Hiking/Camping Equipment

Macdaddy4738

Macdaddy4738

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
So im wanting to pick up some camping stuff...

Problem is, I cant buy it all at one time, I have to buy in installments. I just cant figure out which way to buy everything in terms of importance. I have already picked out what I want, but cant figure out how to buy it.

I need:

Backpack
Sleeping bag that compresses (mine doesnt get any smaller than about a foot across stuffed)
Smaller tent (probably a 2 person, I currently have a 4/5 person tent, and the thing is too big to take into the woods too far)

Any help? Thanks!
 
All depends on what weather you are talking about. Now until late fall, If you are talking about extended hiking/camping I would go with the pack first. Providing you already have a pair of good boots. A large piece of plastic will suffice for shelter. I like the newer Military Sleeping bags, they have 3 layers that can be used or not used. They cinch up pretty tight. As far as a tent, you can spend anywhere from $20 to??? There are some great stuff out there. My preference for hiking is a small 2 person and a quality rain fly. Over sized is great and doesn't add a lot of weight.
As far as packs go, I always preferred the full pack with plenty of compartments. You don't have to fill them, but come in handy when taking on some longer trails and extended trips like the A.T.
 
MAKE SURE and have some good boots and always carry a foot kit just in case. I usually prefer a three person tent, which can easily fit in the right sized pack with all your gear. Compression sack is pretty much a must for fitting everything INSIDE your pack, nothing outside. MSR stoves are my personal favorite for cooking; very small and packable and easier to diagnose and fix than a Lego car. Therma-Rest pads are the best, I would recommend getting the biggest fattest one you can. Try to carry two different sized pots plus something to bake in.

Those are really the essentials that I would not leave with out
 
1. Backpack
2. Sleeping bag
3. Tent(you don't actually need one:D)

If you're wanting to get the lightweight/backpacker type stuff keep an eye out online or wait until the fall to purchase. Places like Dicks sporting goods cut their prices in more than half in the off season. I think it would suck to pay $270 for a
2pr and then see it for $100 2-3mos later.
 
Check out all the normal companies. Deals can be had at REI, Campmor and Sportsman's Guide. Some of the best, lightest and packable gear comes from Kifaru. Their bags and shelters are very hard to beat. http://www.kifaru.net/ The man runs Kifaru is the same man that started the Mountainsmith company.

<><Fish
 
You really trying to do some backpacking or just mostly car/truck camping?

If staying near the car then these suggestions so far are cool. If you want to cover some ground I'd spend a little extra money when you can and go 'ultralight'. I'm currently trying to swap out alot of my older gear for ultralight stuff.

Websites that come to mind (I'll throw up some more as I think of 'em) to take a look at:
www.go-lite.com
www.gossamergear.com
www.backpackinglight.com
EDIT: not backpackinglight... www.practicalbackpacking.com

I have Gossamer Gear's "The One" tent and it's...well...kick ass so far..
I'm waiting for Go-Lite to get their 20degree 'quilt' back in stock then I'll be snagging it...

Little more expesnsive to save a lbs. here and there but, in my opinion, worth it for a much more enjoyable hike. And you'll be stopped taking naps while you wait on your buddies with 45lbs of gear on their backs.

Hiking boots...meh...for anything other than deep snow I'd go for a good pair of trail runner shoes...I think you can get nice, shiney New Balances for about 40 bucks. That is unless you have noodle ankles and need the support. They're not water proof but they'll dry out overnight if you open them up...

Cheap cook/eatware...google 'Heineken keg pot' (good excuse to drink a couple 24's)...and 'alcohol stove' (particularly 'candle tea light stove')...that's pretty much free (if you like Heineken) stove and pot to eat/drink of...I have both...

Get some tablets to clean the water from Wal-Mart...it might taste a little funny but you won't care after a while...

Anything that mentions 'military spec' or something along those lines usually means 'heavy'.

Trekking poles...people will make fun of you and you look like and old man or something...but you'll be smoking their asses and lauging at them when they slip in the creek you just vaulted across...

Oh yeah...For Sale...
Kelty mummy bag. Last trip I was on it was 30 and I was toasty. - $50
Kelty 'Dune' internal frame pack - looks nice and new $70.00
 
Tell us what kind of hiking/camping you are planning on doing. I assume backpacking, since you mention needing a pack. 100 miles on the AT, or 1 mile at UNF? Less weight costs way more, but is worth it on longer/higher/faster hikes. I got to where I was weekending on about 22# on the AT, if I really pushed it...more like 28-30# without leaving out a few nice things.

Check out Feathered Friends www.featheredfriends.com I have a couple of their down bags that I've had for about 15 years now...they got some pretty light stuff, and they still do custom fills/mods/colors/fabrics/etc, whatever you want.

Forget the thermarest, too heavy for what comfort there is...just go with closed cell foam and save a pound. Plus you can throw it out on the rocks for a nap at a lunch break w/o worry about puncturing it.

Ditto on the trekking poles...with my knees in the shape they are in, they make hiking still doable -- I couldn't hike at all without them now.

Get what you can afford now, upgrade later, as you find out what you really need. (There are "visa-hikers", just like there are "visa-jeepers". Before you buy stuff, find out if you really need it or not.)

Oh yeah, you REALLY need this: http://www.udap.com/bearshock.htm
 
kaiser715 said:
Oh yeah, you REALLY need this: http://www.udap.com/bearshock.htm
Click to expand...



I cant tell if there is sarcasm in this post or not?

I hope youre not serious, but when in the woods there is no replacement for properly cooking, storing, eating, and disposing of food, and even other smellable items that people dont think of(toothpaste is a big one). Anything else to keep bears away is just a band-aid.

With that said, the 4 times I've seen a bear in the wild in the lower 48, and countless times in alaska, i just cant get over how cool it is. Probably one of my favorite animals.
 
Backpacking mostly. Ive only been a few times, one was down in Linville Gorge, and we went way off the trail to get to a good spot. Hauling all that crap was definitely an experience I never want to do again.

I have a good pair of boots I just got yesterday. Leather uppers, EVA mid, good soles. They are Timberlands, but they are really pretty nice.

I also forgot to mention I have a military issue intermediate cold weather bag, down to around 20 degrees or something? Thing is it doesnt sinch at all, which I never really understood.

I have a list of stuff I want to pick up at REI in Greensboro, I just have to have the money before I go, because I dont want to go twice. I have this stove on the list http://www.rei.com/product/660163 Seems is a nice one.

I pretty much decided on on this http://www.rei.com/product/765140 pack...pending on how well it fits with I get to REI..

Thanks for the help
 
awspence said:
I cant tell if there is sarcasm in this post or not?
Click to expand...

Yep, pretty heavy sarcasm....there MIGHT be a use for that somewhere, but definately not around here (or probably anywhere in the lower 48).... I really doubt it would work anyways against a thick-haired and thick-skinned grizz anyhow. Prolly just pizz him off.

I just think it's funny, and I wonder how long it'll be before I see one on the AT. Probably by folks sitting there with there REI backpacker's cappachino maker.
 
Do you have a specific trip planned?

Re: sleeping bags, several years ago I got this cool summer bag... It's the standard rectangle deal, but one side is a sheet instead of a stuffed bag. That cuts the typical weight and space nearly in half. I pack with that + a thin flannel sheet; between that and a therma rest, it's plenty. If it's chilly, flip it over w/ sheet beneeth you and it's good. Obviously insuficient for fall/winter, but you already have a bag for that...

If it will be awhile before you can afford all this stuff, then I'd get a cheapie temp tent just for this summer. You can get some suprising deals at Wal-MArt. Won't last long or take super-high winds, but just for this summer that dosn't matter. Then in Sept, go and buy a real tent. Yes it's wasteful, but will get the job done for you, and you an CRaigsList the cheapie later for some cash back.
 
watch the sale boards on online forums like whiteblaze.net A couple of months ago, a couple or three thousand folks started out on thru-hikes from Springer...only 15% or so make it to Maine. Lots of the dropouts have already given up and headed on to other things. Point is, many of them will unload their stuff, cheap.
 
theclymb.com is a good discount site for outdoor goods as well as steepandcheap.com

They both post up goods and run them for a certain amount of time at a heavily discounted price!

OSprey and Gregory both make a really comfortable pack
 
Back
Top