Date: 2007-12-16
To: Gear list
Miles today: 0.0

The REI Cruise UL60 pack I ordered arrived the other day. It looks like it will do the trick. I can fit plenty of food in it, along with the Waldie plastic camp shoes. Unlike the UL45 version, it does not have two small elastic mesh pockets near the top of the pack. That is where I used to stow the camp towel and pack cover and will miss those little pockets. I kind of wish the bottom mesh pockets on this UL60 pack had a little more slack in them. Its a tight fit for 20 oz soda bottles. I know I'm suppose to use a water bladder inside the pack, but I don't like to use them. I've seen too many of them leak on people and get everything wet inside the pack. Plus, it takes up some of the space inside the pack. There's sort of a ¢kangaroo¢ pouch on the front of the pack, which I guess will be handy for something. Maybe as a place to stuff wet socks and my little closed cell foam sitting pad. The pack seems comfortable enough, but just walking around the room with it is not a good test. Now its time to do a comprehensive gear list. Not that anyone but myself is interested in what I got in my pack, but its nice to have a record of it all. Over all base pack weight total ~ 18 pounds. REI Cruise UL60 pack and pack cover, 3.1 poundsMont-bell Burrow bag #3. Synthetic insulation, 30 degree, 2 pounds. Cocoon silk mummy bag liner, 0.2 poundsProlite 3 regular Thermarest sleeping pad. 1.3 pounds but worth its weight in a good nights sleep.Shelter: Outdoor Research bug bivy, Six Moons Designs Gatewood Cape/shelter, Tyvak ground cloth, tent stakes. Combined weight of 2.1 pounds. Cook set - MSR titanium .85L pot, Caldera Cone alcohol stove and wind screen, plastic cup, plastic spoon and knife, Scotch Bright scrubber, 2 gallon water bag (for lugging water back from spring, which can be a long walk and you only want to do it once!) water pump and filter ¢ 1.1 pounds total. Cloths: Nylon shell pull over anorak, fleece pull over anorak, mid weight poly-pro long sleeve shirt,light weight poly-pro long sleeve shirt, 2 light weight synthetic short sleeve shirts, 2 spare microfiber underwear, 2 spare hiking socks, fleece hat, gloves, 2 bandannas, knee high gaiters.Total weight 4.6 pounds ¢ wow! Ditty bag for odds and ends ¢ in soft plastic pencil boxh-p iPDQ hx2485 PDA and charger, Sony AM/FM/TV/WB radio, MP3 player and earbuds, assorted band aids, bottle of ¢New Skin¢ blister treatment, Hydrocortisone anti-itch cream, sun block lip balm, roll on sun block, basic sewing kit, compass, spare single AAA LED flashlight, spare AAA batteries (2), spare lighter, pen, personal care multi-tool (combo nail clippers, scissors , tweezers, nail file, knife, bottle opener, screwdriver) Total weight 1.7 pounds. Other odd and ends:Toothbrush, toothpaste, headlamp, closed cell foam sitting pad (12¢ x 12¢) [keeps the butt warm and dry when sitting on wet logs or rocks, very nice to have], Waldie camp shoes, camp towel, camp soap, camera, 0.5L plastic bottled water bottle for alcohol fuel, two 20 oz soda bottles for water, extra zip lock bags, heavy duty trash compactor bag to line pack with, bear bag / cloths line rope, TP and baby wipes.