Drying Hydration Systems Quickly

This is blast from the past but still a good tip. While I made this video a long time ago, to this day, I dry my Platypuses (Platpus, Platypi?) using this simple technique after every trip. It's definitely not the best video I've made but enjoy (or "endure" as the case may be).



I forgot to mention in the video that you can also hook up your hydration tube to the aquarium pump nozzle (one of the trickiest components to dry out quickly). What's your method for drying out hydration bladders, tubes, water bottles, etc. What tricks do you have up your sleeve?

Fire, GOOOOOD! - A Unique Ultralight Fire Starter

OK, so who doesn't love playing with fire? While many of us are addicted to lighting up alcohol stoves in our kitchens and diligently logging boil times, fire starters are pretty cool too just because they're much more primal. I've experimented with a lot of well-known methods including waterproof matches, flints, cotton balls, dryer lint, and char cloth, but I recently discovered one that took me by surprise. Watch this:

As soon as I saw these Chemfire capsules, I just knew I had to try them. The flame looks strong enough to be able to start a fire even in a downpour and it seems pretty UL. Rest assured, I've got some on the way and there's a video coming soon. Does anyone else have experience with these?

Gear Site of the Month - June 2009

This month's winner is simBLISSity.net. With a variety of innovative designs like the UnSlack Pack shoulder pocket and the BubblePakit UL waterproof storage pouch, any ultralighter could very easily find themselves waiting for a new toy to arrive in the mail after visiting this site. I really like the fact that they stick to selling fewer, but more unique products than others. In addition to cool gear, they have a lot of free information on the Grand Enchantment Trail including trip planners, guides, and maps. If you're thinking about doing this 700-mile hike, be sure to stop by this site first. Well done!

My Youtube Channel Hit 1,000 Subscribers Today!

OK, so it's a bit of shameless self promotion but this made my day! Thank you so much to all of you who find some value in what I do. I started out with absolutely zero expectations but the enthusiastic response from you is what has kept me motivated. I truly appreciate your feedback, loyalty, and support. I have some new endeavors on the horizon that I think you will find interesting and I look forward to continuing to engage with all of you in the backpacking community. Cheers!

Gossamer Gear Mariposa Plus Review

Here's my review of the Mariposa Plus. If you're thinking about getting one, feel free to email me or leave a comment and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about it. Also, a while back I did a video showing a little tip for the bungee cord system that you might find interesting.

Off to Capitol Reef National Park

I'm off to Capitol Reef in Utah for a few days. I plan to do a video review of a piece of gear I recently got. If you can guess what it is before I release the video, you get a free prize! When I get back, I'll see who the winner is and contact you for your address so I can send it to you. Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone! I hope you have some great hiking plans for the holiday!

Dinner with a Great Guy and Great Gear Talk

Last night I had dinner with the president of GossamerGear.com, Grant Sible, in Boulder. Despite the fact that we look like desperate characters in the picture, a good time was had by all.

Aye, many a bit o' gear were discussed over gnocci, pizza, and risotto. It was great to finally meet Grant in person after a lot of emails and phone calls. As a certified gear freak (he showed me the certificate), Grant of course had a suitcase full of UL shelters & packs in the trunk of his car and I was lucky enough to check out the new Gorilla Pack. It's similar to my Mariposa Plus, but the fabric is tougher and it's more compact.

One thing that really impressed me was the seeming indestructibility of the material they're using for the outer mesh pockets. It's very fine and feels almost as tough as the pack material itself. You get the sensation that the pockets would never snag on anything because they're so sheer and, even if they did, they could still fend off the best thorns nature has to offer. Just holding the Gorilla in my hands I could tell this pack was the incarnation of something many have long considered an oxymoron: a truly ultralight bushwhacking pack. Hmmmmm...I think there's enough room in my gear closet for one more pack. Seriously, just one more. I mean it this time!

Gear Site of the Month - May 2009

I thought it would be fun if once a month I pick out an interesting outdoor gear site and highlight it. This month, I'm featuring ScorpionSurvival.com. They carry all the typical outdoor gear that would make any gear fanatic drool: knives, survival equipment, flashlights, windproof lighters, and more. But they also have a lot of not-so-common items such as this GloToob light which is a great ultralight (2.8 oz.) alternative to a candle lantern. The site is well organized, fun to browse, and the owners are really cool. Oh, did I mention they have offered Gear Talk readers (you) a 10% discount? Just enter the promo code "GEARTALK" at checkout and get a great deal on some good swag. And, please, let us know what neat gadgets you find there!

The Hiking Circle

A new social network site just launched today with an interesting concept. TheCircle.org is a place where people who want to try something new (like a new hobby) or achieve a goal (like lose weight) can join "Circles" of others who share the same goal. Each Circle is run by a mentor who gives advice through blog posts, forums, articles, videos, etc. It also allows people to set goals and track their progress. So why on Earth am I talking about a social network site on Gear Talk? Because I'm the mentor for the Hiking Circle! My last post was about how to choose the right backpack. Please check out the site and if you know of anyone who wants to try something new and is looking for support, please send them over to The Circle!

The Grimloc D-Ring Carabiner

I really like the unique design of this carabiner from goinggear.com. For those of you who attach things to the outside of your packs, what kinds of things do you attach and what do you use to attach them?

Taking Notes While Backpacking

I don't regularly journal or make detailed notes while hiking or backpacking but this duo is nice to have in case you need it, is light, and takes up very little space. What do you carry (if anything at all)?

Appalachian Trail Hiking Podcast

I was recently fortunate enough to be asked to be a regular contributor in the "tips" section of some podcasts with Toothless over at AT Hiking. He's a really great guy and an outstanding interviewer. In this episode, I give a quick rundown on some of the benefits and limitations of alcohol stoves. If you click around the site, you'll see some other spots I've done about homemade trekking poles, etc. I certainly don't feel I have a charismatic audio presence, but people keep asking me to do them and I enjoy it so, why not?

Lightweight Backpacking Pots & Mugs

I'm back from Argentina! The wedding was beautiful and Argentina was a truly amazing country. We even got to take a side trip to Uruguay. Thank you to all of you who sent us your regards--I wish you all could have been there. Anyway, the honeymoon is over and now it's time to get back to gear!


That's what I use. What do you guys carry? Do you have that one magic pot that does it all or do you have a small arsenal like I do and deploy the one that's best suited to each trip?

Off to Argentina!

As some of you know, Guadalupe and I are having our wedding in La Plata, Argentina on April 4th. She is there already and I leave tomorrow so I won't be posting for the next couple of weeks. I know the blog has been quiet for a while due to preparation for the ceremony but rest assured that when I return, it will have a new vigor. I have piles of gear to review and some surprises on my to do list so do check in after the 13th. Wish us luck and I hope you're looking forward to Gear Talk getting back on track!

A New Breed of Alcohol Stoves: Tinny works his Voodoo

Being the insatiable inventor he is, Tinny (the guru of alcohol stoves at minibulldesign.com) has taken his craft to the next level. He's graduated from the familiar soda-can contraptions many of us are familiar with to actually machining his own machinations from raw aluminum stock! His latest design, the Voodoo, is the world's first adjustable-flame alcohol stove with a remote fuel source. After selling out it one day, it's fast becoming the iPhone of the alcohol stove world!

The Voodoo is truly a work of art and has conquered many of the problems dissidents of alcohol stoves site (lack of flame adjustment, running out of fuel, etc.); however, is it antithetical to the KISS principle that we love about alcohol stoves? When an alcohol stove design becomes this elaborate, is it tantamount to a canister stove? Or, is it a necessary step in the evolution? I'd like to hear what you think.

For more info on the Voodoo Stove, check out Tinny's Blog.

How to Add an Ultra Light D-Ring to Your Pack

I'm not a big fan of hanging a lot of gear on the outside of my pack, but sometimes, there's that one critical piece or gear that you want instant access to, yet you don't have a good point of attachment. Here's how to quickly, easily, and cheaply add an ultra light D-ring to your pack so you can always have that one special gadget handy.



I did this video a while ago, but thought it was worth revisiting in case anyone missed it. Any other ideas, suggestions, modifications?

Waterproof and Breathable: What do you think?

I just got back from the aforementioned workshop and wanted to thank all of you who responded to my post about what outdoor clothing designs you would like to see. I'm happy to report that your comments were received with great enthusiasm by the company (which shall remain nameless).

Over the 3 days, we talked in depth about a lot of things related to outdoor clothing design, but one thing in particular struck me. When the subject of waterproof, breathable fabrics came up, everyone seemed to have different perceptions of what breathability really means. I have to admit, it caused me to question my own assumptions about how I perceive if a garment is truly breathable or not.

I constantly see people giving conflicting opinions about the breathability of the same garment, so, I'm curious. What's your perception? If you put on a breathable garment, does that mean you'll never sweat? Does it mean that you might sweat a little but you won't overheat? Is "waterproof/breathable" an oxymoron? I want to see what you guys think.

The Belt Buckle Windscreen

I came up with this one a while back but I thought it was worth revisiting. There are a million windscreen designs out there but I've always liked this one since it's so easy to make and is very versatile.

For instructions on how to make your own, visit my old website, Homemade backpacking Gear. If you use alcohol stoves for backpacking and have cook pots of varying diameters, then you might like this design which allows you to use one windscreen for all of you pots.

Outdoor Clothing Manufactures are Listening: What do YOU want to tell them?

CALLING ALL GEAR JUNKIES!

A major outdoor fabric manufacturer has invited me to attend a 2-day workshop to brainstorm and develop new ideas for technical clothing. There are going to be 6 or 7 other people representing various outdoor sports and it looks like I'm the "backpacking guy". I know that a lot of you in the forums and those who follow my blog have had some great ideas and I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to bring them to the table of a company who has the desire to listen, and the ability to bring them to fruition. Basically, I'm hoping to act as an ambassador for the backpacking community and see if I can get some of our ideas into the hands of the R & D guys.

In an effort to compile ideas and present them at the workshop, I ask that you answer the following 2 questions in as much detail as possible:

1. What are some problems you have experienced with your outdoor clothing or things you don't like that you wish could have been designed better?

2. What are some design features you'd like to see in outdoor clothing that don't currently exist but you would like to see developed?

Please keep in mind that if any of our ideas are actually implemented, we have no rights to them--they become the property of the company; however, at least we have a chance to have our voices heard and maybe get a few things from our collective wish lists checked off! Wouldn't it be nice to see that pocket design you've always wanted on a rain shell hanging on a rack at REI?

Emergency Whistles for Backpacking & Hiking

An emergency whistle is probably the least sexy piece of gear I could imagine; after all, it doesn't involve fire in any way! But, it's probably also one of those things you never really think is worth carrying until you actually need it. Here are a few whistles that got my attention recently and what they sound like.



So, do you carry a whistle? Why or why not? If so, what kind?