DIYers and Big Dogs Unite! (Or maybe not)

DIY Lid for the Snow Peak 600.  What if Snowpeak made one?

The other day I was thinking about some of the major gear manufacturers (Golite, Gregory, MSR, Evernew, GSI, etc.) and what I like and don’t like about their designs.   Let’s call them the “big dogs” from here on out.  I recently gave a presentation in which I talked about DIY gear leading to innovations in commercially-available gear.  And this got me thinking.  What if all the big dogs gathered a group of us DIYers and just listened.  What if they put us all in a room together to show our designs and see if they could produce any of them?  Would this be a good thing or a bad thing?

Top 5 Alcohol Stove Myths

Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of stereotypes perpetuated about alcohol stoves.  Initially believing many of these myself, experience has taught me otherwise.  Some are reassuring, some disappointing, but in the long run, backpackers thinking about getting into alcohol stoves might benefit from a little mythbusting on the subject.  Here are some of the the main myths I’ve heard that might mislead an alcohol stove newbie.

Jason Klass is a Complete Idiot

Well, I hope I'm not a complete idiot but apparently I'm at least an official source for "idiots" looking to get into the great outdoors.  Former Backpacker Magazine editor (and friend) Jason Stevenson has referenced me in his new book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backpacking and Hiking under the DIY gear section.

Click here for the PDF and scroll down to page 2 to see the reference.  I have to admit, some of the "The Complete Idiot's Guide to...(insert your new interest here)" books are actually pretty good for newbies and I'm honored to be mentioned in Jason's book.  I'm not sure, but as far as I know, this is the first time I've been referenced in a published book (not just a magazine).  Anyway, Jason is an excellent writer and if you know of anyone looking to get into backpacking or hiking, this would be a good recommendation or gift. His style is fun, informative, and very accessible.

If you're new to backpacking and read this book, you're not an idiot.  You're starting in the right place.

Now all I have to do is get published in a "(fill in the blank) for Dummies" book and some Cliff's Notes to make it big time!

The 10 Non-Essentials

We’ve all heard of the 10 essentials.  But what about the 10 things you absolutely don’t need to carry in your pack?  It’s common sense that one of the best (and easiest) ways to lighten your pack is to leave things behind and replace them with either multiple-use gear or skills.  Some of you may disagree with my choices and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of having carried some of the items below in the past.  But after a lot of trial and error (and careful consideration), here are 10 pieces of gear I consider to be the 10 non-essentials:

The History of the Camping Stove

The next time you fire up your 2 oz. titanium butane stove before you enjoy (or tolerate) some freeze-dried delights, you might want to give a quiet nod to Alexis Soyer: chef, humanitarian, and inventor of the first portable stove.

His pioneering Magic Stove paved the way for early camping stoves like the original Primus and started the evolution that eventually lead to the back country cooking convenience we enjoy today.  It's astonishing to think that in the nineteenth century Soyer could have even envisioned the concept of a multi-fuel portable stove when the convention of the day was to literally pack up entire kitchens and reassemble them in the countryside for the Victorian version of "roughing it".  If you want to get a good perspective on how far we've come with backpacking stoves, read the full article here. 

Is REI Paying Attention to Us?

A while ago, I did a post on what I called "designer backpacking gear" in which I identified an increasing trend in backpacking gear design to add whacky graphics and neon colors to gear that was previously pretty spartan.  I hinted that I prefer simple aesthetics and a lot of Gear Talk readers seemed to feel the same.  Whenever this topic comes up in the forums, the majority of backpackers tend to favor neutral colors and simple designs as well, yet it seems like the manufacturers are still pushing blaze-orange packs and neon water bottles with retro 60's graphics on us.  So imagine my surprise when I turned to page 20 of the latest REI catalog...

Designer Backpacking Gear?

 

I'm always on the lookout for backup Platypus bottles and when I found one at an outlet store on sale for only $4, it seemed like it was a no-brainer purchase--until I saw the design change they made for 2010.  What used to be a humble, soft-sided water vessel had turned into a flashy "accessory" that looked more like it belonged on a fashion runway in NYC than in the side pocket of a backpack in the wilderness.  My once familiar, Spartan 1-liter soft bottle now had a bright orange retro-looking "wave" splashed across the bottom.  I was disgusted by the aesthetics, yet tempted by the price.  So did I buy it?

Ultralightenment

Here are some of my thoughts on what it means to be an ultralight backpacker beyond just what we carry in our packs. Warning: talking head video.



What do you think? Have you observed some of these same qualities in yourself or other ultralight backpackers? What would you add?

Gear Talk Thru Hike Challenge

Today, a reader emailed me with a challenge. He'd like to see a discussion about the best gear list for a thru-hike of the AT that takes advantages of resupply. So what have you got? You don't have to post a full gear list. Let's just focus on the biggies: packs, shelters, sleeping bags, hiking shoes, sleeping pad, clothing, ect. Also, he's willing to go without a stove. So what about some suggestions for good ready-to-eat food along the way?

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.

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.

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?

My First Alcohol Stove

Lately, Tinny has been reminiscing about some of his past alcohol stove designs over at Minibulldesigns so it made me think about how I got started in DIY backpacking gear. I certainly wouldn't dare compare myself to Tinny's innovation or productivity, but it made me dig the first stove I ever made out of the closet and light it up. When I did, it reminded me of how I got interested in making my own gear in the first place and why it continues to fascinate me.

Here's the first alcohol stove I ever made. It was a basic Pepsi-can style with taped sides and JB weld (Tinny would probably have my head for it but as you can see, Ganesha is in the background to guard my first endeavor):It was crude and amateurish, but the flame pattern was pretty good (always blue) and it actually worked very well:

At the time, I remember how excited I was that I made something with my own hands that could actually be useful backpacking. At first, I didn't think I could do it, but when I lit it up for the first time and it didn't explode, the simple pride I felt gave me the confidence to try other projects. Since then, I've sewed my own stuff sacks, built countless other stove designs, made my own titanium trowel, designed my own water-filtration system, made my own cook pots, and a raft of other DIY gear. I guess I owe a lot to that first try, because if it hadn't worked out, I probably would have given up and I probably wouldn't even be writing in this blog today. I guess you never know how a simple attempt and it's results can change your life.

What about you? What was your impetus for your love of gear or DIY projects?

The Backpacking Forum Complaint Dept.

The Backpacking Box

It's finally here! For everyone that emailed me about the gear box video, I'm pleased to announce that the first box is ready to go out. Simply sign up by April 1st to get on the list. You can sign up here.

Please keep in mind this is the beta launch of this site so it's pretty rudimentary. I'll be sprucing it up in the next few weeks.

Clean out your gear closet and make room for some cool free stuff!

A Clever REI Employee: Priceless!

The Mountainsmith Ghost has become one of my favorite packs because of its ingenious panel-loading design. I like to carry my tent on the outside using the straps on the bottom of the pack; however, one annoyance was that the straps were a little short (even to accommodate the diminutive Big Agnes SL2) so it was a bit of a struggle to make it fit.



In order to lengthen the straps, I came up with a complicated design that involved cutting off some of the existing buckles and sewing new straps in. Since I'm not exactly Betsy Ross, I decided to let the pros at the Denver REI repair dept. do it. As usual, I expected to show them the design, give them the pack, and be told it would be ready in a week.

The woman at the repair desk looked at my design and said, "Well, I could do this and you'd get your pack back in about a week. Or, I could show you a way to do it without sewing and you could walk out with your pack today. Let me think about this for a second..." After a few minutes of digging through bins of buckles and straps, she put together a really simple system using the existing hardware on the pack and some extra webbing. I was pleasantly surprised that she actually took the time to put some thought into what I wanted to do rather than the typical "order taking" you get at most places. And what she came up with was perfect! Now, the bottom straps have plenty of room to carry my tent (end even a bear canister). For only $2.00, I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Is there a way that customers can nominate the employee of the month?







The best part is that I didn't have to make any permanent modifications that might devalue the pack in order accomplish what I wanted. Nice!

Something Interesting in the Mail Today

Coming Soon...

So, a good friend of mine has loaned me his Bushbuddy Ultra and I plan to do a video review of it this weekend. It's touted as the "Holy Grail" of UL wood stoves so you can bet I'm excited about taking it out to the woods and firing it up. Let's see if it's worth the $$$. Stay tuned...

Specs According to backpackinglight.com:

Dimensions Stored: 4.25 x 3.75 in (10.8 x 9.5 cm)
Weight: 5.1 oz (144.6 g)
Material: Stainless Steel
Boil Time: One liter of water can be boiled in about 8-10 minutes using dry wood and good technique

Golite Sale A Big Disappointment!

So, I came back from the semi-annual Golite sale in Boulder Saturday empty handed. Granted, I didn't get in line at 6 a.m. on Friday but I was dissappointed that there was nothing I was interested in in my size. I'm a medium but everything was XL or XXL! So, either I have to suck it up and camp outside Golite the night before or gain 200 lbs. to get some deals next time.