Gear reviews

[BarW]

Marmot plasma 30 sleeping bag
Therma rest neoair all season pad
Big Agnes fly creek UL 2 tent
Steripen ultra water purifier

Considering purchasing these four items to upgrade or replace my current equipment. Anyone have any experience with them? Or similar items?

[Indian Summer]

I don't know the specs on the Therma rest pad. Obviously they make a nice product. But I'd check out the Exped Downmat in two models... the 7 & 9. 7 is lighter. They have the highest R value of ANY pad on the market. They're inflatable if you don't mind that.

Also.. the Steri-Pen. Do you have a filter? I'm sure you're aware that the pen doesn't remove anything. Sediment stays in the water. So if it's dirty water it will stay that way. Also very dirty water can limit the effectiveness because the light has to penetrate. I always looked at the Steri-Pen as a lightweight and small device I could keep in my pack in case I ran out of water while out hunting. But in camp I think a filter is a must for treating the bulk of your water.

The bag and the tent are the bomb!

[BarW]

Yes I carry a light weight bag filter that I leave at camp that has a micro filter. It's always worked well but I'm just looking for added insurance.
I'll check into the pads thanks

[pointysticks]

the Steripen.

decent tool. if you have somewhat clear water, you are good to go. if you have murky water, and dont have any mental hangups about drinking water with floaties..you are good to go.

the thing works, i think. i didnt get sick.

what i hated about it. it is slow. 90 seconds is fast, and is a short amount of time. UNLESS you are spending that 90 seconds dipping a glowing wand in your nalgene bottle, stirring constantly. i kid you not, the first few times was all "ooohhh, ahhhhhhh". the cool factor wore off fast and you are living the slowest damn 90 seconds of your life. which brings up the second annoying thing about it..if you have to fill a bladder. hahaha..good luck. you need to fill your nalgene and transfer it to your bladder. it would be awful.

i am keeping mine as a backup. it is light, and with a filter, you could cover all the bases. it would also be awesome to have in a Mexico, or other 3rd world country. pull it up, and wave it around in the water glass of your water. drink safe water with your nachos.!! but even with mariachi band playing next to you..that 90 seconds would be boring.

[elkmtngear]

I've got the Thermarest, the UL2, and I've been using a Steripen for about 4 years.

Get the prefilter with the Steripen. No floaties that way. 90 seconds to drinkable water, it is handy. The prefilter adaptor allows you to stick the steripen in it by removing the filter, and the whole thing seats watertight in the Nalgene bottle, so you simply do the "Cocktail Shake" for 90 seconds.

Thermarest is pretty comfy, and has served me well for about three Seasons...mine slides in the sleeve on the back of my Big Agnes Lost Ranger bag.

The UL2 has been a good tent for the last 3 years. Plenty of room for your gear inside, or another person if need be. Boots go outside the rain fly and are covered from the weather.
Very light and packable

[BarW]

Thanks for the input guys.

[ferris bugler]

I have the 15 degree Plasma, and I don't think the 15 degree rating is right. I get cold in it late in the season. I also have the Neoair and it gets cold as well. It's nice because it's so lightweight, but it doesn't work as well as most sleeping pads. As the temp of the air in it drops it gets soft. I bought a steripen many years ago and the batteries wouldn't last for more than a couple cycles when the temp dropped.