Lightweight Gear Reviews
COOKING:Cookware:Stoves:Accessories:
WATER FILTERS:
OUTDOOR CLOTHING:Rain/Wind Gear:Outer Layer:Under Layer(s):OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTS: |
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From: Charles Lindsey
LEXAN-POLYCARBONATE UTENSILS: Their weight to strength ratio is amazing. Here's one area where titanium doesn't cut it in my book. The titanium utensils are heavier and don't feel as comfortable to the touch.
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From: Charles Lindsey Lightweight, stainless-steel, blackened with rounded bottom edges for excellent heat exchange. The 1.5 liter pot weighs 12 ozs; add 2 oz. more for a potholder--a total of 14 ozs. Most pots do not come pre-blackened, but over time may become that way, especially if you use them in an open fire. Of all the pots in the "kitchen inventory" section of my "gear closet", my SIGG Inoxal pots are the only ones that actually came with a black outer surface. Prior to going with the Evernew titanium pots, these were my favorites and my daughter still uses one.
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From: Charles Lindsey Both stoves now have the same shaker jet technology which reduces the risk of the burner jet getting clogged. The shaker jet makes these stoves more attractive because the shaker (an internal jet cleaning needle) allows you to just turn the stove upside down and shake in order to keep it unclogged. It burns white gas and weighs 12.7 ozs.
The Whisperlite Internationale 600 w/shaker jet, burns white gas, kerosene, unleaded gasoline, making it an excellent choice for foreign travel where butane/propane is hard to find (can't carry fuel on the airplane, either). It weighs 14 ounces I found these stoves to be heavier, dirtier, harder to adjust the flame, harder to maintain, and so on. Consequently, I don't use them anymore with the exception of Winter camping where I need a blowtorch and plenty of fuel to melt snow for water.
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From: Charles Lindsey
Traveling Light has introduced it's (New in 1996) lightweight, easy-to-clean Evolution Cookware. They are non-stick aluminum with thick grooved bottoms for even heat distribution and good stability. They come with a lightweight mesh stuff sack, a pack towel
for cleaning, a tight-fitting lid, and a pot lifter. The Evolution 1 includes a 1 liter and 1.5 liter pot and weighs a total of 19 ounces. The Evolution 2 includes a 1.5 liter and 2 liter pot and weighs a
total of 28.5 ounces. These pots, because of their thick bottom and tight-fitting lid, could also be used for baking. For sales and baking-accessories information, call 1-800-594-9154.
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From: Charles Lindsey Pore Size: .02 microns, weight 8 oz, cost: US $139. (great for arm exercises) I carried the First Need for several years. Now I pack the Katadyn Mini Filter, a ceramic micro strainer, pump action. Although it is harder to pump than some, and produces only about 1/2 liter per minute, I like the design (doesn't get tangled up in hoses like the Sweetwater Guardian, among others), its tiny size, easy field maintainence, long filter life, and the light weight--8.2 ounces. However, having said all that, I must add that I'm looking for something better. The Katadyn is just too hard to pump. I usually end up using my daughter's PUR Hiker. It is easy to pump and relatively lightweight (but I get tangled up in all the hoses). I'm still looking. Maybe next year a better one will come along.
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An Exchange of Email between:
Type of Gear: Water Filter I too have a Katadyn Mini Filter and have never been comfortable using the abrasive cleaner that is built in. It is extremely abrasive and looks as if it would shorten the lifespan of the filter. I have tried using a stiff tooth brush to clean it but wonder if perhaps it does need *some* kind of abrasive to clean it. It is hard to tell because, as you point out, it has always been fairly hard to pump. Perhaps there is some happy medium abrasive to clean with? I would be very interested in hearing your experience / ideas / solutions to this issue.
Thanks in advance, Interesting you should mention a stiff toothbrush. That's exactly whatI do -- sort of. I carry an old toothbrush with the handle cut off for periodic cleaning of the filter cartridge, especially helpful when using slower running water where algae and slime can occur. However, the cartridge does need the periodic abrasive cleaner to grind away the clogged surface in order to expose fresh clean surface. Yes the surface gets ground away, but even so it has a life span of many hundred gallons. Another thing that I did to improve the performance of the mini-filter is to get a little larger diameter hose and significantly larger prefilter inlet cap. It results in a little -- barely noticeable -- improvement in pumping and output. Main thing on these little guys is to keep that cartridge clean.
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From: Charles Lindsey
There are a number of manufacturers making thermal underwear. Patagonia and Marmot are at the top IMHO. I like the Patagonia Capilene because it doesn't seem to smell as bad, it's softer and more comfortable, and it seems to be more durable than some that I have used (e.g., REI MTS, Duofold).
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From: Charles Lindsey One of the heavier clothing items is raingear. It doesn't have to be that way, though. There are some very well-made, durable, lightweight, breathable/waterproof garments available. You don't want to compromise too much, however, when saving weight, because it costs in comfort. Case in point: Patagonia's Super Pluma jacket weighs 19 oz and the pants 9 oz. That's great most of the time. But if you are in inclement weather, in the mountains, it gets uncomfortable because the jacket doesn't have pit zips, overall poor ventalation, and the pants don't have full leg zips. On the plus side though, they are very waterproof with so few openings.
The Marmot Stormlight GTX jacket weighs 18 oz, does have pit zips, double front zipper, venting mesh pack pockets (pockets positioned such that they are still accessible when you are wearing a pack), and re-inforced shoulders & elbows. The Cloudlight pants function about the same as the Super Pluma pants and weigh about 9 ounces, the same as the Patagonia pants. The Cloudlight Pants have legs zips to just below the knees. The point here is this, you can get some very capable raingear that also serves as an outer windproof layer even when its not raining, and it doesn't have to weigh down your pack (but it might temporarily empty out your wallet !).
I use my Stormlight Jacket and Cloudlight Pants in the Cascade Mountains in all four seasons. Durability has been superior (but keep in mind that I'm easy going on my stuff)!
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From: Charles Lindsey
MARMOT THUNDERLIGHT GORE-TEX RAIN PANTS Excellent fit. Weighs about 16 ounces. Although these pants are not ultralight, they deserve mention. I liked them so much, that I bought a pair. They combine 3-ply 1.1 oz ripstop and more durable 3-ply alpenglow material in the knees and seat. The result is a reasonably light, bombproof pair of rain and wind pants. The fit is excellent due to the combination elastic & velcro waist. Some of the features: elastic cuffs, high back, zippered back pocket, zipper front fly, cordura scuff guards, articulated knees, full-length side zips, gusseted inseam.
The reinforced butt makes these very useful in Winter for glissading.
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From: Charles Lindsey
MICRO-FLEECE, WINDSTOPPER JACKET & VEST A relatively new lightweight jacket that is made of tightly-knit microfleece with added Gore Wind-Stopper protection. It is windproof, water resistant, has underarm zips and well-positioned pack pockets, and has a drawstring collar which keeps cold air from blowing in and the warm air from bellowing out. It weighs 16 ozs. They also make a vest with a similar design which weighs 9.5 ounces. I really appreciate the versatility of the jacket. The design, in effect, extends its comfort range. When you start to overheat, you can unzip the very long pitzips and put your arms completely out of the jacket, in addition to unzipping the full front zip and the venting pack pockets. The collar has a toggle for tightening--keeps warm from bellowing out and cold air from entering. One big complaint, though, that frequently relegates this piece of gear to the gear closet rather than the backpack. It has long underarm zips that are great in warm weather or when constantly on the move. As previously mentioned, the pit zips and venting pack pockets facilitate serious venting which allows for wearing even as you begin to heat up, on the trail. The problem is, however, that the long underarm zipper feels like it is letting in the cold even when shut, and since Marmot didn't bother to try to cover the zipper with material on the inside of the sleeve, the zipper is always laying directly on the skin. That zipper seems to always be cold, so unless you like cold metal against your arm and cold air on your upper body, you need to wear a long underwear top or equivalent, and be prepared to put another garment over this jacket if sitting around camp for very long.
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From: Charles Lindsey
FEATHERED FRIENDS GORE-TEX, DOWN VOLANT JACKET
This jacket is light (18 ounces) and very, very warm (it goes into my pack only in the Winter). It is close fitting, has articulated arms, a sturdy wind-flap behind the zipper, silky-smooth gossamer lining, a windproof/water resistant Gore-Tex Shell, and an ample filling of 700-fill goose down (I think FF now uses Dryloft 830 instead of Gore-Tex and also has an 800-fill power option). It is not waterproof, though, because of the sewn-thru stitching, but is water resistent and will keep you dry in a moderate sprinkle or snow flurry.
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From: Charles Lindsey Good quality pictures; not much bigger than a cassette tape; weighs 5.5 ounces (w/o battery & film). Uses the new APS system--outputs 3 different formats; and with each roll of film developed, produces an additional index print which shows an inset of each picture with an ID for each one useful for later id and reproduction; plus many more new, unique features. Also, comes with a nifty built-in protective lens cover. Cost about $170.00.
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From: Charles Lindsey A 1.5 lb metal shovel, same as its bigger brothers but the scoop and handle are both shorter, allowing for a weight-savings of 8 oz over the 2 pound regular Voile shovel.
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From: Charles Lindsey If you are so inclined (pun unintended) this is the lightest chair kit available at only 10 oz. It fits all Therm-a-rest 20"-wide mattresses, including the Ultralite II.
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From: Charles Lindsey Candle Lanterns just got smaller and lighter. UCO Corp., in Redmond WA, is now producing a smaller, lighter version of their popular candle lantern. The "Mini-Lantern" burns small tea-light candles that produce a significant, steady light for three hours. I know, I bought one and tested it. They also sell replacement candles--about $2.00 for 6 candles. Contact UCO at (206) 883-6600.
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From: Charles Lindsey, 03/14/98
Weight: 3 oz. I'm not sure where in the U.S. these are available, but they are well worth having one stuffed away in your pack somewhere. Especially if you're going out in nasty weather, one of these little wonders may just save your bacon. In a little waxed cup, is a filling of parafin wax mixed with Pine wood chips, with a cotton wick in the middle. It starts quickly via a lit match or lighter and burns steadily with a large 8 to 10 inch flame for 35 to 40 minutes. I burned one out in the open, at night, in a mild breeze, and easily kept my hands warm next to the flame. The literature says that they will NOT blow out, but you can extinguish and reuse them. I didn't try to blow one out, but that claim certainly is believable based on what I saw. The literature also states that you can boil 8 cups of water on one of these. There again, I didn't try, but I don't see why not - it gives a steady, intense flame - especially if you provided some wind protection, you could probably boil at least one pot of water. It contains no toxic chemicals - it's all natural ingredients. When its burnt out, it leaves a small pile of ash. Their Website: http://www.gtn.net/scientific -------------------------------------------------------------
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