Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

My first backpacking journey I carried a 10 pound camera kit. Got some great images, but it really sucked hauling that stuff over four passes around 12,500 for the first time. Lesson learned.

Now I carry a Sony RX100 and at 10.1 ounces it does a decent job.

 

Nope. Not gonna click. Not gonna click. Not gonn... damn. I clicked!

 

I will be contacting you. And I'm certain shortly after that, you'll block me!

This one area just consumes me. I am so enthralled by night sky photos. Living in an area with very little city light, I love looking up at the sky and being able to see moving satellites with the naked eye. Seeing the Milky Way span across my horizon view... just. Amazing.

 

Stuck with Nikon, and went with their 'entry level' FX D750.

 

What's everyone's opinion on firearms while backpacking. I realize that weight reduction and leaving being non essentials is crucial, but who considers a firearm essential and is it worth 2-4 lbs of weight?

Although im in the horrible state of CA, i am one of the lucky ones who was able to obtain my ccw so i carry just about everywhere all the time, ESPECIALLY for outdoor trips. Without getting into specific laws of state and national parks/forests and different state laws, just generally speaking, would you bring it if you could.

 

Body and lens on mine weighs just over 6 pounds plus the battery grip. It will probably go with me everywhere. I love taking waterfall and night photo's so camping will be a opportune time to take them. Mine's a full frame also.

 

I have a CCW also and it will be going if it can be carried.

 

I haven't used a SLR camera since going to digital. I carry a Nikon P530 that takes marvelous photos. It's nice and light. I carry it on knock-off of a Peak Design capture clip.

 

I carry a firearm on most of my backpacking trips. Yes it's a little extra weight but I sleep better at night knowing I have it.

 

Nice! I am continually impressed with what Nikon is offering these days. I actually had a Nikon D40 as my first DSLR. I am just so enthralled by the glass offerings that Canon has, that I will probably stick with them. That, and they're bomb proof.

 

My camera bag weighs over 24 pounds so a frame backpack will be nothing compared to toting that thing around.

 

Don't forget the Orionid showers peak late this week.

 

I don't consider myself to be a badass or fearless... but I have no desire to have a firearm with me while on a trail. I'm a gram weenie though haha, so take that with a grain of salt. I hike with trekking poles (use them for my shelter) so I have some sort of force protection in hand already while moving. What makes you want to carry in the woods, predators?

 

Do any of y'all use mirrorless for action/sports?

 

It depends on where I'm at. If I'm in brown or grizzly bear country I would but that typically requires a heck of a gun and a lot of rapid, accurate shooting under intense stress and adrenaline to really make a difference with a big bear like that. If I'm in an area known to have illegal marijuana grows then I would but in Colorado both are rare and honestly the drug growers will probably be far better armed then what I'd carry on myself. Black bears which is the only thing to really worry about around in CO are more scared of us then we are of them and unless it's a mother-cub situation bear spray is far more effective. I carry my 12-oz pocket-sized ccw for 2-legged threats and that's usually just an at camp thing not usually a hiking thing where I'm actively moving.

 

Friend of mine use to shoot sports for a magazine. He went mirrorless and quit shooting for them and sports as soon as he got it. Sold his 5diii and everything. Straight Fuji now with older Canon glass or a few of the Fuji lenses.

 

Haha, I actually enjoy shooting motorsports. F1, MotoGP, WEC, GT3, Top Fuel, I've done it all. I know a mirrorless is fantastic for low light and landscape stuff, I'm just not sure how well it does fast moving subjects.

 

I hear good things about the new Sony alpha 6300 stuff, pricey though small and compact.

 

I am in the EXACT same boat. I live in AZ, so it's like the wild west when it comes to open carry out here. I just don't want the weight, plus I'd much rather have the bad-ass story of fighting off a big predator with my bare hands or my 3" neck knife. If I lose, I guess I deserve it because I'm in THEIR house. Cool story for the papers either way.

 

The flagship camera's are great in lowlight also and can be had cheap after the new ones come out. Really cheap if it's been replaced twice. They still have a lot of life left in them for non pro's.