backpacker

[Root beer]

Anybody into backpacking? I'm looking upgrade few gears. Mainly tent, sleeping bag, and a stove.

I'm considering one man Eureka Zeus 1 tent.

I'm still open for sleeping bag, I wanted a 0 degree rated bag for winter backpacking, however, I think this bag would be too hot for late spring and summer trips. You guys carry a 4 seasons sleeping bag? Or you have different bags for different seasons?

The stove, I'm torn between Primus Express and MSR Pocket Rocket. The primus comes with piezo ignition system, but I read some reviews stating it can fail sometimes, and it just seems like a gimmick when I'll be carrying matches or a bic lighter at all time. Probably get MSR since it's cheaper.

[fourbizz]

I shopped around for a LONG time until I pulled the trigger on an ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2 tent. It is awesome. I found mine on sale and it was worth every penny.

I sleep hot and like a lighter pack so i run light sleeping bags and adjust clothing as needed. 90% of the time I am using my 45 degree Sierra Designs down bag. Once in awhile I will use my 30 degree Lafuma synthetic or my 20 degree ALPS synthetic. I have slept in a snowstorm at 9500 ft in my 45 degree bag with my warm clothes on and been perfectly comfortable.

Sometimes I use a homemade alcohol stove, but most of the time I use my MSR pocket rocket. No frills, no nonsense, just pure functionality.

[Root beer]

I think I have to stick to synthetic. Pretty sure I'm allergic to down.  ;D

I look at the tent you have and Overstock.com has it on sale for $100. The one man tent for same model is $88.

I'm trying to convert to ultralight backpacking in spring through fall.  My biggest weight would be clothes since I have to prepare for every weather at higher elevation. At the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, they have shelter sites that 3/4 enclosed. I thought about hiking LeConte in winter or late winter when it still snowy and just carry a tarp to tarp off the 1/4 that open in case the wind blows in wrong direction. You can't pitch a tent on LeConte at 6,500 feet. Apparently. :

[RobbyZ5001]

I also really like the sierra designs bag. I used the 20 degree bag. As for a stove simplicity seems to be the best.

[fourbizz]

lol'd @ "higher elevations"

Ive only had my sierra up to about 10K, but my old Everest down bag went with me up to almost 13k in Colorado.

It just depends on how you sleep temperature wise. I can be in my thermal bottoms and nothing else, and be roasting in my 45, as my girl next to me is shivering in every stich of clothing and a 20 degree bag.

A couple things that a lot of people dont realize with sleeping bags:

Your sleeping pad plays almost as large a part in warmth as your bag does. Thermarests are ok, I am running an insulated Big Agnes air pad now. That thing is awesome. So comfortable, light, small packing, and toasty warm. Get one. Seriously.

Secondly, using a heavy bag in warm weather can actually make you cold. After you fall asleep you get hot, sweat, and then the sweat cools you. You wake up cold, but it is because you got too hot. Once you get your bag all sweaty, you are basically screwed for the night. Best bet with a heavy bag in warm conditions is to fall asleep wearing little clothing and your bag zipped open. If you wake up cold, start zipping up and adding clothing.

That sucks you are allergic to down. Despite all of our technology, I prefer wool clothing and down bags when I can. As my budget allows, I will be adding a new down bag to the fleet. They are just so much more comfortable, and they pack down amazingly small for their temperature rating. Sucks when they get wet tho... Thankfully that has not been a problem inside the Zephyr, and it has been through some pretty entertaining storms the last couple years.

[Bassn Blvd]

Anybody into backpacking? I'm looking upgrade few gears. Mainly tent, sleeping bag, and a stove.

I'm considering one man Eureka Zeus 1 tent.

I'm still open for sleeping bag, I wanted a 0 degree rated bag for winter backpacking, however, I think this bag would be too hot for late spring and summer trips. You guys carry a 4 seasons sleeping bag? Or you have different bags for different seasons?

The stove, I'm torn between Primus Express and MSR Pocket Rocket. The primus comes with piezo ignition system, but I read some reviews stating it can fail sometimes, and it just seems like a gimmick when I'll be carrying matches or a bic lighter at all time. Probably get MSR since it's cheaper.

Are you sure that's a stove? ;D ;D ;D ;D

[fourbizz]

Yeah, but it keeps running out of batteries... ;D

[bigfruits]

the pocket rocket is great if youre just boiling water. they had a combo with a small MSR titanium kettle when i bought mine. i use it for coffee and mountain house foods.

get two bags. 0 deg a little bulky and too warm for summer use.

down is great but sucks when wet.

[nick76]

I too have two bags that I carry depending on the season.  It sounds odd, but I am one of those that sleeps hot too.  So I carry a 20 degree synthetic Kelty bag for my cold stuff and then I just use a small fleece bag for the other stuff.  You can always put on or take of clothing as needed.

Was headed out a couple of years ago with some friends.  Rained he entire way to the trail head where we were camping the night before we took off.  Temps were supposed to be in the upper 40's for a low, but when we woke up it was 31 degrees and had 4 inches of snow.  I was plenty warm with my 20 degree bag (that was the one I took just in case).......everyone else froze in their 45 degree bags.  Needless to say we started our hike early that day. 

[J Francho]

The Pocket Rocket is money.  I picked up a Kelty Mesa 4 on sale.  I love the thing.  I don't do a ton of backpacking, but I do camp for many of the tournaments that > 2 hours drive.  Look for aluminum poles, and a simply set up.  Common sense design features are usually already there in the $100+ range.  Fourbizz's Alps is nice tent.  A buddy of mine loves the MSR stuff, but its pricey.  If your not in a hurry, hold out for a sale.  As far as sleeping bags, Bizz probably offers the best advice, I still use a cheapo bag that is probably 10 years old.  I sleep "warmly" as well.  Sounds like I'm not the only one whose girl has "polar butt"  ;D

[nick76]

Amen to the Polar Butt!! ;D

[Dan:]

Check out www.steepandcheap.com

They have sales on outdoor stuff pretty regularly.

[Root beer]

I guess I'll bite the bullet on 20 degree bag for now. I just need find the smallest one I can pack into my bag.

I'll keep my eye on several tents on few websites and local stores that hold sales. Mahoney's outfitter here in Johnson City has some good gears.

Look like I'm buying the Pocket Rocket. Usually I have camping gears for mountain biking and fishing trips, but I'm wanting to upgrade few gears for some backcountry camping. Definitely need non-stick cookware, sleep pad, and that's about it...

[Tin]

Speaking of backpacking...Anyone know where I can find this nice warm jacket? Looks like Carhart but I don't know. I know Senko77 had one like it...

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Speaking of backpacking...Anyone know where I can find this nice warm jacket? Looks like Carhart but I don't know. I know Senko77 had one like it...

[Bassn Blvd]

Are they a pitcher/catcher team? ;D

[bigfruits]

wow that picture really gives me the itch to get my camping gear back out.

Root beer, you dont need a tent. my one man is actually quite roomy. we dont need the added weight of an extra tent.

[Root beer]

wow that picture really gives me the itch to get my camping gear back out.

Root beer, you dont need a tent. my one man is actually quite roomy. we dont need the added weight of an extra tent.

One of my tent is a two man tent, I used it for fishing and mountain biking trips. It weights 6 pounds though, the one I'm looking at is smaller and weights 3 pounds, barely.