Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

And get a $200-300 dehydrator, not the cheap round $60 ones. You'll have nothing but issues in the long run and you won't have near the square footage you'd get from the right type of dehydrator. You need lots and lots of tray space to dehydrate even a couple meals, and those Walmart specials will yield a half of a small baggie in one 6-8 hour run. The better brands get about 4x that yield, with proper heat/air flow for evenly dehydrated foods in less time.

If you're going to go that route obviously. I assumed he was asking for food to buy, not to invest in.

 

Ive been using my "cheap" nesco round 5 tray $60 dehydrator for near 5 years with absolutely zero issues not one failed meal getting my ideas from youtube.

These are items you can buy to prep for the back country, I dehydrate throughout the year and have a very small stock ready in the freezer for a moments notice trip. This eliminates buying $8 a pack meals for the backcountry.
jerky
sauce for noodles
soup
fruit leather
eggs
potatos
beans
fruit
veggies
ect...

I only dehydrate for myself rather than several people for the back country. This beats carrying hydrated heavy food.
For the kids i regularly dehydrate fruit leather and apple chips.
I do enjoy a few meals from here:
http://www.packitgourmet.com/

Heres an entire bag of frozen veggies, this is 3 servings

 

I don't have personal experience with one, but they're well loved, give it a try!

 

That's cool, I just got a similar type stove. I'm done carrying fuel

 

Sounds like we might have the same one. Mine was about 60 bucks on Amazon, round 5 trays. Has worked quite well the three years or so i have had it.

Definitely a great unit to start on and see how you like dehydrating. Might decide you dont like doing it or only want to do it in smaller batches.

 

Very excited to find this thread. Love camping, backpacking, just about anything outdoors. Even decided to rock the Goat on my taco

 

We have the same unit from Amazon!!!

I'll agree it's a perfect starter unit for small batches. It in no way compares to a professional grade dehydrator made to handle 20 pounds of meat that a hunter or jerky seller might use.

 

Really dude, Snickers over Clif bars? If you're just going to more calories, sure. But if want to put actual fuel in your body and not a bunch of crap, Clif is the way to go. Maybe the Clif bars are more expensive because they're real food and not candy?

http://www.clifbar.com/products/clif-bar/clifbar/cool-mint-chocolate

vs

https://www.snickers.com/Nutritional-Info


As a side note, the Mrs. is a doctor who has studied extensively in nutrition and agrees that Clif bars are a good snack item.

 

Yeah clif bars are probably better for you, but the extra factor in backpacking food is weight. My buddy did the PCT and snacked on a lot of snickers because they are light compared to the amount of calories that they provide

 

Ok, "dude", care to put UL thru hiking in layman's terms for those humble few of us who aren't so well-versed?

 

Ultra-light (UL) lots of miles and lots of days (thru-hiking, though there's probably a better definition, that's my understanding of it). Basically the really intense backpackers. Even with low miles or short trips it's a lot more comfortable to have a light pack, and that means having light food, like snickers over clif bars. My friend that hiked the PCT taught me about all the food stuff that he had that was high calories per gram, but I don't remember it...I have it in notes somewhere, though.

 

I'm totally into stoves and cooksets. My latest go-to for all regions is my Toaks 1100ml pot with frying pan lid, and the Toaks gasifier stove. All are titanium and nest within each other. I used to carry the Solo stove and it works great, but went to the titanium setup because it's lighter, and when nested gives me more space inside the cookset to put utensils, soap, scrubby pad, tinder, firesteel, etc. Everything needed to cook, eat, and clean up in one set and never need to carry fuel again.

stove -

$60 TOAKS Titanium Large Collapsible Wood Burning Stove – Ultralight, Compact & Durable for Backpacking, Camping, and Survival

http://www.amazon.com/TOAKS-Titanium-Backpacking-Burning-Stove/dp/B00SA2H05I

pot -

$49 TOAKS Titanium 1100ml Pot with Pan

http://www.amazon.com/TOAKS-Titanium-1100ml-Pot-Pan/dp/B009MZHRKU

I can still fit a small canister of butane fuel mix with a micro stove, too. That way, if I have a fuel can failure or I run out, I can burn wood, pinecones, or any biofuel as a backup. The stove has a dual combustion system so it burns with much less soot than cooking over an open flame. Plus I can boil a full pot of water with just a fistful of small sticks. Very efficient.

 

Snake skins! Best thing for hammocks. Set up and take down is super easy and fast.

Which Klymit did you get, Static V, V2, etc...? Also how do you like it for warmth sake? We have been debating on buying/making under quilts, but have been thinking of making a reflective barrier to hang just under the hammock and connect to the main ridge line to stay warmer in colder weather. Basically looking for lighter ideas to stay warm because the UQ's are usually pretty bulky.

Also you clip into your tree straps? What's your setup? We are debating about ditching our carabiner, O-ring method to connect to the tree straps to save on weight as well. I am not totally convinced because you never know when a quality carabiner can help you out until you don't have one available.

Switching from kayak camping to hiking camping is a big difference in what you actually need versus luxury items. So I like to get as much info as I can.

 

I have an original green Static V, and I just bought a Static V camo (so the wife can use the green one). Both are uninsulated for weight/storage reasons. They work great either under your sleeping bag as an excellent wind/cold barrier, or put it inside your sleeping bag for additional warmth (your body heats up the air in the pad). I also always carry a small 5x7 poly tarp that has mylar reflective material on one side which can be used under my sleep system but on top of the hammock as a good wind barrier and heat reflector. When I don't need it for that, I use it as a gear cover on rainy nights. You could also rig up the poly tarp under the hammock as a wind barrier and still a heat reflector, but I haven't tried it that way yet or needed to. It would also make a good ground splash protector on those really hard downpours, I guess.

I use tree straps. I liked the simplicity of the Grand Trunk ones that are just a double run of thick black cord tied in knots at about every 1' or so. Comes with a tree saver sleeve. I like them because they don't stretch even with my fat ass, and the knots can be untied and re-tied in exactly the right spot you want. They come as a pair, and give you about 4' of reach per strap when hung on a 1' diameter tree, and of course less reach when around bigger trees. I hang them in the back yard around these 2 large 2' diameter stucco pillars, and I get a little more than 3' of reach with each one after they're wrapped around and secured.

My hammock came with decent caribiners so I still use them. Makes hanging a breeze. My tarp is hung with thin cordage, tied to the ends of the built-in ridgeline, and then around the same trees as the hammock. I rigged up some little guyline tighteners and some small metal s-biners since the tarp isn't load bearing. I never attach my tarp to my hammock straps because of the flex and stress it would put on the tarp. Always hang them separate.

I'm testing out the setup tomorrow actually in a colder weather trial than I've done before. We'll be down in the 30's at night, and that's the coldest I've used it yet. I'm going lightweight, so I'm only bringing hammock/overtarp and just my military sleep system goretex bivy without any sleeping bag. Just going to bundle up in clothes, get in the bivy, and hope for the best. Not even bringing my Static V or my poly tarp. Wish me luck.

 

I am a huge fan of inov8 boots and shoes. I have these for winter

Inov-8 Roclite 286 GTX Hiking Boot,Dark Slate,8.5 M US

http://www.amazon.com/Inov-8-Roclit...TF8&qid=1425511443&sr=8-1&keywords=inov8+boot

Shop around and you can get them a lot cheaper. One site had a 50% sale at one point.

In the summer I just have some inov8 trail running shoes and couldn't be happier.

 

Always wanted to try them but they don't make them in my size. So many fans of them, really sucks.

 

You'll find that each of those brands fit different than the others. They're all good brands, I'd find an outfitter with inventory and spend some foot time.

 

Can anyone recommend a good 3 person tent for backpacking?
I've been looking for one that isn't going to cost me a fortune....

I've been leaning towards more of a Mountaineering style tent due to all the Backpacking style tents I've seen so far are all too open up top. It seems like half the tents are mesh...not what I'm looking for.

I do like the look of these:

The North Face VE 25 Tent​

(3 Person, 4 Season Mountaineering Tent)

Mountain Hardwear Ev 3 Person Tent​

 

Super overkill for most backpacking. What conditions are you planning on using the tent in? Winter? Fall? Spring? Summer? Camping in torrential rain on purpose?

 

The reason for mesh is both weight reduction and ventilation, what is it about the mesh that you don't like? There are hundreds of tent styles these days, there's one for you without a doubt. Give a little info on what your usage will be, what seasons you'll be experiencing, if you wake up to a tremendous rainstorm and go camping anyway or if you just need a tent to handle occasional rain, etc,.

Weight and budget concerns?