Upgrading some of my gear

chiefjason

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2A Bourbon Hound 2024
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After the recent 4 day trip I really want to get back to some backpacking. Starting to plan a trip with my oldest over the summer. Might do something solo in the fall. And with it being 20 years since I have been serious about this I need some upgrades. So I'm looking to trim some weight with better gear where I can.

Picked up a Sawyer mini water filter 2 pack recently. This will replace a Katydyn Hiker Pro.
Replaced my Osprey Expedition pack with a Gregory Baltoro 65 in Medium.
Just ordered an MSR PocketRocket 2 stove. This will replace my Trangia, mainly for speed on this one.
Swapped tarps for the hammock before the trip. It replaced a 10'x12' coated nylon tarp.

Now, I'm looking to upgrade my hammock suspension. Currently using 1" tubular webbing for the ridge line and suspension. I use descender rings to adjust the suspension. I really like how adjustable that system is but it's a bit heavy. It really wasn't for backpacking anyway. My current leading idea is poly straps and cinch buckles with am steel shackles and an adjustable woopie sling ridge line. I like the cinch buckle for the simplicity and may even go with a static ridge line in the end. I need to measure my current one. Any other suggestions/ideas? The straight up whoopee slings are really light but seem to be a little more work.

Probably pick up a platypus bladder bag to swap out for my Nalgenes.

I saw a lot of roll top bags that looked like dry bags on the AT for food and clothes. I see Coleman makes some. Anybody else using something similar?

Getting ready to make an under quilt and over quilt for my hammock to replace my sleeping bag in the summer too. My bag comes in just under 4 lbs for a 20 degree bag. Then I use a sleeping pad. I'll be working off of the Milsurp green sleep system bag for my UQ and OQ. They come in a 2.5lbs each and that will be trimmed down in the process. So not looking like I'll trim much weight but I think I'll get a more comfortable/funsctional system out of it.

Other ideas?
 
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I seriously wish I could get out and do some more hiking, even if it was just day hikes. I really enjoy it but haven't been out much lately.
 
@Johnny uses some pretty neat ridgeline.
 
Sounds like a good start to a quality backpacking setup.
Too bad you already bought a pack, I just posted my Gregory Z55 medium for sale the other day. I really liked it but never get out.
 
I have been using prusiks and S biners with some 3/16" low stretch hardware store braided line. It's a little bulky but strong enough to hang a good size pack from when tensioned.

More or less like this, hardware-continuous-ridgeline-tarp.gif
I will be stashing the current setup until winter and going with 1.2mm lash-it/zing-it that I will splice loops into then girth hitch to the rainfly.no-knot-continuous-ridgeline-tarp.jpg

Whoopie slings for the hammock, diy.

If you're into diy, dry bags taped and sewn with cuben fiber are about as light as it gets.
 
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Sounds like a good start to a quality backpacking setup.
Too bad you already bought a pack, I just posted my Gregory Z55 medium for sale the other day. I really liked it but never get out.

Yeah, I saw that. If you were closer I'd probably have my daughter try it out to see how it fits. Wore the Gregory yesterday and really like the pack. I was kind of headed towards an Osprey but the Gregory just fit way better. My wife offered to buy me a new day pack, but we talked and ended up getting a 4 day pack instead since I carry all out gear on day hikes anyway.

I have been using prusiks and S biners with some 3/16" low stretch hardware store braided line. It's a little bulky but strong enough to hang a good size pack from when tensioned.

More or less like this, View attachment 126205
I will be stashing the current setup until winter and going with 1.2mm lash-it/zing-it that I will splice loops into then girth hitch to the rainfly.View attachment 126209

Whoopie slings for the hammock, diy.

If you're into diy, dry bags taped and sewn with cuben fiber are about as light as it gets.

I'm mainly looking to replace the ridgeline on my hammock. I swapped out the stuff that came with my tarp for 550 cord with a prussic. I didn't have much time to order anything so it might be a bit bulky too but not terribly heavy. It works the same as the pic except I use 2 lines instead of one line through the tarp. That way there are no knots when setting up the tarp. Just wrap the cord around each tree, clip the tarp in, and pull snug.

I looked at the whoopee sling setups and vids last night. I'll probably order a set off a hammock guy on eBay. Not sure I can order the stuff, spend the time, and get a product out of it for the $30 he's charging for slings and a ridgeline. I love DIY, but time is an issue these days too.

Might have to look into the bags. I saw a lot of those materials available on Dutchware. Great gear there, but their a la carte ordering adds a lot of cost to a setup. And comparing weight, it starts getting to where the cost does not cover the little savings on weight.
 
After the recent 4 day trip I really want to get back to some backpacking. Starting to plan a trip with my oldest over the summer. Might do something solo in the fall. And with it being 20 years since I have been serious about this I need some upgrades. So I'm looking to trim some weight with better gear where I can.

Picked up a Sawyer mini water filter 2 pack recently. This will replace a Katydyn Hiker Pro.
Replaced my Osprey Expedition pack with a Gregory Baltoro 65 in Medium.
Just ordered an MSR PocketRocket 2 stove. This will replace my Trangia, mainly for speed on this one.
Swapped tarps for the hammock before the trip. It replaced a 10'x12' coated nylon tarp.

Now, I'm looking to upgrade my hammock suspension. Currently using 1" tubular webbing for the ridge line and suspension. I use descender rings to adjust the suspension. I really like how adjustable that system is but it's a bit heavy. It really wasn't for backpacking anyway. My current leading idea is poly straps and cinch buckles with am steel shackles and an adjustable woopie sling ridge line. I like the cinch buckle for the simplicity and may even go with a static ridge line in the end. I need to measure my current one. Any other suggestions/ideas? The straight up whoopee slings are really light but seem to be a little more work.

Probably pick up a platypus bladder bag to swap out for my Nalgenes.

I saw a lot of roll top bags that looked like dry bags on the AT for food and clothes. I see Coleman makes some. Anybody else using something similar?

Getting ready to make an under quilt and over quilt for my hammock to replace my sleeping bag in the summer too. My bag comes in just under 4 lbs for a 20 degree bag. Then I use a sleeping pad. I'll be working off of the Milsurp green sleep system bag for my UQ and OQ. They come in a 2.5lbs each and that will be trimmed down in the process. So not looking like I'll trim much weight but I think I'll get a more comfortable/funsctional system out of it.

Other ideas?


My underquilt is a repurposed GI poncho liner. Works really well and has been comfortably warm in some cool night time temps in the Smokies. I haven’t weighed it, but it is pretty light.
 
My underquilt is a repurposed GI poncho liner. Works really well and has been comfortably warm in some cool night time temps in the Smokies. I haven’t weighed it, but it is pretty light.

I have one of those and may use it for myself. I've used it in the summer before. But my daughter will need something a bit warmer.

Got a full whoopie sling suspension and ridgeline coming tomorrow. Gonna play with that and might order a second one if I like it.
 
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