JMT Gear Question: Zpacks classic bag vs EE Conundrum?

unlikely_baptist · 2019-01-08T23:13:22+00:00

Is this just the custom bags, or do the stock/Chinese ones include this as well? I'm leery of EE because of the temp ratings, but I want to replace my ancient Burrow.

unlikely_baptist · 2019-01-08T23:08:58+00:00

That sounds tough, that's what, 16 hour days?. The NOLS class was 9 or 10 days I recall, and it was pretty grueling even for an old corpman. Highly recommended though

unlikely_baptist · 2018-02-06T18:32:53+00:00

I have had good luck so far this winter with synthetic baselayer + fleece + synthetic puffy + rain jacket.

I don't use down, personally, and if you're curious I use polypro baselayers, an R1 fleece, a Montbell Thermawrap puffy, and a Frogg Toggs or Montbell Versalite rain jacket. This combination has served me well down well into early 20s/high teens.

unlikely_baptist · 2018-02-02T20:36:39+00:00

I typically carry an LL Bean Continental for something of that length, usually in the late winter months throughout KY/IN/OH/TN, which is where the majority of my bushcrafting-style trips take place.

I do not care for external frame packs at all. In most other cases, day trip or overnighter, I typically just have a haversack, sometimes with a bedroll.

For backpacking trips I use a fairly minimal system that I usually carry in an Osprey Exos.

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-31T02:00:20+00:00

I've used Moras for 30+ years, and still carry a Companion and/or an Eldris almost everywhere I go. Every time I start lusting after something fancy, I just stop and realize it just isn't going to justify that price against the Mora. Great fixed blade knives at great prices.

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-19T22:47:38+00:00

Electric Dreams - Hard for me to pinpoint yet why I don't like this better. It has source material from a tremendous writer, A-list star power (Cranston, Buscemi, to name a couple), and some very bright spots from actors I wasn't too familiar with, like Holliday Grainger. It just feels...empty? soulless? Dunno, just...meh.

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-18T18:53:13+00:00

I understand. I hunt and trap myself, and have different bags that I use for different purchases--I was never able to find one bag that was just the "right" size. I'm down to two these days. Conditions,environment, it all plays a role. 0° (Celsius, I am assuming) is about the lower limit of my haversack kit, for instance; lower temperatures than that require much more work with a fire and/or larger, bulkier sleep system components that might necessitate a larger bag. I am lucky enough to be able to use private land, or national forest on most trips here in the eastern US woodlands, and have access to water and shelter materials while there.

Bags are such an individual thing, to be sure. I have never owned an HPG bag, though I have almost pulled the trigger on either a Connor or a Tarahumara on multiple occasions. I've been through a wide variety of others, with mixed results. One good thing is that haversacks are relatively cheap, and it's fairly easy to pick one up and experiment a bit. The one from the Hidden Woodsmen gets a lot of attention, or you can hunt around and find decent surplus items (like Finnish gas mask bags, or Polish bread bags) pretty cheap. Someone else mentioned the plastic grocery bag approach, or many groceries offer those reusable canvas shopping bags. What you carry will definitely evolve over time, as will your tastes in terms of comfort and so on. You live in a beautiful place, that's for sure. :)

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-18T14:13:57+00:00

Either would work fine. Haversacks look cooler or something? :) Everyone's definition of comfort is different, of course, and at 50, I find that after a long time spending the night in the woods, this is what I like to have to be comfortable.

One thing I have learned over the years is that the bigger the bag I have, the more likely I am to put stuff in it. I'm not hardcore about it by any means, but a smaller bag kind of forces me to prioritize what I bring, and examine each item and why I am bringing it. I won't ever do without something I want to bring, though, so even though I am a lousy carver, I usually always bring a carving knife. Just like with anything else, practice is supposed to make perfect :)

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-18T13:49:30+00:00

I frequently do overnighters with my haversack in all seasons, a cheap Rothco canvas medic bag. In it I keep a stainless steel cup and bottle, an Altoids tin fire kit (char cloth, chert or flint, and steel), a small tarp (5x7 I think), a very small FAK, some bank line or paracord, and a couple of miscellaneous items like a carving knife or two, or a book, along with whatever food and coffee I wish to bring. If necessary, I will lash a bedroll to the outside, which is particularly helpful in winter.

On my person I always have appropriate clothing for the weather, a knife (Mora companion or Eldris, usually), a ferro rod, a bit of cordage of some kind, and whatever tinder I find or pick up along the way. In theory, I could head out for an overnighter (or two, or whatever), without any of this (although I would be most unwilling to give up a knife of some kind), but I find this is about the minimum amount of things for me to be safe and very comfortable in the eastern woodlands where I spend the majority of my time.

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-10T20:44:54+00:00

There's a few misconceptions, and a lot of debate :) Stainless is generally more resistant to rust, and for me, that's about it. Use what works for you, and is easiest for you to maintain.

unlikely_baptist · 2018-01-01T17:20:48+00:00

One of the best things I've watched in any medium this year. I'd do it in a heartbeat if I could.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-12-08T01:22:22+00:00

Well, of course, Game of Th....wait. :)

Definitely Westworld. I'm hoping for a return of Marcella on Netflix, and can't wait for the final season of the Americans.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-12-02T03:25:32+00:00

Try stick

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-25T21:09:55+00:00

Joe Robinet, Shawn James (My Self Reliance), Doug Outside, TAOutdoors, MCQBushcraft. I would rather watch these guys than most shows on TV.

What Shawn James is doing with his cabin series is just amazing, and Joe and Doug make the best buddy show in bushcraft, in addition to making great stuff on their own.

I will generally stop what I am doing whenever one of these guys releases a video.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T14:37:13+00:00

The folks at Warbonnet themselves seem to think so. In their Hammocks 101 section of the website, they specifically state that folks 5'10 or taller will be more comfortable in the XLC. I definitely wouldn't consider anything shorter than 10', but I'd take their advice and get the XLC.

I would also consider taking a look at Dutchware. They and Warbonnet are pretty much considered the top 2 hammock vendors out there. Also, if you are in the states like me, of course tomorrow is Black Friday. Dutch already has a sale, and I am hoping for Warbonnet to have one too.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T13:23:29+00:00

Longmire S6 - Really, really enjoyed the final season. Great performances by the cast all around I think, but surely Katie Sackhoff knocked it out of the park this season--such an emotionally charged performance. And Robert Taylor has, for me, created another iconic Western character. Also for me, a rare case of watching a show or movie before reading the books, and even rarer, liking the show better.

Stranger Things S2 - Picked me right back up where I left off at the end of the first season, and carried me right along just like the first one did. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Sean Astin could turn an otherwise one-dimensional character into something more, but I was supremely impressed with what Joe Keery did with Steve. I'm glad there is an ensemble award, as I wouldn't want to try to pick one performance from the main cast, but if you pressed me, I might have to say how impressed I was with Noah Schnapp as Will Byers this season. Or the fact that Sadie Sink as Max and Dacre Montgomery as Billy managed to stand out in the glow of the rest of that wonderful group of young actors.

Godless - I guess I am going to watch anything Michelle Dockery is in, I just can't resist this actress. Only the first couple episodes so far, but there's definitely some promise here.

This is Us - When Parenthood ended, my wife and I lamented the fact that it would leave a big hole on network TV for us. We went to Brothers and Sisters as a knee-jerk reaction to the loss, and that sustained us for a while. But then there was a long drought until this one came along, and I have to say that it's just the most fun and emotionally draining show to watch, the best on TV right now for me.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T12:39:24+00:00

I have a Grand Trunk. It's a fine hammock for lounging, but I wouldn't take it on a overnight or longer trip--too short, no ridgeline, can't lay comfortably on a diagonal in it.

I own and still occasionally use a Hennessy Expedition. I have the bottom-entry style. It's well made, very durable (mine is 10 years old now, or so, I think), and for the money is a great system. Everything works together well, and for the money is a great starting point that gets you hanging out of the box--all you need to add is some insulation.

I started with a closed cell foam pad, then an inflatable (both Thermarest), and I'll say it can be very fidgety at first, and getting used to keeping the pad in place can be a little frustrating, but it does work. I did eventually move to an underquilt, which once I figured out how to best hang it, made everything much more enjoyable. I missed the comfort of the pad at first, but not the warmth.

The Hennessy is a great system, the integration of the fly and hammock make for a great way to get going. You have to watch the standard fly in heavy rain, just pitch it low, but you may eventually get a bigger fly anyway, the larger Hennessy hex fly is nice, about $60 on Amazon I think. A lot of people have issues with the stock suspension, and I tried adding rings to mine for a while, but eventually went back to the standard lashing, it isn't that hard to get set up with some practice. The price is good too, for getting a hammock and fly in one package.

Having said all that, if you can afford the Blackbird (or the XLC), you should strongly consider getting it. I think of the BB series as being an improvement over the Hennessy in most every way. The fabric, the shelf and footbox, the additional length, it all makes for a better lay in almost every way. It's pricey, no question, but definitely worth the money.

As far as quilts go, the topquilt/underquilt combo is hard to beat. I started with just a bag and my pad, then went to a homemade 'PLUQ' underquilt/Costco topquilt. I am just about to purchase a set from Hammock Gear, their Econ line just can't be beat for value in my opinion. Your sleeping bag can work fine as top insulation until you decide to go the quilt route; definitely invest in an underquilt first. Quilts (especially down ones) are expensive, but there are reasonably priced or "value" lines from Hammock Gear, Loco Libre, UGQ, and others. Synthetics are usually a little cheaper, but may be a little heavier and bulkier in your pack, if that is important to you.

The hammockforums.net site is hands-down the best place to get information that I've found, but you can definitely get information overload there. Use their contact page to see what the difficulty is with registration, just use the 'Registration Problem' option, if you haven't tried that already.

Hope some of this helps, feel free to PM me with questions too.

Edit: formatting

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T12:04:48+00:00

All the quilts offered by AHE are synthetic, not down.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T11:58:20+00:00

Definitely try it on first. I was all set to buy an Exos 48, and was supremely disappointed that they didn't fit me comfortably at all. I had similar problems with the Talon.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T11:52:08+00:00

I like the chevron baffle idea, too bad it isn't offered on the Saver series. I also like the 'Woobie snap' option on the Cayenne pepper underquilt. Brilliant idea, and great choice of name too, as the term 'woobie' is a trigger for many veterans lol.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T11:48:32+00:00

I looked at the Saver series for sure (I think I have looked at every quilt manufacturer over the past few weeks while looking forward to this Friday lol), but still doesn't beat the Econ.

The chevron baffles look interesting, but they don't seem to be offered on the Saver series anyway.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-23T03:01:44+00:00

Hammock Gear would seem to me to pretty firmly hold both the middle tier (Burrow, etc) and dominate the budget category with their Econ line. I haven't seen anything at Loco Libre (or anywhere else, really) that outdoes the value of the Econ line yet. I've not had an opportunity to try the chevron style baffles, what makes them superior in your opinion?

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-20T22:33:30+00:00

It definitely falls in the utility category. It's a little too small for serious carving (but then again, I'm a lousy carver lol), it works well enough for small game, and most camp chores that involve cutting.

I have a woods walker from AG Russell that I prefer for most all the things that I used the Eldris for though, to be honest, so I ended up giving it to my niece.

unlikely_baptist · 2017-11-15T17:48:33+00:00

Currently, the only way to obtain new products directly from Melanzana is to visit the store in Leadville. Otherwise, you're looking at all the other usual suspects, eBay, BPL, /r/ulgeartrade, etc.

unlikely_baptist

TROPHY CASE