I have a combo of those two styles. My plastic hardiggs are the bigger ones though. The aluminium ones are absolute air tight. They'll create vacuum pressure when gaining elevation. The plastic are super weather resistant but not water proof. I can kneel on them and hear air escape...
Our first mega mat duo had a defect. Pin hole I assume. It deflated on us the first time we used it. Took it back to rei and exchanged it for a new one. No problems since.
Katadyn base camp gravity filter. I've used msr and katadyn pump filters and will never go back. Pump filters are way too time consuming. With the base camp you fill the bag and hang it in a tree and filter at your convenience. I backpack several times a year, also use it car camping and...
No rtt, but I use an exped duo mat in the back of my 80. Not a traditional air mattress that would need an electric pump. Easy enough to blow up with lung power. Super comfortable.
bear spray is expensive, but worth the peace of mind. just grab a can or two when you get close to the park. all the gift shops will carry it. all sporting goods stores in the region will also carry it. you can probably grab it at Walmart in Bozeman.
you can carry firearms in national parks now. I still think bear spray is your best defense. actually simply being "bear aware" is your best defense. make your presence known, talk loudly or clap your hands when in dense forest. most bear attacks happen because the animal is startled. if...
I lived in and worked 3 summers and 1 winter in YNP waiting tables. and now live 90 miles north. I don't think the Yellowstone back country is "crowded" at all, even with record tourist numbers the past few years. The main loop is another story. There used to be a statistic about how many...