Packable Scope Advice Requested

Twelve years ago, before I was involved in

Astronomy, I gave my son an eight-inch

Dobsonian. My ex-wife immediately put it in

the basement and there it stayed. On a recent

visit at the age of 26, he returned the scope and

asked to trade it for something more portable.

By this he means backpackable in Hawaii, where

he lives. I suggested binoculars, but he wants

a scope.



Orion would have me buy the GoScope, but I can

find no reviews on it. Anyone know about it? (Yes

it's only 70 mm. OTOH he's got some great skies on

some islands. M81 is borderline naked eye.)



Also, is a light photographic tripod really

adequate with an ST-80? I have a fine-adjustment

mount I can give him. Such a setup would be

barely small enough.



Any other suggestions that don't involve

Apochromatic optics?



Thanks and Regards,

-Larry Curcio