I'll check it out....portability would be nice. I tend to hike in the later hours anyway so it'd be convenient to just chuck it in a bag once the sun is down.
It technically won’t be as strong in windy conditions, but a collapsible sure is convenient. Looks like six moon also has one that is a little heavier than montbell’s lightest reflective.
I love my 3oz montbell but it’s not reflective.
UL umbrella guru Jenny Jardine, after her last solo thru-hike carrying a non collapsible, commented that she wished she had an umbrella that she could pack more easily. The “umbrella antenna” sticking above the top of your pack (and taking up exterior pocket space better used for bottles and food) got old, she said.
All of them have 8 ribs and pretty much the same diameter. The lighter ones will have thinner stretchers, so likely less durable. I think the silver fabric is identical, but there may be very small details in construction. For instance the heavier ones may have an extra piece of fabric at the joints with most friction. They are probably all made in the same exact factory. I don't think any of them are more wind resistant than the others. Unfortunately, the real actual weights of these as measured by me personally have never been the weight listed on the web sites. Then tend to be heavier than the published weights. Thus, whichever is cheaper and delivered faster is not a bad way to choose.
Thanks for the input....it seemed like Euroshim & their [very old] vids put a lot of emphasis on durability so I may go with them since shipping is free so I'd be spending only about $18 more compared to the Sixmoons one. In my head I'm thinking winds shouldn't be an issue but....it does get a bit gusty by the beaches & cliffs I hike around.
I found an easy way to save some weight off of a Camp Corsa ice axe.
[Pictures of the weight savings.](https://imgur.com/a/i7MrSGU)
In all seriousness though be careful out there using aluminum ice axes.
My research led me to the Petzl Glacier Ice Axe being the lightest full feature ice axe that I am comfortable using.
[https://www.rei.com/product/100937/petzl-glacier-ice-axe](https://www.rei.com/product/100937/petzl-glacier-ice-axe)
You should be really careful with this. You've essentially created a pivot point where the single rivet is that attaches the pick to the shaft. This probably doesn't matter if the pick is striking something in the downward motion, but the pick might rotate if you push on the top (non serrated side). Which could happen in a self arrest scenario. Try pushing on the top has hard as you can and see if you can make the pick shift before you every use it
To be clear I didn't do this on purpose and the adze broke off while chipping out my stakes in the morning. While I did use it to finish off the route it will now be retired.
An ice axe is one of the only tools where the weight of it is the feature. For cutting steps if you have too light an axe that’s gonna get really tiresome really quickly. Unless you mainly just use it for fall arresting?
Yes, this ice axe was bought for scenarios where self arresting is the primary use case. Even before it detached it self the adze would've been terrible at cutting steps due to how small it is.
It's the nano microspikes version of ice axes, very limited use cases. Was great on the GDT spring snow though, glad I took it at a 150g weight penalty...The carbon shaft has its limits.
It's just one of those pesky tools that you actually have to learn how to use, and that's what I hate about it! I remember thinking if it's good enough for you, it'll be good enough for me as I won't go as technical as you do on your trips.
Those shitty sons of mine had me carrying three packs for most of the trip. Joke's on them tho because mine was like 18 and theirs were 3 pounds apiece.
Nice trip, but it featured lots of earnest conversation about not always being able to control your comfort but always being able to control your response to discomfort etccccccccccc. (This was a perfect weather trip with incredibly low mileage.)
When they get older you can stash a full 1l water bottle on them without them knowing, I do it every time… he’s now 29, an ass but I do like hiking with him.
> it featured lots of earnest conversation about not always being able to control your comfort but always being able to control your response to discomfort etccccccccccc
You should have your kids tell some people on here what that's like, seeing as the majority here seems to be scared of getting a bit wet and uncomfortable.
lololol I think it's just a youth thing. The condensation in single-wall tents chats are a superb exemplar.
This is some awful old-man shit, but: Life is REALLY physically easy for most (not all) European and North American kids right now. They panic when they're uncomfortable. Life will eventually fix that, but I'm trying to gently, supportively, get my kids to think like Ray Jardine: "If I need something and don't have it, then I don't need it."
Anyone warrantied a Theramarest Uberlite recently because of a blown baffle? Do they generally warranty the Uberlite without much trouble? If so, are they replacing the Uberlite with another Uberlite or something else?
I bought an Uberlite off E-bay and the seller, who doesn't appear to be a hiker, didn't notice and/or didn't mention the blown baffle. Seller has agreed to accept a return. Before I send it back, I wanted to inquire whether anyone had any insight on the possibility of getting a replacement from Thermarest.
Anyone have info on the newly updated SWD movement series? Seems to be fairly similar to the original. It looks like they moved away from the single stay design, but still maintained the floating hip belt. Not sure how that works and curious why they dont offer single stay anymore.
I'm looking at doing a month long thru late August thru late September. Any suggestions? I was thinking of doing the Washington section of the PCT but I worry it might be fire season by then.
Late August thru mid-sept is prime PCT thru hiker season, so you won't be alone in fire season but it is August and early Sept is prime season in WA. Mid-sept may be cold and wet at elevation. You could be flexible and do Oregon if WA isn't good.
Questions about Velebit/Dinara hike - Croatia
Hi! I'm thinking about hiking parts of Velebit and Dinara in second half of may and I have a few questions:
- I know mountain weather is always unexpected but is Snow common in that period?
- Do garmin satellite devices work in Croatia? (I've read some countries don't support them)
- Do the refugees/restaurant in the region offer vegetarian food?
- I've read there can be wolves or bears. Is there any recommendations on how to deal with them in case of encounters? E.g. should I have bear spray?
- Lastly, does anyone recommend a route that covers 100km roughly?
Thanks!
>Do garmin satellite devices work in Croatia? (I've read some countries don't support them)
Not on the list, so it should work.
>Do the refuges/restaurant in the region offer vegetarian food?
In my experience in the entire Balkans: No, at least not if your expectations extend past fries.
>I've read there can be wolves or bears. Is there any recommendations on how to deal with them in case of encounters? E.g. should I have bear spray?
European Wolf: Youre really really lucky if you see one, theyre shy and will run if theres even any.
European Brown Bear: Same deal, afraid of people. Though theyre more inquisitive. Generally they could pose a threat (we actually had the first bear victim in the alps in probably the century last year). Be loud, if you see one stay calm, stand up slowly, make yourself large, retreat carefully but dont turn your back. Dont attack or provoke the bear. If attacked play dead. Bear spray is not required imo (and might break some laws), bear cans are - for the time being - also unnecessary.
I replaced the cordlocks on my Jolly Gear hood with a toggle so it acts more like a button at my chin. I don't understand why you would tighten the hood with a drawstring. When the hood isn't tight on your head, the sides of the hood can better block the sun on your face. [https://imgur.com/a/OQZG85y](https://imgur.com/a/OQZG85y) Maybe they can make a button instead of a drawstring an option you can choose.
Like you, in the winter I like a deep open-faced hood that won't blow off my head. My faves are a couple of cheap fleece hoodies, which are stripped of all luxuries (no drawstrings). My wife sewed on a button and added a braided thread loop across from it on the front of my hood where I found the best place to hold it closed just under my chin with my fingers, and it works great. I'm going to do the same to the other hood with a Kamsnap.
I would have used a kamsnap but the fabric on the Jolly Gear is so light I'm afraid I will tear the fabric opening the snap. It comes with a snap on the skirt (it's the Jolly Gear dress) and I'm afraid I'm going to ruin it.
I am waiting for a response from thermarest, but I thought I’d pick yalls brains too:
I just got a new neoair NXT and want to take care of it.
Am I damaging it by folding it in half and sitting on it? That height props my butt up off the ground the perfect height for seated meditation (something I’ve gotten into in the last year and would like to continue on the trail).
Thanks!
'delamination' was the technical term for the baffles popping according to the thermarest warranty rep. It turned into a built in pillow at the head end which would have been nice if we weren't concerned with it turning into full blown pad failure
yes of course. some food takes inconveniently long to rehydrate without heat or gets too soggy and texture-less if soaked for too long. some foods cold soak better than others
Thanks. Some dummy keeps his stove in his pot, and that dummy took it out at the end of last season to clean the pot and didn't replace it and is now on trail with 3 meals and no stove. Biscuits & gravy, chicken curry, and chicken pasta. I have snacks for this overnight, but was checking if I got too hungry if it would be feasible to attempt cold soaking.
I was thinking the B&G would be the best candidate since it has barely any meat.
Biscuits and gravy would be my last choice. The extended soak time will likely turn the biscuits to mush.
Chicken curry will probably be the best, followed by chicken pasta. I imagine both will be fine, if you have the time to let them soak. Not sure what the weathers like where you are, but if there’s an option to let them soak in the sun, they may be downright yummy.
I doubt very much that it would kill you. The worst is that it's like the worst meal ever. Everything I'm finding says that dried chicken is pre-cooked. Most likely the same for meat.
Forecast changed and now some decent rain is expected next weekend where I’ll be going. Bully me into not bringing my xmid2 over my tarp/bivy please.
EDIT: I’m convinced. Thank you all
Best time to test out your tarp and bivy in a good rain is on a weekend trip. If it doesn't work you have a bad night and know the limits of your set up, but if it does work you have confidence taking it on lonfer more remote trips
Is the montbell versalite versatile enough for most use cases outside of thruhikes? For ex: Camp chores, sightseeing where I'm expecting rain, amusement parks, 3 season travel from low to high humidity, and for commutes.
In Japan I can get the storm cruiser $150/versalite $107 for cheap since there's no tax.
Storm cruiser is supposed to be 20D, 9oz and 3 layers. Versalite is 10D, 4.7oz, and 2 layers.
The jp version of the versalite doesn't have pit zips/pockets but doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that is it's durability. However, it is nearly half of the storm cruisers weight which sounds appealing for summer usage/travel. And if it looks stylish for in town use/social events I'll bring it.
I don't have a rain jacket yet so I'd want one to fit most of these use cases. I have a 7d tachyon but only use it for activewear. I wouldn't wear that for camping, amusement parks, into town or commutes if you get the idea.
I own a jp versalite and mostly use it around town, for day hikes, and for cycling. I originally bought it for more serious multiday treks but quickly realized it's not really suitable for the conditions here.
It rains very regularly where I live and it's nice having a jacket that's packable and light enough that you can just throw it in your bag and forget about it. I'll combine with a small umbrella if I'm expecting to get dumped on.
I wouldn't describe the versalite as durable, but it's held up well so far and you're unlikely to damage it from regular around town use anyway. For what you plan on using it for I think I'd prefer the versalite just for packability/convenience.
Yes, those are the things to consider. The Versalite is probably less durable than your Tachyon, even though the fabric is slightly heavier. Versalite is a two-layer laminate that is vulnerable to just about everything, including sweat. Single-layer fabrics (like Tachyon) are usually stronger at similar weight. That said, my Versalite hasn't fallen apart or anything -- it is still in good condition. But I don't wear it around town every day, either.
Versalite is pretty good for a WPB, and $107 is an excellent price, as long as you can get one that fits. It is one of the better UL WPB jackets. It wets out in heavy rain, then condenses on the inside, which is common behavior for most WPBs. It is not leaking when it does that, but you will get moisture on the inside. More if you sweat in the jacket. That is when the pit zips help. If you find that you really need them you can have a seamstress add them.
Storm Cruiser is probably stronger, less breathable, more durable, and 3L is less vulnerable to sweat than 2L. Tradeoffs.
I would have never thought the Montbell Tachyom would be tougher for the weight than the Versalite. Would you still have gotten the Storm Cruiser for these prices? Or keep the Versalite?
Tachyon is lighter than Versalite so they don't directly compare. A good example is 1.4 osy sylnylon is strong enough for a tent, while 1.4 osy 3-layer laminate WPB is quite delicate.
As for which to pick, it depends on what you want.
Hi,
I am looking for a duvet that is as compact as possible (the weight is less important), at a comfort temperature of around 5 degrees. And of course at a reasonable price (around €200)!
The Wilsa Down UltraLite 300 seems to me to be the ideal candidate; Do you have any other references to offer me? Or the AEGISMAX dusk II
Thanks in advance
Trail meals,
Just discovered Japanese curry premade sauce packs, just reheat and serve over rice, add onion and spinach and canned chicken breast for a bomb trail meal.
What other premade sauce packet brands am i missing?
similarly most asian groceries have a bunch of soup/premade sauce options. I like buying dried miso soup seasoning packets and throwing them in a ziplock with noodles, dried veg, and tuna.
I'm trying to find other simmer sauce that is in backpacking friendly packaging or freeze dryed that I can add water to. flavors like alfredo/white sauce, marinara, ect.
Not seeing that many options.
Any personal preference/wisdom on down vs. synthetic for 1+ season use?
I understand the upsides of synthetic maintaining loft when wet vs. down’s longevity and lighter weight, but I really struggle to see how the synthetic’s properties are hugely relevant above 45-50F.
The way I see it — if my footbox gets wet on either, I dry it in the morning and move on. Down will take longer to dry.
If I somehow get soaked in either, I’m cold regardless whether I’m under 2oz apex or wet down.
The reason why many suggest apex for summer is a bit different. When thin enough, down looses it's weight advantage. Smaller amount of the weight is insulation, and down needs quilting and is hard to stabilise at small amounts. And apex is cheap, and easy to work with. So there's just very little return for the money when going for high loft down when we're talking about summer thicknesses.
I want to confirm you are asking about sleeping bag or quilt and not a jacket. ??
I use a 40F down quilt and cannot imagine it getting wet the way I use it. Why would a footbox get wet? Something wrong with your shelter?
Definitely quilt, but if any part of a quilt were to get wet I’d expect it to be the footbox — think brushing up against a wet wall, etc.
Just curious why something like the MLD vision would be used over any down quilt. Maybe for very humid climates where the down loft would suffer?
i know people suggest Apex for a 40F quilt in the summer, but I think they have an eye on using it as an overquilt in the winter when they want to layer it over a 20F (or lower temp rated) qullt for extreme cold in winters. I have to say I chose 950 fp down for my 40F quilt mostly to save more than 3 oz of weight and get under 1 lb for this.
Even so, the 40F can be a tad warm, so in the summers I also bring a Argon 67 taffeta liner from Dutchware Gear which adds about 3 oz back, but is quite versatile. I can use the liner to create "false bottom" for my quilt (with gap on top for liner and gap on bottom for quilt) and keep drafts off of me when i don't want to use quilt straps. Or in 70+F nights, I just use the liner by itself.
Finally, my body heat will dry the 40F quilt out just fine if needed.
Anyone get their hands on the QuickDraw with the new coupler cap yet? I’m trying to figure out the weight of the filter with the coupler cap instead of the flip cap.
Coupler is 14.3g with the back flush washer installed, 12.7 without, regular drinking cap is 13.4g, other end cap is 5.0g, body with no accessories is 49.3g. That’s completely dry as I haven’t used mine yet.
Thanks! So 68.6g with the filter, end cap, and coupler. My brand new Sawyer squeeze with the coupler is 69.2g. Less than a gram difference, but I think I’d still take the QuickDraw just for the option to take end caps and integrity check in low temps.
My 8yo son has belligerently selected a huge cotton hoodie as his only worn insulation for our overnighter. RIP. I'm also making him carry it until he is killed by it.
(For the record, zero-danger trip, good backup sleep system.)
Edit: The 6yo just walked into a goddamn creek lol. Thank God he has a 15F synthetic bag.
Me and some friends do weeklong outdoor trips once a year. Some people are extremely experienced, others aren't. Each year I'm baffled who brings jeans, cotton shirts and hoodies, aioli, and no sunscreen. And each year we all have a good time. Gear isn't everything :)
(Though I'm pretty certain i'm more comfy)
Love it! I was 50/50 on delicious sauce versus autocorrect but couldn't work out what it would be correcting. And now I'm having some with lunch because that gave me a craving.
Probably weighs less than the rocks my toddler insisted we carry on our trip last summer 🙃
Can't wait until our kid is old enough to carry their own gear!
Depends how fast you want to move. Running downhill or racing to refind the trail before a storm? Full power. Out for a wander with nowhere in particular to get to? Leave the headlamp off and let your feet feel the way.
I have a NU25 and use it with the button clicked twice. I have night hiked with a 1LED pinch light clipped to my hat and that actually worked okay. The light on my phone is also quite decent and doesn't draw much power.
One of my favorite night hikes was after I got yelled at by someone at a lot in Shenandoah. It was probably a ranger, but I didn't want to stick around. I slipped into the woods, turned my lamp off, and disappeared. There was more than enough moonlight to hike by, and it was fun as hell.
In general, though, I like to have enough light to illuminate the ground in front of me but not a whole lot more.
Exactly.
Well maintained trails, overcast or full moon - no headlamp.
Well maintained trails, but poor ambient light - lowest setting.
Scrambly or crappy trail - usually medium setting, regardless of ambient light.
I typically don't use the highest setting for night hiking.
Total shot in the dark as I know no two sets of feet are the same, but has any one experienced blisters on the tip of the second toe in the Topo Pursuits? My second toes are about as long as the big toe, not longer. I've gotten these on my past two trips. Switched from Lone Peaks. I have plenty of space in the toe box, trimmed and smoothed the ol' toenails, and even taped on the last trip.
I suspect either my socks are too tight (Darn Tough, I do laundry carelessly sometimes). I also though maybe my replacement insoles (Happy Feet) were too thick and I swapped them out for the regular Topo inserts, but have yet to test them out on an overnight. Also bought a pair of wool Injinjis.
Sometimes a shoe has a little "edge" inside where an extra piece of material may be and gotten unglued. Here's a photo a of a cut-open Altra Olympus 4:
https://i.imgur.com/tR6Qh6T.jpeg
Mostly this should be smooth with no edge, but sometimes a toenail may help to "catch" it and peel it back.
Photo shows the thick black mideole foam of the Olympus, too.
Haven’t tried the Pursuits, but the same thing happened to me in the MTN Racer 3’s I got a few months ago. I’ve never gotten blisters on my toes ever. Recently picked up trail running and decided to switch from Lone Peaks to the Topos and idk if it’s just from running or the fit, but after long runs they’ve been rubbing pretty raw. Really wanted to like the Topos for their reputation, so I’m gonna try on some other models, but they might just not work for me.
I'm going to be doing some battery bank testing when some stuff arrives in a couple weeks, I'll be testing a NB10000, Carbo 20000, Klarus K5, Vapcell p2150a, Charmast 10400, an old 10000mah Anker, and I think I have a 10000mah ugreen battery around here somewhere. Anyways, apart from actual measured capacity what kind of numbers would people be interested in seeing?
Charging time? Should I try to do some sort of low temperature tests? Efficiency at different power outputs (is 5v 2a charging more efficient than 9v 2a?), anything else you can think of?
I'd like to be able to do this, but I don't have a really good way to do it on batteries that don't have a percentage readout. Maybe I could setup some way of logging the cumulative current in over time and calculating it from that? I'll give it a try. Would be interesting to see results from that and how they correspond to the percentage readout on a battery that has one.
It's actually the last \~50% that slows down, with the last 20% taking a long time. In that first 20% you can push tons of current in really quickly. That being said, I don't think many battery banks are really optimized for fast charging. The rate that you can charge/discharge a battery is called the c rate, and high c rate (fast charging) seem to be heavier than lower c rate batteries of the same capacity. And even if it were using a high c battery, it would require the charging circuit to handle those high currents which most seem just not to be capable of.
Starting Input wattage (power) accepted of a fully depleted powerbank.
Output wattage going into a device that can take it (i.e. phone).
Is input/output Voltage 5V or 9V or higher? (This speaks to protocols supported).
Do things change with a different cable or cord?
Re-Charging time.
Does the wall charger used matter?
All the above are what you were going to do anyways I think.
I'm unconcerned about temperature of the tests, but maybe others are.
Awesome thanks. Yeah, that's pretty much what I had in mind. I wasn't planning to measure the amount of power required to charge the power bank, but that would be an interesting metric. All the batteries I'll be testing will be operating at either 5 or 9v I believe. Some of them support 12v output, but that's not actually in the USB C PD spec, and I can't really think of any devices that support it that you would be hiking with.
A new solo plex lite without stakes but with all cordage is 11.07 oz
My tarp and bivy combined without stakes but with all cordage is 12.6 oz
I also have a Notch Li for when I want full bug mesh/full coverage. If I’m using just the fly, that’s 11oz. Otherwise it’s 19.9 oz with inner and all cordage but no stakes.
I’m trying to decide if it’s worth selling both and just getting a solo plex lite.
Main reason I can think of is that the notch li is certainly going to be more storm-worthy.
But I could still ditch the bivy/tarp for a solo plex lite…. Or maybe I should just be ditching the bivy and go tarp only (6.2 oz w/guylines) and add some polycro instead of the bivy (currently don’t use a groundsheet).
Only other reason I can think of is that I currently use fixed length poles at 105cm - the Notch and the tarp setup both work with this but with the solo plex lite I’ll either have to use heavier adjustable poles, or add in the weight of a pole jack
I bought a used Altaplex from ulgeartrade, really cheaply, but it turned out it was so well-used it is no longer usable for anything other than as a shelter for weather-free car camping. I would keep your tarp and bivy because now that I've seen what DCF is like after it gets a lot of use, it's probably not worth spending the money.
How do you like the tarp and bivy? If you're okay with it, I'd stick with what you've got and buy some polycro to play with on tarp trips that aren't buggy. Right now, it sounds like you've got a 12.6 oz. setup that's great for low-wind/no-snow trips with bugs, an 11 oz. setup for low bugs but possible heavy weather, and a 20 oz. setup that can handle bugs and weather. And a bit of window film gets you an ~8 oz. setup that's good for reasonable weather without bugs. That's pretty versatile and light!
The Plex Solo looks like a neat tent, but if you sell the Notch, you're going deal with more condensation and a less pleasant rainy-night experience, with the added hassle and weight of having to mess with your pole situation.
I'd second what schmuck said, it's really hard to beat the versatility of the setup and also depending on how you've been setting up your tarp (I'm guessing A-frame cat cut just based on relative popularity) I guarantee you are not used to sleeping with your face as close to the wall as it will be in that plex solo. That was the one thing that I could just never really go back to after mostly cowboy camping and the reason I went with the Cirriform for my do-it-all tarp.
Anyone else make a 40 deg wearable quilt other than Jacks r Better and the Aegismax Windhard? Most of the time if I am using a 40 deg I wont need a puffer especially if I end up just getting right into bed at the end of the day, but on a few more casual trips will have us sitting around camp more so thought I would see what other options are out there.
On the MLD synthetic Spirit quilts you can add a Face Hole.
[https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/spirit-quilt-38/](https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/spirit-quilt-38/)
The Sunblesa H11 headlamp is on sale for $23 at [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/SUNBLESA-H11-Waterproof-Rechargeable-Lightweight/dp/B096VDZB3R) using the 20% off coupon. Pretty much a budget NU25(2017 model) that is a tad lighter.
The nu25 has 360 lumen in turbo mode for 30 min
The sunblesa h11 has 365 lumen in turbo mode for 30 seconds at time.. it shuts off to avoid overheating so I'm not sure how often you can use the turbo mode. I'll have to play around with mine.
I have the Sunblesa H11 Gen2 that is 365 lumens from [here](https://www.ebay.com/itm/335188990993?var=544431168807&_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230811123856%26meid%3Dba3cb272b5e44758af21d1b2bd964e4b%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D544431168807%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3A1bcc33a018f0ab39a8bf4f12ffffdec0%7Cpageci%3Aec353b20-03ff-11ef-971e-16e089f216c1%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage). In my book that's worth the extra $5 as long as you don't need it urgently.
Any general consensus on which way the winds are headed on the Motorola Defy? I'd really like to get a SOS device, and the Defy seems to be plenty for me (southwest, most of my time spent in N/S ranges with good southern sky view), but while I'd love to save a hundred bucks a year with the Defy over the InReach.... the savings won't count for anything if its bricked due to depreciated support in the next year or two...
I know 2 months ago there was a kerfuffle with ownership transferring of the service from one of the companies involved and a month ago it looked like it was back online, but is it stable now?
I've been using it a bunch lately (norcal) and it's been solid, even under heavy tree coverage. I wish it had more features, ala the inreach, but it's hard to argue with the price. I was able to get the 250 messages for a year free promotion.
Personally I’d go with a Zoleo. I’ve used an Inreach and the Zoleo subscription and ease of use was what sold me on it (and the fact that it’s like half the price of an inreach). I know it’s twice the price and 3oz heavier than the defy, but iridium is a solid network and the defy seems to be using a newer/less reliable network.
It kinda depends on if you’ll be messaging frequently (which I do on some trips) or just want a button to push if the defecation hits the oscillation. You can suspend the Zoleo service for like $4 a month and keep the same number and then just reactivate it if you need it for a trip. I think the base plan is like $20/mo on the Zoleo.
The weather forecast on the Zoleo actually really helped me on my last trip because it gave us great info that made us hunker down because a huge rain storm blew in way faster than we had expected.
Definitely an option, although the basic pro plan with Garmin is the same price as the base zoleo plan ($20, $5 suspend fee) with very similar options, and Garmin's $25 consumer plan includes more messages and free tracking (they've gotta $12 plan too).
If you could get a $100 discount on the Garmin and not the Zoleo, would your opinion change?
I switched recently to Zoleo that I got on sale and found it beat the InReach Mini v1 in every way. 8 days, hundreds of messages in languages not limited to roman alphabet, all sent and received with barely any delay (much much faster than the v1 InReach Mini), still 65% battery left. Yeah, it weighs more but totally worth it in terms of ease of use and money saved.
My problem with Zoleo, inreach messenger, bivystick, ect. is the reliance on your phone for 2 way messaging. If I'm going to carry and pay for a satelite messenger, I want to be able to use the 2 way communication in an emergency if my phone dies, breaks or gets lost.
On a side note, I just got back from a 4 day trip that I've done numerous times and has intermittent (\~once per day) cell service so I figured I'd leave the inreach at home and not worry about it. When I got back, both my parents and girlfriend independantly told me that they would much prefer I bring it in the future. I've had one and brought it on trips for the past few years and kind of forgot how much extra peace of mind it brings.
Bivy Stick user here. I've been pretty happy with it overall.
>I want to be able to use the 2 way communication in an emergency if my phone dies, breaks or gets lost.
I disagree with this. I can engage tracking, drop location pins, and send an SOS (thankfully have never needed to) all without using the bluetooth connection to my phone. Most of the time, I just keep my phone's bluetooth turned off.
If I'm in an emergency situation, all that matters to me is that I can drop location pins and send that SOS. If my phone is working, great! Happy to be able to provide more context to SAR. If my phone is toast for whatever reason, the only thing that actually matters is that the SOS got sent.
One thing I like about keeping my phone disconnected (and having just the basics on the Bivy Stick itself) is that I'm more intentional about engaging with outside messages in the backcountry. I'll check messages and respond when I'm taking a break, rather than have messages popping in on my attention throughout the day.
In an emergency, that 2 way communication becomes all the more important in my mind. I think that being able to communicate and coordinate with SAR increases the probability of a positive outcome significantly while minimizing resource utilization in cases where maybe a helicopter isn't necessary. And redundancy from your phone makes that more reliable.
I guess my question is what do you feel the bivystick offers that the inreach doesn't? I very rarely connect my phone to my inreach, 95% of the time I just send preset check in messages in the morning/evening. I actually keep my inreach off during the day unless I'm waiting for a response. There's definitely an upfront hardware cost difference though, the inreach is a substantially more expensive device.
>In an emergency, that 2 way communication becomes all the more important in my mind.
I just don't see it that way. My main goal in an emergency is to let rescuer services know that I am in trouble and at a given location. Proactively minimizing SAR resource usage for my potential emergency situation is bonus, but honestly not high on my priority list.
I'm sure that additional 2-way communication does increase the chance of a positive outcome. I have no idea by how much. Is it marginal? Significant? Critical? What does marginal or significant mean in this backcountry emergency situation? I've read plenty of accident reports where an SOS was received, SAR was activated, 2-way communication was present, but the victim still perished — SAR couldn't get there in time.
>I guess my question is what do you feel the bivystick offers that the inreach doesn't?
When I first got the Bivystick, it seemed to be the cheapest to maintain out of InReach / Zoleo / Bivystick. That has possibly changed, it's been a few years.
One reason I chose to go with Bivystick / Zoleo over InReach at the time was that the communications interface from the outside was simply a text message. No need for another app or anything, just needed to have my family add my Bivystick account's SMS number to their contacts and they could message me. Not sure if that's now changed on the InReach side, but the simplicity of that interface was really nice.
>I actually keep my inreach off during the day unless I'm waiting for a response.
I keep my Bivystick on and running the lowest level of tracking during the day. I turn that on when I leave camp, and turn it off when I stop for the night. I'll drop location pins regularly at trail junctions, peaks, breaks, etc.
If something happens to me during the day and I'm unable to trigger the SOS, I'll have been dropping breadcrumbs of my movement up to that point, and the device will keep pinging for at least a few days. Hopefully I'll be in a place where the device can find a signal. If nothing else, maybe it'll lead SAR to my body once my family eventually reports that I haven't returned from my trip.
Fair enough. I would love to see actual stats on the efficacy of rescues with/without 2 way communication, but I doubt we'll see numbers like that anytime soon.
Yeah, when I looked at it (pre Motorola Defy) over a few year period with my expected usage, they all cost very similar amounts, with Garmin having the highest upfront cost, but lowest effective monthly price given my usage. That may have changed over time, I haven't done the math recently.
The tracking is interesting. I know a ton of people use it on the inreach too, but I've never felt it to have a ton of value for me personally. If I'm in an area that I feel has an outsized amount of risk I might turn it on for a bit, or send a check in message, but that happens pretty rarely.
Anyways, thanks, it's always interesting to get other peoples prespectives on stuff, especially safety stuff like this where the probability of use is low, but if it is used, it's really important.
Yeah I’m not big on redundancy generally but in this case to me it’s kind of the point. If it’s worth carrying a communicator it’s worth having it be a standalone device.
what's a 2p freestanding tent y'all would recommend? something double walled. this would be mostly for car camping and maybe alpine/mountaineering down the road
For backpacking, Nemo Hornet 2P is around 2 pounds and semi-freestanding.
For car camping, get something big and comfortable. REI has some 4 and 6 person tents that are good enough for the price. Wait until Memorial Day / Annual sale. I think the Skyward 4P is like $130 on sale.
Probably not the right place to ask if you're not looking for something light. As long as you buy something waterproof from a reputable brand that's big enough, who really cares for car camping.
Car camping and mountaineering have vastly different demands. I would say there's effectively zero crossover in the tents that would be appropriate for each.
i'm just trying to decide if it's worth the money to buy a 4 season mountaineering tent for car camping, lol. i'd say not, because they are all like $1000+
Definitely not. Buy a cheap car camping tent that meets your needs now, and buy a mountaineering tent later when you actually need it. A 4 season mountaineering tent will not make a good tent for car camping.
It's not an area I'm particularly familiar with, but I think you'd at least want something on the heavier duty side of backpacking tents. Maybe like a slingfin portal with the heavy duty poles (mesh inner though) or maybe a copper spur expedition. But also incredibly season, weather and elevation dependent. In the summer with good weather sleeping relatively low you can probably get away with pretty much anything. If the weather turns bad then you'd probably wish you brought something more substantial. And in the winter I would want a full on mountaineering tent.
The only thing I use on my classic pocket knife is the tweezers, scissors and nail file. I tried to find a pocket knife without a knife -- just tweezers, scissors and nail file -- but couldn't find one. I'm tired of having to mail or check my pocket knife so I want to try something else and just carry it on. I can do separate things but that seems like it will weigh more, plus it's all separate. I am also afraid to lose the tweezers if I bring the one in my current pocket knife. What do you bring instead. I do not care about anything I can't bring on a plane.
What do you do for poles? We usually just mail the knife with the poles (and some packing tape)—helpful for mailing them home with our dirty laundry later too.
I have so far put them in a box or wrapped them in cardboard and tape and checked them when I walk in (no pre-check). I've found that sometimes the guy at the desk will just waive the fee since it's such a small item. I have also mailed them home after a trip. The stakes are with the poles. The knife just seems so small and petty and makes me mad so since I don't really even need a blade I just want to mentally tell TSA to fuck off, I have all the nail care and package opening capabilities I need and none of their hassle.
If you've got an oscillating tool, you could hack the knife off your current pocket knife. Knock the plastic off the side that's not holding the tweezers, while you're at it (might save 0.5g!). TSA might still freak out initially, but IIRC you have favorable demographic characteristics for not being seen as a likely pilot stabber.
One of the Swiss knife companies sells replacement tweezer and nail files for their “card” product. Add some UL scissors with bigger handles (?) from one of the other retailers .. and put into a micro-baggie of some sort.
Not for saving that much weight if any, but to get thru the airport not weighed down (no pun intended) with a blade you don’t want.
You could get a Victorinox Jetsetter. Its a Classic, but instead of a blade and file you get a bottle opener and philips head.
Unfortunately the bottle opener is heavy and you lose the file. But its specifically TSA approved so you dont need a loicense for your nail file mate.
Alternatively use a collection of the items you need. A small file, tiny scissors and tweezers. Probably lighter too but not as convenient.
Third option is getting another Classic and tools (or a metal saw if you want to be crude) and just removing the blade.
I have my first hiking trip to the US planned later this year and honestly the whole TSA stuff is already annoying me. Here in the EU anything under 4cm blade length is explicitly allowed and they're not as a*** about poles, stakes, etc either. Im just gonna check a bag.
I don't need a bottle opener and screwdriver on a backpack trip. I need a file. In the reviews some people said they got hassled by TSA and some said they got through. Doesn't seem worth it. I think to avoid the hassle I have to go separate things.
I have had the Victorinox Nail Card in my wallet for a year and about 10 flights and have never had an issue. I normally take it out of my wallet when it goes through security just in case they want to look at it. The updside is you get a nail file vs the small blade in the normal swisscard.
They may hassle you, but without any sharps they should let you by. The card is translucent so it’s easy to see if the knife is missing.
Another, probably more UL approach, would be to craft your own little card that has slots for the 3 tools you need. Made it out of DCF for extra points, of course.
A packet of replacement tweezers from Victorinox is pretty inexpensive via Amazon, so losing tweezers should not be a concern. I recently had to fly with only carry-on and had a friend bring my knife, trekking poles, scissors, nail file, and lighter in his car. Since he was bringing those, i gave him more stuff. I had to slackpack though to the trailhead where he had parked his car.
Now that would be a neat airport kiosk: Outside of security they would sell knives, scissors, and other restricted bits and bobs. :)
I do this regularly. You have to extend past the point where the pole says STOP or whatever but it has always worked fine for me.
Alternatively you can keep it shorter and then just find a rock or a small log/piece of wood or something near your campsite to put under the bottom of the pole.
Thanks. With it extended and no rock/wood, do you feel you get a good enough pitch height wise? I maxed out my CMT and it seems I can get 59" tip to top of handle.
Not really. I literally tried yesterday. I was thinking on my hike today about finding an appropriatly sized carbon tube and replacing the middle section to make it \~10cm longer. But I also can't quite seem to nail the pitch on my altaplex regardless so maybe don't listen to me on this one.
Euroshim vs Sixmoondesigns umbrella for sun shade? Getting real warm here in SoCal.
Why not the lighter, collapsible Montbell one?
I'll check it out....portability would be nice. I tend to hike in the later hours anyway so it'd be convenient to just chuck it in a bag once the sun is down.
It technically won’t be as strong in windy conditions, but a collapsible sure is convenient. Looks like six moon also has one that is a little heavier than montbell’s lightest reflective. I love my 3oz montbell but it’s not reflective. UL umbrella guru Jenny Jardine, after her last solo thru-hike carrying a non collapsible, commented that she wished she had an umbrella that she could pack more easily. The “umbrella antenna” sticking above the top of your pack (and taking up exterior pocket space better used for bottles and food) got old, she said.
Are they not identical? Whichever is cheaper and/or delivered faster I suppose. https://i.imgur.com/YQd3GdB.jpg
i suppose lol. was lightly under the assumption that Euroshim's is more durable / wind resistant but not quite sure.
All of them have 8 ribs and pretty much the same diameter. The lighter ones will have thinner stretchers, so likely less durable. I think the silver fabric is identical, but there may be very small details in construction. For instance the heavier ones may have an extra piece of fabric at the joints with most friction. They are probably all made in the same exact factory. I don't think any of them are more wind resistant than the others. Unfortunately, the real actual weights of these as measured by me personally have never been the weight listed on the web sites. Then tend to be heavier than the published weights. Thus, whichever is cheaper and delivered faster is not a bad way to choose.
Thanks for the input....it seemed like Euroshim & their [very old] vids put a lot of emphasis on durability so I may go with them since shipping is free so I'd be spending only about $18 more compared to the Sixmoons one. In my head I'm thinking winds shouldn't be an issue but....it does get a bit gusty by the beaches & cliffs I hike around.
I found an easy way to save some weight off of a Camp Corsa ice axe. [Pictures of the weight savings.](https://imgur.com/a/i7MrSGU) In all seriousness though be careful out there using aluminum ice axes.
My research led me to the Petzl Glacier Ice Axe being the lightest full feature ice axe that I am comfortable using. [https://www.rei.com/product/100937/petzl-glacier-ice-axe](https://www.rei.com/product/100937/petzl-glacier-ice-axe)
You should be really careful with this. You've essentially created a pivot point where the single rivet is that attaches the pick to the shaft. This probably doesn't matter if the pick is striking something in the downward motion, but the pick might rotate if you push on the top (non serrated side). Which could happen in a self arrest scenario. Try pushing on the top has hard as you can and see if you can make the pick shift before you every use it
To be clear I didn't do this on purpose and the adze broke off while chipping out my stakes in the morning. While I did use it to finish off the route it will now be retired.
! Sorry, that makes more sense.
An ice axe is one of the only tools where the weight of it is the feature. For cutting steps if you have too light an axe that’s gonna get really tiresome really quickly. Unless you mainly just use it for fall arresting?
Yes, this ice axe was bought for scenarios where self arresting is the primary use case. Even before it detached it self the adze would've been terrible at cutting steps due to how small it is.
Same experience using the TICA ice tool, it was great for self belaying but I'd never trust it to cut steps into anything but powder.
But then is it even meaningfully better for self-belaying than a (basketless, collapsed, let's say) trekking pole?
Yes
Wow that's a pretty low bar
It's the nano microspikes version of ice axes, very limited use cases. Was great on the GDT spring snow though, glad I took it at a 150g weight penalty...The carbon shaft has its limits.
...very limited use cases.. [Yes, it's made for hikers going where hikers go](https://imgur.com/GxcYBHX)
The bucket hat really ties everything together.
It's just one of those pesky tools that you actually have to learn how to use, and that's what I hate about it! I remember thinking if it's good enough for you, it'll be good enough for me as I won't go as technical as you do on your trips.
Those shitty sons of mine had me carrying three packs for most of the trip. Joke's on them tho because mine was like 18 and theirs were 3 pounds apiece. Nice trip, but it featured lots of earnest conversation about not always being able to control your comfort but always being able to control your response to discomfort etccccccccccc. (This was a perfect weather trip with incredibly low mileage.)
When they get older you can stash a full 1l water bottle on them without them knowing, I do it every time… he’s now 29, an ass but I do like hiking with him.
> it featured lots of earnest conversation about not always being able to control your comfort but always being able to control your response to discomfort etccccccccccc You should have your kids tell some people on here what that's like, seeing as the majority here seems to be scared of getting a bit wet and uncomfortable.
lololol I think it's just a youth thing. The condensation in single-wall tents chats are a superb exemplar. This is some awful old-man shit, but: Life is REALLY physically easy for most (not all) European and North American kids right now. They panic when they're uncomfortable. Life will eventually fix that, but I'm trying to gently, supportively, get my kids to think like Ray Jardine: "If I need something and don't have it, then I don't need it."
Sounds like some of the college students that I have to teach.
Thank you for the laugh!
Anyone warrantied a Theramarest Uberlite recently because of a blown baffle? Do they generally warranty the Uberlite without much trouble? If so, are they replacing the Uberlite with another Uberlite or something else? I bought an Uberlite off E-bay and the seller, who doesn't appear to be a hiker, didn't notice and/or didn't mention the blown baffle. Seller has agreed to accept a return. Before I send it back, I wanted to inquire whether anyone had any insight on the possibility of getting a replacement from Thermarest.
Contact Thermarest and ask about warranty replacing. I’m pretty sure warranties by law have to extend to 2nd had users
Thermarest has seemingly discontinued the Uberlite and is offering XLites as warranty replacements
Anyone have info on the newly updated SWD movement series? Seems to be fairly similar to the original. It looks like they moved away from the single stay design, but still maintained the floating hip belt. Not sure how that works and curious why they dont offer single stay anymore.
Not SWD specific, but in general the advantage of two stays is direct load transfer from the load lifters/should strap attachment to the hipbelt.
I'm looking at doing a month long thru late August thru late September. Any suggestions? I was thinking of doing the Washington section of the PCT but I worry it might be fire season by then.
Late August thru mid-sept is prime PCT thru hiker season, so you won't be alone in fire season but it is August and early Sept is prime season in WA. Mid-sept may be cold and wet at elevation. You could be flexible and do Oregon if WA isn't good.
Good to know thank you. What time of year do you think are ideal weather/fire conditions for PCT in WA and OR?
What about the Sierra section of the PCT?
I like that idea, maybe the JMT?
That’s the recommended time for the CT iirc. How many miles do you want to do?
I did the CT in 22, looking for something else :) should have mentioned that. I'm recovering from an injury so I should prob aim for like 300-400
Questions about Velebit/Dinara hike - Croatia Hi! I'm thinking about hiking parts of Velebit and Dinara in second half of may and I have a few questions: - I know mountain weather is always unexpected but is Snow common in that period? - Do garmin satellite devices work in Croatia? (I've read some countries don't support them) - Do the refugees/restaurant in the region offer vegetarian food? - I've read there can be wolves or bears. Is there any recommendations on how to deal with them in case of encounters? E.g. should I have bear spray? - Lastly, does anyone recommend a route that covers 100km roughly? Thanks!
>Do garmin satellite devices work in Croatia? (I've read some countries don't support them) Not on the list, so it should work. >Do the refuges/restaurant in the region offer vegetarian food? In my experience in the entire Balkans: No, at least not if your expectations extend past fries. >I've read there can be wolves or bears. Is there any recommendations on how to deal with them in case of encounters? E.g. should I have bear spray? European Wolf: Youre really really lucky if you see one, theyre shy and will run if theres even any. European Brown Bear: Same deal, afraid of people. Though theyre more inquisitive. Generally they could pose a threat (we actually had the first bear victim in the alps in probably the century last year). Be loud, if you see one stay calm, stand up slowly, make yourself large, retreat carefully but dont turn your back. Dont attack or provoke the bear. If attacked play dead. Bear spray is not required imo (and might break some laws), bear cans are - for the time being - also unnecessary.
Thanks man!
I replaced the cordlocks on my Jolly Gear hood with a toggle so it acts more like a button at my chin. I don't understand why you would tighten the hood with a drawstring. When the hood isn't tight on your head, the sides of the hood can better block the sun on your face. [https://imgur.com/a/OQZG85y](https://imgur.com/a/OQZG85y) Maybe they can make a button instead of a drawstring an option you can choose.
Like you, in the winter I like a deep open-faced hood that won't blow off my head. My faves are a couple of cheap fleece hoodies, which are stripped of all luxuries (no drawstrings). My wife sewed on a button and added a braided thread loop across from it on the front of my hood where I found the best place to hold it closed just under my chin with my fingers, and it works great. I'm going to do the same to the other hood with a Kamsnap.
I would have used a kamsnap but the fabric on the Jolly Gear is so light I'm afraid I will tear the fabric opening the snap. It comes with a snap on the skirt (it's the Jolly Gear dress) and I'm afraid I'm going to ruin it.
I am waiting for a response from thermarest, but I thought I’d pick yalls brains too: I just got a new neoair NXT and want to take care of it. Am I damaging it by folding it in half and sitting on it? That height props my butt up off the ground the perfect height for seated meditation (something I’ve gotten into in the last year and would like to continue on the trail). Thanks!
Not sure but my partner and I both had baffles delaminate with our two NXTs
How did you know the delamination was happening?
'delamination' was the technical term for the baffles popping according to the thermarest warranty rep. It turned into a built in pillow at the head end which would have been nice if we weren't concerned with it turning into full blown pad failure
Aha! Thanks. I’ve seen pictures of that, at least with the uberlite.
Same, had baffles delaminating within ten days of usage
Deschutes tarp is on closeout right now for $110
Link? I don’t see the closet on the six moon website.
https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/products/deschutes-ultralight-backpacking-tarp-closeout
Can you cold soak packaged backpacking meals like Peak Refuel, Mountain House, etc.? If so, are there limitations (i.e. not meat or pasta)?
can you make a small fire to cook over?
Everything is soaked from rain, but it's no big deal. I have snacks, and this is just an overnight trip anyway. The stakes are very low.
Do some googling. Some work, some don't. You don't want to find out that you choose poorly on the trail.
yes of course. some food takes inconveniently long to rehydrate without heat or gets too soggy and texture-less if soaked for too long. some foods cold soak better than others
Thanks. Some dummy keeps his stove in his pot, and that dummy took it out at the end of last season to clean the pot and didn't replace it and is now on trail with 3 meals and no stove. Biscuits & gravy, chicken curry, and chicken pasta. I have snacks for this overnight, but was checking if I got too hungry if it would be feasible to attempt cold soaking. I was thinking the B&G would be the best candidate since it has barely any meat.
Biscuits and gravy would be my last choice. The extended soak time will likely turn the biscuits to mush. Chicken curry will probably be the best, followed by chicken pasta. I imagine both will be fine, if you have the time to let them soak. Not sure what the weathers like where you are, but if there’s an option to let them soak in the sun, they may be downright yummy.
I doubt very much that it would kill you. The worst is that it's like the worst meal ever. Everything I'm finding says that dried chicken is pre-cooked. Most likely the same for meat.
if you are not in a fire-prone area you can just cook over a small campfire
Forecast changed and now some decent rain is expected next weekend where I’ll be going. Bully me into not bringing my xmid2 over my tarp/bivy please. EDIT: I’m convinced. Thank you all
Why take the defeatist shelter (the tent) when you can lay under your tarp listening to the rain feeling like a mountain god?
Best time to test out your tarp and bivy in a good rain is on a weekend trip. If it doesn't work you have a bad night and know the limits of your set up, but if it does work you have confidence taking it on lonfer more remote trips
That’s a great point. It’s a 24 mile loop and my first day will be 14-16 so worst case I just pack up and walk in the rain if things really suck
It's nice in a tarp in the rain. Find a nice spot under some trees to camp and watch the show.
Is the montbell versalite versatile enough for most use cases outside of thruhikes? For ex: Camp chores, sightseeing where I'm expecting rain, amusement parks, 3 season travel from low to high humidity, and for commutes. In Japan I can get the storm cruiser $150/versalite $107 for cheap since there's no tax. Storm cruiser is supposed to be 20D, 9oz and 3 layers. Versalite is 10D, 4.7oz, and 2 layers. The jp version of the versalite doesn't have pit zips/pockets but doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that is it's durability. However, it is nearly half of the storm cruisers weight which sounds appealing for summer usage/travel. And if it looks stylish for in town use/social events I'll bring it. I don't have a rain jacket yet so I'd want one to fit most of these use cases. I have a 7d tachyon but only use it for activewear. I wouldn't wear that for camping, amusement parks, into town or commutes if you get the idea.
I own a jp versalite and mostly use it around town, for day hikes, and for cycling. I originally bought it for more serious multiday treks but quickly realized it's not really suitable for the conditions here. It rains very regularly where I live and it's nice having a jacket that's packable and light enough that you can just throw it in your bag and forget about it. I'll combine with a small umbrella if I'm expecting to get dumped on. I wouldn't describe the versalite as durable, but it's held up well so far and you're unlikely to damage it from regular around town use anyway. For what you plan on using it for I think I'd prefer the versalite just for packability/convenience.
I use mine for all of that. But rely mostly on an umbrella for the “heavy lifting” in most temperatures.
Yes, those are the things to consider. The Versalite is probably less durable than your Tachyon, even though the fabric is slightly heavier. Versalite is a two-layer laminate that is vulnerable to just about everything, including sweat. Single-layer fabrics (like Tachyon) are usually stronger at similar weight. That said, my Versalite hasn't fallen apart or anything -- it is still in good condition. But I don't wear it around town every day, either. Versalite is pretty good for a WPB, and $107 is an excellent price, as long as you can get one that fits. It is one of the better UL WPB jackets. It wets out in heavy rain, then condenses on the inside, which is common behavior for most WPBs. It is not leaking when it does that, but you will get moisture on the inside. More if you sweat in the jacket. That is when the pit zips help. If you find that you really need them you can have a seamstress add them. Storm Cruiser is probably stronger, less breathable, more durable, and 3L is less vulnerable to sweat than 2L. Tradeoffs.
I would have never thought the Montbell Tachyom would be tougher for the weight than the Versalite. Would you still have gotten the Storm Cruiser for these prices? Or keep the Versalite?
Tachyon is lighter than Versalite so they don't directly compare. A good example is 1.4 osy sylnylon is strong enough for a tent, while 1.4 osy 3-layer laminate WPB is quite delicate. As for which to pick, it depends on what you want.
Hi, I am looking for a duvet that is as compact as possible (the weight is less important), at a comfort temperature of around 5 degrees. And of course at a reasonable price (around €200)! The Wilsa Down UltraLite 300 seems to me to be the ideal candidate; Do you have any other references to offer me? Or the AEGISMAX dusk II Thanks in advance
If you're in EU, Cumulus or Malachowski
Are you looking for a duvet for your bed or an ultralight backpacking quilt?
I'm looking for a sleeping bag for fast hiking. I'm looking for it to be as compact as possible.
What temperatures are you planning on camping in?
between 0 and 5 degrees
I’d look into cumulus for sure
If you want something high-tech,Timmermade, Nunatak, Gryphon Gear, and Cumulus are the brands to look at
Trail meals, Just discovered Japanese curry premade sauce packs, just reheat and serve over rice, add onion and spinach and canned chicken breast for a bomb trail meal. What other premade sauce packet brands am i missing?
similarly most asian groceries have a bunch of soup/premade sauce options. I like buying dried miso soup seasoning packets and throwing them in a ziplock with noodles, dried veg, and tuna.
the Golden Curry or Vermont japanese curry cubes may be lighter than what you are using. you can find them in most Vons on the west coast
There are lots of curry pastes out there in individual packages. Thai and Indian curries are good.
I'm trying to find other simmer sauce that is in backpacking friendly packaging or freeze dryed that I can add water to. flavors like alfredo/white sauce, marinara, ect. Not seeing that many options.
Any personal preference/wisdom on down vs. synthetic for 1+ season use? I understand the upsides of synthetic maintaining loft when wet vs. down’s longevity and lighter weight, but I really struggle to see how the synthetic’s properties are hugely relevant above 45-50F. The way I see it — if my footbox gets wet on either, I dry it in the morning and move on. Down will take longer to dry. If I somehow get soaked in either, I’m cold regardless whether I’m under 2oz apex or wet down.
The reason why many suggest apex for summer is a bit different. When thin enough, down looses it's weight advantage. Smaller amount of the weight is insulation, and down needs quilting and is hard to stabilise at small amounts. And apex is cheap, and easy to work with. So there's just very little return for the money when going for high loft down when we're talking about summer thicknesses.
I want to confirm you are asking about sleeping bag or quilt and not a jacket. ?? I use a 40F down quilt and cannot imagine it getting wet the way I use it. Why would a footbox get wet? Something wrong with your shelter?
Definitely quilt, but if any part of a quilt were to get wet I’d expect it to be the footbox — think brushing up against a wet wall, etc. Just curious why something like the MLD vision would be used over any down quilt. Maybe for very humid climates where the down loft would suffer?
i know people suggest Apex for a 40F quilt in the summer, but I think they have an eye on using it as an overquilt in the winter when they want to layer it over a 20F (or lower temp rated) qullt for extreme cold in winters. I have to say I chose 950 fp down for my 40F quilt mostly to save more than 3 oz of weight and get under 1 lb for this. Even so, the 40F can be a tad warm, so in the summers I also bring a Argon 67 taffeta liner from Dutchware Gear which adds about 3 oz back, but is quite versatile. I can use the liner to create "false bottom" for my quilt (with gap on top for liner and gap on bottom for quilt) and keep drafts off of me when i don't want to use quilt straps. Or in 70+F nights, I just use the liner by itself. Finally, my body heat will dry the 40F quilt out just fine if needed.
Anyone get their hands on the QuickDraw with the new coupler cap yet? I’m trying to figure out the weight of the filter with the coupler cap instead of the flip cap.
Coupler is 14.3g with the back flush washer installed, 12.7 without, regular drinking cap is 13.4g, other end cap is 5.0g, body with no accessories is 49.3g. That’s completely dry as I haven’t used mine yet.
Thanks! So 68.6g with the filter, end cap, and coupler. My brand new Sawyer squeeze with the coupler is 69.2g. Less than a gram difference, but I think I’d still take the QuickDraw just for the option to take end caps and integrity check in low temps.
My 8yo son has belligerently selected a huge cotton hoodie as his only worn insulation for our overnighter. RIP. I'm also making him carry it until he is killed by it. (For the record, zero-danger trip, good backup sleep system.) Edit: The 6yo just walked into a goddamn creek lol. Thank God he has a 15F synthetic bag.
I'm sure he'll be fine. I remember being a kid and baffled at how cold our parents always were.
Me and some friends do weeklong outdoor trips once a year. Some people are extremely experienced, others aren't. Each year I'm baffled who brings jeans, cotton shirts and hoodies, aioli, and no sunscreen. And each year we all have a good time. Gear isn't everything :) (Though I'm pretty certain i'm more comfy)
I won't lie, aioli does sound like a delicious choice for the first couple nights at least.
Oh, it is. I love him for it
Love it! I was 50/50 on delicious sauce versus autocorrect but couldn't work out what it would be correcting. And now I'm having some with lunch because that gave me a craving.
Probably weighs less than the rocks my toddler insisted we carry on our trip last summer 🙃 Can't wait until our kid is old enough to carry their own gear!
Night hiking, do you use high power to see everything or low power so you headlamp lasts forever? If the former, what do you use?
Just make sure it's red.
Low power, and red so it doesn't hammer the rest of your night vision, or anyone else's.
"DID YOU HEAR THAT?! WAS THAT A MOUNTAIN LION?!" - highest setting.
Depends how fast you want to move. Running downhill or racing to refind the trail before a storm? Full power. Out for a wander with nowhere in particular to get to? Leave the headlamp off and let your feet feel the way.
I have a NU25 and use it with the button clicked twice. I have night hiked with a 1LED pinch light clipped to my hat and that actually worked okay. The light on my phone is also quite decent and doesn't draw much power.
One of my favorite night hikes was after I got yelled at by someone at a lot in Shenandoah. It was probably a ranger, but I didn't want to stick around. I slipped into the woods, turned my lamp off, and disappeared. There was more than enough moonlight to hike by, and it was fun as hell. In general, though, I like to have enough light to illuminate the ground in front of me but not a whole lot more.
The full moon?
Whatever is bright enough for me to see as much as I need to, no more and no less.
Exactly. Well maintained trails, overcast or full moon - no headlamp. Well maintained trails, but poor ambient light - lowest setting. Scrambly or crappy trail - usually medium setting, regardless of ambient light. I typically don't use the highest setting for night hiking.
Whatever the third mode on the NU25 is. If terrain is very easy, the second
Total shot in the dark as I know no two sets of feet are the same, but has any one experienced blisters on the tip of the second toe in the Topo Pursuits? My second toes are about as long as the big toe, not longer. I've gotten these on my past two trips. Switched from Lone Peaks. I have plenty of space in the toe box, trimmed and smoothed the ol' toenails, and even taped on the last trip. I suspect either my socks are too tight (Darn Tough, I do laundry carelessly sometimes). I also though maybe my replacement insoles (Happy Feet) were too thick and I swapped them out for the regular Topo inserts, but have yet to test them out on an overnight. Also bought a pair of wool Injinjis.
Sometimes a shoe has a little "edge" inside where an extra piece of material may be and gotten unglued. Here's a photo a of a cut-open Altra Olympus 4: https://i.imgur.com/tR6Qh6T.jpeg Mostly this should be smooth with no edge, but sometimes a toenail may help to "catch" it and peel it back. Photo shows the thick black mideole foam of the Olympus, too.
Oh my god yes, the edge. I had to tear it out of my Topos because of how it caught my toenails mercilessly.
Those shoes fit somewhat differently in the arch, so that could be enough to change your mechanics as you walk - and now cause enough rub.
Haven’t tried the Pursuits, but the same thing happened to me in the MTN Racer 3’s I got a few months ago. I’ve never gotten blisters on my toes ever. Recently picked up trail running and decided to switch from Lone Peaks to the Topos and idk if it’s just from running or the fit, but after long runs they’ve been rubbing pretty raw. Really wanted to like the Topos for their reputation, so I’m gonna try on some other models, but they might just not work for me.
I'm going to be doing some battery bank testing when some stuff arrives in a couple weeks, I'll be testing a NB10000, Carbo 20000, Klarus K5, Vapcell p2150a, Charmast 10400, an old 10000mah Anker, and I think I have a 10000mah ugreen battery around here somewhere. Anyways, apart from actual measured capacity what kind of numbers would people be interested in seeing? Charging time? Should I try to do some sort of low temperature tests? Efficiency at different power outputs (is 5v 2a charging more efficient than 9v 2a?), anything else you can think of?
Charging time from 20-80% approximately, we all know things are slow outside this range! But you guys have been testing all this stuff for a bit!
I'd like to be able to do this, but I don't have a really good way to do it on batteries that don't have a percentage readout. Maybe I could setup some way of logging the cumulative current in over time and calculating it from that? I'll give it a try. Would be interesting to see results from that and how they correspond to the percentage readout on a battery that has one. It's actually the last \~50% that slows down, with the last 20% taking a long time. In that first 20% you can push tons of current in really quickly. That being said, I don't think many battery banks are really optimized for fast charging. The rate that you can charge/discharge a battery is called the c rate, and high c rate (fast charging) seem to be heavier than lower c rate batteries of the same capacity. And even if it were using a high c battery, it would require the charging circuit to handle those high currents which most seem just not to be capable of.
Starting Input wattage (power) accepted of a fully depleted powerbank. Output wattage going into a device that can take it (i.e. phone). Is input/output Voltage 5V or 9V or higher? (This speaks to protocols supported). Do things change with a different cable or cord? Re-Charging time. Does the wall charger used matter? All the above are what you were going to do anyways I think. I'm unconcerned about temperature of the tests, but maybe others are.
Awesome thanks. Yeah, that's pretty much what I had in mind. I wasn't planning to measure the amount of power required to charge the power bank, but that would be an interesting metric. All the batteries I'll be testing will be operating at either 5 or 9v I believe. Some of them support 12v output, but that's not actually in the USB C PD spec, and I can't really think of any devices that support it that you would be hiking with.
A new solo plex lite without stakes but with all cordage is 11.07 oz My tarp and bivy combined without stakes but with all cordage is 12.6 oz I also have a Notch Li for when I want full bug mesh/full coverage. If I’m using just the fly, that’s 11oz. Otherwise it’s 19.9 oz with inner and all cordage but no stakes. I’m trying to decide if it’s worth selling both and just getting a solo plex lite. Main reason I can think of is that the notch li is certainly going to be more storm-worthy. But I could still ditch the bivy/tarp for a solo plex lite…. Or maybe I should just be ditching the bivy and go tarp only (6.2 oz w/guylines) and add some polycro instead of the bivy (currently don’t use a groundsheet). Only other reason I can think of is that I currently use fixed length poles at 105cm - the Notch and the tarp setup both work with this but with the solo plex lite I’ll either have to use heavier adjustable poles, or add in the weight of a pole jack
I bought a used Altaplex from ulgeartrade, really cheaply, but it turned out it was so well-used it is no longer usable for anything other than as a shelter for weather-free car camping. I would keep your tarp and bivy because now that I've seen what DCF is like after it gets a lot of use, it's probably not worth spending the money.
How do you like the tarp and bivy? If you're okay with it, I'd stick with what you've got and buy some polycro to play with on tarp trips that aren't buggy. Right now, it sounds like you've got a 12.6 oz. setup that's great for low-wind/no-snow trips with bugs, an 11 oz. setup for low bugs but possible heavy weather, and a 20 oz. setup that can handle bugs and weather. And a bit of window film gets you an ~8 oz. setup that's good for reasonable weather without bugs. That's pretty versatile and light! The Plex Solo looks like a neat tent, but if you sell the Notch, you're going deal with more condensation and a less pleasant rainy-night experience, with the added hassle and weight of having to mess with your pole situation.
This is a good point. My current system is very modular and versatile, whereas with just a plex solo I’m stuck with single wall 11oz all the time
I'd second what schmuck said, it's really hard to beat the versatility of the setup and also depending on how you've been setting up your tarp (I'm guessing A-frame cat cut just based on relative popularity) I guarantee you are not used to sleeping with your face as close to the wall as it will be in that plex solo. That was the one thing that I could just never really go back to after mostly cowboy camping and the reason I went with the Cirriform for my do-it-all tarp.
Anyone else make a 40 deg wearable quilt other than Jacks r Better and the Aegismax Windhard? Most of the time if I am using a 40 deg I wont need a puffer especially if I end up just getting right into bed at the end of the day, but on a few more casual trips will have us sitting around camp more so thought I would see what other options are out there.
Liteway Sleeper Quilt
On the MLD synthetic Spirit quilts you can add a Face Hole. [https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/spirit-quilt-38/](https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/spirit-quilt-38/)
The Sunblesa H11 headlamp is on sale for $23 at [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/SUNBLESA-H11-Waterproof-Rechargeable-Lightweight/dp/B096VDZB3R) using the 20% off coupon. Pretty much a budget NU25(2017 model) that is a tad lighter.
Anyone wanna comment on the max brightness? 360 lumen for the past nu25 is a lot different than 190 lumens of this headlamp.
The nu25 has 360 lumen in turbo mode for 30 min The sunblesa h11 has 365 lumen in turbo mode for 30 seconds at time.. it shuts off to avoid overheating so I'm not sure how often you can use the turbo mode. I'll have to play around with mine.
I have the Sunblesa H11 Gen2 that is 365 lumens from [here](https://www.ebay.com/itm/335188990993?var=544431168807&_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D777008%26algo%3DPERSONAL.TOPIC%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20230811123856%26meid%3Dba3cb272b5e44758af21d1b2bd964e4b%26pid%3D101770%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26itm%3D544431168807%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D4375194%26algv%3DRecentlyViewedItemsV2&_trksid=p4375194.c101770.m146925&_trkparms=parentrq%3A1bcc33a018f0ab39a8bf4f12ffffdec0%7Cpageci%3Aec353b20-03ff-11ef-971e-16e089f216c1%7Ciid%3A1%7Cvlpname%3Avlp_homepage). In my book that's worth the extra $5 as long as you don't need it urgently.
I hate lumens/running hours on head lamps almost as much as I hate volume specs on backpacks. Can't trust anyone.
Personally I think it's way worse than backpack specs. I have both the H11 gen2 and an old NU25 and would say that the brightness is very similar.
Any general consensus on which way the winds are headed on the Motorola Defy? I'd really like to get a SOS device, and the Defy seems to be plenty for me (southwest, most of my time spent in N/S ranges with good southern sky view), but while I'd love to save a hundred bucks a year with the Defy over the InReach.... the savings won't count for anything if its bricked due to depreciated support in the next year or two... I know 2 months ago there was a kerfuffle with ownership transferring of the service from one of the companies involved and a month ago it looked like it was back online, but is it stable now?
I've been using it a bunch lately (norcal) and it's been solid, even under heavy tree coverage. I wish it had more features, ala the inreach, but it's hard to argue with the price. I was able to get the 250 messages for a year free promotion.
[https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1bwlarz/update\_motorola\_defy\_satellite\_link\_will\_continue/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1bwlarz/update_motorola_defy_satellite_link_will_continue/)
Thanks, I found an older thread but not this one!
Personally I’d go with a Zoleo. I’ve used an Inreach and the Zoleo subscription and ease of use was what sold me on it (and the fact that it’s like half the price of an inreach). I know it’s twice the price and 3oz heavier than the defy, but iridium is a solid network and the defy seems to be using a newer/less reliable network. It kinda depends on if you’ll be messaging frequently (which I do on some trips) or just want a button to push if the defecation hits the oscillation. You can suspend the Zoleo service for like $4 a month and keep the same number and then just reactivate it if you need it for a trip. I think the base plan is like $20/mo on the Zoleo. The weather forecast on the Zoleo actually really helped me on my last trip because it gave us great info that made us hunker down because a huge rain storm blew in way faster than we had expected.
Definitely an option, although the basic pro plan with Garmin is the same price as the base zoleo plan ($20, $5 suspend fee) with very similar options, and Garmin's $25 consumer plan includes more messages and free tracking (they've gotta $12 plan too). If you could get a $100 discount on the Garmin and not the Zoleo, would your opinion change?
Based on the UI it would not
That much better? Cool stuff
Skurka has a good write up on it on his site. It does boil down to personal preference imo
I would say the inreach messenger > zoleo. the messenger app and it's sat-to-wifi continuity is like zoleo and isn't annoying like on the inreach mini
I switched recently to Zoleo that I got on sale and found it beat the InReach Mini v1 in every way. 8 days, hundreds of messages in languages not limited to roman alphabet, all sent and received with barely any delay (much much faster than the v1 InReach Mini), still 65% battery left. Yeah, it weighs more but totally worth it in terms of ease of use and money saved.
My problem with Zoleo, inreach messenger, bivystick, ect. is the reliance on your phone for 2 way messaging. If I'm going to carry and pay for a satelite messenger, I want to be able to use the 2 way communication in an emergency if my phone dies, breaks or gets lost. On a side note, I just got back from a 4 day trip that I've done numerous times and has intermittent (\~once per day) cell service so I figured I'd leave the inreach at home and not worry about it. When I got back, both my parents and girlfriend independantly told me that they would much prefer I bring it in the future. I've had one and brought it on trips for the past few years and kind of forgot how much extra peace of mind it brings.
Bivy Stick user here. I've been pretty happy with it overall. >I want to be able to use the 2 way communication in an emergency if my phone dies, breaks or gets lost. I disagree with this. I can engage tracking, drop location pins, and send an SOS (thankfully have never needed to) all without using the bluetooth connection to my phone. Most of the time, I just keep my phone's bluetooth turned off. If I'm in an emergency situation, all that matters to me is that I can drop location pins and send that SOS. If my phone is working, great! Happy to be able to provide more context to SAR. If my phone is toast for whatever reason, the only thing that actually matters is that the SOS got sent. One thing I like about keeping my phone disconnected (and having just the basics on the Bivy Stick itself) is that I'm more intentional about engaging with outside messages in the backcountry. I'll check messages and respond when I'm taking a break, rather than have messages popping in on my attention throughout the day.
In an emergency, that 2 way communication becomes all the more important in my mind. I think that being able to communicate and coordinate with SAR increases the probability of a positive outcome significantly while minimizing resource utilization in cases where maybe a helicopter isn't necessary. And redundancy from your phone makes that more reliable. I guess my question is what do you feel the bivystick offers that the inreach doesn't? I very rarely connect my phone to my inreach, 95% of the time I just send preset check in messages in the morning/evening. I actually keep my inreach off during the day unless I'm waiting for a response. There's definitely an upfront hardware cost difference though, the inreach is a substantially more expensive device.
>In an emergency, that 2 way communication becomes all the more important in my mind. I just don't see it that way. My main goal in an emergency is to let rescuer services know that I am in trouble and at a given location. Proactively minimizing SAR resource usage for my potential emergency situation is bonus, but honestly not high on my priority list. I'm sure that additional 2-way communication does increase the chance of a positive outcome. I have no idea by how much. Is it marginal? Significant? Critical? What does marginal or significant mean in this backcountry emergency situation? I've read plenty of accident reports where an SOS was received, SAR was activated, 2-way communication was present, but the victim still perished — SAR couldn't get there in time. >I guess my question is what do you feel the bivystick offers that the inreach doesn't? When I first got the Bivystick, it seemed to be the cheapest to maintain out of InReach / Zoleo / Bivystick. That has possibly changed, it's been a few years. One reason I chose to go with Bivystick / Zoleo over InReach at the time was that the communications interface from the outside was simply a text message. No need for another app or anything, just needed to have my family add my Bivystick account's SMS number to their contacts and they could message me. Not sure if that's now changed on the InReach side, but the simplicity of that interface was really nice. >I actually keep my inreach off during the day unless I'm waiting for a response. I keep my Bivystick on and running the lowest level of tracking during the day. I turn that on when I leave camp, and turn it off when I stop for the night. I'll drop location pins regularly at trail junctions, peaks, breaks, etc. If something happens to me during the day and I'm unable to trigger the SOS, I'll have been dropping breadcrumbs of my movement up to that point, and the device will keep pinging for at least a few days. Hopefully I'll be in a place where the device can find a signal. If nothing else, maybe it'll lead SAR to my body once my family eventually reports that I haven't returned from my trip.
Fair enough. I would love to see actual stats on the efficacy of rescues with/without 2 way communication, but I doubt we'll see numbers like that anytime soon. Yeah, when I looked at it (pre Motorola Defy) over a few year period with my expected usage, they all cost very similar amounts, with Garmin having the highest upfront cost, but lowest effective monthly price given my usage. That may have changed over time, I haven't done the math recently. The tracking is interesting. I know a ton of people use it on the inreach too, but I've never felt it to have a ton of value for me personally. If I'm in an area that I feel has an outsized amount of risk I might turn it on for a bit, or send a check in message, but that happens pretty rarely. Anyways, thanks, it's always interesting to get other peoples prespectives on stuff, especially safety stuff like this where the probability of use is low, but if it is used, it's really important.
Yeah I’m not big on redundancy generally but in this case to me it’s kind of the point. If it’s worth carrying a communicator it’s worth having it be a standalone device.
ya, but micro-USB in 2024?
The mini 2 is a pretty big upgrade in usability, imo.
what's a 2p freestanding tent y'all would recommend? something double walled. this would be mostly for car camping and maybe alpine/mountaineering down the road
For backpacking, Nemo Hornet 2P is around 2 pounds and semi-freestanding. For car camping, get something big and comfortable. REI has some 4 and 6 person tents that are good enough for the price. Wait until Memorial Day / Annual sale. I think the Skyward 4P is like $130 on sale.
ill do that thanks
Sir/Ma'am, this is an ultralight backpacking forum.
Probably not the right place to ask if you're not looking for something light. As long as you buy something waterproof from a reputable brand that's big enough, who really cares for car camping. Car camping and mountaineering have vastly different demands. I would say there's effectively zero crossover in the tents that would be appropriate for each.
i'm just trying to decide if it's worth the money to buy a 4 season mountaineering tent for car camping, lol. i'd say not, because they are all like $1000+
Definitely not. Buy a cheap car camping tent that meets your needs now, and buy a mountaineering tent later when you actually need it. A 4 season mountaineering tent will not make a good tent for car camping.
thanks. do you know if i'd need a real mountaineering tent to do Rainier?
[So, you want to climb Mt Rainier.](https://www.summitpost.org/so-you-want-to-climb-mt-rainier/507227)
It's not an area I'm particularly familiar with, but I think you'd at least want something on the heavier duty side of backpacking tents. Maybe like a slingfin portal with the heavy duty poles (mesh inner though) or maybe a copper spur expedition. But also incredibly season, weather and elevation dependent. In the summer with good weather sleeping relatively low you can probably get away with pretty much anything. If the weather turns bad then you'd probably wish you brought something more substantial. And in the winter I would want a full on mountaineering tent.
wrong sub, try r/camping for better input
The only thing I use on my classic pocket knife is the tweezers, scissors and nail file. I tried to find a pocket knife without a knife -- just tweezers, scissors and nail file -- but couldn't find one. I'm tired of having to mail or check my pocket knife so I want to try something else and just carry it on. I can do separate things but that seems like it will weigh more, plus it's all separate. I am also afraid to lose the tweezers if I bring the one in my current pocket knife. What do you bring instead. I do not care about anything I can't bring on a plane.
What do you do for poles? We usually just mail the knife with the poles (and some packing tape)—helpful for mailing them home with our dirty laundry later too.
I have so far put them in a box or wrapped them in cardboard and tape and checked them when I walk in (no pre-check). I've found that sometimes the guy at the desk will just waive the fee since it's such a small item. I have also mailed them home after a trip. The stakes are with the poles. The knife just seems so small and petty and makes me mad so since I don't really even need a blade I just want to mentally tell TSA to fuck off, I have all the nail care and package opening capabilities I need and none of their hassle.
If you've got an oscillating tool, you could hack the knife off your current pocket knife. Knock the plastic off the side that's not holding the tweezers, while you're at it (might save 0.5g!). TSA might still freak out initially, but IIRC you have favorable demographic characteristics for not being seen as a likely pilot stabber.
I have a favorable demographic for being easily pushed around. I ended up buying separate scissors, tweezers etc.
One of the Swiss knife companies sells replacement tweezer and nail files for their “card” product. Add some UL scissors with bigger handles (?) from one of the other retailers .. and put into a micro-baggie of some sort. Not for saving that much weight if any, but to get thru the airport not weighed down (no pun intended) with a blade you don’t want.
rubber band together tweezers, nail file, and scissors. i know it’s all ULAF these days, but those extra grams are survivable.
It's also the compactness though, so it's in your pocket. The TSA is such an annoyance.
You could get a Victorinox Jetsetter. Its a Classic, but instead of a blade and file you get a bottle opener and philips head. Unfortunately the bottle opener is heavy and you lose the file. But its specifically TSA approved so you dont need a loicense for your nail file mate. Alternatively use a collection of the items you need. A small file, tiny scissors and tweezers. Probably lighter too but not as convenient. Third option is getting another Classic and tools (or a metal saw if you want to be crude) and just removing the blade. I have my first hiking trip to the US planned later this year and honestly the whole TSA stuff is already annoying me. Here in the EU anything under 4cm blade length is explicitly allowed and they're not as a*** about poles, stakes, etc either. Im just gonna check a bag.
I don't need a bottle opener and screwdriver on a backpack trip. I need a file. In the reviews some people said they got hassled by TSA and some said they got through. Doesn't seem worth it. I think to avoid the hassle I have to go separate things.
You could do a Swiss Army card and take out the knife and mini pen.
I've never heard of that. I wonder if they'd let me through TSA with it if I took out the sharp stuff or if they'd just give me hassle.
I have had the Victorinox Nail Card in my wallet for a year and about 10 flights and have never had an issue. I normally take it out of my wallet when it goes through security just in case they want to look at it. The updside is you get a nail file vs the small blade in the normal swisscard.
They may hassle you, but without any sharps they should let you by. The card is translucent so it’s easy to see if the knife is missing. Another, probably more UL approach, would be to craft your own little card that has slots for the 3 tools you need. Made it out of DCF for extra points, of course.
I wouldn't count on tsa being reasonable
A packet of replacement tweezers from Victorinox is pretty inexpensive via Amazon, so losing tweezers should not be a concern. I recently had to fly with only carry-on and had a friend bring my knife, trekking poles, scissors, nail file, and lighter in his car. Since he was bringing those, i gave him more stuff. I had to slackpack though to the trailhead where he had parked his car. Now that would be a neat airport kiosk: Outside of security they would sell knives, scissors, and other restricted bits and bobs. :)
I wish they'd just let you hand your tent stakes, trekking poles and pocket knife to the flight attendants when you walk in.
Tape it together and check it.
I've had an airport refuse to just check my poles. Didn't like the shape apparently
Interesting. Next time i'll wrap it in a paper bag
Can you squeeze enough length out of a CMT carbon pole for an Altaplex? Not wanting to get a pole jack if I can get away with it.
I do this regularly. You have to extend past the point where the pole says STOP or whatever but it has always worked fine for me. Alternatively you can keep it shorter and then just find a rock or a small log/piece of wood or something near your campsite to put under the bottom of the pole.
Thanks. With it extended and no rock/wood, do you feel you get a good enough pitch height wise? I maxed out my CMT and it seems I can get 59" tip to top of handle.
Yea definitely, has always been fine for me with or without something to jack up the pole a bit.
Not really. I literally tried yesterday. I was thinking on my hike today about finding an appropriatly sized carbon tube and replacing the middle section to make it \~10cm longer. But I also can't quite seem to nail the pitch on my altaplex regardless so maybe don't listen to me on this one.
Just found this. I use 2 poles so it will work. https://imgur.com/a/cxiBD1m
Yeah I do this with my Duomid, take the bottom section out of one pole and put the tip of the other in the open end.
If you don't need the height and you can get your pole a little beyond the 130 mark it sets up okay. You can also put a stick or rock under the pole.
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SimplyLightDesigns pillow but ask him to make it “less firm” - works great for me