Tag Archives: camping gear

Mail Call – DIY Gear Tips, Hiking Gloves? & Filterless Backpacking Water Treatment

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Tips, tricks and discussion on various Backpacking, Hiking & Camping topics.

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

    • Thanks to everyone who supported the limited edition Sintax77 T-Shirt campaign!
    • Shirts are available on Bonfire – ordering ends Thursday, 4/19/18 after which point they’ll be retired.
    • Sara has a snack.
    • Viewer ‘Silent Paul’ makes gives a great tip for sourcing materials for DIY backpacking pot cozies.
    • The winter camping cheers debate rages on.
    • Viewers ‘Bear off the OT’ and ‘GEN2-X’ give some tips on DIY windscreens for camp stoves.

    • Viewer John R. recommends the spoon shaped Nemo sleeping bags over the traditional mummy bag shape.
    • Viewer Andrew S. gives us an update on my Kelty Salida 2 person tent.
    • Using a 3-Season tent in the winter, snow loads, temperatures, etc.
    • Adam want to know if I plan to do more “classic solo” trips and / or head back out to the Rockies for some backpacking and camping.
    • Potential for doing trip videos more often on the channel.
    • We’re heading out to the Denver, Colorado area this late summer / fall for a backpacking trip (3, maybe 4 days on the trail).  Got any suggestions for good camping, backpacking loops, burgers, etc?
    • Somebody sent a pair of Moreok Anti-Slip, Shock Absorbing gloves.
    • Thoughts on fingerless gloves for backpacking and on the trial?  Maybe good for hiking poles, camp chores, etc?
    • Viewer Doreen brings up the subject of wood burning twig stoves for backpacking and camping.  I’ve yet to use one – any thoughts out there?
    • Viewer Deb in Ohio gives a shout out and brings up the dreaded topic of a rainy forecast on your hiking dates.
    • My upcoming backpacking trip video to go along with my recent Budget Backpacking Gear List video.
    • Reason I chose the particular shelter system for my Budget Backpacking trip vs my lighter cuben fiber tarp or other options.
    • My new backpacking and camping water purification system that I’m testing, the Steripen Ultralight.

Budget Backpacking Gear List – Go Camping for $250

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Budget Backpacking Gear List. Go camping for under $300 – Tarp Camping, Tent Camping, & Hammock Camping options shown.

Check out my live gear list on LighterPack.com for weights, prices, descriptions and product links.

Simplified Budget Backpacking Gear List:

Backpack

Shelter

Sleep System

Storage

  • Bear Bag Line (25′ guyline leftover from tarp setup, and small carabiner)
  • Bear Bag – 13 gal trash bag
  • Zip-lock Bag – Sandwich
  • Zip-lock Bag – Gallon

Cooking & Eating

Water Treatment & Storage

Tools

First Aid

  • First Aid Kit
    (Adhesive bandages, 1 gauze bandage, superglue, neosporin in straw tube, tealight wax candle, 6 doses benedryl, 10 doses ibuprofen, spare water bottle cap)
  • Sunscreen – 30 SPF 10ml bottle https://dutchwaregear.com/product/eye-dropper-bottles/
  • Fire Starter, DIY (dryer lint and wax, or cotton balls with vasoline)
  • Bug Spray – 100% Deet Mini Bottle 

Clothing (Packed, not worn. For spare, sleeping, rain)

  • Frogg Toggs Ultralight Rain Jacket 
  • Underwear – Synthetic (1 Pair)
  • Shorts
  • Shirt, Long Sleeve -Lt Wgt
  • Shirt, short sleeve
  • Hat, Beanie – Lt Wgt Fleece
  • Wool Socks – Lt Wgt (1 pair)

Lighting

Toiletries

  • Toilet Paper
  • Toiletry Kit
  • Wet Wipes
  • Hand Sanitizer

Additional Budget Backpacking Gear Options Discussed 

Approximate Costs for Each System

  • Tarp Camping version $248
  • Kelty tent version $317
  • Hammock Version $352

Olight H16 Wave Review – Headlamp for Backpacking (5 to 500 lumens)

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A Review of the Olight H16 Wave USB Rechargeable LED Headlamp for Backpacking & Camping.  

This is my current headlamp for camping trips requiring more critical lighting needs. Trips with higher demands on run-time and / or brightness. A perfect example of this would be my recent sub-zero winter camping trip that I took the Olight H16 Wave on.  The higher powered rechargeable battery pack gave me extra confidence in my run-times during the less than battery-friendly frigid temps.

This is also a light that I would grab for any camping or backpacking trip where night hiking was expected and / or when extended time doing chores at camp after dark is anticipated.

The 5 lumen low mode provides a surprising amount of functionality, along with a huge 160 hour run-time.  For high visibility needs, the 500 lumen high mode provides longer distance spotting capability, while still being able to run for around 2 hours continuously.

Links for full Manufacturer’s Specs, Features, etc

Specs and Features, as per Manufacturer

  • General Data
    • Beam Distance (ft) 328
    • Beam Distance (m) 100
    • Max. Performance (lumens) 500
    • Charge type Micro-USB
    • Compatible Batteries Customized Li-Ion Battery
    • Light Intensity (candela) 2500
    • Light Form:  Far-range focused beam and close-range wide flood combined.
    • Lens / Reflector Type: TIR bead lens (converged and wide beam)
    • Series: Series H (Headlamps, Multitasking)
  • Notable Characteristics
    • Hand wave operation – This motion sense setting saves users the trouble of reaching for the power switch in the dark, and keeps the headlamp clean from dirty hands.
    • Wide area illumination – Dual LED light head paired with a custom lens delivering great close-range illumination combining both a wide and focused beam.
    • Smart power level indication – Four-level blue LED battery indicator and low-power audible beep warning at 10% charge to keep you updated on your power status.
    • Beam angle adjustment – The light head has three adjustable levels from 0~45 degrees.
    • Reflective head strap – reflective stripes on both sides of the head strap to improve visibility and safety for the user.
  • Lighting Levels & Run Times
    • High – 500 lumens, (steps down to 350 lumen after 5mins), 120 minutes
    • Medium – 100 lumens, 9.5 hours
    • Low – 5 lumens, 30 160 hours
  • Technical Characteristics
    • Waterproof IPX4
    • Weight (g / oz) 115 grams / 4.06 oz
    • Length (mm / in) 58 / 2.28
    • Head Diameter (mm / in) 24 / 0.94
    • Body Diameter (mm / in) 38 / 1.50
    • LED:  2 x Cree XP-G3
  • Package Contents
    • Olight H16 flashlight x 1
    • 2000mAh 3.7V Lithium Polymer Battery(built-in) x 1
    • USB-microUSB rechargeable cable x 1
    • headband x 1
    • Replacement Cable Clip x 2
    • user manual x 1

Mail Call – Thoughts on Snow Trench Trip, Campfires on Snow, Peril on the Trail, Saw Battle!

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Tips, tricks and discussion on various Backpacking, Hiking & Camping topics.

Topics Discussed / Gear Seen

        • Why were we still cold if we had a fire going on our recent Snow Trench Camping trip?
        • Other thoughts on campfires directly on deep snow, camp fire size, balancing fire tending with other camping chores, etc.
        • Josh recommends a Military Surplus Army Bivvy Bag
        • Our tarp type choice and usage on the Snow Trench Trip.
        • Science Time! What temperature does whiskey freeze at?
        • Longer backpacking trip videos vs shorter multi-part vids
        • Viewer Lance M. sent a shiny new camp saw, the Silky F180 for testing!

      • Viewer Steve sent his favorite saw, the Bahco Laplander on a previous Mail Call episode.  Sounds like a saw battle to me!
      • Testing out various accessories for the Dutchware Chameleon Hammock System.
      • Sintax77 T-Shirts – Limited run Sintax77 “Cheeseburger Time” shirts are in the works and will be announced soon. 🙂
      • Congrats to viewer Scott for hunting down the northern lights on a recent Iceland Trip!
      • Z-Bird recently paid a visit to the Pinnacle in PA, where Mike and I camped on a fall backpacking trip many moons ago.
      • Viewer TheSkyttis used to own a SOL Escape Bivvy, like the ones we used on our recent Snow Trench Camping video, but eventually switched to a V3 Trifecta Thermal Bivvy by ‘2 Go Systems’.
      • Viewer Mike is getting ready for a backpacking trip on the Pinhoti trail in Alabama.
      • Viewers Sean and Kelly sent me a book called ‘Where You’ll Find Me‘ about Kate Matrosova, who perished on the Presidential Range during a winter ascent in 2015.
      • Another book I really enjoyed – ‘Not Without Peril‘, about the many tragedies of the White Mountains.
      • Rather listen to these books on the way to the trailhead?
        Use this link to get two free audio books on Audible

    • Packit Gourmet is awesome! They make some of my favorite backpacking foods.
    • More thoughts on the tragedy of Kate Matrosova on Madison Col.
    • Check out Steve’s YouTube Channel, Explorers of the Wild
    • Brian sent some Aqua Clips for testing. They help hold your water bottle on the trail.
    • Bivvy Bags as an emergency survival item, vs  “regular” camping, bivvy tents, etc.
    • Testing out my new H16 Wave USB rechargeable headlamp in sub-zero temps.

Sara’s Back! Nomadik Review – 1st Month (Adventure Subscription Box)

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A review of Nomadik – a Monthly Subscription box for people who like the Outdoors, Backpacking, Hiking, & Camping Gear.

10% off – use code “sintax10” with this link. 

This Month’s Theme
The Mountaineer Collection

Items in this Month’s Nomadik Box

  • Baledeo Locker 18-Function Multi-Tool
  • Munkees Keychain Compass w/ Thermometer
  • Doohickey Clipkey Tool by NiteIZe
  • Huppy Bar Whole Food Bar

Oh, yeah – and Sara’s baaaaaack!

Sara on Instagram @SarasGreatAdventures

Disclosure: A commission is received for purchases through the above links. Your support is appreciated and makes the backpacking trip videos on this channel possible.

Mail Call – Winter Camping Glove Strategy, Camp Saw Options & Astro Photography

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Topical discussion on various Backpacking, Camping, Hiking & Travel topics.

Topics Discussed / Links to Items Seen on this Episode

  • Hiking the Florida Trail?
  • White Water Rafting Trips?
  • My previous canoe camping trip experience.
  • Some fresh threads from Lucid Skis up in Maine
  • Thoughts on winter gloves for camping and backpacking trips.
  • Sealskinz Ultra Grip water proof gloves
  • Camera that Sara used for the northern lights pics in our recent Iceland video.
  • Panasonic GM1 Camera (no longer in production, I scored Sara’s on Ebay)
  • Venus Laowa 7.5mm F2.0 ultra wide angle lens.
  • Mittens / Overmits for camping.
  • Discussion on camping saws for backpacking trips.
  • Canadian Shield Pocket Chainsaw recommended by viewer
  • Coleman Folding Saw
  • Finding Flight Deals
  • How we came about going to Iceland (twice)
  • A huge thank you to Dwayne for the Xmas gift box.
  • How to make easy and amazing trail pizza, with packable ingredients.
  • MSR Flex Skillet for ultralight backpacking camp cooking.
  • There’s noting like a post-hike burger.
  • I need to do a solo winter backpacking trip somewhere within drving distance of the Mid-Atlantic. Any suggestions?