I used the Four Dog titanium stove for years and ended up selling it to a friend. It's a "real wood stove" that's been made to be portable rather than a portable stove that stands in for a real wood stove. Probably had 30 nights spent in a 10' x 10' silnylon tent and it was still like new.
I appreciate that you took the time to share this. I run outdoor ed trips in conjunction with my high school science classes and I always have a few extra poncho tarps with me. (Stuff a cold kid into a hooded poncho liner with a poncho over top, and they'll warm up.) The easiest one to obtain...
I used a Black Diamond Megalight for several years because of the space. It was so much lighter than the "backpacker's tent" I used to carry that I didn't mind the weight penalty. So nice to have room to spread out when the weather is miserable.
Mule deer populations are up in Saskatchewan to the point where they're having a quota limited antlerless mulie hunt in that zone (and surrounding zones) this year.
You're going to get a mix of wide open prairie and treed coulees to keep it interesting. New laws in SK mean that you don't want...
Well, personally, I'm always running a little heavier than most so I like a larger boat. The longer hull length means it stays on course better. That really only matters if you're paddling longer distances or are not just drifting downstream.
How much time will you spend packing the raft and how much time will you spend paddling? That's really the question you need to answer.
I've paddled their Llamas, Yaks, a Curiyak and an older Fjord Explorer. I kept the Explorer because I'm either strapping it to my bike, sticking it in my...
The Hill People Gear chest rigs are superb. I have the Recon with a pouch on the front for larger binoculars. The harness system makes the weight carry so well and their build quality is excellent.
They also have a nice rigging setup where you can attach the chest rig to your backpack's...
If you're going with a mummy bag for cold weather make sure you can roll around inside of it. I have a WM down mummy and it fits me like a glove. When I roll over the bag rolls with me, exposing the compressed insulation that used to be underneath me to the cold air above. It's not as bad as...
I have had the Silex for a couple of years now and I think it's great. Takes a little practice with the setup to get that ridgeline tight. It's very windproof and storm worthy.
I don't use a nest inside so I can't comment on that.
The Silex is light enough that it's always in my pack as an...
I'm certain that a local high school would love to have some hands on specimens for students to handle. Perfect way to teach kids about hunting and ecology.
I like my Qui-Ya as a traditional backpacking pack. It took a little work to get the stays fitted to my spine but the folks at HPG are happy to help with that process. It carries better than anything I've ever used before and has my highest recommendation.
I would look at the Hill People Gear Aston House Backcountry - about the same size as most "maximum legal size" carry on bags but its frame sheet and shoulder harness allow it to carry huge loads. (In case you need to haul a 5 gallon water jug back to your flat.) Marvelous pack.
Not a bit - I just raised the poles slightly when I woke up to pee in the middle of the night.
I was camped in a river valley at the start of October and the conditions were bad for silnylon sag. The Silex seemed to handle it better than the other mids I've used.
I used the silnylon Silex a handful of times last fall and am planning on using it again this year once the snow melts. I'd buy it in silnylon again. I think the weight saving on DCF really only matters with a larger shelter. The Silex disappears in my pack as is and I'd rather spend the...
I have a recon kit bag with a medium binocular pouch and it all comes down to how thick you are. I don't like the pouch for foot placement on uneven terrain. (The kit bag without the pouch is fine.) I've since strapped the bino pouch onto my pack's belt and it works better there for me.
I can recommend the custom saw that mtwarden uses - very nice for processing larger pieces of wood when your hands are cold or you're tired. The Mora Companion has always worked to get into the middle of medium sized wood.
I have the Backcountry version as well. Terrific as a hunting day pack for cold weather. Best shoulder harness around. You could press it into service for hauling out deer quarters if you used a belt but it wouldn't work for the really big stuff. I hunt when it's snowing so I clip my pulk to...