Boy oh boy am I spending money

I saw the "lite" a few years back and slowly upgraded/lightened my gear. Now for 3 season stuff I'm down around 13 pounds of base gear for 3 night trips. It goes up by about 3 lbs for the Sierras because of an extra layer and bear canister, but still manageable. I'm using one of the Golite packs, which I picked up for about a cnote. At 4300 ci it's big enough for the canister, but it only weighs 2 lbs.
One of the nicer aspects of lightening the load is that you can add back in a few items you think you want/need. When your base load is 30 lbs you think twice before adding the fishing pole and gear.

Enjoy your search for the perfect balance of weight and functionality.
 
Yeah I guess if I wanted to drop some weight the tripod seat could go but its just so nice to have a clean/soft place to rest the a**.
 
bulgron said:
I have a leather hat kind of like that. I find it to be too warm for temperatures over 75 if I'm not working, and too warm for temps over 60 if I'm active. It makes a great Sierra hat, though, during the winter when all that wet, heavy snow is dumping up there.
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I have long thick hair, which when dribbled with cold water from a camelback and covered with that hat, keeps me cool for an hour at a time. I got used to the weight real fast, and makes a huge difference when it comes to exposure-not just from precipitation, but from sunlight too. It works the other way around as well-it's great on the warmer days during the winter after I've acclimated. The hat/hair combo keeps me insulated but not so warm that it makes me sweat, which of course reduces the insulation value of your clothing drastically. It's the ideal 'happy medium' for about 75% of the year for me.
 
bulgron said:
Ack! Don't even get me started on a hat. Every time I get into a new activity, I need a new hat. Sometimes I need a new hat just because it's been a while since I had a new hat. I have hats coming out of my ears. But for backpacking, I'm going to need a new hat.:D
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This hat totally kills:



blind2.jpg
 
PayetteRucker said:
I have long thick hair, which when dribbled with cold water from a camelback and covered with that hat, keeps me cool for an hour at a time. I got used to the weight real fast, and makes a huge difference when it comes to exposure-not just from precipitation, but from sunlight too. It works the other way around as well-it's great on the warmer days during the winter after I've acclimated. The hat/hair combo keeps me insulated but not so warm that it makes me sweat, which of course reduces the insulation value of your clothing drastically. It's the ideal 'happy medium' for about 75% of the year for me.
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That makes sense.

I'm not bald, but I have thin, fine hair that I tend to keep cut pretty short just to keep it out of my way. I also sweat profusely no matter what I'm doing and no matter what temperature I'm doing it in. (Yes, even in -20(F) temps when cross-country skiing, I sweat.)

I do a lot of bicycling, and our trips usually go for between 25 and 40 miles. (We're currently training for centuries next summer.) The sweat was always getting in my eyes, especially on those 90 degree rides, but then I discovered Halo Headbands. These work so well that I intend to buy a backpacking/hiking hat with broad brims that's sized to allow me to wear a Halo with it.

I like the versions that tie more than the pullovers. The pullovers are too tight and give me a headache after a while. I currently have a Halo I, but I think I should get a Halo bandana and experiment with it.

The stuff that you put on your head is a whole other ball of wax, isn't it?
 
bulgron said:
That makes sense.

I'm not bald, but I have thin, fine hair that I tend to keep cut pretty short just to keep it out of my way. I also sweat profusely no matter what I'm doing and no matter what temperature I'm doing it in. (Yes, even in -20(F) temps when cross-country skiing, I sweat.)

I do a lot of bicycling, and our trips usually go for between 25 and 40 miles. (We're currently training for centuries next summer.) The sweat was always getting in my eyes, especially on those 90 degree rides, but then I discovered Halo Headbands. These work so well that I intend to buy a backpacking/hiking hat with broad brims that's sized to allow me to wear a Halo with it.

I like the versions that tie more than the pullovers. The pullovers are too tight and give me a headache after a while. I currently have a Halo I, but I think I should get a Halo bandana and experiment with it.

The stuff that you put on your head is a whole other ball of wax, isn't it?
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I did some mountain and road racing in high school, but was an avid recreational rider. I have two inoperable bikes at the moment, and two others that are 1700 miles away, so I've been SOL on two wheels for a while now. My dad designed bikes for GT for 20 years and now runs a custom shop out of his basement. When I used to ride avidly I was a firm believer in a simple cycling cap-I have a few, a Ritchey WCS, the red polkadot jersey hat, and a Shimano Dura Ace one-all of them kept the sweat out of my eyes, but turned white with salt real fast under my helmet.
 
hollowdweller said:
http://www.kavu.com/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=161&idcategory=92

It's often hard for me to wear a hat when it's hot cause I sweat a lot but that hat sets off your heat but it's got like a mesh thing with a headband inside. so you get wind on your forehead.

Also the wide brim is great in the rain.
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The website says it's DWR nylon. I imagine that should be pretty water proof, but have you had it out in any really heavy rainstorms? If so, how did it perform?
 
PayetteRucker said:
I did some mountain and road racing in high school, but was an avid recreational rider. I have two inoperable bikes at the moment, and two others that are 1700 miles away, so I've been SOL on two wheels for a while now. My dad designed bikes for GT for 20 years and now runs a custom shop out of his basement. When I used to ride avidly I was a firm believer in a simple cycling cap-I have a few, a Ritchey WCS, the red polkadot jersey hat, and a Shimano Dura Ace one-all of them kept the sweat out of my eyes, but turned white with salt real fast under my helmet.
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I never tried the cycling caps. The HALO stuff is all I really need with my helmet.

I gave up mountain biking about 10 years ago when I decided that I don't bounce so well anymore. :D My mountain bike is currently set up as a street beater that I use when riding with my kids. For serious road riding, I have a custom steel frame with Campagnolo components. It's about 5 years old now. I had it built by Steve Rex out of Sacramento.

Happiness is a custom bike frame built just for you. ;)
 
I'm preaching the Real Deal tarp hats like crazy for hot weather, I love this thing
DSC01335.jpg
 
I have REI's version of the Tilley and I love it. I would really like to try that tarp hat thought it looks like it would be a great addition to my gear :D
 
tknife said:
I'm preaching the Real Deal tarp hats like crazy for hot weather, I love this thing
DSC01335.jpg
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These look like they'd be great for desert hiking, but I'm right now looking for something that works for anything the Sierra might throw at me in the summertime. This could be anything from 90 degree heat to heavy thunderstorms to 20 degrees and whiteouts. It's the heavy rain that concerns me with the tarp hats; I really don't know if they'd keep the rain out like I would want.
 
No it would soak up like a sponge in the rain unless you used something like Camp Dry on it.
 
bulgron said:
The website says it's DWR nylon. I imagine that should be pretty water proof, but have you had it out in any really heavy rainstorms? If so, how did it perform?
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Seemed to work fine. Since it's fairly big it keeps the rain away from your neck and collar and stuff. Bad thing is it's a cool hat so you'd want somethign else for cold wether.
 
PayetteRucker said:
Ma says her G11 takes better pictures than her Rebel
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The only complaint I have with the G11 is that it's too slow to focus. For sports shooting, or shooting the kids in daily activity, you still need a digital SLR.

Next year I'll probably upgrade my 20D to a 7D. Not that I'd ever backpack with something that heavy. At least, not any more. :D
 
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