2003 Gear Guide

“But if there's one issue of this mag to buy, this is it!


Alright, lessee, ooooh best all-conditions ultralight. Nallo 2. Hmmm. I sure would love to own that tent!












Oh wait. I do.

Hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa...”

“I have not gotten mine yet???

8(”

“I thought they did a nice job on Gear Guide this year. I didn't like last years issue.”

“My issue is LATE AGAIN!! Not that I really need anything.”

“Is it that time of year again? Where's mine? I agree last year's was not my favorite.

I must have a nallo.”

“I haven't gotten mine yet either. I wonder if my postman backpacks?”

“Did you see the picture of that tent? It looked like a minivan or something.
Lots of good gear in the issue, but I'll have to stick with the stuff I already have for a while. My wife is starting to wonder why I need more than three tents!”

“I saw the REI Coupe in person the other night. Neat looking, but it does have it's draw back. I could help but think it looked like a cross between my Hilleberg Akto and the old Coleman Exponet Inyo. I didn't like the plastic window it has. It seems like it would crack in real cold weather.”

“From the pics, the tent I thought was cool was the new Coleman Exponent tent with the funky pole coming down the center of the from the front to form the vestibule. I'm not sure I've ever seen another design like that.”

“Q - if the plastic window is meant to be rolled and stuffed into a sack, i'm guessing it wouldn't crack in the cold. there are other tents out there that have those windows, and i've never heard anything about them.”

“Maybe CP could ring in on this. Me thinks her tent has a plastic window on it and she does a lot of camping in cold weather. The window just doesn't seem to be of quality to perform in these conditions. Also, seeing it in person enforced my thinking about the fly situation we had talked about on another thread. I would like to see this tent a little bigger and the fly cover more area. If they got rid of the window,IMHO, the weight savings would pay for the additional material. Good start for this type of tent, I'd like to see what happens with this line. But then again, I was smashed whe I saw it ......... :) j/k ....”

“So, really, we can't trust your opinion on this one then. Is that what you're saying? LOL!”

“Outside's Gear Guide? Is it on the shelf yet?”

“NO dude, the OTHER guide...”

“I want my BPer mag and I want it now! You guys do this to me every year! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh”

“Whats the deal with no magazine for 2 months anyway?”

“Yeah, it has been a while since the last issue.”

“Backpacker? ... Oh, now I remember. Nope, haven't got mine yet. I still haven't gotten all the gear I know I need, much less the esoteric stuff I don't know I need. What I really need is a pack animal.”

“If anyone has a wife that asks the question: How many (Blanks) do you need?, just ask them how many purses they have. Works every time.”

“What? You need a tent for casual clothes, and one for dressing up? LOL!”

“LOL! It's more like a going to the beach tent or a going to a wedding tent.”

“Haven't seen the guide yet, but this weekend my order goes in for the Atko. Sweet.”

“Well, obviously a wedding tent would have to hold a lot more people...a beach tent would just need to keep the sun of you!

Being the slacker I am, I just signed up for the mag. Hopefully they'll send me this issue!”

“I didn't get my issue yet. I'm always the last one - I think it's because my last name begins with W and they send them out alphabetically.”

“I have a Marmot tent with a window and have had no problems with cracking or clouding.”

“This year's guide is organized a lot better. I didn't like how they broke last year's into different categories.”

“I'm still reading through the last issue of Outside. Bang-up article on ANWR.”

“Actually... even while smashed, Q was on to something. Cowpatty does do a lot of cold weather hiking. And, she does have a window on her tent. And, guess what? It's cracked and split. But, the manufacturer told her it was a defect that they were aware of so they sent her a brand new one. We'll have to wait and see if that one cracks too.

My Mountain Hardware has a window. It's only been out in the cold twice. No cracks yet.

Personally, I love the window. When we used it at the Porkies, I was able to hang out in my tent during a huge storm and watch the sky turn all sorts of creepy colors. Nice!!”

“Gee, I might sound a little "anti plastic window" but I'm not, really, I'm not!! :--0

Alright, one more thing........it weighs too much also......there.....I got it off of my chest........I feel better now........”

“Just got my gear guide. No McHale packs this issue. Also looks like Kelty quit making the "Flight"”

“They haven't listed McHale packs in the last 2 years. Kelty replaced the Flight with the Satori, I heard.”

“McHale's in the Navy...”

“Looking at the new Gear Guide, I decided to pick a pack, tarp and sleeping bag that are in the "Lightest" category and compare those to what I already own...

$299 Marmot Hydrogen 30F Sleeping bag (shave 1#)
$150 ULA P-2 Pack (shave 2#-stripped down version)
$199 Exped Scout Tarp Pro (shave 1#)

OK...for approximately $650 I can shave 5 pounds off my packweight...that's $130/per pound. I think I'll keep my Reality, MH 3rd Dimension and Trekker Tarp till they die!!!”

“Uh, Budder, ol' buddy, I only count 4 lbs. there, hoss...”

“Gulp! That's makes the savings even WORSE!!!”

“10/4”

“Just pulled mine out of the mailbox today. Haven't studied it in detail yet.
No listing of Henry Shire TarpTent. Must not have bought an big enought ad.
None of the little led lights (The ION headlamp is) is in.
Alcohol stoves don't seen to matter to BP mag.
Not a single Evernew Ti pot. I think the Evernew .9L Ti has to be one of the best. No MSR Ti Kettle.

Same old heavyweigh gear. Yawn.”

“i thought it was strange they didn't rate any sleeping bags that went below zero, yet had a best epedition pack and tent listed. Hmmmm, oh well. I do want that down sleeping pad tho. I can only imagine how nice that would be.”

“I just flipped through my issue. Is it me or are the weights a little light on everything. Like the REI Shasta +15 sleeping bag, they have it weighed in almost 1/2 lb lighter than it really is. A lot of tents are listed at real light too.

I will say that there is a lot of more gear out there this time around. I think we have been trolled by them. Has anyone else notice that there will be a rash of newbies, then they spilt, then a new bunch comes in and spilts, asking just one techincal question, but never replying? Me thinks a payment is in order! :)”

“I still haven't gotten my copy! #@$&!'*% Backpacker. I'd be better off buying it at the store. I won't subscribe again, ever.”

“Hey laqtis,

Payment would be nice, but if they are giving us a better product by trolling, more power to them!”

“Finally, I don't see anything that I just have to have.”

“yeah, me either. =(”

“I agree, I think it's interesting to see all of the new gear out there. I noticed that there ae more rip off of the old Walrus Zoid, a take off (and imporvement, IMHO) of the Pocket Rocket and over all, just ton of tents. I don't really need any real gear, just give me your poor, your tired hand me downs (off the rack at the REI used gear sale!) and I'll be fine!”

“WOW, my spelling has gone to #&%!$!”

“I still haven't gotten it! Darn post office. =(”

“Q - I'm not sure your spelling was ever anywhere but there. :)”

“A postal worker is enjoying their "free" copy of the gear guide (compliments of Sassafras)! Maybe they'll drop it back in the mailbox when they're done with it!”