I have given in to the peer pressure here to reduce my pack weight, and this post focuses on item in particular found in my hammock camping setup.
I've been using my original tree shelf every chance I've had, and I've really gotten used to the convenience of cooking at a comfortable height rather than at ground level. The original version weighed almost 15oz and was pretty compact. Several members asked about a possible titanium version, and after pricing sheet material, discovered that it would cost about $70 for just the titanium alone. We'll stick to buying small bling (go Dutch!)
So... I remade my shelf with something much cheaper: Formica.
Tough, light weight, moisture & heat resistant. (Besides, I had part of a sheet left from a remodeling project last year.) It's just flexible enough to conform to pack movement without bending or breaking. But it needs some help to be stiff enough for a solid shelf. So I came up with a bracing system that works great, yet folds flat. All support lines and tree "straps" are now braided masons line, further reducing overall weight. Total weight of my new UL tree shelf: 6.9oz including a Tyvek carry sleave! Less than half the original design, but still the exact same size. Well, it is thinner, 3/16" packed thickness to be exact.
On the initial test, I discovered that sheet Formica (when not laminated to a surface) will bend and deform slightly when exposed to prolonged heat. My hot-rodded alky stove (will post about that later) warped the shelf base after two uses, where the stove sat directly on the Formica. Still usable, just... warped. So I came up with what I call a stove pad, and it works wonderful. It's a 6" round piece of carbon felt with an aluminum disc laminated to it. Very light weight, and sized so it fits inside my Imusa pot. The carbon felt takes care of the heat issue, and the aluminum plate makes a stable surface for the stove, so it doesn't wobble on the felt pad. Figure I can use it on other sufaces too that are a little uneven, where the stove would otherwise be unstable.
Here are some pics... I'll do a video on it soon. Formica can be tough to work with if you don't have the proper tools, so I'm not sure if this will become a DIY project. If there is enough interest in these, I'll consider cranking a few out for fellow hangers. Cost should be minimal, especially compared to the titanium version that never was.
-Klauss
Bookmarks