TL;DR - Very few of these rehydrated properly, even with boiling water and extra time. Next time, we'll probably try something different.
Crunchy, but not in a good way.
Category: Rig Reviews
TL;DR - Didn't like this Exped as much as I hoped I would, but it has some redeeming qualities and I'm keeping it.
Not Exped's best showing.
TL;DR - I liked this sleeping bag more than I thought I would and I'm glad I shelled out for it.
Lightweight *and* roomy? Nice!
TL;DR - I really liked the ULA Ultra Circuit backpack and I'd buy it again, even though it needs a little more padding in a couple of places.
Easily carried everything I needed in a compact manner.
It's no surprise that - compared to the average human - I have a lot of camping gear. While I'm not one of those folks who always has to have the latest and greatest - in fact, I'll generally go for the simple, tried-and-true option - I have found that having the right gear can make camp life much more pleasant. A fridge, a nice Exped air mattress in the tent, and a down puffy have been just a few of the bits of gear that I've really come to enjoy over the years. But one thing's for sure -…
15 Comments
TL;DR - To maximize our breakfasts, we decided on Quest Protein Bars. They were all filling, none were terrible, but Crispy Cookies and Creme was far and away the best.
More satisfying than we expected; still a bit like sawdust.
TL;DR - In prioritizing weight, we wanted to find high-calorie, tasty meals to eat for dinner. Reviews suggested that Peak Refuel would fit that bill, so we tried a few. They were all tasty.
Fancy Ramen noodles!
TL;DR - We got a small Jetboil because we plan to have all of our cooking be for rehydrating meals. It seems spectacular for boiling water.
Two cups of boiling water in two minutes.
TL;DR - I got a high-quality water filtration system a few years ago and never used it; we will definitely be using it this time!
Everyone needs water.
TL;DR - I'm a little worried we got the wrong tent. We couldn't pass up the price (at 50% off), but it's not entirely freestanding, so may be harder to use on impermeable surfaces, like slickrock.
Hopefully this tent works out.
TL;DR - I love my Exped Megamat in the rooftop tent, so I'm getting a lightweight version for backpacking.
Have I ever mentioned that I love my Exped Megamat? Yes, yes I have.
TL;DR - If I've discovered one thing sleeping under down comforters and on an Exped Megamat in the rooftop tent, it is that being comfortable when you're sleeping is important. Don't skimp on sleep.
The Western Mountaineering Alder MF should be the first and last bag I ever buy.
TL;DR - If I'm going to give backpacking a shot, I'm going to do it with the lightest, most versatile pack on the market today.
The ULA Ultra Circuit won a bunch of awards that I don't know anything about, so it must be good.
TL;DR - I thought I'd like these pillows more than I do. @mrs.turbodb on the other hand, likes hers so much that she wants to use it at home.
Feels like sleeping on an inflated plastic bag...because you are!
TL;DR - I upgraded my Canon R6 to an R5 in order to double the number of megapixels that I can claim as my own. So far, I love it.
The camera I always wanted.
TL;DR - Everyone should hike in a pair of these gaiters.
Keep debris out of your shoes.
Over the last three months of winter - which I suppose we're still sort of in, but we're soon to come out the other side - the Tacoma has been doing great. This time of year, it lives down in Las Vegas, so there's relatively little I can do from a maintenance perspective. As such, this Rig Review focuses on things that are working (or not), but doesn't really address any of them with fixes. In that time, we squeezed in four adventures (and a couple other family vacations to more... civilized accommodations). While that might be fewer trips than…
11 Comments
TL;DR - My Northstar 24F batteries have been great, but after 5 years, they are both dying. I need to start figuring out what I'm going to do next.
No green lights, no bueno.
TL;DR - The Kenda Klever RT tires have great traction, but I'm ditching them (and returning to S/T Maxx) once they wear out.
Flat spots.
TL;DR - The new 5th gear is gutless, but it does seem to have improved my gas mileage significantly. Maybe.
Can installing this save you gas money?