I need some lighter stuff. Suggestions appreciated as well.

Coleman stove is too heavy, looking for a liquid fueled burner.

I need a decent sleeping bag that rolls up real small.

I also need some type of pad that I can stick under the sleeping bag

Or I need a hammock set up but I don't know the first thing about them, staying warm in fall.

I guess that is a good starting point

On the stove: Have you ever looked into the type of stove that screws on top of a can of Coleman gas? Super reliable and affordable (under 30), and if you're going solo you don't need to bring a ton of gas. Century makes one or at least they did, that's what I have.

The Thermarests roll up pretty small, you can go over to your local Cabelas and take a look.

I had one of the Coleman canister stoves Saganaga Joe is talking about, which I used for many years before replacing it with a JetBoil. I paid $20 (several years ago) for it and took many trips. Not the most stable thing to cook on, but doable if you're careful. Works well for just heating water. A canister would last me 5 +/- days boiling water.

Alcohol stoves and twig burners can work well for boiling water when there's not a fire ban, but are a little more work.

If you're going to cook a lot, you may want one of the larger, more stable liquid fuel stoves like a Wind Pro.

A hammock and gear is often ideal for solo tripping, but does require several pieces of gear. You can learn a lot in the special interest group hanging and on other forums. Here is a link to a fall trip hanging question. fall hanging gear

Unfortunately I have nothing on the for sale list, just yet.

I'll second the alcohol stove. I have a Fancy Feast stove. Love it for boiling water while solo. It weighs almost nothing.

quote DuluthPak: "I'll second the alcohol stove. I have a Fancy Feast stove. Love it for boiling water while solo. It weighs almost nothing.


"

i own 2, love it!

Nice, will look at the alcohol stoves. Sounds like a single tank should last just fine for my short trips that I'm stuck with. Looks like I'll be doing some research into hammocks. Something about having some space between me and the outdoors brings comfort to being in the woods.

Without having any experience with alcohol burners I will say that I'd definitely recommend cooking with Coleman gas after having a HORRIBLE experience with white gas. Can't imagine alcohol burners would be any stronger than gas, but I could be wrong. Feel free to chime in if I am.

As far as the sleeping bag/pad - what temps will you be sleeping in? They need to be suitable for the coldest temps you may encounter. Compression stuff sacks help reduce the bulk of bags - I keep mine in a waterproof one for extra insurance.

Hmm as far as Temps for a sleeping bag winter is right around the corner and I plan on winter camping as well as labor day and hopefully one more small trip sometime right before ice.

I've got a #2 original duluth pack in great shape I'd sell you for $100 shipped (half price). Great size for solo. I never go solo and thus no longer have much use. Post here if you want it. Not sure how private messages are accessed

quote searching4slabs: "Hmm as far as Temps for a sleeping bag winter is right around the corner and I plan on winter camping as well as labor day and hopefully one more small trip sometime right before ice. "

Hmm, well if you want a sleeping bag that rolls up real small for summer through shoulder season solo trips and a full-on winter bag, you're talking two different animals.

Ah, the fun begins. :)

Really, though, it's all about your budget. Lighter gear tends to cost more, but it doesn't necessarily have to, at least in some instances. I split my trips between backpacking and canoeing, so I've learned--sometimes the hard way--where weight savings make a lot of sense...and maybe when they don't.

In terms of food prep, it depends on what kinds of food you want to make. Fancy cooking = more weight in the cook set. If all you want to do is boil some water, soften up some noodles, or make edible some instant rice, my three choices are 1) a canister stove like the MSR Pocket Rocket, 2) a wood stove like the LittleBug or the BushBuddy, or 3) an alcohol stove made from a beer can/cat food can, etc. All have their advantages and disadvantages, but they're all light, easy, safe, and efficient. Depending on the trip, I'll bring one (sometimes two) of these. Just my .02.

Grouse guy, thanks for the offer but for now I'm going to pass. Boonies, you're correct on the different sleeping bags, was really stretching hope some I'll have to buy a bag for one last trip before snow. Sounds good carmine, not really into fancy cooking in the bwca, more or less in survival mode haha. Thanks again for your advice.

Saganaga Joe, what happened to cause a horrible experience with white gas cookers? Went against your advice and got one I was told it's better for cold weather. Since i plan on winter camping, what do I need? Different sleeping bag of course, cross country skis,...

I use white gas and it is good for the cold - however they are easy to overfuel and can lead to flare ups - don't know Joe's experience but I've seen some flare ups that were concerns - really it is about knowing your stove and being attentive in my experience

I was thinking about your sleeping bag needs, the military has an all season sleeping bag system. It's a summer bag, fall bag with a gore-tex outer shell, for a winter bag you button the two bags together and slip over the gore-tex shell. With the gore-tex shell you can even skip the tent or hammock to make up for space or weight if you want. You can get one for much less than the expensive bags, it does weigh more but It works for me in a scrunch sack.

For your water boiling/cooking needs check out a Storm Kettle, I have never used one but they look awesome and you don't need to cary fuel (they heat with dried pine cones and needles). I have a Jet Boil and an MSR Wisperlite that work awesome but the Kettle is on my list when I find a great deal. Skip the Alcohol burner, it will be useless in wind or when it gets a little cold, just my thoughts.

My sleeping pad is now a Sea to Summit but I started off with a no-name huge rolled up pad from Academy that took up half my pack.

I roll with a Cabalas Boundary, its 5000 sqin and has plenty of space, isn't to heavy, water proof and feels good on your back for the portages. It is a rubbery material so if you have other bags to put inside make sure they are not made of the same material or it will be tougher to pack tight.

When It comes to buying food for your trip I think easy and cheap. Breakfast is 2 packets or instant oatmeal, lunch is beef jerky and trail mix dinner is Mack and Cheese with tuna. I pour the noodles and cheese packet into sandwich baggies to save weight and space. I bring a little container of olive oil for the fats and buy the little packets of flavored tuna. Coffee is a must for me if you have a jetfoil it comes with a coffee press or go instant, its easy and light. Sometimes for the heck of it I throw in some PB&J's for a little extra just in case. Don't forget your bear line to hang your food bag at night, 550 cord attached to a carabinieri is all you need.

As far as your other needs I would suggest making a list of your needs and wants, they have something very similar on this website. Then go through the online forums or any other used or new online realtor for great deals. Buy what you need when the deal arrives not when you need, its winter so you have some time, keep an eye out.

I know this is a little more than you were asking but just throwing it out their, if you have any questions just ask or PM me.

Happy Canoeing

quote SaganagaJoe: "Without having any experience with alcohol burners I will say that I'd definitely recommend cooking with Coleman gas after having a HORRIBLE experience with white gas. Can't imagine alcohol burners would be any stronger than gas, but I could be wrong. Feel free to chime in if I am. "

I bought a Whisperlite stove thinking it would save me a little space and that the gas would last longer than my Coleman single burner propane stove... Boy was I wrong. I'm with you Joe. That Coleman stove and a single green propane cylinder can go a long way. Boils water so much faster as well.

Whisperlite 600 International
or,
Simmerlite.

$30 each (burner only), you will need a new pump and fuel bottle.

butthead

PS: Propane will supply about 20% more btu output per ounce over isobutane mix or Coleman fuel, but at a weight penalty for the non-reusable empties. Either burner shown will biol 32 ounces of water in less than 4 minutes. bh

The white gas stoves were just fussy, you had to pump them, sometimes one wouldn't start, etc. etc. Now we were inexperienced campers and didn't really know what we were doing, also it was summertime as opposed to wintertime.

Might be different if we knew what we were doing and if it was winter.

I just know that them little green cans work great and I'm never looking back. Just my .02.