toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795 
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Post by toejam on Jul 9, 2015 4:31:21 GMT -8
I'm posting because this must be the lamest gear talk forum on the internet. We've got nothing better to talk about than sand stakes? Really?
Some gear that really disappointed me lately:
MSR Mini Groundhog tent stakes - the heads popped right off two of them the first time they needed to be driven in with a rock.
Salomon XA Pro 3D shoes - I've owned 2 pair. I'd gone into the store to buy Merrill Moab Ventilators both times but the staff always disses them and says they won't hold up on real backpacking trips. First pair of Salomons lasted about 200 miles before the liners were coming apart and one of the soles de-laminated. The second pair I've been baby-ing for my JMT hike. They have about 100 miles and don't look like they have another 200 in them. The tread will surely be gone before I get to Yosemite - may have to climb Half Dome bare foot.
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johnnyray
Trail Wise!
Argle-Bargle, Jiggery-Pokery, and Applesauce
Posts: 2,050
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Post by johnnyray on Jul 9, 2015 7:06:19 GMT -8
I've found my Merrills to be pretty durable. I'm on my 5th pair of Chameleons and 2nd pair of Moabs.
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 12,990
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Post by BigLoad on Jul 9, 2015 9:36:09 GMT -8
MSR Mini Groundhog tent stakes - the heads popped right off two of them the first time they needed to be driven in with a rock. I've broken a bunch of Mini Groundhogs, too. Their smaller size also makes them a good bit less grippy than the regular size, so I've been carrying more full-size Groundhogs lately. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 9, 2015 10:40:31 GMT -8
MSR Mini Groundhog tent stakes Gee ultra-light crap comes with a cost! Who knew? |
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tigger
Trail Wise!
Posts: 2,547
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Post by tigger on Jul 9, 2015 13:10:19 GMT -8
I drill out my ultralight stakes...
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,708 
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 9, 2015 13:11:35 GMT -8
We are now well into our 5th season with our BA Copper Spur 2 tent. I'm not really complaining...but we've gotten some tears and nicks in the fly (not sure exactly how, but the gale-force winds in Death Valley last April were probably responsible for the largest rip), so contacted BA to see about buying a new fly. They want us to send in the old one so they can do repairs. Uh, I don't think so. Especially since we did our field repairs with duct tape, which they expressly don't want to see. Hey, it's what we had! Really, all I want is a new fly. The old one is definitely beyond repair (many small pin-holes accumulated over the years from too-close encounters with bushes and branches).
Anyone else had any luck getting them to come forth with new parts?
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,708
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 9, 2015 14:13:26 GMT -8
I would send the old fly in and see what they say. No one is ever going to fault you for using duck tape to make repairs out in the field. In any case, prolly nothing to lose, right? Pretty much what I figure. I don't think they'll be trying repairs when they see it :D But we had hoped to be able to get them to send one out in time for the next adventure. Not enough time for the round trip, so it will have to wait until we return. The patches will be good enough. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 9, 2015 14:13:55 GMT -8
so contacted BA to see about buying a new fly. They want us to send in the old one so they can do repairs. Since you offered to buy a new one they might be setting you up to get a new one free when they find the old one unrepairable? Worth the cost of shipping IMHO to find out.... |
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,708
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 9, 2015 14:20:43 GMT -8
Since you offered to buy a new one they might be setting you up to get a new one free when they find the old one unrepairable? Worth the cost of shipping IMHO to find out.... One could fantasize. But given the age of the tent, I can't imagine why they would think they owed us. The thing has probably had close to 100 nights, many in desert conditions, the rest mostly in alpine. Lots of UV, lots of wear and tear. Sadly, esp. the "tear." I do think that the silnylon has gotten kind of brittle with age. |
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jul 9, 2015 18:56:46 GMT -8
One could fantasize. But given the age of the tent, I can't imagine why they would think they owed us. The thing has probably had close to 100 nights, many in desert conditions, the rest mostly in alpine. Lots of UV, lots of wear and tear. Sadly, esp. the "tear." I do think that the silnylon has gotten kind of brittle with age. So ripe for OOCQ |
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