Great Value

Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0 Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Synthetic

Mountain Hardwear Lamina 0 Sleeping Bag: 0 Degree Synthetic

Rating for this product: 5 November 26, 2008

I just took this trekking in Nepal for 16 days and was quite toasty down to 10F inside the tent at the coldest (at about 4000 meters). It did a much better job than my old down bag on the warmer nights (half zipped) keeping me at a comfortable temp, too (not half too-warm, half too-cold). I have no doubt I'd be comfortable past 0F in it. Kudos to MHW for including the compression sack and storage sack. A little more head room might have been nice for my pillow, though (we had porters). I have the long version, and it was really nice to have the extra room for a set of clothes and some small battery operated gear (I'm only 5'9") kept warm for the morning in the bag. We had some wet spots on the bags a couple of nights, but no cold spot on the inside I could detect. Compresses well (down to about 10"x12" easily) and is fluffier than I would have expected from synthetic. My wife had an REI Zenith -5 and was comparably warm, though for the same $ her bag is a lot heavier, and doesn't pack down nearly as small (and didn't come with a compression sack). I'd buy this one again without reservation, planning to continue using it as my car or without-a-tent bag.

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On battery life...

Hydro Photon SteriPEN Classic Handheld Water Purifier

Hydro Photon SteriPEN Classic Handheld Water Purifier

Rating for this product: 5 November 26, 2008

Just took this to Nepal. Worked great. This is more a note that I certainly didn't see the 125 litre battery life other folks here seem to have gotten (granted I purified a litre at a time, not 16oz). On rechargeable NiMh batteries claiming a 2000mah capacity, I got 31 litres out of the first set of batteries. With the second set I brought, I had unfortunately left them loose in a plastic bag. Unknown to me at the time, as the batteries bang together in the bag (even without completing a circuit), they will slowly discharge each other (I figured this out as I was moving stuff around in the tent and saw small sparks as the batteries contacted each other). A strip of masking tape to keep 'em in line would have saved me some grief. So, I bought a set of duracell titanium alkaline batteries. They finished out the trip at 13 litres with a little gas left, but they had to 'rest' between litres for a couple of hours (the NiMh batteries would do 3 litres back to back no problem). Maybe my NiMh batteries are the problem, maybe it was zapping multiple litres in succession, but I'm not picturing 125 litres out of any set of batteries (even if they're rated 2600mah). Don't take my word for it, though, try 'em out before you go -- give 'em a full charge, and zap a litre morning and night for two or three weeks (or however you expect to use them) to see how long they'll last you. Consider buying a bunch of Propel (or similar) flavoring packets for the water, too, it makes the off taste stuff a lot easier to drink for your wife :)

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Works well, a bit pricey

Accelerade Endurox R4 Recovery Drink

Accelerade Endurox R4 Recovery Drink

Rating for this product: 4 October 2, 2008

As a recovery drink this is a pricey choice at about $2.50 a serving (I drink 2 servings), so no fifth star. It really works better though. On that fourth full day on the slopes (for a city guy), even a little extra spring in your legs is noticeable. I drink it at the end of the day, the protein sends blood to my stomach and makes me feel sluggish if I'm still trying to go. I also run a few marathons a year, and it helps with recovery, but it is most noticeable when you're stacking exertion on back to back days.

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