“NEW ITEM WORSHIP”

Like an addict juggling drugs so they wont have to admit the problem I bounce between the outdoor world and the cycling world with brief stops at spousal world.

Hi my name is Larry and I have an addiction … .

Yes, I had that addiction TOO until about 8 years ago. I still have my Cannondale racing bike. Just haven't been on it in 4 years. I used to begin indoor cycling training in January while still XC racing. I was HOOKED.
Talk about always wanting the lightest gear! Cycling is THE original lightweight addiction sport.
Eric

I agree. I have obsessed over bike weights for a lot longer than backpacking. The obsession culminated last summer with the purchase of a new Orbea Orca. In a way, it was two birds with one stone, because of all the honeymoon riding I ended up dropping body weight which has helped with backpacking.

Nope, not me. I have total self control.

But there are bad people on this forum — like David Ure (aka FamilyGuy) who just today tried to tempt me into buying a Hilleberg Akto — but no, they will not prevail.

Dammit… I am looking at the Hilleberg catalog again… curse all you enablers!

nm

David:

I guess in the end, we are all addicts AND enablers! :)

But one thing for sure — given the space hog that I am — you will never find me camping in a bivy.

Last but not least, I am glad you like your MB bag!

Um, Eric, where did you score the Ti smoke shifter? How much does it weigh?

Wayne,
I happen to have one more Ti smoke shifter left and I'm willing to part with it. It weighs only 15 oz. W/ batteries but when you need it with that UL wood stove those 15 oz. seem inconsequential.

However it does take practice to use it properly so if you buy it don't come whining to me if it doesn't seem to work after the 1st 50 tries. You need PRACTICE.

I will part with it for only $25. but "ALL SALES ARE FINAL".
(For some reason the guy who used to make them is out of business. So this may be your LAST CHANCE to get this vital piece of gear!)

Eric

BTW Wayne, You need 6 C cell Lithium-ion batteries to run the Smoke Shifter fan and a solar panel to recharge the batteries.
(Though I'd mention those little details.)

What Eric described is nothing more or less than a typical child's reaction when getting a new toy. Maybe the only difference is the absence of guilt since a child's toy is usually paid for by an adult.

I well remember two things as a kid:

(1) My friends and I all went through episodes of new toy elation and worship.

(2) NONE of our parents had toys — they worked hard during the day, read the papers at night. They were serious, hard working, and responsible.

But now, I am in my forties and it seems that ALL my cohorts are refusing to put away their infantile ways!

As we continue to play merrily, will we all suddenly grow hooves and tails and turn into donkeys???

I can SO relate to everyone in this thread! I am a multi-sport gear addict and I also focus on backpacking and cycling. My road bike is old now (80's Alan with Super Record, of course) but my new mountain bike has it ALL- and I could easily list each and every component. I don't even know what "stock" means anymore! And I study Mountain Bike Action every darn month finding out what's new that I "need". And my 5" travel, full inertia valve, 28 pound, aluminum monocoque trail bike is so fine that it's ridiculous for me to want anything else…but I still do.

My backpacking addiction is even worse. These days, I hardly have an item for more than a season before it's gone on eBay and I've got something else. It's CRAZY! I have, let me see, 8 bags, 6 packs, and 9 stoves. And still, I almost bought a new stove last week (moment of strength). I mean, give me a break!

But I've realized that I actually have two hobbies going on in each of these cases. The gear and the activity. Like studying and collecting backpack gear and actually USING it- they're related but actually two different hobbies. I have friends that use their same gear all the time- even if it's heavy and old. While part of me rolls my eyes at their old clunky gear, a part of me also wishes that I was just happy with the kit I have.

Ah to heck with that- back to Mountain Laurel Designs to stare at Cuben fiber bivy sacks for a while! Ahh…gear.

Doug

Hello Doug,

Can't you just wait to see what comes next out of Ron's bag. I keep going to his front page and looking at the bottom where it says what he has planned for us next. A Cuben poncho……….3.8 ounces…….AAAAAHHHHHH

At least you are stuck with two addictions. Stay away from digital photography for next week is PMA!

Randy

Does anyone know if there are programs or treatment clinics for us to “clean up’ ? a twelve step program starting with Silnylon and working it’s way to Cuben fiber?
Maybe a weight training center to throw us a curve ball?
Anything in Bozeman?

Ah heck, would probably go all Britney and keep running out to find what the next available item is at MLD website from the nearest public library with internet access anyway.

Hello, my name is Jim and I'm a gram weenie

Hello,

I am attending ADZPCTKO in april. Gossamer Gear, TarpTent, Three Moon Designs + others are there to show their "Drugs". I sent a little email to MLD asking if he would show up. Now if BMW would show up I could empty my bank account on the spot.

I wonder how many BPL's would show up just to peruse the goods?

I'm afraid some of my friends may be having an intervention planned for me…
I pulled the framesheet out of my MS Phantom last night to see how much weight it would save, and when I pulled my scale out one of the guys on the floor about lost his mind. He started ranting about how I bought a scale for the expressed purpose of weighing gear and how an ounce or two savings wasn't going to matter that much. Then I told him I weighed everything in grams and he got a very flustered look on his face.
He's in Army ROTC, and he was telling me how the guys that carry the heaviest packs are considered 'manlier.' I was able to turn it around on him and told him that if they needed that much stuff to survive then they weren't that manly :). He got a good laugh at that, but he still thinks I need professional help! Even my girlfriend hangs her head when I pull out my scale and open up my gear calculator.
I could just use the gear I have now, but where's the fun in that, especially if there is lighter stuff out there.
Hello, my name is Adam and I, too, am a gram weenie.

Adam

I got caught using the postage scale at work, I now hang my head in shame around my coworkers. It stinks man, why cant other people weigh things!!!

Hello, my name is Jim, and I’m a gram weenie.

I've been checking the MLD site constantly (way more than just once or twice a day) since they came back online. I don't even buy anything, just constantly looking.
Man, what a dork! Amazing I have a girlfriend at all.

Trent

No, it's not just two addictions- it's a friggin lifestyle!

I've also got photography, my home computer, canoeing, climbing gear, home stereo, archery equipment, stunt kites, off road motorcycles, snowmobiles, XC ski gear, need I say more? Every friggin thing is studied and collected for (although bikes and backpacking stuff are at the top of the pile these days). Now that I have a son, you should see his Patagonia outfits, Vaude baby sleeping bag, Bob full suspension stroller, and Sherpani pack. It's insanity!!!

I'm not quite that bad yet….
I have lots of interests, home stereo, computers, trials and mountain biking, hiking, canoing, etc. But luckily I don't have enough money to pursue all of them at once. Maybe that's because every time I have a little extra money it goes to buy some new toy…
Speaking of which, I can't wait to see the new MLD bags. I've been itching to get/make something to replace my synthetic Marmot bag for a long time now and I just don't have the time to make one myself, so hopefully Ron will be nice with the prices and be willing to modify a little bit for me… I can always hope at least…

Adam

My name is Tom, and I am a Gram Weenie.

Holy cow, that felt good.

Tom:

As any ULer would know, taking weight off your shoulders always feels good! In your case, the weight you took off was the guilt commonly felt by gear heads and gram weenies.

Welcome to the dark side. Free yourselves of guilt. Buy more. MWAHAHAHA

My new WORSHIP item is my Fenix Cree light(s).

If you are a non-believer that a light can all of a sudden be 2X better "just like that", you need SEE THE LIGHT.
These lights are "that good".

Go buy one!

I splurged on the Peak Caribbean a year ago, (WHY)? The Cree is honestly 4-5X better. The projected size of light you see is amazingly better.

So why is the Cree a bad thing to talk about? Because it's a 4 letter word, and now I want to buy 2 of the other models. Shame on me, it's just a light, right?

Well, thank God I'm not alone. This support group has really opened my eyes to my addiction.

I've booked myself into a Buddhist monastary near Boulder, Colorado for a month-long retreat to see if I can rid myself of "Attatchment" to material things, as the abbot of the monastary calls it.

Funny, just yesterday I accidentaly caught him perusing through a Mountain Gear catalog and examining my WM Megalite down bag, which he suggested I surrender as my first step in freeing myself from "attatchment".
Hmmmmm…was that a Feathered Friends vest he was wearing? And I swear I saw his shirt in last fall's Patagucci catalog. …NAAAA!

Yes, I am on the twelve step program.

1. Research a 'better' [insert item here]
2. Buy it
3-11. Repeat steps 1-2, 9 more times.
12. Turn your attention to a different [item] and go back to step 1.

This leads to having multiples of everything. Hence, the existence of a gear swap forum.

One thing that is keeping me from buying more clothing and packs: marketers all seem to be on a relentless march to re-orient men to metrosexuality. What's with all the red, orange and apple green colors??? No thanks.