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What worked this year


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Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)
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  • #3428197
    David Noll
    BPL Member

    @dpnoll

    Locale: Maroon Bells

    I was going to post some pictures of new gear that I used this year, along with a couple of trip reports, but since I am not able to post my pictures ( I assume it’s user incompetence) I’ll go with written.

    • Z Packs Duplex Tent- Spruce (.74 oz yard) I used it on 3 trips this year. Once solo for an overnight, once with a friend and finally a 4 day trip with my wife. Solo it’s a palace. With my friend and his 25″ pad it was tight but doable. With my wife and 2 20″ pads it was great. I really liked the ease of set up and the full 8″ bathtub floor. I had trouble with the carbon stakes coming apart ( 3 times) However, Z Packs immediately shipped out replacements. I will still switch to different stakes next year.
    • Innov8 295’s – For years I have used the 315’s and really liked them. The 295’s are as breathable as the old er 315’s but the sole feels a little less rigid. I’m not sure if that was really the case or that I didn’t get in as much pre trip roadwork. I will use them again next year.
    • Water purification – On one trip I used a Sawyer Squeeze and Micropur tabs and on the other trips a Squeeze and Aquamira drops. I really liked the second option esp traveling with my wife. It made purifying water easy. It will become my go to system. Using it in conjunction with a .75 liter Smart water bottle for back flushing (if needed) made for a worry free trip.
    • Katabatic Helios 55 Backpack – I used it on the overnight, a 4 day trip, and for an 8 day trip which turned into a 5 day. (but that’s another story) It carried very comfortably (27# for the 8 day) down to about 19# for the 4 day trip. I really like this pack. Between it and my McHale I won’t ever need another pack.
    • Cannister vs Esbit – I have mostly used esbit the last few years both for solo trips and when traveling with my wife. This year because of fire restrictions in the Wind River Range I had to use a canister stove. I used a Kovea Spider with my Trail Designs titanium windscreen (left open) and was very happy with the results. Boiling 1 liter of water in the morning and heating a meal for two in the evening usage was 1 oz of fuel per day. The set up was heavier than with esbit but because of ease I will probably go that way in the future. Especially when traveling with my wife.
    • Timberbrothers Titanium Spork – In the past I have always used a plastic spoon for eating while backpacking. This year I tried a titanium spork (.75 oz) and really liked it. I will order one for my wife this fall. I have broken and melted spoons (user error) in the past but that will no longer be a problem.
    • I have gone from a 10# base weight to around 12#  but at 68 years old why the heck not. A little extra comfort is really nice.
    #3428199
    JCH
    BPL Member

    @pastyj-2-2

    David, I have been using the Ruta Locura carbon stakes for two years with no issues.  They look similar to the ZPacks stakes, but given how different our experiences are, now I’m thinking they are not. YMMV.

    #3428217
    David Noll
    BPL Member

    @dpnoll

    Locale: Maroon Bells

    I’ll give them a look. Two of mine lost tips in soft clay and the other one was in hard ground. I never pounded on them either.

    #3428218
    Anthony Meaney
    BPL Member

    @ameaney

    Locale: Canada

    +1 on the Duplex I love that tent. Soloing with a Dog it has so much room. And with the two vestibules I don’t have clamber over the dog at night when nature calls.

    #3428281
    Jennifer Mitol
    Spectator

    @jenmitol

    Locale: In my dreams....

    I’ve stopped using carbon stakes for that reason. I’ve literally shattered at least one on every trip I took them on (it was the desert, hard packed ground – so user error?).

    Mine were the Ruta Locura ones.

    And isn’t the Helios amazing??!!  i seriously love that pack.

    #3428289
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    I’ve been using Vargo Ti nail stakes.  Worked really good.

    The striking force goes straight down to point.  Shepard hook stakes tend to bend a little.

    They’re larger diameter so more friction in looser soil.

    Make sure and get the ones with a larger diameter where the hole is, so they don’t break there.

    The only problem I’ve had is when they go into a root.  Hard to get them out.

    #3428295
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    Gosh, I didn’t buy much new gear this year (again).

    I did replace my Caldera Keg GVP Esbit stove after 5 years as my go-to stove with a Caldera Cone Fissure, and I stopped using my canister stoves (except for snow trips) and started using my old Svea much more often. The reason is that when I retired I did a budget and found I was spending a lot of money on gas canisters and Esbit. The Fissure is not much better than my early alcohol Caldera Cones, but it packs into a Ti pot that is much more robust than a beer can. So it works well for me and alcohol is much cheaper than canisters or Esbit. The cheapest fuel is white gas and I have really enjoyed using my Svea again.

    Yes, the Svea is a little heavy, but my 3 season base weight is around 8 pounds so all is fine in the weight department.

    Tragedy struck earlier this month when my 6 year old backpacking wristwatch died. So I bought another one that is similar

    I never tried those carbon stakes, they seem to be too fragile. I’ve been satisfied with a combination of Easton and Ti shepherd hooks for most trips, and also sometimes use snow stakes for winter or really sandy desert soil.

    I don’t plan on buying any new gear for the rest of my life other than stuff that wears out or breaks. It’s a good feeling and allows my bank account grow and there is no need to spend time reading gear reviews  :)

    #3428300
    David Chenault
    BPL Member

    @davec

    Locale: Queen City, MT

    -MSR Windboiler. Easy, fast, fuel efficient. Took it on every trip but one (where I was really trying to save weight).

    -2015 Alpacka Yukon Yak w/ cargo fly and WW deck. I won this at the APA Packraft Roundup last year, but due to low water never had the chance to put it to good use. This year I’ve been impressed with how stable the new hull is in whitewater, how dry and warm the WW deck is relative to the old cruiser deck, and how handy and stable the cargo fly is. It’s a lot simpler to rig skis to your boat with most of the gear inside, and last weekend I floated a deer out of the Bob inside the Yak, which kept the meat cool and dry. Having 90 pounds of gear plus meat in the tubes had remarkably little effect on the boat handling.

    -Sierra Designs Tensegrity 2 Elite. A great three-season tent for two adults plus an infant or toddler. Great interior space, excellent ventilation, and very practical in terms of gear storage and getting in or out while it’s raining.

    -Seek Outside Revolution frame. Backpacking with our son has seen me carrying some massive loads this year, and this system has consistently exceeded expectations. I’ve always been the limiting factor.

    #3428305
    Jerry Adams
    BPL Member

    @retiredjerry

    Locale: Oregon and Washington

    okay, say the cost per day for canister fuel is $0.50 or even $1.00

    tiny compared to other costs, like the cost of driving to and from the trailhead

    #3428325
    Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear
    BPL Member

    @jonfong

    Locale: FLAT CAT GEAR
    • GAIA gps, great app.  It came in handy in low visibility conditions and when there were a plethora of off shoot trails to choose from
    • Exped Pillow, I found that I enjoy and sleep better with a consistent surface to rest my head.  Works great when sleeping on my side
    • ExOffico Give-N-Go Sport Mesh 3″: the boys are happy
    • Hand sanitizer as a fuel: I made multiple trips overseas and was always able to find and use hand sanitizer instead of denatured alcohol
    • OR Ferossi pants -lightweight & dried fast.  They look great and I used them when not backpacking
    #3428350
    Tipi Walter
    BPL Member

    @tipiwalter

     

     

    Of course my Kahtoola microspikes have to be part of this list even though they do not work in deep wet snow as they pick up 5 lbs of the stuff under each boot and you’re walking on two big balls of wet snow.  Excellent though on ice and on steep descents in snow when temps are 0F.

    Love my Voile XLM snow shovel which is part of my standard winter load.

    Got a few Gear Aid zipper pulls for my tent doors.

    Really like my MLD eVent shell mitts which help keep my fleece gloves dry in the winter.

    Love my Mt Hardwear Nilas down mittens.  Backpacking buddy Patman (above) turned me on to these babies and they’re now part of my standard winter load, along with a pair of fleece inserts.

    A summary pic showing the spikes, the eVent mitts and the shovel.

    #3428369
    Sean B
    BPL Member

    @studlintsean

     

    I picked up a MLD Duomid this year to use solo (and occasionally with my dog). It has been great so far with the easy setup and plenty of room. Here it is below Knapsack Col in the WRR this summer.

    #3428377
    Lester Moore
    BPL Member

    @satori

    Locale: Olympic Peninsula, WA

    Lots of new gear in the closet this year. It all worked as well or better than anticipated through the summer, with only a few exceptions. Pretty much every piece of gear was new, except for the pillow, toothbrush, pants and misc. first aid items. The GG Gorilla pack, SMD Deschutes CF tarp and EE Enigma 20F quilt all worked great as new “big three” items. But the following things really stood out and exceeded expectations:

    • North Face Binary wind jacket – Light, reasonably durable and more useful than I thought it would be. Wore this nearly every day in the mornings while hiking, around camp at night, and even to bed over top other layers. I really like how it slides around under the quilt at night and does not get stuck on my mosquito netting like fleece clothing does.
    • Buff – first time using one was on the JMT this Fall. Wow, what a versatile piece of clothing it turned out to be.
    • Tyvek shoe covers – At only 0.5 ounces per pair, these were excellent light weight footwear for bathroom breaks at night and limited around-camp use. The trail runners are kept under the groundsheet for elbow support while sleeping, and they are a pain to extricate, put on, then re-position properly under the groundsheet after each pee break.
    • OR Sun Runner Hat – After using many different sun hats over the years, this is my new favorite. The ability to cinch it tight around the front of the neck really helps keep the sun off most of your face and neck, even in the wind. After 14 days on the JMT SOBO, I only applied a little dab of sun block to my nose and under each eye a few times each day, and my face never got burned once.
    • Eddie Bauer sun shirt – Excellent sun protection, fast drying, cool in the heat, insulating when needed, better ventilation than my Rail Riders eco mesh shirt, and it looks great around town too.

     

    #3428388
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    Sean, Sorry, I couldn’t resist a photo edit of your very cool pic!

    I can only guess it looked more like this in person…

    #3428391
    Sean B
    BPL Member

    @studlintsean

    Thanks Bob. No need for apologies. My brothers hexamid solo and youngest brothers contrail were also in the photo but I cropped them out already.

    #3428476
    Paul Wagner
    BPL Member

    @balzaccom

    Locale: Wine Country

    Not so much from our end.  I “edited” our homemade tent to give us a bit more space under the vestibule, and that seemed to work well, as did the extra guy line at the foot of the tent.

    I no longer carry my down puffy on trips in the summer—as I’ve found that the $15 alpaca sweater I bought in Peru works just as well, maybe better.

     

    #3428489
    Cameron M
    BPL Member

    @cameronm-aka-backstroke

    Locale: Los Angeles

    With regrets I am giving up on Ruta Locura. I lost five this summer, and did not appreciate waking up in the middle of the night when they busted.

    Black Diamond Vapor helmet- I just forget that it is there.

    Black Diamond Ion light (2016)- 1.5 oz with lithium batteries. Four times more light than the Petzl e-LITE when you need it, well worth the extra .5 oz.

    #3428591
    ben .
    BPL Member

    @frozenintime

    this is a nice idea for a thread.

    sea to summit ‘aeros’ pillow – i’m a 6’1″ side sleeper with wide-ish shoulders, so sleeping on a stuff sack of extra clothes just does not work for my neck. i tried a bunch of inflatable pillows and this one does the trick. the longer i’ve used it, the more i like it. it’s great! just under 4 ounces.

    steripen ultra – new for me this year. i like it. i dropped it onto a hardwood floor from about two feet up just before a big trip. it has a little rattle somewhere inside now (steripen said they’ll fix it for free), but the electronics all seem to be working fine. i prefer twiddling this around absentmindedly to using a sawyer squeeze.

    #3428596
    Ben C
    BPL Member

    @alexdrewreed

    Locale: Kentucky

    Not really a lot new for me this year but I did come to appreciate a few things a bit more:

    • My cuben trailstar.  I did a few days in the Winds and agreed to sleep in my friend’s hexamid twin on the nights I needed shelter.  We had one night of snow and heavy winds.  We were in an area that had very little natural wind break (Alpine Lakes).  We paid for it.  We were up most of the night with snow blowing in, stakes coming loose, and hands holding onto the tent.  I appreciate the trailstar a bit more now.
    • Gaia GPS is such a nice supplement to map and compass.  First, it’s a good tool to confirm what you think you see on the map.  There is nothing like having a “you are here” arrow on your map.  I also find it more convenient to use when you need to look at a map frequently. I can pull the phone out of my pocket and look at it without even stopping.
    • Caldera cone with Zelph stove.  I carry a lot less fuel than most people with this set up.
    • My old frameless Zpacks Blast (not arc blast) with the non-hybrid cuben.  I have used this pack for years and it is finally starting to show some wear.  I have a couple of pieces of tape on it now and don’t feel quite as confident in it as I used to.  I’m in the market for a new frameless pack soon.
    • My EE 20 degree quilt is not new.  But I had it in 20 degree weather this summer and never felt cold.  I have a lot of confidence in the rating on this quilt now.

    More importantly, I did trips with my wife, my sons, my best friends, and even a new backpacking friend.  It was a good year.

    #3428597
    Jake J
    BPL Member

    @psykokid

    Locale: Socal

    Soto Windmaster Stove- Picked it up a few months ago and have been really pleased with it’s performance. Small, light, and the sheltered burner head helps to shed wind and keep boil times low. Worked really well in breezy conditions last weekend at the base of Mount Tyndall. Much faster to reach a boil than my buddys MSR pocket rocket.

    Lightsmith Ankr Carbon Fiber tent stakes – Used them on a few trips this year and really like the way that they work. I really pounded them into some hard ground with a rock near Muir Lake up in Cottonwood Lakes and they took the abuse like a champ, the only damage being on the anodizing on the top aluminum bit.

    #3428804
    Russ W
    BPL Member

    @gatome83

    Locale: Southeastern US

    The transition from a full tent (TT Notch and TT SS2) to using only the fly, or given predictable weekend weather, simple ground protection with a bivy. Tarp only transition currently in progress.  I’m not suffering one little bit.

    #3428879
    Sr Al
    BPL Member

    @douchepacker

    Locale: PNW

    I may catch some flak for this, but last Xmas I bought my gf a Luci Inflatable LED lantern.  I thought it was so dumb, but she really wanted it and I stuffed it in her stocking.  I was pleasantly surprised with this unnecessary item..  We love it.  I hardly ever take it solo, but for any trip of 2+ people or car camping its great.  I do take it snow camping and its a great light to have in your tent when its dark at 4pm.

    #3428896
    Matt Swider
    Spectator

    @sbslider

    Locale: Santa Barbara

    kmart grease pot – I have gotten a ton of use with this $7 piece of gear both on the trail and at home.  From single pot dry baking to just a second 3 oz 1 quart pot.  It is no worse for wear after a full year of use.

    EE 30 degree quilt.  – Probably the most important single piece of gear I picked up this year.  It has allowed me to transition to much smaller and lighter weight packs.

    Petzl e-lite – all I need for a light. 1oz.

    ZPacks arc blast with backpack belt pouches, older velcro style – While I like my used arc blast I picked up earlier this year (17oz before added belt pouches) I simply loved the belt pouches that came with it.  I had to get used to carefully closing the velcro, but having roughly 2 liters of goodies at hand while hiking (and not banging around in shorts pockets) is awesome.  From snacks to eyeglasses to headlamp to bandana to phone/camera to  .. . the list goes on.  and being able to access with one hand and not stop hiking is the best.   I am so glad my pack included these pouches.  If I ever sell the pack it will be without them for sure.

    leaving a tent in my pack – on my summer 10 day trip I brought a hexamid twin, as it was the lightest tent I owned at the time (since sold).  I only set it up twice,as I found cowboy camping a much more attractive alternative.  polycro ground cloth did get used every night though.

    home made cuben rain skirt – did not rain yet on me, but when I am not using my tent the skirt makes a great additional clean area to lay gear near my sleeping area.

    Now that I have my gear mostly dialed in, looking forward to a bit more fine tuning as we prepare for the JMT next summer.

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