I have a NEMO Losi 2 person tent and love it. Very well made stuff, Ive never read a negative review about the company. Very spacious footprints with pretty tall ceilings and putting mine together takes no time.

12/13/2011 12:37:59 PM

Yeah saw that one too:

http://www.rei.com/product/797213/nemo-espri-2p-tent

http://www.rei.com/product/797210/nemo-losi-2p-tent

Espri's just a little lighter.

Anyone have the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2?

http://www.rei.com/product/764119/big-agnes-copper-spur-ul2-tent

[Edited on December 13, 2011 at 1:19 PM. Reason : s]

12/13/2011 1:07:17 PM

i ended up getting this Remington headlamp for xmas. it's exactly what i was looking for. probably not the best choice for general camping/hiking, but it's perfect for hunting.



http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/remington-extreme-track-led-headlamp.aspx?a=686900

1/2/2012 11:39:07 AM

Patagonia has a new selection of stuff in their sale section. All the stuff I saw was 50% off and none of the sizes had sold out.

1/5/2012 9:35:06 AM

Thank you thank you thank you! I've been waiting for another 50% off sale. Granted, not everything was in the colors that I would have preferred but now I will have a nice selection of Cap 1-4 gear to figure out what works in each temperature range.

I am looking for fleece pullover recommendations. Do they make ones that are ultralight yet insulate well?

1/5/2012 3:33:43 PM

I dont have a fleece pullover, but I got their (Patagonia's) Nano puff pullover the last big sale (only paid $60). Its awesome, very light, does a good job blocking out the wind, etc. Id look into it if your not dead set on fleece.

Got mine is bright ass "plantain" yellow, that way if I get lost in the woods I can tell my friends to just look for a 6 foot tall banana wandering around.

1/5/2012 3:50:44 PM

Haha. No, I'm not set on fleece. That's just a good language reference. I'll be on the lookout for that one sale. Thank you again! You literally saved me $200.

1/5/2012 4:06:43 PM

Anyone done Mt. Hood? Looking into that for August/September:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/september_around_mount_hood.html

1/6/2012 1:40:45 PM

Are silk base layer clothing really worth it? I am FREEZING even in summer at night (anything under 50 and my 20+ down sleeping bag and 3 layers of clothes do boo-diddly). I was thinking some better base layers.

I also sweat immediately upon any physical exertion. Is there something out there that is a good balance?

Suggestions?

1/10/2012 9:25:38 AM

I'm very partial to Smart Wool. Their products are warm and lightweight, and it wicks moisture while inhibiting odor.

But I would say the problem really sounds like you have a crappy sleeping bag. Obviously the ratings are subjective from person to person, but a 20 degree-rated bag shouldn't leaving you shivering at 40 if you're wearing 3 layers of clothes. Putting more clothes on probably isn't going to help.

1/10/2012 9:42:49 AM

Have you tried the Capilene gear? If you can catch them on sale you can try out the 1-4 for about $100 and see what works in what temperatures.

Last week when we got down to 19 I slept outside in my gear to simulate what I might encounter on the AT. Here's what I used and I was actually warm still:
Hat: http://www.rei.com/product/823878/mountain-hardwear-dome-perignon-hat
Face Mask: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/pid1223223-001
Shirt: http://www.rei.com/product/801813/patagonia-capilene-3-zip-t-shirt-mens
Boxers: http://www.rei.com/product/684397/exofficio-give-n-go-boxers-mens
Pants: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/pid1000525-001
Socks: http://www.rei.com/product/604587/smartwool-hiking-socks

Most importantly, Sleeping Bag: Ooops, apparently it doesn't exist anymore. It's the REI +10 degree 800fill down. It ended up being the women's long size because the person there said it actually has more insulation and it fit just fine.
Sleeping pad: Similar to this one - http://www.rei.com/product/810372/therm-a-rest-trail-pro-sleeping-pad

My goal is to get a night into the low teens and try that out as well. I still have my gloves, down sweater and soon Capilene 4 shirt to use if needed.

1/10/2012 10:05:04 AM

whiskey flask helps with the cold too!

1/10/2012 10:11:28 AM

the baselayers from first ascent breathe insanely well. i'll never buy anything different.

1/10/2012 10:28:05 AM

It's the REI Halo, and it's comfy as hell. I have a Big Agnes inflated (like 2 inch thick) mat...I just run cold. I'm freezing in tshirt and jeans at 70 anyway, lol.

OK, good suggestions. I guess this birthday gift money is going to good use!

1/10/2012 5:18:02 PM

fwiw, the capilene tops never fit me well. they're too short. i'm 5'5" so it's not like i'm tall or anything.

1/10/2012 5:21:17 PM

First Ascent FTW. The midweight baselayers are as light as their older lightweight baselayers and lighter than most midweight baselayers from other companies. They're warm, wick better than anything else I have, and they fit perfectly.

1/11/2012 11:37:21 AM

I'm going to post this here, even though it's kind of "off-topic" (but I don't want to make a whole thread over this ordeal).

Is it possible to kayak down to Wilmington (from Lake Jordan, most likely) via the Cape Fear River, camping along the way. Is there any unforeseen factor(s) that would put a halt to a plan like this?

1/16/2012 11:23:26 PM

^ http://www.brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=441051

1/16/2012 11:59:28 PM

idk if any of you have heard of this site before, but my brother's best friend just sent me an invitation the other day. http://www.theclymb.com. apparently they have really good deals for like 3 days on certain products. right now it's kelty, mountainsmith, native, slumberjack, & canari stuff. i've not ordered from them yet but if i had caught those kelty backpack kid carriers before they sold out i would have. if you're interested, sent me a pm & i can send you an invite.

1/19/2012 10:39:31 AM

Sierra Trading post has a ton of crap on sale right now, and if you enter this code: EB011712BZ ,
when youre checking out, it takes 35% off your entire purchase, even if it was on sale/clearance before hand. Got myself some pretty nice gloves for 26 bucks after all the discounts. Retailed for 75. Added some knive sharpening stones just because I didnt want to miss out on the discount .

I found the code on slickdeals.com

[Edited on January 19, 2012 at 3:35 PM. Reason : :]

1/19/2012 3:34:34 PM

I am about 10 years removed from camping and since then my old stomping ground has been closed and overgrown. I am looking for somewhere to take my 6 1/2 year old in the next couple weeks with this mild weather we are having. I would like to keep it within an hour or so of Raleigh (my old camp site was on Kerr lake). I would like somewhere with at least a hiking trail to do during the day, I am guessing I won't be able to rent a canoe or anything this time of the year.

What can y'all recommend?

Thanks.

1/24/2012 4:24:24 PM

How about Ravens Rock in Lillington http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/raro/main.php

1/24/2012 4:35:33 PM

I've stayed at the Shinleaf campground at Falls a few times when I wanted an easy getaway. There are some really nice campsites there, and it's obviously a more developed site if that's what you're looking for. There is some hiking in the area, haven't really investigated it too much though.

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/fala/pics/shinleaf.pdf

I've hiked some nice trails at the Eno, but never camped there: http://www.enoriver.org/eno/Activities/camping.htm

Haven't been to Raven Rock in forever aside from a quick hike down to the river, but I remember really enjoying it as a kid.

Uwharrie isn't too far either, the least developed of all these with a more backcountry experience than the others

1/24/2012 4:47:02 PM

the only thing that about Raven Rock is that the camp sites are pretty far away from parking (i think) its been forever since i have camped there but love the park overall

1/24/2012 4:56:01 PM

I'm thinking about asking the parentals for some water filtration since my pump lost suction like a year ago. I've taken it apart but still can't get it to work like I want.

Pumps are great but I'm sorta leaning toward a UV pen right now. Thoughts?

[Edited on January 24, 2012 at 5:57 PM. Reason : its for my birthday coming up]

1/24/2012 5:56:54 PM

Purification/filters are bulky and are typically only beneficial against things like sediment in water. (vs. other purification methods that do the same thing, minus sediment)

If you need purification, go the cost efficient tablet route. One steripen is the cost equivalent of 175 water purification tablets = 175 liters of water. Considering the average person at MOST would require 4 liters of water per day, that's the equivalent of 44 days on the trail. That's A LOT! It also relies on batteries -- not that it's a downside, but there's something to be said for a quasi-10 essential item that doesn't rely on batteries. Only downside to tabs is the 15-minute wait. But typically this is a non-issue

http://www.rei.com/product/695229/katadyn-micropur-purification-tablets-package-of-30

[Edited on January 24, 2012 at 6:58 PM. Reason : .]

1/24/2012 6:54:09 PM

I like the look of Raven's Rock but I might want to wait until a second or third camping trip to go there since the parking is so far away from the camp sites. 1.7 miles would suck in the middle of the night if the little guy got freaked out (not that I am anticipating him having any problems but the middle of the woods is way different than the back yard.)

Falls lake has one campground that is open this time of year, I am not really excited about how it looks but it might be OK for the first trip.

1/25/2012 8:58:15 AM

^^not entirely true. Many filters on the market remove bacteria, cysts, other microbes in addition to just sediment...

1/25/2012 9:59:43 AM

^ i think that was his point...they (usually) do the same things with the exception of sediment

1/25/2012 10:26:45 AM

^this

1/25/2012 11:03:13 AM

if money is the issue, just buy a gallon of an iodophor (betadine) for $15 and it will last you forever

seriously, though, it only takes 4-6 drops per liter of water...it's only mildly effective against protozoa (namely giardia and cryptosporidium), just like chlorine...though the tabs in Prospero's link are chlorine dioxide and should do the trick if you don't mind waiting 4 hours

i don't own a water filter, myself...i GENERALLY plan my treks so that i camp near sources (or sources aren't far away) and i can use iodophor or boil my water...this is simply because i'm cheap and have plenty of iodophor because i use it to sanitize brewing equipment

personally, were i to get a commercialized purifier, i'd go with a UV one or the tablets in the link above

1/25/2012 1:08:24 PM

I've been using tablets since my pump broke, almost two years, so I get most of the pros and cons between those two.

I'm sorta tired of dealing with a pump. Thats what I used when first going backpacking and the group I camped with was actually way too worried about bad water. Sometimes using a pump and chlorine drops, being super anal about keeping the clean end of the filter from touching ANYTHING, hunching over the stream for what felt like forever, pretty high weight and relatively high cost. I'm pretty over it.

Tabs were great, and I will probably still use them when trying to keep weight down or on shorter trips., and always as a backup. That being said I've definitely been in the grey area of starting to feel bad (dehydrate) but only had water that had been treated for about an hour, probably clean, but what if . . . . . . . (like I said I was raised backpack paranoid). Interestingly, I've also had friends refuse to drink chlorine tablet treated water and burnt through half a canister of backpacking stove fuel boiling water ( )

The UV system seems to allow you to drink immediately, without the hassle of stooping over a stream for 15 mins, and wouldn't affect taste. The drawbacks being some increase in weight, dealing with batteries, and to some degree the cost, all of these I think are manageable. I think there is also the added benefit of using it while traveling overseas, I've found that waiting a few hours for water is harder while traveling than backpacking. A coworker has one and loves it, although has had a few malfunctions - a light on it is supposed to turn green when the water is good but couldn't get it to light up, he drank it anyway and it was fine.


I just need to convince my parents and sister to go in on one for my birthday!!!

1/25/2012 7:31:19 PM

looks like we're doing 20 miles next weekend on the AT/mcafee knob trail

1/26/2012 10:32:40 AM

^^^ I have a pump (ceramic) and a steripen.

I liked how light the Steri-Pen was in comparison to my pump. Being ceramic the pump is also a tad more fragile.

HOWEVER...I found with places that don't have good flow or a deep water, getting your freaking bottle to fill up generally results in a lot of extra shit floating around...you can filter with a bandana etc, but that's just an extra step in my mind.

I use my pump and have backup tablets. Pump will certainly give me clean water with shallow water sources or if the water is a little bit full of dirt.

1/30/2012 12:09:15 PM

There has been several times where my only water source is a tiny little trickle running down a rock and a 1" deep "pool" about the size of your hand at the bottom - which would be almost impossible to get any water out of without a pump

1/30/2012 1:27:31 PM

yeah, that's a good point and worth considering when making a purchase...you don't always have a choice about the water source

also, i think we're going to do this trip: http://bp2.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip.aspx?tripId=48012

[Edited on January 30, 2012 at 5:13 PM. Reason : .]

1/30/2012 5:12:53 PM

^^dig a hole with your trowel, let it fill up, then fill your bottle. classic survival technique.

1/30/2012 7:06:50 PM

^Yes to this...however...that's more work than most are willing to do...and you assume I carry a trowel.

1/31/2012 11:25:27 AM

How do you bury your shit if you don't carry a trowel?

1/31/2012 5:01:40 PM

lol ... even that lout Bill Bryson thought that bringing a trowel makes you look like a sissy

just use a rock, stick, or your boot heel to dig a hole. it doesn't have to be very big

1/31/2012 5:26:37 PM

It doesn't need to be big, but a proper cathole should be at least 6" deep. Everytime i step in someones shit that they buried 1.5" deep only a few yards off the trail i wanna find them and kill them. And yes, this has happened to me more than once.


Edit: $3 and 2 ounces. No excuse not to carry, even for the weight weenies like yourself, Nerdchick, http://www.campmor.com/backpackers-trowel.shtml?source=CI&ci_sku=86702WC&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}


[Edited on January 31, 2012 at 5:39 PM. Reason : LNT, Bitches!]

1/31/2012 5:35:08 PM

I use one of my tent stakes, I have to bring it ANYWAY, and I'm moving into minimalist backpacking, so if I don't even have a full sized toothbrush, what makes you think I have a shovel for burying my poop?

2/1/2012 3:21:43 PM

LOL @ thinking the only thing you can dig a hole with is a trowel

2/1/2012 3:45:09 PM

I could reply "I don't have to bury shit, I'm a girl, and girls don't poop."

2/1/2012 4:34:34 PM

i don't bury my shit because i don't shit 2 feet off the trail or near any potential campsites

also, i have NEVER crapped on one of my shorter (1 or 2 night) trips...my body just won't let me

[Edited on February 1, 2012 at 7:32 PM. Reason : .]

2/1/2012 7:31:32 PM

Quote :

"looks like we're doing 20 miles next weekend on the AT/mcafee knob trail "

And you people thought I could handle that?

2/1/2012 8:22:28 PM

Call me old school, but I don't go anywhere without my post hole digger

2/1/2012 8:54:01 PM

Quote :

"And you people thought I could handle that?"

i did! i do! it doesn't look to be especially difficult...just long

i have high hopes that we'll be back in time for the super bowl party

2/2/2012 8:23:47 AM

trip was canceled due to folks being sick...boo

2/4/2012 10:51:05 AM

Has anyone tried freezer bag cooking and if so, where did you find freeze-dried vegetables? Also, does anyone have any recipes to share? I have a book with several, but more can never hurt.

2/4/2012 9:19:31 PM