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ninjavanish · 09-09-2013, 09:23 AM

Rob,

Reccomendations will largely depend upon the type of camping you're planning on doing. If you are planning on being able to drive to within a few yards of where you'll be camping it will make a huge difference in the size and weight of the gear you buy. If you're backpacking you'll need to take into consideration the weight and packability of the items you purchase.

Personally I like to do both depending on the circumstances. So I have two very different sets of gear. Since you did mention that you have a good pack already, I'll assume that means you're planning on having to tote all this stuff with you so I'll base my rec's on that.

Anyone who has ever watched an episode of Survivorman knows there's a few essentials that Les seeks out before anything else. Now, that's not to say that you're going out on a survival trip, but the Eagle Scout in me knows to be prepared, because a fun weekend trip can turn into a survival situation in a matter of seconds.

1) Reliable Knife - Victorinox Hiker is my personal choice. It's compact, doesn't weigh a ton like a bulky Leatherman or other multi-tool and it has enough versatility to get just about any job done if you have a little ingenuity. Personally, that tiny little saw blade that seems too small to be useful has actually saved my and my cousins life before.

2) Clean Water - Katadyn Hiker Microfilter. This water filter will pump gallons of clean pure water in a matter of minutes. It eliminates all the really dangerous stuff and more (Giardia, etc.) it also has an easily replaceable filter and weighs less than 1lb. Pro tip: Carry a handful of coffee filters and a rubber band to put around the intake hose if you're filtering extremely muddy water to prolong the life of your filter.

3) Fire - Carry with you at least 3 different ignition systems. Lighter, waterproof matches and a magnesium striker. You never know when you're going to get out into the wilderness and find that you didn't tighten up the cap on your gas can and now you've got nothing to cook with. Cavemen have been starting fires for millenia, with a little practice and the right tinder, you can start a raging fire with little more than a piece of steel wool and a flint with striker.

4) Shelter - Personally I've used a lot of different types of tents. There's a lot of different ones to choose from so my reccomendation would be to find one that has features you think you'll use (ie. External vestabule for storing gear, gear hammocks inside for essential items like flashlights, radios, etc, and a manufacturer's warranty of at least 2 years.) Eureka makes good tents at reasonable prices. I personally have used Bivy's made by Slumberjack for extreme lightweight single person camping. But my favorite is my North Face Rock 22 (which I think has been discontinued). The North Face makes very good stuff. But you'll also pay a premium for these tents.

5) Sleeping Bags - Again, there's a lot to choose from here. I'm fairly tall at 6'3" and find many of the mummy bags to be just too damn short and uncomfortable. If that's not an issue for you then don't worry about it and buy a regular sized bag. If it is, look for in an extra long or with a cantilevered foot. It makes a world of difference. I have a Slumberjack that's a 0 degree bag and a Coleman Xtreme that is a 32 degree bag. You'll need to know what to expect when choosing a sleep system. If you're planning on backpacking in South Florida in the middle of summer, do not spend the money on a 0 degree bag. If you're planning on camping in the Yukon in the dead of winter, look for something with a rating of at least 10 degree below the expected low temperatures.

6) Sleeping Pad - A Must-Have item for any camper or backpacker. Sleeping on the hard Earth may seem rugged and manly if you've seen too many westerns like I have, but trust me. It sucks. You get cold. There's always a root sticking you right in the kidney and no matter what you do, you're going to have a horrible night and wake up tired. Therma-rest makes awesome products ranging from large sizes to minimalist backpacking types. Pick one that's self-inflating.

7) Stove - For backpacking, I prefer white gas. I use the MSR Whisperlite. Now, white gas can get messy and carrying around a bottle of ligquid fuel can pose its own risks, but I like the versatility of it and the fact that on full blast this thing will bowl water in like 4 minutes or less. I also had used a Peak 1 Liquid Propane system for a while. It's nice, but in cold weather it loses some of it's heat and carrying a bulky 1lb LP bottle in your pack isn't the most space saving method.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___47307

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___40217

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80076

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___55812

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___90058

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28572

09-09-2013, 09:23 AM	#2
ninjavanish Feeling at Home Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Trust me, your humi isn't big enough. Posts: 507 Trading: (16)	Re: CAMPING GEAR Recommendations Rob, Reccomendations will largely depend upon the type of camping you're planning on doing. If you are planning on being able to drive to within a few yards of where you'll be camping it will make a huge difference in the size and weight of the gear you buy. If you're backpacking you'll need to take into consideration the weight and packability of the items you purchase. Personally I like to do both depending on the circumstances. So I have two very different sets of gear. Since you did mention that you have a good pack already, I'll assume that means you're planning on having to tote all this stuff with you so I'll base my rec's on that. Anyone who has ever watched an episode of Survivorman knows there's a few essentials that Les seeks out before anything else. Now, that's not to say that you're going out on a survival trip, but the Eagle Scout in me knows to be prepared, because a fun weekend trip can turn into a survival situation in a matter of seconds. 1) Reliable Knife - Victorinox Hiker is my personal choice. It's compact, doesn't weigh a ton like a bulky Leatherman or other multi-tool and it has enough versatility to get just about any job done if you have a little ingenuity. Personally, that tiny little saw blade that seems too small to be useful has actually saved my and my cousins life before. 2) Clean Water - Katadyn Hiker Microfilter. This water filter will pump gallons of clean pure water in a matter of minutes. It eliminates all the really dangerous stuff and more (Giardia, etc.) it also has an easily replaceable filter and weighs less than 1lb. Pro tip: Carry a handful of coffee filters and a rubber band to put around the intake hose if you're filtering extremely muddy water to prolong the life of your filter. 3) Fire - Carry with you at least 3 different ignition systems. Lighter, waterproof matches and a magnesium striker. You never know when you're going to get out into the wilderness and find that you didn't tighten up the cap on your gas can and now you've got nothing to cook with. Cavemen have been starting fires for millenia, with a little practice and the right tinder, you can start a raging fire with little more than a piece of steel wool and a flint with striker. 4) Shelter - Personally I've used a lot of different types of tents. There's a lot of different ones to choose from so my reccomendation would be to find one that has features you think you'll use (ie. External vestabule for storing gear, gear hammocks inside for essential items like flashlights, radios, etc, and a manufacturer's warranty of at least 2 years.) Eureka makes good tents at reasonable prices. I personally have used Bivy's made by Slumberjack for extreme lightweight single person camping. But my favorite is my North Face Rock 22 (which I think has been discontinued). The North Face makes very good stuff. But you'll also pay a premium for these tents. 5) Sleeping Bags - Again, there's a lot to choose from here. I'm fairly tall at 6'3" and find many of the mummy bags to be just too damn short and uncomfortable. If that's not an issue for you then don't worry about it and buy a regular sized bag. If it is, look for in an extra long or with a cantilevered foot. It makes a world of difference. I have a Slumberjack that's a 0 degree bag and a Coleman Xtreme that is a 32 degree bag. You'll need to know what to expect when choosing a sleep system. If you're planning on backpacking in South Florida in the middle of summer, do not spend the money on a 0 degree bag. If you're planning on camping in the Yukon in the dead of winter, look for something with a rating of at least 10 degree below the expected low temperatures. 6) Sleeping Pad - A Must-Have item for any camper or backpacker. Sleeping on the hard Earth may seem rugged and manly if you've seen too many westerns like I have, but trust me. It sucks. You get cold. There's always a root sticking you right in the kidney and no matter what you do, you're going to have a horrible night and wake up tired. Therma-rest makes awesome products ranging from large sizes to minimalist backpacking types. Pick one that's self-inflating. 7) Stove - For backpacking, I prefer white gas. I use the MSR Whisperlite. Now, white gas can get messy and carrying around a bottle of ligquid fuel can pose its own risks, but I like the versatility of it and the fact that on full blast this thing will bowl water in like 4 minutes or less. I also had used a Peak 1 Liquid Propane system for a while. It's nice, but in cold weather it loses some of it's heat and carrying a bulky 1lb LP bottle in your pack isn't the most space saving method. http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___47307 http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___40217 http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80076 http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___55812 http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___90058 http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___28572