tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post3371649446914731743..comments2010-03-28T23:03:37.124+01:00Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-23852593768376310832010-03-28T23:03:37.118+01:002010-03-28T23:03:37.118+01:00Thanks Heather. Hope you found it useful. One footnote; last years KAEM was much cooler than ever before so a warmer sleeping bag than mine would probably have been needed. It was unusually cool though, and may well be normal tempes again this year. I&#39;m sure Nadia will give you a weather update the week before, so you are well prepared. Enjoy your first multi stage race, but beware, they are addictive!<br /><br />RichRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-27678686778218891282010-03-28T19:45:53.288+01:002010-03-28T19:45:53.288+01:00Thanks! I am finding all this info very helpful. I&#39;ll be doing a mulitiday staged race for the first time this year @ KAEM...really excited about it!!Heatherhttp://braidsandlaceshawaii.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-69759069176973905572009-02-20T00:10:00.000Z2009-02-20T00:10:00.000ZRich, Thanks again!Bryon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145211090529511625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-68542182546271899752009-02-19T18:01:00.000Z2009-02-19T18:01:00.000ZByron, I had precisely that problem with eh Minim 300 bag that I took to the MDS last year. It is a 650g bag, that is rated to 0C. It was much too warm for the Sahara. I bought the minim ultra as it's temperate rating is more suited to desert. I can't say for certain that it still won't be too warm on your legs, but it stands a much better chance. I would have taken it last year If I would have owned it at that point. You could specify the zip, but you are adding a couple of hundred g I guess. One night in the Saraha with the 0C bag, I actually got out of it, wrapped it around my upper half and left my legs to air and slept like that.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-30781780341169592992009-02-19T16:09:00.000Z2009-02-19T16:09:00.000ZRich,<BR/>A teammate and I are about to order the Minim Ultra. My teammate ran MdS back in 2000 and is worried about not being able to vent his feet and legs. Did you find you ever got too hot in the Minim?Bryon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145211090529511625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-15251464306336464772009-02-17T16:21:00.001Z2009-02-17T16:21:00.001ZThanks for the info and quick response, Rich. I might just go ahead and pick one up. Goodness knows I've purchased plenty of other items with lesser weight-saved/cost ratios!<BR/><BR/>I look forward to reading up on your 2008 MdS. I love learning as much as I can about the race before hitting the sand.Bryon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145211090529511625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-36366585911632464952009-02-17T16:21:00.000Z2009-02-17T16:21:00.000ZThanks for the info and quick response, Rich. I might just go ahead and pick one up. Goodness knows I've purchased plenty of other items with lesser weight-saved/cost ratios!<BR/><BR/>I look forward to reading up on your 2008 MdS. I love learning as much as I can about the race before hitting the sand.Bryon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145211090529511625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-69873978143471188292009-02-17T16:04:00.000Z2009-02-17T16:04:00.000ZHi Byron<BR/><BR/>I did go with the zipperless design. 300g is a great weight saving, and it also packs down a great deal smaller than my heavier 650g PHD bag. The nights in the MDS 2008 were surprisingly warm and the Minim Utra would have been perfect. Assuming it is the same temperature this year, then I would recommend it for sure. My advice would be to pack both bags and try the lightest one out for warmth the night before the admin day in the desert. Assuming it is warm enough, pack your heavier sleeping bag in your suitcase before the admin checks. This sia useful tip for all of your kit really. Take a few kit options and make a decision on the admin day.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-83872848099343581982009-02-17T15:54:00.000Z2009-02-17T15:54:00.000ZRich,<BR/>Thanks for posting about the PHP Minim. Did you go with the zipperless design? If so, how did you like it? I'm running MdS '09 and have a pair of satisfactory bags, but if I could save nearly 300g of weight, it would be fantastic!Bryon Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145211090529511625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-44754984829349696342009-01-06T16:12:00.000Z2009-01-06T16:12:00.000ZGreat review Rich. I'm planning on using the underarmour heat gear tights in the MDS. Glad to hear they worked do well for you.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Jamsie.Jamsiehttp://www.hotrunning.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-57485749834093375612008-10-29T10:22:00.000Z2008-10-29T10:22:00.000ZWilliam<BR/><BR/>You might get away with the MT800's, but it's a bit of a gamble. It just depends on how many hard rocky plains you have to cross. Last year it was a lot, and I was thankful for plenty of cushioning on the NB1100MDS. However, I do prefer the fit of the MT800 overall. I've had almost no foot problems whilst using them. On the MDS last year, road shoes would have been ok. Although the plains were stony, you are generally running in the tracks of a 4x4 which has swept the path clear with tyre-tracks, so I don't think stone-bruising would have been an ssue. They do change the course every year, so you never know. I can only say that pure low-riding trail shoes with little cushioning really are not suitable. People that used them really suffered.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-73967031767658568072008-10-28T23:17:00.000Z2008-10-28T23:17:00.000ZGreat review Rich.<BR/>I've been stressing about my new PHD minimus bag, so happy to hear you liked it.<BR/><BR/>I love the NB800s - shoe of choice currently - but I think you're probably right that they are undercushioned for races like MdS. I'll possibly end up with something in the 900 series.<BR/><BR/>Very well done on finishing a famously difficult race.<BR/><BR/>WilliamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-31380083030161960432008-10-28T18:52:00.000Z2008-10-28T18:52:00.000ZHi, yes I have seen that before, but I bag up each full days rations seperately, the electrolytes go in the tiny bags too. I just get them out at the beginning of the day and put them in my front pouch, read for use at each checkpoint.<BR/><BR/>I would have to take multiple of those devices to last a whole week long event as I doubt one would last a week? They also weight much more than the small plastic bags. Always a danger of losing it too, and you lose all your ration for the day/week and not just one refill. Also I don't want to be watching how much I've tipped in, on that measuing gauge, I just want to tip in an premeausured amount quickly and go. Thanks for pointing it out, but I think I'll stick to seperate bags. It's no hassle using them at all, takes seconds.Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-66938532835827885762008-10-28T18:24:00.000Z2008-10-28T18:24:00.000ZI found a new device called 'AquaJoe' to be a great help. It's a sports drink powder holder/dispenser for athletes. Much easier to use than plastic baggies. It weighs about an ounce.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com