07-17-2009, 02:37 PM
I guess "serious" is not as important as "experienced" or "moderately experienced". :thumb:
The Katadyn Hiker definitely seems to be the most popular. Though I've heard lots of people extol the pumping mechanism on the Sweetwater (more ergonomic, supposedly), so I thought I'd give it a shot. All I know is that boiling is inconvenient, and tablets taste funny, and I'm tired of both options.
Re: pads.....that NeoAir has a inner triangular matrix which is supposed to improve support, and a "aluminized urethane film" which they claim does reflect heat back to your body and deflect cold air from the ground, and testers seem to attest to that...but I still aint buying one unless they cut the price significantly.
I hear you regarding the "slipping" on your pad -- the reason you "always set your tent up on hills" is probably because unless you're on glacier-scraped flatland, its damn hard to find a 5x7 area of perfectly-level ground at a campsite you chose for other necessities (water source, windbreak, etc.). I have major slipping issues with my Ridgerest. The newer inflatable Thremarests have an improved coating/cut pattern that is much more slip-resistant than your '93 model or the closed-cell Ridgerest. I'm a "side-sleeper", so that 2.5-inch BA IAC is something I'm looking into...the hard-core ultralight BPing community seems to really favor that pad for 3-season camping.
I too have a headlamp - rather essential piece of gear, unless you like doing things one-handed.
And those folding saws are handy; I have something similar -- it's smaller and lighter than the one you linked, but it does not fold; I just sheath it instead.
I'm not planning any BP trip in the immediate future, but I'm streamlining / updating my gear to lighten my pack. I want to get Jenna on some longer hikes with me in the future, and heavy gear won't help to those ends. She's been enjoying our smaller, less taxing hikes, so....so far so good.
Someday soon I want to cover a good chunk of the Appalachian Trail. I also want to do some stints in the Adirondacks, White, Blue Ridge, and Smoky Mts. Heck, there are all sorts of destinations here in North America that I would love to explore someday....
The Katadyn Hiker definitely seems to be the most popular. Though I've heard lots of people extol the pumping mechanism on the Sweetwater (more ergonomic, supposedly), so I thought I'd give it a shot. All I know is that boiling is inconvenient, and tablets taste funny, and I'm tired of both options.
Re: pads.....that NeoAir has a inner triangular matrix which is supposed to improve support, and a "aluminized urethane film" which they claim does reflect heat back to your body and deflect cold air from the ground, and testers seem to attest to that...but I still aint buying one unless they cut the price significantly.
I hear you regarding the "slipping" on your pad -- the reason you "always set your tent up on hills" is probably because unless you're on glacier-scraped flatland, its damn hard to find a 5x7 area of perfectly-level ground at a campsite you chose for other necessities (water source, windbreak, etc.). I have major slipping issues with my Ridgerest. The newer inflatable Thremarests have an improved coating/cut pattern that is much more slip-resistant than your '93 model or the closed-cell Ridgerest. I'm a "side-sleeper", so that 2.5-inch BA IAC is something I'm looking into...the hard-core ultralight BPing community seems to really favor that pad for 3-season camping.
I too have a headlamp - rather essential piece of gear, unless you like doing things one-handed.
And those folding saws are handy; I have something similar -- it's smaller and lighter than the one you linked, but it does not fold; I just sheath it instead.I'm not planning any BP trip in the immediate future, but I'm streamlining / updating my gear to lighten my pack. I want to get Jenna on some longer hikes with me in the future, and heavy gear won't help to those ends. She's been enjoying our smaller, less taxing hikes, so....so far so good.
Someday soon I want to cover a good chunk of the Appalachian Trail. I also want to do some stints in the Adirondacks, White, Blue Ridge, and Smoky Mts. Heck, there are all sorts of destinations here in North America that I would love to explore someday....