conferencing allows those professionals to easily connect with the classroom. It's also easy for teachers, because with a modern video conferencing solution, one tap from a connected device can launch a conference. In some instances, guest lecturers may have content - images, videos, slideshows - that they can share through the video conferencing system. Most solutions make this simple to manage, with built-in content sharing features. Here's an idea. Take a medium-sized room that's getting little use and fit it with video conferencing technology. That room can be a guest lecturer room and provide students with a novel learning experience. Consider scaling the system up a bit with a second display (or interactive flat panel). A second display makes for more interesting presentations, as the lecturer can share content to one screen while they remain visible on the other. Audio Visual Technology Makes Classroom Learning Much More Immersive And of course, AV technology can ramp up classroom engagement. How? It starts with the room's digital display. Modern displays are powered with LED technology that's extremely efficient and reliable, so they provide long-term value. With their ability to output ultra-high-quality visuals, LED displays are a powerful visual aid and a teacher's best friend. But interactive flat panels can take this approach a step further. These flat panels can also output brilliant visuals and serve as a constant classroom companion for teachers. They can also improve engagement by incorporating tactile learning into the lesson. For students who would rather use their hands to do the learning, interactive flat panels can be an effective way to drive student participation. Interactive displays like the Clevertouch also improve lesson flow for teachers. Educators can connect their own devices to the display, and once connected control it from their device. This allows teachers to keep the lesson going without breaking eye contact with students. Better Classroom Audio Can Also Keep Students Focused and Engaged Another way to enhance classroom learning? Enhance classroom audio. Poor audio is a common problem in low-engagement classrooms. In larger classrooms or in classrooms with uncooperative acoustics, poor audio can be severe, leading to significant information gaps as students strain to hear. And many of those students will tune out instead. Unsurprisingly, audio enhancement is a popular AV solution for K-12 schools. It's also an easy solution for AV integrators to implement. Some of the standout features and benefits of audio enhancement include: - Improved audio quality and distribution - Audio enhancement uses a microphone and speakers to distribute crisp audio throughout the room. No matter where students are sitting, they can hear the teacher as if they were in the front row. - Reduced voice strain - Most audio enhancement technologies utilize a worn microphone, so teachers can use their hands freely while speaking into one. And teachers can use their normal speaking voice when lecturing or interacting with students, as the technology does the heavy lifting. No need to strain your voice. - Two-way communication - Some audio enhancement solutions allow for two-way communication with the front office, so teachers don't have to leave their classroom and rush to the office if something important comes up. - Emergency alerts - Audio enhancement technology can also factor into the school's emergency response protocols. Specifically, some systems allow teachers to send an alert to the front office or trigger a general alarm with a single button press. AV Drives Improved Student Collaboration as Well Collaboration is a major focus for today's workplaces, so it's a major focus for K-12 schools as well. There are several AV solutions that help in this area, but interactive flat panels are again a frontline option. Interactive technology shines in lab settings, whether it's a bio lab, STEM lab or makerspace. In these settings, students work together to bring their ideas to life, and these projects can span the entire school year. Interactive flat panels like the Clevertouch allow students to diagram their projects, brainstorm ideas as a group, create action plans, and save their work to the display when they're done. Using this approach, interactive flat panels keep student groups organized and engaged as they work through a project. AV Enhances Communication, Unity and Engagement in Schools, Improving the Learning Experience Schools are always looking for a better way to deliver education, and AV technology has emerged as a vital tool for this goal. Digital signage, interactive displays, video conferencing and many other AV solutions can be readily implemented by a certified AV integrator. Each serves a valuable role for schools that want to support better student performance.   Read the full article

[montemoutdoorgear1]

What Is The Most Important Gear To Bring On A Camping Trip?

Camping is a highly personal experience, and every outdoor adventurer brings to it his or her own strengths, weaknesses, needs and desires. This means that you will probably want to bring along a different set of items than your buddy when heading out on your next trip. For example, you may want to bring along your camera, while your companion would prefer to bring a book. But your equipment list won’t differ entirely from that of your partners — there are a half-dozen or so things that every camper will need to bring. There are also a few items that are necessary for the group but needn’t be carried by every individual member of the party.

We’ll cover both types of equipment below – those things that should appear in every camper’s pack, and those things which should be divvied up between the members of the group.

What Supplies Should I Bring Camping?

For the most part, you’ll need these things no matter where you are heading or how long your trip is scheduled to last. Because you’ll use these items on each and every trip, it is always wise to prioritize these things when allotting your camping-gear budget.

Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag or camping blanket will keep you warm while you’re sleeping out in the elements, and they’ll cushion your body a little bit too. Most campers elect to bring a sleeping pad too, but this is not absolutely necessary, particularly if you are the type that can sleep anywhere.

Most campers will also be using a tent, but extreme campers may prefer using an enclosed or bivvy-style bag, which will protect you from rain and snow. These are rarely as fun for recreational campers, but they can actually keep you warmer than a traditional tent in extreme conditions, and they obviously help you free up pack space and eliminate a lot of weight.

Water Bottle

Decades ago, camping websites books would list a canteen among the items every camper must bring, but in the 21st century, campers have a number of better options. Canteens make water taste kind of funky and they have narrow mouths, which limits their flexibility. You can’t, for example, cook soup in them very easily.

Instead, most modern campers bring along a wide-mouthed plastic bottle. Often called “Nalgene bottles,” because they were originally produced by a company of the same name, these bottles are now made by a variety of manufacturers. There are differences between the various models, so be sure to think carefully about your choice and be a discriminating buyer.

Flashlight

Every camper should have a flashlight on his or her person. Flashlights are not only imperative for safety reasons, but they’re also good for your sanity – sharing a flashlight is no fun at all. Try to select a small, lightweight flashlight that has an easy-to-activate switch, fits comfortably in your hand and pumps out plenty of lumens.

Some campers like to bring along a headlamp, but you’d be wise to bring a flashlight too, as they excel in a variety of ways that headlamps do not. For example, it can be difficult to hold a headlamp steady for a lengthy period of time.

Multitool

A good multitool is one of the most important things in any camper’s pack. They are the Swiss army knives of modern outdoor enthusiasts. Multitools give you a way to carry several different tools in one convenient and relatively light package.

Even the simplest of multitools will usually feature pliers, screwdrivers, scissors and a knife blade, while the more elaborate models will include everything but the kitchen sink. As with almost every other camping-gear decision, you’ll have to balance the competing forces of weight and luxury, so consider your needs carefully when making your choice.

Survival Kit

A small survival kit should be one of the first things every camper packs before a trip. It should contain the essential items you’d need to survive, should a worst-case scenario unfold during your trip. Some campers prefer to purchase commercially assembled survival kits while others prefer to create their own custom survival kit themselves. Either approach is fine, as long as you are sure to include everything you need. Check out our guide to making your own survival kit, if you are so inclined.

Items Every Camping Party Needs

In addition to the things each individual needs, each camping party needs several items that can be shared among the members. Obviously, if you are camping alone you’ll have to carry each of these items yourself, while large parties will be able to spread the weight of these items among the members.

Tent

Tents are shared by two campers, but large tents can accommodate up to 5 or 6 people. This means that you’ll have to adjust the number of tents in your group to match your space needs.

Note that it is not necessary for any one person to carry the entire tent, as you could split it up into its component pieces if you like. This way, you could carry the rainfly and poles, while your companion carries the main tent shell.

Water Purifier

You should never drink untreated water while camping, as even the purest of mountain streams can carry a variety of nasty pathogens. Just a sip from the wrong creek could ruin your trip and have you heading to the emergency room. There are a variety of ways to treat water, but most campers will find that a water purifier is the most convenient and effective solution.

You’ll probably want to bring a purifier for every two members of your group. Aside from the redundancy benefits of multiple units, they’ll save you time too — it can take a while to pump a single liter of water, and time always seems to move slower when you’re thirsty.

Camp Stove

You can cook on an open fire, but this is usually a lot more trouble than it’s worth. Additionally, campfires are prohibited in many locations, particularly west of the Rockies, where wildfires are a perpetual threat. This means that you’ll want to bring along a camp stove whenever you go camping.

You’ll also need to bring along fuel too, and this will typically take up more space than the actual stove. As with water purifiers and tents, you’ll probably want to bring along one stove for every two campers. This will make it much easier to cook larger quantities of food than a single stove would.

First Aid Kit

While some campers will choose to include a few basic first-aid supplies in their survival kit, every camping party should have a well-stocked first-aid kit. Although you can certainly pack as much as space permits, the following items should be considered mandatory:

An assortment of bandages

Gauze

Tape

Tweezers

Benadryl

Aspirin

Ibuprofen

Topical pain-relieving lotion or gel

Antidiarrheal medication

Antacid

Antiseptic wipes

Triple antibiotic ointment or cream

Moleskin

Additionally, you’ll want to bring along any prescription medications you’ll need during the trip. Make sure to pack your first-aid items in a good carrying case to keep everything together and organized. If possible, select a brightly colored bag, so it is easy to find in an emergency. A first-aid kit can be used for several people; you’ll just need to adjust the quantities packed to reflect the size of the group.

Mess Kit

Every camping party needs a mess kit so that you can prepare, cook and serve food. A typical kit would be comprised of two sets of minimal flatware, a couple of pots or pans, two cups and two plates. However, there are plenty of variations on the theme and plenty of options in the marketplace. Mess kits aren’t really life-or-death equipment, so you can pack like a minimalist or a gourmet chef, depending on your desires. You may consider a mess kit an individual item, or you may try to get away with a single mess kit for four people – either way will work.

It’s also important to consider the type of food you’ll be making when planning out your mess kit. Many commercial camping foods can be prepared in and eaten from the bag, which will eliminate the need for individual plates. But on the other hand, you’ll need plenty of pans and individual plates if you want to make pancakes and bacon for breakfast.

Map

If your camping party is to have any chance of reaching its intended destination, you’ll need a good map to help you get there. A good map is even useful when you are hiking along well-marked trails, as it will allow you to determine how far you’ve traveled (and more importantly, how much farther you’ll have to travel to reach the campsite).

Digital maps – such as those displayed on your phone or tablet – are an intriguing option for modern campers, as they can provide a wealth of information that isn’t provided by paper maps. They also provide value from a safety context, as you can use your phone to contact help in an emergency.

However, digital devices present problems too. They are much heavier than a paper map is, and they are dependent on a good signal – something that is rare in the wilderness. Accordingly, it is probably wise to bring a paper map along too, as a backup.

Your Pack; Your Gear; Your Decisions

Every camping trip is different, so you may need to tweak this equipment list to account for the local terrain, wildlife, climate or laws of your destination. Accordingly, no list – including the one above – should be considered exhaustive and foolproof. You must always plan your trip carefully to ensure you have a good time and remain safe while enjoying the great outdoors.

However, the items listed above do represent the primary supplies and tools that you’ll need to ensure most of the memories you’ll make will bring a smile to your face. Additionally, some campers are willing to endure rougher conditions than others. We compiled this list for the “typical” camper, who wants a reasonable amount of comfort during the outing. Ultralight campers and survival-minded minimalists may scoff at a tent, but the typical weekend camper will likely have a much better time if sheltered from the elements.

Conversely, car campers and those for whom camping must include access to bathrooms and showers will probably want to double or triple the length of this list. And as long as you’re driving up to your campsite, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Did we leave anything out that you consider being critical for camping? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue. Let us know what other items you always pack – whether they are personal or group needs.

The post What Is The Most Important Gear To Bring On A Camping Trip? appeared first on Montem Outdoor Gear.

from Montem Outdoor Gear https://montemlife.com/what-is-the-most-important-gear-to-bring-on-a-camping-trip/

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My Personal EDC Geek Kit

New Post has been published on http://planet-geek.com/2018/05/28/geekitude/my-personal-edc-geek-kit/

My Personal EDC Geek Kit

This month finds me in France for a few weeks, away from hearth, home, family, and all my worldly posessions. While getting ready for this trip, I spent a bunch of time reviewing what I carry in my backpack – cleaning out debris that had accumulated (A few handfuls of receipts, some cold meds, and cables that didn’t make sense anymore), and making sure I had everything I’d need while away from home for an extended trip.

Contents of my every day carry backpack.

I realized while double-checking my kit that it really doesn’t change much. And since I got here (about a week ago) I haven’t had to replace or change anything, and I haven’t gone “Dammit, I’m missing something, guess I’ll go buy it.”

Now I’m not off in the wild jungle or anything – Paris does in fact have stores – but I’m pleased to say everything I’ve needed for work, and for my various jaunts around the city, have all been pretty well covered.

Someone on Slack asked about what I’m carrying for kit gear, so I decided to quickly write it up…

OGIO Camera bag – I got this bag something like 5 years ago, and it’s been great. It’s starting to get a little worn, but nothing is broken, and it came with a rain shroud that I’ve used a few times. It has a special pouch along the bottom specifically for camera gear.

Macbook Pro 13 – this is my every day computer. I don’t have a desktop machine at home. This is both my work and my personal machine. I’m typing on it as we speak!

Camera Flash – A small electronic flash for my Olympus

Memory cards – This bag contains about 20 memory cards – some USB3, some SD, a few microSD cards, and adapters. I used to have a specialized plastic case for cards, but there’s no reason to keep them that organized. Just toss ’em in the bag.

Earplugs – These are wax custom forming earplugs. I’ve used them on overnight plane flights, or in hotels that are just Too Damned Noisy

Macbook power supply – The smallest configuration I could get

Checkbook – Yes, there’s circumstances where I may need to use a check. I will probably just pick a few checks off this and put them in my wallet soon.

My journal – I have a journal. This was a gift from my sweetie – it’s about 3/4 full of a lot of dense writing. I find the act of writing in it cathartic. It slows me down and lets me think without all the geekery

Brainwavez Delta IEM Headphones – This is my “>second set of these (and I’m using them right now). They’re still fantastic sounding, and roll up into a nice light zippered case. The only reason I replaced them was the laptop fell off my lap at one point and bent the headphone connector all out of whack. Oops

Yes, I carry a rubiks cube around. It’s a great fidget toy, and a great way to relax. Also tends to start conversations. Best time right now is 1 minute 14 seconds for a full solve. But I’m out of practice, so nowadays it’s closer to 2 minutes. Also, a friend just reminded me that I sometimes use it for showing scale in a photo. Everyone knows how big a rubiks cube is.

Generic clip-on Sunglasses – these are a pair of clip on sunglasses I got off Amazon. They work remarkably well

My work ID pass

My passport – I don’t keep this with me all the time, just for this trip. I keep it in a buried pocket in the pack, very difficult to reach unless you’re trying hard Pickpocket proof as best I can do it.

Cleaning cloth for glasses – I wear glasses. I have sunglasses. Not having a good cleaning cloth at hand can be infuriating, particularly if you’re not wearing a cotton shirt or something.

KMASHI K-MP816 10000 mAh battery – This is critical. This battery has saved my ass a dozen times. It’s your typical portable battery pack. The reviews on it aren’t particularly stellar on Amazon, but for $12, I’ve totally gotten my money out of it. It’s a good balance between weight and capacity.

LKY DIGITAL Travel Adapter – This is a nifty little cube (it’s int he black zippered case) that has also been a godsend. It is a multi country adapter, able to plug into most European countries, as well as Japan and others I don’t know about. The real kicker is it has 2 USB charging ports on it also, so at night I can plug in my laptop, my cell phone, and my watch for recharging (or my travel battery), and have enough plugs for them all.

Apple Displayport to Ethernet adapter – Sometimes you’re in a place where the wifi just plain sucks or isn’t available (like a datacenter).

Charge cable for my Android Smartwatch

WMZ Multi Charger Cable – I love this thing. It’s a single USB cable with 3 ends on it. Lightning, Micro USB, and USB-C. It’s pretty rare I need more than one at a time, but I have a very good cable in case I need to charge my SO’s iPhone, or charge my KMASHI battery. My phone uses USB-C, so I’m all set no matter what I need. The cable itself is very well built, with a little velcro keeper and everything.

A spare small USB multiport charger, just in case.

Gerber Bear Grylls Compact Multitool – So, this is a bit of a problem. This is a very small (and inexpensive) multitool that I like to have with me, because having a multitool is handy. I normally carry that inside the Altoids tin with the rest of my ‘support stuff’, but out of the last 10 plane flights, two of them have been pulled out by the TSA and confiscated. Now what I do is take the multitool out of my bag and put it in my checked luggage (if I’m bringing some). If I don’t have checked luggage, I leave the multitool at home. Frustrating, because this thing is tiny, and incredibly useful.

Altoids ‘kit’ – It’s a little hard to see in this pic, but there’s 2 altoids tins there. One is full of tasty altoids goodness. The other is a sort of emergency kit I build after reading some of the more sane prepper sites. In that second tin I carry:

Bandaids

Antibiotic ointment

Advil

A small LED flashlight

Some cash

Several rubber bands

Several paper clips (these things have come in handy SO MANY TIMES, I honestly cannot tell you. Seriously, carry some.

Some anti-itch cream

Alcohol wipes

The rest of the items are specifically for my Olympus PEN-F Mirrorless Camera. A note here – this is the first long trip I’ve taken with the smaller camera, and I LOVE IT. I’m already having ideas for different lenses to carry but my current set is working quite well.

Spare lens caps

Olympus 25mm F1.8 Lens – The equivalent of the standard ‘nifty fifty’ lens so common on 35mm bodies. It’s been okay for my work, though I think I’d like faster glass.

Spare batteries and charger. I carry 3 batteries with me, because I’m almost ALWAYS having one go down, so having one to switch to that’s fresh, and one in the wings is great They charge pretty fast, so keeping them all charged isn’t much of a challenge.

Panasonic Lumix 20mm F1.7 Lens (on camera) – A great landscape lens. Flat and easy to work with, great for scenery and tourism shots!

Olympus 40-150mm Zoom Lens – This is equivalent to a 300mm lens in the 35mm body family. It’s great for doing ‘long lens’ work, and is extremely light.

Olympus PEN-F Mirrorless Four-Thirds Camera – See my other blog post about this camera, but this is now my everyday shooter. I love it.

Leather case for PEN-F – I freely admit one of the reasons I got the PEN-F was it’s retro styling. This brown leather case completes the image, and of course works really well protecting the camera. I leave the lens cover off when carrying it around on shoots, and bundle it up when it’s on it’s way any long distance (like on a plane).

Theres naturally other stuff I have that’s not in the pic, like my cell phone, but one thing I’d like to add in is I carry a Pocketmonkey Wallet Multitool. This is a super handy thin credit card sized piece of metal that has things like a bottle opener, screwdriver, wrench, etc etc on it. I’ve used it half a dozen times, and it is 100% TSA approved (I’ve only gotten nudged on it once, where an overzealous TSA agent asked about it, took it out of my wallet, went over to confer with his supervisor, and came back “Huh, these are 100% okay. Cool!” and off I went.

I’m sure there’s stuff I’m missing. Leave a comment if you think of something I should change or get. I will probably be looking to replace my Ogio pack soon, as it’s a little long in the tooth. Something a little more outdoorsey would be nice.