Boy oh boy am I spending money

bulgron said:
One of the places where I'm looking to save a lot on weight is in clothing. I used to wear blue jeans, with a spare pair in the pack in case something got wet. :o I'm currently giving a lot thought to my clothing, making sure it's all as light as possible and quick drying.
Click to expand...
Don't forget that raingear is windproof/waterproof clothing, and hardshells are light and packable compared to "regular" clothes. It's going to have to get below freezing before I do more than combine a hardshell with a lightweight fleece shirt any more. Have a pair of softshell jackets that I love, but unless the temps are low enough to wear one all the time, they are staying home. They don't pack all that small...
I saved some weight and space by going to an Esbit stove instead of a gas stove with fuel canister, but my idea of cooking is boiling a cup of water-that may or may not suit you. They make some tiny stoves that are little more than a couple of small sheets of interlocking titanium-one of my ultralight backpacker friends made fun of my 3.25oz. Esbit stove!
 
Shotgun said:
Just curious but if you have to carry a tarp as well, why even take the pup tent? Seems the thing that's giving you shelter is the tarp and not the tent.
Click to expand...

I carry one for those times when I don’t want to cook out in the rain. It’s a lot nicer sitting outside fixing a meal than doing it in a vestibule or getting drenched outside.

Just being stuck inside a tent during prolonged period of rain isn’t that much fun.

The newer tarp materials are extremely light and strong. Most people use hiking poles now anyway, so there’s your tarp poles, no extra weight involved at all for those.

I suppose it depends where you live. The Rockies and parts of the Midwest get those sudden afternoon showers, but they often only last maybe a half hour. It’s pretty easy to plan your activities around those daily occurances. However, some parts back East get long periods of rain. The West Coast, especially the Northwest, can have long periods of drizzle, you can’t escape the rain for days sometimes.

Of course, tarps don’t work at all if it is raining sideways, but that’s what tents are for right?

Here in Alaska we can have weather similar to the Cascades. It can be nice, or, it can drizzle for days. Tarps make life a lot nicer. My single person tarp weighs about 9.8 ounces. My two person tarp weighs in at 17.25 ounces. It is well worth the weight when you are forced to use it.
 
OwenM said:
Don't forget that raingear is windproof/waterproof clothing, and hardshells are light and packable compared to "regular" clothes. It's going to have to get below freezing before I do more than combine a hardshell with a lightweight fleece shirt any more. Have a pair of softshell jackets that I love, but unless the temps are low enough to wear one all the time, they are staying home. They don't pack all that small...
Click to expand...

Yes, I have an Arc'teryx jacket that I bought years ago and a pair of no-name gortex rain pants. These are both firmly entrenched in my set of base gear, even when I go day hiking (in the winter, when it rains here). I have a lot of fleece too, but I've been considering getting a lightweight down jacket or sweater to carry along instead. It would be half the weight and take up a quarter of the space. But this is the wrong time of the year to buy that stuff. I'll wait until spring when garments like those go on sale.


OwenM said:
I saved some weight and space by going to an Esbit stove instead of a gas stove with fuel canister, but my idea of cooking is boiling a cup of water-that may or may not suit you. They make some tiny stoves that are little more than a couple of small sheets of interlocking titanium-one of my ultralight backpacker friends made fun of my 3.25oz. Esbit stove!
Click to expand...

I suppose I should have done that. I recently purchased an MSR simmerlite, which means I'll also be carrying the whitegas to fuel it. I thought about those little alchohol stoves, but I just couldn't get past my worry that they wouldn't work all that well in cold conditions at altitude.

I also use a water filter instead of tablets to treat the water. It's a weight luxury, but I hate the way water tastes when it's been chemically treated.
 
bearcut said:
I carry one for those times when I don’t want to cook out in the rain. It’s a lot nicer sitting outside fixing a meal than doing it in a vestibule or getting drenched outside.

Just being stuck inside a tent during prolonged period of rain isn’t that much fun.

The newer tarp materials are extremely light and strong. Most people use hiking poles now anyway, so there’s your tarp poles, no extra weight involved at all for those.

I suppose it depends where you live. The Rockies and parts of the Midwest get those sudden afternoon showers, but they often only last maybe a half hour. It’s pretty easy to plan your activities around those daily occurances. However, some parts back East get long periods of rain. The West Coast, especially the Northwest, can have long periods of drizzle, you can’t escape the rain for days sometimes.

Of course, tarps don’t work at all if it is raining sideways, but that’s what tents are for right?

Here in Alaska we can have weather similar to the Cascades. It can be nice, or, it can drizzle for days. Tarps make life a lot nicer. My single person tarp weighs about 9.8 ounces. My two person tarp weighs in at 17.25 ounces. It is well worth the weight when you are forced to use it.
Click to expand...

I almost always take one as well, basically used for the same purposes. If it rains I can keep the fire/wood and myself dry. Bringing a book and an LED lantern for reading inside your tent after it gets dark or starts to rain is a good idea too.
 
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?
Click to expand...

I produce nuclear fushion heat when involved in any outdoor activities and sweat buckets! I have tried more hats than I can name in my search for something that would keep the sun off my bald head and not hold in the heat. I finally found the solution in a Buff head wrap. It keeps the sun off and works great at wicking sweat. If it is really cold I have success with an acrylic watch cap. It also breathes while holding in a decent amount of heat. Both weigh almost nothing and fit easily in a pocket when not in use.
 
Shotgun said:
Just curious but if you have to carry a tarp as well, why even take the pup tent? Seems the thing that's giving you shelter is the tarp and not the tent.
Click to expand...

The tent only gets taken when I want added protection from either bugs or cold. Maybe it is just my personal security blanket. The last time I did any cold weather camping without a tent was fun, until I put my (frozen) boots on and didn't feel my feet again for a day.
 
Katdaddy said:
I produce nuclear fushion heat when involved in any outdoor activities and sweat buckets! I have tried more hats than I can name in my search for something that would keep the sun off my bald head and not hold in the heat. I finally found the solution in a Buff head wrap. It keeps the sun off and works great at wicking sweat. If it is really cold I have success with an acrylic watch cap. It also breathes while holding in a decent amount of heat. Both weigh almost nothing and fit easily in a pocket when not in use.
Click to expand...

I like a hat with a good brim for sun and rain protection, so just a buff wouldn't do it for me. I see people wearing them, though, and I do think they look cool.

Right now I'm thinking about an Akubra Territory Hat (4" brim) for summer Sierra wanderings. Like I said, I'll get it sized to work with the Halo.

Akubra seems to have a pretty good reputation. Anyone know why I shouldn't go with that hat?
 
This is the pack you want... http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/vaportrail.html It is nice and light, and holds a TON. For me it is not too comfy at 28lbs or more, but since I am usually eating as I go, it is down to 25lbs by the first night, where it is great.

For weather from cool to cold, I really like the plain felt brimmed hats. When it is cool, they are fine by themself, and when it is cold, you can wear a thin earband under it and keep more heat in.
 
Ever since I's a child I have enjoyed outdoors. I spent a lot of those being Goldilocks_y. Too hot too cold. This year; no. I have been out. As your title says Oh boy.... I'm blessed and the economy needs me? I want to take my indoors outside?

I work outside; which is worst in hot and humid climate I have. I didn't ask too many, but can only guess their cotton underwear was as miserable as mine. Got me some ex-offocio boxers. Life is perfect I live my daily life with 2 pair underwear.

You guys like me can choose your own sleeping bag, wp-breathable shell, all those necessities, underwear is a luxury and 30 bucks is a lot for draw_s. Live in and love those ex-o's wash and go boxer brief. you need to get one

But that's not what got me excited enough to respond. I wanted this last year but resisted. I'd already spent enough on winter wear with a new Western Vest and used wool pants.

Today I got a Devold Thermo jacket. Ever get something and just know it is exactly what you need- could give a :thumbup::thumbup: review without really using it? That's how I feel.

I didnt connect the dots as I've been kinda designing my ideal blanket shirt in my head hoping to present the project to my mom over the holidays-she hates zippers. Damn I already got it and only 10x the cost of the blanket. The material is a bit better for garments than a blanket and no danger of looking as goofy as Dave Canterbury in his flop of a hunter's shirt. I mean really.

I will likely wear this everyday of 5 day week for the next 3-4 months.
 
I wear ex-officio boxers and t-shirts as my base layer in almost any weather. It is, as you say, outstanding stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top