Reviews by User: Jeff Gerhard (133)

I've been using this stove for over two years with outstanding results @ or above 11,500 ft. Not only does it provide 16,400 BTU's, it weighs in @ 87g, including the stuff sack. The flame forms an even ball of heat as compared to the MSR Pocket Rocket which forms a hot spot possibly resulting in burning, scorching, & difficult clean-up. The F1 is also extremely wind resistant & simmers @ an amazingly low setting while all the time being fuel efficient. (As it is with all stoves, do not boil & cook @ the highest setting. Balance the blue flame for maximum heat & efficiency). Highly recommended!!!

Good flotation on all but the freshest, deepest powder. Great on trails & packed powder. Easy to adjust claw binding. Very durable. V-tail allows for easier, more natural stride. Remember to add in pack weight when selecting size.

The high heat output makes this my stove of choice for winter activities. I considered purchasing the older model until I saw the improved stability & flexible fuel line, a big plus when saving space in your pack. The noise level, when burning, keeps critters away. I'm currently burning kerosene but like the ability to burn a variety of other fuels. If you want to boil water quickly at all elevations & in all temperatures, this is the best. If simmering is your priority, keep looking!

The five main things I like about this stove is: 1. 12,000 BTU's, 2. The way it folds down & fits into the bottom of your fuel canister, 3. Very lightweight, 4. Constructed of high quality components for durability & longevity, 5. Fuel efficient. Uses 5g of fuel to bring 8oz of water to boil. If you're a stove nut like me, this is a must have for your collection.

I've been using this stove for over two years with outstanding results @ or above 11,500 ft. Not only does it provide 16,400 BTU's, it weighs in @ 87g, including the stuff sack. The flame forms an even ball of heat as compared to the MSR Pocket Rocket which forms a hot spot possibly resulting in burning, scorching, & difficult clean-up. The F1 is also extremely wind resistant & simmers @ an amazingly low setting while all the time being fuel efficient. (As it is with all stoves, do not boil & cook @ the highest setting. Balance the blue flame for maximum heat & efficiency). Highly recommended!!!

How is this tacky, watery, milky white substance going to waterproof my new nubuck boots? I had my doubts @ first but when I didn't see any snow or water penetrate the leather, I knew it was working. In fact, snow doesn't even stick to boots. Handy sponge top applicator makes the entire process a breeze.

She wears it constantly, washes it, wait until it dries, puts it back on, then starts the process all over again. She has even worn it to sleep in. "It's so warm & comfortable." Guess what one of her presents under the Christmas tree this year will be?

Four season bag in many areas, three plus in the rest. Warm & lightweight plus water resistant. Many times it's too warm to fully zip up. Can be used as a down comforter if this is the case. Roomy all the way around & sooooo comfy. If you can imagine what it would be like to sleep in a warm cloud, the Antelope would be it!

I use a WM Antelope for fall & early winter camping & the Ultralite for everything else. Lightest & warmest 20 degree bag I've ever experienced. At 1lb 12oz & 850 fill, this long version sleeping bag stuffs into the smallest stuff sack for maximum compactness. However I've recently been stuffing it into my day pack with all my other down items & clothes, etc. This package fits neatly into the bottom of my pack without compressing the down as much as other methods. I don't like using compression stuff sacks for 850 like I used to for 550 & 600. Just a personal thing. I'm 6' 3" 185 lbs with plenty of room to spare in the WM Ultralite. No half zip here. Full zip for maximum ventilation & roomy foot box. In my opinion, Western Mountaineering is the "Magnum Opus" of sleeping bag manufacturers!!!

Innovative idea from MSR. Lightweight & useful spoon/stove tool combination. I've used the stove tool much more than I initially thought I would.

MSR knew what we wanted when they designed & produced the enduring WhisperLite. Built-in shaker jet cleaning tool makes it even easier for your stove to work @ maximum heat output. Quiet & fuel efficient. The twenty-two ounce MSR fuel bottle lasts eight days @ four uses per day for me. My original WhisperLite has been going strong since 1988. Simmers great @ a low setting & on the upper end, very hot. Remove fuel line cable once a year for inspection & make sure to check all rubber pump parts for cracks & hardness on a regular basis to avoid accidents.

I've had this tent since 2004. I chose it because it is lightweight, single person, long enough for my 6'4" size, & still have extra room @ head, foot, & side to side. A small vestibule is also a plus to store boots & a few other things. The durable nylon body & fly have weathered sustained hail & heavy rain without any problem. It is also factory seam sealed. Condensation is never a factor due to the ventilated side, top & end panels. Single panel nylon mesh door. Having used two person tents for so long, it took me a few nights to get used to the smaller size. When you take all things into consideration, this is a great little shelter for your investment.

This is an improved design over the old standard. The newly designed valve adds flame control especially when simmering. The plastic material is just as substantial as aluminum, used by other manufacturers, only lighter. Good pump seal. Needs occasional lubrication.

Leave it to Therm-a-Rest to design a totally different sleeping pad. This is the easiest pad to pack. No more squeezing the air out, simply fold, a big + when breaking camp. The Z-Lite is the lightest, full size sleeping pad on the market & at 3/4" thickness, it's fairly comfortable. Good choice for ultralight backpacking.

I've had a pair of these trekkers for years & the only thing I've noticed is part of the Smart Wool name on the soles are warn away. Very comfortable & temperature adjustable, meaning they'll keep your your tired dogs warm when necessary & not overheat them on the other hand. They dry quickly & being wool, insulate when wet. Good long term investment.

You can't put a price on peace of mind when it comes to pure drinking water, especially when traveling in a third world country. This is not only waterborne bacteria, common protozoan parasites, such as giardia, and cryptosporidia country but also deadly viruses. The First Need is a compact, back flushable water purifying system that works great in any suspect water source. This was not only my first water purifier but still is after twenty + years. The cartridge is easy to back flush when in the field. I still use the color dye test to make sure the matrix hasn't been compromised in any way. Don't leave home without the First Need when traveling in areas where water is suspect. It's only drawback is weight. It is slightly heavy especially when backpacking.

As a part time guide & trip leader, I require a signaling device to be carried by all my participants as part of their emergency/survival kit. The Howler Whistle plus a mirror works great in almost all situations. Lightweight & inexpensive security.

Immediately after receiving this quality Therm-a Rest pad, we headed for a winter car camp. Upon arrival, I started the self-inflation procedure, somewhat slower @ 0 degrees. That night I was rudely awakened by an aching side. I soon realized I had slid off my pad & was lying on the tent floor. Everything was back to normal when I got back on. You won't even notice the cold, frozen ground when sleeping on the Luxury Camp Pad, as long as you don't slide off! Great for car & cold weather camping. Extra thickness = extra warmth. I even pack it in on short distance winter camps.

Great lightweight addition to their already bombproof Round Rock Solid compressors. These have proven themselves to me for over three years without any problems. I own one each of the XS, S, & M. The medium can be used for all but the largest sleeping bags. I use the XS & S for clothes & fleece items. Extremely lightweight & durable. Items are visible due to the more sheer SilNylon material. I don't recommend FULLY compressing the higher loft down sleeping bags for fear of damaging the more delicate clusters. Just a thing of mine!

This kit has more pump-related parts that your stove will need over & above the annual maintenance kit. It includes the essential rubber pump valve ball & spring that should be checked annually due to fuel exposure. The fuel line cable should also be inspected on an annual basis. Lubricate rubber parts with silicone grease. Don't have a fuel blow out like me because I didn't replace a simple o-ring.

I've got two each of #'s 1 through 3. They come in very handy for anything & everything. I even use a #1 for my small golf items like tees, ball markers, various tools, etc. The GG's don't have a top, inner flap so they're not as water resistant as my old Chouinard's but as long as you keep them above water, they're fine. The #2 works great as a fuel bottle carrier & the coated nylon material keeps small spills in check.

Not only are the Capilene 2 zips extremely versatile & great to wear anytime, formal wear & ties are the exception, they are highly functional. I wear mine mainly when backpacking as a single layer, snowshoeing when multi layers are required, & around the house during the winter months. They dry faster than any other synthetic & don't get too funky when worn repeatedly over a period of time without being washed.. I've never encountered a fabric or zipper problem. If the new generation lasts as long as the original, they are also a great long term investment.

Can be used for any occasion when a bottom base layer is required. Lightweight enough to pack year round. Essential for sleeping when the temperature drops below zero & you're in a 10 degree bag.

I purchased this stove for my son to be used for one hand operation. He attaches the fuel cartridge with ease due to the multi-mount. This was our main concern. The stove lights quickly with the auto start & burns hot, 15,000 BTU's. Large burner head is great for simmering & better heat distribution. Lightweight with big stove features. The MSR SuperFly rocks!

These GG compression stuff sacks are the toughest you can get anywhere. Great for sleeping bags but especially clothing & other bulky items. Super strong components enables you to really cinch down the contents without worrying about breaking buckles, blowing out seams, or tearing the webbing. Bottom webbing handle allows easy removal of contents. Especially recommended when weight is not an issue.

At barely over an ounce & very sharp, the Gerber L.S.T. is a good choice for a second or extra knife. I keep mine in my emergency kit & use it from time to time. Great to use as a paring knife. Nice handle.

Everyone should own a Benchmade knife to experience one of the finest quality pieces of cutlery on the market. Quick & positive ambidextrous thumb stud opening. Spring operated Axis side lock keeps blade locked until released. The size & weight are great for backpacking. One of the lightest, full feature knives available due to the "state of the art" materials Benchmade uses. Great handle feel & extremely sharp. The serrated section cuts through rope & webbing with ease. If you're going outdoors, you need a good knife. Spend the extra $ and treat yourself to the Benchmade Griptilian. It's as good as it gets. Made in the USA!

Even though the full zip version is somewhat heavier, the time saved by not having to remove your boots is worth it. Very important when time is of the essence. This version seems to be more rugged than the pull-ons. Heavier duty material. Great for winter activities.

As with all the other Mountain House meals, easy to prepare & tastes all right. Contains twice as much sodium as competition. MH claims it is to improve the taste. WRONG! Maybe the taste of their food but not the better food manufacturers. Good to use in emergency situations when splitting the portions is your only option.

It's a bit $, all titanium is, but this is the only piece of cookware you'll ever need. At 125g including lid, the Titan is very durable, easy to clean, & heats up quickly. Can be used as a pot, cup/mug, water boiler, etc. Long live titanium!

If you like small, crunchy, tough, salty cubes of beef, this is for you. Allow to rehydrate longer than the recommended ten minutes. This helps a bit. The onions & potatoes are somewhat palatable. Filling @ best.

Easy to prepare if that's all you're looking for. Tasteless yellow styrofoam sponges swollen with hot water. Use less water & they burn even cooking with oil. Granted eggs aren't the easiest food item to freeze dry with tasteful results but adding other ingredients would certainly help. These by themselves suck!

I've worn this jacket during three rainy sessions so far & it did what it was supposed to do, kept me dry. I purchased it to reduce my overall pack weight by four ounces. I've been impressed by everything including the price. The large hood & pockets are great for keeping head & hands out of the elements. Zippered pockets keep items in place. Elastic is used on cuffs & hood to reduce weight. Stiff front zipper cover & hood bill. I normally wear a large & this large fits me just fine even with a down vest underneath. So far all +'s & no -'s.

I recently completed a seven day, forty-three mile backpack in the Colorado mountains using my new GoLite Odyssey. It was great dropping 1.5 pounds just by changing backpacks. This was an experiment discovering how the numerous adjustments effected the overall carry. I found it more comfortable not using the sternum strap due to the shoulder straps are not as beefy as those on heavier packs & therefore dug into my shoulders a bit. The webbing is smaller & lighter weight but seem to be tightly secured, holding everything in place. The bottom sleeping bag compartment is accessible from both inside or outside the pack. The smaller, self-sealing, weatherproof zippers kept all rain & moisture out. It would be nice to have a zippered map pouch underneath the top compartment but saving weight is what this pack is all about. I had more than enough room for nine days out. Taking all things into consideration, this is a great pack for size, weight, & overall investment.

I purchased this stove for car camping use however it is certainly light enough for backpacking. Immediate 23,900 BTU's @ the push of a button. Be careful or it will scorch non-stick coated pots & pans. Also ignite @ the lowest possible setting or you could get scorched yourself!

I have a slightly narrower foot than most men so just any boot will not fit properly. In 1992 I purchased my first pair of Asolo boots, AFX 555. A perfect fit. After sixteen years, three pairs of soles, long retired from mountaineering, I still wear than to walk around the neighborhood. Four years ago I purchased a pair of TPS 520 GV boots. After 31 summit's, 12 snowshoe trips, & countless winter day hikes, I'm still on the original soles & my feet have ALWAYS stayed dry. BTW, I also have a pair of TPS 535 V's that filled the gap in between. A proper fitting pair of boots are more than worth their weight in gold. I contend they are your most important piece of equipment. In fact when you find the right boot, purchase two pair. This is how I feel about any high quality Asolo product but especially the TPS 520 GV. This is a medium to heavy load Gore-Tex backpacking/mountaineering boot, great for high alpine & approach routes in all but the most severe conditions, great traction, minimal exposed stitching, & top, full-grain leather. Need I say more?

Good for a three day trip. Use the 220 if you're going out for any longer. Hot & efficient tri-fuel blend including isobutane. Works great @ higher elevations.

As a knife collector/enthusiast, I purchased this Ultralight L.S.T. a few years ago to carry in my backpacking survival kit along with another knife. This Gerber is ultra sharp & is extremely lightweight. Highly recommended especially when space & weight are important. Very durable for its small size.

This is one of my handy everyday knives that I use for everything from cutting cardboard to opening envelopes. I like the different, open handle design especially when it gets wet. Clip holds tightly in place. Thumb stud makes opening even easier. Very sharp tanto point.

It appears to be a nice functional design but mine leaked in my pack. I discovered the O-gasket seal in the cap moves out of position when tightened. I thought it was an isolated case but when the second flask did the same thing, I replaced it with a 16oz Nalgene HDPE narrow mouth screw top bottle & the problem went away.

I like this bowl for its strength & weight. The only drawback is it conducts heat so well that gets too hot to hold.

The Romanov's might not have approved but when you're hungry, almost anything tastes good including this version of the classic 1861 dish. Even the marmots seemed to have enjoyed it. After gorging themselves on my backpack, they still had some room left for the MH Beef Stroganoff meal that I didn't finish. True story!

This is one of the handiest tools I've ever used for both work & the outdoors. It has more useful functions than most other type tools. I take it on all my winter outings where weight, it's only downside, is not an issue. The saw has provided small firewood in an emergency when heat was necessary however the blade is short limiting cutting to a maximum of 3" diameter & reversing angles. None of the tools are as good as individuals but when you combine them into one package, you have a very compact & useful accoutrement.

No need to ever purchase USGS TOPO maps again with this software. It includes many options like creating & printing your personalized routes, shaded relief, build profiles including mileage & elevation gained, etc. Download all CD-ROMs for seamless coverage. 3-D enhancement allows fly overs & virtual relief. Great product.

You can't go wrong with a hearty bowl of Chili Mac with Beef. A good stick to your ribs meal. Add your own red chile powder for extra flavor/heat & tortillas for more carbs. More beef & less macaroni pasta would be a nice change from MH.

I used the 1400 on my last snowshoe trip & was impressed by the lightweight titanium material & nesting ability. Great for boiling water & meal preparation but the top is a bit too small for doing almost anything but sauteing vegetables. I used it for a drinking & measuring cup.

I've used this sleeping pad mainly for short winter backpacking trips where a lightweight pad is important. Being closed cell foam it insulates quite well from the cold ground & is fairly comfortable. It is also very inexpensive. The only negative I've found is it's bulky size when rolled up. Even in the stuff sack, it is still a good size package. If you're on a budget, this is a good choice.

This is one the stoves I've been using for winter activities since 2003. It is as reliable as the sun rising every morning. It is hot, lightweight, has multi-fuel capabilities, & now with the new MSR fuel pump, simmers even better. Also WhisperLite is appropriate for the name. It's almost as quiet as a canister stove. (As it is with all stoves, remember to burn/field test & check all rubber O-rings prior to leaving on your trip!)

No need to pack in, but necessary to maintain your liquid fuel stoves @ home. Rubber parts, when exposed to liquid fuel, break down over a period of time. The all purpose wrench is also a great tool to have.

If you're looking @ cookware for two or more that will last forever, this is it. Nests & stores very nicely Extremely durable & heats evenly. Cleans up very nicely with a little soap & water, "Scotch" pad, or sand. Blue discolorations caused be overheating can be removed with copper cleaner. A bit heavy, but if weight is not an issue, this cookware set is for you.