Well done, guess that’s your canny Scottish nature eh
I set em up…
Following up on the Hilleberg tent micro-discussion a while back, we got a Keron 4GT the other day.
Hilleberg the Tentmaker - Black Label Tents - Keron GT
Set up was good first time round, pack down also good. Gotta be a bit more careful about venting than in a 3season tent but man, it seems a very flexible bit of kit. Vestibule is tops, have spent a few nights sitting in there already
I managed to get two punctures in my exped down mat on this trip. one was obvious as the glass was still in it, but I can’t find the other one, it’s driving me crazy!!!
Tried soapy water? watch for the bubbles.
Checked that there’s not a slow leak in the valve?
Try becoming one with the hole. Imagine you ARE the hole. How’s the family? Did you take them skiing this year? Is Jimmy doing okay at school? Ask yourself where you want to be in life, then look at where you are right now.
That’s where the hole is.
win
I am looking at getting a bit of a camp stove set up - the main reason would be to build a coffee anywhere set up for short hikes and rides with the girl. Yes I can just pre pack a thermos but I like the process of making a coffee or tea when out reaching the destination on a hike.
But then I would also like the option to use it for cooking a meal on an overnighter camp trip in the car or on the bike/hike. I would like something that simmers as well - not just a ‘heat this water up as quick as possible’ option. I don’t think I will need any of the multi fuel options as I don’t see myself touring the world any time soon.
I have been reading a little bit lately and have come up with a few different options.
- MSR Whisperlite or Dragonfly (Which all reports say is LOUD)
- Optimus Crux <— ENVIRONMENT KILLER!
- Kovea Moonwalker.
One question I have with these, will any support the weight of a fry pan? Thinking bacon + eggs + bangers.
Also, while we are here - who here is a stomach sleeper? And what sleeping mat do you use? I am looking at the BigAgness 4" Q-Core
How does sleeping on your stomach change your sleeping mat needs? Do you want something thicker? I’d recommend the Thermorest NeoAir range. They are thick and light and very comfortable. I have the XLite, which is ridiculously light and compact but still very sturdy.
Re: stoves. Those ones should be fine for supporting a fry pan but you’d have to be careful with balance, etc. I’ve always had good experiences with MSR stoves.
You’ve probably seen this website but I reckon their outdoor gear reviews are really good:
They’ve got sleeping mat* reviews too, and even camping coffee reviews: Camping Coffee Reviews - OutdoorGearLab
Something a little thicker + softer is needed for stomach sleeping. Thanks for the links!
Hmmm, having skimmed through that site for the first time in a year they seem to have added a bunch of not very helpful reviews (that camping coffee one doesn’t tell you much) but their reviews of core camping gear (tents, mats etc) are still really good.
I have the optimus crux and until very recently used it for all camping applications. Its small and light, but if you are going to do a decent sized cook up (like a 12" fry pan or some such) it will be too small. small heat area means heavier pan to disperse it, and it feels pretty marginal with anything above 1kg sitting on top. Otdoor gear lab talks about burner oxidising, but I havent had any issues and have used it for maybe 80 meals? They say the crux is the most complex to set up, but they surely mean the nova there… the crux is stoopid easy to set up, just like any other little stove that screws into a canister. You can take mine for as long as you like! As mentioned on that site, canister stoves arent the best for the enviro, so it has fallen out of favour with me.
For mats, thermarest prolite for me. I sleep on side, which prob creates more pressure points on a mat than stomach sleeping, and it is totally fine… better than fine. Its small, light and quiet when I move. The last point is the reason I chose it over the neoair series.
Yeah, I feel this is pretty important so I would rule this out. Probably go for the MSR Whisperlite then?
I might have to test out that prolite if I can JP? I like the quietness of it. When Vee and I car camped overseas we used an REI 3.5" camp mat. It was so good to sleep on but way too bulky for overnighters on the bike.
If you’re going the Whisperlite then pay the extra $20 for the international version. I know you said you weren’t planning to travel OS with it but it’s handy even in Aus (e.g. it’s hard to find Shellite and other high-efficiency camp fuels in the NT due to regulations). Great being able to use unleaded petrol if you need.
I was a bit worried about the “crunchiness” of the NeoAirs (they’re certainly loud when you try them on hard floors) but the noise isn’t noticeable out bush (think it’s something to do with softer ground underneath).
Everything JP says about the Crux rings true. I fkn love mine for portability, didn’t even think about the whole can environment thing though… Ack!
I have also used most of the MSR fuel range, but these take a lot of room in your pack. Nothing beats the crux size wise, from my experience. Yes it is a little unstable, but all it takes is a bit of care. After all if this is the price to pay for a super portable stove I totally dont mind!
As for sleeping, I am also a front or side sleeper. I sleep on a futon at home so like firm beds. I use a Prolite 4 short and love it. Yes your feet arent supported but it has never been a problem for me… unless it is fkn cold/snowing/icy. The only thing I hate about the short version is your pillow/stuffed towel is at a lower height than you are used to, so you have to pad it up more…
I do like the way that the crux does pack down. What sort of meals would you usually cook on the crux Dave? Did you find there was a limit to the size of the pan?
Size is going to be a major factor because of the whole coffee anywhere thing as well. I would love to be able to shove the stove and all into a day pack to cruise around Canberra. Also for the shorter hikes, it would all have to fit into a daypack.
I’ve got a Nemo sleeping mat- very very good, and tiny.
If you go gas canister, that Kovea would be the go. We have a similar one made by Brunton, and it’s way more stable with a big pan/pot on top, you can invert the canister when it’s cold/nearly empty, and it’s easier/safer to use with a windshield, and windshields are awesome. Now, environmental factors are important to me too - which is why I try to get by with just my Bushbuddy (or Solo Stove) - but simmering on gas is so easy. The cannisters ARE recycleable too. Once completely empty, you can puncture them and flatten them and chuck them in the recycling. I’ve got one of these so I don’t need to use a screwdriver and a hammer, which is a bit scary to do. They are still more energy intensive due the production of the cannister though, and there ain’t know way around that. Very convenient to use though, and how often are you going to use it really?
I’ve never owned a multifuel stove, but travelled with people who do. They seem good. Noisy as though, which puts me off a fair bit.
I have two types of mat; a Thermorest Prolite Plus and a normal NeoAir. I love the Prolite Plus and am pretty happy with the NeoAir. The one I take is mood dependant, reflecting on the planned trip. I reckon the Prolite/Prolite Plus might be better for a front sleeper; I kinda feel that a thicker, more air dependent mat might be a bit more rolly on your front. If I was looking to buy again now, I’d definitely be looking at Exped mats, specifically Downmats and Synmats. Find a shop and try them out. My mats are all full length. I don’t think I’d buy a short NeoAir/Downmat, but I’d certainly think about with a Prolite/Prolite Plus, cos of the thickness.
P.S. - I love this thread.