A few questions

DeadFall27

DeadFall27

Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
1,476
Hey all,

I haven't had the opportunity to get out much and play with gear like I used to, so i figure asking you folks for some knowledge would help me get back to speed.

1. Does anyone here waterproof their packs (day packs or otherwise)? I have seen people waterproof jackets and pants with filsons wax, but I haven't seen waterproofing on a pack before; the only exception being an external cover you put over the pack.

2. What would be a great lightweight and compact sleeping system? I'm stationed in Oki, so I don't need much. I remember way back when I met this guy who had a bag that compressed to the size of a Nalgene bottle, but I never got a brand name if that product. I would like something similar, but I'm open to all suggestions.

3. Shelters. I have never found one that I've really been all too crazy about.

4. And finally, what kind of random other gear do you guys carry? Any cool rigs that anyone has come up with? Some if you guys are incredibly creative, and if love to see your setups.

I'm trying not to have the start of my thread a novel like I always do, so I've done my best to keep it short. I hope to have a good discussion with you all. Maybe I can learn a thing or two.

All best,

-Jim
 
1. I cover my pack with an external cover and use a light weight dry bag inside my pack. Never seen using 'waterproofing' on the pack material more than rain resistant
2. Oki? How cool at night? Sleeping system? is that a sleeping bag! If you are not going somewhere cold, a inexpensive bag works well. buy a compression sack to squeeze the bag small, just do not store it compressed
3. Shelter? Tent or Tarp? A thicker space blanket as a ground sheet and ponch is a very quick and versitile set up. A bigger tarp is more comfortable. bugs in the area? A tent? how many people. An inexpensive light weight one person bivi-like tent by Eureka for less than $100?
 
0. Clothes - I usually take too much clothing

1. Pack

I use a pack liner as others have mentioned. Most of the time it is sil-nylon.

I make my own pack covers for hard use, but don't always take one.

Sometimes an umbrella

2. Quilt

I have been using quilts instead of bags for about ten years, mostly because I started using hammocks. I have grown to like them for their lack of hardwear & weight and the ability to get in & out of them so easily compared to bags.

3. I prefer hammocks but can be happy with lightweight tent and pad, or tarp and bug-net, or a bivy. I just want to make the setup simple, adaptable, easy, and lightweight.

4. Water, Filtration/Purification, Food, Preparation

Source or Osprey bladder
One 32 or 48 oz. Nalgene
A few Platypus bags or WaterTank
Sawyer Squeeze filter (.1 or .02) with an added activated carbon post filter
Backup tablets
Nomadic Trekker stove and an alcohol stove
Titanium pot and separate "plastic" fork, spoon, and knife, and cleaning stuff
Fire

5. Navigation, Illumination, Communication

Fire
Compass
Map
Maybe a GPS
Watch
Whistle
Signal Mirror
BRIGHT bandana and monofilament fishing line
Phone
Personal Locator Beacon
Headlamp/Flashlight
Candle Lantern
Enough batteries, sometimes a charger

6. Hygiene

TP, soap, toothbrush, etc.

7. First Aid and Medical
Fire

8. Knife, knives
Saw
Fire
Tape
Superglue
Cord
Shovel
Fishing Kit
Garbage bags
Cable ties
Bailing wire
REAL Carabiner(s)
 
Last edited:
Being from the Wet coast of Canada I have always packed everything in a double layer of heavy garbage bags. Basically place bags in Pack and start filling up pack as normal. Thing i want to stay dry like sleeping bag and camp cloths go in another lighter plastic bag. Iv always gone for extended trips(5 days-ish) with 2 sets of cloths Day/hiking set and camp cloths. Camp cloths stay dry at all costs day/hiking cloths get worn wet or dry don't matter no exceptions.
 
Hey all, I apologize for getting back so late.

The winter gets cool, but nothing bad, around 40 degrees is its worst I have ever really seen. I just recently found

As for shelters, I have been curious bout tents, but most of which are incredibly small or too heavy. I would like to find one that would be able to fit me and my pack (Im about 5'6") but anything durable, light and packable is what I ultimately want.
 
I dry bag my gear, doubling up critical stuff. I try to have as much of my gear "intrinsically" waterproof as possible, in that it doesn't matter if it gets wet. Thats more for paddling. for normal use I use a pack cover, and just bag the really important stuff, cloths and sleeping bag.

Shelterwise, you could spend a lot of coin. I've been eyeing tarptent stuff, but there is also MSR and Eureka among others. At that level tents can get very specialized, so find out what a tent is designed for, so you don't pay for features you don't need. for insulation down packs more and is lighter than synthetic, with a corresponding addition of cost.

What sort of budget are you looking at? and how much use are you wanting to get out of it? casual weekends, weeks unsupported, that sort of thing.

my own two key bits of gear are something to sit on, either a bit of foam or something. the other is what I call my gear-daisy. Its just some half inch webbing I stitched loops into like a climbing daisy, and use that to keep my pack hung up in camp. Since I'm a hammock camper it helps to keep all my gear sorted since I don't have a tent to toss it into.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top