I've been looking at bivy's for 2 yrs & reading reviews & I'm still torn, seems none are totally without the negative reviews of condensation unless vented which defeats the purpose for me since I want to use one without a tarp. I hope I come across one to try someday that meets my needs without breaking the bank!

I just picked up the Etrex 20 at Cabela's the other day because it was on sale for $170 & my son has that model & he can teach me how to use it, sorry I know nothing more about it yet, I'm old school & very stubborn when it comes to learning high tech, my old flip phone is still serving me quite well! LOL!

DO NOT take a job as a Utilities Superintendant of a small town with 600 pop.! I work 7 days a week with an avg of 45-50 hrs (not bad) but my phone rings 24/7 as I'm the ONLY employee & I don't even own my own personal phone anymore, my life is this job! The pay sucks & the only benefit is lots of fresh air. I knew a lot of this going into it but free time is very limited, I do some S24O's when I can & am planning some bike related trips this summer once my son is home from college & can back me up.

I've been seeing a few out of Cuben Fiber, as far as custom frame bag, I just ordered one from Jeremy Cleaveland for my wife's XS Surly Cross-Check that should be very unique! www.cleavelandmountaineering.blogspot.com 

Small caliber, small game hunting by bike? I'd look into the new take-down model of Ruger's 10-22, breaks down in 2 pieces & comes in a cary case, it will be my next gun

Saw the "Buffalo Soldiers" embroidered on Matthew Lee's bag too so my instinct told me that's what you were referring to also. Those may have been Carousel or Revelate but there's a whole bunch of folks making them these days, check out Revelate Designs, Cleaveland Moutaineering, Oveja Negra Threadworks & many others I've forgot to mention, some you will find here looking through old posts on the DIY, frame bags are an AWESOME addition to a bikepacking set-up, good luck!

Never heard of them, where did you see them?

I think for an extra $.30 I'd HAVE to go with the stouter canvas & leather reinforcements!

 and if you want to go WAY back on the frame bags just check out the safety bikes that the Buffalo Soldiers rode in the late 1800's, by the looks of it some of those were even made of metal but the same storage concept

 I was there & may have drooled on your bike a bit, sorry! The cockpit looked AMAZING, very comfy looking for the long haul!

the Nanoraptors would be WTB, I've been running them & Continental Race Kings for 7 yrs on all those surfaces (very little pavement though) with fine results

 Another one not on the list that gets my "thumbs-up" is Rob Roberts from Burbank, CA, GOOD STUFF!

 Some friends & I are doing a 50 miler tomorrow night under a nearly full moon & it's expected to get down around 20 F but I'm actually looking forward to it (camping out at the end of the ride too!). The coldest for me was around 14 F with a 15-20 mph wind, I don't have extreme cold weather gear so that ride got cut short! It seems as long as I'm on the move cold doesn't bother me to bad & if I know I'm going to stop for a bit I carry a small Thermos of hot tea or chocolate, which really helps lift my spirits.

thanks for the info, i was able to try on a Marmot, North Face, Mt Hardware & Patagonia this past weekend & the Patagonia was PERFECT...except for price! Going to look into that LL Bean one or see what kind of sale price I can score on the Patagonia later this winter or early spring

 I'm in the market for one & need one that fits a Clydesdale, I'm 6' 5" 260# & most of the XXL's I've tried won't work! Can't remember which brands I've tried but it seems most of them are "athletic cut" & I'M NOT, any ideas? I did try a First Ascent not long ago, it's OUT but I like the more affordable price of them, I'm sure I'll need at least an XXL or XXXL in a men's tall as most sleeves are to short on the standard sized ones to

 That is some wide open big country, I nearly took a buckaroo job in Burns, OR in '87 & backed out at the last minute, it's the one thing in my life I've always regretted not doing!

  I'm 6' 5" & ride a 22" Surly KM & an XL Salsa Fargo & they fit me fine without an extra long seatpost or stem, I've yet to try a fatbike but want to!

 Prairie rattlers arn't bad eating either!

Surly Pacer in that terrain? AWESOME!

I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on 1-2 of these, made from stainless to hold a 40 oz Kleen Kanteen, I bet I can find stuff bags to fit in them to hold small, rolled up items, not sure the stainless Kleen Kanteens would be great for trails as I think they'd be plenty heavy & rattle

 http://www.etsy.com.listing/97102746/custom-stainless-steel-bicycle-bottle