Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“I am now the proud owner of a Granite Gear Vapor Trail. I can't wait to test it out on the trail.”

“lumberzac: I have one and love mine. I splurged and bought the "top" for the pack (which you can get from backcountrygear.com). It makes is easier to get to little things you don't want to pack inside the top-loaded main bag. For the weight of the pack, however, I would be shocked if you could find anything more comfortable. It's my favorite right now.”

“Hey Pitts, here is a much better deal for the Patagonia pullover...

http://www.patagonia.com/za/PDC?OPTION=PRODUCT&merchant_rn=7385&cgrfnbr=500904&sku=83980&ws=true&promo_cat=&promo_cat_id=”

“Crap! That is an excellent buy on a great jacket, however.”

“Don't ya just hate that!”

“My Katadyn Mini Water Filter worked like a champ this weekend. People said it would be slow to filter. Perhaps a little bit, but I was only pumping water for me, 2l at a time. It didn't take so long that I noticed. It was a LOT lighter and more compact. I am very happy with it... so far.

The filter had to be cleaned after the first gallon of water. I was camping near a lake so drank all of my "city water" (like Cortez burning his ships) and refilled two 2l bladders for camp that night.

It's sad when "partying down" means you collect 4l of water rather than 2l.

It filled the bladders quickly. I had to put the pump against an old stump for leverage.

I drank 3l of that night and the next morning. Later that morning I came to a favorite free-running stream. I dumped all the lake water and re-loaded from this source. I had to clean the filter. I just felt like I had to use too much pressure. After this is pumped fairly easily for another 2l.

So despite the fact that I said earlier that it looked like a flimsy piece of crap, it would appear that it might actually be a worthwhile piece of gear.

Time will tell.
last edited: 10/10/05 10:04:07 AM”

“Laurel got her first pair of hiking boots this weekend. I'm so proud. Little size 10 Kamiks. She broke 'em in hard in one day. Those things will never even look close to new ever again!”

“pitts, I don't have the mini, but when using the Katadyn filter I put a coffee filter over the intake, strapped with a rubber band. The filters are very light.”

“I got some new gear over the weekend.

I have never slept very well on past trips because of neck trouble I sustained after a car accident a while ago. I sleep on a special pillow at home, way to big and heavy to take on trips.

Well, I found a travel size of my pillow at Sharper Image. Wanna guess at what its weight is?”

“45lbs?”

“no, that is what the one on my bed weighs.”

“I use the coffee filter trick too and you'd be amazed. When I take the fiter off at home there's all kinds of crap on there. Taking the water out of the source and filtering from that helps 100% also. Like an ultralight bucket or even the bottom of a milk jug cut off.”

“I do note that you all told me the coffee filter trick and I just was dumb and didn't do it. I'll do so on the next trip.

On the pillow note, believe it or not I can make a recommendation on that. I used to have one of those stuff sacks that was silnylon on the outside and fleece on the inside. Turn it inside out and stuff it with clothes to make a pillow. It worked well but a stuff-sack full of clothes isn't a quality pillow... too lumpy. Mountsmith makes a pillow that is 4oz of 900 fill down. It goes for 40 bucks and really compresses down small. I got it as a gift and what a gift it is. It is very comfortable and your head never touches the ground. I think it's too hot for summer camping, but in the winter it's a huge luxury. Yes, a 40 dollar pillow is a bit over the top... but it is 900 fill down, the same stuff they use in their bags. It's amazing and again, only 4oz.”

“I have tried all the stuffing of extra clothing and none of it is comfortable for me. I cannot sleep.

I got a great deal on a travel memory foam pillow. Draw back - the thing weighs 1 pound, 6 ounces!

I have already tried sleeping on it at home and it works good so I will have it for the cave trip. With the addition of a lighter tent and lighter bag, this extra weight souldn't affect me to much.”

“I would spend $40 to whack off 1 lb 2 oz from my pack weight in a heartbeat WK... buy the $40 pillow! :)”

“1 step ahead of you.

It was a 40 dollar pillow but I got it for half price.”

“URL me baby. I could use one for the mrs.”

“:o

"I would spend $40 to whack off..."

pitts
1:21:05 PM
10/10/05”

“Hehe, everything is lude if you intrepret it right.”

“http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview/sku=ZN001

You gotta buy something else to get the discount. I am sure you will be able to find something.”

“Is this what y'all are talking about: http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/accessdetail.cfm/WE1890 note Western Mountaineering and not Mountsmith”

“Whoops. Sorry. Yes, that is the pillow. I love it but it's hot in the summer. 900 fill!
last edited: 10/10/05 2:39:08 PM”

“I take an old sofa pillow and stuff it in with my sleeping bag. Then I stuff my clothes in a stuff sack. I put my shoes where I want my pillow to be then put the stuff sack on top of the shoes then the pillow on top of the clothes. The shoes keep the pillow(s) from sliding all over the place.”

“You are old school nigal. My boots don't go anywhere near my head after a day of hiking. The phunk is leathal!”

“I got my Patigonia puff pullover today. It's just what I thought it would be. I own the vest and love it... am wearing it right now in fact. Of course I paid $25 too much for it so THANK YOU for pointing that bit out. Still, it's very light and warm.

Also I am going to get new winter boots. My old ones are, well, gross.
last edited: 10/11/05 1:02:38 PM”

“You high dollar heavy pillow users!!!
http://www.datasync.com/~wksmith/pillow.html”

““Laurel got her first pair of hiking boots this weekend. I'm so proud. Little size 10 Kamiks. She broke 'em in hard in one day. Those things will never even look close to new ever again!”
treebeast666
10:36:06 AM
10/10/05

I look forward to hiking with Laurel one of these days.”

““You high dollar heavy pillow users!!!"

I saw that page! Very smart idea. My 4oz down pillow is light enough for me right now, but I only use it in cold weather. I actually dug up a few of the kids old water wings (they can now swim without them) and made me one of these. It works OK but I haven't had it on the trail yet.”

“For years I've been using a very soft, fleecy pillow case made by Cascade Designs (Thermarest). I stuff my down sweater or vest and shirt in it for a very comfortable pillow. The problem is always keeping it from getting away. I LIKE Stovies cheap inflatable pillows. I wonder if Walmart has any in stock this time of year?”

“TrailBum, Wal-Mart will not have them this time of year except in the deep South unless you are lucky.

I did see some in a Dollar Store the other day.

I like the swimwing pillow with the split running up and down thru the center. My head fits into that split and keeps the pillow from sliding around.
I wrap the plastic pillow with whatever clothing I'm not wearing and put this wrapped pillow into my sleeping bag's stuff sack to make a great pillow.
last edited: 10/11/05 1:29:10 PM”

“I use two wings. My bag has a handy sleeve for a pillow to go in; the two wings fit just right, one above the other, and never slip away. Partially inflated they're more comfy than any fleece wadded up I've ever used.

I actually got new gear! Tikka plus and an insul mat max thermo. Just replacing old stuff that died, nothing too exciting.”

“almost went for the puffball vest but saw the REI gossamer. Same as the Patagonia except has a Pertex Quantum shell. Most excellent, perhaps the best piece of gear REI has introduced in years.”

“My gear arrived today. I can't wait to use it...
Mountain Hardware Waypoint 2 tent and footprint, Ultralight first aid kit, Nike ACG Ascent watch, Columbia water proof coat, and Columbia XTC water proof pants. Now I won't have to miss out on hikes like I did last weekend because of rain.”

“Works great so far. Only had it a few days havent used it on the trails yet.”

“I was not so happy with my headlamp until I discovered these lithium batteries. They are expensive as hell but work so much better it's not even funny. They easily last 3x as long but I tend to forget how long I have used them. I carry a spare set of AAA's for the headlamp just in case.”

“shop around for a good price. also looking to Mod one for use with External battery pack for entended life. How long did the AA's last , I got about 4 hours on full power.”

“drop me a line for weekend or day Hikes. Longer if I ever get a vacation.”

“Got new winter boots, insulated and waterproof. My old ones were, err, repulsive. Now I have to break them in which is a beotch since they are too warm to wear other than winter. They'll be good in a few years. I have time before my showshoe trip, but what I can't get broken in by then I'll compensate by just taping up extra good.”

“I played with one of these and was hooked. It's not the same as a snow shovel, but it's far better than some of the other things I tried and much lighter. 13 bucks shipped. I plan on making a few quinzees this winter as I teach winter camping to my Venture team of scouts.

”

“Got an email that my big order is ready for pick-up at REI! Sure, about half of it is Christmas presents for BowlderSon (hydration pack, platy bag/hose combo, trekking poles, etc.), but I have a few trinkets in there, too....”

“Well the WM Kodiak finally arrived. Bring on the cold!!!!!”

“Whoo Hoo, is right.”

“Titleist 905t 11.5* w/ Graphite Design YS-6+ Stiff flex custom ordered at d4 swingweight and 44.5" playing length.

”

“i bought my first set of crampons.
i'm so geeky excited!!
using them this weekend. :)”

“Huh! So much for getting your nephew something cool!”

“ahh, kids get too many gifts these days anyway! ;)”

“Yay yamster! I'm ordering a pair tomorrow, and and basic ice axe.”

“I'm thinking of down booties, but I find someting about them disturbing.”

“Just snagged a pair of Yukon charlie Summit 930 snowshoes on Ebay for 79.00 including shipping.”

“Atlas 10 series snowshoes arrived today via DHL. Now all I need is snow or for the lake my Wisconsin house is on to freeze.”