Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Nothing beats sleeping out in the woods. Sure you get an occasional visitor in the middle of night, but that makes for good stories.

 

Unless your @MTgirl and get a herd of elk in your site

 

Really!!!!!!! cuz that's a great story

 

licked your taco, haha lol, Great Story

 

Once on a Kayak trip to and around Vancouver Island we had a pack of wolves visit our site in the night. Found wolf prints all around our site. Well not really a site just where we camped for the night.

 

Mtgirl that is too cool!! That is exactly what I'm talknig about that's a great story.
Just read the whole story your taco was violated buy an elk

 

That's awesome! That's why I luv being outdoors. That yak trip around Vancouver has to be amazing

 

Wiley, the girlfriend, and I broke in the new tent this weekend in Ocala National Forest. I love this thing. Compared to the small backpacking tents that I'm used too, this thing is the Taj Mahal!

 

The tent looks good. I usually set up the guy lines to the top corners of the rain fly in order to get a little better air flow - which will reduce condensation overnight.

 

Thanks! I normally use the guylines as well. It wasn't rainy or humid surprisingly for Florida and it wasn't windy. Mainly I was being lazy

 

Anyone have any experience with Alps Mountaineering tents? What's your thoughts?

 

Love the doggo!!!

 

Thanks! He's my little buddy. Great adventure partner. He slept in our sleeping bags in the morning. It was pretty great.

 

For those who backpack....can you recommend a good light weight solar panel for charging a newer iPhone?

 

Super legit CA company providing killer solar products: http://www.corethird.com/solar-power.html

 

I went cheap, but they work great. 7W semi-flexible panel that's really light and attaches to the back/top of your pack very easily. I use it to top off a small power bank which I then use to charge my phone, GoPro batteries, and my Suunto watch.

https://www.amazon.com/Backpack-Hydration-Ergonomic-Carrying-SunLabz/dp/B00YV6WY44 (this is for the backpack at this point, not the panel which is usually sold separately)

Here's how the panel looks. It looks big in this picture for some reason. It easily fits in your pack and is very flat.



Unfortunately right now they only have the backpack version, but they do sell the panel separately for only $15. They run out quick and take down that option and just sell the backpacks for a bit. Put it in your wishlist and watch for the stand-alone panel to become available again.

FYI, I can charge a 9000mAh power bank with this thing in just one day of hiking in sunlight (direct and indirect exposure). You won't beat the price for the performance and light weight. I weighed mine and it's a true 6.95oz. Comes with a mesh zipper pouch on the back to hold your devices while they are charging, and keep your charging cables handy.

 

Finally tried out the alps mountaineering tent...

It set up nicely, but I hardly got any sleep... bruised my rib the other day, and no matter how I tried to lie, it killed. So I spent all night tossing and turning.

Did the hammock the night before with the same results.

Hopefully next time I'll be able to enjoy it!

 

Awesome pic, especially with the "shooting star" in the background. Or, is that just an aircraft? Either way, cool pic.