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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 25, 2020 21:33:40 GMT -8
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biffnix
Trail Wise!
I'm just some guy, you know?
Posts: 49
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Post by biffnix on Sept 26, 2020 7:23:55 GMT -8
I bought one of these maybe 30 years ago, and I've never once used it. I carry this piezo lighter to start my stove these days, and have a Bic mini lighter as backup. I also carry matches. A magnesium fire starter? Never had cause to use it once in three decades, so I guess it's time to finally toss it in the trash...
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franco
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,297
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Post by franco on Sept 26, 2020 17:06:26 GMT -8
I used a magnesium rod to light an alcohol stove because it was a bit tricky to do with a Bic in low temps but than I figured out that a very thin strand of cotton wool ( absorbent cotton ) impregnated with petroleum jelly, dangling into the stove , worked much better.
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Post by bluefish on Sept 27, 2020 7:00:40 GMT -8
I carry some wind and water proof matches, they truly are, and petroleum jelly soaked cotton balls for cold weather trips. I've got fires going in some truly bad conditions when warming up was pretty essential. Yes, this was in the NE and snow with low temps prevailing. I make sure I have a pocket on a mid layer to keep the bic and our mini-sawyer filter in. The bic works OK for the first flicks to light our whisperlight or pocket rocket. If not, out comes the emergency matches and they never fail. I'm glad my wife goes on every trip, so I make sure she keeps warm and something good and hot to drink and eat.
The worst thing that I abandoned BPing was a mini- lantern made by Gaz that ran on the first canister fuel that I ever saw. The valve always leaked, the lantern got to be about 400 degrees and melted anything nearby, and threw out about a 5' ring of light. After you extinguished this wonder of technology, it took about a half an hour to cool down. It also had extremely fragile mantles like the old Coleman standards, but way harder to change. I was just smart enough to not let this glowing ingot near my tent , and used it as a hand warmer, and once to melt snow. I must admit, those days always involved some hard liquor at night, which led to some burns from handling that lantern too quickly. It was chucked after about 2 years. I still have an Optimus 8r from that time. Still works just as well as when I bought it, 45 years ago.
The dumbest piece of extraneous weight is something my wife always carries. Quite awhile ago I spied a small teddy bear alone on a shelf in a drug store on Valentine's Day. I brought it home and my wife thought it the cutest thing ever. It's been riding in the outside pocket of my wife's pack and now on the front of her bike on every trip since. Not very UL, but what the heck........
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franco
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,297
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Post by franco on Sept 27, 2020 16:09:57 GMT -8
That teddy bear. Many solo adventurers carry something like that. Keeps them company and gives them "someone" to talk to. hey , Wilson ! marmot Marv on top of Everest
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Post by bobcat on Sept 27, 2020 17:39:23 GMT -8
I didn’t actually buy or use it, but I remember wondering “why?.....” when I saw the compressed sawdust pellets you can buy to carry and use in your twig-burning backcountry power charger.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Sept 27, 2020 18:09:47 GMT -8
I didn’t actually buy or use it, but I remember wondering “why?.....” when I saw the compressed sawdust pellets you can buy to carry and use in your twig-burning backcountry power charger. Backup for everything being too totally soaked for any chance of decent food? My 8R is a shelf ornament and has been for a long time. Replaced by XGKs, a Dragonfly and some Pocket Rockets.
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FamilySherpa
Trail Wise!
Tangled up in Rhododendron
Posts: 1,791
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Post by FamilySherpa on Sept 28, 2020 9:33:58 GMT -8
A snowpeak Ti coffee press. Absolutely awful.
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Post by hikerjer on Oct 2, 2020 12:12:23 GMT -8
As far as backpacking gear is concerned, my old Sierra cup was and is, absolutely worthless. But back in the day, it was so very cool to have one hanging on your belt or pack. Live and learn, I guess.
As for worthless purchases I’ve made outside the backpacking arena, they are far too numerous to mention.🤪
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Post by Lamebeaver on Oct 25, 2020 13:58:56 GMT -8
When I was first getting started, I had the brilliant idea of slipping my sleeping bag between two layers of a sheet of Visqueen, instead of bringing a tent.
It was light, but there were "condensation issues". One of the most uncomfortable nights of my life, until kidney stones...
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Post by peakbagger on Oct 25, 2020 17:14:08 GMT -8
The worst backpacking purchase I ever made was a pair of trekking poles (I don't recall the brand name). I purchased a cheap pair to try to get through TSA, they made it through TSA but literally fell to pieces soon into the hike. Within 5 miles I had driven the shaft through the top of one of the grips, shaft was bent and the locking mechanisms were failing on both poles. I've gotten away when going cheap a lot, but this wasn't one of them.
Another on my list was one of my first purchases. I bought a pair of CamelBak water bottles. I didn't realize the bottle had a bite valve or straw. It may just be my preference, but I think it's a terrible design. When I'm hiking a tough area and out of breath I don't want to bite on a valve and suck to get some water. I still use the bottles, but just screw the large top and drink like out of a cup. Also both bottles have had a slow leak from the threads on the wide mouth cap since they were new.
Airline tickets with Frontier to get to a backpacking trip are also up there on the list. I'd used Frontier only 2 or 3 times before, without issue and saved tens of dollars. Last time I flew with them I lost time and hundreds of dollars. Decided I would do my best to avoid any trips with Frontier that included layovers. I've had bad experiences with other airlines but at least felt they were making some sort of effort to ease my difficulties.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Oct 26, 2020 4:19:40 GMT -8
Airline tickets with Frontier They are the absolute worst.
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Post by johntpenca on Oct 26, 2020 7:03:02 GMT -8
As far as backpacking gear is concerned, my old Sierra cup was and is, absolutely worthless. Ditto. Most worthless piece of cookware ever.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2020 8:39:55 GMT -8
Snow peak coffee press is pretty bad. I tried it twice. Just sits in closet now. Paid too much to just chuck it.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Oct 26, 2020 11:23:06 GMT -8
As far as backpacking gear is concerned, my old Sierra cup was and is, absolutely worthless. Ditto. Most worthless piece of cookware ever. Sierra cup was more than just gear - it was a lifestyle choice.
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