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Author Topic: Gear Reviews  (Read 2037 times)
Q
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« on: October 07, 2009, 09:48:56 AM »
We should have one, I guess. 


Bought a Snow Peak Giga Power ($50.00) this past week.  I took it out on a trip that was thrown together at the last minute. 

A little history; I traded my Trangia alky burner for a Coleman 440 a year ago.  While I've got one of the best winter time burners, the deal short changed my set up for the other three seasons.  Since the deal I've been using a Coleman Exponent burner; which is damn good (in winter, too), but it's heavy and bulky. 

So back to the Giga Power ... Stopped at REI on the way up to replace the Exponent.  Trail conditions were poor due to the amount of rain over the last 36 hours; in addition to raining the during the whole trip. 

Looked at a few items; turned our attention to the stoves.  My friend was looking at the Pocket Rocket, but was not really impressed with the line.  The REI rep showed off the Giga Power.  Right at the point where he demo'd the flame spread, I said "Sold!". 

Got to try it out before we decided to retreat to a warm and dry cabin approximately 30 minutes away.  The piezo lighter was great; pot stand sturdy.   The value controlling the flame was a little "loose" on both models, but manageable once you got the hang of it.  Another knock; the value controller thingy has a metal tag on a ring on it --- fucking annoying as hell.  Can't seem to get that thing off without a pair of diaggy cutters.

Overall, good little stove.  I'm going out in a couple of weeks so hopefully I'll be able to kick its ass a little better.   
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stratusloop
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« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2009, 10:38:24 AM »
Absolutely! A gear review thread on an outdoors blog-o-sphere forum....how quaint.....nice job Q!

Good luck with the Giga stove. May she bring you many a good boils!

Personally, i've got a Pocket Rocket and a Whisperlite. I generally like the PR and mainly boil water. I don't "cook" with it....too much trouble....for me anyway. So, for that purpose its done its job well. On the other hand, the Whisperlite is sitting on the bench. It's ok. The thing I don't like about it is the liquid fuel and that's the thing i'm pondering about with this other stove I like....the Etowah 2. Also, I never liked how ya got to fire up the whisperlite. It flames up like a chinese fart candle. All wild and nasty. Its a mess....although I do dig how the darn thing operates in sub-zero temps.....

However, i've been eye balling that stove you snatched up but since then i've been turned on to the Etowah 2 alchy stove mainly to lighten up the load a bit. But then i'm back to liquid fuel and such which i'm always leery about carrying in my pack. And then I saw the Lite Max and Micro Max by snowpeak. These things look so cool and the Lite Max is only 1.9ozs. I dig these little monsters! Anywho, i'm so excited....i'm gonna get me a new stove some day like you but until I make up my silly ole mind.....
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« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2009, 01:41:25 PM »
It takes a while, but you learn how to fire up the Whisperlite without a flame-up.  I only use liquid fuel because I'm a Canuck ('How will it work in winter?).  My daughter swears by the Simmerlite, but I just boil water - instant oatmeal for brekky and freeze dried for dinner, otherwise snack stuff.
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Q
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« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2009, 08:24:03 PM »
I bought a Sierra Designs rain jacket two years ago as a replacement for my Moonstone.  I wore the Moonstone out in a rain storm one football game and it fared average.  However, seeing that Moonstone went out of business, I transferred this jacket to the inactive status because I wanted to keep it around as much as possible. 

The Sierra has seen very little action until this past weekend.  Under "average to above average" fall, this thing blew chunks; very disappointed. 

Time reactive an old friend. 
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« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2009, 08:28:15 AM »
Gremlin...yes its quite an art form learning that bloody device. I just wanted to be dramatic and all that. Although I loved the thing when I first got it about 15 years ago or so. I'm like you and just boil water and be done with it.....oatmeal and your choice of dehydrated concoctions.....

Rain Jackets.....

I'm using a Marmot Precip and its holding out well so far. It got a real good workout this summer in the Whites.

I had an EMS Thundercloud prior and the shoulders got burned out (interior coating peeled off) from the pack straps. It didn't breathe well and made me feel clammy. I returned it for the Precip.

Before all of that I have to embarrassingly admit I owned a Frog Toggs get-up. It was actually not that bad. I even ran it through a snow shoeing blizzard and it faired well. It just isn't the prettiest thing and always felt el-cheapo....plus all the snickers and giggles ya get when u show up on the trail....not exactly funny....
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« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2009, 09:27:30 AM »
This is a bit of a long story, but here goes.

I bought a Sierra Designs G-Tex jacket in 2 000 and loved it.  Rain performance and breathability were outstanding (remember G-Tex doesn't breathe in the rain - it's a windbreaker when you need one and a rain jacket when it pours - all in one).  I delaminated in 2 006 and Sierra Designs replaced it without a murmur.

Unfortunately the new one was more a ski jacket than a mountaineering one.  It's cut was 'fashionable' while one day I shall be committed to the home for the chronically un-hip.  Also the roll-away hood leaked at the neck when it was being used and so I gave it to my daughter.  I bought a Marmot Precip for the more ample fit that would accomodate more layers for the TT Rainier trip.  I wore it backcountry ski-ing, as well as light touring behind my house (orchards and ski-doo trails) and found the breathability very poor compared to the Gore-Tex that I was used to.  I gave it to my daughter and bought  a mountaineering G-Tex parka from MEC.  It's Gore-Tex XCR (extended comfort range) and I love it - it is with me summer and winter.  It was also made in Canada, as was the Sierra Designs.

Of course MEC no longer offers the same parka and has replaced it with one from China.  Once again the adage 'If you find something you like buy two, because the bastards will stop making it.' proves itself to be true.
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« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2009, 09:45:46 PM »
I completely agree, Grem.  Since my post, I've been looking at stocking up myself.  Slim pickins, I'm afraid.

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« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2009, 08:00:02 AM »
I bought a pair of Croc knock offs earlier in the Summer from the local CVS for 6 bucks called Doggies.  They have everything the real Crocs do at a cheaper price.  I thought at the time that even if I went through two, three pairs for the summer I was still going to come out ahead in the end.  I'm still wearing the same pair I bought back then. 

I wore them all the time, but with the season change over I've "retired" them to a domestic status.  So I bought a pair of the winter version of Doggies for 8 bucks a couple of weeks ago.  Not so happy about those ones.  The insulated insert ... well flat out sucks and pulls out every time I take them off when I wear no socks.  Even with socks they're a pain.  They don't have a strap on the back so they are purely slip-ons, which is another drawback.  Perhaps I'll just take the inserts out and just wear heavier socks with them. 
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toejam
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« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2009, 08:38:13 AM »
My son can't stand it when I wear crocs in public.
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Q
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« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2009, 09:17:12 AM »
Neither can my wife.  I've always thought they were an upgrade from my house slippers and quite stylin` and profilin`.  Go figure. 
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tenjen
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« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2009, 09:31:06 AM »
The only time I wear crocs is when I'm camping. Other then that, you won't see my styling them in public. On the other hand, my son wears them all the time.
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stratusloop
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« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2009, 06:44:34 AM »
tenjen, ur disappointing me now....not wearing Crocs in public? Are you ashamed?

Tsk Tsk jenten....

There's an outlet centre not far from where we live and they have a Crocs store there. Yes, over the summer, I finally broke down and bought a pair. I wasn't ever gonna pay $30 bucks or whatever they were calling for....I got this pair low $9.99! And get this....now listen up jenten.....I now wear them all the time...in fact, with the weather changing, I wear them with socks! Yeah. Can picture that? So, I have these yellow crocs (a dull yella, not that bright save me i'm drowning yella) and I wear them about with a pair of Thor-Lo's....its quite the fashion.....and totally hip may I add....

Now jenten, when you get home this evening, take your Crocs out of hiding and practice by wearing them about the household.....this will acclimate you.....then....maybe by the weekend, you can go the grocery store with them on...baby steps jenny......you can do it!
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tenjen
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« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2009, 12:33:46 PM »
Well, ok, I'll try. But, first I need to go and get a different color pair. When I bought the only pair I have, I just picked up a color since like I said, I would only be wearing them when I'm camping. So, they're pink. And, I'm sorry...I cannot wear pink crocs in public. I have a reputation to withhold =)
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