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#119854 - 08/25/09 12:59 PM Favorites
Bob Lawblah Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/03/09
Posts: 7
Loc: U S of A
What is your favorite new piece of gear?

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#119858 - 08/25/09 01:27 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Bob Lawblah]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Shorty NeoAir, without a doubt.

Cheers,
_________________________
--Rick

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#119865 - 08/25/09 01:53 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Rick_D]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Several, but the only gadget involved is my Petzl e+light. I'm still trying to figure out how to turn it on by feel when it's on my head, though.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#119866 - 08/25/09 01:57 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Bob Lawblah]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
Long Neoair, although I don't consider it to be a gadget.

_________________________
If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*

* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.

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#119867 - 08/25/09 02:03 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Bob Lawblah]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801


My favorite gear...

supercat stove, whitebox stove
my hammock
coolmax buff
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

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#119874 - 08/25/09 05:28 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Rick_D]
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
The shorty, eh? I've been looking at the neo-air as a possible gift for my wife, but my immediate reaction to anything less than a full-length one is that it's so thick there would be a distinct, fairly major drop-off feeling where the pad ends and your legs keep going.

What do you do about this, or does it just not bother you?
_________________________
Brian Lewis
http://postholer.com/brianle

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#119875 - 08/25/09 05:45 PM Re: Favorites [Re: BrianLe]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Hi Brian,

I weaned myself from full-length pads a long time ago (except for the dead of winter). I use a pillow of clothing to support my head, so the top of the pad is at my shoulders. Then, if I need something beneath my feet, I put a jacket, pack, etc. down there. Most nights I don't need anything.

The NeoAir differs from other air mattresses in not needing as much inflation, so there's surprisingly minimal transition from the pad edge to the ground or pillow. I'm not sure why this is so, it may be because the tubes run crossways and not lengthwise. The BA and POE mattresses, by contrast, require more inflation so the edges are more pronounced.

Certinly there's no reason to not buy full length, but the short packs so tiny it has to be seen to be believed.

FWIW I'm six feet tall.

Cheers,

Rick

Originally Posted By BrianLe
The shorty, eh? I've been looking at the neo-air as a possible gift for my wife, but my immediate reaction to anything less than a full-length one is that it's so thick there would be a distinct, fairly major drop-off feeling where the pad ends and your legs keep going.

What do you do about this, or does it just not bother you?
_________________________
--Rick

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#122322 - 10/13/09 01:56 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Rick_D]
Bear Cavalry Offline
member

Registered: 10/11/09
Posts: 27
Loc: Keweenaw Peninsula, MI
Probably my hammock, just because I love hammock camping. I am in the market for a lighter weight model...any suggestions?

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#122426 - 10/14/09 11:38 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Bear Cavalry]
Tango61 Offline
member

Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods

We need to know what you have in order to offer suggestions.

Have you checked out www.hammockforums.net?

There is a forum for several different brands.

Tango
_________________________
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't. Either way, you're right.

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#122440 - 10/15/09 08:55 AM Re: Favorites [Re: Tango61]
Bear Cavalry Offline
member

Registered: 10/11/09
Posts: 27
Loc: Keweenaw Peninsula, MI
I have a beast of a hammock made out of cotton that probably weighs a couple pounds. It's great for your backyard...not for the trail. I will check out that forum when I have more time.

Thanks.

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#122441 - 10/15/09 10:24 AM Re: Favorites [Re: Bear Cavalry]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada


Start here:

http://www.imrisk.com/testhammock/testhammock.htm

you can add a ridgeline and a bugnet to that without too much difficulty.

if you can make that, a bit more sewing will make you a homemade Speer hammock, which is what I use.

A Hennesey can be had in many outdoor stores, and is also a good option.

A few lucky souls here have warbonnet blackbirds - they are heavier, but seriously nice - even with a shelf in them.

_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


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#122696 - 10/20/09 01:37 PM Re: Favorites [Re: Bob Lawblah]
Bob Lawblah Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/03/09
Posts: 7
Loc: U S of A
A lot of people really like that neoair mattress, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm making my gear christmas list.


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