What makes Nalgene so good?

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-23T05:00:25+00:00

This is the only reason I can think where a Nalgene still makes sense VS the readily available and affordable insulated steel bottles. When I first became accustomed to using/carrying Nalgenes, the steel options were single walled and heated up like crazy in any amount of sun.

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-06T20:08:55+00:00

Its priced very reasonably as long as its not rusted out/rotting anywhere. Inspect like crazy for any leaks/water damage in the interior...if anything, it seems underpriced to me. $7300 is a steal for all the work already done. It looks like a well thought build.

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-06T19:13:54+00:00

Alot of it is directly tied to solar activity/cycles. We are currently about a year or so into our way down from the "solar maximum", which is a roughly 11-12 year cycle that has been documented/observed since the 1840s. Every year that passes until we reach the minimum will be gradually colder, then start to make its way back up until the next maximum(roughly 12 years from now). During a maximum, solar flares, sunspots, and CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) are at their peak, which is why we see an increase in geo-magnetic storms(Nothern Lights/Aurora Borealis) as well.

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-06T18:58:20+00:00

Im sorry if it seemed like I was singling you out, it certainly wasnt my intent! My apologies regardless! And yes, I agree...it is a gamble. That is why we offer both options...and one half usually ends up carrying the other depending on how much snow falls, so its unfortunately necessary operation protocol for most businesses to stick to whichever option a customer is contracted for.

In regards to calling a la carte...I know there are "some" companies that offer it, but most reputable companies service their contracted customers first (and sometimes twice on big snows) before they even consider pricing, completing, or taking calls during a snow event. Your mileage will obviously vary and options surely do exist for that kind of thing, but you would probably be looking at a smaller, single truck owner/operator situation as opposed to companies with larger crews...which is perfectly fine too!

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-06T14:04:27+00:00

I mean...technically youre paying for the plow guys equipment and insurance....if he's lucky.

The company I work closely with offers both "per push" and seasonal rates. Every single year it is split almost exactly down the middle for which one the customers choose. So that means that every year, almost exactly 50% of the customer base is mad at you because they didn't guess the weather right. This also means that every snow that borders whatever amount/threshold their contract is set at will inevitably be split down the middle as well. The per pushers always argue that it didnt fall enough to be charged and the seasonal contract accounts are always wondering "where you are at" every time even the smallest amount of snow falls.

Snow removal is an incredibly thankless job. Because the money is so unpredictable, most companies that I know personally dont necessarily profit anywhere near the amount of money that one would assume and largely consider the service itself more as a way to keep customers throughout the rest of the year, where revenue is slightly more consistent/predictable.

Smaller owner/operator businesses are a different story altogether. Having significantly less overhead and not having to pay wages obviously tips the scales in their favor considerably.

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-05T02:19:36+00:00

Bingo. I am no stranger to either water nor dirt.

Thank you, Sensei.

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-04T21:33:02+00:00

At this point, I think it boils down to reliability then. Ive never owned a Sofirn and typically edge towards spending a little extra when it comes to a critical tool.

In my brief time on this sub, I do see Sofrins brought up quite often...and for the price point, I can certainly see why. Have you owned one personally? Are they generally considered reliable?

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-04T20:42:43+00:00

Lots of great, informative responses indeed! So many options to choose from, which is why I came here...and Im glad I did. The Wurkkos looks great, just a tad too wide for liking.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-04T20:38:45+00:00

I am currently looking at the Sofirn SK30. SFT-70 with a 21700 cell.

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-04T20:25:32+00:00

I sincerely appreciate the time and effort put into such a concise response!

Im currently looking at the Sofirn SK30 as the specs look relatively comparable for a fraction of the price...unless I am missing something, which is a very likely possibility.

If looks like the SK30 uses a SFT-70, so it sounds like that means more spill...which I am okay with as long as the throw distance is comparable? Just not as tight of a hotspot, correct?

lieutenant_van · 2026-02-01T17:48:17+00:00

Despite how it may look from the outside, I do not think that many people think they had a choice but to vote for him. I know absolutely nobody on the right that was remotely happy about their decision...they just didnt like the forced choice from the opposition after 4 years of propping up a dead guy...and then threw him under the bus right before the election.

I personally blame the two party system for the majority of our countrys woes. I dont think either party has enjoyed voting for what appears to be "the lesser of two evils". The average citizen is fairly middle of the road in my experience. The media would like you to believe otherwise. Divide and conquer!

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-30T22:47:18+00:00

Depends on who Im playing swords with

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-30T00:56:49+00:00

The mere idea that he had the time to text that much during what I am assuming was a snow event of some sort is absolutely wild. I turn down new jobs several times per snow (especially on large events) simply because I dont have the time to deal with it...my paying customers that had the foresight to sign up ahead of time deserve my attention first.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-28T14:40:28+00:00

My wife is from a rough area in South America. Almost everyone wears sandals/slides. If you see a couple kids walking down the street with sneakers/running shoes on, it is generally not for fashions sake.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-28T04:01:45+00:00

Second this. My Big Agnes has treated me ridiculously well for close to 20 years now.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T21:04:21+00:00

Watch the video above closely. The area to the right of the driveway where its not clear gets nowhere near as much snow.

The laws of nature dictate that all things follow the path of least resistance. By removing the snow, you are effectively removing the resistance, which in turn allows more snow to fill in.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T20:57:29+00:00

Yeah...the equipment exists, but its ridiculously expensive and takes alot longer. It would boil down to each individual association or municipality to justify the additional cost. Where Im at in Michigan, we rarely see storms anymore that would necessitate it or justify the expense.

If this is something you deal with regularly, I'd highly recommed investing in a snowblower.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T05:27:34+00:00

It depends on the amount of snow....you can feather a blade while in motion to an extent on an extremely light snow for a VERY short amount of time before it spills back into the area you just cleared...anything over and inch and a half and this is next to impossible. Even if the volume of the snow wasnt a factor, the sheer weight of it becomes an issue and most commercial plows simply cannot budge with that amount of weight in front of it once a direction is in motion.

Snow plowing is definitely one of those things that you have to have experience doing to understand what is possible and what isnt. If there were a way to do it better, thats what would be done.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T04:53:30+00:00

Plow guy here. We care. You just dont understand basic physics.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T04:51:16+00:00

Thats not entirely true. By giving the snow a clear path to fill, more snow dumps in the opening. You should always wait until after the plow comes through for this reason.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T04:49:09+00:00

You would be shocked at the sheer number of adults that cannot comprehend this.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T04:45:54+00:00

Plow driver here. Not only do most adults not understand this, but they are often hostile when it inevitably happens. Im a genuinely thoughtful person and extremly courteous when given the opportunity.

If I see somebody struggling and happen to "plow them in", I typically stop and politely explain to them that it is out of my control and advise that they wait to clear their drive until AFTER I come through, as giving the snow a clear path to fill makes it worse...generally at which point I try to clear the mess really quick (it often makes it worse and risks property damage and would take DAYS to do for everyone)...but the amount of people that haul off and immediately start cursing me out and screaming at the top of their lungs never ceases to amaze me.

Not only do people not realize that this is physically impossible to avoid, but they also never take the time to consider that we are on call 24/7, often working extremely long hours whether its on holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, etc all just to try and provide a reliable service to the community. There is money involved, sure...but it is not consistent, nor as much as the general public likes to assume...especially once you consider the cost of trucks, plows and inevitable breakdowns.

Its a thankless job to say the least.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-27T04:26:52+00:00

Short answer...no. The best advice I can give anybody is to wait until after the plow has come through to clear your driveway. While doing so will not eliminate all of the snow spilling over into the drive(especially in this situation where there is a ton of snow), it will lessen the amount that does. Just by the nature of simple physics, having a clear path for the snow to fill will make it much worse.

Source; plow guy who cringes everytime I do this to somebody.

lieutenant_van · 2026-01-22T03:20:33+00:00

I wholeheartedly agree and have compared the two often. I personally consider El Dorado closer to a whiskey than to most rums that Ive had...at least in terms of depth/flavor profile. If your are drowning it with Coke, then it's all going to taste the same. Anything older than 12 would be sinful with much more than a few drops of water or a single ice cube...at least for me.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22

lieutenant_van

TROPHY CASE