howdy

“First I'd like to say hello to everyone out there. Im new to the site and relatively new to recreational back packing for the sake of camping. Ive been walking in for elk and deer hunting for years, but until most recently have never gone for the sole sake of just getting away. I had no Idea that there were so many manufaturers of equipment until I started reading through the threads and articles of this and some of the other sites. I had always thought that I was pretty much getting the best thing i could get ahold of when i outfitted and replaces my gear over the years with Coleman stuff. IE: lanterns, stoves, tents, ect ect. Im almost embarassed, I must look like a walking billboard for the stuff.
So now that I have admitted to outfitting myself from Fred Meyer......... I was wondering, if the quality of the other manufacturers was light years ahead of what I'm using now, which is pretty much all Exponent gear, dual fuel stuff, short of my pack wich is an old ALICE large that I was issued in Panama years ago. I guess my main question is weather or not ive been suckerd into subgrade equipment meant for day hikes though county parks by grade schoolers? I mean the stuff seems to work great, but Ive never known any other.... any how, feel free to bash my choice in gear, thats why i asked!! Thanks.”

“*rubbing hands together*

Another newbie! ;-)”

“Oh, I forgot to say, "Welcome!"”

“You gotta start someware. I am constantly upgradeing gear because I'm always learning better ways and better equipment.
You may want to consider upgradeing from the old ALICE pack though. They are alot heavier than todays choices.”

“if you go looking for a pack try finding a ROKK. It is a great pack at an even greater price. Or, if you wanna spend big money, contact me, I might be parting with a brand new Jack Wolfskin Trailhead III. It cost me $200, I would probably want $300.00. (gotta pay for the ROKK).

Where are you located. You should try to hook up with the lunatics that frequent this haunt. Everyone that I have met and I've not met many, but those that I have have been GREAT!

See ya in the funny pages...”

“I dont think ya got sucked in timber. Coleman makes decent bombproof gear for the average consumer. I have used coleman heavily for car camping myself.The exponent line you mentioned appears in many backpackers inventory.
Most of the manufacturers of high proformance gear that we use are specialist companies that dont normally show up on the shelves of the mass merchants because they are more expensive and dont sell the quantities that they want.
As to replacing your stuff just pickout which item bugs you the most and start the research. While "you get what you pay for" is true make sure that you arent overpaying for it either. Personally I dont like expensive stuff because sooner or later it will get destroyed and I dont want to cry over losing a 1000.00 tent. I also tend to ask if it costs ten times more will I get ten times the value out of it and that answer is often NO.

Having said all that.... have you seen the sale at rei? :)”

“Cool... no extra $25 a pop for a raincover, removable add-on sidepockets, etc?

Shoot... Just those extra deals on that Gregory I got 10 years ago cost more than $75!!”

“i've always believed coleman products suck, though i have been using thier 3 person tent for a few years, for backpacking i'd never choose a coleman product, maybe for car camping, ie. lanterns, coolers, stoves, and any of the other great, heavy gear they produce. though i do rate their equipment a little higher than coghlans, i wouldn't use it.”

“Why do I get the feeling that Coleman is taking a cue from Pets Warehouse? (See the "Use caution with your opinion!" thread.)”

“I used an ALICE pack when I first got back into backpacking. When I finally got a modestly priced internal frame jansport pack the difference was like night and day. I can't believe how much pain I was enduring for no reason.
BUY A NEW PACK!

Look for gear at;
campmor.com,
backcountry-equipment.com,
rei.com,
sierratradingpost.com,
or sportsmansguide.com”

“I'm going the other way,I started with thousands of dollars of ultra light gear and Am trading it off for more 'manly' type gear.I'm tired of looking like a sissy, with only 17 lbs.I'm hoping I can get up to 55-60 lbs. in time for my next trip.”

“Welcome!! Gear is gear, if it works for you use it. If it breaks, get a new one, but do some shopping around and find the right one to replace it with.
Definitely get a new pack, I had to carry a 40 pound cratering charge in my Alice pack onto the Panama City airport runway. The shoulder straps were cutting into my shoulders and the hilp belt gave me a bruise. An internal frame pack will make the sweat from your back get your shirt wet but they are way more comfortable that an Alice.”

“Look at the Cheap backpack thread for some good suggestions.”

“send me $200 and I will help you find good gesr to buy.”

“sp. "gear" hehe”

“Welcome to the insane world of TrailTalk!!!!

Hope you have a good time!

8)”

“Unless you are independently wealthy, it makes sense to start with cheapo gear or stuff you already have (like your Alice pack) and then upgrade as you get into it. A reason to feel suckered would be if you'd gone into a gear shop and blown a fortune on the
"best" stuff with no idea if or how you'd use it.

As a a hunter, you've probably seen the kinds of people I used to see in New Hampshire at hunting season: rich newbie hunters from New York City with 3,000 dollars in gear who can't read a compass or a map, or tell you which way the wind has been blowing.”

“penny pincher! (being entirely sarcastic Ped)


go for it and blow the wade.......they that's right the whole thing. go to Campmor with hundreds of dollars and go home with a thing or two.”

“"blow the wade..." " find good gesr to buy"

Hmmmm.... mebbeee BacPac was right about Iced Tea...

(so Pete.... rumour has it that yer comin' up my way this July)”

“This is a neat forum. I was here several months ago, right after 9/11. There was a radical a$$hole here that really put me off, so I bailed for awhile. Just recently returned, I think the plugged that hole, and the tone is better. Enjoy. As for gear, its a constant thing, I learn a lot on most any trip I take with new folks. Researching and buying the gear is half the fun. Watch out for the gear ho's that hang around here tho.”

“i agree ldhiker, picking it out & buying the gear is half the fun. Every time I get something new, I see something I'd rather have. But since I'm not wealthy like ped(j/k) I have to choose happy mediums usually. Some of the ultralight hiking websites tell youbout all this killer gear but you'd have to spend $2,000 to get it all.”

“Hey timberline...welcome. I started out same way. Not all Coleman but whatever I could afford. Had no clue about lightening the load with higher quality gear and ultralight tricks. I used to carry 55lbs. Replace your gear as you can with lighter and better. If the coleman stuff works and doesn't break your back, keep it.

Idhiker, one person doesn't make or break a forum. You'll have ample oppertunity to ignore certain posters, lol. Also remember, we are all human...not perfect. Right after 9/11 was a pretty emotional time.”

“I like my tiny dual fuel stove and lantern! Mostly for car camping, but the stove was good in winter too. Otherwise I like the alcohol stove. Good advice from everyone. Go on group hikes, check out everyone's gear. I always go home lusting to buy a new item or two that I saw in action.”

“I like the Coleman stoves and lanterns too. I have a two burner stove and a lantern that's 30 years old and still works. My Feather 400 stove is 9 years old and still works great for winter camping. Sure it's not the lightest stove, but it has other qualities that I like.”

“Yeah, RichB had to show me how to use my Feather 442 correctly! Now I like it so much better. Not to say that I'm mechanically challenged or anything...”

“At least we didn't get burned or catch anything on fire, but really these stoves work well and no white gas stove I know of simmers better.”

“I have one of those one-burner Colemans. Looks like a moon lander. They are heavy but dependable. Also one of the "backpacker" lanterns. Depends how far I'm going as to what I take with me. The lantern is okay for short trips, but I won't carry it on long trips. I have to settle for a candle lantern for that.
I also have a couple other bigger lanterns and a two-burner stove for car camping, all quite dependable and functional.”

“I have a one-burner coleman stove, works fine in low altitudes. Take it above 12,000 feet and it's unreliable.”

“12000 feet and I become unreliable too. Specially if I can see all the way back down again.”