redneck white boy hiker needs new gear

“Well, walmart didn't exactly cut it for the last hiking trip (not to mention the stuff weighed ~50 lbs), so I need to gear up for the upcoming summer and fall hikes... I already have a Dana Design Pack (a little heavy but it'll do for a while until i go lightweight), a katadyn hiker water filter, and a nalgene bottle (I had 10 bucks left thanks to damn gas prices and i had to get something for the gearhead in me so i stopped at rei in atlanta on the way back and got... a water bottle). So basically everything else really needs upgrading... heres my picks from lookin at backpacker gear guide (March 2004). and btw I do mostly Smokies / GA / East Coast hiking.

Tent
MSR Missing Link - 3lbs - $230 or
Black Diamond Lighthouse (freestanding) - 2lbs 14oz - $369

Sleeping Bag
EMS Mt Light 20 - 2lbs 2oz - 20F - $199 or
Kelty Light Year 25 - 2lbs - 25F - $150 or
Sierra Designs Cloudripper - 3lbs - 20F - $219

Sleeping Pad
Insul Mat Max Thermo - 1lb 8oz - $55

Lights
Princeton Tec Yukon HL - 8oz - $45 (on ebay)
Backup light - black diamond moonlight - 3.2oz - $25 (yes im a gadget freak)

Stove / Cookware
Primus Micron - 2.6 oz - $45
Evernew Titanium Mountainlite Deluxe - 1lb 2oz - $90

Trekking Poles
Rei traverse - $75 - 10.5oz or
Lifelink Guide Ultralight $99 - 7oz

OK so that's pretty much what im considering, Ive never really used much good (read: not from walmart) gear, so suggestions would be great! Thanks!”

“If you plan on doing most of your camping below tree line three seasons, get a Hennessy Hammock...just tried mine out this weekend and wow!

Don't get the Evernew cookset...I have it and it sucks! Get a non-stick Aluminum set like the GSI hard anodized aluminum.

Your backup light should be something like a Photon Microlight 3.

Sleeping pad...Therm-a-Rest Prolite model, any.”

“my suggestions:

tent
silnylon tarp - $1/yd.

light
pulsar2 $8

stove
pepsi-G (or other home made)free”

“Oh, and the Tikka Plus puts out enough light for me, lasts forever, and weighs only 2.5oz. Cheaper too.”

“For the sleeping bag, check out the Kelty Clear Creek. Its a lot cheaper (around 80 bucks) and about the same weight. 20 deg rateing has kept me warm in the Smokies in the dead of winter and on high ridges in a snowstorm.”

“For cookware, just get a grease pot at wal mart, it'll cost about 8 or 9 bucks and work just fine, prolly weigh less too.”

“Also, if you wanna save some cash get the 20 dollar each trekking poles at Target.”

“hey dub, whats the photon 3 got? did they make it waterproof or something ?”

“Tent
Henry Shires TarpTent

Sleeping Pad
Thermorest ProLite 3 Short 13 oz.

Lights
Couple of keychane led lights

Stove / Cookware
Primus Micron - 2.6 oz - $45
Evernew Titanium 0.9L or 1.3 L cookpot, you only need one pot, not a set.

Trekking Poles
Sierra Trading Post can have great prices”

“I'd save the money you plan to spend on a sleeping bag and wait for a sale on a better bag.”

“The Photon III is very cool...it has these features that the other two don't:

1. Toggle pinch-switch allows you to scroll through lighting options, select from three different light intensities and three different strobes
2. Light shuts off automatically after one minute”

“ahhh. waterproof though?

thats the one thing i don't like/needs to be improved on the photon / pulsar 2's”

“Sleeping Bag
WM HighLite
1 pound wonder, weight on my scale of my very used one is 17 oz.
I am a very cold sleeper and this bag has become my favorite for temps above 38 degrees. This bag kept me warm at 38 degrees with me wearing nothing but shorts and tshirt in it.
You'll cook above 60 degrees.”

“Take a look at this cook kit I made for the AntiGravityGear CookPot.
I like this pot a lot more than the WalMart Grease Pot, and just as cheap.”

“nice suggestions... i like the cheapness of them, but i have to have my princeton tec yukon (i used a friends on the last trip and it was the shizit).”

“www.actiongear.com check out the Lumatec Ultralife headlamp its just like the petzl Zipka but its only 15 bucks 2.4 ozs”

“I'd spend the bulk of your $$$ on the sleeping bag. Maybe the afore mentioned Western Mountaineering or maybe a nice Marmot bag. If you are not going with a hammock, I recommend the Tarp Tent or perhaps the Tacoma Tarp from Dancing Light Gear.”

“That Tacoma Tarp, for $60, is a steal.

Dancing Light makes some pretty sweeeet gear.”

“Actually that link is to the "Light Tarp", not the larger Solo Tarp. The poster did say that he/she was going light. Yes, I always thought the Tacoma Tarp with sewn-in bug netting would be an excellent shelter for the $$$ and weight-minded hikers.”

“I'm going light, but not uber ultralight... Im aiming for ~15lbs or so, Im usually gonna be hiking with another person so I need something like the MSR...”

“Stove I love my WM Ultralite bag!!! It weighs so little and smooshes down to next to nothing! I am glad I got it. It probably would have kept me warm the last night in Ocala.”

“If you have a roomie, I would suggest the Cloudburst, lighter, cheaper, more room.”

“I don't have a MIssing Link but I've seen a few in action and have talked to the owners...great tent.”

“Free gear in used condition is more welcome than expensive new gear. I'm very availabe for free gear.”

“IMHO, put the bulk of your decision process on boots.

You will have more intimate contact with them than anything else you have outside of the pack, which should be third on your list.

Second is sleeping bag.

Fourth would be rain gear and shelter.

Remember, price does not equal quality.

I have a $29 Eddie Bauer Tent (albeit is was on sale marked down from 119) that has been bomb proof, relatively light (for a two man tent) and durable. My next shelter will be a silnylon tarp.

The most expensive piece of gear I have is my sleeping bag. One cold night will make you miserable for the entire trip.

I have analyzed the cookstove/cooking gear situation and if I am going on a low mileage social gathering, the dragonfly and cookset come in handy for coffee and a wide variety of meals.

However, it I am solo or planning on hiking more mileage, I am equally convinced a pepsi can stove and one cup are more than sufficient.”

“chili - i disagree with the boots.

i like a cheap, but comfortable pair of sneakers.

i go pretty light though.”

“There is one thing about gear.

It is all subject to personal preference.

If one type/brand was perfect, there would be a lot of bankrupt companies.”

“no way.
what are you an idiot?
my thoughts are right.
you have no idea what you're talking about.

oh. oops i thought this was a fuego thread. sorry.

ya, right on chili. to each his/her own.”

“That's why I usually don't bother with threads like this, <G>”

“I love my Asolo's I wear them all the time!

Bag: Marmot "never winter" is a good one 20 degree down fill, less then 2 lbs for $140, compresses to the size of a grape fruit....

Binks at www.backpackingdeals.com has some cool stuff too....”

“I have the Evernew 1.2L and 0.9L. 1.2L for 3 season, both if I expect to melt snow.

But these were a reward to myself after years of backpacking.
Just starting out, get some dollar store or Walmart aluminum with a good fitting lid about quart size and with a broad base. Get the Ti in a few years if you are still backpacking.
The handle is important, think about how hot it can get.

Stove - any canister, cheaper is better.

Dana is a good pack.
Water filter is good.

Do get a good ground pad. Ridgerest is very good, inexpensive, and does not get punctures. Only drawback is bulk, get a 3/4 for neck to bum and put the pack under your legs when it is really cold. Again in 2 or 3 years if you are still doing this get a full length Thermarest LE and have 2 inches of luxury padding.

The two items you spend the most time in are your boots(or other footwear) and sleeping bag. Spend some time on selecting them, spend the money on getting good ones, but realize that although the "you get what you pay for" means good stuff is not cheap, a high price is also no guarantee of suitability for you. The best boots are no good if they do not fit right, ditto sleeping bag if it is too short or does not have enough shoulder room.

Tent is your home, gotta keep the water and bugs out.

Rain gear, perfect example of high price not necessarily better, Marmot Precip is great, pants and jacket. Keep the water and wind out.”

“I need a new headlamp ...i wanna go super bright with a good spot..if anyone has a good used one,or can recommend one please hollar..”

“Princeton Tec APEX 200 Lumens

4 modes low (area light), medium, High(oh my gawd), and Strobe.

http://www.princetontec.com/?q=apex”

“I've had good service from the 3 led version, this new one has a spot.

http://m.advanceautoparts.com/mt/shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_x_10090080-P_x_x?cm_mmc=CSE-_-Google-_-VALUE3-_-VALUE4&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=”

“1camper she said BRIGHT...lol, 36 Lummens? how you going ta signal tha Space Station with THAT?!”

“"She" prolly doesn't want to haul around, gasp, 4 AAs. Lol.”

“the battery pack sucks as a pillow too”

“moonshine is a male”

“279 grams reminds me of the old Petzel Zoom. That's heavy. I found most P-tec lights are too blue for my liking, like white light.”

“Moonshine, go to Walmart in the sporting goods section and get an eveready headlamp for $14. I've had the expensive Petzels and others and they don't hold up any better. 3 AAA. Can't go wrong”

“My last two eveready's from wal-mart are only good for watching my pecker when I pee. The stupid swivel won't stay tight and it falls down.”

“I just got done trying out use of a Western Mountaineering MityLite + one of these silk sheet liner things that promises an added 10 degrees. Found it nice and toasty warm on a damp, windy, 36 F night in just shorts, socks, poly turtleneck, and my cap inside the tent. YMMV, I'm a fairly warm sleeper as long as my head, feet, and back of my neck are toasty.

Personal preference, I'd say spend your $$ on boots, tent, sleepybag, and good food for the trip first myself. I've got an alcohol stove I built from cans + windscreen / pot holder built from a piece of old stove pipe tube (single walled) and a handle-less old cheap pot that are doing great for cooking. They may not be the lightest ever, but they get the job done for not unreasonable weight.”

“Lol OPIE...Exactly what happend to me..had to turn it upside down and add some cardboard to get right angle..bought another but it shines like my old buggy lantern.was lookng for a finer spot to shine longer distance. ...anyway thanks for all the help folks,ill check into these suggestions ...Moonshine”

“Another to consider is the newest version of the spot:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-2012-Black-Diamond-SPOT-Headlamp-90-Lumens-LED-torch-BLACK-/200669977781”

“That's a lot of lumins....”

“I concur with the BD Spot or the Wal Mart Eveready with the single large LED.



SuperTroll, don't we all wish we could run into a cute female hiker way back in the wilderness who goes by 'Moonshine'?”

“Yeah, guess my imagined image of MISTER Moonshine will change to an old Crock Jug with three XXX's on it...”

“Ide like to see a couple of nice jugs about now”

“..da debil made me doo it....”