Merry Christmas… So, What’d Ya Get?

" I started riding late in life, so I don't harbor any illustions about what kind of gear I need (unlike backpacking!). I found a deal on a demo 2010 Giant Defy Advanced 3. I wanted a triple, because I'm doing a ride in Durango in May. It should work for what I do."

Still a good bike! Not everybody needs or even wants the top end "racing" bikes, because their geometry was sure not designed with comfort in mind. I hope you enjoy it and get many years of good use from your new toy!

Despite my talk, I'm sure Ultegra or Dura Ace components will start popping up on it soon. And a wheelset.

Tons of hardware…to repaint the interior of our home, install new electrical sockets, that sort of thing. Not a single lick of backpacking gear, or anything else for that matter. But I did manage to entice my brother-in-law into helping me with a few things…the promise of Northwest microbrews was too much for him to pass up.

I got a Photon LED light and a Cocoon UL Air-Core pillow. Everyone is in good health and had a happy day together, which is priceless and weighs nothing :)

I got a Sawyer water filter kit. Now trying to figure out how to put together a lightweight gravity filter.

I got Ford, my oldest, a new daypack. The REI Trail 25. For The Husband I got him Microspikes.
I bought for me and the baby: Baby got a new down bunting from REI in the next size up. Now there is a UL piece of down! I also got an Ergo Carrier in the newish Performance model that is 1/3 less in weight (not that it was ever a heavy carrier for babies! Compared to a framed pack it is air….)

As for me…I didn't get any outdoor gear. The Husband bought me Sapphire earrings to finish my collection :-)

WM Summerlite Long
Evolv Defy VTR Rock Shoes
Marmot Zeus Down
REI Organic Merino Wool Light Hiking Mini Crew Socks
Wigwam Cool-Lite Hiker Pro Quarter Socks
Columbia Omni-Dry Mountain Tech T-Shirt
ExOfficio Boxer Briefs
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti Water Purifier
Light My Fire Spork
Fishing License w/ Clam Stamp and Lobster Card

It was a good year :)

@ David L. LUCKY! Thats sweet

I bought my self
Singer 401a slant-o-matic sewing machine( hope to sew MYOG this year, got this for a steal at $70.00)
WM Alder bag
Salomon Tundra boots
Silk liner socks
Cloud Burst 2 Tarptent
Golite Reed pants
Bike rollers (for my Giant Defy so I can ride inside when there's bad weather)
My kids also got me gift cards to buy more gear, can never have to much gear.
Happy Holidays everyone.

A pair of MSR Lightning Axis 25" snowshoes and flotation tails
Patagonia Alpine Guide jacket and pants for day snowshoe outings

I'm now currently coveting that awesome Tap Cap belt!

Montbell U.L. Down inner
Golite Jam

Ridgerest Solar
8 SMC snow stakes
NRS Hydroskin wetsocks
SMartwool PHD Ultralight Ski socks

….and best of all, another appointment with my favorite tattoo artist.

"Kevin, been thinking about that knife too. Let us know how it works out."

It is a simple device and there are reviews online (check YouTube) that can go into far more detail than I could. I'm not a knife nut but I wanted something to replace my old Gerber mini that I lost when I forgot to take it off my key-chain when going on a trip. Security made me either pitch it or mail it back and we were borderline going to miss our flight so it went in the garbage.

It is better than the Gerber in terms of ergonomics. The build quality is excellent and it is a bright yellow so I can find it in low-light conditions. It is supposed to have better steel but as I said… I'm not a knife nut. The Gerber worked for me for nearly a decade without ever the need to sharpen so I anticipate the Spyderco to do the same. The steel is supposed to be "rust-proof". Of the two the Spyderco is better built, more high-tech steel, and has much better ergonomics (it fits in your hand nice for such a small blade) and at 0.6oz fits my "low-weight" standard.

Osprey varient 37L

Camp Nanotech Ice axe/walking stick.

Northern Lites Elite Snow shoes

Snow claw

Spot 2

NF lite glove

Montane North Star down coat

K-Bar Necker becker Knife

Box of hand warmers

Box of toe warmers

Gerber folding saw

Couple of water bottles

All kinds of little stuff to make a SL survival and med kit.

Yeah it was a good year for me!

I got my first quilt, a Jacks R better Shenandoah quilt and like a few of you with fine fine taste, I also got some mighty fine ales! I love Pale Ale and got some BrewDog Punk IPA from Scotland, some Sierra Nevada Pale Ale from California and some Meantime Pale Ale from London: yummy!

But I do feel for you Todd, that is a sad tale.

New flicklock trekking poles from Outdoor Products

Merino wool "Buff"

Waterproof insulated gloves from Academy

Pants, shirts and a 6'r of St. Arnold's Christmas Ale from my loving wife.

@ Joe G.
Love the buckle! ;-)

@ Jack E.
I'm looking for an oldie but goodie sewing machine myself. Nice find!

@ Pat W.
So was that a 90 days same as cash arrangement or a 15 year mortgage for all that gear? ;-)

Party On,

Newton

A $50 REI gift card with which I bought an 18 liter Granite Gear Cuben Fiber dry sack.

And a bunch of unimportant non-hiking stuff.

A really good haul for you guys. It is nice to have that really special someone…
My wife decided we couldn't really afford much this year, soo she promised to sew me up a new shelter after I finalized the design. I think there is 25-30 yards of 1.4oz silnylon in the closet… I think THIS is a major haul, too. Not something you can buy…

My condolences on the dog, Todd. Remember her well.

Santa brought my eldest daughter a solo canoe he hadn't quite finished. His other daughter got a new bathroom earlier this year, just after she had his grandson.

Mrs Clause also got the grandson for a week! She is really happy with her gift! My wife is really an old sentimental fuddy duddy… 'Corse, I would never help with a BABY! I find it hard to believe she wants the squirmy, loud, trouble maker around.
Rug Rat! He is pretty much useless at camp. If I could just teach him how to walk, instead of drool and say whaaa…. Excess bagage in my book. I even have to carry HIM to and from a good camp site! We got him a special life vest for next spring, anyway. Easier to paddle him… Bahhh…humbug… ;-) Mrs Clause also got some money for her beads and such. She really likes her beads.

(Santa's granson really is a nice gift. Again, not one you can buy…great for the old folk.)

Hike on!
jdm

Santa was very nice to me!:

Snow Peak 900TI pot
Marmot Scree SoftShell Pants (super stretchy comfortable pants, my new sunday football watching pants)
OR Transcendent Down Hoody
Excaliber 3900 Dehydrator!

Overall a great christmas! Hope everyone else had a nice relaxing one as well!

Sweet guys-
Merry christmas all
-MB tachyon
-MLD pro poncho tarp
-Buff – merino wool
-Kookabay pillow
And all sorts of other goodness, but those would interest BPL…

Oh, and a growler of imperial stout

Happy Holidays

lots of good hauls posted :)

outdoor related goods for me

MSR 2.4 liter ti pot
Smartwool LW bottoms
Swiss Army Alox Farmer (been wanting one of these for awhile)
$50 gift card to Starbucks- going to be stocking up on Via!

Mike, if you are planning to stock up on Via, be sure to ask for a discount if you buy a box of six of the 12-packs. My gal gives me 10% off when I do that.

thanks :) I signed up on their online shop and they sent me a 10% coupon for my first order, they sell a 50 pack of singles online

I didn't do bad this year either. I got a Ridgerest Solar and a Backcountry ti pot and spork combo.

Got my first Tenkara rod! I'm stoked!