Best hikes, treks, tramps in the world.
Another gear site to check out. Sadly I have far too much gear in my basement already.
… hand-picked and tediously browsed for by real people who enjoy being active and outdoors. …
Hugo
Outdoor Gear, Equipment, & Apparel Deals | TheCheapOutdoors.com
Good luck, Larry!
Only just subscribed, here I am already linking to a post by Allie Comeau on the Sierra Trading Post blog. This one from last summer.
Want to see something really cool? Nemo Hypno and Nemo Morpho are tents—but not like the ones you’re used to. In keeping with their “Matrixâ€-esque names, they’re super lightweight, super high-tech tents that go with the flow. The air flow, that is. Instead of relying on old-school metal poles, these suckers are held up with air-filled tubes. …
Nemo Hypno and Nemo Morpho: Awesome Air-Supported Tents: Video
Click PLAY or watch a demo on YouTube.
Now … If I can use that air pump to also inflate my 5lb hiking raft, I might be interested.
The man who popularized Lightweight Hiking is carrying a heavy pack.
After two days in Mendoza, we were driven 1.5 hours to a wintertime ski resort in the nearby mountains called the Cordon del Plata. There we shouldered our outrageously heavy backpacks and hiked for 1 hour up a quite steep trail to a lovely alpine meadow called Las Vegas (The Springs), and there made our first camp.
JennyWe were now at an elevation of 10,300 feet and, as we live at 1,500 feet, and Mendoza is at 2,700 feet, that was quite a sudden jump in altitude. …
read the trip report – NFT
I won’t feel so bad next time I do the same thing.
Ray and Jenny Jardine are hiking in Argentina right now. I’ve been eyeing that region, the towns of Mendoza and Bariloche, myself for some time now. Jumping off points for Aconcagua and Nahuel Huapi.
You know the Sierra Trading Post (love that retro name) as a good supplier of overstock and closeout outdoor gear. They also post information for hikers. For example: Down vs. Synthetic Guide
Quick Guide to Down
Pros
* Is warmer than synthetic insulation ounce for ounce. …
* Retains its shape and loft and, with proper care, can last a lifetime. …
* Wicks body moisture and allows it to evaporate. …
* Is highly compressible and lightweight. …Cons
* Loses its insulating properties when wet and is slow to dry. …
* Requires special cleaning. …
* May contain allergens. …
* Costs a pretty penny. …
If you, like me, are already decided on the Down vs Synthetic issue (buy the highest fill down you can afford) it’s still well worth checking out something new:
I saw that article linked from the very attractive Sierra Trading Post blog. We’ve linked to their blog under BLOGS in the right hand navigation as it includes much more than the usual buy-my-latest-greatest-gear promos. (e.g. Writer Raises Wild-Born Coyote in Wyoming)
Chris on the Hike Alberta blog has been researching the dangers of Nalgene bottles leaching bisphenol.
Goodbye to my Nalgene Bottles | Hike Alberta
Click through if you want to see the details.
It’s the first I’ve heard of this hazard. I normally carry one Nalgene, one soft drink bottle.
UPDATE: Turns out Sarah on the Freezer Bag Cooking blog has already debunked this myth.
Leave a comment if you are throwing away your Nalgene bottle. But first read the other comments.
Circumnavigate the world by bike and boat?
… better them than me.
Simon Evans and Fearghal O’Nuallain are planning an adventure called Revolution Cycle 2009. Team Geared Up has the details.
But I’m always looking for state of the art technology I might use for updating hiking trip report and blogging from the trail.
Here’s what Revolution Cycle is planning to use:
As the expedition will cover over 25,000km and last for over 14 months, durability is the key requirement for our bikes and equipment. All of the kit used en route will have to be of the highest quality as it will have to function in extreme and varied environments- from the subzero Andean passes to the baking heat of the Libyan desert and everything in between. …
Revolution Cycle – gear page
Too heavy for hiking. Ideally, I’d want to take a photo on something like a satellite camera iPhone — and have it automatically posted on this blog.
Any suggestions? Leave a comment.
Rocky Thompson linked to a Treehugger post about an MP3 player that can be recharged manually with a crank.
It’s got a voice recorder for trail notes. Can store and display hiking photos and video on removable SD cards.
This looks interesting! (Is Christmas coming?)
… the Eco Media Player would be a great option for PCT hikers or anyone who spends a lot of time in the backcountry and likes to bring music. One minute of cranking this MP3 player gives you 40 minutes of audio play time while a full charge from a wall socket gives you 20 hours of playback. It only has 2GB of internal storage, but an SD slot lets you add more slow jams and books on MP3. The Eco Media Player also has an FM radio, LED flashlight, memo recorder, and it can recharge your cell phone. Not bad. The rig is only available in the UK for now, and it costs about £155.
Backcountry.com: The Goat » Blog Archive » Wind-Up iPod Replacement
Oh, oh. Looks like it’s not Mac compatible. That’s a deal breaker for me.
… might have to wait for a wind-up iPhone.
My hiking buddy Mark Glaser invented “InstaGaiters” years ago. He wears modified women’s nylon stockings.
Looks like he should have patented the idea. This is similar:
From the Happy Feet blog:
Gaiters are an important for trail runners, and for that matter, hikers, adventure racers, and even walkers. They cover the top of the shoe and prevent debris from going inside the shoe. It is this debris, between the shoe and sock, which leads to hot spots and blisters. A simple pair of gaiters can help prevent problems.
For my money, I like the gaiters made by Chrissy Weiss, called Dirty Girl Gaiters. Chrissy has a lock on gaiters that make a statement. They are bold and colorful. They are in-your-face patterns that inspire. Most of the runners yesterday wore Chrissy’s gaiters. They are made from soft, comfortable four-way stretch spandex unisex with gaiter hooks under the front shoe lace and secures to the back of the shoe with a self-adhesive Velcro strip. They are dirt-cheap for $13 per pair, including postage.
And, yes, guys are wearing them too. A lot of guys.
Dirty Girl Gaiters – photos
(via Two-Heel Drive)
I really should get a new bag. Perhaps -5C.
Ewen from Outdoor Video Magazine recommends a Canadian company, Kluane.
He describes his good experience getting them to make him a custom down jacket.
As for their sleeping bags:
Kluane built its reputation on the quality of its sleeping bags and Kluane down sleeping bags are, we believe, the finest obtainable anywhere. No other sleeping bag offers all the design and construction features found on Kluane bags.
Consider the following: Hot cutting (we use heat to cut our material so the seams will not fray); 1.9 oz. ripstop nylon (not as light as others, but it will last a long time)
800 loft Canadian white goose down; heavy duty YKK delrin two-way zips; nylon tricot baffles (again, not as light as others, but we have never had a returned product because of baffle failure); heavy double zipper baffles, channel block baffle and differential cut (except Inner, Summerthought and rectangular bags) and hidden stitching (there are only two exposed seams in the whole bag).
Sleeping Bags – Kluane
I will be up at their home base in Edmonton in a couple of weeks to check them out.
Warren Long suggested this knife to lighten your pack yet some more:
Joel sums up: “Atwood’s multitools, unlike the common flip-out models, tend to be made from just a single piece of metal with various nubs that enhance the functionality. For instance, the ‘Mini Son of PryThing‘ above has a prying tool, a blade, and a bottle opener, wrapped with a simple cord around the hilt that is easily replaceable.”
besthike.com 