Date: 2005-11-01
To: Gear Talk
Miles today: 0.0

Some have mentioned that I should write about gear. OK! Gear - I¢m all for it! Good quality gear, light gear (very important), and only necessary gear. Of course what one hiker deems necessary, the next maintains is totally unnecessary. I think much of the difference of opinion lies in the difference in pain tolerance/comfort level between people. I need to have enough cushion under the old bones to be comfortable enough to sleep, or I won¢t be getting far. I want a tent that will keep out the rain, bugs, and critters, and provide privacy, even if it weighs more than a single wall silnylon tarp-tent creation. So, I¢m not an ultralighter, but I have researched and chosen the lightest gear that I think will meet my needs. I have only used my gear on weekend trips, so I am not qualified to give serious reviews based on lots of use, but I will just share what things I have decided to use. Pack: ULA-P2; I just got this last spring and have had it out on 3 weekend trips and am very happy with it. Roomy, 3 lbs, love the hip belt pockets and the water bottle holder on the shoulder strap that is so simple to access. Comfortable, too. Silnylon pack cover and will use trash compactor bag or silnylon inside pack liner to keep stuff dry.Tent: MSR Zoid 1.5; Pleased with this, all the more so because of how hard I had to search near the end of 2004 to find one ¢ they stopped making them. Little bigger than the Zoid-1, about 4 lbs, and very weather-worthy. Not free-standing, but if no dirt to stake into, tying to posts or trees or rocks will work, or platform hooks.   Has lots of mesh for good ventilation, 2 nice sized gear pockets, 2 side entry doors, lots of vestibule space (I call it the porches, front and back)¢¦Nice little home!Sleeping bag: I splurged and got Western Mountaineering bags recently. Winter bag: Versalite Super; 2 lbs., rated to 10*, full zip ¢ my most expensive piece of gear by a long shot! Haven¢t used it yet, but it feels like a weightless cloud of warmth. Absolutely lovely! Summer bag: Western Mountaineering Highlight, 1 lb., rated to 35*, plain and simple, light and comfy, has 12 zipper.Sleeping pad: Therm-a-rest Pro-4, full-length self-inflating pad, 1 lb, 8 oz. Also I am carrying part of a z-rest cut down to 6 sections (6 oz.) for my chair ¢ leaning against a rock or tree, and at night it will go under my Therm-a-rest for extra insulation & padding where it is most needed. Will carry it on the outside of my pack so it can make a nice quick seat wherever I stop for breaks and meals.Stove/Cooking pot: As mentioned earlier, I have the Pocket Rocket, and so far have been pleased with it. It is a tiny canister stove, can run high or simmer low, and is simple and fast to use. My pot requirements were that it had to be light (of course) and have attached handle. I don¢t like those pot lifter things; I¢m always afraid I won¢t squeeze tight enough and will drop my meal, and it also seems like people are always misplacing them. I also wanted a pot with a well-fitting cover, with nonstick surface being optional but nice. I decided on the Evernew titanium 0.9 liter pot (4.7 oz.) and also got a pot cozy to use with it. Both working very well so far!Water treatment: Katadyn Hiker microfilter; weighs more than Aqua Mira or other chemicals, but I don¢t want to drink chemicals for 6 months, and I don¢t like the idea of ¢floaters¢ either, so I¢m carrying the filter. Filtered water tastes good and is ready to drink immediately. I know - filters can clog up and have issues, so I am carrying a few Micropur tablets for backup. For carrying water, I have a 1 liter soft Nalgene bottle, a Gatorade bottle that fits in the nifty holder on my pack shoulder strap, and for extra carrying capacity as needed, a 2 liter Platypus collapsible bottle which weighs 1 oz. Other Items: First aid bag (band-aids, moleskin, ointment, vitamins, etc.) misc bag (spare batteries, rope, needle & thread, tent patches, etc.), potty bag (small plastic trowel, partial roll of TP, hand sanitizer), clothes bag (dry layer to sleep in, extra socks), Marmot Precip rain jacket and pants, warm layer jackets, gloves/hat/neck gaiter, food bag (really VERY important), electronics (I-River MP3 player, Pocketmail to send & receive e-mails, Pentax Optio S5i camera, cell phone) trekking poles with fix-all duct tape wrapped around top end of one pole, Vasque Caldera boots, OR low gaiters, maps & Thru-hikers handbook, Crocks for camp shoes & stream crossings, Princeton Tec Aurora headlamp, and small Bible. There ¢ now you know more than anyone would ever want to know about what I will be carrying on my back for the big hike! Until next time ¢