c/camping-gear-reviews

17

lilyb27•3d ago

That $40 sleeping pad I swore by for 5 years was actually the wrong choice

I used to think inflatable pads were the only way to go for backpacking. Last summer on the Appalachian Trail near Roanoke, I woke up every single night cold and sore. A thru-hiker finally asked why I wasn't using a closed-cell foam pad under my inflatable one. She showed me her setup and I tried it the next night, slept way warmer and more comfortable. Has anyone else found that combo works better than just a thick air pad alone?

3

zarap14•5d ago

I finally had to choose between a down bag and a synthetic one for a month-long trip

Last year I was heading to Olympic National Park for 30 days of backpacking. I spent two weeks going back and forth between a 15-degree down bag and a synthetic one that weighed more but dried faster. I picked the down one because it packed smaller and I was worried about space. Then I got caught in three days of rain and my bag got soaked through the tent drip. Took me almost two days to get it dry hanging from a tree with a campfire nearby. Has anyone else made the wrong call on this and regretted it mid-trip?

12

jordanm19•8d ago

Finally stopped using cotton socks on overnight hikes last summer

For years I just wore whatever cheap socks I had around the house on backpacking trips. After a 3 day trip in the Smokies where I got blisters on both heels, a guy at the campground told me to try wool socks. I switched to a pair of lightweight merino wool socks and the difference was night and day. No blisters, no soggy feet, and they didn't smell bad after 3 days. Anyone else make the switch from cotton and never look back?

15

leo_mason•8d ago

Spent $400 on a 'waterproof' tent and woke up in a puddle last weekend.

I went camping up near Big Bear last Saturday, figured I'd treat myself to a nicer tent since my old one was falling apart. Saw one online with a high waterproof rating, $400 out the door, looked perfect in the photos. First night it rained hard around 2 AM and water just seeped right through the floor and the seams. My sleeping bag was soaked, gear was wet, had to pack up at 3 AM and drive home. The tent said it had sealed seams but I guess they weren't sealed good enough for real weather. I'm out the money unless I can return it, but the reviews I skimmed before buying didn't mention this problem. Has anyone else dealt with a tent that just flat out lied about being waterproof? What do you look for in the specs that actually means something?

15

the_jason•9d ago

Bought a $40 sleeping bag on clearance and it kept me warm in 28 degree weather

I grabbed a no-name bag from a discount bin at a local outdoor store in Boise last fall, figuring it would be fine for summer car camping. Then a cold front came through during a trip in early October, and the temp dropped way below the bag's 40 degree rating. I woke up at 3 AM feeling cozy, which really surprised me since I expected to be shivering all night. The secret seemed to be a thick wool blanket I laid under it and a cheap foam pad underneath that. But it made me wonder how much of the price tag on expensive bags is just marketing hype. Anyone else had a cheap piece of gear work way better than it should have?

11

emma_mitchell•10d ago

My $25 camp stove decision that left me eating cold beans

I bought this tiny butane stove from a discount store last month, figuring it would save weight in my pack. First night out in the Smokies, the igniter stopped working and I had to eat cold chili out of the can. Anyone else ever had luck getting those little stoves to actually last more than one trip?

29

the_dylan•12d ago

Talked to a random guy at REI about his tarp setup and it hit different

Dude was using a simple blue tarp and some paracord instead of a $400 tent, said he does it every trip because it packs down to nothing. Why do we all overthink this stuff honestly. Anyone else ever try just ditching the tent for a tarp on a trip?

17

cole_walker26•12d ago

Changed my mind about those cheap sleeping pads

I spent 30 bucks on a foam pad from Amazon a few years ago and thought it was fine. Last summer I borrowed a friend's inflatable pad that cost around $100 and actually slept through the night without waking up sore. Has anyone else found a budget option that actually works for side sleeping?

16

wren978•15d ago

That 4-hour argument over tent stakes at the REI parking lot

I was loading up my car after buying a new sleeping bag last Saturday and overheard two guys going at it about aluminum vs titanium stakes for almost 4 hours. They both had solid points but neither would budge, and I'm pretty sure they forgot why they even started the argument. Has anyone else gotten stuck listening to gear debates that just never end?

1

walker.andrew•15d ago

Friend told me my tent stakes were junk after a windy night

Last trip up to Lake Arrowhead, my buddy's tent stayed put while mine nearly blew into the creek. He pointed out I was using those cheap plastic stakes that came with the tent. Swapped to some 8-inch aluminum ones after that and they hold way better in the dirt. Anyone else had a simple gear swap like that make a big difference?

25

susan488•15d ago

That rainstorm at Lake Almanor last June wrecked my whole tent setup

I was camped up near the north shore for a week long trip when a sudden downpour flooded my vestibule because I'd set the fly too tight... ended up with a soggy sleeping bag and a broken pole. Has anyone else had a bad weather moment that made you rethink your whole camp layout?

11

shane_martinez44•16d ago

I used to be a total sleeping pad snob but last month changed my mind

For like 3 years I swore by my blow-up mattress at camp, the kind you plug in and inflate to full bed height. I figured any foam pad was just for ultralight weirdos who liked sleeping on concrete. But last month I crashed at a buddy's site in Shenandoah and he let me try his self-inflating pad, one of the thick ones with memory foam on top. I woke up feeling way better than I ever did on my air mattress, no back pain at all and I didn't slide off in the middle of the night. The real kicker was when a cold front came through at like 3am and my old setup would have had me shivering from the cold ground seeping through. That foam pad just held the warmth and I slept right through it. Now I'm looking at swapping my whole sleep system but I'm not sure if I should go all in on the thick foam pads or try one of those hybrid ones that have air and foam together. Anyone made the switch and regretted spending the money on a good pad?

29

patricia_kelly•17d ago

Hit 30 nights in my $40 tent and it's still going strong

I got this no-name tent off Amazon for 40 bucks two years ago and I just counted up on my camping log that I've spent 30 nights in it now. It's been through rain in the Smokies and wind at a beach site in Florida and the only issue is a small tear near the zipper I patched with duct tape. Anyone else got a piece of budget gear that just won't quit?

13

richardh44•20d ago

Warning: that $15 tarp from the hardware store will let you down in a storm

My buddy Mike swore by those cheap blue tarps for years. He said just double them up and you're fine. I took his advice on a trip to the Smokies last April and woke up soaked at 3am when the wind ripped a corner off. The grommets pulled right through the fabric. Has anyone found a decent budget tarp that actually holds up or do you just have to spend $50+?

16

leep33•22d ago

Switched from a Coleman to a Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad after one bad night

I spent last weekend at a campsite near Lake George and brought my old Coleman inflatable pad. Woke up every two hours with my hip touching the ground. Next morning I borrowed my buddy's Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and it was like sleeping on a cloud for the rest of the trip. Has anyone else made that switch and felt the same difference?

26

verac40•22d ago

Cheap vs. expensive sleeping pad - I learned the hard way last weekend

I had to pick between a $30 foam pad and a $150 inflatable one for a 3-day trip in Shenandoah. Went with the cheap foam pad to save money, and honestly I regretted it after the first night. The ground was way harder than I expected and my hips were killing me by morning. Has anyone else tried the middle ground like a self-inflating pad from a budget brand?

21

tessa_hill86•23d ago

Hot take: I was wrong about my old camp stove

For years I had this bulky two-burner Coleman, the kind that takes up half a trunk. My buddy brought his new single-burner Jetboil system on a trip to the Adirondacks last fall. I figured it would be too slow for cooking for two people. We made a full dinner of pasta and sauce in under 15 minutes, and the whole kit fit inside my backpack's side pocket. The speed and pack size completely changed my mind on what I need for weekend trips. Anyone have a favorite compact stove for car camping that isn't just for boiling water?

11

verac40•23d ago

I finally got why people spend so much on a good sleeping pad

For years I used a cheap foam pad I got for maybe $25. Last trip to the Gila Wilderness, I borrowed my buddy's insulated inflatable pad. The first night, I slept straight through until sunrise for the first time ever. The ground was frozen, but I was warm. It wasn't just comfort, it was about not being exhausted. What's a good budget option that actually works for cold weather?

27

harpermorgan•26d ago

Had to choose between a 0 degree and a 20 degree sleeping bag for a trip to the White Mountains.

I was going backpacking in New Hampshire in October and couldn't decide if I needed the extra warmth. I went with the 20 degree Kelty Cosmic bag to save weight and space, and just wore my base layers. It got down to about 28 degrees one night and I was fine, maybe a little cool but not bad. Anyone else have a good rule of thumb for picking a bag rating for shoulder season trips?

3

dakota160•28d ago

That time my old camp stove gave up on me in the middle of nowhere

I was in the Sawtooth Mountains about five years back, and my trusty old white gas stove just wouldn't light after a long day of hiking. The pump seal had gone bad, and I was looking at a cold dinner. I ended up making a small fire ring with some rocks and boiled water in my metal cup instead. Anyone have a good story about a piece of gear failing and how you got around it?

22

brianm27•29d ago

That time a cheap tent stake cost me a whole night's sleep in a Wyoming windstorm

Last July, a gust snapped a bargain-bin aluminum stake, collapsing my tent's vestibule at 2 AM. I spent the next four hours holding the pole in place with my boot. Anyone have a go-to brand for stakes that can actually handle high winds?

2

the_wade•1mo ago

Remember when a good tent was just a heavy canvas bag with poles?

I was cleaning out my garage last weekend and found my old 2005 Coleman 4-person tent. That thing weighed 18 pounds and took two people 15 minutes to set up. I took it on a trip to the Pine Barrens in 2010 and a storm blew in. We stayed dry, but the whole thing sagged so much we were practically sleeping on the wet nylon. My new 3-person backpacking tent weighs 4 pounds and goes up in under five minutes by myself. It's wild how much lighter and smarter the basic gear has gotten. Anyone else have an old piece of gear that feels like a relic now?

23

paulk42•1mo ago

PSA: That $80 'ultra-light' camp chair is a total joke...

Bought one for a trip to the Smokies last month, thinking it would be a game-changer. The fabric ripped on the second night just from me leaning back to look at the stars. It was basically fancy aluminum foil and thread... I'm back to my old, slightly heavier one that's lasted five seasons. Anyone have a real suggestion for a chair that won't fall apart?

23

simon_lopez35•1mo ago

Warning: My old tent zipper kept sticking until I tried a pencil.

The slider on my main door was a pain, especially in the cold. Rubbed a normal graphite pencil tip along the teeth a few times. Anyone know a better fix for this, or is this the go-to trick?

9

the_faith•1mo ago

Got caught in a surprise blizzard on Mount Hood last October and it totally changed how I pack my bag.

We were just below the tree line when the weather turned in about 20 minutes, dropping from 40 degrees to below freezing. My old 30-degree sleeping bag was useless, and my cheap poncho ripped on a branch. I had to use an emergency blanket and hunker down for 8 hours until it was safe to move. Now I always carry a real bivy sack and a bag rated for at least 15 degrees colder than the forecast. Anyone else have a trip that made you completely rethink your basic gear list?