So what is on your 2011 Christmas wish list?

[JMat]

I'm getting Mark a case of White Zin for Christmas.

I can attest to the fact that Mark really loves his White Zin... In fact ... Last trip I was on with him he couldn't stop talking about it

[markskor]

I'm getting Mark a case of White Zin for Christmas.

I can attest to the fact that Mark really loves his White Zin... In fact ... Last trip I was on with him he couldn't stop talking about it

Just to tell the whole story here...
On our recent successful trips to the Lunker lake, my man Flip decided that he would surprise us (JMat and I) with some "real good" wine, something that he won in a recent past fishing tourney. (Flip likes to show off a bit). The great Oenophile that he is, he brought up a few choice bottles of some $#@&% White Zin, a perky little number that tasted like putrid testicle sweat off a dead cow. Pouring me a hearty glass, he asked me what I thought of his grand selection. (Just to be fair, Flip knows a lot more about fishing than he does about good wine...Thank God.)
I told him it was a "Girly" wine...and that full glass sat on the kitchen table until we departed...might still be there too if we did not have to go back for that forgotten Casserole dish.
Nobody in their right mind could drink that bilge...Flip drank it all though...I rest my case. Still a great fishing trip which I am most thankful for.

Merry Christmas to all.
Mark

[oldranger]

Markskor,

You wrote,

a perky little number that tasted like putrid testicle sweat off a dead cow.

I take it you were lost and desperate once?

Merry Christmas

[oldranger]

Russ,

balzaccom wrote:
Don't have much of a list this year---we have what we need.

Unless someone can send me some free time? I always appreciate THAT one!


why is it semi-retired types never have free time?

Remember that nature abhors a vacuum! So our schedule fills up!

Paul,

I'd even pay for a little extra time!

Merry Christmas!

Mike

[quentinc]

Although, I have been keeping my eye out for a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir All Season pad on sale.

Does the NeoAir come only in that appalling radioactive yellow? Since it's unlikely to help anyone get rescued or protect them from hunters, this is simply beyond my limited comprehension.
But I do need something to replace my most recent leaking Big Bad Agnes air mattress. I've already gone through 5 defective ones in 2 years. REI keeps replacing them for free, but that doesn't help much when one goes flat on you during a trip.

[oldranger]

Quentinc,

Are the valves going bad, the seams, or are you getting punctures?

Mike

[quentinc]

With the Big Agnes, it's almost always the valves. So there's no repair possible when you're stranded out in the backcountry with an Airless Core.

What I've been using lately is a state-of-the-art as of 15 years ago Therm-a-rest. It's comfortable, durable and easy to inflate, but it's really bulky and I'm sure it's heavier too.

[rlown]

Although, I have been keeping my eye out for a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir All Season pad on sale.

Does the NeoAir come only in that appalling radioactive yellow?

The good news is they changed the All Season pad color to a nice blue:

http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/ ... on/product" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[quentinc]

It looks green to me, but either way it's a vast improvement. I see this one is heavier than the yellow one. How do they compare? [Actually, now I see there was a thread from last year in the Outdoor Gear section, so I guess I should really be posting this there.]

[markskor]

RE. NeoAir/Thermarest options-
All with the shorty (47 inch) model for comparison –

New NeoAir Trekker (blue):
http://www.campmor.com/thermarest-neoai ... pla&ci_kw=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;{keyword}
Weight: 1 lb.
Thickness: 2.5 in.
R value: 2.0


ProLite (orange):
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/p ... 0000001_-1_" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Weight: 310 g / 11 oz.
Thickness: 2.5 cm. / 1 in.
R-value: 2.2

Women's ProLite Sleeping Pad
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/p ... 0000001_-1_" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Weight: 460 g / 1 lb
Thickness: 2.5 cm. / 1 in.
R-value: 2.8

NeoAir All season
http://www.rei.com/product/830684/therm ... eeping-pad" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
No shorty model – (shortest is 66 inches/20 inches)
Weight 18 oz - 20 inch wide - 19 oz for 25 inch wide
Thickness 2 ½ inches
R value 4.8

NeoAir X-lite
http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/ ... te/product" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Weight 8 oz
Thickness 2.5 inches
R-value 3.2

Thermarest Limon
http://www.backcountrygear.com/therm-a-rest-neoair.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Weight 9 oz
Thickness 2 ½ inches
R-value 2.5

Other than the thickness – 2 ½ inches vs. 1 inch, to me the Prolite wins but…what is 5 ounces?