Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“I am with Stovie on this one. Mine goes more like,

Wife=Limited budget for new gear
Wife+Baby=No money for new gear. Must drool on lap while looking at what people buy that I cannot afford anymore. Must think about stealing from REI now.”

“Well Bison, You've been after WM bags for a while now.”

“I'm just trying to give you wise financial advice. I'm sure there is absolutly nothing wrong with the gear you currently have.”

“Nice mini gun Bit. I was thinking about something that I could actually pick up. That thing weighs more than me ten fold!”

“Isn't it a TT rule that mentioning a huge bonus requires purchasing all other TTers new sleeping bags of their choice?!!”

“No way, you gotta be kidding me!!

REI doesn't sell gear anymore.
All they sell now is cotton button up shirts and latte machines.

Nice joke but you can't fool me!”

“If it is I'm breakin' the rule, it's not quite that big of a bonus.

Y2, I couldn't wait on the new bag, I got a nice REI one super cheap. It's about a pound heavier than the WM bag, but I'm not buying another one now...”

“OK, so with a "not quite that big of a bonus," I think you're still on the hook for a Nalgene or something....”

“A penny saved is a penny earned.”

“Just ordered the Marmot Precip from Campmor for 62 something with shipping.

Significant other bought me a Patagonia R2 vest from sale...should arrive in the BIG BROWN TRUCK tomorrow!

Woohoo! Getting ready for some spring splashing!

Thanks, Sass, for directing me to Campmor but you still got a ways to go to catch up to the Patagonia Fairy. LOL!”

“Woo Hoo, wolfie!!”

“Don't hold yer breath baby. I gotta rely on my sugar daddy for all my treats now. ;)”

“Yeah, Stovie...right here in Michigan, too! Can ya bah-lieve it!!?”

“Is a SO concidered new gear? :)”

“In this case, yes, Nigal.”

“Maybe it's a BOG? ;-)”

“Congrats Wolfeyes!!!! Anyone that buys you Patagonia sounds like a keeper. Not just for the gift but for knowing it's the right one!

Does the SO hike?”

“What is the heaviest fleece? I want to buy a jacket.”

“My Virga 2 arrived this afternoon. Less than an hour after arrival it was up and seam sealed. Nothing anxious about me. It's really neat and the greater height will really be an asset on the AT.”

“Very nice Nimblefoot. That was the main complaint about the old ones.”

“got my bearicade weekender bear canister today.
huge and light. very cool!!”

“Welcome to the bearicade club, Gem.”

“You have a bearicade SS? Because you see so many bear in Mississippi...”

“I hike out west too, DDX.
Rockies, Wind River Range,...

MS used to be full of bear. They are slowly making a comeback along the river bottoms. People have spotted black bear several times lately.

I'm using my bear can this weekend at Sipsey. It makes a kicka$$ seat and no need to hang food from the racoons.
last edited: 2/24/05 12:53:31 PM”

“yeah...the included letter started with: "you are now among the ELITE backpackers...."

LMAO”

“You'll be off to summit K2 now then Gem.”

“A nice Patagonia down jacket arrived at my front door yesterday!!! Its sooooo warm!”

“Grivel G-10's just got here!!

$88.65 including shipping.

And, it's starting to snow.

No letter:(”

“My Patagonia R2 Vest arrived today...opened all the windows and turned off the heat so I can wear it while posting here.”

“what color you get em?”

“They have them on sale in the local outfitter (the patagonia vests)..I am soooo tempted.”

“You should get one Gem! It is VERY nice and VERY warm. Cool looking too. Feels good on the chin, too since the zipper stops just before the flesh! No zipping in flesh!”

“Congrats Wolfie!

I don't know why, but I had thought my Ursack was racoon proof. I'm actually considering a bear can. Even tho they are so darn heavy. Boo hoo.

A down vest is on my "possibility" list. I've wanted one for some time. Still thinking about it.”

“sure glad someone other then me like to look at least a little cool while on the trail. :)

I may drive up there tomorrow morning. watch it...my luck they will be gone.”

“I like to look cool on the trail ;)

But... I'm sorta metro about that sorta thing and tent to color coordinate and match things so...”

“SS - why use it as a chair, when you have the kiddie chair?”

“what you think about this:
chair

That's pretty light and the price is great too.
my thermarest chair kit is almost that heavy.
last edited: 2/24/05 10:02:16 PM”

“OK! Just got my regular REI-Outlet.com email, and actually ordered something. I ordered a car-camping (gasp!) tent, the REI Camp Hut 6. Lots o' room in case of rain - heck, we could put a freakin' sofa in that thing!

Originally $219, on sale for $130, additional 20% off for Gearmail subscribers, no shipping (ship to store), $9 tax, for a grand total of $113. Woo hoo! It'll be there in a couple weeks....”

“woohoo - my Nunatak Arc-Alpinist arrived today, also got the down balaclava”

“Curses, foiled again!

I was so close from winning a MH Tri-light 1 on Ebay. I was sniped in the last minutes. I really thought I'd have a new addition on the North Fork trip. Dammit!”

“How about a mini review? I'm going to break down and order one of those someday.”

“tsss....still waiting for my ULA whhhaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

“Picked up an REI Half Dome 2 at REI in Nashville this weekend. We set it up in Embear's condo, it looks like its gonna be the perfect tent.”

“It is!”

“I forgot to mention I picked this up recently: a TNF Momentum 0 degree down filled bag. Comfy, I hope, once I get outside with it; it's too screaming hot lying in it indoors. $275, including shipping, from Backcountry.com.”

“well hubcap I'll do what I can but I have not tried it out in the backcountry yet.

what I ordered was an Nunatak Arc Alpinist, long, Pertex Endurance fabric, 2 ounce over fill

expected weight 26 ounces, actual weight 29 ounces (old spring action kitchen scale)

buckles ar very thin and somewhat difficult to open IMO

straps are 3/4 inch (mabye, didn't measure)wide but thin and probably Ok to sleep on if one were to use them - I am not planning on using the straps since I don't think they are needed in a hammock

cord lock for the adjustable neck opening is basically right at your chin - you end up with a loop in your face or you have to tuck it into the bag if you use this feature - I am not sure I will be using this feature

snap for the bag at my neck is small - not too sure how that will hold but it probably will be OK for me - I don't move much in the hammock - sleep on my back all night (snoring - or at least that is what people say)

interior fabric is a rather shiney black nylon of some type that I am not sure of - feels good on my skin (aka has a great hand) - I am somewhat concerned it may act as a sweat inducer but I'll see later in real use. I feel warm in the bag quite quickly but the real test is yet to come.

The bag lofts up slowly compared to my other down bag (a Feathered Friends Ibis in Epic) - if the bag is fully compressed I suspect it may take up to an hour to loft up - this is probably due to the choice of Endurance fabric and the interior fabric (whatever type that is)

Unlike my FF bag I have not seen any indication that the down may work its way through the fabric - with the FF bag after a trip I often will find small bits of down sticking through that I have to pull back into the bag and then smooth the fabric

The foot box is a good size for me - not too large but not cramped either

There are no sewn in loops at the foot of the bag (or else where) for hanging the bag up - a feature that I wish I had since it makes it easier to dry a bag - hang the bag by the loops in the sun inside out for a few minutes each sunny day that you are out in the backcountry.

No stuff sack or storage bag was supplied with the bag unlike FF which supplied both.

The bag as supplied came with a few bits of loose down - vendor could have done a better job vacuuming the bag before shipping.

The down balaclava fits well and feels very warm - I was concerned about the fit because I take a rather large hat size but it turned out well - it uses the same fabrics as the bag - color coordinated (grin)”

“hey treebait....how long is that TNF?”

“About this long: >___<
last edited: 3/09/05 1:31:53 PM”

“Bushnell Yardage Pro Tour Laser Rangefinder.”