3 Days till Ottawa.
15 Days till Sydney.
With only two weeks left in Calgary I can really feel the pressure. Still so much to do. Luckily I have accumulated near all of my gear now, with only a few small items left. The big one this past week was my pack finally arriving. I decided upon the Atmos 50 by Osprey as my travel pack, with a Fluid 26 from Mountain Hardware as my day pack for around town, and shorter over night trips and adventures where I can (or need to) leave the 50L behind.
Choosing the right pack is probably one of the top two most important decisions you can make when gearing up for a trip - with your choice of footwear coming first. Many different facts play into choosing your pack; trip length, climate, trip style (resort skiing v.s. long-haul backpacking), what gear you take with you, and your body shape/size.
Because of the nature of my endeavor, I took many factors into consideration when choosing my pack -
These were; Weight - I need the minimal weight possible for a long period of time, Comfort - I need a well ventilated, comfortable pack to handle the warm, humid climate over a long period of time, Versatile - a pack that can change as quickly as I will, while taking the weight factor into consideration. Last, I wanted Simplicity - a slick, simple bag, where less is more.
I do get many looks of bewilderment and confusion when I tell many people that I am wandering into the Australian Outback for a year with only a 50L main pack. Though, after the first few test runs of my stuffed pack, I have found that if desperation called, I could get away with even lass space... Its pushing it, but it is possible. 50L is comfortable, and leaves me with space for collecting along the way.
So lets take a look at each factor one-by-one and see how the Atmos 50L meets these needs.
Weight: Weighting in at only 3Lbs 3oz, the Atmos offers a fast-and-light feel with more than enough storage space. Compared to many typical backpacking packs which can rage up to 8Lbs or more, the Atmos 50 weighs in 9oz LIGHTER than my tent.
Comfort: The trampoline-style back panel on the Atmos series offers great airflow between your back and the pack itself, reducing heat and sweat. Also, the light weight, yet sturdy, fixed hip belt and shoulder harness offer optimal comfort over the long hauls while keeping bulk and weight to a minimum. Though not everyone's body's are built the same, and some packs simply won't fit everyone, the Atmos 50L fits like a glove. For me, it slips on and feels more natural than most packs of this nature.
Versatile: A year in the Outback? Anything can happen, at any moment. The Atmos 50 offers several quick-adjust features, such as; a removable top pocket, InsideOut side-Compression straps, removable Sleeping bag straps and gear loops - simple features, but effective in the field.
Simplicity: This is Ospreys "Superlight Backpacking/Active Adventure" pack. It was designed to help you move quickly without sacrificing comfort. A fixed hip belt and shoulder harness cut weight, but also eliminate maintenance points on the bag. As mentioned earlier, side compression straps help keep the pack snug and streamline, and stop your load from shifting as the trip progresses.
So all-in-all, the Atmos 50 stacks up to be a great choice for the trip. Super light and simple, but still comfortable and versatile. Lets see how it does in the field!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
29 Days - Gear selection: How to Choose a Tent
29 Days till Australia
17 Days till Ontario.
With only three weeks left in Calgary the final crunch is on. I am still collecting the remaining pieces of my kit - several more pieces have arrived over the last few weeks. Most excitingly, my tent has arrived!
After weeks of deliberation, "humming and hawing", I have decided, last minute, upon taking The North Face Meso 22 rather than the Marmot Eos 1P which I had originally planned to take.
So why the last minute change?
Well, lets break down my actual needs and requirements in a tent; I need it to be super light weight, as I am backpacking for a year with it. Highly compressible, as storage space between my two packs is limited. Good ventilation will be key on the hot nights, as well as during mid day when it will be too hot to trek. Also, this will be my home for the next year, I need a comfortable living space for me and my gear.
Lets look at each of these needs individually and see how the two tents differ, and why I made the decision I did.
Light Weight: There is no doubt these are two very light weight tents. Full no-see-um-net mesh canopy cuts tones of weight from both these tents.
The North Face Meso 22: Trail Weight - 3lbs 12 oz
Marmot Eos 1P: Trail Weight - 3lbs 3oz
Highly Compressible/Compactable: By storing the tent poles/pegs on the outside of my pack, and placing the tent in a compression sack, the total packed size can shrink to as little as half the original packed size or less - Taking up way less space - about the size of a football.
Ventilation: The full No-see-um-net mesh canopy offers constant air circulation through the tent, where as many of the solo backpacker tents I had looked at originally offered very low ventilation, and some none at all. Ventilation is key for the Outback for those warmer nights and the hot hot days where shade and shelter are a must during peak hours - where travel is done early and late in the day.
Comfortable Living Space: While the Eos 1P is definitely the lighter of the two tents, its free standing design is not intended for extended use where real living space inside the tent in necessary day-to-day. However, the design of the Meso 22 is quite the opposite. The three pole design actually increases comfort and capacity of the living space inside the tent. This is the main reason for my last minute switch to this tent.
The North Face Meso 22: Floor area - 29 square ft.
Vestibule area - 13 square ft.
Marmot Eos 1P: Floor area - 22.8 square ft
Vestibule area - 6.5 square ft.
Conclusion
Though the Meso 22 weighs in a whole 9oz heavier than the Eos 1P, I believe it will be the better choice for the trip. Double the vestibule size offers lots more room to store gear outside, leaving me with ample room inside - in both floor space and height to sit up, stretch out, and relax.
I can deal with the extra 9oz to carry knowing that my new home-away-from-home will be just that... My new Home.
17 Days till Ontario.
With only three weeks left in Calgary the final crunch is on. I am still collecting the remaining pieces of my kit - several more pieces have arrived over the last few weeks. Most excitingly, my tent has arrived!
After weeks of deliberation, "humming and hawing", I have decided, last minute, upon taking The North Face Meso 22 rather than the Marmot Eos 1P which I had originally planned to take.
So why the last minute change?
Well, lets break down my actual needs and requirements in a tent; I need it to be super light weight, as I am backpacking for a year with it. Highly compressible, as storage space between my two packs is limited. Good ventilation will be key on the hot nights, as well as during mid day when it will be too hot to trek. Also, this will be my home for the next year, I need a comfortable living space for me and my gear.
Lets look at each of these needs individually and see how the two tents differ, and why I made the decision I did.
Light Weight: There is no doubt these are two very light weight tents. Full no-see-um-net mesh canopy cuts tones of weight from both these tents.
The North Face Meso 22: Trail Weight - 3lbs 12 oz
Marmot Eos 1P: Trail Weight - 3lbs 3oz
Highly Compressible/Compactable: By storing the tent poles/pegs on the outside of my pack, and placing the tent in a compression sack, the total packed size can shrink to as little as half the original packed size or less - Taking up way less space - about the size of a football.
Ventilation: The full No-see-um-net mesh canopy offers constant air circulation through the tent, where as many of the solo backpacker tents I had looked at originally offered very low ventilation, and some none at all. Ventilation is key for the Outback for those warmer nights and the hot hot days where shade and shelter are a must during peak hours - where travel is done early and late in the day.
Comfortable Living Space: While the Eos 1P is definitely the lighter of the two tents, its free standing design is not intended for extended use where real living space inside the tent in necessary day-to-day. However, the design of the Meso 22 is quite the opposite. The three pole design actually increases comfort and capacity of the living space inside the tent. This is the main reason for my last minute switch to this tent.
The North Face Meso 22: Floor area - 29 square ft.
Vestibule area - 13 square ft.
Marmot Eos 1P: Floor area - 22.8 square ft
Vestibule area - 6.5 square ft.
Conclusion
Though the Meso 22 weighs in a whole 9oz heavier than the Eos 1P, I believe it will be the better choice for the trip. Double the vestibule size offers lots more room to store gear outside, leaving me with ample room inside - in both floor space and height to sit up, stretch out, and relax.
I can deal with the extra 9oz to carry knowing that my new home-away-from-home will be just that... My new Home.
Monday, April 4, 2011
1 Month, 22 days - Gear selection: How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
1 Month, 10 days till Ottawa.
1 Month, 22 days till Australia.
It has been a slightly slower week - recovering from some form of food poisoning or flu. Although, I did receive my sleeping bag this past week from Marmot!
Choosing the right gear for a trip can be a very tricky task. It can be crucial to have appropriate gear for your trip. For the new adventurer it can be an even more daunting task, however I find it quite exciting.
For a longer, more adventurous trip, such as my own, there are slightly different requirements for gear selection as opposed to, say, 3 weeks of guided tours and resorts. Over the next few weeks I'll walk though each piece of gear I have selected and why I picked that piece. I will later follow up on these with performance reviews from in the field on how my choices have fared out.
Today I would like to focus on my sleeping bag selection - Marmot's Hydrogen 30F.
So why this bag? Lets go through what we know about the trip ahead and what it will require.
Australia's climate ranges everywhere from hot, humid tropical forests, to dry deserts, to snow capped peaks in the rightfully named, Snow Mountains. I need a bag that will be versatile. Temperatures in the outback can be blistering in the summer sun, but during winter months can drop well below freezing. I need a bag that can keep me comfortable and warm. I am traveling a very long distance, for a long time, by foot. I need a small, ultra light load in my pack.
So how does the Marmot Hydrogen 30F meet these needs for me?
Versatile: - This bag offers a 30F/-1C temperature rating as its "lower limit" - the lowest temperature where the standard man will have a comfortable nights sleep. It is unlikely that I will see temperatures in the range of -10C or lower, very unlikely, however the bag has an "extreme limit" of -17C. This represents the survival rating for the average woman in a survival situation. Considering the average man has a warmer core body temperature than the average woman, and knowing that I personally am a human furnace, this is a safe limit.
Temperatures around -1C to -4C is almost a guarantee as I will be spending the winter in the outback - expecting cool, dry nights.
Size/Weight: - The Hydrogen is stuffed with an 850-fill goose down. Very light, highly packable. This, combined with a Nylon Ripstop DWR face fabric (weighing in at a whooping 1.2 oz/yd), gives me a super lightweight, ultra packable, yet durable bag. A total weight just under 1 pound, 8 oz. Stuff-able to the size of a small football.
Comfort: Down is a highly breathable insulator. I will see cold nights in the outback, but I will also see warm (if not hot) humid nights along the coast. When no insulation is needed at night the Hydrogen will still make a great mattress, offering breathability and comfort you would not get from just an inflatable mattress.
Overall the Hydrogen stands to be a good choice for the trip. However, my decision was not made without taking some factors into consideration.
This bag is filled with down, and even though it is covered by a Ripstop DWR (Durable Water Repellent) outer fabric, there is still the possibility of the down getting wet. And we all know that down does not hold up well when wet, unlike many high-end synthetics. The down clumps together, loses its loft and heat retention capability, rendering it pretty much useless. In the wild there are no driers to restore your bag quickly.
This was taken into consideration when I selected this bag, and is a risk I left comfortable taking. If you don't feel confident that you can keep you sleeping bag dry throughout your trip, a synthetic filled bag may be the better choice - or at very least a waterproof compression sack to store it in, such as I will be doing.
So will my selection prove to be the right one? Only time will tell.
1 Month, 22 days till Australia.
It has been a slightly slower week - recovering from some form of food poisoning or flu. Although, I did receive my sleeping bag this past week from Marmot!
Choosing the right gear for a trip can be a very tricky task. It can be crucial to have appropriate gear for your trip. For the new adventurer it can be an even more daunting task, however I find it quite exciting.
For a longer, more adventurous trip, such as my own, there are slightly different requirements for gear selection as opposed to, say, 3 weeks of guided tours and resorts. Over the next few weeks I'll walk though each piece of gear I have selected and why I picked that piece. I will later follow up on these with performance reviews from in the field on how my choices have fared out.
Today I would like to focus on my sleeping bag selection - Marmot's Hydrogen 30F.
So why this bag? Lets go through what we know about the trip ahead and what it will require.
Australia's climate ranges everywhere from hot, humid tropical forests, to dry deserts, to snow capped peaks in the rightfully named, Snow Mountains. I need a bag that will be versatile. Temperatures in the outback can be blistering in the summer sun, but during winter months can drop well below freezing. I need a bag that can keep me comfortable and warm. I am traveling a very long distance, for a long time, by foot. I need a small, ultra light load in my pack.
So how does the Marmot Hydrogen 30F meet these needs for me?
Versatile: - This bag offers a 30F/-1C temperature rating as its "lower limit" - the lowest temperature where the standard man will have a comfortable nights sleep. It is unlikely that I will see temperatures in the range of -10C or lower, very unlikely, however the bag has an "extreme limit" of -17C. This represents the survival rating for the average woman in a survival situation. Considering the average man has a warmer core body temperature than the average woman, and knowing that I personally am a human furnace, this is a safe limit.
Temperatures around -1C to -4C is almost a guarantee as I will be spending the winter in the outback - expecting cool, dry nights.
Size/Weight: - The Hydrogen is stuffed with an 850-fill goose down. Very light, highly packable. This, combined with a Nylon Ripstop DWR face fabric (weighing in at a whooping 1.2 oz/yd), gives me a super lightweight, ultra packable, yet durable bag. A total weight just under 1 pound, 8 oz. Stuff-able to the size of a small football.
Comfort: Down is a highly breathable insulator. I will see cold nights in the outback, but I will also see warm (if not hot) humid nights along the coast. When no insulation is needed at night the Hydrogen will still make a great mattress, offering breathability and comfort you would not get from just an inflatable mattress.
Overall the Hydrogen stands to be a good choice for the trip. However, my decision was not made without taking some factors into consideration.
This bag is filled with down, and even though it is covered by a Ripstop DWR (Durable Water Repellent) outer fabric, there is still the possibility of the down getting wet. And we all know that down does not hold up well when wet, unlike many high-end synthetics. The down clumps together, loses its loft and heat retention capability, rendering it pretty much useless. In the wild there are no driers to restore your bag quickly.
This was taken into consideration when I selected this bag, and is a risk I left comfortable taking. If you don't feel confident that you can keep you sleeping bag dry throughout your trip, a synthetic filled bag may be the better choice - or at very least a waterproof compression sack to store it in, such as I will be doing.
So will my selection prove to be the right one? Only time will tell.
Monday, March 28, 2011
1 Month, 29 days - Sponsorship!
1 Month, 29 days till Australia.
1 Month, 16 days till Ontario.
I'm thrilled to announce, that after several weeks of hard work, late nights and extra early mornings, that the sponsorship hunt has begun to prove successful!
Calgary based, Ranger Tactical (http://rangertactical.com/) have begun setting me up with some of their great new survival gear to test in the Outback! These guys specialize in Tactical/Survival/Rescue gear, so needles to say, I think I am in good hands.
Stay tuned for more details, as this is only the beginning. I will be revealing what gear they are sending with me in the weeks to come. Full reviews of each piece of gear will follow from the field, once I begin the trek.
Things have come a long way in the last week, and with two months to go yet, a lot more is in store before I even board the plane. My travel pack and sleeping bag are on order... Finally. I have chosen Osprey's Atmos 50 as my main pack, and Marmot's Hydrogen as my sleeping bag.
I still have a good chunk of gear to pull together - but considering how much I am taking in whole, it is very little.
I've paid my last full months rent check. Soon my phone contract will end. I begin to pack away the last near four years into storage. Still so much to do in what feels like so little time.
Lastly, I want to give a quick shout out to Roger Brunt, of Salt Spring Island, BC. Roger is the founder of the North American School of Outdoor Writing - quite an accomplished outdoor writer. He's been a tremendous help in getting this whole project moving. Thanks Roger.
I highly recommend anyone considering an interest in writing as a hobby or a career check his school out. www.nasow.com
1 Month, 16 days till Ontario.
I'm thrilled to announce, that after several weeks of hard work, late nights and extra early mornings, that the sponsorship hunt has begun to prove successful!
Calgary based, Ranger Tactical (http://rangertactical.com/) have begun setting me up with some of their great new survival gear to test in the Outback! These guys specialize in Tactical/Survival/Rescue gear, so needles to say, I think I am in good hands.
Stay tuned for more details, as this is only the beginning. I will be revealing what gear they are sending with me in the weeks to come. Full reviews of each piece of gear will follow from the field, once I begin the trek.
Things have come a long way in the last week, and with two months to go yet, a lot more is in store before I even board the plane. My travel pack and sleeping bag are on order... Finally. I have chosen Osprey's Atmos 50 as my main pack, and Marmot's Hydrogen as my sleeping bag.
I still have a good chunk of gear to pull together - but considering how much I am taking in whole, it is very little.
I've paid my last full months rent check. Soon my phone contract will end. I begin to pack away the last near four years into storage. Still so much to do in what feels like so little time.
Lastly, I want to give a quick shout out to Roger Brunt, of Salt Spring Island, BC. Roger is the founder of the North American School of Outdoor Writing - quite an accomplished outdoor writer. He's been a tremendous help in getting this whole project moving. Thanks Roger.
I highly recommend anyone considering an interest in writing as a hobby or a career check his school out. www.nasow.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
2 Months, 5 Days
2 Months, 5 days.
With only a few minor set backs I have begun collecting and organizing my gear - most of it on order currently.
The biggest of the set backs has been a complete reconsideration to half my kit. As it turns out, the pack I had based all previous planning on will not be available before departure - fantastic.
So here we are, back to square one. One month, 23 days before departure of Calgary to Ottawa. I have cut my storage capacity by almost 25 liters. Turns out 25L is a lot of space, but it's also a lot of weight. Next, minus; one pair of shoes, one 3L water bladder, an entire change of clothes and one external HDD. And that's only the beginning!
The next big change is my day pack. I am downsizing from an Ospray Talon 33, to a North Face Verto 26. Less storage, but far less weight. And though it is not specifically hydration compatible it still leaves me with plenty of options. After all, since the beginning the plan was to travel minimalist. Cut, cut ,cut.
Over the next two or so weeks I hope to acquire the majority of my kit - the bulk at least. Then, its off to the mountains, saddle up and hit a few trails to break my back... I mean, break my pack in.
2 Months, 5 Days, 7 hours...
With only a few minor set backs I have begun collecting and organizing my gear - most of it on order currently.
The biggest of the set backs has been a complete reconsideration to half my kit. As it turns out, the pack I had based all previous planning on will not be available before departure - fantastic.
So here we are, back to square one. One month, 23 days before departure of Calgary to Ottawa. I have cut my storage capacity by almost 25 liters. Turns out 25L is a lot of space, but it's also a lot of weight. Next, minus; one pair of shoes, one 3L water bladder, an entire change of clothes and one external HDD. And that's only the beginning!
The next big change is my day pack. I am downsizing from an Ospray Talon 33, to a North Face Verto 26. Less storage, but far less weight. And though it is not specifically hydration compatible it still leaves me with plenty of options. After all, since the beginning the plan was to travel minimalist. Cut, cut ,cut.
Over the next two or so weeks I hope to acquire the majority of my kit - the bulk at least. Then, its off to the mountains, saddle up and hit a few trails to break my back... I mean, break my pack in.
2 Months, 5 Days, 7 hours...
Saturday, March 12, 2011
2 Months, 13 days
2 Months, 13 days till departure from Toronto.
2 Months, 1 day till departure from Calgary to Ottawa.
The real crunch is on. Two months to wrap up and tuck away three and a half years of my life into a storage room - Can't wait!
I have decided over the past week to revisit a previous notion to attempt to raise the bar on my trip another notch and acquire sponsorship to help off-set a few costs. It is my hope that this will allow me to expand my possibilities while away, including; the activities I will be able to take part in (surf lessons, diving on the Great Barrier Reef, or my original thought of touring Western Australia via dual-sport motorcycle), and how I will be able to deliver coverage of my adventure (fingers crossed for an Outback video journal!).
Details on sponsorship will come out as things progress.
It is tough figuring out where to begin. Planning my budget, re-planning, revising, adding more and more - The list never seeming to shrink. Creating a pitch, my hook. My mind is bursting with ideas for the adventure -- My wallet cries more with each new thought.
It is at this point that many people quietly tuck their tail between their legs and sink into the shadows. I find the challenge thrilling. Despite my outcome I can be left no worse off than I currently am. From here, things can only grow and get more exciting!
On a final note, I though it worth mentioning about a book I am currently reading. "The Power Of Passion", by Jamie Clarke and Alan Hobson. Its a great book for anyone looking for a little inspiration. Its a great read, full of real-life adventure - true accounts from Clarke and Hobson. It has definitely inspired me. So check it out!
2 Months, 1 day till departure from Calgary to Ottawa.
The real crunch is on. Two months to wrap up and tuck away three and a half years of my life into a storage room - Can't wait!
I have decided over the past week to revisit a previous notion to attempt to raise the bar on my trip another notch and acquire sponsorship to help off-set a few costs. It is my hope that this will allow me to expand my possibilities while away, including; the activities I will be able to take part in (surf lessons, diving on the Great Barrier Reef, or my original thought of touring Western Australia via dual-sport motorcycle), and how I will be able to deliver coverage of my adventure (fingers crossed for an Outback video journal!).
Details on sponsorship will come out as things progress.
It is tough figuring out where to begin. Planning my budget, re-planning, revising, adding more and more - The list never seeming to shrink. Creating a pitch, my hook. My mind is bursting with ideas for the adventure -- My wallet cries more with each new thought.
It is at this point that many people quietly tuck their tail between their legs and sink into the shadows. I find the challenge thrilling. Despite my outcome I can be left no worse off than I currently am. From here, things can only grow and get more exciting!
On a final note, I though it worth mentioning about a book I am currently reading. "The Power Of Passion", by Jamie Clarke and Alan Hobson. Its a great book for anyone looking for a little inspiration. Its a great read, full of real-life adventure - true accounts from Clarke and Hobson. It has definitely inspired me. So check it out!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
2 Months, 21 days - Update on Planning and Progress
2 months, 21 days.
As the days count down, everything I do is becoming relevant to my departure. It's an exciting yet nerve-racking time - some preparations small, and some very big.
As I am sure you can imagine, a trip like this does not come inexpensively. Even the most minimalist adventure comes with its fair share of expenses. It is because of this that you will notice two things on this blog. 1) The presence of Google Ads - I host these ads, managed by Google. For every click made on these ads I earn a small percentage, VERY small (fractions of cents). As time progresses these ads will reveal more relevant content to my own. So feel free to click away if something sparks your interest. 2) From time to time you will find product links directed to Amazon.com. These links will appear from my recommendations alone. This is called Amazon Associates - An Affiliate Marketing technique that allows me to, again, earn a small percentage (almost like a commission) on purchases made from my recommendations. So long story short, if I post, say a survival guide book found on Amazon.com and someone buys it, I will earn a small percentage. Again, VERY small.
It's an experiment, any and all help/contribution would be greatly appreciated.
Now that we have that out of the way, it's on to more eventful times!
As the days count down, everything I do is becoming relevant to my departure. It's an exciting yet nerve-racking time - some preparations small, and some very big.
As I am sure you can imagine, a trip like this does not come inexpensively. Even the most minimalist adventure comes with its fair share of expenses. It is because of this that you will notice two things on this blog. 1) The presence of Google Ads - I host these ads, managed by Google. For every click made on these ads I earn a small percentage, VERY small (fractions of cents). As time progresses these ads will reveal more relevant content to my own. So feel free to click away if something sparks your interest. 2) From time to time you will find product links directed to Amazon.com. These links will appear from my recommendations alone. This is called Amazon Associates - An Affiliate Marketing technique that allows me to, again, earn a small percentage (almost like a commission) on purchases made from my recommendations. So long story short, if I post, say a survival guide book found on Amazon.com and someone buys it, I will earn a small percentage. Again, VERY small.
It's an experiment, any and all help/contribution would be greatly appreciated.
Now that we have that out of the way, it's on to more eventful times!
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