Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting 3 Nights In A Tent (Gear Review)

Got back last night from my first BP hunt and thought I'd offer a little review of the gear I used.

THE GOOD
Ballcap with LED lights built into the bill--I thought it was pretty gimicky when I first got it, but it worked great. My headlamp was too bright for bumming around the tent at night and I was worried about burning out my batteries. The lights in the cap were just right though.

Mountain House Meals--WAY better than I expected. We compared the Mountain House and Backpacker's Pantry Beef Stroganoff. MH won by a landslide. The chicken breast and mashed potatoes were also good.

REI Trekking Poles--I used them going in and out. With two stream crossings each way that were a huge help.

Homemade Stove and Go-Lite SH4--When it's in the 20s outside and hot in your tent...that's good stuff. It seems like we didn't keep it burning very long compared to what some people here are getting out of their stoves.

Icebreaker Wool thermals--Kept me warmer than I expected and funk free-er than I thought possible.



THE NOT SO GOOD
MSR Miniworks filter--It's advertised at 1 liter/minute. We pumped for what seemed like forever and then just used tablets.

MR Crew Cab--Nothing didn't work, I just could've used more room. But carrying less would've been a better option... I also wish there was a way to pack everything higher rather than out.

Oatmeal for breakfast--I guess this is really a personal thing, but for me oatmeal just isn't good enough to justify boiling water and dirtying dishes first thing in the morning. I'd rather just grab jerky and go hunt.

I appreciate all the help everyone here has offered. Chime in if any of this sounds familiar to you...

Is your Go-Lite floorless?

Yup. I didn't get the nest.

Looks pretty good. What where you hunting for?

Hunted Muleys but didn't pull the trigger. Nothing big enough to pack all the way back to the truck...But we had a blast.

What size & brand of stove are you running in your SL4?

I'm also interested in your stove setup and specially the jack in the tent. Are you using tyvek or painters drop cloth.

Bluedreaux, glad to hear you had a good time. Regarding your water purification: perhaps you're aware of it, but I'd strongly suggest looking at Aquamira drops (chlorine dioxide). Mix drops, wait 5 minutes, put in water, and start hiking, setting up camp, etc...15 minutes later you have purified water in whatever quantity you treated. Virtually no discernible taste, and they only weigh a couple of ounces.

No dirty dishes, just boil water and eat right outta the Ti mug. When done eating, wipe clean with a napkin and your good to go. Oatmeal offers alot of bang for the buck energy-wise. Make mine old fashioned with raisins or dried blueberries added - excellent AM fuel!

MtnHtr

I stick about 3 packets per Zip-loc freezer baggie with a little extra cinnimon and some dehydrated apple slices, then just dump boiling water in. I usually boil about 3 cups for breakfast, 1 for Oatmeal, and 2 for coffee



Interesting your critique of the CrewCab. You have a daypack lid for it? My two gripes about the CC is: 1, no hanger for a Camelback bladder (it has the vent port stitched in though??) And 2, my biggest bitch... Bad angle on the load lifter straps. Once I get over 40 Lbs it starts to feel like its leaning away a little. But then I ain't no expert pack fitter...

My neighbor owns a sheet metal shop and helped me build the stove. I based it on one that TXTrapper sent me and what I could see online from TiGoat and Kifaru. It's about 7x7x11. The stovepipe is made from the same material, just rolled. They're both HEAVY, but I'm gonna make some design changes and buy lighter metal to use.



The stove jack was purchased from TiGoat. I sewed it in below the grey GoLite vent. Somebody here had mentioned using Silicone II caulk to secure the jack also. I sewed the edges, then caulked inside the seams too so I could know for sure how it would hold up. So far it's been fine.

I'm using Tyvek under my bag. It worked fine and is super light, but is SLICK. You'll slide all over the place if there's any slope at all to your site. I ended up just setting gear next to me so I could roll in my bag without worrying about sliding around at all.

I ended up using Potable Aqua tablets from REI. My problem with them was that when I boiled the water for cooking after I had used the tabs the water got funky...as in little nearly solid floaties that I can only think was part of the tablets...

We mostly used tablets, but the funky water after boiling was definitely a turn off. Has anyone else had this problem?

I steer away from the tablets for that reason too, and they take a lot longer than the aquamira drops (which are liquid, not tabs). Funky water is not cool.

I got a clip on one for christmas a couple years ago and thought "What would I ever use this for?" I've probably used it more than anything else I got since.

Good report!

I quit the tyvek and went to using our emergency reflective tarps for the bottom, but still end up using my gerber brush hook to dig in a dip for both of us to lay in (wife and I )

On water issues I've been completely happy with the UV pen the last 2 years. I carry Aqua Mira as a backup and use a bandana to prefilter if needed.

BTW just cleaned my desk enough to find the tape I was supposed to mail you some time back.... shoot me a mailing address and I"ll send it this week after the fact, and you can copy and send back to me whenever.

Jeff

Oh yeah, oatmeal, we do like others, boil water, dump 2 packs in our plastic coffee cup or bowl depending, mix, add extra dry fruit and some honey, and when done grab part of a paper towel and wipe out. Burn the towel when done. No washing for us.

I don't fault the jerky thing though either.

Jeff

Do you mind posting more pics of your stove? Thanks for the info.

Great thread! Being a newbie myself, it's great to hear from others who are new! Nothing against the guys that have been doin' this stuff for awhile - like reading your reviews as well!

I bought a few of the MH meals to try while deer hunting this year just to "test" them prior to living on 'em for a week. First one I tried was this past weekend - Jamaican Chicken with Rice - not too good, didn't like the seasoning, very filling but I wouldn't eat it again if given a choice.

Good thing I really like instant oatmeal - plan to eat that for breakfast.

Funky water? Was it just appearance or was there bad taste/odor?

Regarding Oatmeal - I just tear the top off and put the water in the Oatmeal pack. Stir it up, fold the top over for a few minutes and you have hot oatmeal. Throw the packet in the fire when you're done. The only thing dirty is your spoon.

brymoore

Can you name what oatmeal packs? I wondered about that, but ours are HEB generic in paper type packets, I often thought that the pack MIGHT hold up long enough? That would be welcome info, and if I wasn't lazy I'd try it here..