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Best practice is to have a water resistant printed map as fallback when/if your gadgets fail. You can't really buy your way out of this problem, the closest you'll get is an Inreach. Which by all accounts is an excellent solution but it's still electronics and can still fail.
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Sep 6, 2023 13:15
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something like the garmin gpsmap line or the inreach explorer none of the watches are going to do what you want, and as above all of the options will be less reliable than a piece of paper
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Sep 6, 2023 14:10
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I actually really like using my Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire on the trail, but if you're using the gps the entire time it goes from 15 days of battery life to more like 3-5. I do like the logging and tracking features tho, it helps me pace myself by keeping my heart rate in check. I always carry a map and compass as a backup and have some experience orienteering so. Two is one and one is none and all that
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Sep 6, 2023 14:37
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xzzy posted:Best practice is to have a water resistant printed map as fallback when/if your gadgets fail. It's also just really fun to navigate with a map and compass. I love spotting a ridge or water feature and figuring out where I am, where I'm looking, etc. Maps are fun to collect too. They're relatively cheap and don't take up much space.
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Sep 6, 2023 15:23
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Ive always wanted to get into using a map and compass more but have found it very difficult in the midwest. Our sea of trees and lakes in the boundary waters makes it a lot harder skill to master as compared to out west when Ive tried at least.
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Sep 6, 2023 15:41
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Thanks all! I'll take the overwhelming advice and go with a map and compass.
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Sep 6, 2023 15:43
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BaseballPCHiker posted:Ive always wanted to get into using a map and compass more but have found it very difficult in the midwest. Our sea of trees and lakes in the boundary waters makes it a lot harder skill to master as compared to out west when Ive tried at least. Arguably that's when it's more important because there's no peaks to navigate off of. It's pretty easy to recognize "oh that's mt jimbob and my car is parked at the southwest slope and the sun is getting low so I know where west is, I'll just follow this valley in that direction." That's not to say you can't get lost in the hills, it happens all the time when people head into thick forest. But when the world is flat you really gotta have some mechanism to identify out what pond you're standing next to and using it to pick a heading to get yourself out.
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Sep 6, 2023 15:54
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AfricanBootyShine posted:I just got back from a hiking trip in the alps, and my phone was a mess for navigation. It kept overheating and freezing, and had it rained it would’ve been useless. I’m thinking it’s time to get a smart watch with some sort of trail navigation. Something that I could copy a GPX to and then follow. I don’t need any fitness features - just reliable, precise navigation. Is there any product like this? The Garmins seem to be stacked with unnecessary logging features. I'll second what everyone said about the value of carrying a paper map and compass (and knowing how to use them). Having said that, I use Gaia GPS on my phone every hike and have never had overheating or freezing issues. Granted I only open it occasionally on the hike, not constant usage. Your initial problems may be due to issues with the phone or app itself (unless you're looking for constant usage, I could see that causing overheating).
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Sep 6, 2023 16:10
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TBF, the overheating was because I had the phone in my pocket and it was 30C/86F.
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Sep 6, 2023 18:50
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Honestly I've had the worst reliability problems with physical maps -Easy to blow away in wind -Non laminated easily torn, damaged by water -Laminated not really foldable, doesn't fit in pocket, not so practical to keep checking, basically a kite I've sent at least two maps into loving orbit. Now I just make sure there are at least 2 phones on a trip. Edit: compass is essential either way, unless/until smartphone compasses are worth a poo poo
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Sep 6, 2023 19:06
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Generate a map on caltopo with your route and waypoints and whatever info layers you want, then print it on regular paper and shove it in a ziplock bag.
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Sep 6, 2023 19:22
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Morbus posted:Honestly I've had the worst reliability problems with physical maps A good technique here is to re-fold the map so the section you're looking at is exposed, and then use the map while it's still folded. Still tricky to re-fold the map or work in the rain, but it makes things a little more convenient.
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Sep 6, 2023 19:24
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The Fool posted:Generate a map on caltopo with your route and waypoints and whatever info layers you want, then print it on regular paper and shove it in a ziplock bag. I've done this! It's nice to have a map of just the area you're going to be in. Not as unwieldy as a full map.
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Sep 6, 2023 19:28
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Morbus posted:Honestly I've had the worst reliability problems with physical maps you need a map case https://www.amazon.com/map-case/s?k=map+case
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Sep 6, 2023 20:44
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xzzy posted:Arguably that's when it's more important because there's no peaks to navigate off of. Oh I completely agree! I’m just bad at it despite my previous attempts. One day I’ll master it but it’ll probably be years from now. I’m in the midst of a big gear sell off and trading gear. Got a Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul headed my way for a 3 season pack. Still need something for winter with straps and ties off and with a good hip belt to connect my pulk too.
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Sep 7, 2023 04:56
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waffle enthusiast posted:Someone in the general bearshit thread was talking about bringing a tarp backpacking. I’ve been looking off and on but the ones at REI (e.g. Kammok/MSR) seem pretty pricey for just a 8’x10’-ish tarp — perhaps because of bells and whistles? Check out Paria, I've been impressed with their tent so far for the cost and they have a tarp for $80 ish.
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Sep 7, 2023 08:32
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With the duration of fire bans this summer, I realize I should have a 2nd gas burner for larger groups. Up until now I've used a pocket rocket and either a camp fire or my firebox nano. Rather than buying a second small stove and needing to carry a 2nd can of fuel, I was thinking of just getting a 2 burner stove. It seems the Jetboil Genesis is the only real option that's light weight/compact enough to take on anything more than a car camping trip, or that will fit in a canoe barrel. Just wondering if I'm missing any alternatives or if anyone has thoughts on the Jetboil. Merci
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Sep 7, 2023 11:10
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Math You posted:With the duration of fire bans this summer, I realize I should have a 2nd gas burner for larger groups. Up until now I've used a pocket rocket and either a camp fire or my firebox nano. Do you really want a 2 burner stove, or do you just need something beefier to boil lots of water for a group? There are a lot of options if that's the case (jetboil sumo, or just any larger stove + larger pot...) Sorry I don't have any experience with the 2 canister burner stoves
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Sep 7, 2023 17:58
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Safety Dance posted:A good technique here is to re-fold the map so the section you're looking at is exposed, and then use the map while it's still folded. Still tricky to re-fold the map or work in the rain, but it makes things a little more convenient. Yeah, the problem I always had with keeping a foldable map in a ziploc etc. is that, in wet weather, it's just a matter of days until the map gets wet, eventually ink starts blurring or paper tears etc. My hands are wet, water is dripping off my rainjacket hood while I read the map, the bag is getting rained on, it's just one of many losing battles vs. water. Laminating or putting the map in a case fixes this, but now it becomes pretty unwieldy and not pocketable. At some point, the reality is I've had zero smartphone related failures in several years, and I'm gonna be using one anyway for GPS. 2 phones on a trip is backup enough for me. Plus, taking a map bearing is quicker and 100% accurate on a phone, vs. having to faff around with a flat surface/clipboard/whatever to get a paper map nice and flat. Also I can instantly switch between map layers to show/hide things like slope angle shading or satellite images, superimpose my track, and automatically read elevation from the topo data. I can check the map one handed and stow it in my pocket. I don't have to use a printer or worry about how to divide an itinerary into pages/detail zones. It's just a better experience overall imo.
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Sep 7, 2023 18:25
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Taking a paper map is still a good precaution and you could prevent running by printing it on a color laser printer at a Kinkos or something
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Sep 7, 2023 18:36
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The phone is absolutely my go-to for all navigation, but you gotta have a backup plan. Paper can get wet and the ink runs, phones can run out of battery or malfunction if dropped. There's workarounds for everything but it still comes down to redundancy, and a piece of paper weighs almost nothing so it's zero burden to stuff in the bag. Or I guess you could memorize the terrain as you walk through it.
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Sep 7, 2023 18:38
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The community just needs to normalize sextant use.
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Sep 7, 2023 18:43
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I prefer to just rely on my excellent sense of direction and good luck.
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Sep 7, 2023 18:43
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xzzy posted:The phone is absolutely my go-to for all navigation, but you gotta have a backup plan. Paper can get wet and the ink runs, phones can run out of battery or malfunction if dropped. There's workarounds for everything but it still comes down to redundancy, and a piece of paper weighs almost nothing so it's zero burden to stuff in the bag. This 100%. There’s a reason planes with high end electronic systems still also have analog gauges. Unless it’s a zone I know really well, I always carry an analog map and a (real) watch with me.
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Sep 7, 2023 19:14
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Apart from anything else using a touchscreen in the rain sucks. A map in a mapcase weighs almost nothing and always works.
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Sep 7, 2023 19:22
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withak posted:I prefer to just rely on my excellent sense of direction and good luck. superultralight navigation strats
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Sep 7, 2023 20:08
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I train for that in minecraft.
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Sep 7, 2023 20:17
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xzzy posted:I train for that in minecraft. Simply leave a trail of lit torches behind you wherever you go.
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Sep 7, 2023 21:24
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Morbus posted:Do you really want a 2 burner stove, or do you just need something beefier to boil lots of water for a group? There are a lot of options if that's the case (jetboil sumo, or just any larger stove + larger pot...) I, a monster, sometimes cook things that involve boiling water in two separate vessels or even sauteing /frying things in a pan. I can get by with 1 usually but it's definitely more difficult when cooking for 4-6. I'll usually ask someone else to bring a stove which invariably ends up being an old school Coleman stove we have to lug around.
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Sep 7, 2023 21:42
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For any Oregon goons, REI opened a new “resupply” store just outside of Portland. It’s 100% used gear and is a proper full sized store. Lots of good deals to be had.
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Sep 8, 2023 03:06
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withak posted:I prefer to just rely on my excellent sense of direction and good luck. pre-RIP to this lad
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Sep 8, 2023 04:30
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yoohoo posted:For any Oregon goons, REI opened a new “resupply” store just outside of Portland. It’s 100% used gear and is a proper full sized store. Lots of good deals to be had. I'm bummed out that all of the stores are now redirecting their returns to that store instead though. Now if I want to look through used deals its going to be a 35min drive instead of a 5min drive.
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Sep 8, 2023 04:58
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cerious posted:I'm bummed out that all of the stores are now redirecting their returns to that store instead though. Now if I want to look through used deals its going to be a 35min drive instead of a 5min drive. Ah I didn’t realize that’s what was happening. There’s so much gear there that I figured they were drawing from a much larger selection of stores, while still keeping garage sale sections in stores that weren’t the one immediately next door.
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Sep 8, 2023 17:47
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I'm looking for a sled I can pull behind myself while snowshoeing this winter. Partly it will be to haul a toddler on our regular snowshoe adventures, but I also have wanted to try some basic winter camping for a while. Nothing real serious yet--probably just walking a couple hundred feet from my car at a sno park at first, but I do know of some lakes nearby that I could in theory do eventually. I see some really fancy sleds/polks out there, but I don't really want to drop a ton of money in case it doesn't get used too much. On the other hand, this is a whole category that I know absolutely nothing about, so I'm worried about buying too cheap. Is something like this good enough? https://www.amazon.com/Shappell-Jet-Sled-Multi-Purpose/dp/B002RWBPQM/
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Sep 12, 2023 21:49
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DIY pulk sleds are pretty common, you can find dozens of walkthroughs out there and it'll save you a lot of money. The sled you linked will almost certainly work but you'll want to affix stiff poles instead of just the string (so the sled isn't constantly smacking you in the back of your legs).
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Sep 12, 2023 21:53
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I followed these ( https://www.rei.com/blog/snowsports/diy-make-your-own-pulk-sled ) instructions to make mine and it was really straightforward. The grommets are optional if you don't have the tool.
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Sep 12, 2023 22:07
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The Fool posted:I followed these ( https://www.rei.com/blog/snowsports/diy-make-your-own-pulk-sled ) instructions to make mine and it was really straightforward.
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Sep 12, 2023 23:41
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Three tools I use way more than I thought I would was a rivnut installer, a grommet tool, and a speedy stitcher. Oh and a glue gun. Not necessarily for hiking gear but they definitely get used a lot on that stuff. They're just handy tools for life.
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Sep 12, 2023 23:58
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I've never used a rivnut tool but I can see applications for one in my life. I just got a Scamp camper this year and the seller threw in a pop rivet tool and about 1000 rivets. Sooo many things are held together with rivets around my house now.
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Sep 13, 2023 01:42
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xzzy posted:DIY pulk sleds are pretty common, you can find dozens of walkthroughs out there and it'll save you a lot of money. The sled you linked will almost certainly work but you'll want to affix stiff poles instead of just the string (so the sled isn't constantly smacking you in the back of your legs). The Fool posted:I followed these ( https://www.rei.com/blog/snowsports/diy-make-your-own-pulk-sled ) instructions to make mine and it was really straightforward. Thanks! I was vaguely aware of DIY pulk systems, but that link looks to be a great guide. I noticed one of the reviews for the sled I linked said that it's a bit too wide for their snowshoe track, which was a hassle. The reviews are overall very good, but most aren't for snowshoeing. I can see actual expedition pulk systems like this Granite Gear one are more tapered on the base, which makes sense now that I think about it. They also cost far more than I want to spend, though. The only inexpensive streamlined shape I could find was this REI one, which according to recent reviews went downhill in quality. Will I regret getting that wider flat-bottomed sled (which is otherwise well-reviewed) for pulling behind me while snowshoeing?
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Sep 13, 2023 02:31
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