Enthusiast III
So as a new member to the forums I figured I would add a couple of pennies (my $.02) to some gear that has been used in the past and still carry with me. I am a firm believer in always being able to be self sufficient. Now the Golden Rule, well one of many I guess, is to never wheel alone. Ok, I've broke that rule one or twice as i believe we all have but here is one of many items that has helped.
* The MAX-AX 7-in-1. So the basic tool carry always has an Ax and a Shovel for multiple uses. From Trail Repair to the "oops I may need to dig out" moments that life off road brings us they will always have a soft spot in everyone's hearts. Now for me, as much of a tool-nerd as I am, I absolutely detest carrying more than i need to. Maybe it comes from my backpacking days, I dunno. Available on Amazon from Forestry Tool Co. and used by the US Military (just ask, we all kicked this thing around the back of the HMMWV and 7-tons) This tool does it all (not as good as the individual tool but good enough). One of the things that I've learned is that tools that slip on to an individual handle have a nasty habit of sliding BACK down the handle and adding a new function to the tool, removing the webbing from between the thumb and forefinger. Not only does that hurt but it makes for a bad day as well. The perk of this tool is the lug behind the Ax head. No more tools sliding down handles, they all attach there. Now while that does save your hand it does lead to the Achilles heel of of this tool. After a ton of abuse (lets say cutting a path clean through a rock rather than going around or bridging it) the lug may deform and become loose. That takes a ton of abuse to do but hey, I've see dumber stunts pulled. So if the plan is to cut a completely new path through an area then hey, maybe the individual tools would be called for. But if all you are doing is some weekend trail repair, digging out a stuck rig, cutting through a branch across a trail, pounding in an anchor, furrowing out the ground to throw grass seed for erosion control, or hey lets face it, maybe digging a hole to sit over for a moment, then maybe this is something worth looking in to. Another perk is the fact that it is small and fits well just about anywhere. I have one (the tacti-cool green colored one us service guys know) in the jeep and the yellow civilian one in the 4runner.
* The MAX-AX 7-in-1. So the basic tool carry always has an Ax and a Shovel for multiple uses. From Trail Repair to the "oops I may need to dig out" moments that life off road brings us they will always have a soft spot in everyone's hearts. Now for me, as much of a tool-nerd as I am, I absolutely detest carrying more than i need to. Maybe it comes from my backpacking days, I dunno. Available on Amazon from Forestry Tool Co. and used by the US Military (just ask, we all kicked this thing around the back of the HMMWV and 7-tons) This tool does it all (not as good as the individual tool but good enough). One of the things that I've learned is that tools that slip on to an individual handle have a nasty habit of sliding BACK down the handle and adding a new function to the tool, removing the webbing from between the thumb and forefinger. Not only does that hurt but it makes for a bad day as well. The perk of this tool is the lug behind the Ax head. No more tools sliding down handles, they all attach there. Now while that does save your hand it does lead to the Achilles heel of of this tool. After a ton of abuse (lets say cutting a path clean through a rock rather than going around or bridging it) the lug may deform and become loose. That takes a ton of abuse to do but hey, I've see dumber stunts pulled. So if the plan is to cut a completely new path through an area then hey, maybe the individual tools would be called for. But if all you are doing is some weekend trail repair, digging out a stuck rig, cutting through a branch across a trail, pounding in an anchor, furrowing out the ground to throw grass seed for erosion control, or hey lets face it, maybe digging a hole to sit over for a moment, then maybe this is something worth looking in to. Another perk is the fact that it is small and fits well just about anywhere. I have one (the tacti-cool green colored one us service guys know) in the jeep and the yellow civilian one in the 4runner.
