Its winter and I am sitting at work waiting for the phone to ring, the mail to arrive, or my lunch break to show up. Don't let anyone tell you that the insurance industry isn't stimulating. Okay, enough complaining about my job, on to the good stuff!
The Pack: Old Osprey Aurora 65
The Deets: I got it at an REI garage sale years ago. It was their early version of the current Aurora model where the hydration bladder sits directly behind you.
Verdict: I would not use it again. It was heavy (4+ lbs). It loaded funny, looking like a pregnant woman on my back. It pushed the weight too far from my body, which was less uncomfortable than unwieldy. Don't do it. I hear the new Osprey Auroras are nice, WeeBee loved hers.
The Deets: I got it at an REI garage sale years ago. It was their early version of the current Aurora model where the hydration bladder sits directly behind you.
Verdict: I would not use it again. It was heavy (4+ lbs). It loaded funny, looking like a pregnant woman on my back. It pushed the weight too far from my body, which was less uncomfortable than unwieldy. Don't do it. I hear the new Osprey Auroras are nice, WeeBee loved hers.
This is not my photo. Thank you ebay The Sack: REI Nooksack UL 30 Degree
The Deets: I bought it many moons ago for less than $100. It weighs just over 1lb. REI doesn't sell it anymore I don't think.
The Verdict: I love this bag. It is light. It packs REALLY small. It is synthetic which was nice because I woke up to condensation in my tent quite a few times. It is made out of Primaloft, the stuff that they use to stuff the Patagonia Nanopuffs, so like the jackets, it is warm without being lofty. It was warm enough most of the time. There were a few nights, between 5-9, that I was cold. Even with all my clothes on. And I was always jealous of other people's lofty bags, just because they looked so cozy. So, if I did it again, I would carry a lofty 20 degree bag at least for the Sierra and Washington.
The Deets: I bought it many moons ago for less than $100. It weighs just over 1lb. REI doesn't sell it anymore I don't think.
The Verdict: I love this bag. It is light. It packs REALLY small. It is synthetic which was nice because I woke up to condensation in my tent quite a few times. It is made out of Primaloft, the stuff that they use to stuff the Patagonia Nanopuffs, so like the jackets, it is warm without being lofty. It was warm enough most of the time. There were a few nights, between 5-9, that I was cold. Even with all my clothes on. And I was always jealous of other people's lofty bags, just because they looked so cozy. So, if I did it again, I would carry a lofty 20 degree bag at least for the Sierra and Washington.
The Tent: Six Moons Lunar Solo
The Deets: Weighing in at 23 ounces (not including stakes, the optional pole, or ground cloth), it is real spacious for its size.
The Verdict: I am divided on this tent. Pros: it is light, it is big (I could bring all my gear inside, it is opaque (unlike the Hexamid tent), it is easier to set up than the Hexamid, it packs pretty small. Cons: it is tough to set up, if you set it up poorly, it flaps all night, I had problems with condensation all but one night in Washington and often earlier in the trail, the netting tore in several places, there were also some mysterious punctures in the fabric (I didn't notice when they happened, but it was VERY early on. Oh, and when it rained, the inside walls of the tent got wet so when I packed it away, the floor and everything would get real wet, forcing me to take a long lunch (damn!) to dry it out. Fortunately, the weather was good enough at lunch all but once to dry it out. I don't have a good answer. The Agnes Fly Creek 2 person tent is tempting but it weighs 33 oz...
The Deets: Weighing in at 23 ounces (not including stakes, the optional pole, or ground cloth), it is real spacious for its size.
The Verdict: I am divided on this tent. Pros: it is light, it is big (I could bring all my gear inside, it is opaque (unlike the Hexamid tent), it is easier to set up than the Hexamid, it packs pretty small. Cons: it is tough to set up, if you set it up poorly, it flaps all night, I had problems with condensation all but one night in Washington and often earlier in the trail, the netting tore in several places, there were also some mysterious punctures in the fabric (I didn't notice when they happened, but it was VERY early on. Oh, and when it rained, the inside walls of the tent got wet so when I packed it away, the floor and everything would get real wet, forcing me to take a long lunch (damn!) to dry it out. Fortunately, the weather was good enough at lunch all but once to dry it out. I don't have a good answer. The Agnes Fly Creek 2 person tent is tempting but it weighs 33 oz...
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