On the subject of backpacking...

Waterproof matches, yes they work and they're inexpensive. Box of 50 for 69
cents.
I never leave for a backpacking trip without them.

http://www.quakekare.com/browseprodu...f-Matches.html

-tom

My current stove, the MSR dragonfly, is a lot more expensive but it packs
up into a pretty small package. Even with a small fuel bottle it isn't
very large or heavy.......certainly doable for a day trip on a stream.
What makes it even more appealing for me is the very precise control over
the flame......it's the first stove I've owned that will do both jet
blast and a low simmer. If you aren't familiar with this one, it's worth
checking out.


Do you really need a stove?
On short trips I don't even bother to pack a stove now with the packaged
tuna and the many beef jerky brands. Three days or less out in the
wilderness I won't pack a stove.
-tom

"Tom Nakashima" wrote ...
Waterproof matches, yes they work and they're inexpensive. Box of 50 for
69 cents.
I never leave for a backpacking trip without them.

http://www.quakekare.com/browseprodu...f-Matches.html

-tom


IME, they're also fireproof. Especially when it's been humid/damp/rainy. The
'striker' panel on most of these matchboxes is worthless. The matchstick
itself breaks under half the pressure required to light them.

No way would I rely on these matches for a real firestarter. Mebbe for
lighting the stove or for other mundanities, but for a real firestarter, no
way.

These are a bit more cash, but they work.

http://www.rei.com/product/3664.htm


Get one of these to carry the matches and striker (striker wrapped in a
plastic sleeve to avoid.. uhh....issues):

http://www.rei.com/product/10409585.htm?vcat=REI_SEARCH


Total cost: about a dime per match. But they work. Every single time.

Dan

"Tom Nakashima" wrote ...


My current stove, the MSR dragonfly, is a lot more expensive but it
packs up into a pretty small package. Even with a small fuel bottle it
isn't very large or heavy.......certainly doable for a day trip on a
stream. What makes it even more appealing for me is the very precise
control over the flame......it's the first stove I've owned that will do
both jet blast and a low simmer. If you aren't familiar with this one,
it's worth checking out.


Do you really need a stove?
On short trips I don't even bother to pack a stove now with the packaged
tuna and the many beef jerky brands. Three days or less out in the
wilderness I won't pack a stove.
-tom


I understand that from a weight/convenience POV, but I just can't eat cold
food that long.

Blech.

Hike your own hike and all.....

Dan

"Daniel-San" wrote in message
t...

"Tom Nakashima" wrote ...
Waterproof matches, yes they work and they're inexpensive. Box of 50 for
69 cents.
I never leave for a backpacking trip without them.

http://www.quakekare.com/browseprodu...f-Matches.html

-tom


IME, they're also fireproof. Especially when it's been humid/damp/rainy.
The 'striker' panel on most of these matchboxes is worthless. The
matchstick itself breaks under half the pressure required to light them.

No way would I rely on these matches for a real firestarter. Mebbe for
lighting the stove or for other mundanities, but for a real firestarter,
no way.

These are a bit more cash, but they work.

http://www.rei.com/product/3664.htm


Get one of these to carry the matches and striker (striker wrapped in a
plastic sleeve to avoid.. uhh....issues):

http://www.rei.com/product/10409585.htm?vcat=REI_SEARCH


Total cost: about a dime per match. But they work. Every single time.

Dan


Dan, I never had a problem with either.
Try holding the match closer to the head to avoid breakage.
The REI matches are nice, but once they ignite the whole stick goes up in
flames. You got about 10 seconds to light that whisperlite.
I do have the same waterproof match carrier.
Any waterproof matches have the advantage over ordinary matches.

Something for Frank: exploding birthday candles
-tom

"Daniel-San" wrote in message
et...

"Tom Nakashima" wrote ...


My current stove, the MSR dragonfly, is a lot more expensive but it
packs up into a pretty small package. Even with a small fuel bottle it
isn't very large or heavy.......certainly doable for a day trip on a
stream. What makes it even more appealing for me is the very precise
control over the flame......it's the first stove I've owned that will
do both jet blast and a low simmer. If you aren't familiar with this
one, it's worth checking out.


Do you really need a stove?
On short trips I don't even bother to pack a stove now with the packaged
tuna and the many beef jerky brands. Three days or less out in the
wilderness I won't pack a stove.
-tom


I understand that from a weight/convenience POV, but I just can't eat cold
food that long.

Blech.

Hike your own hike and all.....

Dan



Yea, after you've been hiking out in the wilderness for a few days, you'll
eat just about anything...pass the berries please.
-tom

"WyoBob" wrote ...
I have a JetBoil which might not win in the ultra lightweight catagory
but is really handy. They have a French press attachment for it, as well.
I really like mine and a canister of fuel seems to last a long time.

http://www.jetboil.com/

Snoop

JetBoil was well-reviewed at backpacker.com. I think Andrew Priest also
reviewed it well at his gear testing site.

Downside for me is that you never really know how much fuel is left in that
can, do you?

Dan

On 2/10/06 9:41 AM, in article , "Tom
Nakashima" wrote:



My current stove, the MSR dragonfly, is a lot more expensive but it packs
up into a pretty small package. Even with a small fuel bottle it isn't
very large or heavy.......certainly doable for a day trip on a stream.
What makes it even more appealing for me is the very precise control over
the flame......it's the first stove I've owned that will do both jet
blast and a low simmer. If you aren't familiar with this one, it's worth
checking out.


Do you really need a stove?
On short trips I don't even bother to pack a stove now with the packaged
tuna and the many beef jerky brands. Three days or less out in the
wilderness I won't pack a stove.
-tom

One word, brother:

Coffee.

Bill

"William Claspy" wrote in message
...
On 2/10/06 9:41 AM, in article , "Tom
Nakashima" wrote:



My current stove, the MSR dragonfly, is a lot more expensive but it
packs
up into a pretty small package. Even with a small fuel bottle it isn't
very large or heavy.......certainly doable for a day trip on a stream.
What makes it even more appealing for me is the very precise control
over
the flame......it's the first stove I've owned that will do both jet
blast and a low simmer. If you aren't familiar with this one, it's
worth
checking out.


Do you really need a stove?
On short trips I don't even bother to pack a stove now with the packaged
tuna and the many beef jerky brands. Three days or less out in the
wilderness I won't pack a stove.
-tom

One word, brother:

Coffee.

Bill


Ice-coffee, Bill.
-tom

"Tom Nakashima" wrote ...


Ice-coffee, Bill.
-tom


Blaspheme! Heretic!

;-)

Dan
...who knows of people who just carry no-doz or vivarin pills for the
ultralight caffeine fix.