View Full Version : Been Recruited
WrongTurn
02-28-2009, 18:35
So huge change of plans for the summer my two week trip just became a 3 month adventure. Was hanging around the local outfitters today celebrating my birthday just the way I wanted, oogling gear. While standing there I was recruited to test some gear on a long hike. Figuring 2 weeks wasn't enough time for an accurate test, I agreed to ask the Mrs. if I could go for the summer. So gave the head of house a call and she said to go for it, gotta love that woman. So starting May 18th I'll be going North on the AT until August 15th. Leaving from Damascus and figuring to cover somewhere around 800 miles. Will be rocking gear I've never used before, picking up a couple weeks early to get a few weeks out with it. Probably working on some gear revisions of my own along the way, mostly fumbling with different filter setups. Depending on what I'm to test, I may not be hanging.
If I could hike for 3 months I sort of think I would (Gasp!) sleep on the ground for the priveledge.
But I would complain about it,,,,, ALOT!
Didn't you say something the other day about going back to ground anyway?
WrongTurn
02-28-2009, 19:42
Yeah I was until a very good wife of mine made me a 10oz hammock for my birthday today. Awoke to crying baby and a few new toys. With my Spinntex MacCat Standard also a Bday present with 2 Camp Nano Biners. I was planning on hanging again. May even take the 10oz hammock just to hang around in at camp if I end up testing a tent.
Most likely looking like I'll be humping a Osprey Exos even though I really want to give ULAs panel loader a long haul test.
My WM summerlite, a Zelph Stove Works Cobalt. Some sort of Ti pot no larger than .5 liter. Some sort of filter at all times, most likely going to be a mantage of Cascade design stuff I piece together. Some sort of shelter most likely a MSR Hubba HP, if not I'll be hammocking the whole way. Golite and ULA mix of raingear. TerraMar underclothes and other random assortments of gear. Looking to clarify gear list as soon as pack arrives and I can see what fits and what works. Will be on TrailJournals soon. ATTROLL when are you hitting the trail? Hopefully I'll see you at traildays or in VA somewhere, Karl had already passed through town as had Trek.
Didn't you say something the other day about going back to ground anyway?
:scared: BLASPHEMY!! :eek:
Well, I'm sure he said it "just in passing".
:D
I actually carry a little more weight in my pack now than I did when I was a groundling. If you ask me, the comfort factor is well worth any weight offset. Does lightweight have it's place? Sure it does. But I'd rather be comfortable off the ground any day of the week, even if it meant shaving a few precious ounces off my pack weight. :thumbup: I wouldn't even consider a tent or other ground shelter for a second.
HitchHiking
02-28-2009, 22:12
Wrongturn, sounds like a great old adventure eh. How does one get involved with gear testing anyway? Do you know some insiders in the companys?
Cheers
Hitch
WrongTurn
03-01-2009, 01:18
Not insider connections. Rather I've spent a fortune on gear from a select few outfitters. They were looking for someone to try out a few new prototype pieces from some of their suppliers. Basically you can hire all the pro guys to try your gear, but average joe may have a very different opinion. I'm going to be average joe this summer.
stormcrow
03-01-2009, 01:29
Man are you the lucky one!! You will be the envy of many here. I cant wait to see what your gear list is.
What fabric did she use to make your 10oz hammock? Also, I thought you sold that WM summerlite. Sounds like you are going to be walkin light no matter what!
Adam
WrongTurn
03-01-2009, 02:32
1.9 single layer actually. She had my grandmother help her, sewing for 60+years. The WM was spoken for but backed out last minute over length of bag. Decided just to keep it even though my shoulder are a wee bit to broad to fit really well. We'll see how far I get, I figure atleast should make it through VA,MD, and some of PA.
HitchHiking
03-01-2009, 04:14
haha good on ya Wrongturn. Representing all the joes
WrongTurn
03-01-2009, 07:59
The great thing about this trip, is I won't be humping 500 packs or 400-500 tents. We agreed to leave the technicool stuff out of my pack.
In all seriousness the WM bag will be the most expensive thing on me, which isn't with the general game plan of this trip, but there are so many sleeping bags and well I like mine.
This entire trip is to get an idea of how viable it is to gather a Moderate priced UL gear loadout which works day after day on a long hike. We all know people like me who are OCD gram weenies. We as a market spend thousands of dollars over the years sometimes hundreds at a time to cut maybe 1-2 ounces, problem is not many potential thruhikers have hiked alot before they decide to do this trip, or are willing to drop that kind of cash to get into the SUL category.
Basically we're looking to find a good solid setup of lightweight but also affordable gear. For example I found out I'll be testing a Osprey Exos 46 size medium. Thats 2800 cubic inches at 2.5lbs. Pack is under 200 dollars. Now granted a person could go with a ULA Circuit for 2.5 pounds and have 3600 cui, but alot of people are gearing up at their local REI not Brians website or the few distributors that carry his gear.
Alot of DIY guys out there making water filters, but I'm not big on the whole dip and gravity filter setups out there. So far I've made a simple setup that took 14 dollars to make without the filter. 2L Platypus, and a cap/ hydration lineout. I stop unscrew the regular cap, throw on the hydration line out cap with clean line already attached to it. connect to pump and I'm filling straight to my Platypus. Filling my Gatorade is as easy as dropping the cap in the bottle and pumping. Simple and 9oz total with filter.
I need some suggestions on stove options. I have pocket rockets, alcohol stoves, esbit tabs stoves........ I know the pocket rocket will work on a day to day hike especially during the summer. I have to take a stove as your not going to meet many thrus who aren't. I'm thinking pocket rocket for the commonality of it on the trail, but at the same time I'd like to try alcohol on a long hike.
Cannibal
03-01-2009, 08:08
Actually, I think the Pocket Rocket is in the minority on the Trail (AT, anyway). The vast majority of hikers still on the Trail after Hot Springs were carrying alcohol stoves. They have really caught on. Me, I'm weird. Got my Rocket in my Pocket. :laugh:
Sounds like a great time and what an excuse to go for a walk. Jealous in Denver.
I need some suggestions on stove options.........My personal favorite stoves are the Caldera Cone (http://www.antigravitygear.com/proddetail.php?prod=TDCCALD) and the Caldera Keg (http://www.antigravitygear.com/proddetail.php?prod=TDCKEG&cat=39) from the nice folks at Trail Designs (http://www.traildesigns.com/), sold by TinMan at AntiGravity Gear (http://www.antigravitygear.com/). I've had the Keg since last summer and it's the lightest and most efficient stove setup I've ever used. :thumbup:
WrongTurn
03-01-2009, 09:21
Hooch were you using that setup at the winter hang? I remember someone using a cone. Mom got me a couple Evernew pots for my birthday this weekend. So once I get back home for spring break I'll check them out and figure out what my plan of attack will be. 1ounce of fuel gives me boiling water with the cobalt. So figuring a at most 7 day resupply I'll carry 10 ounces of fuel. Liking the cone idea though. 2Q made me one for my starlyte, but the starlyte really isnt stable enough for my unsteady hands. Great stove just to small for me. I'm glad ya'll are saying alcohol though, I want to really get down and dirty on this hike as far as gear. I'm open for suggestions on things to take.
DuctTape
03-01-2009, 09:25
Hooch were you using that setup at the winter hang? I remember someone using a cone. Mom got me a couple Evernew pots for my birthday this weekend. So once I get back home for spring break I'll check them out and figure out what my plan of attack will be. 1ounce of fuel gives me boiling water with the cobalt. So figuring a at most 7 day resupply I'll carry 10 ounces of fuel. Liking the cone idea though. 2Q made me one for my starlyte, but the starlyte really isnt stable enough for my unsteady hands. Great stove just to small for me. I'm glad ya'll are saying alcohol though, I want to really get down and dirty on this hike as far as gear. I'm open for suggestions on things to take.
I like the Starlyte without the integrated stand. Use a different stand to get the stability and the starlyte for its efficiency.
WrongTurn
03-01-2009, 13:43
I have mixed results with getting the starlyte to boil water. Simmering its great, boiling not so much in less than ideal situations. The cobalt on the other hand is a torch.
stormcrow
03-01-2009, 14:06
Did you have any luck with the Heiny Pots and Fancy Feast stoves I sent out? I can boil 2 cups of water with just a little more than 0.5 oz of fuel easily.
Adam
WrongTurn
03-01-2009, 15:12
I did Adam thanks a ton. The fancy feasts are awesome. Actually I gave one setup to my dad after I wrapped some wick cord around the pot to get him away from his Whisperlite. I'm going to take a Heini and Fancy Feast on my trip next weekend.
stormcrow
03-01-2009, 15:40
I am glad you are going to get to play with them. Stoves are weird. You kind of keep searching until you find "THE ONE". It seems like "THE ONE" is different for everyone. Some people swear by stoves that I just personally dont like and visa versa of course.. The nice thing about these fancy feast stoves are that they are so cheap that if you dont like them you can just bestow some trail magic upon someone that might have a crazy heavy setup and might appreciate the lightened load.
Adam