Getting new gear for Christmas is about the perfect way to celebrate a holiday, in my opinion. This year it was snakeboots from my husband. My colleagues at my non-outdoor job were less than impressed when I shared that information with them.

“I got boots,” I said.

“Ooooh,” they squealed in unison. “Uggs?  Stilettos?  Furry ones?”

“No, not uggy, or furry or pointy,” I said, “Snakeboots.”  They all wandered off in search of someone with uggy or furry boots.

Here's Traci, probably after yoga, modeling her beloved snakeboots by Redhead. Found at Bass Pro Shops.

My gal friends at Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (B.O.W.), however, understood how well my husband had chosen, and that the way to a girl’s heart is Gore-Tex and camo.

I would have to agree, he chose well. My only complaint was that the tag inside the tongue rubbed, so I promptly removed it with my handy-dandy seam ripper, ’cause every outdoor gal has one of those, too.

Size 5 ... but they pack a punch!

The boots, although knee high, are flexible enough to wear while clambering over boulders and the lugged sole gave great traction. The boots are comfortable, even after three hours of breaking-in walking in them on the first day.  I have seen a few reviews that stated they leaked, but so far they hold up to the claim of being waterproof.  Even though it’s January, I had to test that, of course. I doubt that I’ll deliberately test the snakeproof part.

Most important to me was the fit. I wear a size 5, which is sometimes almost impossible to find in women’s outdoor gear. These boots start at size 5, and they fit perfectly.

My final thoughts – if you want to show someone you love her – buy her a pair of Redhead snakeboots! $99.99.

Follow Traci Schauf’s magnificent adventures in her snakeboots or flip-flops at The Adventures of Mother Nature.

And then, I got ‘Ambushed’ 

Actually, Jeff Patterson, of Swanson Russell, asked me if I’d like to look at a Bad Boy Buggies’ Ambush, and take a ride. I like Jeff. He is a great guy to work with, and frankly, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I said I’d look at it. But then, when I saw it … Did I mention that its name is Ambush?

I wanted not only to take a ride in it, I wanted to drive it!

Eric Bondy, vice president of the consumer value stream for Bad Boy Buggies, said, “This vehicle is easy to handle. Short wheel-based, but the big thing is … whether you’re a woman or a man, it’s the ultimate hunting vehicle. The ability to switch between gas and electric in a moment’s notice makes all the difference.”

Then he said, “You wanna drive it?” Oh boy, did I. Eric rode shotgun.

Getting a quick lesson from Eric Bondy. Photo by Jason Baird

We headed out through the parking lot to the desert, and that’s where I floored it, kicked it up to (get this) 17 miles per hour, took a hill, veered off the path, almost dived into a ditch and killed the engine. I looked over at Eric. James Bond cool and calm. “Why don’t you just start it up and put it back on the course, Barb?” His knuckles weren’t even white.

Getting it up to 17 mph. Photo by Jason Baird

I know you’ll want some of the specs, so from the Bad Boy himself, here ya go:

Hills? No problem. Photo by Jason Baird

DUAL DRIVE TECHNOLOGY: THE POWER TO CHOOSE

A rugged and dependable 16-hp V-Twin gas engine delivers more range and supplies the muscle to the rear axle while a stealthy-quiet 48-volt DC electric drivetrain powers the front. Switch from one to the other, or engage both at the push of a button for true 4×4 capability.

MAKE SHORT WORK OF THE LONG HAUL.

Bucket seating for two and independent front suspension cushions the ride

9.6-cubic-foot roto-molded cargo bed carries all your gear, stands or your kill

Manually locking rear differential offers additional torque and traction in extreme conditions

Blackout switch turns off vehicle lighting for better concealment… ideal when it’s time to slip into “stealth mode”

12-volt outlet can be used to power small electronics and equipment

25-inch all-terrain tires keep a firm grip on the action

Hydraulic front and rear brakes and regenerative braking to recharge electric batteries on the fly

1,000-lb towing capacity

No leaning required. Not like an ATV at all. Photo by Jason Baird

I like how it rolls in real quiet. Imagine being able to sneak down a logging road, or through a valley. And for those of you who think, “Hey, I’ll just walk!” All right, go ahead and walk, and maybe you’ll be in with all the others on public lands, or maybe you’ll fall into a rabbit hole, or maybe you’ll slip down a stream bank and twist your ankle. I like this idea because you can get in, get close and still have a vehicle that will take you and your child and your two does back to camp afterwards. Or, actually, I’m thinking my three girlfriends and our four 22-pound toms.

You know, I think if I played golf, I’d just use this on the golf course, too. Why not?

So, after that hair raising ride, we coasted back to the staging area and I asked, “So, what’s the writer’s discount on this thing?” And with a straight face, Eric replied, “Well the MSRP is $13999, but for you, it’s $14500.” No problem. Guess I’ll just have to write four more articles.

Alive and well. We sneak back. Photo by Jason Baird

Check out Bad Boys Buggies.

At Media Day at the Range, held Jan. 16 at a range near Boulder City, Nev., some WON Guns (Sara Ahrens, Mia Anstine and I) not only got the opportunity to shoot Franchi’s new line of shotguns, but also received hands-on instruction in busting clays from Joe Coogan, Brand Marketing Manager for Benelli USA and host of the popular television show Benelli on Assignment.

Sara Ahrens shot the Franchi Instinct SL. Note how it fits her hands. She loved it! Photo by Jason Baird

I shot the Instinct L, an over & under shotgun. Franchi’s new slogan is “Franchi Feels Right,” and this one did. The beautiful, light weight (under six pounds) 20-gauge with a Prince-of-Wales style stock cut from Select A-Grade satin walnut features cut-checking on the slim fore-end and one of my favorite little things – a pistol grip. The gun is gorgeous and swings in balance with a woman’s body easily. And, forget about wearing a shooting vest. I shot at least 20 rounds through that gun and my right shoulder feels like my left shoulder – pain free!

I love over & under shotguns – because of the ability to manipulate the load and eject the shells. The smell of the powder, but most of all, the tradition attached to using this tool. I think women will love Franchi’s Instinct L. Instinctively.

Barbara Baird shoots Franchi's Instinct L. Mia Anstine and Sara Ahrens wait patiently as Joe Coogan instructs and watches. Photo by Jason Baird

Please visit the Franchi website to see more about this fine, fine gun. MSRP: $1149.

Sentry Solutions have a host of oil free products available that protect your gear against corrosion, friction, and wear that can be used in multiple applications like firearms, marine gear and knives.

Britney Starr works on a shotgun.

The kit that I received included:

• SMOOTH-KOTE: Fast-drying lube and bore treatment protects against fouling, friction and wear. Repels dirt, eliminates grime. Extreme fouling reduction enhances reliability, accuracy, bullet velocity. Bore treatment without the buildup, no need to adjust charge weight. Molybdenum disulfide micro-bonds to metal for excellent lubrication from -65ºF to +650ºF. Makes cleaning your gun simple, just brush off and re-lube.
• BP2000 POWDER: Great for trigger jobs fine-tuning feed ramps, bores, bolts and slides. Reduces coefficient of friction, makes trigger pulls smoother and lighter. Gets rid of trigger creep for the crispest release. It is oil-free so it makes surfaces non-stick- clean by brushing off and re-lubing. Made from pure powdered sub-micron, passivated molybdenum disulfide with natural dry micro-bonding to metal.
• HI-SLIP GREASE: Smoothes actions for easier lock-up; prevents galling even under extreme conditions and high load, from -65ºF to 650ºF Lubricates, waterproofs-prevents rust, even in saltwater. Will not migrate. Synthetic blend Exceeds mil-specs for moly grease. A synthetic grease, specifically designed for firearms, that has the benefits of oil but stays put, will not migrate from -65ºF to 650ºF. Lubricates and protects over a wide temperature range and will not wash off.
• TUF-CLOTH: Oil-free lubrication and rust protection. Water-displacing micro bonded, dry shield repels grit and dirt. Quick clean on your gun bench, the range or in the field- spill proof pack. Great for all metals & finishes, safe for wood and plastic.
• PLUS: Accessories to treat your firearms, including detailed instructions, application brush, patches, foam & cotton-tipped applicators, pipe cleaners, alcohol pads and gloves.

Always an important ingredient: grease.

Retail Value: $39.95 and provides enough product for 30 firearms (It’s not too late to order this for a stocking stuffer!).

I received my kit in the mail along with directions, which is a good thing because I was slightly overwhelmed by all of the products and figuring out where to start (for some reason my kit did not include any of the brushes, patches, applicators, pipe cleaners, alcohol pads, or gloves).

The directions recommend cleaning your gun before application so there is no oil, powder/metal residues, rust, dirt, etc (t does claim that the TUF-CLOTH will remove light rust). I pre-cleaned my gun and then used SMOOTH-KOTE on the interior of the barrel. After which I applied a small amount HI-SLIP GREASE (about the size of a pin head) near my extractors and the lever that opens the break. I found that after this application the gun was very smooth to open and close. The final step for me was to wipe down the outside barrel of the gun with the TUF-CLOTH. I found it very convenient that the cloth came in a sealable bag which is great for re-use. After letting the product dry I did notice visible streaking on the side and barrel of the gun but it also removed a large portion of the rust.

The kit.

Sentry Solutions boasts that “dirt will not stick to equipment lubricated with a dry film and metal surfaces protected by a dry micro-bonded shield will not corrode,” which will make maintenance cleaning simple.

I look forward to putting Sentry Solutions to a field test which I will write about in Part 2 of this review. Hopefully it will make my reduce my rust issues. Stay tuned!

Britney Starr will continue to put Sentry Solutions to the test!

For more information on Sentry Solutions visit www.sentrysolutions.com

Endorsement Disclosure: Per the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission, this product review is an endorsement and the writer may have been compensated by “in-kind” payment to review the product. 

Britney Starr is part owner, client services representative and social media manager of Starr & Bodill African Safaris. She enjoys working side by side with her father and licensed Professional Hunter, Dwaine Starr, to provide their clients with a worry-free safari. Keep up with Britney at her blog. 

Having a flashlight is also a matter of living safely. Flashlights are good to have in dark parking lots, when trying to unlock the front door or when digging through your purse. They can surprise and disorient an attacker or act as a makeshift weapon in a time of need.

Thanks to her LumaMax, Shelley Rae is never in the dark. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Pagan.

Carrying a flashlight is not as difficult as carrying a gun can be. There are no complicated permits and it’s simple enough to slip one into a pocket in your purse or get a cheap holster to put it on your belt.

This LX2 was illuminated by an LX2. How's that for a product review? Photo courtesy of Jeremy Pagan.

For the past eight months I’ve been carrying a Surefire LX2 LumaMax® with me everywhere I go. The 5.4-inch, 4.2-ounce flashlight has never been a burden and fits easily into the side pocket of my purse. The size and weight also make this flashlight ideal for camping and backpacking, as it can easily be slipped into a pocket, backpack, fanny pack, saddle bag or belt holster.

Not only is the little flashlight light in weight, it’s resilient. I’ve dropped it on cement running leagues, dropped it in mudpuddles running matches and rolled it in the dirt practicing rifle positions.

The LX2 shines up to 200 lumens; that’s 10 times the light of a normal D-cell flashlight, and also comes with a 15-lumen low output setting that is great for a quick glance at something, reading a book or any other situation where 200 lumens really is too many.  With both a push-button on, perfect for momentary light, and a constant-on that can be achieved by spinning the back of the flashlight the controls are easy to manipulate and provide for a variety of circumstances.

Shelley Rae shines the Surefire LX2 LumaMax on the "bad guy." Photo courtesy of Jeremy Pagan.

I wouldn’t go anywhere without a flashlight, and I wouldn’t choose any flashlight over my SureFire LX2. Easy to use, light and durable it provides me with the light I need in any situation.

Visit Shelley Rae online at her website.

Check out the LX2 LumaMax. MSRP: $210.

Endorsement Disclosure: Per the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission, this product review is an endorsement and the writer may have been compensated by “in-kind” payment to review the product.

Before ...

The Fillo Pillow by Nemo has a soft, removable microsuede cover that is machine washable. That’s important when you’ve been backpacking in bear country and haven’t seen soap or deodorant for six days. When I tested this piece of equipment, it was 48 degrees, and I was amazed at how warm it kept my ear and head. (That was a bonus to someone who can’t put her head inside her bag because of claustrophobia issues.)

The pillow, with its cushy memory foam layer, starts out one-inch thick, and inflates to 4 inches. Memory foam. Now that’s a luxury on the trail. If you want an even fatter pillow, thread some clothing through the cording on the back.

I really like the valve system, which locked completely, allowing no leaks, and was easy to unlock and deflate. The cover also acts as a stuff sack, which worked great to roll the pillow and stuff into the cover, but after stuffing, rolling and folding the pillow to fit it into my backpack, I found the best way to carry it was just to slide it in it flat against the back of my pack and fill in around it.

The pillow weighs 10.9 ounces, which for ultralight hikers might be too much heft, but for a few days packing, I think I would add this to the gear pile, if I have the room. Hubby liked it so well he said other things would get cut before the pillow did. I KNOW it makes the cut for car camping.

Looks inviting, yes?

Note: It also worked great as a lumbar support when my husband got lost and we ended up driving for 12 hours.

Backwoods retails the Nemo Fillo Pillow for $39.95. I would say this pillow definitely has fluffed up my gear list for camping!

Sweet dreams are made of these ...

Check out the Nemo Fillow Pillow at Backwoods.

Photo by Lauerweaponry.com.

Lauer Weaponry, the manufacturer of DuraCoat Firearm Finishes, claims that the Shake ‘N Spray kit provides everything you need to finish your Firearm in a simple and user friendly way. The kit contains TruStrip and a scrubbing pad to degrease with, a jar to mix the DuraCoat ingredients, and a Preval Aerosol Sprayer to apply. Besides the instructions on the packaging, there also is a video available on the company’s website to view the application of the product.

After watching the video, I felt pretty confident that this was something I could do myself. The hardest part in my opinion: choosing which color to use. With more than a hundred different finishes available, deciding on which to use can take a little time. I knew I wanted something that would contrast with the black grip, but not stick out too much. The colors are available to view on the website, but it is difficult to get a real feel for them on there. I kept leaning toward my favorite color, which is purple, and after viewing the choices available I felt pretty confident that DuraCoat standard color 95-Goddess Purple was exactly the right choice for me. It was the darkest purple available, so I felt it would look best with the standard black of the GLOCK.

Now that the hard part was complete, it was time to prep my pistol. I removed the slide and headed out to my garage.

First – I taped off any parts that I did not wish to be painted using some standard painters tape.

Next – I needed to find a way to hang the slide to make it easy to spray. I ended up taking a wire hanger and hanging it from a string from one of the rafters of my garage. I looped the hook of the hanger through the barrel opening of the slide. This allowed the slide to hang freely, making all sides accessible to spray at once.

I followed the instructions closely, first using the TruStrip and scrubbing pad to degrease the slide. This was simple to do, and did not take long at all.

Once I was satisfied — I moved on to mixing up the finishing spray and preparing it in the Preval Aerosol Sprayer. The overall prep time took less than 15 minutes.

Purty. Jennifer's customized GLOCK. Submitted photo.

The best advice for the actual spraying of the finish is to put it on lightly and spray it in steady bursts. I found that spraying from top to bottom in lines worked well, being careful to only spray each area once.  I allowed the first coat to dry for about 15 minutes. I ended up using three coats total. Afterward, I allowed the slide to drive overnight before reassembly. The overall curing process does take several weeks, so I waited two weeks before actually using my gun, and several more prior to holstering it.

The finish turned out great! I absolutely loved it! I have had several people ask me where I took my pistol to have it done, only to be very surprised when I explain that I did it myself. It now has been several months and I have drawn the weapon from a holster dozens of times, cleaned it and degreased it; it still looks just as good as when it was first done. There is no doubt in my mind that I would use this product again.

I would caution that this is a permanent finish for your firearm; therefore, if you use it, take your time and make sure you follow all instructions. Wear gloves and old clothing, because you will most likely get the finish on your hands and clothing and it is very difficult to get out. Make sure you have the right amount for the project you are going to complete; I sprayed just the slide and used almost half of the product that came with the kit.

If you are looking to personalize your firearm and make it your own, I would recommend considering using DuraCoat Shake ‘N Spray. If you are confident in your ability to do it yourself, follow the directions provided on the packaging and the instructional video, this is a cost effective alternative to taking your firearm to a gunsmith. For more information on this product, visit www.lauerweaponry.com.   

BTB boasts that they have “the best $100 sunglasses you can buy for under $50.” While doing some research I found that they have a long list of features that you would not normally see in sunglasses of that cost.

• 100 percent optic clarity (De-centered lens)
• HD (High Definition) Lens Technology
• Complete UVA & UVB protection
•  ”Formed Fit” frames
• Temples & Nosepieces are made from a hypo- allergenic material and coated with an Anti-Bacterial agent for heavy perspiration environments
• Exceed ANSI, OSHA & Military Impact Specifications
• “Ballistic” rated

I picked a pair of traditional fully framed glasses in crystal brown color out of BTB’s “200 Series” that retail at $49.95. The 200 Series offers small to medium fit and an HD polarized lens option which is great for fishing. Since all of BTB’s sunglass lenses are ballistic rated, I was also interested to see how they would stand up while I was out grouse and woodcock hunting this fall. Click HERE to watch a video of the BTB crew performing a ballistic test.

Nice traveling case!

Sunglasses in hand, I started my five-hour trek to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on my quest for upland birds.  Of course, it rained the entire time … so, my new specs spent the entirety of the drive on my dashboard. I hoped that the following day would provide me with an opportunity to utilize my new gear.

Although wet, our first day of hunting looked like it might afford us a few glimpses of sunshine. As I geared up to hit the woods with my dad and my German Shorthair Pointer, “Wesson,” I decided to put on the glasses even though it was slightly overcast. I noticed right away that the polarized brown color lenses brightened everything up. When the first woodcock flushed, I found the tiny brown bird with no problem against the green backdrop of the trees (and successfully shot it, thank you very much).

I kept the sunglasses on all day while hunting. They were very lightweight and the nosepieces were made of soft material which did not dig in or leave marks on my nose. The temples of the glasses did not pinch into my head even under my hat but still felt secure enough that I did not worry they would fall off. Eventually, the sun did peek through the clouds and at that point I was impressed with how well the BTBs reduced the glare.

One thing I did notice was that my eyelashes hit the lenses of the glasses if they were pushed up all the way on my nose. Also, while I was huffing and puffing through a thick aspen cutting, the lenses became slightly fogged up. Although soft, the nose pieces are not adjustable – which might have helped fix both of these problems.

Britney Starr afield in her BTBs.

While driving back from hunting, my dad noticed some salmon swimming upstream. He stopped the truck and I jumped out to take a better look. Because the lenses are polarized I was able to see down into the water and watch the salmon. Without the sunglasses on I would have only seen the glare off the top of the water, which affirmed that I would be wearing them during my fishing excursions next summer.

BTB offers a lifetime warranty with every pair of their sunglasses, as well as free shipping on orders over $49. Visit www.btbsunglasses.com/category-s/46.htm for more details on BTB’s 200 Series sunglasses.

Britney Starr is a native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Britney has participated in hunting and shooting sports for her entire life. She is currently part owner, client services representative and social media manager of Starr & Bodill African Safaris. She enjoys working side by side with her father and licensed Professional Hunter, Dwaine Starr, to provide their clients with a worry-free safari. Keep up with Britney at her blog. 

Endorsement Disclosure: Per the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission, this product review is an endorsement and the writer may have been compensated by “in-kind” payment to review the product.

The weather was hot, sticky and the terrain wasn’t exactly what I would call stable. The forest was thick and even worse the kids were tired and crabby from the long drive.  Let’s just say I didn’t have the camera out to take cute pictures. Jess was kind enough to walk the kids back to the house so we could continue on our journey.  Jess knew how enthusiastic I was to try and set up the stand for my first time.  (Jess, I owe you one.)

Kristen Monroe straps the sticks on the tree. Submitted photo.

Mike, Kelly and I continued our exploration of the woods and game trails.   The next decision we made would determine whether my 2011 bowhunting season will be a success, or not.  There it was, the perfect tree with a set of trails that looked as if a herd of cows ran though.   The climbing sticks were easy to carry, weighing only 2.7-pounds per stick; I was carrying a set of three for a total of 7.5-pounds.  They were light and I carried them effortlessly. [Note: These sticks also come in a mini size, at 1.5 pounds per stick.]

Lone Wolf climbing stick

Mike talked me through the process of strapping the sticks on the tree one-by-one.  Besides the light weight of the sticks, my favorite features were the pivoting V-Brackets, they adjust to match the natural contour of the tree. The sticks fit  4- to 22-inch tree diameters.  If 22 inches doesn’t do the trick, there are strap extensions available; holy smokes, that would be a huge tree!  I secured each stick with the straps and climbed back down to get my stand.  The sticks were extremely quite, portable and easy to use – even for me, a beginner.   I looked up and with all said and done the distance between the steps was approximately 15 inches, so my stand would be about 15-16 feet off the ground.  Maybe it doesn’t sound like a big deal to many, but I felt pretty darn proud that I had set the stage for the stand.

Up she goes! Submitted photo.

The Lone Wolf Climbing sticks are ingeniously designed to nest together and mount directly on to the Assault™ or ALPHA™ Hang On.  There presented my next problem.  I do not have a Lone Wolf stand yet.  That’s on next year’s purchase list.  This year I have an old heavy stand with a steal platform, honestly I’m not even certain of the brand.  My stand is safe, but it’s really heavy.  Although I felt proud to set up my own sticks, Mike had to hang my stand.  I am not afraid to admit it when I need a helping hand.  I would rather have a little assistance than to injure myself and ruin my whole hunting season.  Like I said in the beginning, I have many firsts still to come.  It just goes to show how important it is to invest in good equipment that will work for you.  I wish I had a light weight Lone Wolf stand to go with my slick sticks.  We took a few branches down to clear some shooting lanes and called it a day.

Company Contact Information:

Lone Wolf Portable Treestands Inc.

P.O. Box 62

Edwards, IL 61528

309.691.9653

www.lonewolfhuntingproducts.com