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Brentbba

Brentbba

Former Golfer
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Got a sizeable gift card to REI - don't shop there much and I've pretty much accumulated just about everything I need/want camping wise.

Never the less - REI's got a 20% off one full price item thru the 18th of this month.

Looking at two items. One is a pop up shade cover - more expensive than the cheap ones you can get at Sports Chalet, etc. but more sturdy legs etc. too - get what you're paying for from the research I've done:

Aluminum Rapid Shelter - 10 x 10 at REI.com

The other is the Kelty shade awning that attaches to your truck:

Kelty Carport Deluxe Shelter - Large at REI.com

I'd probably only use the pop up for trips to SnT and not much more.

Shade awning looks great, but if you want to drive away, you've got to take it down.

Other ideas? Thought about a handheld GPS, but I've got the Garmin Streetpilot in the truck and it's just fine for my needs.
 
If it helps, I have a cheapo one that I will gladly bring to SNT. I think is a 12x12 that we use to tailgate at USC games.
 
I have the Kelty carport product. Costco had it once for $60 (not that you want to hear that). Once it's set up, it's a brilliant product. Very versatile - use the legs for open/breezy shade. Take the legs out and it practically seals to the side of your car so it's gredat for grilling and hanging out if it's raining. It has one weak spot in the design that you will need to strengthen to use in wind. On mine, that spot failed in gusting/swilring winds in Coyote Canyon. Gusts were in the 45-50mph range. Even in that kind of turbulant winds, it's really sturdy (except for the weak spot) since it practically seals to the ground and car and doesn't catch the air. Once you address the design flaw, you can use it in any wind that a normal family camping dome tent could handle.

BUT...it's a kind of a pain to set up. Lot's of parts and steps. Granted, I'm into fast and convenient so for me it takes too long. I timed about 10 from getting it out of the car to sitting under it. Pretty much the same for take down. That's too much set up time for a 20 min lunch stop along the trail so I plan to buy one of the Fiamma units. I do use it in camp if we're lounging around. You can easily move it from one side of the car to the other to follow the sun throughout the day. You could anchor it to the ground fairly securely to leave it behind for the day. It's always in my truck so you're welcome to come by and check it out or see it at SnT.
 
If you end up getting a Garmin GPS, I have the TOPO map DVD I'll sell you for cheap.
 
Great comments - I remember the Costco deal. It got posted in the camping section here on mud IIRC. They sold out before I could jump on one.

Found a great review by a guy with a Voodoo Blue FJ. He mentioned in his review that he just undid the velcro attachments on the truck side when they went out for a day of wheeling, leaving the carport in camp. Assume he would have had to staked down or otherwise secured the loose truck side while gone to keep the thing from blowing away.

What design flaw are you talking about and what have you done to strenghthen it? Large or medium size for your truck? I'd imagine a large.

Dave - LOL - no, little gift for 8 years of volunteer work from the troop when I 'retired' a couple of weeks ago.
 
On the SPOT - :princess: doesn't give a shiat where I am or if I get lost and never come back - she'd have the insurance money then. :whoops:

On the Oregon - out of my price range. :crybaby:
 
You can pick up a shade canopy from Big 5 or sports mart for under $100 with similar construction. Why not get a kayak or bike if it is sizable enough.
 
REI does have some cool clothes, packs, shoes/boots, etc . . .
 
Brentbba said:
What design flaw are you talking about and what have you done to strenghthen it? Large or medium size for your truck? I'd imagine a large.
Click to expand...

I have the large, delux model.

There is a pole 4-5 ft long with velcro straps on it that is the actual attachment point to your roof rack. To drive away from the awning, you just loosen the straps and leave the awning on the ground. It's super simple.

At either end of this roof rack attachment pole, there are little metal rings. I haven't looked at in a while so I don't remember exactly, but basically the fabric of the awning has to attach to either end of this pole. It does so via a short strap with a hook at the end. This hook attaches to the small ring at the end of the pole to secure the fabric to the roof rack pole. It's a high stress location, yet the small strap with the hook is weakly sewn to the thin nylon ripstop awning material with no re-enforcement. Under stress the strap caused the ripstop material to tear apart.

To strengthen it, I beefed up the attachment point in question and repaired the rip. I know this doesn't make sense without seeing the product, but it's obvious when you set it up. If you have a decent sewing machine it's an easy fix with a couple of feet of webbing for each end. Something they could have addressed in manufacturing for virtually no cost.
 
x2 on the lengthy setup of the Carport. I think it's got six poles plus the two to prop it up.

It does have some other uses though. I use it for a wind break or as a heat reflector for a campfire.

If you spend a lot of time in the outdoors like me, you'll appreciate insulated pants and a jacket. I have a down vest, a down jacket, a primaloft jacket and primaloft pants.

I stay warm 24/7, at camp, in the morning, during bathroom breaks, etc... I actually sleep with the primaloft gear on and use one of my three down sleeping bags (20/35/45) to suite the temperature needs.

I'd say my synthetic insulated pants are one of my "can't live without" pieces of winter gear.
 
Anyone shop at REI often? PM for what this card has on it and what I'd let it go for. I'd much rather get a table saw!
 
I do have the large carport I'd be willing to part with.

But I'm pretty much loaded with gear and stuff, so I don't know what I'd get from REI, overpriced or not.
 
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