Hey, can I borrow that?

Cpl Punishment

Cpl Punishment

Joined
Jan 28, 2006
Messages
7,035
OK we've been talking about woods ethics and such a lot lately, as well as certain individuals who plan to mooch off others for gear that they don't want to carry.

Question is, where do you draw the line letting someone borrow something?

Personally, I'll let someone borrow something (perhaps with a bit of instruction first, depending on what it is, if they are new, and honestly didn't know to take something.

I'll also let someone borrow if they brought their own and it goes TU for whatever reason.

However, for the moocher, unless there is actually danger to themselves, I won't let them borrow something, especially if they were the type to preach about how smart they are to "not waste the ounces". I'll let the discomfort be their lesson, and hopefully, they'll stop being so inconsiderate.
 
I keep it simple by not having friends.:D

But seriously, I have things that people can borrow that I don't care to get back. I also have things that people can borrow that must be used on the spot, in my presence.

There are certain things that I don't lend out. It's usually stuff that has cost me some decent money, and that I currently use and enjoy and don't want to replace.

Example of items that I will not lend to another:

My Jeep
Hammock
Shoes
Most knives/axe
Most tools
Cookware
Personal Gear
 
We usually divy up community type gear before starting out so we don't end up carrying a lot of duplicate stuff. All stuff gets used and everyone carries an appropriate amount of stuff.

Jeff
 
I never lend anyone I don't know or do not assume knows how to properly use one, my knife or axe. Saw sure because they are cheap.

Never lend anyone my down quilt.

I carry matches, drink mix, and usually a brick of Ramen that I'll give out.

FAK bandaids and such I have no problem giving out.

I'm a nice guy, but I believe if you are going to go out, you better be prepared to take care of yourself, unless you have a real emergency.
 
Hey, can I borrow that?
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Nope. But I'll cut, ignite, open, cook, make, something for you. The exception might be if I happen to be traveling with someone much more experienced than I am but someone like that is generally pretty well-prepared.


Edit: I forgot shelter, food, and water. Those I will gladly give away so I guess they wouldn't really be borrowed items anyway. Also anything used purely for entertainment (playing cards, harmonica, etc) I lend out.
 
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this happens to me all the times with my brothers lol. they always wanna borrow my 4 wheelers, guns, knives ect. i am always like wtf man, get your own stuff and half the times my older bro doesn't clean anything off and i am lucky to get it back lol. i am sure this isn't exactly what your talking about but its still pretty annoying to me either way lol
 
I will lend out a piece of equipment so someone can see how useful it is or compare it to their own. Even there , I have to know/trust them pretty well.
If we're already out and discover they had a brain fart and forgot something, I usually have something in my kit that I'm willing to loan out and won't get too mad about not getting back in pristine condition. (that's what spare cheap Moras are for, right?)
 
Most of the people I go out with would not
ask to borrow anything out in the field,
they would rather "do without".
Of course if I/we noticed one of our group
in need of something,we surely would take care of him.
(with an evenings worth of ribbing as a side bonus)
 
fugawee said:
Most of the people I go out with would not
ask to borrow anything out in the field,
they would rather "do without".
Of course if I/we noticed one of our group
in need of something,we surely would take care of him.
(with an evenings worth of ribbing as a side bonus)
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Snap.

Hats and gloves can get wet, lost, damaged. I carry spares for me but they're also the most common things I lend. Consumables sometimes get used up in a way that defies reasonable prediction and all that.

I'm not especially happy when someone just forgets something, but ho hum it's human and it may happen to me. I judge that on a by case basis. If you make a habit of it or just plain don't put the effort in to begin with you won't be going out with me much longer anyway.
 
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I think alot of the problem with newer outdoors people especially preppers, is that they can only budget in the money to buy one of something. So say you carry the knife with you everyday in your BOB, you have to remember to switch into your camp pack when you go on a trip, and that can be difficult.

I know when I started my BOB I was keeping my camping water filter in it, and once forgot it in my BOB when I went out on the trail. Ended up having to boil my water and drink straight from springs that trip. Luckily I didn't end up with any digestive bugs, but I then made a list that I always check before I go out. I still have things that serve dual purpose such as my rain jacket and socks, and so its a constant shuffle motion to make sure each bag is setup the way it should be after a trip.

Then again you have people who believe they do not need to carry things because they can borrow them from others.

On my section hike in 06 there was another UL hiker who was with our group who was notorious for this. Constantly wanting to borrow a knife, or a light, or batteries, or a hat, or everclear for his stove. It went on and on and on and on, and we luckily ended up ditching him around GSMNP in one of the towns. Made him think he had overslept and we had already left town, and so he started up the trail to catch up with us, and we stayed in town 2 more days so we could avoid him.

The only thing I can ever remember borrowing on the trail is a tube of gorilla glue to fix the sole of my boot, and I replaced the bottle in the next trail town for the guy.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
However, for the moocher, unless there is actually danger to themselves, I won't let them borrow something, especially if they were the type to preach about how smart they are to "not waste the ounces". I'll let the discomfort be their lesson, and hopefully, they'll stop being so inconsiderate.
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I think you are on the right path. If a person is generally competent I'll let them borrow something. But, it the person is usually unprepared then no - I'm not an enabler.
 
I just enjoy being out so If I find someone I like and and feel they can handle the route I have planned I go out of my way to make it an enjoyable learning experience for all.

That being said, with the exception of the canoe, I have nothing in my canoe camping kit that I wouldn't be able to overcome if it were broken or lost so I'll barrow whatever gear I have. I even have a designated loaner knife for them. Swamp Rat Howler is what they get to use if they don't have anything decent themselves. So with the exceptions of my paddle, pfd, spork, and sleeping gear I guess I have a pack of community gear.

I've even been known to carry extra gear for folks if it'll make the trip more enjoyable by all.:)
 
i'll loan a food bar or a big garbage bag if a hiker is needing either. Same with FAK contents.

anything else forget it, unless its an absolute emergency.
 
It all depends on the mentality of and how well I know the person, and what they want to borrow. About the only person who can manage to borrow my primary knives (I carry a loaner folder and sometimes a loaner fixed on long outings with a group) or anything I consider a basic life support tool in the field would be one of my mentors and they no-longer go with me. My wife borrowed my knife once and we went the next day and bought her one she liked that I thought was more than functional....a small Ka-Bar

Once, some years ago, when I was still really into guns a friend of mine and I were standing in my driveway after a day at the range. We were using my tailgate as a table while cleaning and oiling. An acquaintance of ours walked up looking for my neighbor...he looked at the tail gate and said "damn I don't need to buy anything at all, if the sh!# hits the fan I'll just come and find you two". Frank never said a word while Chris was there but as soon as Chris walked down the drive way Frank said in a low tone "note to self, if the sh!# hits the fan shoot that dead weight s.o.b. as he comes up the driveway" ...I made the same mental note.

I do have a list of things that one would be wasting their time and mine by asking to borrow...in no particular order.

my primary knives
my wife
my truck
my squirrel rifle
 
In a non-emergency I'll loan out what first aid supplies I have which would be bandaids pretty much. In an emergency I'll loan out pretty much anything if I don't need it myself with the exception of my blades. People just don't know how to NOT abuse blades. Someone said they would loan out a saw but I did that once and had to replace it. :rolleyes:
 
I rarely go out with others, but there have been a few times.

On one day hike, I ended up refilling several people's water bottles out of my 2 gallon water bag (a Dunkin' Donuts Box O' Joe bag). The water tasted like coffee (even after several washings and soakings with bleach and baking soda) but it was better than no water. I guess they didn't anticipate needing more than one or two liters of water. Luckily, I anticipated their anticipation, and brought plenty of extra. ;)

Then there are the trips I take with my friend every once in a while to a nice campsite by a stream. One time he brought along a palace of a tent (three room Coleman deal) that was bigger than my whole backpack in it's stuffsack, and I lent my shoulders because the lashing on his pack broke under the weight. Another time we were sleeping under my tarp, and he didn't bring a groundcloth, so I lent him my poncho. He makes up for these mistakes by bringing piles of all kinds of delicious food :D He's not terribly experienced, but he's learning alot more and has started accumulating more of his own gear (like a ground pad and modern backpack). He's also good company in camp, and I don't mind teaching him and helping him out when he forgets things.

I have a few things I will happily lend out, mostly older gear that I've upgraded. I will also happily lend my gear to a few trusted individuals that have demonstrated thier competence.
 
There are very few people I go outdoors with and they are all woods-savvy. If they needed something, I would lend it to them.

The one thing I do not lend to anybody, is my books. Carved in stone.

An exception might be my immediate family.

Doc
 
there is a line. as an urban and otherwise cycler. i have one serious pet peeve...i dont mind helping someone fix their flat tire. in fact, i dont mind doing it for em or showing em how. what i mind is them riding round the city/countryside without any of the stuff(no spare tubes, patch kit, pump etc) to fix a flat tire. expecting not only someone to come along and fix it for em, but provide the necessary tools n gear to do so.... have made that clear to new riders for yrs at the bike shop "ya gotta carry this stuff even if ya dont know how to use it".. . most cyclers dont mind helping another cycler out, but expecting someone else to carry and provide the needed tools n tube etc is a f*&k you sorta attitude. therefore at times my attitude is "sorry i dont carry that stuff either, use yr cell phone cuz i cant help ya." "good luck" as im cruising away....
 
mistwalker said:
I do have a list of things that one would be wasting their time and mine by asking to borrow...in no particular order.

my primary knives
my wife
my truck
my squirrel rifle
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I'm thinking that the list IS in order of priority - at least the wife beat the truck & rifle though!

JSmith88 said:
On my section hike in 06 there was another UL hiker who was with our group who was notorious for this. Constantly wanting to borrow a knife, or a light, or batteries, or a hat, or everclear for his stove. It went on and on and on and on, and we luckily ended up ditching him around GSMNP in one of the towns. Made him think he had overslept and we had already left town, and so he started up the trail to catch up with us, and we stayed in town 2 more days so we could avoid him.
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Well done! There is a big difference between someone that forgets 1 thing or a newbie that didn't know to bring 1 or 2 useful things vs the dick that leaves a bunch of stuff at home to save weight and then spends the whole time on the trail mooching off others.

I must say that if I was hiking with someone like that then I would VERY quickly wise up and explain to him that I didn't like lending my knives, I carefully plan my fuel requirements and didn't have spare (I don't care if he eats cold meals), I never lend hats (how do you think lice spread), don't have batteries to spare, etc. It's not like you hike for days lugging spare crap for others to borrow - you usually take what YOU need. If I know someone is like that before the start (but for some reason hike with him anyway) then I would just tell him that I don't lend stuff out! I would also quietly suggest to the others that they say the same thing (talk to them before the trip maybe). The other option (when you realize on the first day you buddy is a mooching jerk) is to tell him that after the first town you wont be lending anything - if he doesn't buy whatever he 'forgot' to pack then he can go without.

But really - he was asking you to provide fuel for his stove? I don't think I would go with that at all. Even if he buys you a bottle of fuel at the next town he is getting you to lug his stove fuel for him. Sometimes a good thing to say is "NO"! Are you really carrying enough fuel for 2 stoves? How about "you didn't bring any fuel for your stove? I guess you are eating cold meals until the next town then!".

Grrrrrrr - guys like that really grind my gears!
 
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