Camping Gear Thread

[Silverback]

LOL... Send it to me Chris.. I'll test it out.

 

[Silverback]

I remember back in the day, maybe '80, my best friend got a boom box (recall boom boxes were the shit back then) and it had a cassette player, am/fm radio AND a maybe 5" black and white tv built in. Holy shit was it cool!! I remember watching TV on it, just because we could. Rabbit ears FTW!!

 

[Silverback]

I think this was it... Google is your friend.

 

[tx_shooter]

Wow.... that makes me really glad to have my smart phone.

 

[Silverback]

This was the equivalent to a smart phone back then. Well maybe not because not everyone had one. It was good to have divorced parents back then... they had to one up each other. LOL

 

[TacoXpo]

This was the equivalent to a smart phone back then. Well maybe not because not everyone had one. It was good to have divorced parents back then... they had to one up each other. LOL

Lol. So true. I remember a guy at school who's father gave him a brand new Duntov Corvette to prove that he loved him more. The next year he bought him a Formula Ford. Another guy (my roommate) a 911 and a house with a pool. The kid ripped open the wheel wells to the Porsche when he brought it back from winter break. He bought chains but failed to put on tensioners! His dad flew out the next weekend to buy him a Turbo 280. He total led it within a year. I know that shit wouldn't have flown had mom and dad were together.

 

[TacoXpo]

 

[Oswego]

Some pretty cool sites if you don't mind getting your hands dirty or want some high end US "handmade" gear. Even though most are hammock specific the gear is for all...well except the hammocks

Do It Yourself Backpacking Gear
DutchWare Gear
Four Dog Stoves | Camp Cookware, Titanuim Stoves, Camp & Tent Stoves
2qzq
High quality down quilts and camping gear supplies outdoor backpacking gear
Hammock Gear - Hammock Camping Outfitters
Lightweight Camping Hammocks | Backpacking Hammocks | Warbonnet Outdoors

Edit: I have coupon codes for most of these sites so if you're looking to pull the trigger let me know. (I'm not affiliated with any of them - just gotten great products & service from each of them multiple times - otherwise I wouldn't link them here).

 

[Taco Loco]

Some pretty cool sites if you don't mind getting your hands dirty or want some high end US "handmade" gear. Even though most are hammock specific the gear is for all...well except the hammocks

Do It Yourself Backpacking Gear
DutchWare Gear
Four Dog Stoves | Camp Cookware, Titanuim Stoves, Camp & Tent Stoves
2qzq
High quality down quilts and camping gear supplies outdoor backpacking gear
Hammock Gear - Hammock Camping Outfitters
Lightweight Camping Hammocks | Backpacking Hammocks | Warbonnet Outdoors

Edit: I have coupon codes for most of these sites so if you're looking to pull the trigger let me know. (I'm not affiliated with any of them - just gotten great products & service from each of them multiple times - otherwise I wouldn't link them here).

Thanks for the info, what hammic do you use or like best?

 

[Oswego]

Thanks for the info, what hammic do you use or like best?

I have a basic hammock from Dutchware Gear I keep in my car 24/7/365. It's just a hammock with 30' of strapping and a Dutchware hex tarp for rain/snow/sun. Total system is less than $200 and no bug netting. Just something for emergencies or a place to take a seat or nap when parked. For camping I have a Warbonnet Blackbird XLC with a Warbonnet Superfly tarp. It's got bug netting for summer/fall/spring that can be swapped for solid walls in the winter. I just always keep the bug netting on. Solid walls keep to much moisture in and kill the down's efficiency after a few nights getting wet from breathing.

IMO Warbonnet's Blackbird and Blackbird XLC have the best hammock design for side sleepers and people who like to move around when they sleep (ME). You sleep semi-diagonal of the center line so your back and feet are flat. He's got some pretty good videos on his website showing the sleeping stance. VIDEOS - Warbonnet Outdoors

Think in the past three years Ive only tent camped once since I have gotten into hammocking and that was in a field with no trees.

Hardest part about hammock camping is getting used to the cold under your rear. I'm a big fan of the cold and even I need an under-quilt for anything lower than 70* IMO.

Great handmade cold weather gear and great hand made hammocks are expensive, but I look at it as a purchase that should last a lifetime and everything's made in the US. My last tent is almost 20 years old and still works fine (once I got new poles), but it's a Eureka made in China by some sweat shop kids.

 

[Taco Loco]

Space or thermal blanket?

 

[Oswego]

Space or thermal blanket?

Need a top quilt and under quilt. Sleeping bags or anything else you sleep on top of loses its performance once you compress it. Some slip in sleeping pads for the bottom, but I prefer a down under quilt because it compresses smaller, is easier to pack, and doesn't move when you do.

For my back I use an Warbonnet Yeti 3 season under quilt for every season but winter. Winter I use a Warbonnet Wookie overstuffed with 2oz of down.
For my top I use a Hammock Gear Burrow 50* top quilt for every season but winter. Winter I use a Warrbonnet Mamba 0* top quilt overstuffed with 2oz of down.

Ive been A-OK sleeping down to 5* with 20mph winds in this set up. Hard to push it any colder because lower temps are rare around here.

 

[Oswego]

My Hammock gear Burrow 30 I ordered a few weeks ago just shipped... now to the testing phase once she comes in.

Biggest thing I like besides everything being made in the US is the bag that just shipped I had totally custom made. From choice of fabrics to choice of widths & lengths - 100% of the decisions were made by me so it fits my exact needs. No off the shelf stuff I have to buy then modify. You certainly get what you pay for and all of these guys are proud of what they do.

 

[the_white_shadow]

Recommend me a tent that doesnt suck. I want it to last for years (not once). Needs to be tall enough to stand up in and fit two full size air mattresses (May switch to cots this year). Bonus points for one that doesnt take an hour to put up and that doesnt cost $500.

I dont think ill have time to rig up a crawler hauler this season. Still too much to do on the squirrel.

 

[Oswego]

Eureka A frame, but at 6' tall I can't stand fully up. I use a cot in mine and getting dressed is super simple sitting down. The boy scouts have been using them for decades. My old ones 20 years old and it still works perfectly fine....just needed some new poles about 18 years in. Never seen a tent easier to set up.

Edit: I have the Eureka Timberline "Outfitter" 4 person A frame. Much more heavy duty then their normal gear, but my buddy has the normal tent and it's still stout. Spare parts are available for pretty much all of them. I got my replacement poles 18 years after purchase if that says anything about them and what they do.

 

[Silverback]

Eureka tents are good tents, but damn the zippers are hard to find at 4AM when you have to piss and the doors don't hold up well to a properly sharpened Benchmade.

 

[tx_shooter]

I used that ez up tent for years now. I have ~$200 in it between the ez up and tent.

 

[Silverback]

I can never get an ez up to last more than about 2 trips. My buddy bought one from Cabelas that is beefy as shit! Damn thing weighs 30+ pounds.


Edit: Quick trip to Cabelas.com and I don't see it listed.

 

[tx_shooter]

Considering how you open tents I am not surprised.

 

[Silverback]

Cut your way out of a tent one time and you are labeled it for life.