When I’m traveling anywhere, doesn’t matter where, I always bring two things: cosmetics and electronics. And those are two things that I’m really bad at keeping organized. Items always end up stuffed haphazardly wherever they fit or where I can easily reach for security checkpoints. For a while I was stealing my boyfriend’s Eagle Creek pouch, but he eventually wanted it back. When I discovered the Chums Latitude accessory cases, it was a match made in heaven.
When the Chums Vortex Utility Keychain showed up in my mailbox, I really struggled with how to use it. I’m not really a bulky keychain person. Over the years, I’ve gone from carrying bags stuffed to the brim to only going places with my wallet. Sometimes I even ditch the wallet.
The Chums Vortex Utility Keychain is a stylish carabiner, form over function. Please keep in mind that this is not designed for climbing and will not hold any load worth your weight. The lip of the gate functions as a bottle holder.
The Vortex Utility Keychain has two key rings. I actually do not prefer to keep my keys on this. Instead, I use it to hold and keep track of all my dangling camping items that have no designated place in my pack: sporks, pack-towel, whistle, and more. In this sense, I find that the keychain would be more functional with little thin carabiners so I can easily clip and unclip items as I use them. I find it to be a pain to thread them through the key rings each time I need to use an item that doesn’t have it’s own ‘biner. However, this is most likely not the way Chums intended this to be used.
If you’re a fan of neat looking, semi-functional keychains, this is for you. If you prefer to be more minimalistic, this is probably not for you.
This was sent to me for review.
When the Chums Smokey Fire Starter Paracord Bracelet arrived in my mailbox, I had high, high hopes for it.The 16 feet of paracord doubles as a firestarter with a firestone and steel washer clasp.
I watched this video and I was so excited to try it.
But I just couldn’t get it to work for me. Not out in the backcountry, not under the redwoods, not even sitting in the comforts of my own home in a controlled environment, and not in a near-dark room.
Needless to say, I am a little disappointed and all I have to show for my fire-starting efforts are bruises and scrapes from my hands knocking against the ground and against the firestone. The washer and firestone are fairly small and not ergonomically friendly; it seems purpose is to be a bracelet closure first, and fire-starting device second.
I have fairly small hands and I found myself fumbling with them. It seemed that there was no way to comfortably hold them and scrape to my heart’s desire.
At approximately 3 oz, it may be a good tool for you to have in your pack if you can get it to work. If you’re counting ounces and saving space, this bulky bracelet is probably not for you.
All in all, I like the idea, but I struggled with the whole fire-starter aspect which tarnished the product for me. However, your experiences may be different than mine. At $16.99, this won’t set you back by much and at worst, you’ll have a paracord bracelet for your adventures.
This was sent to me for review.