gear thoughts

Thank you for the post and food for thought.

Josh has some great points.

Here are some things to consider:

Here is an ultra light adventure guru - but not a comfort seeker per se:

http://www.rayjardine.com/index.shtml

A couple more gear lists:

http://www.hikelight.com/gearlist.html

http://www.brettonstuff.com/index.php/backpacking/gearlist/



A link to and ultralight gear list - base weight 9 pounds. I am putting together a kit with some old gear and new... it will be heavier but the ideas are good - trying to find a balance between things that work and thing others can steal without having my lose my mind and wallet ;-)

I have an older Therma rest and serval foam pads. I thinki these three may be worth the investment because of size/weight and comfort. If you treat it like a room you carry you can justify buying a nice one :)

Reviewers suggest large size:
http://www.amazon.com/Therm-A-Rest-NEOAIRMATTRESS-Therm-a-Rest-NeoAir-Mattress/dp/B001QWFDD0

this one is new but may be warmer:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=compare+ultralight+air+mattress&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15186490787712145554&sa=X&ei=Uk_BTtbrO6Oq2gXHt_mpBQ&ved=0CHQQ8wIwAg#

I have several sleeping bags and my take my old light down bag. I am looking for a sleeping blanket there are kits through Ray Jardine that look good but I am not do not have a sewing background. The concept is sound why carry a tube when by sleeping on it you compact the fill. plus a quilt may come in handy for hostels. Down needs care in keeping it dry. But dry equals warm anyway.

Here is a good write up about bags/quilts

http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/sleep-system.html
Given the cost ($464 ouch!) of this and the fact that I will be in tropical areas - My 3 season bag should be enough but Peru... well still thinking about it.

http://www.nunatakusa.com/site07/arc_products/arc_alpinist.htm

I am on the fence about what shelter to bring I have carried bivy sack in the past (rolled out of my truck) :-( and have a couple tents none of which are light and compact. I have camped mostly in te raining Pacific Northwest and in the mountains. Slightly bigger is better when dealing with rain but I need to get the size and weight down so I don't mind carrying it. The tarps and light wait tents these days are amazing. Given some of your problems with comfort and crabs(!) on the ground have you considered a hammock? I am looking at these options I like the hammocks but like the company and comfort of a 2 person tent/tarp. Bugs will be an issue. I have a simple backpack hammock and my just but a fly/tarp. Still looking at it.

http://hennessyhammock.com/

Regarding back packs I have a old battered climbing pack that I am going to strip the straps off of. It will look like heck but that is the point traveling with wandering eyes and sticky fingers. Hopefully the shell will shadow what is inside.

I have a meeting I need to run off to!

I hope this helps I will cut and past it in my blog too. :-)