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Choss Monkey Dirtbag Gear Review Disclaimer: I haven’t done any gear reviews here because honestly, I think it’s pretty stupid. Stupid, you ask? In short, it’s my belief that the outdoor industry and many or most outdoor “adventurers” are giant hypocrites. On one hand, companies and people extol the virtues of buying organic, buying sustainable, and saving the environment but in reality, buying crap in general is what’s bad for the environment. It doesn’t matter if it was produced with solar power or made from organic cotton. Hence, gear reviews, in my opinion, only encourage people to buy stuff that they either don’t need or could do without. Do you really need the piece of gear that’s a few ounces lighter to replace your old piece of gear? Think about how many people were doing bad-ass things ten, twenty, thirty, and fifty years ago or more with what we would consider “substandard” gear. That’s why here, on Choss Monkey, I’m going to tell you about how you can still be “sick” with less.

Should you buy a headlamp with a rechargeable battery? At first thought, yes. But wait.

All headlamps can be rechargeable with the purchase of rechargeable batteries. Well, isn’t that just buying more stuff? Yes, but rechargeable batteries and the charger unit are multi-purpose so you can use those batteries for your ipod speakers, your Motorola radios or whatever other piece of gear you own.

I’ve been using rechargeable batteries in all of my gear for years because it saves money over the long run and causes less impact on the environment. I have a Rayovac battery charger that came with an AC plug and a DC plug. That makes it super handy for use at home or on the road. It can charge 4 batteries at a time, AAA or AA. You can buy the charger units at any number of places such as Target, Sears, REI, or online. They typically run about $15 to $25, depending on if they come with batteries. A package of 4 rechargeable batteries costs $8 or more, depending on where you buy them and if you buy some of the new models they are now featuring.

Well, is it bright enough? Yes. One great thing about rechargeables compared to traditional batteries is that you can charge them up after every long climb you do, guaranteeing that you have a super bright headlamp every time you’re looking for that rappel station in the dark.
So, instead of buying a new headlamp, just convert your existing headlamp to rechargeable by buying a charger and batteries that will last for years. And, to add a little “walk to my talk”, if you’re reading this and considering buying a new rechargeable headlamp, email me (mike.schneiter@gmail.com) and I’ll send you one of my old headlamps with rechargeable batteries that is still in fine, working condition (I probably only have a couple to spare, so first come, first serve). I’ve received a few free headlamps in the past few years from races and other places and I’d rather share one of my extras than see someone buy something they don’t have to.

Coming soon: More Choss Monkey Dirtbag Gear Reviews about power inverters, fixing jackets, and more.