The Gear That Made an Unfinished Cabin Livable

The author's cabin(Photo: Josh Drinkard, Canva illustration)

From October into November, my wife and I—and our two dogs—drove from New Mexico to Vermont to turn our unfinished 12-by-12 log cabin into a little off-grid home. We transformed it from the empty shellwe left last year, adding a woodstove, a bathroom, and a kitchen as we held down our jobs, rescued our dogs from an aggressive porcupine, and braved the slow transition from beautiful autumn foliage to frozen water tanks and showers in snow.

Here’s some of the gear we relied on to make it happen.

Ecoflow Delta 3+

This portable power station proved invaluable. A full charge powered Starlink internet and lights, and charged power-tool and mobile device batteries for 24 hours. When the sun wasn’t shining—fairly common in Vermont—just a few hours with the generator got us up to speed again. We even plugged in our fridge sometimes when it got unseasonably warm.

Wrangler Duratrac RT Tires

The tread pattern on the Wrangler Duratrac RTs is a bit more extreme than the standard All Terrain, but not as extreme as a Mud Terrain. They were still pretty quiet on the highway and not an MPG killer, which paid off on the 2,000-mile drive. Most importantly, when the road to our cabin turned into a muddy uphill slog, they got us safely home every time.

Faribault Mill Frontier Wool Blanket

Nothing beats the beauty and warmth of real wool. Soft, breathable, cozy even after the fire has died down, and durable enough to pass down to your grandchildren. This classic blanket is sure to become a family heirloom.

Gasland GoShower 5Pro 1.32 GPM

We relied on this plug-and-play kit for an outdoor shower. We hooked it up to a standard 20-pound propane tank and the spigot on our rainfed water tank, and voilah: hot showers in the Vermont woods. It is definitely a critical piece of equipment when you’re doing construction every day. Just have to remember to clear the lines and unhook the hose when temperatures threaten to drop below freezing.

Smithey No. 14 Dual Handle Skillet

A gourmet meal is a necessary reward after a long day on your feet. This skillet heats evenly and is large enough to give each ingredient room. The smooth bottom finish makes it naturally non-stick without any toxic chemicals, and it’s large enough to make a meal for two and leftovers for the next day.