Trudeau "boardroom" travel mug

Submitted by Ken C

I have had the Trudeau "boardroom" travel mug for almost two years and love it. This is no boardroom item - although it looks great and drinks great, it is tough as nails. Mine has a couple of pretty good dings in it and the lip is a little rough in one spot from sliding down the side of a mountain, but it keeps my coffee hot in winter and - most importantly - it keeps the coffee in the mug (as long as I remembered to twist the top shut).

The mug was a gift from my wife and she purchased it at Starbucks and I wanted to get one for my wife for Valentines but they do not carry them any longer. After two+ hours of searching online today, I found this website and followed the trail of internet cookie crumbs to finally find one about 60 miles away. I like my cup so much that I will make that drive to buy her one. I could not find one at any of the online retailers that Trudeau lists on their website except LaPrima.com, but I did find them at Amazon.com and KlinQ.com – but I wanted it for tomorrow anyway so I am off to Cafeggio Coffee in San Antonio to pick it up.

Now, if Trudeau could just come up with a way to remind me to twist the lid shut...

ED -- Ken, I assume this is the mug you're talking about.  You're right, finding one can be a challenge.  In addition, I noticed it only comes in two colors; pink and avocado, and KlinQ was the only site to offer the avocado.  Nothing like taking a pink travel mug on route recon :)

Check out the Trudeau travel mug here

Big Bad Bag Balm

Submitted by Eric Daniel

“I gotta tell you boys, the next reporter who asks me how hot it was over here, I’m going to bust him right in the mouth.”

These were the parting words MG Ronald H. Griffith, CDR 1st Armored Division, had for us as we departed Saudi Arabia following the conclusion of the 91 Gulf War, and I couldn’t have agreed more.

We arrived in December of 1990 and as soon as we hit the ground it started to rain.  Everything, our gear, our equipment, and our weapons, got soaked.  Moreover, it never quit raining.  It rained so much that our clothes started to rot.  We began to think the presence of so many BDU wearing soldiers (we hadn’t been issued DCUs and would not receive any till the night before we flew home) had confused the clouds and fooled them into thinking that we were a bunch of wayward shrubberies in need of a little irrigating.

When it wasn’t raining, it was bitterly cold, and dry, and windy, and it was this that proved more destructive than all that water.  Now, as a 3-year veteran of Germany I’d been exposed to a whole lot of wet and mud, and I’d been Bavaria cold, but I’d never experienced an honest to God high desert cold, like you get out at NTC or up in Yakima (where I lived for 3 miserable years) so this was something new.  The cold dry wind literally desiccated my exposed skin; my lips chapped, and the skin in my finger joints cracked and bled.

The only thing I could think of doing was to rub some GAA (Grease, Automotive and Artillery) into my hands and put my nomex gloves on.  I don’t think the GAA helped my hands heal but it did do a fair job of keeping sand and grit out of the cracks and eventually I recovered.

Lesson learned.

Thanks to that Gulf War experience, I learned the value of hand cream.  Moreover, the stuff I’ve come to swear by, thanks to an ex-wife with a horse addiction, was Bag Balm, a lanolin (wool wax) based product originally developed for the dairy cattle industry.  It’s just the thing for treating cracked skin, irritations, minor cuts, or rashes, and it is easily absorbed by the skin.

It’s available in a small “person sized” tin, a larger “cow sized” tin, and a “dairy farm” sized tub.  My recommendation is get the “cow” tin, but get it from a feed store or from an on-line vet supply store, don’t buy it in the cosmetic section of your local store (where you’ll find it 3x as expensive.)  Also, as an additional lesson learned, this stuff can become quite fluid when it warms up (think Baghdad/Barstow/Badger Gap warm) so either keep it in a Ziploc bag in your CVC bag or put some into a squeeze tube for use on the road during the summer.

Learn more about Bag Balm here.

Ancient Chinese secret

Submitted by Eric Daniel

Now, for the first time ever, as seen on TV, you too can experience the Far East secret to a good night’s sleep…

Ok, I don’t know about all of that, or its hypoallergenic qualities, or its chakra centering, aroma therapeutic, or healing benefits, but if you’re looking for a good pillow, buckwheat hulls are hard to beat.

I’ve known about these pillows for a number of years, but my favorite pillow, 25+ years running, has been a feather filled pillow I picked up in an Army-Navy surplus store.  Well, good as that feather pillow has been to me, it is an absolute albatross for taking to the field.  It’s heavy, it doesn’t work worth a flip when wet, its difficult to clean, and it takes up a lot of space in my kit bag.  Consequently, when in the field I have traditionally resorted to a wadded up poncho liner, gortex jacket, or even my BDUs to serve as a means of keeping my head out of the mud.

With this last trip to Iraq, though, I’d finally had enough.  I was going to get me a real pillow (having my ole “favorite” shipped over was not an option.)  The one I settled on was a small sized buckwheat hull filled pillow.  Disregarding all of the metaphysical qualities listed, I opted for one of these simply as a trial and error experiment.  What I ended up with, however, was a new traveling companion.

As you may or may not know, buckwheat hull pillows are filled with, well… buckwheat hulls.  These “nutshells” don’t compact like feathers, so the pillow breathes well, and they’re very conductive thermally, so they don’t get really hot when you sleep with them.  Furthermore, they absorb moisture well, so they don’t get slimy like poncho liners do when you sweat, which is nice for places like Iraq, and they absorb vibrations well, so they are nice to have when flying first class courtesy Military Airlift Command (yes yes, I know, MAC, SAC, and TAC are gone, but I do love the classic names.)

The pillow I got was a small "travel" sized one (12x16 inches or there about.)  This was big enough to work, yet small enough to fit into my CVC bag or to wedge under my neck while riding in a C-130.  For 8 months, I packed that sucker with me everywhere I went, only to have to throw it away when I rotated home (the navy Chief running the customs inspection station determined that the organic filler (which was grown and processed in the United States) was considered an agricultural product, and was not allowed back into the country.  Next time I’ll just ship it home in the CONEX.

Get a Buckwheat hull pillow here

Down under dining

Submitted by Eric Daniel

When Brian and Ian mentioned a down under device called the splade in the titanium spork commentary, I have to admit I was a little skeptical.  Sure they do things a little different in Australia but a utensil that is a combination fork, spoon, AND knife?  It’s a damn swiss army knife on a stick, I thought.  But, remembering the old story of the King, the Marine, and the tale of the flying fish, I decided to check it out.

Please allow me introduce you to the Splayed.  A staple in Australian department stores for over 50 years, the splayd is indeed a combination spoon/knife/fork.  Shaped like a square edged shovel with teeth, the splayd has a sharp edge on one side for cutting.  Admittedly I was a little concerned about putting anything in my mouth with a self described cutting edge, but seeing as how these things have been around for so long and since it would seem that the citizens of Australia haven’t all cut their tongues off with one, that they are probably safe to use by the common Joe.

Moreover, since a set of Splayds come in a handsome velvet covered box (8 to a box, so there’s one for every member of the squad), their use is sure to add a touch of elegance to what would otherwise be another ho hum MRE feast.

Get your set of Splayds here

The do it all bag

Submitted by Eric Daniel

Back in the day, everyone had one. It didn’t matter if you were going to the field for 45 days of gunnery at Grafenwhoer or maneuver training in Hoenfels, or day tripping out to the LTA, it was the one thing you always took with you. It was versatile, reliable, indestructible, and would do everything you asked of it, though I must admit I never once saw it used for the purpose for which it was intended.

I am, of course, referring to the helmet bag. Intended, I suppose, given the bag’s padded liner, to protect an aviator’s helmet from scratches and damage, the nylon bag was an almost universal accessory in the Armor community (where we called it the CVC bag after the Combat Vehicle Crewman helmet we wore.) Large enough to hold an MRE or two, your half-gallon coffee thermos, binos, a notebook, pogy bait, and your nomex hood and gloves, the CVC bag was a universal carryall. Moreover, it was also your traveling companion and record keeper as many folks would have the patches of the various units they’d served with sewn on to the bag (I’ve seen many a seasoned campaigner in the airport with ten or more unit patches on their bag.)

Constructed of padded nylon fabric and featuring two internal and two external pockets, the bag had a single zipper across the top as well as an external clip, which is where you probably actually put your helmet, since I don’t think I ever say anyone actually put a helmet into one of these. Never an issue item in the units I served with (again, this may just be an aviator thing) the bags were cheap enough to buy such that if yours got lost or destroyed you didn’t sweat buying a new one.

Get your CVC bag here

The quest for the holy grail

Submitted by Eric Daniel

Me and favorite things don’t get along. Seems every time I decide I like something and incorporate it into my routine, the manufacturer decides that it’s time to move on, leaving me in the unenviable position of having to scour the world (or at least eBay) looking for a replacement for my most recently discontinued favorite thing.

One of my more recent "quests" has been for a replacement coffee cup. While, in the great scheme of things, a good coffee cup might seem a trivial thing, for me, coffee is one of those touchstone rituals that makes all the insanity that goes with combat survivable.

My long time favorite cup of choice was a short, fat 16 oz. cup made for Starbucks. This cup was of double walled aluminum construction, with a foam non-skid pad on the bottom (I supplement the pad with a square of Velcro for absolute stability.) It was absolutely brilliant, so quite naturally, Starbuck quit distributing them years ago (you can literally only find them on eBay now.) Unfortunately for me, when I last rotated out of Iraq, my veteran Starbucks cup decided not to come with me (some lucky sod is going to get an early Christmas present when they find that cup in a humvee) so I’ve been questing ever since for a replacement.

My new cup of choice is the Thermos-Nissan JMF502 drink/food mug. While taller than my old Starbucks cup (Velcro on the bottom of this thing is a must), one nifty feature this cup has that my old mug didn’t have is a second lid to completely seal in the contents of the mug (the lid on the Starbucks was a press-in lid, the lids on the Thermos mug are screw on with rubber gasket seals.) This means that you can put anything in the mug, close it up, and toss it in your CVC bag without having to worry about the contents spilling everywhere.

Be forewarned however, once word gets out that I like this thing, Thermos is likely to get out of the vacuum bottle business all together. Get yours now while supplies last.

Buy a Thermos travel mug here

Caution - low flying liquids

Submitted by Dan Smith

This might seem trivial but here goes. While part of a Security Alert Team "SAT" we often had to eat lunch in the vehicle and seems like during that time we would have to respond and our drink cups would spill and fly all over.  Solution= short sections of plactic pipe,screws and a phillips screwdriver scrounged from Civil Engineers.  Caught some flak from some captain for putting holes in the vehicle but was worth it.

ED- Here's another option - use velcro.  For those of you who spend a lot of time in vehicles (mounted patrols, MSR security, convoy escort, etc.) get yourself some velcro (it can be purchased in 2" wide rolls) and put a "square" of velcro somewhere handy and tack some to the bottom of your favorite travel cup.  This will not only stabilize the cup, but it will also give you a place to stow the cup when not in use.

Buy some velcro here

Goldilocks and the 3 Bag Liners

Submitted by Rusty Rodke

When my niece deployed to Iraq, I asked her if there was any gear she needed. She said that she was sleeping in her sleeping bag every night and, while she could send it off to be cleaned, it was awkward and cold to do without it for the three days it took to get it back. By having a couple of liners, she could wash one locally while sleeping in the other. Silk, fleece or polypro liners would add 10 to 15 degrees of warmth, but cotton was more comfortable in the heat and could be used by itself on really warm nights. REI has a good selection of liners.

Sleeping bag liner

Get the deck out -- FITDECK fitness cards

Submitted by Jonathan Baker

I have used this deck with the last two commands I have been the Command Master Chief at and this tool has yielded measurable results in our Physical Fitness Assessments. I can't think of a better way to train large numbers of people. This deck covers an entire body workout. The best part is there is no equipment required to complete the entire deck of cards. I have a Sailor that lost 30lbs and decreased his mile and a half run time by over 3 minutes. About 62% of those unit's members had substantial increase in over all PFA scores. This is a must to keep the doldrums out of your physical training routines.

FitDeck Fitness Cards

It's a Wrap

Submitted by Rachel Sahagun

I am the wife of a husband who has deployed three times. One of the most commonly requested items in care packages was heat wraps. My husband and his fellow servicemembers used the wraps for every ache and pain - from soreness after PT to aching from the 2-day flights to and from "over there." They tried other brands and types and ThermaCare wound up being the most requested.

Shop for heat wraps

Skivvie Saver

Submitted by Derek Lindridge

As any grunt knows, when you're in the field for awhile you want some clean, dry socks and drawers. Zip-Lock baggies are a real life saver. One sandwich sized baggie holds one pair of underwear and one pair of socks. When packing, simply zip the items into the bag leaving a small opening on one end.  Then either squeeze the excess air out or suck it out before sealing it all the way. This saves space in the ruck for other necessary items and ensures that after walking through chest deep swamps that you still have clean underwear for when you face the enemy (just like mom always wanted).

Shop for Ziplock bags

Care Package Cure

Submitted by Ted Newbury

Too many chocolate chip cookies and Snickers bars in that last care package?  Red Cross Toothache Medicine helps to stop the pain caused by a cavity until you can get to a real dentist (not your tentmate, most likely). The kit comes with a relief agent (Eugenol), tweezers, and cotton pellets. (Eugenol is a local antiseptic and analgesic.)

This stuff is amazing. It is a strong anti-infection and topical painkilling agent. Also works great on foul toenails and blisters, too. Kills the pain, dries out the wound, and heals it fast. 

And for crotch rot and such (including yeast infections) try good ol' mouthwash. It is very effective against bacteria; but be advised:  it stings a bit.

Shop for toothache relief

Tactical Towel

Submitted by Gene Schubeck

When I was deployed last year, I took this towel with me. My mission required me to move around Afghanistan and Iraq, a lot. I had to live out of my rucksack. A regular towel would have taken up too much space. This towel packs well, is very light, and is large enough to do the job. It works as advertised:  absorbent and easy to wring out. And it dries quickly. You just have to get used to the way it "grabs" at your body; it doesn't feel the same as a terry towel. For personal comfort and lightening your load when you need to stay mobile, this is the kit to have.

Shop for this Packtowel

Groom for the March Up

 

Submitted by Kathy Baumgarten

During the Iraq invasion in 2003, many of the females on base turned gray-haired . . . seemingly overnight. It wasn't the stress of war.  It was the fact that Miss Clairol hadn’t been packed in their kit.  A few months later, along with cat food(?) Blonde #2 showed up on the shelves.  Resultantly, all the girls went Platinum. There were no barbers for the guys, either.  It was hair clippers from home or a bald head. One fellow in our unit was getting a trim when the clippers died.  We saw him running across base with half a haircut.  He emerged for chow a few hours later with a bald head.

Shop for Clairol hair products

Allegiance to Pledge

Submitted by John Morgan

How many of you sat in your shower on field day scrubbing at soap scum just to have your NCO give you the negative on it and tell you to do it all again?  This wonderful spray, which is available at your PX or even the mini-mart, saved me from many field day failures and weekend lib secures.  Just spray it onto the wall of the shower and then shine dry with a cotton towel.  (Make sure you take the soap scum off first.)  The inspector won't be able to get anything off the shower wall, even with a razor blade.  For any follow-on field days, just lightly wash the shower wall and repeat the application of Pledge.  Knocks your time spent on the shower from 45 minutes down to five.  I couldn't have done without it.

Shop for Pledge Lemon Scent Furniture Polish

Tiny Tac Tunes

Submitted by Jess Foster

I love my Nano. I can use the armband holder under my BDU top and tuck the earbuds away when I'm not using it. Because of its size (smaller than the regular iPod) you don't even know it's there. The battery life (14 hours) is more than enough for long plane rides and extended workout sessions when I'm deployed.  It also holds some 2,000 songs.  Great kit, for sure.

Shop for the Apple 8 GB iPod Nano Black (2nd Generation)

Cargo Bay Comfort-maker

Submitted by Jess Foster

Great for those long C-130 rides across the ocean.  Makes a great pillow, anytime, anywhere.

Shop for the Eagle Creek Comfort Neck Pillow