Trash full of Gold

It's been a while since my last post on the blog. Being a young parent and full time worker leads to shortage of time one can spend just for himself. Anway in the past few months I spent few minutes of my real "free" time daily tinkering of how to build simple&free water boiling kit. 

I set myself with few goals:

- FREE and 100% made from used materials = trash only or project upcycle,

- enough for my summer or day hiking needs = FBC & one cup tea,

- compact = all MUST fit inside the boiling pot,

- simple&no frills to use,

- efficient&cheap to run = alcohol type fuel, 

- and as light as possible = sub 50g.

Why trash? People are using waste materials for decades. So all this recycle or upcycle hype ain't that new after all. Right? As a kid I remember watching "gypsies" collecting all sorts of waste from our local scrap heap. They must be mad I said but actually they were smart turning trash to gold! So why not seek and find all the components from the bin?

One cup only? I think in heat of the summer when we need more refreshing cold water&drink, boiling kit that boils one cup (250ml) suffices easily for FBC style food or for

few sips of fresh tea brew in the morning to get the body going.  

Compact? All must fit inside the boiling pot and stay in there. That way I know exactly where all the "cooking" related items are. Inside the boiling pot!

Simple&no frills? Easy does it. Easy to make, easy to use!     

Efficient & cheap to run? Wood is free I know but rather slow and it takes time to prep before use. I think denaturated alcohol is always available and cheap enough even for the biggest cheapskate. From one liter (~5 EUR/liter) you get ~ 100x one cup boils. 

Light as possible? Following threads at BPL discussing SUL, XUL (or whatever _UL) cooking kits made me set the limit. I know you can buy kits as light like that, so the challange to build one was even greater. Beside it's always good to set a challange, work on it and once it's done try to improve it. 

So after I did thorough research on used materials I can easily pick up at various sources (yes even trash bin) I made the following sub 50g kit.

Weight&materials brake down is:

- Pot ~ 16.5g = empty aluminium tuna salad can,
- pot lid ~ 2g = aluminium, cut from used beer can + lenght of dyeema cord,
- wire bail ~ 1g = stainless steel, made from welding wire (TIG, MIG technique I am not sure about that), strong enough to safe&easy remove the pot off stove,
- pot stand ~ 6,5g = tripod, stainless steel welding wire left overs, 
- stove ~ 6g = used deodorant aluminium bottle (I have made few from aluminium bottle caps sourced on empty olive oil bottle) cut to volume, I added stonewool found at local construction site to hold the alcohol and covered it with tinny stainless steel mesh cut from used splatter screen,
- heat reflecting disc ~ 0,5g (actually my scale doesn't record it, but it must weigh something) = aluminium, cut from used beer can,
- windscreen ~ 7,5g = aluminium, cut from used beer can, single holepunch used to add a line of wenting holes,
- "cook kit" lid ~ 8g = to cover all up into nice and compact storage, PE lid sourced from empty cheese container.

I need to add tinny alcohol container to the above. 

The silicone wrist band above was later replaced with more finger friendly wire bail!

 Compact? 

I used it on several occasions since I've made it and it's great. Nice&compact + light enough for me. I see no reason not to take it even on a short hike. You never know when you fancy a nice warm cup of tea or soup. The alcohol stove can be replaced with DIY version of Brian Green Esbit stove to cut some more weight, but the pot stand should be made a bit higher. 

It's so easy to make one so I encourage you to look around as there's plenty usefull trash lying around. Trash full of Gold!

Alpina BC 2250 vs.Traverse nordic Backcountry ski boots

                    Alpina BC 2250 boot on left and Alpina BC Traverse boot on right hand side.

Few weeks ago I had a chance to buy a pair of Alpina nordic ski Backcountry boots with a little help from Mr. Joe.We've been in contact about Alpina boots for few years now and I've promissed to reach him when there'll be a chance to get, otherwise not that cheap boots, for a reasonable price. The moment came this year when Alpina (which is close to my home) had buy one take two offer and we jumped at it. He opted for Alpina BC 2250 and I for Alpina Traverse Backcountry ski boot.

Both models are Alpina's top range Backcountry ski boots. What they have in common is that both are made to be used with Rottefella BC NNN bindings such as BC Magnum or BC Manual. Both have insulated inner bootie made from Alpina's proprietary waterproof breathable membrane Alpitex and well know Thinsulate insulation. To close the bootie you just simply tie it up with lovely red shoe laces.

                                        BC 2250 neoprene overshoe folded to show inner boot

Both models have neoprene overshoe to add extra warmth and protection from the elements, which closes with YKK zipper. Zipper on BC 2250 is much stronger and waterproof where as Traverse boot sports lighter non waterproof YKK zipper. Both models have built in gaiter ring to attach your gaiters (word of caution here, gaiter ring failed on my first outing and should be replaced with something stronger). 

                                      Front view to show neoprene overshoe closure and gaiter ring

Neoprene overshoe is much higher on BC 2250 model and feels thicker. Boots have different cuff closure system. Closure on BC 2250 is rugged plastic ring with plastic buckle which can be adjusted to get the best fit and support. Closure on Traverse is simple adjustable Velcro closure. Both neoprene height difference and cuff closure systems can be seen on the above picture. 

Another difference is plastic cuff on both models which according to Alpina "assures additional strength, better and stronger lateral support. Upper zone embraces just above the ankle and gives more comfort and better leg support". As you can see on the picture below the cuff on BC 2250 sits higher above the ankle and gives better lateral support to the boot compared to Traverse model.

                                Plastic cuff on BC 2250 model

                                Plastic cuff on BC Traverse model

BC 2250 have different heel fit to Traverse. Once I placed my foot inside BC 2250 I didn't notice any heel lock or heel support from the back of the boot so my heels were lifting up while walking and  inside volume at the heel part of the boot was notably voluminous! They have special heel grip system which according to Alpina "enables adjustable foot retention. The top of the heel cup can be modified, which results in an optimal fit of the shoe, greater comfort and functional grip of the foot". Either my very wide feet have rather thin heel or the heel grip system just doesn't work out for me. After trying different settings (you simply pull the pull tab up to reduce heel volume, but it can only be done when you are not wearing your boot) my heels were still lifting up while walking and volume was not that much reduced. I haven't noted any forefoot width difference between the two models, but there is more volume in BC 2250 boot.

                               Back view to show heel grip system on BC 2250 model (right side picture)


Boot flex on both models is same, not too stiff not too bendy and both offer good support. I wasn't happy with BC 2250 fit so I opted for slightly lighter but still very good and functional Traverse model. I am novice nordic skier since this winter and believe they'll be just perfect for that, but so would BC 2250 if they would fit me just a bit better.

I did some nordic Backcountry skiing since I've bought the boots and can say they are realy good. Nice and warm and even good to walk in when slopes are to steep and icy. I've used microspike crampons on very icy slope and had great result with the combo. 

If you are looking to get a pair of new nordic Backcountry boots I recommend you look at the two models mentioned.

Cheers!

Locus Gear Nanos utilize bag

In this post I'll take a look at a fantastic bit of kit that can make your outdoors or daily commuter day much more simple. Locus Gear Nanos utilize bag.

Few weeks ago at UL Summit I had an honour to meet and hike with Mr. Jotaro Yoshida from Japan. He is the owner, designer and main workforce at Locus Gear cottage company in Japan, focused on building ultralight hiking gear from latest state of the art materials. Mr. Jotaro is very nice person and great hiking buddy! He is very passionate to talk about his hiking adventures around the world and even more so about his future plans. All his passion for outdoors and more importantly about outdoor gear can be seen in his creations at Locusgear. From what I've seen few weeks ago I can vouch for top design and high quality manufacture. But what else would you expect from meticolous gentleman as Mr. Jotaro is?

He was very kind and sent me two of his creations Nanos utilize bag and Tenugui scarf after he returned back to Japan, so I can enjoy wearing them. Thank you again for such a kind gesture! I've worn Nanos utilize bag almost daily so lets take a look of it.
First the standards for gear review, fabric and configuration:

The sack is made from PU coated ripstop fabric, it has one main compartment which closes with small zip (YYK btw.), one back fabric and two front mesh pockets. The attached shoulder strap sports detachable pad made from spacer mesh and velcro so to shave some weight you can detach the pad from the strap. 
Next weight and dimensions:
According to my measure the approximate dim. are 30x23x5cm so you get ~3,5L storage space inside the main compartment. The weight of the sack is 66,5g. Back pocket dimensions are ~15x30cm and it suppose to hold a map which it does perfectly. Two front mesh pockets measure ~9x15cm and ~19x15cm and are great to hold your Iphone, water bottle or Platy snacks and other little things you would like to keep at hand while out and about. The pack size of the sack is tinny!

There are numerous applications for this little gem.  Commuting (it can hold your Ipad), grocery bag, everyday purse bag, summit sack, day hiking sack etc. I’ve used it for a day hike when warm clear weather was expected and it hold my map, wind shirt, snacks, UL stove/pot combo, water and other day hike essentials with ease. You wear it over your shoulder so no sweaty back! It can be taken off without taking your backpack from your shoulders like you need to with proper chest sack that attaches to your backpack shoulder straps!

I think it’s a keeper! 

At the Sunny side of the Alps

My first posting as a Blogger...you are joking right! Why?

 

Idea to start a blog matured in me for a long time. After I was almost 100% sure not to start a blog due to lack of time as a young parent, the thought of it just didn't go away. Today I made a decision and started writing it up. After all, there are numerous young parents with a blog! Right Hendrik? Anway what I'll do on my blog is post about my ultralight outdoor adventures here in our beautiful country of Slovenia and the rest of the World. With doing that I'll try to encourage you my dear readers to go out even more and enjoy Wilderness before all is gone for good!  

What no Gear reviews? Relax. I'll post about gear as well but since my local sources are pretty limited with what we would call UL/SUL I might be few steps behind and there will be lots of other reviews about the same stuff out already. So bare with me!

Enjoy the reading and please post your comments. I highly appreciate your views, opinions, directions and I like to hear your thoughts on the matter I commented. After all comments do things get better.