Camping gear recommendations
- Thread starter proZach
- Start date
.lencon
Active member
Invest in a good sleeping pad instead of a sleeping bag. Comfort and insulation will go a long way. You don't need to spend lots of money on sleeping bags unless you start going crazy places where it gets super cold. So yeah sleeping pad>sleeping bag.
Also brand wise I've had great experiences with Kelty and North Face
Also brand wise I've had great experiences with Kelty and North Face
wizard_of_aahhhs
Member
To save money go to sites like geartrade and MEC gear swap. Find a 3 season tent, or just use a tarp and a hammock, super lightweight and way easy to set up, very comfy to sleep in as well. Dont spend more than $150 on a new sleeping bag unless you are doing winter camping in 5 below. Buy a mummy bag for around $100-150, make sure its down or synthetic down, if its still too cold go buy a liner for the bag, they are like $45 and add about 25 degrees to your sleeping bag. If you need a backpack make sure to go to an REI or other store and try some on, Osprey makes great packs if you are willing to throw that much cash at them.
Static
Active member
13699655:1kewldewd said:
REI tents suck, I bought a kingdom 6 for this summer, really poor quality materials, the zippers snag every single time, it's easy to set up so I'll give it that but honestly it's junk.
Kelty is the best value brand, plus they have a way better warranty than REI which recently went from lifetime to 1 year.
patagonialuke
Active member
suggestions depend greatly on what you're using it for. If you're car camping then just go with the cheapest bag/pad/tent that corresponds to the weather you're anticipating. If you want to use this stuff backpacking, it's an entirely different story. Investing in better gear that cuts weight is well worth it imo. If you think you'll get into more hiking-intensive trips later on I suggest getting good gear. Don't get a down bag with 650 fill or less, at that point it's basically as heavy as synthetic and costs more. MH Lamina bags are pretty much the best synthetic bags, and they're still cheaper than most mediocre down bags. Thermarest pads are fantastic- I recommend Neoair or prolite. From my experience, REI tents are pretty good for the price- the quarter and half dome's are loved by many. Check out outdoorgearlab.com for great reviews on camping gear.
.Rybak.
Active member
I have no clue how old it is but I've used my friends North Face rock series tent on multiple occasions. It's extremely easy to set up and get in and out of. It's nice to be able to take the fly off when you know that there isn't a chance of raining so it's almost like sleeping under the stars minus the bugs.
Unfortunately the only gear experiences I have are with friends and not my own. I agree with posts from before though. You need to invest in a good sleeping pad otherwise you aren't going to have a good time once it starts to leak.
Unfortunately the only gear experiences I have are with friends and not my own. I agree with posts from before though. You need to invest in a good sleeping pad otherwise you aren't going to have a good time once it starts to leak.
JGWI
Active member
I'd recommend trying out a hammock and seeing how you like it. When it comes to hiking trips I personally think they are a billion times more comfortable than tents even without a pad and easier to set up. Nothing sucks more than waking up in the morning with a sore back and knowing you have to hike 25 miles. They also work good for camping, however, keep in mind that your stuff will probably have to stay outside over night. Hennessy and eagle nest make good products.
CabbyArrant
Member
13699705:Static said:
Honestly I think MSR, Big Agnes, and North face make better tents and you can sometimes find really good prices on those
jca
Active member
13700067:JGWI said:
I have a Hennessy and it's fantastic but they get pretty cold so having a sleeping pad that fits in it is essential. Also you still need to have good trees/structures to tie on to but if youre below the alpine that's not usually a problem. The best part about it for me is being able to set up your camp on uneven ground where it wouldnt be possible to set up a tent.
Randy_Quench
Active member
13699678:proZach said:
13700056:Tinga said:
This. Check out Amazon if you need something cheap. Ozark Trail (essentially the walmart brand of tents) sell for almost nothing. Pretty sure I got mine for less than $20 shipped and I've used it for "fishing and slugging beers" camping maybe two dozen times. When I go on more serious camping trips I use it for my dog to sleep in.
ggfski42
Member
I spend a lot of cash on camping gear, but most of the time you really get what you pay for, and I know what I want specifically. That being said, my friend has an Ozark Trail tent from Walmart that he has had for over 5 years and it is running strong.
Go cheap on your first set of gear, and get experience in what features or lack of, suits you the best. Then once you really know what you want, you can feel confident in spending the big bucks to get what you need.
My personal faves: M.S.R., Arc'teryx, Marmot, Osprey, Mountain Hardwear
If I was to suggest one brand for your current situation, Kelty would be my pick hands down. Their products sell for about 1/2 of what the above listed brands go for, and Kelty is pretty decent stuff IMO.
Go cheap on your first set of gear, and get experience in what features or lack of, suits you the best. Then once you really know what you want, you can feel confident in spending the big bucks to get what you need.
My personal faves: M.S.R., Arc'teryx, Marmot, Osprey, Mountain Hardwear
If I was to suggest one brand for your current situation, Kelty would be my pick hands down. Their products sell for about 1/2 of what the above listed brands go for, and Kelty is pretty decent stuff IMO.
proZach
Active member
so I ended up gettting a tent off steepandcheap, as well as some sleeping pads that should fit the bill. Got some cheap sleepings for now as well. Like what was recommended, I'll use this for now and hopefully do some more "advanced" camping in the future, grabbing gear then.
on a slightly related note, trying to buy my girlfriend a kayak. Also, have 0 idea how to look around for these. Just as she can sit in it and paddle in a call body of water. Cup holder preferred
on a slightly related note, trying to buy my girlfriend a kayak. Also, have 0 idea how to look around for these. Just as she can sit in it and paddle in a call body of water. Cup holder preferred
Baja_Blaster
Member
the Sun Dolphin Aruba SS have some good reviews but i suggest you just go to a boating store and fine one that's comfortable for you
Huck_Norris
Active member
I just want to give the broad recommendation of a well-breathing synthetic fill sleeping bag if you're a sweaty sleeper.
I personally enjoy having a good stove, and a grill grate. You can make a fire just about anywhere and set up a grill grate to cook meat and shit on. A nice stove is awesome for boiling water, making coffee, cooking ramen or other snacks, or any morning food when you dont want to make another fire. My JetBoil is sweet and really light when I want to backpack with it, doesn't take up a TON of space in the end.
CTD
Active member
13700056:Tinga said:
I've got the 30 dollar ozark trail tent from walmart and I love it. Used it for 3 years so far. Its a tent. Its really lightweight (seriously, lighter than some much pricier tents) and is reasonably waterproof. the zipper likes to snag, but thats the only thing I can fault it for. Tents are ridiculously overpriced, the only reason IMO to spend mega coin on a tent is if you plan on going out in adverse conditions, as there the higher quality fabrics will keep you more dry, but who likes to camp in the rain?
Wal mart actually has some decent outdoors stuff, you should be able to get alot of shit for cheap there. another good site i'd check out is www.gofastandlight.com, lots of handy stuff on that site.
Baja_Blaster
Member
13701208:CTD said:
Yeah ive used an ozark trail sleeping bag for 2 years and it keeps me warm and is pretty good quality except for the zipper