Whoo Hoo....new gear!

“Yes, I made the lower walls 5 inches high so I guess you can call it a bathtub floor. I made a diagram on paper first before I started since it was impractical to make a pattern that big. This was probably the most challenging thing I've made yet and it took me quite a bit of time to make it. Over at the backpacking .net there's a tent on the make your own gear section called the Jone's tent. Mine is similar to that, but I didn't make mine with the wide walls like he did. Mine is straight A frame. I might add a couple of pullouts mid way down the front and back to pull the walls out when I have it pitched low. All and all, I'm pleased with the result and it should make a nice shelter for mild conditions.”

“I just finished making a pair of lightweight waders similar to Wiggy's for crossing streams. I made them out of sil nylon with a 4 oz. per square yard oxford bottom to protect from abrasion damage. I haven't seam sealed them yet, but they look great, were easy to make and are so light and compact they look like a magician's trick. 4.5 ounces and I think the seam sealing will add a half ounce to bring it to 5 ounces total.”

“i might have to ask for the plans to those waders. i've been thinkin about buyin the wiggy's ones.”

“You can make your own easily from heatsealable nylon or sil nylon for a fraction of the cost of Wiggy's waders. The sil nylon waders even weigh half of what Wiggy's do. Just measure the circumference of your boot sole and add a couple of inches for clearance and seam allowance. That will give you the width to cut the material. Then determine the inseam length. Mine were 34"X 33" in sil nylon. I then sewed on a strip of 4 oz. oxford 7"X34" to cover the bottom as a double layer. Now fold the wader in half and sew it together with the seam on the outside. That will allow a complete silicone surface on the inside so your silicone seal will stick when you seal the seams. Add a drawstring to the top like a stuffsack before you sew them up. They are basically like making a big stuffsack. If you use heatsealable nylon you don't even have to sew it and all you need is an iron to form the bond. I made my first pair like that and they cost me $3.50 to make and are really strong since I put cordura on the bottom with contact cement. I doubt they would ever be punctured on a stream bottom and the bonus is the cordura adds a lot of grip. They aren't slippery at all.”

“Just ordered 3 carabiners (1locking 2non-locking) some iodine tabs,a bike headlight,an emergency strobelight. I love campmor!

Going to moosejaw tomorrow or sunday to look at a golite race pack and a climbing harness.”

“richb - thanks for the details. When I get mine done I'll post some pics (beware my sewing is laughable)”

“Just got a Sandisc 256 Ultra compact flash card for my digital camera $74.00, an extra rechargable battery, and a car charger for the batteries!”

“got me some new boots today because mine are soacked and I need them tomorrow. (never ever leave without your gators, that's a lesson I have learned yesterday).”

“When to the San Diego, CA REI couple of weeks ago while on a biz trip.
Got a bunch of freeze dryed food, Milkman dry milk packets, Cytomax drink mixes, couple of small plastic bottles, and other boring stuff.
Did find something I hadn't seem before, maryjanes farm organic vegetarian pour water in pouch meals. I'm not a vegy, but the sweet red bell pepper pasta, and santa fe pasta meals sounded to good to pass up.
Really liked seeing all the REI gear.”

“tango - a little freaked out about running out of juice again?

Long time no talk - I hope all is well with you - what a beautiful weekend here huh?”

“OH YEAH!!! This is my kind of weather! Did you take your beautiful daughter out for a walk?

Yep on the juice for the camera! But especially on the Sierrapalooza hike and my solo in Tuolomne Meadows!

I actually got 3 pics of everybodys' cars before my battery died! Are you going to TCO sale or is it already over? The only thing I want now is a Tarptent, but they are on backorder and not accepting new orders till May 1.”

“The TCO sale is on the weekend of the 25th (weekend after next), Big Al and I are planning to go up there during lunch on Friday. I just bought the MSR Zoid 1 tent so I don't know that I need anything else, but I have a $20 gift certitificate so I have to get something - I'm sure if I look long enough...

Yeah we took about 4 or 5 walks this weekend just soakin' up the good spring weather.

I think your Tarptent choice is a good one - it better show up before your trip! Sounds like Henry Shires needs to kick up production.”

“Big Coop, my sewing can be pretty funny at times too. That's the part I wish I was better at. It's getting better with each thing I make, but I don't have many things left to make.”

“Just ordered me a Lotus Designs PFD today.

Can't wait to get it.”

“Which one Binks?”

“Quite a few river guides were using those on my CO River trip recently...”

“Hey Binks!
Be sure and mail my filter to me before the IRS goons take you away! ;)”

“WOHOO! I went to rei and got myself a new (and my first) pair of Sahara convertable pants :)

My FIRST convertable pants....I am so happy right now :) :) :)”

“I wanna complain that my new REI Elements rainpants have a major flaw. Their 3-ply material is waterproof and reasonably breathable. But their front pocket design sucks. Their is no way to close the flap and shut out water! In driving rain, rain can enter the pocket flap, collect at the bottom, soak into the non-waterproof zipper and then the inside of the pants gets wet. I have experienced it.

These babies are going to be returned ASAP!”

“I got a new car. 2000 Jeep Cherokee with only 25,000 miles on it. =D It's silver. I love it.

It'll carry my kayak and my backpack so it should really count.”

“we're gonna get a new cookpot... if we can just decide which one... decisions, decisions.”

“The MSR Zoid 1 has arrived - it has been pitched in the backyard, but my baby girl has a temperature so the testing must wait for a bit.

Where are my priorities!”

“TNF Mountian Marathon Optimus Nova Stove REI New Star Pack MSR Miniworks REI Traverse Treking poles and a load of other crap.”

“well, i guess it's kinda considered new gear... $100 worth at walmart, i got myself a memory stick for my camera, a map to get me through the state of MN, and a journal to write down everything that happens to me...”

“New Jeep??? Dang Sass, now THAT'S some gear.

Me? I got a new St.John's basketball jersey I sent for that I won from a Mt.Dew bottlecap. It's 100% synthetic... I may wear it on the trail someday. lol

Last Friday I ordered from STP some MH Pack Shorts and a pair of Merrell Baja Ventilator shoes. Just looking toward warmer weather.”

“Check it out on luxurylitegear.com. I am ordering one. This guy has got something going here.”

“I have some pants coming for me and some for the boyfriend too. (Boy ones for him) I am hoping they fit more like regular pants--I am tired of walking in those REI baloons.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=6441289&prmenbr;=226”

“Can't seem to find luxurylitegear.com anywhere on the net.”

“i just scored an older-style REI down jacket at Salvation Army for $10.50!!! it looks pristine, i doubt it saw much use at all. woo-hoo indeed.”

“I want my silshelter & Bug Bivy!

8)”

“Sa-weet TBB! Those kinda scores make the gear shopping all the more exciting.

Buddur, those shorts are the bomb.”

“Sass...wait'll you see me in'em!

;)”

“cmb, you ordered a silshelter?”

“Try luxurylite.com Sorry Buddur!

Take your time and check out the whole site.”

“My stuff from STP was waiting for me when I got home from work today and the shoes...I LOVE the shoes. But the shorts...well...look at STP's pic and see how the shorts look rather long, like I was hoping they'd be. Well, they're about as short as they are wide, and because they're baggy I kind'of look like I'm wearing a short skirt. They're pretty comfy though so I'll prolly keep and wear them (and just not look at myself in the mirror).”

“those Baja Ventilators do look pretty darn nice. thanks for the tip about the shorts, i was a little tempted by them.”

“Dude (looks like a lady) ;)”

“Remember that "Friends" show with the guy wearing the big leg shorts and no underwear?
Ever time he sat down, he showed his "stuff".
Just don't do it!”

“I just finished making a mesh pocket 17"X9"X6" to put my wading shoes and waders in when flyfishing. I made it so it can be attached to the back of any of my packs. It only weighs 2.5 ounces and is really a good lightweight way to add 900 c.i. to a pack. No more wet wading shoes in my pack.”

“bought around 30+ yards of silnylon today - got it all for the price of 20 yards 'cause some of the fabric was damaged. still PLENTY enough to make my tent, poncho, and enough stuff sacks for the rest of my life. now i need to order the hardware & extras from OWF and my tent-making odyssey will begin!”

“Wow, that's a lot of fabric. Hold it up to the light to check for bad spots if it was damaged before making your gear. Especially if it's second quality. I saw thin spots in the sil coating in second quality material and refuse to use it for anything but stuff sacks.”

“thanks, rich. i'll need about 13 yards for the tent, and i plan to check it pretty thoroughly beforei use it. the damage was very minimal - a long tear that essesntially reduced the width of the bolt to around 57 inches instad of 60. but they didn't want to pull a new bolt to cut from, so they just gave me the whole remaining bolt for the price of 10 yards. and i bought 10 more yards in a different color (10 yard minimum at this place). yee-haw!”

“Cool, good luck with the sewing. What kind of instructions are you following?”

“ahhh, there's the tricky part. i have to follow the pattern i drew up myself. i started out copying the Hex, then decided that i wanted to work with an octagonal shape instead. mapped out how many square feet of useable space i wanted, drew up a footprint, did the geometry, and realized i had almost a copy of the Kifaru tipis. only diference is the Kifarus have an oval footprint and mine will be mostly circular. it's a pretty simple design, and i plan on copying the pole cup from my Megamid. if it goes well, this will be the tent we carry on the JMT this summer. i don't think it'll weigh more than 3 pounds.”

“Found a bolt of 60" wide fleece fabric at Wal-Mart's $1/yd table!
Got me 5 yds.
The projects are just swirling around my mind! Fleece liner? Summer sleeping bag? Pot Cozy?”

“Got my backpackingsdeals.com package today!
New Hiker Filter, sil-nylon stuff sacks, and a bunch of food.
Thanks Binks!

....and I made this thing.”

“Your Welcome SS!

That's a nifty idea you got there. What is that ? a go lite pack?”

“I did a bit of shopping at www.backpackingdeals.com recently. Today, UPS showed up at the door. I'm now the proud owner of...

8x10 sil-nylon tarp
sil-nylon stuff sack
and...
Hennessy Hammock - Ultralite Backpacker A-sym.

WOO HOO!!!!

Delivery was super fast”

“ www.backpackingdeals.com

There... that link should work.”

“hey!! i got my hammock there, too!

(only i read that Hennessey is French. oo-oh.)”