Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Custom Soap: Fight Soap & Stinky Bastard




Soap (sōp): A substance used with water for washing and cleaning, made of a compound of natural oils or fats with sodium hydroxide or another strong alkali, and typically having perfume and coloring added.  Example "a bar of soap".  
 
A good bar soap balances bar hardness, lather, and moisturization. These different properties come from the different fatty acids that make up the molecules of oils used to make soap. A perfect bar soap is the result of carefully balancing these oils to maximize the bar's hardness, lather quality, and moisturizing ability. Balancing soap is art form. In the below review I will be sharing thoughts on Fight Soap and Stinky Bastard Soap.  



The earliest recorded evidence of the production of soap-like materials dates back to around 2800 BC in ancient Babylon. A formula for soap consisting of water, alkali, and cassia oil was written on a Babylonian clay tablet around 2200 BC.  Man has come a long way since then and deserves to have soap that reflects forward progression without forgetting its roots.  

First question you might ask is: Why is this better than my cheapo Dial Antibacterial? 
One reason is insufficient ingredient information displayed on the box.  Cheap packaging, the feeling dry skin after drying off, scent that dissipates quickly after showering, and just a plain uneventful/boring experience.  Beyond that these two soap brands I will introduce you to provide a feeling of clean that is beyond any store shelf bargain soap.  Once you embrace these soaps you’ll never go back.  

The experience of using these soaps tingles the body and clears the mind. After a long day at work, running a half marathon, or going on an adventure; nothing is more therapeutic than a shower or bath.  These soaps add vitality and clarity to your everyday life.  

These soaps exemplify the above definition of soap; natural, intoxicating scent, and the feeling of clean.  Each soap lathers well leaving no oily or dry feeling afterwards.  The scents are strong and long lasting but not overpowering.  What these soaps do is go above and beyond with natural ingredients that provide anti-fungal, eye opening wide awake sensations, and all around refreshing and clean lather.  The goal is to feel new, fresh, and invigorated.  Along with the added benefit of being antibacterial, antifungal, and deodorizing. This give you the edge to help counter diseases like MRSA, Eczema, Psoriasis, and Ringworm when you shower.  

Moving from Stock Soap to These Soaps has changed my life for the better.  I am more relaxed and find retreat in a simple shower.  My wife and son have eczema and so far it is taming and helping heal patches of irradiation away.  I rate fight soap a 9 out of 10 and stinky bastard a 10 out of 10.  The main difference is the resilience of Stinky Bastard.  Meaning it lasts longer, giving you an average of 12 more showers per bar than fight soap by weight.

I suggest if you're interested in trying something new... order a bar from each company and decide for yourself.

Below is a recap of product links tested:

Price: $6.99
Lead Time/Shipping: Lightening Fast 2-3 day turnaround
Packaging and Graphics:  Clam Shell storage for easy travel and safe keeping.  Attractive packaging graphics. 


Price: $7.99
Lead Time/Shipping: One week at best
Packaging and Graphics:  Clam Shell storage for easy travel and safe keeping.  Attractive packaging graphics. 

Friday, August 8, 2014

TAD EDC FAST PACK Review



EDC FAST PACK Review 


As a father I have adapted my EDC Fast Pack into an all in one Daddy-Day-Car or Gear-Go-Getter.  Within my Fastback I carry a change of clothes for myself and son (19 months), diapers and changer, all my son’s needs (bib, cup, inhaler, epi pen), and my gear (tools, flashlight, etc).  I’ve had the pack for 6 months and I have carried in on hikes and day trips to Disney enabling me to carry everything I need without pain or hassle.


Carrying it daily I can adapt it to carry my laptop for work, gear for hikes, and daddy day care with all my son’s needs.  Having molle clips I can attach things like rain gear, umbrella, or anything to the pack in order to remain hands free in any situation.     


I buy what I think will work best for me. I base it off of price, comfort, functionally, durability and load carrying capabilities.  The Fast Pack is stiff and strong.  Looking throughout the compartments I knew I would need to think out a layout and make sure it would be easy to quick change depending on running solo or with my family.  At first glance it doesn’t seem like a quick and easy load out but over time I adapted swapping out certain pockets and leaving others alone no matter solo or family. Swaps are just as easy as swapping patches if you plan it right.


Main Compartment:
The main compartment can be loaded out to full capacity or strapped down and compressed to a low profile.  Especially if you have a lite speed sized load vs multi day trips.  The inner mesh pocket stays medical for me, mainly for quick access.  And the clip I use as a key hanger for quick access as well. 


Pockets:

Front
This front bottom pocket stays the same with my maxpediton admin fatty fitting perfectly.  I don’t use the transporter tale that much so access is in range.  With the tale it can be taxing to reach contents.  The top pocket holds items in an admin fashion. 


Side
These switch out depending on situation.  Mainly back up tools or empty for food or incidentals.   Flash Light cave holds my Lenslight on paracord. 


Hydration Pocket
Simple Camel Back pack within. 


Transporter Tail
Uses are endless.  Really Flexibility for anything.  


Overall this pack trumps anything I've owned before.  The cost is justified by the notion that I will have this for the rest of my life.  Not many items can perform to those expectations but I believe this will.   Below are some quotes, specs, and ideas from some TAD Junkies.  


Specs from TAD:

Quotes from Junkies about the Fast Pack:

“I carry my EDC everywhere, and it doesn't bother one bit! Works well for a 3 day camping or day hike pack! I bought the Litespeed first, immediately sold it and bought the EDC cuz of it's size. And more zipper pockets was nice!”

I use my EDC every day commuting to work. For me it's perfect as it holds my lunch, a Kleen Kanteen, and a change of clothes on gym days.”

Edc was my immediate go to. You can always use the cinch straps I tighten things up. To me I'd rather have the extra size because you never know. Might need to carry something and that litespeed is already packed full.”

My EDC is perfect size for everyday carry. One of my favorite things about it is the fact, like Adrian said, you can cinch things up when needed. When you go packing for the night you just gotta have the room!”

The litespeed is awesome for a little pack but the EDC has more pockets and the extra 2" of depth can easily be compressed when not in use. I highly recommend it. Ps. In terms of 3 day hikes. I could not fit anything more than 5 dried meals, my Jetboil and Gore-tex Bivy into the Litespeed.”

I just bought the edc because I wanted the extra space. I rather be a little too big than a little too small.”

I just sold my Lightspeed and bought an EDC. It’s plenty for some, but I needed more.”

I have both edc and lightspeed I got the edc first and my lightspeed a couple months ago and my lightspeed has all be replaced my edc for EDC! strange enough right ! Lol... I have a use for both but my edc is my range bag and camping/ hiking pack... lightspeed for Every day carry hands down its more compact you can tighten up the waist belt so it doesn't get in the way but it's still there if you “



Junkies Ideas for improvements:

Make the main zipper go all the way down so the the pack can fully unzip like a clamshell

Replace the thin layer of material separating the bladder from the rest of the pack with a solid piece of loop Velcro molle (like the top of a mayflower APC)

Redesign the shoulder straps so that the pack can be worn high and tight without the top curve rubbing the base of your neck so bad

Ad buckles to the top of the shoulder straps like the bottom has so that the pack can be mounted directly to a plate carrier (not an issue for most people but the SF community would love this feature)