We talk a lot about what's good, how about the worst of what's bad: How about some nominations for the worst of the worst. You know the stuff. The kind of gear that makes people send boy scouts of 14 out with 60 pound packs for a weekend.
Some limits:
A) We're talking about general three season *lightweight backpacking*. not techincal mountaineering, and not winter in any kind of serious winter.
B) Has to be currently manufactured and sold. No horror stories about gear from the dark ages.
So, how about nominations for your two favorites in the following categories:
1) Most often oversold (they needed a volkswagen, but got sold a lambhorgini) 2) Best Newbie trap (market to the clueless! it works!) 3) Most Overbuilt/Overweight (How much heavy crap can they put on it) 4) High Maintenance Prince/Princess Magnet (Attracts those who have to make the woods just like the suburbs) 5) Machismo Magnet (being a lawyer/stockbroker/computer geek isn't that manly, but carrying *this* in the woods is) 6) Gets taken for a ride (it always goes, but never gets used)
And I'll post one for each <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
1) Most often Oversold
*MSR Dragonfly*
ok it's a decent stove, and probably a good choice for winter, but its funny as heck to watch the salescritter push them onto people like they're gonna be jamie oliver in the bush - then I see them backpacking a weekend in the summer with a giant bottle of whitegas, and making a pot of Mac N Cheeze over it.
2) Best Newbie Trap
While I'd love to say my choice is the phrase "in case you go out in winter" I think I'll nominate:
*Sam Splint*
I've seen 'em in three different backpacks. all of them with people who had no formal first aid training. I have, and still wouldn't carry one.
3) Most Overbuilt/Overweight
*MEC Ibex 80 Backpack*
3 kilos - straps and gizmos of the apocolypse. need I say more?
4) High Maintenance Prince/Princess Magnet
I'll let someone else nominate the expresso machines <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'll instead pick a few fights and nominate:
*The Backpackers Pantry Outback Oven*
like you can't just use your pot - or some foil - or realize that a huge amount of the world lives all the time wihout baking anything, you can make good food without carrying this thing and all the fuel you need to fire it.
5) Machismo Magnet
I'm gonna nominate *Bear Bangers* - any brand. fires a little shell in the air that explodes - and sends the poor critter running in random directions. I don't belive in em, and they get sold to people who just wanna make noise.
6) Taken for a ride
*Primus Easy Lite Lantern*
Only chose that one because I saw one being packed by someone this year. Lanterns in summer backpacking get taken for a ride.
I'll have to think about specifics, but if you look at a BSA store, it is full of these things. The BSA store is designed for overprotective parents who never go camping and only buy name brand stuff. The problem is they don't know what quality camping name brands are, so if it says BSA, it must be good, and since it is expensive.....
Give me some time, I will come up with a decent list. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
“2) Best Newbie trap (market to the clueless! it works!)”
A. Low price tents. What a good deal! Sometimes our scout troop has fallen for the Swiss Gear or Hillary brand tents. Every single time one of the following has happened: 1. Leaks profusely in a rain storm. Scout gets depressed. 2. Zipper broke (famous on Hillary). Mosquito party. 3. Pole snaps. What do you expect w/ boys and fiberglass poles? Plus these are not robust in the wind. Kelty and Eureka aluminum poles are much better for the cost.
B. Low price sleeping bag. They don’t even look at the 5lb weight.
C. Like I was told at St. Louis REI “If you go backpacking then you need these backpacking boots”.
D. most stoves and kitchen sets are overkill
6) Gets taken for a ride (it always goes, but never gets used)
Bring a change of clothes. They don’t realize you can wear your shirt and pants every day. So they bring blue jeans and a sweat shirt.
And how about another list for anti-anti light gear? i.e., they totally forgot it and thus weighs 0 oz.! 1. Headlamp 2. eating utensil
And how about another list for anti-anti light gear? i.e., they totally forgot it and thus weighs 0 oz.! 1. Headlamp 2. eating utensil
-Barry
Nah, that's a different topic - the stupid stuff I pulled a homer and forgot.
BTW, I have successfully managed to get into the field without both of those.
Actually, I didn't forget the headlamp, I just only got halfway through changing the batteries, like and idiot. Solution? my backup coin light and my lighter.
different trip - left spoon at home. solution? the first and second tool man ever invented... (fingers and stick). it works.
yes, it means I could "do without" both of those. however it does show me that at some level I'm still a high maintenance princess. I like the convienience of a light and a spoon to eat my food with <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
My biggest beef has to be with 99% of the daypacks and backpacks sold everyday but in general, everything made heavier just so they can charge more, which includes just about all outer clothing and footwear, especially kids stuff.
The heavy crap that many people buy but don't really need doesn't bother me so much.
1) Most often oversold The most expensive pack on the wall (because it MUST be better).
2) Best Newbie trap ALL NEW GEAR, instead of simply borrowing.
3) Most Overbuilt/Overweight Gregory and Arc'Teryx packs
4) High Maintenance Prince/Princess Magnet The North Face Denali Jacket - most overpriced antiquated piece of gear on every private shool kid in Nashville.
5) Machismo Magnet All-leather boots over 4 pounds per pair for weekend backpacking.
6) Gets taken for a ride Fancy pre-made first-aid kits with stuff the carrier doesn't even know how to use.
1) Most often oversold $450 waterproof jacket--worn spring/summer/fall in the Sierra Nevada (for non-Californians: it doesn't rain between mid-April and early November)
2) Best Newbie trap 3 layer GoreTex pants
3) Most Overbuilt/Overweight (a) 90l backpack scrunched down for weekend trips (b) Gerber Multi-Plier 800 Legend (c) Cast iron frying pan (seriously!!!!)
4) High Maintenance Prince/Princess Magnet ditto on the Denali fleece
Fancy Lexan wine glasses. Don't ask. I have friends who carry those things. Fine for 3 mile hikes but not treks.
Or:
The Backpackers Pantry Outback Oven.
You are so on that one! With the lid of many 2L pots you can cook anything you desire or just bake it in the pot. Or steam it instead in silicone liners.
Oh don't get me wrong - hot pizza is great. But realistically? Yeah, not many who actually do it in the wilds. Myself...I'll hike an extra 5 miles a day so I can go buy a hot pizza pie and frosty ice tea on the way home <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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Freezer Bag Cooking, Trail Cooking, Recipes, Gear and Beyond: www.trailcooking.com
Hey! Don't knock that cast iron frying pan. Many years ago I was backpacking in the Adirondacks and was invited to breakfast by the group in the next camp site. Jeans and flanel shirts, flanel covered camp bags, axes, platic sheeting strung on 1/2 rope, and yes a 12" cast iron frying pan (We're talking about 5 miles in from the trail head) They cooked up several pounds of breakfast sausage and several pounds of bacon in that skillet and then started dropping eggs into all that grease. Yummy! Cast iron fry pans are fine with me - as long as I don't have to carry them.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
Don't knock the espresso machine. I don't know if I'd take it backpacking but I've taken it motorcycle camping. At the halfway point through my trip I visited my dad and I was able to pull out my Svea 123 and my espresso machine and make a cup of coffee as we were all sitting on the patio.
It was all pretty cool until the espresso machine fell off it's precarious perch and spilled the full cup of coffee all over the patio. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I'll go on record as defending the outback oven as I think it works very well. That said, I would never take an outback oven on a trip if I had to carry it on my back. I mainly use mine for car camping and for family canoe trips.
Kitchen gizmos in general are quite amazing. All are wonderful for a car camping trip and all are worthless on a backpacking trip.
So, for number 2 and 6, I nominate the "survival knife". You know the kind, less than 20 bucks, has a hollow handle with stuff in it, sometimes accompanied by the words "special forces", Stainless Steel blade. Many newbies take it "just in case" and think it is essential. The fact that the blade is crap (too dull to do anything, and crappy steel so it won't hold an edge), the saw on the blade doesn't work, the handle is barely attached and falls off easily, will eventually show itself when it is needed and can't be used. We won't talk about the "survival" stuff inside. Some is good, and some not, but you could make your own little kit that works better and weighs a few pounds less.
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I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
I would say cheap and heavy gear from walmart. Sleeping bags rated to be good at 40+ but too bulky and heavy. Tents that have heavy everything and leak like a strainer the first rain.
I was looking at some of my old gear the other day trying to decide what to do with it. 12" cast iron fry pan. 2 burner coleman stove. 20 bottles of propane, Very warm very large sleeping bag (from walmart), cheap dome tent, 20+ diy alcy stoves, Mess kit . Axe, Large hunting knife, cooking utensils, set of 4 place setting. Its all in a large rubbermaid container. I decided to save it. For what I don't know. Got any good ideas? Well, besides the trash.
Stick the cast iron skillet in your kitchen. They are wonderful pans for frying and need only a little oil if properly seasoned. Save the rest for car camping with friends, family, scouts, or as loaner gear.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
Use the two bruner for family gatherings. My wife's family used to get together on Memorial day every year at a local park for breakfast. Those two burner stoves work great for making panckaes, bacon and eggs for a crowd.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
Absolutely... by far my favorite pan in the kitchen is my cast iron. Makes the best biscuits and cornbread, is the original "non-stick" pan as long as it is seasoned correctly, and is infinitely durable. I had quite the collection of cast iron that I left with my ex, but did finally get my original pan back, which I've had since I was 21. Needless to say, I've gone through many sets of pots and pans since then, but the cast iron is still going strong.
MNS
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YMMV. Viewer discretion is advised.
I have a cast iron frying pan, and it is the best pan ever. It is much better than ANY non-stick pan. Plus, if you are having a hard time cleaning it, then you can scrap it off with a wire brush or wire brush wheel, then just re-season. You can't do that with Teflon. Also, the handle doesn't break off, and it heats food VERY evenly.
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I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
Congrats on getting you pan back. My favorite cast iron pan is one I inherited from my gradnmother. Imagine, over 80 years old and still going strong. I have, however, broken a cast iron pan. I wa making blackened chicken and the chicken was too cold for the hot pan.
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If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?
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