LOL Eric, I've noticed the same thing. Must be the economy? I know it is for me... I haven't bought a new piece of gear since my avy gear purchase in January 2007. Not a new backpack, no skis, no snowshoes... nothing. Which may be related as well to the fact that I have no time to do anything right now either. Being a single working mom makes it kind of difficult to find time to get out. Sigh.
MNS
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Well, as far as lightweight stuff goes there really isn't much point unless I start deciding to buy cuben fibre stuff and sleeping on the ground. maybe if I lose 80 pounds perhaps.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
About the only piece of gear I really *need* is a new packframe, and that isn't for lightweight type stuff - it's more for the heavyweight winter looking for swamp donkeys in november weather sort of thing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
OK Phat, I give up. What the heck is a "swamp donkey?"
If you do a Google search, like I just did, what a wide range of definitions-some very entertaining, but unflattering, by the way. The closest I could come to what I think you're talking about is that it's Canadian and New England slang for moose. Am I close?
Edited by TomD (10/04/0810:15 PM)
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Registered: 08/18/08
Posts: 31
Loc: Russellville, Arkansas, USA
I bought all my new gear when I got my financial aid check from school in September. I won't have any more money to spend until the next check in January.
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For me, it's being at the end of a 2+ year gear-tryout-and-elimination in an effort to reduce my pack weight. It was successful (20+ pound baseweight shrinking to a 12 - 13 pound base weight - I'm still making the final choice of water filter, and still debating on whether or not to continue taking my chair kit.) However, now that I've pretty well settled on my preferred lightweight gear, I'm no longer buying and trying out even lighter options like I was.
First I've heard the term, but I bet a donkey is smarter than a moose. Those suckers will watch as you come up the road and jump in front of you at the last minute. When I was in the white mountains NH several years ago, several cars hit moose or did the moose hit several cars?
I'm currently looking at a layering system maybe marmot? Then next will be a new down bag to replace the north face 40 that is about worthless IMO. But I'll have to save up for buying new gear. Dem pennys are harder to come by these days.
When the world is running down You make the best of what's still around.
I think that if people used up what they have and didn't drule over the latest and greatest so much that the quality would go up and the price would level off. You could own a piece of gear that would last you many many years.
I also like the quote from the Cambridge Transcendentalist, William Henry Channing which goes:
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
Not bad words to live by. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Registered: 05/10/04
Posts: 493
Loc: Lynchburg, VA
Hmmm....funny that you ask. At about 6 years into trying to settle on a total pack weight and my gear lists (based on season), I think I'm done. I can't believe it...I'm actually done! So I guess that's why I haven't bought anything for a while.
Now I know I'm in withdrawal for real. We're visiting my grandkids (and those two grownups they live with, aka daughter and son-in-law), who live just north of Atlanta. I spent an hour and half at the REI store 20 minutes from their house, and walked out with a splash-guard for my Nalgene bottle and a power-outage lantern for my wife (who doesn't like headlamps; go figure.) I tried on packs, looked at tents, fondled stoves - and walked away concluding that none fit my needs as well as what I already have.
It appears that my gearaholic days may be behind me - how can I go on?! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
I'm finding a lot fewer posts in the gear section than before. Has everyone quit shopping for gear? (Quit shopping for GEAR?!?!?)
Eric
Since I quit working weekends at REI, and now I actually backpack on weekends throughout the year, I'm sick of talking about gear. I'm back to the mentality of a hiker who rarely dwells on gear beyond keeping what he has working. I'm simply having much more fun getting out there and using it than sitting here and talking about it.
That was a great quote for living close to the real nub of life.
I'm Buddhist and your lines fit perfectly with Buddhist non-attatchment ideal. But the "gearhead" thing is my attatchment problem that I wrestle with.
However I must confess that, like others in this thread, I've reached the end of my search for lightweight gear to replace my conventional gear. And it's actually a good feeling because now I don't fret that my stove is too heavy, etc., etc., etc.
Well, backpackers, I guess now many more of us will be visiting the forums that relate to recounting EXPERIENCES, as opposed to arguing over ounces and grams of this item vs. that item. YIPPIE!
Eric
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"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."
Winny, I just bought a replacement GPS - got the Garmin foretrex101 that takes AAA cells. Last year I bought a camp grill and a new coleman lantern. Theres not a lot of gear I NEED. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
AND yes its about time that backpacking meant going hiking with yer stuff on yer back <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> instead of - wow I've got all this stuff <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Yippie now I need to TAKE <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />IT <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> camping. The gear seems to be more important than the trip its self. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Then people start bringing things on general principles, and their "base" weight goes up simply because they will have a couple of pounds of accumulated "must have junk" like a years supply of Tylenol and sunscreen for instance, or 4 pairs of gloves, r whatever. Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Edited by Jimshaw (10/12/0803:15 PM)
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Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I have all my gear, too, but am looking to get it a little lighter for long summer trips. I did my part by recently asking about lightweight headlamps, but that was in the Gadgets section. I expect that the status of the economy is slowing down the interest in new gear.
We do continue to get a trickle of questions in Lightweight Gear, though. I just hope that the tanking economy doesn't wipe out a bunch of these innovative "cottage" manufacturers. I try to steer folks in their direction when I post here or on other hiking forums (fora?).
Edited by OregonMouse (10/12/0801:40 PM)
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Yeah, and given our obsession with details, when we get to those forums we'll debate about whether it's better to begin our hikes on the right or left foot, how many trees there should ideally be between blazes, and whether something really is "just around the next bend." (By the way, the correct answers are "left," "ten," and "no.") <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I am going lighter, but will probably wait until Spring to purchase gear. Looking at WM Summerlite, SMD Starlite pack, SMD Serenity Net Tent and Gatewood Cape.
I bought my first new piece of gear in the past couple months this week. Got a Big Agnes Roxy bag. Took it out on another PCT section last night. Was toasty warm! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Worth the cost (well, at least I got 20% off at REI). Brrrrrr.....winter is here - the ground is frozen in many areas.
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I bought a Marmot Pounder and another Z-rest... Now I have three bags and three pads, and twin boys who are interested in backpacking! I'm drooling over tents, but refuse to pony up until the boys demonstrate they want to go out more than once or twice a year! Until then, I have a SD Light Year when it's just me, or a 7x9 3 man tent that probably weighs 10#!!!
I'm mostly set for gear, except for shelter. I just can't decide what I want. I like the room and the weight of a tarp, I prefer the shelter of a tent. What I want is a huge dome with a large vestibule that weighs as much as my tarp and ground cloth. I know, I know, good luck to me.
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