Ultralight Spare Glasses
Glasses – 3grams (average) Soft Case – 2grams Hard Case – 11grams Other: Diopter – choice of 1.5x, 2x, or 2.5x $5.95 per pair http://www.traildesigns.com/accessories/ultralight-glasses or http://i4ulenses.com/
Equipment
Water: Survival Still
Four methods for purifying water when hiking: Method 3 NB: On the Kon Tiki they drank a ‘shandy’ (for two months) of 40% seawater 60% fresh water with NO ill effects. As soon as you realise there is a shortage of water, add your own urine to your fresh water supply to extend it.
Blisters:
This guy is RIGHT: One way to prevent heel blisters is to learn to tie your shoes differently, eg: http://life.damn.com/the-secret-of-the-extra-shoe-holes/?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shoeholesnym One other thing is sure, as soon as the skin on your feet starts to warm up, pop on a blister pad – available from pharmacies. Always carry some! See also: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/foot-care/
BACKPACK GEAR TEST: Dry sacks follow up:
Folks at this website field test various hiking gear and write a detailed report about it. This is a very useful resource to consult before you launch into parting with some of your hard-earned on the latest new bit of gear For example, here are some reviews of the Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Nano
DRY BAGS: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano:
Your choice with dry bags can save you quite a few grams. Without them, you could have some sadly wet gear and maybe a disastrous trip. You need to check the seam sealing on the inside of the bags before each trip to ensure they remain waterproof. If you have any doubt, pour a few
ZPacks Hexamid Solo-Plus Tent:
NEW Model: (http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/hexamid_plus.shtml) I see Joe and Sheryl have added a cross-over ‘vestibule’ to their new model of ‘our’ tent. I had been thinking of extending the beak on ours down a bit as a storm flap, and to add a bit of vestibule room. This crossover design is clever, and eliminates the need for
Let There Be Light!
Our house is currently lit up like day with these beauties: Phillips 14 Watt 1400 Lumen LED cool daylight globes: These are WONDERFUL! Phillips have pretty much ‘cracked’ the replacement for incandescent globes. These beauties seem to me to put out as much light as the old 100 Watt models (I still have some
Col Townsend Whelen’s Forester Tent
(Bradford Angier 1958): ‘If you need to cut weight or cost, the Forester tent is a good solution. It’s one of the best tents ever devised for a chronic woods loafer, particularly for one who yearns to live close to nature and who objects to spending any of his or her outdoor hours confined in
Tim Severin – What a Guy!
WHAT a guy! Not many in modern times (save perhaps Thor Heyerdahl: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/kon-tiki-thor-heyerdahl/) have adventured like this chap, eg: The Brendan Voyage (1976–1977), The Sindbad Voyage (1980–1981), The Jason Voyage (1984), The Ulysses Voyage (1985), The China Voyage (May–November 1993), In Search of Moby Dick: Quest for the White Whale (1999): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Severin
Amazing Torch 4.5 GRAMS!
Pak-Lite Pilot LED Flashlight : Great emergency/hiking light; 80+ hours on the brightest setting and 1200+ HOURS on the lowest from a 9V battery at 45 grams (including alkaline battery) 38.5 grams (lithium) plus a 10 year shelf life. White and red LED. Also comes with a headband. Some folk have hiked the entire Pacific