My BOB Post, Pic Heavy! (UPDATED 22MAR13)

[ironraven]

>My bag must stay out in the car at work and my vehicle is subject to search anytime

Oh.... That sucks much.

>The 2 pair of Black Talon gloves that come in the NARP PPE are Nitrile??????

They are, but the vacc packed kits are all nice and tight, sucks to break the seal if you don't need to.

>Strike Force

Thank, Strike Force, couldn't rememeber what they call the damn thing. "Not a Blast Match" is kinda over inclusive *laughs*

[Tperkins]

Well just ordered a Snow peak Ti 700 mug because of the many, many good notes about it in multiple BOB's on here. Go figure, it has 4.8 stars out of 28 reviews on REI.com

REI is awesome for some stuff, especially once you get that dividend for membership the next year, its a nice 40-80 dollar rebate (or more). More you spend, more you earn (10% back, not a cred. card though).

[Jeriah]

Mags,

I don't think I've ever really looked this thread over in depth before. AWESOME post. Excellent collection of gear, and more to the point, sounds like you've tested this stuff out and know how to use it. That's honestly what I'm more jealous of, not so much the fancy gear (although I'm jealous enough of that), but rather the time get out there and get it dirty. I gotta get me some of that!

-J.

[Mags]

Thanks man! Seems to be missing comments good or bad from a lot of the ZS "leaders" and faithful. Maybe it's just too much to read?!

I was laid up for a while but my spinal injection appears to be working well so far. Be back out on the trails in no time. Besides fall in western Pa. brings on the awesome leaves and crisp air! Who wouldn't love it?!

[Arch]

Thanks man! Seems to be missing comments good or bad from a lot of the ZS "leaders" and faithful. Maybe it's just too much to read?!

I was laid up for a while but my spinal injection appears to be working well so far. Be back out on the trails in no time. Besides fall in western Pa. brings on the awesome leaves and crisp air! Who wouldn't love it?!

There certainly is a lot of information to digest here. I think people get overwhelmed by the uber prepared crowd. Many less prepared probably feel they don't have much to contribute based on their level of preparation?

Overall, you and WW are the white-elephants in the ZS Prep Room .

ETA:

AHA!!!! I found a deficiency! YOu only list 2mg of Lopermide on Page 1! I'd have a full week's worth (24 pills x 2mg) simply because I've been dehydrated on the trial from diarrhea and it sucked in peace time, but could be fatal in the PAW.

^^^ So far that's the best I can do ^^^

[sheddi]

Thanks man! Seems to be missing comments good or bad from a lot of the ZS "leaders" and faithful. Maybe it's just too much to read?!

I make no pretence to be any sort of leader, although I try to be at least a semi-regular around here.

Anyway, I've been (and continue to be) an avid reader of this thread, but am at a loss for anything to contribute other than possibly a "We're not worthy!". Much like WW, you've not only got better gear than me, but you put it to good use far more often.

I'd go so far as to put you in the "leaders" list

Overall, you and WW are the white-elephants in the ZS Prep Room .

Seconded.

[Mags]

Ok then.........Thanks!

Well, I had to have it so I finally pulled the trigger on a Selk Bag, 1. Probably not the best money I ever spent but I guess not the worst…….

The Selk Bag 1, is the “lightest” in the Selk lineup. It is 5.1lbs and is rated to 54F for comfort, and 32F extreme. It is not lightweight and does not pack small even with the supplied compression bag. It does however come in green and intrigued me.

As stated its recommended use high temp is 54F and low is 32F. (Prolly get lower with ECWCS type layers and a hat on.) That makes this bag a three season for me. For the weight and bulk I can say that I will not be humping it around any time soon. I understand the difference between mittens and gloves. I then also understand the difference between this bag and a regular sleeping bag.
Bag has a dual zippered opening front that allows easy donning and doffing. A single pull strap for both zippers speeds things up, when it works. The bottom right side main zipper has a double zipper pull so you can unzip a little for piss breaks without undoing the entire zipper. Sleeves have zippered closures at the cuffs to seal off the sleeves. Both legs have zippered mesh backed 12” vents.

I thought of uses for this bag and came up with throwing it in my vehicle, at the stadium (GO STEELERS!) easier getting into and out of my Hennessey Hammock into the early fall, tree stands, hide site, LP/OP and for taking up room in the gear locker.

For size comparison, Selk Bag 1, ThermoLite 2 Bivy, Heatsheet Bivy, Heatsheet2, and Thinsulate Poncho Liner.


Label sewn on the compression bag. Lots of don’t listed here along with weight and temp ranges.


Full length shot.


Hood, main body opening, zippered sleeve opening.


Close up of hood, main zipper opening, single draw cord for daul zippers.


Full length body open, leg vents open.


Close-up of leg vents.


Heavy denier codura foot pads help facilitate limited walking around as needed. The foot box bottoms are not padded at all.


All in all for the size, wieght and uses I say nah. It’s a supped up Snuggy and I don’t need one of those either……………….



IMHO, YMMV.....

[liberty45]

Damn there is a lot of DO NOT do this stuff for washing. No sun drying? No washing with dark colors? Yikes. Should just say Machine Wash Alone, Hang Dry Inside.

[Woods Walker]

I don’t know what to think of this. My instincts question it but there is just something about this gear item. My preference is for overalls/jacket combo as they can be effectively worn in the field and vented. Heck I have hiked in overalls and just a light fleece jacket with hat and gloves in the singles and felt very comfortable. I have would like to hear some field test when you recover. Looks nice as guessing someone could get up and take a piss easy in winter. Hate rolling out of my bag into the dark dank cold.

I have a black Marmot Big Parka in XXXL:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/203, ... r-Men.html

It has insane loft and very big. Wondering about using this plus the Bivy clothing system with thick wool socks for an INCH bag sleep system in very cold weather. But I would need to test it in the woods first. Like the idea of multiple use gear items.

[Mags]

After some trials and tinkering with the set up I made a small change to the hydration part of my GHB.

I am keeping the Exstream Bottle, and “Water Pouch” and Micropur Tablets as a backup. The “Water Pouch” is now going to be regulated to a second backup. As a primary backup I decided to go with a Frontier Pro filter and a 1L Platy bag. I think the extra time it takes to fill the Platy bag will be countered by the speed of my water intake from the “pressurized” flow.

My old Frontier Pro was orange and I “painted” it black with a marker. Over the Frontier Straw filter I like that the Pro model has a longer straw and threads directly to standard 28mm bottle threads. I have nearly blacked out trying to suck water through these filters before. The fact that I can securely connect the Pro model to a Platy bag then invert the bag and allow gravity to help with the flow is nice. (Also can open the Pro Filter's bite valve and have a gravity powered drip filter. Think drip filling a clean Platy from one filled with questionable water while I rest.) The clincher for me is that I can squeeze or roll up the Platy bag and actually “pressurize” the flow through the Pro model filter. This is a big win for me since I’ll be looking for that max flow when getting water onboard. I could duplicate this technique with the Water Pouch and straw but it isn’t nearly as efficient. Getting me home quickly and safely, efficiency is a key.

The 1L Platy bag will be rolled up around the Frontier Pro and stored inside the main pouch. The aesthetic/anal side of me loves the Military Edition to!



WW, I have the older 45L model of EOS.....Oh well guess I'll have to manage. The SELK bag was just something I had to get and try.........try to figure outa need for????

[Woods Walker]

Mags.

The 45 lumen is the updated Tac version of the EOS. I believe it uses the same Rebel LED as the 50 lumen work and backpacker EOS however is either pushed back some on high for a longer run time or more likely a misprint on PT's part. The older EOS had only a 20ish lumen high. In any case a photo of the bezel would clear this up. Or just look and see if the optic is frosted or clear. Check out my EOS thread for photos of the new optic.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36608

[Mags]

WW, the bezel is clean and flat black, no writing. The optic lens is clear, not frosted and the instruction sheet says 45L.

Gimme some ideas on the Selk Bag....................................

[Stormrider]

Gimme some ideas on the Selk Bag....................................

Turn it into some sort of sci-fi space suit costume.

[Mags]

For giggles and shits I decided to post up bout my most fav-or-ite-est lip balm. I really like Dermatone! It's very luxurious on my lips. Goes on smooth, light smell/taste, seals and protects well. Dermatone keeps my lips kissable all season long regardless of my time outdoors or the weather.

I stock up at the begining of the season and put a stick in most of my jackets. It never fails though that by mid winter they all seem to disappear. I think the girlfriend pinches them but I can't prove it.

[Sicone]

I just wanted to say thanks for this thread. I pretty much leave a dedicated Firefox tab to this thread and check it now and again to drool and see what would be a good purchase.

[Some Guy]

Mags, I just have to say damn. Just when I think I'm making good on my BoB, I get a good dose of reality.

[Jeriah]

Comfort temp to 54 degrees F? For that limited temp. range, I'd just wear polypros under another layer.

[Woods Walker]

Comfort temp to 54 degrees F? For that limited temp. range, I'd just wear polypros under another layer.

It depends on how they came about the temp ratings. If it was done without clothing or hat than the upped end is not all that bad as this could be easily pushed down into the lower end in comfort with a base layer and socks.

Edit.

Mags, if your light says 45L I would bet its got the newer Rebel LED under the hood.

[Mags]

So I wanted a way to attach my Platy bags to my gear other than always in a pouch or pocket. I thought about the little O-ring/mini biner waterbottle chumpies but I saw these today at...........WalMart (fuck you!)..........sorry bout that.

Anyway they were cheap and fit my need. I'll see how they work and if an upgrade is in order, so be it. Guess they put a little stress on the Platy bags neck but not enough to rip it or anything. Besides Platy's are cheap and disposible. I'm happy I can now clip-in my Platy and drive on with my bad self!

Any other ideas out there? (I already checked and I can get a better biner through there......while typeing this I just decided I'd make one of these with a climbing biner, 550 cord, and a cord lock. Easy nuff.)



WW, yep, I got the "gooder" one. Thanks for your help.

[sarky]

Instead of the leanto, especially in winter, use a delta dome.

[Fenris]

Y'know, Sarky, between the two of them, WoodsWalker and Mags probably have more backpacking hours than you have college hours. If you would ever really read their posts, you'd probably understand that. Of course, you haven't read their posts, so you wouldn't know that they use stoves, and other effective means of heating, and keeping heated, their structures.

-fenris-

[Woods Walker]

So I wanted a way to attach my Platy bags to my gear other than always in a pouch or pocket. I thought about the little O-ring/mini biner waterbottle chumpies but I saw these today at...........WalMart (fuck you!)..........sorry bout that.

Anyway they were cheap and fit my need. I'll see how they work and if an upgrade is in order, so be it. Guess they put a little stress on the Platy bags neck but not enough to rip it or anything. Besides Platy's are cheap and disposible. I'm happy I can now clip-in my Platy and drive on with my bad self!

Any other ideas out there? (I already checked and I can get a better biner through there......while typeing this I just decided I'd make one of these with a climbing biner, 550 cord, and a cord lock. Easy nuff.)



WW, yep, I got the "gooder" one. Thanks for your help.

Great to hear as the Rebel led based EOS is the best in class.

Mags.

I have been trading out those cheap aluminum carabineers for these:

UL plastic Black Diamond JiveWire.

http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/produ ... 273%201026

Cast aluminum BD Micron.

http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/produ ... 273%201026

Comes in a smaller size too.

http://www.mountaingear.com/pages/produ ... 273%201026

They have been working out much better than the cheap-o ones and are not all that expensive. The plastic JiveWire or smaller Al Micron feels very UL to my hand.

[Woods Walker]

Instead of the leanto, especially in winter, use a delta dome.

True a lean-to is not an ideal pitch for harsh winter weather. If not for the fact that Mags was also using an ID Unishelter which is a bivy that could stand alone without a tarp in any weather and a lamalite insulated Wiggy bag this could be an issue. I would have preferred a modified A-frame tarp pitched in the front using the hiking poles for support if there were no trees, but if running late with my stand alone bivy tent I would have strung up a fast lean-to also given the rest of the gear used in that camp.

[Blackdog]

Thanks man! Seems to be missing comments good or bad from a lot of the ZS "leaders" and faithful. Maybe it's just too much to read?

Not a leader or faithful but will comment. Your gear is 1st class with no obvious POS items in sight. I see many many items that I own and know to be outstanding, the DAS parka is one example, that is one kick ass piece of gear. I have owned the civy version for years and it has never failed me.

As far as that goes I have the civy version of a number of the Patagonia MARS items and if I needed any more technical clothing I would be snapping up MARS gear right and left.

This is the only gear list I have seen that made me say "holy s--t I want one of those" (the M-24s).

Not sold on the Selk Bag though.