Esbit 1, Spaceman Spiff 0

While up around Bryce Canyon over the 4th of July weekend, I tested out a few ultralight products and concepts. I started out hoping to chop 5 lbs off the trail weight, but 1 thing just didn't work and I decided to take 1 heavy item just because. So, I still did end up losing 3 lbs from the packs!

First test was the Spaceman Spiff (Adventure Medical Kits) Emergency Bivvy. I tried this out on the last car camping night, before my BP trip. Figured if it worked well in the low 40s inside the GoLite Bug Nest mesh tent, it should do fine inside my regular bivy at a bit higher elevation. A nice savings of a pound (4oz vs 1lb 4oz) over my down bag too.

Just like sliding in to a roomy garbage bag. Unfortunately, these things have a mild scent of a fully loaded garbage bag. Stench aside, the sandman arrived. But, I only got a couple hours sleep before I started waking up wet from condensation under the top sheet. Fell back to sleep the first two times. Third time, I was wet all over and feeling cold from it. Got up, left the tent, went to the car, put the seat back and slept great for about 6 hours. So, this is one piece of NASA technology that's not ready for my backpack yet. Could work if you're just trying to catch an hour or two in a race setting, but... May try it out on the patio on a cooler Vegas night and see if it still has the condensation problem. Maybe there is still hope with different conditions?

Undeterred by the bivvy failure, I decided I'd take the Esbit solid fuel tabs (1.5oz for 3 tabs) and sierra cup (1.7oz) in place of the usual fuel canister/stove/pot/cup combo (26oz) and shed about 1 1/2 lbs. I was making Salmon over the fire anyway and only needed to boil water for coffee.

The tabs worked well and I'll definitely use them when I don't plan on needing water for a freeze dried dinner. During the cooler and windy night hours, it took almost a full tab to boil a 10oz cup of water. In the morning, with a little warmth and no wind, about 2/3 of a tab got used up. The tabs only weight 0.5oz each. Three tabs are good for a full day, maybe add a fourth one just in case, and still only at 2oz for fuel per day.

The pics below show the 'stove' I set up. Dug a small hole to put the fuel tab in, then set up some rocks to hold up the cup. Get some wind protection from it too. Interesting how the structure of the partially used tab changed over night. From a little moisture in the air?

Hope the pics work. The insert image button isn't working and I had to attach them.