Favorite gear?

[Boatwrench]

Headlamps, I have two.

My favorite and a more expensive back up that I recieved as a birthday gift from my brother. The kids all laughed and called me a geek so I got these fashion statements for wear around the dorm

[GI-John]

Three headlamps.
One for work.
One for the Jeep.
One for the house.

I have found out through trail and error to buy a good quality name brand. My personal favorite is PETZL brand lamps.

[Cnickgo]

+1 for headlamps. I have a Black Diamond that always stays within reach.

My favorite piece of gear is my Jetboil stove. That little sucker is clean, cooks fast, and makes life easy. Never worry about fuel spills and flare-ups or lighting issues.

Gotta love the boots too. A good set of Merrells keeps my feet happy and the weekend fun.

[beakie]

I do a bit of canoe camping, I kept my goretex socks from the army and they are top notch. I can wear shoes, boots, or my Terra water sandals and always know my feet are dry as a bone.

headlamp is kick ash too, so nice having both hands to use when its dark out.

goretex bivvy bag I kept from the army too. I like having a shelter, but even without I know I can cinch it up and float if it gets real wet!

[Original_MudButt]

X100 on the headlamp.... I think mine is a Black Diamond....

Wrench roll to keep my wrenches together/organized/quiet....

I'm old with bad knees...... I keep a gardners knee pad called Knees Ease in my RV and take it with me on the trails.... It's wonderful when working on the ground (setting up tents, changing tires, etc......)

[Stallacrew]

I do some backpacking here and there and I try to do the minimalist thing without going too overboard.

Things I take:



-MSR Pocket Rocket camp stove and one SS tall 1.5-2L pot.

-parachute hammock ( just easier than a tent for me and VERY comfortable)

-Kelty lightyear 15 degree bag

-Mountain house meals and powerbars for light food travel

-about a hundred feet of para cord and a tent material tarp to string up for hammock sleeping

-ARMY foam sleep roll to keep the cold of my back

-SS "hotdog cooker" for cooking dogs on short trips or squirrels/rabbit if I am really roughing it.



If I have those few things and the basics like knives and lights/headlight then I am good to go.

If I can find cleanish water I can boil/sanitize it, cook the MH meals, and stay hydrated. A change of clothes and some dry socks and I can go for days on foot out in the middle of nowhere ( at least in the middle of nowhere in the South).

I'm not saying I won't camp out of a popup trailer or tent, because I definitely will, but I think I'm pretty ready for when the shit hits the fan and everything goes to hell this way.

[-96JeepSpeed-]

[bigalpha]

My headlamp, without a doubt.
Mine is a Princeton Tec Apex. It puts out an incredible amount of light.
I also use a Surefire L4 LED light from work that is pimpin' too.

here's a site that reviews flashlights/headlamps, FWIW: http://www.flashlightreviews.com

[Cnickgo]

Originally Posted by Stallacrew

I do some backpacking here and there and I try to do the minimalist thing without going too overboard.

Things I take:



-MSR Pocket Rocket camp stove and one SS tall 1.5-2L pot.

-parachute hammock ( just easier than a tent for me and VERY comfortable)

-Kelty lightyear 15 degree bag

-Mountain house meals and powerbars for light food travel

-about a hundred feet of para cord and a tent material tarp to string up for hammock sleeping

-ARMY foam sleep roll to keep the cold of my back

-SS "hotdog cooker" for cooking dogs on short trips or squirrels/rabbit if I am really roughing it.



If I have those few things and the basics like knives and lights/headlight then I am good to go.

If I can find cleanish water I can boil/sanitize it, cook the MH meals, and stay hydrated. A change of clothes and some dry socks and I can go for days on foot out in the middle of nowhere ( at least in the middle of nowhere in the South).

I'm not saying I won't camp out of a popup trailer or tent, because I definitely will, but I think I'm pretty ready for when the shit hits the fan and everything goes to hell this way.

I have been seriously considering a hammock setup... my one concern is warmth. Does it not get cold with that draft underneath you?

I could see doing a hammock in the summer and tent other times, but why bother with the hammock and just carry a tarp in the summer?

[Stallacrew]

Its alot more comfortable since I am a big guy to sleep in a hammock. It's also alooooot easier to carry around than even a one man tent. The army foam roll is for the draft underneath and it works wonders; I got it at a surplus store for 12 dollhairs. The tarp is very small once packed down as well since it is thin tent nylon that you can get at Wal-Mart and get a seamstress (mom) to make the appropriate length and width by sewing multiple pieces together. Kinda like a rain fly for a tent really.....only just a big rectangle.

I find it easy and comfy and alot lighter in a bag than a tent....beats the hell out of sleeping on the ground.

[Stallacrew]

Also....

This is the link to my hammock and it "holds 250" but I weigh 285 so its all good. Light and small. I would carry the roll to sleep on anyhow, so I figure this works pretty well. Also I use a wood walking stick. I am gonna see about getting another one or something similar so that I can keep it all spread apart like a normal hammock so laying sideways isn't an issue.

http://www.rei.com/product/749499

[OverlandZJ]

Any other hammock users here? I dont know how comfortable i'd find it with a bad lower back.

That REI one looks good, and cheap. But i wont give them my business... i'll look elsewhere.

[Cnickgo]

Not as cheap, but if you wanted to just buy a full system, look towards ENO.

http://www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.c...inglenest.html

I bought a doublenest (just the hammock) for an ex. They make a great quality product.

[Coastie]

Originally Posted by OverlandXJ

Any other hammock users here? I dont know how comfortable i'd find it with a bad lower back.

That REI one looks good, and cheap. But i wont give them my business... i'll look elsewhere.

I use a Hennessy Hammock, ultra light and very comfortable. I weigh 208 and have the Explorer Ultra Light model it weighs like 2lbs even with the tree saver in the bag. I am still a young buck so this might not apply but I have never had any back aches in the morning after sleeping in this. I string my hammock super taught though so there is no "U" shape.

http://hennessyhammock.com/

[saburai]

+1 on the HH I have back troubles and sleep fine in mine.