Gear We’d Buy—If It Existed

I want a pack that is ideal for the John Muir Trail, especially that last 100 miles from Muir Trail Ranch to Whitney Portal (or going Northward from Horseshoe Meadows to Muir Trail Ranch), where for people who over 50 like to move at a 10 mile a day pace, even when light weight. You need a pack that can hold the Bearikade Expedition Cannister, which is long. My dream pack would be identical to the Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone or the ULA Catalyst (I use the Nimbus Ozone) but the fabric of the pack above the existing bottom would be heavy duty Cuben Fiber (1.5 oz/sq. yard) such as used at Zpacks.com and would be wide enough to fit the Bearikade Expedition at about where one's shoulder blades are. I know that McHale Packs has made such a pack. But there is not a standing pack off the shelf made ideal for this cannister that is near the 42-48 oz weight. I'd like to see this pack come in at that weight range, one needs the more comfortable padded belt and frame to hold the food weight for those many days.

I would want something like two straps inside the pack to hold the cannister in the lateral position at that point in the pack, perhaps it snaps on both sides of the pack to stay in place or be removed (or velcro).

This pack could easily be marketed as a deluxe BMW type pack for thru-hikers and if at the 42 oz weight, could easily go for $300-$350. The Catalyst goes for $235, the GG Nimbus Ozone for $215.

A light weight metal snow shovel that easily mounted to an ice axe would be a great item. If their is too much variety in ice axes maybe see if you can sell it with a axe similar to the now discontinued Ushiba Alti.

+1

Yes, this is absolutely needed. There is a product by grivel that attaches to their ice axes but it is mostly plastic and not available in the U.S. Just a simple aluminum blade with a hole that would fit an axe and a simple tightening mechanism would be a much needed product.

Yes! Or onr that bolted onto the side of the head of the BD ones!

Henry,

Great idea and post.

Roleigh, you have a problem that is an excellent candidate, but lets tackle that one from the inside out. I think it would be better if the Ursak was approved, or if someone could build a 6 – 8 oz solution that would carry a weeks worth of food and not be much larger than the food it protects. (BTW I am well past 50, and like to move much fast than a 10 MPD pace :)

For me, there isn't much that would be on my list. Seems the cottage industry has really filled the void the past several years.

The one thing I would jump on is a really comfortable sleeping pad that would weigh under 5 oz. I usually use a NightLight Torso at 3.5 oz or a trimmed down 3/8 pad at around 2+ oz. I am not comfortable for the first few nights with either, but then I eventually get used to them. I do have a Torsolite @ 10 oz, which I often use for weekenders. And like most others, I have a couple Thermarests in the gear closet.

A watch that weighs around 2 oz and costs under $200 with GPS (just lat & lon), altimeter and temperature would be cool, but not something I think BPL could tackle.

I wish we could get double or triple the wear out of trail runners.

Lastly, as a desert hiker, I would really, really like dehydrated water, that could be reconstituded by just opening the package. :)

This exists.

Huzefa S
( iamnot – M )

The width 17cm, depth 20cm, thickness 1.2mm.
Stronger than alminum blade, less stronger than iron one.
I had only used it to normal snow and midium hard snow pack, so far so good, no bending. But I do not think it is good for debris."

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.mizo.co.jp/&ei=Ei7CSer9HZCw6wP1scnIBw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmizo%2B%2Bmacpac%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DG%26num%3D100

then go to category 'Mountain'

Cost looks like about US$90?

U.L. Titanium water bottle. Like the Sigg bottles, but made from Ti.

Maybe they exist, but I can't seem to find one.

Also – a lightweight and reliable pump filter that's 6 oz or less.

Long lasting insect repellant that doesn't stink or melt plastic.

A light fabric that is waterproof on one side, but actively draws moisture from the other side outwards, even if the moisture is not in vapour phase (make tents, packs, rainjacket, dry bags etc…out of it).

Custom made boots at a more affordable price.

"Also – a lightweight and reliable pump filter that's 6 oz or less."

Timberline! Weighs 5.09 ounces. I've been using the Timberline system for 18 years. It works well and pumps water fast.

Also, it's inexpensive. Complete kit, including pump, filter and various tubing is $21.70. Replacement filters are $12.53. Look for it at http://www.safetycentral.com/tiulwafi.html

A few years ago I ran across a place that was selling water bottles with one of these installed. They were clearing out at $2.50 each. I bought nine, all he had. Now I've got a lifetime supply of replacement filters. And, all my non-hiking family got a spiffy water bottle in their stocking.

Timberline Filter System.

Weighs 5.09 ounces.

Nick, I can do more than 10 miles a day but not doing the 11 tallest passes on the PCT. What is your MPD pace on the JMT?

Black Diamond used to make a shovel that would attach to your ice axe shaft. It was a medium sized alum. blade. It came with a removeable alum shaft with handle. You could substitute their ice axe for the shovel shaft as they were the same shape. You jammed the shaft into the blade and a ring around the shovel part pulled up to tighten around the "ferrule" and shaft. All said, I rarely use the shovel attached to the ice axe. You have to be really careful swinging around the sharp points of the axe when shoveling not to stab yourself. Your focus is on the other end and you lose track of the points that can get you. I just weighed it: the blade is 13 oz and shaft is 6 oz making 19 oz total. It is very durable.-Scott

I'd buy a little box that takes off the shelf AA Lithiums to power camcorders, ipods, etc – adjustable voltage would be nice, but low weight and easy to swap batteries is the key.

Since there's no such thing, I am building it myself to power my camcorder this summer. I tried the solar charger route last year and it sucked, so now it's going to be a custom battery supply that don't cost $90 a piece for 60 minutes runtime and can be refreshed each time I pick up food supplies.

wow – this Timberline thing is still on the market? I used that thing for about 5 years from '88 through '95 – worked well and I think I only needed one filter replacement.
It wasn't the fastest pump, but at least it didn't clog up as fast as the MSR Hyperflow does.

I would really like a pair of Cocoon Socks. These would be made of the same material as the Cocoon gear. They would not be booties; you would not want to wear them around camp. They would be helpful for inside a sleeping bag (my feet get cold, but the rest of my legs are fine). I could also see these being used as thumbless mitts as well (or add the thumb and pay a small weight penalty when uses as socks). I would think this would be a pretty good dual use item, since I don't usually need mitts when in a sleeping bag, nor do I need the socks when hiking. The Hot Socks (by Integral Designs) come close to what I would like (I would save a bit of weight by eliminating the fleece).

Warm, light, breathable overmits with a good wrist closure. These would be warmer then the Cocoons already in the line, warm enough to use as overmitts in deep winter.
The inners for the OR Alti Mitts are a good example of this with their gripper pads, but can not be bought sepertly.

A titanium gun (both handgun and rifle) and bullets would be awesome. I think the rifle in particular would take the hunting afficianados by storm!

From the web site quoted:
> The water filter for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy a drink of cold fresh water without
> a wait or a chemical taste. No chemicals used. Filters particles and micro- organisms
> down to a nominal 2 micron level.

That's 2 microns, not 0.2 microns. It won't stop bacteria and it won't stop viruses. But it will stop Giardia and Crypto.

You get what you pay for.

Cheers

"I think the rifle in particular would take the hunting afficianados by storm!"

Been done.

Remington 700 Ti

"Remington 700 Ti"

WOW, what does that thing weigh?

hunters and snipers. That frame is used by some branches of the military's snipers (different #'s but same internal framework) and definately a lot of hunters. I don't know if it's the Ti form, but they are accurate as all hell with the right round like a 7.62 round. It's on my list to buy for hunting.

"WOW, what does that thing weigh?"

5.25 lbs in short action.

Roger,
For more than 15 years it's worked for about a dozen of my hiking friends. We do most all our backpacking in the Sierra and Cascade mountains, and along the northern California coast. We select our water sources with care and none of us would use this filter in areas where stock graze, lowland, or urban waters. None of us has ever had any sign of waterborne distress. In the areas we typically hike, fear of water is right up there with fear of bears; mostly a non-issue.

Recoil is pretty brutal, and they're not that accurate. But they're light.

I'd like to buy a 6 oz battery operated, climate controlled sleeping bag.