Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Best gear upgrade
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AndySG |
Synthetic sleeping bag replaced with a down bag. Thermarest TrailPro Lite pad replaced with the Exped UL Basic. Thermarest foam Pillow replaced with Exped inflatable pillow. |
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deerfoot |
Any merino wool clothing |
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luft |
Bear vaults over hanging the packs, again so much easier and more peace of mind. Exped Dlx9 down sleeping pad over an ancient Thermarest. Warmer and better sleep. |
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Jeriatric |
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Mocha |
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PortageKeeper |
Magic over Tranquility. Carbon over wood paddles. Hammock over tent. Jetboil over every other stove that I have used. Warmlite Down Air Mat over all other pads (when I do use a tent). They're all huge improvements so it's hard to say which was the biggest improvement. |
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JackpineJim |
1) Expend Downmat 9 DLX - upgrade from standard Thermarest WOW! 2) Muck Boots - upgraded from hiking boots to LL Bean rubber bottom hunting boots to Rocky insulated rubber boots and FINALLY to the Muck Boots. I do most of my tripping in early spring or late fall and am solid on the Muck Boots. Too bad it took me 40 years to find a satisfactory solution. 3) 60" snowboard bag for portaging paddles and other loose odds and ends (works great and I clip it to the shoulder straps of my Granite Gear portage pack to support the weight. - upgrade from two hands 4) Bending Branches Espresso Plus 14 - upgrade from heavier BB Expedition Plus paddle 5) MSR Whisperlight Universal use in canister mode - upgrade from noisy MSR Dragonfly. (Dragonfly is a great stove, just got tired of the noise. 6) Camp Tarp (Guide Gear) - from CCS Tarp. The CCS tarp is MUCH higher quality but I like the camp aspect enough to settle. Haven't had any problems after about 6 years though. 7) REI Half dome 4 - upgrade from 25 year old REI Mountain Hut 3. Very happy about the drab green color of the Half Dome (did I mention I like to go cameo or low visibility. 8) Expend Air Pillow - upgrade from stuff sack full of socks and underwear. |
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BearDown |
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OBX2Kayak |
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gsfisher13 |
quote Savage Voyageur: "My upgrades are... This is one that I don't remember reading before. What do you like about titanium cookware over aluminum or stainless? |
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timatkn |
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tonyyarusso |
quote gsfisher13: "quote Savage Voyageur: "Titanium cookware for Aluminum or stainless steel" Not SV, but I also switched to titanium cookware. The #1 reason for me was that I'm a backpacker first and canoeist second, so the difference in weight is a really, really big deal. Some people also don't like the taste that aluminum can add, and others are worried about the link to Alzheimer's (which is very much debated still). Stainless steel doesn't add taste, but is very heavy. Aluminum is a bit lighter, but tastes funny. Titanium is lighter still and doesn't add taste - best of both worlds (at the expense of cost, obviously). |
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Savage Voyageur |
quote kanoes: "quote tonyyarusso: "quote gsfisher13: "quote Savage Voyageur: "Titanium cookware for Aluminum or stainless steel" Here is why I like Titanium cookware... 5 reasons why I like Titanium |
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ECpizza |
Silt prefilter (MSR sweetwater silt filter will work with any brand) saves clogging filters MERINO WOOL even on (especially on) the hottest day. Picardarin instead of DEET My own personal "comfort yoke". Made of wood and a dense foam contoured pad that covers both my shoulders and around the back of the neck. |
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RoundRiver |
Cheap blue "tarp" to a CCS Tundra Tarp. Using the CCS tarp (and getting the 10x16) over the tent (replaced two door out the sides with a 1 door on the end to facilitate this system). More and more wool products (sweaters, to jackets, to t-shirts). Nothing beats wool. Rag wool socks to Teko heavy hiker socks. They are incredible - keep there support day after day with no liner sock needed. Hanging a food bag to randomly setting it in the woods - and the 30 L barrel is a nice addition. Much easier and no problems to date. Learned later that Cliff Jacobson has never hung a food bag. Baseball cap to Filson Packer (warmer weather) or Filson wool-lined, waxed canvas outer Waterfowl hat (colder weather). Both are excellent and indestructible. Pur Hiker and MSR pump filters to the Base Camp gravity filter. WIll be buying no more rain jackets that simply wear out, get ripped, etc. and keep you just as wet inside as the rain outside whenever you are paddling and portaging, or hiking. Will be going only with a wool cape coat for inclement weather. Note that i do not go in the middle of the summer. Then I would simply not wear anything but my wool t-shirt. Not looking forward to portages to accepting portages to taking things in on the portages as a unique part of the trip. Happy planning for 2014 adventures! |
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kanoes |
quote tonyyarusso: "quote gsfisher13: "quote Savage Voyageur: "Titanium cookware for Aluminum or stainless steel" hard anodized aluminum is tasteless, as are the no stick versions. |
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OldGuystilltripping |
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Savage Voyageur |
quote missmolly: "I like my two kevlar canoes. I also like my PBL. I LOVE my LED flashlights." Great addition MissMolly. LED flashlights are a great upgrade, longer battery and bulb life, and they are also brighter. |
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Ragged |
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yellowcanoe |
quote OldGuystilltripping: "4 man tents ( first Bibler now Trango 4) for 2, carbon (ZRE, paddles in the 90's) sawyer gravity filters last 4 years, and last trip a Helinox chair. " I find your list intriguing. I have a Trango 3.1. Lightness ain't its forte though strength is. Probably you are balancing things though. Helinox and gravity filter and ZRE paddle. |
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keth0601 |
For wilderness travel in general I would have to say a PLB was the most important upgrade I've made. Hard to beat peace of mind. Everything else has meant smaller improvements in weight &/ comfort and don't really contribute quite as much to improving the overall experience. |
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mooseplums |
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Jackfish |
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yellowcanoe |
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boonie |
Gravity filter CCS tarp Jetboil Sol Waterproof P & S camera Marmot Sawtooth down bag Sea to Summit waterproof compression stuff sack |
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MagicPaddler |
Rapidfire over the Magic – Lighter, faster, easier to handle in wind and the big fish tow me around more. Lumix DMC-Zs20 over a mid-size digital – Fits in a dry bag that fits in my shirt pocket, takes better pictures, lighter Warbonnet and superfly over tent. Better rest, easier to stand up. |
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walllee |
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billconner |
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butthead |
butthead PS: I think that just upgraded me to a "BearClaw" bh |
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KevinL |
quote kanoes: "quote butthead: "PS: I think that just upgraded me to a "BearClaw" bh +1 |
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Thwarted |
2) SR17 Kevlar from Winnona Spirit fiberglass... Drastic improvement but expected. 3). Blue barrel from std food pack...I hated spending time/energy in hanging. Love stashing. May bears never catch on! RIP big blue. |
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lindylair |
17' Wenonah Kevlar canoe at 42 lbs...portages are more fun A Platypus gravity water filter instead of any pump system. We simply turn the system upside down and backflush several ounces each time we use it and it just keeps on working perfectly. |
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boonie |
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kanoes |
quote butthead: "PS: I think that just upgraded me to a "BearClaw" bh well deserved! congrats and thank you for all you contribute to this place. |
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timatkn |
CCS tarp from Walmart tarp CCS Guide/Pioneer and GG Nimbus from traditional Duluth canoe packs Wildwood bent shaft paddle from Bending branched special Souris River Quetico 18.5 Le Tigre from aluminum canoe |
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BuckFlicks |
By far, the best equipment upgrade I have made for both canoeing and backpacking was my Big Agnes Lost Ranger down sleeping bag. It's smaller and lighter than my old bag, and far roomier allowing me to toss and turn as my old creaky bones need. I sleep WAY better, and therefore am far less cranky in the mornings. If a canoe is part of this conversation, then I agree that a kevlar canoe is the way to go. |
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Frenchy19 |
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DeanL |
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KarlBAndersen1 |
Every bit as comfortable as my own personal bed at home. And that's the truth. And no more tent sites needed. All I need is two trees - anywhere. With my bottom quilt, I'm warm and toasty down to around 15 degrees. |
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kanoes |
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andym |
Second best overall: hanging a food pack to Ursacks Most recent: iodine to Sawyer gravity filter. Best before that: Thermarest to BA and Exped inflatable pads. Didn't have to upgrade: we had Zaveral paddles on our first trip. |
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BearDown |
We used the kaytadyn gravity filter and loved it, until it started clothing... Now I'm building a Sawyer one that I can back flush, really looking forward to not having to pump! |
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OldGuystilltripping |
To stay on the topic, my first tripping canoe was an abs giant that weighed 80 lbs. I don't think I could carry one. We rented lot's of kevlars, mainly Sawyer and Mad River, but I liked the Wenonahs best and bought an Itaska and later bought a Minn 2 at 42 lbs. which are my 2 canoes. Once I tried a Zeveral paddle I'll never go back, carbons are strong and weigh nothing! Bought a Sawyer gravity filter after pumping for 30 years and will carry another Sawyer as the backup and leave the pump at home. I never brought a chair but as I've said I now may have to bring a 2nd Helinox as it attached itself to my girlfriend. |
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jcavenagh |
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inspector13 |
quote yellowcanoe: "quote jcavenagh: "Doughboy12 gonna be one cool camper...NWS sz single digits F and snowing until Monday, when it gets all the way up to 16F..." No thanks. Only about eight and a half hours of daylight this time of year. The night is too long even in my nice and toasty cabin. : ) |
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IBFLY |
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linkster |
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jcavenagh |
Folks can argue about what hammock they think is best, but just getting up off the cold ground has been a real treat for me. |
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Doughboy12 |
quote yellowcanoe: "quote jcavenagh: "Doughboy12 gonna be one cool camper...NWS sz single digits F and snowing until Monday, when it gets all the way up to 16F..." We reached the limit of our go/no go low temperature at -20. If the forecast gets there we postpone so I didn't leave...and may not go at all. The trip goals would take 3-4 days and with that pushing it there was no way to do what we wanted and may just save it for another day. I do not yet hang and the temps are one of the reasons. |
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nctry |
quote OBX2Kayak: "Replaced one-man hiking tent with Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock" I upgraded to my bwca.com hat. :) |
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BearDown |
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Doughboy12 |
quote jcavenagh: "quote Doughboy12: "quote jcavenagh: "Moving to a hammock from a tent has been the best change for me in the past few years. I sleep better and then feel better the next day. Yes...I leave at noon. |
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yellowcanoe |
quote jcavenagh: "Doughboy12 gonna be one cool camper...NWS sz single digits F and snowing until Monday, when it gets all the way up to 16F..." wow.. He will be active all day.. unless he can stay in the hammock all the time. I am a wuss. Snowtrekker and a stove for me!(thank you ebay) |
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Doughboy12 |
quote jcavenagh: "Moving to a hammock from a tent has been the best change for me in the past few years. I sleep better and then feel better the next day. I have been toying with this but I think for this trip it wouldn't work AT ALL. |
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Mickeal |
yellowcanoe, the carry bag the tent came in was large and strong. I could wear it like a day pack and carry my canoe at the same time. |
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BearDown |
My thermarest neo. Much thinker and way better support make for a much better night of sleep Screw in Trolling Rod Holders. Messed around with crappy clamp ones forever, and they never really worked. Screwed these into my Oldtown and they are rock solid. Bringing a hatchet. I can start a fire in any weather now and can make all the tinder, kindiling, and wood I ever need out of any size log. Split wood starts way easier and burns better. |
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jcavenagh |
quote Doughboy12: "quote jcavenagh: "Moving to a hammock from a tent has been the best change for me in the past few years. I sleep better and then feel better the next day. I'm not sure what you mean? Are you planning a winter BW trip? Even then, hammocking works if you have the right insulation. Check out the MN Frozen Butt Hang threads on Hammockforums.net. |
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gsfisher13 |
Here is the part I didn't expect, I wore it the other night over a sweatshirt while snowblowing. It was 0 degrees at the time. The Frogg Toggs over the sweatshirt kept me warmer than my current "winter jacket" from Land's end. Kept the cold out, kept the blowing snow from the snowblower off me. |
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Moss Tent |
#2 - Exped DLX9 #3 - SealLine Pro Pack |
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Goby |
MSR Hoop tent MSR whisperlite universal stove new thermarest (don't remember which model, but its full length and thicker than my old one) Mountain Hardware Mesa convertable pants packable goretex raingear. Most of this saved weight, some of it made me more comfortable, the boat made things cheaper. |
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wetcanoedog |
Bell Prospector, light weight Kevlar,the Old Town Pathfinder was a stable tough boat but 20 pounds to heavy for me now. Gaz stoves,i have a few. the Coleman Peak lasted many many years but the ease of Gaz won me over. |
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Savage Voyageur |
Hammock for tent CCS tundra tarp for old blue eureka tarp GoPro camera for Flip camera Titanium cookware for Aluminum or stainless steel Food pails for hanging food packs gravity water filter for pumping water Shamano reels for Abu-Garcia |
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yellowcanoe |
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missmolly |
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HansSolo |
For me it has to be the canoes. Due to the fact I'm also a Backpacker, I've always had pretty good gear, depending on the era. Through the years there has always been tweaks, but my canoes have undergone the most dramatic change. In the early to mid-70's, there was my Alumacraft 15' tandem. Then, upgraded to a Grumman 17' "Whitewater" tandem around 1978. The next canoe upgrade in 1980 was a "Goldenglass" Sawyer Cruiser, followed a three-years later by an Expedition Kevlar Sawyer Cruiser. Finally, upgraded to a Kevlar Cross-Rib Wenonah Odyssey in 1988. The Odyssey has been my canoe-country mainstay ever since. (When my oldest daughter was younger, I'd occasionally use my Wenonah Jensen 18' as a Solo/Tandem combo when tripping on the smaller BWCAW lakes.) As for my solo canoes; I started with a "Goldenglass" DY Special in 1981, and then an Expedition Kevlar DY Special in 1984. Around 1989, upgraded to a Kevlar Center-Rib Wenonah Jensen C1W. Although the DY was still a great solo tripper IMO, the C1W provided better load capacity, better big water capacity and offered a drier ride, turned easier than the DY Special with no sacrifice in performance. In 2004 I upgraded to a Kevlar Flex-Core Wenonah Voyager. The Voyager provided all of the benefits of my two previous solo tripping canoes, but provided more capacity and stability for hauling my almost 90-pound Golden Retriever "Buddy". Even when I'm not hauling Buddy, the performance, seaworthiness and capacity of the Voyager is hard to beat IMHO. Hans Solo |
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Mickeal |
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AndySG |
quote Mickeal: "A King Pine Dome Tent HD 4-Person tent and a Double High Airbed - Queen. Did this for my September trip. Had the best eight nights sleep ever in the 25 years I have been going to the BW. Interesting that you used the double high airbed at 9 lbs. But if for two, that's 4.5 lbs per person. Not too bad for a good night's sleep. How long to inflate with the built in pump? |
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yellowcanoe |
quote Mickeal: "A King Pine Dome Tent HD 4-Person tent I have one of those and wonder how you portage that! I have been back to LL Bean twice for replacement poles. The fiberglass ones just snap too easily. Mine is some six years old. I use it for car camping. Next time the pole snaps, LLBean will have the entire tent on their customer service counter. The tent has great space and is pitchable by one and the patio is nice but the poles are crud. |