Atlas Pasta Machine With Motor - Any Benefits? Article Review

I  just read a good article on the Atlas Marcato Pasta machine with motor ( you can read it here Atlas Pasta machine) The article describes the benefits of the Atlas pasta machine with Motor over the original hand crank version. It says that the motored version is much easier to use for one person because the you can use two hands to feed the machine and to catch the cut pasta. 

I have a handcrank atlas pasta machine that I love but I am sure that the version with the motor is just as good or slightly easier to use.

Bravo!

The Best Survival Knife For Everyday Use

There is a long list of survival knives that fit into the Best Survival Knife category all dependent on the intended use. They range from large heavy blades like the Ontario RTAK II measuring in at 16.5 inches and weighing a solid 2.2lbs to the ultra versatile Ka-Bar Becker BK2 at just 10" overall and weighing less than a pound. Needless to say it is tough to narrow down the absolute best survival knife because your intended use has a lot to do with the blade that you choose.

However for everyday practicality in our normal lives I would have to say that the Gerber LMF II ASEK tops the list for all around best survival knife. The features on this blade are not only excellent for the camper, hunter and woodsman, they also lend themselves to everyday use.

The Gerber LMF ASEK II was designed to be used by downed fighter pilots. The 4.84 inch, 12c27 stainless steel, partially serrated blade was made in part to cut through tangled fuselage in the event of a crash scenario. The butt of the knife is an excellent pummel and can be used to break anything from a car window to tough shellfish. Not to mention that in a defensive scenario it is definitely another business end to the knife.

I have one of these knives strapped to the driver-side top roll bar of my jeep. Not because I am afraid of getting car jacked, but because of the usefulness of the pummel for breaking glass should I become trapped in my car, and the strap cutter that can cut through a seat belt like a hot knife through butter. The Gerber LMF ASEK II is my "go to blade" and the best survival knife in my kit because it is useful in so many situations.

Stats at a glance:

Overall Length: 10.59"

Blade Length: 4.84"

Weight: 11.39 oz.

Price: $65 - $95

The sheath of the LMF II is another huge selling point. The blade snaps into place in the kydex portion of the sheath and fits very firmly. The blade does not rattle at all, unlike other kydex sheaths that I have owned. The two straps that hold the handle in place are nylon and have a snap closure. It is so nice to have a snap instead of velcro.

The sheath also has a knife sharpener and has a number of carry options including on a MOLE vest, from your belt, and/or affixed to your leg. Over all this is the best survival knife that I have in my kit and if you are looking for a fantastic all around knife this is it!

For more information on the Gerber LMF ASEK II, and my other top 7 survival knives check out my website which is loaded with pictures, reviews, videos and the best pricing options for the top survivalist approved knives. Here it is Best Survival Knife

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Slovenec

Ultralight Backpacking Tents Big Agnes Gore Pass 2

The Big Agnes Gore Pass 2 just barely squeaks in my list for ultralight backpacking tents and it is not because its lack of room or features. This tent was judged as a "killer value" by Outside Magazine and it truly is a fantastic value for those that are seeking an ultra sturdy 2 person with a lot of room. Weighing in at 5lbs this is not the lightest of ultralight backpacking tents, however is a great option for those who are over 6 feet tall and need that extra headroom and length.

Specs at a glance:

 

• Weight: 5lbs
• Dimensions: 90L X 52W x40H
• Capacity: 2 people
• Seasons: 3
• Price: $240 - $260
• Doors: 1

One of the great things about the Big Agnes Gore Pass 2 is the dimension to weight ratio. It has over 32 sq feet of floor space that is coupled with its 40 inch canopy. The near vertical walls make most of the canopy 40 inches tall and not just at the peak of the tent like a lot of ultralight backpacking tents, not to mention that the design sheds the elements very effectively as well.

 

The huge 15sq foot vestibule has dual zippers that allow the front part of the vestibule to be taken off completely on sunny days, the bottom edges can be staked on trekking poles to make a covered porch of sorts, and it can be full closed when mother nature dishes out her worst.

Big Agnes makes and impressive line of tents and gear including the Big Agnes Gore Pass 2. This one of my favorite ultralight backpacking tents, especially if I am taking my girlfriend along. The extra room makes it a little easier for both of us and makes the accommodations a little more tolerable for her. I don't mind carrying the little extra weight if it means being ultra comfortable on the trails.

To check out how this tent stacks up against my other top choices and to find pictures and the best pricing options visit: Ultralight Backpacking Tents

Ultralight Backpacking Tents - Marmot Aura

Ultralight backpacking tents are designed to shed some of those all important pack lbs however still maintain the room and durability that is required on the trails. Many of the early ultralight backpacking tents had some serious issues with lightweight materials because they were delicate and had poor resistance against the elements. Luckily today the materials are a lot better and the structure is much more resilient against mother nature's worst.

The Marmot Aura is one of my favorite tents that I have in my collection. This tent topped Outside Magazine's gear of the year award in 2008 and in my opinion is yet to be ousted.

Stats at a Glance:

Weight: 4.4 lbs

Dimensions: 88'L x 50'W x 40'H

Capacity: 2 people

Seasons: 3

Price: $240 - $250

Doors: 2

Here are two of the top reasons that I think the Marmot Aura is one of the best ultralight backpacking tents on the market.

Size:

The Marmot aura is the biggest tent that I have found for its weight, it has a full 30 sq feet of interior space and two vestibules, one at each door, that are an additional 9 sq feet a piece. The pole construction make the walls nearly vertical so that you have a ton of usable space and headroom. The two doors are a huge plus especially when you are camping with another person.

Protection from the elements:

I have been lucky enough not to get caught in the snow with this tent but have read countless reviews of people who have. They say that the Marmot Aura held up beautifully with the weight of the snow even though they had to push the snow off from the inside. They also reported that the catenary cut floor with the raised taped seams kept the base of the tent bone dry. I have unwittingly tested the waterproof floors on a kayaking camping trip on the Edisto river. The whole trip was rain on and off, it subsided enough to set my tent up and have some dinner and drinks around the fire. During the night we basically experienced Armageddon which pounded us with 30 mile an hour winds and torrential thunderstorms. The next morning I woke up in about a 3 inch puddle. I could literally see the water line from inside my tent. I was dry as a bone the entire night and morning. I was not expecting to stay dry but was very pleasantly surprised, the Marmot Aura took the elements a lot better than some of my buddies Ultralight backpacking tents.

The Marmot Aura is really hard to top when it comes to ultralight backpacking tents, the only con that I can think of is that it takes a few times of setting it up to master, but once you get the hang of it you can pitch it in a few minutes.

To check out how this tent stacks up against my other top choices for ultralight backpacking tents and to find pictures and the best pricing options visit: Ultralight backpacking Tents

Ultralight Backpacking Tents - Sierra Vapor Light 2

Ultralight backpacking tents are a must for anyone that is serious about hiking and cutting down the weight in your pack. Fortunately there are a lot of quality options on the market  an a tent is a pretty fun thing to shop for.

Specs at a glance:

Weight: 3.4lbs
Dimensions: 83L x 43W x 38H
Seasons: 3
Capacity: 2 people
Price: $235 - $250

The Sierra Designs Vapor Light 2 person tent is recommended by Outside Magazine as one of their top gear choices, and for good reason. The Vapor Light 2 has an excellent size to weight ratio, at 3.4lbs it offers large 83L x 49W x 38H dimensions. Although this is not the best choice for people that are over 6 feet tall it accommodates just about anyone else, with gear and some room to spare. This is one of my top choices as Ultralight Backpacking Tents go. It will sleep two people and gear comfortably while standing up to some pretty serious 3 season storms.

This Sierra Designs tent is a double walled tent with a full mess upper that is great for looking at the stars on a clear night and keeping out condensation on the cold ones. The floor is combines the benefits of a catenary and bathtub style floor, it has raised PVC free side seams to help keep water out regardless of the situation.

Many Ultralight backpacking tents have the reputation of being delicate, having weatherproofing issues and/ or being a pain to set up. The nice thing about the Vapor Light is that it is none of those things. The tent offers Sierra Designs spider hub technology to keep all of the poles locked in place and also has jakes feet at the tent corners to make it really easy to attach the poles and the foot print.

The rainfly has a front facing vestibule that is large enough to store a pretty good amount of gear in while keeping the D shaped mesh door protected from the elements.

For more information on the Vapor Light 2 and other industry topping lightweight tents for backpacking visit: Ultralight Backpacking Tents

The Atlas Pasta Machine 5 Piece Set

The Atlas Pasta Machine 5 piece set is a great value for any chef that wants to make homemade organic pasta without the hassle of buying a bunch of separate pieces. The set includes the Atlas Pasta Machine Wellness 150, three attachments, and a pasta cutter.

The Atlas Pasta Machine Wellness 150

I  recently had one of these machines passed down to me by my mother and I  absolutley love it. My pasta is not nearly as good as Mom’s but, with her help it is getting close. These machines last a long time if they are taken care of. The Atlas Pasta Machine that I  have now is the same one my mother used when we were kids.

The Wellness 150 pasta maker is the original hand crank Atlas Pasta Machine. It is made by the Marcato family in Italy, it is simple to use and last for a lifetime. It has 9 roller settings to adjust the thickness of your dough, you simply turn the dial and you are at the next setting. The Atlas Pasta Machine Wellness 150 also comes with a table clamp that will open to fit a counter top up to 2.25 inches wide.

The Attachments

The Atlas Pasta Machine 5 piece set comes with over $120 worth of attachments. The Attachments that come with this set include the Atlas Ravioli attachment, the Marcato spaghetti attachment and the Atlas Lasagna Attachment. All of these add-ons are made in Italy with the same quality as the pasta maker itself.  All you need is a pasta drying rack and your set is complete!

If you are interested in more Atlas pasta machine information and want to find the best pricing, pictures and great recipes take a look at this link : Atlas Pasta Machine