Location : Wiltshire
Date : 28/04/17 - 01/05/17
Conditions : Blustery with strong gusts, some rain.
Temps : 3 - 14C
New equipment tested:
1) PocketRocket 2 http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/msr-pocketrocket-2-stove-p403543
2) Optimus Clip-on Windshield https://www.optimusstoves.com/us/us/93-8018907-optimus-clip-on-windshield
3) Toaks Titanium 750ml pot http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/pots-pans-and-mugs/SC121.html
4) OEX Copact 4.0 Sleep Mat http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/oex-compact-4-0-self-inflating-sleeping-mat-p321718
5) Enzo Trapper 95 http://www.Moonrakerknives.co.uk
6) Silky Gomboy 240 E-bay
1 & 2) The pocketrocket2 was matched with Coleman Extreme Gas and the Optimus windshield. Despite the blustery conditions, the pocketrocket never blew out and heated the entire contents of the Toaks 750ml pot in short order, using approximately 11g of gas per pot. The windshield did seem to improve efficiency. Lighting it was easy with a ferrorod. Using the stove proved that whilst it is significantly more powerful than more traditional car camping kit, controllability is a concern. establishing a gentle simmer is quite tricky before burning takes place. Also - under no circumstances place a pot on the burner with no contents (as I did) as it causes them to glow bright red in seconds. The stand is robust and I had no issues with balancing.
3) OK - so I scorched the bottom of the toaks pot, but other than that is excellent. The 750ml pot is large enough for 2 smallish cups of tea. The handles do get hot so gloves are recommended to remove the pot from the heat. It's a pot - it does what pots do. No issues.
4) My original cheapo sleep mat deflated during the trip prep so I had to get the OEX Compact 4.0 sleep mat from Go-Outdoors. I was warm and comfy all 3 nights thanks in part to this mat and it remained 100% inflated. It isn't the lightest mat around, but is middle of the road for SIMs. It is also a good length for me and pretty wide in the elbow area - so no cold arms. It also comes with has a rather excellent waterproof stuff sack.
5) The Enzo Trapper 95 (Elmax) was the highlight of the trip. It turned out to be an excellent batoning knife up to fist thickness logs. It's not long enough for anything bigger. My Trapper has custom scales in the Bark River style, so it was eminently comfortable with no hot spots. I batonned enough wood for 3 fires lasting about 3 hours each. Feather sticking was adequate, but not amazing. The edge retention was superb and still shaving sharp at the end of the weekend with no edge problems noted.
6) The Silky Gomboy had only limited use. My first impressions were good, but a more rigorous test is needed before a conclusion can be drawn.
Date : 28/04/17 - 01/05/17
Conditions : Blustery with strong gusts, some rain.
Temps : 3 - 14C
New equipment tested:
1) PocketRocket 2 http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/msr-pocketrocket-2-stove-p403543
2) Optimus Clip-on Windshield https://www.optimusstoves.com/us/us/93-8018907-optimus-clip-on-windshield
3) Toaks Titanium 750ml pot http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/pots-pans-and-mugs/SC121.html
4) OEX Copact 4.0 Sleep Mat http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/oex-compact-4-0-self-inflating-sleeping-mat-p321718
5) Enzo Trapper 95 http://www.Moonrakerknives.co.uk
6) Silky Gomboy 240 E-bay
1 & 2) The pocketrocket2 was matched with Coleman Extreme Gas and the Optimus windshield. Despite the blustery conditions, the pocketrocket never blew out and heated the entire contents of the Toaks 750ml pot in short order, using approximately 11g of gas per pot. The windshield did seem to improve efficiency. Lighting it was easy with a ferrorod. Using the stove proved that whilst it is significantly more powerful than more traditional car camping kit, controllability is a concern. establishing a gentle simmer is quite tricky before burning takes place. Also - under no circumstances place a pot on the burner with no contents (as I did) as it causes them to glow bright red in seconds. The stand is robust and I had no issues with balancing.
3) OK - so I scorched the bottom of the toaks pot, but other than that is excellent. The 750ml pot is large enough for 2 smallish cups of tea. The handles do get hot so gloves are recommended to remove the pot from the heat. It's a pot - it does what pots do. No issues.
4) My original cheapo sleep mat deflated during the trip prep so I had to get the OEX Compact 4.0 sleep mat from Go-Outdoors. I was warm and comfy all 3 nights thanks in part to this mat and it remained 100% inflated. It isn't the lightest mat around, but is middle of the road for SIMs. It is also a good length for me and pretty wide in the elbow area - so no cold arms. It also comes with has a rather excellent waterproof stuff sack.
5) The Enzo Trapper 95 (Elmax) was the highlight of the trip. It turned out to be an excellent batoning knife up to fist thickness logs. It's not long enough for anything bigger. My Trapper has custom scales in the Bark River style, so it was eminently comfortable with no hot spots. I batonned enough wood for 3 fires lasting about 3 hours each. Feather sticking was adequate, but not amazing. The edge retention was superb and still shaving sharp at the end of the weekend with no edge problems noted.
6) The Silky Gomboy had only limited use. My first impressions were good, but a more rigorous test is needed before a conclusion can be drawn.
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