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Your best gear of 2009


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Viewing 25 posts - 26 through 50 (of 56 total)
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  • #1550974
    Tom Caldwell
    BPL Member

    @coldspring

    Locale: Ozarks
    #1550981
    Kimberly Wersal
    BPL Member

    @kwersal

    Locale: Western Colorado

    Brian–glad to hear you are loving the Vibram Five Fingers–I have them on my Christmas list this year.

    My favorites:

    2009 Conduit– amazingly light, yet very durable: it survived miles of bushwacking in AZ through catclaw that left my legs shredded, but my pack intact. Comfy, too.

    Alite Monarch Butterfly chair– okay, not for the true UL purist, but, at 18 oz. not TOO much of a weight splurge, and makes hanging out in camp SO much more luxurious. Easy set up and take down– I could just about nap in mine.

    Starbucks Via Instant– sure beats the other instants I have choked down in the backcountry. Now if I could find a decent substitue for half and half….

    #1550985
    Richard Gless
    BPL Member

    @rgless

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    My favorite gear for 2009:

    1. Tim Marshall custom tent – 2.3 lbs total for a cozy tent, fly, poles, and stakes for two people.
    http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=11839&skip_to_post=196054#196054

    2. NeoAir small air mattress – strap two together and you can sleep under a quilt with your significant other on a cushy bed.

    3. Snow Peak LiteMax Stove – 2/3rds the weight of a Pocket Rocket and much more stable.

    #1550987
    Joseph Reeves
    Spectator

    @umnak

    Locale: Southeast Alaska

    Not a big year for UL gear, that was 2007- 2008. However:
    1. the Golite Quest replaced an even heavier and smaller pack, and its tough fabric came in handy on a multi day bushwhack along Lynn Canal.
    2. transferring my Nordstrom merino wool shirt from the work closet to the gear closet saved me about $100
    3. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 was the most expensive, the most fun and the most interesting single piece of gear this year.
    4. My wife bought me a pair of MSR Lightening Snowshoes for solstice, though that hasn't really happened yet.
    The light will start coming back in two weeks, so let's be happy about that!

    #1550988
    Brian Lewis
    Member

    @brianle

    Locale: Pacific NW

    New for *me* in 2009 is the SMD Gatewood Cape; I've only used it a couple of nights, so it's always possible that with more miles I'll change my mind, but I'm really impressed with the dual use design of this, to include the flexibility of using it by itself, or combining with either a light bivy or a custom fit net tent, and it's a great piece of kit to take along on long day hikes too.

    I hate to help make this thread so repetitive, but I have to include my new Neo Air size regular here, combined with one — and possibly at times two — GG thinlight pad(s) to extend the temp range.

    Third new piece of gear is a Montbell Alpine Light Parka, the warmest piece of clothing I'll have taken into the woods apart from a one-time mountain climbing adventure.

    I guess in a way I shouldn't list any of these as I have few miles on the first two and literally no miles with the Parka so far — but a fair bit of research and thinking went into getting these, and I'll start an AT thru-hike attempt with all of them in February.

    #1550993
    P. P.
    Member

    @toesnorth

    Locale: PNW

    Alpacka Yukon raft.

    #1551006
    Raymond Estrella
    Member

    @rayestrella

    Locale: Northern Minnesota

    Great question. Best of 2009, hmmm…

    Without a doubt number one for me was the quilt. While I got my GoLite Ultra 20 for Christmas in 2008 it was not used until spring of 2009. While the Ultra itself is not my number one it led me to my Nunatak Arc Alpinist and I thank it. The discovery and use of these two quilts have truly changed my style (and pack weight) in a big way.

    Number two is my Neo Air pad. This little pad ,while ridiculously expensive, is the best over-performer I have seen in a long time. I had it down to 25 F this past weekend and it was still good. (Hint; make sure to cover it with your quilt when you need to make a pee, uh, late night star-gazing trip…)

    Number three is not gear, but this forum. (Although if it HAD to be gear it would be the Osprey Exos line.) I first came here when I was looking into doing some writing for BPL (which I am, thank you very much). Seeing the amount of “educated, experienced” posts made me realize that there is a wealth of real-world information here. The ratio of real hikers-to-basement dwellers is the lowest of any forum I have visited. And I don’t usually get any farther than Visit. Because of you guys I have tried a few new things and I thank you.

    Now you better turn it up if I am going to put you in next year’s list…

    ;-)

    #1551012
    Doug Johnson
    BPL Member

    @djohnson

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    My theme for the year was kids. Lots of backpacking with my 3 year old Henry (he had trip 9 this summer) and Lily (her first was this summer at 3 months). Here are my new favorites:

    Gossamer Gear LT4 poles- FANTASTIC!

    Custom Tim Marshall sleeping bags for my kids. Saved me a ton of weight and bulk on family trips and the kids slept, well, like babies!
    00pol
    Golite Shangri La 3- this is my first teepee tent and I loved it for our first all family (2 adults, 2 kids) backpacking trip. Great room, great in the wind- and lots of fun!

    Z-Packs Blast 32. Toughest Cuben I've ever seen! Carries weight well and did great for summer overnights with the kids. A little space age looking but what the heck!p0

    #1551023
    Mark McLauchlin
    BPL Member

    @markmclauchlin

    Locale: Western Australia

    Hands down, on top of the dozens of packs, bags, quilts, shelters I own the best piece of gear I got this year is my StickPic

    #1551032
    Andrew King
    Member

    @drewboy

    Locale: Arizona

    Best new UL gear of 2009 for me were:

    1) Whoopie slings (need to be a hammocker to appreciate them, it simplified my suspension setup a lot, saving weight in the process. Really an elegant solution)

    2) Te-wa 2/3 underquilt (the hanging community extension to the short sleeping pad concept. promotes multiple use by using a sitlight pack frame pad for the feet)

    3) Montbell down inner jacket (what can you say? so much warmth for less weight than a t-shirt)

    #1551046
    John Brochu
    Member

    @johnnybgood4

    Locale: New Hampshire

    Doug, awesome pics man. I saw your earlier posts regarding the bags Tim made for your kids and it inspired me to order one from Tim for my 3-year old daughter for x-mas. It should be shipping any day now!

    My best of 2009 is heavily weighted toward Z-Packs products:

    1) Z-Pack Blast 18 in cuben with winged hipbelt including pockets imo has to rank up there with the best available SUL capable packs on the market. Mine weighs 6.5 ounces with the mods and can comfortably be used for 4 to 5 day sections provided no bear cannister is required and baseweight is approaching SUL.

    2) The cuben rain skirt that Joe made for me weighs 0.8 and ounces is the perfect solution for me since I almost never bothered to use rain pants even when I carried them, but I hated getting to camp with wet shorts. With this skirt, I'm able to keep my shorts dry even in heavy rain (I just leave the shorts on and roll up the legs a bit) and when I get to camp I put on my liteweight long undie base layer and pull the dry shorts back on over them so I'm not flashing everybody in camp.

    3) Joe also made me a cat cut 0.6oz/yard weight cuben tarp at 3.5 ounces and I found I really enjoyed tarp camping. This is light enough to still use a rain jacket/skirt combo for hiking and still approach SUL base weight where with most other non poncho tarps that's not possible.

    My best of 2010 should be a real dogfight between a Tim Marshall cuben quilt, an amazingly light inflatable torso pad from Bender, and the bug bivy from MLD.

    #1551047
    Dean F.
    BPL Member

    @acrosome

    Locale: Back in the Front Range

    I gotta back people up on the MLD 850mL pot with Caldera Cone Compact. Not as efficient as a full-sized cone, but packs smaller, and thus works wonderfully for weekend trips. The pot boils enough water for a genarous meal and a cuppa. Now if only the TrailDesigns skunkworks would produce one in titanium…

    Sawyer 4-way filter. Not new, but new to me. I love this thing- just scoop water into the bottle (or filter through a bandanna if turbid) and start drinking. You barely have to stop. Also, it's pretty idiot proof, sturdy, and has a lifetime guarantee- no filter changes! You just have to back-flush it every so often- frequency depends on the quality of the water, and you can do it in the field by hand… er… mouth.

    I'm hard pressed to come up with a third item that truly stands out and was new this year. Ask me after Christmas!

    #1551083
    Patrick Young
    BPL Member

    @lightingboy

    Locale: Midwest

    This is a little off topic.

    Douglas Ide,
    I'm interested to see how your converted GoLite Adrenaline 0 degree turns out.
    Please let me know. This looks like a possibility for one of my Golite bags.
    Pat

    1 Beartooth Hoody
    2 Arcteryx Delta SV Gloves
    3 Patagonia Rock Guide Pants

    #1551125
    Richard Lyon
    BPL Member

    @richardglyon

    Locale: Bridger Mountains

    1. Alpacka Denali Llama packraft

    2. Nunatak Arc Specialist sleeping bag

    3. Norrona falketind Gore-Tex Pro shell

    #1551127
    James Patsalides
    BPL Member

    @jamespatsalides-com

    Locale: New England

    1. Gotta be +1 on the Gossamer Gear LT4s.
    2. BPL PRO-90 Quilt: my first adventure into quilt sleeping, so I might be biassed, but this is DEFINITELY a fave piece for me.
    3. HYDROPEL!!!

    #1551128
    Nia Schmald
    BPL Member

    @nschmald

    I'd say the Neoair Regular. I now sleep like a baby.

    But the clear number one was my PCT thru-hiker permit. Only weighs 4g and gave me the best 6 months of my life.

    #1551133
    Scott White
    Member

    @sdwhitey

    Locale: Smoky Mountains

    golite ultra quilt

    bpl thorofare shirt and pants

    teva terra-fi sandals

    #1551193
    Bill Poett
    Member

    @wpoettaol-com

    Locale: Santa Barbara

    1. Z-packs blast 32, under six ounces, lets me carry my full winter kit and plenty of food

    2. MLD Duo Mid – upgraded from a Gatewood cape (which I love), I've just found the extra space and storm protection worth the 8 oz penalty, besides I made that up with the Z-pack

    3. Aqua Mira drops, I've always hated filters and pumping water.

    Can't wait to see what 2010 brings

    #1551201
    Barry P
    BPL Member

    @barryp

    Locale: Eastern Idaho (moved from Midwest)

    1. GG Murmur. The pack is made out of Spinnaker with a sit pad; 8.0oz
    2. short Neo Air; 9.0oz
    3. teva terra fi2 sandals. Never a blister and my feet stay warm or cool depending on my sock. I’m on my 5th year with this sandal but I’ve gone through about 10 sets. They wear out ~200-500 miles. But I’ve been getting them for $25-$35. I see Teva has quit making them and came out with the Terra Fi3.

    Honorable mentions:
    1. GG Lightrek 3
    2. GG Classic Squall
    3. My 6.1 oz complete kitchen setup. It can cook for 2 and it all rests in the titan kettle.

    -Barry

    #1551219
    Diplomatic Mike
    Member

    @mikefaedundee

    Locale: Under a bush in Scotland

    My best bit of gear was the operating table last Thursday!
    Now (hopefully, my hip is fixed, and i can look forward to using no 2 and no 3! :)

    #1551314
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    1. GG Murmur

    2. Nunatak Arc Specialist

    3. GG Mariposa Plus – only used it once so far, but looks like it will be the pack to use if I can't get it all into the murmur.

    #1551328
    Mary D
    BPL Member

    @hikinggranny

    Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge

    The 2009 revision of the Tarptent/Gossamer Gear Squall Classic. Perfect tent for me and my 80-lb. dog; room for a grandkid, too. The sides of the bathtub floor stand up nicely, and the new vestibule with central zipper is awesome! It's absurdly easy to get a taut pitch–no fussing needed!

    This tent is a joint production of Tarptent (Henry Shires completely redesigned it for this year) and Gossamer Gear (new sewing contractors and new and improved spinnaker fabric). The reflective cord that GG uses can be seen at night by headlamp from across a big meadow–probably saved my life when I got confused after getting water in the dark!

    I love this tent! It's not cheap, but, IMHO, well worth its price.

    I will say that for two adult humans, it would be a little snug. Only one can sit up at a time. If you can work around that issue, it's lighter than other 2-person tents around. 25.5 oz. (after sealing seams and putting lots of non-skid sealant patches on floor) plus 1.6 oz. for 6 Ti hook stakes. I use those rather than the heavier Easton aluminum stakes that come with the tent.

    EDIT–later:
    Montrail Women's Hardrocks–I was able to get a 2007 model a year ago and used them for backpacking this past summer. They are wonderful–correct all my over-pronation problems and therefore far more supportive, as well as lighter, than boots. Unfortunately the 2009 version are about as supportive as a pair of bedroom slippers, so I, too, may be looking for different shoes next year. I wrote to Montrail and there may be some hope: They wrote back, "Next spring Montrail will introduce a new style called the AT Plus which will be similar to the older Hardrock style."

    I will not elaborate (I've done so in other posts) on my unsuccessful attempts with the NeoAir and the Aquamira Frontier Pro water filter.

    #1551333
    Joe Clement
    BPL Member

    @skinewmexico

    Locale: Southwest

    Best – ULA Catalyst and Circuit
    Ultra 20

    Worst – Exos 46 and 58

    #1551353
    Nia Schmald
    BPL Member

    @nschmald

    Hey Joe,

    You gave the exos a 4/5 on your review. What happened?

    #1551358
    Juston Taul
    Member

    @junction

    Locale: Atlanta, GA

    # 1 – backpackinglight.com

    I've learned so much from this site.

    # 2 – ID Siltarp2

    No more tents for me!

    # 3 – GG Vapor Trail

    Still in the process of stripping her down but I love this pack. Its very comfortable for me at low base weights.

Viewing 25 posts - 26 through 50 (of 56 total)
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