Time to revive this thread!
I've posted some new gear & upgrades in the "Recent Hiking Pics" and "Pics You Took Today" threads, so these are repeats at this point.
I've been on the trail a lot (for me) this year. Last count, I've car-camped... once?, logged over 130 miles day hiking, done 4 backpacking overnighters, and a 3-day paddle camp trip, all between April 9 or so and Nov 13. Whew! Didn't think I had it in me.
All my gear is rather ancient (see fig 1, "Svea 123," above!), so I'm gradually trying new things and working on upgrades. The lure of Black Friday deals has me window (Ubuntu, actually) shopping this weekend.
Weight reduction (for backpacking) is a primary goal. I was tougher then... So far this year I've gotten a new sleeping pad (Klymit V), a decent pair of trail shoes (Saucony), an MSR-style gas canister stove (cheap chineseum), a 500ml titanium cook pot, an alcohol stove, and just added and a fuel bottle for alcohol. I also got a pair of trekking poles after borrowing a set & seeing the light.
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I've given up on going back to a (modernized) external frame pack. I got a used 1990's vintage Kelty, ditched the square pack bag, and tried various lashings/attachments of dry bags, but it got to the point of reinventing the wheel for no discernable advantage. I'm back to using my Gregory internal frame (1 center stay) until ... The Best New Thing strikes my fancy. It's heavy, and will probably prove too large for the trips I'll be doing for the foreseeable future (no more week long wilderness solos for me!), but I know it & have grown accustomed to its fit.
Next up will most probably be a trekking pole tent. I like the Durstan https://durstongear.com/product/x-mid-1p but I'm cheap, so may get one off Amazon. I've been warned that the polyester fabric is the better choice, as nylon is hydrophilic and will sag when wet.
If not the tent, then I'll be getting a down sleeping bag or quilt next. I borrowed one for the Nov 12-13 trip when it got down to 32F and now I'm hooked! Just have to find the right mix of practical temp rating and weight.
So who's got new stuff recently? What are you hoping Santa will bring?
How many calories a day do you take?
Does that Sawyer gravity system you posted use the dual-threaded version of the Sawyer? Would like something that I could use with a bottle or squeeze bag on the fly if I didn't want to use the gravity bag.
This is the filter on mine. I just threaded it onto a 20 oz Propel water bottle. Saw a lot of folks with them threaded to 1 liter bottles on the AT. I carry the gallon bag and my daughter carries the small bag with this filter in the link. The gravity bag is for camp. The squeeze bag is for topping off on the trail. FWIW, after seeing the Platypus system in use I'm going to look at it too. You don't have to babysit that system while it fills.
The Sawyer filter
Amazon product ASIN B07P1DZ583
Platypus
Amazon product ASIN B083XWB7WD
Do you have any recommendations for a one-bag-to-do-everything, be it a day trip, SHTF, etc? I am currently leaning towards the Mystery Ranch Blitz 30.
Great idea!Another trick I wish I had brought along was a cut soda can. Cut the ends off, split it down the middle, duct tape the edges, and you have a light weight spout to pull water off rocks into the filter.
Do you have any recommendations for a one-bag-to-do-everything, be it a day trip, SHTF, etc? I am currently leaning towards the Mystery Ranch Blitz 30.
Hm. That's worth looking into.@Windini As a former alcohol stove dork can you get the windscreen smaller? If you can mange to get it smaller than the pot you can do away with the stakes. Back when I was using a larger pot to actually cook food I used a cut down #5 can as the windscreen/pot holder. Might be tougher to do with that smaller pot.
I have a few sleeping bags that came with those. Pretty impressive how collapsed/compressed they getNew compression stuff sack/dry bags. Pretty happy with these. Fits my under and over quilts as well as my wife’s sleeping bag. Headed out with them tomorrow.
They have a roll top closure on top. 2 of the straps have quick release buckles to make it easier to pull the top over for compression. Not cheap, but not terrible for what they are. And very light. Waterproof.
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Over and under quilt
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Wife’s sleeping bag.
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I have a few sleeping bags that came with those. Pretty impressive how collapsed/compressed they get
I often hear my gear squealing like freight-train-goin-over-a-cliff brakes as I wring yet another penny's worth ofyeah, been using them for 25 years or so. The same ones. About time to upgrade. lol
I often hear my gear squealing like freight-train-goin-over-a-cliff brakes as I wring yet another penny's worth ofabusevalue out of it.
Those 80's dollars gotta a lot of stretch in 'em!