2015

"Oh–and it won't be in the backcountry too much, but I do plan on getting one of those baby-carrying backpacks. Our first is due in June. Maybe I can talk Paradox Packs into making one off of the Unaweep frame—-."

Clayton–

Instead of a framed baby pack, consider a woven wrap. It's the flat tarp of baby carriers. My favorite is only 1.5 lbs. PM me if you want more guidance. (no affiliations)

I've sold off a lot of gear to invest in some new lighter PHD down kit & a Trekkertent Edge 1 & ULA OHM 2.0. Looking forward to giving it all a good run out this winter.

I'll second the suggestion for the wrap/moby etc… For at least the first year a wrap or an ergo, which are both compatible with wearing a pack, is just as easy and much lighter. Similar to all of the framed/unframed backpack discussions only once they increase substantially in weight do you need to start looking at framed kid carrier. Typically they triple their body weight in the first year.

Of course if a baby shower is in the near future maybe this is a good time to get an expensive carrier :)

"I'll second the suggestion for the wrap/moby etc… For at least the first year a wrap or an ergo, which are both compatible with wearing a pack, is just as easy and much lighter. Similar to all of the framed/unframed backpack discussions only once they increase substantially in weight do you need to start looking at framed kid carrier. Typically they triple their body weight in the first year."

Clarification on jersey vs. woven —

The classic version of the Moby is a jersey (knit) fabric. A "stretchy wrap" is awesome for the first six months. *Woven* wraps push the limits much further — e.g. I'd never do a back carry with a stretchy, but wovens excel at this. I've carried a four year old short distances in a woven.

Thanks for the information on wraps. I'm sure that's something that will be purchased for the first year. My understanding is that kid carriers aren't really a great idea until a child is about a year old or so–give or take, of course.

I am excited to go out with a complete MYOG shelter system. Now I just have to get going on completing some additional Solo shelters for bug season.

Hi Jim,

There were a couple of threads about this bag. On one, i suggested it as an alternative on a gear deals thread and Billy Ray pointed out that it was unlikely to be a true 0 degree bag. After i looked more closely at the specs, i agreed it was unlikely a true 0 degree bag. (though, i did point out, if they put more down in the top and less on the bottom, it possibly could be a 0 degree bag, but not a lot of companies or models do that).

Then Richard Nisley pointed out that Brooks Range was the same company that had marketed a down jacket inaccurately, and it took awhile for them to correct it.

Still, for that price it seems like a pretty nice bag. Moral of the story i guess is go with EN rated bags for greater accuracy.

Hi, Justin,

Yeah, unless you are buying Feathered Friends or Western Mountaineering, take bag ratings with a grain of salt (unless they are EN rated). I figured a zero degree bag for $264 was worth a shot. I mean 850 down what's not to like? :)

I'll just return it if doesn't measure up.

HJ

I agree, still a pretty good deal, just wanted to give you a heads up that it isn't likely a true 0 degree bag. You could always add a little extra down to get it there too.

Even if it turns out to be, say, a 10 degree bag, $264 is still a good price, particularly for 850 down. I suppose I could always gear swap it.

HJ

Most of the products mentioned so far don't seem particularly new or innovative.

What I'm looking forward to is Arcteryx's new footwear. Specifically the Bora Mid boots with the removable liners. I want to be able to do the following:

A. Pull the liners and use them as camp shoes
B. Take both waterproof and non-waterproof liners along so after slogging through rivers or muskeg or swamps in the non-waterproof versions, I can pop dry liners in my boots, change socks, and keep hiking with dry (inner) footwear.
C. Take a second pair of liners along and swap them at lunch time like socks to keep my feet a bit fresher and drier.
D. Wear the shell boots with Kokatat Launch Socks and wool inner socks for packrafting footwear while in the boat.
E. Swap liners when the waterproof membrane in them dies long before the shell blows out.
F. Etc.

The new Arc'x boots could be awesome in a number of ways, but hiking will be believing. Here's to hoping.

Well, my local shop got an order of the new Arc'x Bora2 boots in (the ones with the removable liners) and I was eager to get a pair. That was until I tried them on. The fit was not what I was expecting and I'm not nearly as excited about them anymore. The floating gore tex liner was a bit loose and sagged in the toe area of one of the boots, creating what felt like a bunched up sock above my toenails. If anyone has ever lost toenails due to a slight rub against the nail over the course of tens of thousands of steps, you can appreciate how worrisome this is. The boots felt sort of long and narrow, and my normal shoe size (11.5 US) felt too big. I dropped down to an 11 and that improved matters in the toe area a little.

The liner is pretty thin and I wonder how many pressure points there will be from the shell of the boot. Because the shell and liner are separate pieces, the shell folds and bulges in odd ways around the lace area when you flex your foot, inviting trail debris into the space between the shell and liner. Maybe this is just an issue because the boot is new and the material not broken in. I was excited about the removeable liner (which does come out easily and has a sole on it, so it could serve as a camp slipper) but now I wonder if this might be a liability. The padding across the tongue and in the ankle is also pretty anemic. It just screams 'hot spots' later on if you get into challenging terrain and snug the laces down.

They might work okay in the long run, but my first impressions are not positive.

After my last Exped finally gave up the ghost I'm getting excited for my 2015 synmat winterlite to arrive in the coming days.

Besides that, I'll hopefully wrap up my carbon scooter project, and can't wait to put some miles on it!

3D laparoscope.

I've pretty much got everything that I need for hiking. Maybe a new rain set some day, and a down top with a hood (currently hoodless).

I'm changing my answer to flying skateboard too.

I'm looking forward to giving my MYOG hammock a few good runs to see if I like it in the woods. I also have to finish my bug bivy (solid to the knees, and a solid triangle at the head end for splash) and give that a run as well. Maybe a new shed for my old bivy, three tents, old packs that are big enough to be a bivy for a ten year old, old cookware, etc.

I'm really tempted to buy an EE quilt to clear up some backpack real estate… and of course a flying skateboard, one that comes under 500g.

8.9 ounce ZPacks synthetic jacket! I assume it will have a hood and be simple!

I've not bought anything new for myself….just the boys but I'm itching to get out and put some miles on my current gear.