Maybe so....that's fair enough.

C

--- Andrew Buskov <rescue@...> wrote:

> Hmmm... you forget.. I edit your reports. Maybe I
> ought to change that red
> ledge edit that I just did... not enough red ink.
> Don't make me have ot
> borrow Pam's red pen!
>
> AB
>
> _____
> Visit Corridor9
> Blogging about BackpackGearTest.org, Firefighting,
> Linux, Hiking and more!
> http://www.corridor9.net
> ____________________________
>
>
> > Hey...hey...hey .....that's enough out of you. You
> > still want gear don't you? You better watch it.
> hahaha
> >
> > C
> >
> >
> > --- Andrew Buskov <rescue@...> wrote:
> >
> > > Oh great... he's getting them! He'll lose
> them...
> > > you know he will.
> > > Congrats "C". Better you dealing with those apps
> > > than me. ROFL
> > >
> > > AB
>
>
>



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total
Access, No Cost.
http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

Thanks for the edits. I am OOP till the 7th (I only have access via my
blackberry). Ill try to get it revised the night I get back.
--------------------------
David Wilkes
Sr SPE US Cellular
Yakima Wa

Sent using my CrackBerry


----- Original Message -----
From: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com <BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com>
To: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com <BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Fri Apr 04 06:13:37 2008
Subject: [BackpackGearTest] EDIT: OR - Strike Force Fire Starter - David Wilkes

> EDIT: OR - Strike Force Fire Starter - David Wilkes

David, here are your Edits. As usual, EDIT = change, Edit = consider
changing, Comment = whatever.

--- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:BackpackGearTest%40yahoogroups.com> , "amatbrewer"
<david.wilkes@...> wrote:
<snip>
> Strike Force Fire Starter
> BY DAVID WILKES
> OR

EDIT: Please change to "Owner Review"

> January 26, 2008

EDIT: Please give a current date

<snip>
> Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE -
> "http://www.ultimatesurvival.com/product_view.cfm?product_ID=435
<http://www.ultimatesurvival.com/product_view.cfm?product_ID=435>
> <http://www.ultimatesurvival.com/product_view.cfm?product_ID=435
<http://www.ultimatesurvival.com/product_view.cfm?product_ID=435> > "
LINK
> TEXT = "www.ultimatesurvival.com
<http://www.ultimatesurvival.com <http://www.ultimatesurvival.com> > ">>

EDIT: David, please do not link to anything other than the
manufacturer's top level domain.

> MSRP: N/A

EDIT: I doubt it's not applicable. I'll believe you if you told me
you couldn't find one listed. (A bit nitpicky? I have days like that.)
:-)

<snip>
> Listed Weight: 3.7 ounces (104.9 g)
> Measured Weight: 3.55 oz (101 g)
> SPECIFICATIONS (from manufactures Web page)<UL>• Length: 5 inches
> (12.7 cm)
> • Weight: 3.7 ounces (104.9 g)
> • Material, Flint Unit: 0.5-inch (1.3 cm) diameter flint bar
> embedded in ABS case
> • Material, Tinder: Trade secret material </UL>

Edit: You've got the listed weight in there twice. And - you seem to
have checked the dimensions (from what I read below), so could you
maybe include the checked dimensions as well?

<snip>

> FIELD USE
>
>
> The first thing I noticed was how much larger and heavier this is
than
> any of my other fire starters (matches, lighter, magnesium block,
etc).
> I immediate

EDIT: immediately

wanted to know if it was worth the extra weight.

<snip> After a
> about three more attempts,

EDIT: That "a" seems superfluous

However not only
> does the WetFire block fit well inside the handle, but according to
the
> manufacturers web site

EDIT: manufacturer's web site

it is also non-toxic (the same cannot be said
> about Trioxain).

<snip>
> During two weekend (2 nights each) family camping trips this
summer, in
> the Washington Cascades (South of Clear Lake) at around 3000' (900
m), I
> tried using the fire starter to see how it would operate in field
> conditions. The weather during the first trip was warm and sunny,
but it
> had recently rained so much of the available tinder material was
damp.
> During the second trip, there was intermittent light rain. On both
> trips, the mornings were very damp. I used the striker to light a
> propane camp stove a few times on these trips. It worked well (like
> having an unlimited supply of matches). On both trips, I collected
> tinder from available materials (leaves, bark, twigs, etc) and
attempted
> to light fires, 2-3 on each trip (practice for me, education for my
> kids).
> I used the fire starter during a 3 night backpacking trip with my
> daughter (Washington Cascades around 4500' (1400 m). Since I do not
> normally use a camp fire while backpacking (often not allowed) I
used it
> only to test the product, hone my skills, and educate my daughter in
> survival skills. We would collect materials available, mostly moss,
> bark, rotten wood, and pine needles, and attempt to get a fire
started.
> The conditions were cool, 50's during the day and near freezing at
> night, but dry so we had little trouble finding suitable materials
and
> was able to get a fire started rather easily on every attempt.

EDIT: I am not certain from the above what your results were on the
earlier trips. Apparently it worked well on the later one. Please let
me know - was it impossible to get a fire started on the earlier
ones, very difficult or not difficult?

<snip>
> When used in conjunction with shavings from a magnesium block, or
some
> tissue I was able to get a flame with 1-2 strikes of the flint. I
was
> able to start fires with a little effort ,a few strikes and some

EDIT: There's a space in front of ... that c-word thingy ... which
should be behind it.

<snip>
> SUMMARY
>
> This immediately became my primary emergency fire starter.

Comment: "primary emergency fire starter"? I have a primary fire
starter (cigarette lighter in my cook set) and an emergency fire
starter (a couple of stormproof matches in a film roll capsule). Do
you have more than that?

<snip>
> THINGS I DON'T LIKE
>
> Heaver than other fire starters I have used

EDIT: Heavier

> SIGNATURE
>
> <FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="+5" COLOR="#FF0000">David
> Wilkes</FONT>

Comment: Wow, you have a big ... signature.
;-)

-----------

Allright, good going. Please repost with "REPOST" substituted in the
header for my "EDIT" above and I'll look at it again before uploading.

Regards,

André
OR Editor






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

No worries Greg.

Andrew

On 03/04/2008, Greg <gdm320@...> wrote:
>
> Apologies, looks like my signature doesn't attach... thought it was
> supposed to be automagic.
>
> Oh well, do it myself this time.
>
> Greg McDonald
> "Never Stop Exploring"
> --- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com, "Andrew Priest"
>
> <apriest@...> wrote:
> >
> > Dear ?
> >
> > I don't believe we have finalised it yet.  I am sure there will be
> an
> > announcement soon.
> >
> > Oh, we consider it a courtesy to put our names to our posts here.
> It really
> > does make it much easier to communicate with people if we know who
> they are.
> > Is that okay with you?
> >
> > Regards
> > Andrew
> >
>
> > On 26/03/2008, gdm320 <gdm320@...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Do we have a resolution on this concern yet, I'm ready to send
> out my
> > > Tester Agreement but want to make sure I have the appropriate
> address
> > > information before I send it out.
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Senior Edit Moderator
> >
> >
>
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To read our reviews, please visit http://www.backpackgeartest.org/Yahoo!
> Groups Links
>
>
>
>


--
Senior Edit Moderator


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Name: Steph Blanchard
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Height: 5'1'' (155cm)
Weight: 120lb (55kg)
Email address: sisteph@...
City: Homer
State: Alaska
Country: USA
Date: April 3, 2008
Backpacking Background: I grew up in the Chilean Andes Mountains and
have been going on extensive backpacking trips (at least a week long)
since High school. Usually carrying 40+ pounds (about 20kg) on my back
and hiking anywhere from 5 mi (8km) to 15 mi (25km) a day. I moved to
the US five years ago and have traveled over half the country
occasionally doing winter camping with below freezing temperatures. I
have lived in many places but I just moved close to Homer where my job
requires daily dosages of hiking through uneven mountainous terrain.

Product Information
Manufacturer: Asolo
Year of manufacture: 2007
URL: www.asolo.com
Listed average weight: 2lb. 15oz.
Weight as worn: 3lb. 8oz.
Boot/Shoe Type: Backpacking Boot
Color: Chestnut
Upper: Full-grain leather
Midsol: Polyurethane
Shank: AsoFlex®
Outsole: Triple Power
Outsole Flex: Rigid
Ankle Height: High Cut
Ankle Support : Good
Terrain: Very Rough
Waterproof: Yes
Vegan: No
Foot Volume: Medium
Heel Width: Medium/Wide
Forefoot Width: Narrow
MSRP: $230 USD

Product Information
The TPS 520 is a hiking/trekking boot intended for moderate to heavy
weight loads on day hikes or extended backpacking trips. It has a
classic full grain leather hiking boot look to it with black leather
on top and in the section attaching the tongue to the boot. It has mid
high ankle support with metal bearings to keep laces in place. It is
very comfortable with some padding in ankle and sole areas and
requires little break-in time. They are lined with waterproof
gore-tex. They are generally sturdy boots, with plenty of support and
natural insulation.

Field information
I bought these boots at EMS after trying on all their women's heavy
boot models and taking them for a stroll around the store. They were
the priciest pair but the ones that fit like a glove. They seemed like
the most durable out of all the rest and the only ones made out of
one-piece full grain leather. They seemed comfortable from the start
except for the front ankle area where the folding leather attachment
to the tongue started to dig. I used them around the house at first
and then took them for small day hikes around local parks. They were
most comfortable with heavy wool socks but when I was finally ready
for the extended camping trip I opted for double socks to avoid any
temptation for a blister to form. I had no problem except for the
digging into my front ankle area on my right foot. I figured that this
was because my right is probably slightly bigger than my left. So I
started skipping the bottom lace locks and only used the top two. This
seemed to help but didn't entirely eliminate the problem and the boot
loosened after a short period of hiking. On this first trip, I hiked
for four days about 5 miles (8km) to 10 miles (16.5km) a day up and
down the Bristol Hills Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail located on the
southern tier of NY state. Elevation ranged from 800 feet (243.84
meters) to 2100 feet (640.08 meters) and trod through a foot or more
of snow, slush and ice. Temperatures ranged from 15 degrees Fahrenheit
(-9.4 Celsius) to about 40 Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius). The boots were
definitely waterproof except for when the snow got above the heel, but
even with wet socks the boots kept my feet warm. The problem with
soaked boots was that they were frozen every morning, which was
somewhat annoying, however, this would happen with any boot. The
performance was great with a 40+lb (about 20 Kg) pack, very stable (no
rolling ankles) and good grip (even on some ice). I got no blisters
during the first trip. The second trip was about the same as the
first, I just had to go into civilization for a couple of days because
my water filter needed to be replaced. I had those days to recuperate
from any soreness and took off again on the same trailhead where I
left off. I noticed that the ankle-digging problem started to happen
with the left foot, yet the right foot seemed to decrease (maybe this
is due to real breaking in). During the second trip I had to walk
through some dirt roads as part of the trail and the balls of my feet
really got sore. The weather started getting warmer into the 50s (10
degrees Celsius) so I wore single socks. This was a bad idea because I
got a big blister under the big toe of my left foot. When I got home
from the second trip I cleaned and oiled my boots as I usually do and
was extremely disappointed to see that the rubber at the front of the
toe box came apart. After some research I decided that this should not
happen with boots that have been on one relatively short backpacking
trip. Another consideration is that maybe these are not the best boots
for hiking through snow (maybe no leather boots are).

Summary
I personally had a bad experience with the rubber part coming apart
from the leather and was truly disappointed because I really liked
these boots! I really wanted to keep them forever because they were so
comfortable and sturdy (not to mention nice looking). Yet my search
continues for the perfect boot for me. I think for any climate other
than snowy winter these boots would be great and last for a long time.
Especially if regular cleaning and oiling is performed. The fact that
the boots need almost no break in is a big plus, but those that prefer
lighter boots might want to look for an alternative. Even though they
dug into the front of my heel, the tongue to boot attachment is
necessary to keep water out. Overall great boot intended for extensive
backpacking in all kinds of terrain.

Plusses:
Comfort
Support
Looks

Minuses:
Short life span (in my case)
On the heavier side
Leather is high maintenance
Pricy

Hi Ralph

As Leesa said, but do add United States :-)

Andrew

On 04/04/2008, Leesa J <leesaj@...> wrote:
>
> South Carolina - although if you just put SC on the envelop, the postal
> service would know where to deliver it.
>
> Leesa
>
>
--
Senior Edit Moderator


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Owner Review: Montrail Hardrock Wide Trail Running Shoes

Name: Will Hutchinson
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Height: 5'9. 5'' (176 cm)
Weight: 158 lbs (71.5kg)
Email address: oldbitters@...
City, State, Country: Cincinnati Ohio, U.S.A.
Date: 4/2/08
Backpacking Background:

I have been backpacking for about five years, with a variety of
experiences ranging from the Midwest to the great West. I have
recently completed a successful thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail
(class of '07). On my hike I had an average base weight of about 8-10
pounds and a skin out weight (including food and water when leaving
town) of 20lbs-40lbs depending on climate, conditions, resupply
strategy, and water conditions (this was a dry year). In addition to
my thru-hike I take several weekend trips a year encountering a wide
range of terrain and climate. I try to get my load as light as I
possibly can.

PRODUCT INFORMATION: (per manufacturer)
Manufacturer: Montrail
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Manufacturer's Website: www.montrail.com
MSRP: $95
Listed Weight: 15.1 oz (428 g)
size -- 12 (U.S. men's)
upper -- synthetic leather / nylon mesh
lining -- nylon
midsole -- dual-density EVA/gel insert
support -- nylon posting and plate
outsole -- rubber
shoe type -- cushioning/stability

Initial response:

These shoes seem robust, although a tad heavy for a truly "ultralight
shoe." They seem to run a little bit small. Typically I would wear a
size 11 or 11.5 but I take a 12 in Hardrocks. In addition the wide
version is slightly larger in the toe box while retaining a comparable
heel to the regular. I found that it took a little longer than usual
to break these in. They did not seem to have that great out of the box
running sneaker feel. They were a bit stiff for about 100 miles or so
until they broke in well. If you were considering them for a trip I
would wear them around town a little to loosen them up.



Finding a pair of shoes that fits your foot well is a really hard
thing for anyone to do and these in particular might not work for your
foot. For me these hardrocks just work. I have owned two pairs, have
been totally satisfied with both, and I will buy another pair. They
have excellent pronation control; my heel locks into place, and my
forefoot and toes have plenty of room to wiggle. I have not had any
blister problems with these shoes, and I have found that their
durability is great (1100 miles on one pair 700 on the other). After
trying a couple of other brands these became my shoe of choice for
thu-hiking due to their great durability and stability control. I
found that while wearing these shoes I did not need orthotic foot
beds, while I did with other brands and models of shoe.

I found that these shoes had great traction in a variety of
conditions, including mud and snow. These shoes are not waterproof
which I typically prefer due to breath ability, although in snow they
were quick to soak through. Laces stay tied while hiking (something I
wish companies would pay more attention to).

Over all a well performing shoe that I will go to for most purposes
again and again.

Things I like:

Fits my foot perfectly.
Relatively light
Great durability
Great arch support
Good breath ability

Things I don't like:

Break in period
Sizing is deceiving (especially if ordering online I would go up a
half size)
color options are pretty limited. (Nothing very plain)

André,



Thank you for the comment and edits.  A couple of responses and then the
text will follow.

* The report writer puts “OR” in the .txt file, but as best as I can
tell, “OWNER REVIEW” is spelled out on the html. I changed it below (after
pasting…)
* Thanks for the heads up on the projections.  I thought I had
squeezed them out of the review! Apparently I missed a couple.
* I was experiencing the same technical issues with my agreement, but
it has been resent to the new address!

I’m looking forward to wrapping this one up and contributing to the testing
process.



Brett

   _____





REI SPIRIT III GTX HIKING BOOT

BY BRETT HAYDIN

OWNER REVIEW

March 14, 2008



TESTER INFORMATION



NAME: Brett Haydin

EMAIL: bhaydinAThotmailDOTcom

AGE: 35

LOCATION: Denver, Colorado, USA

GENDER: M

HEIGHT: 5' 11" (1.80 m)

WEIGHT: 195 lb (88.50 kg)



I started backpacking in Wisconsin as a youth, being involved in the Boy
Scouts programs.  As a young adult, I worked at a summer camp leading
backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking trips.  I now generally take short
weekend or day trips in rough, mountainous terrain, although I have
extensive experience in the upper Midwest as well.  I take one or two longer
trips each year, where I typically carry heavier loads in excess of 45 lb
(20 kg).   I prefer to be prepared and comfortable, but I have taken
lightweight trips as well.



PRODUCT INFORMATION



<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "REI Spirit III GTX side view and soles"
IMAGE CAPTION = "REI Spirit III GTX side view and soles">>Manufacturer: REI

Year of Manufacture: 2007

Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE - "http://www.rei.com" LINK
TEXT = "www.rei.com">>

MSRP: US $199

Listed Weight: 3 lb 10 oz (1.64 kg)

Measured Weight: 3 lb 13 oz (1.73 kg)

Size purchased: 10.5 US Men's

Sizes available: 8 - 13 US including half sizes



Other details:



The REI Spirit III GTX hiking boot is a one-piece, full height, full-grain
leather waterproof boot.  They stand 7.125 in (18 cm) high at the highest
point, not including the tongue.  The waterproofing is provided by a
GORE-TEX layer, referred to as a "bootie" on the website.  Cambrelle is the
brand name of the inner lining, which helps "wick away moisture."  Vibram is
the brand name of the soles. The boots also feature a rubber toe cap.  While
REI is listed as the manufacturer, I was told by the salesperson that the
boots are constructed, under contract, by Raichle.  There is a Raichle logo
on the insole, which supports this claim.



<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Inside View"  IMAGE CAPTION = "Inside
View">>I feel that the full height boot offers better ankle support than low
or mid height boots.  The round nylon laces that came with the boots are
threaded through a series of metal loops, four on each side, before 3 sets
of speed loops.



There is soft padding on the interior of the boot to provide comfort for the
high ankle, as well as near the top of the tongue.  On the rear of the boot,
the leather material is used about three-quarters of the way up the boot,
with the remainder being made of fabric.



According to the manufacturer's website, the "polyurethane midsoles are
designed with more rocker for a smooth stride; full-length nylon shanks add
stability and shock absorption."  The soles of the boots are stiff, but I
found there is enough cushion and support inside to make it a comfortable
fit for me.



The discrepancy of the listed weight and measured weight is easily resolved.
REI uses an average weight for a size 9 US (8.5 UK) boot.  The size I
purchased was a little larger than the size REI uses.







FIELD USE



I have used the REI Spirit III GTX boots in a wide variety of conditions for
10 months now, with over 30 days of use in the field.  The conditions have
ranged from summit hikes of over 13 mi (21 km) with over 5,100 ft (1550 m)
elevation gain on rocky, mountainous terrain, to winter hikes in snowy
conditions.  I estimate that I have traveled over 150 mi (242 km) with these
boots.  I purchased these boots in the spring of 2007 because I needed a
boot that could fit my wide feet.  After trying several pairs of boots on,
these felt the best as I tested them out around the store.



The first thing that I noticed about the boots was that the laces seemed
rather rough on my hands as I laced them up tight.  Lacing the boots several
times over the course of the day of hiking caused blisters at my knuckles.
I attributed this at the time to having hands that lacked enough calluses to
prevent this, but subsequent uses resulted in similar, although not as
severe, discomfort.  I have since replaced the laces and have experienced no
more problems with lacing the boots.

<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "Front and Back View"  IMAGE CAPTION = "Front
and Back View">>

The boots provide a lot of ankle support and has likely spared me from
numerous injuries as a result.  During one particularly grueling hike,
coming down the mountain I stumbled quite often, and each time, the support
of the boot saved me from rolling my ankle.  My foot feels secure and does
not slide or shift once laced in.  For example, I had to scramble off the
summit of Longs Peak in a thunderstorm and these boots held up to the high
stresses I put on them.   I almost always wear a liner sock and a mid-weight
wool sock, and I find there is still enough room for a thicker sock.



I have a bony protrusion on the back of my heel that frequently causes me
blisters.  However, this hasn't been much of a problem with this boot,
although I still use moleskin to mitigate the problem.  I have not
experienced any blisters elsewhere, nor have I noticed any uncomfortable
spots.



Traction with the REI Spirit III GTX is excellent.  I am able to scramble
around on boulders when I need to and it holds equally well on gravel.  The
trail will give before the boots will, in my opinion!  I did take these
boots hiking in the winter with my dogs without snowshoes or other devices
to add traction for about 3 mi (5 km).  I found that the boots held up
reasonably well, even with the heavy snowpack; only on the steeper grades
did I feel unstable.



The GORE-TEX has held up very well to-date.  My feet have remained dry and
warm in rain, snow and after crossing streams.  To test the waterproofing, I
stood for 5 minutes in a mountain stream where the water came up to the top
of the leather.  After the time passed, my feet were dry and warm, even
despite the frigid water temperature.



I have found that after a long day of hiking, particularly in the summer, my
feet get noticeably hot.  I have always preferred full-leather boots, and do
not think these are any warmer than others I have worn.  I have noticed that
the boots do a good job of wicking away any excess moisture, especially when
combined with quality socks.  During my winter hikes, my feet stayed dry and
warm, although I did wear thicker wool socks and temperatures were never
lower than 22 F (-5.5 C).



SUMMARY



I am extremely satisfied with these boots.  Once I replaced the laces, they
have served me well.  I am normally accustomed to wearing heavy, sturdy
boots and I appreciate the security of the high ankle support.



The insoles that come with this boot are not exceptional, but neither are
they terrible.  I might consider upgrading to a more supportive commercial
insole, especially with the amount of mileage I have put on the boots so
far.



As a consequence of the all-leather boot type, my feet tend to sweat a lot,
but the linings do a fair job of wicking away the moisture.  I like the
peace of mind that comes from having a full leather boot from a durability
standpoint.  Overall, the gains outweigh any setbacks, and I would gladly
buy another pair when these are worn out.



DURABILITY



The boots have held up well thus far.  The GORE-TEX continues to provide
excellent waterproofing.  The Vibram soles show some wear, but seem to be
holding well.  There are a couple of places where the black Vibram is
cracking, specifically in the arches.  This portion of the material is
thinner than where the treads are, and in one section has broken away.



The leather is so far intact, except for some scuffing on each side.  I
consider this normal considering the types of uses and abuses that I have
put this pair through.   I would rate the durability as above average.



THINGS I LIKE



1.  Excellent ankle support.

2.  Waterproofing has held up well.

3.  Superior fit to my foot type: wide foot with bony protrusion on heel.

4.  Very good durability.





THINGS I DON'T LIKE



1.  The laces were of a rough on my hands and I chose to replace them.

2.  My feet get warm and sweaty because of the full-grain leather
construction combined with the GORE-TEX lining.

3.  Insoles are not especially comfortable.

4.  The Vibram soles are showing signs of cracking in the arches.



By Brett Haydin











This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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line of your re-submitted review if you take this route or make any
changes to your review BEFORE the review has been taken by an Edit
Moderator.

Additionally, it is important for you to monitor the Yahoo Groups
list to keep track of the progress of your Owner Review.  Once an
Editor has taken your OR and made the necessary edits they will post
their comments to the list with EDIT in the subject line.  Once you
have incorporated these edits into your review please use REPOST in
the subject line. When your OR has been approved by the Editor they
will use APPROVED in the subject line.

If you'd like to keep track of the progress of your OR, the entire
Owner Review Queue is posted to this yahoo group list on Fridays.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask via
the list or contact me directly.

Regards
Jamie DeBenedetto
Edit Administration Manager

PLEASE READ THIS EMAIL IN FULL. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT!

Thanks for your Owner's Review.  It has been added to the Owner
Review Queue and will be picked up by an Edit Moderator soon.  Do
not worry if nothing happens with it for several days.  All our
Editors are volunteers and your report will be subject to an
official edit within fourteen days. If you have not had a response
from an Edit Moderator via the Yahoo Groups list within this
timeframe, please let me know directly at jdeben@....

To assist in this process, if this is your first Owner Review we ask
that you post only ONE Owner Review for edit at a time. Our
experience is that it is more efficient for both the Editors and
yourself, if you post your first review, have it edited, approved
and uploaded before you post your second and subsequent reviews.
This way we can work with you on addressing any standard BGT policy
edits which you can incorporate into your second and subsequent
reviews before submission.

If you are new to BackpackGearTest.org, welcome to the community!
The Editors will work with you, within their own time constraints,
to get your first two Owner Reviews approved and upload in a timely
manner.  Once these first two Owner Reviews have been approved and
you have submitted your Tester Agreement you will be eligible to
start applying for Tests. If you'd like more assistance or guidance
with the process you can request a mentor by sending an email to
Jenn K., the mentor coordinator, at (mentor (at)
backpackgeartest.org).

You may receive edits or comments from other members of the group.
These edits and comments, while not official, should be considered
carefully, and if you find them substantial, revise and re-post your
review. Incorporating member edits and re-submitting to the list
will usually result in a better review, as well as making things
easier for the official Editor. Please put REVISED in the subject
line of your re-submitted review if you take this route or make any
changes to your review BEFORE the review has been taken by an Edit
Moderator.

Additionally, it is important for you to monitor the Yahoo Groups
list to keep track of the progress of your Owner Review.  Once an
Editor has taken your OR and made the necessary edits they will post
their comments to the list with EDIT in the subject line.  Once you
have incorporated these edits into your review please use REPOST in
the subject line. When your OR has been approved by the Editor they
will use APPROVED in the subject line.

If you'd like to keep track of the progress of your OR, the entire
Owner Review Queue is posted to this yahoo group list on Fridays.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask via
the list or contact me directly.

Regards
Jamie DeBenedetto
Edit Administration Manager

PLEASE READ THIS EMAIL IN FULL. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT!

Thanks for your Owner's Review.  It has been added to the Owner
Review Queue and will be picked up by an Edit Moderator soon.  Do
not worry if nothing happens with it for several days.  All our
Editors are volunteers and your report will be subject to an
official edit within fourteen days. If you have not had a response
from an Edit Moderator via the Yahoo Groups list within this
timeframe, please let me know directly at jdeben@....

To assist in this process, if this is your first Owner Review we ask
that you post only ONE Owner Review for edit at a time. Our
experience is that it is more efficient for both the Editors and
yourself, if you post your first review, have it edited, approved
and uploaded before you post your second and subsequent reviews.
This way we can work with you on addressing any standard BGT policy
edits which you can incorporate into your second and subsequent
reviews before submission.

If you are new to BackpackGearTest.org, welcome to the community!
The Editors will work with you, within their own time constraints,
to get your first two Owner Reviews approved and upload in a timely
manner.  Once these first two Owner Reviews have been approved and
you have submitted your Tester Agreement you will be eligible to
start applying for Tests. If you'd like more assistance or guidance
with the process you can request a mentor by sending an email to
Jenn K., the mentor coordinator, at (mentor (at)
backpackgeartest.org).

You may receive edits or comments from other members of the group.
These edits and comments, while not official, should be considered
carefully, and if you find them substantial, revise and re-post your
review. Incorporating member edits and re-submitting to the list
will usually result in a better review, as well as making things
easier for the official Editor. Please put REVISED in the subject
line of your re-submitted review if you take this route or make any
changes to your review BEFORE the review has been taken by an Edit
Moderator.

Additionally, it is important for you to monitor the Yahoo Groups
list to keep track of the progress of your Owner Review.  Once an
Editor has taken your OR and made the necessary edits they will post
their comments to the list with EDIT in the subject line.  Once you
have incorporated these edits into your review please use REPOST in
the subject line. When your OR has been approved by the Editor they
will use APPROVED in the subject line.

If you'd like to keep track of the progress of your OR, the entire
Owner Review Queue is posted to this yahoo group list on Fridays.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask via
the list or contact me directly.

Regards
Jamie DeBenedetto
Edit Administration Manager

PLEASE READ THIS EMAIL IN FULL. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT!

Thanks for your Owner's Review.  It has been added to the Owner
Review Queue and will be picked up by an Edit Moderator soon.  Do
not worry if nothing happens with it for several days.  All our
Editors are volunteers and your report will be subject to an
official edit within fourteen days. If you have not had a response
from an Edit Moderator via the Yahoo Groups list within this
timeframe, please let me know directly at jdeben@....

To assist in this process, if this is your first Owner Review we ask
that you post only ONE Owner Review for edit at a time. Our
experience is that it is more efficient for both the Editors and
yourself, if you post your first review, have it edited, approved
and uploaded before you post your second and subsequent reviews.
This way we can work with you on addressing any standard BGT policy
edits which you can incorporate into your second and subsequent
reviews before submission.

If you are new to BackpackGearTest.org, welcome to the community!
The Editors will work with you, within their own time constraints,
to get your first two Owner Reviews approved and upload in a timely
manner.  Once these first two Owner Reviews have been approved and
you have submitted your Tester Agreement you will be eligible to
start applying for Tests. If you'd like more assistance or guidance
with the process you can request a mentor by sending an email to
Jenn K., the mentor coordinator, at (mentor (at)
backpackgeartest.org).

You may receive edits or comments from other members of the group.
These edits and comments, while not official, should be considered
carefully, and if you find them substantial, revise and re-post your
review. Incorporating member edits and re-submitting to the list
will usually result in a better review, as well as making things
easier for the official Editor. Please put REVISED in the subject
line of your re-submitted review if you take this route or make any
changes to your review BEFORE the review has been taken by an Edit
Moderator.

Additionally, it is important for you to monitor the Yahoo Groups
list to keep track of the progress of your Owner Review.  Once an
Editor has taken your OR and made the necessary edits they will post
their comments to the list with EDIT in the subject line.  Once you
have incorporated these edits into your review please use REPOST in
the subject line. When your OR has been approved by the Editor they
will use APPROVED in the subject line.

If you'd like to keep track of the progress of your OR, the entire
Owner Review Queue is posted to this yahoo group list on Fridays.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask via
the list or contact me directly.

Regards
Jamie DeBenedetto
Edit Administration Manager

Here is the latest Owner Review Queue. Any uploads done after
11:00pm Pacific Time on April 4th, 2008 will not be noted until next
week's update.

Thanks
Jamie D
Edit Admin Manager


=====================================================================
EDIT Team Members OOP (Out of Pocket)


=================================================================
AWAITING EDIT

Joshua Coatsworth(2) MSR POCKET ROCKET - Posted Feb 25(msg#75211),
Revised Mar 24(75380),

Braeden Kepner-Kraus(1)  - Arcteryx Bora 80 Pack – Posted March 24
(msg#75381), Revised Mar 25,

Hollis Easter  - [backpackgeartest@...]Alba Tangerine Lip
Balm – Posted Mar 26(msg#75391)

Ashley Massarini(1) - CABELAS GUIDE SERIES 8 MAN TENT – Posted Mar 28
(msg#75400), Revised Edit Apr 1(75422)

Glen Giasson(1) – PRINCETON TEC SCOUT - Posted Apr 2(msg#75432),

Greg McDonald(1) – [gdm320@...] - Columbia River Knife & Tool M16-
10K - Posted Apr 3(msg#75434),

Steph Blanchard(1) – Asolo TPS 520 GTX Boots - Posted Apr 4
(msg#75453),

Will Hutchinson(1) - Montrail Hardrock Wide Trail Running Shoes -
Posted Apr 4(msg#75455),

====================================================================
TAKEN BY AN EDITOR/EDITED

PAM - Alexander Chard(1) - Bibler Tripod Bivy – Posted Feb 11
(msg#75133), Revised Feb 14, Taken Feb 18, Edit Feb 18(75168),
Repost Feb 27(not labeled with repost), Edit Feb 28(75221), Repost
Mar 4, Edit Mar 6(75258), Repost Mar 8, Edit Mar 9(75269), Repost
Mar 16, Edit Mar 18(75332), Repost Mar 19, Edit Mar 19 (75349), Edit
Mar 23(75377),

ROGER - Kara Stanley(1) – [karguo@...] - Merrell Mesa II
Ventilator Mid Hiking Boots - Posted Feb 22(msg#75206), Taken Mar
13, Edit-html request Mar 13(75283), html link posted Mar 21(75360),
Edit Apr 2(msg#75433),

ANDRE' - Sam Stamey(1) - REI POWER STRETCH SHIRT - Posted Feb 23
(msg#75207), Taken Mar 13, Edit Mar 13(msg#75287), Repost Mar 21,
Edit Mar 28(75397), Repost Mar 28, Edit Apr 1(75420), In test folder
April 1,

KATHY - Elizabeth Davis(1) – [elizrd@...] - Light My Fire Spork -
  Posted Feb 17(msg#75171), Taken Mar 5, Edit Mar 5(75250), Follow up
sent Mar 14, Repost Mar 15, Edit Mar 19 (75339), Repost Mar 26,

PAM - Dan Feldman(1) - Bushbuddy Ultra Stove – Posted Mar 15
(msg#75306), Taken Mar 28, Edit Mar 28(75404), Repost Apr 2,

TED - William Rice - SLUMBERJACK STANDARD PILLOW - Posted Mar 18
(msg#75327), Taken Mar 29,

ANDRE' - Brett Haydin(2) – [bhaydin@...] - REI Spirit III GTX
hiking boot - Posted Mar 18(msg#75330), Taken Apr 4, Edit Apr 4
(75440), Repost Apr 4,

ANDRE' - David Wilkes – [amatbrewer@...] - Strike Force Fire
Starter - Posted Mar 20(msg#75356), OOP until Apr 6, Taken Apr 4,
Edit Apr 4(75441), OOP until Apr 7,


=====================================================================
APPROVED AND AWAITING UPLOAD

ROGER - Honora Renwick(1) - DRI DUCKS BILAMINATE RAIN SUIT – Posted
Feb 6(msg#75108), Taken Feb 8, Edit Feb 8(75124), Edit(2) Feb 11
(75131), Repost Feb 13 – html link not working, Waiting for correct
html version as of Feb 13, Follow up sent Mar 14, Repost Mar 18,
Edit/Approval Mar 18(75328)

KATHY - Kara Christenson(1) - The Keeper, Inc. Moon Cup - Posted Mar
4(msg#75243), Taken Mar 14, Edit Mar 14(75296), Repost Mar 18,
Edit/Approval Mar 19 (75343),

=====================================================================
=
REVIEWS ON HOLD


=================================================================
REFERRED TO MENTORING


=====================================================================
EDITED OR APPROVED; WAITING FOR WRITER'S ACTION

ROGER - Jes Sterling(2) – (MSR) MiniWorks EX Water Filter - Posted
Feb 17(msg#75163), Taken Mar 4,  HTML requested Mar 4, Follow up
sent Mar 14

ANDRE'/RAY - Thomas Peltier II - Katadyn Hiker Pro - Posted Jan 25
(msg#75046), OOP Feb 4 to 7, Taken Feb 5, Edit Feb 5(75096), Repost
Feb 26, Edit Feb 27(75217), Follow up Edit sent Mar 10 (75273),
Follow up sent Mar 30

KATHY - Mary Ann Hayman(1) – [mother_hayman @hotmail.c] - Mary Jane
Crocs - Posted Feb 16(msg#75170), Revised Feb 18, Taken Mar 5, Edit
Mar 5(75248), OOP until March 11, Follow up sent Mar 30, TTO Mar 30 –
  still working on HTML, will repost soon

Actually, to add to this, more often than not they don't know where to
deliver it when you 'just put SC' on the envelope...I've had many
letters bounce from the united states when i've abreviated the
state...and usually I've only abreviated the state cause I've copied the
address from another source and i've got no bloody idea what the
abreviation expands to!

Also a suggestion - on the document that specifies this address, add
'United States' down the bottom, I'm sure many people don't know that
this group is centred in the US....I had to think twice. We don't want
any letters ending up in seychelles do we? (SC is the country code for
seychelles)

Sam.

Andrew Priest wrote:
>
> Hi Ralph
>
> As Leesa said, but do add United States :-)
>
> Andrew
>
> On 04/04/2008, Leesa J <leesaj@... <mailto:leesaj%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> > South Carolina - although if you just put SC on the envelop, the postal
> > service would know where to deliver it.
> >
> > Leesa
> >
> >
> --
> Senior Edit Moderator
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

Hello Will,

This is a good, solid OR on a minor, but extremely useful item. I have
a few edits, noted below. When these are incorporated, please upload to

http://tinyurl.com/6ot3zg

Thank you!

Ted

BGT EDITOR


>
> http://tinyurl.com/2wxzah
>
>
> SLUMBERJACK STANDARD PILLOW
> BY WILLIAM RICE
> OWNER REVIEW
> March 17, 2008
>

>
> PRODUCT INFORMATION
>
> Manufacturer: Slumberjack
> Year of Manufacture: 2001
> Manufacturer's Website: www.slumberjack.com
> MSRP: None Listed (sells for $10 at Amazon.com)

### EDIT: Please omit the Amazon information. Just leave it as "not
listed" or "not available."

> Listed Weight: None
> Measured Weight: just less than 0.5 lbs (200 g)
> Dimensions: 20" x 10" x 3" (51 cm x 25 cm x 7.8 cm)

### EDIT: round out that last measurement to 8 cm for uniformity

> Other details: one side is lined

### EDIT: "covered" not "lined" surely?


  with fleece, the other side is lined
> with cotton flannel
> Fill Material: Polyester
>

>
>
>

n.
>
> SUMMARY
>
> This pillow has been one of my best friends. Whether I am traveling
> into the woods or just trying to go lighter, I take this pillow with
> me. Its soft, versatile depending on the temperature,

### EDIT: It's soft, versatile in a wide range of temperatures..."
["Depending" doesn't express, IMHO, exactly what you are trying to say].



  and it packs
> easily without adding any weight. I don't ever expect my gear to last
> very long under my grueling conditions,

### EDIT: "...under the grueling conditions I subject it to..." or
something like that. "my grueling conditions" doesn't read quite right.



  so having this pillow still
> around is a very nice surprise.
>
> THINGS I LIKE
>
> 1. Ultra-durable
> 2. Lightweight
> 3. Comfortable
> 4. Different sides for different temperatures
>
>

This is my 2nd OR.  The text version is below and the html version
is here: http://tiny.cc/WHFnR

MSR - POCKET ROCKET WITH KETTLE
BY NATHAN KETTNER
OR
May 04, 2008

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Nathan Kettner
EMAIL: kettnernw "at" yahoo "dot" com
AGE: 30
LOCATION: Colorado Springs, Colorado
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
WEIGHT: 175 lb (79.40 kg)

I'm a medium weight backpacker and generally hike a moderate pace
and mostly in mountainous terrain.
I almost always use a tent (lightweight when backpacking, wall tent
when hunting).  I'm a weekend backpacker and make lots of day trips
and single nights out, plus a few week-long backpack trips.  All of
my outings have been in the beautiful and rugged Rocky Mountains of
Colorado and Wyoming.


PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Mountain Safety Research (MSR)
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE -
  "http://www.msrgear.com/" LINK TEXT = "Mountain Safety Research
Homepage">>
MSRP: US$ 84.95
Listed Weight:
      Stove 3.0 oz (86 g)
      Kettle 4.2 oz (118g)
Measured Weight:
      Stove 3.0 oz (86 g)
      Kettle 4.2 oz (118 g)
Other details:
      Stove with plastic container 3.9 oz (110 g)
      Kettle with rubberband 4.5 oz (138 g)

FIELD USE

<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 1"  IMAGE CAPTION = "Kettle
with stove folded inside container.">>  <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT
= "IMAGE 2"  IMAGE CAPTION = "See-through image of stave packed with
4oz can of fuel.">>  <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 3"  IMAGE
CAPTION = "Stove assembled on 4oz can of fuel.">>

I have used this stove and kettle combination on one 6 night
backpacking trip in the Teton Wilderness near Yellowstone National
Park in Wyoming and on several overnight hikes in Lost Creek
Wilderness in Colorado.  On the 6 night trip, we carried two 8 oz
(217 g) cans of MSR IsoPro fuel for the two of us because we were
uncertain of how much water we would be able (or want) to heat each
day.  Granted, MSR provides estimates of how much water each
canister of fuel will boil and others have provided information from
boil tests, but I think real life experience is much different than
tests performed in a controlled environment.   In real life there
will be wind, variable air and water temperatures, and no
thermometer to tell you exactly when the water has reached boiling
temperature.   So here are the results of my real-world experience:
every day of the six day trip we heated enough water to make 2
packages of oatmeal and 2 cups of hot chocolate for breakfast, and a
2-serving size package of Mountain House meals for lunch and
dinner.   Even with all this cooking we never even opened the second
can of fuel and the first can still has some fuel left.

As a precaution against running out of fuel, we also used the Titan
kettle to heat water over an open fire on several occasions before
our 6 night trip just to see how it held up.  Other than turning the
outside of the kettle black with carbon, it held up very well.

As the images above show, you can pack the stove (without its
plastic container) and a 4oz (113 g) can of fuel inside the kettle
if you have very limited space.  However, we chose to carry 8 oz
cans of fuel, so we stored one of the fuel cans inside the kettle,
carried one separately, and packed the stove in its plastic
container.

SUMMARY

This stove and kettle combination worked very well in all
circumstances that I used it and I would highly recommend it to any
backpacker looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use stove.

THINGS I LIKE

1.  The kettle seems indestructible and is easy to clean.
2.  The handles on the stove and the stove cover stay cool enough to
touch even when the water is boiling.
3.  The stove is extremely small, lightweight, and easy to use.

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

1.  The price is reasonable for the quality of the product, but the
price was high enough that I had to really consider how much I would
use it before I bought it.



This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.

re Owner Review: Montrail Hardrock Wide Trail Running Shoes

Hi Will

Welcome to BGT. I am going to preempt the standard edit queue here with some
brief comments. Please do not be offended but the terse manner in which they
are written.

First, you need to read the Survival Guide (SG) a bit more and follow its
instructions in writing your OR
.
Second, as explained in the SG, you MUST post the HTML version in the
Test/OR folder and include the URL to the HTML in the posting of the plain
text on this channel.

Third, your OR is too short on information about the shoes: it tells me
almost nothing about them. Have a read of several other ORs on shoes to see
what level of detail is required.

The easy solution to all these problems is to do what we recommend all
newcomers to BGT do: ask for a Mentor to assist you - privately, in getting
your first two ORs done properly This is simple to do: send an email to
Mentor@... and ask. We have a team of experienced Mentors
waiting to help.

Cheers
Roger Caffin
BGT Editor

Hi there. This is my first review - a little lengthy I think, but
complete!

Thanks
Chris Whelan

Mountain Hardwear Beryllium Jacket

Reviewer Information
Name: 			 Chris Whelan
Age: 		 25
Gender: 		        Male
Height: 		 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight: 		        135 lbs (61 kg)
Email address: 	 educo_summers@...
City, State, Country:  Squamish, B.C., Canada
Date: 		 March 05, 2008
Backpacking Background: I began my backpacking career in my early
teens, and have since become an avid hiker, climber and backcountry
skier, and am beginning to foray into mountaineering and alpinism.
On B.C.'s coast I enjoy everything from short day trips with a snack
and a sweater in my pack to weeklong epics, 65 lb (29.5 kg) pack in
tow.  If the trip permits, my 2 year old Lab-Shepherd cross Ted puts
his pack on and leads the way!
Product Information
Manufacturer:  Mountain Hardwear
Year of Manufacture: 2007
URL: http://www.mountainhardwear.com
Listed Weight: 1 lb. 2 oz. (516 g)
Weight as Delivered: 1 lb. 2 oz. (516 g)
Laminate: GORE-TEX® Pro Shell
Body: FTX Lite Pro Shell
Manufacturer's Description: Designed for the serious mountaineer,
this GORE-TEX® Pro Shell delivers exceptional strength and
durability with room for layers in our all-mountain cut. Welded
components, micro-tape construction and a helmet-ready hood meet the
elements head on.
Field Information
Field Location: The Mountain Hardwear Beryllium Jacket has been used
primarily in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, with some use
in the Rocky Mountains near Lake Louise, Alberta.

Field Conditions:  The Beryllium Jacket has seen it all: warm-
weather days walking the dog; rain-soaked, three-day mud slogs; ice
climbing on the Icefields Parkway; a six day icefield ski traverse;
resort skiing at Whistler Blackcomb in all conditions.  It has been
worn in temperatures from 15 oC (59 oF) to –15 oC (5 oF), in rain,
hail and snow, and been subject to winds approaching 80 km/h (50
mph).  The jacket has been worn in temperate rainforest at sea
level, and alpine glacier up to 3161 m (10 370 ft)

Field Report

This jacket was purchased as a do-it-all experiment.  As I am
involved in many outdoor pursuits, I wanted one well-constructed,
lightweight, durable piece that could go from acting as a wind-
breaker when rock-climbing on cool, windy days in Squamish, to
keeping me dry and protected when back-country skiing at moderate
altitudes, while still being able to handle the rain-drenched hiking
trails of the Pacific Coast.  I seem to have found this item in the
Beryllium!
	 The jacket has a Gore-Tex® Pro Shell waterproof membrane,
which has kept me dry in all conditions, and breathes extremely
well.  In addition to the jacket's breathability, Mountain Hardwear
incorporates Superlight Pit Zips, which are welded and water-
resistant, as well as having two welded, water-tight chest pockets
which double as vents due to their mesh lining.  The jacket body is
FTX Lite Pro Shell, allowing for a very lightweight, small-packing
piece, with a Micro-Grid liner keeping it comfortable when worn over
just a T-shirt.
	 The jacket has proven durable in conditions for which it was
not necessarily designed – being an ultralight shell, some abrasion
resistance has been sacrificed for weight and minimalist design, yet
this has not shown itself to be a problem.  I have been snagged many
times on dead branches while bushwhacking through dense pine stands,
and roughly dropped a heavy pack with the jacket strapped to the
exterior on sharp scree, and it does not show any scratches or tears.
	 The hood is sublime. While being constructed to accommodate
all manner of helmets, it has a wonderful, one-hand tightening
system, which snugs both the circumference of the hood laterally
around the head and the height of the hood down toward the collar at
the same time, so helmet-less fit is great as well. The hood has a
beefy brim stiffener, which keeps rain off the face while, working
in conjuction with the hood tightener, keeps peripheral vision
clear.  The hood also rolls snugly away into a collar baffle,
although it feels a little bulky when it is stowed.
The pockets are well positioned on the chest, the zippers run
smoothly and are watertight, and the jacket even boasts a small
interior pocket for cell-phone and wallet on the left side and an
interior water-bottle pocket on the right.
	 The front zipper is beefy and easy to pull up with gloves
on, but the overflap, bearing Velcro patches along its length, makes
unzipping a hassle at times, as the zipper catches at every Velcro
closure.
	 The cut is a little too snug. I am a slender fellow and
usually wear a medium in most men's clothing (both casual and
backpacking gear), but opted for a small in this jacket due to its
billing as having "room for layers in our all-mountain cut" by the
manufacturer. When compared to other jackets of similar construction
(in which a small was quite roomy), the Beryllium fits much
smaller.  There is room to fit some layers underneath, but in very
cold or windy situations the jacket becomes either restrictive due
to too many layers underneath, or cold as I sacrifice warmth for
mobility, while the thinness of material does not itself provide
much insulation.  The length of both the body and sleeves are great,
and the sleeves have Velcro adjustable cuffs allowing for one skinny
wrist to stay dry while the other can sneak my bulky
altimeter/barometer out for a quick peak.

Summary

The Beryllium Jacket is a sturdy, functional, very lightweight shell
that excels in all types of weather.  While its primary design is
towards ice climbing and alpine adventures, it is a great hiking and
rain jacket as well, as it packs small and light, and dries
quickly.  It is more durable than expected, and the hood performs
better than any I've experienced.  It is cut smaller than expected,
and isn't as warm as hoped.

Things I like:

1. Always keeps me dry
2. Hood
3. Lightweight

Things I don't like

1. Cut too snugly
2. Stains easily

Dear Group

I am very pleased to announce the following changes to the Edit Team.

(1) Please welcome Sheila Morrissey and Andrew Buskov (AB) to their new
roles at BackpackGearTest.org as Editors. Sheila and Andrew will be joining
the team responsible with working with new members to BGT and Owner Reviews.
Andrew and Sheila are replacing Ray who has left the Edit team.

(2) The other exciting news is that Ted Ripley-Duggan, who has been a
steadying hand on the Edit Team has now assumed the senior role as Edit
Moderator and will be joining the Moderator group.  Ted's role will be to
support me in my role as Senior Edit Moderator and Ted will be Acting Senior
Edit Moderator whenever I am OOP.

Please make them welcome in their new roles.

Regards
Andrew


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> EDIT/APPROVAL: Owner Review - REI Spirit III GTX Hiking Boots -
Brett Haydin

Hi Brett, see below:

--- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com, "Brett Haydin" <bhaydin@...>
wrote:
<snip>
> The boots provide a lot of ankle support and has likely spared me

EDIT: and have

<snip>
> DURABILITY
>
> The boots have held up well thus far.  The GORE-TEX continues to
> provide excellent waterproofing.  The Vibram soles show some wear,
> but seem to be holding well.

Edit: holding *up* well (?)

<snip>

---------

That was quick. Good work, Brett. You are clear to upload here:
http://tinyurl.com/5p4par

You will want to sign up to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/backpackgeartesters/
in case you haven't already - that's where the test calls are posted.
The Bylaws also spell out how things work - particularly the "newbie"
rule, which tends to generate a lot of questions. See here:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/lesson.php?lesson=Bylaws&page=0

The long and the short of it is that you can now begin applying for
tests. Feel free to look at some posted applications for inspiration -
  best look at applications for old tests - getting to much
inspiration from applications for tests one is applying for oneself
is severely frowned upon.

I wish you the best of luck.

André
OR Editor

Sam,

it's all looking good, except for the manufacturer link. Right now it
links back to itself. The reason is the location of the quotation
marks (which I omitted in my post - mea culpa).

I suggest you either put http://www.rei.com into the respective input
box of the Report Writer, or you open the html file it produces with
the Editor applet and make sure that it says, behind manufacturer
link:
<A HREF="http://www.rei.com">http://www.rei.com</A>

(after that should come the line break, which is
<br>
and then the MSRP

(Sorry if I'm confusing the issue, I don't know how much you know
about HTML.)
Should you not be able to get the manufacturer link to work in the
test folder, feel free to mail me sideband (that is directly, rather
than posting to this list) and I'm sure we'll get it figured out. You
can also request help (on any upload issues) from the friendly folks
at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BGTFileUploadHelp/

Once you're satisfied that the Manufacturer URL is clickable (and
leads to the manufacturer's top level domain), feel free to upload to
http://tinyurl.com/4cw5nk (and please remember to delete the test
folder version - this is often forgotten).

Should this get to be a little much, please do get in touch with me.
I recall that this bit can be a bit frustrating the first couple of
times (it gets to be very easy with just a little time).

Good report! I'm looking forward to seeing your 2nd OR on the list
soon and welcoming you as a new tester.

André
OR Editor

--- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com, Sam Stamey <samstamey@...>
wrote:
>
> Thanks Andre for all of the help and support. I have uploaded to
the test site here:
> http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/test/OWNER%20REVIEWS/OR%20-%
20REI%20PowerShirt/
>
> Sam
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: André Corterier <andre.corterier@...>
> To: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 5:26:07 AM
> Subject: [BackpackGearTest] EDIT: REPOST (2nd) EDIT: REPOST: Owner
review - REI POWER STRETCH SHIRT
>
> --- In BackpackGearTest@ yahoogroups. com, Sam Stamey
<samstamey@ ..>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Andre,
> > Here is my repost. Thanks for the help. Do I need to put a new
HTML
> file up as well?
> > Sam
>
> Yes, you do. While we edit from the text version, in my experience
> it's been good to check that the edits have made it over into the
> HTML version. Also, you have to make the manufacturer URL clickable
> (if you plug it into the right window, the Report Writer should do
> that for you).
>
> Otherwise, you code (into the .htm file, using WordPad or something
> like it):
> Manufacturer URL: <A HREF=http://www.rei. com>http://www.rei.
com</A>
>
> Once you've satisfied yourself that the edits are all in there and
> the URL is clickable in the test folder version, let me know and
I'll
> approve it for upload (and create a folder for it).
>
> Two Edits is pretty darn good for a first OR (I think this one
> doesn't count). Congratulations. Approval a virtual given on the
next
> one.
>
> Regards,
>
> André
> OR Editor
>
> > REI POWER STRETCH SHIRT
> > BY SAM STAMEY
> > Owner Report
> > March 28, 2008
> <snip>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Congratulations to Sheila, Andrew B and a special one to Ted for the
sterling work over the years as an editor. Ted got me over the hump with my
original OR with all of the upload problems.

Have fun people.



Ralph



   _____

From: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Andrew Priest
Sent: Sunday, 6 April 2008 9:28 AM
To: backpackgeartesters@yahoogroups.com; backpackgeartest@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BackpackGearTest] BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - New Members - Edit Team



Dear Group

I am very pleased to announce the following changes to the Edit Team.

(1) Please welcome Sheila Morrissey and Andrew Buskov (AB) to their new
roles at BackpackGearTest.org as Editors. Sheila and Andrew will be joining
the team responsible with working with new members to BGT and Owner Reviews.
Andrew and Sheila are replacing Ray who has left the Edit team.

(2) The other exciting news is that Ted Ripley-Duggan, who has been a
steadying hand on the Edit Team has now assumed the senior role as Edit
Moderator and will be joining the Moderator group. Ted's role will be to
support me in my role as Senior Edit Moderator and Ted will be Acting Senior
Edit Moderator whenever I am OOP.

Please make them welcome in their new roles.

Regards
Andrew

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thank you for your help, and to the others who helped me through this
learning period.  The new file is uploaded, and the old deleted. I’ve
(re)sent my agreement to the South Carolina address, so it does look like I
really am ready to start testing!



Just a quick plug in: The mentoring program was really helpful.  For those
of you who haven’t considered it and are just beginning your first OR’s, I
highly recommend using this tool.



Brett

   _____

From: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of André Corterier
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 1:42 AM
To: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BackpackGearTest] EDIT/APPROVAL: Owner Review - REI Spirit III GTX
Hiking Boots - Brett Haydin



> EDIT/APPROVAL: Owner Review - REI Spirit III GTX Hiking Boots -
Brett Haydin

Hi Brett, see below:

--- In BackpackGearTest@ <mailto:BackpackGearTest%40yahoogroups.com>
yahoogroups.com, "Brett Haydin" <bhaydin@...>
wrote:
<snip>
> The boots provide a lot of ankle support and has likely spared me

EDIT: and have

<snip>
> DURABILITY
>
> The boots have held up well thus far. The GORE-TEX continues to
> provide excellent waterproofing. The Vibram soles show some wear,
> but seem to be holding well.

Edit: holding *up* well (?)

<snip>

---------

That was quick. Good work, Brett. You are clear to upload here:
http://tinyurl. <http://tinyurl.com/5p4par> com/5p4par

You will want to sign up to
http://groups. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/backpackgeartesters/>
yahoo.com/group/backpackgeartesters/
in case you haven't already - that's where the test calls are posted.
The Bylaws also spell out how things work - particularly the "newbie"
rule, which tends to generate a lot of questions. See here:
http://www.backpack
<http://www.backpackgeartest.org/lesson.php?lesson=Bylaws&page=0>
geartest.org/lesson.php?lesson=Bylaws&page=0

The long and the short of it is that you can now begin applying for
tests. Feel free to look at some posted applications for inspiration -
best look at applications for old tests - getting to much
inspiration from applications for tests one is applying for oneself
is severely frowned upon.

I wish you the best of luck.

André
OR Editor





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Congratulations are certainly in order. A bigger, capable staff will
continue to ensure quality work from the community. Well done a I hope
to see your red ink on my reviews soon... but not too much!

André,
Thanks for your edits, being new to this I need all the help I can
get.
In your first edit, you wanted the "OR" changed to Owner Review. I
changed it in the text version but noticed that OR was automatically
inserted by the Report Generator, is there any to get the Report
Generator to use Owner Review in place of OR?
I believe I was able to get all of the other mistakes corrected. As
for you being "a bit nitpicky"… feel free to pick all the nits you
want, it only helps me learn.

Strike Force Fire Starter
BY DAVID WILKES
Owner Review
April 06, 2008

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: David Wilkes
EMAIL: amatbrewer@charterDOTnet
AGE: 42
LOCATION: Yakima, Washington USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
WEIGHT: 210 lb (95.30 kg)

I started backpacking about 13 years ago when I moved to Washington
State. Since then I have backpacked in all seasons and conditions. I
have usually only managed time for 1-3 trips a year averaging 2-5
days, and as many day hikes as I can. I am currently getting into
condition to summit some of the higher peaks in
Washington/Oregon/California. I prefer trips on rugged trails with
plenty of elevation gain. While I continuously strive to lighten my
load, comfort and safety are more important to me. My current pack is
around 30lbs (14 kg) not including consumables.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Ultimate Survival Technologies
Year of Manufacture: Purchased in 2007
Manufacturer's Website: <<HYPERLINK GOES HERE -
  "http://www.ultimatesurvival.com/" LINK TEXT
= "www.ultimatesurvival.com">>
MSRP: Not listed (available through a number of online dealers)
Listed Weight: 3.7 ounces (104.9 g)
Measured Weight: 3.55 oz (101 g)
SPECIFICATIONS (from manufacture's web page)<UL>• Length: 5 inches
(12.7 cm)
• Material, Flint Unit: 0.5-inch (1.3 cm) diameter flint bar embedded
in ABS case
• Material, Tinder: Trade secret material </UL>
(Measured dimensions match manufacturer's listed specifications)


<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 1">>
The Strike Force Fire Starter is a large [0.5 in (1.3 cm)] flint
enclosed in a bright orange ABS plastic container with a steel
striker built into the protective cap and a small tinder storage area
in the handle. The manufacturer's web page states that the sparks are
3 times hotter than a match is.
With the protective cap removed, the flint extends 1.75 in (4.45 cm)
from the handle and the steel striker bar extends 1/2 in (1.27 cm)
from the cap. An included lanyard is threaded through holes in all 3
pieces (cap/striker, handle, & end cap). It was immediately clear
that the lanyard was well designed to keep all the components
together while allowing enough length to use the striker.

The Strike Force arrived with one cube of WetFire chemical tinder.
The WetFire cube fits nicely into the compartment in the bottom of
the handle.
<<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 2">>

FIELD USE


The first thing I noticed was how much larger and heavier this is
than any of my other fire starters (matches, lighter, magnesium
block, etc). I immediately wanted to know if it was worth the extra
weight.
When I opened the cap, it was clear that the flint was large and
should be good for many strikes. In addition, the way the striker bar
is mounted in the cap was well thought out. Therefore, I was quite
surprised when my first strike did not produce a single spark. After
about three more attempts, I realized that one side of the striker
bar worked much better at producing sparks than the other and that I
needed to apply more pressure.
Subsequent strikes resulted in an impressive spray of sparks, far
more than I was used to from my small magnesium block/flint combo
that I have used for years. Glancing around, I noticed a few dry
leaves on the patio. I placed the end of the flint close to the
leaves and half heartedly applied the striker to the flint. Despite
only producing about half of the sparks I had previously, the leaves
immediately caught a flame!
After stomping out the burning leaves, I wanted to test the claim
that this was an "all weather fire starter" that works even when wet.
I repeatedly dunked the flint and striker in water and attempted to
produce sparks. The water did not seem to affect its ability to
produce a high volume of sparks.
  <<IMAGE GOES HERE. ALT TEXT = "IMAGE 3">>
Image from manufacturers web site

I tried lighting the WetFire tinder that came with the Strike Force
as well as a Trioxain stick. The Trioxain stick lit on the first try
and the WetFire took three strikes before it took a flame. However
not only does the WetFire block fit well inside the handle, but
according to the manufacturer's web site it is also non-toxic (the
same cannot be said about Trioxain).
Just for reference I timed the WetFire block and it burned (in my
fireplace) well for about 9 min. It continued to burn with a very
small flame for about 1 min more before going out entirely. Since I
only had a single WetFire block, I was unable to test it further.
During two weekend (2 nights each) family camping trips this summer,
in the Washington Cascades (South of Clear Lake) at around 3000' (900
m), I tried using the fire starter to see how it would operate in
field conditions. The weather during the first trip was warm and
sunny, but it had recently rained, so much of the available tinder
material was damp. During the second trip, there was intermittent
light rain. On both trips, the mornings were very damp. On both
trips, I collected tinder from available materials (leaves, bark,
twigs, etc) and attempted to light fires, 2-3 on each trip (practice
for me, education for my kids). Despite the damp conditions I had no
trouble getting fires started. I also used the striker to light a
propane camp stove a few times on these trips. It worked well (like
having an unlimited supply of matches).
I used the fire starter during a 3 night backpacking trip with my
daughter (Washington Cascades around 4500' (1400 m). Since I do not
normally use a camp fire while backpacking (often not allowed) I used
it only to test the product, hone my skills, and educate my daughter
in survival skills. We would collect materials available, mostly
moss, bark, rotten wood, and pine needles, and attempt to get a fire
started. The conditions were cool, 50's during the day and near
freezing at night, but dry so we had little trouble finding suitable
materials and was able to get a fire started rather easily on every
attempt. I have had it with me on a few other backpacking trips and
while I have not had a "need" to use it, I have used it to start
small practice fires with available materials (again mostly pine
needles, bark, moss and rotten wood).
When used in conjunction with shavings from a magnesium block, or
some tissue I was able to get a flame with 1-2 strikes of the flint.
I was able to start fires with a little effort, a few strikes and
some blowing, using bark shavings and small twigs (even when slightly
damp on the outside) for tinder. When used with only natural tinders
I found it was necessary to have at least some very dry material such
as wood/bark shavings, and was able to get a flame after a little
effort. When I used dry moss and/or dry rotted wood, I was able to
get a flame with between 1-3 strikes. Obviously, when I used the
Trioxain sticks I was able to get a flame on the first or second
strike and light even slightly wet tinder. After a little practice, I
feel comfortable that I could use this to start a fire using only
natural materials, assuming some dry material was available.
Moreover, with the WetFire chemical tinder stored in the handle, I
can expect at least one fire even in wet conditions.

On a side note I have read that these fire strikers produce a flash
of light bright enough to be effective at attracting attention in
case of emergencies. While I cannot say from experience if this is
true, I must note that when I was attempting to light the WetFire
block in my dark fireplace the flash of light it produced caused me
to be unable to see for a few seconds after each strike. It seemed to
me to be almost, if not just as, bright as the personal emergency
strobes I have seen in survival kits.

The Strike Force is not currently available from the manufacturer but
it is available from a number of retailers.


SUMMARY

This immediately became my primary emergency fire starter. When
lighting things like a camp stove it is like having an unlimited
supply of matches. It, along with a chemical tinder, has a permanent
place in my survival kit, providing me with confidence that if in
need I will be able to start a fire in almost any conditions that I
may encounter.

THINGS I LIKE

Easy to use
Reliable
Works VERY well
Durable
Integrated tinder storage

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

Heavier than other fire starters I have used

SIGNATURE

<FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="+5" COLOR="#FF0000">David
Wilkes</FONT>



This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.

For your editing pleasure, regards

Owner Review MSR Pocket Rocket Stove

Sunday, 6th April 2008

* Reviewer Information
Name: Mark McLauchlin
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Height: 1.76 m (5' 9")
Weight: 80 kg (176 lb)
Email: mark at swanvalleyit.com.au
City: Perth, Western Australia

* Backpacking Background
I have been hiking for approximately 12 months with most of my hiking
consisting of day walks averaging 16 – 22 km (9.94 – 13.66 mi)
and short overnight trips where possible.

I consider myself to be a light hiker with an average pack weight of 13
kg (28.66 lbs).

My preference is for hot dinners, breakfasts of cereals with fresh
fruit, and lunches usually of bars and sandwiches. I am starting to work
with freezer bag type meals

* Product Information

Manufacturer: Mountain Safety Research / Cascade Designs
Manufacturer's URL: www.msrgear.com <http://www.msrgear.com>
Year of manufacturer: 2006
Listed Weight: 86 g (3 oz)
Verified Weight: 86 g (3 oz) Listed Dimensions: 10x10x5 cm (4x4x2
inches)
Year of Purchase: 2007
MSRP: $39.95 (USD)

* Product Description
The Mountain Safety Research (MSR) Pocket Rocket is a canister mounted,
single fuel, IsoPropane stove.

One of the greatest benefits of this stove, my main reason for purchase
also, is its size and weight. As can be seen from the images the stove
fits within the palm of your hand, and weighs only 86 grams or 3 ounces.


Starting from a top down approach on the stove we can see that there are
three `legs' which fold out when in use and back in towards the
main body when packed away. The legs are tightly hinged at the base so
there is no instability.

When the legs are in the outer position they are not completely level,
as can be seen from the image, the manufacturer advises that this
creates better stability for a wider range of pots or pans. The legs are
also 10 cm or 4 inches apart, (point to point) and have small cerations
for extra grip.

At flame point there is a Windclip Windshield, (tri-sectional) designed
to help protect the flame from light winds.


The stove has a standard screw type connection valve to the gas
cylinder, however one point which I find advantageous is that there is a
differing in texture around the area where you would tighten from to
assist with grip. The stove is sealed to the cylinder with a O-Ring.

Located near the base of the assembly is the flame control valve. The
flame can be turned right down (counter clockwise) to simmer and
conversely turned (clockwise) up to a very fast boil. The control valve
also folds away close to the body for packing and to prevent damage.

There is no ignitor with this model which does not create any issues as
far as I am concerned, it always starts first time with a match or
lighter which I generally carry for other fire lighting purposes.

The Pocket Rocket was purchased as part of the Titan Kettle Kit, however
that is outside the scope of this report and will be addressed in
separate owner report.

* Test Locations
Western Australia is known to bushwalkers for the Bibbulmun Track which
runs from Perth to Albany (nearly 1000 km or 621 miles long).
The many tracks that lead through this area also make up most of my
walking.
is known to bushwalkers for the Bibbulmun Track which runs from
The diversity of the track sections can range from well marked trails to
overgrown and sometimes more challenging tracks to navigate. Old forest
tracks and Park Ranger (Conservation And Land Management) gravel roads
make up the majority of the access points to the track.

Elevation is from sea level to 585 m (1,920 ft).

The Pocket Rocket has been used mainly around the Bibbulmun track as
this is an area great for hiking. Walks can be from a few hours to
6 weeks to complete end to end. All of my walking has been on this track
and its surrounding areas.

I have completed several sections of the track at the northern most end
and spend several days out walking. The layout out the tracks
means that I have been able to walk between huts which are generally one
full days walk, 16 – 22 km (9.94 – 13.66 mi).


* Test Conditions

As I have been testing this item of over 18 months an exact temperature,
wind and rainfall pattern is difficult to monitor myself, the details in
the table below are courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology. This stove
has been used in all the months below.


* Review

Stability of the pocket rocket is surprisingly good, to date I have not
had any issues with the stove toppling over. I have used the titan
kettle and also an aluminium pot that provides me with the ability to
cook meals rather than simply boiling water which is the case, in my
opinion with the kettle, although I have on occasion cooked sausages and
potato with success.

Both the titan kettle and the aluminium pot I have used have been very
stable which attribute to the cerated edge and inward angle of the legs.
The performances of the cooking pots are not discussed in this review.

In normal conditions I have experience whilst hiking boiling water takes
approximately three minutes as per the manufacturer's website, in
most occasions I do not bring the water to the boil as this is too hot
for my liking and also saves on gas. Two and a half minutes is
sufficient for hot drinks and dehydrated meals.

Testing has made it is apparent that the windclip windshield this does
prevent the flame from blowing out but it does not protect it from being
blown sideways thus reducing the efficiency of the flame.

The O-ring which provides the seal between the stove and cylinder has
not shown any signs of wear after 18 months.

The control valve has proved to be exceptionally good, as mentioned
above in the product description, and shows no signs of wear. I was
initially concerned about the location of the valve and thought that it
might be difficult to get to or become hot as the stove is in use,
neither of these proved to be an issue.

There are few safety items, specific to the stove, which I would like to
mention, as per the instructions that came with the stove.

Ensure the stove and the canister is correctly assembled before
operating.
Do not light indoors, in a tent, vehicle or other enclosed area (Carbon
Monoxide hazard)
Do not obstruct the flow of combustion and ventilation air.
Always check for leaks before operating.
Never disconnect stove while still lit.
Do not place heavy loads on the stove, maximum of 3.6kg or 8 pounds.
Never leave unattended.


The pocket rocket comes with a red plastic case for storage which due to
the pointed nature and legs and the build up of soot from burn time is a
great idea to protect your pack and other items. (also protecting the
stove).

Upon reading the information on the back of the MSR branded IsoPro
canister I was amazed to read about a warning that the use of, in some
state of America, can lead to cancer.

An email was sent to the customer service with a very promptly reply to
state that legally they are obliged to note this. Other brands of IsoPro
that I currently use to do note this, I will be following up to see if
there are any specific reasons for this.


* Conclusion

This is a great stove and I highly recommend it to anyone that is
looking for fast, effective cooking with minimal weight and at a great
price.


* Pros
Light, efficient, durable and affordable.

* Cons
Unable to utilise a windshield (as with any canister mounted stove)


My reports and reviews can be found at;

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/tester_reviews/markmclauchlin
<http://www.backpackgeartest.org/tester_reviews/markmclauchlin>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sorry, additional link to HTML added.

For your editing pleasure, regards

HTMl can be found here - http://tinyurl.com/5taa37

Owner Review MSR Pocket Rocket Stove

Sunday, 6th April 2008

* Reviewer Information
Name: Mark McLauchlin
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 1.76 m (5' 9")
Weight: 80 kg (176 lb)
Email: mark at swanvalleyit.com.au
City: Perth, Western Australia

* Backpacking Background
I have been hiking for approximately 12 months with most of my hiking
consisting of day walks averaging 16 – 22 km (9.94 – 13.66 mi)
and short overnight trips where possible.

I consider myself to be a light hiker with an average pack weight of
13
kg (28.66 lbs).

My preference is for hot dinners, breakfasts of cereals with fresh
fruit, and lunches usually of bars and sandwiches. I am starting to
work
with freezer bag type meals

* Product Information

Manufacturer: Mountain Safety Research / Cascade Designs
Manufacturer's URL: www.msrgear.com <http://www.msrgear.com>
Year of manufacturer: 2006
Listed Weight: 86 g (3 oz)
Verified Weight: 86 g (3 oz) Listed Dimensions: 10x10x5 cm (4x4x2
inches)
Year of Purchase: 2007
MSRP: $39.95 (USD)

* Product Description
The Mountain Safety Research (MSR) Pocket Rocket is a canister
mounted,
single fuel, IsoPropane stove.

One of the greatest benefits of this stove, my main reason for
purchase
also, is its size and weight. As can be seen from the images the stove
fits within the palm of your hand, and weighs only 86 grams or 3
ounces.


Starting from a top down approach on the stove we can see that there
are
three `legs' which fold out when in use and back in towards the
main body when packed away. The legs are tightly hinged at the base so
there is no instability.

When the legs are in the outer position they are not completely level,
as can be seen from the image, the manufacturer advises that this
creates better stability for a wider range of pots or pans. The legs
are
also 10 cm or 4 inches apart, (point to point) and have small
cerations
for extra grip.

At flame point there is a Windclip Windshield, (tri-sectional)
designed
to help protect the flame from light winds.


The stove has a standard screw type connection valve to the gas
cylinder, however one point which I find advantageous is that there
is a
differing in texture around the area where you would tighten from to
assist with grip. The stove is sealed to the cylinder with a O-Ring.

Located near the base of the assembly is the flame control valve. The
flame can be turned right down (counter clockwise) to simmer and
conversely turned (clockwise) up to a very fast boil. The control
valve
also folds away close to the body for packing and to prevent damage.

There is no ignitor with this model which does not create any issues
as
far as I am concerned, it always starts first time with a match or
lighter which I generally carry for other fire lighting purposes.

The Pocket Rocket was purchased as part of the Titan Kettle Kit,
however
that is outside the scope of this report and will be addressed in
separate owner report.

* Test Locations
Western Australia is known to bushwalkers for the Bibbulmun Track
which
runs from Perth to Albany (nearly 1000 km or 621 miles long).
The many tracks that lead through this area also make up most of my
walking.
is known to bushwalkers for the Bibbulmun Track which runs from
The diversity of the track sections can range from well marked trails
to
overgrown and sometimes more challenging tracks to navigate. Old
forest
tracks and Park Ranger (Conservation And Land Management) gravel roads
make up the majority of the access points to the track.

Elevation is from sea level to 585 m (1,920 ft).

The Pocket Rocket has been used mainly around the Bibbulmun track as
this is an area great for hiking. Walks can be from a few hours to
6 weeks to complete end to end. All of my walking has been on this
track
and its surrounding areas.

I have completed several sections of the track at the northern most
end
and spend several days out walking. The layout out the tracks
means that I have been able to walk between huts which are generally
one
full days walk, 16 – 22 km (9.94 – 13.66 mi).


* Test Conditions

As I have been testing this item of over 18 months an exact
temperature,
wind and rainfall pattern is difficult to monitor myself, the details
in
the table below are courtesy of the Bureau of Meteorology. This stove
has been used in all the months below.


* Review

Stability of the pocket rocket is surprisingly good, to date I have
not
had any issues with the stove toppling over. I have used the titan
kettle and also an aluminium pot that provides me with the ability to
cook meals rather than simply boiling water which is the case, in my
opinion with the kettle, although I have on occasion cooked sausages
and
potato with success.

Both the titan kettle and the aluminium pot I have used have been very
stable which attribute to the cerated edge and inward angle of the
legs.
The performances of the cooking pots are not discussed in this review.

In normal conditions I have experience whilst hiking boiling water
takes
approximately three minutes as per the manufacturer's website, in
most occasions I do not bring the water to the boil as this is too hot
for my liking and also saves on gas. Two and a half minutes is
sufficient for hot drinks and dehydrated meals.

Testing has made it is apparent that the windclip windshield this does
prevent the flame from blowing out but it does not protect it from
being
blown sideways thus reducing the efficiency of the flame.

The O-ring which provides the seal between the stove and cylinder has
not shown any signs of wear after 18 months.

The control valve has proved to be exceptionally good, as mentioned
above in the product description, and shows no signs of wear. I was
initially concerned about the location of the valve and thought that
it
might be difficult to get to or become hot as the stove is in use,
neither of these proved to be an issue.

There are few safety items, specific to the stove, which I would like
to
mention, as per the instructions that came with the stove.

Ensure the stove and the canister is correctly assembled before
operating.
Do not light indoors, in a tent, vehicle or other enclosed area
(Carbon
Monoxide hazard)
Do not obstruct the flow of combustion and ventilation air.
Always check for leaks before operating.
Never disconnect stove while still lit.
Do not place heavy loads on the stove, maximum of 3.6kg or 8 pounds.
Never leave unattended.


The pocket rocket comes with a red plastic case for storage which due
to
the pointed nature and legs and the build up of soot from burn time
is a
great idea to protect your pack and other items. (also protecting the
stove).

Upon reading the information on the back of the MSR branded IsoPro
canister I was amazed to read about a warning that the use of, in some
state of America, can lead to cancer.

An email was sent to the customer service with a very promptly reply
to
state that legally they are obliged to note this. Other brands of
IsoPro
that I currently use to do note this, I will be following up to see if
there are any specific reasons for this.


* Conclusion

This is a great stove and I highly recommend it to anyone that is
looking for fast, effective cooking with minimal weight and at a great
price.


* Pros
Light, efficient, durable and affordable.

* Cons
Unable to utilise a windshield (as with any canister mounted stove)


My reports and reviews can be found at;

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/tester_reviews/markmclauchlin
<http://www.backpackgeartest.org/tester_reviews/markmclauchlin>

Crap!!! I mailed my agreement on 2 Jan and just recieved it back
today?!?! I will get it out to the correct address ASAP. Hope this
does not interfeer with the applications I have submitted.

--- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com, "Leesa J" <leesaj@...>
wrote:
>
> Here you go:
>
>
> C Carnes
> 18 E Earle Street
> Greenville, SC 29609
>
>
> The address on the document is wrong - but just put this on on the
envelop
> and you are good to go!
>
> Leesa
>
> On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 5:25 PM, Josh Coatsworth <coatsworthj@...>
> wrote:
>
> >   Does anyone have a solution for this problem yet? I would like
to get my
> > agreement out before my second OR is done.
> >
> > Thanks, Josh
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of
Blockbuster
> > Total Access, No Cost.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

If you are selected, before it arrives - someone will contact you.

Leesa

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 11:46 AM, amatbrewer <david.wilkes@...>
wrote:

>   Crap!!! I mailed my agreement on 2 Jan and just recieved it back
> today?!?! I will get it out to the correct address ASAP. Hope this
> does not interfeer with the applications I have submitted.
>
> --- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com<BackpackGearTest%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "Leesa J" <leesaj@...>
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Here you go:
> >
> >
> > C Carnes
> > 18 E Earle Street
> > Greenville, SC 29609
> >
> >
> > The address on the document is wrong - but just put this on on the
> envelop
> > and you are good to go!
> >
> > Leesa
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 5:25 PM, Josh Coatsworth <coatsworthj@...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Does anyone have a solution for this problem yet? I would like
> to get my
> > > agreement out before my second OR is done.
> > >
> > > Thanks, Josh
> > >
> > > ---------------------------------
> > > You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of
> Blockbuster
> > > Total Access, No Cost.
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

David, this is the approval for your recent Owner Review. Apparently
the Report Writer puts "OR" into the text version, but the HTML
version shows "Owner Review" so that's good.

It would be nice, however, if you included a shortlink to the test
folder version. It's now required for test series reports over on
the "backpackgeartestERS" list. FYI.

It would also be helpful, I think, if you included a statement near
the beginning of this OR giving us a ballpark figure of how many
fires you've lit with this tool (and to what degree it's been used up
thereby). Consider this the only remaining "EDIT".

Good work. Best of luck with your applications.

André
OR Editor

--- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com, "amatbrewer"
<david.wilkes@...> wrote:
>
> André,
> Thanks for your edits, being new to this I need all the help I can
> get.
> In your first edit, you wanted the "OR" changed to Owner Review. I
> changed it in the text version but noticed that OR was
automatically
> inserted by the Report Generator, is there any to get the Report
> Generator to use Owner Review in place of OR?
> I believe I was able to get all of the other mistakes corrected. As
> for you being "a bit nitpicky"… feel free to pick all the nits you
> want, it only helps me learn.
>
> Strike Force Fire Starter
> BY DAVID WILKES
> Owner Review
> April 06, 2008
<snip>

Thanks for the quick turn around.



"It would be nice, however, if you included a shortlink to the test folder
version."

Oops, I knew that but forgot, shows what happens when you rush. Sorry.



"It would also be helpful, I think, if you included a statement near the
beginning of this OR giving us a ballpark figure of how many fires you've lit
with this tool (and to what degree it's been used up thereby). Consider this the
only remaining "EDIT"."

Very good idea, I will take care of that tonight.



David Wilkes

"Veni, Vidi, Velcro"

(I came; I saw; I stuck around.)



________________________________

From: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com [mailto:BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of André Corterier
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 1:49 PM
To: BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [BackpackGearTest] EDIT/APPROVAL: Repost OR - Strike Force Fire Starter
- David Wilkes





David, this is the approval for your recent Owner Review. Apparently
the Report Writer puts "OR" into the text version, but the HTML
version shows "Owner Review" so that's good.

It would be nice, however, if you included a shortlink to the test
folder version. It's now required for test series reports over on
the "backpackgeartestERS" list. FYI.

It would also be helpful, I think, if you included a statement near
the beginning of this OR giving us a ballpark figure of how many
fires you've lit with this tool (and to what degree it's been used up
thereby). Consider this the only remaining "EDIT".

Good work. Best of luck with your applications.

André
OR Editor

--- In BackpackGearTest@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:BackpackGearTest%40yahoogroups.com> , "amatbrewer"
<david.wilkes@...> wrote:
>
> André,
> Thanks for your edits, being new to this I need all the help I can
> get.
> In your first edit, you wanted the "OR" changed to Owner Review. I
> changed it in the text version but noticed that OR was
automatically
> inserted by the Report Generator, is there any to get the Report
> Generator to use Owner Review in place of OR?
> I believe I was able to get all of the other mistakes corrected. As
> for you being "a bit nitpicky"... feel free to pick all the nits you
> want, it only helps me learn.
>
> Strike Force Fire Starter
> BY DAVID WILKES
> Owner Review
> April 06, 2008
<snip>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]