The Napier Sportz Truck Tent 57 Series Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

As we age it becomes more difficult to sleep on the ground.  For those who love tent camping, there is a solution to this problem.... Napier SportzTruck Tent 57 Series.  This tent allows the camper to sleep in their truck bed which eliminates the need to stoop down in order to enter and exit your tent.

Napier Sportz Truck Tent 57 Series Side View

Napier Sportz Truck Tent 57 Series Side View

The Napier 57 Series Sportz Truck Tent is an awesome three season tent that sleeps two.  The rain fly and walls are  constructed from 1200 mm PU polyester taffeta.  The floor is made from 1200 mm PU nylon taffeta.  There are two interior gear pockets with a gear loft that can be used for extra storage space.  With a center height of 5'5" there is enough head room for pretty much anyone.  The rear window is placed in a manner to offer access to the cab of your pickup through the rear hatch window.

The description on this tent says it can be set up in as little as ten minutes; however, I can tell you attempting to assemble this tent in the dark for the first time it will most definitely take much longer than that.  On the other hand, taking the tent down and packing it away is a really simple task.  If you are going to be out and about in the vehicle that the tent will be set up in, consider setting the tent up in advance so that when you arrive back at your camping spot for the night you can simply pick up the tent, slide it into your truck bed and strap it down.  This will save you an enormous amount of trouble.

Napier SportzTruck Tent 57 Series "The Napier SportzTruck Tent 57 Series allows you to sleep comfortably protected in the bed of your pickup. Its shock-corded, color coded Durawrap fiberglass and steel poles allow for fast set up in asittle as 10 minutes." $269.99

Although setting this tent up for the first time presented its challenges, I have to assume that the biggest reason for this is that my wife and I attempted to pull this off well after dark when both of us were already tired.  I'm quite certain that the next time we set it up will yield a completely different result.  Upon examining the Napier Sportz Truck Tent during the day I could see that is really is a simple tent to set up.

The overnight temperatures were in the mid forties when my wife and I used our tent, and we were able to sleep comfortably on an air mattress inside of our sleeping bag.  Unlike some tents that claim to be "three season," this one truly is!  We had no trouble staying warm inside of this well built tent.

One thing I will say is that if your truck is lifted, you will definitely want to come up with a step system for getting into your tent.  You could probably use a two-foot step ladder or cinder blocks.  Our method was to simply stack up some firewood and use it as our step to get inside. 

Keep in mind that there are several different models of this tent designed to fit many different truck bed sizes.  Be sure to find the right one for your truck.

I was pleasantly surprised at the overall quality of this tent.  With proper care this tent will provide the use with many years of use.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Summit Viper Climbing Tree Stand Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

As a hunter I spend most of my time on public lands and have tried hunting from a stationary stand.  However, I have found that there are disadvantages to hunting from these stands, and  decided last season to try out a climbing tree stand.  After researching just about every climbing tree stand I could find information on I found the Summit Viper SD Climbing Treestand.

Because the manufacturers attempt to keep them lightweight, many climbing tree stands are rather small.  However with my build a tiny tree stand doesn't fit the bill. After comparing it to other climbing stands on the market I decided to give it a try.

Summit Viper Climber
In a Tree 

The Summit Viper SD Climbing Treestand offers:

• Perfect combination of comfort and light weight
• Dead Metal Sound Deadening Technology
• Critical sections of tubing are foam-filled for sound reduction
• Adjustable seat height
• Seat measures 12" x 18"
• Backrest measures 12" x 20"
• Platform measures 20" x 29"
• Inside climber frame measures 19.75" x 26.5"
• Ideal for bows or guns
• SummitLokt™ construction
• RapidClimb® stirrups
• QuickDraw™ cables
• Cushioned armrests
• Padded climbing seat bar
• Backpack straps
• Includes a full-body safety harness
• Weight: 20 lbs.
• Maximum capacity 300 lbs.
• Top and Bottom Sections easily nest together for backpacking with included strap

Top & Bottom Nested
Ready to be carried by backpack straps

This stand offers the ideal mixture of being both light weight and comfortable.  The added sound deadening technology takes it one step farther making it very quiet when climbing and descending in the tree helping to prevent you from spooking that deer you are working so hard to take.  The rapid climb stirrups allow the hunter to move up and down a tree safely and at a rather fast pace.  The quick draw cables allow the hunter to set this stand up for a particular tree and be climbing in no time flat.  Each stand sold includes a full-body safety harness.

After purchasing the Summit Viper SD Climbing Treestand and using it last season, I understand why it ranks so highly by the majority of people who take the time to rate it.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Review - Revisited

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I have been using my ThermaCell for nearly a year now.  I take it with me whenever I'm going to be in the outdoors during the prime-time bug biting hours.  The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent is absolutely amazing!  This device does exactly what it says it will do (it keeps the bugs and mosquitoes at bay).

ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Repel mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums, and sand flies while out enjoying the  outdoors with the ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent system. Powered by a  butane cartridge (included), this convenient unit heats a small mat containing the

The Earth Scent refill packs are great for hunting as they can help to cover up human odors giving you an added layer of scent protection.

ThermaCELL Scent Mosquito  Repellent Refill Kit A great choice for hunters, the ThermaCELL Earth Scent  Mosquito Repellent Refill Kit helps your ThermaCell Unit  provide hours of protection from mosquitoes AND cover  your scent while on the hunt. This kit produces the same  zone (up to a 15 foot radius)

The clip on holster gives you a hands-free method for carrying your Thermacell unit without interfering with your ability to hunt or fish.

Clip On Holster for ThermaCELL Mosquito  Repellent Unit The ThermaCELL Clip On Holster makes it even easier to keep  the wonderful mosquito repelling power of the ThermaCell  Mosquito Repellent Unit with you. Great for tree stands, ground  blinds, docks, boats, and any other place

The ThermaCell is now available in a lantern form which enables you to sit it on the dock, hang it near your tree stand or even inside your hunting blind.  It could also be placed inside your tent while camping or on a picnic table while eating.  The possibilities are nearly endless! 

ThermaCELL Bristol Mosquito Repellent  Backyard LED Lantern With the ThermaCELL Bristol Mosquito Repellent Mini Lantern, mosquitoes will  no longer ruin your outdoor living spaces. This compact model offers full-size  protection against mosquitoes, black flies, and a variety of other flying insects.

In my opinion, there is not a better method of keeping the bugs and mosquitoes at bay while spending time outdoors doing what you love!  Get a ThermaCell unit and find out how you can avoid the need for spray-on insect repellents while fishing, hunting, hiking, camping or just enjoying your time with mother nature.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

The Sawyer Water Treatment Bottle Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

When exploring the outdoors it is important to be prepared for any emergency situations that may arise. The Sawyer water treatment bottle allows you to do just that. This five ounce personal water treatment bottle makes it easy to know that you will have clean fresh water no matter where you are. Simply fill the bottle directly from a creek, lake or stream and you can drink it instantly through the built in water filtration straw. 

Sawyer Water Treatment Bottle

Features:

• Lightweight
• Hollow Fiber Membrane filter physically removes particles
• Removes 99.9% of Bacteria
• Removes 99.9% of Protozoa down to .1 micron absolute in size including Cryptosporidia, Giardia, and Salmonella
• Bottle Capacity:  32 ounces
• Purifies your water without the residual chemical tastes
• BPA free
• ONE MILLION GALLON GUARANTEE

Whether you are camping, bicycling, fishing, hiking, hunting or however you choose to explore the outdoors, you can't afford to go without having a method of obtaining safe drinking water.  With the Sawyer water treatment bottle you will always be prepared.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

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Gamo Mach1 Pigman Edition .22 Caliber EGT Air Rifle Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

The Gamo Mach1 Pigman Edition .22 Caliber EGT Air Rifle is the second of two high powered break barrel pellet rifles I have purchased. The first was the Gamo Whisper Fusion Pro .177 caliber pellet rifle which you can read about here.

Since purchasing this gun I have shot it countless times and found it to be extremely accurate right out of the box.  As is the case with all Gamo airguns I have had the pleasure of shooting, this one is built to last.  The normal price of the Mach1 Pigman Edition is around $349.  I happened to find mine while it was on sale for about $249 which made it more affordable.

My daughter with the Gamo Mach1 Pigman Edition
.22 Cal. EGT Air Rifle

The Gamo Mach1 Pigman Edition .22 Caliber EGT Air Rifle features:

• Length of pull for this gun is 14.2 in.
• Cocking effort is 32 lbs.
• Barrel length is 17.8"
• Overall length of the gun is 43.3 inches
• Weighs a total of 6.5 lbs.
• Available in both .177 cal.  and .22 cal.
• Whisper Fusion double integrated noise dampening technology
• Reduced Recoil Rail technology to extend the life or your scope
• All weather synthetic stock
• Non-slip rubberized grips
• Shock Wave Absorber recoil pad
• Fiber optic front and rear sights for easy aiming
• Includes 3-9 x 40 scope

The .177 caliber rifle shoots pellets at up to 1420 feet/second while the .22 caliber rifle shoots pellets at up to 1,020 feet/second offering plenty of knockdown power for varmint hunting.

Cons:

The only complaint I have about this rifle is that the quality of the scope that is included with it does not come close to matching the quality of the gun.  If you like shooting with open sights, you'll be set right out of the box once you sight it in.  If you want to shoot it with a scope, plan on spending some extra money to purchase a new scope.  The scope I chose is the Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO Illuminated Reticle True Hunter Scope.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Gamo Whisper Fusion Pro .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

The Gamo Whisper Fusion Pro .177 Caliber air rifle was the first high powered break-barrel pellet rifles that I purchased.  This gun rockets pellets at up to 1,400 Feet/Second with PBA ammo and as fast as 1,200 FPS with lead!  Anyone who has ever shot a Gamo air rifle could tell you that this gun has not disappointed me.  Hundreds of shots after blasting that first pellet down range, I still have only one complaint which has nothing to do with the rifle itself.  Instead, my complaint is with the scope that is included with the purchase of this gun.  Game makes an excellent rifle, but their scopes leave much to be desired.  The Gamo Gamo Whisper Fusion Pro .177 Caliber Air Rifle makes an excellent choice for plinking, target shooting and even some small game.

The features of this gun include:

• Double integrated noise dampener

• Shoots alloy pellets at 1400 fps

• Comes with a 3-9x40mm scope

• Two-stage adjustable trigger

• All weather molded synthetic stock

• Break barrel, single cocking system
• 3-9 x 40 mm scope

Overall this is an excellent gun.  As I stated in the paragraph above the scope was lacking in quality.  If you enjoy shooting with a scope, plan on spending a bit of extra money to purchase one worth putting on your gun.  The scope I chose was the Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO Illuminated Reticle True Hunter Scope which can be purchased here.

If you liked this post, you may like the Gamo Mach1 Pigman Edition .22 Caliber EGT Air Rifle Review

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Illusion Systems Extinguisher Deer Call Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

Having tried a vast array of deer calls and being less than impressed with every one of them I was beginning to believe a good call was nonexistent.  However, while watching a hunting show on tv, I happened to see a commercial for the Illusion Systems Extinguisher deer call and decided to purchase one to check it out for myself.  I was extremely impressed with the lifelike sound this call produced.  Needless to say, I carry this call with me every time I hit the woods for a deer hunt.

As this short video displays - The Extinguisher deer call is quite capable of producing lifelike sounds.  

The Illusion Systems Extinguisher deer call features:

• Now there is no need to carry two or three different calls to the stand.  With its patented ModiSlide the Extinguisher allows you to switch your calling from buck to doe to fawn instantly by simply sliding the mechanism up or down.
• The ModiSlide mechanism gives this call the advantage of being freeze-free by not only changing the call sound but also freeing up the call if you ever experience "freeze up."
• The throat tube easily allows directional calling so you can be sure that monster buck will hear you.
• Every Extinguisher deer call sold includes a DVD to show you exactly how you can master the art of deer calling.
• The Extinguisher deer call comes with a 30 day 100% money back guarantee.

One more reason to purchase the Extinguisher - It's made in the U.S.A.!

If you're like me and have tried a seemingly endless number of calls without satisfaction, it's time for you to try the Extinguisher.  It's the real deal!

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Review

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Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit

It's that time of year again..... The biting insects are making a return attempting to chase the outdoorsman back inside.  Thankfully there is now a solution to this annoying problem.

After practically being eaten alive at the start of last years archery season, I purchased a Thermacell and put it to the test. I figured it was just a gimmick and I'd be returning the unit after trying it out, but to my surprise it worked so well for me that I couldn't figure out why I hadn't bought one sooner!

The Thermacell unit claims to protect an area of 15' in diameter.  I don't know if it does, but I do know that it protects an area large enough that I had a lot less issues with the pesky biting insects in the space I took up while hunting.

The Thermacell units are small enough to fit into your hunting or fishing pack right along with all your other gear.  Powered by a small replaceable butane cartridge, it heats up a small mat that contains allethrin creating the area of protection against mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums and sand flies.

Thermacell has no cords and does not require a lighter or matches to light.  Instead it has an on off knob with a starter button.  The unit weighs 7.1 OZ. with a full butane cartridge and will protect for up to four hours with one mat.  The butane cartridge will last long enough to burn through 3 mats which is enough to pretty much get you through the whole day.

I took the Thermacell with me whether I was hunting on the ground or in my tree stand with good results under both circumstances.

Thermacell is also U.S. Army tested and approved.

I would recommend this mosquito repellent device for hunting, fishing, barbecuing and most any other outdoor activity.  There are replacement butane cartridges available for purchase as well as replacement mats in both scent free and earth scent.

Overall I would highly recommend this item for anyone who loves the outdoors but hates the bugs that go along with being out there.

Thermacell mosquito repellent units can be purchased at Bass Pro Shops  along with the replacement mats and butane cartridges and is available in several different colors including camo and pink camo.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO Illuminated Reticle True Hunter Scope

Disclosure:

Any links to merchants in this post are affiliate links.  If you click on a link and purchase a product mentioned in this post I may earn a commission.  This will not add to the price you pay for that product.

Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO True Hunter Scope

Most of the high powered pellet rifles we can purchase today are top-notch guns that are capable of providing us with hours of enjoyment.  These air rifles are capable of taking small game such as rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and many other species of animals allowing us to keep up on our shooting skills.  The scopes on the other hand are usually pretty worthless.  I've purchased multiple break barrel, high powered air rifles and have found through experience that the included scopes are not capable of holding up to the stress that is dished out by the "double recoil" of these guns.  Each time I purchased one of these guns, I had high hopes for the new scope only to be let down once again.  These precision air rifles require a scope that is manufactured specifically to deal with these conditions.

Through the trial and error of purchasing several scopes I finally stumbled onto the Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO True Hunter Scope and have been truly impressed by its performance.

Scope features:

• 40mm objective lens (adjustable objective)
• 1″ tube
• 1/4 MOA (1/4″ click value @ 100 yds)
• Mil-dot reticle (36-color illumination-enhancing)
• 5 yds to infinity parallax adjustment
• 34.5 ft to 11.5 ft field of view
• 3.9″ to 3.2″ eye relief
• 13mm to 4.5mm exit pupil
• EZ-TAP Illumination Enhancing (IE) technology with RGB (red-green-black*) in dual-color mode and 36 colors in multi-color mode.  (Reticle will be black if illumination is not in use)
• Zero lock/reset target turrets
• Includes 1 CR2032 3V lithium battery
• Flip open lens caps to protect it from scratches

The Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO True Hunter Scope has proven its self to be capable of withstanding the punishment being dished out by these powerful air rifles. Some of the other features include:

• Weight:  12.1 OZ
• Length:  12.6 Inches
• Emerald coated optics allowing 95% light transmission
• Shockproof
• Fog proof
• Rainproof
• Nitrogen Filled
• Black Matte Finish

This scope includes a set of Picatinny/Weaver rings for mounting it to your gun; however if your gun has a dovetail mount, you will need to purchase a different set of rings.

Since purchasing this scope, I have shot hundreds of rounds through my gun and the Leapers UTG 3-9x40 AO True Hunter Rifle Scope has proven to be a wonderful asset.

At just over one hundred dollars with shipping, this scope is well worth the money and can be purchased here.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day