Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

I'm surprised how much I don't hate sleeping on the ground with my pad. But I can't stand the one my girlfriend has. To each their own. I'll have to start looking at lightweight nets and tarps for sure.

I'm unfamiliar with West Coast fishing - and fresh water in general - but we did see a few trout in each of the lakes we passed. It definitely has me reading up on trout fishing out here. A few of the people we passed also had fishing gear with them.

I did sleep in my hammock last January in the Appalachian Mountains (from VA, just moved to CA) and it was a bit colder than I expected. I also camped out of my car and packed a ton of blankets and a big tarp, I didn't have any of the backpacking gear I have now and I had a cheap Coleman sleeping bag. I'm sure with my current bag, I'd do much better.

I'll have to give this a watch after work. My inflatable pad is insulated and that plus my hammock is lighter (and much cheaper) than a new tent that fits me, her, and the dog. Thanks!

 

I am not one to tell folks what they should and shouldn't do BUT I will point out that the definition of 'nice and tight' should be thought through from a safety standpoint. When you hang a hammock tighter than 30 degrees in angle, you start dramatically increasing the side load forces on the tree/post/rock/wall you are attached too. At a 30 degree angle, a 200 lb camper is placing 173.2 lbs of side load on the tree, at 5 degrees that same camper is putting 1143 pounds of side load on the tree. If that doesn't makes sense, take a look at this link to see it visually. Having experimented a great deal with hammocks in the last decade, I will also say that 30 degrees sleeping on the diagonal is generally the most comfortable too.

http://theultimatehang.com/hammock-hang-calculator/

 

I'm confident that I have my backpacking setup squared away; as long as we're not talking snow/freezing, then I can venture anywhere else.

With that being said, I've only done dispersed camping going on for about a year and a half or so. I'm talking primitive camping.

One thing I've always wanted to incorporate was running water; whether it was to wash one's hands, spray down your legs/body or even shower, or wash a dish after eating, etc.

The Trail Kitchens Waterboy -



This thing has been a godsend, and I almost feel like I'm "glamping" by having this thing with me.

I run a Frontrunner 45L water jug as my water source and really only carry about 3-4 gallons if I'm solo and only gone for a few days. The nice thing about the Frontrunner is that there are 2x 1/2" brass fittings at the bottom on each end. I have one plugged, and the other connected to a self-sealing, quick-disconnect fitting.

I run a 12' braided vinyl tube (with quick-disconnect fittings on both ends) from the water jug, to the Waterboy.

I keep the Waterboy at the edge of my truck bed, as I don't need it taking any space by my camp table, etc.

Flipping up the faucet allows me to use a small collapsible bowl as a miniature sink, or I can attach a 6' braided vinyl tube (with 1/2" swivel adapter) and run a garden nozzle at the end. I've used this to rinse off my mountain bike, and actually clean/shower off.

You could also just use the faucet to pour some drinking water, seeing as how the unit has a built-in water filter. I use filtered drinking water in my water tank, as well as food-grade vinyl tubing so I'm sure the filter doesn't have to do much anyway.

Power comes from a small, lead-acid battery, that's rechargeable via a 12v plug that's built in.

If anyone's got a question on it, let me know! Goes with me every time I go camping now.

 

Interesting for sure!

I’ve done this for a really long time and never thought about that. I weigh 250 so I am definitely putting some tension on those trees but I’ll say I always choose healthy trees that have plenty of girth lol. I’ve seen smaller trees collapse on friends of mine (never resulting in injury) in the past and I’d hate to wake up like that in the middle of the night haha!

 

For sure, it is usually pretty funny but potentially fatal. I was the designated 'fat-guy' tester for a system that let a hiking pole double as a 'tree' using rope techniques from sailing. The pole was fine but anchoring it proved to be a trick. I will tell you that a large metal stake coming out of the ground due to the weight of a 250 lb 45 y/o is nothing to laugh about if you are the one in the hammock. Those standing around watching though did get a major chuckle about my fat butt hitting the ground with an ummmph...

 

Thanks for the information!

 

Hammocking.
To check it out, goto Hammock Forums, find a 'Hang/Event' in your area. Check out the different setups.
I personally like a bridge hammock, and will not go back.
Hammocking can be a learning curve. Get some experienced people to show you hands on, shortens the learning curve.

 

Anyone own an Amok Hammock?

I’ve been eyeballing them for car camping with the kids.

Also, anyone have any experience with semi portable hammock stands? I live on the coast and it’s about to be camping weather. We take the boat out to the barrier islands and camp out there, would love to be able to sleep in my hammock

 

I have seen a home made portable stand made from hinges and 2x2s. Very strong.

 

Turtledog stand.

I made 2 stands from 3/4" emt conduit and fence toprail.
Each stand packs down into a section of 4" pvc

Have supported 400+ lbs on several occasions

 

Looking for a new winter sleeping bag and hoping you guys can help.

I’ve been using a 45* bag and a heavy wool blank over winter. It’s not ideal but it’s been usable. I’d like to upgrade.

89% of all my camping is done out of the truck, so I don’t need anything super lightweight or packable. If I’m doing hike in camping, I’m doing it in warmer months and have a bag for that.

We typically don’t camp in weather colder than low 30s/high 20s. Coldest weather we’ve camped was 7* but this isn’t too common.

I’m thinking a 0* bag would probably be a good option as a 20* is probably pushing it.

I cannot use a mummy bag because I’m restless sleeper, some nights I can barely sleep in a normal bag. This kinda limits myoptions unfortunately

Any suggestions on a good rectangular 0* bag that isn’t going to break the bank?

I was eyeballing these

ALPS OutdoorZ Redwood -10 Degree Flannel Sleeping Bag, Green, 38 - x 80"

https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Outdoor...ds_browse-bin:4746350011&s=outdoor-recreation

$103 TETON Sports -35 Degree and 0 Degree Sleeping Bag. Warm and Comfortable Camping Sleeping Bag, TETON Tough Canvas Shell for Camping, Hunting, and Cold Weather, Brown

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A...f82-cefe-496e-bf16-a7f60b31f968_1568173531541

 

Checkout some offerings from slumberjack. Just missed a sale tho. If you could do mummy bags a member here sells mss. I have 2 and they work great in cold weather.

 

Wish I could do a mummy bag, it really opens up my options.

 

Yea, the military sleep system is great in cold weather.but slumberjack offers the regular bags in -20* .

 

Have you tried the oversized mummy bags? I have The North Face Cat’s Meow, which is rated at 20 degrees. I’m 6’1” and weigh 225, so in standard mummy bag, I look like a cocoon about to turn into a moth. The long, wide bag works really well, and I’m a bit of a restless sleeper.

 

worth a look

 

You say in the truck.
https://www.coleman.com/dunnock-cold-weather-sleeping-bag/2000004457.html
I have 5 Western Mountaineering bags.
This Coleman is my car, truck, camping bag. 2 zip together easily. Washable. I cut the fabric 'wrapper' off, use velcro and store in a huge ziplock bag.
Now on sale, too.

 

The nemo bags are perfect but they arent cheap. The 'get bigger when you stretch' feature really works. The venting option is also really useful.
https://www.rei.com/search?q=nemo+sleeping+bags

 

I’ve rocked a Mountain Hardware Lamina 20 for about 8 years now and it’s still comfy. Only a couple cold spots in it at this point around the zipper

 

I have not purchased anything from REI all year, so far.
Politics.