gear – Page 55 – besthike.com

September 30, 2006

“drinking your water raw”

Contributor George Novak normally hikes without water bottle or filter. He “prehydrates” â€” then drinks as much as he can if and when he finds good water. He has no more stomach trouble than the most careful hiker.

Everyone agrees the literature is hyper-cautious when it comes to water treatment.

Docâ€™s Rules for Sipping the Waters

Study the watershed you are in. Know what is there.
Look for water near to its source.
Try to take water from the sideslope streamlets.
Avoid water from the main valley stream.
Look for icy cold water.
Look for fast-moving water.
Study the area for the presence of large animals.
Ascertain whether numbers of elk have recently been in the area.
Avoid waters near beaver ponds or cattle grazing.
…

Two-Heel Drive: September 2006 Archives

source

How careful are you with water treatment?

September 25, 2006

finally, a waterproof backpack – Arc’teryx Naos

I still chuckle thinking back to the hilarious A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. His outrage at finding out he needed also buy a “pack cover” along with his new expensive pack is something to which many can relate.

The new Arc’teryx Naos packs are getting good reviews.

$Arc\'teryx Naos 55 Backpack 3420 cu in - Men\'s Cobalt, Short$
Arc\’teryx Naos 55 Backpack 3420 cu in – Men\’s Cobalt, Short

September 24, 2006

gear – Exped Sleeping Pads – REVIEW

After longer use we are not quite as thrilled as during the honeymoon.

The air valves are tricky. To close properly you need twist the valves so far to the right that you worry about breaking them. Valve problems have been common I was told at a gear shop in Canada.

And if low weight is your main concern, stick with the lightest Therm-a-Rest. Our ExPed 7s are 27.9oz (790gms).

On the other hand, I LOVE this decadent, thick mattress. In fact I’ve added a $35 chair attachment for those times when weight and bulk are not an issue.

========

Our original post July 10th, 2006

New technology has made your old sleeping pad obsolete.

Last week we tested the Exped sleeping mat â€” it’s a winner! The best new gear innovation in years.

High insulation value with low bulk & weight, insulated with 700-fill goose down â€” this is the best sleeping system we’ve ever seen.

The only down side we can report is that it takes longer to inflate than a therm-a-rest.

September 21, 2006

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

===

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.)

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

September 18, 2006

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 â€” 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.

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

September 11, 2006

foot care for hiking

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

September 9, 2006

recharge your phone on the trail

The SimpleHiker.com blog recommends this cool, lightweight (4.8 oz) product for emergency recharge of your cell while on a hike.

Good idea.

It uses a standard double AA battery.

TURBO CHARGE TC200 Electronic Reusable Portable Cellular Phone Charger

September 7, 2006

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.

BackpackGearTest.org – Home Page