actually nevermind, the first story i heard misreported it, this was dispersed camping.

and they had their food properly hung

6/10/2015 10:52:10 AM

Yeah that's different then. Bear mace and a dog even if it never happens.

6/10/2015 10:59:37 AM

Wow Alpaca rafts just released a 1.5lb inflatable kayak:

https://alpackarafts.com/product/ghost/

Not something I'd get as it doesn't appear to be as durable as their other boats but amazing nonetheless.

6/11/2015 10:33:44 AM

What's everyone's favorite DWR? I've used both Nikwax spray on and wash in. They seem to work alright and appear to be the most popular products. I just used the wash in for my backpacking goretex shell and rain pants and they seem to be doing well. I just purchased a Marmot rain coat (more for business/urbran use) and the DWR on it isn't great but I really like the coat. Going to try the spray on. It smells initially but eventually goes away.

6/12/2015 11:34:53 AM

#gearnerd. Picked up a digital scale. Weighing my gear for this weekend (lbs):

Camping chair: 1.25
36L Backpack: 3.05
Jetboil: 0.55
Fuel: 0.45
Water filter: 0.7
Over/under quilt + small compression bag: 2.2
Hex fly + hammock: 2.5
4 stakes + hammock lines: 0.35
Pillow: 0.25
Big Agnes LED lights (for hammock): 0.2
Water reservoir: 0.75
Patagonia Raincoat: 0.75
REI Puffy: 0.85
Garmin with batteries: 0.55
Toiletries: 0.45
UE Boom bluetooth speaker: 1.2

For a total of 16.3 lbs so far.

With some additional items (external battery, head phones, clothes) my total is 19.5lbs. Just under the limit for lightweight backpacking AND I was able to bring luxuries like my camping chair, bluetooth speaker, external battery, hammock lights, and pillow.

7/9/2015 10:15:38 PM

Got some backpacking gear for sale in classifieds yall-
message_topic.aspx?topic=645761

7/16/2015 6:21:18 PM

Four Pass Loop this weekend!!

7/28/2015 3:11:40 PM

7/28/2015 3:32:27 PM

Just finished off Mass, Vermont, and got into NH over 15 days. PHEW! I only have NY, NJ, Maine, the rest of NH and Georgia Left!

Vermont - Lots of mud and a few areas that are like N. PA when it came to rocks!!! Lots of rain too and bogs, but tons of cool beaver dams and come on, VERMONT!!

8/13/2015 6:15:26 PM

Awesome!

Attempting to summit Long's Peak on Saturday. Hitting the TH at 2:30am. We'll see how it goes!

http://www.14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=longs+peak

8/17/2015 1:37:22 PM

A few pics from Four Pass Loop again:





Tripod was a little shaky:



Next morning:





Pat's Back Country beer was a plus:

8/27/2015 9:02:12 PM

sweet pics

8/28/2015 9:57:47 AM

Hey all my outdoors lovelies! I belong to ICO - a branch of the Sierra Club that takes underprivileged kids out to parks, camping (For free)...anything that takes them outdoors and shows them a good time with nature!

A lot of our equipment has been worn out over time.

If you have any old gear that is in good shape, we'd love to take it! Plus it'd be a tax write off for you since we're part of Sierra Club's non-profit division!

Tents, backpacks, headlamps, flashlights...anything that a kid could use for 1-2 day over night trips. Anything is seriously appreciated!!!

8/29/2015 10:31:43 AM

For people who camp with their significant other, what kind of sleep system do you use?


^how do we make a donation? I don't have any equipment right now but plan on upgrading some stuff next spring and will be happy to donate the old stuff (still in good condition)

[Edited on September 16, 2015 at 10:02 AM. Reason : .]

9/16/2015 9:59:29 AM

My GF doesn't really like backpacking but when we car camp we have a 3 person tent with a queen size air mattress. I'm considering getting a larger tent because it's car camping so why not. The two of us and our dog fit nicely on a queen size REI inflatable mattress.

9/16/2015 10:55:11 AM

yeah, we have an air mattress but I don't like how it transfers motion and air mattresses suck when temps start getting low.

9/16/2015 11:05:34 AM

Yeah REI sells some mattress covers that act as insulators but a larger air mattress can get cold in lower temperatures. Sometimes we just both sleep in our hammocks.

9/16/2015 11:19:51 AM

i figure I can buy a cheap ~$30 foam mattress topper, but apparently no one makes a dual zone air mattress which is really weird because I feel like that would be a popular item

9/16/2015 11:30:58 AM

By dual zone do you mean insulated?

9/16/2015 2:01:32 PM

separate air chambers for each side, so you can pressurize them differently and so that motion does not transmit as much

i found an old aerobed that they no longer make that had dual zones, but that's all I can find.

9/16/2015 3:14:45 PM

Ah interesting. Yeah you'd think an insulated dual zone air mattress for car camping would sell well.

9/16/2015 3:29:15 PM

just get two fulls and push them together. That's how my grandparents did it.

9/17/2015 5:38:35 PM

So I think my hobby for next summer is bikepacking...

Want to do this:

http://www.bikepacking.com/routes/bikepacking-the-colorado-trail/

9/26/2015 1:39:55 PM

I hear the REI in Durham is having some sort of yard sale October 3rd at 9:00 am. Supposedly you can get cheap camping gear.

9/26/2015 2:59:57 PM

Yeah REI's all over have yard sales on a regular basis. Just make sure to get there before it opens if you want to get any good stuff. If you're very small or very large then it's easier to find stuff if you're medium in most shoes, clothes, etc.

9/26/2015 3:21:58 PM

Not sure how they do it where you are, but around here they do a lottery system for the REI garage sales - doesn't matter what time you get there, just depends on which group gets called first.

9/27/2015 8:49:58 PM

sleeping pad thickness 2.5 or 3.5 inches what do you roll?

10/22/2015 4:35:52 PM

If I'm sleeping on the ground and using one (usually not in a hammock) then go big especially if you're a side sleeper. A smaller pad sleeping on your side will make your arm and shoulder go to sleep. if you can find a light weight 3.5 for backpacking then go for it. I've had bad luck with them leaking and you waking up in the middle of the night with no insulation.

If you're car camping just get a full size air mattress. That's what we do. No reason to use a small ass backpacking pad if you can use a nice big air mattress.

[Edited on October 22, 2015 at 4:48 PM. Reason : and big air mattresses are way cheaper]

10/22/2015 4:48:16 PM

Air mattresses suck, for car camping get a military style cot or an Exped 4" Megamat

10/23/2015 7:23:22 AM

The Exped is nice if you want to spend over $200. You can find comfortable air mattresses especially a queen size for two people. That's either two Expeds (almost $500) or an air mattress for under $100.

10/23/2015 10:09:23 AM

if you are using an air mattress, spend an extra $50 and get a memory foam topper for it

10/23/2015 11:18:28 AM

Yeah most cheaper ones aren't really insulated. The big advantage to the Exped or really any camping specific one.

10/23/2015 11:20:15 AM

Anyone hiked Glacier National Park? My friend and I are considering it and have a few proposed routes. I know you can start submitting permits as early as 3/15 for the summer.

1/11/2016 11:43:26 AM

Woohoo just got our trip approved for Glacier National Park in August!!! Can't wait!

3/18/2016 11:34:50 AM

my wife and I hiked there five years ago. But we didn't do any multiple day hikes.

We hiked to the granite park chalet on the loop trail and also did smaller hikes (like Avalanche Trail).

http://mikeallover.travellerspoint.com/102/

3/18/2016 11:55:31 AM

Nice! I'm looking forward to it. Picked up a light tripod too for night photography.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/photo-tips.htm

Our current itinerary. It's shorter days but you're not allowed to hike more than 15 miles a day. So we're going to do a good bit of day hiking.

Quote :

" 8-14-2016 - HAW - HAWKSBILL Fires; NO Segment; Length 6.50 Elevation; Up 1240 | Down 0 8-15-2016 - HOL - HOLE IN WALL Fires; NO Segment; Length 4.20 Elevation; Up 1200 | Down 260 8-16-2016 - BOW - BOWMAN LK, HD Fires; YES Segment; Length 8.60 Elevation; Up 260 | Down 2610 8-17-2016 - LQU - LOWER QUARTZ Fires; YES Segment; Length 10.60 Elevation; Up 1070 | Down 900 EXIT - BOWMAN LAKE FOOT (AKAK,BOW,QU) (TRAILHEAD) Segment; Length 3.50 Elevation; Up 900 | Down 1070 TOTALS; Trip length 33.40 miles Elevation up 4,670 feet Elevation down 4,840 feet"

3/18/2016 11:59:20 AM

I do remember that we had to change our planned hikes because several of the trails were closed due to bears and fire. I'm not sure how common that is, but we ended up using the resources in the visitor center to plan out our hikes (despite me researching every trail before we got there).

3/18/2016 1:18:01 PM

Yeah it will be my first possible encounter with grizzly/brown bears. We are planning on bringing mace and we'll have 5-6 people in our group. I'm told if you see cubs you want to immediately go try and wrestle them to establish your dominance with the mom.

3/18/2016 1:33:10 PM

I need a intro guide for backpacking

3/18/2016 1:57:36 PM

REI has a great one and they also have beginner classes free for members usually:

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-beginners.html

It's not like it's biking, skiing, or something else where there's potential for bodily harm (always exceptions - like bears).

You figure out what you need, what's too heavy, and what you don't need pretty quickly. I'd start with a one nighter with a short hike in.

3/18/2016 2:16:32 PM

how far from the trail do you camp?
how do you manage TP?


I'm not convinced yet if I want to mostly because of cost, I don't feel like buying lightweight versions of things I already own (sleeping bag, pad, tent, stove)

3/18/2016 2:49:32 PM

It really depends where you are. Most parks (state and national) require you to camp at least 100 feet from a trail if it's dispersed camping (meaning you camp anywhere). If it's a designated camp area then where ever there's a campsite. Same thing with wilderness areas usually.

For TP I usually bring as much as I think I'll need. You'll also need a shovel and learn how to dig a cat hole. Basically 6-8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Pro tip: shit in the hole then cover it up. Don't shit next to the hole and use your shovel to move said shit into hole. Use the power of aiming.

Backpacking can be an investment but you can also do it on the cheap. There's always REI yard sales or Craigslist for gear. I started backpacking first on my own so I just use all my backpacking gear when we go car camping. I really value being able to fit everything in a backpack. One of the biggest things I hated growing up was all the stuff required for car camping. It's always such a hassle dealing with so much stuff. It's always nice getting home and only having to unpack a 36-55L backpack instead of an entire car full of dirty crap.

As far as gear goes you don't necessary need lighter versions of existing gear assuming you have decent gear to start with. For example a good down sleeping bag is going to be light no matter what. A standard inflatable (think thermarest) pad or closed foam pad is going to be light as well. If you don't already have a light pad you can pick up a standard Therm-a-Rest for $20-30 or just get a generic one for under $10.

A tent on the other hand gets tricky. You will pay more for lighter tents but you can usually find light tents on the cheap. An REI half-dome 2 you can find for $160-199 and it weighs 3-4lbs. Even cheaper if you go used.

For cooking assuming you can have a fire you could always just bring a skillet. I've done that in the past. It's nice not always have to rely on a fire though so something like an MSR or alcohol stove is best. You can get an MSR stove for $20-30 and pick up some fuel for dollars. On the cheap you can make an alcohol stove:

http://www.thesodacanstove.com/alcohol-stove/how-to-build.html

I've made one before and they work great and are super light.

Everything else is just generic hiking stuff. We've started fishing on our hikes in some of the alpine lakes so a portable fishing pole is awesome. Bring some aluminium foil, lemon, and olive oil and cook it right in the fire.

3/18/2016 4:55:21 PM

My sleeping bag is giant, I do car based camping so my sleep setup would rival most luxury hotels.

Do you bury your TP or pack it out? Packing it out seems gross, I've done it dispersed camping in a truck but we had a PVC pipe contraption that's like a diaper genie for TP

3/18/2016 6:08:43 PM

Even a zero degree down sleeping bag weighs only a few pounds. Yes if you've got a cheap synthetic bag then it'll weigh a ton.

I typically bury the tp unless the place is really strict and require you to carry it out. Just make sure to bury it deep enough.

3/18/2016 7:23:20 PM

Paging OEPII

3/18/2016 7:44:27 PM

Quote :

"Even a zero degree down sleeping bag weighs only a few pounds. "

The weight is fine, the size of it rolled up is prohibitive. Make a circle with your arm like you are a teapot, its at least that big rolled up.

3/18/2016 7:56:30 PM

If you think about it, people were carrying heavy as shit equipment with crappy, ill fitting wooden frame backpacks and putting some pretty stout miles in for decades before high tech light shit hit the market. I wouldn't focus on weight a ton if you are planning just a few miles to your campsite.

But you're right that packability can be a problem. I'd check out some of the cheap sleeping bags from Dicks/Walmart/Amazon and go for a warmer weather bag, like a 30-40 degree bag. Id expect you can get a bag in this range for $50-75. If you go anytime between late May through early October that bag should be enough. Pack long johns a tobog and some decent socks and you could be comfy in that bag down into 40s easily.

3/18/2016 10:21:36 PM

is it okay to bury TP or do you have to pack it out?

3/19/2016 12:34:08 PM

I bury mine, just bury it well (several inches of dirt on top) and it will eventually degrade. If you are really worried about it they make more easily degradable camping TP. The only way I could be convinced to pack it out is if I'm in an ultra sensitive environment with high traffic volume (certain areas of the Grand Canyon, etc).

3/19/2016 6:48:27 PM

Same. Also some areas are pretty strict about it. For example rafting on the Colorado everything has to be packed out and they encourage you to pee in the river (as urine can damage the ecosystem along the bank). We always carry a groover with us. Not something you can bring backpacking though.

3/19/2016 6:54:43 PM