Help Me Camp

December 14, 2006 10:38 PM

I am looking to get into some beginner back country camping, and I need some recommendations for gear and guides.

I've done some car camping and hiking, and that's about it. I would love to become more outdoorsy, but am unsure where to start in terms of gear and in terms of training. If anyone can tell me what kind of things I should be looking for (tent, boots, pack, mess kit, etc) and give me some brands and products they've had good experiences with, that would be fantastic. Also, some good books on the subject would be very appreciated.

posted by deafmute to sports, hobbies, & recreation (15 comments total)

The number one thing to consider for any item is weight (with a few exceptions). A light pack extends your range, giving you more options, letting you see more, and enjoy your time on the trail. Do some googling on ultra-light backpacking for info on this. I did a fair amount of reading many years ago, but these days you can get all the info you need on the net.

The optimum gear for any trip depends on conditions. For each item there are usually several major brands that offer quality, and choice between them is subjective.

Tent: I've got my eye on the Black Diamond Lighthouse (or first light if you are shorter than six foot. Very light, single-wall free standing. Wouldn't be the greatest tent to be stuck in, in extended bad weather, but it is amazingly light. Whatever you do, get a free-standing tent (stakes not required).

Boots: I still like full leather (no or few seams) boots. Buy them, put seam-seal on all of the seams, and nik-wax water proof them before you wear them outside. Lots of people are going lighter these days, but I like the support for off-trail, and the ability to stomp through nearly ankle-deep water without getting wet.

Pack: I finally converted to internal frame packs, they've gotten pretty good. Try them on, and get some help learning how to adjust. Pack some serious weight in and wear around the store to get a feel for how it will really ride.

Mess Kit: Titanium cooksets are nice and light but tend to crush easily. I use an steel MSR pot with handle/latch for rough trips.

Gear I also recommend: A good set of trekking poles (Black Diamond makes bomber ones), a gps, compass (learn how to use it) and altimeter watch (if you're staying on trail you can get by with compass only, but it's nice to be extra sure).

Stay away from cotton clothing (Patagonia makes pretty much the most versatile backpacking clothing, but it ain't cheap). Cotton underwear can be dangerous in extreme conditions, and cotton socks destroy your feet. Thor-lo or smart-wool make nice backpacking socks.

If you are heading out with a significant other, then sleeping bags which mate zippers is really nice. Therma-rest sleeping pads are a must. If sleeping solo, then I prefer an ultra-light sleeping bag (Western Mountaineering) and a heavy-duty down jacket (Mountain Hardwear) which I sleep in.

Bring duct tape for blisters (much better than moleskin), and a noseeum mosquito net for critters. A tight-weave synthetic button down shirt will repel mosquitos, sun, and is amazingly adaptable to a wide range of temperatures.

Food is one place I compromise with weight. Most of the prepackaged freeze-dried food you'll find in outdoor stores is disgusting. If I'm on an ultra-light, boil water only trip, then I'd rather eat non-cooked food then try to choke down that crap.

Be sure to check out one of the zillion checklists you'll find online for all the other little necessities.
posted by Manjusri at 11:15 PM on December 14, 2006

Don't buy too much gear for yourself immediately. Join an outdoors club (such as at your local REI), which will have lots of gear for loan or rent and lots of friendly members who will offer widely varying opinions. Some prefer high-tech, light gear. Others prefer robust, cheap simple gear. It all depends on your style of camping, and will take a couple of seasons to figure out. If you go out and buy a whole bunch of stuff now, it will be a waste of money anyway because you'll end up tossing 3/4 of it.
posted by randomstriker at 12:45 AM on December 15, 2006

Ultralight gear will make life in the backcountry relaxing. The Freedom of The Hills is your technical manual. You won't need 3/4 of it for backcountry backpacking, core principals of mountaineering apply to all outdoor adventures. Read Backpackers' Magazine Editors' Choice to wrap your head around backpacking gear and its associated technology. ULA among others are not often featured in Backpacker's Magazine or your local outdoor retalier like REI, they're a boutique outfitter that doesn't cater to the casual enthusiast. Personally, I try to keep my pack limited to 25 lbs. including food, but not water for 3 days, plus 5 lbs for backcountry photography. That's considered heavy among ultralight gear enthusiasts. Visit your local bookstore or park service center for guidebooks on trails.
posted by ericrolph at 1:35 AM on December 15, 2006

You can argue the merits of one thing versus another till the cows come home, but two things you can't do without are a head torch and a good stove. A light LED-based head torch (Petzl Tikka or similar offering from Princeton-Tec) will make your life sooooo much easier. A simple multi-fuel stove such as an MSR Whisperlite Internationale or Dragonfly will cope with a variety of fuels and still have the punch to get water boiling in a hurry. The Dragonfly will also simmer, if you want to get all fancy in your cookin'.

As far as tents go, my view is this: if you're buying a tent at all, you're buying it because you recognise that the weather might get bad. A lightweight tent that is not weatherproof is a bad buy. If the weather is guaranteed to be fine, then what do you need a tent for?

That's not to say that you should lug around some huge monstrosity with you. Rather, be sensible about what you consider the 'maximum allowable weight' to be. Look at the tent architecture. Does it have a vestibule? Is it big enough to store your pack in? What happens when you unzip the inner and the fly"? Does water drain into the tent?

When the weather closes in, the above questions are going to be far more important than the fact that the tent weighs a pound more than the competitor.

ps: my background is in climbing rather than walking, but I did 2+ years in outdoor retail selling this gear to people in precisely your situation.
posted by tim_in_oz at 3:16 AM on December 15, 2006

I've been very pleased with the quality and durability of North Face gear. I don't go hiking with it but my rucksack has put up with a lot of abuse over a few years and has yet to sustain more than superficial damage, and my tent is very well designed which lets me pitch it on my own in about 5 minutes, as opposed to my old one which took 3 times as long and needed an extra person.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:23 AM on December 15, 2006

If you're just getting started:
The Backpacker's Handbook, Chris Townsend
The Backpacker's Field Manual, Rick Curtis

Gear's a bit personal, and everyone who's chimed in already has covered the basics. My advice is to find a good store, even if it's a bit out of your way; you really need to investigate some of this stuff in person. You'll definitely want to try on multiple packs (with weight!) to see what fits you best. Same with boots. Having someone walk you through pitching your tent the first time can save a lot of hassle in the woods when the sun's going down. Also, some stores will rent you gear, so you can check it out without investing all up front.

Happy camping!
posted by sonofslim at 5:45 AM on December 15, 2006

For great gear at very decent prices try MEC. It's a canadian cooperative that has some of the best gear at the best price and the one-time fee is $5 CDN. I've been backcountry camping for years and their gear has never let me down. If you can make it to a store the sales staff are very helpful and know the products. Often their staff consists of campers, climbers and cyclers just like the patrons.

Welcome to the Outdoors and Happy Trails! :)
posted by LunaticFringe at 6:13 AM on December 15, 2006

Don't get locked into backpack camping until you've tried canoe (or kayak) camping. Your gear will necessarily be very different depending on what your mode of conveyance is, and canoe camping is the best thing on earth.
posted by norm at 7:24 AM on December 15, 2006

Don't feel that you need to go all ultralight if you're backpacking, especially as you're just getting into it. Ultralight packers are willing to put up with a lot more discomfort in camp to save weight in their pack on the trail, and that discomfort can be off-putting to a newbie. I've been backpacking for a few years now and I'm learning to minimize the weight I carry, but a comfortable in-camp experience and a good night's sleep are more important to me than saving a few ounces here and there. I own two sleeping pads (a sleeping pad is a necessity, by the way, that many new campers don't think of), and I pack the thicker, more comfortable one every time, even though it weighs significantly more than the 3/4-length ultralight one. On the other hand, I'm not lashing a folding cot to the outside of my pack, either - you have to find the balance that works for you.
posted by vytae at 8:02 AM on December 15, 2006

seconding randomstriker's post. don't buy things until you know you need them. start out with local groups and rent/borrow.
posted by Señor Pantalones at 8:16 AM on December 15, 2006

Wow, thanks for the fantastic advice everyone.
posted by deafmute at 8:45 AM on December 15, 2006

For great (and hilarious) advice on what NOT to do, read "Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. I was laughing until I cried at some parts.
posted by chrisamiller at 10:57 AM on December 15, 2006

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I've been backpacking between 5 and 50 nights a year for just over ten years. Manjusri's and Ericrolph's advice is solid so far as ultralight gear goes, but I'd be wary about buying ultralight right off the bat. It tends to be more expensive, more specialized, and can be less durable and less comfortable than mainstream gear. If you stay with the sport for a few years, you'll probably evolve in that direction on your own.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Echoing Sonofslim, gear can be a very personal thing. Imagine the psychology that people wrap up in buying a car; I feel like my backpacking gear is a lot more reflective of my personality than my car is. Complicating matters is the need to customize your selections to your region. Gear in the northern Rockies is often quite diffferent from gear in the Sierra Nevada. If you can find a local hiking club, I'd say your best bet is to borrow gear to start out. I may be addicted, but I'd say I could probably outfit at least two other people in full kit, and I suspect a lot of other enthusiasts could too.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp The best beginning book I've seen for backpacking is Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book: Traveling & camping skills for a wilderness environment, which has solid written advice alongside delightful cartoons. It has enough information without being too much. You can find it on Amazon here.
&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp If you have more specific questions, feel free to email me from my profile. (Backpackers can get a tinsy bit evangelical about their pastime...) Almost none of the specialized companies will let you down. REI, MEC, and EMS are all good chains to deal with. The most important thing you need is a desire to wake up where you left off the day before and keep exploring!
posted by mhespenheide at 11:13 AM on December 15, 2006

Shoot, shoot, shoot. Sorry about that. Here it is again, reformatted:

I've been backpacking between 5 and 50 nights a year for just over ten years. Manjusri's and Ericrolph's advice is solid so far as ultralight gear goes, but I'd be wary about buying ultralight right off the bat. It tends to be more expensive, more specialized, and can be less durable and less comfortable than mainstream gear. If you stay with the sport for a few years, you'll probably evolve in that direction on your own.

Echoing Sonofslim, gear can be a very personal thing. Imagine the psychology that people wrap up in buying a car; I feel like my backpacking gear is a lot more reflective of my personality than my car is. Complicating matters is the need to customize your selections to your region. Gear in the northern Rockies is often quite diffferent from gear in the Sierra Nevada. If you can find a local hiking club, I'd say your best bet is to borrow gear to start out. I may be addicted, but I'd say I could probably outfit at least two other people in full kit, and I suspect a lot of other enthusiasts could too.

The best beginning book I've seen for backpacking is Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book: Traveling & camping skills for a wilderness environment, which has solid written advice alongside delightful cartoons. It has enough information without being too much. You can find it on Amazon here.

If you have more specific questions, feel free to email me from my profile. (Backpackers can get a tinsy bit evangelical about their pastime...) Almost none of the specialized companies will let you down. REI, MEC, and EMS are all good chains to deal with. The most important thing you need is a desire to wake up where you left off the day before and keep exploring!
posted by mhespenheide at 11:20 AM on December 15, 2006

Sometimes ultralight isn't light enough... you might try bivvying. It's not for everyone but The Book of The Bivvyf is worth a look and is laugh out loud funny at times.
posted by itsjustanalias at 12:42 PM on December 15, 2006