This has to be easily in the top ten of the most ridiculous uses of titanium ever. Talk about a status symbol. Why don't you just go to your local chinese restaurant and get bamboo chopsticks for free? Besides that, who beyond a native of Asia would rather not use a spork or spoon when backpacking? If I remember correcty these were even given a gear of the year award by backpacker mag a few years ago.
So what items have you run across in the UL market that is a scam, status symbol, rubbish, or altogether useless. Cast your votes. $30 bucks for chopsticks???? I volunteer to market my Ti tent stakes with duct taped sticks on the ends to all of those suckers that grew up in the people's republic of Boulder. Heck I'll even throw in some North Face stickers for twenty five bucks!
+1 on the titanium chopsticks (I still secretly want a set).
My NorthFace Apex is pretty worthless for anything other than around town. No hood, no inside or sleeve pockets. Despite having a drawstring at the waist, it does not really cinch up.
I bought a Condor (slightly heavier) that addresses all those concerns for half the price ($80). The downside? It doesn't have 2 NorthFace logos on it.
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If you go hiking with friends, there are many plans to coordinate; if you go hiking alone, you can leave right now.
[quote=Ken the Bear]Titanium Cafe Latte by snowpeak
Wow, thats a good one for sure! Regular price of 95 bucks! Where's the titanium and carbon fiber framed and cuben fiber upholstered lounge chair to go along with it?
Skip actually a carbon fiber cuben chair sounds sort of nice. My old crazy creek chair weighs 21 ounces, if I could replace it 5 ounce chair it would save a pound, that's worth some $$$s.
I hate sporks.
I have Koa wood chopsticks bought in Hawaii for $6.00, yeh they're a lot heavier than bamboo (like half a gram) but really beautiful. not much use though. I do think ti spoons and forks are a lot more useful than lexan. You never have to worry about them melting... Jim
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
actually a carbon fiber cuben chair sounds sort of nice. My old crazy creek chair weighs 21 ounces, if I could replace it 5 ounce chair it would save a pound, that's worth some $$$s.
My brain knows that the Ti, carbon fiber and cuben chair is not a good idea, but I want one anyhow.
I prefer lexan spoons. On a two night trip I forgot my spoon. I made chopsticks and a wooden paddle. Worked fine.
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"In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice, they are not." Yogi Berra
Skippy you made me laugh... As I read the title of your thread I thought "I know, I am going to post about the Ti chop sticks" ... I spotted those in town the other day in the front window of the MacPac (company owned) shop. The funny bit is that MacPac make the kind of gear that Canadians like (you know the really heavy no nonsense ....OK durable stuff that works) Franco
those titanium collapsable chopsticks and a VERY close second are the plastic martini glasses REI sells
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Modern civilized man, sated with artificialities and luxury, were wont, when he returns to the primeval mountains, to find among their caves his prehistoric brother, alive and unchanged. -Guido Rey
Frankly color screen GPS units with highway maps kinda qualify along with PLBs and SPOTS. five finger sport shoes, wind up radios, electronic water bladder monitors, solar electronics chargers, electrically heater clothes, heavy duty assault flashlights, large titanium blade sheath knifes, and finally, just to top it off, ALL bicycle gear especially the totally dippy helmets.
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
wait a minute! My bicycle helmet is also certified for climbing use. Isn't it at least only slightly dippy?
My vote goes to the little LED light that screws onto your Nalgene water bottle. It lights up the water but I don't think it sterilizes anything no matter howlong you leave it on.
Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Hey Franco, I have a MacPac sleeping bag from the 80's when the Kiwis still owned the company-before they sold out to the Brits. The old MacPac gear is as you describe-no nonsense, heavy duty, the new stuff, not so much from what I've seen on their website. The same for the late, lamented Fairydown. The Fairydown name may still be around, though.
My vote would be for stuff like coffee presses and that clear ball ice cream maker thing I've seen somewhere-REI maybe.
Edited by TomD (03/05/1002:31 AM)
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Don't get me started, you know how I get.
actually a carbon fiber cuben chair sounds sort of nice. My old crazy creek chair weighs 21 ounces, if I could replace it 5 ounce chair it would save a pound, that's worth some $$$s.
My brain knows that the Ti, carbon fiber and cuben chair is not a good idea, but I want one anyhow.
Oh by the way, if you go to my website (www.iamalightweightsucker.com) the CuTi Chair is being offered at a special low introductory price of $799.99. It is made to be multi pupose as it turns into a poncho, a tarp, the carbon fiber rods convert to pack stays, and the cuben fiber along with the titanium turns into a mast and sail for packrafting. The titanium legs are also useable as trekking poles/tarp poles. And it comes with a free set of chopsticks....
Skippy you made me laugh... As I read the title of your thread I thought "I know, I am going to post about the Ti chop sticks" ... I spotted those in town the other day in the front window of the MacPac (company owned) shop.
I hate to admit it but I own some of the fanciest chopsticks on the planet. My sister lives in China and she sent my whole family some super duper sticks with fancy embroidered silk bags. Definitely nothing to eat with.
You're BACKPACKING! What, you're too good to put your stuff on the ground?
Yes the table is outrageous. I have no chair and no table. A chair is sometimes tempting but if the weather is nice I just like sitting on a rock/log, using a boulder for a table, or just enjoy relaxing in a horizontal position on boulders or grass.
ALL bicycle gear especially the totally dippy helmets.
Hey Jim, I have to admit that I am a total bike geek but none of that gear goes backpacking with me. I own 3 mountain bikes, two road bikes, a jump bike and there are 6-7 other bikes in my garage for the kids and wife. Although as I tell my wife it's a healthy hobby (except when I crash) and better than going to the bars and pickin' up strange women.
Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Oh, but wait, this toy is ON SALE for $75.96. I can SAVE 20%. I LOVE sales. Hmm-Maybe I can save 100% and pass this one. I can buy a whole lot of chocolate-coverd expresso beans that would pack much lighter (or chomp whole beans mixed with semi-sweet chipsor M&Ms for summer).
Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Wow! Such a deal, this plate is! Nearly $20 and close to 1/4 pound in weight. Yeah, eat from your pot or freezer bag!
OK, I cheat and carry a windshield-reflector wrapped Ziploc bowl. My bag of whatever food sits in it so I can't dump it while the bowl catches any possible leaks and protects the rest of my cooking gear.
CM
Originally Posted By orclwzrd
But the little led light is so cool! especially in a blue bottle. Not very useful but cool.
My piece of gear that seems less useful the longer I have it is my X Plate ! It looked just so useful. I'm thinking freezer bag tops this by far...
Oh... the cutting remark to the Ti spork... hurts...
so...
bad...
I like the Ti spork, because it is stable, will not melt, can be used as a tent stake, as a shovel for a cat hole, worn on a lanyard as delightful backcountry jewelry. You never know when you'll meet a cute young lady in the woods and fall in love and thus give her your Ti spork necklace as a sign of commitment.
Serisouly though, the commercialization of gear is to be expected. The companies are simply there to make money. If they make it... SOMEONE will buy it, no matter how ridiculous.
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I always forget and make it more complicated than it needs to be...it's just walking.
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