ULA Circuit Backpack

    I purchaed the ULA Circuit during the summer of 2014, and have hiked about 200 miles with it. I opted for the XL "S" straps, and the large hip belt and they both fit well. (I'm 6'3", 221lbs, 34-35" waist). The quality of the backpack is outstanding, and it doesn't feel fragile at all. I also opted for the slightly heavier (2 oz- I believe) camo-material. I removed the water bladder holder that was clipped inside the pack, and now just use two water bottles that are carried on either side of the pack in nice pouches. I also really like the size of the hip belt pockets. I can fit almost an entire days worth of snacks in one side, and use the other side for my phone, bug stuff and other equipment. I purchased a Zpacks shoulder strap pocket that I put on the right strap and keep my wind shirt and pants inside. Another thing I really like about the pack is the large mesh pocket and elastic cord that is on the back of the pack. It is so nice to pull off a wet shirt or extra dirty/wet clothing and stuff it inside the pocket to deal with later (or allow it to dry). I've carried around 30 pounds of gear in it with no problems. I think the limit would be around 35-37 pounds.
   The only problem I have with the pack is figuring out which way to roll the top closed. The top is similar to a dry bag roll system with buckle. It probably doesn't matter (it's never leaked, and I've hiked in a LOT of rain), but there is no clear answer. When the pack is stuffed full, it seems best to roll the top so more black material is showing. A less full pack, the camo-showing roll is better. It doesn't really  matter, I suppose.

Pack with Zpack shoulder pocket

Water pouches with draw cord

1.5 quart water bottle-very secure

As example-shoulder straps have cords to hold H2O bottles-I don't use them

Back mesh pocket and elastic cord- very cool

tried to show height of pack-not so good pic

Montbell Ex Light Down Anorak

I recently purchased two Montbell Ex Light Down Anoraks. One XL and one XXL. I wasn't sure which would fit, so why not just buy two and send one back. Here's a review of the jacket(s)--

First, a little bit about me--male, 50years old, 6'3", 221lbs, 37 inch arms (long, not around :)), 34-35 inch waist. My biggest problem with finding good fitting down jackets has always been the armpit to top of shoulder area, or where the arm of the jacket connects with the body of the jacket. It's usually too small for me. That's why I bought the XL and XXL to compare.

I didn't take a picture of the XL before sending it back, but it was in blue. I really liked the blue better than the grey, but the XXL fit better (...and they only make the XXL in limited colors). What I mean by fitting better, is that with the XXL I could "hug myself" without the shoulder areas binding. The bottom and middle are a little big, but with the elastic draw-cord that shouldn't be a problem. I also decided to go with the XXL so that I would be able to wear 2 layers under the jacket. The XL would have been a little tight, but the tight shoulder areas would have been way too tight. The XXL arm length was also slightly longer than the XL, but the XL would have been long enough.

The XXL weighs in a 7.8 oz, and the XL weighs 7.3 oz (used digital scale). The zipper is a fine, good quality zipper, and the cuffs have elastic. The hood does not have a cord to cinch it down, but when zipped up, it fits well enough that it won't blow off/back during a gust of wind. At $217.00 it is an excellent value, especially when compared to the Mountain hardware ghost whisperer. Although I recently saw that the Ghost Whisperer is on sale at Backcountry.com for $237.

The material is very light (as expected), but it doesn't feel too fragile. It also has a water resistant coating on it. I've worn it outside around the neighborhood, but haven't hiked with it yet. It is very warm (900 down is good), and wind resistant. If it's raining out, I'll wear my fleece and rain jacket, so I don't know about how well it will perform in wet conditions.

Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus

I bought a Hexamid Solo Plus in Septempber because I thought I'd like to save some weight for my upcoming PCT hike (2015). I opted for the heavier material, which added 1.5 oz to the tent's total weight and cost an additional $15 bucks. The total weight (tent, beak, groundsheet, landyards, stakes) was 20.5 oz. I can't say enough good things about Zpacks, the quality of their products, and their customer service. Having said all those good things, here is a review of the Hexamit Solo Plus.

If you haven't looked into cuben fiber, you should. If not for tents, at least as a stuff sack, rain jacket, poncho, or a nifty shoulder pouch that Zpacks also sells. The material is sliglty noisy (not as much as tyvek), and weighs almost nothing. It's also very waterproof. As far as damaging the material, I belive the only issue is with punctures. It has a fairly high tensile strength and resists tearing from tension quite well.

The Hexamid was my first experience with a single wall tent, and I should have read more about them (single wall tents) before heading out into the wild. For my first night, I found a beautiful tent site next to a lake. The condensation was so thick it was raining inside my Hexamid (not a cloud in the sky). So, I'm not going to fault the tent for all the condensation.. In the morning, it was really nice to just shake the tent and most of the water shook off just fine.

Aside from the overall condensation issue, there is also the steep angle of the tent edges to deal with. The groundsheet/bathtub that fits inside the tent is quite large, but you can't really use all the space. The angle from the entry (where hiking pole is situated) towards the back is steep and there isn't much room for a hiker (or gear you want to stay dry) towards the back of the tent. The ends (i.e. hiker head & toe ends) also have a steep angle and the possibility of touching the tent (and getting wet) can be a problem during high condensation trips. As you can probably see, my issues with the tent involve condensation, and had I properly scouted out a site away from the water and closer to a ridge, I would have probably been just fine. So I suppose this review is two-fold, where not to camp, and the minor issues with the Hexamid. Just to be clear...the wetness issues are totally from condensation, and not from the tent leaking.

I believe the steep angles of the Hexamid may have been purposely developed to aid in the condensation runoff (maybe?). I returned my Hexamid after only one night, and decided to carry another 22 oz (42oz total) and purchased a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1. It's a double wall tent and shouldn't have the same condensation problems.

If I get the urge to try another single wall tent (cuben fiber) it will probably be the Zpacks Duplex Tent. It uses two poles, has two doors, and eliminates at least half of the steep angles associated with the Hexamid. It does, however weight  5 oz more. I'm sure it would feel like a palace for one hiker since it's made for two.

One last thought...I really liked how quickly the Hexamid set up and was taken down.
Also, I bet the Hexamid would be great to set up in the rain. I didn't get to experience this, but I have set up a double wall tent (REI quarterdome 1) in a downpour. Not worrying about keeping rain off the tent body would make set up much easier.

Mt Rainier from near Chinook Pass

Camp site near Cougar Lake