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Post by sharper on Feb 22, 2017 14:20:09 GMT -8
rebeccad A very good point. I've priced a number of items already from an outfitter at our destination and it's really affordable to do that. With the logistics of flying to and from, I'm definitely planning to rent a few items. *how does one go about "quoting" others' comments?
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 22, 2017 14:27:31 GMT -8
*how does one go about "quoting" others' comments? There are instructions somewhere, but the quick and easy: highlight the text you want to quote. A little box should appear that says "quick quote." Click that, and the quote appears in the quick reply box. That doesn't work on tablet or, I think, phones. Then you need to click by the little gear, and choose the "select post" option, which will quote the whole post. Then hit "reply," and you'll see the whole thing (and you can edit to only quote what you want).
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 22, 2017 14:28:03 GMT -8
BTW, where are y'all heading?
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Post by sharper on Feb 22, 2017 14:29:24 GMT -8
Teton Crest Trail
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Post by sharper on Feb 23, 2017 6:13:12 GMT -8
@ben2world I've been doing a ton of research and plan on doing a few overnight trips here and there with my gear prior to our trip to get accustomed to it. Maybe the stuff I found to rent is crap because it's definitely affordable. I priced renting a 3person tent, sleeping pad, cookware & stove, and trekking poles for 4 days and the total was just over $100. Anything I buy is getting the 3rd degree in the research dept.
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Post by cweston on Feb 23, 2017 8:55:51 GMT -8
I'm a fastidious researcher as well. Consider the gear swap sections at Backpacking Light and White Blaze. There's more of a "fraternal" community of BPers in those places and you're less likely to get sold crap or something with distorted provenance, compared to eBay or craigslist. The good thing about buying used high-quality gear is that if you decide it's not what you need, you can re-sell it for approx what you paid for it (since someone else took the depreciation hit of "driving it off the dealership lot").
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Feb 23, 2017 9:31:13 GMT -8
There's so much good stuff in this thread - this is one of the best reasons this place is good, good, good.
I woke this morning around 8 AM in my Sierra Designs Zolo 1 (in the backyard). Around 3 AM last night, I decided I needed to sleep outside. It got down to 55 or 56 degrees (it's getting up to 87 today!), so it was comfortable. I didn't need much more than a very light blanket. I used my old Bozeman Mountain Works quilt, which was actually too much 'cept for early this morning. More important in my neighborhood is earplugs: lots of dogs and lots of heavy (18 wheeler) traffic on nearby roads. I woke to beautiful sunshine, and the nextdoor neighbors discussing removing the pool cover for use earlier than usual (already almost 90! Redbuds are blooming! Bushes are putting out new leaves!).
Waking this morning, I was thinking about this thread (which I read last night), and thinking that I'd personally go with the idea that everyone bring their own tent, purchased OR rented. On top of the very good point Ben made about "self sufficiency" in a case of someone getting lost or separated (or you get "dropouts", leaving the remaining guys with big tents and no "load sharing"), getting your own stuff is a good way to introduce everyone to the process of selection and how and where to purchase or get rentals. No problem with "mixing and matching" either, depending on availability and such. But, like everyone else said, those who share should be sure they're compatible - or potentially intimate.
I really prefer a one man and my own private space. Unlike many, I like the closer confines of a good-sized single. My Zolo 1 (sadly, no longer available) I got for around $100 on clearance (yet another way to get a good price, but it takes time, waiting things out). I bought 2 Zolos - it was cheaper than buying another set of poles for the one I actually use.
The Zolo 1 is 96" long and 34" wide - quite comfortable. I'm 5'11", so I don't even come close to touching the ends - in fact, I put extra stuff at the head for easy access. This is important. 96" sounds like more than you'll need, but the end walls slope, so you don't get the benefit of all that length. It's a bit heavy at almost 4 lbs, but it's pretty rugged. It's a trade-off, of course. I've loaned the Zolo out a couple of times, and I could tell by the dirt and abrasion on the floor that they didn't use a ground cloth. Sometimes, like last night, I don't bother myself - I was in a hurry to "hit the sack". But this tent can take some abuse. I mostly use the Zolo in the backyard because, if I'm carrying a tent, I want something lighter - one of my 9 or 10 Tarptents, but almost always the "middle of the road" (AFA weight is concerned) Scarp 1. A great tent, but only 86" length, but the end walls are vertical. You get to use all of that length.
Have fun with all of it. Just get out there!
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 23, 2017 9:50:51 GMT -8
I was just thinking some more about this tent-sharing thing. When I started seriously backpacking in my 20s, I shared tents with all sorts of folks and it didn't bug me (most of my backpacking partners were male, and most of the time we were only friends, by which I mean we were just friends). I even shared my tiny SD Flashlight (ca. 1980, and smaller than the newer ones, even) for a week at a time. It was only after I got married (or old; the two came kind of together so it's hard to say which was behind the desire for more private space) that I started to find that much closeness uncomfortable. Not sure this has any relevance to the debate, but thought I'd throw it out there in case Sharper is getting spooked about the guys sharing tents.
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Post by sharper on Feb 23, 2017 11:01:47 GMT -8
gabby rebeccad Good stuff! I'm really glad I found this forum as I've read plenty of threads already, and have gleaned some really useful and not so obvious info from them. I'm also in agreement with the "everyone bring their own everything" ideology but have my concerns about logistics. Who knows though, as we get closer the guys may begin to decide that they want their own stuff anyway. That being said, we've all been friends since high school or before and have all lived with one another at some point in time(college years) so I really don't foresee any "close quarters" issues if we do decide to share tents.
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Post by sharper on Feb 23, 2017 11:04:02 GMT -8
I'm a fastidious researcher as well. Consider the gear swap sections at Backpacking Light and White Blaze. Thanks for the heads up. I've been doing the budget shopper thing and have seen some pretty good deals at places like campmor and sierra trading post among others. A little bit of research and some looking around can really aid in keeping costs down without sacrificing quality too much.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2017 11:37:23 GMT -8
And don't be shy about asking backpackers about any gear they may have for sale.
Yesterday, a fellow at my wife's work place asked if she had a backpacking starter tent for sale. This morning he got an REI Quarter Dome T2 with foot print for $40.00's and I threw in a Steripen and pre-filter assembly. Nothing wrong with the tent, we just use a lighter weight tent now.
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Post by sharper on Feb 23, 2017 12:30:44 GMT -8
This morning he got an REI Quarter Dome T2 with foot print for $40.00's and I threw in a Steripen and pre-filter assembly. Well, shit!! Anyone have any gear for sale? :D
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Post by sharper on Feb 23, 2017 13:32:50 GMT -8
@ben2world Thanks for the advice. At this point the only purchases I've made have been a lightweight jacket(rei revelcloud) and a sleeping bag(700 fill duck dri down weighing 2lbs 13oz). Both of which will serve purposes other than strictly backpacking. The one backwards thing I did was acquire my pack first(a 64L Alps Mountaineering pack) because I was able to cash in credit card points for it. In a weird coincidence, I know several people that work for the company that makes it and was able to ask some fitting questions before getting it. I've yet to try it in the field but I like the way it fits. I haven't purchased my footwear of choice yet and while finding size 14's to try on in stores is a challenge, I too will be going with a hiking shoe/trail runner. In keeping with the lightweight theme, needing "camp shoes/sandals" to allow boots to dry out doesn't appeal to me and I've never been a fan of ankle restriction anyway. The one thing that is going to force me to think "minimal" is that I'll be flying to the destination so keeping my pack necessity-only based it always at the forefront of my thought process. I'll have to look into some of that reading material. Thanks.
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Post by ignsaez on Feb 23, 2017 14:14:18 GMT -8
Coming back to the main question, I can share my experience using a two-person tent with my girlfriend. As you mentioned you do not have problems being a little tight with your partner, but that depends mainly on the tent you will get. In mi case I have been using a Ferrino Paine 2 (if I'm not wrong this model is only available in Chile) which is enough roomy for me and my girlfriend using 2 sleeping pads of 21.5" each one and even with space between them and the edge of the side's. The dimensions of this tent are 51" plus 23" each vestibule of width and 83" of length. Another thing to consider is that in case of some of your partners leave of the group a two-person tent is more useful than a three-person one. Greetings.
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