Collapsible water bottle manufacturer Vapur considers their product Anti-Bottles. They roll up to tale up little space when empty yet are durable, freezable, dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. Additionally, the cap features a carabiner to help carry the Vapur Element.
OTTE Gear has introduced another water bottle with Liberty Bottle Works and Bawidamann. This time they used Bawidamann’s popular “Dive Girl” pinup. Made in USA!, BPA free, food grade liner good for water, wine, beer, (carbonation not a problem) whisky up to 80 proof. This one is slightly smaller at 24 oz. The cost is $16 or are free with a $350 purchase.
Extreme Outfitters has just introduced a new 32 oz Wide Mouth water bottle. These BPA Free bottles are Grey with Black lids and made from Eastman Tritan, a material that offers clarity, toughness, heat resistance and chemical resistance. The coolest thing about these is that they come with the spillguard insert. Ok, maybe this is the coolest thing; they are only $4.99 through the end of this month.
www.extremeoutfitters.us/32ozwidemouthbottlegrayblack
Natick is conducting a market survey for US Army PEO Soldier’s Product Manager-Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment domestic products, suppliers and manufacturers of individual water treatment/purification systems. Additionally, industry should expect a solicitation to purchase such technologies in the next 60-120 days.
Their interest runs the whole gamut of purification systems from standard bacterial and viral removal to dealing with turbidity and industrial waste. Additionally, they’d like info on systems that are designed for salt and brackish water.
Specifically, they are seeking info on systems with these attributes:
“The U.S. Army is interested in identifying firms with products, technologies, and capabilities to provide a man-packable, water treatment/purification system for Individual Soldier use in purifying water (for drinking) from indigenous fresh water sources in basic, hot and cold environments. The system shall be compatible with current and future organizational clothing and equipment such as the MOLLE Hydration System, standard military canteen, and/or both.
Purification systems sought must be lightweight (not to exceed 1lb. dry), easy to use/clean/maintain, low bulk/compact, capable of producing microbiologically purified water in its operational life with/without purification element replacement and meeting the volume capacities of Soldier hydration needs (135 liters). It shall have an unused service life of 180 days and should include an indicator of service life status; it shall be storage stable for 5 years and be environmentally-safe during use and subsequent disposal. It shall have the capability to resist freezing or withstand freezing without damage. Freeze/Thaw cycle testing should be conducted according to MIL-STD-810 (Method 524), “Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests”. The device shall remove or resist growth and build-up of mold, mildew and bio-films. It shall be durable to a 6 foot drop and 300 pound load(static and dynamic).
The device must be capable of disinfecting and/or removing microbiological contaminants to levels mandated by the HQDA Technical Bulletin, Medical 577 (TB MED 577). Pathogen reduction capabilities must be documented through laboratory testing to the NSF International P248 Protocol for “Emergency Military Operations Microbiological Water Purifiers” (bacterial removal to 6-log, viral removal to 4-log, and protozoan cyst removal to 3-log) or better with all test plans, data, and test reports validated by the U.S. Army Public Health Command (USAPHC). The water purification time must be 20 minutes or less (objective less than 15 minutes) with a flow rate of not less than 200 mL/min. Batteries, if used, must be a commercially-available type and of weight and bulk compatible with the overall device requirements for weight and bulk.
Consideration will also be given to removal of toxic industrial chemicals/materials to US Army short-term potability standards (TB Med 577) from fresh water sources, removal of chemical/biological warfare agents (desired), and reducing turbidity (less than 1 NTU). Processed water shall be palatable with taste/flavor as in commercial bottled spring or municipal waters. Additional consideration will be given to devices capable of desalination and purification from seawater and brackish water sources.”
If you’ve got a system, you’ve got until 9 March to let the Government know. Actual requirements for solicitations are often derived from the information received through these RFIs so it’s important to participate in the process.
Built for use with natural fuels, the 180 Stove is made in the USA and fits together with slot and tab construction. Two different sized models weigh in at 5.9 and 10.4 ounces. An ingenious nesting design ensures smoky parts are stored on the inside.
Battle Systems offers 3/4″ wide Vinyl Tape. It is Coyote and features a matte finish and comes in 60′ rolls. We purchased some awhile back and have been using it around the homestead for a variety of tasks although mainly on gear. We tried to set fire to it but it wouldn’t burn. Conversely, it remained sticky in spite of dousing it with water.
It’s a simple product with a 1000 uses. Best of all, it blends in with your gear. We like it and recommend it. Everyone should have a roll.
Get yours at www.battlesystemsllc.com.
If you find yourself regularly tying gear down then you might want to check out this new product we just heard about. They use a Nite Ize S-biner to adjust the length of their bungee and secure it on one end. However, I have to say, their “Safe Knot” they use to anchor the LoopRope is just a simple girth hitch or lark’s head. The double bungee effect looks to offer some versatility in securing the load especially when used in conjunction with other LoopRopes.
Overall, it looks like a new mousetrap and might be right for some of our readers considering the product’s versatility and adaptability. You’ll come up with ways of using the LoopRope that no one ever considered.
We first mentioned the BioLite stove in February of 2010. Thanks to SSD reader Brian M, we know that the CampStove is now available for pre-order after a very long wait indeed.
As you can see, the production version is different from the prototypes we originally showed. BioLite relies on wood gassifier technology combined with a fan that is powered by the conversion of heat generated by the stove to electricity through the use of a Thermoelectric Generator made from solid state semi-conductor elements. The use of woodgas has been around for years and converts the combustible elements of wood into a highly efficient flammable gas by super heating the wood. However, BioLite was originally envisioned for use in developing nations and it burns not only wood but also pine cones, underbrush, pellets, rice husks and even dung.
The CampStove doesn’t just produce heat. It also produces electricity that can be used to charge electronic items such as phones and lights. It takes up about the same volume as a Nalgene bottle and can be used for camping, post-disaster recovery or for any application where you want to use wood and other debris to produce heat and power.
