[at-l] 2 Gear Questions

[thornel@attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

At 04:01 PM 3/28/2001 -0500, Stephen P. Champion, MD wrote:
>1. Regarding Tin Can Stoves - This may be a really stupid question, as I've
>never used one, but what would be the pros and cons of using a larger can
>(Fosters, etc) instead of a pop or tuna can?  ...

Part of the attraction is the cost and the small size and weight of the 
soda can, cat food can, what-have-you can stoves. Folks who make them use 
available resources. Soda cans make sense as you can find them disguised as 
litter most everywhere. There is an issue of making it easy to park your 
pot over the stove, avoid excessive heat from burning an expensive TI pot, 
and keeping the amount of fuel used (read weight) at a minimum. Experiment 
with the size of can you have, and let us know how it works comparatively.

>2.  This is almost out of season, now that warmer weather is coming, but has
>anyone used one of the Sierra Designs sleeping bags with the "new" Night Cap
>hood?  Does it work or is it a gimmick?  I dislike traditional mummy bags,
>and am looking to replace a rather heavy rectangular bag.  Maybe one of the
>semi's is the answer, but I've never seen one that looks like it would work
>for me.  I'm a fairly warm sleeper, and haven't (thus far) done any middle
>of the winter overnights, but the ability to sleep on my stomach and put my
>arms wherever I want, yet still stay warm, looks good to me.

Sorry, but I can't see the problem with a mummy sack that wouldn't hold 
true with a rectangular sack. I personally can't lay on my stomach in the 
woods - regardless of the bag. Your best bet to find out if a bag will work 
for you is to try it out, see if you can rent one or borrow one from a 
friend, or do the product test at your favorite outfitters. Even so, you 
will find your bag changes qualities dramatically after 3 or 4 days of 
hiking. (The same goes for your favorite choice of mat.)

OrangeBug