Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

2nd vote for the Tom Harrison maps. I do really like the Nat Geo maps, however the TH maps are a little clearer and larger.

 

After the whole lantern deal , not sure if I should ask, but...

Just grabbed an ARB fridge and GZ Yeti 400 Lithium. Have 100W of solar to charge the battery. Anyone have any experience with this or a similar setup?

Disclaimer: I work as a designer in the solar industry, so have a solid understanding of these calculations. This setup should provide about a day's worth of run-time for the fridge (on paper). Hoping the panels will provide enough charging to keep the battery remotely full to keep the fridge running through the night. Most of our trips are in the desert southwest, so sunlight hours are more or less a non-issue for 11 months of the year.

Just looking for a little real world performance feedback. Next trip is in two weeks.

 

Dual battery setup would be cleaner, and cheaper.

 

With running it off of a goal zero I don't know, but plenty of people run it on one battery and without any solar. If you run a nice AGM it's even less of an issue. The ARB pulls low amperage and you can set it to shut off at a predetermined voltage anyway, so you could probably save a lot of money and not have to use the GZ!

 

Mountain House is giving out rebate vouchers again.

 

Thank you.

I will get a pouch this weekend.

 

Gonna go get one tomorrow.

Anyone have recommendation on a good bug repellent? Will be going to sequoia again this Thursday.

 

Whatever has 100% Deet in it will work. Permethrin would be the only other I would use that actually stops mosquitoes.

 

ill stop by REI today to look for some. I was just told that 100% may ruin or damage clothes or gear. is this true?

 

have you tried these? any input?

Im jumping on this - wife and I were talking about these awhile back.

 

Also, anyone own an MSR windburner?

input? Love it? Hate it?

 

thanks for this

 

DEET has a melting effect of synthetic fabrics. I try not to use DEET but if I have to, I try for 50% or less. I like Picaridin products, it doesn't damage fabrics. Sometimes I feel it's as effective as DEET but at times the mosquitoes are so big and bad that I don't think they really care if you're wearing any kind of repellant...

 

I have the Yeti 150, which is perfect for charging laptops/tablets/IPads/Smartphones etc. Initially when I bought it, I purchase the Nomad 20 solar panel to go with it. I live in CA and it took forever to charge it with the Nomad 20. In fact I couldn't even get a 3/4 charge, if I charged all day. You have a much better working knowledge of this than I do, so you probably already know that. I have since added a Boulder 50 panel and will string the two panels together. Haven't used them yet. What I do like is their "Light my Life" lights to string together and use during cooking, etc.

I'm really curios to know the setup you bought will power the ARB fridge.. My guess is that it will be plenty of power, just don't know about the rate of being able to charge the battery with solar to keep up. Keep me posted on how it works out.

 

i need to visit this thread more often - saw a discussion about cast iron pans and what not.

last time we went camping wife made some legit biscuits and gravy

 

We have some and break them out from time to time. We prefer to do meal prep at home but every once and awhile situations of our where we will end up eating these. Wife keeps a half dozen or so stashed in the trailer.

 

Meal prep is the way to go - that's the way weve done it.

 

I'm camping with you, next time!!!!!

 

Mountain House food is really good - it has come a long way in the past 30 years.

Meal prep at home (or at camp) will produce better tasting food. But, in a pinch (storm/weather, too long of a day on the trails, or just plain lazy) you won't be disappointed with a MH meal.

Even the Biscuits and Gravy is pretty good.

 

Thanks!