BGT Reports: April 2006 Archives

I uploaded a few reports to BackpackGearTest this week. The Sierra Designs Electra sleeping bag test series is now completed, and my reports can be found here.
I was very pleased with this bag - for the first time ever I slept warm all winter long. Figures it would take a -20 degree bag to keep me warm on a 20 degree night... The bag has a great waterproof shell that ended up being quite useful this winter. It's warm enough and waterproof enough that I don't need an additional liner or bivy. In fact, the bag is a full half pound lighter than my previous bivy + 0 degree bag + liner combination.

I've just submitted an Initial Report for the Light My Fire Outdoor Meal Kit. In backpacking terms, this item falls somewhere between 'why on earth would I carry that on the trail?' and 'this is the coolest kitchen toy ever!' Lots of photos and details in the IR at the above link, but essentially it is a little plastic kit containing plates, bowls, and a nifty spork-like utensil. Is it a spoon? A fork? A knife? It's all of the above! If the kit was metal instead of plastic and could be used for cooking? Every backpacker would want one. As it is, it's 11 wasted oz of cool plastic kitchen gear. (okay, 10.5 wasted ounces because the spork is awesome).