Aquamira Filter/Bottle and Chlorine Dioxide Review

This is the second season I have been using Aquamira Chlorine Dioxide drops in combination with the Aquamira water bottle filtration system. This system is very light weight and extremely effective.

The drops basically kill everything in the water. However, it takes 4 hours to kill Crypto. This is one reason I use the filter system in combination. The filter will get rid of Crypto, and many other things including metals, pesticides, etc... It also gets rid of the chlorine from the drops.

The drops also kill viruses, which the filter cannot get rid of. I feel the combination of the drops and filter system is one of the best systems on the market.

There are several reason's I prefer a bottle over using a bag while backpacking. One issue I have is that I never know how much water is left in the bag without taking it out of my pack, which is a pain in the neck. A bottle is much easier to fill than a bag too. I have not come across a decent filter system for use with a bag, other than the larger bulky styles sold at REI.

I am considering getting a Steripen, or MIOX for next season. That is if I can come up with some extra cash. I am leaning more towards the Steripen because it kills everything in just a couple of minutes, whereas the MIOX takes 4 hours to kill Crypto. The Steripen may eliminate the need to carry a filter. However, it will not get rid of pollutants, metals, pesticides, etc... Thus, carrying a filter may still be a good idea.

By the way, I have the 22oz. bottle and the 32oz. bottle. The 32oz. bottle seems to leak around the top. I have to use it more to determine if the top was just on too loose, or it is truly a poor seal. However, I don't have any issues with leaks in the 22oz. bottles.

I like the Aquamira water bottle filter system and the Chlorine Dioxide drops. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for a great water treatment system, which is also light weight.

Leatherman Juice S2 Multi-tool Review

I do not use this multi-tool for backpacking, or camping. This is my everyday around the house tool.

I have been using my S2 on a daily basis for about a year. I have not had any issues with this multi-tool. It is compact and extremely useful. However, I found it to be a little expensive at $40.

The components on the Swiss Army knives seem to be mad out of harder steel than the S2.

I started with a basic swiss army knife, then moved on to a more complex version. I then decided to upgrade from the swiss knives to the swiss multi-tools and purchased a spirit multi-tool. Unfortunately, at 9.9oz. this multi-tool is too heavy for my belt.

After carrying my Spirit around for several weeks, I decided to try out a smaller lighter weight Leatherman. I have not put it down since. I carry my S2 with me everyday no matter where I am going.

The S2 is of good quality, but I would not say it is the best quality on the market. The exterior easily gets scratched and chipped. I have dropped the S2 several times and each time it received a new mark.

The pliers are great for most purposes, and the wire cutters work well. I use the pliers all the time and don't have any complaints about them. The screw drivers are just the right size for most applications and also work very well. The can opener is a bit annoying and flimsy.

Anytime I want to use the scissors, I have to first open the can-opener because it is it is in the way of the scissors.

The blade stays sharp and does a great job cutting. However, it seems to be softer material than the comparable swiss and nicks easily. I do tend to beat on my multi-tools. This tool can definitely handle some abuse.

I am pleased with the S2, and like it's compact size. I do recommend this multi-tool if you are in the market for one. However, I think my next purchase will be a Swiss with a small pair of pliers.

Penny Stove Review

I have tried many different types of stoves over the years since I have been backpacking and camping. I have tried just about any type of stove I can think of. My preferred stove is the alcohol stove I made out of Heineken beer cans. It is called a Penny Stove.

I have made several other types of stoves from soda cans and have not been as satisfied as I am with the Penny Stove. The Penny Stove can actually be used as a multi-fuel stove by flipping it over, putting a piece of screen in the bottom and using an esbit, or fire starter.

The stove is very efficient and can easily bring 3 cups of water to a boil fairly quickly. It doesn't require a primer bowl to light it, and is extremely light weight. Can stoves are the lightest weight stoves I have seen. They are much lighter weight than the majority of commercial stoves on the market today.

Though I mostly do boil-in-bag meals, I have tested the simmer ring for the Penny Stove. My impression was that it does exactly as the creator of the stove claims. It takes much longer to burn the same amount of fuel with the simmer ring than without. I was able to easily cook a pot of rice. This was regular rice that takes 20 minutes to cook; not minute rice.

The one issue I did have with this stove is that it must be fairly level on the ground to work properly. The penny must also be exactly over the hole in the center of the stove to properly function. However, this is not enough of an issue for me to discard the stove. I love this stove and plan to continue using it on all my trips.

If you are considering making your own stove I highly recommend the Penny Stove. In fact, even if your looking for a stove to buy, I still recommend the Penny Stove. As of this writing, you can purchase them for about $30 on the internet.

Keep in mind there are may myths about alcohol stoves.

Hennessey Ultralight Backpacker Asym Hammock Review

I absolutely love my Hennessey Ultralight Backpacker Asym hammock (HH - Hennessey Hammock). This is my second season using this particular piece of equipment and it is by far the best thing I have ever purchased. I love everything about this hammock too.

First and foremost is the entry system on the HH. This entry system is easy to use and works extremely well. I have never had a single issue with the entry system on this hammock. In conjunction with the bug screen, the entry system does an excellent job keeping out bugs.

On a typical top entry hammock, when the bug net is opened, bugs tend to fly in the hammock and end up getting under the netting. Thus, when you get into the hammock and zip the netting closed, you are trapped in the hammock with the bugs. This can be very frustrating.

The bug net is permanently attached to the HH to ensure bugs do not get into the hammock. This also reduces overall weight of the hammock system because it eliminates the added weight of zippers and such. The bug net does a great job keeping out the tiniest bugs.

The standard tarp (rain fly), which comes with the HH does a great job keeping me dry. I have been in the rain several times and never had an issue with this tarp. The tarp is as small as possible to save as much weight, on the overall system, as possible.

I am 100% satisfied with the weight of this hammock system. Hennessey does a great job keeping this hammock system as light as possible without compromising durability, or features. It is one of the lightest shelter options on the market today. It is by far one of the most comfortable as well.

Comfort is the #1 selling point of this particular hammock. I can easily lay flat on my back because of the asymmetric shape of this hammock. This gives me a greater degree of positions to sleep in, which is very important for me to remain comfortable. The trick to laying flat is to lay diagonally in the hammock.

I have compared this hammock to several others on the market:
Clark Jungle Hammock
Claytor Expedition Hammock
Claytor Jungle Hammock
Speer Hammock

When comparing a weight to cost ratio, the HH cannot be beat. It is simply the lightest weight hammock for the least amount of money. However, this does not rule out purchasing any of the other hammocks by any means. They are all great products and have their strong points. For example, the Claytor Jungle Hammock is low cost, durable, comfortable, and comes with a large tarp. It comes in a cool camo pattern too.

Another benefit of the HH is that it has pullouts on the sides. This helps prevent the hammock from hugging my body and gives me room to move around. The inside of the hammock is very roomy. This is a big attraction for me. I like a roomy hammock, and don't like feeling restricted by hammocks, which hug my body.

The ridge line used to hold up the bug net has a loop in each end and has a mesh pocket hanging on it for small items. I find the combination of the loops, and pocket in the hammock are adequate for the amount of stuff I keep in the hammock with me. The loops work well for tying my water bottle up in the hammock as well. I have also been successful tying my bottle to the ridge line with a bandanna.

Overall this hammock is a top choice for me and I highly recommend it. The other HH models are similar and I recommend considering the one that suits your needs best. Simply put, Hennessey Hammocks are great hammocks!

Hennessey Super Shelter Review

This is my second season of using the Hennessey Super Shelter on my Ultralight Backpacker Asym hammock. I purchased it last season because the use of a pad in a Hennessey Hammock doesn't work very well at all. A standard CCF pad has a tendency to move around and get out from under me. Thus, I end up getting chilly.

The Super Shelter is a great concept and works well in warmer weather. I personally would not consider it a 4-season system. The temp could get down to about 55 degrees F and still felt warm enough. When the temperatures drops anymore than that I would start to get a bit chilly.

Another issue I have is the under-pad tends to slide around a little, and moves out from under me. This is an issue for me because I get cold spots and it wakes me up.

The wind tends to cut right through the Super Shelter so on a cold windy night I have to bundle up. On a windy night at 55 degrees F I would be cold. I normally wear long cycling pants, a long sleeve shirt and a cap.

A suggestion has been made to put a space blanket in the Super Shelter to warm things up. However, I have not attempted this because I already have a serious issue with condensation between the hammock bottom and the Super Shelter. Every morning I wake up I have to hang the under-pad out to dry for several hours because it is usually wet.

The shelter tends to pull the sides of the hammock inward reducing the overall width of the inside of the hammock. To me this is a disadvantage because I like the extra room in the hammock and this is one reason I purchased it.

Overall I do like the Hennessey Super Shelter and I would recommend it. However, only for warmer and less windy weather conditions. This really limits the use of this particular piece of equipment and an under-quilt may be a better choice. I recently ordered a Potomac under-quilt and will soon write a review on it.