Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“The Insul Mat Max-Thermo Mummy $54

Weight 23oz
Dimensions 72" x 20" x 2.5"
Packed size 5.75" x 9.25"

Big Agnes REM Insulated AirCore $65

Weight 21oz
Dimensions 72" x 20" x 2.5"
Packed size 3.75" x 10"


They're very similar. The BA is just slightly lighter and packs just a bit smaller. Of coures, it's $11 more. Check shopping.com to compare prices on the web.

The BA has a temp rating of 15F. I didn't see one on the Insul Mat. Wonder if it's the same?”

“Yep, the temp rating is what I was concerned about.

Thanks! and happy 4th!”

“Treebait's Big Agnes Air core REM pad is completely delaminating and failing along most of the seams in less than one year of use.

It was great, when it held air.”

“Just bought a new 4 man tent by Woods Canada..... Not sure about my purchase. Price was right $99.00 from a $169.00 and I needed a new 4 man ....Fly`s shot on my old one ..... You can only sew rips and tears so many times!, too much sun damage. Woods was famous up here in the frozen north at one time for the infamous canvas tent,there now trying their hand at nylon and are attempting to carve a nitch in the outdoor market again.It has two flys ????? that kinda makes me leery ,but it it supposed to have that new Drytanium water repellent fabric... I know that Columbia is also using this material on their new line of tents. Any way It`ll be tried out this weekend on the Bruce Peninsula.I`ll let you know how it goes. Paddles”

“Anybone know anything about the Columbia Cougar Flats tent. This thing looks like a beast! It even comes with wheels on the carrying case, built in cup holders and a remote control light. is it worth it for a family tent or is it just overkill?”

“Anybone??? how 'bout Anyone”

“I got a couple more crazy creek style chairs from EMS (their brand) they had 'em on sale, one for $25, or two for $30.

Also picked up another 128mb memory card for my digital camera, which a conference I'm going to is paying for.

On sale gear is good, free gear is better!
=D”

“Returned the Woods tent yesterday,the stitching was extremely poor, and in several places you could see where they had not sewn a straight line and had pulled the stitches out and redid it leaving little stitch holes in the fabric.The inside of that tent was like looking through a sieve.Got myself a Columbia MT. Bachelor instead,figured thats a name I can trust.Though it appears that Woods and Columbia use the same tent manufacturer, North Pole out of California.....who of course have their tents made in China.....but then so does the North Face.Slave Labour and low over head...shouldn`t be allowed.”

“Received my new Bearikade Weekender bear can.
Pretty nice.

Also picked up another 256K Smart Card for my camera.

Solved my CoolWebSearch problem with a new Media Center PC and a new 19" flat panel display. ;-)”

“wow, stovestomper, I just checked the weekender, did they get cheaper? I always thought they cost over $200, even the weekend??? No?

Pretty good, that's the one I want!”

“Nope, not cheaper, still over $200 with shipping.

Of course, the $2000 for the new computer system made that bear can seem cheaper!”

“lol, no kidding!!”

“I haven't gotten new gear in over a month. Being poor sucks.”

“I am trying to save my ebay $$ for a newer and better tent, and the folbot kayak. that's gonna be hart.”

“I called them today since they now have my Nike Air Wallowa II's on sale for $91 (& some change) I just paid $114 for them in June. They cheerily refunded the diff. While I was talking to the rep I asked if he knew about this site! Yes he did and didn't immediately disconnect me!

Very nice experience.”

“Still waitin' for my Virga tarptent. Been almost a month (sigh...)”

“I just bought a new backpacking frying pan for a $1. Its nice and light weight about 8 inches. I will saw off the handle to make it easier to pack and make it even more lighter. Trail pancakes, wohoo!”

“Got me a new Golite tarp and bug net (Cave and Lair) along with a Speed Pack. My trusty Trek is showing wear and the Speed has less cubic inches, but I'm going to try ultra light for some upcoming trips.”

“i just bought one for my upcoming trip and i cant wait to use it! its tiny and will fit inside my 1 qt. cook pot”

“My Hydrogen arrived over the weekend.

1lb 5oz = wicked coolness”

“I thought I "loved" my allhearts (like waldies, but better fit) until I happened upon a pair of teva water shoes with spidey rubber for $20. I love them!
Not sure how they'd be for camp shoes though, but I did some hiking and portaging with them.
Excellent for slippery rocks!

Tried out a new paddle as well this weekend...(kayak) I have an LLB paddle, one from old town canoe, and another from a discount store - all the cheapest models.

The one I like best is the discount store one - I'm sure it's not the lightest (none of the one's I own are) but it's the one I prefer to use. It's the only one with padding where I place my hands.”

“also meant to add that I dropped my digital camera into the water...not sure yet how it survived...”

“Just got myself a Iron Horse mountain bike.She`s sweet,heading out to Short Hills Provincal Park,when I`m back from Algonquin Park.Heading there again tomorrow”

“The camera appears to be fried, as are the rechargeable batteries that were in it.
I hope the disc is ok.
:(”

“Patagonia Micro Puff pullover. Looks to be good and light. Little heavier than the down jacket I have, but I now no longer need to worry so much about getting it wet. :o)”

“twigeater - sometimes rechargeable batteries that seem dead aren't. They just need a jump start. Normally they get a recharge with a voltage at or below their rated voltage (aprox 1.2-1.5 volts for AA batteries). But if you take a DC transformer with a higher voltage (like 9 volts), and zap the battery with that for a second or two (ONLY a second or two), then put the battery through a normal charge cycle, it will be "alive" again.”

“yeah I think I'll just buy new batteries...LOL”

“Sorry about the camera twigeater. I'm a little surprised about the batteries though. From my experience the card can be washed with your hiking shorts so hopefully it will be ok.

Decided that it might be a good idea to use some of my Galayans gift cards beore they turn to Dick and picked up a full lenghth Thermarest Prolite. Seems lighter than my 3/4 ultralite. New wicking shirt too and some food for HIKING MAINE!!!!

(I just wanted to say HIKING MAINE!!!, it will probably be gone before that)”

“thanks pepsi.
Fortunately I know I'm hard on stuff like that, so I don't buy top of the line...a new camera is on my shopping list.
The batteries won't recharge, that's why I assume they're dead for good.”

“I guess I spoke too soon...the batteries have recharged...”

“They did it just to spite you, twiggy...”

“I don't doubt it...

:)”

“Sorry to here about the camera twigeater. I did the same thing with my 35mm a few months ago. I immediately removed the batteries and let it sit and dry. I still haven't tried it out yet to see if it is dead (been too busy playing with the new digital). Your post reminded me to check and see if mine still works. Wish me luck otherwise I’ll be looking for a new winter camera.”

“luck!

It probably would have helped if I'd taken care of the camera immediately, but I didn't.”

“well, I don't have it yet, but here what I ordered:

http://www.westernmountaineering.com/ba_VersaLite.htm
and with my return:
Big Agnes Seedhouse SuperLight 2 Tent
a person tent weighing only 3 lbs, 9 oz.

I learned that a small tent isn't for me. LOL I need room!! lots of room.

also finally ordered me a Therm-a-Rest Lite 20 Chair Kit

I am tired of sneaking a spot on somebody elses chair!!

Can't wait until everything gets here. the bag is still a bit iffy... they wasn't sure if WM had it in stock. Please cross your fingers for me.

also got me a titanium mug the other day. Really cheap here locally. They normally cost $30 or so, I got it for $22 I think.

Sold my camera and got me a lighter Canon digital. Much lighter and much smaller.

So now I'll have some things that are a big heavier then before, but I also have some things that are a bit lighter. I guess that will bring me back to the old weight. Maybe just a little bit over.”

“The things weighs a pound, but I sat in my bros last weekend and it was heaven!
I tried my new REI Roadster tent last weekend too. It's great. Need a rain test though. I wouldn't recommend the Roadster to anyone much bigger than me though. It'd be a super tight fit. I was snug as a bug in a rug!”

“I pack ultralite most trips, but that Lite 20 Chair Kit goes with me.
Well worth the pound.”

“Coming from you, that means the chair kit is a definite purchase. Maybe I can find one on the internet for less than REI. $30! Or maybe I could make one that is more lightweight. Hmm.”

“heeheehee...it does weight alot, and that was the reason why I havent' bought one yet.

I regret it though every time I sit at camp and my butt hurts.”

“pixie, ask Helinka or Roam on how to make one. They both have made their own. Very light!!”

“Same weight as the chair kit, without putting your sleeping pad at risk (embers, thorns...)

www.slinglight.com

I pack light, but this is one of two luxuries I won't leave home without!”

“Oh, and since its ready to go on the outside of my pack, I whip it out for breaks - 10 secs. from pack to ahhhhh.”

“I will check it out.”

“Only place I have seen to buy that slinglite was in San Diego at the Adventure 16 store.
I was gonna get one but figured the airline would destroy it on the trip back so didn't.
Very comfy!”

“Darn it, forgot the "http://" part. Thanks SS for the corrected link.

If you get the Sling Light, don't bother with the headrest option unless you want it for non-bp trips. I never used it so stopped taking it on trips. Between eating, looking down at the camfire, or whatever, my head rarely hit the headrest. Might be nice to use on the beach or picnics.”

“Does the size of the slinglite bother you? Do you strap it to the back of your pack?”

“I'm toying with plans to use a slinglite as a backpack frame with a homemade packbag. When you get to camp, detach the packbag and fold out the chair to sit.

Kinda like my chairpack experiment.”

“Pixie - yes, I lash it to the back of my pack. My only complaint is that you can't fold the frame in half, but the size really isn't a problem. Wasn't a problem at all in my "big pack" days. Now the Sling Light frame is bigger than the diameter of my pack, so it sort of rests all around the edge of the pack (I have a GoLite Team). Its not that much bigger, though, and it has some advantages - makes my soft pack much more rigid, and gives me extra lash-on options if I ever need to do that.

SS - the frame is certainly strong enough. Looks like an external pack frame, so why not? Might be a good experiment to kill a rainy weekend.”