Outdoor Gear Thread

[muskrat89]

My review on the Thermacell Lantern

http://www.skinnymoose.com/desertrat/2016/07/24/review-thermacell-mosquito-repelling-lantern/

 

[Scott]

Anyone have experience with truck box tents? Wifey nae so happy with sleeping on the ground anymore. I know the costs, which aren't too bad, I just want to hear some pros and cons.

I have also been thinking about a cap and integrated storage box under a bed of sorts. That just looks like an even bigger pain in the arse to get in and out of.

 

[Lightguns]

Anyone have experience with truck box tents? Wifey nae so happy with sleeping on the ground anymore. I know the costs, which aren't too bad, I just want to hear some pros and cons.

I have also been thinking about a cap and integrated storage box under a bed of sorts. That just looks like an even bigger pain in the arse to get in and out of.

Used one for a week, hated it.  You got to set up and take down every time you want to drive some place.  Likely good for overnight and "move daily" camping but if you basecamp and explore locally this is inconvenient.  No experience with the ground base that stays set up and you can drive out of. 

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Not a truck box set-up, but have you thought about something like this?  Light, camp kitchen on the end for some models, can drop it off and use the car to 'get around'.  I've been looking at these with semi-serious interest for a year or two. 

http://www.golittleguy.com/

 

[Kat Stevens]

Anyone have experience with truck box tents? Wifey nae so happy with sleeping on the ground anymore. I know the costs, which aren't too bad, I just want to hear some pros and cons.

I have also been thinking about a cap and integrated storage box under a bed of sorts. That just looks like an even bigger pain in the arse to get in and out of.

I had one and thought it was great. Once you get set up and takedown figured out, it takes no time.  If I was site camping with it, I'd just pull the poles and tuck it in, then used a bungee cargo net to secure it in the box.  One thing, once the weather gets a bit cool, you're surrounded on all sides by cold air, much like hammock camping. A couple of cheap bubble type windshield reflectors on the floor helped greatly.  Pretty good quality for the money, too.

 

[Scott]

Wife made me promise to not purchase anything I can tow for at least two years. And, to be honest, I want a no muss/fuss solution. I'd rather go with hammocks (off the ground, eh?) then make the much larger purchase, and commitment, of a trailer.

Thanks for the great feedback!

 

[Lightguns]

Wife made me promise to not purchase anything I can tow for at least two years. And, to be honest, I want a no muss/fuss solution. I'd rather go with hammocks (off the ground, eh?) then make the much larger purchase, and commitment, of a trailer.

Thanks for the great feedback!

Cabela's has tent cots for $279.  My wife thinks they are the cat's meow.  That feeling will last til the first dark night something is sniffing her cot but not mine, then they will suck and be in a yard sale for $10.  Thus I am avoiding a Cabela's run til it gets cold, as much as it pains me not to be in the store when it is open. 

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I'd rather go with hammocks (off the ground, eh?)

I bought this one a few years ago...love it.  http://hennessyhammock.com/products/explorer-deluxe-asym-zip

I added 2 sets of snake skins (extra one for the rainfly/tarp) and used the setup in this vid (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iJTjful66M).

http://army.ca/forums/threads/77477/post-1307614.html#msg1307614


Another "hammock for 2 peeps" idea for you though...this will actually be cheaper for me and the Mrs than my Hennessey was (I already had a Scout tarp for a rainfly or will use my Hennessy one). 

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-550/Sling-Double-Size-Hammock

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-552/Debug-Hammock-Bug-Net

Add in a tarp/rainfly...voila!!

I'd love to be able to tell you what I think of this hammock, but mine is on backorder from MEC right now.  Hoping to give it a whirl later this month;  lucked out and got Site 14 at Keji somehow for a night.  ;D

Speaking of Keji...hope it rains soon!  We were down there just this past weekend.  Ugh.

 

[Scott]

That feeling will last til the first dark night something is sniffing her cot but not mine, then they will suck and be in a yard sale for $10.  Thus I am avoiding a Cabela's run til it gets cold, as much as it pains me not to be in the store when it is open.

Our wives are obviously related.

EITS: I am going to have her look into hammocks, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that they're the way to go for us (sniffy things aside)

 

[Lightguns]

Hammock Universe.ca

Sent from my XT1563 using Tapatalk

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Our wives are obviously related.

EITS: I am going to have her look into hammocks, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that they're the way to go for us (sniffy things aside)

I've used common sense to get my better half to realize sniffy things are going to go thru a tent as easily as they can get thru my hammock. 

You can always put a 'warning fence' out...couple of hundred feet of paracord that you can tie about knee-high.  Grab a handful of extra beer bear bells. Instant, light weight 'trip line' that will let you know they are around (and let the sniffy things know something is there too).  I'd like to claim the idea as mine but...I got it from a guy who used to do backcountry stuff in the Yukon and NWTs.

 

[Bass ackwards]

Anyone have experience with truck box tents? Wifey nae so happy with sleeping on the ground anymore. I know the costs, which aren't too bad, I just want to hear some pros and cons.

I have also been thinking about a cap and integrated storage box under a bed of sorts. That just looks like an even bigger pain in the arse to get in and out of.

Scott, I've used a few different half-tons with caps on the back for camping in. They've always worked fine for me. If you go the storage-under-the-bed route, do take care to keep it as low as possible -or restrict your storage to the sides.

Slide-in campers are another option. They can be as basic or as fancy as you want. When I was using one of those, I'd drive the truck out from under it at the campsite and lower it down to rest on a couple of short sawhorses or even some firewood rounds.

 

[dapaterson]

Hammock Universe.ca

Sent from my XT1563 using Tapatalk

Ah, the hammock district.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsbad8GEW78

 

[beachdown]

Not bad....by the looks of it, just a levitating tents that claims to sleep 7 but only cosy for 3 min and max 4 pers

Not a truck box set-up, but have you thought about something like this?  Light, camp kitchen on the end for some models, can drop it off and use the car to 'get around'.  I've been looking at these with semi-serious interest for a year or two. 

http://www.golittleguy.com/

 

[Scott]

Recently swapped out my Salomon Q85 174s for a pair of Head Monster 83s at 170. I know I am giving up a bit with the length, but those Salomons were going to kill me, and I don't need that much of a powder ski.

I am off to Killington Monday for three days and can report back if anyone's interested.

We have a trip booked to MSA for the second year running in February. I love that hill. Great atmosphere, not much run out and plenty of terrain options.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Summer is on the go...always looking for new little and big things.  Here's a little one we picked up at the last MEC visit.  No more spaghetti sauce fingers from the Mountain House bag, quite a bit cheaper than the other options (titanium).  Sold!

http://www.gsioutdoors.com/shop/dining/utensils/essential-spoon-long.html

Brought home a shiny new Penobscot 164.  That covers the big one for now I guess.  ;D

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Summer is on the go...always looking for new little and big things.  Here's a little one we picked up at the last MEC visit.  No more spaghetti sauce fingers from the Mountain House bag, quite a bit cheaper than the other options (titanium).  Sold!

http://www.gsioutdoors.com/shop/dining/utensils/essential-spoon-long.html

Brought home a shiny new Penobscot 164.  That covers the big one for now I guess.  ;D

Been out for 4 years and still use the long spoon from IMPs. Still works.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Hope you washed it a few times since then!  ;D

 

[Scott]

I grabbed a similar long spoon a few years back to go with my minimalist pot set and cup. No complaints on either.

Also recently picked up a life straw. More for my truck than anything, but will use it for treks when they come.

Honestly, power tools have been taking up all of my time and spare cash. See the woodworking thread!  ;D

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Hope you washed it a few times since then!  ;D

Hell no. Where do you think the taste and texture come from.