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I wrap a compressed foam sleeping mat section - about 2' x 1' - around my boots, and put them in a stuff sack.

Henry Shires and Anti Gravity Gear both make excellent tarp tents, and their customer service is exemplary. The Hilleberg Akto is a robust four season tent at 3lb 4oz, and their tarps are well...

"In days of old, when knights were bold
And paper was not invented,
They wiped their arse
On blades of grass,
And walked away contented."

This British children's rhyme reminds us that...

I use oven or roasting bags, which withstand high temperatures, instead of freezer bags. I boil up to three quarters an inch more water than I need for the meal, add the requisite amount to the dry...

I've also been using Pacer Poles for a few years and would endorse all of Lyle's points. The design and engineering are great and I've had exceptional after sales service from Heather and Alan...

I'd warmly recommend Pacer Poles. They weigh about 24 oz but the ergonomic grip means that no exertion is needed to hold or place the pole as you move. The handle cups the heel of your hand, making...

I use a Mont Bell Super Stretch Down Hugger. They make a range of fillings and weights, according to the temperature ratings people need. They're elasticated, which means they conform to your body...

When thinking about weight, many of us fail to allow for rain. My lightweight tents and shelters are about twice as heavy wet as they are dry. Damp clothing is significantly heavier than dry. ...

A wet tent will get anything inside it wet when you roll it up, so I would not recommend packing an extended sleeping bag inside one, which Jonathan's early photographs suggest you can do with his...

Another factor to consider when choosing a pack is how much your gear weighs when wet: rain can add five pounds to our lightweight packs, and a sturdier suspension system may then be worth the extra...

I like using the Moonbow Gearskin and my ULA P2, but my Macpac Glissade (7lb?) handles heavy loads better, is pretty much waterproof, and extremely rugged. I like to camp with at least two litres of...

I have the Akto, a Hilleberg 10' x 12' tarp and their Bivanorak: all tough, well-designed, not especially light. The Akto is great in winter but at 54 oz there are tempting, lighter alternatives: my...

George Andrews of Anti Gravity Gear and Rand Lindsly of Trail Designs sent me their excellent Caldera Cone for my msr Titan .85 recently. Through no fault of theirs, it didn't fit properly because I...

I've made a few of the penny stoves. Not sure about fuel economy. The convex base of the beer can means a certain amount of residual alcohol is left around the rim and does not always get burnt. A...

The people dealing with repairs in Britain claimed in their report that I must have deliberately straightened out the folded-over steel cylinder that holds the mesh in place - pretty difficult to...

I bought a jetboil eighteen months ago here in England. The lid split within two weeks of use. The piezo worked loose and failed to operate after a month. Then it spontaneously overheated to the...

I've used a Hilleberg Akto tent, among others, a Henry Shires Squall - earlier style, without floor - and a tarp. They all have their merits but I often need a warmer, and thus heavier, sleeping bag...

I used Montrail GTX Storm the summer before last for backpacking in Scotland. They had taken about three weeks to break in, compared with the instant hiking comfort of Han Wag Lima boots. The mesh...

I ordered hip belt pockets with my new Moonbow Gearsin, a first-class pack.
However they won't sit on the padding without getting in the way of my forearms. Using one, more or less centrally, and...

I forgot to mention that I had to file the Jetboil cup's lug opening to get it to fit the burner properly and the lid split for no reason after a few weeks. Far be it from me to be negative, though:...

I have owned a Jetboil for about fourteen months. It is the most expensive and least reliable stove I have bought.
The piezo ignition failed after working loose: this was within a fortnight's...

White gas or anything similar would be very dangerous in a stove designed for alcohol.

In Britain, gear can get wet and stay wet for a week or more. Has anyone calculated how many extra pounds we carry when our tent or tarp, pack, groundsheet, rain gear, and perhaps some spare...

Thanks, Rick. Science never was my forte.

Keith

Aaron at Brasslite recommends lining a pot cosy with aluminium foil, to enhance heat retention. Vacuum flasks have silvered glass to improve performance. Sergeant Rock does not bother with foil for...