Head Case Survivalists

[nikongod]

I found some coarse wire mesh (about 1/2" squares, 22ga? wire) while looking for bricks and formed a simple pot-support out of it. I think it is still a little too tall, but that is easy enough to fix. 

 

Pictures Please

 

I was too busy adjusting the little stand/base I built to take any. Plus it was dark. 

 

I will take some tonight. 

 

I got it to boil 2cups of water in 17.5min, using 1/2oz of alcohol. The stand is still a little too tall, and I need a proper wind-screen. I think with those changes it could speed up, and save a bit of fuel. 

 

Although the little wire mesh stand is probably lighter - 

 

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=27176

 

This thread ^ probably spells the end of my wire-mesh pot stand design.

[nikongod]

 

Red Bull Stove by Lord Nikon 12, on Flickr
 
The stove
 

Red Bull Stove by Lord Nikon 12, on Flickr
 
With the pot-stand
 

Red Bull Stove by Lord Nikon 12, on Flickr
 
With the pot

 

The Stove weighs 0.2oz (6g) without the stand.

I'm not sure how much the stand weighs... probably a lot. 

[VPI]

So I picked up some more supplies today at REI.  I could not choose a sleeping bag so I talked to an REI employee, who I am pretty sure sleeps in a tent behind the REI, and he recommended I get a cheap REI convertible bag with Sea to Summit inserts to bring it to the temps I will be looking for.  Lighter than any of the bags and packs fairly small so it will be a start until I decide what bag I want.  Also got the REI flash sleeping mat.

 

 

Got a rain cover made of something called Event fabric.

 

 

and a Thermoball coat that can pack up into its own pocket.

 

[n_maher]

My Mountain Hardwear insulated jacket cn do the pocket trick, I didn't believe it until I tried it for the first time.

[Salt Peanuts]

This thread brought back memories of when I worked at EMS. I don't miss that place.

[Dreadhead]

I wish I could count on being able to do overnight camping anytime soon. I don't think it's in my near future.

The Arcteryx Poco we have is very well designed and executed I would guess that their bags are even more so.

[Emooze]

I'm not a gear guy when it comes to camping (not even doing any backcountry camping now that I have little kids), but I like fire.  I've found a good way to make firestarters at home is to fill a cardboard egg carton with wood shavings, then pour in paraffin wax.  Wait for it to set and cut the whole thing up so you have 12 little easily-combustible paper cups full of paraffin and wood.  It's a cheap and easy way to get a fire going when the wood is a bit damp.

 

I like this idea a lot. Dryer lint works as a readily available substitute for wood shavings. Kept dry in a ziploc, lint works fine as tinder by itself.

[VPI]

Any of you pros have any opinions on the Nemo line of tents.  Maybe a Veda 1P and Galaxy 2P?

[nikongod]

I made a new base for the stove/pot using a utensil organizer from Ikea. 
The MSR Titan Kettle nests comfortably inside of it, and it will fit any of my Alcohol stoves. Even the big Svea military-surplus stove I have. 
I hope it will also work nicely with a small wood fire inside. 
 

Ikea stove base by Lord Nikon 12, on Flickr
 

Ikea stove base by Lord Nikon 12, on Flickr

 

The very heavy looking steel tent stakes are indeed very heavy, and will be replaced with very light titanium stakes sometime. 

[VPI]

Nice.  If I wasn't so lazy I would try to make one of those.

[VPI]

I have been able to try out a good deal of my gear in the last week.  I think I might end up upgrading my sleeping pad to a wider one as my shoulders are wide enough that my arms/hands lay naturally off of the pad which is annoying.

 

I orded a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag as my go to bag with the REI Travel bag with inserts filling any other needs. 

 

Still have not bought a tent.  I looked at several but the light wants look like I would destroy them quickly so I might end up with a slightly heavier, stronger tent before I am done.

[Dreadhead]

Heavier tent you don't destroy is a good idea

[Iron_Dreamer]

I orded a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag as my go to bag with the REI Travel bag with inserts filling any other needs. 

 

Still have not bought a tent.  I looked at several but the light wants look like I would destroy them quickly so I might end up with a slightly heavier, stronger tent before I am done.

 

Which WM bag did you get?  I have an Apache, which I've used comfortably down to about 10F in a not-so-warm tent.  It's quite an amazingly warm bundle for only 2lbs.  WM Bags definitely can outperform their ratings.

 

Concerned about destroying any specific points on tents? 

[VPI]

I actually got a Megalite as I really do not like being hot when I sleep.  Hopefully it will work but I do have the Thermalite liners to bring the rating down if I need to.

 

Most of the lightweight tents I was looking at had DAC poles which look strong but the thin fabrics look like they would tear very easily, maybe it is just appearance?

[Iron_Dreamer]

The only lightweight tents I've seen specific complaints about tearing easily are the Big Agnes Fly Creek Platinum line, which I considered earlier this year, but ended up with a standard Fly Creek model, for only a few ounces more weight, but a more reassuring denier of fabric (and a bit more warmth due to less mesh).  Ed's had a BA Copper Spur for years that's held up well to use in some tough, rocky environments here in the southwest.  I also have a 4-season mountaineering tent that I have no worries whatsoever about damaging, but it weighs 6-7lbs depending on parts taken, for a 2-person tent!

[VPI]

Found an excellent outdoor store in Vermont called the Outdoor Gear Exchange. An amazing amount of gear, I just wish I could carry more back on the plane. Ended up getting a Summerlite WM bag, a bunch of clearance ExOfficio stuff and some compression bags.

[CD44hi]

You can always buy, box it and ship it to yourself. [emoji12]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[VPI]

I actually contemplated buying another backpack and packing it up with all the new stuff. 

[tyrion]

I actually contemplated buying another backpack and packing it up with all the new stuff. 

That's the HC spirit.

[grawk]

What I did when I was in cheyenne was buy a duffel bag that folds flat when empty, and packed that full of the crap I bought there and checked it.  Now when I'm traveling someplace I think I might want to get more stuff from, I bring that duffel along. 

[VPI]

Yeah, I have two Red Oxx duffels I use for that, just didn't think I would have time to shop this trip.  The Western Mountaineering bag in the compression goes down to about 5x4 inches so no problem fitting in my regular carry on.

[tyrion]

My son did a camping trip in NC last weekend. They froze due to lack of proper equipment but had a great time. I'm thinking its time for Jp, Raffy and me to start putting together our backpacking gear for a spring trip. My son is likely to do a Goruck Navigator course in April if he gets an 18x special forces contract, which is a 3 day backpacking trip to learn land navigation and other stuff in preparation should he get the contract. I would love to do it with him but I'm not going to ready for something that intense but would consider an east coast trip or possibly west coast led by Peter or both.

[VPI]

As soon as I choose a tent I think I am going to head out for a weekend on the AT.  Probably grab a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 to start with.

[tyrion]

I wish I could join you but shoulder surgery a week from Friday. I will be ready in the spring. I'm pretty sure Jp and Raffy will join as well.

[Voltron]

Good luck with the surgery Mike! I'm sure it will be nice to have it resolved.