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RedLamaya
My husband and I are planning on buying camping a tent and sleeping bags for warm weather camping. What are good brands of camping gear? Any advice on what to buy? Please help.
planning on buying a tent...** oops! didnt see the mistake!
Answer
Like most things, it depends on what is more important to you - price or quality. If you are into backpacking (or have limited packing space) than size and weight are going to be a factor (the lighter and smaller something is, the more expensive it is going to be).
REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) is a great national chain of outdoors stores found in most large western cities. They also have a good web site with a gear finder. In addition to carrying major high-quality brands, they also have their own line of gear (tents, sleeping bags, jackets, etc) which generally gets good reviews and is reasonably priced for the quality. Their salespeople tend to be outdoors enthusists who know their gear and can give good advice. Another good online outdoors product store is Campmor.
REI's Half-Dome tent is probably the most popular 2-person tent among backpackers and their Element water-proof clothing line is also well respected. Other top-ranked brands include Marmot, MSR, North Face, Mountain Hardware, and Kelty. While usually not top of the line, Sierra Designs has a reputation for being a good compromise of quality and cost if you are on a budget.
Backpacker magazine does a best-in-class Gear Guide issue every year. For this year, the best warm weather sleeping bags were the Marmot Atom and Helium bags (best quality) and the Kelty Light Year series (best value). Top ranked tents included the MSR Mutha Hubba (large - car camping), Marmot Aeolos, and the REI Mountain 2. Outside Magazine (and website) also has a good gear guide and reviews. Their recent top-pick tents include Sierra Designs Reverse Combi and (for large car-camping tents) the REI Hobitat and Eureka Blue Mesa. For bags, they recommend the Marmot Atom (quality) and Big Agnes Crystal (value).
Coleman brand (and Wenzel) is what you will typically find in big department stores (most noteably Walmart). It is inexpensive, but also tends to be very heavy, bulky, and not always the highest quality. They are a good choice for things like ice chests, kerosene laterns, and car camping cook stoves, but I would be hesitant to buy their tents (which have get bad marks for leaking in many reviews) or sleeping bags which tend to be cumbersome. They are probably fine for car camping at established campgrounds, but I would certainly never use them if you are considering backpacking or remote undeveloped campsites where weight is important and staying warm and dry is critical.
Be especially careful about what tent you buy - contrary to some comments above, not all tents are equal, and many lower priced brands (and even some higher priced ones) have a tendancy to leak around the seams. Another thing to watch out for is how well the tent ventilates. Even if rain does not leak in, a poorly ventilated tent will cause condensation ('sweating') to form on the inside which is almost as bad as leaking.
Like most things, it depends on what is more important to you - price or quality. If you are into backpacking (or have limited packing space) than size and weight are going to be a factor (the lighter and smaller something is, the more expensive it is going to be).
REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) is a great national chain of outdoors stores found in most large western cities. They also have a good web site with a gear finder. In addition to carrying major high-quality brands, they also have their own line of gear (tents, sleeping bags, jackets, etc) which generally gets good reviews and is reasonably priced for the quality. Their salespeople tend to be outdoors enthusists who know their gear and can give good advice. Another good online outdoors product store is Campmor.
REI's Half-Dome tent is probably the most popular 2-person tent among backpackers and their Element water-proof clothing line is also well respected. Other top-ranked brands include Marmot, MSR, North Face, Mountain Hardware, and Kelty. While usually not top of the line, Sierra Designs has a reputation for being a good compromise of quality and cost if you are on a budget.
Backpacker magazine does a best-in-class Gear Guide issue every year. For this year, the best warm weather sleeping bags were the Marmot Atom and Helium bags (best quality) and the Kelty Light Year series (best value). Top ranked tents included the MSR Mutha Hubba (large - car camping), Marmot Aeolos, and the REI Mountain 2. Outside Magazine (and website) also has a good gear guide and reviews. Their recent top-pick tents include Sierra Designs Reverse Combi and (for large car-camping tents) the REI Hobitat and Eureka Blue Mesa. For bags, they recommend the Marmot Atom (quality) and Big Agnes Crystal (value).
Coleman brand (and Wenzel) is what you will typically find in big department stores (most noteably Walmart). It is inexpensive, but also tends to be very heavy, bulky, and not always the highest quality. They are a good choice for things like ice chests, kerosene laterns, and car camping cook stoves, but I would be hesitant to buy their tents (which have get bad marks for leaking in many reviews) or sleeping bags which tend to be cumbersome. They are probably fine for car camping at established campgrounds, but I would certainly never use them if you are considering backpacking or remote undeveloped campsites where weight is important and staying warm and dry is critical.
Be especially careful about what tent you buy - contrary to some comments above, not all tents are equal, and many lower priced brands (and even some higher priced ones) have a tendancy to leak around the seams. Another thing to watch out for is how well the tent ventilates. Even if rain does not leak in, a poorly ventilated tent will cause condensation ('sweating') to form on the inside which is almost as bad as leaking.
Best gear for a 100-mile hike in the summer?
Q. Imagine that you can outfit yourself for free for a 100 mile hike in a summer's week of diligent walking. You're trying to be inconspicuous and have as little contact with other people as possible during that week. Much of the hike will be cross-country, but a good bit will be along the roadside also.
What brand and size backpack would you choose?
What shoes (make & style) would you wear? For example: New Balance trail running shoes or Montrail hiking boots. (Specify model name if you have a preference.)
What shelter and bedroll would you carry? Tent or hammock? What make? Sleeping bag or just a blanket? (Remember, it's a summer hike.)
Would you carry along a camp stove, and if so which model?
What sort of toiletries, tools and cleaning items would you take along?
What sort of clothes would you wear: fabric, cut, color?
What kind of food & drink would you carry, and how much?
What would all this stuff volume & weigh? Can you carry that much in the pack?
What brand and size backpack would you choose?
What shoes (make & style) would you wear? For example: New Balance trail running shoes or Montrail hiking boots. (Specify model name if you have a preference.)
What shelter and bedroll would you carry? Tent or hammock? What make? Sleeping bag or just a blanket? (Remember, it's a summer hike.)
Would you carry along a camp stove, and if so which model?
What sort of toiletries, tools and cleaning items would you take along?
What sort of clothes would you wear: fabric, cut, color?
What kind of food & drink would you carry, and how much?
What would all this stuff volume & weigh? Can you carry that much in the pack?
Answer
I did the 93-mile Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier last summer. A lot of what you ask depends on where you are hiking. Is it likely to be cold at night? Will you likely encounter bad weather (we had a snow flurry in August)? Is the trail level and well-maintained or will you be bushwacking through heavy plant growth and having to scramble up slopes?
There is a lot of personal preferences with stuff like this, but here are my picks:
Packs - For light and fast, I love my Kelty Shadow. It is very light, but still has plenty of pockets and padding. On the Wonderland, I took my big Kelty 50th Anniversary Special (6500 cu in) external which comfortably handled a 50lb load on long trails. For what you are talking about, you will need to carry at least 25-30lbs and probably want at least a 4000 cu in pack.
Shoes - After trying a wide range of hiking boots with varying results, I have settled on the REI Monarchs which have proven comfortable and rugged. If you are carrying a heavy pack, you will want the ankle and arch support of a hiking boot. You are asking for a sprain with trail runners. Trekking poles can take a lot of strain off knees and legs.
Stove - the JetBoil is the biggest backpacking invention since GoreTex. One of these puppies can boil a liter of water in 2.5 minutes, they use minimal fuel and pack up nice. I have stopped camp cooking entirely and just carry a JetBoil with freeze-dried food.
Water - Water is heavy. You don't want to carry more than a gallon at a time (less if you can). If you are away from civilization, you will need to filter water out of streams and lakes. I like my SweetWater backpacker filter because it is easy to pump and easy to clean. I carry most of my water in a 3-liter camelbak bladder (max capacity, min weight) with an extra 1-liter Nalgene bottle to drink out of in camp.
Don't forget electrolytes (the salts and minerals you sweat out). Some people carry gatorade or Gookinade packets, but these can be heavy and bulky from the extra sugar and flavors. Elete electrolyte concentrate contains enough drops for 16 liters in a little bottle the size of TicTac box.
Clothing - Avoid cotton. It does not try quickly. Synthetic cloth (nylon, polyprop) are the way to go (but becareful around fire) because they dry quicker and wick away moisture. Those zip-off pants that can turn into shorts are great for backpacking. Avoid carrying too much clothes - mix and match so you can dress in layers depending on the weather and always keep one set dry at all costs to wear in your tent (wet = cold). Invest in a really good rain shell (waterproof, comfortable, breathable). Marmot has some good ones - so does REI.
Tents and sleeping bags - If it is going to be warm the whole time, you can probably get by with a little fleece liner bag and one of those little emergency solar blankets as a fall-back. Many ultra-l
I did the 93-mile Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier last summer. A lot of what you ask depends on where you are hiking. Is it likely to be cold at night? Will you likely encounter bad weather (we had a snow flurry in August)? Is the trail level and well-maintained or will you be bushwacking through heavy plant growth and having to scramble up slopes?
There is a lot of personal preferences with stuff like this, but here are my picks:
Packs - For light and fast, I love my Kelty Shadow. It is very light, but still has plenty of pockets and padding. On the Wonderland, I took my big Kelty 50th Anniversary Special (6500 cu in) external which comfortably handled a 50lb load on long trails. For what you are talking about, you will need to carry at least 25-30lbs and probably want at least a 4000 cu in pack.
Shoes - After trying a wide range of hiking boots with varying results, I have settled on the REI Monarchs which have proven comfortable and rugged. If you are carrying a heavy pack, you will want the ankle and arch support of a hiking boot. You are asking for a sprain with trail runners. Trekking poles can take a lot of strain off knees and legs.
Stove - the JetBoil is the biggest backpacking invention since GoreTex. One of these puppies can boil a liter of water in 2.5 minutes, they use minimal fuel and pack up nice. I have stopped camp cooking entirely and just carry a JetBoil with freeze-dried food.
Water - Water is heavy. You don't want to carry more than a gallon at a time (less if you can). If you are away from civilization, you will need to filter water out of streams and lakes. I like my SweetWater backpacker filter because it is easy to pump and easy to clean. I carry most of my water in a 3-liter camelbak bladder (max capacity, min weight) with an extra 1-liter Nalgene bottle to drink out of in camp.
Don't forget electrolytes (the salts and minerals you sweat out). Some people carry gatorade or Gookinade packets, but these can be heavy and bulky from the extra sugar and flavors. Elete electrolyte concentrate contains enough drops for 16 liters in a little bottle the size of TicTac box.
Clothing - Avoid cotton. It does not try quickly. Synthetic cloth (nylon, polyprop) are the way to go (but becareful around fire) because they dry quicker and wick away moisture. Those zip-off pants that can turn into shorts are great for backpacking. Avoid carrying too much clothes - mix and match so you can dress in layers depending on the weather and always keep one set dry at all costs to wear in your tent (wet = cold). Invest in a really good rain shell (waterproof, comfortable, breathable). Marmot has some good ones - so does REI.
Tents and sleeping bags - If it is going to be warm the whole time, you can probably get by with a little fleece liner bag and one of those little emergency solar blankets as a fall-back. Many ultra-l
Title Post: Advice on Camping gear?
Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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