Just got another gear fix....ahhhh all b etter

“Just recieved another package from REI...
Why do they keep sending me this stuff?
Shhhhh....my wife thinks I'm a gear tester ; )

2 Ultra Lite (Long) Thermarest with stuff sacks...good bye old blue!

J.M.T. Map Pack

Merino Wool Socks ( Wow! they are soooo soft ....not itchy!)

Cool Max Liner Socks

Petzl Tikka... for my son he couldn't keep his hands off of mine on our last trip.

I just love new geat,
Even new socks are a treat!”

“In my mail box today there was a titanium Sierra stove. Last week UPS just happened to bring a sil nylon poncho.”

“Geat????? Sorry that should be Gear!
Marphyl....don't you just love those little surprises!”

“You guys have too much money. You'd better send some my way...”

“Hey! If anybody needs some ziplock bags for their trail mix, why bother going all the way to your grocery store, and pay twice as much, when you could go to [a href" "http://www.pacsmart.com/detailedproductpages/zip_top_minigrip_bags.asp?Cat=ZIP%20TOP%20MINGRIP%20BAGS"] PacSmart.com [/a] to get your goodies!”

“damned, i messed it up!”

“Just bought the new Suunto escape 203 altimeter/barometer can't wait till it gets here”

“YES!!! I love those little surprises.

Bear in mind that the people that took this poll on the lightweight yahoo site are real gear heads. Thinking about the money--gear sure can suck it up.

Choices Votes % 106 replies

Under $100 0 0.00%
$100-$300 2 1.89%
$300-$500 4 3.77%
$500-$700 11 10.38%
$700-$1000 9 8.49%
$1000-$2000 41 38.68%
$2000-$3000 14 13.21%
$3000-$4000 13 12.26%
$4000-$5000 6 5.66%
Over $5000 6 5.66%”

“I'm jealous, I want some new gear. I want, I want, dang it I WANT..... NOW.”

“Yeah, AZhiker, we all have Gear Addiction. I have my list, but as soon as I acquire something, rather than letting the list get shorter, I just add some neat new toy to the list. Tops is the thermarests and lightweight sleeping bags. Then compression bags. Raingear would be great. Binoculars would be really fun. Is there a rehab program for this?”

“Buddha Bear's shameless plug. Is this your business Buddha Bear? What mil are the average freezer bags? snadwich bags?”

“oops. "sandwich"”

“I have started leaving cold sodas and cookies for the UPS driver. I love the truck.”

“Got my new boots today! Montrail Torres. Ahhhh, they feel good already! I got to the door just in time to holler THANK YOU to the ups man and blow him a kiss. :0)”

“Hey Baume66, I am a small business owner who was recently dumped, I haven't felt shame for some time now! 4mil. Heavy Duty 6mil.
Oh, and I posted that in hopes that one of you might be a packaging buyer, we are B2B afterall.

By the way, I can just picture all of you gear addicts in a dark corner in your homes, playing with your new gear for a day, only to pick up he REI catalog the next day hands trembling, to get the next fix.”

“Glacier glasses from Sierra Trading Post arrived yesterday. Suunto Vector and three dry bags will be coming in a few days. Kodiac Taper dry bags, fleece bag, and food are in the near future. I like to spread it out a little, not just because I order from SO MANY different companies, but because it always feels like Christmas when the packages arrive. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

You understand so well, Buddha. My name is arclite, and I am a gearhead.”

“arclite, sorry to be ignorant, but is arclite a brand, a light, what?”

“i haven't been to rei in a few months.

i actually have all of the gear i need, and some that i don't.

one day, you too, will recover.”

“I am currently awaiting delivery of a cascade design, 60 oz insulated hydration system. $13.50 @ Sierra Online.

I asked the local sporting goods clerk if they had hydration systems and he sent me to lawn and gardens. I wish I didn't live so far from civilization sometimes.”

“Hmmmmmm...
Sarabelle thinks that grungy used sox are a treat.
Go figure...
/o:

I did my REI trip a couple weeks ago -
socks
3/4 Thermarest
Gaz stove & fuel cannisters
70 oz. Platypus
couple of two-quart Nalgenes

More to come before my July roadtrip - namely a Pur filter and whatever else catches my eye...”

“Just ordered from Sierra Trading Post, GOT NEW BOOTS!! Yeah!! Got tired of the holes developing in my feet.
I'm very excited - isn't that just alittle sick?”

“TWB and the prodigy units gave me a MSR titanium coo set for mothers day. It had to be backordered so I received it last week. I've been fondling it daily *sigh*.

The following was written a long time ago by a fellow TTer (I can't remember who):

Gear Addicts Prayer

God: Grant me the serenity to accept the gear I already have, the courage to turn down what I don't truly need and the wisdom to at least get a part-time job at a gear shop. Amen.”

“What I need is a 12 step program for preventing spousal discovery of new gear.”

“just buy the best gear, that you've always wanted (and always will, until you get it).

i have purchased my dream gear, and i wish i had done so at the beginning!”

“Just got zip off pants Tuesday. I can't totally give up the old longs johns under my shorts, but a least on some days I won't look like such a bag lady on the trail. ;)”

“Yeah, what rad said. I wish that I wouldn't have wasted money on gear that I could "start out with." I've got the gear that I want now, but as new stuff comes out, I'm always tempted.”

“12 Step Self-Help Program for the Gear-ho

Spending all your money on hiking gear? Here's a 12-step program assured to break you from this vicious cycle:

1. First things first. Purchase a minimum gear set that will last for your entire backpacking career ? figure maybe $15,000.
2. Forget you've ever heard of REI, Campmor and the like.
3. Convince yourself that you really have enough gear.
4. Get married to a non-hiker.
5. Throw away all your gear catalogs. All of them.
6. Buy a house. If you already own a house, buy a bigger house.
7. Any time another hiker says something like "Have you seen the new [insert cool piece of gear here]?" Respond with, "That's foo-foo fluff stuff. I've been backpacking for years without it- why would I need that?"
8. Reduce, reuse, recycle.
9. Mooch from your friends.
10. Convince yourself that your old, ratty gear is still good, even when your Gore-tex storm jacket looks more like a roll of duck tape than anything else.
11. Quit your job and destroy your credit cards. No money equals no buying power. OK, bad idea.
12. If all else fails, stick with car camping.”

“No, LyndyS. It has to do with my degrees.”

“Did anyone else receive the new REI-Outlet sale flyer? Question; It has a Snackmaster Food Dehydrator in it for $34.93. Has anyone used this item before? Or what brand does someone recommend?”

“I plan to hit the local thrift shops to replenish my clothing selection. I figure I'll be able to get some lightweight and expedition weight fleece, and prolly some trail-worthy pants...

Anybody ever gone the thrifty route?”

“I'm on a first name basis with my UPS driver. He also gets a tip around the end of the year.”

“AZhiker:

I have the Snackmaster Dehydrator and it has served me well for countless years. Dehydrated food for week-long trips for 2 to 7 people. A little difficult to clean if you're messy, but I have no complaints.”