Brian's Backpacking Blog

Terra Nova Ultra 20 Backpack Winner

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-05:00

Over 200 comments on the original blog post, more than 120 comments on the Facebook page, and roughly 70 retweets on Twitter - close to 400 entries in total, wow! It took me quite a while of cutting and pasting (there has to be a better way) to put all of the eligible entries into an Excel spreadsheet. Using the wonderful Random.org I picked a winner by having it choose a number between 1 and...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Could a UL Gear Exchange Work?

2012-01-29T09:12:00.002-05:00

The concept of a backpacking gear exchange has been tried before, I recall something on the East Coast not so long ago, but it eventually failed - I don't know the details why. When I look at the amount of unused or lightly used gear that I have in my closet as a result of my gear addiction it scares me. Multiply that by the number of us that active in the online backpacking blog community and...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Help Choosing a Camera for Backpacking

2012-01-20T15:26:00.001-05:00

I've been using my iPhone4 as my primary camera for the photos taken on my blog for the past 18 months now and am really quite impressed with the quality and clarity of the pictures it takes. I don't bother taking my old camera, a Nikon Coolpix S51, with me anymore on trips because the iPhone does such a good job at taking photos. As good as the iPhone4 is, there are things it simply can't do....

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Cleaning Out My Gear Closet | Free Stuff

2012-01-14T22:46:00.002-05:00

A Cuben Fiber backpack for free? Read on... As part of my New Year's resolutions I've decided to clean out my backpacking gear closet. Over the years I have acquired a considerable amount of backpacking equipment or varying type, much of which has been used very rarely, some of which has never been used at all. Well, it has to go. This is part of a larger personal goal that I have set...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Fisher Space Pen Refill | Ultralight Hack v2

2012-01-06T13:50:00.000-05:00

Make the ultimate UL all-weather ballpoint pen for taking notes along the trail with just a standard Fisher Space Pen refill (SPR4) and a short length of heat shrink tubing! The Fisher Space Pen and the associated SPR4 refill earned the reputation throughout the world for being able to write on almost any surface, at any angle, through grease, and even under water - and as so many backpackers...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Snow Peak Handle Grip Mod - Update

2012-01-05T12:03:00.000-05:00

Several people have asked me how well the tool-dip modification that I made to the handles of my favorite Snow Peak 600 has stood the test of time, well the answer is not so well. It worked great for the first few months of normal use, providing a non-slip protective barrier for my fingers from the heat of the metal handles, but it all went pair-shaped in a flash. The very first time that...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Backpacking Stocking Stuffers

2011-12-30T15:56:00.000-05:00

It's been a slow week, not much going on outside and no hiking trips to speak of, so I thought I'd share some photos of a few funny little backpacking-related stocking stuffers that my wife bought for me this year. It's always fun to put things on my Christmas list that seem to make no sense at all. For example.. Heat Shrink Tubing - Not something I would normally want for day-to-day DIY...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Backcountry Boiler Unpacking | Quick Look

2011-12-24T15:06:00.001-05:00

Well my Backcountry Boiler has just arrived (Christmas eve) and I bummed mostly because I won't have much time to fiddle with it over the next few days. The new sleeve casing/cover looks like a great enhancement so I'm pleased that I chose this version instead of the regular neoprene sleeve. The laser etching on the top of the stove looks great and as you can clearly see from the photo below,...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Flat Foot Rehabilitation in 6-8 Weeks

2011-12-16T13:17:00.002-05:00

My good friend Damien Tougas over at ToeSalad.com has hooked me up with new foot related gear to test. He knows that I have completely flat feet and has been instrumental in my gradual transition to barefoot running, so he thought I would be the perfect guinea pig candidate to test the new foot strengthening insole system from Barefoot Science. The Barefoot Science system is said to work...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Jetboil Helios Cooking System Giveaway!

2011-12-14T16:51:00.000-05:00

In case you've missed it, I'm giving away a complete Jetboil Helios Cooking System ($149) to one lucky member of my Facebook page. There's no hoops to jump through or fancy requirements to be eligible to win. All you have to do is leave a comment on the Jetboil Helios post on Facebook (not here) saying "Gimme the Jetboil" and you will be entered into the random drawing on Wednesday 21st. So...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

The All New Murmur | Hyperlight Reinvented

2011-12-11T21:27:00.001-05:00

Later today Gossamer Gear will be unveiling a redesigned version of their popular ultralight backpack, the Murmur. As a Trail Ambassador for GG, I've had the pleasure of putting one of the new Murmur backpacks through its paces over the last few days in order to provide my initial feedback. I took the Murmur out on a weekend trip with enough gear for myself and my dog Coco, to see how it would...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

New Harness for my Gossamer Gear Gorilla

2011-12-08T16:35:00.000-05:00

You may recall that several weeks ago I returned my beloved Gossamer Gear Gorilla ultralight backpack to GGHQ for some rather radical harness modifications. Well now it's back, updated with an entirely new harness, and better than ever. Recap: During my recent trip to Mt. Whitney, I encountered some significant discomfort from the straps of my GG Gorilla backpack. I hadn't had any issues with...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Flat Cat Gear | Snow Leopard Cook System

2011-12-05T22:52:00.000-05:00

For the past few months I've been putting a prototype cooking system, designed specifically for use with popular UL mugs, through its paces for Flat Cat Gear. The system I've been testing is called the Snow Leopard and is a scaled-down version of their popular Bobcat setup that is used with larger pots. I recently received a production version of the Snow Leopard cook kit and after several...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

All New BioLite CampStove | Reserve Yours!

2011-12-02T12:15:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share some new information about the BioLite CampStove that was brought to my attention by Steve and Andy. It appears that the BioLite is now available for pre-order for those of you that want to reserve one for 2012 - and it's had some significant enhancements since our first glimpse. Clearly it's been through several rounds of product enhancements and now looks better than...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

10 Skills Every Backpacker Should Have

2011-11-16T16:06:00.001-05:00

I started this blog post with the intent of listing the top-10 basic skills that I believe every backpacker should have, but almost as soon as I started putting together my list I thought it would be much more interesting to let you all share what you think are the 10 most important skills to have when spending any extended length of time outdoors. It's no secret that I feel very strongly...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Lawson Glowire | High-Viz Cordage

2011-11-16T13:24:00.001-05:00

Lawson Glowire in natural lighting. I love cord. Most of you already know this. It's good that I do because I seem to have accumulated an awful lot of it over the years. Luckily, there are literally thousands of clever uses for the stuff as any good paracord addict knows. I don't want to go off on a paracord project tangent right now, I could, but I have to stay focused... One particular type...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Titanium Foil Esbit 'Tray' Stove

2011-11-15T23:26:00.000-05:00

I have a love-hate relationship with Esbit fuel tabs. I want to love them, I really do, but they seem to never work quite right for me so I end up getting frustrated and hating them. The Short Burn Time Issue You may recall that a few weeks ago I posted a blog article about my frustration with the consistently poor burn times (typically under 7mins per tab) that I was experiencing with my...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Liquid Biscotti aka 'Super Spackle'

2011-10-30T10:15:00.001-05:00

I tried a new recipe for my trip to Mt Whitney that is a calorie-dense, delicious treat that can be eaten on its own or added to other meals, like breakfast oatmeal, for a boost of energy to kick-start your day. Unlike most people, ultralight backpackers do not eat low-calorie snacks. We're not dieting when we're on the trail, our bodies are being pushed hard for long periods of time so we...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Gear Lists - Not Just For Gram Weenies!

2011-10-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

For reasons unknown to me, a lot of backpackers think that making a detailed gear list is the sign of an ultralight fanatic or that you've crossed over to the UL darkside and become a dreaded gram weenie. I'm here to tell you otherwise. It's true that a gear list can be an extremely powerful tool for helping you understand, manage, and reduce your overall pack weight, but it's much more useful...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Bushcraft vs. Leave No Trace (LNT)?

2011-10-13T14:53:00.000-05:00

I'm conflicted. I enjoy getting outdoors with my kids at the weekend, going on day hikes, and practicing our bushcraft skills like making firesticks, carving pot hangers, and learning how to properly build and start a camp fire. BUT - when I go on my multi-night or longer distance ultralight backpacking trips (typically without my kids) I'm careful to practice and adhere to the core principles of...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

BioLite Thermoelectric CampStove Update!

2011-10-04T21:02:00.000-05:00

Earlier this year I wrote a blog post about a revolutionary new type of backpacking stove called the BioLite Thermoelectric Camp Stove. The BioLite is revolutionary because unlike nearly every other type of wood burning stove on the market, the BioLite claims to have reduced the smoke emissions from burning wood by 90% through clever engineering, and their patent-pending thermoelectric-fan...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

I Really Want to Like Esbit Tabs

2011-09-29T12:51:00.001-05:00

[Updated below] The problem is, no matter what type of stove I use, or type of cooking setup I try, I get totally lousy burn times for my Esbit solid fuel tabs. So bad in fact, consistently under 7-8 minutes per tab, that I am unable to bring two cups of 70-degree water to a boil in my Snow Peak 600 mug using a whole Esbit fuel tab! I'm beginning to get frustrated with Esbit tabs. Everyone...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Do You Need a Knife for Backpacking?

2011-09-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

Not carrying a knife or some form of small blade is incomprehensible to me and a lot of other backpackers and hikers, but to others it's a piece of gear they don't feel is necessary to carry at all. As some of my more frequent readers may recall, I have been slowly reducing the size and weight of the knife that I carry with my on my backpacking trips and day hikes. Above is an example of the...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Custom Strap Alterations For Gorilla Pack

2011-09-24T15:30:00.000-05:00

If you read the post about my recent trip to Mt Whitney, you may recall that I had a few problems with the width of the shoulder straps on my Gossamer Gear Gorilla Ultralight backpack. Even though I've used my Gorilla pack for numerous other multi-day backpacking trips, this time the straps really rubbed me the wrong way, no matter how I adjusted them or how I repacked my pack. If you're not...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]

Making Denatured Alcohol User Friendly

2011-09-19T14:57:00.000-05:00

Something I get asked a lot is "why is the denatured alcohol you use in your stove burning video green?" Well the simple answer is so that I can see it more easily, but there are other reasons why I do this to my fuel. It's a really simple trick that I like to use so I thought I'd take the time to share it here. Denatured alcohol is clear, highly flammable and generally not a good thing to...

[ This is a summary only. Visit my blog for full links, photos, and more! ]