Ultimate Camping Thread

I saw those. lol I need to get checked for memory loss. lol

awesome thanks!

 

no problem man they amke all different kinds of liners so check them out!

 

I was just looking at the REI page for those. There's a hell of a selection there in several different temp ratings. Sounds like a great idea to me. Especially since you get so much for just a little--not to mention it helps keep your bag clean.

Thanks for the pointer!

 

Traded in my tent today at REI. Got a bivy. Got rid of my 65L pack too and got a 40L. SO stoked to try out my new setup. Im an amateur to the whole backpacking scene but it didn't take me long to figure out that carrying a smaller and lighter pack makes it all mor enjoyable.

Anybody else opt for the minimalist route?

 

Yeah there are! lol I think I am going to go for the Sea to Summit Adaptor Coolmax liner. Seems to have pretty good reviews.

Awesome!!! I go the minimalist route during the warm months. Makes hiking everything so much easier and more comfortable on the back. If you REALLY want to get in to it, download the program Backpacking weights. You put in all your equipment in to the program and how much it weighs and can select what you want to bring.

I am around the 18-20 lb area during the summer. Winter times....I am close to 40. lol Comfort over weight comes in during the colder weather.

 

i like to consider my self a minimalist. my summer weight is usually about 12 lbs. im trying to get to 10. bivys are defiantly a whole different animal so go out in a controlled environment the first few times to get use to it. im upgrading back to a tent soon because im really not saving that much weight. a ultra light tent is just a few ounces heavier than a good bivy and the tent will bivy you a place to store your pack at night.

 

This weekend I did a 26.2 mi marathon around my base here. Nothing to do with camping but it will help me for when I get back and start hiking again. 40lb Ruck in 7 hrs, it was mainly flat though but went through a lot of sand since that is all that is out here.

 

nice man they did somthing like that out here at ft lee. it was some kind of super soldier games or something like that bahahah

 

sand is tough shit to even walk in. I was on a beach for 2 weeks over xmas/new years and my legs and calve muscles were sore the first few days!

 

I've be paring gear weight for a few years. 8 days 56 miles above 10,000 feet and up Mt. Whitney is a great motivator. My wife and I weighed everything. Started out with just over 40 pounds (not inlcuding water) ended up with near thirty and very little leftover food. How much is the empty Nalgene bottle? The Platypus bladder is lighter. Every little bit adds up. We really thought through how we use everything, too, and then you need to trade off functionality and especially comfort and sleeping well.

One huge deal: carry as little HEAVY water as possible (as your route and exertion requirements allow), and have a very good filter that is reliable and fast and easy to use and service. it makes no sense to caryy a full 100L Camel Back when you are hiking along a river or near a lot of lakes.

 

Bet that got you in shape REAL fast!

Nice tips! I didn't think much about the nalgean vs camelback bladder. damn... I thought I had everything down! I have stuff that I use for multiple things as well. You are correct on not carrying a full bladder when hiking along streams. I tend to plan trips where I have access to water fairly easily that way I don't have to carry a whole thing of water.

I really need to get a filter that will pump out a bigger amount of water for things like cooking. My katadyne isn't good for that.

 

Here's some pics from my trip last week. Nothing really special.
That's me on the right.

 

mmmm look at all that tasty water LOL

 

Looks like a good time Brandon! is that fresh water in that stream or brackish?

Has anyone bought anything from BearPaw Designs? Looking at a few of their tarps as well.

http://www.bearpawwd.com/index.html

 

http://www.zpacks.com/
this is a light as it gets... good guy who makes em to

 

the price tags on that stuff is insane!!!!

 

Ive got the hammock already. Just need a tarp. Trying to get lighter though. I have a regular 10x12' tarp from lowes that I have been using but it is crazy loud with the wind and really heavy.... and leaked. lol

these bearpaw tarps are pretty well priced and are fairly light. Looking at one that is 9.5x10' for $89.

 

thats cuben fiber for ya....

 

It's fresh. There's a ton of small streams that run into it. I always get my water from those.

I saw an Ozark Trail 7x9 tarp at Walmart the other day for $10 that I might try when it gets back hammock weather. It packs surprisingly small.

 

Thanks for the heads up! il stop by there and take a look at it.