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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Living from a pack 1
#3959102 - 03/23/05 11:53 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Well I'm thinking about heading out maybe with a couple friends and living in the woods for an indetermined amount of time living on the land and carrying everything on your back.. I at least want to test myself for a few months and see if I can do it. Make my way north and go to festivals and gathering on the way.
So I've never done any hardcore hiking/camping like this. Sure, I've gone camping tons of times in the wilderness, done plenty of hiking and backpacking but never for extended periods. Who has some tips and advice?
I'm going to be acquiring some lightweight gear.. lightweight tent, pack, sleeping bag.. ultra small stove.. water filter.. basic cooking/eating supplies.. first aid, etc. keeping supplies to a minimum. Bringing along a book or two- edible wild plants.. and north american field guide to medicinal plants and herbs.. and maybe one pleasure book and my journal. Also the basics.. knife, flint, rope, headlamp, can opener/screwdriver tool, waterproof matches, etc.
I know to not bring cotton clothes, and depending on the weather.. I will probably be keeping clothes to a bare minimum too.. maybe one extra change of clothes, a hoodie, and raingear. For food I will be bringing some homemade trail mix - dried fruit, almonds, peanuts, raisins, m&ms.. some of those freeze-dried, just add water meals.. oatmeal, dried beans, peanut butter, olive oil, brown rice and veggies, and a couple MREs for emergency. I'll probably eat as much edible nature as I can find. And bring emergency money of course.
So what should I keep in mind? All suggestions welcome
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tak
geo's henchman



Registered: 11/20/00
Posts: 3,776
Loc: nowhereland
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#3963734 - 03/24/05 05:34 AM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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keep good spirit, and remember to listen with all your senses to what nature is telling you.
dunno much about backpacking though
-------------------- The DJ's took pills to stay awake and play for seven days.
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#3966953 - 03/24/05 10:12 PM (18 years, 10 months ago) |
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Unfortunately this forum is so slow you'll never get enough responses here. But it sounds to me like you are on the right track. I've never lived out of my pack for more then 2 weeks so I don't have a lot of advice to offer. But having good quality gear (tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear) can make all the difference in the world. Do your research and don't be afraid to spend a few extra dollars for the good stuff. But also keep in mind...expensive is not always better! Just have good equipment. You will thank yourself in the long run!
Oh, and simple things are sometimes the most important. Take some simple tools (saw, knife, pliers). You will be glad you have them eventually!
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: ToTheSummit] 1
#4143542 - 05/06/05 06:04 PM (18 years, 8 months ago) |
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ya I pretty much figured about the quality gear thing.. that's important.. I'm going to be buying a bunch of stuff pretty soon.. and may I mention.. REI = way overpriced.. ebay is where it's at. New shit, cheap.. not cheap quality.. just cheap. And I've discovered the big thing when travelling with a pack is packing light.. which means buying ultra-lightweight gear.. a sleeping bag that compresses very small, a super light stove, super light tent, everything as lightweight as possible.. shit they even sell titanium sporks. The lightweight stuff costs a bit more but it's worth it.. people say that 20 pounds turns into 100 pounds at the end of the day.. so cutting off a couple pounds can make a huge difference.
Simple tools I got covered in one - leatherman - knife, pliers, can opener, bottle opener, screwdrivers, file, wire cutter, fish scaler, etc - all in one tool that fits right on your belt. Gotta love it. I'll probably bring a few extra tools just in case - packable shovel, extra knife, saw.
And one of the big things is you gotta have the right pack. I'm getting one that is 7,000 cubic inches (internal frame).. rain gear very important too.
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Jim


Registered: 04/07/04
Posts: 20,922
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#4148248 - 05/07/05 08:35 PM (18 years, 8 months ago) |
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REI sucks... go with www.campmor.com
-------------------- Use the Fucking Reply To Feature You Lazy Pieces of Shit! afoaf said: Jim, if you were in my city, I would let you fuck my wife.
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dblaney
Human Being

Registered: 10/03/04
Posts: 7,894
Loc: Here & Now
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Jim] 1
#4148507 - 05/07/05 10:02 PM (18 years, 8 months ago) |
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REI brand stuff is good, and usually cheaper than competitors. Of course, i am biased...
-------------------- "What is in us that turns a deaf ear to the cries of human suffering?" "Belief is a beautiful armor But makes for the heaviest sword" - John Mayer Making the noise "penicillin" is no substitute for actually taking penicillin. "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it." -Abraham Lincoln
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CaRnAgECaNdY
Tool's groupie


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Re: Living from a pack [Re: dblaney] 1
#4261745 - 06/05/05 09:48 PM (18 years, 7 months ago) |
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If I could drop everything I was doing and live out of a pack for awhile...I'd do it. I don't have the balls.
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The secret to being funny is to say smart things stupidly, or is it stupid things smartly? Whatever..it's not rocket surgery...or something like that.
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headset
Stranger
Registered: 12/02/04
Posts: 874
Last seen: 18 years, 14 days
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I would have to say 7000 cu in. Is WAY to big.
Ive been living out of a pack for the past 2 months + some (urban refueling though.)
Ive got an MSR microzoid (around 2lbs.) small 30 dollar sleeping bag. Organic cotton pants + coveralls 2 pairs of wool socks. converse shoes. A small MSR whisper light international stove (which i hardly use) A mess pan headlamp sewing kit + tape and stuff. toiletries. reading material 2 or 3 shirts long underware rain jacket hoodie + sweater. water treater.
thats in a 40L bag..
which probably doesnt weigh anymore than 30lbs...
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: headset] 1
#4588852 - 08/27/05 08:34 PM (18 years, 5 months ago) |
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yeah I ended up getting a 5,500 ci pack (90 liters?). plenty of room for all my gear plus room to spare for extra food and winter clothes and bulky items. I have:
msr whisperlite down sleeping bag titanium pot repair kit hammock shelter (2 lbs) nylon pants (cotton kills..) polypro shirt, fleece 3 pair wool/acrylic socks water filter parachute cord first aid kit headlamp toiletries
altogether weighing probably 20 lbs before food and water.. not bad. and I'm getting some frogg toggs rain gear
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Nashbar
just strange.... on drugs

Registered: 07/16/05
Posts: 3,536
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#4646518 - 09/11/05 03:08 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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Shroomism - if you need any help, PM me. I've spent several months living in the wilderness with whatever I can carry. My first purchase was the Army Survival Guide... it's heavy (couple hundred pages), but it might as well have saved my life. I've used it to repair gear, repair myself, find/catch/trap food, build shit...
REI has tried and true gear, definitely avoid internet stuff, it's usually cheap/flimsy and you don't have a chance to approve it before buying. REI buys from manufacturers, if they get to many returns or complaints, they won't continue to sell certain items.
I've done everything from Grand Canyon to Mt. McKinley to Boundary Waters to motorcycle camping across Canada. AT and SHT through hiking. Mostly solo and ultra-lightweight. Have fun, eat shrooms and BE SAFE...
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Nashbar
just strange.... on drugs

Registered: 07/16/05
Posts: 3,536
Loc: strawberry field
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Nashbar] 1
#4646539 - 09/11/05 03:12 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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if you have a food dehydrator
dried ground beef is really easy dried refried beans go with anything dried fruit is expensive in stores
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
Posts: 9,126
Loc: Las Vegas
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Nashbar] 1
#4646649 - 09/11/05 03:56 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Nashbar said: if you have a food dehydrator
dried ground beef is really easy
 I make my own jerky out of ground beef all the time. People think you gotta buy some expensive cuts and get them sliced thin for good jerky, but thats just wrong. I buy really lean ground beef and mix in whatever seasonings I want, press it out into thin sheets and dry it out. People don't believe me how good it is until they've tasted mine!
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: ToTheSummit] 1
#4650523 - 09/12/05 02:03 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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What's the word on dehydrating food with an oven on low with the door cracked open? No access to a food dehydrator... but I do have an oven I've heard about dehydrating food this way but what are the drawbacks.. does it lose more flavor/nutrients/whatever?
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UlcerPentacidis
psilophile

Registered: 01/14/04
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#4656679 - 09/13/05 07:24 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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I spent the better part of last summer living out of a pack, although I was on a bicycle rather than on foot. At times it was a burden having the bike, but overall I could mover around much faster, and haul more things more easily. Having a fairly light setup, (tent, bag, pad, stove, filter, cookkit, clothes, tools) food was the biggest burden I had. While its nice and cost effective to prepare a shit ton of food before departure, food is easy to come by pretty much anywhere in the states, just make sure you know how many calories you need to have to get to your next resupply.
-------------------- µgrammar
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MagicalMystery
turn off yourmind

Registered: 07/27/05
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#4658000 - 09/14/05 01:05 AM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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The biggest issue is finding food. Building a fire, wearing warm clothes, setting up a shelter, most of that stuff is pretty simple. Carrying enough food for a few days can be a pain in the ass. When I've done stuff like this, I put 2-3 MRE's in my pack as a backup. I buy snickers bars by the case at sams club and munch on them. I go to grocery stores and get my food stuffs replenished as necessary. If you get a lightweight gas stove, heating canned foods is pretty simple. Chunky soup is great, as is Dinty Moore beef stew.
Also, those field books to edible plants sound like a great idea, but they are pretty much worthless. Looking through it and trying to find a few plants to eat isn't a calorie-plus exercise. If you really are going to rough it out there, and want to get food from nature, set some traps.
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"Men trained in arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest." From the Declaration of the Continental Congress "We can have peace and security only as long as we band together to preserve that most priceless possession, our inheritance of European blood." Charles A. Lindbergh,"Aviation, Geography, and Race", Reader's Digest, Nov. 1939 "We must secure the existance of our people and a future for White children." David Lane
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MagicalMystery
turn off yourmind

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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#4658005 - 09/14/05 01:07 AM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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Dehydrated food simply has no water All of the nutrients are present.
Get some extra firm tofu and slice into 1" wide, 5" long and 1/4" thick strips. Marinade in liquid smoke and other yummy concoctions in your fridge for 2-3 days. Remove, dehydrate. Freaking deee-lish
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"Men trained in arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest." From the Declaration of the Continental Congress "We can have peace and security only as long as we band together to preserve that most priceless possession, our inheritance of European blood." Charles A. Lindbergh,"Aviation, Geography, and Race", Reader's Digest, Nov. 1939 "We must secure the existance of our people and a future for White children." David Lane
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Good tips.. but I thought canned foods was basically a big no-no for backpacking. I mean if you don't mind lugging the weight and bulk around.. and you have to pack out all those cans..
I like the Freezer Bag Cooking method for most of my backpacking meals. Quick and easy, no big mess. Just gotta take some time beforehand to measure out everything into bags for every meal.
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MagicalMystery
turn off yourmind

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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#4660095 - 09/14/05 01:19 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yea. I've mixed up dehydrated trail food before and taken it with me. If you get 3 bags of 3-4 different types of your favorite "just add water" mixes, you can put all of the bags of the same stuff in one bag and know how much requires how much water. This works pretty good. Realistically though, your best bet is to plan on resupplying every two - three days. I love eating good food and I hate having to live off of Pasta-Roni for a month. I don't mind buying steaks and such and packing them with me for a day.
This edition of backpacker magazine has an article that talks about how long fresh fruits and veggies can last on the trail and the best way to prepare them. i'll scan it or bring it down to VA with me.
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"Men trained in arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest." From the Declaration of the Continental Congress "We can have peace and security only as long as we band together to preserve that most priceless possession, our inheritance of European blood." Charles A. Lindbergh,"Aviation, Geography, and Race", Reader's Digest, Nov. 1939 "We must secure the existance of our people and a future for White children." David Lane
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Buddha5254
addict
Registered: 04/22/00
Posts: 532
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I always wanted to do something like this. I got into looking at making primitive shelters out of sticks and leaves, if you do it right it'll insulate you from just about anything. Unless its summer you arent going to find much to eat unless you trap/shoot animals or fish. summer is a good time for berries, etc, but I dont know about just eating leaves and shit all the time. Good luck!
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xDuckYouSuckerx
xBannedx


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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Buddha5254] 1
#5961228 - 08/13/06 11:58 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Primative shelters suck, for the most part. I've done that route before, did a twelve day "survival scenario" with just a leatherman, a bolo knife, two cigarette lighters and 5` of 550 cord. It's really not as fun and as "get back to nature" as it sounds.
If you want to go kinda primative, take a tarp. I use a tarp exclusivelly in the summer months and sometimes in the winter I'll do it just for "fun". Tarps protect you from water and heat, thats all you need to worry about.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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Grok
Has Been a Bad Boy


Registered: 12/03/03
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Yep, tarp is the way to go. Or a hammock.
I like the freeze-dried, add hot water grub. It's not too bad. Kinda spendier but they taste good and its really light weight. Good if you're out and about for several days with no way to get more food.
Take a pack of baby wipes. Easy to stay clean with them.
Good luck man! I garuntee you'll haver stories to tell if you can muster the balls to live from a pack. Also check this site www.digihitch.com
-------------------- Entropy is increasing. To send me a PM, go to my journal
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Glacius
Lang


Registered: 10/16/00
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Loc: Western Cordillera(Inverm...
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#6166893 - 10/13/06 07:03 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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I reccomend a book called "northern bushcraft". Its the best outdoor living guide I have ever read " I think Ive rean them all". Anyways it shouldn't be hard to find on amazon.com.
everything from making water tight cups with birch bark and sap, to building a fire/shelter combo that can keep you warm in -50 with no sleeping bag.
You can even boil water with no pot, using rocks and birchbark. This book litarally has it all, and very comprehensive and well written as well. Anyways i love your idea and have fun!!
-------------------- addicted to reason a hollow understanding trapped me I cannot see outside but its calling
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Glacius
Lang


Registered: 10/16/00
Posts: 1,167
Loc: Western Cordillera(Inverm...
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#6192920 - 10/20/06 11:10 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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20ib!!! Damn, Ive never gone that light before!! Good job.
-------------------- addicted to reason a hollow understanding trapped me I cannot see outside but its calling
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Shroomism
Space Travellin


Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Glacius] 1
#6198575 - 10/22/06 05:14 PM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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That's in pure summer gear.. probably winter gear would add a few pounds to that but I haven't tested anything yet. And my pack sucks.. it's an REI but it's way to heavy for my purposes (4.5lbs I think?) I'm probably gonna ditch it for a granite gear ultralight pack or something. These things are sexy - http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/navpage/index.html
Haven't done any long term backpacking expeditions since I wrote this post, but done plenty of short term exploring.
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Glacius
Lang


Registered: 10/16/00
Posts: 1,167
Loc: Western Cordillera(Inverm...
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#6201368 - 10/23/06 10:43 AM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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yeah those ultra light packs look really nice. I have one thats a little bit larger than those. Its not an ultra light but its really nice. I use it for summer or short winter trips. For winter trips I have a hardcore Asollo expedition pack. I can fit enough stuff in there for a month lol. It has the most amazing back support. A couple years ago they were five hundred dollars but now you can get them for a couple hundred. Its the best pack Ive ever had( I have had about 8 different packs over the years).
I do not like north face its not practical for anything really and its not durrable. I reccomend not getting any north face gear. They make good parkas and stuff but not good packs. They are more for the yuppies I think.
Winter really adds the wieght on when it comes to packing.
-------------------- addicted to reason a hollow understanding trapped me I cannot see outside but its calling
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Adom
Totally Nude

Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 10,877
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Shroomism] 1
#6205376 - 10/24/06 09:05 AM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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I really don't care for my vapor trail. If you ever get it up over 20 lbs it's not all that comfortable and if you get up to 25 lbs it's completely on your shoulders and they thing is rated to 30lbs. When I was on the AT the days I was leaving towns with really full loads I passed it from one shoulder to the other with a hand holding it up it was such a pain in my ass.
These are all much more versatile and comfortable. They are a bit heavier but they will feel much lighter loaded up. I don't find skipping the back pad and hip belt a good place to save weight myself.
http://www.greatlakesoutfitter.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=114
http://www.golite.com/products/NS_proddetail.asp?number=PA5108
http://www.mysteryranch.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_3&products_id=12
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Maverick
Lover of Earwigs!



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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Adom] 1
#6205529 - 10/24/06 09:54 AM (17 years, 3 months ago) |
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Lowe Alpine makes some really good extremely lightweight internal frames too, take a look at their stuff. I've used it, very comfortable.
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sleepy
zZzZzZzZz


Registered: 01/17/05
Posts: 3,888
Loc:
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Re: Living from a pack [Re: Maverick] 1
#6252087 - 11/06/06 12:10 AM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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buy/make a sprout bag. this website talks about the bag but you really need to know how good sprouts are to appreciate the bag. http://www.sproutpeople.com/devices/bag/hempbag.html a full meal of sprouts can be ready in 24 hours and will weigh about 1-2 ounces or two handfulls. all you need is the dry beans like lentils and mung beans and you have a light foodsource that will give you tons of energy for walking
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