Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“No, I'm a poor new parent. My wife spends all the money on the baby.”

“Sweet, I just scored new gear at work:It's budget time at work and just got approved for:

Upgrade from Photoshop 7 to CS

Added Photoshop CS to my second work station.

Upgrade to newest version of Extensis Portfolio image management software.

New external 300 Gig hardrive to store photos

New Fuji S2Pro Digital SLR Camera with a Nikon 80-200 zoom lense and off camera flash.

New Office Chair

I LOVE budget time!”

“okay, so it's not really new gear, but I went to the store today because I was out of deodorant and guess what I found?? wipes!! deodorant wipes!! how cool is that?

I don't really use deodorant while hiking, but hey...it can't hurt. Now I wonder if the bugs would bit more if I smell good.....”

“I don't know about the bugs, but the bears will!”

“I don't really use deodorant while hiking, but hey...it can't hurt. Now I wonder if the bugs would bit more if I smell good....

In my experience, I have found that bugs are attracted to deodorants.”

“I gotta give my man Cedar Tree and The Packa some serious props. Cedar Tree posts some on whiteblaze.net and is an AT 2000 miler, GA>ME. The Packa is a rain jacket and pack cover in one.

http://www.thepacka.com

I haven't field tested it yet so I can't give a proper review, but here's the skinny. It's made of silnylon and weighs 12 oz - very light for jacket AND cover. The sil doesn't breathe but there are pit zips and it hangs loosely around the body. Since the pack is under the jacket and the straps aren't smahing the jacket against you, I suspect the packa will vent well. Reviews on backpackinggearreviews say similar. The end result, I expect, will be that the Packa will be as comfortable to hike in as a waterproof breathable held tight against the body by pack shoulder straps.

I really can't say enough about Cedar Tree. That man spent alot of time customizing my Packa and got me what I wanted. The standard Packa did not fit over my pack the way I like to pack it - with a z-rest held horizontally and external to the pack on the pad straps at the bottom of the pack. Cedar Tree spent many hours customizing the Packa for me. Various incarnations led to a version that suits me well. I can't say that he'd do it again, but he didn't ask for any extra $ for the custom work. Cedar Tree makes other sil stuff like mits, gaiters, and stuff sacks. He also has a pack that converts to a hammock-like thing.

That's on piece of new gear. I really wanted to let you all know about the product and the way Cedar Tree does business.

Peace.

MM.”

“My wife took me to REI and bought me new boots! (On no what does she want from me?) =:0

Lowa Renegade II GTX MID

Because my feet are wierd, high volume, high arch the REI guy had to work for his money--but he knew his stuff.

When I was walking around the store trying out the boots, he was helping my wife to find a way to make her one boot fit better. (She often gets a blister on the heal of that foot.)

My Sundowners are getting pretty old. So wanted something lighter for shorter and day trips.

If you're near Oakbrook REI (Chicago area) and need footware, find Darran.”

“I got some carbon fiber poles for my slickrock--saved 8 oz I will never carry again!!”

“CM - I LOVE my Lowa Renegades, and I'm surprised I don't hear much about them from other TT'ers. Right out the door onto the trail with no break-in period. Very very comfy, and I've worn them on week long trips also.”

“I just bought a pair of New Balance 905 Trail Runners. I wore them today while running. I can tell a big difference compared to what I was wearing.”

“Ahhhhh!! Got the new Thermarest - the short 4 - will be using it this wknd out in Joshua Tree, gonna try to summit Eagle.”

“Hey everyone how is it going?? Things are A O.K. here, my unit will be in the desert in no time. We got some new gear that you might be interested in
1. Hydrastorm hydration pack in a desert camo pattern
2. Interceptor body armor, not lightweight but effective on bullets up to 7.62mm
3. Tentcot, keeps out bugs
4. 2 Pairs of desert boots, to go along with the new desert uniforms
5. A newly designed chemical suit that is even more effective than its predecessor
I am sure there is more but I can't think of it all right now. I hope you are all doing well.”

“I just got a Gregory Forester backpack for those long trips, and some duofold long sleeve shirts...I love those things.”

“Tahoe, does the chemical suit double as raingear?”

“My Sawvivor has arrived. I am now ready for that impromptu trail maintenance...or, emergency backcountry amputations. Woo Hoo!

Also, Grip Clips! No expanse of fabric shall go un-pitched.”

“is now available at EMS. Got mine yesterday and did some testing.

At 4600 ft. altitude. with 1 qt. of water.

Jet Boil
5:40sec. using 1/4 oz. fuel

Primus Lite
3:40 using 1/2 oz. fuel

Apex II
5:20 using 1/2 oz. Coleman Fuel


So with the Jet boil and a 8oz. tank you should get 32 quarts of boiling water. Twice as good as any other stove I have.

Bad news.....$80 bucks.”

“Mountain Hardwear Phantom Down Jacket

Snow Peak Titanium Cafe Press (it sucks, I'm returning it)

Thermarest ProLite 3 Short

Good birthday for me!”

“Griz,

You'll have to let us know how the jet boil works on a trip for you!”

“Getting a Dana Raid Z on Sunday.....the anticipation is killing me.”

“Sorry it took so long to answer...
but yes, the chem suit is water resistant to a certain degree.”

“Put this new MSR tent in layaway today. 4lbs for two people, with optional footprint and silnylon rainfly only...sweet.”

“Now thats cool, you can use it with just the fly.”

“Did that link work?”

“yep”

“I ordered my Moonstone on Feb 10 and it STILL hasn't been shipped.


DO NOT EVER ORDER FROM C & C OUTDOORS.

Don't do it unless you don't need your gear sometime next year!”

“That's an awesome tent, Stickman. I've been eyeing up both that tent up as a potential next shelter since they introduced their new line of shelters. For some odd reason the Missing Link intrigues me, but I know I won't buy it. But a lightweight, and most important "freestanding", 3-season tent is definitly in order for this dood's shelter quiver.

And Tango, sorry to hear about your delema. Id there anyway you can get them to return your $$$?”

“Moonstone Lucid 800 sleeping bag. Thought it was a good deal $229 no shipping, yeah right no shipping to my house. They haven't charged me so I could cancel I sent 2 emails they answered very promptly (that's all they do promptly) that it is going to shipped shortly.”

“Sweet tent Stickman. I have also been keeping an eye on that tent and looking for reviews. Let us know how it performs.”

“No doubt Hubcap. I plan on using it just as soon as I get it out of layaway. I like that I can use the rainfly and footprint only to get an idea of what a tarp would be like.”

“Just got a Dana Design Raid Z pack with an extra 65L pneumo-bag and an MSR Blacklite frying pan....

The woods are-a-callin'”

“When Pennsy flew down for the Ocala trip, I couldn't help but notice the killer wheeled duffle bag he brought all his gear and other stuff down in. It was perfect. Sierra trading post had it on sale, so I ordered it. It will be used to haul up my stuff for the Maine trip.

My old trekking poles have finally died, and began their slow trip to the afterlife some time ago. But alas, a new pair is rising out of the ashes, since I just picked http://www.sierratradingpost.com/xq/asp/base_no.99021/catImage.False/dept_id.L2~314/qx/product.htm"target="_blank">up this pair.

Daddy likes!”

“Got 8" tails for my MSR snowshoes, just in time for spring.”

“Lumberzac, how do you like the MSR's?”

“I love them. Though they weren't floating too well two weekends ago with just the 4" tails. They seem to grip where other shoes slide. I made the decision to get the 8" tails now, because they are going to be discontinued since the new Evo's came out this year.”

“I'll have to check out the Evo's. I have a pair of Tubbs now. I like them, but am not too happy with the grip the crampons give on inclines. I hear the MSR's are one of the best for grip, and the price is right.”

“If you can find a pair of the Denali Ascents '02s (what I have), I would get them. I wasn't too impressed with the redesign. They changed the shape of the shoe to save weight a whole whopping 4oz per pair. The new traction system looks almost the same as what is on my shoes, although all the photos I have seen of them haven't shown the traction system very well. The only major difference I see is that MSR charges $40 more for the Evo's than the older Ascents.”

“Damn them! Still, 40 bucks more is still reasonable compared to other shoes. My only concern would be how well they float. But given how bad my Tubbs slip on steep ascents (which are ultra-common in the northeast, as you well know), I'll take the tradeoff.”

“You could always rent them and see how you like them. I'm assuming you need them for BSP in March.”

“Good suggestion with renting them. I'll probably stick with the Tubbs for the BSP trip though, just to keep overall logistics at a minimal. Perhaps... after "the thing" though.............”

“I love our MSRs... we each have a pair.

And I've never used my tails.”

“No way Artex! The wookie is finally retiring? I had some great laughs when I revisited that pic. That was some trip. "Pennsy, while you you're dangling over that cliff and barely hanging on to that tree, can you wait for me to get my camera out?"

on topic..... Woohoo! My Osprey Aether 60 arrived today and I wasn't expecting it until next week. With my REI dividend it cost me a whole 25 smackers.”

“Most Excellent! My Brasslite Turbo 1 was waiting in the mail when I got home. Flame on!”

“Nice Pennsy. That's how I got the new snowshoes. I was going to wait but with the dividend and store credits how could I go wrong.
I think you'll like that pack too.”

“Tubbs suck!”

“because of the slippage factor, that is - I think I climbed one little teeny mountain about five times over because of that.”

“Yeah, the crampons just aren't aggressive enough.. at least on the model I have.”

“I just got my dividend and I already spent it!!!!! Just ordered a LightSaber Bivy 1lb 4oz packs down to a 6x7 stuff sack and it only cost me $42 bucks WooHooo!
I'll have to bring it to Maine to test it out.”

“Hey LtHiker, that can be your present to me (see the trip's main thread).”

“Pull my finger and I'll give you a present!!!!”

“Dude, you don't want to fire the first salvo in that war...”