Snow Peak GigaPower Plate Burner Li (Baja Burner)

Known as the Baja Burner here stateside and GigaPower Burner Li in Japan, this Snow Peak stove is another great piece of gear coming from this outdoor gear company.  Made mostly of stainless steel, this stove weighs 6.2 pounds.  The legs and gas hose fold out and tuck away for easy storage.

 A heavy nylon carrying bag with a drawstring is included.

 The GigaPower uses backpacking gas cans that can be held inverted for maximum gas flow or

stood up as normal.  With an aftermarket adapter, the stove can take other fuel cans such as Coleman or cheap Asian market butane fuel cans. 

Unlike my house stove or my multi burner Century camp stove this GigaPower has plenty of room for use with large diameter pans like this paella pan. 

My experiences with stoves with built in ignition sources usually leave me abandoning them in favor of a lighter but this burner (as with my Snow Peak backpacking stove) lights consistently with only one push of the button. 

This Snow Peak, like it's backpacking stoves, is made in Korea and looks like another solid piece of gear from this outdoor company.

Snow Peak Lago 2 Tent

Since seeing Chul's Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 on a trip last year, I've been a bit envious and been looking for an ultra lightweight tent for backpacking.   Naturally the first on my list was the Fly Creek but I looked for others to see if there was a better alternative.  While The Big Agnes is a nice tent, it always seemed a bit delicate to me. 

Until a few years ago weight before never was much of an issue for me, as back in the day my trail buddy, Joel and I would share a three person tent and split the weight between us.  Since Joel was from some mutant strain of pack mule and had high tolerance toward discomfort, he humped much of the weight.  Now that I no longer share a trail with him I must carry all the weight on my own.  So a tent around 3 pounds total weight is definitely appealing to me.

As I write this the Fly Creek now can be found all over the internet for as low as $280 and I was on the verge of buying one until I found out that Snow Peak USA is importing some of the tents here in the US.  I checked to see what they had and I was impressed with the Lago series.  There is the Lago 1 (one man) and Lago 2 (two man).  In my opinion, one man tents are a way too cramp for a extended periods of time so for solo trips I look for two man tents.  Generally I add one "man" when using tents.  In other words when I'm camping with another I opt for a three man tent.  The only time I'd share a tight two man tent with another if I were with a child, dog or a gal.  Otherwise sharing a two man tent with anyone my size or bigger would be much to intimate a situation for me.  Given the minor weight difference the Lago 1 and Lago2 I have no problem lugging a few extra ounces to get a little more space.

While slightly heavier than the Big Agnes tent, the Lago 2 is still a very lightweight tent.  This is a proper four seasons tent and has an impressive overall weight of 3.1 pounds with fly.  Unlike the Fly Creek this is designed for mountaineering and for winter use.  This is done by a stronger and more stable 2 pole X-frame design.  Walls are constructed fully from 20D Polyester with mesh only one the top quarter of the door and a small vent on the roof.  Without a doubt the summer months in this tent will definitely be warmer than the Fly Creek which has the walls and roof covering nearly half the mesh of the total frame of the tent.  This may not be too much a concern though as daytime hours will likely be on the stream or hiking or anything but staying in the tent.  Another aspect that keeps the weight down is that the tent does not include tent stakes.  The instructions recommend using heavy rocks as an anchor.  I have done that before but it assumes that there are available stones large enough to actually hold your tent down.  Otherwise you'll need to purchase the stakes separately.

 

Given it's lightweight, this tent is not as sparse with amenities as one may think, it does have two tiny side pockets and large pocket running the length of the rear wall.  Also there are several hook tabs on the roof for a gear loft or for hanging a lantern via a carbiner.  At each point of the tabs there is a triangular vent on top of the roof.  The other vent is on the top fifth of the door.  It didn't seem like much to me at first but after sleeping in the tent with the dog there was little interior ventilation when we awoke the next morning.

One aspect unique to this tent is that there is no vestibule in the traditional sense, it does have an interior vestibule with a removable floor plate and the fly extends slightly to create a mini vestibule to shield the entrance from bad weather.  Flooring near the door is held in place by tabs which I'm not quite sure about this feature.  In rough weather will it tract water or snow?  In the heavy rain will the flooring flood or will it be able to keep the water out?  How does it affect warmth in cold weather.  What happens if when you pitch the tent at night and realize that you have actually pitched it on top of an ant colony as Chul and Erika did last spring.  I doubt it will keep those ants from entering the tent. 

Not much has been written about this tent here in the States, so when I researched it on Japanese sites I learned that this tent was made in Japan.  I was sorely disappointed when I received this tent and saw that the one I got was made in China.  I'm not sure if the Japanese market gets domestically made tents whereas exported versions get Chinese made tents or if they just moved production. 

The doorway is a bit cramped and it opens from the bottom.  I'm not a big fan of this as when you open the door you actually have the potential of stepping on the door and therefore possibly damaging it.   I don't believe any regular sized American could possibly fit two people in here.  The dog and I spent an evening in this tent and it was quite cramped even more so than my North Face two person tent which the both us have shared in the past.  This tent is plenty though for one man with enough space for most gear.

For The Gourmand On The Move

The Nobashi Ready To Eat

With Christmas around the corner, it maybe time for some to start looking for ideas for gifts or stocking stuffers.  MontBell currently has older model Japanese made Nobashi travel chopsticks on sale for $10.20.  

Each End Of The Nobashi

These Nobashi chopsticks are a self enclosed unit. The laminated wood is hidden within the stainless steel casing.   Unlike Snow Peak's version, where it is two pieces and needs to be reassembled for each use and disassembled for storage, these chopsticks are a one piece system which allows ease of use and also helps prevent loss.  One end is open for retracting of the wood portion and collapses within where it is stored and the other end is closed with a cap to prevent the wood from slipping out.  The cap can be removed to allow complete disassembly for easy cleaning.  To use the Mont Bell version all is needed to let the wooded section fall out and then twist to lock it in place. 

Two Different Travel Chopsticks And Their Cases

Years ago when the Snow Peak chopsticks hit the US shores, outdoor magazines were writing about how innovative or unique these eating utensils are and were all the craze, the fact is portable chopsticks are nothing new.  Asians have been carrying these for years long before it was fashionable.  While environmentally conscientious people will claim these chopstick will save bamboo trees, in Asia the reasons aren't as honorable as being "green" but for more practical hygienic reasons.  Disposable bamboo can be hazardous as they are treated heavily with bleach and other chemicals.  Also eating with non-disposable chopsticks in night stalls can be at times less than hygienic. 

These are a pair of metal portables that my mother gave me years ago.  The chopsticks are inconspicuously encased in a tube similar to that of a pen with a clip to attach to a pocket. 

The second half of it is stored within the top half of the chopstick just like the Mont Bell but unlike the Nobashis, these are spring loaded for rapid deployment.

The top of the chopsticks contain a button to engage the spring to dislodge second half of the sticks similar to a stiletto knife.

Full extended and ready to eat.  The spring loaded feature is a good way to either impress someone or have them tease you.  These are definitely conversation starters with non-Asians, they look more kung fu movie than eating utensil.



Snow Peak Cutting Board Set

Awaiting at my door when I came home today was another Snow Peak item.  This time it was the Snow Peak Cutting Board Set M.  The set consists of a natural wood cutting board that folds in half by a piano hinge and houses a Japanese made knife held there with strong magnet.  It's perfect for outdoor adventures that will prevent the knife from rattling while driving off road.  Rubber feet located at each corner prevents the board from moving around while chopping or slicing.  Snow Peak recommends rubbing olive oil to the unfinished wood which I did tonight.  The blade is thin and made of stainless steel with plastic handles riveted to spine.  The set comes in two sizes medium and large.  I ordered the medium and will be perfect for lunchtime use.  Generally field lunches for me are a more simple affair usually consisting of sandwiches or cheese plates.  So the smaller blade and board will work well for slicing salami, tomatoes, cheeses and the like.  It also fits quite nicely within my Engel fridge cover's front pocket so its readily accessible when its time for a quick meal.

Snow Peak Hozuki Lantern

USB port can be used to power the light

Fashion forward looking lantern

The look at the light.

In table top mode

At 100 lumens the lantern does well lighting up a room

Lit up

Without a doubt I'm a fan of Snow Peak products and when the Hozuki Lantern came out, it's intrigued me.  As my REI 20% coupon was about to expire,  I choose to use it on this Chinese paper lantern and Hozuki plant inspired fashion forward led lantern.  At about $90 before discounts, it's not a cheap light.  Lighting is variable with three brightness settings allowing up to 100 lumens at high power.  The light can be used as a candle placed upside down with even flickering with the wind.  Unlike most led lanterns made today, it is actually made in a first world nation while that may not mean much to some, it's a big deal for me.  Four AA batteries power this light and depending on setting allows for 8-80 hours of operation. 

Pro:

• Bright and at 100 lumens, it lights up a tent or campsite brightly.
• Unique design.
• Can be powered by a mini USB but not rechargeable in this mode (which is a con).
• Made in Japan.
• Hanging hook allows more hanging options than most lights.  Can be hung on branches, doorways among other places.

 
Cons: 

• The silicone shade can come off easily particularly when turning the light off and can be somewhat a pain to put back on properly.
• One button for all settings is a pain.  I prefer simple on and off buttons, not ones that you need to tap, hold down, etc. to turn it off is a turn off for me.
• The bottom open face exposing the bulb means if I'm hanging it from my tent when laying in a tent and look up I'll be blinded by a light at 100 lumens.
• Candle mode maybe more gimmick than practical.

For me the jury is still out whether it's worth the price tag.

Uniflame Double Stain Mug

I managed to post from my last trip to Japan a few years ago the fly fishing items I bought on that trip but I did not write about some of the camping gear I bought then as well.  All items were bought in the Mont Bell store in Ebisu.

One of my favorites is from Uniflame and is a cup.  Yes a cup.  A tea cup to be exact.  This is a cool item that I've yet to see anything like it here in the States.  First off its made in Japan.  Its not some cheap ass made in China get you poisoned nonsense.  A real first world made item.  That in of itself is reason its cool but there is more.

The cup contains a built in strainer that allows you to steep tea in the cup so to save space.  The lid keeps your drink nice and hot.  The cup itself is made out of stainless steel as are the strainer and lid.  Construction seems very similar to Snow Peak mugs that are available here in the US ( I have a few).  

The cup in action steeping some High Mountain Tea from Taiwan.  Screw that Lipton crap.  I'm used to drinking out of my Snow Peak titanium mugs that when I held this mug I had forgotten how warm stainless mugs can get.  This is not necessarily bad especially on a cold night camping under the stars. 

Once steeped just remove the strainer.

The lid can be used to hold the strainer and prevent leaking liquids from dripping all over the place.  Because Taiwanese tea is so strong you can reuse the steeped tea leaves at least 2 more times if you are so inclined.  Although it may keep you up all night. 

It's a neat little package that I nearly forgot I had until the other day when I was looking for some gear.

Another item I bought was a signaling mirror from Mont Bell.  Its nothing special but I think its wise to have one in the field.

The other items I bought aren't really worthy of a post here.

Mont Bell Ebisu

Montbell is an outdoor company from Japan that is not well known here in the states. There are only a handful of outdoor types that I've ever met that have even heard of this brand. It is very popular in Japan, mainly because it is a domestic brand and therefore much cheaper than US or European brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Mountain Hardware, Aigle, etc. I really do like this brand as it is quality stuff although much of what they offer doesn't make it to these shores. One good plus is that some of their goods are still made in Japan. But like the aforementioned brands they are not immune from the perils of the free markets and as such much of their goods are made in China and other third world nations.

I found the Ebisu store, like most things I find in Japan, purely by accident. I was on the train coming home and the train stopped at the Ebisu station. I looked out the window and I saw a huge Montbell sign. It was night so the whole store was lit up. I saw all that merchandise and I quickly noted the stop so I could return another day. And so I did.

This store is nice and has two storeys. First floor is hats, trinkets, boots, backpacks and I believe women's wear. Upstairs is Men's, fishing, camping, tents, bicycling, and canoeing. I had no clue that Montbell made fishing appeal. They make waders, vests, and fanny packs. That stuff never makes it here. Snow Peak used to make fishing stuff as well ( they still might but I don't think so). I've seen in my old copies of Fly Fisher magazine Snow Peak ads for their traveling tying vise. I would have liked to see that.

I bought some beanies and neck gaiters (still made in Japan) for myself and one for my Dad. I also bought T-Shirts, an aluminium tea cup and strainer, and some other small trinkets.

Finding this place is easy. Get off the Ebisu station. It is right there. I believe it is the west ticket gate, if not then go to the other side. It won't be hard to find.

If you can read Japanese here is the store's site.

http://store.montbell.jp/search/shopinfo/?shop_no=679919