Boy oh boy am I spending money

bulgron

bulgron

Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
12,709
I've been putting together some gear so I can start backpacking again this winter (winter in and around the CA central coast is a GREAT time to backpack). Just bought a 8x10 silnylon tarp from Outdoor Equipment Supplier, and a MLD Super Light bivy. Yesterday I picked up a RIBZ frontpack from Two Wolves. Day before that, I picked up some Black Diamond trekking poles. I still need to buy a new backpack because my old one weighs 6.5lbs and I believe I can do the same job for under a couple of pounds. And I guess I'd better get a bear proof container before I head up into the Sierra Nevada next summer.

This backpacking thing sure is expensive.

On the other hand, it's all upfront costs. After that, it gets real cheap.

Can't wait to go disappear up into the hills ....
 
Backpacking is cheap as hell, dude. Mega-minimalism is a better way to go than high tech ultralight gear ($$$). Less stuff = smaller bag = lighter weight = more enjoyable hiking, too!

$10 small tarp x2,
$10 blue foam pad,
$30 day pack,
$100 sleeping bag

DONE. (Assuming, of course, you already own a knife, a firesteel, and a pair of boots... but who on this forum doesn't?!)

I backpack through 4 seasons with this set up. In cold/snowy conditions, I roll up a hammock and a wool blanket that I found in my basement and strap them onto my pack. Those two little items keep me extra dry and warm when the weather calls for it. Otherwise, one tarp is a ground sheet, the other tarp is a roof. I've camped through crazy rain/hail storms and been comfortable with just my cheap tarps.

Really, the only place you need to spend a bit of money while backpacking is the sleeping bag... and even then, you can get a good one for around $100. Mine was 80 bucks CDN and works great, even in winter. Everything else can be improvised for cheap or free. Use stuff from around the house. No, you don't need a $18 titanium spork. A fork and spoon from your cutlery drawer is just as good.
 
I share your pain. I need to replace a huge sleeping bag (cheap) with something backpack friendly (expensive). Replace my dying pack with something more durable, and maybe get a decent tent. Most of my camping has been done in a pup-tent that is older than I am.
 
Guess everything's relative. Top quality is dirt cheap if you use it all the time, while the crappiest gear was too expensive if it just sits there. That's what I tell myself, anyway!
I bite the bullet on the important stuff that'll get used frequently, yet is expected to last. The Big 3 isn't the place to skimp, IMO.

I've got some nice stuff, but over time, the biggest expense by far is just getting there.
 
NothingCoherent I think you are missing stuff even for basics. Like at least some sort of first aid, maybe some cordage, and a water bottle. I know we all have different ideas of basic but I feel that at least the first two are important.
 
CoyotePhysics said:
I share your pain. I need to replace a huge sleeping bag (cheap) with something backpack friendly (expensive). Replace my dying pack with something more durable, and maybe get a decent tent. Most of my camping has been done in a pup-tent that is older than I am.
Click to expand...

What are you thinking about for a backpack? I was thinking that my 6.5lb internal frame North Face was obsolete, but much to my surprise I see that 6.5lb packs are still quite common in the marketplace. But I'm still thinking about replacing it with either a Molly Mac Pack, an ultra light pack like the MLD ARK, or maybe one of the larger ULA packs.

As for sleeping bags, my old one finally wore out, so I picked up an REI Aura last summer on sale. It wasn't the cheapest bag imaginable, but it's also nowhere near the most expensive. Check out the prices on down sleeping bags sometime. :eek:

At least the Aura weighs in under 3 lbs, which makes it a good pound lighter than my old North Face something-or-another which I bought in 1986.

By going with the tarp/bivy combo, I'm dropping weight from my old 10lb Eureka tent (which seems to have disappeared) to way under 2 lbs.

Dropping weight is important when you wake up and find yourself with 48 year old knees. :o

It's certainly possible to go a lot cheaper in gear than I am, but then I'd pay for it in added weight. Cheap and heavy is for kids just starting out who have immortal knees. Light and $$$ is for us old guys with bank accounts. :D

'tis the way of the world.
 
I've been looking mostly at Cabela's (I live a few miles away from one of their stores). I like the build/price ratio of the Kelty packs. They run around 5.5-6 lbs (for 6000 cu. in. give or take). Cabela's also has some house-brand packs that are ridiculously cheap with similar stats. Right now my biggest question is what size of a pack to get. I'm kind of (ie very) lanky, so I might be better off going a bit smaller (4000 cu. in.). There is a North Face in this range that weighs in at just under 4 lbs.

I'm not the biggest fan of internet shopping, but that is mainly because if a package gets dropped of when I'm not home, it will be stolen.

The Eureka bags look promising and not overly expensive.

The tent is going to have to wait for now. The pup is really lightweight if you ditch the poles and improvise in the field, but since it predates rainflys (or at least they weren't a given) I have to take a tarp as well.
 
Last edited:
When you go to size your pack, shouldn't you start with how much volume you need/want to carry? The difference between a 4,000 and 6,000 cu. in. pack is quite large. Once you figure out how much volume you need to carry, then you can start trying on packs to see what fits.

What I'm doing is putting together everything I want/need for a week long backpacking trip, then I'll figure out how many cu in. I need, then I'll decide on a pack.

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be well under 4,000 cu. in. and 40 lbs, although the requirement for a bear proof container (can't get a back country permit in the Sierra if you don't have one, or so I've heard) is a bit of a kicker.
 
Expensive?
Tell me about it.

A few years ago I decided to REALLY lower the weight of my pack load.
I used to carry at least 45lbs dry weight, no food/water, and I had some pretty high end equipment. I just couldn’t get below that 45lb weight. So, I went through every piece of equipment I had and searched for the lightest replacement I could find.

It averaged out to $10 per ounce saved!

The big three, tent/pack/bag, are relatively cheap and save you pounds instead of ounces. It’s all the other little stuff that runs up the bill. For instance, I saved 8 ounces on stuffsacks. It cost me about $80 to do that.

One advantage to the newer ultralight gear is that it is smaller than the older heavier equipment. Thus, you can use a smaller pack, which saves more weight. Whereas I used to need a 6000ci pack to cram all my stuff in, I now can use a GG Nimbus Ozone, 3800ci.

I now carry a 25lb dry pack. It cost me a few thousand dollars, but it was worth it to this old body. I don’t scrimp on anything either. I still carry a real tent, (and a cooking tarp!), a .44 magnum, stool, comfy camp shoes and binoculars, as well as many other luxuries. I literally didn’t give up a thing getting down to this weight, (except the weight.)

It was definitely money well spent.
 
you've got the right idea on packs- get your gear sorted first, then base your pack choice on it- lot's of folks make the mistake of purchasing a pack first then try to figure out what to fill it w/

if you need to carry a bear canister, be sure to do your homework up front, for a lot of "smaller" packs it's a real challenge- some have straps on top specifically for canisters- I've heard mixed reviews on that method of carry (canister slipping, etc)

to get it inside a pack generally it's going to take some decent volume (to still have room for the rest of your gear)- I know that the Osprey Exos 56 will fit most canisters in the interior- perpendicular; other smaller packs you may be forced to carry it lengthways in the pack

most of the major manufacturers have pretty good return policies w/ their packs so it gives you an opportunity to try fitting your gear and then the fit to you; of course REI has the very best return policy- no questions asked (even if the gear has been well used)- your pack choices are somewhat limited though as they don't carry any of the cottage industry packs
 
If you don't want to buy a bear canister, you can just rent them at the ranger station. There are only certain areas in the Sierra that actually require them.
 
tknife said:
If you don't want to buy a bear canister, you can just rent them at the ranger station. There are only certain areas in the Sierra that actually require them.
Click to expand...

I'm meeting up with my hiking partner this weekend and we're going to make a decision about the routes we're going to try for next summer. Some places (like Mt. Whitney) have a lottery system in place for back-country permits, so if we decide to try for one of the really popular hikes we're going to have to have a Plan B and maybe even a Plan C. California has too many people in it.

Once we decide where we want to go, I'll know if I have to have the canister.

That said, I only want to buy one backpack. Sooner or later we're going to want to go to one of the "canister required" places, so I need to make sure a canister works with my pack. The canisters aren't really all that much money so I might buy one just so I can assure myself of my ability to fit it to my pack. I'd really hate to get to a ranger station only to find out the canisters they have there to rent won't fit into my pack.

What I'm thinking about doing is this pack:

http://www.mollymacpack.com/pack.html

which is a flexible system that you can lash anything to, combined with this canister:

http://www.bearvault.com/bearvault_details.php

and then a series of dunk bags (for clothes and sleeping bag), and lightweight stuff sacks for the rest of my gear.

But, really, I want to get everything else together first before I make any final decisions on packs.
 
CoyotePhysics said:
The tent is going to have to wait for now. The pup is really lightweight if you ditch the poles and improvise in the field, but since it predates rainflys (or at least they weren't a given) I have to take a tarp as well.
Click to expand...
Just curious but if you have to carry a tarp as well, why even take the pup tent? Seems the thing that's giving you shelter is the tarp and not the tent.
 
bearcut said:
I now carry a 25lb dry pack. It cost me a few thousand dollars, but it was worth it to this old body. I don’t scrimp on anything either. I still carry a real tent, (and a cooking tarp!), a .44 magnum, stool, comfy camp shoes and binoculars, as well as many other luxuries. I literally didn’t give up a thing getting down to this weight, (except the weight.)
Click to expand...

One of the places where I'm looking to save a lot on weight is in clothing. I used to wear blue jeans, with a spare pair in the pack in case something got wet. :o I'm currently giving a lot thought to my clothing, making sure it's all as light as possible and quick drying. No more natural fibers for me! (Although, I am pondering a good down sweater.) My main problem is that I've been warned that temps in the Sierra can dip into the 20's even in the summer time, so I'm actually planning the clothing as if it's a late fall trip in the mid west. This tends to add weight and bulk to my pack.

I also used to throw a pair of beat up tennis shoes into the pack ("crick shoes") for camp wear and for wading streams. I'll replace those with crocs.

Part of my old 55lb load was a Canon film SLR. Combined with various lenses, it must weigh 5 or 6 lbs. I'm replacing it with an 8 oz HD camcorder (Sanyo VPC-CA102) and an 11 oz camera (Canon G11). But that stuff is going to go into my front pack so I can get at it while I'm hiking, so the back pack doesn't have to be able to accommodate it.

The firearm situation is a bit dicy in CA, so for right now I'll probably end up going without. Once we get CCWs sorted out in this state (might be a couple of years) I believe I can get a Glock 20 into the front pack. But I really haven't pushed on that yet.

The bear proof canister that I want to get doubles as a camp stool.

All in all, I'm hopeful that I can keep my base weight below 20 lbs. I might be dreaming. We'll see.
 
You're right-buy right, buy once, and all backpacking will cost you is the approach, socks, medical tape and food. All of which are incredibly cheap if you shop right.
I'm in the same boat-I am about to drop a ton of money on gear, about half of which is for winter specifically. I'm ordering another pair of Crye Precision Field Pants, which are super durable and are water resistant, and are great with a wool baselayer. A TAD Special Service Sweater, double layer rib knit wool with reinforced elbows and shoulders for packing, a Dale of Norway Slaata sweater for cross country skiing, a new set of skate boots and skis, a handful of knives/machetes and a new pack-deciding between an Eberlestock Halftrack and a Dragonslayer. I'm a hat addict-I don't know why, but as winter approaches I always seem to spend a disproportionate ammount of money on hats.
 
PayetteRucker said:
'm a hat addict-I don't know why, but as winter approaches I always seem to spend a disproportionate ammount of money on hats.
Click to expand...

Ack! Don't even get me started on a hat. Every time I get into a new activity, I need a new hat. Sometimes I need a new hat just because it's been a while since I had a new hat. I have hats coming out of my ears. But for backpacking, I'm going to need a new hat.

:rolleyes:

Currently looking at a Filson Tin Cloth Bush Hat, but maybe now is a good time to get that Akubra Snowy River hat that I've always lusted after.

Too. Many. Hats!

:D
 
the Kakadu Langston is my signature warm weather hat, though I'm a woman when it comes to winter- I have so many knit wool hats... I can't decide which ones to wear when. I've been wearing them for a week already and it hasn't been consistantly chilly...
 
PayetteRucker said:
the Kakadu Langston is my signature warm weather hat,
Click to expand...

I have a leather hat kind of like that. I find it to be too warm for temperatures over 75 if I'm not working, and too warm for temps over 60 if I'm active. It makes a great Sierra hat, though, during the winter when all that wet, heavy snow is dumping up there.
 
This is something that I just finished up looking at. Every time I go on a trip I try to eliminate or change something in my pack that saves weight! Good to see what everyone is carrying. I think my next purchase will be my backpack, its too large for most of my trips, at 105 liters (~6500 ci), but I also have trouble getting under 45lbs or so. I do spend most of my time at or above 5000ft so almost anytime of the year it can snow or reach teen temps pretty easy so the extra clothes add up. I gotta say though I love the E-vent dry bags from REI they make life easier.

A few pics of our trip 10/15/10 if you wanna look: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=783305
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top