New gear for Sarek

I am preparing a trip to Sarek, a week in mid September. Sarek is probably the jewel in the crown of Swedish National Parks and September is a terrific month for hiking in that area. Few people, few mosquitos, clear and cold mornings with the peaks dusted in silver. Of course it can also be rain and sleet and ice cold creeks to ford. 
For this trip I will be using some new gear that I would like to introduce.

By Jörgen Johansson

 The Power Pot charges your electical appliances (strange word for the outdoors, but undoubtedly here to stay) in the bush. The main advantage compared to similar products is, in my opinion, that you can use it on any heat source. It is simply a pot with an extra thick (and heavy) bottom.

Pot and cord weigh 420 grams (I will not be using the 105 gram lid/cup but will use a piece of foil as lid.
The first test in my kitchen indicates that the Power Pot does not differ much from solar chargers. That is, they charge, but boy, does it take time...

My conclusion so far is that it is probably not feasible to use fuel that you carry, at least not for longer trips (which is when I feel the need for this way of re-charging). But if you can have the pot over a fire/slow coals for a whole evening you will at probably have something that can bring your smartphone, camera or GPS back from the brink.

I have also invested in a new pack, a Hyperlite Mountain Gear biggie, Porter Pack 4400 which gives me some 70 litres of volume. This is way more than I need for my week in Sarek. But for packrafting trips and longer expeditions with the necessity to carry food for several weeks it should be an excellent companion. This is why I want to see how well it works. It is also amazingly compressible down to some 30-40 litres, making it a very versatile pack (but with a weigh penalty unnecessary for most trips if you travel light).

I will add some extra pouches on the outside, since I prefer to carry my tent and rain gear there. More on that later. The size Large that fits my torso weighs 1050 grams, but it can reputedly carry 25 kilos without suffering internal breakdown and total loss of load transfer capability.

The third piece of gear in for a serious test in Sarek is the Mountain Laurel Trailstar. It weighs 570 grams. I am currently working on a solo innertent made of Cuben and netting that will probably turn the scales at 220 grams or so. So far I have only spent a couple of nights in the Trailstar, but it gives every impression of being an extremely sturdy lightweight shelter with lots and lots of room. In fact I think it is quite handy that I, thanks to switching between a solo and double innertent, can use it for both one and two people.