Tarp/Tent Pegs

I have an assortment of pegs I choose each trip based on conditions. If I am going to be in exposed conditions for my overnights, on the tops and expecting high wind/rain, I will take MSR large Groundhogs. If summer, bush conditions, titanium shepards hooks.

MSR now do the groundhogs  in mini style. This allows better options at lighter weights.

I just purchase the mini Groundhogs and feel they will work well with all situations if "mixed and matched".

For my Hexamid Zpacks Solo or Twin Tarp, I will now be taking a standard set up of 6 mini Groundhogs and 2 large. The total peg weigh is 90g including the cuben fibre storage sack.

I've included a photo below - the mini groundhogs are on the left with a matchbox to give size comparison. I use the two large one for the front and rear anchor points of my Hexamid Tarp.

These pegs are $4.79 each and available from Outdoor Action - a NZ online store

  

Camp Shoes - Or should I say Sandals?

A lot of ultra light guys frown on camp sandals. Personality I love getting out of my hiking shoes at days end and letting the feet breathe.

I have been using the light weight Teva sandals (172grams) but recently discovered Bedrock. I have their toe socks (to wear with thongs). These socks are good for cold weather, or if you are in bug infested country.

The Bedrock sandal were designed for "bare foot" runners. I tried them out as a camp shoes last w/e on Stewart Island. They performed great. At 95 grams I think these are a great addition to your lightweight kit.

Check them out at http://bedrocksandals.com/bedrock-earthquake-sandals-v2/

Six Moons Packs

Recently Brian Frankle (ex ULA Packs) joined with Ron Monk at Six Moons Design to create the next "revolution" in lightweight packs. Although they have created a revolution in design the weight is not world shattering. But hey, the world is full of compromises.

I like their designs. Their packs a well worth consideration. I like the Fusion 30.

You can check out the pack range at http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/packs.html

Powder Alcohol

Ever since I was a young man hiking in the hills we use to joke about how one could make millions if you invented powdered alcohol. Even as recent as last week we were joking about this on our Stewart Island Tramp. Guess what? It's happened. Just add water and stir.

A US company says its new powdered alcohol product has been approved by US regulators and is poised to hit stores in the coming months. Palcohol is made by an Arizona company called Lipsmark and will come in six varieties of single-drink pouches, the company website says.

Drinkers can stir in simple water for a shot of rum or vodka, add cola or orange juice for a mixer or create a cocktail - either a Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Margarita or Lemon Drop.

One ounce (28 grams) of Palcohol mixed with one ounce (28 millilitres) of water will make 1 US standard drink.

The company said it was taken by surprise by the recent release of some of its labels by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which "actually approved it some time ago."

The company said the product would be sold to people of legal drinking age and could even be sprinkled on food.

"Think of Palcohol as liquor... just in powder form. It will be sold anywhere where liquor can be sold," said the company, adding it will be available in the United States, as well as abroad and online.

A patent for the mixture is pending.

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Powdered-alcohol-causes-a-stir-in-US/tabid/417/articleID/341018/Default.aspx#ixzz2zmuGjahb

Helinox Lightweight Walking Poles

Oh boy, I have hit the jackpot here. I thought I was on to a winner with the Fizan walk poles and have used these for a couple of years. These weigh in at 185gms each. But just got my Helinox - these are soooo light and collapse to 52cms!!

Stumbled on to these through sheer luck, I was looking to buy a Stick-Pic (more about that later) for my Fizan poles to accommodate my camera, but the supplier said the Fizan pole was one, of the very few, they do not fit to. I started to hunt around the web for the ultimate lightweight pole that can take the Stick-pic. Found Helinox out of Australia www.helinox.com.au/helinox-walking-poles.php

Here's my logic: In planning for a PCT long thru hike. I feel, given a 70% cell phone coverage, carrying a smart phone would make sense, However, power supply was a major draw back. Enter the Suntactics solar S5 charger (234gms) - a separate review on this after next tramp and field test. Now I could do away with my Samsung light camera (185 gms) and use the iPhone (141gms).

I also needed a way to attach the iPhone (camera) to my hiking poles to take video and photos when by myself and on the move. This is done via the Stic-pic (11gms) www.thestickpic.com  and a smart phone holder (50gms) - the Glif www.studioneat.com/products/glif

OK, are you getting a bit confused now!

Here's the benefits...

No more spare batteries, camera, maps. Take the iPhone, that's all you need. It has a torch app or get the "core" power unit for the Petzel headlight that can be charged off the Suntactics Solar unit.

The iphone also gives me email, internet, music (with lightweight earphones - 14gms) and through a host of APPS many other "delights" like weather, GPS, compass, stars etc etc.

Here's the weight breakdown:

Helinox Poles - 150gms each - replace my Fizan at 185gms each
iPhone - 141gms - replace camera at 185gms, but a huge range of additional benefits with built in maps, GPS, emergency contact, email, music, lighting, time, alarms, loading pics and reports to blog/FaceBook/Google+ etc.
Stick-Pic and iPhone holder - 61gms
Suntactics solar power supply - 232gm - no spare batteries

Here are some pictures - I will be "road testing" this set up April 10 weekend in Nelson and Easter Weekend on Stewart Island, but I do insist I am concentrating here on a one month plus thru-hiking with cell coverage 70% of the time.

Suntactics

Suntactics Solar Charger

Suntactics with UBS

Helinox Poles

StickPic with
Glif

  

The Power Pot

This has got to be the most ingenious hiking invention ever - the Power Pot. Light a fire, put the pot, full of cold water near the flames, plug in cord to your iphone (or any UBS chargeable device) as the water heats up your device charges. It is quite heavy though at 500g.

I think I will stick to my Suntactics at around 250g. But if your interested check it out at http://www.thepowerpot.com/powerpot-v?ref=cat_img

PS: Just tested my Suntactics today. Review on the way

The Lightest Poop Scoop on the Planet

OK, to hell with the weight, I'm going "green".

In the early days my bush loo was a hole dug with the heel of my boot. Toilet stops became more "sophisticated" when I started using hiking poles. Now I could scrap a bigger indent. But at the end of the day these disposal techniques were rudimentary and not bush friendly!

Enter the titanium Cathole Scoop. At 17grams it's a small price to pay to ensure my waste gets a decent burial. I love their inclosed instruction of how to use and the benefits to making Poop Soup. A lot of info here that opened my bowels  err I mean eyes to how to best dispose of human waste in the outback.

Check out http://www.qiwiz.net/trowels.html

Here's a photo of my 18cm Big Dig model - can't wait to make Poop Soup!