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[milani74]

Those are all really nice shelters. I'm pretty sure that Cuben Fiber is made from nocturnal baby seal eye lashes. Thats the only possible explanation why it costs so much.

 

[HikingMano]

Ugh. I know. I'm saving up, but it'll take me a little bit....

Damnit PETA, choking up supply. This is what you get when you have us

 

[HikingMano]

GadgetGeek, nice kit up :thumbup:

 

[gadgetgeek]

Thanks, in a week or so, once its been carried and I've worked out all the kinks in the system, I'll do a more complete EDC/Doom bag review. Basically, I carry in one bag what most people would leave in the glove box of the car, desk drawer at work, that sort of thing. It changes size depending on, but I've found that moving things between bags is just too troublesome, even though it means having to have duplicates of some things, and requires a separate organizer system which adds more bulk and weight to everything. It also means I have a better mental map of the bag, so I know exactly whats in it, not "hmm is that in this bag, or did I leave it in the other one.... or is it at home....) I've got this bag for urban use, and a Gregory Diablo 6 for wilderness use, which gets loaded with the consumables it needs for trips (flashlight, food, water, etc)
There are a few things to find solutions for in the changeover. I need to find a good place for coins, my bluetooth earpiece, and a couple of things like that.

 

[HikingMano]

I've come to be the same way (not wanting to deal with the hassle of transferring and preferring to just have duplicates - for ease and consistency). It does get expensive though. I've broken it down similarly too (urban and wilderness).

What do you carry in your Gregory?

 

[JV3]

I'm suddenly very uncomfortable with the turn of conversation to which this thread has been subjected....

yet another suggestive purchase, kifaru ultralight pullouts

@KuRUpTD: that's a steal! i never find deals like that.

 

[mtwarden]

Now that you got shelters on my brain again, after looking around a bit and talking with some other UL folks, the Zpacks Hexamid Solo in Cuben Fiber (and possibly other similarly shaped shelters, like the MLD SoloMid) is starting to grow on me. The hexagonal shape seems to shed wind really well. But as we discussed, the floor space takes a hit with the lack of a vertical walled bathtub floor, especially problematic for you taller folks:

(DuoMid and inner pictured, not SoloMid)

Maybe I could arrange myself diagonally though, when using the inner.... I'm thinking at 5'10" though, the SoloMid should work fine for me. And even if you contact the netting, you're not contacting the tarp walls and possible condensation.

I'm liking the Hexamid with screen and the extended beak for $360 or no beak for $295. SoloMid with inner is $470. But you can pitch the inner independent of the tarp....

the nice thing about the Duomid is it's a four season tent, sheds wind and snow nicely- when you have bugs to deal w/ just add the inner- it's not much heavier than the Solomid and is very spacious for one- you can cook, stow all your gear, etc

It's a little tight for two, not a problem when the other person is your significant other

they (MLD) also make another nice solo shelter- the solo trailstar (I think they call it the Cricket now)- same deal- can be used w/ or w/o an inner

 

[HikingMano]

Yeah, I've put both the Solo and Duo on my list. I would like the extra room the Duo provides. It also seems like the DuoMid would handle higher winds better. I don't remember the difference in weight and footprint off hand, I'll check later. I really like the flexibility in pitching tarp only, inner only, or both.

Quick look gave me 18.5 oz for solomid with inner (silnylon floor, cuben floor gets you down to 16.5 oz) and 26 oz for duomid with duomid inner. You can also use the Solomid inner with the Duomid.



I'm thinking I'll end up with either the SoloMid or DuoMid in Cuben Fiber :thumbup:

 

[mtwarden]

I think you'd be fine w/ either one - the Duomid (albeit a little heavier) does extend your options- extra person, better 4 season capabilities, more room

In other news, I just ordered a new running pack- all of my running packs have either been lumbar packs or lightweight day packs, I decided to give a vest style pack a go (hard to argue w/ the success of top ultra runners )- I looked at the popular Nathan HPL 020, the Ultraspire Surge, but decided both were a little under volume for my upcoming run in Zion- so ordered a Mountain Hardwear Fluid 6 at the recommendation of one of the guys I'll be running w/

I didn't realize MH had entered into the trail running fray, but the Fluid 6 has received good reviews and appears to be laid out well and gives me the little extra volume I'm wanting for unsupported runs- all for 9.5 oz! which comes under both the 020 and Surge

I'll post up pics/impressions when it arrives

 

[HikingMano]

Sweet :thumbup: I recommended my buddy try a vest style pack for his trail running, and so far he's loving it. I don't quite remember which one he got though.

 

[panzertroop]

Picked this up at a flea market a few weeks ago. In perfect condition. Marine 2 man tent, complete with fix kit and reversible rain fly. Should make for a nice winter shelter.

Also got a used Turley Dogwood in the mail last week.

And I am trying out the Fieldline Tactical Pack being sold at Wal-Mart. Copy of the Rush 72

 

[gunn]

^^^ The Marine Combat tent is a nicely constructed tent. It's pretty darn heavy though...and could use more ventilation in some cases.

 

[HikingMano]

This guy will be on its way to me soon Syph007 just finished the build for me, two nights after receipt of the original donor SAKs! :thumbup:

Donors:

Next on list:
-Same but with small spear-point blade instead of combo tool
-Same but with scissors and small spear-point blade (if there's room)
-Same but with scissors and combo tool

 

[caine]

thats awesome. I like the SAK having screws

 

[RogueBowie]

The Vic Farmer is actually the only new one, but these three together make up my favorite camping/hiking rotations/combos. Probably wouldn't carry them altogether unless it was just a short hike aimed towards playing with knives.

 

[tknife]

Got a couple cool new toys this week

Jacklore bushcrafter from a maker in the UK

Exotac Fire Rod

 

[OwenM]

Not gear, but gear management. I think Rubbermaid totes are some of the best things I ever bought.
I just got the biggest tote on the bottom right, a 31 gallon Rubbermaid Roughneck.

Took this pic about a month ago, but all that stuff is in there, including the pack, plus a few other items:

The other totes that I already had are for current backpacking gear, current crossover dayhiking/backpacking stuff(the smallest blue tote), old gear that doesn't get used much or at all, and the one with the kayak cart on top has a PFD, drybags, stuff for securing the kayak, and other things I mainly just use on the water. May get another 31 gallon tote for all my packs, and another 18 gallon one for all my outdoor specific clothing and other "accessories", and that will completely clean out my junk room except for a desk, bookcase, and sleeping bags stored in the closet. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with crap spread out all over the house, so I'm hoping to keep everything put up from now on, except for whatever's being used right then.

 

[Tixx]

Got a couple cool new toys this week

Exotac Fire Rod

I have been thinking about one of these...how do the sparks compare to others? Thanks.

 

[tknife]

To my eye, it throws sparks as well as the LMF steels. I think the hollow handle is a great idea, though it could stand to be a little bigger. I rolled, poked and crammed to get half of a large PJ soaked cotton ball in there. I plan on doing a better review on it with comparison pics.

 

[JV3]