ReVO 26 Pro Ears youth hearing protection

“Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectator” From the fundamental rules of safe gun handling by NRA

When we are shooting at the range it is always important to wear eye and hearing protection. You all know I have my Little Gal and her sight and hearing are important. We’re about to begin a lot of shooting this summer and since she’s a little smaller I received a set of youth ear muffs for her to try out. The neon green Pro Ears by Altus brands are just her size.

The height adjustment is simple with a snapping interlock that holds in place very well. It adjusts to fit a small childs head up to an adult head and has a narrow circumference so they stay snug to the head. She wore them to the range for a day and I wore them to the range for a day. With the narrow circumference, I thought I may end up with the muff head ache that tends to happen as the squeeze tight to your head. This did not happen. The muffs held snug, but not so tight as to cause a head ache.

I also tested the muffs. I wore my earings just to give it a true test. The Super-Sized ProForm™ leather ear cushions are extremely soft and contour around your ears as well as safety glasses and earings. If you have spent a long amount of time at the range wearing a muff, you’ve probably had the problem of your glasses being pressed into your ears. The snug fitting Pro Ears didn’t cause the traditional pain I was testing for. They were soft and comfortable.

The Little Gal shot and I gave reminders and pointers. One thing about these muffs. They are not an electronic version. This was my only disappointment. When helping a child, I feel it is SO important for them to hear every word you say at the line. I would opt for their electronic version. The ReVO 26 Pro Ear muff is said to be adequate during situations where “total situation awareness” is not required. I am in agreement with this claim. The muff is great hearing protection for children shooting smaller caliber firearms. The Little Gal was able to hear adequate commands at close distances with out hollering and shouting.

ReVO 26 Pro Ears are available in various fun patterns, including zebra which is a favorite of the Little Gal and retail at $39.99. However, a child’s hearing is priceless! Take care!

…..

Don’t forget to read about Mia’s adventures at My Many Outdoor Adventures!

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Best Travel and Outdoor Vest Yet!

Two small outer pockets also buttoned.  The right hand one has a slit that I found most convenient for hanging my reading glasses.  Above the left pocket is a smaller slit pocket I used for lipstick and it was deep enough that the pocket contents didn’t drop out when I bent over.

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Rick Young Outdoors Ultra-Light Harness

I’m always out scouting and looking for the next exciting thing in the outdoors which means I am always carrying my binoculars and/or my camera. I was a little hesitant when I first pulled this product out of the package, but after giving it the good ole outdoor try, it has earned my respect.

The Ultra-Light Harness from Rick Young Outdoors is a one-size fits all product. It is small and not bulky. It is easy to adjust which is exciting to a Colorado girl who tends to need lots of layers in our extreme climate. This harness did not bind or constrict my movement in the early morning hours as I glassed for toms with my Swarovski 8.5 x 42 binoculars. I mention the bino’s because if you have them or have used them, you will know that not only are they excellent, but they weigh about 2.5 pounds. This harness is said to hold up to 3.5 pounds so it is more that durable. It has held up nicely with the weight and has shown no sign of stretching out during hiking, running and horseback riding. That is a feature that gained a smile. Other harnesses tend to stretch under the weight and become loose and floppy which is not a feature I look for in a harness.

The harness Rick Young Outdoors has designed has a single fast point adjustment system at the neck. I was worried about my long hair being tangled in it, but thus far that has not been an issue. With the single point adjustment I am able to reach back, squeeze and give a pull or a tug to quickly shorten the harness after my jacket or vest are removed or when I am covering country via horseback.

When riding horseback with my binos on I tend to sling them to the side to keep the from bumping the saddle horn or so I don’t end up taking a hit to the sternum. The binos easily slung to one side or the other without snagging or binding on my jacket or other clothing. I didn’t have to worry about them flopping at my side or knocking against my saddle. They remained snug against my body.

With the bino’s attached to the harenss they were snug to my body so I didn’t have to worry about them getting caught on branches as I snuck through the brush. As I emerged and pulled up the binos to view the turkeys, I didn’t have to struggle to pull them away as I held them to my eyes. Another harnesses I have is hard to pull up when it is tight to my body and then hard to hold steady because of the tension caused. This harness was held up, away from the body as I scanned the valleys for long periods of time with ease.

Overall I give Rick Young Outdoors high recommendations for their Ultra-Light Harness. Way to go designing a one-size fits all product that would even work nicely with a camera or range finder.

The harness retails at $19.95 and is available at rickyoungoutdoors.com

Keep up with Mia Anstine and her Many Outdoor Adventures at MiaAnstine.com

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Better Than A Hoodie: LL Bean does it again

I have many standard sweatshirt hoodies and none of them were keeping me warm or meet my needs. So I finally found one that does!

Whether early morning gym trips, taking that brisk morning walk, hiking in the cool air of the mountains or shooting sporting clays on a breezy day, this multi purpose sweatshirt is a real find. One of my favorite features is the elastic band on the hoodie to hold it close to my head, covering my ears and still allowing me to wear a ball cap. Also, there are pockets within pockets with a little Velcro closure to secure keys, credit cards, etc. that provided extra convenience. And there is more:

• extra body length maximizing body warmth

• sleeves long enough to cover my hands when needed

• easy care, washable merino wool with soft fleece on the inside

Now about the fine merino wool – typically I can’t stand any kind of wool against my skin and have been known to break out in a very interesting rash.  Not with this knitted wool. Plus it is as comfortable and ‘non itchy’ as a soft cotton. And did I mention it doesn’t retain odor?

I ordered the black and now will order that same hooded sweatshirt in the olive green.  It is perfect for cool air travel or for being out in the field. Excellent value and a real find. Click here to see what I’m talking about. Get it for yourself, or better yet, buy it for a gift!

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What’s Slick Out on a Hunt? Gun Slicker!

By Karla Ledom

At Shot Show 2011, I visited the Alpine Products booth and was bedazzled by their new offering: the Gun Slicker. This gun garment is self contained – folding out of its carrying bag which doubles as the muzzle cover. Numerous times I’ve needed to protect a gun from the elements. In fact, I had just returned from a Texas hunting trip where I rode on the back of a 4-wheeler, gun strapped to my back, muzzle stuck in my coat’s arm and the rest of the coat wrapped around it. It worked, but the makeshift-hillbilly design lacked any sense of sophistication. Besides, I was cold while my rifle was snugly dust free.

Wow! How exciting to see a gun cover that may suit my needs! So when an unexpected New Mexico bear hunt came up with my friends Pat Hendrixson and John Hein, Gun Slicker rode along in my pack.

A never-ending drought plagued so much of the country in 2011 and New Mexico suffered along with numerous other states. When we arrived there in August, the seasonal monsoons gave a tremendous break for humans, plants, and critters. Small pop-up storms on a daily basis gave us little concern, but Gun Slicker still accompanied me.  After several days of hunting, John and I requested to be dropped off for the day at a mountain site that we liked. Whiling away the hours, I sat in a likely-looking spot while John went off to scout and spot. Toward the afternoon he came back and as we were sharing a snack, the sky darkened for the afternoon storm. We didn’t think about too much cover, given the previous days’ brief storms. They only lasted a few minutes. We’d be fine.

When the rain started we scooted under a little pine tree and were relatively dry…..for a while. As the storm continued without sign of stopping, I put Gun Slicker to work on my rifle. John stuck his rifle down his Frogg Toggs’ pants leg which certainly was not comfortable, but it worked in keeping his gun dry. The storm’s intensity grew, dumping rain down upon us. The temperature dropped, then the hail started. My rain gear had been working ok but water began finding its way past snaps and buttons. Crouched in a fetal position over my pack to keep it dry, I began shivering.

I knew the storm would eventually pass and we weren’t going to expire in that short of time, but boy howdy was I uncomfortable. Then I remembered the space blanket in my pack. WooHoo! I drug it out and threw it over John and me. He dug out his space blanket and covered our packs. We were set for the rest of the show. Now protected from Niagara Falls and with appendages warming, we peeked out every now and then to see if it was letting up. There sat my .300 WinMag like a sentry, propped up on its rest, Gun Slicker keeping it dry. Once the storm passed, we uncovered ourselves and the guns. Both guns fared better than the hunters. They were bone dry thanks to Frogg Toggs and Gun Slicker.

Due to that trip experience, Pat and John got Gun Slickers for their gear bags and I purchased several more for my various hunting packs.  At this year’s Shot Show, Dave Poppleton showed me the next model: a camo version made with silent fabric called Stealth-X. It’s due to be out in a month or so. I’ve added that item to this year’s Kar-Must-Have list.

Thanks Alpine!

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Prois introduces cutting edge technology in ladies hunting gear.

I am anxious to try out Prois’ new Intuition line I viewed at SHOT Show last week. It is a revolution in concealment technology for the lady hunter.

“Prois launches the new HECS Intuition line.

At ATA and SHOT Shows Prois launched their new Intuition line. They are the only US licensee of the HECS technology which is pioneering a new technology in hunting! They are the only company making a women’s line using the revolutionary HECS STEALTHSCREEN fabric. HECS STEALTHSCREEN is a revolutionary material that allows you to get closer to animals in their natural, undisturbed state and experience life in the wild like never before. HECS STEALTHSCREEN helps you stay undetected by combining three simple scientific principles.

1. All living things emit a faint electric signal.

2. Science has now proven that some animals have the ability to detect faint electromagnetic signals.

3. A conductive grid known as a “Faraday Cage” can block electromagnetic signals.

HECS effectively creates a “Faraday Cage” for your body that is quiet,  flexible, lightweight, and comfortable. To learn more about this technology and see some great videos and testimonials visit http://www.hecsllc.com/research.html”

The Intuition line is made of conductive carbon fiber but remains thin and flexible. It can be worn under or over your winter under/insulating wear. Prois Intuition is scheduled to be released the summer of 2012.

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Fun Female-Friendly Targets by GunFun.com

So just how good a shooter is our camera-toting Marilyn "Bullseye" Vogel? You be the judge!

Recently, I had the chance to do some target practice with two of my favorite gal-pals, WOMA Chair Deb Ferns and WOMA member Marilyn Vogel.  Nothing unusual about that.  What was unusual was what we were shooting — GunFun.com’s line of female-friendly (and somewhat comical) targets.  Bennett Perritt, the company’s owner, started out with a publishing company that branched out into target printing after his son asked for an air rifle.  It took 8 months from the first printing until Bennett was satisfied with his targets.  That’s a perfectionist at work.

Melita Ellington points out her hits on the Female Intruder GunFun.com target

Gunfun.com offers many target packages to choose from — check them out at www.gunfun.com, like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gunfuntargets) and follow them on Twitter (@gunfuntargets).

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New at SHOT 2012: The Baby UpLULA

Guy Tal, MagLULA LLC, holds his newest invention, the Baby UpLULA

Introduced at Media Day at SHOT 2012, the Baby UpLULA, developed by Guy Tal.  As we arrived at Media Day, we really didn’t know what we’d see, other than the usual plethora of gadgets, firearms, and various other “things” that might or might not make it big in 2012.  And then something caught my eye, like a shimmering new penny in a sea of asphalt – the UpLULA.  The UpLULA is a clever gadget that helps shooters load magazines quickly, easily and painlessly.  [Go to http://www.maglula.com/PistolMagLoaders/UpLULA9mmto45ACPmags.aspx and click "view demo"].  Inventor Ran Tal was manning his booth, and I couldn’t help but tell him how much I adore this product.  Yes ADORE.  After all, I am a delicate flower.  When Mr. Tal told me he was the inventor, well I nearly tripped all over myself to hug this man!  Sorry Mrs. Tal.

New at Media Day - the Baby UpLULA

UpLULA was started in 2001 by Ran and Guy (father and son) Tal with the invention of their MagLULA, which stands for Magazine Loading and Unloading Accessory.  Ran and Guy invented their LULA line, and maintain design, production, and quality control of the product in Israel.  We spoke with Guy about the newest product introduced at Media Day, the Baby UpLULA, specifically designed for .22 and .380 magazines.  I, for one, am extremely excited about this accessory, as I use .22s in my classes and some of the magazines, although spring-loaded and pegged for ease of use, aren’t so easy to load.  This will do nicely, thank you.

Of course, if it were pink….  I did ask Guy if there was a chance we could get it in pink.  I’m not sure he’s so keen on pink, but if there’s a market to sell to, I think he’d be all for it.  I think his words were “I’ll think about it.”  Hey, that’s a start!

Thanks Guy and Ran for a terrific product.  Stay tuned for a product review on just how well this Baby works!

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Bows Are Not Just For Your Hair!

Before I met my husband Al, I thought that bows were hair decoration.  Not so but Al was exclusive into any kind of gun. So fast forward 18 years and lately I’ve been curious lately about bow shooting. Many of you may already be well versed on this subject and realize bows are an alternative to using a shotgun, rifle or pistol. Could you please give me your take on this alternative?

Here is what I found so far – What size bow do I buy?

Small Frame Women (100-130 lbs.) 25 – 35 lbs.

Medium Frame Women (130-160 lbs) 30-40 lbs.

Large Frame Women (160+ lbs.) 45 – 55 lbs.

The recommendation seems to be a Compound Bow. So I did a little research and here is what I found.  To me, with my limited knowledge, this one looks like a winner.  Comments?

The Bear ® Archery Home Wrecker Ready to Hunt bow package is designed specifically as a bow for women, but not lacking in any performance. The traditional Bear ® quality of silence and efficiency seep out of the Home Wrecker’s pores along with slight touches of pink. Weighing in at just over 3 lbs., this bow still packs a punch perfect for different game at 280 FPS.

FEATURES:

• Perimeter-weighted modular single cam for efficiency and easy release
• Flared quad limbs to distribute stress evenly across the bow for clean shots
• Offset string suppressor to reduce vibrations and noise in the field
• Designed for women
• FPS: 280
• Weight: 3.2 lbs
• Brace Height: 6″
• Axle to Axle: 29.75″
• Peak Draw Weight: 50 lbs.
• Draw Length Range: 22″ – 28″

In addition, BOW stands for Becoming an Outdoor Woman. Eighteen years ago I attended this event in Arizona. That was the first time I’d every held or used a bow and learned they are not just ribbons for your hair.  Maybe it’s time to try again!

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Ono’s and Orvis Partner on Exclusive Top Focal™ Angler Sunglasses

MOBILE, Ala. – February 8, 2011 – Ono’s Trading Company® announced an exclusive agreement with Orvis to produce sunglasses with Top Focal™ magnifiers at the top of the lens so anglers get knot-tying assistance looking up but still can look down without visual distraction when wading slippery streams and fast currents.

Ono’s spokesman Chris Nelson said positioning the bifocals at the top of the lens was the brainchild of Orvis CEO Dave Perkins. “He came to us with the concept and we were pleased to collaborate with him on the design of sunglasses that will give wade anglers definite advantages,” Nelson said. “Golfers will benefit, too. They can look up to check a scorecard but they can still look down without visual distraction when swinging at the ball.”

Ono's Trading Company's Breton model with tortoise frame and amber lens.

Nelson said Ono’s will produce two popular Orvis Top Focal™ models – Breton and Curlew – each with memory-flex frames, ophthalmic-quality CR-39 amber lenses, and top of the lens magnification with 2.00 and 2.50 powers. He said the amber lenses transmit a brighter field and more color contrast which helps anglers look through the surface of the water to more accurately make out structure and depth. Polarized lenses provide 100 percent eye protection from UVA and UVB rays. Breton and Curlew are unisex frame designs for faces with medium to large features.

Perkins said the new Orvis Top Focal™ sunglasses will be sold only through Orvis retail stores, e-commerce, and catalogs.” Top Focals™ are totally out of the way of your normal vision, especially when looking down, as the magnifying lens is above the sightline of the brim of your hat,” Perkins said. “When tying a knot you simply look through the top of the sunglasses or lower the glasses onto the bridge of your nose.”

He said he had never liked the “goofy” look of flip-up and flip-down reading glasses. “Anglers wearing bifocals at the bottom of the lens needed to constantly remove them to navigate when looking down to step in the stream or wade in fast current as they impaired near distance vision.

“Top Focals™ give you the best magnification in sunglasses without impairing your vision when looking down or having magnifiers hanging off your neck or off your hat brim, which my daughter thinks is totally un-cool. These are the only glasses I will fish with. You can sign me ‘Over 45′.”

About Ono’s Trading Company

Ono’s Trading Company markets stylish sunglasses that eliminate the need to switch glasses to read or perform other close-up vision tasks in the outdoors. Sunglasses employ polarized lenses with a unique reader magnification enhancement system. They are sold through stores, catalogs and web sites. Contact Chris Nelson, Sales Manager, 1606B Industrial Park Circle, Mobile, AL 36693-5648. Phone 1-866-865-4695. Fax 1-251-338-0414. Email Nelson at chris at onostradingcompany.com. On the Internet, visit and www.facebook.com/onoseyewear.  The Orvis website address is http://www.orvis.com.

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Models, features and benefits, Orvis-by-Ono’s Polarized Top Focal™ Sunglasses

Top Focal™ Breton™ by Orvis: Tortoise Memory-Flex frame. Amber CR-39 lens. Mag powers 2.00 and 2.50

Top Focal™ Curlew™ by Orvis: Black Memory-Flex frame. Amber CR-39 lens. Mag powers 2.00 and 2.50

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