Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Check out the Marmot lineup! I think there never winter down bag is around $200?

I've had my Marmot Helium for 10 years and its still going strong! the loft is still like it was when new! I have been eyeballing this new hydrophobic down everyone has been bragging up though...

 

Oh yeah?!

 

I know I will probably catch flack for this, but for temps over 45 degrees I use this inexpensive ($40) and lightweight sleeping bag made by Ozark Trail: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Eulin-40F-Sleeping-Bag-Red/34109017

It comes with a compression sack and only weighs about 1.5lbs (packed size is approx 7" x 12"). Have used it several times now without issue. Another plus is that if something does mess up I can just take it back to Walmart and exchange for a new one.

 

Tech Blanket

 

Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt. Choose your size, your colors, and your down fill quality. Amazing product.

 

As an Eagle Scout, I used the Jetboil system when we went out to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Northern New Mexico. These are highly reliable, very lightweight, and extremely efficient. I can vouch that their advertising claim that it "can boil water in 60 seconds" is absolutely true. The entire stove will pack up into the cup that it comes with and is no bigger than a 1-liter water bottle. Hope this helps!

 

I'm a stove whore and own dozens of low to high end stove/cooksets, and I still always take my JetBoil.

 

I own a couple JetBoil stoves. I do like them but it could be better. It's not great at simmering and the flame steadily dies down as you are using it. This particularly an issue when it's cold out. It's can be frustrating because I have to keep turning the flame higher.

 

It's a water boiler. Why you simmering? Should have one adjustment - on/off.

 

No doubt. It's definitely only good at boiling. Soups are hard to not burn. Forget using a pan on that thing. You want hot water....JetBoil is for you as long as it's not too cold outside.

 

Iso stove of any kind is not preferred for cold weather. Never tried an inverter setup but they're supposed to be much better.

 

The new models have the simmer function and new valving. Check out the MiniMo and MicroMo. The Micro is their lightest model, too. All canister stoves are going to perform more poorly as the altitude and/or the temps drop. Keep your canister from getting too cold by putting it in the foot of your sleeping bag at night and not sitting out.

 

On occasion, I use my own meals I dehydrated and they do take a bit longer to rehydrate than freeze dried foods take. A few minutes of simmer really speeds that up. I prefer to only have hot meals that require a quick boil and mix though. And I simply refuse to fry anything on the trail. The closest I'd get to that is fish, and I bring tin foil for that and put the fish right on the coils or else I don't fish if I can't cook in fire.

 

Agree with all of the above.
Also, canister stoves have been successfully used up high in cold temps since the 50's by keeping the can warm at night and using it on an insulated pad. Increases in elevation help offset the effects of colder temps. Newer inverted can models work pretty well.

 

Also, watch out for sales. I bought my MiniMo last year for like $65 brand new on REI.com because it was the 2015 model and it was a closeout.

 

Mini Mo is 14oz, and the Micro Mo is 12oz. The difference between the two is only .2L in volume, but who ever uses 1 full liter for a meal anyways? Even for 2 people.

Plus, if you remove the plastic cup (which I've never used) and the canister stabilizer, you're a couple ounces lighter

 

Agree, but it was a steal so I got the Mini. The micro is new for 2016 isn't it?

 

I went ahead and ordered the Etekcity (2 for $19.99 shipped). Since I don't need it for more than heating up water for drinks, ramen, and maybe stew, cheap will work for me. I'll get something more substantial later on if I feel I need it.

 

Actually, the smile was just as we started on the way down. When we hiked out 4 days later, we had these big grins...lol.