Codger_64
Moderator
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2004
- Messages
- 62,324
No, not Australia. The land of ultralight backpackers. For the past week I've been cruising their sites and mining information and ideas about home made gear, new cutting edge gear, trail food and cooking, wilderness medical knowledge, tarps, bivvys and tents and condensation, some excellent information all around. I did find a bit of enviro-whacko and anti-hunting stuff, but that is everywhere these days. As I was just lurking, not posting, I pretty well just ignored that mess.
What I spent the most time on was stoves. Manufactured and home made. Cannisters, alcohol, esbit, white gass and wood fired. I think I got some pretty cool ideas and know I have a better knowledge of the thermodynamics involved in making a decent design.
The information on sleeping bags and pads gleened was great. Sleeping systems, I should say. Lots of great hints on increasing the warmth of bags, which features are warmer different pads available and how they compare.
Those guys (and gals) are as "ate up" with their hobby as a lot of us are. Some describe themselves as "gram-weenies" and set a goal for uber-light base pack weights that had me in awe. Like 4 or 5 pounds before food and water. That includes shelter bag, and complete kit. Packs that weigh in the ounces not pounds. Fibers like Cuban and Dyneema.
They have excellent research and experience in water purification too. And water storage. And even "high altitude flatulance". Foot care is a common topic, and logistics of resupply so minimum weights can be carried.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not contemplating going this route anytime soon. My winter load for a two week canoe trip will likely top a hundred pounds. But I don't have to carry it further than from the truck to the river, and the river to the truck. All in all though, I've gotten some great ideas to lighten my gear and make better use of some of my gear. And some great tips on manufacturers I had never heard of, as well as gear I'd never heard of. Remember those dehydrated mini-towels we talked about here? They do the same with beach towels now the size of a snuff can!
It might be worth taking a look-see yourselves sometime. I was certainly amazed at the changes since I hiked the AT back in the early 1970's.
Codger
What I spent the most time on was stoves. Manufactured and home made. Cannisters, alcohol, esbit, white gass and wood fired. I think I got some pretty cool ideas and know I have a better knowledge of the thermodynamics involved in making a decent design.
The information on sleeping bags and pads gleened was great. Sleeping systems, I should say. Lots of great hints on increasing the warmth of bags, which features are warmer different pads available and how they compare.
Those guys (and gals) are as "ate up" with their hobby as a lot of us are. Some describe themselves as "gram-weenies" and set a goal for uber-light base pack weights that had me in awe. Like 4 or 5 pounds before food and water. That includes shelter bag, and complete kit. Packs that weigh in the ounces not pounds. Fibers like Cuban and Dyneema.
They have excellent research and experience in water purification too. And water storage. And even "high altitude flatulance". Foot care is a common topic, and logistics of resupply so minimum weights can be carried.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not contemplating going this route anytime soon. My winter load for a two week canoe trip will likely top a hundred pounds. But I don't have to carry it further than from the truck to the river, and the river to the truck. All in all though, I've gotten some great ideas to lighten my gear and make better use of some of my gear. And some great tips on manufacturers I had never heard of, as well as gear I'd never heard of. Remember those dehydrated mini-towels we talked about here? They do the same with beach towels now the size of a snuff can!
It might be worth taking a look-see yourselves sometime. I was certainly amazed at the changes since I hiked the AT back in the early 1970's.
Codger
