Angela goes Packin'

[tibber]

EDIT: Ripped from Digital Cameras by joe

Okay, okay. I'll get the backpacking equipment first but I'm still going to be looking at all 3 of those cameras once the Sony comes out. I definitely want a 20x zoom as I am a zoomer big time and don't want to carry extra lenses.

And Te-Wa, I've been looking at this site and printing out the various lists that say what I should buy for the backpacking thing. Page Rob also gave me some advice last year too. You just don't realize how much you really need.

[te_wa]

You just don't realize how much you really need

what you dont realize, as most dont realize, is that you dont need "much"
shelter, hydration, nutrition, sleep - in that order of importance (a little human interaction dont hurt either) ;)

tell me your needs. what seasons do you want to camp in? for how long, 2 days or 12?
that is all i need to know to assemble a complete gear list for you that will represent your skill level, caloric needs and areas you camp.
i can offer a few good suggestions on Pack/Shelter/Pad/Bag (the big four)

shelter should be small, simple. using your hiking poles to pitch a shelter gives you many lightweight options. you'll need them for creek crossings anyway, right? so lets explore the 'double' and even 'triple duty' of your gear items. Thats one example, for a start...
companies like six moon designs and henry shires tarptent offer spacious shelters for less than two pounds, total weight. they dont force you to accept a 'coffin' (read: msr hubba) to get a low tent weight.

pack should have ability to carry a day's gear and food, but have capability to expand via compression system or enlarged collar so you can do 4-5 day trips. some of the favorites are the highly functional Osprey Aura 50 or the slightly less so Granite Gear Vapor Ki. If you want even lighter, the gossamer gear mariposa and the ULA conduit are both at or just over 1 lb

you will want some sort of pad on the ground, to offer warmth but comfort also. see the Big Agnes insulated air core pad. Also, Thermarest has a new one out called the NeOair mat. You may find that a 2/3 length pad works, as the lower legs tend to require little padding and not much for warmth, many use their empty packs as a leg pad in conjunction with a short pad to save bulk and weight.

get a small <3 oz canister stove. vargo ti jet, msr pocket rocket etc.. and a cheap, imUSA mug from walmart. they are aluminum, light as heck and cost $4
dont fall for the hype of titanium.. its heavier than aluminum and a cookpot could cost $50 or more!

the sleeping bag is no place to skimp. beware mnfg's claims of temp rating, such as a bag that weighs 1 lb but claims a 20° rating. If it looks too good to be true, it is. This is where you're going to spend some good coin - a high quality down bag that is true to rating will last 20 years of properly cared for - forget synthetic - too bulky, low life span.
if you want the cadillac (or porsche) of down bags, look at Western Mountaineering. the 'ultralite' is made of Kobe filet mignon, 1943 cabernet, and truffles (not really, but I think you get the idea)

throw in some Ramen and chopsticks and you,re golden

[tibber]

I can't believe you think I need a whole thread to get me packing... lite and cheap if possible; still want to get that camera.

Okay here goes: I want what I need to do a 2-nite stay initially. My associate and I are considering a trip to Fossil Springs, Aravaipa and in the Supes. No cold camping yet. Oh, I don't think I can do the hanging thing either. There is a good chance we'll be doing creek crossings, in and out of water.
Snakemarks also has given me some ideas on a tent and sleeping bag/pillow. However, she seems used to a heavy pack already. I'm just used to lifting the barbell and weights in my strength classes :wlift: , ha!

I don't have a thing other than my camera and in fact, I even have to get new light hiking boots as Kat says my tread is pretty warn... thanks to all these hikes we've been going on.

[joebartels]

I can't believe you think I need a whole thread to get me packing...

I did that cause it doesn't really have anything to do with the other thread. I was just being funny with the subject line

[Grasshopper]

I can't believe you think I need a whole thread to get me packing...

You can't backout now kid-o!

[midnightwaps]

I think my biggest piece of advice to keep the gear to a reasonable amount is to try to stay away too much from the "what if" factor. Of course you want to go prepared for emergencies, but you don't want to get too carried away on that train of thought. For example, what if I fall in the creek crossing and my socks get wet? I better take an extra pair of socks. Well, I have been clumsy lately, and with the tread on my boots so worn, I may slip more than once. Hmm, I'll throw in one more pair of socks. Before you know it you've got 12 pairs of socks for 2 days. Of course, I exaggerate, but if you go crazy packing thermals and tank tops for every day because the weather is unpredictable, you'll get stuck carrying a lot of stuff you don't need. Don't forget, it's okay to be smelly when you're backpacking! I do love me a dry pair of socks for sleeping in though!

[hippiepunkpirate]

Hmmm....I guess all I have to offer at this point is moral support. Go Angela!

[te_wa]

look up

[RedRoxx44]

Get a good fit on that pack, someone to help if needed, if you order online make sure good return policy (usually not a problem)
Mike's pack suggestions and sleeping bag suggestions are right on the money. I like Osprey myself and have several of their packs. I recently obtained a Go-Lite pack with large capacity for some longer trips I might do.
I have the Western Mountaineering Ultralight and Summerlight bags. Excellent quality and the summerlite for me is good for summer and shoulder season packing.
I haven't joined the tarp contingency so I either use a bivy ( definitely an acquired taste!!) or a tent. Black Diamond Hilight is the one I use currently and it is huge for one person, pretty light, and does the job except in very rainy conditions where you'll have condensation, it's a single wall epic type fabric.
I carry one small pot, a plastic cup and that's it beside stove and fuel.
As I get older I like comfort, the sleeping pad suggestions from Mike are again very good. I have several Insulmat's I find work well, and have been using the 3/4 length to save weight. I don't like to feel the ground under my hips and shoulders as I am a side sleeper, and I have never had that problem with these, and I camp on lots of rocky places.

Think of what you can use for mulitple things. Short trips don't really require a lot of this. Longer trips a little more. ( Like if I tear up my pants can I hike out in my rain pants or long underwear). Or, take some duct tape. On second thought take that anyway. ;)

[PaleoRob]

Duct tape is key.

Letty is dead on with the pack fit sugestion. If your pack fit poorly, it won't matter how light and cool all your gear is.

I know most people think I'm crazy, but I'd really recommend looking into a new external frame pack. You hear talk about how bulky things are, and needing X capacity for Y days. With an external frame, it doesn't matter how bulky an item is (to a reasonable extent, you don't want to be toting 2x4s). If it is strapped down good to any tie-down point on the exterior, it won't slap or bounce around.

I really like my Eureka Zeus Exo tent. Packweight is 3 pounds, but it is a two person tent with super-fast setup and takedown. On our Grand Gulch trip, I had my tent up before Chris had his hammock up. It just has two poles, is freestanding (a plus in bare rock/slickrock areas), which some of these one person tents from REI aren't on both counts. Some of those same REI tents even weigh more! Yet you've got enough room for two people plus a dog inside the tent with gear in the vestibule, or as solo tent you've got room to bring your pack and boots inside (keep out the scorpions, etc. ) with room to actually move around a little. On our GG trip, I was able to toss an extra backpack in my tent to protect it from the weather. You can't stand up inside, but there's enough room to kneel, which makes getting changed a bit easier. Just my take on a tent I've had lots of experience with. I've been using it since fall of 2003, and still love it. Have used it in cold and snow several times, forests, desert heat, etc. Still in love. I believe it also comes in a one-person version.
Downsides to it, for full disclosure. Ventilation is poor in conditions where you can't leave the vestibule open. The front door is all mesh, but with the vestibule closed the mesh doesn't allow a whole lot of air movement, so condensation can form. In cold weather,that isn't the most fun, but if there's no chance of precipitation just leave the vestibule open. A minor downside is that it takes 8 stakes. Not really a deal to me, but maybe something you'd consider?

Obviously you're going to get a bunch of opinions, often differing opinions, on this site. But there are a lot of people on here, so there are probably one or two people who can comment on the gear you're thinking about since they've used it at one point or another.

[JoelHazelton]

If you're like me, bad ventilation is a deal-breaker with tents. I can't sleep if I feel like I'm in a sauna. Rob- I've slept in a Eureka Zeus once. I think it was an older version, because don't they have a newer version out? Either way, after an hour or so the condensation was literally dripping off the walls of the tent. I was also sick at the time, so it made for a terrible night of sleep.

I know this isn't one of the more repurtable brands for backpacking gear, but I've got a Cabelas XPG 2 person tent. It's actually a really, really great tent. I've camped with that tent and with the REI backpacking tent, and the two seem virtually identical.

One other piece of advice: Pick up Cody Lundin's "98.6 Degress: The art of keeping your @$$ alive." Great book. Out of all of it, I think my favorite bit of advice was to wrap the brightly colored duct tape around everything, including about half the roll around a flashlight to make a new duct tape roll.

[PaleoRob]

If you're like me, bad ventilation is a deal-breaker with tents. I can't sleep if I feel like I'm in a sauna. Rob- I've slept in a Eureka Zeus once. I think it was an older version, because don't they have a newer version out? Either way, after an hour or so the condensation was literally dripping off the walls of the tent. I was also sick at the time, so it made for a terrible night of sleep.

Yeah, its not for everyone. Like I said, though, if you keep the vestibule zipper partway or all the way open, ventilation is great, and I'm able to do that unless its raining or snowing.

[Jeffshadows]

I would rate hydration 1000x higher than shelter, but that's just me ;)

[PaleoRob]

I would rate hydration 1000x higher than shelter, but that's just me ;)

Good call. Most folks can find shelter in an emergency, but water is precious.

[Jeffshadows]

Te-wa doesn't need no stinkin' water...Te-wa is a BEAST!!

[writelots]

I can't believe you think I need a whole thread to get me packing...

Are you kidding? I think the only thing backpackers like more than talking gear is... okay there isn't anything. You should see some of our club hikes. 10 backpackers in the middle of the most beautiful place in the world, standing around a collection of poles and nylon going 'well, it isn't as good as the tarptent squall, but it's okay'. Incredible. And a newbie looking to gear up for the first time? Whoa. That's like gear-nerd nirvana. Good thing this is internet so you don't have to face the excited drooling.

I'd pretty much just agree with Te-Wa (after all, he is my self-appointed anti-hero) on most of what he has to say - especially about the sleeping bag. This should be the most expensive piece of gear you own, and I can tell you after years of suffering with cheap bags that a high quality down bag is worth it's weight savings in gold. If you're concerned about cost and have a little time and energy to spend, look for used gear. SO many backpackers buy something, use it a couple of times, then realize something else is better/lighter/has better toy value. There are lots of forums and yahoo groups where people unload gear (craigslist can be good, too).

Another good way to go is to borrow gear for your first couple of trips - try out some different options before you commit financially to one "discipline" or another. For example, you can test out bivy vs tent, hammock vs tarp, thermarest vs big agnes, external vs internal frames etc. Because your comfort level will be completely unique to you, this gives you room to adjust without taking chunks out of your pocketbook (and leaving you, like me, with an attic full of gear!).

I do disagree with Te-Wa about the ramen, however. You can do SO much better...

[Jim]

Are you kidding? I think the only thing backpackers like more than talking gear is... okay there isn't anything.

If you don't talk about gear does that make you less of a backpacker?

[Jeffshadows]

Are you kidding? I think the only thing backpackers like more than talking gear is... okay there isn't anything.

If you don't talk about gear does that make you less of a backpacker?

I know, I've been using what works for a long time now. ;)

[Jim]

Are you kidding? I think the only thing backpackers like more than talking gear is... okay there isn't anything.

If you don't talk about gear does that make you less of a backpacker?

I know, I've been using what works for a long time now. ;)

Now I don't feel so emasculated.

[JoelHazelton]

My sleeping bag is the cheapest backpacking gear I own... Eureka Casper sleeping bag... I hate it. The zipper broke on it once so I exchanged it for the same bag. The zipper hasn't broken yet, but it definitely doesn't live up to it's +15 degree rating and it's just not very comfortable. It works though, so I can't justify spending the money for a new oen quite yet.