c/camping-gear-reviews

14

the_drew•1d ago

My tent pole snapped in a windstorm at Joshua Tree

It happened last month during a gust that came out of nowhere around 2 AM. The aluminum pole section just gave way, and the whole side of my tent collapsed on me. I had to use a roll of gorilla tape and a spare trekking pole to rig it up for the rest of the night. Has anyone else had a pole fail, and what's a good tent brand that can handle serious wind?

10

moore.beth•3d ago

My tent pole snapped in a storm and I fixed it with a tent stake and a sock

I was up near Lake Tahoe last fall when a surprise wind storm hit around 2 AM. I heard a loud crack and one of my main tent poles just gave out, leaving a nasty bend. I was soaked and had no spare parts. In a panic, I grabbed a tent stake and slid it inside the broken pole section to act like a splint. Then I wrapped my one dry wool sock around the whole thing and used a bunch of zip ties from my pack to hold it tight. It looked completely stupid, like my tent had a broken arm in a cast, but it held for the rest of the night. I was sure it would fail but the makeshift fix actually got me through until morning. Has anyone else had to MacGyver a major piece of gear in a pinch? What did you use?

4

evahenderson•4d ago

Just got called out for my sleeping bag advice and it stung a bit

I was telling a friend to just get a 20 degree bag for year round use in Michigan, said it was fine with layers. He came back from a trip up near Traverse City last October and said he froze his butt off, even with a liner and long johns. His exact words were 'Your advice almost got me hypothermia, man.' That hit hard. I looked into it more and realized I was totally ignoring humidity and how cold it really gets by the lakes. Now I tell people to get a bag rated for the coldest temp they expect, then add 10 degrees for safety. Anyone else give gear advice that backfired on a friend?

19

murphy.tessa•6d ago

Shoutout to the park ranger who saw my 'ultralight' setup

I was packing up after a night at Big Bend and a ranger walked by. He just said, 'You know, that sleeping pad is so thin, you're basically just sleeping on the ground with extra steps.' It hit different because I'd just spent a rough night feeling every single rock. I paid $180 for that thing thinking I was being smart. Has anyone else had a piece of gear that was technically good but just didn't work for them?

14

claire872•6d ago

A chat with my buddy in Denver totally changed my mind about tent weight

I was complaining about my heavy 4-person tent after a trip to the Sawtooths, and my friend Mark said he'd rather carry an extra two pounds for a tent that can handle a surprise storm without a second thought. He's had his same tent for over a decade through some rough weather, and that really hit different compared to just reading specs online. How much extra weight are you all willing to carry for gear you know you can absolutely trust?

1

samk77•7d ago

Appreciation post: My new tent's rainfly failed completely on a trip to the Olympic Peninsula

I was testing a high-end 2-person backpacking tent on a four-day loop in the Hoh Rain Forest last month. The forecast called for light showers, but we got a solid 36 hours of heavy, constant rain. Around hour 12, I noticed a steady drip forming on the inside of the rainfly seam right above my head. By morning, the whole interior mesh was damp and my sleeping bag was wet at the foot. The debate I'm having is whether this is a clear-cut gear failure or if I'm partly to blame for not seam-sealing it myself, as some hardcore folks suggest. The tent is advertised as 'factory sealed' and cost over $400, so I expected it to hold. Has anyone else had a brand new, expensive shelter let them down in a big way? What did you do about it?

13

blairc90•9d ago

Thinking about how we used to pack for a week in the woods

Back in the 90s, my dad and I would just throw a heavy canvas tent and some wool blankets in the truck. Now I spend an hour weighing my pack, trying to get it under 25 pounds with a tiny tent and a quilt. Does anyone else miss the simple, heavy gear sometimes?

7

logan525•10d ago

PSA: People are still buying sleeping bags rated for way too cold weather.

I see it every year, folks dropping $250 on a zero degree bag for summer in the Sierra. They sweat all night, hate it, and blame the gear. I learned this after three miserable trips with a 15 degree bag in 60 degree nights. The comfort rating is a starting point, not a guarantee. You add about 10 degrees for actual comfort if you sleep average. So what's a good summer bag rating for most mountain camping?

14

rileygarcia•11d ago

Question about using a sleeping bag liner for warmth

I keep seeing folks on trail and in reviews talk about adding a liner to their sleeping bag for extra warmth, but I think a lot of people are missing the point. In my experience, a basic silk or cotton liner adds maybe 5 degrees at most, and that's if you're lucky. Last October in the White Mountains, I brought a liner expecting it to save me on a cold night, and I was still freezing in my 20-degree bag. The real benefit, I've found, is keeping your bag clean and adding a bit of comfort, not a major temperature boost. If you need more warmth, you're better off with a quilt on top or a bag with a lower rating. Has anyone else tested this and found the same thing, or am I off base?

3

pat_moore•12d ago

A warning about those cheap propane stove hoses...

I was boiling water for coffee last weekend in the Sawtooths and smelled gas... a real strong whiff. I shut it off and found a tiny crack in the hose right near the regulator, it was maybe a year old. I always just bought the $15 generic ones online. My buddy, who's a firefighter, said the rubber they use can't handle the cold and gets brittle. I'm switching to brand-name hoses with a listed temperature rating from now on. Has anyone else had a close call with off-brand fuel lines?

5

rowan_wells30•14d ago

Saw a guy at a campsite in Bend with a $700 titanium spork and it got me wondering

Overheard him say 'the weight savings are worth it' while packing up, but I can't help but think, at what point does chasing ounces stop making sense for the average weekend camper?

18

viola_lopez30•14d ago

My uncle told me to skip the cheap tent and get a Kelty Grand Mesa 4. He was right.

I bought a $50 tent from a big box store for a trip to the Red River Gorge. It leaked the first night it rained. Got the Kelty like he said. Used it three times now, bone dry every time. Anyone have a good rain fly treatment they like for extra protection?

2

logan658•15d ago

Just realized my old way of packing a tent was costing me space and time

For the longest time, I'd just stuff my tent back into its bag any which way, figuring it was fine as long as it fit. It always felt like a fight, and I'd waste ten minutes at the campsite trying to get it rolled right. The turning point was a rainy weekend in the Adirondacks last fall. I was fumbling with a wet, messy bundle while my buddy had his tent up in under five minutes. He showed me his method: lay it flat, fold it in thirds lengthwise, then roll it tight around the poles. I tried it, and now my old 4-person dome tent fits with room to spare in its bag every single time. It sounds simple, but it changed my whole setup routine. Has anyone else found a basic packing trick that made a huge difference for a common piece of gear?

1

hollywhite•17d ago

My buddy swears his $20 tarp from a gas station is better than my $150 'ultralight' shelter.

He said it's never leaked in 5 years of Colorado trips, which makes me question all the fancy specs. Has anyone else had gear that was cheap but just refused to quit?

7

davidkim•17d ago

I used to think a cheap sleeping bag was fine until a trip to the Sawtooths last month

I got a 20 dollar bag from a big box store and froze my butt off at 9,000 feet, even with all my layers on. My buddy let me try his 30 degree rated bag from a real outdoor brand the next night, and I slept like a rock. The difference in how they kept heat in was just huge. Has anyone else had a trip that made them finally spend money on a good bag?

5

oliver_nguyen15•20d ago

My brother told me his old tent is still dry after 15 years

We were cleaning out his garage in Portland and he pulled out this faded green tent from a 2009 trip. He said, 'I've never even re-sealed the seams, it just works.' I've been through three tents in the last six years, always chasing the newest feature. It made me think maybe the best gear isn't the one with the most stuff, it's the one that just doesn't quit. Anyone have a piece of gear that's lasted way longer than it should have?

28

aaron_adams•21d ago

My old tent's rainfly went from fine to useless in one season

I used it for a week in the Oregon coast rain last year and it was perfect, but after storing it in my garage over winter, the waterproof coating totally peeled off. Has anyone else had a coating fail that fast, and is there a good fix besides buying a new one?

4

amy_craig28•22d ago

That time my new sleeping bag turned a rainy weekend into a total win

Got caught in a surprise downpour last month at Lake Tahoe, like the kind that soaks everything in minutes. I was using a new synthetic bag I'd just bought, a Marmot Trestles 30, and honestly I was ready for a miserable night. But the thing stayed warm even when the tent fly was dripping and my boots were full of water. It wasn't magic, the fill got a bit damp, but it didn't just turn into a cold, wet lump like my old down bag would have. I spent maybe $180 on it and it felt worth every penny after that trip. Has anyone else had a piece of gear totally save a trip that was going sideways?

15

the_christopher•22d ago

PSA: I picked a 4-season tent for year-round use in Colorado and it was a mistake for summer.

After three hot, stuffy July nights in the Rockies, I realized the extra weight and poor ventilation weren't worth it for 90% of my trips, so what's a good 3-season alternative that can handle a surprise spring snow?

17

jana881•23d ago

My brother said his old wool blanket is better than any new sleeping bag

We were packing for a trip to the Adirondacks and he pulled out this heavy, scratchy blanket from his truck. He said, 'This thing has kept me warm in a wet tent at 30 degrees for ten years.' I always thought you needed the latest gear with high-tech fill. But his point about reliability over fancy features really stuck with me. I spent $300 on a bag that failed when the zipper broke after two seasons. Now I'm looking at simple, tough gear instead of just the shiny new stuff. Has anyone else had an old piece of kit outlast a modern replacement?

7

michael_green44•25d ago

Warning: My cheap camp stove from a gas station in Flagstaff almost started a fire.

Bought it for $15 on a road trip when my main stove broke. First time lighting it, the flame shot out sideways and caught a pine needle on fire. Learned that gear you trust with your safety is not the place to save a few bucks. Anyone else have a close call with off-brand equipment?

25

keith_bennett•26d ago

Bought a $40 'bear-proof' food container that a raccoon opened in 30 seconds

I was camping in the Smoky Mountains last fall and saw this hard plastic container at the gear shop. The clerk swore it was certified bear-resistant. First night, I hear rustling and my headlamp catches a raccoon sitting on the lid, paws working the latches like a tiny safecracker. It popped open, ate my trail mix, and left the lid next to the fire pit. So much for that certification. Anyone have a food storage method that actually works against clever trash pandas?

2

jana_black•27d ago

Heads up on those cheap solar lanterns from the big box store, my campsite almost flooded

Bought a 2-pack of those generic solar lanterns for like $15 last month. Took them to Lake Tahoe last weekend. Left them out to charge all day, no problem. But when the temp dropped that night, the plastic casing on one just cracked open. Not a small crack, a full split. The little battery pack and wires got soaked from the dew. Woke up to a puddle of water right next to my sleeping bag. Learned that super thin plastic can't handle quick temp changes. Anyone know a decent solar light that can actually handle cold nights?

6

murray.cora•27d ago

Just realized most tent footprint reviews miss a key point about ground texture

I've been camping in the White Mountains for over a decade and see people online always talking about footprint thickness and weight. But after my last trip on a rocky site near Franconia Notch, I noticed the real issue is how a footprint slides on different surfaces. My old one would bunch up under the tent on smooth granite, but a friend's with a slightly rubberized bottom stayed put. Why don't more reviews test for that on actual dirt, pine needles, and stone? What's a good way to check for grip before buying one?

0

jamesf29•29d ago

My old tent finally gave out after 8 years during a storm in the Adirondacks, and I'm stuck between buying a bombproof 4-season replacement or just getting a good 3-season and avoiding bad weather.

The wind ripped a 2-foot seam on the third night, soaking everything, so do you guys think a heavier, more expensive tent is worth it for the occasional rough trip, or is it smarter to save the cash and just check the forecast better?