Every year lots of cool, shiny, new outdoor gear is introduced: clothes, tents, packs, lights, stoves, you name it. It is hard to keep in mind that this year’s newest wonder gear will soon be next year’s old stuff… and resist the “need” to upgrade right away. I try. Sometimes I succeed.
However, a beneficial [...]
“Cyberhobo” posted a comment on yesterdays reference to the Two-Heel Drive story on lightweight packs:
My MountainSmith Auspex is pretty tough for the weight. I think they nailed the perfect comprimise with it.
I have to agree. I also own an Auspex and it represents a very useful middle ground between the old school behemoth packs [...]
For the past few years - actually, longer than I had realized - I have most often used my Marmot Arroyo sleeping bag on Sierra summer pack trips. This is a lightweight bag (1 lb. 8 oz.) rated to 30 degrees. It has been just enough warmth for typical summer use - as long as [...]
I have a long pack trip coming up soon and I’ve been reevaluating and replacing equipment, as I always seem to do before long trips. In this case I’m not only succumbing to gear lust (though I’m not avoiding it entirely either… ;-), but I’m also trying to reduce pack weight a bit.
I have several [...]
Every time I take a substantial pack trip I end up buying new stuff - even though I thought I had everything I needed last year. Hmmm…
So far for this year’s trip the list includes:
Carbon fiber tripod and Acratech ballhead.
Syl-nylon pack cover and sleeping back compression sack.
Western Mountaineering Flight Jacket - though I actually [...]
My Western Mountaineering Flight Jacket arrived today. It is astonishingly light at something like 10 or 11 ounces. In makes my old (very old!) Sierra Designs jacket seem positively heavy by camparison.
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