[pct-l] Big Agnes Carbon Fiber Tent Poles

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

I don't think you're out in left field.  It's just that the thru hiker does not exist in large enough numbers to constitute mainstream backpacking.  There's not enough ultralighters going long distances for the large gear companies to change their strategy and products.  Golite is trying real hard, but it's hard to change the mindset and the mold that's deeply established out there.  We have to be very grateful to our cottage vendors (Henry, Glen, Ron, Brian, etc.) for going out on a limb and targeting our miniscule community -- it can't be easy to stay profitable when catering to a small slice of the overall market.  Support our light-weight cottage industry vendors!!!  

I was flat-out astonished when I saw the backpacks and gear being used by the sobo JMTers this past season.  It looked like every single one of them was sold everying in their local outfitters, and were carrying it.  It was ludicrous.  

Because we live and breathe thru-hiking methods (heck, I'm stumbling over the stuff for two months every year), I believed that the lightweight philosophy was more widespread among hikers.  Au, contraire. 

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
>From: Hiker97 at aol.com
>Sent: Jan 30, 2007 11:57 AM
>To: montypct at gmail.com, pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] Big Agnes Carbon Fiber Tent Poles
>
>_montypct at gmail.com_ (mailto:montypct at gmail.com)  writes:
>
>Hey  Switchback, That looks like a pretty neat tent, full view, free 
>standing,  separate rain fly, bathtub floor and all to hit the 2 lb. barrier.  Have  
>you used it yet?  Looks very low condensation too. ??  Are the  stakes and 
>everything else included in that 2 lbs.?  Switchback keeps  digging and he keeps 
>finding gold.
>-------------------------------------------------------
>You know I just finally  opened my copy of the Backpacker Gear Guide today.  
>I carefully looked at  tents/tarps for new 360 degree view shelters that were 
>not nylon prisons out in  the great outdoors.  Nothing.
> 
>May be it is just me that is out of step with the rest of  backpackerdom.  I 
>looked at the packs too.  Nothing exciting or  cleaver.  I look at packs and 
>shelters and start crossing them off by the  dozen as not smart.  It has to be 
>me that is out in left field.   Actually, there are some shelters and packs 
>that are okay and not too bad, but  98% you can forget it.  This is ridiculous.  
>It is mostly needless  marketing ploys and scams on the hiking public.
> 
>The place I found some interesting news was in sleeping  bags.  Some nice 
>stuff, but I still like my NanutakUsa Ghost at 18 ounces  (I had them add one 
>ounce of down overfill and it is in long size).
> 
>Currently, my Big Agnes Seedhouse freestanding 360 view netting tent  without 
>a fly weighs in at:
> 
>Tent = 16.5 ounces (with 4 large Velcro patches on the bottom to attach my  
>foam pad)
>Poles =  8.1 ounces
>2 stakes = .5 ounces
>or 24.1 ounces total
> 
>The fly is the issue.  My  current old style fly weighs in at around 17 
>ounces.  The new type fly  is supposed to weigh 4 ounces less.  But with some 
>lighter type of  material it could weight very close to 2 pounds.  I have to think 
>about  this some more.  May be some Epic material would do it.
> 
>Cheers,  Switchback 
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