G7 POD looking for helpful hints

Wondering if anybody has used the G7 pod in real life on El Cap and wouldn't mind sharing some helpful hints, dos/don't dos for making life better and more comfortable on the big stone? I'm asking because it took me awhile to get the hang of portaledge life on a traditional ledge and figure things out. 

I own one and have used it on el cap. 

It works exactly the same as a rigid framed ledge in terms of portaledge life, you can flag it, you can use it at belays for a platform, etc.  

A few minor differences:

• It's significantly less wide (wall to air) than a regular rigid single ledge and less comfy in terms of the space you can move around with due to the straps creating a tighter space between the air side and the wall. 
• It's slightly less adjustable so be aware of whether your route is going to have a lot of corners and bulges and other non-traditional hangs. You'll use more slings and cord to make those hangs work, or else will need to set up your hang for the night above or below the actual belay for it to be comfortable.

A few tips for using the G7Pod:

• I replaced the carrying sack with a burlier wall bag so that I could haul it outside the bag (depends upon how big your haul bag is and how stuffed it'll be)
• To blow up the ledge, I got a Sea to Summit Jet Stream Pump Sack which is easier to use than the orig carrying sack for blowing up the ledge, now I'm using a tiny portable electric pump I found on Amazon which is only 110 grams and can blow up the ledge 3-4 times on a single charge and can be recharged via a charging block in like 10 minutes 
• When you're setting up your hang for the night, it's easy to extend the wall side or air side straps as a unit with a sling but since they're integrated, you can't easily adjust just the right or just the left straps. What can work if you need to shorten just one is to girth hitch a biner to one of the straps effectively shortening it. There really isn't a way to lengthen just the left or just the right strap. 
• If you're climbing with a partner that is using a normal rigid ledge, use that during the day and flag that ledge and pack up the G7 every morning as the rigid frame ledge is going to be easier to use for the various things that you deal with at the belays. 
• If you didn't get a fly with your G7, the Black Diamond Single Fly fits the G7

That is what I call first class beta! Well done, Kevin. 

I’ve used it in Zion and Red Rock a few times.

I’ve found that when leveling it, the 1st wall side strap should be short to the carabiner, the 2nd should be long, the third should be on a new carabiner attached to the first, and the 4th should be attached via quickdraw extension clipped to wherever is best, as the strap is not adjustable enough on its own. The bivy location’s walls camped on were at least 80 degrees steep. Perhaps up to 90.  So I would adjust accordingly for steeper terrain.

When against a wall, the inside person’s ledge goes concave slightly making for a less comfortable spot between the two. As cold air shrinks, or leaks out, blowing it up firmly with the lungs for the final 2-3 breaths helps to stiffen the ledge to alleviate the problem. This action must be performed 2-3 times through an 8-12 hr period to ensure maximum sleeping comfort.

Having the outside person on the ledge without the inside person can be unstable. Having the outside person lean onto the inside ledge while alone is best.

Girth hitching a sling to a corner of the ledge and attaching it adjustably to a different bolt helps with stability and leveling the height of the head to foot orientation. The fabric of the bed is a bit slippery and sliding up/down a bit through the night is not unlikely. 

Adding the fly increases feeling warmer by a solid 10 degrees or so. Condensation was minimal (desert environment). Bring a cloth or small sponge if desired. 

I suspect that the G7 may be best used as a single ledge for ease of use and comfort.

We have not attempted cooking on the ledge as that seems like a fairly terrifying prospect on account of instability and cramped nature of the straps.

I’m 6’2” 165lbs and it feels small to me especially as the wall side person of a double setup. With the fly on I touch both ends. It doesn’t bother me too much as the fabric is soft and light and I’ve slept like a log in a zero degree bag  experiencing one of the best sleeps in memory. It is comfortable, just not that big. 

Overall, I like the ledge and recommend it. But it has its limitations and I am considering a larger rigid ledge for multi night walls. 

Awesome, thanks for the beta. Super helpful!

I'm planning on using one for a team of three in conjunction with the a classic double portaledge

New Video from G7 on how to set up 2 of them.

https://vimeo.com/542802689

A bit of a bump, but I'm curious for a follow up --  Kevin, have you continued to use the electric pump?  I'm trying to decide between buying the Jet Stream, a different inflation sack, or an electric pump, and any further detail (or experience of others) would be appreciated!

Will Johnson wrote:

A bit of a bump, but I'm curious for a follow up --  Kevin, have you continued to use the electric pump?  I'm trying to decide between buying the Jet Stream, a different inflation sack, or an electric pump, and any further detail (or experience of others) would be appreciated!

Yup I still use the portable powered pump. Works great, recharges without pulling too much from my power block, and weighs almost nothing 

Fail Falling wrote:

Yup I still use the portable powered pump. Works great, recharges without pulling too much from my power block, and weighs almost nothing 

Sounds like a strap modification would be desirable….
independent adjustability…??

Skot Richards wrote:

Sounds like a strap modification would be desirable….
independent adjustability…??

Yeah, having independent adjustability on each of the straps would be preferable for actual real work use. 

Fail Falling wrote:

Yeah, having independent adjustability on each of the straps would be preferable for actual real work use. 

I Know a guy who could do that for you if you’d like.  

Skot Richards wrote:

I Know a guy who could do that for you if you’d like.  

I bet I might know him too

is anyone willing to rent out a G7 pod?

Fail Falling wrote:

A few tips for using the G7Pod:

• I replaced the carrying sack with a burlier wall bag so that I could haul it outside the bag (depends upon how big your haul bag is and how stuffed it'll be) 
• If you didn't get a fly with your G7, the Black Diamond Single Fly fits the G7

Great beta Kevin. Here’s some follow up questions:

I just used one for a week in the Black and loved it. I also found the included stuff sack wasn’t tough enough (even in the haul bag). What bag did you replace it with? Do you still recommend that bag in particular still?

How well does the BD single fly fit? Does it simple just work or does it work as good or better?

Thanks!

Dakota from North Dakota wrote:

Great beta Kevin. Here’s some follow up questions:

I just used one for a week in the Black and loved it. I also found the included stuff sack wasn’t tough enough (even in the haul bag). What bag did you replace it with? Do you still recommend that bag in particular still?

How well does the BD single fly fit? Does it simple just work or does it work as good or better?

Thanks!

I just use a Metolius wall bag (reinforced with some duct tape) usually if I'm not flagging it I clip it under the haulbag with an attached catch line so it doesn't get caught on anything as we haul. 

The simple fly is awkward because of how thin the foot side is so I've moved to using my expedition fly. It takes a bit of work and added biners/slings to make sure the pressure points against the wall match up with the wall side reinforcement on the fly.