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Post by jamiecatheryn on Apr 11, 2015 22:10:01 GMT
One of my sons (age 9) and I want to go backpacking on a local trail through the woods this summer for a couple of days, but we need to get packed up fairly cheaply and have nothing lightweight yet for camping. I figure we need to find a tent, sleeping bags and camp pads, water filter, 1st aid kit, food, and backup navigation (map and compass). Up til now we mostly did comfortable medieval re-enactment camping in a canvas pavilion, sleeping on a futon and cots with real blankets and a big camp kitchen. Do you have any sources or brands to recommend for backpacking gear? Any planning tips for us?
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 11:49:57 GMT
theres a wide range of price for backpacking stuff....what kind of money are you wanting to spend? since you are knew to it...i would suggest just getting a few cheaper items and see how you like it first and use that to get a feel for it.then you can upgrade accordingly.a lot of backpacking stuff has gotten real pricey in recent years.
one thing i would do is get this gear now and practice with it in backyard that way you get a feel for what you like and dont like.if it was me i would go ultra basic to start with.
how far are yall going to be hiking.....?
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 12:06:31 GMT
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 12:14:33 GMT
tents are a very wide range..usually cheaper tents tend to be heavier. if i was you i would go look at a few in person at a local backpackers shop...items there are going to be very high dollar but you can see a few items set up and see features you may or may not like. i hate to sound like a walmart add but its going to be hard to beat an ozark trail tent for price. like this one...its weight is 7.8 # but to get a feel for camping this is way better than dropping $300 to $400 on a kelty or some other much higher priced famous tent. www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Mountain-Pass-Aluminum-Geo-Frame-Backpacking-Tent-Sleeps-2/39804295 |
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 12:31:34 GMT
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 12:44:26 GMT
as far as packs go...you need one that sorta fits your frame.for this you need to go look and try some on...your son too.
with these post said....if you wanna go real cheap...grab a wool blanket,a $6 blue tarp with a hank of paracord and a bic lighter toss it in an old feed sack with a frying pan and hit the woods.dont let cost keep you from having an adventure of a lifetime with that child...you will both remember time spent with each other your entire lives and thats whats all about.
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 12:54:28 GMT
heres a place for getting items too,i have owned various things that was "their line" that was outstanding.one item being a 4 season half dome tent. www.rei.com/ |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 17:38:47 GMT
My wife and I backpack as often as my work schedule will allow. We didn't spend a ton on our equipment mostly it came from Walmart, Dicks, Gander Mountain, REI, Cabela's Bass Pro and a few other places. Shopping around and knowing what you want is the key.
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Post by jamiecatheryn on Apr 12, 2015 17:39:41 GMT
Thanks for all that. Our first time out overnight we are planning around 15 mi in two days. I was thinking of packing mountain house and maybe bannock mix for breakfast and dinner and just either cooking over a sterno can or campfire, only really need to boil a cup of water. I had thought about hanging the bag up for bears, have plenty of ropes and paracord around I'm sure we can bring some. Gotta keep everything under $300 and I expect we will use it all again his dad wants to take him next time maybe for a longer trip. If we will only use it in 40+ weather do you think a 5 degree bag might be too much? Don't want to overheat and sweat either.
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Post by elkhound on Apr 12, 2015 19:02:12 GMT
i started to mention the sterno thing to start with.
the bag i was just thinking maybe long termish...for less than $40 you get a longer season type bag for one price...you can do various things like sleep with unzipped,thrown open etc. if to hot...but heres a thought....depending on elevation night time temps get pretty cool the higher you go...so you will have to answer that question yourself....if you plan any fall trips it will be much cooler and also less bugs too...just a thought.fall trips are the premiunm in backpacking hiking experiences.
food...theres tons of ways to cook way cheaper than mtn house. those pasta side dishes for instance...angel hair pasta...its ready in 6 minutes toss in garlic powder,seasoning salt etc. etc. and you have homemade romaen and way better without msg junk.if you plan on having a fire...wrap a couple taters in tinfoil and toss them in hot coals...easy...just stuff like that can get you going.a overnight trip can be easy or as complicated as you make it...a spoon and a jar of peanutbutter gets me through 72hours and water too. water bottles can be as simple as used gatorde bottle or high dollar nalgene bottles.
the less weight you carry the more fun and pleasant trip will be.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 1:57:32 GMT
Right now would be the perfect time to search for used equipment as seasoned hikers will be refitting. Check ebay and craigslist and google it.
Tips from my experience: Headlamps are handier than flashlights, ziplock bags are great to pack out used tp, flip flops or lightweight sandals are worth the extra weight and a bandana will serve as a potholder and pre-filter water. Packing your extra clothes in a stuff sack can make a nice pillow. Make sure you know how far it is between watering holes during the season you're hiking! Don't count on a campfire to cook your meals. They're nice but nature and time are not always campfire cooking compatible. Trim weight everywhere you can- except for the camera or journal.
As far as food goes, I usually pack single serving tuna packets (not cans!) ramen noodles, instant oatmeal, and different flavors of Idahoan mashed potatoes (in the envelopes.) For trail snacks we like beef jerky, GORP (good old raisins and peanuts) and Clif bars. Tea bags and instant coffee sticks are lightweight. Instant cocoa can seem like an extravagant dessert after a day of hiking. I'd take an extra days worth of food for a 9 year old.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2015 14:26:35 GMT
Cheap usually doesn't work for decent gear. Better to pay more and do it once. That's just an opinion but it's based on experience. One big problem is that often the cheap equipment fails when you're using it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2015 2:25:01 GMT
Check out Whiteblaze.net. It is a website dedicated to all things Appalachian Trail. There you will find other links to gear that can be purchased from those who have chosen not to hit the trail or even from those that failed the trail. There will also be links to how to make your own gear far more cheaply than purchasing it. There is a new sub-culture where "lighter is better" and they brag about how low they can get their pack weight. Some think that ten pounds total pack weight is still too heavy. Whatever!!! If you follow their trail journals though you will see that they are almost always miserable (best case scenario) and often times hypothermic (worst case scenario).
Another decent site is this one. Check it out and it will probably lead to other sites and ideas.
As was said before, good equipment is not cheap, but it lasts a long time. I have a -40F bag and a dome four-season tent that I bought in the early 1980's for big money and they are both still in great shape, even after having been around the world a few times and used extensively. I also have packs that have been around for decades. Maybe you can borrow a friend's gear to offset the initial cost until you and your son figure out whether or not you really like camping?
Maybe instead of a tent you can give a hammock a try with a cover sheet? Usually both cheaper and lighter. I have used them and really like them, but depending on where you are hiking there may not always be trees around to hang them on.
Many people use alcohol stoves made by themselves from soda cans. Weighs only ounces including the fuel. Some use Gatorade bottles to carry water, simple and cheap.
Start with those two sites and if you do not find what you are looking for just give a shout and I will hook you up with some others.
Remember though!!! Once you start down the camping gear rabbit hole, you might not be seen by others for quite a while. 
You can also find ideas on what food to bring along (most calories per ounce). Corn chips are high on the list which might please your son!!! |
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Post by mollymckee on Apr 20, 2015 2:32:24 GMT
You might find some things cheaper, but good boots and socks are very important. The other thing I would spend the money on is a good internal frame backpack. Then get the boots well broken in and comfortable with the pack before you go.
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Post by elkhound on Apr 30, 2015 22:59:32 GMT
heres a example of what can be had...i got a like new external frame backpack from goodwill last week........for $5. i looked the store over to make sure there wasnt goodies that might have came in store along with pack.
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Post by grandmotherbear on May 2, 2015 1:50:47 GMT
www.campmore.comI asked my teacher when I had not yet been backpacking how did he prevent waking up stiff and sore? He laughed. A. You don't. B. That's why God made Aspirin. Make sure you check for ticks every day and night. 2 outfits are sufficient. One you wear to hike or canoe in and hang up inside the tent after you pitch it. The other outfit is to wear around the campsite. Cotton Kills! Remember that! Especially for night time! The coldest I have EVER been (and I have camped in snow, both with and without a tent) was a July night in Boy Scout camp during advanced training. The summer night was humid, I was sunburned thru my sunscreen and I had made the mistake of wearing 80% cotton blends. I finally collapsed my tent around me and wrapped the plastic dropcloth used for a groundcloth over that. Thought I would freeze to death.
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