Cuben Fiber, Dyneema, and Economics

Backpacking Gear, , , , , , ,

A LESSON IN ECONOMICS

America3 Yacht (picture found on the Internet)
America3 Yacht (picture found on the Internet)

I received an email from a friend asking me what I thought about the recent Dyneema – Cuben Fiber debate. I had no idea what he has talking about. He sent me some links to several Websites. It appears there is a lot of controversy and, in some cases, anger among backpackers who are advocates of extremely light gear. The anger is that Cuben Fiber is too expensive and not plentiful enough, and many people want more of it at a cheaper price. Of course no one really needs Cuben Fiber, but like spoiled children they want it. No one in the “anger camp” has identified the root cause of the cost and supply issue. So I am going to clear the air and explain it. First I need to provide some background. I will post some pictures to, hopefully, retain your attention.

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Are Internet Forums Obsolete?

Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, The Digital Life

The Digital Life

dinosaur

In the last half of 2015 I didn’t post much here on PopUpBackpacker.com. Life was getting in the way of living – meaning work was interfering with my leisure time and backpacking and camping trips declined. However, I have corrected this deficiency in life. Let’s move on to the subject at hand.

Since you are reading this, you probably know what an Internet forum is, and I would venture to guess you have participated or presently participate on one. Forums or their ancient electronic relatives from the 1980’s and early 1990’s: bulletin boards, CompuServe, Delphi, or AOL were all precursors to what we now categorize as social media. All of this is leading to the question: Are Internet forums obsolete?
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Does Home Solar Make Sense?

House Remodel, Solar, The Environment

pig with lipstick

When it makes sense, I love solar power. In my recent post of my all-time favorite camping gear our campers’ solar system was my favorite gear. In my post Solar for Backing I laid out all the considerations but did not say if it was a good or bad idea

If you want to carry this stuff, go ahead, it’s okay. Just isn’t my personal cup of tea.

In other words, I am not interested in carrying a bunch of electronic devices when backpacking, other than a headlamp and sometimes a camera and solar doesn’t make sense to me. I did try to be objective and present good information for those who are interested in solar for their backpacking trips.

Starting next month I will be on a fixed income, so planning to reduce my monthly fixed overhead has been a priority. The greatest opportunity for savings is our monthly utilities. For most people, the first thing that comes to mind is installing a solar system – especially since most of us have been bombarded by telemarketers and door-to-door solicitors over the past 4 or 5 years. When we get this volume of sales pitch bombardment, your first reaction should be “someone is making a ton of money and they are going to try and take advantage of me.” In other words,

home solar might just be a pig with lipstick

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PopUpBackpacker Most Popular Posts of 2015

Backpacking Gear

I started this blog in July of 2012. That first 6 months was really about learning how to do this. In 2013 I uploaded a lot of content. 2014 had a lot of backpacking and camping trip reports, and 2015 didn’t see a lot of activity on my part — I was too distracted with work.

Given that, 2015 saw a traffic increase of 63% over 2014. Where do these folks come from?

  • Over 90% from search engines (i.e. Google, Yahoo, etc.).
  • Almost 3% came from Facebook. I have no idea where or how, since I don’t belong to or use Facebook — ah heck, I HATE the concept of Facbook
  • A little over 2% came from www.backpackinglight.com and www.popupexplorer.com each, which isn’t surprising because those are the (only) 2 online forums I participate on.

So here are the top ten most popular posts of 2015

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My Favorite Camping Gear of All Time

Camper Upgrades, Camping

gear article PUBackpacker 05-01-2013

It is common for backpacking bloggers to publish their favorite gear for the year. I have done this every year since 2012, and there has only been one change to my favorite gear in four years as documented in my favorite backpacking gear for 2015. This is different than most backpackers, who seem to have new favorite gear each year, which leads me to believe that their focus is gear-centric and not walking-centric. This begs the question, why do so many backpackers constantly buy new gear? Is it consumerism or do they not focus on skills instead of magic equipment to keep them safe in the backcountry? I’ll let you, the reader, sort out that conundrum.

I have never posted a list of my favorite camping gear. I have been camping for over 50 years and for the past 25 years it has included a camper. The previous 25 years I camped with a tent. In 2003 I refined my camping equipment and little has changed since then, other than we have bought two larger campers over the past 10 years.

So instead of presenting my favorite camping gear for 2015, I will share my favorite 3 of all time.

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El Niño Is Here (and so am I)

General Talk, ,

Last week really sucked, although it started out as an optimistic 2016 beginning.

On Monday I cleaned our camper and then took it to the storage facility. That evening, watching the local news, I was informed that a storm would dump up to 5 feet of snow on our local mountains on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wow! On Tuesday I assembled my backpacking gear for a multi-day snow trip. My plan was to request a kitchen pass from Joyce for the trip, which normally is immediately approved.

Major roof leak in laundry room
Major roof leak in laundry room

Before I could present my request, Joyce informed me that our roof was leaking from the rain and the laundry room was flooded and a large bubbled had formed on the kitchen ceiling. Drats!

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Merry Christmas

General Talk

merry xmas from nick

For the first time in at least 10 years we spent Christmas at home, instead of a camper.

I have been informed that it isn’t Politically Correct to wish strangers a Merry Christmas, and I know complete strangers do read this blog. As a matter of fact, it is now incorrect to have company Christmas parties or Christmas celebrations. Merry Christmas has been replaced with Happy Holidays. 

I say, bullshit.

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Gear that Works: Flip Flops

General Talk, Hiking,

Flip-flops are my everyday footwear unless there is some rule, like a workplace dress code, that forbids them. I have been wearing flip-flops for at least 58 years, maybe longer. My earliest remembrance of flip-flops was wearing them at the public plunge (swimming pool for you young-in’s) at the age of seven. These days a pair of flip-flops last me several years of urban walking and day hikes on our camping trips.

flip flops 1

When modern flip-flops wear out, it is the straps or strap connecting point that usually fail, leaving you with a now useless foot bed that could still go on for hundreds of miles had the strap not failed. Last week I noticed my Reef brand flip-flops were about to expire. Strap failure. Damn. Good news is that Nicole, my daughter, had bought me a pair of Chaco flip-flops last Christmas.

I hear so many hikers and backpackers complain about foot problems and they are constantly trying to find all kinds of gimmicky sole inserts, pronation control shoes, and other quackery to make their feet feel better. I don’t have any of these problems and backpack in minimalist shoes. I attribute this to lots of miles and daily walking in flip flops. Flip flops make your feet strong!

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