American Outdoor Guide August 2020

“NEVER WASTE THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY A GOOD CRISIS.” As far as I can tell, this statement is most correctly attributed to Niccolò Machiavelli, the noted Italian Renaissance philosopher and author whom none of us really wanted to learn about in high school. He’s often called the “father” of modern political philosophy, so there’s probably a lot we can learn from even some basic study of his writings. But I’ll spare you from any lessons on him here. Because I’ve been involved on one level or another in the design, development, manufacture and sale of outdoor, public safety and military gear since the early 1980s, Machiavelli’s quote is very familiar to me. I’ve usually heard it as something of an insult or jibe ... but it carries another meaning I’ll…

Summer is beginning to wind down, and we’re starting to look toward fall. This is a great time to make plans for camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. While you’re making the fun “to-do” lists, don’t forget to wrap up the chores around the house that you won’t want to tackle once the temperature drops and the snow begins to fly. When you put your mind to it, you might be surprised how much you can accomplish in just a weekend afternoon—and still have time to relax in front of a fire on the patio. 1 Rapid Raft The Rapid Raft is the lightest and most packable raft on the market today. It weighs just 3 pounds and starts out about the size of a loaf of bread. It inflates…

“FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE OUTDOORS AND HAVE A ‘BE PREPARED’ MINDSET, FINDING WAYS TO USE THE ROXOR IS LIMITED ONLY TO THE IMAGINATION.” "It needs a rifle rack for an M1 Garand or a BAR," I thought. "Or maybe a mount in the back for a ‘Ma Deuce’ .50-caliber machine gun." At first glance, the ROXOR looked like a World War II Jeep with a fancy, new paint job. After a couple of outings with it, I walked away thoroughly impressed: Here’s a vehicle that combines old-school simplicity and rugged, quality construction with modern engineering. It’s an off-road vehicle suitable for both hard work and good-time adventures. And, if you’ve ever considered a vehicle for bug-out transportation for use during devastating times—one with a lineage that includes withstanding the…

• Wheelbase: 96 inches • Length: 148 inches • Width: 60–62 inches, depending on wheels chosen • Height: 75 inches • Weight: 3,035 pounds • Ground clearance: 9 inches • GVWR: 3,750 pounds • Towing capacity: 3,490 pounds • Fuel capacity: 12 gallons • Engine type: Liquid-cooled, direct-injection, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, 2.5-liter turbo diesel • Power: 62 hp at 3,200 rpm • Torque: 144 ft-lb at 1,400–2,220 rpm • Transmission: 5-speed manual; 6-speed automatic; 2WD/4WD • Transfer case: 2-speed manual • Axles: Full-floating front; semi-floating rear; 5.38:1 ratio • Wheels: 16 inches, steel • Suspension: Rigid leaf spring with stabilizer bar, front; leaf spring with double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers, rear • Steering: Hydraulic power • Brakes: Dual hydraulic vacuum-assist; 11-inches disc front; 11-inches drum rear • Battery: 72 Ah/12 volt • Alternator: 45–90 amps • Lighting: Halogen headlights • Standard colors: Molten Red; Bonfire Orange; Sand; Shadow Gray; Signal White; Jet Black; Olive Green…

“WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE DOING WHAT I DO OR LIVING THE LIFESTYLE THAT I LIVE. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT FROM EARLY ON, I WAS BEING GROOMED FOR THIS LIFE.” When I was a child, I never thought I’d be doing what I do or living the lifestyle that I live. Little did I know that from early on, I was being groomed for this life. The road has been long and often rough. Thankfully, I had some really good teachers along the way, with perhaps the very best teacher—and maybe also the cruelest—being the environment itself. Mother Nature can be a very demanding taskmaster. Early on, I drew upon the lessons learned by my Native American ancestors, trying to absorb as much as…

Many books have been written that cover a wide range of edible and medicinal plants. Here are four books I regard highly and refer to on a regular basis. A Field Guide to Mushrooms and Their Relatives For obvious reasons, I use this book a lot. Written by Booth Courtenay and Harold H. Burdsall Jr. and published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, this 144-page book covers many aspects of mushrooms and includes color photos. These photos are a big help when trying to identify the mushrooms before you pick them. This book seems to be out of print, but a recent search online turned up many soft- and hardcover versions. Guide to Wild Foods and Useful Plants Written by Christopher Nyerges, a frequent contributor to American Survival Guide, this book…