Essential minimalists gear check list for jungle trail tours

LivinLOS said:
Ahh by raising the end point.. Tension wont help as tension will distribute equally via the entire line but a raised end point, that would of course create 'balance'.. My mind was thinking 3 equal heights.
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You can control the incline (angle) of the tent (as one fixing point is higher), with tension and adjust the tension to make it level.





adj tension.jpg
 
I get your explanation now..

OK so you dont need 3 equidistant points.. but you do need 3 points with variable height options.. Though as trees grow 'up' thats easier to find. :)

For the the tree tent thing is a nice novelty, but a 2kg packed hammock, bug net, tarp and everything.. With a chair and flat bed config, thats a far more interesting idea. Really like what they have done, I didnt click through and read much first time round but looking at how it was strapped made me check some links. I really like that setup.
 
Apology accepted.


LivinLOS said:
I get your explanation now..

OK so you dont need 3 equidistant points.. but you do need 3 points with variable height options.. Though as trees grow 'up' thats easier to find. :)

For the the tree tent thing is a nice novelty, but a 2kg packed hammock, bug net, tarp and everything.. With a chair and flat bed config, thats a far more interesting idea. Really like what they have done, I didnt click through and read much first time round but looking at how it was strapped made me check some links. I really like that setup.
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5555..

I wouldn't go that far.. :p
 
A couple of photo's from Andrew Skurka, who teaches minimalist trekking/ camping, he walked across Alaska. Two minimalist camping setups, the both work, its a personal preference .




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Photo: Andrew Skurka


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Photo: Andrew Skurka
 
Solar light pillow!


(In the villages, they just clip a couple of wires onto a Wave battery, if you've got a kick start, it seems a smart way of doing it)


PVC 'pillow' lantern is inexpensive Light source | Gear Review | Gear Junkie



Sunlight and the solar panel charges an embedded lithium battery. Once full, the light can shine for 6 hours at about 35 lumens — bright enough to cook or read by.
It folds up and packs as small as an iPhone. Clip it on a backpack with its solar panel exposed to recharge the unit as you hike.




10786.jpg







In the tent!


10784.jpg
 
Minimalists food for a week


Came across this Andrew Skurka chap when I was looking for an ultra light tarp, below is his minimalist food for a week away from civilization.




Needless to say, on a trip like this, excess weight (gear, food, body) is undesirable and food has the utilitarian role as fuel. I’ll post details about my gear elsewhere, but here are the details of my food:

  • 2 x half-days (Day 1, Day 7)
  • 5 x full days
  • = 6 full days of food
Breakfast

In the essence of time, my morning coffee must be consumed on-the-go. So I made chocolate-coffee bean patties by melting chocolate morsels and mixing in whole coffee beans. Each patty has 2.8 oz of chocolate and .7 oz of coffee (my standard morning fix). To help avoid a crash-and-burn effect from the combination of all that sugar and caffeine, I added 1.5 oz of nuts (walnuts or almonds) to each breakfast; I might also space out the eating of those patties.
Daytime snacks

Every 2-2.5 hours I will consume a 3-oz snack. Its typical trail food, with a mix of sweet, sweet-and-salty, salty, and protein:

  • Protein bars
  • Beef jerky
  • Pringles
  • Chocolate-covered raisins
  • Chocolate-covered pecans
  • Oreo cookies
  • Yogurt-covered pretzels
  • Cashew/almond squares
  • Greenbelly Meal Bars
Dinners

I prepared six dinners using four recipes:

  • Beans & rice with cheese and taco seasoning
  • Polenta with olive oil, peppers, Parmesan, tomato powder, and garlic
  • Potatoes with olive oil, Parmesan, basil, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes (2x)
  • Noodles with peanut sauce (2x)
Each meal weighs about 6.75 oz total and packs 750-800 calories. The recipes are based on those I use for my guided trips. When I prepare those meals in bulk next month for my September trips, I will post details and photos.
Food storage

For quick access, I keep all the food I’m going to eat today in a bag near the top of my pack; if kept outside the pack, my chocolate would melt in the sun. Typically I use a quart-sized Ziploc Easy Zipper Freezer Bag, which has a baffled bottom (for extra volume) and which is wider than it is long for easy picking.
To store the food I will eat tonight and on future days, I use a 12.5×20 Aloksak OPSak. When new, these bags are odorproof, which would help to reduce bear and rodent problems. My bag is definitely not new and it definitely smells like food, but I use it anyway because it’s see-through. Also, we’re not expecting bear or rodent problems where we’ll be camping.
Food weight & calories


  • Breakfasts: 6 days x 5-oz per meal = 30 oz
  • Dinners: 6 days x 6.75 oz per meal = 40.5 oz
  • Daytime snacks: 6 days x 5 3-oz meals = 90 oz
  • A few Via packets and decaf tea bags = .5 oz

  • Trip total weight = 161 oz
  • Trip total calories = 20,125 calories assuming 125 cal/oz
  • Per day weight = 1 lb 10.8 oz
  • Per day calories = 3,354 calories assuming 125 cal/oz
Since my caloric intake will be less than my caloric burn, I’ll be losing weight on this trip. But it’s only 7 days and I can manage without sacrificing performance. Anyone have a good recommendation for burgers in Lander?







Credit: Breakdown -- A week of food // Andrew Skurka
 
An experienced rider who has done a first aid course related to motorcycle first aid, mentioned something pretty interesting the other night - carry cling film


cling-film.jpg





If someone has a major laceration or a broken bone where the bone has penetrated the skin, stopping blood flow with pressure might be a huge priority. Wrapping the limb with the correct pressure with cling film could save the riders life. It's easy to wrap and in clinically clean, I think a really good idea.



Off-road exploring where your hands and everything is covered in mud, this would be an easy way using something clean to stabilize a serious cut until help arrives.
 
With the extreme temperature variance between 8pm & 3am, when camping here in SE Asia, quilts are probably the best option if you use a sleeping pad (the sleeping pad insulates you from the cold underneath). Early on in the evening, when its still hot, easy to pull down to keep ventilated & cool, 2-3am, these are easy to wrap up in and stay warm. Basically very versatile for the temperature changes.


The Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt 800F 2 Season quilt seems to be highly recommended as one of the best available & is rated down to freezing temperature, currently around USD$ 195.00 from online stores.





Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt 800F 2 Season :: CampSaver.com









The Sierra Designs Backcountry Quilt 800F 2 Season is the warmest, most versatile quilt they have ever built. As alight alternative to a sleeping bag, the Backcountry Quilt is extra-long for more coverage and warmth. They've also incorporated unique features to insulate your head and arms.

Oversized design - Longer and wider than a traditional quilt for increased comfort
Full-Length, insulated arm and hand pockets - Provides insulation under the arms and allows you to intuitively maneuver the sides into a sealed tuck in order to prevent cold drafts or easily open it up on a warm night
Hide away hood - A crucial innovation to traditional quilt design, the integrated hood can help insulate your head on a cold night. It naturally stays shut when not being used
Sleeping pad position - Weight-saving quilt design utilizes your sleeping pad for under-body insulation and padding







Also below, an embarrassingly good alcohol stove



http://andrewskurka.com/2011/how-to-make-a-fancy-feast-alcohol-stove/







[video=youtube_share;pajkt594Ruw]http://youtu.be/pajkt594Ruw[/video]





..

 
Where can you get cheap denatured alcohol (Ethanol) in Thailand?
 
Great Phil thanks, I will have a look at CR's Home Pro as soon as I am back in the Rai.

Apart from being a good fuel it's great for cleaning windows, in Holland the main use 8-)
 
Amarin Plaza, Bangkok - Adventure camping gear, one-stop-shopping



Keld put me onto this shopping mall, their outdoor activity section has everything you need.


Location in Bangkok below:


https://www.google.co.th/maps/place...1s0x30e29eda9b36b1d3:0xbcc1bbe09f2e2d36?hl=en





20141016_134702 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





All the outdoor adventure stores are conveniently together on the 3rd floor in the SW corner of the mall. The Ortlieb vendor has a promotion on some quality dry bags 40% off


20141016_140117 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Also stocks Exped inflatable sleeping pads, they fold up small & weigh 400 grams, ideal for underneath insulation in hammocks or on the ground - 4,850 Bht


20141016_163206 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Equinox Shop has a good selection of Sea to Summit dry bags and other products, you can get a good butane camping burner here



20141016_132403 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Tank store has several outlets in Bangkok, this is one of the larger stores, currently 50% off Sea to Summit silicone draw string stuff sacks


20141016_132427 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




One of the most irritating things in Asia is trying to get extra handlebar mounts for Garmin GPS's. Gadget Trend carry a wide rage of handle bar options.



20141016_132438 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




If you ride overnight, you will find something to buy in here for sure!







..
 
yes Amarin plaza is preatty cool,but didn-t have much when i went to look for a lightweight tent.they had Karana,the same u find everywhere in TH,not bad for car camping but heavy&large bag for the bike, matter of fact then I bought a trekking one in Italy.. :)
 
I've tried a few variations on a theme to get away from carrying a tent.

Here's my upcoming Christmas present, I believe (shh... don't tell me)

50157_bivy_xt_bag_302.jpg


Breathable, ripstop, etc. 10,000mm PU floor. Weight 600 gm.
 
Found the methanol a few days ago at the Home Pro (less than 100 baht a can) and used it for the first time on cleaning purposes today.
Still need to do a burning test, guess it will burn well (if not a bit faster than ethanol?).

The difference in calorific value between methanol and ethanol is about 25%, ethanol having the higher calorific value.
Methanol has a higher vapor pressure and a lower boiling point, so methanol will burn easier but maybe a bit faster than ethanol.
 
Thinking about it, would the readily available E85 fuel be an option for a camping stove? That fuel is 85% Ethanol, it's the 15% petrol that worries me a bit.
 
brake034 said:
Thinking about it, would the readily available E85 fuel be an option for a camping stove? That fuel is 85% Ethanol, it's the 15% petrol that worries me a bit.
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The 15% petrol will more than likely explode when you try to light it if your talking about a conventional Alcohol stove. Nice find with the Methyl Alcohol.
 
BobS said:
Try the MSR Whisperlite International - Whisperlite? International: Legendary, Multi-Fuel Backpacking Stove

It will burn the gas straight out of your tank.

  • Multi-Fuel Performance: Burns white gas, kerosene, and unleaded auto fuel
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I have one of the early ones. quite a bit of maintenance really and messy with soot and having to carry a MSR bottle that you can pressurize.
obviously great on a world trip or something (MSR XGK even better) .
but you can't beat the simplicity and safety aspect of an Alcohol stove if the fuel is easily available.
 
Lakota, the petrol will increase both the calorific value (without the risk of explosion), which is a benefit and the boiling point, which is less of a benefit. Also the vapor pressure of the E85 will be lower than the pure ethanol or methanol.

I see myself doing a test with three empty beer can bottom, one filled with 100% E85, one with 50% E85 and 50% Methanol and one with 100% Methanol (all equal amounts). Above these three burners install three stainless steel mugs of water (identical content) and record which combination boils the water first........
 
Please do wear Safety Glasses though ... Just in case :?
 
brake034 said:
Lakota, the petrol will increase both the calorific value (without the risk of explosion), which is a benefit and the boiling temperature, which is less of a benefit. Also the vapor pressure of the E85 will be lower than the pure ethanol or methanol.

I see myself doing a test with three empty beer can bottom, one filled with 100% E85, one with 50% E85 and 50% Methanol and one with 100% Methanol. Above these three burners install three stainless steel mugs of water (identical content) and record which combination boils the water first........
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Never needed a stove always got by carrying a few bags of crisp pork skin and a tin of tuna :-)

Sent from my SM-G900F using Forum Runner
 
KTMphil said:
Lets see you do that 3 meals a day and for 7 days
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Could do but you wouldn't want to travel with me !!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Forum Runner
 
KTMphil said:
I think the mixture containing petrol will blacken your cooking vessel.
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Agree Phil, normally petrol burners would require some pressure system to do a complete combustion.
Than again, Pun's woodfire cooking doesn't help her pots and pans either :D
 
KTMphil said:
Making your own hot food and a cup of tea in the sticks is a real pleasure.
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The Hot Drink, Cup of tea or even a hot knoodle can have a huge Psychological uplifting effect when your stuck on a trail in the middle of nowhere dripping wet and cold and feeling sorry for yourself. It's just about possible with an Alcohol stove in any weather because the Alcohol will burn with a bit of water in it.
 
That explains the difference in camping attire, one was busy cooking water for tea and did the Sunrise pictures in minimal red attire.
The other had the camping site staff do all the hard work and could do the pictures fully dressed up....
:LOL
 
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