Did this happen to you ?

Shotgun said:
Yeah pretty much. I was in a SAR group in my teens and I really didn't have much gear. A compass, a small FAK, a good pair of boots, a rain shell, a few lawn and leaf bags, and a sak in my pocket. That was about all I carried and I find that I've pretty much come back to that. For a while there my survival gear needed a full daypack to carry it and it was about 10 pounds. Now my survival stuff fits into a quart sized ziploc and weighs about 2 pounds or less. I think it was a progression of having very few skills and not knowing WHAT you could do with nature, to having a moderate amount of skills and thinking you need bigger/heavier tools for the theoretical things that you COULD do with these skills, to having a lot of skills(experience) and realizing I've used nothing but my Izzy 2 the whole camping trip. To be honest I'm a bit bored with knives and gear right now.
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Actually I have had a life time of being outdoors, literally. But I thought that most of being outside was common sense, and much of it is. But I have learned on this site, or had enough interest piqued to gather additional info, to try new skills. I am a believer in life long learning and I take in information when I have the inclination. I also rotate hobby interests either by season or in year multiples. This may be an option with your current boredom... I usually have more questions than answers. :)
 
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HwangJino said:
Nope!

I tend to research before buying things.

I am eyeballing a ti emberlit that I know I dont need, but seems so useful.
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I go through bouts of irrational lust. I know that I have zero practical need for a Ka-Bar Gamestalker but I really want one. I struggle with this all the time. I say struggle because many times I'll get a knife, use it a bit, then toss it in a box. It is often more lust than use for some cutting tools.
 
RWT said:
I went through this sequence with having to have all the gear I felt important. Now I am selling off most of the knives as I finally found the ones that meet my requirements, which is primarily hunting. I'll keep the 3 machetes as they were inexpensive and still useful at the ranch or in the yard. As for all the other "knives" I really only need 3 and will keep 10 total, mostly out of sentimental value. Looks like a 4" fixed blade with a beefy handle, a beater folder and my "office" folder are all I really need. I am likely to keep the half dozen Mora's I have as the wife uses them in the kitchen and I lend them out. I find it interesting how we spend $ to discover what fits and then move on to other interest. Good thing women aren't that way or I'd be broke.
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I have felt the same way lately, sell off or give away what is not truly useful\essential to me. But I don't.... and I don't even know why.
 
ThriftyJoe said:
I can go ten pounds in my day pack easy for an all day hike, but most of it is water. I don't carry much food for day hiking.

Back in the day in my teens and twenties, for day hiking I carried everything in a leather cartridge box on a canteen belt. (leather cartridge box deserves a second look for minimalists instead of an Altoids tin, IMHO) That included a GI canteen, but that's only 1 qt, so you know I couldn't have been going very far in New Mexico summers.

I hike much longer distances nowadays, even though I'm 50+. I think I'll never strip my gear back down to that level. Day packs are sweaty, but they carry 10 lb so well you don't even notice the weight. I need my ultralight down vest+shell+poncho. I guess a bulky belt pouch like a gas mask pouch would do, but might as well just use a day pack so I can carry more water. Back in the old days I had to guess what clothing I needed at the beginning of the day. Plan to carry the jacket in your hands later when it gets hot, or don't take it. What if you get stuck out overnight? You'll want that insulation.

Victoria Grover wished she had some insulation with her: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...rt-4-days-food-breaking-leg-article-1.1069681 She spent four days shivering near hypothermia wrapped up in her poncho. Here in the mountains in Wyoming and N. Colorado I can tell you there's no such thing as a warm night, any time of year. It gets COLD.

I have my day hiking gear spread out on the couch right now from a recent hike. Really not that much stuff. Clothing mentioned above, head net instead of bug dope (same weight), water bottle, first aid kit, cord, bear spray, and two little pouches with small Ten Essentials items (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials) like flashlight, compass, matches etc.
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Don't know if you're directing your whole post towards me but maybe I can clarify anyway. By 2 pounds of survival gear I mean stuff I know probably won't get used. FAK, paracord, tarp, etc. It doesn't include water and clothing suitable for the day. And the ziploc rides in a pack. ;) I place a high premium on water too.
 
I can get at a builder's suppliers for a third the price though
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Work Wear is bombproof and good for many years
And that is what I have been using until now

But now adays I am more interested in saving carry weight and its speed of drying
I travel by air and my gear also needs to be light becuase of airline limits
 
neeman said:
Work Wear is bombproof and good for many years
And that is what I have been using until now

But now adays I am more interested in saving carry weight and its speed of drying
I travel by air and my gear also needs to be light becuase of airline limits
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I do both. I'm going to climb into a pair of Mountain Hardware trousers in a bit. They are even lighter than the Lowe Alpines and very quick drying. I must like them a lot 'cos they are in a pale blue. I hate pale blue, but it's 27C as I type and will be getting dark in 3 hours.
 
Interesting topic. When I was younger, I brought very little due to ignorance, and would learn (and take note of) items that I should have brought. Luckily, it was never a life threatening situation, but sometimes it was fairly serious. So I actually carry a lot more as I've gotten older...
 
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