[Sportsandrec] Hiking camping gear

[Brad Dunse]

Kelly,

Thanks. All good points. I especially agree with the non-bear foods since my
wife is already a bit leery of the increase in bear, wolf, and big cat
population here in the upper Midwest. Personally, I'm probably more
apprehensive of being carried off by a swarm of mosquitos lol, but
precaution is necessary.

I'll take a look at your suggestions too. I'd heard Iodine does not take
care of Cryptosporidium, but Chlorine Dioxide does,and is an excellent
purifier. Have you tried those?

Knowing different equipment is needed to some degree, I'd like to both hike
camp and canoe camp, meaning everything is carried in or on board, as oppose
to car camping and taking day trip needs. Have you slept in a hammock ratehr
than on the ground? I think that might be more comfortable and perhaps
warmer as well. I'd like to devise a method to do that and yet be inside a
tent without breeching mosquito protection as much as possible. Deer Ticks
are quite an issue in these parts as well.

Thanks,

Brad

 
-----Original Message-----
From: Sportsandrec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Kelly Thornbury
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 2:37 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Hiking camping gear

Brad, 

Do you have any outfitters or outdoor supply stores in your area. Some
items, like backpacks and boots are best purchased in person if you don't
know exactly what models you want. 

Probably the first, and most important step, is to consider what type of
camping/hiking you plan to do. Things like weather conditions and terrain
are also important. As an example, if you are "car camping," where you drive
to, or close to, your campsite, then your equipment (tents, sleeping bags,
stoves, etc.) can be a bit heavier. If you plan to carry everything, then
weight considerations are important, and the lighter it is, the more it will
probably cost. Starting from scratch is an expensive proposition, but the
better quality equipment you can budget for, the longer it will last and in
most cases the more extreme the conditions it will handle. 

Freeze-dried foods are pretty good these days, certainly better than ten
years ago. With any of these products, you will want to try them out at home
first. There isn't much that sucks worse than bringing a brand of foods that
don't agree with you. You should consider the wildlife when preparing meals
as well. You don't want to bring any nut, mint, fresh fruits, or eggs if you
may be in a bear area. Hint: bears actually hate the smell of bacon, so this
is actually pretty safe in bear country. 

For water purification, there a couple options (and you should consider
carrying more than one if possible). Boiling water takes nothing more than
your cooking equipment, but takes a while and you will have to carry extra
fuel if you are using a camp stove. Iodine tablets work, and are real easy
to pack, but they take at least half an hour typically to purify water.
"Pumps," or filters, are the quickest, just do your research on how small of
a particle the filter will catch. The finer the filtration, typically the
slower the filtration process, and the more often/harder it is to clean the
filter. Not all filters will catch all parasites, so do your homework. 

Tents should be suitable for more extreme conditions you expect to camp in,
but this preparation comes at a weight penalty. Remember though, if you are
hiking with another person, the tent can be divided between you. My personal
favorites for tents are North Face and REI brands. My REI half dome has
stood up to horrendous down pours and the Wyoming winds without a complaint.
You'll want to practice setting up several times before your first trip, as
learning the set-up in bad weather conditions takes some of the fun out of
the adventure. 

Boots should suit the terrain and conditions you expect to encounter. Try
them on with your hiking socks and walk around a bit before buying. The days
of "breaking in" boots are pretty much in the past, and a quality boot
should fit right right away. 

Canoe camping will also require some waterproofing as well. The bonus is
that, if you do not plan many long portages, you can carry a bit more
weight. When canoe camping, or if the weather is expected to be wet on
hikes, I pack everything in my bag, like clothes and my sleeping bag, in dry
bags. Then, your pack can get soaked, but the important contents (the ones
that will keep you warm at night) will remain dry. 

Ok, so that answered nothing; hopefully it gives you some things to think
about. 

Kelly

On Dec 1, 2012, at 12:46 PM, Brad Dunse wrote:

> Hello.
> 
> 
> 
> This spring/summer my wife and I would like to do some hiking camping and
> possibly canoe camping as well. The camping gear we have  used to date is
> not all that great and almost non-existant these days.
> 
> 
> 
> I am looking to research some quality gear that would prove to be
> long-lasting, light, and yet not budgetless.
> 
> 
> 
> Anyone here have suggestions for backpacks, tents, sleeping gear, water
> filtration, dry food, waterproofing, multi-tools, footwear, etc.?
> 
> 
> 
> Just tossing out general feelers prior to researching it over the months
> ahead.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> 
> Brad
> 
> 
> 
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