After about 22 years my Stevenson's DAM air valve started to leak and last night I pulled the valve completely off. They say they can replace it for $22 plus shipping so I hope I can use it in a hammock, its 19" wide at the foot and 28" wide at the shoulders and 80 inches long. I was glad to see some of the old catalog photos on the online catalog. The DAM is one of my very favorite pieces. my friend using my DAM for recreation. It makes a great boat because its big enough to get on without filling with cold water and its insulated so its warm even on a ice cold lake.
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
BPL TiWing esbit stove. (now available to the mass media thanks to light my fire and REI) have used mine for 5 years now and still going strong.
BPL 550 mug with handles
Zpack Zilch pack
And of all the tarps, tents and shelters I have. I love, love my SMD Lunar solo. (mine is the original old school one from 2005) I take it out at half a dozen times a year. It makes a great early spring and late fall shelter or if I just want to take it just because.
End2End trail gram weenie pro alcy stove. By far the best one out of the couple of hundred I have used. It is a scoach below the BPL TiWing. And for those of you that know me, even to say I like and alcy stove let alone like cooking with one is a feat of itself.
DriDucks jacket. I use that thing all the time when I am out on the trail.
OK I'll stop there
Edited by mugs (03/12/1011:20 PM)
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I miss my 4.8lb base weight as a ground dweller. But I sure don't miss the ground.
I didn't get another DAM as I was not amused with the design flaws from the original valve to the baffles that allowed the down to slip down to one end. I also felt that it was too slippery compared with the Exped DownMat. It was also pretty heavy but prolly not a lot different than the DownMat. I think the bag and DAM weighed 5lbs with the lightweight top. My current setup weighs 4lbs and is more usable at a variety of temperatures and not as packable...but not more comfortable in the cold!
Like JimShaw, I had it for 20 years and although I used it a lot, its time had come. I phoned up Stephenson once to ask him about the troubles I was having with the WarmLite and the vapour barrier and the DAM and he was quite abusive. Sent him a letter and got a 4 page rant back.
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Listen to the trees in the wind
Thanks! A down filled mat is on my long term wish list and I am trying to decided whether a Stephenson, an Exped, or a custom job from Bender would best suit my needs. It would be used for extreme cold winter and for my wife the rest of the year who sleeps really cold. From what you said, it sounds like I should take Stephenson off the list.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
I would ask someone who has ordered one recently to give you a review. Stephenson fixed the valve and baffle problems but I don't know about the fabric slipperyness...and you can always drip a line or two of silynyon on it.
The best part of the DAM was it worked very well with the Warmlite bag for use in really cold weather. Used in that context, it might do very well what you're planning to do.
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Listen to the trees in the wind
Registered: 02/02/08
Posts: 75
Loc: The Third Maine
Those kind of things, sometimes have the most meaning to a person. Even if you someday find a replacement, to the better, the one from your grandfather is special and can be used for other times than a real trek.
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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
Well, if fun is the criteria: my hiking buddy, Mike. He's got a great sense of humor (his working theory: you die, and I get your gear), and a really positive attitude ("you get hurt, I'm carrying your gear out.") He even makes hiking in the rain enjoyable. He likes using a camera (I don't, and he sends me a CD with the ones he takes.)And, as an ex-SEAL, he doesn't even notice my rock collection!
Registered: 04/05/04
Posts: 178
Loc: Detroit Metro Area
One of my favorite pieces of gear has to be my Ursack.
I got it a couple of years ago and the piece of mind it provides is priceless. What a lot of people don't realize about them is that they are good for keeping out mice, racoons and other critters. I do hike in bear country from time to time, but I use it even on overnights in lower Michigan.
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"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." -James Dean
Yes, now that I think of it a nice Bush Buddy or Caldera Cone Tri Ti Inferno that burns buffalo chips or dried cow patties would rank high on my list - as opposed to, say an alky stove.
But then almost anything is hotter than alky...
Eric
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"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."
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