Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

@skier @DVexile

Thanks guys. Ill get one ordered and add to next years REI dividend. I do carry a back up battery cell that holds more than enough juice to keep the phone and GPS charged for my 1-3 nights in backcountry.

 

I usually only turn on a device once or twice a day. I don't use them for navigation.

 

Oh it definitely wont be a primary navigation device. AZT has a dedicated offline mapping app that is pretty awesome and paper maps/compass as a back up, along with a different topo map GPX file saved to another app as a redundant back up

 

I have the new inReach Explorer+ and also the inReach Mini. I've used the Mini a few times now, even in deep canyon and tree cover, and my battery life has been just fine. I use almost exactly 20% battery each day I hike, and that's with settings set to plot a point every 1 second and send a ping to my Garmin online map every 1 hour. I think that's excellent battery life, considering the full-size inReach had about the same performance. I do shut down my Mini when I get to camp and after sending my wife my nightly check-in text. It stays off until I'm ready to get moving the next morning. Not once have I had a difficulty connecting to satellites within the first minute of it being turned on.

I also make sure that any time I connect the Mini to my phone via bluetooth to look at maps, I make sure to close the app out on my phone every time and not leave it running/connected. Maybe that's the difference? I also never ping the weather.

 

FYI, dividends can't be applied to GPS devices. At least for the past 3 years, that's what the fine print says.

 

Wait can't use dividend to buy gps or don't earn dividend credit for buying gps device? Nevermind answered my own question

 

That's primarily what I'd warn for - turn it off at night or when buried in a pack as that seems to be when it can struggle. Mine always seems to see satellites quite quickly with any reasonable opening to the zenith. Set it in a window though and sometime it connects in just a minute other times not for hours with significant battery drain. Even when struggling though I've yet to see it drain more than about 50% in a 24 hour period so I think it is only on multi-day trips one would need to be more careful.

I've never connected mine to the phone, only ever use the device itself to send "preset" messages so far.

BTW, last week there was another firmware update - 2.30.

 

Don't store it in your pack when you're tracking because it will have a difficult time keeping connected to satellites. Attach it high on your pack like on a shoulder strap or somewhere off the back of the pack with the antenna pointed up and you should eliminate that issue. I can get mine to connect rather quickly through glass on a windshield of my truck, but it's not reliable indoors even right by a window. It's like a cellphone.. if it's roaming, it's killing the battery quickly.

Connecting it to the Earthmate app for texting and looking at maps can be done very quickly with minimal impact to battery life. Just disconnect as soon as you're done by shutting down the app (make sure it's not running in the background).

 

Very good read, thanks for posting.

 

I just had a chance to do a test.
We had the Hurricane Florence coming, and we prepared that we might lose power. [We did not lose power and did not use the cooler]

>>>>On Saturday, Sept 15th I bought (2) 20 lb bags of ice and put them in the Coleman cooler with a frozen half gallon of water.

>>>>Temp has been 60s to 80s all week.

>>>>Today, 8 days later, Sept 23rd, I drained it. I still had 3 inches of ice.

I did peek into the cooler 2 or 3 times during the week.
I had pre-cooled it with some ice the Friday before.

I think it passed the test.

Ken in NC

 

My EMS bag has shit the bed. Any good 70Ls out there?



Has to be able to handle my hammock load out

 

26 pounds max. I can carry more, but 26 with water is a comfortable number

 

I really really liked the Gregory Baltoro i just didn't need a pack of 68L

 

I assume that you want a robust bag, not a lightweight bag?

 

Hyperlite Mountain Gear 4400 Southwest
Osprey Atmos
Osprey Aether

Depending on weight/cost constraints

 

You can't go wrong with Osprey. I've got 3 of their packs and they are beyond bomber. So bomber, in fact, that Osprey carries a lifetime warranty on all packs.

While they may not be mutually exclusive, a heavier pack will last longer then an ultra-light. It's just the nature of the materials used in ultra-light gear.

A heavier pack will almost always carry weight better then an ultra-light pack as well. Stays, thick foam belts and proper load systems weigh a lot. They also help put the load on your hips as opposed to your shoulders.

My Osprey Aether 60 is going on 12 years old. It still carries a load better then any other pack I own. By contrast, my GoLite Pinnacle is about 5 years old. The Osprey has WAY more miles on it and looks way better. The Osprey is just over 5lbs and the GoLite is just over 2lbs. I use both. Each has it's specific use. I just plan on replacing lighter gear more often.

 

Does not have to be. The issue with the ems bag is the fastening system between shoulder harness broke. I'll post pic tomorrow.

I like the ospreys...

 

If anyone is looking for an Inreach or Inreach Mini, I'm currently doing a group buy on them.

 

check out Osprey they make nice packs

 

The Gregory Baltero has the same shoulder harness connector as the EMS. That's what failed on my packpack:



On my pack, the deadpool side completely pulled out. I want to stay away from that type of connector.