Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

any significant BF deals for backpacking gear?

Id love a nice discount on a 40 - 50 down bag for texas winters.

Enlightened Equipment

 

I bought one about 6 months ago, love it and I've only scratched the surface with its capabilities. Make sure to download the "Earthmate" App for your phone, it pairs up with the InReach and allows you to use your phone for the functions.

 

Very true. But sometimes its just nice to warm up in. I probably would not wear it on projects, but mainly for approach and warmups.

 

• Cheese (extra sharp cheddar vacuum sealed)
• Peanut butter (packets or small jar)
• Pepperoni or beef sticks (shelf stable)
• Tortillas
• Wide variety of bars for flavor and texture variance
• Various freeze dried meals (I love Backpacker's Pantry, no preservatives and better ingredients)
• Ramen (cold soak or hot)
• Oatmeals and granolas (cold soak or hot)
• Chicken broth packets (warms the body, gives some salt back, really settles the stomach and helps my appetite)
• Snack foods are much easier to eat in the morning and through the day. No cooking required, easy to grab and eat on short breaks to keep up nutrition needs

 

I like protein bars or cookies in the morning when I am too lazy to cook. Theyre also great on climbing trips.

 

EE just launched their sitewide discount on all items today.
Zpacks is about to launch 15% off many items from bags to shelters and accessories.

 

DAMMIT.

 

I use a lot of the same.
Also, trail mix, beef jerky, and dried fruits. I make a mixture of peanut butter and honey to spread on tortilla or bagel.

 

Yeah .. Earthmate.
I have had major trouble getting the maps to download. It would never finish the loading. Repeatedly, over and over for weeks of trying.
I have high speed internet, WiFi connection, the latest upgrade, etc.
I finally contacted CS. I did everything they said. In the end it is just hit or miss for me. They could not really say why. I finally got the local maps on Earthmate.

Other than the maps, Earthmate is awesome. Easier to send a message to whoever.

I got the Explorer for several reasons.
The Delorme 2 way coupled with the Garmin map capability. Redundancy for the map and compass I bring.
As I got old[er] and have a health history, I like the satellite communication.
Even on road trips there are places a cell phone does not work.

 

Slumberjack has some on sale.

 

Fair enough. I live in Bishop so I usually warm up at home. lol

Shoot me a PM if you ever make it up to boulder in this area. There's a few good problems here. lol

 

How is it living there? Owens Valley is my goto place for exploring. So much to see and do.

 

Thanks. I just opened up the box.
The screen protector that came with it. You removed?
Did you get a generic screen protector and cut to shape?

 

maannn It's just 10%. Is that what they call a BF sale? Ugh.

 

Also, heads up!

If you have a Samsung phone, log into Samsung Pay - They have Columbia Gift Cards for 15% off.

These can be used on Mountain Hardwear.

Buy them now and use them during the MH BF, Xmas, or end of year sale!

 

Living here is the best decision I have ever made. I first visited Bishop on a road trip from Jersey in 2005. I never went home and instead let BIshop become my home.

There's a few caveats. Housing is expensive for a little hick town of 4000 people. Depending on what you do for a living work in your field can be hard to find. There is zero "culture" here.

If you can find work that pays well your all set. If not expect to work retail or some other lesser paying position until you network into your field here. I very common story is people move to Bishop to live the dream. Realize they can't find a decent job. They work at some lesser paying job and pay more in rent. They climb a lot until they realize a year later they are broke. They move away. I see that play out all the time.

 

I work in healthcare and unfortunately my employer does not have a location anywhere in Owens Valley. It's my retirement so gotta stick with them.

 

How far out are you from retiring? The other option is move here after you retire. There's quite a few people doing that over the last 5 years.

 

So close to pulling the trigger on a hyperlite mountain gear southwest 3400 pack with their sale. Just not a huge need for me right now. But I'm planning a 100 mile week in April and 2lb savings is 2lbs. Right now it's the biggest possible gain I can make in my base weight. The catch is I'm not rolling super heavy so it's still kinda a luxury purchase

 

If your already light then a lighter pack will be fine. What I've found with lightweight packs is if you halve the recommended weight load they actually carry OK. If you come even close to the top end they carry super hard on the shoulders and the scrawny little hip belt just cuts off circulation if you cinch it. I've stuck with my 5 pound Osprey Aether 60 for a long time because it carries weight so well I don't notice it's a heavy pack.