Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

LOL my wife got over that backpacking phase pretty quick after this past summer. She now knows she can only handle about 5 nights max in the woods. She prefers the RTT and her fancy French press for coffee every hour, as well as full home-cooked meals at the campsite. I want something I can boil or just eat cold and call it done. Although, I have to say that those little fold-up Coleman ovens are AMAZING. 2 of those resting on a nice big full size camp stove (the free-standing ones that run on the big white propane tanks) is a true luxury in truck camping now.

 

I like the way you think. Backpacking has really changed my perspective on all of my personal belongings and my need for material possessions (except for more camping gear and truck parts, of course). We are downsizing our home and purging all unnecessary items. It's not an overnight process, but not only will it be physically liberating but also financially. Lower costs and lower outgoing disposable income is a good thing all around.

 

After every backpack trip, I come home and throw shit out.

We no longer 'decorate' our home with useless, meaningless crap. What we have, we use and appreciate. We don't have a McMansion either. Less than 1000 sqf and love it!

Talk about visual pollution and ADHD... my in laws. There is stuff on every wall. not just a single picture on one wall. Covering every wall. They are in their 80s and bought a 4br home just 5 years ago!

At Christmas my MIL brought out a box for my husband. "Here's some stuff I still have, pick out what you want. You can take the whole thing." Rubbermaid type box FULL of shit going back to elementary schools. (Hubs is early 50s). I shit you not, remember the handprints you cut out and made into a turkey?? Yup. She has that.
He pulled maybe 3 things out and said 'you can just recycle the rest, nothing in there I want.'
MIL "I'll just put it all back in the closet. You can go through it again after we're gone."
They're even projecting their organized hoarding (because that's all it is) onto their grand daughter. For Christmas gifted her their 1960-something college yearbook. Because it was the only year both of them (grandparents) were at the school. And neatly tucked inside was MILs freshman class schedule. Because, get, who doesn't want to know what courses your grandmother took 40+ years ago!

:::stepping down off my simple-life, you have too much stuff, live simply soap box!

 

I'm the same way ha. Many outdoorsy folks are. When you can live out of a backpack and living out of a car is pure luxury suddenly home takes a new meaning. I also move frequently so the convenience of being able to fit everything I own into one vehicle and move it half way across the country is more than worth any inconvenience of not having this or that that the Jones's have.

 

Funny you mention the Joneses... I use that phrase then say "my sister... she tries very hard to BE the Jonses." Kind of sad really...

 

Purging is a process that can take time, but the fact that you and your wife are ACTUALLY doing it is a good step... It will be liberating... And there is exceptions, like you mentioned, if someone is "really" into something, be it backpacking or whatever, then if your stuff gets used, and it helps make your life more fulfilled, then it's not taking away, it's adding to the positives in life.

I think the military also played into this mindset with me.. Being able to pick up and move fast etc. Trim to essentials and be more efficient.

You pretty much nailed a lot of what I was thinking of mentioning..

People and their big ass house or houses.. Then just fill it full of crap. Also holding onto old crap and hoarding, I've come to believe and see this as a true mental problem or glitch in some people.. That's not putting anyone down, but noticing what they seem not to be...
You mentioned your in laws.. I have a aunt and uncle around 70.. They sold their multi million dollar home at the beach, then moved and built a another big ass house in this "fancy" neighborhood right off some busy road... WHY? Why not build a nice little small something on a nice piece of property instead. So instead of kicking back chilling, their having to work to keep that "house/lifestyle"... Debt Slaves tying to keep that image up, for who?

My bros wife, is hoarding boxes and boxes of crap from her dead mother and dead gay uncle, that have both been dead for many years now.. Like letters and just junk.. She has it piled up in their nice glassed in patio, can't even walk out there.. And I know it's creating marriage issues.. I want to say hey, instead of all that crap, why not think of your husband and daughters that are ALIVE here and NOW (BC that SH!T is KILLING the atmosphere here along with your relationships with your family), not peoples intimate lives thru letters of years ago... Then she'll scorn the crap out of the girls for a messy room, not setting the example "kind of a big deal"...
But I don't say anything, not my marriage. Hate to see it tho.


Oh and that's awesome you guys have a small little place.

 

I have a house that is 3x the size that we need. My job does tie me to living within city limits because I need quick airport access for business travel. But I still have so much stuff that was the "I need to have this to prove to everyone that I made it in life". I'm so sick of it all now, and I've let a lot of it go or have just not replaced it. I get made fun of all of the time at my job when I actually do go into the office (I work from home) because my truck is 10 years old and the hood/roof clearcoat has faded and it's always a muddy mess. I get the "when are you going to trade in that piece of shit and get a BMW like us real people". I'm so proud of my truck because it has not only been an extremely reliable daily driver, but it has taken me down every trail and on every adventure of the past decade. I'll take functional over flashy any day of the week now, and I'm proud to say that.

Once you stop caring about what others think about you, you stop buying stupid crap that you don't need and you also stop worrying about the guilt-ridden great-great-Uncle Bob's box of useless paperwork from when he was in the steamship industry. I find that our loved ones hand us down stuff that we don't want or need as a token of sentimental value, not realizing that they are burdening us with junk we don't want but aren't willing to throw away, with the expectation that we will keep the family tradition alive. We don't want their shit!

Smaller and simpler is better! It's cheaper in the long run, it's easier to clean up after, and it's portable.

 

I love you guys!

Someone mentioned getting rid of the tv...? Just before we moved to Yosemite, we had bought a bigazz 60" plasma tv. Literally the only reason we got it was A. I got it for a screaming deal. B. We love football. Saturday and Sunday football. (Other than that, its Netflix or HD antenna, no cable or sat.)

The movers came, boxed every precious possession up, that tv too. It all went to storage until we knew our permanent location. (We took essentials of course). Five months in temporary housing with no tv. It really wasn't that bad. Once we got our house, we decided to go the full year without a tv. Next month will be two years.

We watch tv when we travel/hotel stays. And realize there still is nothing worthwhile of our time in that black box. (Except maybe an episode or two if hoarders to emphasize how good we're doing!)

The amount of time we have found... wow! We read. We play board games. We actually TALK to each other! Or sit out in the deck until way past dinner hour counting shooting stars and satellites.

 

Haven't had a TV in over a decade, and that was when I lived with my parents in highschool and it was an old tube TV with no cable, just bunny ears and two fuzzy news stations haha. The good life

 

I hope no one reading all this takes it as some elitist crap haha. Just a freeing, happy lifestyle recommendation! Ha just realized we may be coming off as holier than thou to some, even if not intended at all

 

Until someone mentions how much better it is to hammock camp than a tent... we're good!

 

Speaking of gear and car camping setups... i currently have an RTT that i hate for a number of reasons and because i have a gf and 2 dogs and a short bed, a camper shell wont cut it. Which forces me back to the ground. I refuse to spend 15 to 20 minutes putting poles together to setup a basic Coleman tent and have instead been looking into the Oztent. Anyone with experience on these? Either the rv3 or rv4

 

I looked at Oztents the other day because someone on the local overlanding page mentioned them. They are ridiculously expensive!

They do set up super fast (almost like a ground version of an RTT), but man, the RV-3 is $900!!!

I would much rather save $500 and get an REI Kingdom 4 or Base camp 4. Or even one of the fancier basecamp tents from North Face or Mountain Hardwear.

 

We've had this talk before haha. Know lots of peeps who love hammocks. I despise them haha. Don't hate me.

 

I figured my CVT rtt was 1600+ which i can probably sell for a solid 1200-1300, then go with oztent and an exped sleeping pad or a cot with pad and break even. Ill take a small loss, but since the rtt isnt working out for me mostly because its VERY difficult with dogs, and i never stay at camp and its a pita to set up and break down every single morning and night, i am forced to go back to the ground. Its my only option. So with that being my position i want the best quality, easiest most efficient setup possible. The oztent although i agree is ridiculously proced solves many issues.... built in awning which is optional to set up, a tall enough room to change in, thick enough material similar to rtt to retain warmth and strength, and is super quick setup, amd weighs less then half the rtt. The package is huge, but ill be getting a camper shell with matching rear prinsu rack so itll fit nicely on the roof, and the bed will get custom drawers to include a kitchen area and gesr storage. My #1 goal is efficiency. I want to be comfortable and spend as little time as humanly possible setting up and breaking down camp and worrying about dishes etc. If it were just me id build a platform and sleep in the bed, but i have gf amd 2 dogs to make happy as well. Just never seen an oztent in person. Aside from being overpriced l, would you say they fit my needs based on what i described or would you still recommend one of those other tents?

 

Yeah the people giving you crap, are the ones that are in la la land still, they've taken the debt enslavement bait hook line and sinker taught to us all since we can remember...
Since you and you're wife have awoken to being realistic, the ability to actually live a life that you both enjoy, will come sooner than later, unlike like the rest of the naysayers..



“All man are the same except for their belief in their own selves, regardless of what others may think of them”
― Miyamoto Musashi

“You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you.”
― Miyamoto Musashi

“Immature strategy is the cause of grief".”
― Miyamoto Musashi

Some nuggets, from one of the baddest dudes to ever walk earth... Applicable to everyday life, for those with eyes to see.

Yeah TV was me, I hate TV. Been years now without it..
When I go somewhere and see it on, I observe people watching it, and see how they are transfixed and hypnotized a lot of times by it.. TV is also used as a tool, most don't get that, but that's another story.
And the hotel times, I've turned it on and realized what I haven't been missing.

I thought of that too... Not everyone wants or desires the same things and not every shoe fits..
I brought it up because I hate seeing people allowing "stuff" to rule them. Some people may really enjoying having a bunch of things tho, there's nothing wrong with it I suppose, as long as it's not hurting anybody or causing unneeded grief and stress..

I also don't see anything wrong with having nice things..

 

There's not a damn thing wrong with having nice things! The things we do have, we usually opt for quality and that comes at a price. I just bought all new kitchen appliances. Not top end Thermador/Viking kind but high quality nonetheless. We buy what suits us. We have MTBs. Not $5k bikes, we don't compete, but we didn't buy entry level bikes. Same with outdoor gear. And my kayak. And our vehicles.

I'm also the queen of cheap. If I can find the same for a better price, I'm on it! And reusing materials, oh yea, I can do that all day.

I like our lifestyle. Others bug the shit outta me. But I'm just glad I don't have to live in their houses or deal with their lives...

 

I prefer having a dozen very night, high quality, functional/practical things that are built well and will last forever (over having hundreds of cheap things I'll never use). I couldn't believe the first time I let myself buy a $100+ dress shirt. But I only have a dozen shirts now haha so overall they're still less expensive than before. Just quality.

 

Yeah, quality is key.. If you run across a deal on something you know is gonna last a good long while or possibly a lifetime.. I don't consider stuff like that a bad decision, even if it may sit a while, but you know you will use eventually..
Example those La Sportiva Boots I posted up a while back.. Once I knew how good they were, I bought another pair, then ended up buying another two half size bigger pair bout a month ago. The last two pair I bought ended up being cheaper than the original cost of one. So 4pr haha. But I even got the first two on sale, half price. Hard to pass up a 240$plus dollar boot that fits right and top quality for 107-120$.

I can get lured into some boots. I have a pair of RedWings that I can still wear, that I got when I was 14! Lets say that's been a long time ago.

I really want a pair of custom fitted Whites Boots.
http://www.whitesboots.com


I really dig these..
https://youtu.be/22SmlISRz8E

 

So many of my friends have these McMansions, and i'm still living in a 800 sq ft condo that has a mortgage of $400 bucks a month. They always say to me " Wow, must be nice to have your money" And I always say " It is, cause i didn't blow it on stupid crap like 3000 sq ft house and a couple of Beemers". My money always went to experiences, not things. Even in a place my size, I find myself every year throwing out crap.