Gaskets May Save Ancient Fuel Bottles

Sun., May 31, 1998

Q. I have a couple of Sigg fuel bottles (purchased in early 1970s). Where can I obtain replacement gaskets for the tops? I enjoyed your comments about Svea 123 stoves. I have one that I’ve used since 1971. On a recent AT trip in the Smokies, I found it to be a wonderful conversation piece (that is, after it was turned off, so I could hear the comments!!).

Greg Martin

Gear Guy: Greg, you are a true cheapskate! Rather than spend a few bucks for new fuel bottles, you are evidently DETERMINED to keep your ancient Sigg bottles alive! I’d check with a warehouse-type hardware store first; just take the bottle in and try gaskets until you find one. The repair shop at a local REI store may be able to help you out as well.

And the next time I happen to be walking through the Smokies and hear the dull roar of a 123 stove, I’ll know who’s there.

Q. I’m looking for a very lightweight 2-3 man tent for mountain sheep hunting in Alaska. Many tents are not long enough for me. I am 6‘4”. I often encounter cold, wet weather. I have used the Sierra Clip 3 with favorable results. Is there anything lighter?

Clint Adler

Gear Guy: I assume you mean the Sierra Designs Clip 3, a fairly new design that is an enlarged version of SD’s venerable and still highly functional Clip Flashlight.

The Clip 3 is about as light a three-person tent for the money ($239; 5 lbs. 2 ounces) as you’re going to find, Clint; most tents on the market these days are free-standing models that require more poles than the Clip 3 does. And those long metal tubes, aluminum or not, add weight. Not even single-wall tents in that size really beat the Clip 3. You might, however, look into a Stephenson-Warmlite tent. These are made by a small New Hampshire-based company and use a tunnel-type design that’s very light and strong. The three-person 3R, for instance, weighs in at an incredibly svelte 3 lb. 13 ounces. Of course, you pay for that savings. The 3R goes for $595. You also may pay a price in durability; Stephenson uses extremely lightweight fabrics and fittings such as zippers, and questions have been raised about long-term toughness. But those who use Stephenson tents swear by them, and they are wind-tested to well over 100 miles per hour.

Stephenson-Warmlite can be reached by writing them at 22 Hook Road, Gilford, NH, 03246. They do mail-order sales only.

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