Gear Inventory

All content copyright © 2010-2024 Frank Revelo, www.frankrevelo.com, United States copyright office registration number TX-7931345

Possible for some items below to become obsolete with time. Paper currency and coins will be replaced by electronic payment eventually, but coin purse will continue to be useful for holding keys made of metal or hard plastic, to prevent loss and abrasion to pants pocket fabric, and I don't expect such keys to become entirely obsolete in my lifetime, at least not in the low-cost hotels I tend to patronize.

Most home-sewn items use pure nylon or pure polyester fabric, for which there have been only incremental and increasingly slow improvements over past 60 years, which suggests physical limits are being approached. One possible area for improvement is more consistent thickness of high-loft continuous fiber polyester insulation, but that is a manufacturing and quality control issue, rather than innovation in underlying fabric, plus improvement would be small since thickness is only somewhat inconsistent currently. Another possible area for improvement is waterproofing of poncho fabric. (Silicone coated nylon for tarp probably approaching physical limits, and waterproofing of bugbivy bottom and carrying system items not important.)

Leather in boots capable of being improved upon by synthetic fabrics. However, past experience shows that footwear designers often lack common sense to use synthetic fabrics properly. Gore-tex lined summer boots a fine example of misuse of synthetic fabric. Well-designed and properly fitting boots partly made of inferior material like leather much better in practice than boots made of best imaginable materials but with stupid design and/or poor fit. Also, I don't hike much in wet conditions and replace boots annually, so defects of leather (absorbs water, cracks eventually) don't affect me much. Main risk with boots in storage is that Vibram rubber sole will harden and crack with age.

No point stocking up on electronics and other items where there is constant innovation, nor items that will always be widely available, like common toiletries.

Only bicycle gear included is bladders and bottles.

Carrying System, Miscellaneous

Backpack
New as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 1 lightly used of older design straps; 1 new of older design straps; 1 heavily used of older design; 1 pair completed cordura shoulder straps of old design; 1 pair cut foam for shoulder pads. Plenty of fabric and shoulder pad foam in stock. Sew more spares.
Neckpurse
Lifetime about 4-5 years. New as of Nov 2023. RenoStg: 1 new with strap, 6 new without strap. Probable lifetime supply. Make more taslan strap tunnels.
Drysack
Good condition as of Nov 2021. RenoStg: 1 used, 4 new. Fabric no longer sold, but substitute fabrics widely available. Adequate spares for now.
Silpoly packliner
1 new as of Feb 2024. Fabric same as for poncho. Sew more spares.
Silnylon food sacks
2 used as of Feb 2024. Sew more spares.
Silnylon stuff sacks
Okay condition as of Nov 2023. RenoStg: medium: 6+ new, 2 used; small: 3 new, 1 used. Adequate spares for now.
Supplex pillow stuff sack
New as of Nov 2021. RenoStg: 2 new. Replace every 3 years, because subject to abrasion while sleeping (replace with medium silnylon sack, if necessary). Sew more spares.
Cordura case for sharp tools
New as of Nov 2021. RenoStg: 4 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Cordura case for garden shears
New as of Feb 2024. tbc.
Cordura case for mirror
Good condition as of Nov 2021. RenoStg: 5 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Lightweight cordura case for p-51 can opener
Good condition as of Nov 2021. RenoStg: 5 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Inclined rowing handle, rope, tunnel
Rope/tunnel new as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 5 handles, 1 rope. Handles made from old hiking sticks, tunnel made from easily procured cordura, rope easily procured. Probably lifetime supply.

Shelter, sleep system

Tarp
New as of Nov 2017. RenoStg: 1 current design with guylines, 4 current design without guylines; 1 heavily used current design with polecups and guylines; 1 moderately used 2008 design (rear roof panels 4" wider per side, hence wider footprint), with polecups and guylines; 2 front pole cups; 1 rear pole cup. Probable lifetime supply. Sew more polecups.
Stakes and stake sacks
Stakes good condition, pull cords new as of Feb 2023 (8 nail stakes plus cordura sack, 6 sand stakes plus cordura sack). RenoStg: 17 nail stakes; 16 sand stakes; 3 new and 1 used silnylon nail stake sacks; 1 new and 1 used silnylon sand stake sack; plenty of orange 3mm pull cord. Probable lifetime supply.
Rear pole
New as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 3 lightweight plastic poles, 1 heavyweight plastic pole, 3 x 5/8" rubber tips. Pole cut from bicycle touring pole, so as these wear out, create new rear tarp poles. Probable lifetime supply.
Bugbivy
New as of Nov 2017. RenoStg: 2 new with stuff sacks and cords installed, 7 new without cords and stuff sacks. Probable lifetime supply. Zigzag seams and rethink cord attachment of bugbivies in storage.
Sleep pad
New as of Nov 2017. RenoStg: uncut foam for 12. Probable lifetime supply.
Winter quilt (used for bicycle touring)
New as of Nov 2017. Can use 3-season quilt as substitute. Probable lifetime supply.
3-Season quilt
New as of Feb 2017. RenoStg: 4 new. Probable lifetime supply.

Home-sewn clothes with high rate wear and tear

Poncho
New sage as of Feb 2019. RenoStg: 2 new olive, 1 new sage (incorrectly sewn with hood wrong side out). 9+ yards olive fabric. Sew more spares.
Insulated pullover
New as of Feb 2023. RenoStg: 2 new; 1 old design, used Feb 2019-Feb 2023; 1 jacket with supplex outer shell and separating zipper, used Feb 2017-Feb 2019; 10 yards insulation. Order more shell fabric, Sew more spares.
Shirt
Primary new as of Nov 2023, spare new as of Feb 2023. RenoStg: 32 new, 4 heavily used, 24 zippers, 20 yards supplex. Probable lifetime supply. As shirts removed from storage, reinforce bottom hem, armpit seams, buttons with Jardine thread.
Long Pants
Primary new as of Nov 2023, spare new as of Nov 2023. RenoStg: 6 new; 4 partly sewn; good supply of thread, webbing, elastic, ladder locks. Sew more spares.
Short Pants
Primary new as of Nov 2023, RenoStg: 2 new. Probable lifetime supply.

Home-sewn clothes with slow rate wear and tear

Headnet
Good condition as of Feb 2020. RenoStg: 5 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Orange hat cover
Good condition as of Feb 2020. RenoStg: 3 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Insulated hat
Primaloft good condition as Nov 2023. RenoStg: 4 new Thinsulite (3 inner quilting only, 1 inner/outer quilting), 1 new Primaloft; enough shell fabric and Thinsulite insulation to make several more. Probable lifetime supply.
Sleep hat
New as of Nov 2022. RenoStg: 8 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Mittens
New as of Nov 2021. RenoStg: 11 new pairs, 1 used pair in winter coat pockets. Probable lifetime supply.

Clothes from commercial vendors

Can go out of production or design might change. Even if commercially available in future, need spares in storage for out-of-stock situations.

Wide-brim hat (Sunday Afternoon Charter hat, size L khaki color)
Lifetime 3 years before headband tears, remainder of hat lasts longer, especially if plastic ring removed from crown pocket as this tends to wear through fabric. New as of Nov 2023, RenoStg: 12 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Nylon crew socks
Lifetime about 3 months hiking. New as of Sep 2023, 1 new spares. RenoStg: 100+ new pairs. Probable lifetime supply.
Boots
Lifetime about 2000km hiking. New as of Feb 2024. RenoStg: 27 new pairs 10W purchased 2009, 1 new pair 10XW purchased 2009, 4 used pairs 10W. Probable lifetime supply.
Coin purse
Good condition as of Feb 2020. RenoStg: 8 new, 1 used. Probable lifetime supply.
Hanging wallet
Primary and spare both in good condition as of Feb 2020. RenoStg: 4 new. Adequate spares for now.
Dance flats
Excellent condition as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 1 new. KyivStg: 2 new. Adequate spares for now.
Nylon over-calf socks
New as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 20+ new pairs. KyivStg: 1 excellent condition. Probable lifetime supply.
Dress shirt
Easily replaced with substitutes. KyivStg: 1 excellent condition. Probable lifetime supply.

Consumable gear from commercial vendors

Can go out of production or design might change. Even if commercially available in future, need spares in storage for out-of-stock situations.

Hiking stick (REI PowerLock)
New of Feb 2023. RenoStg: 5 new. Adequate spares for now.
Bicycle touring stick (Mountainsmith with wooden knob)
Good condition as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 6 new (1 with wooden knob, 1 with cork knob from old REI Powerlock). No need for more spares since no longer bicycle touring.
Opsaks
3 good condition as of Feb 2024. RenoStg: 12.5x20" double zip: 2 new green; 9x10" single zip: 5 new. Adequate spares for now.
Aloksaks
All in good condition as of Feb 2024. RenoStg: 12x12" single zip: 4 new; 6x9" single zip: 4 new, 3 used; 4x6" double zip: 7 new, 1 used. Adequate spares for now.
Plastic bottles and jars
Replace every few years, since plastic starts cracking with age. Replaced as of Nov 2019 or Feb 2020. 125ml bottles (shampoo, 2 x repair kit, revivex), 30ml bottles (revivex, foot powder), 30ml jar (toothpaste), orange bottle (matches), red jar (vaseline). RenoStg: 36 x 125ml, 10 x 30ml bottles. Adequate spares for now.
Plastic bicycle bottles
2 x 600ml bottles, new as of Feb 2024. 125ml bottles okay as of Feb 2024: 2 x bicycle chain cleaner, 1 x chlorine-dioxide tablets, 1 spare. RenoStg: 4 x 600ml. No need for more spares since no longer bicycle touring.
Water bladders (MSR Dromedary 6L)
1 new, 2 excellent condition, 1 good condition, 1 new older version as spare, as of Feb 2024. No need for more spares since no longer bicycle touring.
Flat universal sink stopper (from Walmart)
New as of Feb 2023. RenoStg: 4 new. Rubber hardens over time, due to oxidation. Can never find flat stoppers in Europe. Adequate spares for now.
Field repair tube seamgrip (poncho, drysacks, etc)
Unused as of Feb 2023. RenoStg: 10 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Field repair tube silnet (tarp)
Unused as of Feb 2023. RenoStg: 1 new. No longer sold, need substitute!
Small roll duct tape
New as of Nov 2019. RenoStg: 2 new rolls. Adequate spares for now.
Revivex
30ml + 125ml in packing list, okay as of Feb 2024. RenoStg: 1 unopened 8oz bottle, half full 10oz bottle. Adequate supply for now.

Durable gear from commercial vendors

Acrylic mirror and case
Good condition as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 6 new. Probable lifetime supply.
P-51 can opener and case
Good condition as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 4 new. Probable lifetime supply.
Scissors
Dull but usable as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 3 new. No longer sold, but substitutes available. Probable lifetime supply.
Swiss army knife
Good condition as of Feb 2022. Easy to replace. Probable lifetime supply.
Spoon
Good condition as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 1 used. Substitutes available. Probable lifetime supply.
Cup
Good condition as of Feb 2022. RenoStg: 1 used. Substitutes available. Probable lifetime supply.
Garden shears
New as of Feb 2024. Substitutes widely available.

Sewing notions, roll goods, hardware