i am slowly, oh so damn slowly, trying to build up my outdoor gear.

vash · vash's Garage

i posted awhile back about shopping for a sleeping bag. i still havent gotten one. i did buy an ultralight air mattress for backpacking. i thought i would freeze sleeping on a pad of air, but the pad i bought has that silver lining that reflects heat back. my skinny ass friend said it was warm. i bought one, but have yet to try it out.

then i found out about a small USA company called "KIFARU". daaayyyyummmm! they make the coolest stuff. i am about to order their 20 degree bag which is almost 2lbs lighter than my current marmot bag. their bags are priced right..

check out their TIPI selection!! it would be perfect for elk hunting camp. their tarp tents are sick. what about their 2 lbs extreme backpack!!?? this gear gathering is going much too slowly.

man, i think i have a gear addiction! i need to get back to fixing my 911 to save money.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

The air pads are surprisingly good. I have a big agnes that I love...

The Kifaru stuff looks flashy, but their pack looks a little 1980s tech. No organization, and the suspension system leaves a ton to be desired. A big bag with some shoulder straps will not be comfortable. A superlight pack is useless if it isn't comfortable, and that thing just looks like it would hurt when loaded down.

How is their customer service?

patssle · 02-28-2012, 07:29 PM

Great thing about outdoor stuff - you buy it once, you buy it for nearly life. Buy quality up front and it'll be worth it's stuff later. I'm using the same tent and sleeping bag I bought 3 years ago when I started my post-college travels. Same hand-held GPS too. Heading to Hawaii in 2 weeks and they will all be in the suitcase.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Yup, I've been using the same Kelty frame pack since late '06. Got in a quite a few miles and days with it... My Marmot tent is still in excellent shape, but I'm leary of using it in bear country, due to the chicken grease spill thing I mentioned in another thread here. I'm still considering murdering the DB responsible....

aigel · aigel's Garage

Buying gear makes you anticipate the trip and look forward to it. Unfortunately being part of the working population gives you more time to plan and buy gear than actually going out.

I still hope to be between jobs some day for a few months to really use my stuff and live out of my truck ...

G

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I'm thinking I may have a few months next summer to kill, I may throw all my gear in my car, and hit the road....

Evans, Marv · 02-28-2012, 08:37 PM

All of my stuff dates from the early '70s and '90's, except for boots which wear out about every 800 miles of use. I just bought a pair last year & probably will never wear these out. As long as my equipment is in good shape, I won't replace it. I used a pack from 1971 until the frame broke in 1992. The one I still have is the replacement.

sc_rufctr · 02-28-2012, 09:07 PM

I just had a look at the Kifaru site and they have some cool stuff.

I especially liked their field chair.

https://kifaru.net/fieldchair.html

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Hmmm. Looks interesting, but I'd like to be up off the ground and have a head rest. For 6 more ozs I'll stick with my Sling-Light.

Superman · 02-28-2012, 09:31 PM

I have a friend who is an "ultralight" backpacking guy. Takes groups of kids on trips several times a year. Anyhoo.....his gear, all of his gear except consumables (food, water, fuel) weighs........are you ready for this......SEVEN pounds. Including the clothes on his back (minus the footwear) and including his backpack.

sc_rufctr · 02-28-2012, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

I have a friend who is an "ultralight" backpacking guy. Takes groups of kids on trips several times a year. Anyhoo.....his gear, all of his gear except consumables (food, water, fuel) weighs........are you ready for this......SEVEN pounds. Including the clothes on his back (minus the footwear) and including his backpack.

Because he does it several times a year that doesn't surprise me. I used to cut off most of the handle of my toothbrush to make it lighter.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

I have a friend who is an "ultralight" backpacking guy. Takes groups of kids on trips several times a year. Anyhoo.....his gear, all of his gear except consumables (food, water, fuel) weighs........are you ready for this......SEVEN pounds. Including the clothes on his back (minus the footwear) and including his backpack.

tent?

tarp?

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

less room in the garage now that you have that set 0 fuchs back i reckon?

Superman · 02-29-2012, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Because he does it several times a year that doesn't surprise me. I used to cut off most of the handle of my toothbrush to make it lighter.

Yup, the handle of his toothbrush is cut also.

Randy, he uses a fairly small "sil-nil" (silicon-treated nylon) tarp, which is held up by a trekking pole. He carries a mosquito covering for his head only, for sleeping, when mosquitos are likely to be encountered.

He dehydrates his own meals. Eats like a king. Wears pants with legs that zip off. Uses dental floss for string and rope.

Evans, Marv · 02-29-2012, 09:45 AM

I guess that's OK, but I like some extras like my sun shower. Nothing beats a warm shower in the backcountry.

Bill Douglas · 02-29-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

i need to get back to fixing my 911 to save money.

LOL, yes there certainly is some cute stuff that JUST has to be bought.

Boots. I've come to the conclusion that you don't want boots that are extra strong, extra waterproof, extra everything; you want light. I wear light weight running shoes. When you are walking with heavy footwear it's stomp, stomp, stomp 2 kilos, stomp stomp 2 kilos. With light, stomp, stomp stomp 300 grams. Sure if you are going out in real sh it conditions, but I stay home if it's like that.