after this weekends hiking trip way up high, im thinking of getting back into the tube on a more regular basis. the caddis tube i have now will most likely be handed down to the GF... heres my question, which im sure most of you get alot.... i have tubed and toon'd before, i have a vast amount of experience with both. im going to mainly use it for mountain lakes, with the occasional trip to bigger lakes, ie PV, willard MAYBE the gorge, and trips back out to CO...... give me your take, or better yet, what would you recommend? i dont care about price either.
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welcome to the "dark" side brother [
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Peter
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So by "mountain lakes" do you mean hiking in? If so I would go with the lightest and most packable. So I would say something like a Trinity
[url "http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/products/default.aspx?id=1"]http://www.outcastboats.com/...ts/default.aspx?id=1[/url]
I haven't used one but the 6 lb weight is a plus. Then too I would add backpacker fins.
[url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20431-cat20449_TGP&id=0036073318635a&navCount=1&podId=0036073&parentId=cat20449&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QL&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true"]http://www.cabelas.com/...01233&hasJS=true[/url]
And an inflatable vest. You don't want to swim in any high mountain lakes for more than a few minutes.
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[cool][#0000ff]The Trinity (Outcast) is a good recommendation. As you already know, ounces feel like pounds on the trail and you look for anything you can get rid of to lighten the load.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On the flip side the Trinity is large enough to handle a good sized tuber and plenty of gear...for lowland lakes.[/#0000ff]
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I am saying the ESCAPE. I don't know how far you hike, but I inflate mine, put it on my shoulders holding on to the foot bar and carry quite a distance.
You are military so use to that right?
It is rowable for the bigger waters. Very comfortable, and Bladderless so less effected by temp or altitude, plus can be inflated with more air (like 4 - 5lbs) and still be okay.
Totally inflateable with skid pads if you do have to drag it a ways.
A little bigger than the Trinity though and around 25lbs, but the Oars are great!
I would get a good pair of flippers also. Not so much for the mountains, but those BIG LAKE trips.
More versatile to me...more bang for the buck.
Now this giving the left overs to the GF...what the H&*$ is up with that?
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ill take a look at whats mentioned so far...as far as hiking i could really care less, i can hump just about anything up the mountain given enough time.
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Kochanut said, "as far as hiking i could really care less, i can hump just about anything up the mountain given enough time".
I so wish I was that young again!! Enjoy it now and take the time to do lots of activities.
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If you have no plans for the weekend, we are heading NORTH a little and I would be happy to throw the Escape in if you wanna try one.
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oh man!! if i wasent going to the bee's game i would be all over that like ugly on me!
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is 30's young?
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Thursday through Sunday[cool]
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To some of us, yes, 30's is young. I like to think I am just more experienced! Well, run over by a Mack truck maybe more like it! [shocked]
Now when I hike I am more with the ultralight crowd, who cut the handles off of their toothbrushes to save a tenth of an ounce. [blush] I am just happy to still get my carcass up the hill, much less a float tube of any size.
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would you suggest your force fins for this??? I would think they are a little lighter than regular fins ...especially for back packing...
MacFly [cool]
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i ahve force fins and i hate them, my 18 dollar sportsmans specials are the ticket for me..... im looking at that escape and liking it every time i take a gander. i see its on sale for 700 bucks.... its got my attention. if it were something i would do, i would have to ask TD for his magical PVC powers to help me or guide me in the right direction to make me the same set up orvis1 has on his tube.
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Ihave/used a 20.00 pair of fins from basspro and for me just starting out they are good for me...
I know Fg loves her force fins and thats why I questioned it... :-)
as for the escape... everytime it is talked about I get like Pavlovs dogs and start salivating.. LOL... and several much more experienced floaters than I highly recommend it...
MacFly [cool]
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The problem you will run into when PVC-ing the Tube is the fact it has oars.
The side bags are rod holders so, that covers two. If you want to pack 5 or 6 you are going to need some major PVC ing[laugh][laugh]
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The outlaw escape is a SWEET boat koke... That is what I am getting next year. I like the odc 420 light because it only weighs 6lbs o.k. maybe 7 with the tube dude pimping... If I am going in less than 2 miles I am sure I can rig up something for the outlook but longer than that I will take the creek company boat. See it is like crack you are addicted...
Edit... Duh...
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outlook express?????? What is that? Google only comes up with software.
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[quote orvis1]The outlook express is a SWEET boat koke... That is what I am getting next year. I like the odc 420 light because it only weighs 6lbs o.k. maybe 7 with the tube dude pimping... If I am going in less than 2 miles I am sure I can rig up something for the outlook but longer than that I will take the creek company boat. See it is like crack you are addicted...[/quote]
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So is Microsoft selling the Outlook Express online or can you get it at Staples or Best Buy?[/#0000ff][#0000bf]
My understanding is if you have XP or 7 it comes with it.
Speaking of crack addiction![/#0000bf][
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