What did you buy today?

After much deliberation and fabric abrasion resistance spec ratholing, I bought a ULA Ultra Catalyst to replace my thrashed HMG Southwest (thanks mom for bday $). It's a slightly bigger version of the popular Catalyst. Bonus that the packs are made in UT, and that they offer repair support. I also looked at the Durston Kakwa, but the fabric isn't as abrasion resistant, and I preferred a slightly bigger pack to having the option of storing a climbing rope or bear canister inside. Appreciated Durston's honest and prompt customer support. I don't have time to try to make my own pack, and factoring in prototyping and materials unforgiving to sewing mistakes, I can't see it being cost effective.

Inevitably, I will need to reinforce the bottom. Planning to do some experimentation with a urethane roofing coating to beef up abrasion resistance after success with a similar substance on my Hyperlite.

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Heavy... They are made to carry ropes etc and drug on rock.... Not really backpacking
 
canadug said:
Anyone use a pack from this Utah company? https://www.canyoneeringusa.com/store/?category=Backpacks

They look pretty solid!
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Our local outdoor shop carries them. I have some of their canyoneering gear, although not one of their packs. I don't personally care for their aesthetics, and prefer climbing haul bag material with minimal straps for my canyoneering pack. I bought a euro style one instead from Petzl after shredding my older climbing packs. Black Diamond also had a similarly durable Creek line designed for hauling around a large number of cams for places like Indian Creek, but they don't have drainage holes.
 
My ULA Catalyst shipped early. Sharing side x sides with my Hyperlite Southwest for comparison; both are mediums, although the Catalyst is bigger in volume. I got the top Y strap upgrade, but otherwise no tweaks. I may need to trim down the stiffener a tad b/c the ULA back panel is 1.5" wider.

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canadug said:
Anyone use a pack from this Utah company? https://www.canyoneeringusa.com/store/?category=Backpacks

They look pretty solid!
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They are awesome canyoneering packs. I've used them a ton and hey hold up really well and take a pretty good beating. They aren't my choice for backpacking though. Just like Bob had mentioned, that isn't really what they are made for. I have done a couple overnight canyoneering trips and they carry okay but my hyperlite southwest pack is just way better for hiking. My dad also used to use their Kolob pack for backpacking but once I showed him my hyperlite he switched over. So if you are going to get into canyoneering I could recommend them, but for a backpacking pack I would look somewhere else. There are very few trips I would imagine taking my Imlay pack over my Hyperlite.
 
I just splurged and made the most expensive (but potentially rewarding) outdoor-related purchase that I have ever made... I requested a change from full-time to part-time status at my job. I was getting depressed looking at this upcoming year, as my vacation time was going to be almost completely used for family and personal obligations that don't involve backpacking, so I requested a slight reduction in required hours (and it was just approved), which should save me enough time over the course of the year to enable one or two nice trips (and similar for future years as well!). I'm super excited about this purchase!
 
RyanP said:
I just splurged and made the most expensive (but potentially rewarding) outdoor-related purchase that I have ever made... I requested a change from full-time to part-time status at my job. I was getting depressed looking at this upcoming year, as my vacation time was going to be almost completely used for family and personal obligations that don't involve backpacking, so I requested a slight reduction in required hours (and it was just approved), which should save me enough time over the course of the year to enable one or two nice trips (and similar for future years as well!). I'm super excited about this purchase!
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Nice. I’ve repeatedly tried to get my company to allow employees to purchase more time off and they never budge.
 
My wife grew up in NJ and was introduced to skiing as a kid. I grew up poor in FL and not skiing :)

In 2019, my wife had the great idea that the family should give skiing a try. I was was 47 years old and thought this was a stupid idea, but "happy wife, happy life" so we went to Keystone CO and saw my sister and we gave skiing a try. I never got off the magic carpet and discovered that I was not as coordinated as I thought I was :)

I came back to KY (the land of skiing) and decided that I was going to figure this out at Perfect North (a ski hill outside of Cincinnati). I have been skiing somewhat regularly since then, but each year has been minor improvements. Last spring I took a couple kids back to Keystone CO and was able to actually ski but I still suck at it.

Long story short, I decided that this was the season that I was "really" going to improve and one thing led to another and these showed up the other day

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I should have bought skis a couple years ago :)

P.S. this sport is expensive :)
 
LOL.... very expensive anymore. The skiis nowdays ski themselves.... Pass prices are ridiculous. Come farther west for some real skiing! Like Grand Targhee. Headed to Deer Valley in two weeks, we work the World Cup Freestyles.... been working World Cup/Masters ski races since 1999 in Utah and Colorado, 2 OLympics, it spends a lot of time, but upside is havent bought passes since then, you get comps to use for working. My first pair were Olin Mark1s, then some Atomic Carbons, since then I prefer Solomons, Series 9 for many years, now on Tornados (about 15 yrs old). They still ski better than me....
 
Skiing can be expensive IF one chooses to ski at the big ski areas. Skis, boots, helmets, etc., are pricey at first but generally last a number of years. My season pass at our local ski area costs $250 since I’m an old guy. And because I’m an old guy, I like skiing groomers … that powdery stuff can be a lot of work. Of course that powdery stuff doesn’t happen much out here in the east.
 
I joke that the only sport that would be more expensive is polo. I can't believe my wife got me into this, she doesn't even like the cold :)
 
I try to rationalize the cost of skiing the same way I do the cost of backpacking. A good tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, stove, etc. adds up just as quickly as skis/boots/poles, but the only way either of it really makes any sense is to get out there and use it all as often as you can. And if you're lucky, it'll all last you a handful of years at the least.

Speaking of which, I'm driving up to Jackson tomorrow to ski the weekend and can't stop staring at the forecast...
 
I'd hit Targhee, never wasnt a fan of Jackson..
We have a winter storm warning for the weekend up here in Island Park....... If you dont mind skiing in whiteout, may be good..... 5 to 10, up to 2 feet higher elevations. Right now our snowpack is low....
 
Bob said:
we work the World Cup Freestyles.... been working World Cup/Masters ski races since 1999
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Sounds fun and interesting - I'm curious what work you do there. How nice to get comp passes!
 
Janice said:
Sounds fun and interesting - I'm curious what work you do there. How nice to get comp passes!
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Ive have worked everything from a Men's Course Crew Chief at the Salt Lake and Vancouver Olympics, Finish Judge at local youth regional races, Timing recorders, Gate Judging, Course crew painting the course lines, course maintance fixing the flag panels, smoothing (shovel work) around the flag gates. Working on steep icey slopes with crampons, sliping (skiing fast to blow the loose snow of the course) the downhill courses between racers, running snowblowers on the course. Installing all manner of safety fencing. Maintaining those big airbags in front of solid objects. I 've worked on the Mogul and Aerial courses. Instlled advertising banners along the course. Worked the super half pipes, skier/boarder cross as the starter..... many other minor things.
I finally learned fro the wife that most course work was to demanding (after 15 years) so now I am a Doping Chaperone at Deer Valley. We take the winners down to the doctors so they can get blood tests for drugs.. Its the best seat in the house as we are right at the finish line. Some places you get to ski all you want while the event is going on your days off. Olympics, Aspen, BeaverCreek, Vail, Park City was this way. Others you get a comp pass for every shift, local kids races, Deer Valley. The wife has worked along the time as well but in Event Services.
 
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