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#149995 - 05/07/11 11:00 AM What are your favorite colors?
TheNewGuy Offline
newbie

Registered: 05/05/11
Posts: 8
I'm thinking about colors for designing my next project, and was curious about what options are out there. I want it to look good.

I've always liked Forest Green combined with Black, but there's got to be something else out there.

So .. what are your favorite colors for tarps?
Stuff sacks?
Sleeping bags?
Packs?
Others?

Any pics of items with good colors or color combinations would be really good too.

Thanks!!

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#149997 - 05/07/11 11:21 AM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: TheNewGuy]
CamperMom Offline
member

Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Really?

It may not be very feminine of me, but I don't much worry about colors for gear. For clothes, I lean towards black, because it doesn't show dirt or stains easily and for modesty. Other colors are more see-through. My pack is the color it came in, the manufactuer's choice. Most of my stuff sacks are grey, because I got a deal on a bunch of grey silnylon. If I want to tell them a part easily, I use a different color drawstring. The one color I did go in search of was orange for my pack cover. I can use it for visiblilty in an emergency. Otherwise, I prefer to blend in.

YMMV.

CamperMom

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#149998 - 05/07/11 11:29 AM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: TheNewGuy]
Pika Offline
member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 1814
Loc: Rural Southeast Arizona
For me, color is pretty well down on the list of criteria when I am planning a project; function is my main criterion, not fashion. I do prefer muted, more natural, colors but will, on occasion, use a bright blue. I never take the trouble to combine colors in a garment. I avoid the brighter colors probably because my peacock genes have faded as I aged.

For things like stuff- and stow-sacks I use whatever scraps I have on hand. I use a lot of bags to keep my pack contents organized so I like to use different colors to identify bag contents.

Also, I think that you will find that the selection of colors available in lightweight fabrics will be pretty limited. This will likely further limit any fashion statements that you might be hoping to make.

_________________________
May I walk in beauty.

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#150007 - 05/07/11 04:46 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: Pika]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
I don't obsess about color either, although I do have a tendency to favor red. It is a well known fact that red bicycles are significantly fast er than other colors. There is much to be said for colors that blend in, especially when others are around.

On the other hand, it is a good idea to have something that is nice and bright, like CM's pack cover. There is a time and place for bright colors. I have spent way too much time looking for lost souls dressed only in muted shades of green and gray...

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#150022 - 05/08/11 12:01 AM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: oldranger]
NYbackpacker Offline
newbie

Registered: 02/20/11
Posts: 5
maybe its me just being a teenager but my favorite color has always been orange. My pack is orange as well as my rain jacket and some bandanas etc., at the same time though i love forest green when im feeling more err, subtle smile

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#150060 - 05/08/11 07:37 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: TheNewGuy]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
My favorite colors are the one with the lowest price tags and good functionality.

That would be the reason I am styling down the trail in pink or neon blue shirts, olive nylon pants, yellow trail shoes...
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

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#150095 - 05/09/11 12:06 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: lori]
wandering_daisy Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 2865
Loc: California
My favorite colors are anything on sale! I look like some colorblind person walking down the trail. Nothing matches. I do prefer white or light tan shirts, since I have read that bright colors attract mosquitoes and bees.

As my eyes grow older and I get more forgetful, I purposely buy small items that easily get lost in the brightest colors possible. Stuff sacks, that easily blow away, are now all bright orange or yellow. I have a bright yellow bivy sack - consider it a good emergency flag. When I go alone, I always carry at least one item in a bright color for emergency signaling. My florescent orage bike wind shirt is my favorite.

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#150096 - 05/09/11 12:15 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: wandering_daisy]
wandering_daisy Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 2865
Loc: California
Here are photos of my favorite shirt and bivy. It is obvious how visible they are.





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#150099 - 05/09/11 12:53 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: TheNewGuy]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
I like my tarp to be more natural, even camouflage. But, if I see ripstop nylon at the store for real cheap, the color is negligible.

I also like bright colors for some items. I set up my tarp once with camouflage line, and tripped all over it. I use bright yellow line now.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

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#150111 - 05/09/11 03:45 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: finallyME]
oldranger Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
Coming from a SAR background, I totally despise camo! I would also point out that bright colors attract hummingbirds, at least on Mogollon Baldy in the Gila Wilderness (red socks).

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#150142 - 05/10/11 01:28 PM Re: What are your favorite colors? [Re: TheNewGuy]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
First and foremost, whatever is on sale because it's usually what no one else wants. Fine for me.

Given a choice, I like a brightly colored shelter so I can find it and because it looks more cheerful inside. I try to avoid the paramilitary look. I get enough of that at work.

For clothing, light colors to reflect the sun in the summer, dark colors to absorb the sun in the winter.

I like black for a sleeping bag because it seems to absorb heat and dry out faster in the sun. No science behind this, just my observation.
_________________________
If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*

* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.

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