almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 4, 2016 14:12:52 GMT -8
And, as for the "air mattress," what you really want is an insulated pad, either self inflating or not, rated to the temperatures you'll encounter wherever it is you're going. Unless you can get away with using just a foam pad, which are really cheap. It seems the older you get, the less likely the foam pad will be comfortable enough to actually get sleep.
Me, I have several non self inflating insulated pads, and eventually, they all leak, and all need replacing. So, getting a used one strikes me as a bad idea, when all I've gotten out of them is less than five years to begin with. Sometimes it's because people blow them up with their mouth, getting moisture in, and with the moisture comes bacteria and mold, and with organisms inside a closed difficult to dry out space, comes rot, and then leaks. If you got one near-new from someone who went once or twice and now wants to sell off the gear, that'd be different...
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Post by trinity on May 5, 2016 4:40:42 GMT -8
I take a Snugpak Patrol poncho, forty bucks on amazon, for long or rainy trips. Any reason for this particular poncho? Is there something that makes it better than others? I think I might consider picking one up. Along a similar line, I've begun carrying a trekking umbrella. I've only had occasion to use it a couple of times, but it keeps me dry while allowing for air circulation. It is nice to be able to have an actual dry space for eating, looking at maps, etc.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 5, 2016 5:31:27 GMT -8
I take a Snugpak Patrol poncho, forty bucks on amazon, for long or rainy trips. Any reason for this particular poncho? Is there something that makes it better than others? I think I might consider picking one up. Along a similar line, I've begun carrying a trekking umbrella. I've only had occasion to use it a couple of times, but it keeps me dry while allowing for air circulation. It is nice to be able to have an actual dry space for eating, looking at maps, etc. it's made to go over a backpack. It has sleeves. The sides are not open and while it can be difficult to get it down all the way in back it has good coverage once on. I use an umbrella for sun and rain, but sometimes it isn't enough. If it's too cold, something waterproof is the ticket.
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Post by Coolkat on May 5, 2016 6:11:47 GMT -8
I guess an umbrella would work so long as you knew for sure you'd never have to leave the trail. Last year while walking in all day drenching rain the trail disappeared and we had to do some unexpected bushwhacking and an umbrella would have been useless going through what we did.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 5, 2016 6:50:40 GMT -8
I used an umbrella with a jacket and rain skirt (a contractor bag tacked on with duct tape) in a torrential downpour looking for a lost radio after a SAR training once. Worked like a charm. Only thing that was soaked beyond all belief were my feet... never trust Goretex, never again.
We weren't on the trail.... It just depends.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on May 7, 2016 19:24:18 GMT -8
Only thing that was soaked beyond all belief were my feet... never trust Goretex, never again. When it's coming down hard enough for long enough, I don't think anything can keep your feet dry.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on May 7, 2016 21:25:11 GMT -8
When it's coming down hard enough for long enough, I don't think anything can keep your feet dry. Wise words.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 4:21:48 GMT -8
In Boise there is a used Camping Equipment store, where they take gear to sell on consignment, where used gear can be inspected.
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Post by hikerjer on May 9, 2016 16:00:56 GMT -8
When it's coming down hard enough for long enough, I don't think anything can keep your feet dry Not only your feet. There are times when just about all of you is going to get wet. The only real defense, other than staying indoors, is to have an extra set of dry clothes to change into when it's appropriate.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2016 16:21:48 GMT -8
I am an avid fan of wearing gaiters. I found gaiters to work quite well with keeping rain out.
HYOH
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 9, 2016 16:31:51 GMT -8
I am an avid fan of wearing gaiters. I found gaiters to work quite well with keeping rain out. .... except for when they don't. There have been times. Your pants and socks wick water down into or up into gaiters pretty well. Go ahead, ask me how I know.
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
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Post by BigLoad on May 9, 2016 17:54:13 GMT -8
I am an avid fan of wearing gaiters. I found gaiters to work quite well with keeping rain out. .... except for when they don't. There have been times. Your pants and socks wick water down into or up into gaiters pretty well. Go ahead, ask me how I know. Yup, that's exactly what they do. All it takes is enough rain. I'm not knocking gaiters. I use them pretty often, and they're great for keeping out gravel and twigs, and to some degree even moisture, but they're not perfect.
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amaruq
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Call me Little Spoon
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Post by amaruq on May 10, 2016 4:45:00 GMT -8
.... except for when they don't. You could make an argument of that quality about anything. Tents keep you dry in a storm, except when they don't. Cool water on a hot day is refreshing, except when it isn't! Pizza tastes good... except when it doesn't! Fact of backpacking life: When it rains, regardless of rainsuit and footwear, sooner or later you're going to get wet. ...Except when you don't.
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
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Post by almostthere on May 10, 2016 5:39:28 GMT -8
The rainstorms where I wore a jacket... I got wet. Then I switched to a poncho and it stopped.
I got along fine with boots... Until I found out shoes feel better. And don't hurt my feet.
I thought non freestanding tents wouldn't work above tree line, until I tried it.
I thought hammocks would give me motion sickness. They didn't.
I thought it was self evident that not being destructive of the wilderness is a good idea.... It sure isn't.
I suspected that I was strange... At least one thing turned out as expected.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on May 10, 2016 10:53:19 GMT -8
Pizza tastes good... except when it doesn't! Listen my Canadian friend, you may have gone to far with that one.
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