Ultimate Camping Thread

That looks almost like a full tent.

 

So Patagonia is going to stop making shoes, and my wife and I have a pair of these:
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mens-drifter-a-c-all-terrain-shoe?p=79668-0&pcc=1128
which are perhaps the best all-around hiking or backpacking shoe we have ever found. Even though we don't "need" new pairs right now, we each bought another pair because it is likely they will never exist again. She already had a regular and a goretex version, and just bought another regular pair to stash in the closet. I have a regular pair, and just bought a goretex pair just now for when conditions warrant goretex.

She has always had terrible problems finding anything that will work with her weird heel shape. These were the silver bullet for that issue. They fit like a slipper (on both of us), no break in, vibram soles that are nice and sticky, hard to beat. They have a "waterproof" version too, but that got mixed reviews.

If you are looking for a killer shoe/mid boot, try these out now and snag them while you can. Zappos has them...

http://www.zappos.com/patagonia-drifter-a-c-gore-tex-sable-brown

http://www.zappos.com/patagonia-drifter-a-c-canteen~2

 

Golite is awesome, I have one of their backpacks.

 

I still have one of their older packs. I think it's called the speed. It weighs 24oz and super comfortable.

 

So because I was didn't know better for the longest time I left my down bag in the compression sack. Yes I learned a few months ago this was bad. Anyways I have had it hanging up and it still seemed to have lost a lot of Loft due to it being compressed all the time. Today I tired something I saw on the REI site. I washed it on gentle in a front load washer. Of coarse when I pulled it out it was a lumpy mess because the down clumped together. So I keep following the steps and let it air dry in the AZ heat flipping it every so often and turning it inside out a few times. It got about 80% dry this way. Then I threw it in the dryer on ultra low and tossed two tennis balls in there with it. It worked great! It could use one more spin in the dryer on no heat with the tennis balls. Stoked I was able to save my down bag and not having to buy a new one.

 

If the bag didn't come with one, get a large cotton storage sack. REI sells them for a few bucks. They help retain loft in the material.

 

First time I've heard of this being a "crisis"

 

I have two Teton Sports sleeping bags that have been fairly good. They get put in the compression bags for trips and when I get home they are pulled out, fluffed a bit and gently folded and put into large plastic trashbags with the compression bag. This method keeps them in good shape and will hopefully lend to their longevity.

 

Just did a trip to the Red River Gorge this weekend. Supposed to still be down there right now but had to call it due to serious flash flooding. Our camp sat about 10 ft above the river and yesterday I was down there cleaning up and the water was just over the tops of my feet. not even 6 hours later, here is what I came back to from a day hike.







We had to cross this stream and go up stream about 20 yards to get to our camp site. It wasn't the smartest move but we had no choice. Then we had to cross again with our 40lb packs on. The butt pucker factor was at an all time high here.


overall... this trip was a bust! First bad trip I have had in the 9 years of backpacking and 20 years of camping. Guess I was due.

 

At least nothing bad happened.

 

Think of it as an adventure and hope it goes better next time

This^

 

Hey guys so new to camping I havent even been yet! But I am an outdoorsmen by all means. I surf all year round through NJ winters, beach fish for striped bass through all kinds of weather even North Easterns, and I even work outside full time, along with some other hobbies its easy to say I hate being inside. I am gearing up and modding my truck to start my new camping hobby, my main goal is to camp in other states. Really glad I just saw this thread. Looking forward to some stories and pics in here along with sharing some of my own once I get out and about.

 

Come down to Big Dogs event in Gore, VA for some camping and wheeling.

 

My trucks not quite ready yet, plus there's a lot of family things happening right now that for the next few months my free time is slim to none. Along with waiting for sliders to be shipped and in need of y pipe reroute to put the rest of my skids on. Although I do plan on getting to Va. In the near future, my sister in the Navy just moved there and my gfs aunt lives there. I do look fwd to pics of the Big Dogs event as I do love pics! And look fwd of venturing out of jersey, I'll hit ya up when that's possible.

 

This weekend camping trip

 

I love challenges like this! Variables in the trip that you don't prep for really test your creativity and ability to adapt, which many times is what backpacking is all about. Love it!