Looking for freeze dried or dehydrated ingredients to make and add to meals for hiking. I don't have a dehydrator and I am trying to avoid buying expensive meals. Looking for a Canadian retailer.
Anybody know about how often Lobtree drops batches of their alpha direct hoodies? I'm on the email notification list but I'm just curious if this is usually a matter of weeks or months or whatever.
Hi all, looking for a very chill 20-25km loop around mtl (under 3-4h drive) to do with a complete noob to backpacking. Is 20-25 over 2&1/2 days a good amount? Was looking into orford (campsites seemed to be not very rustic) and Mont gosford. Any other suggestions. Would prefer if there were platforms but it’s not necessary. Would also prefer some elevation but again not necessary.
Thanks!
*edit: needs to be in Canada*
(Pic for attention)
Not sponsored. Got the Humangear GoBites Uno plastic spork today at mec for $5.64 with tax. Not even really a spork, but a double sided spoon + fork. Made of nylon. Lifetime warranty apparently, which seems insane for a $5 utensil. I’ve had the same spork in titanium for the last 3 years, which I took all over Europe and lives in my everyday bag now. The plastic spork is lighter (15g vs 25g), is quieter you’re eating out of a metal pot, and comes in this mint green colour. The titanium version is slightly slimmer. I don’t love the feeling of titanium scraping my teeth though. I took the nylon one for a test drive and made some Annie’s mac and cheese. Wasn’t affected by boiling water. Website says it’s rated to 400f (204.44C). Seemed a lot stronger than the GSI spoon they had at mec as well, and only 4g heavier. The fork side doesn’t get used as much in my experience, but I like to have it for eating ramen.
Random anecdote, but when I watched Seven Years in Tibet, near the beginning of the film I saw them eating at camp on the side of a mountain with the same style of spork and I thought “damn, I want one of those.”
Anyways, great spork. Highly recommend.
Side note, there should be a “gear review” post flair.
Just received my order today from Evolved Supply Co. You may or may know...and you may not care, but Darwin on the trail from YouTube is co-owner of this relatively new gear company based in Arizona. My shift from backpacker to ultralight began when I first started watching YouTube 10 years ago. So I thought I'd give his gear a thorough watch, analyze the feedback and eventually purchase.
I've had great success in the past ordering from Zpacks and Wild Ideas (Bearikade) whereby I ask them to ship via USPS rather than a courier like DHL or FedEx. Those extra duty charges are a killer.
So when I placed my order with Evolved, I asked Darwin to send via USPS. That was April 30th. Got my delivery today. Considering I live northern Ontario, received my order today. Less than two weeks to go Phoenix/LA/Detroit/Toronto/Timmins and then where I live.
As for fees other than currency exchange buying online, I had to pay $101.37. $74.71 of that was GST/HST; $9.95 handling fee and $16.71 Duty and or surtax.
So...just wanted to share.
How do you sleep on trail? Curious what people use, what works, what doesn’t. I’ve used a lot of different pads and stuff sacks with jackets between my legs. Current using a Neoloft with a luxurious but heavy small Hest pillow.
Edit: Seems like some/most of you use pillows or sacks between your legs too! I still wake up stiff using sacks. Maybe two pillow option? I’m out of ideas here.
I was about to order some tick spray when I remembered I had this in the garage. I was going to use it to spray my clothes/tent. I live on the east coast so ticks are a nightmare out here, especially this year. Took my brother’s dog for a walk a few weeks ago and she came out of the bush with about a hundred ticks on her. Anyone have any experience with it? it says not to spray on fabrics/clothing, but it’s just permethrin, sodium benzoate, and some fragrance, so I don’t see how it would be a problem.
I've recently found a love for backcountry backpacking and since September have hiked the western uplands trail and the eastern pines trail in the Algonquin park. I would love to branch out, do you have recommendations for other trails within a 1-5 hours drive from Ottawa? 3-5 days would be ideal, backcountry campsites(no huts or anything like that), beautiful scenery is a bonus. thanks!
Edit: let’s move it up to an 8 hour drive from Ottawa.
Bonus if it’s on the Quebec side
I’m wondering if anyone knows if there is somewhere in Canada where I can buy either a Nemo Tensor All Season or Exped Ultra 6.5r in regular wide? I’ve seen these pads carried by a few retailers but nothing in regular wide. Has anyone purchased one and give me an idea on how much I can expect to pay for one?
You might have one from me (LSoH) or you might have another you made yourself or from another vendor. What has been your temperature range of use and comfort. Please give the fabric outer and AD weight when commenting. For instance : 10D outer / AD90 - then comment.
If you have no fabric layer please state that as well. I know mine all have one layer of fabric and then AD.
Personal use: (Older guy with slower metabolism)
10D Layer with AD 90 : I have used this on it's own in the summer and find it's pretty versatile for warmer temps. I think I could do +16/17°C with it and find reversing it so the fabric is on the inside and AD on outside allows me to use in warmer temps without it being too hot.
10D Layer with AD120 : I use this one the most. Being able to flip it inside out is a key element. This one gets used in summer plus as an overbag in winter for frost layer. It has replaced my Primaloft or Climashield TQ as an overbag.
Temperature range on it's own allows me to do about +12/14°C nicely.
Let everyone know your experiences.