Category: Gear Stuff

Bike Touring Basics

On By KBGearDaveIn Biking Stuff, Gear StuffLeave a comment

The Nuts and Bolts of Traveling by Bicycle

A fully loaded touring bike

Sharon and I have been enjoying different outdoor activities almost from the day we met. We’ve spent enough time camping using different human powered modes of travel, that we don’t think much about it. It is just what we do for fun. These are “normal” activities. On our recent bike trip, I was reminded that not everyone has the same perspective. When folks saw us in cycling clothes, riding with oddly shaped bags hanging from our bikes – I’m really not sure what they thought. I do know that from the odd looks and many questions – touring by bicycle was a completely foreign concept. It occurred to me that the nuts and bolts of bicycle touring might be a foreign concept to others as well. I thought I’d do a quick info piece on how one goes about touring our country – or the world – by bicycle. 

Why?

Why ride a bicycle when getting from point A to point B is easier, faster and more comfortable in a car? Maybe that’s the point. To me it seems that a car is about the destination, while a bike is much more about the journey. You could travel 700 miles in a long day of driving…and at the end you’d be tired, cranky, and most of those miles would be a forgotten blur. We spent 3 1/2 weeks covering that distance, and I can remember something about almost every one of those 700 miles. A bicycle travels slowly enough (some of us more slowly than others) to allow you to really see and experience the landscape. The pace of travel also lends itself to meeting and interacting the curious, the colorful, and the kindred spirits.

Gear

There are endless debates in the cycling world about the best bike, the best gear, the best way to transport that gear…blah, blah, blah, blah. You could have a great time riding a basic Walmart bike with some gear thrown in a backpack. Of course, depending on the bike and conditions, that could also invite a special level of misery. Obviously a purpose built modern touring bike will be more comfortable and efficient. Lightweight camping gear carried in waterproof bags securely attached to one’s bike also makes life more comfortable and efficient. The sophisticated graph below conveys an important lesson about gear. You need enough gear to be safe and comfortable in the conditions in which you will be traveling. Beyond that, I refer to the graph below as I ponder whether additional pieces of gear are necessary or not. All that being said, here is a general gear list.

  • Maybe a bit much…?
  • Dave’s Sciency Gear Chart
  • Packing done right!
  • Bikes: Kona Sutra. Sharon’s has been heavily modified for fit and comfort.
  • Racks. Kona supplied rear. Tubus Tara low riders in front.
  • Bags: Ortlieb all around. Basically dry bags with clever mounting apparatus. German engineering. Water proof. Functional. They just work!
  • Front Left Pannier: Medium weight down jacket, hat, gloves. KB rain pants and rain jacket.
  • Front Right Pannier: Civilized pants and button shirt. Two short sleeve T’s with arm warmer arm sleeves. Long sleeve heavy shirt. Medium weight tights. Two pairs lycra bike shorts. Regular shorts. Socks and underwear. Windshirt.
  • Left Rear Pannier: This was my junk drawer. A bag with charging cables, battery bank, headlight, and portable keyboard. Stove (MSR Windburner – by far best I’ve ever had). A book. A bag with contacts, solution, rechargeable hair trimmer. A bag with some bike tools and parts.  Two quart collapsible water container. Deck of cards and travel backgammon. Extra food as necessary.
  • Right Rear Pannier: Sleeping Pad (Big Agnes Q-Core insulated) Down Quilt (Enlightened Equipment – Revelation 10 degree) Lightweight camp chair (luxury).
  • Rear Rack: Tent (REI Half-Dome 2 Plus)
  • Handlebar Bag: Phone, baseball cap, wallet. Sunglasses. Snacks. Bike lock. Misc.

Lodging

When we’re touring, our intent is always to camp – preferably in some beautiful, remote (free) location. To us, that kind of seems to be the point of traveling…and we’re cheap. Next choice is camping for free in some unusual places. We’ve camped on porches (warmshowers.com), behind church offices (with permission), and in spooky Alabama backwoods. At one point we contemplated camping on the edge of a country cemetery…on Friday the 13th no less. Many years ago we slept under an Interstate highway bridge. Wild camping in the south and east is definitely more challenging without the easy access to public lands that we enjoy in the west.

  • Back in the day…

If free options aren’t available, we are not averse to staying in campgrounds. It is nice to occasionally have access to luxuries like running water, toilets, picnic tables, and showers. It pains us mightily, however, to pay the $20-30 that many places now charge. We also found that many “campgrounds” in the east were more like permanent mobile home parks. (no thanks) Normally our last choice is to look for a hotel. On this trip we used that option more than we’d planned. There were a number of reasons. We spent three days touring Charleston. We got  caught in the cross hairs of two hurricanes (can you say massive quantities of rain?). Since it was late fall, it was getting dark and cold at 5:30pm and not getting light until 7:00am. That makes for long nights. Near the end we tossed in the towel and just planned for hotels the last few nights. On this trip, we camped 13 nights (9 free, 4 paid), and spent 11 nights in hotels. Ultimately there is no right or wrong. We liked our choices. On a different trip, in a different location, we may have different options and make different choices.

Food

Aaaah. Food! One of the joys of bicycle touring is guilt free eating! And unlike backpacking, you don’t have to carry it all with you. We almost always carry with us some bagels, a small jar of peanut butter, some tea and hot chocolate mix, as well as some snack food – Payday bars and such. That way we always have something and can camp without worrying about having to get food. Generally though, we would stop by a grocery at least once a day and pick up food for dinner and breakfast, as well as some snack for the day. We carry the stove mentioned above, a small pot, frying pan, as well as a variety of seasonings.  With some creativity, just about any kind of meal is possible. Our favorite dinner was probably chicken burritos. Sharon makes some pretty amazing oatmeal creations for breakfast and carries the makings for that. Sadly, I can’t stand oatmeal. I’m actually kind of a lazy eater and am happy with a bagel. Of course there is always the option of getting some takeout from local restaurants. This time around we were struck by the lack of food options though. Many of the small towns we passed through had no grocery stores at all. Several times our food choices were limited to whatever we could buy at a Dollar General store!

  • Chicken burrito fixin’s
  • Lunch break in the countryside

A Typical Day

I’ll start by saying there really is no typical day on the road. Some days we had a specific destination in mind, other days we basically flipped a coin at every crossroads and went in whatever direction struck our fancy. Some days we felt strong and just enjoyed biking all day long. Other times we called it quits after a few hours. Some days were low gear grunts up burly mountains, others were rolling, flat rides through forests and farm fields. Our longest day was 63 miles, our shortest was a 13 rugged traverse over steep gravel roads. We had days of T-Shirt warmth, brilliant sunshine, tailwinds and downhills. We had 20 degree mornings and icicles, torrential rain and brutal headwinds. That’s the beauty of biking…no two days are alike. I will try to describe a somewhat typical day. Generally we would get up and break camp at first light. Either eat breakfast, or ride into town and stop after it had warmed a bit. Throughout the day we would ride, stopping every couple of hours to eat, drink, and consult with “Miss Bossy Pants” Google Maps.  Whenever possible we opted for small country roads. This led through beautiful landscapes, past rural mansions and dilapidated shacks. We passed through quaint towns where we had lovely chats with the locals. We passed through ugly towns where miserable looking folks either ignored us or “politely” suggested we get off the F-ing road. There would be endless conversations about food, and the obligatory food stops. At some point during the day we would start thinking about where we were going to spend the night. This involved consulting with locals, looking at Google Maps, or just looking for likely places to camp. Assuming we found a place, first order of business was always to get the tent and sleeping arrangements set. Then it was dinner time. Then it was usually cold and dark, so into the tent we went. We played cards, journaled, read books, watched some downloaded show, or just chatted about the day or made plans for tomorrow. It is a very simple lifestyle where you are very much just in the moment. It also ends up being a very appealing lifestyle.

People and Places…It’s what life on the road is all about!

I hope this behind the scenes look at bike touring (the way we do it anyway) offers some insight into not only why, but how we do it. One thing is certain. Our recent experience, hardships and all, has only sparked a greater determination to see more of the world on two wheels. Plans are already afoot…  Enjoy! Seize the Carp!

More fun than humans should be allowed….

#Trailer Life, Da U.P. and Points beyond…

On By KBGearDaveIn Gear Stuff, On the Road1 Comment

For as long as we’ve dreamed about retiring, we’ve dreamed about finding beautiful places to hike, bike, camp, kayak, backpack, etc. In order to facilitate those dreams we had planned to convert a cargo van into some kind of sleeping/gear hauling adventure vehicle for longer than #vanlife has been a “thing”. We spent endless hours talking, planning, and researching different ideas. I actually drew up plans for how we’d convert it. I read reviews of vehicles and scoured the internet looking for deals. Yet, when retirement rolled around – we were still vehicle-less! Biggest reason? I HATE, DESPISE, LOATH, DETEST (getting the picture?) buying cars. So I kept putting it off. The other reason is that with a van we saw a few potential problems that had no easy solutions. We wanted to be able to carry our kayaks. Getting them on and off a 12 foot high vehicle would be no small feat, and would only get more challenging as the years go by. Another issue was safe seating for tiny humans. Almost every van conversion we’d seen did not include additional approved seating for children.

So, long story only slightly shorter, for our first retirement road trip we traveled and slept in the back of our 4Runner.

It worked beautifully. We were comfortable. We had plenty of room for all our gear. It was a perfect example of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). After two months on the road, we realized we didn’t need the extra space (or expense, or time to convert, etc) that a van would offer (and require). We were content and had actually had decided to stick with the 4Runner…until we saw a co-worker’s teardrop trailer. We were impressed by the simplicity, the great features, and head room. The price was 1/4 to 1/2 the price of a van – without the need to do any work converting. Within about 30 minutes of getting home, we’d done some internet research, talked about it, and pretty much decided that a small teardrop trailer would be a good fit for our travel needs. Fast forward several months. In early October we pulled into the TCTeardrop workshop in Wausau, Wisconsin to meet our tiny new home.

The Happy Campers

After a brief tour of the camper by the staff at TCTeardrops, we took advantage of a favorable weather forecast and immediately headed north to da U.P. for a shakedown cruise. It was amazing.

  • 1st night along Sturgeon River
  • Sturgeon River wilderness
  • Lake Superior Camp
  • Superior Shoreline
  • Fall colors

The fall colors were out in force. We found beautiful and remote places to camp, hike and bike. The trailer was a dream. No set up necessary. Comfy, warm, and quiet. It was everything we hoped for. At this point I would like to mention that Sharon and I actually prefer sleeping in a tent or under the stars. And in the interest of full disclosure, it should be said that for years (actually for a lifetime) I have mercilessly heaped scorn and derision on RV owners. Now I guess I are one. We both very quickly fell in love with the ease and comfort of the teardrop when in ‘car camping/traveling mode – and especially for traveling in foul weather.

Several weeks later we arrived back in Flagstaff. We just recently finished hooking up solar power, installing a Propex propane heater, and decorating the galley area. We have a few more minor additions we’d like to make – but in the main, it’s ready to be taken out and used.

  • FoStep 1 of the install was to remove the factory install.
  • Steve graciously offered the use of his expertise, several hours of his time and the use of his awesome shop.
  • Fuse panel, shunt, Bogard power controller and fuses
  • Basic solar install complete
  • Several days later I’d added some circuits and finished routing and securing all wiring.
  • Propex heater
  • All wiring and the heater are located behind a removable panel.
  • The final look, complete with Sharon’s paint and wall paper touches.
  • The heater vent and thermostat inside. Bring on winter!

For any gear geeks out there, we have a 200 watt solar panel permanently mounted on top of the trailer. This feeds power to a Bogart charge controller http://www.bogartengineering.com/products/solar-charger.html which in turn is monitored by the Trimetric TM-2030 http://www.bogartengineering.com/products/trimetrics.html All this amazing technology feeds into a 125 amp hour battery. Our biggest energy user will be our 50 liter Dometic fridge. On paper anyway, we should be able to stay out indefinitely with all our power needs being met with solar.

We’d actually purchased the Propex heater for our eventual van build, so it is probably massive overkill for our tiny trailer. However since we had it, and since we plan to camp during the winter, overkill might be OK. https://www.propexheatsource.co.uk/heaters/hs2000

One thing became immediately apparent during the past week (and countless hardware store runs). I am sooooo glad I’m not doing a van conversion. Even with retirement size free time, it would have taken months, and lots and lots of dollars to set up a van the way we’d planned. Instead we’re now ready to go play. And when we do, we’ll definitely let you know how it goes.

If you’re interested, Todd and Carol Mowry are the owners of TC Teardrops (get it? Todd and Carol). They were away at an overland expo when we arrived, so we didn’t get a chance to meet, but they were great to work with. They offer four trim levels. We chose the “Overland” version that comes with a cool swiveling hitch, electric brakes, beefy wheels and an extra receiver hitch in the back. We then added several items from their extensive list of options. You can check out their website here… https://www.tcteardrops.com/ As always, I’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Until next time – Seize the Carp!

Superior Sunrise

JMT Through Hike #4 – Gear

On By KBGearDaveIn Backpacking/Hiking Stuff, Gear StuffLeave a comment

“How much does your pack weigh?”

“Base weight is twelve pounds!”

“Dude – that’s way too heavy. Mine is only eight! It’s easy to get down to that weight once you realize that comfort is just a state of mind!”

–Overheard in the backpackers camp at Tuolumne Meadow

While the commitment to lightweight packing is laudable, I took exception to this person’s condescending “I’m better than you” attitude. I also call BS on the assertion that comfort is a state of mind. I’ve spent a lifetime finding creative ways to be uncomfortable in just about every conceivable outdoor situation – and I would suggest that discomfort has nothing to do with my “state of mind.” As proof I offer the following: https://www.seizingthecarp.com/lake-superior-learning-curve/ . It has everything to do with bringing along the wrong gear, forgetting gear (like a tent – yes, it is possible), miscalculating time and distance, bad luck, bad weather, etc.

Now if you’ll wait a moment while I climb down off my self-righteous soap box, I will agree in principle with Mr Ego Head above. I have long ascribed to the scientifically proven “Inverse Weight to Fun Ratio” beautifully illustrated in the graph below.

Happy Camper on the left vs Not a Happy Camper on the right

Conversations about gear are a regular feature along the trail. What’s working? What’s not? What people like/dislike about a particular piece of gear. What people wish they had, or wish they’d left behind. So for your reading pleasure, I humbly submit a few thoughts on the subject of gear in general, and some specific comments on gear we used.

When I did a portion of the JMT a few years ago, I brought a tarp tent that got used once in nine nights out. The rest of the time I slept under the stars. It was glorious. The bug situation made that impractical, so we brought our Black Diamond Beta light and Bug Net tent. Total weight 3 -ish pounds. Not the lightest thing out there, but a third the cost of ZPack shelters and far more durable than some of the ultra, ultra light tents made out of unicorn hair, baby seal tears, and fairy dust. Properly guyed out it easily withstood some gusty conditions. At 6′ 2″, I can fully stretch out and have room to spare at the ends – a bit of a luxury in a lightweight shelter. It is easy to pitch – stake out four corners and insert hiking poles. Initially we thought they’d be a bit of a bother inside the tent, but it turned out to be a non-issue. In fact it actually helped keep Sharon on her side of the tent. You can read an excellent review here: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/ultralight-tent/black-diamond-beta-light We liked it so much that I’m going to re-purpose some tent poles to replace the hiking poles in order to use it on an upcoming bike tour.

Our one big experimental upgrade came with the purchase of down quilts. We both got the 10 degree Revelation model from Enlightened Equipment. I saved quite a bit by ordering a previous year’s model, however Sharon’s newer model had significantly higher loft. (https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/ultralight-sleeping-bag/enlightened-equipment-revelation-20 ) Even on a few frosty, below freezing nights, Sharon was comfy in just T-Shirt and knickers. I’m a cold sleeper, and was comfortable, although many nights I did wear my down jacket. We liked the flexibility of sleeping arrangements with the quilt as well as the weight and space savings compared to our regular backpacking bags. I’m not completely sold on the whole quilt concept, but I can definitely recommend the Revelation.

The last of the “big three” backpacking necessities is the backpack. Sharon hauled out her venerable Osprey Ariel 65. It would have been a bit larger than necessary, except for the need to carry ten days of food in a bear canister. Osprey packs are everywhere, well made and – when adjusted properly – solid, comfy packs. I used my Arrakis 50 from Arcteryx. The Arrakis has several unique features, and is extremely rare. That might explain why it is no longer being made. I love the fit and features, and especially the way it carries a load. Even to save a few pounds, I doubt I’ll ever go to a different pack. We were a bit intrigued by the lighter and smaller Osprey Exos we saw frequently along the way. We might explore that option for Sharon.

Beyond that, our gear lists was pretty straightforward.

  • Primus canister stove. In three weeks we used roughly 1 – 8oz, and 2 – 4 oz canisters.
  • Cookwear: Aluminum pot and folding silicone cups. Sharon used a silicone bowl, I did not.
  • Clothes (me)
  • Two running shorts, one pair medium weight tights.
  • One Short sleeve T (didn’t need).
  • One long sleeve cotton dress shirt. Two technical long sleeve T’s (only needed one long T)
  • Arcteryx Thorium AR down jacket with hood (loved it).
  • Beanie hat, sun hat, and gloves.
  • Bike gloves. I wore these all day, every single day to protect my hands from getting sunburned, and from blisters from using poles. For me, these would be a must bring.
  • Electronics: BD rechargeable headlamp. Garmin Mini GPS tracker and two way text. Suunto GPS watch. Fujifilm waterproof camera. Sharon’s IPhone was her camera. Solar charger and small battery pack kept all electronics fully charged.
  • We used a 4 L Platypus gravity flow water filter. Larger than the Sawyers that everyone was using. For a group of 4-5 like us, this was much easier and quicker. Also, on a previous trip two Sawyer filters both kind of crapped out on us. Kept it in a small stuff sack strapped to the outside of my pack. We stopped to filter regularly and thus saved the weight of carrying extra water.
  • Other: 8″ x 10″ scrap of closed cell foam for a sit/kneel pad (big thumbs up – super useful). Sharon brought an REI camp chair. Half way through I “inherited” Dan’s when he left. Nice, but I’d have been happy with just my sit pad. Trowel (for poo holes). Small roll of tenacious tape, needle and thread for repairs. Very small 1st aid kit…just blister stuff, antiseptic, antibiotic, and burn ointments. Bug head nets which we used once or twice.
  • Rain gear. I brought both a jacket and kilt of my own design. Sharon brought her kilt and an old Golite jacket. Amazingly, somehow, blue bird skies for 21 days. Sucked for California, but we did not complain.
  • Bear Canisters: A necessary EVIL required on the trail. I used the Garcia’s on the left. Sharon had the BV500. The Garcia’s was slightly smaller, and slightly heavier – but had a superior lid design. We were (just) able to cram in ten days of food.

After three weeks on the trail we felt we had packed well. We had everything we needed and very little we didn’t need. This was clearly a longer trip, but we’ve done this many, many times before. Having said that, we’re always looking to improve, and better ways of doing things. If we took out our “comfort” items and eliminated all electronics, I could have removed 3-4 lbs. Also, the way things worked out, we were a bit light on food at the outset, and then ended up with a bit too much at our 2nd resupply. Still, with ten days of food and water, I was at about 36 lbs, Sharon a few less. I’m sure my “dude” friend above would scoff at such weights, but we didn’t have to just pretend – we were truly comfortable throughout the entire trip.

Hopefully this was helpful. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out and leave a comment below. I/we are always happy to help. Of course, you should always keep in mind rule #1 of hiking the JMT – “Don’t believe anything anyone tells you!” Happy Trails!

Gear Report: KB Rain Kilt 3.0

On By KBGearDaveIn Backpacking/Hiking Stuff, Gear StuffLeave a comment

Of all the trips we’ve taken, and of all the adventures I’ve written about, the most visited page here is the one describing the rain kilt. (Kilt 2.0 ) If you’ve read that article, then you know I’m a big fan of the rain kilt. Since the first version was field tested back in July of 2016, and a major revision shortly after that first trip, I’ve used the kilt exclusively in all my travels.

Use any piece of gear and before long you see room for improvement. That has definitely been the case with the kilt…there has been a constant evolution. The beta version proved the concept in some truly nasty conditions. However, it turned out to be too square and didn’t overlap enough. Version 2.0 was an improvement, but consisted of two pieces which required extra time and effort to sew. And even though it only weighed 8 oz, I was interested in using some lighter weight materials as well as tweaking the design a bit more.

Version 1.0 … note the almost square shape.
Slightly more colorful and slightly more flared version 2.0

Before retirement, one of my co-workers happened to be a professional seamstress. We had several interesting conversations about design possibilities, and with her help, I came up with a new design that not only fits better, but is easier and quicker to sew.

An early version of 3.0 One piece and even more flare.
For this version I used 1.1 oz Silnylon. Final weight…1.95 oz!
Feeling very manly in my rain kilt (its not a skirt!)

I’ve now made three kilts using the new design, and with each one I’ve made some small, but significant changes. In a few weeks, I am excited to be joining four of KB’s “sponsored” athletes. We will be field testing the latest and greatest to come out of the KB Skunkworks on the John Muir trail in California. Based on the feed back I receive, I will incorporate any final design changes into the pattern. If anyone is interested, I’m happy to share information on making our own. Seize the Carp!

Continue reading “Gear Report: KB Rain Kilt 3.0” →

The Birth of KB Gear

On By KBGearDaveIn Gear Stuff2 Comments

aka: The Extreme Sport of…Sewing

I will confess to being envious of my “manly” friends when they talk about their metal working, welding, car engine rebuilding exploits. “I sewed some stuff” doesn’t have quite the same cachet. In 1830 Barthelemy Thimonnier, a French tailor, invented a machine that used a hooked needle and one thread, creating a chain stitch. It wasn’t quite recognizable as a sewing machine, but it worked well enough that Thimonnier planned to use it in his factory to make uniforms for the French army. French tailors caught wind of this turn of events. Fearing they would lose their jobs, they rioted and burned down his factory – with Thimonnier inside. Given the full-contact, life and death consequences, clearly sewing is not an activity for sissies. In fact, given its history, might one might even consider it an “extreme sport?”

Back in the late 70’s I was beginning to explore outdoor activities that often required specialized gear. Since I had very little money, I decided to join with those brave men and women before me who risked life and limb to sew garments. My first effort was a pair of down booties from Altra Kits from Boulder, CO. Next, I moved on to some really basic nylon shell jackets and pants. You have to remember this was in the era of wool – when the 60/40 nylon/cotton ‘mountain’ parka was cutting edge. During a winter trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, I had the chance to show off some of my handiwork. It was probably Dan-Boss Backer who said, “Wow! That kicks ass!” Hmmm. Kicks ass…Kicks Butt…KB! Thus was born KB Gear, and now many years later, with tongue firmly in cheek – KB Extreme Gear!

My first project – still in use 39 years later.

The basic straight stitch I learned on those first projects is just about the only stitch I know – or really have needed. With that basic knowledge, I’ve managed to churn out a variety of gear – some of it actually useful and usable. Gaitors, windpants, windshells, waterproof overmitts, sleeping bags, ultralight tarps, backpacks, kilts and so on. Over the years, I’ve come up with some of my own designs, but for the most part I follow patterns. Some patterns were specifically designed for outdoor use. Others have been adapted or modified from patterns meant for other activities. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is the value of a well designed pattern. So, in an effort to encourage you to learn this most dangerous skill, I’d like to offer handful of my favorite patterns and provide some resources.

Green Pepper Hood. Overall I’m not a real fan of Green Pepper patterns. While they have a huge variety of outdoor related patterns, the ones I’ve used are overly complicated, and seem to focus a bit more on how something looks than in how it functions. The one exception is this hood. It is well designed, relatively easy to sew, and VERY functional. With a strip of velcro around the bottom, and on the collar of a jacket, you can add a great hood to any jacket.

I am a huge fan of Controlled Exposure. They only have a few offerings. Unlike some of the Green Pepper patterns, whoever came up with these clearly spent time outside. They understood the kinds of features that make gear not just “good” but “great!”

The CE55 Mountain Pant design is brilliant. The Bib straps wrap around and attach in the front of the pants, allowing one to easily drop trou when one must. Full zips allow easy on/off as well as good ventilation. The pattern is easy to customize to add features and to ensure a perfect fit. For years, these have been my go to shell pants for climbing and skiing. I actually prefer these bibs to a pair from Arteryx! The CE65 stretch pants are my 2nd favorite CE pattern. Super easy to make. Both Sharon and I have pairs made of heavy weight, Polarguard Powershield fabric. Super warm, windproof and highly water resistant.

Folks in Norway have a saying “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.” I doubt they are the first, or only people with that opinion. The weather is just as pleasant in nearby Finland, and Shelby offers a wonderful variety of products and patterns designed to help folks cope.

I came across Shelby while surfing many years ago, and was intrigued by their designs – especially for their “Abisko” jacket. Getting this pattern shipped from Finland was more expensive than the pattern itself, but well worth it. This jacket pattern is by far my favorite. There are probably a few dozen of these floating around among family and friends. It is incredibly well designed, and without too much effort will produce an excellent jacket. One of my favorite features is the ease with which you can customize the pattern to fit any size or purpose. I have one made of lightweight material designed specifically for running. I have two jackets made from the brilliant “Eye Pollution Yellow” material for visibility when motorcycling. One is fitted for moderate temps, one is extra large to layer over bulky cold weather riding gear. I’m currently working on one with a fleece liner and Gore-tex outer shell to be used as an all around winter jacket. Some have integrated hoods, some make use of the Green Pepper hood.

I’m pretty sure Arcteryx is not worried about KB Extreme Gear eating into their market share. I’m never going to compete with the kind of gear they produce – but that’s really not the point. There is a tremendous amount of satisfaction spending time outside, using gear designed, made, repaired, or modified with your own hands…at a fraction of the cost. With the materials and knowledge available on the internet, it is amazing what you can do once you set your mind to it…and this extends beyond sewing/modifying/repairing your own gear. There is also something satisfying – and healthy – about tuning your own skis, making your own “freezer bag” backpacking meals, coming up with your own adventures and planning your own trips, etc. But I digress. I hope you enjoyed this little walk down the KB memory lane.

Resources

Gear Report – KB Rain Kilt 2.0

On By KBGearDaveIn Gear Stuff3 Comments

Lenny Pepperbottom likes to say that “Nature is neat!” It is indeed! However, nature can also be messy, and occasionally mean spirited. You were hoping for blue bird skies, but instead the skies open and you get rain in all its infinite varieties…drizzles, sleet, sheets, showers, streams, sprinkles, mists, monsoons…well, you get the idea. If you want to enjoy nature, then you need to be prepared. A rain jacket is an obvious, basic piece of equipment and there are plenty of excellent examples to choose from. And while it would seem to follow that rain pants are also an obvious, basic piece of equipment, I’ve been generally dissatisfied with all the pants I’ve purchased or made. So this past year I decided to step outside the box and try something a bit different…a rain kilt (its not a skirt). Could 2 1/2 million Scottish men be wrong?

I did a fair amount of research and came up with several commercially available rain kilts…you can check out a few variations here.

http://www.ula-equipment.com/product_p/rain-kilt.htm https://www.antigravitygear.com/shop/clothing/antigravitygear-rain-kilt/           http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/cloudkilt.shtml           

I felt like there were some good ideas, but nothing really blew my skirt up (pun intended). I also checked out some homemade versions, and again found lots of good ideas. Since I have a garage full of fabric and some sewing skills, I thought I would see if I could come up with my own design. KB Rain Kilt 1.0 was finished in time for an extended backpacking trip in the San Juan mountains last summer. During that trip we experienced full on monsoon activity, brief passing showers, as well as cool temps.  I came away from that trip 100% sold on the benefits of a rain kilt vs traditional rain pants. I did feel that there were some improvements to be made, and they were incorporated into version 2.0 pictured below. This kilt was trail tested and approved on our 9 day John Muir hike later in the summer.

The “camouflage” version of the KB Rain Kilt 2.0. In case of emergency the kilt can be used to signal the Int’l Space Station

If you are skeptical, I would offer the following…

1. Biggest advantage…ease of use. Consider the typical scenario. It starts raining to the point where rain protection becomes desirable. With rain pants – drop pack, fish out rain paints. Find a place to sit down. Take off boots/shoes. Pull on rain paints. Put boots/shoes back on. Put on backpack. When it stops raining, drop pack, find a place to sit, take off boots/shoes, pull off and stow rain pants, put boots/shoes back on, put pack back on. Either that or just leave the bloody things on because it is too much of a pain to stop and remove them, and just deal with hot, clammy pants. With a rain kilt, grab the kilt from an outer pocket. Loosen waist belt. Put on kilt and re-tighten waist belt. That’s it. When the rain stops it is easy to remove the kilt and stow it away. Either that or just leave it on (see #2).

2. Comfort. If at all possible, I prefer hiking in shorts. Even with waterproof, breathable fabric (and I’m a big believer) I don’t like the feel of nylon on bare legs. My traditional rain pants (both commercial and home made) tend to feel clammy and constricting. By contrast, the kilt hangs loosely enough and offers enough airflow to prevent the annoying dampness.

3. Weight and utility. Less critical, but still important.  There are some super lightweight versions weighing 2-3 oz. My 2.0 kilt is pretty beefy and weighs only 8 oz. By comparison my Mountain Hardwear pants are about 16 oz, and probably stuff twice as large as the kilt. I was also continually finding other uses for the kilt. For example, as we broke down camp in the morning, I found it convenient to lay out the kilt as a mini-ground cloth. I could sort gear and clothes and keep them dry from the morning dew. When it wasn’t raining, they added a surprising level of warmth.

The build. Based on my experience with version 1.0, I increased the flair to better match my stride length when walking. I decided on two pieces so that it hung more naturally and evenly. I’m 6′ 2″ so I decided on a hemmed length of 28″, that falls just below my knee. The hemmed width of each piece on top is 20 1/2″…the bottom of each piece is 33 1/2″. With the long velcro piece on top, the kilt can be adjusted to fit over shorts, or bulky layers. As can be seen from the 2nd picture, there is quite an angle when both pieces are sewn together. This may look strange when it is laid out, but when it is worn, it fits naturally. I do intend to tweak the location and angle of the two lower velcro strips. I have a good supply of Gore-tex, including some of the always fashionable “eye pollution yellow”, but you could use any coated fabric. Several enterprising folks have even used tyvek house wrap. Whatever fabric you choose, the sewing skills needed are pretty basic. It is definitely worth the effort. Nature’s Neat – and so are kilts!

KB Rain Kilt 2.0…always fashionable, in any setting.