Gear butchering… a sickness

[Wyobohunter]

My wife, friends and relatives have accused me of being a sadist. I don’t think that counts when I’m only damaging inanimate objects. I’m hoping to find some likeminded gear butchers so I don’t feel so alone.

Today I took and older Nikon tripod and chopped off the lower 3rd leg section and glued on a some caps to seal the holes. Then I chopped down the extendable neck from 8” to 4”. After that the little leg braces were removed and replaced with some small diameter paracord. Next I pulled off the pan head and marked how much of it I really need to support my little 15-30x50 spotter; then went at it with the hacksaw. After that I still had some bloodlust so I went after the pan handle with the same saw. I completely removed all but a nub which I heated and bent for twisting leverage. Lastly I smoothed all of this butchery with a file. I now have a backcountry tripod suited for using while seated that weighs 17 ounces (was 25 oz). My total spotter/tripod weight is 2 lbs 6 oz.

I’ve never owned a pack I haven’t taken scissors to. There’s always so much superfluous garbage isn’t there? When I called Horn Hunter to inform them that they had at least two lbs of trash on their pack they informed me that I am silly. Plebeians! Maybe when I upgrade to an EXO this year I won’t feel the urge… maybe…

Who else has this mania?

 

[kad11]

You're not alone...

 

[Geewhiz]

Welcome to Rokslide!

 

[as.ks.ak]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Broomd]

You're not alone...

Yep, light is right....

 

[Wyobohunter]

Thanks fellas. Been lurking for a while.

 

[Lelder]

Welcome, you have found your people lol

 

[Randle]

My motto is "It aint mine til its modified"
Making it how you want it is half the fun , welcome

 

[Maverick1]

My wife, friends and relatives have accused me of being a sadist. I don’t think that counts when I’m only damaging inanimate objects. I’m hoping to find some likeminded gear butchers so I don’t feel so alone.

Today I took and older Nikon tripod and chopped off the lower 3rd leg section and glued on a some caps to seal the holes. Then I chopped down the extendable neck from 8” to 4”. After that the little leg braces were removed and replaced with some small diameter paracord. Next I pulled off the pan head and marked how much of it I really need to support my little 15-30x50 spotter; then went at it with the hacksaw. After that I still had some bloodlust so I went after the pan handle with the same saw. I completely removed all but a nub which I heated and bent for twisting leverage. Lastly I smoothed all of this butchery with a file. I now have a backcountry tripod suited for using while seated that weighs 17 ounces (was 25 oz). My total spotter/tripod weight is 2 lbs 6 oz.

I’ve never owned a pack I haven’t taken scissors to. There’s always so much superfluous garbage isn’t there? When I called Horn Hunter to inform them that they had at least two lbs of trash on their pack they informed me that I am silly. Plebeians! Maybe when I upgrade to an EXO this year I won’t feel the urge… maybe…

Who else has this mania?

Denial is the first stage. Good to see you are past that stage.

I see you have three posts on this forum. You have found your people. Welcome home.

 

[DawnPatrol]

Welcome, and thank god it ain’t just me!

This season I made my own pack and got a FHF bino harness. They both worked fine, but there was some surplus. Here’s what I cut off them:



Probably a pound or more in total; more when soaking wet as it often is here in the Beaver state. Silly perhaps, but some folks pay a lot of money to shave ounces, and I’m not tough enough anymore to carry pointless weight around.

 

[Wyobohunter]

That carnage looks familiar
Now I almost wish I’d saved all of the extra trash I’ve removed from gear over the years. I wonder how much it would add up to?

 

[Exploriment]

I'm not sure if I've ever bought anything I didn't modify.

Only problem with modifying gear is that eventually it leads to making gear.

 

[Superprime]

You are definitely not alone, my wife rolls her eyes whenever the mania starts.

 

[sargent]

I now have a backcountry tripod suited for using while seated that weighs 17 ounces (was 25 oz).

Do you have any pictures of that project? I think I have the same tripod.

 

[Trial153]

I took an arrow saw to a 200 quiver as soon as I took it out of the package this past week. I commiserate with your sickness

 

[Drenalin]

Most of my gear mods center on tripods and tents (part of why I switched to a tarp). But I'm considering something a little more reckless - have any of you nuts ever cut the length down on an XTherm pad and ironed it back together? And was it a successful project?

 

[Wyobohunter]

Do you have any pictures of that project? I think I have the same tripod.

I’ll take some after work

 

[Wyobohunter]

I don’t have any “before” pictures.

 

[Highhuntin]

I don’t have any “before” pictures.

You even shaved down the knobs lol

 

[Wyobohunter]

I was hoping for 16 ounces or less. 17 ounces was as close as I could get without losing function.