John Whitacre

I am glad I purchased both a spoon and a fork for eating soup and fish. The fork is a must for preparing fish and the spoon is good sized and efficient(unlike sporks). The set is lightweight and functional. although as the other reviews point out, the fork tines are a little weak. An added bonus is the cool removable mini cable that can be used to keep the set together like a couple of keys.

The two of us used the 1400 in combination with the S.P. Titanium Cookware - 3pcs. Both sets fit tightly together in the 1400 stuff sack, therefore packing compactly and quietly. We had all the pans we needed to do some lightweight creative cooking. PROS: large, well designed handles and lid, solid, excellent container for the entire kitchen(we used mini alcohol stoves). CONS: handles can get hot so a grabber could have come in handy(the "Mini Bull Designs' ISO" stove burns super hot).

I used to squirm when I would think of the long Fall nights sleeping on the ground in the backcountry. I wanted a pad that I could snow camp with, sleep on slabs of cold granite, and comfortably three season backpack with a good weight to comfort ratio. With the Big Agnes REM, I was more comfortable than using a Therm-A-Rest LiteFoam pad. In fact, as my trip went on, I kept getting better nights sleep. Be warned though that you might need to get used to its 2 1/2" thickness as well as putting 25 breathes into it every night. NOTE: Either my scale is off or this pad weighs 4 ounces more than it's supposed to.

I used this set in combo with 2 different "Mini Bull Designs" alcohol stoves up to 10,000' elev as cold as 30 degrees. Each stove (Iso, MiniSith, and a homemade Pepsi can stove) worked well and I am glad I made the pot purchase. PROS: Affordable, lightweight, easy to clean, nestles well together, fast boil time. CONS: won't nestle with Trek 1400, lid doesn't fit tightly with handles out, handles can get hot, can be a little tippy. NOTE: I used a small cloth to quiet down any rattling the set made in my pack.

The price might seem like a lot for this product, but when you look at what's out there, it's reasonable. The material is thinner than aluminum flashing but thicker than the heaviest duty aluminum foil. The edges are neatly folded over to eliminate possible tearing. I coiled it up in my Snow Peak Trek 1400 pot (it was a little higher than the pot) and it allowed me to put my entire kitchen in the pot, put the lid on, and stow it snugly in the stuff sack the stove came with.

I'm sure this is a great bivy for minimalists, although there are a couple of items you may want to consider before ordering. All seams are untaped and there are perpendicular seems running across the top of the toe box area (top & bottom) as well as down the sides. The shoulder zipper is not nearly as convenient as a full length side zipper. At 55% humidity @ 55 degrees, it seemed to collect condensation as redily as a Mountain Hardware SL conduit bivy.

After purchasing the Black Diamond Winter bivy that uses Nextec's Epic fabric, I decided to compare it to the Mountain Hardware bivy that uses the Conduit SL fabric because of the condensation that I experienced inside. They both seemed to breath equally during my comparison in 50% humidity and 55 degree night time temps. The careful design of the Mtn. Hrdwr. bivy seemed to be more waterproof, versatile and comfortable. On my recent Sierra Trek, I liked the full length side zipper (opposed to a shoulder zip) that matches any post 1998 #8 YKK zipper. It made sleeping more comfortable because I was able to open the zipper at my feet or head to cool & vent efficiently and I could get in & out more easily. The hood fit snugly around my bag's with a drawstring cinch (as opposed to a zipper). The M.H. bivy's seams are taped and the floor is much more waterproof than Nextec's fabric. I would recommend adding the scant 9 ounces for the extra comfort & protection.