Hi guys, I'm new to camping and was looking on getting some gear. I found some cool stoves, MSR whisperlite and Micro rocket at http://gearstop.ca/collections/camp-accessories they also have this cool sleep matt called the Klymitt Static V. Do you guys have any experience with these products? I'd like to buy from this website as it seems like a small Canadian store to support, but I want to make sure what they have is actually quality gear. Any help would be great, thanks!
Need advice on camping gear
- Thread starter Trailblazer7007
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The pocket rocket stove is reliable and proven but can only handle a large cup. The micro rocket is the same just a smaller set up. Jetboil is an awesome all contained packaged. I would think twice about an inflatable / semi inflatable mattress in Canada. The air inside makes it a cold sleep.
Since you are in Canada, go to your local outdoor store. MEC is in most cities, go talk to the people who sell it and use the
equipment. Most of the people who work in those stores are the best customers, and they tend to be really picky knowitalls,
but they know their stuff. I talked to a guy at MEC in Victoria and was amazed at his knowledge of ALL the stoves, not just
one of them. But there are lots of stores with great knowledge and experience in the staff.
This is just one of several sites with the same information.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/
I read the website of manufacturers, they will proudly display 'Editor Choice' on any product that has been picked by
the magazines, like Outdoor, etc. They are just selling stuff, but they will sift through the junk pretty fast too.
Josh-that thing about not using inflatable mattresses is just not true. Many of newer technology mats are insulated,
and are sold with appropriate R ratings. In subzero temps, having a closed cell mat underneath can help but aren't
necessary anymore.
equipment. Most of the people who work in those stores are the best customers, and they tend to be really picky knowitalls,
but they know their stuff. I talked to a guy at MEC in Victoria and was amazed at his knowledge of ALL the stoves, not just
one of them. But there are lots of stores with great knowledge and experience in the staff.
This is just one of several sites with the same information.
http://www.outdoorgearlab.com/
I read the website of manufacturers, they will proudly display 'Editor Choice' on any product that has been picked by
the magazines, like Outdoor, etc. They are just selling stuff, but they will sift through the junk pretty fast too.
Josh-that thing about not using inflatable mattresses is just not true. Many of newer technology mats are insulated,
and are sold with appropriate R ratings. In subzero temps, having a closed cell mat underneath can help but aren't
necessary anymore.
I have both used both the MSR Wisperlight and Pocket Rocket for several years. They are both very reliable stoves that each have their advantages. If you plan to camp in cold weather the Wisperlight will be the better stove because you can pressurize the white gas to compensate for the colder temps. Stoves like the Jet Boil and Pocket Rocket work on comprised butane cylinders which will yield less burn time in cold weather. However, if you plan to camp mostly in nice weather the butane stoves are easier to use and a little less messy.
I second the jetboil. The pocketrocket is nice but if you are going with a small stove, it is most likely for lightweight backpacking/backcountry travel where space and weight are a premium. The jetboil is very compact and does not require a separate cooking pot. The fuel canister also fits inside the cup and will yield at least 15-20 uses per canister. Like Bigsky80 said, any butane system is slightly less efficient in cold weather but I've used mine multiple times in temps around 10* at 9000' and had no issues.
You probably want to decide what kind of camping you want to do before you buy equipment. For any kind of camping don't over look buying used. Check out thrift stores, Craigslist, Garage sales and the classifieds, many, many people buy a bunch of equipment, use it a few time then sell it.
Here are a few things to think about.
If you are car camping why get a backpacking stove when you can have the flexibility, size and stability of a two burner Coleman stove? Why squeeze into a tiny back packing tent when you can haul a bigger tent?
If you also plan to back pack you might want to get gear that will work for both types of camping, like the Jet Boil. Maybe get the smaller tent.
If you only plan to back pack I'd go with the lightest high end equipment you can afford. The biggest reason I've seen people quit back packing for is buying cheap heavy equipment.
In general MSR has good products, but don't companies like Optimas that have been building pack backing stoves for decades.
Air mattresses can be cold unless you get something with a filling. Exped makes one filled with down as well as a holofill version. I have a Big Agness holo filled air mat that is the kitties titties IMHO.
Here are a few things to think about.
If you are car camping why get a backpacking stove when you can have the flexibility, size and stability of a two burner Coleman stove? Why squeeze into a tiny back packing tent when you can haul a bigger tent?
If you also plan to back pack you might want to get gear that will work for both types of camping, like the Jet Boil. Maybe get the smaller tent.
If you only plan to back pack I'd go with the lightest high end equipment you can afford. The biggest reason I've seen people quit back packing for is buying cheap heavy equipment.
In general MSR has good products, but don't companies like Optimas that have been building pack backing stoves for decades.
Air mattresses can be cold unless you get something with a filling. Exped makes one filled with down as well as a holofill version. I have a Big Agness holo filled air mat that is the kitties titties IMHO.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
1 post? Kind of suspect this is not a real question. Spam suspected.
Didn't even see that. I have been noticing some suspicious posts in the general tech section. In this case a link to a website conveniently included in their first post along with several brands of gear (helps their searchability on google everytime someone clicks on this thread). Last activity on 'MUD shortly after.
I realize OP may be a bot, but wanted to point out a couple notes on top of the good current posts for people that may stumble upon this thread.
One important functional distinction between a canister stove (pocket rocket, windpro, etc) and most liquid fuel stoves (whisperlite in this case) is the ability to simmer. Canister stoves are generally MUCH better at lower settings.. just turn the knob down and keep wind away so it doesn't blow out the flame. Since liquid fuel stoves rely on the flame itself for vaporization of the fuel before burning, they can be very difficult to get anything but a very hot flame. A notable liquid fuel exception would be something like the MSR dragonfly, which has 2 knobs for adjusting burner and simmers great, but is significantly less compact.
Current stoves owned: MSR dragonfly, MSR whisperlite international, MSR reactor, MSR windpro, Snowpeak gigapower autolight.
Also, inflatable/semiinflatable sleeping pads don't need insulation to be warm. I have a Thermarest Neo-Air (two actually) and it is VERY warm, especially for a pad that is so light and packable. It has a reflective mylar layer inside that reflects radiant heat back to your body, as well as "dryer sheet" webbing inside to minimize air currents. Aside from sounding like a biodegradable sunchips back when you move around, it is an amazing piece of gear.
The problem with pads that have insulation is restrictions on how you fill them, OR eventual problems with mold/mildew on the interior. The pads with actual down inside cannot be inflated by breathing, as the humidity will cause problems eventually. The synthetic fill pads are better, but still not great. For these pads you need to use a compact pump setup or alter a stuff sack for inflation duty. There are now good options for how to do this, with the increasing popularity of this type of pad.
One important functional distinction between a canister stove (pocket rocket, windpro, etc) and most liquid fuel stoves (whisperlite in this case) is the ability to simmer. Canister stoves are generally MUCH better at lower settings.. just turn the knob down and keep wind away so it doesn't blow out the flame. Since liquid fuel stoves rely on the flame itself for vaporization of the fuel before burning, they can be very difficult to get anything but a very hot flame. A notable liquid fuel exception would be something like the MSR dragonfly, which has 2 knobs for adjusting burner and simmers great, but is significantly less compact.
Current stoves owned: MSR dragonfly, MSR whisperlite international, MSR reactor, MSR windpro, Snowpeak gigapower autolight.
Also, inflatable/semiinflatable sleeping pads don't need insulation to be warm. I have a Thermarest Neo-Air (two actually) and it is VERY warm, especially for a pad that is so light and packable. It has a reflective mylar layer inside that reflects radiant heat back to your body, as well as "dryer sheet" webbing inside to minimize air currents. Aside from sounding like a biodegradable sunchips back when you move around, it is an amazing piece of gear.
The problem with pads that have insulation is restrictions on how you fill them, OR eventual problems with mold/mildew on the interior. The pads with actual down inside cannot be inflated by breathing, as the humidity will cause problems eventually. The synthetic fill pads are better, but still not great. For these pads you need to use a compact pump setup or alter a stuff sack for inflation duty. There are now good options for how to do this, with the increasing popularity of this type of pad.
Good read, bloc. I have trouble with the canister stoves, cause I don't know how long they last, but then you
got to throw out the canister. I kind of hate that. It's why I keep to white gas, seems less wasteful to me. Just
opinion. If you were going to use one of your liquid stoves in your truck, which would you prefer? I don't have any
of those stoves, and am leaning seriously to the dragonfly because I like rice. With the two adjusters, are they
finicky?
I agree with your pad input. REI has a really nice pad, I'm starting to deal with a arthritic hip so thickness is
important. I do like the Exped synmat though. Tough call...
got to throw out the canister. I kind of hate that. It's why I keep to white gas, seems less wasteful to me. Just
opinion. If you were going to use one of your liquid stoves in your truck, which would you prefer? I don't have any
of those stoves, and am leaning seriously to the dragonfly because I like rice. With the two adjusters, are they
finicky?
I agree with your pad input. REI has a really nice pad, I'm starting to deal with a arthritic hip so thickness is
important. I do like the Exped synmat though. Tough call...
Pound for pound gas is lighter per BTU than the cannisters. Gas is also more efficient at higher altitudes and in cold weather. In general I feel gas is a better choice for backpacking. The only valid objection I've ever heard for not using gas is that carrying liquid gas can be troublesome, a problem I've never experienced in over 40 years of backpacking. As far as simmering goes, how important is that if you are cooking up freeze dried meals or melting snow? When backpacking 99% of the time all you want to do is boil water as fast as possible, also consider that most backpacking cook ware is light and thin so simmering turns into scorching pretty fast.
If your in a truck get a small two burner gas Coleman. They don't take up that much space and give you much, much better control for cooking plus two burners so you can keep the coffee warm while you cook the eggs, or boil the pasta while you make the Bolognese. IMHO it's just silly to use a backpacking stove for car camping. You can pick up a gently used 425 at a garage sale for cheap, I gave $10 for the last one I bought. Then you can go out and get something like the Optimus Nova, or MSR Whisperlight for backpacking.
If your in a truck get a small two burner gas Coleman. They don't take up that much space and give you much, much better control for cooking plus two burners so you can keep the coffee warm while you cook the eggs, or boil the pasta while you make the Bolognese. IMHO it's just silly to use a backpacking stove for car camping. You can pick up a gently used 425 at a garage sale for cheap, I gave $10 for the last one I bought. Then you can go out and get something like the Optimus Nova, or MSR Whisperlight for backpacking.
I guess we cook different. Simmering is important to me. I still carry my 2 burner coleman in the cardboard box I bought it in 1981.
I do use my back pack stove in my truck every time I stop for tea on the side of the road. Just curious about the dragonfly.
I do use my back pack stove in my truck every time I stop for tea on the side of the road. Just curious about the dragonfly.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I agree with Rusty. Even though this thread is a fraud, trying to make it good...
If you want light, efficient, good at all temps you want to use white gas. Canister stoves are an expensive joke. Coleman stoves are still the best. They are hot, simmer well, and are just so well made that every thing else just pales in comparison. If you are car camping, light weight is not a factor. A Coleman 502 single beats the pants off any modern Whisperlight or Dragonfly. A 425 is a smallish 2 burner and a 413 is a full size 2 burner.
Get a $10 Coleman stove at the next garage sale you see and you are good for life. Seriously, unless you are backpacking, you want an old Coleman stove. 1 burner, 2 burners or 3 burners, they work better than anything made today.
If you want light, efficient, good at all temps you want to use white gas. Canister stoves are an expensive joke. Coleman stoves are still the best. They are hot, simmer well, and are just so well made that every thing else just pales in comparison. If you are car camping, light weight is not a factor. A Coleman 502 single beats the pants off any modern Whisperlight or Dragonfly. A 425 is a smallish 2 burner and a 413 is a full size 2 burner.
Get a $10 Coleman stove at the next garage sale you see and you are good for life. Seriously, unless you are backpacking, you want an old Coleman stove. 1 burner, 2 burners or 3 burners, they work better than anything made today.
I simmer food a lot too, just not when I backpack. And if I'm not backpacking I carry a proper stove that will simmer a stew for hours, which was my point.
I finally discovered a really good method for cooking rice;
Cover rice with water, you want the water to be the same depth as the rice ie if the rice is 1 inch deep in the pot you want 1 inch of water over it. This works every time no matter how much rice or what size pot you use.
Let it stand for 15 minutes, this is critical, you can go longer but not less.
Bring it to a full boil.
Remove it from the heat and put it in a cozy or next to the fire if you have one
Leave it for another 15 minutes.
Perfect every time.
@Cruiserdrew I agree with everything except Coleman for backpacking their stoves are heavy. My Svea 123 is much lighter than the Coleman backpacking stoves, not to mention several orders of magnitude cooler. I'd probably go with MSR or Optimus if I were to replace the Svea.
For car camping and If expense is not too much of a concern, you can't go wrong with a 2 burner partner steel. They have fantastic build quality and the simmer control is impressive.
Still trying to figure out why people pay that much more for not much better quality than Coleman vintage gear that can be had for a fraction of the cost. History supports the quality of the old Coleman gear, it's still around and much of it has been used extensively and still works.