In terms of heat retention and the ability to be used as filling, these are the warmest fibers by weight:

• Qiviut [Musk Ox Wool]
• Yak Wool
• Alpaca Wool
• Camel Wool
• Sheep’s Wool

For more details, see my article explaining why these wools are ultrawarm.

After testing duvets filled with Camel, Alpaca, and Merino wool, I found that Camel wool is indeed the warmest inside a comforter.

All of these wools contain no lanolin so they are hypoallergenic and odorless.

They have good moisture “wicking” properties. This means that moisture is absorbed by the fiber. This keeps sweat away from being released to the outside of the duvet.

This is the duvet I found to be the warmest:

The absolute warmest duvet on the market is the Qiviut duvet:

Alpaca Duvet

This Alpaca duvet I have tested and it is also very warm:

• Ave Maria 400 GSM Alpaca Wool Duvet/Comforter

The post The Warmest Wool Duvets (Qiviut, Alpaca and Camel Wool) appeared first on Reactual.

The best waterproof boots are Chippewa’s Super Logger Steel Toe Waterproof Insulated Boot. They are high-end leather safety boots that are hand-crafted for rugged outdoor use. They blend traditional craftsmanship with the latest in waterproof and insulation technology to produce a boot that is both fashionable and durable.

The Details

Chippewa has been making quality boots in America since 1901. Over the course of a century they have built a loyal following among professional and recreational outdoorsmen. Chippewa boots are famous for their use of only the best premium raw materials and commitment to quality manufacturing.

The Waterproof Steel-Toe Super Logger is Chippewa’s best waterproof boot, and the best waterproof boot of 2016. The genuine leather is protected with Chip-A-Tex waterproof membrane system. Chip-A-Tex locks water out of the boot with a membrane shield, but allows air to pass through to keep feet from getting sweaty. The boots are further waterproofed with Dri-Lex moisture management system, which allows the boots to breathe and dry quickly. A removable Texon 460 waterproof insole prevents moisture from entering.

A Vibram Tacoma Logger Outsole increases boot stability, provides slip resistance and gives the boot traction in a variety of terrains, including wet surfaces. The thickly treaded leather outsole is attached to the upper leather using Goodyear welting.

Goodyear welting is the oldest and most durable method used in shoe construction for attaching the upper part of the shoe to the outsole. It is an additional strip of leather that runs between the outsole and insole, and makes the sole more durable and waterproof. It makes the boot easier to resole, so Chippewa boots can be resoled and will last for years.

In addition, the Super Logger gets our choice for best waterproof boot because of its quality insulation and protective steel toe. The steel toe exceeds ATSM F2413-05 standards for impact and compression, and is safe from electrical hazards. 3M Thinsulate Ultra Insulation provides superior warmth and comfort so that the boots can be worn in cold weather and in snowy conditions.

For Women

Chippewa also manufactures waterproof leather boots for women. The Oiled WP Logger Rugged Boot comes equipped with the same outdoor features as its male counterpart. It is insulated with 400 grams of 3M Thinsulate Ultra insulation to keep the feet warm and dry in the winter. The women’s version is made with a single stitched welt and is imported, which is unfortunate.

The post The Best Waterproof Boots appeared first on Reactual.

Artifact Bags are made in Omaha, Nebraska by one man, Chris Brown. He uses a combination of hand tools and vintage industrial equipment to craft his creation. For materials, me Brown makes use of American sourced waxed canvas and leather, and offers a lifetime guarantee for all his products. See his intriguing workshop and latest creations on his blog.

The Artifact Lunch Tote, featured here, is made with 14 oz. waxed canvas. It’s available from Artifact Bags directly for $65.

Link: Artifact Bags

The post Buy It For Life: Artifact Bags appeared first on Reactual.

Most generators run on gasoline, but propane and diesel models are also for sale. In order to use a portable generator to power sections of your home in the event of an electricity outage, you will also need to purchase and install a transfer switch, which regulates the connections between your power sources and your house

We’ve consulted review sources such as Electric Generators Direct, Amazon, Northern Tool + Equipment, Home Depot, and Good Housekeeping to find the highest rated portable power sources.

Briggs & Stratton 30470 ($917)

Pros:

• Electric start
• Rugged construction

Top Review Sources:

• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “It’s hard to come by a mid-sized generator such as this one, loaded with features and that has electric start in this price range”
• Electric Generators Direct Customer Reviews: 4.9/5.0 (60+ reviews)
• Amazon: 4.0/5.0 (10+ reviews)

With 7,000 watts (8,750 watts surge) of power, the Briggs & Stratton 30470 is capable of keeping several rooms of your home fully operational when paired with a transfer switch. You can still use power cords with this unit, which includes four 120-volt outlets and one 240-volt outlet, but the 30470 is at its best when connected directly to your home’s electrical system. About the only appliance the 30470 is incapable of handling is a central air conditioner. Its 7-gallon gas tank can supply energy at 50% capacity for approximately nine hours. Big wheels and space-efficient construction ensure you don’t have to wrestle with this 250-pound machine in order to move it. Its dimensions are 34.8” L x 22.2” W x 25.9” H. Recoil starters are still common in this class of generators, so the electric starter in the 30470 is a notable convenience. Other features: an hour meter to remind you of oil changes, low-oil automatic shutdown, and included battery. The Briggs & Stratton 30470 ships with a 3-year warranty.

You’ll find the Briggs & Stratton 30470 on Amazon.

Generac GP5500 ($669)

Pros:

• Reliable
• Easy to use and move

Cons:

• No DC outlet

Top Review Sources:

• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “You can find cheaper generators, but no where near the quality of this Generac”
• Northern Tool + Equipment Customer Rating: 4.9/5.0 (15+ reviews)
• Home Depot Customer Reviews: 4.5/5.0 (5+ reviews)

The Generac GP5500 provides 5,500 watts of power (6,875 watts surge) from a 389cc gasoline engine. Reviewers like the GP5500 because of its excellent build quality, value, ease of use, and reliability. Think of the GP5500 as a way of keeping the vital systems running in the event of a home power outage. With 5,500 watts, you won’t be able to run your entire house, but you will be able to connect a refrigerator, furnace fan, and lights at the same time. You can use a transfer switch with the GP5500, but running extension cords is a more appropriate option with a generator of this size. The GP5500 has four 120v outlets and one 240v outlet, all of which are covered when not in use. It will run for 10 continuous hours under moderate load and holds 7.2 gallons of fuel. Its rigid frame and two-wheel design ease transport. The GP5500 weights 180 pounds and has dimensions of 33.5” L x 26.5” W x 27.5” H. It comes with a 2-year consumer warranty.

Purchase the Generac GP5500 on Amazon.

Generac GP17500E ($2,599)

Pros:

• Immense capacity
• Many outlets

Cons:

• Not CARB compliant

Top Review Sources:

• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “Recommended”
• Electric Generators Direct Customer Reviews: 4.8/5.0 (20+ reviews)
• Good Housekeeping Seal

The Generac GP17500E is about as powerful as portable generators get. It delivers 17,500 watts of continuous power and up to 26,250 watts surge. Its engine is a gasoline-powered 992cc unit capable of providing 10 hours of uninterrupted power when loaded at 50%. Fuel capacity is 16 gallons. The GP17500E fires up via an electric start system connected to the included 12-volt battery. 17,500 watts is enough to power central air conditioning systems of up to 60,000 BTUs. The GP17500E is capable of energizing an entire house. Its advantage over immobile, standby generators is that is doesn’t need propane or natural gas to run. Keep in mind, however, that portable generators do not have auto on/off switches; if you aren’t around when the power goes out, the GP17500E will not activate. If you need this functionality, look into standby generators. The GP17500E has an oil hour meter, low oil alert, 12-inch all-terrain wheels, and built-in lifting eye. Outlets include several AC-type and one DC-type. As large as the GP17500E is (48.5” L x 30.75” W x 38.5” H, 400 pounds), it is compact and rigid enough for one person to roll. The manufacturer’s warranty is 2 years for consumers.

Generac’s GP17500E can be purchased through Amazon.

Yamaha EF2000iS ($989)

Pros:

• Fuel efficient
• Very portable
• Quiet

Cons:

• Oil not included

Top Review Sources:

• Amazon: 5.0/5.0 (35+ reviews)
• Electric Generators Direct: 5.0/5.0 “A practical, versatile machine that can go anywhere with ease”
• Electric Generators Direct Customer Reviews: 5.0/5.0 (15+ reviews)

The Yamaha EF2000iS is a gas-powered inverter-generator of compact size and class-leading performance. The EF2000iS produces 1,600 watts of continuous power—enough to run several small appliances simultaneously. It is capable of producing a temporary surge of 2,000 watts should the demand arise. Built in are two 120v AC outlets and one 12v DC outlet. The EF2000iS is extremely portable, measuring only 19.3” L x 11” W x 17.9” H and weighing 44 pounds. Compared to older, traditional camping generators, the EF2000iS’s inverter alternator setup is much quieter (51.5 to 61 dB at a distance of about 20 feet). Its 1.1-gallon gas tank provides 8 to 10 hours of nonstop operation at moderate load. To conserve fuel, the EF2000iS features a smart throttle system that adjusts engine speed to match demand. Two EF2000iS’s can be connected to produce 3,200 watts of power. The Yamaha EF2000iS carries a 3-year consumer warranty.

The Yamaha EF2000iS is for sale on Amazon.

The post The Top Rated Portable Generators appeared first on Reactual.

Kruptos 2 Professional ($15)

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Can mask file names
• Includes secure deletion and self-extracting file creator tools

Cons:

• Limited functionality without payment

Top Review Sources:

• CNET: 5.0/5.0 “Kruptos 2, with all its features, is what every user needing simple file encryption desires”
• PC Advisor: “Simple and effective file and folder encryption at an excellent price point”
• Download.com User Reviews: 4.0/5.0 (130+ reviews)

Kruptos 2 Professional provides an easy way to password protect any number of files, with the option of masking even the file names themselves. Part of what makes Kruptos 2 Professional easy to use is its tight integration with Windows; right-click a file and you are only one more click away from encrypting it. You can also drag and drop files and folders onto the Kruptos user interface in order to encrypt them. After decrypting a file for editing, Kruptos will automatically re-encrypt it upon close. The program uses the 256-bit Blowfish algorithm to encrypt files. Kruptos also includes a secure file deletion tool, self-extracting file creator, and the ability to encrypt a USB flash drive.

Kruptos 2 Professional is available for purchase on the manufacturer’s website.

MEO (Free)

Pros:

• Free
• Interface is as simple as it gets
• Tiny installation footprint

Cons:

• Advertisements
• Email encryption isn’t as straightforward as file encryption

Top Review Sources:

• CNET: 4.0/5.0 “As far as free file encryption programs go, this is one of the better ones we’ve seen”
• Softpedia User Reviews: 3.8/5.0 (25+ reviews)
• Download.com User Reviews: 4.5/5.0 (5+ reviews)

MEO has a bare-bones interface that puts those new to the encryption game at ease. Encryption and decryption are simple processes that take only a couple of clicks, either from the MEO interface or from a Windows context menu. MEO allows you to create self-extracting encrypted folders. The program provides the option to encrypt an email, though novices may find MEO’s method of doing this hard to follow. The product’s main demerit is its advertising; MEO will prompt you to install additional software during installation (though you can opt out). MEO employs the Triple DES 256-bit algorithm.

MEO can be downloaded directly from the publisher.

AxCrypt (Free)

Pros:

• Free
• Fully integrated into Windows
• Includes file shredder and self-extracting file creator

Cons:

• No support for 256-bit encryption

Top Review Sources:

• CNET: 5.0/5.0 “AxCrypt is both powerful and easy to use, and we think that it’s a great way to keep files secure for users of all experience levels”
• Lifehacker: One of the “Five Best File Encryption Tools”
• PC World: “A simple, free way to encrypt individual files”

Axantum’s AxCrypt provides a free and easy way to deploy AES-128 encryption on your PC. Fully integrated with Windows, AxCrypt is operated exclusively via the context menu—there is no other user interface. The program supports the creation of self-extracting files, plus includes a file shredder for secure deletion. You can set a passcode on encrypted files, or you can create a key file. A key file is typically stored on removable media such as a USB flash drive. When you insert the drive into the computer, it will allow decryption. AxCrypt’s online help file is thorough and quite useful for both new and experienced users.

You can download AxCrypt from the publisher’s site.

SafeBit ($40)

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface
• Strong, flexible encryption

Cons:

• Cost
• Only one encryption algorithm

Top Review Sources:

• Softpedia: 4.5/5.0 “Very Good”
• digZIP: “SafeBit Disk Encryption is uncomplicated software with an attractive interface that securely converts files unnoticed”
• rbytes User Rating: 3.5/5.0

NeoByte Solutions’ SafeBit employs an intuitive, clean interface, helping make file encryption tasks go quickly and smoothly. Advanced users will appreciate the plethora of customization options. To encrypt your data, SafeBit requires you to create a password-protected virtual drive (called a “safe”). You may create as many safes as you’d like. Users are able to save their passwords on external memory—such as a flash drive—to create a key they can use to unlock and lock their safes. The program operates transparently, encrypting your files automatically as you work within a virtual drive. In the process, SafeBit will not drag down the speed and responsiveness of your system. SafeBit makes use of a single encryption algorithm: AES-256. AES-256 is an effective algorithm, but some reviewers express disappointment in it being the only one offered, given the cost of the program. SafeBit includes a virtual keyboard as a safeguard against keyloggers. The help files are robust, and allow a beginner to get up and running quickly.

You can purchase SafeBit on the official website.

The post Top Rated File Encryption Software For PCs appeared first on Reactual.