Sweet, we could have our own HDC base camp!
Now if only we could get a sherpa....
Now if only we could get a sherpa....
Thrill on the Hill event, Ruidoso (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter BionicCruiser
- Start date
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I bought at REI but that was after a fair amount of research at Sportsmans, Campmor. First you need to decide how much you expect to camp. Target and Wal-Mart are fine for getting a first tent at a low price before you decide just how much camping you will do. I've got a Coleman you can borrow that my new tent replaced. I used a 20% off offer to buy mine (Base Camp 6). I just couldn't find another tent offered by other brands and other stores that met my needs and wants. Two basic things I would suggest you look for are aluminum poles and a full-coverage, waterproofed rain-fly. Those are the two things that I learned about the hard way. Be careful about getting something that is too big because in the mountains it can be difficult to find a spot big enough to pitch those monsters you can buy at Wally-world.
Marc
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I was going to withhold info because mine's from REI.
but...
I got the REI Base Camp 4. Same as the BC 6 only smaller. I too looked around. I think if you don't camp much the target or walmart stuff will be fine. I wanted one that will last me a long time and can put up with big time weather. The base camp's fit the bill. Even has large front and back vestibules to keep your junk.
In moab it handled rain and wicked strong winds with ease. One thing I did notice was that it could not be sealed completely. The roof (not the fly) was netting that was open for airiness all the time. I noticed that with the constant wind in Moab and the red dirt everywhere each afternoon when we returned the place looked like the sahara on the inside. Not that big a deal but that's what you get if you camp in a very dusty place. I imagine in the woods this would have been less of a problem with larger sized debris.
TR
but...
I got the REI Base Camp 4. Same as the BC 6 only smaller. I too looked around. I think if you don't camp much the target or walmart stuff will be fine. I wanted one that will last me a long time and can put up with big time weather. The base camp's fit the bill. Even has large front and back vestibules to keep your junk.
In moab it handled rain and wicked strong winds with ease. One thing I did notice was that it could not be sealed completely. The roof (not the fly) was netting that was open for airiness all the time. I noticed that with the constant wind in Moab and the red dirt everywhere each afternoon when we returned the place looked like the sahara on the inside. Not that big a deal but that's what you get if you camp in a very dusty place. I imagine in the woods this would have been less of a problem with larger sized debris.
TR
I really do like the looks of the REI brand tents. I was actually scoping out the one that was a little cheaper than the basecamp series... I think it is called the habitat series or something like that: http://www.rei.com/product/745758
I just think if I am gonna camp out in Louisiana, I should have something that will actually protect me from the rain.
I just think if I am gonna camp out in Louisiana, I should have something that will actually protect me from the rain.
The four season tents are fully enclosed. 3-4 season tents have a zippered ceiling.
REI is the debil. If they sold Toyota parts they would own my soul.
I considered the Hobitat but didn't like the skimpy rain-fly. If you're going to do a lot of camping in Louisiana, I'm sure you'll get rained on fairly regularly. Do your best to find something with a rainfly that completely covers the tent. My Coleman rainfly had gabled ends and didn't go all the way down to the bottom panel seams on the non-gabled ends. I seam-sealed it before camping last summer (and after repairing the busted fiberglass pole sections) and it still didn't keep the water out when the rain got beyond a scattered shower. I probably could have treated the inside of the fly but the lack of coverage down to the bottom panel seam allowed a lot of water to run off the fly and onto the side of the tent. When the water hit the bottom panel seam, it started coming in there.
My last tent purchase was a Mountain Hardware Light Wedge 2. Should'a got the LW 3. Purchased at REI. 
Kelty is not high end? I shop both stores and shop around. Sportsman's Warehouse has stuff REI doesn't not, but I like REIs selection of tents better, and I'm picky. Plus, by the time you factor in the dividend it can be less than other stores. Just be careful purchasing bike accessories from them. They are usually way higher than other places, even after the dividend.
Ya, we've heard that. Did I show you my REI membership card?
If it wasn't for REI and American Toyota I'd have money in my wallet.
Jon
REI Member 1282340
Don't buy at REI. Try Sportsman's Warehouse. They have several good brands. You might be able to borrow my Kelty from Beno.
-Mike-
Kelty is not high end? I shop both stores and shop around. Sportsman's Warehouse has stuff REI doesn't not, but I like REIs selection of tents better, and I'm picky. Plus, by the time you factor in the dividend it can be less than other stores. Just be careful purchasing bike accessories from them. They are usually way higher than other places, even after the dividend.
Ya, we've heard that. Did I show you my REI membership card?
If it wasn't for REI and American Toyota I'd have money in my wallet.
Jon
REI Member 1282340
There are 2 things I don't like about REI:
1 - Prices are too high on most of their stuff
2 - I see too many hippie tree huggers there (white guys should never have dreadlocks - they just look like poodles that haven't been groomed in years)
Besides that, they have a lot of things I just can't find anywhere else. If I can get it at Wal-Mart or Sportsman's, I will. But for things like the tent I bought, it was my best option. Also, their scratch and dent sales are awesome. I couldn't believe some of the deals I got at the last one. I'd hoped to get a Base Camp 6 for half price that just needed a new pole or something simple. That didn't happen but I picked up four telescoping aluminum poles that are normally $20 for less than $20 for all of them. They're great for turning your tent vestibule into a covered porch or making a shelter with a tarp that has grommets. Snow shoes for the kids were $10. Some items had tags on them that described the problem but when I tried to find it, I couldn't. Danise got some lightweight zip-up sweaters for 10% of the original cost. The zippers weren't working right. A screwdriver and a pair of pliers to unsquish the slot in the zipper pull fixed that. Besides the tent I bought and the scratch and dent sale, I don't think I've bought anything else there. I don't like hanging out with the hippies and the yuppies, even if I could probably qualify as a yuppie.
Marc
1 - Prices are too high on most of their stuff
2 - I see too many hippie tree huggers there (white guys should never have dreadlocks - they just look like poodles that haven't been groomed in years)
Besides that, they have a lot of things I just can't find anywhere else. If I can get it at Wal-Mart or Sportsman's, I will. But for things like the tent I bought, it was my best option. Also, their scratch and dent sales are awesome. I couldn't believe some of the deals I got at the last one. I'd hoped to get a Base Camp 6 for half price that just needed a new pole or something simple. That didn't happen but I picked up four telescoping aluminum poles that are normally $20 for less than $20 for all of them. They're great for turning your tent vestibule into a covered porch or making a shelter with a tarp that has grommets. Snow shoes for the kids were $10. Some items had tags on them that described the problem but when I tried to find it, I couldn't. Danise got some lightweight zip-up sweaters for 10% of the original cost. The zippers weren't working right. A screwdriver and a pair of pliers to unsquish the slot in the zipper pull fixed that. Besides the tent I bought and the scratch and dent sale, I don't think I've bought anything else there. I don't like hanging out with the hippies and the yuppies, even if I could probably qualify as a yuppie.
Marc
Commie Pinko.
Don't get the hobitat. Nothing more than a glorified sunshade. When the going gets tough, everything inside the hobitat is screwed. That is if it continues to stand.
G
Thanks for all the hints guys.... now for the next question.... What sleeping bag brands do yall recommend? 
One tip is to make sure they're good down to 15 degrees - that way you can cover them with snow and it will insulate you. Of course, that's probably not a concern in Louisiana...
Sleeping bags?
Again the same goes for getting one at walmart, oshmans or whatever versus a better outdoor store.
For me I like the Marmot bags. Again they can get pricey, but I like the way they have a bit more shoulder room in them. I've tried the North Face, but man are they tight.
Another thing to look at for you will be synthetic versus down. For going back to Louisiana, I recommend synthetic. You will be in more wet conditions than we are out here. Down can be a pain if it is wet or gets mildew. Synthetics stay warm even when wet.
I second Steve's comment on 15 degree bag. I've got a 20 degree but my girls all have 15 degree bags . I've used it down to -10 in the White Mountains, NH(I sleep very warm), snow caves in Taos, and I use it all summer. In the summer, I just use it as a top sheet and leg my leg/legs hang out to regulate temp. Your situation may differ since your in LA but if you plan on venturing around the country 15-25 degrees should suit you well.
Try them on in the store like anything else.
G
Again the same goes for getting one at walmart, oshmans or whatever versus a better outdoor store.
For me I like the Marmot bags. Again they can get pricey, but I like the way they have a bit more shoulder room in them. I've tried the North Face, but man are they tight.
Another thing to look at for you will be synthetic versus down. For going back to Louisiana, I recommend synthetic. You will be in more wet conditions than we are out here. Down can be a pain if it is wet or gets mildew. Synthetics stay warm even when wet.
I second Steve's comment on 15 degree bag. I've got a 20 degree but my girls all have 15 degree bags . I've used it down to -10 in the White Mountains, NH(I sleep very warm), snow caves in Taos, and I use it all summer. In the summer, I just use it as a top sheet and leg my leg/legs hang out to regulate temp. Your situation may differ since your in LA but if you plan on venturing around the country 15-25 degrees should suit you well.
Try them on in the store like anything else.
G
Listen to Graham. I really like the North Face bags. They have bags with more shoulder room. Not that you'll need it, but when it gets cold put something between the sleeping bag and the ground. The tent floor doesn't count, I learned this the hard way.
Agreed. An air mattress is OK for warm nights but you will freeze your booty off if you try to sleep on one when it's cold. Took me 3 campouts to figure that one out.
-Mike-
I'm particular about sleeping bags. Steve's 15* rating is the best place to start. It's warm enough for most cold weather camping, but not too warm for spring/fall desert camping. Of course there are times when a sheet is good enough. I've owned Sierra Designs (retired), North Face (retired), REI (Nylia's bag which I use), and now a Mountain Hardware which is way too warm for general use. I pay more attention to the quality of the down than the rating. I shoot for at least 650 fill, but prefer higher.
I burned my REI dividend on a new sleeping pad this year just in time for Baja. I have several Therm-a-Rest pads, but this time I decided by aging back deserved something better. The others I have are great for backpacking, but since I car camp I decided to get a Therm-a-Rest Lux Camp which is a super thick pad (2") made for car camping. Way cushy on da tushy. There are other companies that also make the 2" pads for less, but Therma-a-Rest is a good company and I like their product. I have several of the regular pads I wouldn't mind getting rid of.
I burned my REI dividend on a new sleeping pad this year just in time for Baja. I have several Therm-a-Rest pads, but this time I decided by aging back deserved something better. The others I have are great for backpacking, but since I car camp I decided to get a Therm-a-Rest Lux Camp which is a super thick pad (2") made for car camping. Way cushy on da tushy. There are other companies that also make the 2" pads for less, but Therma-a-Rest is a good company and I like their product. I have several of the regular pads I wouldn't mind getting rid of.
I am interested, let me know the details.
What time do the caravanners want to leave on Friday?
I was hoping to get out of Albuquerque by 9:00 or 10:00, to get checked in around 1:00. That would give plenty of time to get set up and maybe check out the surroundings and get back by 5:00 for the Trail Team thing.
I was hoping to get out of Albuquerque by 9:00 or 10:00, to get checked in around 1:00. That would give plenty of time to get set up and maybe check out the surroundings and get back by 5:00 for the Trail Team thing.
