Writer offers unusual collection of ‘outdoor’ Father’s Day gifts
by Scott Smith
Contributing Editor
With the unofficial start of summer and Memorial Day fast approaching it means Father’s Day isn’t far behind. Not being a dad, I figured that in writing a Father’s Day gift piece I would draw on the wisdom of my late dad. He always purchased folks he cared for something they would use.
Being outdoors folk, we can all use something comfortable to sit on and relax after a long day’s work, after shooting a pistol or shotgun match, or while watching the kids play a summer sport. The older I get the more I realize: comfort is one of life’s important things. When I was growing up, most chairs designed for the outdoors were not that comfy and if they were they were big and heavy; and far from easily carried around. Now there are many outdoor chairs on the market, but most are not designed to fit big guys. If they are, they are not easily moved. I went on a search for outdoor furniture to fit those requirements.
At the SHOT Show this year, I found a company that manufactures nothing but gear for hunters, campers, and outdoorsman: ALPS OutdoorZ (1 White Pine, Dept GWK, New Haven, MO 63068; phone: 800-344-2577; online: alpsmountaineering.com). ALPS Outdoors can make dad’s day; be it Father’s Day or any other day, better. ALPS offer a wide array of folding outdoor furniture. Unlike most “folding” furniture, ALPS furniture is solid, durable and comfortable—even if you are a big guy.
I have been using the Lay-Z Lounger throughout the spring and have found it to be a comfortable place to study one’s eyelids (aka nap) on a warm spring day. The Lay-Z Lounger’s body support is secured to the frame by heavy duty bungee type cords. This setup gives one what some might call an “0 G” support. This support gives with you, supporting you without stress points. This means the hips, shoulders, and low back are all supported but not pushed back on, so you feel like you are floating on air. In my experience this lounger is most relaxing. Further aiding in your comfort is the removable foam pillow that is secured to the back of the lounger by an elastic strap.
The body of the Lay-Z Lounger pivots on the legs so you can sit up, lie down, or assume any number of positions in between. There are locks on both supports to lock you down the Lounger so you don’t roll back to a laying down position, should you wish to stay more upright.
It is all well and good that the Lay-Z Lounger is comfortable at home; but what if you want to take it on the road with you. No problem; it folds up and will fit in the back of most vehicles on the road today.
A companion to the Lay-Z Lounger is the Kodiak Chair branded for Browning; in the ALPS line it is the King Kong. The difference between the Kodiak and the King Kong is the body, and Browning’s buck head on the Kodiak. The King Kong is a solid denier fabric while the Kodiak is made from mesh. To ensure you don’t rip out the back of the chair, it is reinforced and, like the King Kong, it will hold 800 pounds.
The back of these chairs is over 20 inches from seat to top of the chair back. This supports you through your shoulders, and I have found if I slide forward a bit, I can comfortably rest my head on the back of the chair. These big chairs have arm pockets and drink holders built in so you can keep your favorite beverage and reading material close at hand.
This year when I am off to a NASCAR race, a pistol match or simply watching the grass grow in the backyard, I will be using an ALPS King Kong and Lay-Z Lounger in Realtree AP HD. For those who don’t think camouflage goes with everything ALPS offers these pieces in solid colors. Whatever you choose for yourself or dad, when it comes to these chairs you won’t go wrong.
If you are like me and carry your camera or cameras to the field, you need something to securely carry them. It is easy to pack a camera, but protecting them is another thing. Another product from ALPS OutdoorZ is the Gunnison Prowler. This pack is designed to carry cameras or other optics such as binoculars in a padded compartment with removable adjustable padded dividers. In this section there are two small pockets for lens cleaner and lens cloth.
In addition to the section for optics, there are several other sections. The upper/main pocket is large enough to carry a coat, food, etc. and there are small pockets to carry tiny electronics: a GPS unit, MP3 player, etc. There is even a key attachment clip so you don’t misplace your keys and get stranded in the woods. On the front of this pocket there is another zipper pouch which is large enough to carry a packable rain jacket.
Behind the optic and main pocket is a zipper compartment that has a removable frame strut. This makes the frame more rigid and distributes the weight more evenly. This pouch will also accommodate a hydration bladder and you can run the hose out the main zipper using the double zippers.
The waistband of the Gunnison not only stabilizes and helps distribute the weight in the pack, it also has two fleece lined magnetically sealed pouches. These will easily carry a cell phone, PDA, radio, glasses etc., and keep them handy.
If you can’t carry enough stuff with all of these pockets, there is more. There are two mesh pockets on the sides of the Gunnison. The right one has a cinch to secure items while the left pouch is elasticized for easy access. There are also three cinch straps that allow you to tie on a small pad, poncho, etc. Lastly there is a florescent orange rain cover. This will keep your gear dry and keep you visible in the woods because you don’t want to be missed or violate laws in states that require florescent orange during hunting season.
The Gunnison is but one of several packs that ALPS offers. They also have several full packs or fanny packs to meet your needs. The gear is well made and they look good enough to use to carry your gear to and from work or the gym.
If you think packs and furniture are not appropriate gifts for dad, how about a knife or a pen? If the answer is yes, consider Surefire (18300 Mount Baldy Cir., Dept. GWK, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; phone: 800-828-8809; online: surefire.com). They have you covered with the EWP-03 Pen and the EW10 Crank Knife.
The EWP-03 pen is machined aluminum that is Mil-Spec hard anodized in black or tan. The ink cartridge is a Schmidt® EasyFlow cartridge so you write smoothly and continually in most any conditions. This pen is built to survive anything you can dish out and is designed to be an impact weapon should the need arise.
If your “dad” prefers something that is sharp and pointy the EW10 Crank is the answer. This knife has a harness seatbelt cutter in the frame, a bottle/can opener in the blade, and the hex opening fits half-inch nuts. There are two slots in the hex to hold a coin (a quarter or a dime) to make a field expedient flat-blade screwdriver.
The Crank is the smallest knife in the Surefire line; however, like its larger siblings, it is built like a tank. The frame is hard anodized aluminum to reduce the weight without sacrificing strength. The blade is 154Cm steel so it will hold an edge, sharpens easily and is corrosion resistant. The Crank is a true outdoorsman’s knife. Checkout the Crank and the EWP-03 Pen out at your local Surefire dealer; dad will approve.
Another knife that might work for Father’s Day is Spyderco’s Tenacious (820 Spyderco Way, Dept. GWK, Golden, CO 80403; phone: 303-279-8383; online: spyderco.com). This knife offers the user a lot for the price. The Tenacious has G10 handles with stainless steel inserts, offers you carry and draw preference: Tip-up/tip-down, left-hand/right-hand, blade style-combination, plain or SpyderEdge, with a durable 8CR13MOV blade. To ensure this knife is as tough and durable as it parts, it is held together by three stainless steel screws and a stainless pivot screw. If dad can break this tough knife, he has used it for something he shouldn’t have.
The last item I thought “dad” might like for Father’s Day is from 5.11 Tactical (4300 Spyres Way, Dept. GWK, Modesto, CA 95356; phone: 209-527-4511; online: 511tactical.com), the Tactical Trainer. Wait a minute, I am not “tactical” you say, this may be true but we all appreciate comfortable footwear; especially when shooting—be it for fun or shooting a tournament.
The Tactical Trainer is built to be more of an adventure racing-type shoe than it is a serious boot. This means it is comfortable for hours, even when running or moving up and down a sporting clays field. This comfort comes from poron pads in the heel and forefoot built into the polyurethane insole. To further enhance the shock absorbing capabilities of the Tactical Trainer the midsole is made from Phylon. This material is used in many running shoes that are in production today. This is why I say the Tactical Trainer is more like a running shoe than a boot.
To ensure you have traction in a variety of conditions 5.11 uses a Vibram® outsole. This outsole is aggressive and will give you traction in a wide variety of conditions. I have found the outsole does not mark hardwood or tile floors, yet you can climb a mountain if you desire to scale one.
The Tactical Trainers are versatile boots. They are casual dressy with a pair of chinos or 5.11 Covert Cargo pants, or, as I found thanks to an early spring heat wave, they look good with shorts.
I hope this gives you some new and different ideas for Father’s Day. Dads deserve to get stuff that fits their outdoor activities and helps him to relax. Don’t give dad just another “tie,” he’s the one who is there at your ball game, or took you to the woods hunting. Show him you care and are thinking of him.
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