Military Duffel Bags are GreatFor Youth Baseball & Softball

Nothing performs better than the tried and true military duffel bag for lugging balls, bats, gloves, bases, tees, whistles and other gear to a baseball or softball field.

Coaches in youth leagues have relied on these bags for decades because they're durable and reliable -- even when they're used.

Here are the typical features of a genuine military duffel bag:

• It's about 37 in. tall and 12 1/2 in.wide.
  
• It features single-wall duck and nylon construction.
  
• It has two long, padded shoulder straps, so you can carry it like a giant backpack.
  
• It has a durable handle for maneuvering, and an outside pocket for easy-access items (like rags, replacement cleats, whistles or penalty flags).
  
• It has a sturdy belt fastener at its top.
  

When considering the purchase of a military duffel bag, be sure it's the real deal. Ask if it's genuine military issue.

Reputable dealers usually identify military duffel bags or any other government surplus goods by their so-called "NSN numbers" -- the numbers the government uses to catalog its massive array of products. For military duffel bags, that number is 8465-01-117-8699.

Introduced by the U.S. Army in 1943, the military duffel bag has an interesting history, which is detailed nicely at olive-drab.com.

If you'd like to buy one online, you can find many options by searching for "military duffel bag" on Google.

Do you know of any other good uses for the tried and true military duffel bag? If so, post a reply.

The Squid are Running! California Skippers Cash In

The proliferation of jumbo squid on the Southern California coast in recent days may seem a little scary if you swim around those parts.

But for now, Orange County fishermen are cashing in on an explosion in angler interest in the feisty creatures.

"Our phone is ringing off the hook," Chris Cunningham, manager of Davey's Locker Sportfishing, told the Science Dude Blog.

"People are asking us which boat will have the smallest number of people, so they have room to catch them."

Other info worth noting:

• Hundreds of the squid have been caught since Thursday, when the fun started.


• The squid range from 20 to 40 pounds, but some have exceeded 60. These animals can grow up to 100 pounds, according to this Smithsonian Institute fact sheet.


• They really do squirt ink. It usually happens when they're lifted into the boat, fishermen report.
• These are night-time trips. That's when the squid feed, usually following schools of baitfish like anchovies.

In case you want to venture to Southern California to try your luck, here is some contact information:

- Davey’s Locker Sportfishing, (949) 673-1434.
- Newport Landing, (949) 675-0550.
- Dana Wharf, (800) 979-3370.

If not, you can at least watch some great videos like these:

Need a Practical Halloween Costume? Try Military Surplus Outdoor Gear

Struggling to come up with a good Halloween costume idea?

Consider sending your son or daughter out as a hunter in full camo. Low-priced government-surplus camo goods make that practical, affordable and safe.

Here are a few specific ideas.

A six-pocket camo hunting vest. Officially known by the military as a "load bearing vest," this is a nifty-looking vest that is intended to hold many rounds of bullets -- but also works great for candy, gum and other "trick or treat" staples. You can get them on line for less than $20 at many online stores (including this one).

Hydration pouches. These comes with elastic bands that work great for kids. They snap open and shut with ease. Designed to hold specially designed military water bladders, they also work great for standard 2009-vintage water bottles. They hold tons of candy, too!

Backpacks. Military surplus back packs come in many styles, sizes and colors. You might want to check out the incredibly roomy standard-issue ALICE field packs in medium and large varieties (ALICE stands for "Advanced Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment"). Another option is the smaller and more efficient MOLLE packs ("Modular Lightweight Load-Bearing Equipment"), which come in woodland camo and desert camo options.

When ordering backpacks, be sure to ascertain whether shoulder straps are available. Also, for the large ALICE packs, you should also use an ALICE pack frame and a waist pad to fasten it.

More information about military surplus and hunting goods is available online at Heartland Values Outdoors, or at olive-drab.com.

Any other suggestions for Halloween costumes? Feel free to post a reply.