Sleep mat for a painful back

[Alan De Enfield]

Just for interest an article on "How to achieve a 15lb Pack"
(but it is called a 'base weight' as it doesn't include any gas/fuel, water, food or any other consumables)

Looking at some of the equipment listed it should be titled ("How to empty your bank account and achieve a 15lb Pack"

Everything is 'sooper-dooper lightweight' and 'sooper-dooper top price'.

https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/the-15lb-base-weight-gear-list-i1401

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Moose musk is extremely attractive to other moose. Is that why she likes you so much?

For the record, I have never smelled a Moose but if that’s what thingumybob smells of, it’s no wonder they’re a rarely seen beast. A little known fact is that Moose create Patchouli in scent glands behind their ears.


“In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees”

 

[Woody girl]

I'm sure neither of you smell like a moose realy.... but you do need to be careful with that patchooli oil when in the woods! I find citronella is a good master of odour undesirable but it stinks in its own way. My favourite is tea tree. Many uses from stinky feet to bites and scratches. Still wiffs a bit. Lavender oil is another good one.

 

[Stew]

Well the mat was ordered by phone this afternoon . Lovely helpful young lady took my order. Can try it out at home to see if it's suitable and if not free returns and refund. 3 yrs warranty. Roll on delivery day (Wednesday ).

I'll definitely be interested in your views on it. I rate Alpkit very highly and the integrated pump is a great idea. I am a little unsure on how the warmth will be as I've found air beds quite cold in the past, which is where the foam mats win out.

 

[Robson Valley]

If you ever run around in my forest, trying to smell like a moose, you will gain the attention of everybody in the district wolf pack.
Not to mention the curiosity of more than a few bears and the cats. You're a victim of your own foolishness. Bottom of the food web.
Rare animal? Wrong. Look no further than the other side of my back alley fence.
Often on the city streets at night to disrupt traffic. BIG surprise on the highway at night.

 

[Woody girl]

Stew .. a light but thick closed cell mat underneath with a reflective car wind screen cover on top of that. Then the alpkit mat is my plan. The car windscreen thing is great. It's got no weight to speak of. Rolls up with the closed cell mattress with no extra bulk and is very effective. ... and costs a pound from a certain cheap shop. Best bargain bit of kit I've got!

 

[Woody girl]

RV.. moose are very rare in my woods. Dare say I could smell like a moose for a week with no problems ! Might have a problem with the squirrels if I smelled of hazelnuts tho!

 

[Erbswurst]

In the list is well visible, that you can spend a lot of money for very light things nobody needs.
If we concentrate in the essentials and buy the lightest stuff with normal prices we reach the same weight.

When I have a bit time I will open a new thread about cheap lightweight stuff.
But I just recommended some very light and relatively cheap equipment.

 

[Woody girl]

I will only buy kit nowadays if I cannot make it or adapt something. It's the consumer disease that you have to buy buy buy it at vastly inflated prices for it to be any good . My merino wool socks cost me 50p. I bought a ball of wool from the charity shop got a pattern from an old lady I know who knits anything and everything and off I went. I could tailor them to the length I wanted and they are warmer than bought ones as they are knitted in rib which makes them thicker. I have a couple of stoves I made myself out of bits and bobs from the kitchen or charity shops and my "save it as it will come in handy one day" box. I guess it's a life of mending and making do plus the influence of my great gran who lived a very rural life in Norfolk and lived to 103yrs old. She was born in the late 1800s and brought up 7 children on a bricklayers wage.
There is a pride in knowing I made it and when people start boasting about their expensive latest bit of kit... I must admit to a certain since of smugness. Because if my item breaks it's not going to cost me a lot of money to replace and I just don't get upset as they do. Mind you i understand their upset if I have spent good money on something and it fails... then I do join the nashing of teeth!

 

[Toddy]

There's an old adage that holds true though; You can have money and no time, or time and no money.

Folks buy kit often because their leisure time is very limited. They don't have time to learn to make, to find the materials, to practice the skills, as well as time to get out and enjoy being out there. Often too they don't have the extra money to spend re-doing a purchase if it's not up to scratch, so they buy the best they can afford from stuff that comes recommended by others they feel know what they're talking about.

On the whole I too like the making, and I do like 'upcycling', have posted a couple of threads on just that topic, but I know that modern life for many greatly restricts the time they have to make.
Those of us who do make, and have done so lifelong, know that you can do it little by little, it doesn't need to be an all engrossing time hog. It becomes a way of life in itself.
I cannot imagine an uncreative life, it's so alien to my entire mindset.
I'm an archaeologist, well I was, I honestly believe that making stuff, the forethought, the planning and execution, is hardwired into a healthy human psyche. It's among the earliest signs of humanity; tool creation and use.

Off to do some more quilting....

M

 

[Woody girl]

I guess it all boils down to live to work or work to live.

 

[Erbswurst]

Now a days it is often inefficient to make things with the own hands, because the sold stuff is made with machines.

But the ultra light community makes a lot of stuff themselves, simply because nobody offers what they want.
In theyr forums they have a lot of MYOG patterns.
The problem is only, that the material isn't easy to stitch together and it's relatively expensive. If you don't have the experience, you will easily spoil the stuff.

 

[Toddy]

Well ripstop nylon costs from £1.35 a metre, it's not going to break the bank to try to make something like the balloon mat thing, or simple tarps and bags.
Yes it can cost an awful lot more, but for the use it's going to get, it's fine and it takes spray on waterproofing really well too.

M

 

[Woody girl]

Abandond tents at campsites are a fantastic source of goodies to make things with. One flysheet from a tent gives yards of waterproof material. Cut out the floor of an abandoned damaged tent for a spare groundsheet or small day tarp. Use ones imagination and I'm sure there are many more ideas.

 

[Robson Valley]

I can buy top quality sewing machine experience and expertise.
Fine cloth like rip-stop nylon to heavy leather sewing machines and operators.
My best carving apron was a folding, heavy duty, canvas airline flight bag.

 

[Erbswurst]

I think, they usually throw tents away, if they aren't water tight any longer.

I meant light silnylon and cuben are expensive.
That's the reason, why the products are expensive.

Carbone tubes and titanium wires are relatively expensive too.

 

[Erbswurst]

Yes, I can buy the sawing mashine and the material or the product.
I prefere to buy the product. I think in the end that is cheaper.
My hobby isn't sitting at the sawing mashine. I count my hours too.

If somebody is retired, has nothing to do and not so much money of course that's an option.

 

[Woody girl]

Hang on......! I was a single mum with a job house and kids and I still made the time to make things I needed. I didn't have much money or nothing to do for sure. Hand sewing.. (now I have a machine) school play costumes. Knitting jumpers hats and gloves. Mending torn and worn clothing. Cutting the lawn with a pair of hands shears... (two day job to get half of it done) I could go on but I'm not here for a sympathy vote. I did it to save money so my son could have things that everyone else had. Piano lessons a new guitar instead of a second hand charity shop wreck. A pushbike... it wasn't easy and I didn't have to. I could have asked his dad to provide everything as a lot of women would. But I am proud that I did not have an instant gratification attitude to hand on to my kids. If you can afford to buy such stuff that's fine. Good luck but I'm sorry I can't think you get as much gratification from pressing a few buttons on your computer to get something delivered to your door a day or so later, as I get from knowing that I've made something that will last for years because I made it to my standards. I'm not having a go at you at all it is just my opiniated opinion. But I did find that last comment a bit dismissive. Perhaps it did not translate well and I'm getting the wrong end of what you said. So please don't take offence at my reply. I realise it's the way a lot of people live and it's not my place to say you should change at all. You've as much right to choose what kit you want and how much you pay for it as I do. I wasn't old either in those days! Peace and love woody girl.

 

[Erbswurst]

But what has all this to do with the difficulties people have, if they try to make light weight equipment at home?
Usually they have to throw the first trials in the bin, so in the end it becomes more expensive than a bought product.

Sorry, I can't follow you.

 

[Nice65]

I guess it all boils down to live to work or work to live.

Live to loaf.