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Post by emtwrn on Jan 2, 2017 17:50:12 GMT -8
Greetings, I am wanting to get into overnight (1 night) backpacking trips. I am currently at the point where I need to select equipment such as shelters and backpacks. As far as shelters go I am looking at the snug pack two person tents; can anyone suggest equipment that I will need to get started such as other tents and backpacks? Thanks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 18:01:23 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 18:05:07 GMT -8
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Post by emtwrn on Jan 2, 2017 18:16:31 GMT -8
Yes, that is one of the tents that I had in mind.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jan 2, 2017 18:23:51 GMT -8
There are a multitude of tents better suited to backpacking than any 5 pound tent. Now, if you want to camp where overnight snow loads are expected, or some other reason to buy a 4 season tent, then 5 pounds is not bad. Look at any of the tents linked to by Ohm, and pick the one that suits you best. Try to keep you tent under 4 pounds, closer to 3.
Buy your pack last. It has to hold all of your other gear. You won't know how big a pack you will need until that gear is purchased. Spend what you can afford, and keep in mind all of us have upgraded many times over. After years of doing this, we have our own preferences regarding packs, tents (or hammocks), sleeping bags or quilts, pads, etc... Best of luck to you. This is something you can continue to do for all of your life. Enjoy!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 18:33:13 GMT -8
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 2, 2017 20:55:41 GMT -8
...What they said. All great advice.
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markskor
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Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
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Post by markskor on Jan 2, 2017 21:59:42 GMT -8
Great decision to get into backpacking...though assembling your gear kit, especially for a first-timer, can be daunting. Welcome to the club anyway!
As mentioned above, most of us here have done this foolishness for years... have bought, sold, traded, upgraded and upgraded again many times over. Too many great options are available depending on what, where, and when you go out. Unfortunately there is a lot of crap out there too. Here's the thing though, we can give you tons of advice on our preferences, but only you can decide what works for you.
Before you drop some major coin trying to figure it all out, first see if backpacking is really for you before emptying the wallet... maybe beg, borrow, or rent the first few times? Initially, go out with someone a bit experienced...ask tons of questions. Or, you can blindly purchase something now, (good enough to just get you by), then figure out quickly what doesn't work and why, buy again something that is "almost as good as" what you really wanted, then finally realize what you should have bought. If you initially had bought that piece of gear, even though expensive... would have been lots cheaper to buy just once. Unfortunately, you now own 3 of everything just like the rest of us...whatever.
Just a few random thoughts on gear: Weight is not your friend. Layers are. Better to buy proven (good brand names?) gear, lightly used, over new, cheap crapola. Buy your backpack last...and your footwear first. Fit is everything, color doesn't matter. Well-made, lightweight, cheap...pick two. Down bags are so much better than synthetic. Try to keep your Big 4 - (backpack, sleeping bag, shelter, and sleeping pad) all under 10 pounds and the rest should take care of itself.
My Mantra: Take what pleases you... Hike often... Be safe. Eat well and have fun. Never gear settle; you will soon enough regret not getting (paying a few dollars more) initially for what you really wanted. Lastly, it weighs what it weighs - nobody is going to carry it for you.
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Post by topshot on Jan 3, 2017 4:47:43 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 5:31:10 GMT -8
I use those pieces of advice. I still put to question all the gear in my pack. Mainly I ask myself if there is something I could get that weighs less.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 6:43:17 GMT -8
Are you in the UK?
The equipment available there may be somewhat different than what's available in the USA. Welcome to the bp forums, from central texas.
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crawford
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Post by crawford on Jan 3, 2017 6:55:52 GMT -8
I agree with the above. Starting to think about weight as you gather gear can make your early treks a little better. I'm no ultra-light hiker, but saving a few pounds on that tent can make a real difference. I sometimes think of weight savings as trade offs--if I save 8 ounces here I can add a few ounces there.
Enjoy the ride...err hike as it were.
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foxalo
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NEW HIKER
Jan 3, 2017 6:56:03 GMT -8
via mobile
Post by foxalo on Jan 3, 2017 6:56:03 GMT -8
Welcome!
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Post by Lamebeaver on Jan 3, 2017 7:52:20 GMT -8
If you really plan on backpacking with another person, do yourself a favor and get a "three-person tent". 7'x 7' is a good size. You can find lightweight two-person tents that weigh around 3.5 lbs and will be comfortable for one person and their gear.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 3, 2017 8:49:00 GMT -8
My 2 cents, FWIW. Shelter. There are a LOT of 2-person backpacking tents out there and it can be overwhelming. But if you look at the specs, you'll find that most use similar materials for their fabrics and poles, and see that most are variations of a few basic structural designs. Instead of focusing on a specific tent, I would focus on specs and then scour sales for tents that meet it. A 2-person tent is a good place to start though, if you're big/tall, maybe a 3-person. A "regular" sleeping pad is 20"x72" and, in general, a "2-person" tent will accommodate 2 pads side-by-side with maybe 6-10" buffer all-around; it's not a big space. Don't forget to consider headroom; most 2-person tents are have peak heights in the 35-40" range, just enough to sit up straight. The other variable is where the door is located. It's worth going to a gear shop big enough to have a few tents set up so that you can crawl in them and get a feel for how the dimensions translate physically. About 4 lb is the line between "ultralight" and "budget" tents. IMO, you should be able to find a 2-person 4lb tent in the $200 range. They generally get cheaper as they get heavier (with the exception of expedition and 4-season tents.) I think tents are a good candidate for buying used, especially as a newbie still trying to decide what you like. backpackinglight.com has a good gear swap forum for picking up used UL tents. Lots of gearheads there who sell off barely-used tents. I've bought 3 used solo and 2-person tents there, all in really good condition, for about half of the retail cost. Sleeping bag. I think bags are a good choice for your first "investment" purchase, meaning buying one at the top of your budget with the intention of keeping it for a long time. For most people, a good 20-degree down bag is a good first all-purpose bag. I include backpacking quilts in the "sleeping bag" category; whether you go for a bag or a quilt is really a personal preference thing. Go for the highest fill-count down you can and pay attention to the bag dimensions for length, girth. Again, it's worth getting an understanding of the specs, so that you can compare intelligently. Learn about "EN ratings" and don't automatically trust a manufacturer's label; not all "20-degree" bags are the same. About 2 lb is the line between "ultralight" and "budget" 20-degree sleeping bags. I have a Western Mountaineering Ultralite bag that's rated to 20deg and weighs 27oz (5'6" length); it's one of the best bags in this category and I paid about $400 for it on sale. The Kelty Cosmic 20deg down bag is a good budget option - weighs 2.5 lb, EN-rated to 19deg, currently priced $160 (campmor.com.) Sleeping pad. This is a good explanation of the 3 types: www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/sleeping-pads.htmlGet an understanding of R-values. You can spend anywhere from $20 to $200, but about $100 is the line between "ultralight" and "budget". Don't forget to think about what you're going to do for a pillow; if it's important to you, pillows can end up being really heavy. Backpack. Choose one that fits you, and can hold all of your gear both in terms of volume and weight. The latter means you should get this *last*, after you know how much room your gear needs. Pay attention to the pack's ability to handle weight; weigh your gear and buy the appropriate pack -- this is not where you want to save weight by buying an UL pack if your gear weight doesn't warrant it. All the other STUFF. Don't underestimate how much all the rest of the *stuff* weighs. Rule of thumb I use is to double the weight of the big three (shelter + sleeping bag + pad) for my "base weight" (total weight of non-consumable gear). Weight of food, water and fuel is additional; count on 1-2 lb per day for food.
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