Philip J. Smith's Blog

Monday, August 6, 2018

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Torso-Length Sleeping Pad Review

Thermarest NeoAir Xlite Short Sleeping Pad Review

If you want to save gear weight, but you're not willing to give up the luxury and comfort of using an inflatable sleeping pad, try a torso-length one like the 47″ size "Short" Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. Weighing 8 oz*, it weighs 4 oz less than the 12 oz, 72″ size "Regular" XLite. (Note: the weight of the short XLite can vary. I have one that weighs just 6.9 oz.) Both pads are otherwise identical with a 20″ width, they're 2.5″ thick, and have an R-value of 3.2, making them suitable for three season use.

Specs at a Glance

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
Size: Short
Dimensions: 20″ x 47″ x 2.5 (width x length x height)
*Weight: 8 oz (6.9 oz actual) – weight varies, shop around and bring a scale
Fabric: 30D High Tenacity ripstop nylon
Number of breaths to inflate: 15
Valve: Stick-valve
Repair kit: included

A 47″ inch pad is almost 4 feet long, making it long enough to provide padding under your hips and torso. Your legs don't need as much insulation as your core does and you'll stay warm if you rest your feet and calves on top of your backpack and spare clothes. This is a common trick used by ultralight backpackers to reduce their gear weight. Hammockers do the same thing when they sleep with a half-length or three-quarters length underquilt in warmer weather because they don't need extra insulation for their lower legs and feet, beyond the warmth provided by their top quilt or sleeping bag.

In addition to reduced weight, the 47″ torso-length XLite packs up significantly smaller that the 72″ long model, which is important if you've switched to a low volume 30L or 40L backpack for ultralight backpacking. When deflated, a short XLite packs virtually flat, making it easy to roll up and pack in a backpack.

Comparable Short Sleeping Pads

Short Ultralight Sleeping Pads	Type	Dimensions	R-Value	Min Temp	Weight (oz)
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite S	Inflatable	47" x 20" x 2.5"	3.2	NA	7-8 (varies)
Therm-a-Rest Prolite XS	Self-inflating	36" x 20" x 1"	2.4	NA	8
Therm-a-Rest Prolite S	Self-inflating	47" x 20" x 1"	2.4	NA	11
Therm-a-Rest ZLite Sol S	Closed Cell Foam	51" x 20" x 0.75"	2.6	NA	10
Therm-a-Rest Ridgerest Sol S	Closed Cell Foam	48" x 20" x 0.62"	2.8	NA	9
Nemo Tensor 20S Mummy	Inflatable	48" x 20" x 3"	NA	30-40 F	8.5
Nemo Tensor Insulated 20S Mummy	Inflatable	48" x 20" x 3"	NA	15-25 F	9.5
Exped SIM HL XS	Self-inflating	47.2" x 20.5" x 1.5"	3.2	23 F	12.3
Klymit Static V Junior	Inflatable	50.4" x 23" x 2.5	1.3	NA	13
Klmit Inertia X Lite	Inflatable	48" x 18" x 1.5"	NA	NA	6.1
Klymit Inertia X Wave	Inflatable	48" x 25" x 1.5"	NA	NA	10.5
Gossamer Gear Nightlight	Foam	19" x 29" x 0.75"	NA	NA	5 to 6 (varies)

A torso-length Therm-a-Rest XLite is almost identical to the longer 72″ XLite, by far the most popular backpacking sleeping pad today. It has a durable stick valve and it's covered with a 30 denier high-tenacity ripstop nylon, which is thicker than most mainstream tent floors today.

The inside of the XLite has a honey-comb structure that traps your body heat, with a reflective coating inside to prevent heat loss to the ground.It's also treated with an anti-fungal agent to prevent mold growth, which can result if you inflate an air mattress by blowing into it.

This latest, current version of the XLite (all models) is not as noisy as earlier models, which made a crinkly sound when you shifted your weight or rolled on the pad in your sleep. This was caused by the reflective film used inside the interior. I've never been bothered by that sound in all the years I've been using an XLite sleeping pad (since 2009) but when my head hits the hay on a backpacking trip, nothing can wake me up except the morning sun.

Sleeping on a inflatable pad like the short Therm-Rest XLite is not for everyone, but if a lightweight gear list is a priority, it's a popular sleeping pad among thru-hikers, section hikers, and ultralight backpackers for that purpose.

Highly Recommended!

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Last updated: 2018-08-06 23:19:09

The author received a sleeping pad for this review.

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The post Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Torso-Length Sleeping Pad Review appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.

from Section Hikers Backpacking Blog https://ift.tt/2OQiK3x

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Vintage Backpacking Gear Reviews

It's SectionHiker.com's 10th anniversary this year. During that time, I've hiked a lot of miles and written a lot of backpacking gear reviews, including gear that could now be considered vintage, since it's no longer made. I find it fascinating to trace the evolution of different backpacking and hiking gear designs over time and see how they evolve as manufacturing materials and processes change. I took a lot of art and architectural history classes in college and was always enthralled by that sort of thing. Here's a selection of some of most historically significant products I've used and reviewed, with links to the original gear reviews.

Brooks Range Mountaineering Rocket Tent

The Brooks Range Mountaineering Rocket Tent was a 22 oz, 2 person, trekking-pole winter tent made with aluminized cuben fiber. It was pretty innovative for its time, but ultimately failed because of manufacturing and material defects. Priced at $549, it was considered very expensive in 2011. Compare that to the price of DFC (formerly called cuben fiber) tents today, if you want a laugh.

Link to Review

The Original Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad - Size Regular — Therm-a-rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad – Size Regular

The original Therm-a-Rest NeoAir kicked off the inflatable air mattress/sleeping pad revolution in 2009. Backpacking has never been since. That first NeoAir weighed 14 oz, it had an R-value of 2.5, and was 2 and a half inches thick. Before the NeoAir, most backpackers still slept on foam or self-inflating sleeping pads. The original NeoAir was subsequently end-of-lifed and replaced by the NeoAir XLite, which weighed 12 oz and had an R-value of 3.2.

Link to Review

Zpacks Blast 32 Backpack

Zpacks.com Blast 32 Backpack in Scotland on the TGOC 2010

The ZPacks Blast 32 was a precursor to the current generation of ZPacks Blast external frame backpacks that the company sells today. It had a pretty standard ultralight backpacking design with two side mesh pockets. The interesting thing about this pack was the fact that it had external cuben fiber stays in the corners that you could add to the pack to help prevent torso collapse when carrying heavier loads. They worked rather poorly actually and always popped out of their velcro holders, but they were an early iteration of ZPacks external frame concept.

Link to Review

The Tarptent Squall 2

The Tarptent Squall 2 was one of the first tents made by Henry Shires at Tarptent.com. It was a spacious and well-ventilated single-walled, two-person trekking pole tent that weighed 34 oz and cost $230 in 2009. The Squall 2's design embodied many of the design elements that are common in ultralight backpacking tent to this day, including a front beak, floating floor, and catenary cut ceiling. Tarptent halted the Squall 2's manufacture a few years ago, but you can still download Henry's plans to make a similar tent from thru-hiker.com.

Link to Review

The Sierra Designs Mojo 2

The Sierra Designs Mojo 2 was a 2-person hybrid single wall/double wall design that looked like something out of Tolkein, but was actually quite a livable tent. It failed in the market because mainstream buyers were freaked out by the exposed portion of the inner tent. While the 3 lb 2 oz Mojo 2 was made with conventional materials, Sierra Designs also had a few prototypes made up in cuben fiber. Compare this to the ho-hum dome-style tents made by Sierra Designs today.

Link to Review

The REI Dash 2 Ultralight Tent

The REI Dash 2 is still the lightest weight tent ever sold under the REI brand at 2 lbs 7 oz and was quite similar in outward appearance to the Sierra Designs Mojo 2, described above. It had two vestibules but was still a tight fit for two people. It never gained much traction in the market though, probably due to its odd appearance and partially exposed inner tent.

Link to Review

Garmin Geko 301 GPS

The Geko 301 was a great little monochrome-screen GPS sold by Garmin that could fit in the palm of your hand. While it was rudimentary by today's standards and could only store 500 waypoints or 20 routes, it was a great way to get a position fix when used with a map. I especially liked the feature that would let you switch between country-specific coordinate systems (the equivalent of UTM coordinates) when I hiked across Scotland the first time in 2010 and could use OS Grid coordinates the confirm my location. I bought mine refurbished back in 2009 for $99, but you can find them for even less today on eBay.

Link to Review

Six Moon Designs Starlite Backpack

The Six Moon Designs Starlite Backpack was my first ultralight backpack and had a strong following in the ultralight backpacking community. It had an adjustable length torso, an internal sleeping pad pocket located behind the shoulder pads, a large stretch mesh front pocket, a long side tent pocket (like the Gossamer Gear Mariposa) and large hip belt pockets. I hiked mine to death. It's too bad that Six Moons killed the design. It'd probably do very well today with updated fabrics and materials, and a male and female build. Six Moon Designs is the one of the only UL backpack manufacturers that's consistently offered backpacks with adjustable length torsos, when there's such a crying need for it.

Link to Review

The Kelty Cloud Backpack

Myriad of Attachment Points — The Kelty Cloud had many attachment points for optional components.

The Kelty Cloud was ahead of its time. This all white backpack was made with Spectra fabric, an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, similar to Dyneema DCF (formerly called cuben fiber). Kelty made numerous versions of The Cloud, which have since become collectors items. The model shown above was highly modular, with different external pocket configurations that could be mixed and matched for different needs. It had a base weight of just 20 ounces, which was pretty impressive for a 66L internal frame backpack made in the 1990's.

Link to Review

Jetboil Sol Ti Backpacking Stove

The 9.9 oz Jetboil Sol Ti was Jetboil's attempt at including titanium in its product line of camping stoves. If you've ever used one of their stoves, they use aluminum cook pots that have an aluminum heat exchanger welded to the bottom. This helps retain the heat of the flame to make the burner more efficient, and acts as a sort of wind shield. The Sol Ti stove was different because it had a titanium cookpot, to reduce the weight of the system, which was welded to the aluminum heat exchanger. JetBoil had to pull the product from the market for safety reasons because the welds holding the heat exchanger would melt if the cook pot got too hot. This could happen if you cooked or boiled something besides liquid water in the pot. While Jetboil supposedly warned people not to do this, they did it anyway. People are like that.

Link to Review

Therm-a-Rest Haven Sleeping Bag

The Haven was one of Therm-a-Rest's earliest attempt to create an ultralight quilt, but one that stayed true to the hooded mummy design pattern. It was lightweight but tight-fitting and hard to get in and out of. Alas, the world wasn't ready for a hooded quilt-style sleeping bag and the product failed.

Link to Review

Inov-8 Terroc 33o Trail Runners

The Inov-8 Terroc 330 Trail Runner was a backpacker favorite in the UK until Inov-8 changed turned it purple and completely changed the product design. It was the first trail runner I switched to from hiking boots and I went through many pairs of them. It was perfect for hiking in Scotland because it drained quickly and had excellent sticky traction

The reason manufacturers keep the same product names when they change a product, often drastically, has to do with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Once a name gets lodged into Google's search index and people's heads, the marketing people want to keep it alive because they know people will keep searching on the term, even if it's a very different 'updated' product in every other respect.

Link to Review

Scarpa Omega Mountaineering Boots

Scarpa's Omega Mountaineering Boots were one of the only plastic boots available that were not shaped like cinder blocks, but like real boots. They weighed 5.2 pounds and ran for $360/pair back in the day. Plastic boots were popular before the advent of lighter weight winter footwear and traction-aids like Kahtoola Microspikes came on the scene because they were super warm (down to -35 below zero), and completely waterproof.

The Omega's were popular with walkers as well as ice climbers because they were so agile and had the requisite front and rear welts required for step-in crampons. The boots consisted of an outer plastic shell and a separate insulated liner, made by Intuition. I wore mine for about 5 winters until I blew out the liner. By then Scarpa had dropped most of their plastic boots and stopped selling replacement liners, in favor of lightly insulated Gortex mountaineering, integrated with a high insulated gaiter/overboot for extreme cold. I still have my Omega shells buried in my gear closet, but I wear very lightweight, waterproof, insulated boots for winter hiking now, like virtually everyone else.

Link to Review

IndieView with Diane Davies, author of Life in the Neck: New Friends

Diane Davies – 8 August 2018

The Back Flap

Welcome to life in the Neck, a beautiful place where animals form unbreakable connections. In this book, Delaney, Rocket, and Cardinal Red meet and learn about friendship and cooperation, and the busy world around them. But when danger comes to the Neck, will their bond be strong enough to beat it?

Book 1 Life in the Neck: New Friends is the first book in this enchanting new series by Diane Davies and illustrated by Margarita Sikorskaia published by Beaver's Pond Press in Edina, Minnesota. The series will focus on learning about the animals making their home in this neck of the woods in Minnesota as well as the meaning of friendship and cooperation.

About the book

What is the book about?

Life in the Neck: New Friends tells the story of how a fawn, a rabbit, and a cardinal meet in the Neck, learn about each other's habits and way of life, and become fast friends. Through friendship they learn about cooperation and the busy world around them. But when danger comes to the Neck, will their bond be strong enough to beat it?

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing this book just over a year and a half ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

The actual story came rather quickly. I'd say I had it pretty well polished off in about two weeks.

Where did you get the idea from?

We live in a most beautiful part of southern Minnesota along the banks of the St. Croix River overlooking Wisconsin. Our road or driveway, nearly a half mile long, runs through our long narrow strip of land known as the neck. I try and walk the length of the drive, back and forth, until I've covered a couple of miles. Not every day mind you, but at least a few times per week to help keep my blood sugar under control. A bit of open forest land turning into thick forest takes up one side of the drive. A row of large pine trees frames either a corn or soybean field, depending on the year, on the other side, which ends in a wooded area on top of the river bluff. As you can imagine, the Neck is teeming with wildlife. As I walk, I'm privileged to see glimpses of their life in the Neck. My imagination takes hold and away I go creating the story in my head.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Old Coyote is present throughout the story watching for an opportunity for lunch. I struggled with how to make him an ally instead of an adversary.

What came easily?

The personalities of the characters came easily.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are of course fictitious but every once in a while I see a bit of someone I know in their traits and behaviors.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I'm a huge fan of Douglas Wood, environmentalist and Minnesota author of children's books like Old Turtle, Paddle Whispers, and Granddad's Prayers of the Earth. His work holds a true reverence for the natural world around us and always teaches his audience a valuable truth. My hope is that my writing will provide lessons in nature and in living.

Do you have a target reader?

Yes, my target readers are ages 5 through 8.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I open myself to ideas and images and walk. The story ideas come to me during this time as well as solutions to the problems arising in my writing. After I finish walking for the day, I use a yellow paper pad and jot down my thinking so as not to lose it. Then I open the computer and get started. Mornings seem to be my best writing time unless life gets in the way. Late at night when all is quiet works for me also.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

My outlines are very sketchy. I use vague chapter/topic headings and one word reminders of ideas to include in my writing.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?

With English as my minor, I seem to edit as I write. Many changes get made after the story emerges on the paper however. I guess I'm continually editing what I write.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I'm publishing with Beaver's Pond Press in Edina, Minnesota. They do use a professional editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I do not listen to anything but what is inside my head when I write. I prefer it to be quiet on the outside as much is happening inside and I don't want to miss it.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I did not. I went into the project knowing I would use an indie publisher.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My first book, From There to Here; A Breast Cancer Journey, I did send out and I did receive an offer to publish. I don't even remember the name of the publisher. After reading through the contract, I couldn't agree to the terms. It was, after all, my life and my story. I felt like I was selling it off to some company who didn't or wouldn't even care. From that point on, I decided to go Indie.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My book cover was professionally done by Margarita Sikorskaia, the illustrator.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have somewhat of a marketing plan that seems to keep growing daily. The marketing is much more work than the writing.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Go for it. Everyone's story has a right to be told.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Old Cottage Grove, Minnesota where I attended a two room country school house through sixth grade.

Where do you live now?

I live in rural Hastings, Minnesota with my husband Butch. We are both retired and enjoy spending time with our family at home and at our lake home on Rainy Lake in Ontario. You'll find us at home on the St. Croix River on our boat called "Fiddle Fartin' Around." Our daughter and family live next door making it handy for watching the two grandchildren.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I live in the Neck, right next to the animals making their home there. You'll find me in one of the Neck's two houses with my husband, Papa Butch, and right next door to my granddaughter Elsie and grandson Eli, and their mom & dad. I love my role as Gramma Diane and my entire family enjoys our life on the St. Croix River.

Now some other boring stuff that you might like to know about me. I am a breast cancer survivor and activist, wife, mother, grandmother, former schoolteacher, author, former executive director of Circle in the Field: Peer Support for Breast Cancer, and a Bush Leadership Fellow, 2011-2013.

What are you working on now?

I'm currently working on a couple of things; Life in the Neck; Squirrel Trouble, Book 2 in the series, and Jeannie Ann's Grandma Has Breast Cancer. Both children's books are in the works in that the illustrators are busy working adding the pictures to my stories. Margarita Sikorskaia is illustrating Squirrel Trouble and C.A. Nobens is working on Jeannie Ann's story. I'm so excited to share both of them with you soon.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Life in the Neck: New Friends from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView https://ift.tt/2AEyqnK

IndieView with Diane Davies, author of Life in the Neck: New Friends

Diane Davies – 8 August 2018

The Back Flap

Book 1 Life in the Neck: New Friends is the first book in this enchanting new series by Diane Davies and illustrated by Margarita Sikorskaia published by Beaver’s Pond Press in Edina, Minnesota. The series will focus on learning about the animals making their home in this neck of the woods in Minnesota as well as the meaning of friendship and cooperation.

About the book

What is the book about?

Life in the Neck: New Friends tells the story of how a fawn, a rabbit, and a cardinal meet in the Neck, learn about each other’s habits and way of life, and become fast friends. Through friendship they learn about cooperation and the busy world around them. But when danger comes to the Neck, will their bond be strong enough to beat it?

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing this book just over a year and a half ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

The actual story came rather quickly. I’d say I had it pretty well polished off in about two weeks.

Where did you get the idea from?

We live in a most beautiful part of southern Minnesota along the banks of the St. Croix River overlooking Wisconsin. Our road or driveway, nearly a half mile long, runs through our long narrow strip of land known as the neck. I try and walk the length of the drive, back and forth, until I’ve covered a couple of miles. Not every day mind you, but at least a few times per week to help keep my blood sugar under control. A bit of open forest land turning into thick forest takes up one side of the drive. A row of large pine trees frames either a corn or soybean field, depending on the year, on the other side, which ends in a wooded area on top of the river bluff. As you can imagine, the Neck is teeming with wildlife. As I walk, I’m privileged to see glimpses of their life in the Neck. My imagination takes hold and away I go creating the story in my head.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Old Coyote is present throughout the story watching for an opportunity for lunch. I struggled with how to make him an ally instead of an adversary.

What came easily?

The personalities of the characters came easily.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

My characters are of course fictitious but every once in a while I see a bit of someone I know in their traits and behaviors.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m a huge fan of Douglas Wood, environmentalist and Minnesota author of children’s books like Old Turtle, Paddle Whispers, and Granddad’s Prayers of the Earth. His work holds a true reverence for the natural world around us and always teaches his audience a valuable truth. My hope is that my writing will provide lessons in nature and in living.

Do you have a target reader?

Yes, my target readers are ages 5 through 8.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

My outlines are very sketchy. I use vague chapter/topic headings and one word reminders of ideas to include in my writing.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

With English as my minor, I seem to edit as I write. Many changes get made after the story emerges on the paper however. I guess I’m continually editing what I write.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I’m publishing with Beaver’s Pond Press in Edina, Minnesota. They do use a professional editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I do not listen to anything but what is inside my head when I write. I prefer it to be quiet on the outside as much is happening inside and I don’t want to miss it.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No, I did not. I went into the project knowing I would use an indie publisher.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My first book, From There to Here; A Breast Cancer Journey, I did send out and I did receive an offer to publish. I don’t even remember the name of the publisher. After reading through the contract, I couldn’t agree to the terms. It was, after all, my life and my story. I felt like I was selling it off to some company who didn’t or wouldn’t even care. From that point on, I decided to go Indie.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My book cover was professionally done by Margarita Sikorskaia, the illustrator.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have somewhat of a marketing plan that seems to keep growing daily. The marketing is much more work than the writing.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Go for it. Everyone’s story has a right to be told.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Old Cottage Grove, Minnesota where I attended a two room country school house through sixth grade.

Where do you live now?

I live in rural Hastings, Minnesota with my husband Butch. We are both retired and enjoy spending time with our family at home and at our lake home on Rainy Lake in Ontario. You’ll find us at home on the St. Croix River on our boat called “Fiddle Fartin’ Around.” Our daughter and family live next door making it handy for watching the two grandchildren.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I live in the Neck, right next to the animals making their home there. You’ll find me in one of the Neck’s two houses with my husband, Papa Butch, and right next door to my granddaughter Elsie and grandson Eli, and their mom & dad. I love my role as Gramma Diane and my entire family enjoys our life on the St. Croix River.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a couple of things; Life in the Neck; Squirrel Trouble, Book 2 in the series, and Jeannie Ann’s Grandma Has Breast Cancer. Both children’s books are in the works in that the illustrators are busy working adding the pictures to my stories. Margarita Sikorskaia is illustrating Squirrel Trouble and C.A. Nobens is working on Jeannie Ann’s story. I’m so excited to share both of them with you soon.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Life in the Neck: New Friends from Amazon US or Amazon UK.

from The IndieView https://ift.tt/2AEyqnK

Thursday, August 2, 2018

DragonTail Hydra zx390 Tenkara Zoom Rod Review

DragonTail Hydra Zoom Rod Review

The DragonTail Hydra zx390 is a is an adjustable-length zoom Tenkara Fly Fishing Rod which can be fished at two different lengths: 13 ft and 11.5 ft. Zoom rods have become popular because they give you two rods for the price of one: a longer rod for landing bigger fish and a shorter rod for fishing smaller streams.

I've always been intrigued by the concept of a zoom rod, so I accepted DragonTail's invitation to review one. Having a multi-length Tenkara rod is an attractive idea for fishing bigger rivers and wider rivers, where the added length of an adjustable rod gives you more reach and a stiffer base gives you more backbone for landing bigger fish.

The DragonTail Hydra Tenkara Rod, shown with snap-on line winder.

Specs at a Glance

Make/Model: DragonTail Hydra zx390 Zoom Rod
MSRP: $139.99
Material: Carbon Fiber
Handle: Cork
Rod Weight: 3.2 oz
Length Extended: 13 ft and 11.5 ft
Segments: 9
Length Closed: 21″
Case: Included, 6.5 oz

The Hydra Rod is well-manufactured with a comfortable cord handle, well fitting segments, and the end cap stays nice and tight. In addition to the case, the rod comes with a rod sock, which I promptly misplaced and never carry, and a protective tip cap. The locking mechanism between the short and longer length positions is marked with some bumps in the black matte finish and holds fast when set. I'm not sure I can explain exactly how it works but it's easy enough to figure out by feel.

DragonTail also sent me a huge care package of furled lines, level lines, line cards, foam line holders and a snap-on line winder (which is just great). They really have quite nice Tenkara accessories and you should check them out.

I mainly fish in medium-size streams and small rivers, where I can usually cast from one bank to eddies along the opposite bank without getting my feet wet. I like to move around frequently and change positions to reach different features working my way upstream or downstream. I prefer streams and rivers with a noticeable gradient, working pools, eddy lines, and runs, but shy away from lakes or ponds because they're too boring to fish. New England streams don't generally have dense fish populations, so you need to probe a lot of different locations before you get a strike. I rarely wear waders because I hike or bushwhack into streams and they're too bulky to carry.

This being New England, we have Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbows, but they never reach the giant proportions of their western counterparts. The fish in these mountain streams tend to run on the small side, rarely exceeding 12″ in length. They're small and feisty, but less choosy about the flies they'll take since there's less food for them to eat in the narrow streams and cold water they inhabit. I can usually fish a caddis, bug, flymph, or a terrestrial and land a trout. I tie my own flies instead of buying them because I catch more fish that way, although Reading Trout Water had something to do with it too.

A big brookie caught on the DragonTail Hydra — A big (New England) brookie caught on the DragonTail Hydra

When I fish with the Hydra, I usually keep it fully extended, because the added reach is nice to have, except on streams with a dense canopy. Since, I fish on smaller streams and rivers, the things I look for in a Tenkara rod are precision casting and the ability to detect subtle strikes on my line. I fish with barbless hooks (for catch and release) and it's important to pull up the tip quickly to set the hook before the fish gets away.

The Hydra took me a while to get use to because I normally fish with a lighter 11′ rod. But once I dialed it in, I found the Hydra a very precise caster with a 10′ orange flourocarbon line with a 3′ to 6′ foot tippet. With the Hydra, I can work all the rocks in a pool, the holes under a cascade, or the eddy lines along a run, effortlessly from the opposite bank, which provides me with a lot of stealth so the trout can't see me.

The Dragontail Hydra is a long rod with a soft action

The Hydra has a lot of backbone and when I land large trout I can muscle them around pretty effortlessly. But when I hook a smaller trout (under 6″) and give them a pull, they'll launch out of the water like a cannonball, more often than not flying off my hook and back into the river. I don't mind (that much), but then again, I don't have to live on what I catch.

With the Hydra fully extended to its 13 ft length, I've found it very hard to feel smaller fish nibbling on my line. It's frustrating and I've lost many smaller fish because I can't feel that telltale tug. It's not an issue with bigger fish, because there's no disguising a take from them. But New England mountain streams have a lot more small fish than big fish. While the (tip) action on the Hydra is soft so it bends easily, a fully extended Hydra doesn't transmit the subtle take of a small fish in an unambiguous way, making it difficult to distinguish between normal line movement and a fish hitting the hook.

When fished with its shorter 11.5 ft length, the Hydra is much more playful and effective in propagating subtle hits back to the cork. But it's still more sluggish than my other fixed-length Tenkara Rods because it's much heavier. Net net, I think the Hydra is simply too much rod for small trout under 6″ in length. While the added length over my existing rods is very nice for being able to fish wider streams and rivers, I can compensate for the missing length by tying on a longer tippet and repositioning myself more often.

I think it's worth emphasizing that I fish in New England, where the mountain streams are far less fertile than out west and the fish are usually around 6″ in length. When testing the Hydra, I fished it in small rivers where I knew larger trout would be present and it performed well with bigger trout, where the take was obvious. If you fish in such water, the DragonTail Hydra will probably be a good rod for your needs. But if the fish you're likely to catch are on the smaller end of the spectrum, the Hydra is overkill and I'd recommend getting yourself a lighter fixed-length 11′ Tenkara rod instead.

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Last updated: 2018-08-02 18:17:45

The author received a sample rod for this review.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket Review

The Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket is a waterproof/breathable jacket that can serve double duty as a rain jacket and a wind shirt. Weighing just 9.2 oz in a men's XL, the Minimus Stretch jacket is so lightweight that it doesn't feel at all like a hard shell jacket, even though it's functionally equivalent to one. It's also specifically designed for hiking and backpacking (called hill-walking in the UK) and not skiing or climbing, with all of the technical features I usually look for on a fully featured rain jacket.

Fully adjustable hood
Velcro wrist cuffs
Hip belt compatible pockets
Cinchable hem drawcord

Construction

The first thing you noticed when you put on this jacket was how comfortable and quiet the fabric is. It has a mild stretch built into it so it moves with you when you pull on a backpack or grab a handhold to pull yourself up a ledge. The external fabric is so quiet, you quickly forget that you're wearing a rain jacket, except when it's chucking down rain. The interior of the jacket has a thin liner, designed to protect the waterproof/breathable membrane. This type of construction is called a 2.5 layer jacket and is used for hiking rain jackets where low gear weight is paramount.

Montane uses a Pertex Shield+ membrane in the Minimus Stretch Jacket which has a waterproof (hydrostatic head) rating of 20,000 mm and a breathability rating (MVTR) 20,000g/m²/24hrs. These are very good test lab ratings and you'd have to pay a lot more to improve on them. The hydrostatic head rating means that it is suitable for use in heavy rain without leaking. The MVTR rating means that a clean Minimums Stretch Jacket will do a pretty good job in venting perspiration and internal condensation when worn as a rain jacket or wind shirt, especially when compared to a completely non-breathable rain jacket make out of silnylon or polyurethane. That doesn't mean you'll stay completely perspiration or condensation free inside the jacket, but you'll feel more comfortable than if you wore a non-breathable garment.

The Montane Minimus Stretch Jackets has a chest pocket and two side pockets, all with waterproof zippers — The Montane Minimus Stretch Jackets ha a chest pocket and two hip belt compatible side pockets, all with waterproof zippers

Fully Adjustable Hood

Montane is one of the few outdoor clothing manufacturers that still includes fully adjustable hoods on their rain jackets and they're an absolute essential if you hike or backpack in windy rain-swept weather. The Minimus Stretch hood is also sized for hikers with normal sized heads, instead of Godzilla or people wearing climbing helmets or skiing helmets, like so many other hard shell jackets. It has a pair of corner toggles so you can cinch the opening to cover your face and prevent cold wind from blowing in and chilling you, along with a shapable wire brim to keep the rain out of your eyes. There's a rear toggle that lets you shrink the crown of the hood to the size of your head, a microfleece face guard over the front zipper, and a zipper garage to keep your facial hair from getting caught in the zipper teeth.

Velcro Wrist Cuffs

The Minimus Stretch Jacket has velcro adjustable wrist cuffs, another premium feature found on higher quality jackets instead of elastic cuffs. Velcro cuffs give you the ability to adjust the fit of the cuffs to match your personal dimensions and regulate the amount of heat trapped or vented from your wrist area. This becomes important in cooler, less temperate weather, when you need to be more proactive in regulating your temperature to reduce perspiration or to stay warm.

Hip belt Compatible Pockets

The Minimus Stretch has three pockets. One chest pocket, large enough to store a map or cell phone, and two side pockets, that are raised high enough up the torso to be hip belt compatible. All three pockets close with waterproof zippers, which is critical if you plan on hiking in the rain and need to keep electronics or maps dry.

The internal facing side of the chest pocket is backed by a solid nylon panel, which prevents torso perspiration and dampness with interfering with your electronics. The backs of the side pockets, are mesh backed however, providing some venting if you leave their zippers open. While not as effective as pit zips, they can help in reducing internal humidity and help dry you out faster than breathable fabrics alone.

Velcro wrist cuffs give you enhanced temperature regulation capabilities.

Cinchable Hem Drawcord

There's a cinchable hem drawcord at the bottom of the Minimus Stretch Jacket, which is another important temperature regulation feature in cooler weather and helps trap your body heat around your core. It's particularly effective in windy weather, where errant breezes can sweep up below the hem and rob your heat.

Sizing

The Minimus Stretch jacket runs about 1/2 size smaller than US sizes, because they prefer "fitted" garments more in the UK than in the US. While an XL still fits me, I can only wear a wool sweater under it for insulation, instead of a thicker fleece pullover.

Recommendation

If you're a regular reader you know that I'm a skeptic when it comes to waterproof/breathable rain wear and the over-the-top claims made about how well it works. That said, I've been impressed with the Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket, particularly in term of its weight, comfort, and feature set after wearing it for the past several weeks on day hikes and backpacking trips. It compresses very small in a backpack and comes with an excellent factory DWR coating which beads up water hitting the jacket, so it rolls off. While the Minimus Stretch is not thick or warm enough for winter wear, it has a superior set of features and is well suited for summer and three-season hiking or backpacking. You'll be hard pressed to find a better waterproof/breathable jacket than the Montane Minimus Stretch or one that's so lightweight and comfortable to wear.

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Last updated: 2018-08-01 22:04:22

The author received a sample jacket for this review.

The post Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket Review appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.

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Monday, August 6, 2018

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Torso-Length Sleeping Pad Review

Specs at a Glance

Comparable Short Sleeping Pads

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Sunday, August 5, 2018

Vintage Backpacking Gear Reviews

Brooks Range Mountaineering Rocket Tent

The Original Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

Zpacks Blast 32 Backpack

The Tarptent Squall 2

The Sierra Designs Mojo 2

The REI Dash 2 Ultralight Tent

Garmin Geko 301 GPS

Six Moon Designs Starlite Backpack

The Kelty Cloud Backpack

Jetboil Sol Ti Backpacking Stove

Therm-a-Rest Haven Sleeping Bag

Inov-8 Terroc 33o Trail Runners

Scarpa Omega Mountaineering Boots

See Also:

IndieView with Diane Davies, author of Life in the Neck: New Friends

The Back Flap

About the book

About Writing

About Publishing

About You

IndieView with Diane Davies, author of Life in the Neck: New Friends

The Back Flap

About the book

About Writing

About Publishing

About You

Thursday, August 2, 2018

DragonTail Hydra zx390 Tenkara Zoom Rod Review

Specs at a Glance

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See also:

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Montane Minimus Stretch Jacket Review

Construction

Fully Adjustable Hood

Velcro Wrist Cuffs

Hip belt Compatible Pockets

Cinchable Hem Drawcord

Sizing

Recommendation

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