Hey all, I just wanted to write a little about some gear that I used and abused on my last hunt. I ended up going out for 6 days, but I was packed to stay for a total of 9 nights. I ended up getting my first buck in D8 on my 4th day out, 15mi from the car! I am writing this because I'd like to pass on some suggestions to those gearheads out there, or to those considering purchasing some backpacking gear...
Here it goes:
My favorite/most used piece of equipment was my titanium Vargo Hexagon Woodstove. It folds flat and ends up to be the size of a small plate. You have to find a small rock or flat spot, but other than that, it burns on whatever small sticks you can find. I had to get accustomed to using it, but I could cook for as long as I wanted without worrying about running out of gas or carrying any fuel bottles. I attached a picture. I think I got it for about $30 at the local outdoor shop.
My tent is a 10 year old model of a Sierra Designs Cosmos 2. I could use a new tent because the weight is about 6 pounds. If you do buy a new tent, look for one that has the option to just use the footprint and rainfly as a lightweight shelter. Kelty makes good value for money tents, and is an entry level brand in the high end backpacking gear category. I attached a picture of my lightweight shelter on the morning of shooting my buck!
I used a MSR Sweetwater water pump (there were many places that I could probably have drank direct, but I never feel good after doing so... I like to be able to drink with confidence). The Sweetwater is a smaller water pump, but not the smallest. If you go too small, say to the MSR Miniworks, you have to pump a lot more, and you have to clean the little pump more often of gunk. Forget the "survival straw" or whatever they call it. You are better off drinking from the source in an emergency, and dealing with the diarrhea the weeks afterward. I counted the amount of pumps it took me to fill my 3L Camelbak: about 230! I really liked the sweetwater though!
Of course I had a good layering system for warmth. I had merino wool Icebreaker underlayers, a lightweight Arcteryx jacket, an insulated Patagonia jacket, and an Arcteryx parka Goretex shell (in case of bad weather). These are expensive brands. I purchased them on "pro-deal" so they were just barely affordable for me. Wool is an excellent fabric for outdoor use. Merino wool is comfortable enough to wear directly on your skin for long periods of time. Wool does not burn quickly either. Actually, the armed forces no longer allows polyester/capilene/polypropolene underlayers for troops because the wounds from blasts were worse because the plastics melted into their skin. I heard that the armed forces now uses mostly merino wool underlayers. A word on waterproof jackets: there are 'laminated' waterproof jackets, and there are 'membrane' waterproof jackets. Laminated jackets are really just nylon that has some sort of silicon or rubberized layer impregnated into the nylon. These jackets are fine. They are cheaper, but they are less breathable, and the laminate usually separates from the nylon after a couple of years or washings. A jacket with a waterproof membrane is much more durable, breathable, and more expensive. Goretex is an example of a membrane jacket. Other companies make their own versions of membranes that are similar in quality. Membranes can be washed without a problem.
I used a Marmot down sleepingbag. Marmot makes excellent gear at mid range backpacking gear prices. I would recommend down sleeping bags if you know if you will stay dry. However, down loses all of its loft (and therefore warmth) if it gets wet. If you are planning a trip where you may get some rain or water, go for a synthetic sleeping bag. Synthetic sleeping bags are usually cheaper too! Down is just lighter weight, more comfortable, and more compressible.
I just want to go on and on... but I'll stop because it's dinner time! ;D
Here it goes:
My favorite/most used piece of equipment was my titanium Vargo Hexagon Woodstove. It folds flat and ends up to be the size of a small plate. You have to find a small rock or flat spot, but other than that, it burns on whatever small sticks you can find. I had to get accustomed to using it, but I could cook for as long as I wanted without worrying about running out of gas or carrying any fuel bottles. I attached a picture. I think I got it for about $30 at the local outdoor shop.
My tent is a 10 year old model of a Sierra Designs Cosmos 2. I could use a new tent because the weight is about 6 pounds. If you do buy a new tent, look for one that has the option to just use the footprint and rainfly as a lightweight shelter. Kelty makes good value for money tents, and is an entry level brand in the high end backpacking gear category. I attached a picture of my lightweight shelter on the morning of shooting my buck!
I used a MSR Sweetwater water pump (there were many places that I could probably have drank direct, but I never feel good after doing so... I like to be able to drink with confidence). The Sweetwater is a smaller water pump, but not the smallest. If you go too small, say to the MSR Miniworks, you have to pump a lot more, and you have to clean the little pump more often of gunk. Forget the "survival straw" or whatever they call it. You are better off drinking from the source in an emergency, and dealing with the diarrhea the weeks afterward. I counted the amount of pumps it took me to fill my 3L Camelbak: about 230! I really liked the sweetwater though!
Of course I had a good layering system for warmth. I had merino wool Icebreaker underlayers, a lightweight Arcteryx jacket, an insulated Patagonia jacket, and an Arcteryx parka Goretex shell (in case of bad weather). These are expensive brands. I purchased them on "pro-deal" so they were just barely affordable for me. Wool is an excellent fabric for outdoor use. Merino wool is comfortable enough to wear directly on your skin for long periods of time. Wool does not burn quickly either. Actually, the armed forces no longer allows polyester/capilene/polypropolene underlayers for troops because the wounds from blasts were worse because the plastics melted into their skin. I heard that the armed forces now uses mostly merino wool underlayers. A word on waterproof jackets: there are 'laminated' waterproof jackets, and there are 'membrane' waterproof jackets. Laminated jackets are really just nylon that has some sort of silicon or rubberized layer impregnated into the nylon. These jackets are fine. They are cheaper, but they are less breathable, and the laminate usually separates from the nylon after a couple of years or washings. A jacket with a waterproof membrane is much more durable, breathable, and more expensive. Goretex is an example of a membrane jacket. Other companies make their own versions of membranes that are similar in quality. Membranes can be washed without a problem.
I used a Marmot down sleepingbag. Marmot makes excellent gear at mid range backpacking gear prices. I would recommend down sleeping bags if you know if you will stay dry. However, down loses all of its loft (and therefore warmth) if it gets wet. If you are planning a trip where you may get some rain or water, go for a synthetic sleeping bag. Synthetic sleeping bags are usually cheaper too! Down is just lighter weight, more comfortable, and more compressible.
I just want to go on and on... but I'll stop because it's dinner time! ;D
