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Just browsing for some new gear so I can stop bumming it off of friends. Could I get some opinions on some of the following?
MSR Hubba - tent
Snowpeak Gigastove - stove
Snowpeak Mini Solo Cookset - cookware
And a gregory pack ... haven't figured out the size yet.
Thanks
mrhughes1982
10-27-2009, 17:18
I found Evernew to be cheaper than the Snowpeak cookware. Think it was a tad bit lighter too.
Rocket Jones
10-27-2009, 17:39
I like the giga stove and it has a nice windscreen available too. For cookware, I use the venerable grease pot, but I'm also partial to the GSI soloist if I want to do more than FBC.
take-a-knee
10-27-2009, 22:10
ULA Catalyst for a pack
Anti-gravity gear Caldera Cone stove.
Hennessy hammock, OES Macat Deluxe tarp, JRB 3-season quilt set.
GeneralLee10
10-27-2009, 22:52
A Hennessy hammock is close to a pound(mine1lb15oz) if not more. Not including the Tarp which can weigh close to the same 1lb or more depending on the material used. And do not forget your Two quilt's most use, some kinda "cool" bottom one and the one you sleep with. You can find a tent that is less in weight then a Hammock&Tarp and has more room for gear inside. The OP asked about a certain tent not a Hammock:D
Jack Tarlin
10-27-2009, 23:01
1. The Hubba is a great tent if you're not too big a guy.
2. The Giga is a wonderful stove; I've used one for many years.
3. Don't know about the Cookware.
4. Gregory's good reputation is hard-earned and well deserved.
rpenczek
10-28-2009, 10:04
From a person who purchased too many packs, think pack last.
For a little more than the price of the Hubba you could have a Tarp Tent and save 50% of the weight. Check out Tarptent.com. I also have purchased too many tents and landed on a Tarptent Rainbow II (I use alone) and I love this tent. Tons of space and very light. I have also had it in driving rain storms with no issues.
When alone or with just one of my boys (versus 6 or 8 of my Boy Scouts), I use the giga power and find it works vary well (excpet when its really cold, like below 15 degrees). I continue to try and find ways to reduce weight, and am starting to look at a alcy stove (Caldera Cone). When I backpack, I tend to just boil water. I eat from a ziploc or from a Mountian House Envlope. I never put food in my pot (I hate clean up). Understand your cooking/eating style before you purchase your kitchen. Having said that, the Giga Power is a good choice for both cooking and just boiling water.
Finally, when I am with one of my boys, I carry a Evernew 1.?? liter pot. If I am alone, I use a .5 liter mug to boil water for food (eaten from the zip loc) and then use the cup for my coffee. My mug is Snow Peak and I really like it, I believe there are lower cost options.
Once you get your gear, then look at packs. Gregory is a great brand and really comfortable (at least the one I own - Whitney), but take a look at Granitgear, ULA and lighter weight packs. When I changed from my Whitney to the GG Nimbus Meridian, I think I saved 3.5 pounds.
I would agree with above... Get a tarptent moment.
You can build a nice crushproof alcohol freezer bag cookset for almost nothing that weighs from 3-5oz total depending on the size.
See some of my old posts.
Pack Miraposa plus or ULA. Gregory makes good packs, just a tad heavy.
If around 20-25# total and small volume maybe a Jam II. Those are easy to find used.
skinewmexico
10-28-2009, 11:07
I like the stove, but i like lighter tents. And I'm not a Gregory fan. You don't need a 6# pack to carry 25# of gear. Lots of better choices out there.
GeneralLee10
10-28-2009, 11:21
I have a Gregory z65 and it is a very nice fitting pack if you want to carry 35+lbs. The card on my z65 said it only weighs 3lbs or so. I put it on a scale and got close to 5lbs. I now have on order a ULA pack that is much less in weight. I will say get all gear first then a pack, I have spent some money that I should not have but I'm learning my lesson.
Blissful
10-28-2009, 11:31
Just got the hubba myself and yes, you do need to be lean and not a huge shoulder girth.
Like my snowpeak pot
I like my MSR pocket rocket myself.
I used a gregory pack for the last half of my hike.
I found Evernew to be cheaper than the Snowpeak cookware. Think it was a tad bit lighter too.
I was looking at Evernew, but my local store doesn't have them and I usually hate shipping things (Canada = border fee's). I'll weigh my options.
I like the giga stove and it has a nice windscreen available too. For cookware, I use the venerable grease pot, but I'm also partial to the GSI soloist if I want to do more than FBC.
Thanks. I looked at the GSI and was interested - though I haven't seen it in person yet.
ULA Catalyst for a pack
Anti-gravity gear Caldera Cone stove.
Hennessy hammock, OES Macat Deluxe tarp, JRB 3-season quilt set.
Thanks for the recommendations - but I can't say I'm a fan of the hammocks though. I feel more comfortable laying on the ground; I guess I'm one of the odd ones out.
1. The Hubba is a great tent if you're not too big a guy.
2. The Giga is a wonderful stove; I've used one for many years.
3. Don't know about the Cookware.
4. Gregory's good reputation is hard-earned and well deserved.
Thanks.
From a person who purchased too many packs, think pack last.
For a little more than the price of the Hubba you could have a Tarp Tent and save 50% of the weight. Check out Tarptent.com. I also have purchased too many tents and landed on a Tarptent Rainbow II (I use alone) and I love this tent. Tons of space and very light. I have also had it in driving rain storms with no issues.
When alone or with just one of my boys (versus 6 or 8 of my Boy Scouts), I use the giga power and find it works vary well (excpet when its really cold, like below 15 degrees). I continue to try and find ways to reduce weight, and am starting to look at a alcy stove (Caldera Cone). When I backpack, I tend to just boil water. I eat from a ziploc or from a Mountian House Envlope. I never put food in my pot (I hate clean up). Understand your cooking/eating style before you purchase your kitchen. Having said that, the Giga Power is a good choice for both cooking and just boiling water.
Finally, when I am with one of my boys, I carry a Evernew 1.?? liter pot. If I am alone, I use a .5 liter mug to boil water for food (eaten from the zip loc) and then use the cup for my coffee. My mug is Snow Peak and I really like it, I believe there are lower cost options.
Once you get your gear, then look at packs. Gregory is a great brand and really comfortable (at least the one I own - Whitney), but take a look at Granitgear, ULA and lighter weight packs. When I changed from my Whitney to the GG Nimbus Meridian, I think I saved 3.5 pounds.
Thanks for the write-up. Did you physically see the tarptent tent before you purchased it? Though it may have great reviews, I still don't really like to buy things without ever seeing them - especially expensive things.
I figured if I wanted to lighten the load, and weather permits, I would simply bring the Hubba tent's fly and a mosquito net. Though I suppose buying a lighter product in the first place would be easier.
Noted the pack recommendations and cooking tips.
I like the stove, but i like lighter tents. And I'm not a Gregory fan. You don't need a 6# pack to carry 25# of gear. Lots of better choices out there.
Could you explain what the "6#" means? I am new to gear buying and don't understand the tech terms.
mrhughes1982
10-28-2009, 16:25
Think that he is talking weight with that sign. pounds
rpenczek
10-28-2009, 17:12
I did not see the specific model I purchased (Rainbow II) before I bought it, but a good friend had a Cloudburst II and I took a long hard look at that model and after several weekend trips seeing him use his 40 oz Cloudburst while I was using my 6 pound Mountain Hardware, I was there.
You can search these forums and you will see rave reviews of this manufacture (Tarptent). Infact, the owner Henry Shires is a member on these boards (I believe). Another similar manufacture is Six Moon Designs with the Lunar Solo and Lunar Duo. I have no experience with the Six Moon Designs products, but based on info here, I bet they are a great product.
A Hennessy hammock is close to a pound(mine1lb15oz) if not more. Not including the Tarp which can weigh close to the same 1lb or more depending on the material used. And do not forget your Two quilt's most use, some kinda "cool" bottom one and the one you sleep with. You can find a tent that is less in weight then a Hammock&Tarp and has more room for gear inside. The OP asked about a certain tent not a Hammock:D
You're right to point out that the OP asked about a tent, etc., and specifically certain products. And they point out later that they enjoy sleeping on the ground, which blows the major point of having a hammock.
However, since you're obviously a HH owner, I'm confused at your response. The tarp/hammock setup is similar to the body/rain fly setup of a tent. Given modular choices, the hammock setup is at least comparable to the lightest of solo tents. Also, the same sleeping bag and pad that would be used in a tent can be used in a hammock, so I don't know why quilts are even mentioned. A "quilt set" as was suggested takes the place of a sleeping bag and a pad is no longer needed - a quilt set should be comparable, if not lighter than a bag and pad.
Just sayin' because I posted similar questions about tents a while back and ended up with a hammock, a Hennessy, and I'm pleased with that decision.
Oh, and as far as a hammock not having as much room for gear, the space underneath my tarp is more than most 2 man tents, much less a Hubba. People ask me that all the time, "Where do you put your stuff?" Well, its underneath my shelter, just like a tent.
Thanks for the help gents.
The TarpTent Contrail still looks very appealing - but at the same time I really hate buying stuff before I test it out. Oh well, I'll see how it goes.
Any recommendations on a well-priced sleeping bag? It's hard for me to say a budget since I don't know how much a good or bad bag costs.
Thanks.
sbennett
11-04-2009, 00:51
you're opening up quite a discussion regarding sleeping bags...do some searching around about the difference between synthetic versus down sleeping bags and determine what type of insulation fits your need the best
then figure out what sort of temperature bag you're looking for (based on the temps of where you'll be using it) and then maybe ask for recommendations :)
Oops sorry - down sleeping bag rated to -10. Thanks.