Apex found & Heaven bound...

Great vid from the always enjoyable Adventure Journal! The Joy of Air! Great reading from a little dude accompanied by great footage, perfect for the kid in all of us! Enjoy!




The Joy of Air from ARC'TERYX on Vimeo.

CRKT Folts Minimalist Bowie Review

First off, I LOVE knives! Ever since I was a little guy, I've been known to dabble with some nifty blades. One of my favorite birthday presents was a throwing knife given to me by my Dad at age 8 (still have it too). How did I learn not to run with a knife in hand? Busted my ass in the pasture with a garage sale survival knife and ripped my hand open. Lesson learned. That said, I'm a somewhat credible source... somewhat.

Over the last few months, I've been on the lookout for a good fixed blade for everyday carry. As much as I love my quick flip pocket knife, I thought the fixed blade might serve well, and my pockets were getting full. I'm moving into town, and will be rambling around via bicycle a LOT. I've heard the horror stories of people being ambushed, jumped, etc, and wanted a layer of protection in addition to my beard and 190 lbs of manliness. I also know how handy a quick blade can be when a stray shoelace makes its way into the chainwheel and plants you in the middle of the street. But ultimately, I wanted a justifiable way to try out a cool fixed blade, and at $20 I figured this was the ticket!

First off, there are several carry options with this knife. It comes with a secure kydex sheath that locks the knife in place when not in use. I'm sure it will smooth out as it breaks in, but I like that there is no risk of it just falling out. The sheath has several holes for different setups. Many people refer to this class of blade as a "neck knife" made to be hung and worn around the neck via paracord. This way its always right there under the shirt and ready. I don't care much for this, but it may prove useful as the weather gets warm and I start wearing bike shorts without belt loops. Instead, I opted to put together the belt loop option. It comes as a kit with a couple screws and spacers that allow for several angles and mounting options. My favorite thus far is a cross-draw belt mount that is easily accessible, yet remains hidden.

After toting her for a couple weeks now, it's become part of my wardrobe while my folder stays home. Now I keep my real weapon in the right pocket, my trusty Sharpie. I've been moving furniture, boxes, and working on the new house most days, and the Folts design has been magnificent. With one hand I can get it out and do whatever I need. The blade is VERY sharp out of the box, and makes quick work of any cardboard, tape, or zip ties I've encountered. The grooved grip locks in perfectly for two or three fingers, and gives a confident feel without the risk of the blade folding back in during heavy use. Sitting here typing, it doesn't dig in or get uncomfortable. It's always there and ready, never a nuisance  and gives more confidence than a folder if trouble were to arise.

That said, I'm a worst-case scenario type of thinker. What if I get cornered, charged, clotheslined off the bike, etc by some would-be attacker? Having a slight limp and a hot wife, defense is often on my mind. Here's my thoughts on a blade for self-defense: If you're in a situation, draw a gun, and drop the the attacker, your troubles have just begun. Even in Texas, you're in the position now where you have to stand before authorities or possibly even a jury and convince them that it was the only option. As a dude that's 6' tall, bearded, active, and a little rough looking, I'm not leaving my fate to a panel of people that couldn't even get out of jury duty. Take the same scenario: one to several attackers corners me and the lady, or ambushes me. I whip out a 2 inch utility blade from my belt, take a couple hits, and proceed to slice and dice my way out of said situation. A blade this small moves as fast and accurately as your hand. If I can move quick enough to slap the assailant, that's another leak for them. A few slaps and a lot of blood later, most people lose their fight and revert to a childlike state of terror. Then I can stand in front of that same panel with my beautiful wife and a black eye, show them the little knife I bought from the local outdoors store, and damn near be hailed as a hero. Much better in my opinion. I also don't have to worry about "brandishing a weapon" or carrying a weapon into an illegal setting. This is a concealed utility blade that can serve in those worst case moments, not a weapon.

Concluding, I'm very happy with the purchase. Great knife! And now begins the goal I have with all my equipment (and body): use it and abuse it for its entire useful life!

Describe Vita Brevis...

After 7 years, I still get hung up here...

In my mind, I'm being asked for a paragraph when I have an entire novel to share. VB has roots so deep within me, it still surprises me. I'm almost offended when it's referred to as a "brand", but that's a simple way to say it in one sentence. It's just so much more in my heart and mind.

Vita Brevis is my true identity, free of all the bullshit that I carry and the masks that we're all guilty of wearing.  I've seen it evolve over the years, always a bi-product of my life. The history has distinct chapters, phases, and the mandatory ups and downs that come with life. I'm so proud of what it is becoming, of the people it has united, of the message it is spreading. It isn't fake, or hiding behind any sort of labels. It's more than shirts and hats, more than stickers, more than all of that. This is my dream manifesting, a dream that I was never even aware of before. It's my opportunity to impact the world around me.

I came across this a while back, and as simple as it is, it spoke to me. 

As I sit here in the old studio, it seems borderline lifeless as everything is packed up and readied for the move. The only things left are a mess and the paintings on the walls. So many great memories, and the promise of so many more. So many of the great moments I've had have been serendipitous, right place at the right time type of happenings. Moving forward, I grin as I realize my ability to see such opportunities, as well as feel my proactive nature. Surround that with positive people and a world primed for my message, and you've got quite a recipe. 

Zero arrogance, a humble heart, and a bold voice. The pen in my hand is my weapon of choice, my creativity the strategy, your inspiration my motivation. Who knows what the next chapter holds for all of us, whether we're blessed with a hundred years or die tomorrow. All I know is I'm blessed to have Vita Brevis, and it's time to make the world feel blessed to have it as well! One life, one love, one chance. This is it friends, bust a grin and carry on! And if your style and wallet will allow it, support the cause and fuel the fire by snagging some gear from the store! 

"A pinch of art, a heavy dose of lifestyle, and a crushing amount of awesome. Vita Brevis (Latin for Life is Short) Clothing (vbclothing.com) is my artistic outlet. I create products and attempt to inspire my fellow people through shirts, art, pictures, videos, words, and promotion. It seems to draw a wide variety of free-thinkers, artists, and general wild-asses, all of whom I think the world needs more of! 

My focus is on casual adventure wear, apparel that has a place in virtually everyone's closet. I place as much emphasis on the feel of my product as I do the appearance. My goal is for your favorite worn out t-shirt to have my logo on it, and for something I do to bring value to your life. Dig in and see if you share the same vibe!"

There you have it friends, Vita Brevis described! And you know it's legit, cuz it's Facebook official! ...Until I decide it needs updating!

-Jeremiah Stone aka "Scratch"

Owner, sales manager, PR director, designer, IT tech, Web Admin, Treasurer, writer, model, janitor, and all-around good guy. "The Connoisseur of Chaos"

Moving Sale this week!

When in doubt, throttle out!

"When in doubt, throttle out." - The internal dialogue/ mantra of any off road racer aboard a two stroke. For the most part, this works well as a blanket reaction to anything mid-race. However, it must be coupled with the reality that "it's all good till it ain't." That said, new beginnings offer the opportunity to choose between this wide-open, all-she's-got type attitude and the far more safe path of scripted reality (i.e. grow up, consume, die).

Welcome to 2013... I chose my path...

With 2013, I realize that I've spent a significant part of my life planning on dying young. I'm having so much fun, I think I changed my mind. Also, I've officially survived at least 4 world-ending events. Thankfully, the Mayans were wrong and it looks like I'm gonna be around a while longer!
The new year is a time of resolution, to reflect and change, to stop bad habits or make new positive ones. The common theme is self improvement, and regardless of our success or failure we realize we want to be better. That in itself is a pretty large victory.

VB saw some growth in 2012. I dug a little deeper into the brand and found some momentum despite being injured and worthless for the majority of the year. However, real life came knocking at the door and I had to back off a bit and pursue some other things. It breaks my heart to choke down the very things that drive me. I like art, getting rowdy, cool pictures, and all around getting pumped up about life. Time to do more of it if I want to leave the lasting impression I dream of.

This year, you're going to get some more out of me. More art, more pictures, more awesome. There's a move in the works, a new studio, and a relentless amount of ideas. My resolution to you is to stay on the throttle in '13 and create a brand all you old schoolers will be proud to stand behind. To all my artists out there: stay inspired. Get outside more, draw more, see more, do more, create every day. Lets get some laughs, stay up all night with great ideas, and leave our mark on a world that seems to be in constant despair. WFO friends, give it all!

Famous Last Words...

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to just step past reasonable and immerse themselves in the world of risk. I try to explain the risk/ reward ratio to people, but I'm often greeted with glossy stares and that strange laugh where people try to change the subject passive-aggressively. Until those people feel what it's like to bask in the rays of awesomeness, and inevitably baptize themselves in a world of pain and realization of failure... they just won't get it.

But in the meantime, I'm here to set the stage for those epic moments and memories. The kinds of memories that come to you from the third person, where your only personal evidence of achievement is some sort of bodily injury or property damage. I personally could write a book on these moments. Well.... not me, personally, but it would be an excellent collaboration for my friends and family to put together. I've got the aches and medical records of exactly what happens when you step into the unknown.

With that, Vita Brevis Clothing says cheers to the wild ones... the ones that can't go swimming without jumping off a roof or nearby tree, the ones that make bets on whether or not they can jump over tables or cars, the couch- backflippers, the rope-swingers, the wheelie addicts...

We salute the famous last words of every wild ass that's ever done anything amazing or come up  a little short, and we both commemorate these moments and encourage new ones with the release of our new Koozies. And with a resounding chant we say...

HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS!!!!

Now Available at VBCLOTHING.COMVBCLOTHING.COM

Buggin Out...

I was paranoid long before "Doomsday Preppers" ever hit the airwaves. I grew up spending my days away from the house, romping around the woods of north Texas hunting bears with a backpack full of bubble gum, Baby Ruths, and ammo for my cap gun. Naturally, I grew to love having everything I needed for my long days, and formed a strange bond with backpacks. You can ask anyone that knows me, and they'll tell you it gets real weird real fast. I have 14 packs right now, and each has their specific purpose. I can tell you the exact pocket configuration, and what is in each pocket of every bag. Everything has its place, and that is very valuable to me.

So why not build an emergency prep setup? Seems like something everyone should have, and it was a great opportunity to flex my fetish for good packs. Let's think this one through and put something great together...

First off, I splurge on good equipment. I skipped meals in college to put better parts on my bikes. And I don't EVER want to see how much money has actually been spent on this stuff. I just stay focused on the fact that if shit hits the fan, I'll be working with the good stuff. Much thought went in to this setup, and that's my exact goal with this write-up... to get your own wheels turning. Do you have a plan for various events? Do you have the necessities to execute your plan?

Ab "Bug-out-bag" is defined as a 72 hour setup more than a survival kit. For me and my people, evacuation isn't quite as important as it is for others. But I jumped at the opportunity to build an all-inclusive setup that would give me confidence in a short-term survival situation. I wanted one bag that would cover the basics: food, water, shelter, and protection for my bride and I. Her pack could be loaded with more event-specific gear or dog supplies in the event of an evacuation. But as I stated earlier, that isn't much of a priority. What is a priority is getting home to her if I'm somewhere else when something happens, or otherwise stranded. Your particular setup needs to reflect your goals as well as your local topography, climate, etc.

Here's what I put together after a recent re-pack for the coming cold weather:

Number one is what you don't see, and that's the person carrying it. In an event, dress smart. Good socks, layers, hat, and the best outdoor shoes you have. Why pack a coat or pants when you can throw it on real quick? Also, do some sort of training and cardio. It doesn't matter how many gadgets you have if you can't cover any ground.

Water: 

Immediately fill up any water bottles you have and grab a fistful of snacks and scarf them down. You need the calories, and you won't have the time to stop and filter any water for a while. First priority is mobility. I keep at least one Nalgene bottle, and have the setup to carry a few on this pack. I also have a Camelbak bladder that I can add in only a minute or two. Don't go overboard here- at over 8 lbs per gallon, you can easily overload yourself with water. I keep a quick use filter straw, as well as the Katadyn filter system I can use when there's time to refill the bottles. A compass and headlamps/ flashlights are a good thing to have as well. I also have a small green light that is harder to detect if I'm moving at night. Pay attention to the batteries needed. It's a good thing to keep the majority of things to one kind of battery so you can pack spares, but it's also nice to have a little variety in case you have to forage for batteries later.

Security:

If there's ever an event that's bad enough to put me on the run, it's going to knock the rest of the world back on its heels, and desperate people terrify me. Here in Texas, everyone has weapons, and they're all itching for the chance to justify using them. I've also heard conversations where people's sole survival plan is to forcefully steal what they need (ironically the same people that get all wound up over the redistribution of wealth when it comes up in politics). That being said, I'm an alarmist to the bone, and if the situation has me on edge, do not make me nervous. I counted 5 blades in my pack, not including the two that are always on my body. Knives don't run out of ammo or make noise, and I'm pretty handy with them. You can also see the ultralight judge and a stack of ammo. That one fires .410 rounds, so it would be better for hunting than the 9mm with three spare clips that will be on my hip in an emergency situation. Gun preparedness and weapons training is something we take very serious, but it's also something I'll never advertise.

Water, clothing, and security are the main things I consider if I need to GTFO right away. The pack is only good if I get to where I can safely set up a spot. This, too, involves more thought than equipment. In any survival situation, a little knowledge goes further than money can buy. Fail to plan, plan to fail. I've had the benefit of growing up in the area I live, so I've got several locations in mind if i need to hide out. Once I get there, the pack can come off my back. It's time to set up a shelter and refuel.

Shelter:

I love my hammock, and I use it all the time. It's a two person Eno design that includes straps and a rain fly that I can set up in about three minutes. It gets us off the ground and under cover in a bind. My pack also has straps on the bottom that I can easily secure a backpacking tent to if need be. Once again, the clothes you have on are crucial. There's no blankets or pillows in this kit. Just a rain shell and extra pair of socks, both of which the wife has first dibs on.
When shelter is up, it's time to build a fire. Don the gloves and grab the biggest knife or the one with a saw, and get some brush. Also, either practice making fires often, or sandbag it. I do both. I'm a big fan of redundancy in preparation, so there are six different ways to make a fire in my pack. Go ramble around the local sorting goods store and you'll see several nifty helpers. Waterproof matches and fire starter matches are cheap.

Food:

I live next to a wildlife preserve and a dog adoption center surrounded by farmers and cattle in the middle of horse country. Guns, knives, and some fishing hooks along with some will to live should take care of that. But just in case, I pack some beef jerky with me.

Other goodies:

I like to have a basic First Aid kit, as well as optics. I keep some binoculars and a monocular with tripod to keep an eye on my surroundings and scout for trouble. There are also many compact "survival kits" that easy to store. The memo pad is nice to make notes, maps, or communicate if there's a language barrier. Bug spray and para-cord are easy to carry and come in handy, as well as cheap ponchos and a few extra batteries. The newest addition is the SAS handbook, which is a phenomenal resource. Like I said before, knowledge is the biggest bang for the buck you'll find.

Things I'd like to add:
Emergency radio, and a good map.

Hopefully this has your wheels turning. There are several bags available that are already packed and ready, but I've really enjoyed building my kit. Keep it updated and be familiar with your equipment. Repack it when the seasons change, and pay attention to details. Shelter items can be packed deep, while you want easy access to your self defense, navigation, and water items. No one is going to stand and wait for you to dig around like a sorority girl in her purse! Give it some thought and have some fun! If the world crumbles, you'll be ready! And if not, you'll have a sweet bag full of toys next time you go camping!