OT: Gear and Tools Used by SURVIVORS!

[redwood22]

I picked this(left) up this spring and have been testing/using it car camping for a few trips now.

It's a customizable parawing tarp shelter called the Backpacker VCS 16(variable component system) made by Eureka Tents. I added on the Mesh Room accessory which buckles on. It can be used as a stand alone tarp shelter or with the screen room attached. I bought it for rain and bug protection and let me tell you, it is awesome. It could be used to sleep in as well but, I run a separate tent for car camping myself(MEC Cabin 6). I highly recommend it for anyone wanting a lightweight shelter/tarp/bug room. It has many guy line attachment points, handles rain and wind well, and is super tough. My 85 pound American Chocolate Labrador Retriever ran, full force, into the mesh noseeum screen to chase a squirrel and it flipped her right over and didnt even touch the mesh lol.

Here it is the day I bought it. I set it up in my yard for practice and to make sure everything was there.

That shelter looks awesome, how'd it do for keeping bugs at bay?

 

[Tachead7075]

Got a bit of new gear. I enjoy both car camping and backpacking and have messed around with different duffel bags. I finally got a hold of one of the north faces base camp duffels. I'm pretty pleased with it thus far, but the wild card was definitely finding these Magpul work gloves. The leather is a little "glossy" and I haven't had a chance to break them in, but initial impressions are also positive.

Nice bag and gloves:thumbup:. The North Face makes great stuff. I have been using my Spire 45 backpack for over 10 years and it is still holding up really well.

 

[Tachead7075]

That shelter looks awesome, how'd it do for keeping bugs at bay?

Awesome! That's the main reason I picked it up. The bugs are so bad here in the spring(particularly the mosquitoes and blackflies) you almost cant enjoy being out in the forest without something. In the past we would just use the dining tent, tough it out, or wait until later in the spring for when they start to die off but, they almost carry my poor new puppy away and now we can get out there anytime and have a place to get away from them. With this and a bug zapper, there is no bugs when you want to get out of them. I think I will even bring it backpacking and canoeing sometimes. They make a smaller lighter model too the VCS 13.

 

[grogimus]

This is a bit of a deviation, but I have a question about Eberlestock backpacks. A friend of mine is going to start doing 3 gun competitions and asked me if I knew of a good backpack. I believe one of the Survivor regulars said they had an Eberlestock bag and I read this article: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/12/foghorn/gear-review-eberlestock-gunslinger-ii/ after I saw the post. Do you guys like these bags or would recommend something else? They seem like good bags. Thanks!

Way late here, but I have a Halftrack and it's by far the best bag I've ever had.

 

[Tachead7075]

31 liters is almost as big as the week long ruck I want. Lol.

That depends on your needs/uses I suppose. I run a 29 liter pack for day hikes(The North Face Recon). The new week+ backpack I am planning to buy next spring is 88 liters(Osprey Zenith 88).

 

[Texas_toothpick]

I guess I travel lite. My hiking buddy is buying a kelty redwing 32 and says it's gonna be too big! Then again his carry weight with out water is half of my pack weight. I'm almost twice his size too.

I really want the new maxpedition, but I think if I just got one I would end up needing to get the half track. It'll save me money in the long run to just get the half track. I just need to find a good deal on one. Before silver showed me the gyrfalcon I had it down to two packs now I been going through looking all over again.

My original two packs on my list was the tactical tailor extended long range operators pack, and the eberlestock halftrack. Now I keep going back to the half track.

 

[Tachead7075]

I guess I travel lite. My hiking buddy is buying a kelty redwing 32 and says it's gonna be too big! Then again his carry weight with out water is half of my pack weight. I'm almost twice his size too.

I really want the new maxpedition, but I think if I just got one I would end up needing to get the half track. It'll save me money in the long run to just get the half track. I just need to find a good deal on one. Before silver showed me the gyrfalcon I had it down to two packs now I been going through looking all over again.

My original two packs on my list was the tactical tailor extended long range operators pack, and the eberlestock halftrack. Now I keep going back to the half track.

Yeah, I like my gear lol. Plus, it's hard to get the weight down when I need a 3-4 person ultralight tent for my spouse, 85lb dog, and I. My dog eats 600 grams of food a day too(that adds up to a lot of weight and volume over a week+ excursion into the backcountry). It also can be very cold here(Canada) at certain times of year so you need a lot of clothing, rain gear, and a heavy sleeping bag. And, carrying a rifle, and/or bear spray at a minimum(I carry both), is required for protection from the many bears, cougars, wolves, exc. we have and run into. Then there is all the knives lol

 

[Tachead7075]

I guess I travel lite. My hiking buddy is buying a kelty redwing 32 and says it's gonna be too big! Then again his carry weight with out water is half of my pack weight. I'm almost twice his size too.

I really want the new maxpedition, but I think if I just got one I would end up needing to get the half track. It'll save me money in the long run to just get the half track. I just need to find a good deal on one. Before silver showed me the gyrfalcon I had it down to two packs now I been going through looking all over again.

My original two packs on my list was the tactical tailor extended long range operators pack, and the eberlestock halftrack. Now I keep going back to the half track.

Check out Tasmanian Tiger too if you havent already. They make some sweet bags too. As does 5.11 Tactical.

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Crazy Aussies and their wild ass critters! Lol.

I'm not much on top loader, just doesn't work well for me. It's not a deal breaker but front loaded panel packs seem to tickle my fancy.

 

[OBX351]

Way late here, but I have a Halftrack and it's by far the best bag I've ever had.

Thanks Grog! I'll tell my buddy.

 

[Silver Needle]

Yeah, I like my gear lol. Plus, it's hard to get the weight down when I need a 3-4 person ultralight tent for my spouse, 85lb dog, and I. My dog eats 600 grams of food a day too(that adds up to a lot of weight and volume over a week+ excursion into the backcountry). It also can be very cold here(Canada) at certain times of year so you need a lot of clothing, rain gear, and a heavy sleeping bag. And, carrying a rifle, and/or bear spray at a minimum(I carry both), is required for protection from the many bears, cougars, wolves, exc. we have and run into. Then there is all the knives lol

Sounds like you need a monowalker



Those Europeans sure know their packs. I recently found out about Wisport and Tasmanian Tiger.

Casino is on to something as well :thumbup:

 

[OBX351]

Sounds like you need a monowalker



Those Europeans sure know their packs. I recently found out about Wisport and Tasmanian Tiger.

Casino is on to something as well :thumbup:

That looks like too much work....I'd rather have one of these:

 

[Silver Needle]

OBX, you need one of these guys:

 

[OBX351]

Either will work, but I do like the horse sound effects as they walk behind me!

 

[Tachead7075]

Crazy Aussies and their wild ass critters! Lol.

I'm not much on top loader, just doesn't work well for me. It's not a deal breaker but front loaded panel packs seem to tickle my fancy.

Yeah, front loaders are cool too. The good thing is though that many new top loaders have bottom and both side access now in addition to the top.

 

[Tachead7075]

Sounds like you need a monowalker



Those Europeans sure know their packs. I recently found out about Wisport and Tasmanian Tiger.

Casino is on to something as well :thumbup:

Bahaha. Here is one solution I recently picked up...

Now my dog can carry some of her own gear. Its the Approach by Ruffwear and is 16 liters. I have been getting her used to the weight by slowly increasing it with water bottles.

 

[Tachead7075]

That looks like too much work....I'd rather have one of these:

Yeah, that's about what I look like

 

[Tachead7075]

I just have a 45 liter now but, plan to get one of these two next year unless I find something better.

Osprey Zenith 88

Or the Tasmanian Tiger Pathfinder 85

 

[Texas_toothpick]

Bahaha. Here is one solution I recently picked up...

Now my dog can carry some of her own gear. Its the Approach by Ruffwear and is 16 liters. I have been getting her used to the weight by slowly increasing it with water bottles.

Heck yeah, now if only I can get my lazy dog to get off the porch long enough to need one of those.

 

[Silver Needle]

Nice packs.

Great set up for your dog. Could that doggy pack hold all her food for the trip?