Bombproof gear

[Lagaro]

I have to mention Berghaus Deluge Overtrousers, have had one pair for over 4 years! I actualy keep a spare pair that I never use in case they get discontinued.
Bagged over a hundred peaks wearing them! Plenty of scrub bashing. Zero holes or tears in all that time!
Side zips with button over runs near full length so they can be taken off over muddy boots without touching!
Zips run both ways so you can zip down from the top for venting.
Unless it's hot, I wear these with thermals underneath everywhere.
Don't turn you into MC hammer when your wearing gaiters

There are harder pants but they are way heavier (390 grams)

Particulary usefull for preventing "Scoparia of the Scrotum" and other scrub related ailments

[tas-man]

My tiny BORDE "BOMB" petrol stove that is still going strong after 40 years

download/file.php?id=1325&mode=view

[ollster]

Wow. It looks like a projectile.

Does it come in titanium?

[Ent]

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[Franco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeujsvY1N9s
Franco

[Ent]

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[tas-man]

Brett, the needle valve controls the vapourised petrol, but the setting is a dynamic balance between the internal pressure and the flame heat. As the pressure builds up, the flame/heat output increases and needs to be adjusted back to compensate. If left unattended, they have been said to build up pressure to the point of explosion, however the fuel filler plug has a lead washer that is supposed to soften/melt and discharge pressure (and fuel ) before the canister ruptures

I'll give you a demo some time when we are on a walk together!

[Ent]

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[tas-man]

I have cooked great pancakes and omlettes over the BORDE, but in Tassie conditions when you may be often tent bound at mealtimes, it is NOT a goer for indoor or vestibule cooking. That's why when I moved to Tassie I got a gas stove. As the YouTube video shows, there is always a little burning fuel spilt upon startup as the intitial heating of the fuel supply coils heat up and start vapourising the fuel. Once that stage has been reached its like any other stove. I got into the habit of using a cigarette lighter to preheat the coils and this makes for a faster startup. The ROAR they make at full throttle still gets my gastric juices going

[sthughes]

if left unattended, they have been said to build up pressure to the point of explosion

Would seem we have gotton off the topic of "Bombproof gear" and onto "gear that is a bomb"

[Franco]

Bombproof gear ?
Here is a rough test from Backpaker magazine.
http://www.backpacker.com/backpacks-tor ... /videos/99
Not exactly replicating bushbashing but interesting result nevertheless.
Particularly when you check the weight and the cost of the various packs "on test"
Franco

[jonholmes]

The most bomb proof bit of gear must be the Trangia cooking system.

Has anyone had one fail to cook? too cold? too wet? too windy? (excluding user error of no metho)

Has anyone had one break? (excluding monumental misuse)

Heavier and slower than lots, but reliable.

My vote for #1 bomb proof.

[mpe]

The most bomb proof bit of gear must be the Trangia cooking system.
...
My vote for #1 bomb proof.

I think I'll second that. I've seen dented pots, but that's the worst. Not sure how good they are at extreme altitude, but that's not much of a concern in Oz

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

When I used to use Metho in my Trangia, it could be lit in any Tasmanian conditions I've come across - it just took more work when very cold. You either had to spill a little metho round the edge of the stove and hold a flame on it for a very long time (sometimes repeating several times before ignition), or be prepared earlier (as Brett indicated) and keep some metho in your pocket to warm it up for some time beforehand. Note that matches are no good for this, they don't burn for long enough. You need a cigarette lighter or something else that can burn for a long time.

Once I became aware of the problem, and knew I was in a situation where it would be that difficult to light (very rarely!), I would fill the burner with metho well before needing it, and put the entire burner in a pocket until it was time to start cooking (being careful to keep it upright in case it leaked). It would then be quite easy to light.

I'm not trying to suggest that this is a good feature of the Trangia of course - it's a real pain, to be honest. But it does illustrate that it can be made to work in much colder conditions than a lot of people think.

As for altitude, there isn't anywhere high enough in Tasmania to be a problem.

[Franco]

Much easier to carry some cotton balls impregnated with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) light one of those and drop it into the Trangia. That will do it...
(you only need about 1/3rd of a standard ball. Make sure that it is cotton not synthetics)
Franco

[Nuts]

I used a trangia for quite a while (not much Can go wrong), then whisperlite (MSR) which was reliable, though needed cleaning too often... Recently been using MSR Windro (gas), have to say that they havent skipped a beat! Heavy pots, probably 8-900 uses (pots to the boil) each, no problemo, no blockage (no piezo to give trouble)

[Son of a Beach]

Much easier to carry some cotton balls impregnated with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) light one of those and drop it into the Trangia. That will do it...
(you only need about 1/3rd of a standard ball. Make sure that it is cotton not synthetics)
Franco

Great idea, Franco!

NB: My earlier off-topic reply to this, and several follow up posts, have been split off to a new topic.

[ollster]

I have just purchased a new pair of StoS Quagmire gaiters... I know, I know. They appear to be the newer designed ones. I'm hoping for > 6 months wear.

I am going to keep a photo diary of how they deteriorate. First walk = King William Range tomorrow.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I notice Stu hasnt made a reply to his bombproof gaitors... first walk and they broke in 2 seperate places, Deservadly going straight back to the shop I believe!

Still it leaves us with the WHO MAKES A DECENT PAIR OF GAITORS question....

[stu]

Hmmm, yes.....I'm thinking Tassies wilderness is just too tough on gear, those gaitors were supposed to be as tough as they get!
Yes, I'll be returning them; I did expect the elastic under the boots to break - a silly design flaw really, I'll replace on the next pair with wire or similar.
The press stud buttons at the bottom are always a bad idea as they tend to get smashed / crushed when on rock or in boulder fields.
I'll try them again tho, I was generally impressed with the quality bar the couple of flaws...the fabric is certainly bomb proof.
ILUVSWTAS, Oll et. al...I think we need to start our own line of tough as nails gear, designed for wild places, not for late' at Salamanca...

[ollster]

As I've said to Amanda, we'd be happy to be gear testers... I certainly have a few ideas re gaiters especially. They are the bane of my life!

And can someone PLEASE design a compression strap buckle for pack harnesses that DOESN'T slip when you're walking?!

[Amanda]

Yeah after our trip I started thinking about gear testing again too. I'll see if I can arrange something with MDs.

In the meantime if you want to write up any feedback on any product you have used I can forward it on. ie what was good about it, what was bad about it and suggestions for improvements.

Have you considered packing less instead of selling the glissade Oll?!

[ollster]

Yeah after our trip I started thinking about gear testing again too. I'll see if I can arrange something with MDs.

In the meantime if you want to write up any feedback on any product you have used I can forward it on. ie what was good about it, what was bad about it and suggestions for improvements.

Nice. Bear in mind, we're only mindless drones, so our feedback could be a bit meh.

Have you considered packing less instead of selling the glissade Oll?!

Less than the essentials? I guess I could leave the Volleys behind... Bear in mind I am 20-30% bigger than most of you, hence my gear is bigger, I need more food etc.

There's no way I'll fit 10 days worth of gear inside it for the Southern Ranges walk. It's also cheaper to replace the pack with a bigger one rather than replace my gear with smaller/lighter stuff.

Acutally, on the subject, does anyone have any bombproof ~85-90L pack ideas? I'm looking at:

-Macpac Cascade
-One Planet McMillan
-Wilderness Equipment Karijini

The pack also needs to not be too tall, as I'm SICK TO DEATH of catching my current pack on branches that are over my head height!!! I also can't stand packs that don't have enough room behind your head to look up when you're climbing. Anyone else hate this?! It also has to be a "clean" design, so as not to catch on things. No, I'm not picky at all...

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[Ent]

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[ollster]

I have the One Planet McMillian and can not fault its harness and most other things though the lid does seam rather fussy compared to other brands.

As in, the lid is a tight fit and needs to be positioned "just so"?

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

I love the lid on the McMillan (and Strezlecki). The fact that it can be lowered by tightening straps at both the front and the back, reduces the likelyhood of knocking your head on it when looking up. Ie, if the lid appears to be angled towards your head to much, you lengthen the straps on the harness side, and tighten the straps on the other side. It also means the lid actually works properly when you really fill the the pack right to the brim of the extension on those long trips.

[Ent]

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[Amanda]

Yep the WE Karajini but also the WE Mt Expedition. 105 Litres (large) but roll top rolls down to smaller.

http://www.wildequipment.com.au/backpac ... de=WEMOUNT

A guy that used to work here took one when we went to South Geryon last year. He was pretty happy with it.

It's big enough for you to carry all my gear and wentworth too so I can just relax and enjoy myself