| John Briggs' Home Page | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||||||
| Featured Item | ||
Innovative and efficient, the Jetboil integrates the pot and stove for fast setup and compact storage. FluxRing heat exchanger improves fuel efficiency; regulated flame provides maximum efficiency. Adjustable-flame burner is housed in a wind-screen, reducing heat loss in windy conditions. Neoprene cozy stays in place during cooking without melting, increasing heat retention and cooking efficiency. Piezo igniter sparks the stove to life with a push of the button, eliminating worries about wet matches and burning your hand. Anodized aluminum 1-liter cooking cup with drinking spout provides excellent heat transfer and cleans up fast. Burner and cooking cup are integrated into a single convenient package for instant setup and compact storage. Base and cooking cup unsnap for storage; base and 110g fuel canister (sold separately) stow inside the cup. Lid snaps shut for storage.
|
|
Gear List |
|
Clothing |
|
Base Layer: Long underwear top & bottom. Non-cotton wicking layer. Recommended: Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Zip-T and Bottoms. Approx Price: Top: $43.00 Bottoms $30.00 This fabric doesn't stick to you when sweating, which makes it breathe a lot better than most base layers. Zip T's offer additional ventilation when needed. |
|
Middle Layer: 100 weight fleece shirt. Recommended: The North Face TKA 100 Glacier Approx Price: $45.95 No Windblocker fleece. It doesn't breathe well enough to be used as a middle layer. Heavier (200+) fleece is too hot and bulky. |
|
Recommended: Arc'Teryx Theta AR Jacket and Beta AR Pants. Approx Price: Jacket: $450 Pants: $325 For most trips, lightweight Gore-Tex works fine. If you are going to be out for an extended period of time and can expect rough weather, go for the tougher 3-ply Gore-Tex jacket and pant. |
|
Recommended: Mount Hardwear Synchro Jacket Approx Price: $220 Some come with an optional hood, which will keep you dryer when the rain pours down. |
|
Insulated Layer: Should come with insulated hood. Waterproof exterior is preferable. Recommended: Feathered Friends Volant jacket. Approx Price: $235 - $260 (depending on options) This is the warmest/lightest jacket on the market. There is an option to have an 800 fill upgrade. |
|
Trekking Pants: Convertible "zip-out" legs offer more flexibility. Recommended: Mountain Hardwear Convertible Pack Pants Approx Price: $100 At $100, these pants are expensive, but they have a lifetime guarantee, so you can just keep replacing them for free as they wear out. These pants also come in a version with built-in gaiters. |
|
Headware |
|
Recommended: OR Prism Cap Approx Price: $35.00 This is a nice hat because it dries quickly and has earflaps that can fold down if needed. |
|
No Windstopper fleece. It makes it difficult to hear. |
|
Balaclava: Lightweight balaclava Recommended: The North Face Power Stretch balaclava. Approx Price: $22.00 Also triples as a hat or a neck gaiter.
|
|
Handware |
|
Recommended: Cloudveil Liner Gloves Approx Price: $22.00 These work well on their own, or as glove liners for fleece and/or shell gloves when it is colder. |
|
Fleece Gloves: Windstopper fleece is best. Recommended: The North Face Pamir Windstopper Approx Price: $50.00 Make sure they have a wear resistant palm. |
|
Recommended: OR Snowline Mittens Approx Price: $39.00 Keep a pair of these as a backup stuffed in the bottom of your backpack. If it gets cold, you can slip the shell mitts on over the Grippers. |
|
Footware |
|
Recommended: Wigwam Liners Approx Price: $5.00 Warn under hiking socks to prevent blisters and hot spots. |
|
Recommended: Smartwool Hiking Sock Approx Price: $16.95 Wool is warmer but can also be too itchy for some people. Synthetic socks tend to wick a little better. |
|
Recommended: Koflach Degre Approx Price: $269 Plastic boots insulate feet better from the cold. Good for trips when the majority of time is spent on snow. |
|
Recommended: Mountain Hardwear Ascent Ventigaiter Approx Price: $50.00 Helps keep snow from getting your boots. make sure they can fit over plastic climbing boots. I like the Ventigaiters because they breathe the best. |
|
Backpack |
|
Backpack: 4200 - 5500 cm, with internal frame. Recommended: Arc'Teryx Bora 80: (4700 cu. in.; 6 lbs 13 oz) Approx Price: $369 WaterTight™ zips and coated fabric add toughness and repel the elements. Bag divider, full-length side zip and internal laminated pocket. |
|
Camping |
|
Sleeping Bag: A 0º bag is the most flexible all around sleeping bag. Recommended: Mountain Hardwear Phantom Approx Price: $365 - $405 Down is lighter and less bulking than synthetic. Synthetic stays warm even when wet. Look for a bag that has a collar. |
|
Recommended: Black Diamond Lighthouse Approx Price: $369 2 person tents are lighter and a third person can always be squeezed in. If climbing in the Sierras & Cascades during climbing season, you can get away with a 3 season tent. |
|
Recommended: Therm-a-Rest® Z-Lite Approx Price: $34.95 The Z-lite is very lightweight. It "Z" folds up quickly and easily. Egg-carton pattern increases softness and adds insulation by trapping warm air under your sleeping bag . |
|
Recommended: The Jetboil System Approx Price: $79.95 The Jetboil System offers a fast and simple solution to cooking. Jetboil integrates the pot with the stove for instant set-up and compact storage. The only limitation is that it's best for 1-pot meals. |
|
Recommended: Nalgene 16 oz Lexan water bottles Approx Price: $5.95 Wide-mouth bottles are easier to fill. Lexan doesn't give water the plastic taste that polyethylene bottle do. Use those for pee bottles! |
|
Technical Gear |
|
Helmet: Get a real climbing helmet. Don't skimp here. Recommended: Petzl Ecrin Roc Approx Price: $84.00 The standard helmet for climbing. Lightweight and adjustable. |
|
Recommended: Grivel G-12 New Matic Step-in Crampons Approx Price: $159 Easy and fast to take on and off. They work well with leather crampon-compatible climbing boots or double plastic climbing boots. |
|
Ice Axe: The lighter the better. Make sure it's the right size. Recommended: Ushba Altai titanium ice axe - much lighter and stronger than steel ice-axes. Recommended: Black Diamond Raven is also a pretty good ice axe at half the price of the Ushba. Approx Price: Raven: $69.95 The Ushba is top of the line. The Raven is an excellent alternative at half the price. |
|
Harness: Must have detachable leg loops Recommended: Black Diamond Bod Harness - Approx Price: $49.50 A good all-around harness. Works for rock climbing as wellas mountaineering--not to mention technical trekking. |
|
Recommended: Black Diamond Approx Price: $10.00 Get the lightweight 'biners and pulley from Black Diamond. The Prussiks are made with 40' of 6mm perlon. |
|
Recommended: Blue Water Lightning Pro Approx Price: $175.00 Good all around rope for glacier travel and mountaineering. |
|
Accessories |
|
Recommended: Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo Approx Price: $149 Saves the knees when descending and helps keep your balance when carrying a heavy pack. These poles are very light and telescope down to the smallest size around. |
|
Recommendation: Silva Ranger CL Compass Approx Price: $75.00 The best all around compass available. If you don't know wilderness navigation, buy a good book and read it. It's a one night read and worth the time. Don't forget a map! |
|
Watch/Altimeter Recommended: Suunto Vector Approx Price: $199 Never leave home without it. It is a watch, alarm clock, compass, altimeter & barometer. My favorite feature is that it calculates your ascent rate on a climb. |
|
Recommended: Swiss Army Mountaineer Approx Price: $40.00 This is a small knife but has all the essentials you will need for camping, trekking and climbing. |
|
Recommended: Petzl Tikka Plus LED Headlamp Approx Price: $37.95 The Tikka Plus is tiny, has a really strong beam, is adjustable, and lasts forever on one set of batteries. Has an emergency strobe setting. Remember. you don't need a spotlight. |
|
Recommended: Adventure Medical Kits Approx Price: $10 - $60 For taking care of cuts, scrapes and blisters. If going unguided climbing or on an extended multi-day trip, bring a comprehensive first aid kit. Know what's inside the kit and how to use it. |
|
Recommended: Granite Gear Air Compressor Approx Price: $22 - $29 I like the Granite Gear bags because you can see your stuff inside them. Consider a drybag for your sleeping bag when traveling to wet places, so you can still take a down sleeping bag with you. |
|
Recommended: Kodak Max Outdoor Camera - 27 Exposure Approx Price: $10 Disposable cameras are a good option for several reasons: they take good pictures; they don't freeze up on cold weather; they are light; no one will steal them. |
| ©2005 All Rights
Reserved. Contact:
|
||||