New Backpacker, need help!

“I agree about not buying a pack just because it's cheap. That is, if you can afford to do that. To me a pack is the second most important piece of gear next to boots. I hate a pack on my back that doesn't feel perfect. Every pack I have except my McHale I modified in some way to feel the best it can be.”

“ahhh... who needs a backpack, just go to the grocery store and grab a couple bags... paper or plastic, they're both just as good... throw all your gear in there and carry it down the trail, as for a tent... plastic bags will keep the rain off ya, the paper ones will just get soggy.”

“here's my take:
try the packs on. try the first one on again last too. you'll forget what it felt like by the time you're through.
don't decide the first day. go try em on again. take it on a hike with you if they'll let you(you'd be surprised at how many places will let you)
remember this is a big deal.

after you make your decision find the cheapest price you can online, everything's cheaper on the internet, if you don't already know. take that price to the dealer and ask them to match it, if they won't they can't possibly be mad at you for wanting to pay less money. buy little stuff from them to make up for it. (meals, shirts, etc.)

now the tent- you're gonna end up with more than one anyway. just ask anybody on here how many they have. id say get the one you'll use most first, which would probly be the one person. you don't want to carry more weight than you have to.
that cobra everybody has is nice and light though and can do 2 ok i think. ask someone about that, it's pretty cheap, well under 100 bucks i think
REMEMBER THIS”

“remember, backpackers stink, if you have extra room there's a chance someone might jump in there with you. you probably don't want that. you know when someone's sittin out in the rain you won't be able to sleep if you don't let em in.

oh yea, in my experience, spend the money on boots. don't buy the wrong ones cause they're cheaper. you'll just be wasting the smaller amount of money and have to spend more later.(i know you didn't ask, but im on a roll here.)”

“Good point Josh I have tons of gear and I have 5 tents soon to be six and as far as a backpack goes Josh is right try them on untill there is one that stands out from all the ones that you have tryed!

8D”

“Thanks for the immediate responses! I am almost overwhelmed. Well, I tried it on and the backpack was exceptional! It fit perfectly, so I bought it. I think it makes a good starter backpack. I will just probably wait on a McHale until I graduate to something better. I also ended up buying the Blue Kazoo sleeping back along with the Sierra Designs Orian AST. I bought some Patagonia raingear and some titanium cookware while I was at it. I am going rock climbing this weekend in Austin, TX, but am looking forward to the Labor Day Trip! Thanks for all the responses again! I can't believe how fast you all responded.”

“Good deal glad we could all help!

Happy Hiking!

8D”

“By the way, I feel for whoever said they were a poor college student. I am too! I feel your pain!”

“Yep the guys are fast around here!!”

“A poor college student and bought all THAT gear? Hey, I'm a kept grad. student and couldn't do that! Do your parents want to adopt me? :-)”

“could i borrow your tent chad?”

“10 bucks says yer new pack comes with a turd in it! LFMAO0ooOO0o00oOOooOOo0ooO0o!”

“If you buy gear at LLBean, use it and dont't like it, you can return it for 100% refund. I wouldn't buy boots anyplace else.”

“I'm a poor college student because I bought all that gear”

“Keep the big 3 down in weight. Mine is: Tent (2 person/2.13 lb), sleeping bag (25 deg/2 lb) and pack (3 lb). You'll feel a lot better without the extra weight.

My first comfortable pack was almost $400. I used it for for 8 years or so, but its pretty stinky and weighs 6+ lbs. It was a great pack before I started going lighter.

Now that you have your gear, it won't cost much to go on trips. Just gas & food. I guess that's how I look at my gear upgrades.”

“im so glad i finally got to that point. i thought the day would never come, but finally, i can just pack up and go.”

“yeah SN and Josh, i just put my gear in my pack, pour gas all over it and I'm ready ta go...........”

“LOL, strat. I'm not worried. I didn't tell 'em my name is Violin!!!”

“yeah, but you COULD be violin, now couldn't you, hmmmMMMMMMM? i've heard he's got a gooses down sleepin bag........{lookin you all suspicious}”

“don't become a victim to name brands, they're not always the best and tend to be overpriced.

i'm a minimalist when it comes to backpacking, no stove, rarely a camera, i used a garbage bag to cover my pack in the rain. i have come to the conclusion that a sleeping pad may be a necessity in colder temps.

start off with an easy trail, don't kill yourself until you become more experienced.”

“Earl Shaffer thru-hiked the first time in a pair of old Army boots and an old Army pack. Grandma Gatewood hiked in athletic shoes, used and old gunny sack for her pack, and slept under a shower curtain at night.

We're lucky, we can take real gear.”

“Hell's fire, strat, ANYONE could be Violin, LOL. That guy's the Lon Chaney of TT!”