Snow Peak Titanium Plate

Snow Peak always shows great attention to build quality and weight. While Snow Peak charges a high price for their wares I usually do not regret buying high quality items. The titanium plate I purchased over a year ago might be the only Snow Peak purchase I regret. Snow Peak delivered on quality and ultralight weight. The price is not even as bad as usual. My issue with this plate is where it fits in on my gear list. If I am going strict ultralight I am just eating out of my pot. If I need to serve more people than myself one person can eat out the pot and one from the lid. If I really need to have a separate serving dish I bring a bowl which is more versatile. In my past year of ownership I have used the titanium plate infrequently.

This plate cleans easy, is great to look at, and is very light (2oz). Be sure to have a thick layer of material between the plate and your lap because heat goes right through.

For those of you that must have a plate for the backcountry this is your go to product. In my humble opinion a bowl is more practical. Snow Peak does offer a titianum bowl which is lighter. I cannot however recommend it without trying it myself.

Performance: 8.5
Quality: 9
Weight: 9
Price: 6
Tilt: 5

Total: 7.5

REI $15.95, 2oz.

ExOfficio Boxer Briefs

Today I would like to share with you my thoughts on a life changing pair of boxer/briefs. I know you must think I am mad but I cannot be anymore sincere. To properly explain my aforementioned bold statement I must get a little personal. I am about 5'7" and weigh 230 pounds. While I am strong and some of my weight is muscle, I have quite a bit of fat as well. As a heavy person I used to be the victim of inner thigh chaffing. What made things worse was my propensity to sweat without cause. When combining skin to skin contact and moisture, pain and suffering will ensue. While I always enjoyed backpacking, hours and hours of hiking would cause so much pain my trip would be close to ruined. My 12 hour shifts at the hospital would be spent in agony.

Enter the ExOfficio boxer/briefs...my life has been changed. These boxer/briefs have eliminated all skin to skin contact and moisture. Not only has my backpacking trips become endlessly more enjoyable but my daily life has vastly improved as well.

I have owned this product for about 6 months. Right away most people will be turned off by the price at $25 a pair...but worth every penny. Now that the only downside is out of the way lets get to the good stuff. ExOfficio has really made a durable product. I Have been rotating 3 pairs daily for 6 months. They get washed between each use so each pair has seen the washing machine, dryer, and actual use very heavily. I have seen no break down of the elastic. None of the fabric has been ripped or worn. The little logo has faded overtime but this has no effect on performance.
The comfort level is nothing short of sublime. The boxer/briefs feel like a second skin but are designed to give my boys plenty of room. These are more comfortable than any cotton boxers I have worn. During running, hiking, and working I have not had to re-adjust these.
No matter how much you sweat these boxer/briefs will wick all moisture away. The 94% nylon/6% spandex mix allow for quick drying and will not retain odors.

I have categorized this product as ultralight. The reason for this is not because they are that much lighter than cotton boxers (they are about an ounce less). The other reason they are ultralight is I only need one pair in addition to the one I start with, no matter if the trip is two days or two weeks. Wearing a pair all day then washing before bed ensures I always have a clean pair.

I give this product my highest recommendation. Spending $25 dollars now will provide daily comfort for many years to come.

Performance: 9.5
Quality: 9.5
Weight: 8
Price: 4
Tilt:10

Total: 8.2

REI $25, 2.875 oz.

Snow Peak Titanium Mug

I had a hard time figuring out what labels to give this little guy. Some people would agree that a mug is a luxury item in the backcountry, while others would say it is required. Enter the Snow Peak doubled walled mug and you have a strong case for adding a hot beverage holder to your gear list.

Right out of the box you will be pleased with the aesthetics of this mug. It is stunning. The second thing you will notice is how light it is. The third thing you will notice is no lid is provided. I must strongly criticize Snow Peak for omitting a lid. When spending over forty bucks on a cup one would expect all the bells and whistles. A carry sack is provided at least. Total weight is 4.2oz. This Snow Peak holds 15.9 fluid ounces and has fold out handles. I have owned this product for about 8 months.

When I am cooking a meal I always boil extra water for my after dinner drink (usually tea or hot chocolate). Before adding my meal to the water I dump some into the Snow Peak. After cooking and eating my drink is still extremely hot and waiting for me. I understand that I could just use a weightless Styrofoam cup, but there is something special about drinking out of this titanium chalice. I will not try and defend this purchase against the ultralight crowd. They are right, why do you really need a mug on the trail? Bring a Styrofoam cup if you must have a hot beverage. Although I have been going light/ultralight the past few months I still pack the Snow Peak doubled walled mug...we all have our guilty pleasures.

Pros: Ultralight titanium, gorgeous
Cons: Very expensive, does not come with a lid

Performance: 9.0
Quality: 9.0
Weight: 9.0
Price: 4.0
Tilt: 9.0

Total: 8.0

REI $42.50, 4.2oz (with stuff sack)

Titanium Backpacking Pot

Lets face it,trail mix is good, but in the back country nothing soothes the soul like a good hot meal. Hot meals can vary from simple precooked "just add boiling water" meals to elegant 5 star dining. Regardless of your level of culinary fortitude you will need a vessel to cook in.

Several options are available on the market. Pots are made of aluminum, stainless steal, cast iron, and titanium. Each offers different advantages and disadvantages.

Aluminum is inexpensive and light but cannot handle intense heat.

Stainless steel is a worthy choice. It is inexpensive and conducts heat well. It is however a tad on the heavy side.

Cast iron conducts heat like no other material can however unless you have a pack animal with you (say an elephant) you just cannot carry it.

This brings us to titanium. Titanium is strong, durable, conducts heat well, and is extremely light weight. The only downside to titanium is on the fiscal side.

The only cookware in my load out is a 1.3 liter titanium pot from REI. This pot weighs in at 6 ounces. 1.3 liters is more than enough for one person but usually I am cooking for two or more. This pot features hinged handles for easy storage. A very tight fitting lid is also provided. Having a lid is important for getting heat built up quickly. This pot feels very solid and has seen much abuse over the past year I have owned it. Some other nice features include a pour spout and 500ml and 1000ml markings inside the pot.

This pot is non stick which has some pros and cons. An advantage is clean up is very simple. Non stick is also great for cooking items like pancakes or eggs. A disadvantage is non stick can wear over time and metal utensils should not come in contact with the non stick surface. From personal experience I can honestly say I eat right out of the pot using a titanium fork. I have not significantly scratched the non stick coating. With just a small amount of care and attention one can eat right out of the pot using metal flatware.

Overall I love this pot and am very happy I purchased it.

Performance : 8.9
Weight :8
Quality:8
Price:7
Tilt:9

Total score: 8.18

REI $59.50, 1.3 Liters, 6oz