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Anybody here do a lot of camping?

I'm having a hard time making some equipment decisions... granted, partially due to conflicting desires.

Hope you are all having a great weekend. Mine's been nice and productive for once. And with a thundershirt for the dog now, hopefully she settles a bit as well (lots of fireworks already, and she's no fan).
 
I got one of those for my dog. He likes them, but that's because he likes to accessorize. Can't get him interested in knives though, sadly.

Not much of a camper but the desire is definitely there! nobody I know would go!
 
I've heard mixed results with the Thunder vests. It all depends on the dog. I sell a homeopathic anxiety medicine that actually works pretty well. There is one called Homeopet TFLN, thunder - fireworks - loud noises. It's best to start them a bit early, usually a day or two, but can be given up to 4 doses in a 30 minute time frame to calm unexpected issues.

What kind of camping gear you looking at? My style of camping is different than most peoples, I break camp every day and go somewhere else, either on a ground cloth or cot. But that's mostly because my camping is centered around hunting. My boy is getting old enough now to go camping so I might have to shift gears. Kevin does a lot of camping, he could help you out as well.


-X
 
The "kind of camping" is part of my dillema. I used to do a good bit of solo camping - though not in a decade, and I don't have any basic gear anymore. I used to use a modified whelen lean-to, and a home-made bedroll - and not much else. But that was in an area where I could cut down a tree for wood if I needed to. That's a no-go here - so reliable wood for cooking is going to be an issue - so I'll probably need to consider some sort of stove.

I'm thinking I might just need to get two divergent rigs. One for the family (me, wife, kid, dog) - which wouldn't have to be as portable (car would do most heavy lifting) - and then my own rig separately - I don't see many things that can do double duty aside from a good backpack. (Redwing 50? other? budget is a factor... as is weight). Does anyone know of a Frost River Isle Royal alternative that isn't $300 and ~8 lbs?
 
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Well, the good thing is that most "family camping" gear can be found second hand cheaply. An old Coleman stove that takes the green cans (avoid the pressurized white gas stoves), lanterns that take the same cans, ice chest, tent, yoga mats make good sleeping pads, sleeping bags are cheap from places like walmart.com. The tent is where I would spend the majority of the money, and always subtract one person from the rated capacity. A two person really holds 1 comfortable with gear, etc. You could probably get a good light bag for solo stuff and use it family camping. There are plenty of good little one burner stoves that use sterno cans for cheap on ebay. The new materials for camping tarps are great, they work as ground cloth, rain fly, solo enclosure, hammock, etc. Can be spendy, but buy once cry once.

Packs are kind of a personal thing, realistically plan a solo trip, note the gear and then pick your pack around that. I have a couple internal frame packs that are large I use for hunting large game and hauling out the meat, and my dad has an eberlestock pack for hunting.

Something I know you will consider as well, camera bag. I took my Tamrac 706 convertible on the hunting trip to Nevada last year, it has a built in wait belt that made carrying under my back pack a breeze. They're not cheap as I'm sure you know, but I have found them cheap in thrift stores usually with some old hi-8 camcorder in it. 30 bucks for the whole lot, not bad for a $200 bag!


-X
 
I used to do 3 day hikes with a Kelty Trekker 4200 backpack, Slumberjack sleeping bag, Eureka 2 man tent, and a Camping Gaz mountain stove. Plus a few more odds and ends.
 
Liam , For backpacking trips, my wife and I use a MSR Pocketrocket stove . They are under 50 bucks and very durable.
For a pack check out REI house branded stuff . I have had very good experiences with the items I have used. REI has a great return policy if you end up not liking it. Here is a pic of the cooking set up(and my super sweet DFK Backpacker:) ) from our last trip.
14096705053_240661276e_b.jpg
 
Thanks! How do those smaller stoves do with something like a skillet? I can't see us doing bagged add hot water type meals often...
 
Hi!

I'm just in and may fall out on the couch soon, lol! I must have been at the horizontal grinder for 8 hours... things are looking good!

I used to camp a lot, I have camped at least a year of my life. Most of it was pretty laid back... I was in Boy Scouts and worked at a camp too.


Camp stoves are intriguing and I have a design worked out that I would like to make.. It would be Titanium and wood or alcohol fired like an Emberlit. I have worked on it a bunch and want to make it happen one day. But FOLDERS for now! :D :D :D
 
Those little stoves are great for solo or "roughing it" but the classic green Coleman two burner stoves are better with real cookware for the family. They're no bigger than a small attaché. They really are kind of the standard for family camping. Ours usually just sits on the tailgate next to the chuck box and water jug.

Ugh, been planning a mini vacation next month for the wifes birthday and she called me today saying her car won't start :mad: Turns out it was a battery, thankfully. $125 but could have been worse. Plus I left work early to come get her.


-X
 
Lycosa said:
Cool last sentence.^ :D
Click to expand...

:D I'm staying focused!


fast14riot said:
Those little stoves are great for solo or "roughing it" but the classic green Coleman two burner stoves are better with real cookware for the family. They're no bigger than a small attaché. They really are kind of the standard for family camping. Ours usually just sits on the tailgate next to the chuck box and water jug.

Ugh, been planning a mini vacation next month for the wifes birthday and she called me today saying her car won't start :mad: Turns out it was a battery, thankfully. $125 but could have been worse. Plus I left work early to come get her.


-X
Click to expand...

I have had a few of those Colemans and they rock! Chuck box - I use to make those with removable legs way back in the day...

I hope all goes well, I hear you on the bills! It seems those batteries always go out around the hottest day of the year too...
 
Lycosa said:
Cool last sentence.^ :D
Click to expand...

:D I'm staying focused!


fast14riot said:
Those little stoves are great for solo or "roughing it" but the classic green Coleman two burner stoves are better with real cookware for the family. They're no bigger than a small attaché. They really are kind of the standard for family camping. Ours usually just sits on the tailgate next to the chuck box and water jug.

Ugh, been planning a mini vacation next month for the wifes birthday and she called me today saying her car won't start :mad: Turns out it was a battery, thankfully. $125 but could have been worse. Plus I left work early to come get her.


-X
Click to expand...

I have had a few of those Colemans and they rock! Chuck box - I use to make those with removable legs way back in the day...

I hope all goes well, I hear you on the bills! It seems those batteries always go out around the hottest day of the year too...
 
My emberlit is awesome. Wont work for a skillet, but I can boil a pot in a hurry only using twigs, and leaves.

Daniel Fairly Knives said:
Hi!

I'm just in and may fall out on the couch soon, lol! I must have been at the horizontal grinder for 8 hours... things are looking good!

I used to camp a lot, I have camped at least a year of my life. Most of it was pretty laid back... I was in Boy Scouts and worked at a camp too.


Camp stoves are intriguing and I have a design worked out that I would like to make.. It would be Titanium and wood or alcohol fired like an Emberlit. I have worked on it a bunch and want to make it happen one day. But FOLDERS for now! :D :D :D
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the additional thoughts and suggestions, fellas. Definitely helps me get a better picture as I figure out what our needs really are.

Make it a great monday!
 
Morning guys!

Gonna be a hot one today, 105° is forecast. It's 83° now, and not a comfortable 83, it's the kind where you feel it burning as you stand there knowing it is going to be another 20° hotter.

Gonna work on my barrel today, hopefully I can be done in the shop by 10, it gets really hot in there!

Make it awesome!



-X
 
I need to move out West for the Winter, then back East for the summer. It's a nice 86 here and not predicted to go over 90 at all this week.

Slowly putting some stuff together. Looking for a few new hand tools for my workshop, just a matter of finding the right make/model. I'm pretty picky :(

Kev how's that Tanto going?

Daniel whatup! You working yourself to the bone yet? :D
 
liamstrain said:
Thanks! How do those smaller stoves do with something like a skillet? I can't see us doing bagged add hot water type meals often...
Click to expand...
Ok If I can't admit my short comings amongst friends, where can I admit them? ....I have never cooked Bacon ( Bacon should always be capitalized.) on a backpacking trip.........there I said it!
Liam, although I .... ( ashamed look) never tried cooking with a skillet on that stove, I think it would work just fine as long as it was not too windy or you had a good wind break.
 
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