Stuff It with Us!

Last weekend (and carrying over into tonight), I was strapped to the sewing machine. I felt like a Vietnamese kid in a sweatshop. Why was I doing this?

I made some of my own stuff sacks, and a few other things. First off, I decided that for the $15 it would cost to buy a stuff sack, I could make my own; and learn a few things in the process. I made 5 stuff sacks since the weekend, one of which is jerzee material (like those oh-so-soft sheets I had in college), which I intend to use as a pillow at camp. I tried it out tonight, and I can fit my fleece into it no problem. The other stuff sacks are made from typical sil-nylon.

I also used the time to make some modifications to my backpacks. A few weeks ago, my mom and I modified some straps on my everyday pack, and that turned out fine. I added a stowable webbing strap, to act as an additional tie-down strap, if needed.

My other project included modifying my (knock-off) Camelbak pack. The compartments that came with it totalled somewhere near 200 cu in. I took that off the pack, leaving the reservoir sleeve, and I made another stuff sack, with grosgrain webbing for additional shock-cord capabilities. This increased the volume to well over 500 cu in. This is similar to the REI UL Flash. Not bad, I say, for my first projects.

In an earlier post, I said I'll also make some Ultralight Lids for our Granite Gear packs, once they arrive.

This was fun to do, and very rewarding.
Pictures

Cutting Weight

...on more than one front.

Since January, I've had $1100 at stake during my cousin's Biggest Loser competition. While I'm the featherweight of the bunch, I'm still shooting for 20% lost weight. It's a little hard to keep up with a workout routine with school and work; but the contest is a marathon, not a sprint, as the contest wraps on 1 July. Come 1 July, whoever has lost the highest percentage of their initial weight will win. So far, I'm down 5% from the baseline weigh-in.

Our hiking gear has been getting thinner as well. While I've cut 5% off myself, I've also cut 5 lbs. off my hiking gear. Replacements are as follows:

Pack
REI Talus 50L pack, 4# (SOLD)
Granite Gear Vapor Trail, 2#

Shelter
Sierra Designs Sirius tent, 4# (still in inventory, for trips w/ Lisa)
GoLite Cave 2 (hand-made), 21oz

Lisa's Pack
REI Talus 35w pack, 3# 8oz (SOLD)
Granite Gear Virga, 19oz

Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-Rest Ridge Rest (still in inventory)
T-a-R ProLite 3
[this change was made more for comfort, rather than weight]

I also began making some of my own gear. I am starting with stuff sacks, as they are necessary, and easy to make. I also have made my own version of the REI UL Flash pack, as well as a soft jerzee material stuff sack-turned pillow. When the Granite Gear packs arrive, I will be constructing the Ultralight Lid for the packs (much cheaper than purchasing them). Pictures will be posted soon.

... lighter on my joints, and lighter on my back.

Sabbatical

A Radical one, that is. I got word from WMMR on Friday that I'm going to VT. Yes, I won (wahn) a free ski weekend to VT. Good news, as this falls during Spring Break for me. Mount Snow got 18" since March began, and should get some more this week, to freshen things up a bit.

Joe T. should be a good skiing/drinking buddy that weekend.

Everyone loves fresh turns.