Gear We’d Buy—If It Existed

Joe,
If you find a source, let me know. I'd like one too.

"Joe, If you find a source, let me know. I'd like one too."

Try Big Sky. Might be shipping delays though ;-)

Yeah, it's personal.

MeThinks 6oz is a bit on the heavy side! Does that include the batteries?

Sam,
As the owner of an Evolution 2P, for which I waited 373 days, I understand completely. Some have found Bob's gear "lighter than air".

Including batteries, or whatever replaces them. And they last at least 14 days, in snow or the desert. It will happen some day, just wait.

Any one here know how I can purchase the Mizo shovel and ship it to the U.S.

I'd buy one of these….I have one, but it weighs about 10 oz., and it could easily get down to 3….

maybe someone already makes one, but I don't know about it.

(I hike near the city often, and I love me some NPR and tunes. Nothing like live radio….)

Roleigh,

I hope I didn't offend you with my comment, and I did include a smiley face at the end of the sentence.

What is my MPD on the JMT? Don't know. Haven't been on it since 1973, when it got too crowded for my taste. But, I am considering a High Sierra Trail trip in the future.

I do mostly cross country trips sans trails, and usually average over 2 mph. On some trips, progress is measured in hours per mile. :)

I will turn 59 this year, and am more active than most folks 30 years younger than me. I regularly run, go to the gym and hike. Plus at 5'11", 150 lbs I am pretty nimble. So, how I hike is not typical for most people our age.

Could I do better than 10 MPD on the JMT? Sure.

I can move over boulder fields and slopes much quicker than my college-aged son, who has run in the last 3 NCAA Divison 1 Cross Country Championships, because I am more confident and experienced. I can keep up with him on the flats too. This is a kid that runs up to 100 miles per week.

And for 11,000' passes… no problem, unless I get lost. :)

I can still do the Cactus to Clouds Trail in the San Jacinto Mtns in under 12 hours. This is a 22 mile trip that starts on the desert floor. It goes to the top of Mt San Jacinto with an elevation gain of over 10,000' and then comes back to the aerial tram station. In warmer months, I need to carry up to 2 gallons of water for this trip. I often do multi-day trips with a start at this trail which is a 8,000' gain in 11 miles, just to get to the San Jacinto wilderness. On these trips, 15 MPD is a piece of cake. I suspect that in the coming years, I may slow down some. :(

Impressive, Nick. Impressive. Best I've done in the HST/JMT is 16 miles in a day, but the average is 10-11. I think my problem is that I'm not 150, which means your spine-out-weight you have to carry is much less than mine. I'm doing all I can to reduce my spine-out-weight before I hit the trail by 20 pounds. I know many backpackers only talk about skin-out-weight, but I think it's equally important to focus on spine-out-weight.

I saw someone in his sixties on the JMT last year who was averaging around 25 miles a day. He was amazing. But he does Marathons too.

Roleigh,

No intent to impress anyone. I think you are somewhat correct about body weight. And unfortunately oft times this is genetic. I am fairly agile, which allows me to move quicker than most through boulders, scree and the like. Also if I fall, I am less likely to suffer a serious injury, so I may not be as deliberate as some (although I did twist my knee pretty bad a few months ago).

I don't need to carry as much food or water as most people. However, I really sleep cold, so I need to carry warmer sleeping gear.

I have seen some stocky guys who can chug, chug, chug at a good clip with fairly heavy loads. I guess that is their make up.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter how many miles you can do in a day, or if you have the lightest SUL baseweight. What matters is that you are out doing what you like, and doing it at your own pace. If you are internally happy with your adventure, then nothing else matters.

As a friend of mine always says, "Live your life with passion."

.

Although my merino budget is really blown with 11 shirts in the past year, there's one item that would be great for backpacking. I'd like the opportunity to buy a light colored (maybe a light green), 150 weight, hooded, 1/4 zip long sleeve top with thumbloops. Somewhat loose fit for warmer weather.

I'd treat it with permethrin and a wash-in UV protectant and then use it for sun, bug, and thermal protection.

Anyone know where such an item exists to buy?

Sub 10oz eVent Anorak with pit zips and wide opening simple velcro closure wrist cuffs for enhancd airflow.

You cant tell me with all the silnylon and the titanium or whatever, they cant make a sub 3 lb frame pack that does not look like the luxury lite or cost 400.00. Something in a traditional pack configuration. Id buy one in a heartbeat.

Jim,

Yes it exists! It is the BPL Beartooth Hoody. My small weighs 7.5oz. It currently is out of stock in the gear shop.

Nick,
My post was a bit snide. Last year when I was planning a trip the Beartooth Hoody was going to be available "soon". Now that I'm updating my gear it's out of stock. Hence my post under "Gear We'd Buy – IF it existed".

In reality though there is one item I would love to see- a line of 140-175 gram per square meter garments made of approx 45% merino wool, 15% X-static, and the remainder a tough nylon fiber that would provide snag and abrasion resistance.

I would like to see an aluminum Trappers mug.
its fine to have all these expensive Ti pots/mugs but why not have aluminum versions? They are just as light and I bet an aluminum trappers mug would cost like $5.00!

I would like to see more packs under a pound in the 2000-2500 c.i. range -that have NO MESH and are made of durable materials. the Amp had the perfect compression system but was wanting in the strap department, the Ion is slightly too small and has nothing for pockets and compression. We are neck deep in silnyon/spinnaker/cuben mesh covered packs compared to packs like the Jam2.
And some manufactures like Mountiansmith are using recycled pack cloth and buckles, cottage makers should look into using this material.

Oh yeah, I definitely agree with Robert's suggestion. I would love to have cocoon overmitts. It is hard to find big puffy mitts that aren't overly tough. I don't need them that tough.

Pit zips on a nice, light, simple eVent jacket/hoody for climbing would be awesome! Westcomb are you listening?

http://www.rbhdesigns.com/product/39/altitude-vaprthrmsup-and-reg-and-sup-mitt-liner.htm

No, wont buy then. I want the mitts to dry out my hiking fleece gloves when in camp. VBLs wount work for that.
That way they are drying out while I am doing chores but can whip the mitts off to do some dextarious work.
MEC makes a pair that are almost perfict – but they lack a way to close the cuff, that and gripper pads.

Why don't you just take the wet gloves off and put them in a pocket near the skin on your torso. This technique is faster than drying them using insulated mittens because your torso puts out more heat than your hands. With this technique you could use lighter mittens in camp and could even use vbl.

I wear 100 weight liners or WS gloves when I'm hiking and this system lets me bring only one pair of fleece gloves, and one pair of warm mitts. If you used a WPB shell like Quantum on them I could do away with my WP overmitts too and just carry WS liners.
Also, would make a great set of winter belay gloves – I do that too.
If you used a closure like the Brittish Bufflo Mitts they could double as warm socks for cold nights.
I'd buy them, been looking for a set like that for a long time.

>That way they are drying out while I am doing chores but can whip the mitts off to do some dextarious work.

I know you are comfortable with this system but I had this idea I had like to share and hear what you have to say.

How about no gloves? instead get a base layer with thumb loops. R1 is warmer then 100 fleece and thumbloops will give you more dexterity then gloves. To dry them all you need to do is pull them up. And you get max warmth with insulated VB mitts.

Thats a great idea for summer.
When its -10C out, its nice to have gloves
R1 liners – that would be cool…