I'm Buying Gear - Need Opinions

“Down possibilities

Kelty Arete 0F $179

My daughter has this bag (Kelty 0F) and it works just fine for the coldest the catskills gets.

Or using the $179 as a guide try bidding on Backside down under $149 Buy it now price but as noted above I have no knowledge of how good this bag is, but with 700 fill vs 650 for the kelty it should be a little lighter and smaller for the same insulation value.”

“yup twinks I like that one to.

what say we?”

“The wenzel starlite is a total POS. If it rains, you will get wet from water transfering through the walls. If it's dry, you will get wet from condensation.

Total junk.”

“My first new vinyl record was the Beatles, A Hard Days Night. Second was Rolling Stones, High Tides and Green Grass (or something like that). Funny how you remember these things.”

“My first album was "Creeque Alley" by the Mamas and the Papas...the first one I bought for myself was "That N*****'s Crazy" by Richard Pryor...”

“Just keep in mind that the Kelty Crestone looks like it isn't free standing, so you will have to stake it down. It may be challenging to keep stakes down in the snow.”

“Twinks, when are you buying this stuff and when will you be using it? Backpacker.com (GASP! I said backpacker.com) has a nice gear finder section where you can pick from different parameters and get gear selections. Have you looked through the gear review in Backpacker? Have you gone to any online gear review sites? From your posts, it really doesn't sound like you know what you want.”

“I don't understand why it is so heavy for that style tent. There are others that are a pound lighter, I think. For the same weight, there is the Eureka backcountry I that is free standing with 24 sq feet. I don't see why the kelty is 3.5 lbs.”

“Ski and Bit, I can remember my sister's first 45, she played it night and day until I was sooo sick of that tune.”

“The Outlaws did Green Grass and High Tides”

“Twinks - I like that one as well. I don't know if this might help, tho, REI is going to have a 20% off if you use you dividen toward one purchase. Somethng to think about.

Bit - I love that heavy bper's are still around. Brings a tear to my eye .. :)

BTW - Check out STP for deals. They might have something for you there!”

“Kelty is changing the design of all of there tents. There will be lots of sales on the old style Keltys. I have the Kelty Zen and love it. Plenty of room for me and my gear. Plus you can get two people in it.”

“yep - this is going to be the tent....

one choice made - another to go....

a bag...a bag”

“Twinks check Sierra Trading Post for deals.”

“Mapes - that just for the footprint, kid!”

“No Maple, that is for the footprint, a $2.00 piece of plastic cut to the shape of the tent base.”

“manuka is right. or you could use tyvek also.

HEY! how about this one:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/xq/asp/base_no.79388/dept_id.L2~319/qx/product.htm”

“The wenzel starlite is a total POS. If it rains, you will get wet from water transfering through the walls. If it's dry, you will get wet from condensation.

Total junk."
humanpackmule
03:43:29 PM

Glad you hot this before I did pack. I have this tent. My nephews and neice play in it now because of exactly wht you said. I took it with to Canada about 6 years ago. It rained every day. I was wet every day.

Garbage, don't buy it”

“my new baby, isn't she pretty?

I think I'll name it...”

“Im trying help here!!!


you all think your so smart dont ya!


geez, im going home.



*giggle*”

“name it "likes to sleep with bears"”

“no - that's the hammock's name - besides - you know how I bear=proof myself when I go bp'ing - remember the food bag?”

“You will like her Twinks. I have a different Kelty tent and love it.

I think my is named Bo.”

“ok how about "no squat on cow or bear patty)”

“Nothing better then a synthetic bag that will lose 1/4 of it's loft after about the first 10 uses making your 0 degree bag into a 20-30 bag. I've read quite a few trail journals where thru-hikers send back their synthetic bags after the first month on the trail because they lost too much loft to be effective. Keeping your bag dry is more important imho then the materials your bag ae made out of. A syn bag may retain a little bit of insulative value when wet, but it's still misserable to sleep in a wet synthetic bag.

Campmor 0 degree Bag 3lbs 5oz

Campmor 20 degree Bag 2lbs 4oz

I ran the loft figures on the 20 degree bag, the 1lb 3oz of 550 fill has the same loft potential as my Western Mountaineering Megalite with 12oz of 850+ fill. I'm a cold sleeper and was comfortable into the mid 20's in my Megalite. I have yet to find a synthetic bag which approaches it's "rating". But, like I said... I'm a cold sleeper.

Something a little different for a tent, how about a Coleman/Peak1 Cobra tent? I do not think they make them any more, but they are less then 4lbs, use a single aluminum pole, and possibly the smallest packing shelter I've used (even smaller then my Tarptent Cloudburst). I wouldn't recommend it for someone over 5'9", but it's an excellent 1-2 person tent with a lot of room and two nice vestibues. It has a full coverage fly that goes all the way to the ground, and from my experience it was VERY storm proof.

Peak1 Cobra on Ebay for $60

A few picure of my old Cobra.



”

“I had my peak 1 cobra in an all night torrential downpour and it worked like a champ. No leaks.”

“Cobra used to get some great reviews”

“this is more my style......cheap and well so ok its just cheap...


http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=66486&prmenbr=226”

“I thought this was more your style:

”

“Just whatever you do, Twinks, don't let anyone on this thread influence you decision on gear purchases.”

“Do not buy from C & C Outdoor Store THEY SUCK. I ordered my Moonstone Lucid 2/10 and still hasn't been shipped yet. According to them 'it's in the works' THEY SUCK!!!”

“http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=86902&prmenbr=226

3 lbs 5 oz a little heavy but down and a half decent price (I think) Good luck

I have the Inyo II the old color, I love it tons of room! Which is now called Peak 1 Cobra pictured above.”

“the other baby is


I have a fleece liner I can add if needs be - this is perfect until I get a proper down bag.”

“actually - Mountain Hardware won my heart

here she is - woooowhooooo - I just bought some new gear!!!!!!

isn't she beautiful i'm so in love”

“Don't even consider the Eureka Solitare (the yellow one on the inital thread post) or the green $100 version that has aluminum poles. Both are way too small and are a little difficult to get in and out of. I have one I used two or three times.

I bought a used NF Canyonlands tent last year and am happy with it. A little heavier, but I can sit up in it and get my gear inside too. It pretty good in rainshowers too (I live in Southern Calif/Sierra Nevada area)

For a sleeping bag I use a TNF Cats Meow (no I don't work for TNF!). I wear most of my clothes while sleeping so it not only improves warmth in cooler climates, but also makes it easier to get up in the morning. (Why buy a heavy bag when you can use all those warm pile clothes you carry with you as extra insulation?).”

“Nice tent, lady. My brother has a MH that I have borrowed several times. I've been impressed with it.”

“Twinks - that MH you got reminds me of a cross between the Cobra and Zoid. Good choice in tent ya bought there!

I also like the NF bag you gots picked out. Yer getting the hang of it!”

“On the solo tent. I agree with Mapleleaf with the Sierra Designs light year.

It has been my experience that SD is about the best technical tent manufacturer. Taped seams whereever possible and their tents are designed to be dry, comfortable and durable.”

“I would explore getting a less expensive, lighter bag (5-20 degree) and a liner, either polarguard or silk and then a cover or bivy. You wouldn't have to get all at once. That way you get much more versatility.

In very cold weather, I use the liner and the cover, this add amost 20 degrees to the bag.

In moderate weather I use just the liner and the cover and in other cases I use just the liner.

In real extreme cold I just use a big constrution weight/size plastic trash bag as a vapor barrier.

My total expense for bag, liner, and cover is about $200.”

“uh..thanks Redhawk but as you can see I've already purchased my new toys and am eagerly anticipating their arrival :)”