Gear review- Going Gear

[John G]

I recently ordered a few things from GoingGear.com; an orange plastic trowel, a few zipper pull whistles, and a Maxpedition flashlight sheath. They've been added to my woodswalking kit. Here's a few pics and comments.

I ordered the orange trowel to help dig wild edibles. I've been using my knife, but figured there was a better tool for the job. Here it is with my Ontario RAT3.

The trowel has graded markings in inches, and a lanyard hole in the end of the handle.

While I had some success digging out wild garlic, the plastic is softer than I'd hoped. In hard soil or heavy wet mud it tends to flex beyond the point of comfort. The trowel now has white stress lines on the blade, and will eventually break under constant use. For $2.50, I'm not surprised. A cheap metal dollar store trowel will probably replace this.

Here's my kit. Note the flashlight sheath mounted on the right. My Surefire flashlight fits, but I'm currently using it for an Epi-pen.

The Maxpedition flashlight sheath is an excellent piece of gear. I wanted something to hold my Epi-pen, and this is perfect! You just can't lose with Maxpedition.

The zipper-pull whistle. I attached it to some gutted 550 cord on an outside zipper. It's clever design keeps the whistle secure yet easy to find and deploy.

Whistle easily detaches for use. It's good and loud! I'm glad I ordered a few of these. They'll be great on jackets and bag zippers.

Going Gear was a pleasure to deal with. Reasonable prices, fast shipping, and good products. My only problem is with the trowel, but it's not a deal-breaker. I'll definitely be ordering from them again in the near future!:thumbup:

 

[rdgarbo]

I live about thirty miles from their store, but I have purchased items from them...great customer service.

 

[Rupestris]

I made it to the store last week and had to bump the Going Gear thread in The Good, Bad Ugly this morning.

There are a few on-line stores that have proven themselves more than trustworthy. GG/Storl is one and I'll continue to send my business his way.

Cool review and pics. Thanks for posting.

 

[tek77]

What's the name of the pouch on the opposite side of the flash light sheath?
Thx.

 

[11x11x]

I like that zipper pull whistle!

 

[VANCE]

What's the name of the pouch on the opposite side of the flash light sheath?
Thx.

looks like a maxped 7X5 pouch

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Hey John,

Never ordered anything from Going Gear yet, but Storl seems to be a stand-up guy.

Ditch that trowel, this is what you need. I got one last year and they're superb.

Also I like the looks of that pack. Do you have a link for that?

Thanks.

Doc

 

[Scott Free]

Not sure if one of the wild edibles you were after was garlic mustard or not, but that's what's in your first picture. It's an invasive species that's really taking over where I live. I've been spending at least 20 minutes a day pulling, poisoning or cutting it. It does taste like garlic, though, if that's something you like.

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks for the post, I've always gotten great products and service from G.G.

I'll have to look at that flash light case, it looks perfect for the epi pen, I have a friend who is highly allergic to bees and has to carry one. Lately he has been complaining about the new lids popping open too easily I think that would solve the problem for him.

BTW he gave me a few old tubes, I'm going to use them for containers in my pack.

 

[storl]

Yeah, those trowels are really made more for digging the occasional cathole or something similar. If you want a serious use trowel, I have some new ones from Sea to Summit that collapse and are pretty badass.

Sea to Summit Pocket Trowel

The U Dig It is even more burly, but adds some weight. It also folds and has its own sheath:

 

[adaman04]

Nice buys. I really like GG.

What ever happened to the cheap keychain button lights you used to have for 99 cents! I used to love to throw those in little kits as a spare light. Probably tough to make it worth stocking a product with such a small profit margin though....

 

[storl]

Nice buys. I really like GG.

What ever happened to the cheap keychain button lights you used to have for 99 cents! I used to love to throw those in little kits as a spare light. Probably tough to make it worth stocking a product with such a small profit margin though....

Heh, I still have a ton of <$1 products.

I didn't realize that the lights were direct copies of products made by LRI/Photon, a US company. After seeing their products at SHOT, I took the copies off the site. I have some other non-copies on the way soon. I've been giving them out as freebies with orders over $15 or so, and people seem to like them, so I'll be ordering a bunch more soon.

 

[texastonydobbs]

I shop GG alot and will continue...Great products & Prices & Customer service

 

[John G]

What's the name of the pouch on the opposite side of the flash light sheath?
Thx.

I think it's a low-profile pouch, maybe 7x5? Sorry, don't recall exactly the model.

Hey John,

Never ordered anything from Going Gear yet, but Storl seems to be a stand-up guy.

Ditch that trowel, this is what you need. I got one last year and they're superb.

Also I like the looks of that pack. Do you have a link for that?

Thanks.

Doc

Doc, my kit is built around a Maxpedition water bottle pouch, with a low-profile pouch added for my first aid kit, and a flashlight sheath for the Epi-pen. (I'll look for a hori hori, they look perfect!:thumbup

Not sure if one of the wild edibles you were after was garlic mustard or not, but that's what's in your first picture. It's an invasive species that's really taking over where I live. I've been spending at least 20 minutes a day pulling, poisoning or cutting it. It does taste like garlic, though, if that's something you like.

Indeed. Garlic mustard is everywhere around here. Between that and all the onions and garlic and spearmint, you could run a lawn mower over the ground and eat the clippings, if you don't mind some motor oil salad dressing.

 

[Echo4v]

Hey John,

Never ordered anything from Going Gear yet, but Storl seems to be a stand-up guy.

Ditch that trowel, this is what you need. I got one last year and they're superb.

Also I like the looks of that pack. Do you have a link for that?

Thanks.

Doc

Kinda off topic but, isn't it amazing how trends revolve? The knife you linked to hear reminds me an awful lot of the trench knife from the world wars time frame.

David

 

[Echo4v]

I live about thirty miles from their store, but I have purchased items from them...great customer service.

Me too (I'm in Cartersville) but, I just found out there is now a brick and mortar store so I haven't been to it yet.

David

 

[adaman04]

Heh, I still have a ton of <$1 products.

I didn't realize that the lights were direct copies of products made by LRI/Photon, a US company. After seeing their products at SHOT, I took the copies off the site. I have some other non-copies on the way soon. I've been giving them out as freebies with orders over $15 or so, and people seem to like them, so I'll be ordering a bunch more soon.

Excellent. Higher quality lights have their place but a decent, cheap offering is nice too. When it's dead, I throw it in the trash.

 

[AeroNautiCal]

If you want a really light, very strong trowel, look at the Fiskars Nyglass Trowel (also sold under the Wilkinson Sword brand name).

I bought a couple of these and carry one when I don't want to lug my Gerber Nato spade around, they're really tough yet weigh nothing.

 

[theedge13]

If you want a really light, very strong trowel, look at the Fiskars Nyglass Trowel (also sold under the Wilkinson Sword brand name).

I bought a couple of these and carry one when I don't want to lug my Gerber Nato spade around, they're really tough yet weigh nothing.

~ a buck at Home Depot...

 

[sumnrfam]

Thanks for the photos,

I'm an EPI PEN guy too :grumpy: , but that looks like a great holder for it:thumbup::thumbup:

Nice kit