Season So Far

With hunting season in full swing it has gotten harder and harder to write.  September 15th started my season and it has been going very well ever since.  I didn't connect with the buck that I wanted to put in the freezer, but a friend did.  These first two pictures are of that event.

These next pictures are from some other trips and adventures that have taken place so far.  There is another trip in store today through Saturday that I hope will bring home some meat.  I have a deer tag and a cow/calf tag for a very good unit.  I hope to have more time, and some more good pictures.

Beetle kill is a brutal thing.

These two pictures are of my Seek Outside Medium Stove in their first generation 6 man tipi.  It really is an excellent set up, and coming home to a fire makes for an awesome evening.  Looking forward to many more uses.

This picture I am particularly proud of.  The shooter is the younger guy and there has been a lot effort put into not just his hunting but his life in general.  This was his first solo kill as his older brother and I didn't go out with him that morning, but found him and helped him pack it out.  100% his own kill, well done!

Second Edition: Meindl Perfekts vs. Asolo Sasslongs

It's time for an update, on the Perfekt's and with the update a comparison to my strictly hiking Asolo Sasslongs.  This is mostly a comparison, for comparison sake but hopefully useful all in the same for someone looking at either of these boots.  This comparison is to emphazize the strengths and weaknesses of both.  However, it must be noted that these are both for different purposes, but because they are on my feet they need to be compared.

The purpose in owning two pairs of mountain boots is pretty simple, one is for summer and early fall, and the other is for later fall and early winter.  Both could likely be used in the spring depending on what sock and the conditions being faced.

The biggest strength that I have to give my Meindls is the footbeds.  When compared to my Asolos there is a night and day comfort difference.  The cork in the Perfekts make all of the difference and truthfully I will be putting them in all of my boots.

My feet are a tough task to please because I have to order a size 13, however I am just above a 12.5.  To alleviate some of that problem you won't find me wearing boots without my thick wool socks, even in the middle of summer.

The Perfekt Footbeds help with this some as there is a second insert that came with the boots.  This second insert added some extra padding up front on the balls of my feet and made them far more comfortable than what they were straight out of the box.  This extra layer also made the boots just a little bit tighter, and therefore easier to stop blistering.

My Sasslongs by Asolo are very different in their width in comparison to the Meindls, but a very good boot fit for me. Combine this with the wool socks and the Sasslongs do quite well in fit. The Meindl's are built to be a little more heavy duty, as they probably should be based on what purposes I have for them.  The Sasslongs are not as tall either, but still provide plenty of ankle support.

The construction on the Sasslongs could be improved on the method of attachment for the heel to the sole overall, but it should be plenty strong for use for summer scouting trips.  They won't be beat to death nearly as much as if an actual stalk for an elk or mule deer takes place and there are numerous rockslides to get across for the shot.

The Sasslongs are more than enough for my early season scouting and summer hiking, but the Perfekt's will be going with me into the actual hunting season as the temps start to drop and I need the higher ankle support.

The Sasslongs have a full rubber rand that comes up about two inches and protects the leather well from scuffing and such.  As compared to the Kenetrek rubber rand they are about half as thick, but the lower thickness provides a better overall break in time.  They cover about twice as much area as what is on the Perfekts and for going through some of the thick stuff they do a little better job.

All in all both sets of boots are necessary and serve different purposes.  

Pics From Recent Travels

Here are a few pictures from the past week.  One of the cool parts of my job is that I get to lead some fun trips with teenagers in the summer.  Enjoy the country.

Current Gear List: The Shelter Blog

There are currently three big names in the Ultralight Floorless Shelter world.  Kifaru, Titanium Goat, and Seek Outside.  I currently own two of them and have owned all three at one point or another.

Current: Titanium Goat Vertex 5, and Seek Outside(SO) 6.  The SO is the old model not the new one.

The Vertex 5 has been reviewed here at a surface level, and will be further later after a few more field uses.  It will be exactly what I was looking for in a solo/duo shelter.

The SO 6 is a great addition to the family, and will be what my wife and I use on our excursions to the back-country and the not so back-country.  I have set it up three times now and there is more than enough space for 2-3 people and a LOT of gear.  It would even be possible to fit 4 and SOME gear, but not nearly as much, especially if used with a packable wood burning stove.

In comparing the TiGoat to the SO I would say they both have some different qualities worth noting.  First the TiGoat is a much more basic shelter, but functions well for what it is.  All of the tie outs are double stitched and the cordura is round in shape.  The SO uses a triangular shape that has singular stitching on the cordura, but is doubled on the actual attachment point for the loops.  Having not tested them both in extreme conditions yet... there isn't really an edge to give to either, just note that they are different.

The SO has more features internally such as the sod skirt which will be nice, and can easily be used with a nest that has internal guy out points.  The new models will have different levels of what features you can buy to say customize it to a singular person's needs.  The stove jack came installed, and the only thing left to do is buy the actual stove.  The TiGoat needs to be sent in to have the stove jack installed.

Past: Kifaru Paratarp/Annex-  The problem was that it was just too small for me even as a solo shelter.  I ended up selling it because it was not going to serve the purpose that I intended for it.  I will be honest, the tie outs didn't seem to have as much thought as what my TiGoat and SO both have.  Maybe I am comparing apples to oranges here based on relative sizes of the shelters, but it just felt like there was potential for issues with the Paratarp.

The pros to the entire package was how small and packable it was, the ability to make it cooler during warm weather conditions by not bringing the annex, and the ability to use trekking poles to put it up.

I suppose, if necessary you could get two guys in there, if you had to and wanted to be really crowded.  For me it just wasn't going to cut it.  Hence the sale and purchase of the TiGoat Vertex 5.  The Vertex 5 will still be close quarters with two guys, but not nearly as close as just one.

Update:  After one trip with the SO Six, I can say that I am very pleased.  It endured some solid wind conditions, and was easy to set up as well.  I am looking forward to several more trips with it in the coming month.

First Lite Springer Vest and Chama Review

The past two weekends have given me an opportunity to get some serious time in the First Lite Chama and Springer.

To say I am pleased with their performance would be an understatement.  In fact it was warm enough with the Chama alone about halfway up the hill.  The Springer vest is a little thicker and was put in the pack to make the hike in a little more comfortable.

Both of these layers will be worn in conjunction with a Kuiu Guide Jacket as an outer layer.  Rain gear has yet to be determined for this season, but it will likely be something from a clearance rack somewhere.

The seams look to be very strong, and they fit me well as a tall guy.  Neither article of clothing bunches up at the belt line, or where the pack makes contact with the hips.  This has been an issue in the past with other pieces of clothing.

I should have more to say after a short trip this weekend with this gear.  In the initial use they have functioned well, and by the end of the summer/fall I will have much more to say in regard to this clothing.

Do I Really Need it?

I am a full time youth pastor and find myself at home before the start of one of the busiest weekends of the year in my profession: Graduation.  This year I will be losing a quite a few of my regular students as they head off to college to continue their education.

During this short down time I have become very distracted by a set of boots.  Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 400's on sale at Sierra Trading Post.  I have elevated the Kenetrek brand in my mind quite a bit and am really having a hard time not pulling the trigger.

The biggest reason that i can't justify the purchase is that last season I spent a $260 on a pair of Meindl Perfekts that I absolutely love.  I pulled them out of the gear closet last night and even wore them a while to remind myself of just how well they fit.

For the moment I have talked myself out of buying them and likely won't look again unless there is simply an amazing deal that shows itself.

The point of this blog is to search through and ask the question of whether or not we really need it.  The Kenetreks would be fun after the break in period and would be immensely enjoyed.  However, the $250ish that I would spend on them could be placed in other gear that would be a little more relevant.

Part of the draw of the boots is that feet must be treated well in the backcountry, and are therefore a priority.  So, how do I go about prioritizing my gear purchases every year?

1. How often will I use it.
2. Comfort
3. Weight
4. Effectiveness for the job
5. Price

So, all those factors in mind, several things need to come before any more cash is dropped on another set of boots.  First, a shelter that will be more comfortable for the Mrs. and I.  At the moment it looks to be a BCS from Seek Outside. Second, a new spotter.  The jury is still out on what will come home, but it needs to be a significant upgrade from the current set up.  The Leupold Sequoia has served me well, but needs to be moved to the land of spares in the closet.  Third, is a Duplex Timberline 3 from Kifaru for back packing.

All in all the priorities will win out for another day, would love to hear how others prioritize gear purchases.

Updated: The Lady's Take: Kenetrek Mountain Extreme Hikers

So I recently cam across a deal to acquire some high quality hiking boots for my wife in the form of Kenetrek Mountain Extreme Hikers.   She is new to the west, backpacking, and really anything in the outdoors.  Advice has been given, and heeded that if I am going to successfully have her come on these outings it will be necessary for her to have quality gear from the start.

The boots seem to fit her feet well and after Monday I will have some more to add to this post regarding her thoughts on the overall fit/comfort of the boot.  We will be heading north and trying to get a little bit of fishing and hiking in.

Some things I notice right away that caught my attention compared to both pairs of my Meindl's is that Kenetrek sends wax with the boots.  Very easy to take care of the product that way and my investment.

Because the wax came with the boot it took about 10 minutes for them to have their first coat.  The loops for the laces are much better than the Meindls in design and function.  They are easily moved for application, and twist to be able to get all of the leather the necessary life preservation.

The quality seems to be very high.  There is nothing on these boots to suggest that every inch wasn't thought out and planned.  If this is true then the boot should live up to the hype that has been passed onto it for so long.

The tongues are very different.  Kenetrek seems to leave a much smaller space for getting the foot in as the cost for better ankle support.   It wasn't tough for her to get them on, but it took more effort than my Perfekt's or Alaska Hikers take.

Pictures will be posted as well, enjoy the Memorial Day weekend!

Update:

The verdict is not completely out, but it seems these boots do not fit her feet well.  The heel cup seems to slip is the laces aren't tight enough, and if they are too tight she has circulation issues.

Now, it must be stated that this has nothing to do with the boots themselves, it is simply that her feet do not do the standard width well.  We are going to try a mens 7 and see how they work based on the extra width she can get from a boot like that.