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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Make your own ultralight gear. 1
#9657643 - 01/22/09 09:28 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Hey dudes! I've been backpacking solo for over thirty years now. I spent lots of time in the high desert of Oregon where there are no trails. I thought I knew all the best and lightest equipment to take but I have recently gotten interested in making my own lightweight equipment. I'm going to post a link to making your own ultralight inexpensive alcohol stoves. Some of these can be made in five minutes from aluminum pop or beer cans and work really really well. Go over this site with a fine tooth comb because there is really lots of great info and comparisons of these and other home made stoves. I will post some more sites on making other gear also. Enjoy!
zenstoves.net
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9657650 - 01/22/09 09:31 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html
Great site for lots of ultra light home made gear.
This shit is great for those on a budget and you have the further satisfaction of making stuff and being self sufficient.
If anyone is into ultralight hunter gathering for extended backpacking, PM me for the best ideas in super light weight hunting rifles.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9658037 - 01/22/09 10:56 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Wow.. awesome links 
Here's a slightly different lightweight alcohol stove that you can make yourself.. called a penny stove - http://www.csun.edu/~mjurey/penny.html
I have one and it's great. Supposed to be a more fuel efficient than the normal "pepsi" stoves as well.
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Icelander
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Shroomism]
#9658078 - 01/22/09 11:02 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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The penny stove is a great one. What I really appreciate about these rag tag inventors is that they really test these stoves and do fairly scientific comparisons of how these stoves match up. In fact I believe they are going to have a contest for the best home made alcohol stove.
I will post one of my favorites. I like it because it's so frickin easy and cheap to build and works very well.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Icelander
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9658118 - 01/22/09 11:07 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9658231 - 01/22/09 11:26 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Hmm.. interesting with the perlite idea. I'll stick with my penny stove though. One of the things I love about it is the simmer ring, if I want to simmer something longer like brown rice or something, just add the simmer ring and the small amount of fuel I put in there cooks for twice as long.
One of these days I need to make me some sil-nylon stuff sacks. No way I'm paying like $30 for a sack.
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Icelander
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Shroomism]
#9658394 - 01/22/09 11:49 AM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Simmer rings are great and I need one for cooking the occasional rabbit or rattlesnake.
I started using the little alcohol jobs about 20 or more years ago. I was always afraid of high pressure or explosive fuels because I was often far from help. My little favorite is brass with a simmer ring. It weighs more but it's seem virtually indestructible.
I'm going to make a small wood stove from a small can also. I have a Zip stove but it's too heavy and bulky. I keep it in my car for emergencies. I have to admit being a bit of a pyro, I love to play with fire so the homemade stove idea is really got to me. I plan on making many different types and then possibly designing my own.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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OrgoneConclusion
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9658528 - 01/22/09 12:09 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Quote:
Simmer rings are great and I need one for cooking the occasional rabbit or rattlesnake.
SurvivorDude eats that raw. And I thought you were the real deal.
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


Registered: 06/13/04
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9659837 - 01/22/09 03:59 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Follow John Muir's camping techniques, and go ultra minimalist. Food? No problem...a human can go weeks without food and Muir didn't bring it with him. He claimed it kept his mind sharp. Shelter? Muir wore a large overcoat...that was his shelter. Heat in the winter? Muir often slept on volcanic land around hot springs to keep from freezing to death.
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


Registered: 06/13/04
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9659856 - 01/22/09 04:01 PM (15 years, 9 days ago) |
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Quote:
Simmer rings are great and I need one for cooking the occasional rabbit or rattlesnake.
Rabbits? Rattlesnakes? Those are for sissies. I subsist entirely on grizzly bears and alligators when I camp...along with the occasional beer...
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Shroomism]
#9664384 - 01/23/09 10:14 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Hey Shroomism? Did you make that penny stove yourself? How hard was it? I have the plans.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Icelander
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9664392 - 01/23/09 10:15 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Here's a little stove I'd like to make. Has anyone made one like this?
http://zenstoves.net/SimplifiedZenStove.htm
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9664484 - 01/23/09 10:30 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Yep I made it myself... it looks just as good as the one in that picture.

It was really easy to make.. took maybe 15 or 20 minutes.. The hardest part was getting the exact measurements on the side of the cans.. (I'm a perfectionist..) I just made little risers until it was the exact height, then held a razor blade on top of it.. then put the can up to it and spun it around to make a line After that it was cake.
Followed these instructions - http://www.csun.edu/~mjurey/stoveinstruct.html
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Icelander
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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Shroomism]
#9664519 - 01/23/09 10:36 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Thanks, it's on my list. I want to make several just for fun and I want to make stove stands too. I also want to make a few wood burning stoves. Like I said. I'm a pyro.
When I hike solo, having fire brings security and comfort.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9664588 - 01/23/09 10:50 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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This isn't make your own gear but looks like some awesome superlite packs and tents. I wish I had one but I got to wear out my current gear.
Has anyone used this gear?
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopdisplaycategories.asp
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9664629 - 01/23/09 11:02 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Nope. I use a Hennessy Hammock as my shelter... and I absolutely LOVE IT more than any tent or tarp I've ever owned or slept in. More comfortable than sleeping on the ground, never have to worry about rocks/sticks/bugs/pools of water etc.. and it's lighter than even some tarp tents.
The only downside that *I* have found, is that it sleeps 10-20 degrees colder than being on the ground, as you have free air moving under you. If camping in cool weather you need some kind of insulation under you or an underquilt. Of course if you camp where there are no trees, that can present another problem, but there are ways around that. I've practically never been where there aren't trees though, as I don't live in the desert or camp above the treeline rarely, if at all.
My pack is a granite gear nimbus meridian.. at 3lbs, 8oz for 3800 CI.. it's not the absolute lightest around... but it's certainly one of the lightest in that category.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Shroomism]
#9664692 - 01/23/09 11:19 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Unfortunately I often camp in high desert where there are no trees. Well not really unfortunate. I love those wide open spaces and canyons.
Sounds like you have done your gear homework however.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9664700 - 01/23/09 11:21 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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Actually ultralight isn't a necessity for me as I just hike twice on a trip and set up a permanent base camp to hike from. However thinking on the future when I'm over sixty I may just need that two hikes to be very light. Also ultralight gear is just so cool.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Icelander]
#9664712 - 01/23/09 11:24 AM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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yeah I'm basically a freak when it comes to researching my gear, especially since I started getting into the ultralight thing two years ago or so. I'm a total gear head.. I can't help it.. it's just so cool.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery



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Re: Make your own ultralight gear. [Re: Shroomism]
#9665731 - 01/23/09 02:36 PM (15 years, 8 days ago) |
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It gives you something to do when you're not actually out hiking.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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