Need some good gear...HELP

“I am having a hard time finding a lightweight knife that is not a piece of crap. Need suggestions with websites please.

Also, has anyone ever tried to use a thin yoga mat for a pad? I saw some at wal-mat for cheap. 1/8 in. and perfect length. It looks like it has a coating on it but I don't know. Will be needing a replacement soon.”

“The blue foam Wal-Mart sleeping pad is already pretty cheap at like 6 bucks. You can cut it down to size.”

“Knives are too heavy dude. Grow longer finger nails. Go light or stay home.”

“I'd tell you to sharpen a rock against another rock but you should really LNT. I like to go light so I just have my sherpa carry a knife.”

“Your best bet is to go somewhere they sell quality knives and hold them. How it sits in your hand is pretty important. I have a gerber (folding blade) that's way light. It was mid range in price and it's perfect for my smaller hands. BUT, I rarely pack it anymore. It never got used. I take scissors in my 1st aid kit and a saw so what do I need a knife for unless I'm fishing or plan on sticking someone?”

“The only knife ya ever need...

”

“I agree with Nigal on the knife..

Also, CD has the right idea for a light pad... I had to cut mine down to fit into my Quarter Dome... I also use the pad as an 'internal frame' when I use my Talon 44. I have cut it down to about 3/4 the original length.. The extra piece has been cut into small seating pads, and I am now going to use the scraps to make insulation for my cooking pots...

'320z”

“To me 1/8 inch is not much of a pad. If I carry a pad it better be worth it.”

“1/8" isn't a pad. I call that insulation and nothing else.”

“32oz, that's a good idea about the insulation for the cooking pots. Do you think aluminum tape or duct tape would work best?

I cut down on pack weight whereever possible, but I do love my heavy arse insulated Big Agnes sleeping pad.”

“I made a pot cozy using foam and aluminum tape. Worked good, but I only used it a few times. It's stuck in my closet somewhere.”

“I use several different knives, a lightweight one is ok, do you prefer a fixed blade or a folder knife. Which ever, buy one that is going to be useful. Don't buy a knife just because it is lightweight just to have one, buy one that can be useful in most any need, that a knife can be used. Same for a pad, a good nights sleep is more important than walking tried.”

“NIgal pretty much nailed it. However, I went over to the Leatherman Micra as I find a good pair of scissors to be the most helpful. I also carry a cheapy bigger, lightweight blade with some sort of crappy handle for gutting fish if I'm fishing.”

“Someone posted instructions once on a lightweight sleeping pad they made.

Using those long ass balloons you sew nylon fabric or some kind of fabric around the balloons.

Anyone remember this?”

“Ditto what Sass said, I have a Gerber I take all the time. I also have a mini Swiss that I don't use all that much.

My Gerber


last edited: 1/08/09 6:58:55 PM”

“If you get a Swiss Army knife, make sure it has a corkscrew. Never know when you (or someone else) will need it!”

“I would expect no other reply from Stomper. Corkscrew... HA!”

“Hell yeah.”

“http://www.ccoutdoorstore.com/granite-gear-backpacks.html

'32oz”

“Thanks for the link. Nice sale.”

“Just picked up a granite gear nimbus latitude... really wanted to get the latitude vapor, but i usually end up carry a little gear for some of the younger scouts so I wanted the 10 extra pounds of carrying capacity...

'32oz”

“Also for anyone looking for a 5000cu.i+ pack.. Santa was good to me this year, and donated a Osprey Aether 85 to me... It is awesome.. It feels like you're wearing a daypack...

'32oz”

“Dang!! I could have saved another 10.00 if I bought my pack here. Those are some good deals.”

“Steep and Cheap has had a lot of knives up lately.

Ditto the blue foamie minimum, but a Z-Lite would be more comfortable.”

“Yeah, I had been waiting to pull the trigger on a Granite Gear Pack, and when I saw those proces i couldn't wait any longer..

'32oz”

“hey teacup sorry to be such a downer but you just spent 68.01 more than you had too. :|
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=1090T&plp;=Granite_Gear_Nimbus_Latitude_Daypack_&cm;_mmc=PaidShopping-_-GoogleBase-_-PCGOOGLEBASE9-_-Granite_Gear_Nimbus_Latitude_Daypack_&utm;_source=GoogleBase&utm;_medium=PaidShopping&utm;_term=Granite_Gear_Nimbus_Latitude_Daypack_&utm;_campaign=PCGOOGLEBASE9&codesProcessed;=true”

“there was also this one at backcountry.com
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/GRG0033/Granite-Gear-Latitude-Vapor-Backpack-3800cu-in.html”

“Uh.. you may want to check your math.. I spent 161... I think that you may have forgotten to carry a decimal, or maybe borrow from the next column or something.. Even with the extra 20 percent if I buy 2 items and extra 10 percent if I had never shopped there before, i'm not calculating it to come out to $100...

Besides, what you are looking at is a 'short' size.. saving money is great, but not effective if you buy the wrong gear..

I do appreciate your concern for my finances though..

'32oz
last edited: 1/15/09 4:37:03 AM”

“oh never mind.. the 20% off was on select winter items of which this was not one of...

SO... It lookings like I got a pretty d@mn good deal on a pack that will actually FIT...

'32oz”

“Heck your the second link isn't even the same backpack....

Making my deal look even better....

'32oz”

“I bought a Nimbus Latitude on ebay 6 months ago. It's comfy, but takes a whole lot of new loading skills after years of top loaders. I needed to carry more water and it does that.

PS. The truth is , I can adjust the suspencion system to fit whomever is going with me so they can carry the water.
last edited: 1/15/09 10:07:42 AM”

“I have a eureka solitaire tent. It is light and works good but it has no room for anything except me. I'm trying to research and get a larger one but still light for packing. I would like to be able to sit up and have enough room for my pack also when its raining. I have found several but its also good to get input from users.”

“That tent sounds like my Sierra Designs Lightyear CD. Not enough room in there to even change my mind. But it was bombproof and I trust it in bad weather.

Now I use a Henry Shires Contrail tarptent. Lightweight, plenty of room inside to sit up and spread out and easy set up once you get the hang of it.

Niiiiiiice score 32oz!
last edited: 1/15/09 10:20:56 AM”

“ahhhh I didn't see that one until now... I was looking at the red latitude in the row beneath sorry about that.”

“I have a Eureka solitaire as well... Max height 24 inches..

My Kelty QuartZ has a max height of 30 inches..

My Rei Quarter DOme has a maz height of 40, BUT unlike the Solitaire and Quartz it doesn't taper downward towards the feet.. THAT makes all of the difference..

Salorebored, yeah it will be a little different... Right now most of my stuff is in granite gear bags and compression sacks anyway... I hiked a week with a gentlemen who had this pack, and I was so jealous how easy it was for him to get to stuff...

RM.. No problem..


'32oz”

“Why do you say that makes all the difference?

I was looking at a eureka apex. I also saw the quarter dome one.....How is it?”

“I saw a pic of the tarptent you were talking about. Its not a very good picture so it doesn't look like a good tent.....looked very flimsy.”

“YOu can sit up in it and change... The first two tents have maximum heights of 24 and 30 respectively, but they only maintain that height for a few inches... The height is misleading..

The quiarter dome maintains the height throughout the length of the tent..

As for the 2 man quarter dome and the apex... I have an APEX.. it's heavier then the quarter dome.. I would choose the quarter dome (I have back packed with both)..

Also look at the Hubba and the Hubba Hubba..

'32oz”

“

Pitching this tent takes some practice.”

“I guess my main thing is trying to recover from sticker shock. Need to browse through ebay and see if any of those are on there. Trying not to spend a lot on one......mainly because I don't have a lot to spend on one.”

“You just need to keep searching on line and looking at Steep and Cheap..

Make a list of what you want, prioritize it and wait for the bargains...

I have a list of items needed for the rainier trip... When i see a steal I buy it..

With the economy the way it is there are a lot of deals out there...

'32oz”

“I'm a lookin. Right now I'm just trying to find a tent and a good sleeping pad. Thanks for the input, it helps a lot.”

“I apologize, I have the Kelty Clark.. I was once looking at the 2 man Kelty Quartz but didn't get it...

I think that the CLark was replaced by the Crestone..

'32oz”

“One I saw that I liked was Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight.”

“Which tent is that CD?”

“Chili, that's the Contrail.

Nemster - the SD Clip Flashlight is a very good quality tent. My only complaint is the amount of room inside and it weighs over 3 pounds. But you can fit your boots and pack in the vesibule. Not free standing though if that is important to you.”

“Nemster.. that tent is pretty popular with boy scouts.. I see that one alot at camporees...

'32oz”

“I think this year I bought a new Platy Hoser and some small Nalgene bottles. That has been it for a few years actually.”

“Most tents Im looking at hang right around the 4 to 4 1/2 lb mark. Im just trying to step up from the solitaire so I have room for me and my pack and I can sit up and move a little.”