Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Looks like a nice jacket! Looks like a nice jacket for just being out and about. Which is something I need. My lightweight jacket is a bit to light to be just in the pouring rain. But I go from ultra light jacket to my ski jackets

 

I think it will be the perfect pack jacket. Something better than the cheap lightweight one I carry, but not too heavy so I'm not dying in a summer storm. I hope it breathes ok when I'm hiking though.

 

Looking into the Eureka Apex 2XT as a recommendation from my friend who does a lot of hiking. Will be using it primarily in FL... Any comments on the tent?!

 

I love my Garmin 60CSX. My only disappointment is that most places I hike I don't need it to find my way.

I have a Garmin Nuvi in my Tacoma, streets are a lot more confusing than trails.

 

That just means you need to go find some new places!

 

Yeah jackets are always hard to figure out exactly what will work great and what wont! My current one is a nice lightweight one that does ok in rain. Had it in heavy rain for ~2:30 hours and it was leaking through. But its my summer jacket so I don't expect to have it in heavy rains...and if it is heavy rain im crawling into my tent lol.

I just need to find a bit heavier of a jacket for spring/fall that I like

 

My backpacking friend has one, and I saw it in use on a recent trip. He had him and his black lab retriever in it with plenty of room for his pack. The vestibule option is always nice for leaving extra gear outside but protected, like boots. It seemed to breathe well even zipped up, and that's always a plus.

I found its pack weight to be more than I wanted to carry. Definitely are some lighter weight options out there, but he didn't seem to mind the weight of it just for himself.

Recommend that you waterproof it real good first. Get the seams really well, then work on the broad sides. Just like all tents, for the most part. Other than that, it's a decent value for what it does and for the room it has.

 

Good input! I agree a phone rocks for GPS - love my iPhone 6. But I expect zero cell service along the NE/SD border out in BFE. I don't think GPS works with the iPhone without cell service.

 

That's awesome! Reading up on it now. Not sure how you pre-download maps if you're miles from service. Surely there's a way. Good to know you can at least get rudimentary GPS everywhere!

 

I picked up an REI half dome 2+ a few days ago and used it last night up in Four Peaks az. It rained all day and we even set the tent up in the rain. Picked the flattest spot that wasnt in a depression that we could and stayed dry and warm all night! It poured for a couple hours too

I'm planning on using the tent poles, rain fly and footprint in the summer for a light open shelter when its raining and the bugs arent out of if/ when I go to the beach

 

Does Apple have the "Maverick" mapping app? That's what I have for my android. Automatically saves any maps at any zoom that you view. The unfortunate part of that is that you have to look at everything with every zoom level that you want first.

 

Did you buy the one I linked to? They're a great tent for the money, and specs. Glad you liked it!

 

Yep, thats the one of my buddies actually bought one a few weeks ago and it looked good and set up really easy. Then you posted it and I decided to pull the trigger.

 

I have one and love it !! I've had it in hellish wind and rain and never had a problem with it, BUT mine is the older model that has the rain fly that goes all the way to the ground all the way around. The new version has the arched ends on the fly.

 

Awesome. What color did you get? When I bought ours it was only available in their yellow/orange color. I'd rather have that nice subdued green myself.


You'll have to let me know and take pics if you can of the fast fly setup. I've never done it

 

I got the darker orange color, its the only color they have left. I wanted the green but its growing on me.

You have to buy the groundcloth separately to set it up like that. Ill take pictures next time i set it up!

I didn't think to take any pictures of the tent when it was set up but this is what it was like that morning on the drive out. It was insanely green from the very wet winter we've had and this is maybe the 5th time I've seen fog much less driven through it on steep mountain roads

 

That's my favorite kind of weather.

I have the ground cloth, I use it everytime to protect the bottom of the tent floor since most of our ground is rocky, stick filled clay with the occasional dusting of dead pine needles, and then I use it to keep sap off the floor.

We've had ours for 4 years, I think? I believe I bought it the first year that tent was released (the HD 2+). No problems with it at all except a few runs in the no-see-um mesh, most likely due to my fiance being hasty with it and a combination of sharing the tent with the dog a half dozen times. My big ass, my fiance and our 60 lb dog make for a cozy night in there but it works for now, I plan on picking up an REI Kingdom 6 or Kingdom 8 for a new car camping tent. We've been using the Half Dome 2+ as a primary tent since it's the only one we have. Holding up great.

 

It was an awesome change from how it normally is here! I couldn't see bringing my dog with 2 people in this tent that would be a little cramped. I have pretty much the same plan but a cheap large tent

 

Cramped for sure.. dog usually ends up laying between my legs on top of the sleeping bag. I'd love a little bit of extra length since I touch both ends, but the price is right and it's not an issue, just a minor annoyance. It's a palace for me when I'm solo.