Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Easy. In fact, you could use the room divider and have two 4x5 rooms. Everything packs up into a backpack (included)

 

Just found this thread. Not sure I'll read through all of it, but absolutely agree on these items. I do a bit of hiking and run at least once a week with the hash house harriers (drinking club with a rnning problem). My Mountain Hardwear kilt and Five Fingers are my preferred running/hiking apparel.

Bought the El Kommando kilt in May for a 2400 mile roadtrip to Utah that included hiking at Bryce Canyon, 4 days of running in Brian Head, Cedar Breaks, and various slot canyons around the outskirts of Zion. Been worn on several weekend hikes and camping trips, as well as regular runs since. Can't beat the freedom, comfort and ventilation. Only complaint is the narrow belt. I want to open up the belt channel to fit a wider belt.

Five Fingers are just plain amazing. Early experiences with the Flows weren't so great as seams split and immersion in water led to cracking insoles. I returned them for a refund but couldn't stay away for long. Purchased a pair of komodosports and wore them to a buddy's wedding later that day, then hiked 8 mi roundtrip with 4000' vert into snow the next day. They can do anything! I've had 5 pairs (not counting flows) including kmdsports, kmd ls, spyridon ls, and kso. Kmdsport are my favorite with the spyridon a close second. Unfortunately, I broke 3 metatarsals when I fell off a rock wall while running in my spyridons, and the toes healed a little shorter. Now those toes tend to pull out of the toes in the spyridons. The upper may be a little more durable than other models, but it just doesn't fit or hold its shape as well.

If only vibram would make a shoe with the spyridon's luggy sole (siped of course), steel mesh insert, and the komodo upper....

 

Sweet. My main hope for the K6 is to be a car camping tent for when we have a kid and save the backpacking tent for backpacking. The 2 of us plus our dog makes for a tight fit, she basically lays on top of me. I'm not saying which "she" I'm referring to.

Definitely agree on the belt, it'd be nice if it was a nice, wide strap. I have a 6 year old pair of KSO Trek's and they're still perfect, my buddy has gone through maybe 10 pair in 4 years and all of them had sole de-lamination or blow outs on the seams. I did a lot of research before I bought them and heard about the problems they had, so I went over every stitch and every inch of sole to check for flaws and bought a pair that was as perfect as could be, and been enjoying them ever since.

What did you hike in before the kilt? I had REI Sahara convertible pants, in the hot summers here I'd wear the shorts and even still, the difference in the shorts and the kilt as far as every function goes is night and day. Kilt FTW

 

I've gone through several shorts and pants, but I found Kühl products fit me best and hold up to abuse better than most. I particularly like the Z Cargo short and Renegade pant. Wish they reinforced crotch/inseam a little better though

 

I wear a couple pairs of pants that I got from lapolicegear. I cut 2 pairs of them into shorts and havent been able to destroy them climbing or wearing them all the time yet! Cant beat that for $20 a pair!

 

I'm too uh.. portly.. for Kühl.

 

Me too Pee -- 6-1 245. That's what doctors call "obese."

 

6'6 280.

 

Pssh.... I'm 5' 11", 255.... just gotta pick the right style. Most of their pants dont fit my thighs.

 

All caught up on the thread, so some of my favorite gear.....

ENO Doublenest and mosquito net when needed. Noah's Tarp, 12', if it rains.

Sierra Designs Antares 3 ($25 brand new at a REI garage sale) for when weather gets crazy or if gf or dog come with. Still haven't convinced gf that she can survive a night in her hammock.

Coleman propane stove- have a couple- or fire for cooking.

I have a couple Outdoor Products collapsible silicone bowls. They're great! Easy to wash and store. Handle hot liquids, no problem. Last time out, I learned chipmunks also like them.

My packs aren't anything special but I find them comfortable. Cheap high sierra reservoir back pack ($20ish Costco deal) with frame/support removed for short hikes. Old (like 2001) K2 backcountry board/ski backpack for overnight/camping/travel. Its starting to fall apart now and haven't found another anywhere near as comfortable.

For protection, I often take Scottish terror (yes, terror not terrier) along on trail.

 

What style you wear?

 

The Renegade Pants are listed as "full" style on Kühl's site. They provide room for my butt and thighs, and are slightly stretchy as well. I've been abusing them for two and a half years. Seams in the crotch just recently let go. Otherwise they show surprisingly little wear.

The Z Cargo shorts were the first Kühl product I purchased. They are roomier in the butt and thighs than most of the company's other shorts, and have an adjustable built-in "belt" to improve fit in the waist. They took a year and a half of weekly hashes (hardcore off-trail running... for beer), regular hikes, and almost daily use in the summer, before they split in half climbing a waterfall.

I've also had good experiences with the Ambush Cargo shorts and Krux.

 

Had that problem at the store the other day; I went shopping for a nice pair of jeans and grabbed a pair of skinny jeans without realizing it. Couldn't even get those damn things halfway up my thighs. I've never considered my quads to be overly muscular, but apparently they're huge.

 

In terms of gear, let's go super fundamental and basic and recognize 550 para cord and a half decent 12x16 tarp. We learned the night before leaving the Gunflint Trail that it would be raining hard the next morning. We really didn't want to pack the bed with the tonneau up in a downpour. So, before sundown we made a makeshift shelter over the bed using the cord, tarp, and trees. Never go camping without para cord and a couple tarps. Saved our asses.

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Shock cord and tarred bank line are also great to keep with you.

 

Interesting...

http://youtu.be/A2UieBX3gBw

 

The portability is intriguing, but not sure it'd be worth the $300 asking price.

http://www.gosunstove.com/shop/gosun-stove/

 

Two things I've been meaning to pick up, but I always decide to make do with the 550 cord. Shock cord makes a lot of sense.

Somewhat related... I got tired of being disappointed with the Home Depot tiedowns I'd been using and upgraded to some SmartStraps from the local Northern Tool. Securing cargo for camping trips won't be a PITA anymore.

 

I present to you Niteize Gear Ties. You may have seen them at Home Depot. They come in about eight different lengths. They're rubber coated wire that are totally pliable and strong. Photos below show a few of their countless uses. Straps, air hoses, extension cords, lantern hangers, sleeping bags, etc...

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