Question from a newbie

“I am new to hiking and backpacking and I have enjoyed reading people's comments on here about gear. Since I am still learning I would like to know if anyone is familiar with the Kelty Zen and have any comments. On Campmors web page they have an old and new version, but I cannot tell any difference. Also I noticed on Campmors web page they have the MSR Whisperlite Shaker Stove with a 22 oz fuel bottle for $ 59.95 plus S&H. which I think is a good deal. From the stores I have been to that is usually the price of the stove alone. Just thought I would pass that along if anyone needed a stove. I am going to buy it since I don't have one. I have read some good comments about it on here and other sites. Any comments is appreciated.”

“my friend has a Kelty Zen, I've slept in it maybe twice and it was pretty neat. But if you don't make the rain fly tight, you'll have wet tent walls. Thats just my opinon. And i ain't no professional.”

“That is not a bad price on the stove. As for the tent. I have never liked Kelty tents. I have two tents a big heavy moss 4 person 4 season tent but most of the time I use a sierra designs clip flash light. I really love the tent. The only thing that could cause you problems is that it is not free stand and in really hard soil you need good stakes. Or I will just use rocks that are around if it is not to windy”

“Ewker why not just get a used tent? For your first one, nearly anything will do really. Just try to keep a 2person'er near or below the 5 lb mark, and free-standing, three season. If ya go for a 1person tent, ya can keep it at 3 lbs or below, don't worry about the free-standing aspect. Ebay has many, as do ppl here have them occasionally. Start with used gear, you're in the learnin process and will be hard on the gear anyhow, might as well be used stuff gettin beat up eh?

Once ya have a very simple and inexpensive setup to do a trip, hit as many as the ECT trips as ya can. It'll blow you away at how much you'll learn very fast. Every trip even seasoned hikers learn something, if not several somethings, on about every TT hike.

Wait to spend the big bucks later, a piece at a time, as you learn about all kinds of diffit equipment, make yusef a wishlist. This ain't really a strategy or anythang, more like a disease..... don't worry, you'll catch it.”

“Ewker,
I'm in the same boat as you.
I was thinking of the whisperlite intl. versus an alchohol stove.
I tried making my own but it looked like a POS.

So now, I'm looking at a Trangia or a Westwind. Both under $20 I believe.

Lefty12”

“Ewker,

I have the "new style" zen, the difference is the rain fly. The new style has the clear windows in the fly and the old style doesn't. You can actually see out of them. And if I am not mistaken the fly's are not interchangeable. They changed the buckles where the fly attaches to the tent. It is a very roomy one-man tent (I'm 6'-2" and I have plenty of room) two people would have to be small or very friendly. I don't use it as a two man tent though so that is not a problem. Set-up is very easy, only takes a few minutes and if you ditch the carrying sack you can pack it down pretty small. Mine weighs less than 5 lbs and the tent has lots of mesh. It has taped seams but I seam sealed it anyway, just in case. No leaks so far. Outdoor Outlet has the new style on sale for $99.95. Hope this helps.”

“Stove: I use the Msr whisperlight and it is a great stove.”

“i got the new style zen from campmor..it's great..just gotta play around with the guying of it to make the fly nice and tight..but even semi-loose the tent won't get wet. real fast set up..the new windows darken when sunlight hits them...monochromatic...lotta mesh..so it can get kinda kewl...even with the fly on...i like the clips and fly buckles...someone told me that if you get the footprint for it you can just use the fly and ground sheet to shave off weight..dunno if this is true...i also got the msr whisperlight shaker...didn't pay xtra for the international...good stove..fairly easy for even a dummy like me..i only blew up once!!...and that was kinda kewl...”

“Opie,
what do you mean "blew up once" ?”

“He probably used too much fuel when priming the stove and it flared up on him. Very common when you are still getting used to the stove. If you go with a stove that needs to be primed spend a lot of time getting used to it out on the driveway before you take it in the woods..

I have a whisperlite and it is a good stove but don't expect to simmer on it.

Right now my favorite is my Pepsi can stove. I spent hundreds on stoves and now i'm using a pepsi can, sheesh!”

“Humanpackmule,
I tried making this pepsi can stove
over the weekend. Unsuccessful.
Can you e-mail me the plans for it? (ar15@backpacker.com)


Thanks,
Lefty12”

“I have the Zen, I paid about $100 for it many years ago and I still use it. Get it if it's on sale!”

“Oh, the only drawback is that it isn't free standing, it had to be staked out, so it's no good for platforms or shelters.”

“Hey guys- consider the "gas" canister stoves-coleman or snowpeak --in my humble opinion the are way better that the msr's-
unless you like to weld.
If you really want a white gas stove consider the apex II-”

“yeah Josh man,
I checked it out. Looks like the only thing missing is a windshield.

So this apex II burns white gas, kerosene,..etc ? $10 less than the MSR intl. and it comes witha fuel bottle.

Hm.....let me go check it out again.”

“I've got an apex II also. It's a good stove but the whisperlite boils much faster and is lighter/less bulky. I have to say I would not spend any extra cash for multifuel ability unless you plan on doing some international travel (or at least going into some very remote spots) I have never needed the ability in 15 years and I spent the extra bucks for it.

Canisters are good too. Other than an alcohol stove they can't be beat for simplicity and ease of operation. I would get one but I can't justify spending the cash when I already have four stoves.

Hey Lefty, here are the plans to the Pepsi-can stove I built”

“Thanks humanpackmule,
Appreciate it!”

“No prob.”

“BTW- that is my favorite Yoda quote.”

“HPM is right about the boil rate msr -v- apex, but the trade off is the apex is much easier to control when cooking anything other than water--simmers great.
Windscreens can be made out of rocks by the way-or logs.
I also agree about the multi-fuel penalty-don't pay it.
I am in a distinct minority when it comes to msr stoves-but I hated the ones I had,I don't really feel like they are very safe- too easy to "blow up".They are also loud and are kinda spindly.they also are messy in particular the whisperlite-that aluminum ring gets really black from soot.
That is just my opinion-I could be wrong.”

“FYI JOSHMAN, I carry a very small hospital bottle of denatured alcy to prime my msr international with, completely does away with the soot "situation". Learned dat from the Bear.”

“Cool tip ape, thanks!”

“yw hpm, you'll be giggly when ya try it, I wuz

I shorely love the dickens outa my Whisperlite Int'l, but if I had my choice today, it'd be the Shaker version. Hpm said it right, don't bother with the additional bells and whistles if you don't need'em. I too have not needed 'em in over 10 years with my Int'l, and included an AT thru-hike. Boy them Whisperlites are easy to field repair tho!!! Spare parts for your long trips are of minute weight too.

I do not care for the shape or function of Coleman Apex stoves tho, seed 3 of 'em burn right the heyall up! But not to curse Coleman too much, them were Scouts using them, hehehe.

I love the crap outa my pepsi can stove tho!! Cut a pot stand outuva med-sized cawfee can with extry large air vents. The plastic snap-on lid fits the cut edge very well, and my stove and nearly full bottle of alcy fits nicely inside. So neat and perfect it puts a smile on your face!”

“How true Naked, how true.
I'm a scoutmaster and I have seen so many scouts get new stoves and have GIANT flare ups out on the trail.

This year I told all the parents that if they were going to get their kids stoves for christmas let me know so I can have a training session with them before I have to beat out another brush fire! LOL.”

“LMAO hpm, I've the pleasure of seeing a tentfly flare up, and with my brushfire joys, one'a my little turdbrains tossed his ball of flaming stove into the woods! How he kept from frying his hand is a mystery to this day.”

“My older boys and adult assistants got enough marbles to keep the hot stuff away from tents thank god.

You involved in Scouts too?”