Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Don't use compression sacks. On ANY thing. It's not good for any fabrics or fills. And once compressed, all you have is a football. Imagine packing several footballs in your pack... lots of dead air space.

 

Do you feel the same way about stuff sacks? I use to put my sleeping bag in the stuff sack it came with but there have been a couple of times I just stuff it into the sleeping bag compartment of my pack without the stuff sack. I feel like it fits easier and not as clumpy.

 

No. I use stuff sacks. Even when crammed, they give some malleability to the bundle and you can form fit it into your pack. Compression sacks have no give and it's just bad to the gear.

 

How does it damage the fabric? I've seen companies advertise sleeping bags and down equipment in a compressed sack and sold it as a advertising point by how small it packs. My marmot bag has been compressed for nearly 10 years and shows no damage or loss in loft.

 

Synthetics will lose between 30% and 40% of loft (sleeping bag, jackets...) down is not as susceptible to the continuity loss. However, the fabric that holds the down loses integrity over repeated compression.
Never ever store any gear compressed.

 

Agree 100% with above notes on compression sacks. Have used them for shipping expedition gear, but never at home and seldom backpacking. Even down can be damaged over time with them, it will break a few of the down plumules each time, and they will never loft up again. Eventually, too many are damaged and you'll lose loft permanently. (former manufacturer, importer, designer...retired)

 

I use one of these:

GSI Outdoors Collapsible Java Drip

https://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-Collapsible-Java-Drip/dp/B00CHGML4S . GSI Collapsible Drip thingy..you just put in a filter (not required, but I do anyways) and add coffee. Pour your boiling water over the top of it. It just rests on top of your cup and makes a tasty, strong cup of coffee. Super simple and effective.

 

I vacillate between those Folgers single-serving tea bag style packets and just making cowboy coffee. Depends on how lazy I feel while I'm packing, lol.

 

I've got one of those too. It's served me well.

Perhaps I'm trying to be too simplistic in my coffee approach.

 

It works well for me because I'm pretty satisfied with just a single cup in the morning. I'm not much of a coffee snob, but I can totally see it being not enough for some people who appreciate more of the luxurious camping trips. I've heard some really good things about french presses for camping as well. I think a few of the big name companies..GSI/MSR/Jetboil make some decent ones.

 

Thankfully I don't drink coffee, or I'd have more weight in my pack and another thing to make. My hot drink of preference on the trail is a chicken bouillon cube in some hot water. Yum! That soothing warm broth is good at night or in the morning, and you get some salt and fat. I'll carry a couple pouches of hot chocolate, but the broth always brings me back to earth.

 

Well, I found a new obsession...

https://lighterpack.com/

 

Probably not the best for those watching their pack weight, but Stanley makes a vacuum mug with a french press built in.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Classic-Vacuum-Travel-Press/dp/B0187Z6I5U

 

Agreed. I just bring it car camping.. The Starbucks Instant Coffee's are what I take backpacking.

Edit: That Stanley Mug weighs 15oz. The GSI Drip thing weighs 6.4oz. Probably still lighter even after you add coffee and a filter.

 

Use a JetBoil and get their coffee press

 

Yea, thats why I said it'd be good for car camping and not backpacking.

But you can also use it without the press just as an insulated mug. I'm not sure how much of that weight is the mug and how much is the press, but I'm sure the majority is the mug.

They also have a couple other coffee makers. Nothing is light weight but that isn't really Stanley's thing..

http://www.stanley-pmi.com/store/stanley/en_US/pd/productID.5057822000

http://www.stanley-pmi.com/store/stanley/en_US/pd/productID.324177700

 

Haha, yep. It's fun plugging in stuff you wanna buy to see how much lighter you'll be as well.

 

It's great because you can share it with hiking friends who are a little behind on their gear. Much easier than answering the "what should I bring?" question.

 

Go Ti

https://www.rei.com/product/708069/...dYV-Tp1kxAQq-RhNI7ou_M6hSoIeygJn48RoCJpTw_wcB

 

I drool over the snowpeak stuff