Hiking.

[autococker04]

Deltasteve thats a good point. I’m about half and half between car camping and backpacking, but every time I backpack it’s either with someone else so I can split the load or I just take a hammock and a tarp. My hope with this one is to get my wife into camping a little bit more.

[Deltasteve]

Should camping get it’s own thread? Either way, I’m looking at an awesome price on a Mountain Hardware Drifter 2 tent. Seems like a slam dunk, but does anyone have any experience with them?

Car camping or backpacking? If that's for backpacking you are a little heavy in my opinion with that tent.

[autococker04]

Should camping get it’s own thread? Either way, I’m looking at an awesome price on a Mountain Hardware Drifter 2 tent. Seems like a slam dunk, but does anyone have any experience with them?

[BLachance75]

I have an Osprey for my backpack for backpacking and love it. Super durable here against all of the stabby plants and also shredded and older Osprey in a bike wreck. They really do stand by their 7 year any reason warranty and when they couldn't fix mine just sent me a new upgraded version.

I haven’t had to use the warranty but a few people I hike with have. One guy put a claim on his hydration bladder and they sent him a new one. Another had an issue with the strap and got a new backpack.

I use a 11L for short hikes where I’m only carrying water and a bar or 2 for a snack. My regular pack is 24L I think. That lets me carry water, snacks, lunch, first aid kit, and a light jacket or shirt or rain coat. In colder weather I use a 33L so that I can put in all the normal stuff from the 24L as well as a warmer outer layer and ice cleats.

I normally use a hydration bladder unless it is below freezing out. I tried that once and had the line and mouth piece freeze solid. That can be prevented by blowing all the water out of the line after drinking but if you forget you could be done drinking for the day. When it’s freezing I go with Nalgene bottles.

To me there are 2 big downsides to bladders. First is you don’t see how much you have left without taking it out. I’ve had times where I’ve drank the entire bladder and didn’t know until I ran out. The second is how much space it takes up inside the pack. In my 11L bag the full bladder almost fills the inside compartment of the backpack.

[Deltasteve]

I like Osprey backpacks. I have 3 in different sizes

I have an Osprey for my backpack for backpacking and love it. Super durable here against all of the stabby plants and also shredded and older Osprey in a bike wreck. They really do stand by their 7 year any reason warranty and when they couldn't fix mine just sent me a new upgraded version.

[BLachance75]

I like Osprey backpacks. I have 3 in different sizes

[Axel]

I just get tired of stuffing my jacket pockets and I would like the room to carry a decent lunch. I was already thinking about it you guys just nudged me. Hopefully I'll get it in time to do a little exploring while I'm off work

[lew]

Did you worry about the flu or colds in years past when formulating travel plans? No? Then why the shit are you worried about COVID?

[Cunha]

Haha! I was only just joking. I have a camelback like this that I use for day hikes https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e9/c8...75e4f8ec86.jpg

I loaned my back packing back pack which was free to me, to my sister in law and it was stolen from her car. Luckily I didn't lend her my sleeping bag or other gear so it was a smaller loss.

Once I Start thinking about back packing then I become a gear psychopath but for day hikes I go light and fun and whatever my limitations are because of lack of whatever...are just fine.

[Axel]

Dammit you people just talked me into buying a day pack.

[Axel]

Some of these passages look pretty tight; I sort of get it. I wouldn't really want to go in if it were crawling with people

Devil's Den @ Gettysburg is not really closable but in good weather there are always too many people crawling over it.

I'm not hyper paranoid but with the end in sight I really don't want to get sick now... It'd be like getting shot at the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse

[autococker04]

At least with hiking once you get all your gear you’re all set.


To start upgrading.

[Cunha]

As with paintball, the most important thing about hiking is shopping for hiking gear, a hiking GPS, hiking knife, hiking boots, hiking hat, hiking pants that turn into shorts, hiking day pack, hiking backpacking overnight back pack...ETC

Just kidding.

[lew]

Sounds awesome, unfortunately closed for Covid according to NPS *grumble grumble*

That's funny. A few weeks ago, my brother and I went to Colossal Cave east of Tucson. Other than having to keep our masks on (not a bad idea in a cave filled with dust, pollen, and some guano), the tour was as-normal, and a heck of a lot of fun. "Closed for COVID"- what a ridiculous notion.

[Deltasteve]

Adventurous? I will probably have to tether him so he doesn't run off and get lost.

Sounds awesome, unfortunately closed for Covid according to NPS *grumble grumble*

Bummer. Lot of cool rocks to climb on the outside too and you can camp there and make a weekend of it. I specifically remember one of the largest chambers called the church where I had to take my belt off as an adult to squeeze into the chamber being amazing, we fit like 20 of us in there and turned out the lights.