I feel like I bought an expensive as hell lunch box, but they're required in Snowmass now and I'm sure it will be useful elsewhere too.
http://www.wild-ideas.net/the-scout/
http://www.wild-ideas.net/the-scout/
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That's pretty funny. Kinda like getting a new windshield because the old one was dirty, well, sorta like that. Makes sense to me.
Get a minimalist bivy on Black Friday and dig a snow cave outside the cabin or not and just find a spot out of the wind. It's good experience. It sounds like a great bag. I have some older bags with similar ratings that need to be tested and that's my plan.I just bought an REI Expedition bag rated to minus 20. I already have a couple of good Marmot bags (esp. love the Helium), but this was on sale at 40% off (around $320) and had good ratings from people who used it at Denali, Aconcagua, etc. I've never had an REI bag. I went back to look at it again online and get a pic and it said it was sold out, so maybe I got the last one or something, or maybe they only made one.
I'm kind of wondering why I bought this, since I won't be climbing Denali or anything, but I'm getting ready to go stay through the winter in a poorly heated cabin that a friend's not using. I doubt if it will ever get below about 20, but if so, I'm ready. My dogs all have good warm bags, too (old well-used North Face and Kelty bags).
Shoots, I think I just wanted to buy something. What I really wanted is a new Tacoma with a Four-Wheel camper, but this will have to do. I also got some Gear Aid Tenacious Tape, which is great stuff for repairing sleeping bags and tents, if you've never used it.
Osprey makes good-quality stuff. A friend gave me a small day pack years ago that I use for my camera gear. It's been beat to heck and back and still looks almost brand new.
Very cool chair, @DrNed
I broke down and bought a somewhat pricey Pendleton washable wool blanket. I sleep cold, and even with my Marmot 15° bag I still sometimes get cold, so throwing a nice wool blanket over the bag really helps. It's lightweight so the down's loft isn't affected. It also keeps the down bag from getting damp when it's humid. I've had a couple of nice army surplus wool blankets, but they got borrowed and were never returned, plus they were too heavy. So far so good, except that I'm fighting with the dogs over it. They all want to sleep on it.
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Bought an Osprey Atmos 65L
and a Helinox Chair Zero.
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The hip belt on the pack is WOW!
Put 25 lbs in at the store and couldn't feel one ounce of it.
The chair comes in at around 1 lb.
Slowly moving out of the "dirtbag" category.
I almost bought this, but the guy wouldn't come down from 79K to 10K. Some people just care too much about money.
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