Category: gear

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JETBOIL cooking system – update

UPDATE 2 – The Winehiker did some research into the much acclaimed JETBOIL stoves. His conclusion:

Until JetBoil and other campstove manufacturers adopt product policies that incorporate zero waste and a more open design approach to fuel type, canister reuse, and fuel distribution systems, I cannot in good conscience buy or endorse their nonrefillable products.

Dropping the eco-ball: camp stove manufacturers – Winehiker

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UPDATE 1 – after a couple of trips with my new Jetboil Personal Cooking System my experience is “thumbs up”. It’s the easiest stove I have ever used.

A couple of cautions though. Do NOT fill the pot above the “fill line”. If it boils over you are in trouble since the pot is physically attached to the stove.

Also, I found it very difficult to find fuel canisters, even in large cities. And since I was flying between destinations I had big problems. You need small canisters with valves made to the EN417 specification. Only JETBOIL and Snowpeak canisters fit, so far as I know.

The JETBOIL website is not exactly up front on this point. Bad JETBOIL.

=== original post July 14, 2006

Upstart JETBOIL took the Backpacker magazine award for best stove in 2006.

I went to order their Group Cooking System with 1.5 Liter Cooking Pot from Amazon. Built-in igniter, 1.5 liter pot, weight 1lb 3oz. Packed size: 7 x 4.5 inches.

Ultra-efficient, it looks great. (Note: it still suffers the same decrease in performance in cold weather as other propane / iso-butane canister stoves. You are advised to keep the fuel in your sleeping bag at night.)

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Problem. Amazon will not ship this product to Canada. When I contacted the manufacturer they told me they have not yet found a distributor.

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mountaineering clothing on Nanga Parbat

Patagonia sponsored Steve House and Vince Anderson climbed Nanga Parbat in six days in “pure alpine style. It was a new direct route on the Rupal Face, a wall with the largest relief of any wall in the world (14,000 feet)”.

For this they won the Oscar of Mountain Climbing — the Piolet d’Or (French for The Golden Ice Axe).

Patagonia posted some great photos, video and a detailed shopping list of Steve’s clothing. (All Patagonia, of course.)

Nice use of the internet! I like this company.

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UPDATE: For a terrific article about the controversial Steve House, check The Devil Wears Patagonia – Outside magazine

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foot care for hiking

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Your foot is a mechanical marvel consisting of a structure of 52 separate bones, tendons, and muscles together forming a small, flexible but strong platform. It is capable of keeping us balanced and moving even under heavy loads and uneven terrains. In this section, we will look at ways to train your feet and how to deal with the common ailments that trouble them. We pay special attention to Foot Blisters which are the number one common foot ailment in Hiking.

>> Prepare & Train your Feet for Hiking

>> Common Walking Disorders

>> Blisters – Prevention & Treatment

>> Hiking Socks

>> Hiking Boot Buying Guide

Feet & Foot Care for Hiking – abc-of-hiking.com

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BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page

… a site where backpackers evaluate new gear in the field over a six month testing period. We report to BackpackGearTest.org in a setting that encourages discussion.

For gear tests, manufacturers provide a set of gear to go to a broad range of testers. For other evaluations, we provide individual reports on our own gear with which we have had significant field experience. All of our reports are available to hikers seeking to make educated decisions about gear purchases and use, and to manufacturers and retailers seeking market exposure, recommendations from third party sources, as well as research and development feedback.

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BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page

This site has great potential.

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hiking 10,000mi with your dog

I subscribe to the excellent Practical Backpacking blog and podcast.

I enjoyed their on-trail interview with Justin Lichter (aka Trauma) & his dog Yoni.

The team is hiking a 10,000mi, 1-year journey. (Eastern Continental Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, & Continental Divide Trail.) <gear list>

Good dog!

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Trauma’s home page sponsored by Granite Gear.

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light gear – Andrew Skurka

Interesting gear tips by one of the top distance hikers in the world.

I wear running shoes year-round. Compared to hiking boots, running shoes are:

* Lighter
* More comfortable
* More breathable
* Faster drying

He favours Montrail running shoes including the Highline.

Men\'s Montrail Highline - Grey/Yellow

Andrew has also posted full gear lists from past hikes.

I also wore running shoes on my last hike. Very comfortable!

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Cannondale’s LE Carbon clothing

Time Magazine’s annual “Most Amazing Inventions of the Year” issue rates the LE Carbon collection of cycling apparel one of 2005’s coolest inventions.

Cannondale utilizes TrapTekâ„¢ technology to imbed their proprietary QuadTex fabric with activated carbon made from coconut shells. This activated carbon provides Cannondale’s LE Carbon apparel with exceptional moisture management and odor adsorption characteristics.

When the body heats up, Quadtex Carbon’s MicroClimateâ„¢ activates, with 45% better moisture transfer than most fabrics. It keeps a body cool during hot days and heats up during colder ones. This revolutionary new fabric also traps odor during physical activity. The odor is “adsorbed” along with bacteria and is only released during a normal wash and dry cycle, during which the carbon re-activates itself again for another ride. Cannondale LE Apparel also boasts UV protection with an SPF rating of 50+.

details

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gear – Mutha Hubba tent

We already love the 1 and 2 person Hubba tents. The big Mama version is a winner as well.

The mother of all Hubbas. Our lightest, most livable 3-person tent, the Mutha Hubba provides maximum interior space along with two stay-dry entrances and two large vestibules. Use it as a double-wall tent for full protection or as a freestanding tarp shelter with optional footprint to save weight.

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details on the MSR website