Low Riding Pocket Clip

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I recently purchased a Spyderco Delica 4 for use as an every day carry knife. While I like the knife I don’t like how much the knife sticks out when carried in my front pocket. I prefer something less conspicuous, such as the clip that came with my SOG Flash II knife. It rides lower in the pocket and is less noticeable. In looking for a replacement clip I came upon the “Ti Pocket Clip Low Rider” clip from http://usaknifemaker.com . They have several models to choose from so I ordered two of the “Ti Pocket Clip Low Rider Split Tail” for my Delica.

The clips arrived fairly quickly and were as described. Here is what they look like

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I removed the factory clip from the Delica and started on trying to install the clips. Here is where I ran into a problem. It seems the two holes on the Low Rider clips don’t align with the mounting holes on the Delica. I checked both Low Rider clips and both had the same issue.

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I sent an email to USAKnifeMaker and asked if they had perhaps sent me a bad batch. I received a reply within 24-hours of my email which stated that:

“We don’t any carry pocket clips designed to fit any specific model of production knives. They are way to many different knives available to say what they will or won’t work with. If you have a small needle file, you can use it to enlarge one of the holes into an oval so the other screw can fit through. Otherwise you can also send it back for an exchange or refund.”

I checked their web page and they do have the distance between the 2 outer holes listed for the clips. So I can’t blame USAKnifeMaker as it was my fault for not making sure the clips were compatible with the Delica. I was glad to see they were willing to exchange them or give me a refund.

I took their advice and used a small needle file and expanded one of the holes into an oval shape. It took me about 45 minutes to enlarge and I was able to install the new clip onto the Delica. I used a small amount of blue Loctite when putting the screws in, just to be safe. Here are some pictures showing the Delica with the factory clip and the new Low Rider clip:

Factory Clip

Factory Clip

Low Rider Clip

Low Rider Clip

Factory Clip (side view) Low Rider Clip (sideview)

Pros: The clips were inexpensive and arrived fairly quickly. They are made of titanium which is light, tough and can be anodized. They do what as advertised and drop the knife from view when in your pocket.

Cons: Be sure to measure the distance between the two mounting holes on your knife before ordering. While this isn’t really a “con” you need to know if these will fit your knife. If you’re willing to do a little work with a needle file you can make them fit a Delica 4, and probably some other Spyderco knives with a similar mounting pattern.

Summary: I was happy with the outcome on my knife. The clip drops the knife out of sight which is what I was hoping for. Hopefully there will be fewer people who’ll notice I’m carrying a knife. I was also happy to see the quick reply to my email from USAKnifeMaker. If this is any indication of their customer service I’ll be doing more business with them in the future.

On a side note: For those who want to be a little more inconspicuous they also offer a “Stealth” model of the Low Rider Clip. This model is supposed to mimic the look of a clip from a ball point pen.

Bargain Cook Set – Stanley Camp Cook Set

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I decided to stop at Target the other day and wandered over to the camping section to see what they had to offer. I usually don’t shop at Target for my backpacking needs. I was surprised to find a bargain-priced cookset in the Stanley Camp Cook & Cup Set. I already have the GSI Soloist, which I’ve already reviewed but I think this pot would be  a good purchase for someone looking to save a little money.

Stanley Camp Cook Set:

Where Purchased: Target
Cost: $14.99, plus tax

Pot Construction: Stainless steel, single wall (cups are plastic)
Pot Diameters: Top section: 3.75″, Middle section: 3.56″, Bottom edge: 3.25″
Pot Height (with lid): 6″
Weight (full kit): 13.60 oz.
Weight (just pot and cover): 7.85 oz. 2 Cups: 5.75 oz.
Pot Capacity: 24 fl. oz.
Measurement Markings: Yes

  • 8 fl. oz. (237 mL)
  • 12 fl. oz. (355 mL)
  • 16 fl. oz. (472 mL)
  • 20 fl. oz. (591 mL)

Pour Spout: No

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Pros: This seems to be a well made pot. It has measurement markings viewable from the inside. The folding handle locks in place and the lid has vent and strainer holes. It came with a tag stating “Grill Ready” but I would be careful as the lid handle may melt over an open flame. If I were to use this pot for backpacking I wouldn’t use the included cups, both of which fit nested inside the pot. At 5.75 oz the cups add unneeded weight. I would just use the pot and lid at 7.85 oz.

Cons: Because of the narrow bottom (3.25″) I find this pot doesn’t sit as firmly on my stove as I’d like. I prefer something with a wider, more stable bottom. The pot is also too narrow to nest an MSR 4 oz. fuel canister. I don’t know if the narrower Snow Peak canister would fit as I didn’t have one available.

Summary: If you’re looking for a low-cost, light-weight pot the Stanley Cook & Cup Set is a good buy. You will want to check the width of your stove beforehand. If you use alcohol stoves you may want to take a look at this site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGWxpn_mRO8&feature=relmfu . The author has done an excellent video of reviewing what alcohol stoves will work with the Stanley Pot.

Backpacking Cookset

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I recently decided to replace my old TexSport cookset I used for backpacking for something a little lighter. The old set was stainless steel and had three pieces that nested one inside the other:

Texsport Stainless Steel Backpackers Cook Set

There was nothing wrong with the set but I found myself usually only taking one of the pots on most of my trips. My only need for a pot was to boil water for making a meal or a hot drink. I donated the set to a local Boy Scout troop and set upon finding a replacement. After some investigation I ended up purchasing the GSI Pinnacle Soloist from REI. Fortunately for me REI just opened a store and I received a $20 coupon in the mail to use at their Grand Opening. It was a deal I couldn’t refuse.

GSI Pinnacle Soloist

Where Purchased: REI
Cost: $44.95, plus tax

Pot Construction: Anodized Aluminum (bowl is polypropylene)
Pot Diameter: 4.5”
Pot Height (with lid): 5”
Weight (full kit): 9.20 ounces
Weight (just pot and lid): 7.65 oz.       Bowl: 1.55 oz.

Pot Capacity: 37 fl. oz.      Bowl: 14 fl. oz.
Measurement Markings: No
Pour Spout: No

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Pros: This seems to be a well made pot and comes with a bowl that stores inside the pot. It’s made of anodized aluminum and has a non-stick coating. I’ll use this mostly for boiling water but it’s good to know in case I decide to actually cook something in it. The folding handle locks in place and is silicone-coated. The lid has strainer holes and an opening for pouring. The base is wide (4.5″) and gives it a nice stable foundation on my stove. Because of the wider diameter I’m able to fit the MSR 4 oz. fuel canister along with the included bowl. There also shouldn’t be any issues with the narrower Snow Peak canisters. I think this pot would be okay over an open flame but I’d be keep the handle away from the flames and wouldn’t use the polypropylene lid. The pot with lid and without the bowl weighs in at 7.65 oz.. The bowl adds another 1.55 oz and I haven’t quite decided if I’ll take the bowl along. I just may and see how useful it is.

Cons: The pot doesn’t have any measurement markings whatsoever. The bowl does have 4, 8, and 12 oz. markings but they are difficult to read.

Summary:I would recommend the GSI Pinnacle Soloist. It’s wide, stable and allows for the nesting of fuel canisters. With a capacity of 37 fl. oz. it allows boiling enough water for two (standard) dehydrated meals with a little to spare for a hot drink. As I had a $20 discount this was a no-brainer for me. I don’t care much for the included bowl but I look at it as an added ‘extra’. I did compare the Soloist to the Snow Peak Mini Solo Cookset and the Snow Peak 900 while at REI. I found those to be too narrow for my intended use and I wanted something with a little more capacity.

I hope this review has been helpful to someone out there.

Update: 11/5/2012

Used the Soloist on a 3-day trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The pot worked like a champ. We’ll see how it stands up long-term but for now I’m not disappointed. I used it with a new Iso-Pro canister stove that I picked up on Amazon. I’ll use the stove a couple of more times before I do a write-up.