Addiction begins with a small sample.

“Mountain Hardwear makes two styles. The "micro-mesh" already mentioned, ( I have one)and the waterproof version.
MH has a cool zipper system that allows you to zip your bag to the bivy for one zip entry and exit. Sleep with a towel or something near your head, they get wet inside.”

“pisaqahforest, all you have to do is scan a photo and e-mail it to Phil. His address is on the "Phil's Photo Page". If you have further questions, please post them.

About your girlfriend to be, it really is good that she wants to get rid of her current boyfriend first; you woudn't want a girl that likes to cheat. She may not be able to bring herself do breakup with her current fella, but if she does, it sure looks good for you, but don't wait around for her. Keep looking.”

“Signs that you are addicted:

1. REI Outlet is your browsers start page.
2. REI, Campmor and Mountain Gear send you a get well card if you don't buy anything for 2 looooong weeks.
3. You have to buy a larger house to store all of your gear. (This would never happen to me, I just kicked my roommate out to give my gear its own room)
4. You get agitated if you miss the REI Outlet "Deal of the Day"
5. You ambush the mailman/UPS driver so your wife won't see what's in the box.
6. New gear has to stay in your trunk until you can move it in when she's not home.
7. Your REI dividend is equal to the GNP of a small country.”

“Hello Everyone, this is one of the better threads I've seen anywhere. Way to go!

I am new here, been on some other forums and recognize some names here.

Looks like there is a censor here, guess that's part of it.”

“Hi ldiker, why do you say there is a censor here. Did you try to post something naughty?”

“Well I now know I am not alone!”

“Who cares if I can only fit 1 car in a 2 1/2 car garage. I'll use everything in there some day. And anyway, the truck is too long for the garage.

I know I won't go back to Fairbanks soon, but if I do I'll have a backpack kit, canoe and fishing tackle. Ed's taking good care of it.”

“Walkindude iffin you got new poles what would it take to get my old ones back from ya?”

“Sunshine, it's always good to have one other junkie who is using the same stuff you are. And yeah, it is cool! It's headed to the woods one way or the other Saturday. The forecast may be rain, but darned if our li'l froggy pack doesn't have that covered. Which proves how smart we were to score this model, justifying the expenditure. So rain away, 'cause then I'm not addicted, I'm just prepared for anything.”

“Sounds more like a rationalization for being a gear addict, Sunshine.”

“When I buy a house, I will have a special finished room to store all of my gear. It will have heat and AC and humidity control. My gear will live like a king when not on the trail. Anybody consider buying a heavy duty washer to wash your bags?”

“My husband says I need one of those white boyscout trailers just to carry all my backpacking gear. That or I'll be the one on the trail using a wheelbarrow to haul my pack in because I can't stand to leave anything at home. :)”

“Today, the one day in a long time my wife gets home before me and the REI Priority Mail box is waiting with my new First Need water purifier! She didn't bat an eye during my whole rationale that I blurted out after she pointed out the box on the kitchen table. Cool. Now, as long as she doesn't look too close upstairs...”

“Spam
I gave those other ones to my brother. His knees are about shot and I knew he needed them for when he goes.”

“Gear addict? L'il ole me?? No way!!!

Yeah okay, so I can't walk out of the gear store without buying a new gizmo or gadget or sleeping bag, or...
And I mean it's not as though I walk into the Medical Supply store & *have* to walk out with a new stethescope, or equipment holster... it's just that in most cases I usually do! :o)”

“Lipstick,
I thougth there was a censor because when I checked back after posting my tease to AmyG about being a potential gear daddy, part of it didn't show, but I see it is there now.

Just finished a great trip in the Grand Canyon, thanks MaryP!! A wonderful opportunity to lust over other people's gear, Campmor sends thank you to all fellow hikers on that trip, my order arrived just a few days ago. New Dromedarys, stakes, and drying trays. Now I need to get some info on my Pur Explorer.

Enjoy!”

“LD, if you find anything out on the Explorer, let me know. I've contacted PUR twice by email and haven't gotten an answer. Thanks!”

“Anyone like to donate your old gear to a non-profit fostercare organization? I take out kids backpacking and have to rely on their bookbags as gear haulers, ever try to lash a slumberbag to a bookbag? Packs and sleeping bags are the main problem.”

“I just gave some old gear away today. I got more stuff too.”

“Got something to throw in?”

“bpbaby,

I recently received a note from PUR regarding the recall on the Explorer. Basically it said unless you were filtering feedlot run off in the snow, it was OK to use it as it is. I need to get the silicone lubricant, and would like to get new charcoal for the stop top if I can. REI gave me a vacant stare when I talked to them about it, will keep trying to email PUR.

I have to congratulate PUR on customer service, they have treated be great so far, and a buddy of mine also. I am sure thay are swamped, just get to their website and leave a message on the comment form.

Good Luck!!”

“Hello, my name is Zoe and I am a gearaholic. Not yet a gear whore, and trying hard not to become one.

I am finally going on my first backcountry adventure in just over a month. So I had lots to get together, and knowing that I will only get to do this a couple of times a year because of geography, I wanted good stuff that doesn't cost a fortune.

So here are my acquisitions so far this year: Kelty Torando 4000-love it! Got it for a steal at 87.99, just because it was last year's model. I also picked up a self-inflating sleeping pad at Target for $20. Some wigwam socks and coolmax liners. Then I had to get a headlamp--just because I think they are so cool--not a super functional one, but it will get me by this year. I had two sleeping bags already, a light one, that was about 10 years old, and a very large, very warm coleman one, that's great for car camping. So when I got my tax moola back, I went nuts this weekend, and picked up a mummy bag rated to 30 degrees at Target, a platypus 3 hoser, a pack towel, some smartwool socks, a markill devil stove, a rain jacket from Old Navy, and the bargain of the weekend, some trail pants that seem pretty water resistant from Old Navy for $4.

So it appears that I might have a bigger problem than I thought, I have a small apartment, and will soon have to dedicate a large section of my living room to my gear.”

“Last year, in anticipation for this event, I picked up my La Sportiva boots, a pur pioneer filter and I have a wonderful selection of Nalgene bottles, even a nifty hot pink one. :)

Happy hiking--now I can't wait til next year to add more to my collection.”

“are you a west virginia mountain mama?

take me home, country roads!”

“to the place I belong..”

“Where will this backcountry adventure take place?”

“Almost heaven
West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River....

I once had a tape of me sining that song at 2.5 years old.”

“hyper, if you ever get famous, VH-1 will dig that tape up and we'll all get to hum along.”

“We're going to Rocky Mountain National Park. It's our summer youth group trip-and I'm the youth director, so actually I'll be working--can you believe that!

We're hiking on the North Long's Peak trail, we won't summit Longs, but might venture as far up as the Keyhole. We'll have to see what weather and our bodies have to say.”

“I had to buy new pants for my Frogg Toggs this week because the butt finally wore out in my old ones. A woman called me back to say that the new blue color is really cool--kinda blue green--so I let her talk me into buying a jacket too. Got 'em yesterday and she was right.
I NEEDED some new lightweight sandals too. There are some new Nike ones that weigh 6.5 oz.
Just when I think I have this addiction under control.......”