Who needs a tent?
Who needs a tent? Don’t use one myself. Everything you ever wanted to know about tarps: http://www.equipped.org/tarp-shelters.htm
Equipment
New Zpacks Sleeping Bag
My wife Della’s new Xmas sleeping bag has arrived. I used to be such an advocate of Montbell’s Ultralight Superstretch Down Hugger #3, a minus 1C bag – mine (recently) washed weighs 738 grams in its compression bag on my scales; still a great bag. Della’s new Zpacks Medium, Regular, -7C weighs 499 grams in its
Cable Ties & Leatherdos Hair Clip
Cable ties are just great…so many uses: http://topclosure.com/ Incidentally, have you tried handcuffing yourself with one to see whether you really can get the wretched thing off? They are not so chewable, let me tell you! Always lots of fun (& games) happening around here, you see! I think everyone should be wearing the Leatherdos hair
Firelighting Tip
You know how when you are trying to light a fire (or Brasslite Stove – as pictured) with a cigarette lighter how you burn your fingers? A strip of bicycle inner tube will hold a Mini Bic (such as I carry – in a snap lock bag to keep it dry) in the On position
Personal Locator Beacon
130 grams is not very much to carry to save your life, these GPS Personal Locator Beacons look very useful: http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=284 See also: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/get-lost-get-found-plbepirb/ http://www.theultralighthiker.com/the-poor-mans-satellite-phone/
GPS Phone Apps & 25K Vicmaps
These 25K Vicmaps are GREAT and value @ $8 ea: http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/content/topo30wizard They can be viewed with full georeferenceing functionality (ie GPS, etc) with this great App on your phone, tablet etc: http://www.avenza.com/pdf-maps You need never get lost and can safely plan your next adventure, eg to walk the ‘Upper Yarra Trail’ from Warburton to Walhalla
Trout Fly Rod Conversion for Hiking Pole
While you’re looking at ‘ruta locura’s’ web-site (Sp = crazy journey; I like!) you might notice their ‘Tenkara Trout Fly Rod Conversion’ for a hiking pole. Now that’s a good idea if you’re a keen fly fisher (as you ought be!): http://www.rutalocura.com/Tenkara.html The Clarkii rod is a telescoping Tenkara fly rod that attaches to a
Hiking Poles
I notice these folks have nice (light 113 grams) three-piece carbon fibre poles which telescope to 50cm thus fitting in your pack when not in use. I managed to lose one of my two-piece poles pushing through thick bush on the Mt Darling Track last week http://www.theultralighthiker.com/snowy-bluff-mt-darling-wilderness/. I was carrying it on the outside of
Gerber Knives – light & cheap!
Gerber Knives: For lightness (and cheapness) I recommend Gerber’s LST series knives, the ‘big’ one is around 34 grams, with a blade of 6.7cm (2¼”) & the ‘little’ one is around 17 grams, with a blade of 5cm (1.9”) & I also like their Pocket Sharpener at around 14 grams. Both knives plus the sharpener shouldn’t set you