FS [Syd, but post to Au]: Lots of gear

[rcaffin]

This is mainly gear left over from Backpacking Light reviews I have conducted.
Contact me via [email protected] if you are interested: do not rely on posting a reply here.
Paypal account [email protected] . Prices do not include P&P. To calculate the P&P I need your address, including postcode.

New Balance joggers
These are all D width: we are 4E width. A mistake on their part.
MT110ES, 10.5, D, silver/red, retail US$73, ask $35
WT110LH, 10.5, D, silver/lime, retail US$73, ask $35

Tents
See the BPL review of tunnels tents starting at
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... part1.html

Vango Tempest, 2.8 kg, 2-pole+verandah, 2-skin, retail UKP130 (~$204), sell $150
A neat and inexpensive tunnel built for UK weather. See http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... go_tempest

Pop-up dome, 2 man, $35
Pre-production unit made in China and sent to me for evaluation. The general design is 'typical' and the fabrication is not bad:
the Chinese are fairly used to making pop-ups, but not ‘light-weight’.
2.72 kg, 2.3 x 1.4 m floor, 2.5-pole, 1-skin, solid Al wire pegs

Packs
Montbell Versalite 50 S, 1.13 kg, 46 L, lt grey, retail US$130, sell $100
I'm keeping the slightly larger Versalite 50 (Mans) as we may use it. Very light, very comfortable. The very light fabric body is NOT recommended for serious scrub use though. For a review see
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... e_50_short

Water treatment gear
See review series at BPL starting at 'A Survey of Water Hazards and Water Treatment Methods - Part 1 (Overview of bugs and wogs)'
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... part1.html
You need to check what any of them are to see whether they suit.

Atlantis Water Purifier, new, iodine-based, sell $10
Trekker Travelwell filter, new, iodine-based, sell $10

General Ecology First Need, new (tested), US$118, sell $25
Katadyn Hiker filter w slightly used cartridge & hoses, broken inlet spigot which needs superglue re-attachment at your risk, euro89 (~$120), sell $30
Pur Hiker filter (from before Katadyn bought Pur) w new cartridge & hoses, sell $60
MSR Hyperflow filter, new, US$100, sell $25 SOLD
MSR Miniworks filter, little used, US$90, sell $20 SOLD
MSR Sweetwater filter, little used, US$90, sell $20
Sawyer 4-way system w 2 L bottle & accessories SP149, new, US$71, sell $30 SOLD
Sawyer Complete Water Filter 0.1 mu, 2x2L bags & acc SP162, new, US$132, sell $60 SOLD

Comments re filters:
'New' means that the unit has not been used in the field, and may even still be dry. In some cases the item was tested for a review and has not been used since.

The iodine-based units usually leave the water smelling of 'hospital', like the Coghlans iodine tablets. However, there is no taste, just smell, and as long as the water has that faint iodine smell you know it is working, at least for bacteria and viruses. Protozoa need some dwell-time.

The Hiker filter is very reliable and has a very long life, but does not stop viruses. It is widely regarded around the world as the gold standard for micro-filters. I used to use them. The replacement cartridge is still widely available.

The Sawyer filters seem to be very reliable as well, but 0.1 mu does not stop viruses. The 0.02 mu version will stop viruses, but is slower. I am seriously impressed by the technology. I have kept one unit for our use.

The Steripen Adventurer works well as a UV purifier (ie kills everything including viruses) but you need to remove the batteries between uses. It has been supersceded by the Opti, which I do use. Note: only use GOOD CR123 batteries; the cheap ones will not work.

The other filters are all known brands.

Cheers
Roger Caffin
Senior Editor for Technology, BPL

[petes]

pm sent

[rcaffin]

Some water stuff sold and posting updated.
Cheers

[dinna89]

Hi, I'm interested in the Vango Tempest, but i cant PM, i'm a new-ish member.

Could you send me a PM, postage would be to Melbourne CBD