Smokeeater908 Store -> Lunar Stove

Here is the Lunar alcohol stove with an aluminum take down stand. This equipment is machined from 6061 aluminum. The stove has had the bottom milled out so that it in essence creates and air gap from the stove and the surface.

This stove also incorporates a safety top so if you happen to flood the stove it will not run down the stove to the base. The stove weighs in at approximately 4 ounces. The stove comes with the aluminum take down stand, fuel line, nipple cap and fuel bottle.

Price is 145.00

View Cart/ Checkout – Contact Smokeeater908 – Go to Smokeeater908 Store

Other Items:
STOVES: Hyker Stove – F&M Stove – Mini Heat Stove – Georgia Heat Stove – Rollover Stove – Fireplug
LIDS: Custom Pot Lids – Imusa 10cm pot lid – Imusa 12cm pot lid – Snow Peak600 Lid – Beer Can Cook Pot lid COOK POTS & KITS: Imusa Cook Kit – 908 Cook Pot – Mini Heat Cook Kit – 908 Cook Kit – Cook Table – 908 Kitchen
DIY: Mini Cook pot Alum Rings – Beer Can Pot Aluminum Ring – Create your own Beer Can Cook Pot

by Claire Walters
Hey everyone! I been busy testing a couple of Nite-Ize products. Today I’m going to talk about the Nite-Ize Inova swipe to shine light.

Style and design
I’ve had this little light for a couple of months now. First thing I noticed is the plastic case has a grip like feel to it. The color to me is appealing – the plastic case is a nice translucent blue. It has a small black tread /rubber piece on top. Attached to the end through a little hole is the cutest little s-biner.

Getting acquainted
Who reads instructions? To learn everything about the technology of this light I actually did read the instructions.

To turn this light on, you use a swiping motion with thumb/finger from right to left. This turns the light on high. Swipe again right to left while the light is still on it goes to a low light. Swipe one more time and you have a strobe light! Nice! To shut this light off simply swipe your thumb from left to right.

There’s a variable dim mode which allows you to set brightness to suit your needs. This is done by turning the light on high – then immediately placing your finger back over the on/off sensor will start to dim the light. The video below shows how this can be done.

Another nice feature is auto shut off. If you fall asleep while reading a book like I do quite often, the light will turn off after 4 minutes. It will flash at about 3.5 minutes to alert you that its ready to shut off.

Putting it to use
I have been using the Nite-ize swipe light on a semi-regular basis. It has become a EDC light that I will switch out with another light. It’s so easy to throw in your pocket and not realize it’s there.

I must admit, occasionally when I attempted to turn the light on with a swiping motion of my thumb – the light did not always turn on with the first swipe. It appears your finger needs to get into the area just right where the sensors are in order to turn on the light. With a little practice I figured it out.

On the plus side of this – the light never turned on by itself while in my pocket.

How many uses can we find for this little light?
So far I have used the swipe light in the car at night, as a night stand light, I’ve kept it nearby by when there’s been storms, the little s-biner makes it easy to attach to your key chain, inside a tent or on a hammock ridge line. It can clip it to your backpack straps or attach to a string to wear around your neck.

The swipe light can also be a great emergency light using the strobe feature. If in the woods at night it can become a beacon making it easier to be located.

Battery life & brightness
For a microlight this light is plenty bright to read a book, light up your tent or navigate around camp at night. In the woods it was bright enough to light up the trail when I pointed it to the ground.

As far as battery life it has not shown any signs of the battery getting weaker. Although I can not be sure how many hours I have used the light so far. If you choose to carry on a camping trip to use on high for lengths of time the batteries are light enough IMO to carry spares.


Specs
On my scales the light with s-biner weighs 14 grams or 3/4oz. The light measures 2″ in length and the s-biner is 1 inch.

From the Nite-ize web site

Product Details

• Features dual electrode capacitive sensing technology, which we call “Swipe-To-Shine”
• Four Functions – High Power, Variable Dim, Low Power, and Strobe
  LED Color: White
• Lumens: High – 16 | Low – 2
• Run Time: High 9 hours | Low 64 hours
• Battery Type: 2-2032 Lithium batteries included
• Batteries are replaceable
• Available in 4 translucent body colors: Smoke, Olive, Orange, and Blue
• Thumb grip pad for non-slip control
• Dimensions (Length x Width x Diameter):
  3.18″ x 1.09″ x x 0.43″
  8.08 cm x 2.77 cm x 1.09 cm
• Weight: 0.53 oz (15g)
• Temperature Operation Range: From -4 degrees F /-20 degrees C to +104 degrees F /+40 degrees C
• Versatile S-Biner Stainless Steel Double Gated Carabiner Clip attaches securely and releases easily
• Try me packaging – allows for lighting demonstration
  Limited Lifetime Warranty USA

Here’s a very informative video from the Nite-Ize web site;

If you’re looking for a microlight & like gadgets this light is functional with the fun factor.
Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below.

Disclaimer: The Nite-Ize swipe to shine microlight was sent to me by the manufacturer.

About the author: Article by Claire Walters CEO Outdoortrailgear
FB: @Clairewalters / Twitter: @Clairewalters / Claire on Google+ / ClaireTWalters on Instagram

Smokeeater908 Store -> Mini Lunar Stove

Here is the Mini Lunar alcohol stove, this is truly a unique alcohol stove design. The base has been milled out so it truly forms an air gap between the stove and the surface with your fuel nipple totally unobstructed by being placed directly underneath the stove.

This stove will come with 2 sets of legs one for 12cm Imusa pots and MSR Titan Kettles and then a straight set of legs for all other pots. The stove also incorporates a safety top, which will allow for some spillage and it will keep the fuel near the wick instead of letting it run down the side of the stove. The stove will also come with fuel line, nipple cap and 4oz fuel bottle. The Mini Lunar alcohol stove weighs in at 2 ounces.

Price: $85

View Cart/ Checkout – Contact Smokeeater908 – Go to Smokeeater908 Store

Other Items:
STOVES: Hyker Stove – F&M Stove – Mini Heat Stove – Georgia Heat Stove – Rollover Stove – Fireplug
LIDS: Custom Pot Lids – Imusa 10cm pot lid – Imusa 12cm pot lid – Snow Peak600 Lid – Beer Can Cook Pot lid COOK POTS & KITS: Imusa Cook Kit – 908 Cook Pot – Mini Heat Cook Kit – 908 Cook Kit – Cook Table – 908 Kitchen
DIY: Mini Cook pot Alum Rings – Beer Can Pot Aluminum Ring – Create your own Beer Can Cook Pot

Molly Mac Gear Store –> 5-in-1 Jerry Chair

5-in-1 Jerry Chair is a Baby Orca underquilt with a silnylon outer covering, a pole pocket and channels all around. The suspension is the sliding type, through the side channels. You can use it as an Underquilt, a Jerry Chair, a gear hammock, a pack cover or a ground cloth. weight: 9ozs

If you want to purchase baby orca underquilt without the Jerry chair features – see baby orca product page.

View Cart / Contact MacEntyre / Molly Mac Gear Store

We’d like to honor our friends and fans with some FREE STUFF! ODTG will be randomly selecting a fan to receive one of two awesome prizes – winner’s choice!

Option A: Everything you need to build a camping hammock:
· One 60”x126” Silver Crinkle Tafetta ‘Hammock Blank’ (we mean tablecloth, of course)
· A pair of 6’ Whoopie Slings from oneLife Wilderness Products (Silver)
· One set of 8’ Tree Straps (Gray/charcoal)
· Two toggles for Marlin spike hitch
· 2 Lengths of cord for whipping the ends of your hammock
· A length of shock cord and a cord lock for optional Knotty Mod

Option B: A complete camping hammock, already built for you! (It is the same as Option A, just constructed before we ship it to you)

How do you enter? EARN Two Entries! Simple. Just give us a thumbs-up on Facebook! and click on that little ‘Like’ button. You can earn a 2nd chance to win by leaving a blog comment below.

You’ll be able to keep up with updates from ODTG, and we promise never to spam you or sell your information.

One week from today, Tuesday, May 7th, the giveaway will end. When Jesse returns from the woods – we will select a winner Thursday MAY 9th . Don’t forget to share our page with your friends, so they can be entered to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for visiting ODTG – Good luck to everyone!

I beat the crap out of these poles and they just keep taking it.

My pair has been to the shattered crater rim of Mount St. Helens. I took them to the 10,385’ summit of South Sister. They’ve been on hundreds of other lower-altitude summits and have been scratched, dinged, leaned on; they’ve been used to prop tarp-tents and hammock tarps. I’ve kicked them and dropped them and closed them in the car door – and I can’t kill them.

/happy rant.

Don’t I look excited to have my poles?
Tanner Butte – Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

Construction:
Constructed of two sections, the LighTrek4 poles are extremely minimalist in design; they are simply made from two tapered carbon fiber tubes, a handle, carbide tip and a locking mechanism. That’s it. No gimmicky ‘anti-shock’ springs or fancy padded straps.

Some people might be put off by the lack of straps on the LighTrek4 poles, but straps really are unnecessary with poles this light. Personally, I’m thankful that there are no straps attached, because I find myself using the poles less frequently than I once had. Since I only use the poles when hiking up steep trails, most of the time I end up carrying them in one hand. Fidgeting with a strap each time I need to use them would become tedious.

The handle is “EVA Kork-O-Lon”, which seems to mean that they are made out of rubberized awesomeness. They stay grippy even in desert heat and don’t chafe my hands at all. The handles don’t absorb moisture and they really don’t seem to get dirty, despite my heavy use.

Carbon fiber has something of a bad reputation, but for good reason. It is extremely lightweight and very strong for how little it weighs– but it doesn’t have much flexibility. Rather than flexing, carbon fiber snaps, so it does require some care. Leaning on them sideways or using them to pry things will eventually break them. That being said, most of the force I put on my poles is completely downward. I’m careful not to twist them between rocks or bend them, but some people are harder on their gear than I am.

The bottom half of the pole is wrapped in a ridged material, which adds some strength where the poles would be weakest. This reinforcement helps prevent nicks and scratches from becoming catastrophic breaks in the pole.

The LT4 poles use a twist-lock mechanism, and are the only twist-lock poles I have used that didn’t fail within a few dozen miles. Only twice in a year (and hundreds of miles) have I had any trouble with the locking mechanism – and both times were my fault because I let them get filthy inside. The mechanism has never slipped while the poles were in use, only refused to lock until I took them apart and dumped out the mud.

Gossamer Gear has always had a reputation for making some of the finest ultralight gear on the market, and I experienced the exceptional quality firsthand with a Gorilla pack that I carried for several seasons. Unfortunately, users seemed polarized; they either loved the poles or truly despised them. One user would claim that the poles snapped after only thirty miles on the trail while another user successfully completed the PCT with only nicks and scratches on his poles. Ultimately, I decided to pull the trigger because I’d used UL equipment for years and knew how to handle it.

Golite Shangri-La 1 with LT4 Poles as tent poles
Goat Rocks Wilderness, Washington

When I’m not using poles and hiking up a steep grade, I tend to lean very far forward. This puts undue pressure on my knees and forces me to take longer strides than I should. Trekking poles help me stay more upright and regulate my steps during these climbs. For this type of use, the LT4 poles are perfect. I carry them in one hand on flat or rolling terrain, use them for the steep climb and descent, and frequently use them in camp to pitch my shelter or prop up my hammock tarp in ‘porch mode’. From time to time, I need to use them for balance in loose, rocky sections, but I rarely put significant weight on them.

GG LT4 Poles being used in ‘Porch Mode’
Near the summit of Whistler Point – Ochoco Nat’l Forest, Oregon

I’ve read threads on BackpackingLight about users finding that poles without straps do not imply the same mechanical advantage as poles WITH straps. Physically, this makes sense. So if you use straps and find them necessary to your hiking style, GG does make a version of the LT4 with removable straps.

I don’t typically use the LightTreks during more serious climbs because they can break under significant lateral force. It would be pretty harrowing (and possibly lethal) if a pole snapped during the prevention of a major fall. If I’m heading up high in the ‘off-season’, I carry a pair of Black Diamond TrailBack poles. For general hiking/backpacking, though, the LT4 poles are fantastic.

In Sum:
My LT4 poles are the most well-used item that I carry when backpacking, and that is no exaggeration. I take them on nearly every trip and use the heck out of them. Despite reading others’ experiences with the poles snapping off during inopportune moments, I’ve had nothing but luck. It’s possible that I’ve simply been lucky thus far and my poles are plotting to drop me on my arse at the next misstep, but I think I’ve put them through their paces and they continue to impress me!

Purchase Date: March 21, 2012
Purchase Price: $160
Review Date: March 23, 2013

Jesse Blough – Senior ODTG Writer/Gear Geek (Jesse@Outdoortrailgear.com) Jesse is an avid ultralight backpacker and hammock enthusiast who hails from the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Jesse hikes roughly 30 miles per week, and goes backpacking (2-3 days at a time) twice a month. Major multi-day trips 5-10 times per year. Jesse has hiked most of the long trails in Pennsylvania (all of the NCT in PA, the Loyalsock trail, the Quehanna trail, etc.) He’s summited most of the lesser peaks in the PNW.

His obsession with the lightest gear on the market has become increasingly expensive – so he found a business partner and began OneLife Wilderness Products as a means to feed the addiction. OneLife products is available in the ODTG store, along with other items that Jesse uses and swears by.

Jesse is working with Outdoor Trail Gear as lead gear tester, reviewer & blogger. Most of his gear reviews will be long-term and in-depth – written to help other hikers make informed decisions about what items might work for them in the long run.

*Picture above taken at Crater Lake, Oregon.

While hiking sections of the PCT and adjoining trails late last summer, I saw more thru-hikers carrying and using Zpacks gear than any other cottage manufacturer (except maybe Dirty Girl Gaiters). That alone should be a testament to the quality and workmanship that Joe Valesko and his band of elves puts into every item that leaves their workshop; if that’s not enough, here’s my own experience:

Apparently, I’m more rough with my frameless, ultralight packs than most people. In 3 years, I have gone through FIVE primary backpacks – all of which failed on the trail or simply wore out far too quickly. Most ultralight materials are not suited for the kind of rugged backpacking I enjoy several times per month. The exception seems to be Zpacks’s Cuben material.

Specs:
I went with a 36L Zero backpack, made of the 2.92oz Cuben Hybrid material. The alternative material is 1.4oz sq. yd. Cuben fiber, which Zpacks uses for the ‘standard’ Blast backpack. I went with the Cuben Hybrid because… well… all of my other packs fell apart and I wanted something bomb-proof.

I am approximately 5’11” with a torso length of 20”. The medium torso length fits me perfectly. I’ll assume that my reader has purchased a backpack in the past and understands the importance of having someone measure his/her torso length before investing in a backpack. Zpacks doesn’t charge for torso length customization, so be sure to measure!

The ‘base’ pack cost is $95, but that would be a simple stuff sack with straps and little else. On mine, I added:

· 2x Side water bottle pockets – one for my water and another for my cook kit
· A large mesh pocket – for stuff that can get wet/needs to dry
· Webbing belt – 0.75” wide for stability
· 2x Ice axe loops
· Top strap – for securing snowshoes/crampons/etc. to the top of the pack

The final cost was $170, plus shipping. It weighs 8.7 ounces. And bomb-proof it is.

Zpacks Zero Backpack – Deschutes River, Oregon

Features & Use:
Since the material of the pack is waterproof, I don’t have to worry much about my stuff getting wet. I still use a trash compactor bag as a pack-liner, for when I have to open my pack in the rain and as extra protection for my down quilts.

I carry my camera and a 0.5L disposable water bottle in a Zpacks Multi-Pack that attaches very easily to the Zero. 2 grosgrain loops on the shoulder straps provide attachment points for the Multipack’s straps, allowing quick access to my camera, water, and any small items that I like to have within reach. To be fair, I’ve had the Multi-Pack for several months longer than the Zero; the quality of workmanship and materials in the Multi-Pack certainly convinced me to spring for the Zero (keep an eye out for a review of this handy little pouch!).

The pack weighs 8.7 ounces, which is far less than many other ultralight, frameless backpacks in this price range. The primary difference between this and other ultralight backpacks is the material – Cuben is incredibly strong for its weight. Similarly priced options made from Gridstop or other high-denier fabrics may not be inherently stronger than Cuben, despite being heavier in weight.

The pack is surprisingly comfortable when loaded up. My base weight is a bit less than 8 pounds for Fall/Spring backpacking, but I’ve carried far more than that. I carried more than 25 pounds of gear and food on a recent multi-day snowshoe trip and was relatively comfortable. I don’t like carrying more than 20lbs. with ANY pack, but this pack carries the load well. The shoulder straps are well-padded and the sternum strap is secure. The 3/4in. wide hip belt does cause some discomfort if the load is shifted from the shoulders. Generally, though, my shoulders can handle all of the weight I carry, and the hip belt simply stabilizes the pack against my back. This added stabilization is especially useful when scrambling or climbing hand-over-hand.

A word about packing: Since the pack is frameless, I use a folded 1/8” thick Evazote pad directly against my back. The pad functions as a foot-pad in my hammock and a sit-pad for breaks. I put my Reflectix cozy in the bottom of the pack, to give it a flat bottom. Then, I put my pack liner in the pack and fill it with my sleep-socks, quilts, hammock, midlayer jacket, and my mittens & hat (in that order). The pack liner is folded over and my food bag sits on top for quick access. Generally speaking, that is all that I carry IN the pack.

The mesh pocket on the back of the pack holds far more than it appears it could. In it, I put my hammock tarp, hammock suspension kit, rain gear, and the ever-present staple: Scotch in an ultralight flask. In one side pocket, I carry my Caldera Cone Keg-F cook kit and long spoon. In the other, a 1.5L Evernew water carry (no you can’t have it!) and my Sawyer Squeeze filter. If I am planning to take in some particularly beautiful scenery, I’ll bring my Ultrapod II tripod, which fits nicely in the mesh pocket with everything else.

Durability & Long-term use
As I mentioned, much of my hiking is done in rugged, off-trail terrain. Unfortunately, that has always meant that I either needed a heavy pack or needed to replace mine often. That is, until I bought my Zero. I’ve squeezed it through narrow, steep gullies, under downed trees, and over boulders. I’ve glissaded down icy slopes and even fell off of a cliff (accidentally) while wearing it – and it’s held up better than even my most trusted, 4lb. internal-frame backpack.

My choice of material has not disappointed me. The 2.92 Cuben/Poly hybrid is extremely resistant to abrasion. A few times, I’ve squeezed under trees and would have SWORN that I had shredded the pack – but found no permanent marks at all. A few high-use spots on the pack have become discolored, but remain waterproof. The mesh seems to be the “weakest link”, and has been snagged in a few places. Fortunately, I can fix that myself if it becomes necessary.

After using the pack for the better part of a year, I’ve found only a few things I do not like about it. Primarily, I wish I’d gone with the roll-top closure system instead of Zpacks’ stuff-sack-plus-attachment-point closure. Basically, my Zero pack closes by drawing the draw cord tightly and securing the cordlock to a loop at the bottom of the pack (see photos below). Instead, I’d prefer a roll-top, dry-bag style closure.

Pull drawcord closure tight, but do not cinch cordlock

Put cordlock through small loop at the bottom of the pack

Cinch cordlock to compress the top of the bag

It works well enough, but simply seems unnecessary and possibly fragile. My other complaint is partly due to my own negligence. I wish that either: a) the side pockets were a bit taller, or b) I had a way to secure the top of my Evernew water bag to the pack. It tends to tip out of the pack pretty far, and I’m afraid that one day I’ll reach for it and find an empty pocket. Zpacks offers the option of a side strap, but I didn’t order it – so the fault is my own!

Ordering:
Zpacks’ website is fairly minimalist in design. A few tabs at the top let you select the category of item you’ll be purchasing, There are three backpacks available on the Zpacks website: Arc Blast (a framed pack), Blast (frameless) and Zero (a stripped-down Blast). The Blast pack is the standardized, feature-rich Cuben fiber backpack that started Zpacks on the road to success. It has features that I wouldn’t use, however, and lacks a few things that I want in a pack – so I chose the fully customizable Zero. The ordering process for the Zero backpack takes place by adding a basic pack body and individual components to a PayPal shopping cart. I only mention the online ordering process because it is probably my least favorite element of the pack; the pack itself certainly makes up for the website’s shortcomings.

In sum:
The Zero is my 4-season backpack, whether I’m carrying a full winter load for 7 days of snowshoeing or 2 midsummer nights at low elevation. I’ve even carried it on a few luxurious winter day hikes. I’m even considering replacing my current daypack with a Zero, because I know it will stand up to whatever I throw at it. The quality of materials and workmanship is unsurpassed; if you’re considering a new pack, look to Zpacks for some of the best available on the market.

Thank you for reading & visiting Outdoortrailgear reviews. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below. Jesse will do his best to answer.

Purchase Date: September 7, 2012
Purchase Price: $170
Review Date: April 18, 2013

Jesse Blough – Senior ODTG Writer/Gear Geek (Jesse@Outdoortrailgear.com) Jesse is an avid ultralight backpacker and hammock enthusiast who hails from the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Jesse hikes roughly 30 miles per week, and goes backpacking (2-3 days at a time) twice a month. Major multi-day trips 5-10 times per year. Jesse has hiked most of the long trails in Pennsylvania (all of the NCT in PA, the Loyalsock trail, the Quehanna trail, etc.) He’s summited most of the lesser peaks in the PNW.

His obsession with the lightest gear on the market has become increasingly expensive – so he found a business partner and began OneLife Wilderness Products as a means to feed the addiction. OneLife products is available in the ODTG store, along with other items that Jesse uses and swears by.

Jesse is working with Outdoor Trail Gear as lead gear tester, reviewer & blogger. Most of his gear reviews will be long-term and in-depth – written to help other hikers make informed decisions about what items might work for them in the long run.

Derek at TheUltimateHang has put together an illustration showing how he uses Dutchware hardware to create his tarp ridgeline. Derek made use of a Tarp Flyz & a Dutch Hook. The Dutch stingerz can be used in place of the tarp flyz. This makes it easy to align your tarp over the hammock before tying down the guylines.

Using the ridgeline over or under the tarp is usually a personal preference. In winter when expecting snow many will use the ridgeline under the tarp. Having a ridgeline under the tarp also gives you a place to hang a light or a few other smaller items.

In the video below Derek demonstrates how he sets up his hammock tarp.

Derek Hansen is a lightweight backpacker, Scoutmaster, and “hammock enthusiast” who enjoyed his first hammock hang at age 14 at the BSA Beaver High Adventure base in Utah. The hammock he used then was a compact net style that was strung up in an “Ewok Village” constructed from log platforms lashed up high in the pines. Derek rediscovered the wonders hammock camping 16 years later in Virginia, and has been avoiding the ground ever since. Web site: TheUltimatehang.com

On February 3rd, Trevor who calls himself Fronkey on the trail started off on his journey to hike the Superior Hiking Trail. On Feb. 25th Trevor was the first person to thru-hike the SHT on snowshoes.

In this video Trevor explain’s his winter footwear system he used to keep his feet both warm and dry in the northern woods of Minnesota winter. It worked great!

Find Your Torso Length

Whether you’re shopping online or in a retail store for a new backpack, you need to know your torso length. Find the C7 vertebrae, which is the largest vertebrae you can feel at the back of your neck. If you tilt your head down you’ll easily feel the C7.

Next, find the iliac crest. Your iliac crest is the very top of the hip bone. If you dig your hands into your sides you can feel where the top of the hip bone ends. Follow that point around to the middle of your back. This is the bottom of your torso. Read complete article on Sierra’s Social Hub

Andy Hawbaker Bio: I love hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and exploring the Rocky Mountains and beyond with my wife and kids. When I’m not on the trail, I share my adventures on the Sierra SocialHub. Tweet or email me if there is anything I can help you with.