My Review of Mountain Hardwear Lacerta Down Coat - Men's

Originally submitted at REI

The Mountain Hardwear Lacerta down coat is an everyday piece with a technical pedigree. It offers waterproof, breathable protection and warm goose down insulation to keep you cozy.

Mountain Hardwear Lacerta Down Coat - Men's

Good Coat, Great Quality, Warm

By Shaun in Northern Illinois from Northern Illinois on 1/27/2012

 

5out of 5

Chest Size: Feels true to size

Sleeve Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Durable, Wind Resistant, Warm

Best Uses: Casual Wear, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Intermediate

Gear Usage: Cold Weather Living

Was this a gift?: No

You can tell the Mountain Hardware quality. The stitches seem more accurate. The materials (fabric) feel like a nicer quality (especially the lining). This is a great coat for flying in cold weather, making preflights warm - so one doesn't hurry.

(legalese)

Chart Subscriptions

Having current charts isn't only a FAR but common sense to your safety! I always ensure that I have current a AF/D, Sectionals, TAC, Low-Enroute IFR Charts, and Approach Plates whether I'm flying VFR or IFR as you never know what's going happen. On a few occasions my FBO hasn't had current charts when they had come out - assuming they had sold out. For that reason, I took advantage of Sporty's subscription program where I choose the charts I want and they send them out to me BEFORE my current charts expire. It's great. My only critique is that many of the charts that are released at the same date do not get shipped together (costing more on shipping). Of course anyone who wishes to print their own current Approach plates or an AF/D can download them from NACO for free!

Leatherman Multi-Tool

My wife is always amazed at how much stuff I keep in my pockets. Of the items that I don't leave home without - one is my Multi-Tool. For those that don't know...a multi-tool is a gadget that is essentially a compact toolbox in your pocket - with pliers, wire cutters, knives, screwdrivers, saws, and more. Granted growing up I was a fan of the Swiss Army knife, or rather, MacGyver who always seemed to rely on the help of a tool to get him out of a jam. I made the change from my trusty 'ole Swiss Army knife to a Leatherman Multi-Tool over a decade ago. For pilots I feel it's an essential piece of gear for emergency repairs or for survival. I like the quality of the Leatherman brand over some of the others I've seen. I had one of the original models the PST (Pocket Survival Tool), before loosing it and buying my Super Tool 200 - of course I then found my old one. Leathermen tools are USA made in Portland, Oregon - and their multi-tools come with a 25-year warranty. Check them out here. I remember some of their ad's (probably the one that sold me) with pilot stories - here is one such story.

Controls Free and Correct...Check - Checklists

For any good pilot a checklist is essential to safe and responsible flight. The checklist can be from memory or the preferred method - a printed checklists that you use the same way each and every time. A couple years ago I came across a checklist product that I really liked. The quality was great, the design had some thought, and the extras were there as well. I'm talking about SureCheck Aviation' 'Full' checklists. These checklists are type specific and contain amplified procedures for your aircraft as well as info to help you remember simple calc's, V-Speeds, weights, formulas, you name it! They are laminated, tabbed, and spiral bound. I really like them for a backup or for a low-time pilot - however, as you gain experience I have found that I might have too much information there (they do make a simple double sided card to referred to as there 'Pro' checklists). After constant use, my lamination started to fray where the sheets were die-cut and probably should have been die-cut, laminated, and die-cut again at a slightly larger size. I also lost my back page from the spiral binding due to heavy-use. The great news is that the checklists have a lifetime warranty - so I was able to exchange my worn out checklists at AirVenture at no cost! I guess they have over 300 different aircraft models too. Check them out here.

AirVenture 2009 - Cool Pilot Shirts

If your like me and you like to show your love for aviation I'm sure your sporting an AOPA decal, an EAA decal, or both on your automobile. So it's not that much of a stretch that when I'm casual it would be nice to show my 'airplane love.' That's why as I passed the booth of a Canadian company called Red Canoe (National Heritage Brands) with their 'vintage' look airplane t-shirts, hats, jackets, and bags - I had to stop. The officially licensed products use the old logos for companies such as Cessna, DeHavilland, American Airlines and others. Really cool and nice quality! Check them out here.

AirVenture 2009 - Gear Buying Strategy

Each year I have some idea of the gear I want to look for up at Oshkosh that will help weigh down or lighten my flightbag. This year was no exception, however, the lack of money prevented me from picking up my new aircraft - maybe next year. :) I do however have a plan that works pretty well for me... You see the great deals you can get from exhibitors at AirVenture allows you to sell your old gear (on eBay, Craigslist, etc.) and buy something newer for about the same price or a little more. Case in point: I was making a trip to build time from C77 to KEYW (that's roughly Rockford, IL to Key West, FL). I had picked up a old Lowrance Airmap 100 on eBay for $50.00 with an expired database mainly for peace of mind for emergencies. It worked like a champ!

At Oshkosh AirVenture 2007, Lowrance had an upgrade program that allowed you to get ~$150 off the purchase of a new Lowrance GPS for trading in your old unit. I did this and on top of the great show prices I was able to walk out the door with an Airmap 2000C for about $450.00. Not Bad. The sad thing is that all these old units were to get the 'sledgehammer' treatment. RIP.

Fast forward to AirVenture 2008...Bendix-King introduced the AV8OR GPS Unit with amazing capabilities including XM weather at the top of the list. I couldn't resist! I bought the unit and sold my barely used Airmap 2000C for nearly as much as the new AV8OR.

This year, at AirVenture 2009 I debated about selling my AV8OR before the show and take a chance at something new being released at my price point. I didn't sell my AV8OR but did like the new AV8OR ACE - slightly more than my budget this year though.

My strategy may not work with all gear but for the more expensive gear it's a pretty good bet that if you follow my strategy you can keep up-to-date with the newest gear without taking a huge hit if any.

I'll be posting a review of my AV8OR soon - the good and the bad. Have a safe flight!

Back from Oshkosh! 2009 EAA AirVenture

Every year I eagerly await the coming of the week known as "Oshkosh." While Oshkosh is a city in Wisconsin - to pilots the word "Oshkosh" is synonymous with "EAA AirVenture" as well as "Christmas Morning." Like a child I quickly begin to count down the weeks until the next AirVenture the moment myself - as well as the airplanes go home. Check back soon for my take on some of the things I checked out this year!