Surviving Arctic Temps at the Mammoth Sniper Challenge - Gear Tasting 71
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2017
- On today’s episode, Bryan gives a recap of the recent Mammoth Sniper Challenge and how his gear performed. Due to the temperature dropping to a low of -2° during the event, the challenge became not only one of performance, but also survival in harsh conditions.
Bryan also provides some helpful lessons learned about prepping and maintaining gear during such low temperatures.
Check out Bryan's AAR from the Mammoth Sniper Challenge! → bit.ly/2iukjHU
Pick up your Official Gear Tasting Coffee Mug in the ITS Store! → bit.ly/1YgSRHP
If you’re enjoying Gear Tasting each week, please consider supporting ITS by joining our Crew Leader Membership and allow us to give you something back in return. → bit.ly/1KIbcXg
Resources
Best Weather Channel Ever - / dogsandwolves
Foxelli Hiking Poles - amzn.to/2gDysy9
Lowa Renegade II Boots - amzn.to/1PcWq0W
Superfeet Inserts - amzn.to/2iJSURM
NikWax - amzn.to/2iC9R03
ITS PCU System Article - bit.ly/2bUi4sd
OR Storm Beanie - bit.ly/2jbMdYV
Darn Tough Vermont Socks - amzn.to/2hSI7VH
Nalgene Insulator - amzn.to/2iLgASC
NEMO Salsa Sleeping Bag - amzn.to/2gQbN0J
Sea to Summit Aeroes Pillow - amzn.to/2hX9b2H
Bushnell Legend Tactical - amzn.to/2ih5kB4
Kestrel Elite Weather Meter - bit.ly/1ONGKlz
Sig Sauer Kilo2000 Rangefinder - amzn.to/2j677VG
MSR Windburner Stove - amzn.to/2gMTZVv
Leatherman Squirt - amzn.to/2iRkWrE
Howard Leight - amzn.to/2fJZ7w7
ITS Waterproof Matches - bit.ly/2jbvsxh
Short Action Precision Rear Bag - bit.ly/1ZOt8YU
To have your gear-related question answered on an upcoming episode, tweet us using the poundtag #GearTasting on Twitter.
--
In each episode of Gear Tasting, Imminent Threat Solutions Editor-in-Chief Bryan Black answers your gear-related questions and shares his insight into what we're currently evaluating at ITS HQ.
You sounded unsure if you would return next year> I personally enjoy following your preparations and recap. I know it is a lot of work for you, but it is appreciated and valuable to me. I'm rooting for your return!
In cold temperatures (
This episode was extra awesome. Big thanks for all the details.
The honor is not in winning, but in enduring and finishing.
Excellent information. Much appreciated
Quick tip for the cold boots, at the end of the day when your hitting the sleeping bag, clean your boots the best you can, throw them into a OR drysack and put them in the bottom of your sleeping bag by your feet, they will stay nice and toasty.
Good seeing the ITS crew at the match again. Thanks for all the AARs and gear reviews, they're very helpful in refining the kit for this match, and giving our friends and family a feel for the match.
WOW, years worth of real world lessons learned packed into 41 min. Thanks Bryan, this is pure gold.
Badass brother. Keep doing what you do!
In cold weather like that get yourself an MSRP whispelite universal and run white gas. You can keep the pressure up in the bottle in cold temps.They use em on Everest so I'm sure it'll due anywhere in the US.
I just sleep with my gas bottle to keep it warm or better yet use an alcohol stove.
The gloves thing totally makes sense- if there's no room for air inside the gloves, there's no medium for heat to reside. My system for super cold conditions is a pair of really heavy OR mittens, and a thin pair of liner gloves.
Good video. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Dude, one word for cold seat and adaptable material. "Reflectix". Make a sit pad, a meal cozy and wrap it around your water bottle with a hand warmer underneath.
A number of years ago my wife and I decided to do an over night camp in an alpine shelter. It was in November. But, the temperature unexpectedly dropped to 10 degrees. Trying to sleep in a open faced cabin with only a sleeping bag and winter clothes at that temperature is tough. Today, i always pack an extra layer and a heavy duty space blanket in the fall / winter even on day hikes.
I was stationed at Ft.Campbell, Ky in the infantry and the one thing I learned was if you are going to the field the weather turns to crap every time. Glad you did well.
Thanks for going over the clothing items, as I am in the market for some decent cold weather layering stuff myself.
Now that was some great INFO. Nice Job, Seriously!
I work in the elements. . learned a few things but I always get to be in a warm environment for at least 7 hours to 12 hours a day. that 7 hours makes it so much easier. . kudos sir .. thanks for the follow up. excellent points you made too..
nice work on 2nd straight finish. Sounds like you improved on what you wanted to from last year. The cold sounds like it made it ever more challenging than it already is.
Great video Bryan! glove wise try taking a look at the MacWet gloves, thin yet beautifully warm! ideal for feeling that trigger break, work well when sodden also. Keep videos coming!!
Yep, trekking poles are an essential item carried by every thru hiker. I'm actually surprised that the military doesn't use them regularly.
my pmag AICS mag were messing up as well. I had to pull the spring out and stretched it some. it solved my two pmag feeding issues. great review, once again.
In cold weather pack outs think of using the hot hands "body heaters" they work good in the foot box of the sleeping bag. also using a hand warmer under the fuel canister works good.
Good vid man. I wouldn't mind giving mammoth a try one year
Hey man, my wife's company made a prototype laser rangefinder that we gave to a team at mammoth. It never failed him, he said he had some delays but it never failed and always ranged good. If you are interested or want to know more get a hold of me and I'll see what I can do.
Breaking through iced over snow is probably what ate up your boots. You should try some Obernauf's LP. It holds up pretty well on my leather boots.
Im catching up on Gear Tasting and just watched the video; just like everyone else is saying don't apologize for the lengthy feedback. Enjoyed the information about the kit and your experience. Im not sure if anyone else has commented about the sleeping situation but Ill give it my two cents. Since you had issues sleeping in a small tent what about using a bivy bag and your sleeping bag on top of your mat. Then use a tarp or poncho as your shelter? Seems like it would be lighter than a tent. Since you didn't use the spotting scope you could throw a layer 7 in there and offset the weight with something that could help you stay warm. Just a grunt's perspective.
I use iso/butane canister stoves in Alaska. I've kept fuel bottles in sleeping bag, etc. in the past but have recently switched to using a titanium windscreen (from FourDogStoves) when using iso/butane type cooking stoves. Also use Reflectix (garage door insulating material) under the bottle also helps with insulation. This combination works well at 0 deg. Farenheit and probably colder. I wouldn't use a windscreen in above freezing temps as there could be an issue of warming the bottle up too much, but this configuration seems to work at colder temps. Hope this helps out.
When it's real cold you need to invert those isobutane canisters like the MSR windpro
Wow. I live 20 minutes from rockcastle in bowling green. I'm even a member there and didn't even know they had events quite like this. I heard about their sniper challenges but never knew they were this intense.
Grate video! I love it!
don't mind that the show drags out, as long as the content is interesting people will watch!
Just a couple of comments and thoughts about the choice of clothing, from my perspective.
I would have gone with something like the Aclima WoollNet. It looks funky fresh and it works. combine that with a medium thick wool upper like the Aclima 230G wool shirt and you have something that works when you are tracking in very cold weather. In the army we take off the wool upper and only use the WoolNet with the gore-tex uniform and it works great.
You mention that you would had preferred a level 7 layer, but it weights 2 lbs. check out the KUIU SUPER DOWN HOODED JACKET. It's water repellent down and i weighs 10 OZ. Also check out their sleeping bags! They are amazing!
When it's -2 F outside you have to work hard to get you're hands warm. I would recommend a pair of cotton outer mittens with a thick wool inner mitten. YES i know. Cotton is rotten, but when it's that cold the chance of the mittens getting wet is slim to none. And a thick wool inner mitten will keep you warm if the outer mitten gets wet.
The leather gloves isn't a problem if you use a thin wool liner. (Yes, I love wool when it's freezing)
Sleeping bag: KUIU sleeping bag!
The small plastic bag for your BOBO-kit. Where can I buy those?
Regards for Norway! (where the US army come to learn how to survive in the winter)
In the snow I clean off my boots and keep them in the bottom of my sleeping bag and two warm water bottles on each side of me to keep me warm and prevent the water from freezing
I use a thin fleece sleeping bag liner. I feel like it adds 10-15 degrees to my bag rating, and it's useful here in Texas because it can be used outside the bag on warmer nights. Probably heavy for that event though.
Any water bottle you put them upside down so the mouth doesnt freeze. MSR and Jetboil Isopro works better in colder weather than some other brands. You could do the same with those canisters such as putting them in a coat pocket to keep them warm. Also when you are using the stove in colder weather, you should put the stove on a foam mat or anything to keep them off the cold ground.
that inverted canteen trick is old school stuff they taught us at pickle meadows
Renaissance MarineTV pickle Meadows aka Bridgeport?
yessir. did both winter and summer courses...back last century.
Gas is an issue in the cold.....you need to get the "Winter Mix"!!! I tried it all I think, pack it up hold it warm, ... you will lose once you use it!
We use an 18hour hot hand and some rubber bands to keep the propane warm.
Great info for cold weather situations. Have you tried Kuiu products?
It was a combination of the can type, method of delivery, and the fuel. It's going to be a bit of a penalty but you should look into the MSR white gas using stoves like the Whisperlite. White gas operates at much lower temps than isobutane types in a can. Nice gear report, sounds like a good time at the event. Oh and one other thing, get a Kifaru ruck, you'll never look at that Alice with anything but disdain afterward. Duplex frame plus pack at around 5lbs with the capability of hauling up to 150 and more comfort than anything else made.
I believe guys who work in cold weather environments (ie arctic ops in Norway etc) use liquid fuel stoves such as colmans. they are heavy but as they warm their own fuel they work very well so one stove between two people could be an option. The other option is of course solid fuel although im not sure how well hexamine etc works in cold weather
How about adding a "over it all" type down jacket? Lighter than the PCU system and just as functional.
Stoves like the whisperlite are awesome in cold weather, just a little fyi
To keep your boots from freezing while you sleep; Put your boots in a bag and put the bag inside your sleeping bag down at your feet.
Glad you stayed with it. sometimes it's simply Mind Over Matter
alaskankare Life is mind over matter
MSR WHISPERLITE international! I have used it snowmobiling in -30. Almost universal fuel options, bomb proof, and fairly light.
good video
Welcome to a normal Illinois winter in Kentucky then add 30 to 40 mph wind
Don't apologize for the length, one of the best Gear Tasting's yet. Ton of good info, some like the stove and spork I had already zeroed in on, but others I have yet to solve. Do you think something like the ten speed chest rig or das ding would have worked under your shell for keeping battery powered gear and other sundries warm?
PCU base layers are cool item in general but I recently tried smartwool's mid and heavy weight base layers and I'm pretty sure I'll never go back to anything else. Sure $70-110~ for pants and near that for a shirt seems expensive at first but they just work so well. This winter I've barely turned the heat on in the car for my mornings, even the mid weight stuff is sufficient for most stuff above 0*F.
Hey Bryan. First off, I love the longer gear tastings! Second, please keep the precision rifle content coming! Last, I really enjoyed the Mammoth content. I am an LE sniper and have been talking to a fellow sniper buddy about doing Mammoth next year. Would you recommend 2 bolt 308s or 1 bolt gun and 1 gas gun .223 with 77gr match ammo? We have bolt .308 primaries and very accurate .223 gas guns as our secondary sniper rifles. Thanks again! Have a good one. -Nick
Cold weather survival is all about layers. Too few layers, you wake up shivering, get up move a bit, put on another layer. Too many layers, wake up with sweat freezing to your face, now you have a problem. Hopefully in that scenario, change out of your wet, sweaty base layer as sweating in negative temps can crash your core temps in a blink. Two below is tough guy weather, ten below is kill you cold, suicide weather. I am from VT, it gets down to the 20 below zero range in winter, which really puts the fear of God into you.
what kind of spotting scope were you using? Great video to add to the long range shooting line up.
Bryan, I know you were into gear at a very young age, mentioning things you bought when you were a kid on previous gear tastings. Could you provide some insight on EDC for high school to college age students? Maybe what you carried or even what you suggest in pockets, backpacks, ect.? Thanks! #geartasting
I don't know how much crap I've gotten from hiking buddies over the years for my ALICE pack. But here it is still going strong. I've modded it so its pretty comfortable. Also if something rips or fails I break out the sewing kit and booya back on the trail. One time was especially funny. A friend had just bought a brand new very pricey brand name pack and was ripping me for being "GI Joe thinks he's in Nam" at halfway during the trip had a zipper slider on the main compartment blew out completely with him having to dummy cord it together for the remainder the trip.
i think the gas can is the same as batteries when they are cold they dont work. For the can the gas inside i think contracts instead of expanding bcoz of the temperature. Same as spray can as well.
Its weird to hear the P-mags not doing well, I have 6 of the 10 rounder's and they get used in 3 different rifles with 98% success. I've found if you're using hand loads you need to be careful how long you seat your bullets since the internal length of the mags are shorter than the AICS mags. Also in my R700 the feed ramp was to blame for all my feed issues. I grinded it down a 10th of an inch and haven't ad a problem since.
hope that helps
how did you like the Bushnell tactical spotting scope throughout those adverse conditions? Im considering buying it and i respect your opinion. Thankyou
Question for you Bryan. any recommendations for belt when conceal carry?
Yup, Magpul pmags don't work with my rifle either.
I think it needs to sit up in the action more, if I press up on it they function a lot better.
I'll stick with AI mags.
Lol...sounded like that cartoon Rick & Morty...
ever try ergodyne gloves?
How much are the entry fee's? I cannot seem to find that info anywhere. Not even on Mammoths site.
Bryan, next time try www.carhartt.com/products/Extremes-Zip-To-Waist-Biberall-Arctic-Quilt-Lined-R33 a warm core and legs equal warm feet and arms, the legs and chest of these bibs can be unzipped for ventilation as you warm up. These are what I wore up there daily and never even needed insulated boots. I was outside in that area all winter for several years in those temperatures, a combination of climbing ladders and then sitting down for hours doing precision work. Also, don't sleep in your cloths, use them over your bag, perspiration laden cloths lead to extremely cold mornings. I've found that a cheap space blanket under your bag makes a huge difference. When you wake up, pull your cloths in your bag to warm them up before you put them on. Try the fitted plugs, they are worth the money. I forget that mine are in. That wet cold around Park City, Cave City and Glasgow can be brutal. I have a picture of a thermometer at -21 from there a few years ago.
Interesting that most of the people dissing you over the temperature are working outside, not living outside.
leighrate
It is amazing how totally different it is when you don't have a place to warm up. Even if it's just for a couple hours during the day or when you sleep, having an external heated area to chase the cold out of your bones vs. not is a world of difference.
Heated spikes on the poles wouldnt be hard to do at all!!
FRANKIEEEE
Do you know of any very similar events that you can compete in solo?
my google searches pulled up video game stuff
how'd the pillow work?
Pal,I don't want to sound as a duche,but here in the hungarian border,at -2° we wear only T shirts.Constant -20°,now that is cold
Keep in mind that -2° Fahrenheit is almost -19° Celsius.
Brother,now I feel like an idiot,I tottaly forgot thet they use Fahrenheit,I apologize.
No problem :). Fell for it myself too at first.
Vitalyos Elod do you also sweat profusely and then loiter around outside for the next 48 hours in your t-shirt? I doubt it. lol
I didn't say that we are sweating,sadly since the rapefuges come to the EU,we have to stay at the border,a LOT,but most of us are used to the cold,I just mentioned,-2° is kinda pleasent for me.
I have that Windstopper beanie. I actually dont like it because it DOESNT cover my ears. Need those ears covered when its -20 or colder.
👍
RO squads shooting for score. How is that fair? They aren't the same conditions and know the layout. Don't mind they play on course, but any match where "the judges" are allowed to complete invites fuckery and ill will amongst competitors. Dealt with this at a match. Needless to say, I won't take part in a match that's not 100% impartial.
The RO's that shoot this match shoot it exactly like the competitors. They walk in just as blind as the competitors during the match and are judged by the match director who doesn't cut them any slack. As far as conditions go the match is shot over a three day period. Conditions vary for everyone.
Bryan I'm a little hurt your favorite RO didn't get a shout out in the video.
Chris Beck. Nothing against you personally or Mammoth but unless I see it... I don't believe it. The whole point is judge everyone on a even playing field. If you don't think their is advantage shooting when nobody else competing is watching or when weather conditions are different... your crazy. Thank you for RO'ing a match. You guys make a match.
It is obvious that you have never been a RO or even helped in the setup for a match like this. These RO's are unpaid volunteers that are there only because of their love of the sport. They get there a couple of days before you do and the whole time they are shooting the stages they are tweaking them so your match will go better. Many times they don't all even get to finish all the stages, they regularly don't get time to eat lunch while you are shooting and have to deal with whining, bitching competitors for several days. Fair? no, the RO's get the shit end of the stick, they love it and most us us appreciate them greatly.
Dave W Uh huh.... sure. I have no clue. Thanks man for your assumptions.
Has anyone ever tried that Russian ballistic app that cost $20 dollars? They said it's so accurate and gives so much information that they made it illegal. I know it's banned in IOS, but it's still on android though
For extreme cold weather you need a multi fuel burner and use a high alcohol mix for fuel. Something like this www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/stoves/rapid-cooking/xgk-ex/product
You should have gotten the real dude to do the first. part! lol
Step 1: don't do an intro when on weed.
LOL, 70* now.
Those pants you like so much are $559. WTF?
Lol Frankie macdonald??
Does Mammoth have an 'Old Fat Man' division?
He mentioned the groups that don't ruck, whether riding with the ROs or in their own side-by-sides.
-2 F is cold? That's funny this morning in Alberta we woke up to -30 F
a couple weeks ago I was working outside at 15 below fahrenheit with a mean ass wind from the north, and we just dealt with it, him bitching about 2 below makes me laugh
did you sleep outside on the ground?
I literally cringed at the misuse of the term literally (my apologizes if the pants have actually been to Hell and are in fact bomb-proof.)