I wasnt sure where exactly this should go, whether under gear or gear lists since it kind of incorporates both, but i really enjoy looking at pictures of how people use their gear. ex. a loaded pack, a set up camp, gear in action. so i was hoping we could post some aforementioned pictures and feel open enough to accept criticism or make suggestions regarding any of our techniques or gear use. i feel like we can learn a lot from actually seeing how others use new gear we were considering purchasing or that we already have ourselves and maybe have not been using the most efficiently. it also gives us a perspective that we may have not previously seen by simply viewing the default photos of gear online before purchasing.
i will go first, of course. i'm afraid i dont have a lot of pictures from the field as those usually follow a similar format, person + cool background = good picture, and do not incorporate a lot of gear, but i have a few and can post others where the location is not as important.
This is my sleep setup for generally fair weather. I have a MLD silnylon poncho tarp, homemade meteor design bivy, GG thinlite pad, Thermarest Prolite 3R (I know its heavy but just because my young bones can handle hard ground doesn't they have to), Kelty Lightyear 45 3D, and inflatable pillow. I carry a polycro groundcloth if i anticipate rain or am on longer trips, but am not sure if it is really necessary yet… I plan on upgrading the sleeping bag to a homemade quilt, most likely similar to the current MLD quilt, at some point but have found that with this bag, bivy, and the Montbell UL Down Jacket I can be comfortable to the mid 30s. I set the tarp up A-frame at first but saw a tree nearby (not perfectly positioned obviously but the weather was fair and i didnt feel like adjusting the whole thing) and lifted a corner to give me a little more in/out headroom. The meteor bivy works absolutley marvelously. I feel like I am in a tent basically. I am fully protected from bugs, a little warmer, safe from splashes, and not confined. It was also pretty easy to make. Cut out the pieces at night and had help sewing them together the next day.
Another setup…
For most trips I use the MLD Zip (Atmos 50 for especially hot trips or needing to carry heavier loads) I pack it by putting everything inside a packliner and placing a pad (uninflated if applicable) around the perimeter. In the bottom in the space created by the pad goes the sleeping bag, just stuffed straight in. This helps to not compress the bag too much and to take up any additional space in the pack for trips requiring less food or gear.
Next goes cooking set (shown later), bivy, and clothing/whatever else, in a vertical, cylindrical pattern. this fits the form of the pack nicely and i have found that the keg can is strong enough that i do not need any additional container to store it in. On top of this goes food and any additional gear.
above – pack loaded (usually a couple more odds and ends are loaded in the mesh such as snacks , windjacket, as well as the side pockets, which i can fit a 2 L bladder into each, mpack – superlight, cheap, work great) Base weight is usually around 8 lbs im guessing? no scale yet and i dont know the weights of everything. sorry. if anyone is really interested i can try to figure it out or post a more detailed gear list.
below – pack worn (sorry, crappy picture. i was trying to do it alone and keep the flash out of the mirror. thinking back i should have just used the timer…oh well)
Cook set up – Heine keg pot (24oz capacity) with windscreen, fuel bottle, lighter, stove, and pot support. Kit purchased from skidsteer since I was under 21, couldn't find the keg pot anyways, and saw his set up and liked it.
So again, any questions, comments, additions, suggestions, feel free to post. Also it would be great if other people could do something similar, even if it's just one photo or description. thanks everyone. and hopefully this all works.
