Who stocks enough gear for others?

Hmmm . . .I've definitely said to myself more than once when I wanted a new toy "I can keep the old one around as a spare if so and so comes to visit and wants to go camping" as a justification for buying a different version of something I already have.

I've been doing my best lately to shed 'spare' gear, for space and financial reasons, but also to stifle my inner urge to be a pack rat. I'm no longer going to keep two things that duplicate each other, like my TT Rainbow and my Duomid, even if I really like both of them, but I will own a Duomid and a poncho tarp, as they're different enough, so in that vein, I think I could still probably put together a 'make-do' kit for one other person for a three-season trip, just based on having stuff for different seasosn and conditions.

Let me see. . .

I have two backpacks, one for summer, and a bigger, heavier one for winter. I could sleep under my poncho tarp, he could borrow my Duomid(I don't like sharing tent space. I need my alone time) But we'd need to camp someplace where we could find at least one long stick, as I only have one set up trekking poles.

Quilts would be tougher, but right now I have a 30 degree quilt and a 40 degree quilt that could be boosted by wearing insulated clothes I own(not the lightest option, but do-able) But I intend to trade out the 40 for a much warmer quilt for winter that'd be too warm for summer. But I really should have a synthetic summer weight quilt too, right:)? I have a NeoAir short, and a couple three ccf pads for winter camping, so we're set there.

General hiking and workout clothes, I have plenty of. My poncho tarp is my rain jacket, so he can use my winter shell. I have a pair of golite reeds for summer and a sturdier pair of rain pants for winter. He could use my MB UL Down Inner parka, I could use my synthetic parka. Hat and gloves, plenty of those(never know when you're gonna lose one, so keep spares) Everbody owns a pair of joggers, right? So he'll have his own shoes.

We can share a stove, (or I have an alcohol stove, a white gas stove, and a cannister stove)and I can use my trapper's mug while he borrows my 1.3L winter pot. Plastic utensils are fine. Water purification can be shared, water bottles can be bought at Walgreens cheaply.

I only have one compass, so he'd better stick close. I actually only have one headlamp, so we'd have to plan around full moons.

I think I've covered all the bases, right?

I definitely can outfit multiple people. I just moved away from most of my stuff though and it sits in storage.

And still, I can outfit two people. I moved with two bikes, two pairs of pants and two backpacking setups. That's about it. In all, I moved over a thousand miles away, with less than half a car's worth of stuff, and I can still outfit two people!

I brought two setups, one is my winter guiding stuff and one is my lightweight setup for the CDT. Kind of with that I had some of the ultralight stuff that's in storage, but I'm not bringing it out this summer.

It's not that I do it on purpose because the people I go hiking with have their own stuff, but if I had to I could fully outfit 4 people (assuming they wear the same size backpack and clothing as me).

I honestly only have one friend who is into backpacking. He never goes because he is either working, in school, or with his disapproving girlfriend. My brother loves going, but gets one vacation per year. Other than that he has the weekends but lives 6 hours away.

I keep gear to get anyone I can to go with me. I'll go alone, but I would rather have at least one other with me. I need more friends who are into backpacking. These city folks tend to stick with their cabins. Blah!

Since I only started hiking when I was 43, none of my "everyday" friends hikes. Like you, Juston, I'll hike alone too, but prefer hiking with one other or in a small group of three of four.

As for my gear, I can outfit myself and one other person. The gear head in me likes to buy gear and try them out. But the "minimalist" in me goes crazy when I have more than 2 of any one type of gear. So whatever that I already have two of — if I buy a third, then something will get sold.

In UL gear, I can equip myself and two others. However, in general backpacking gear, I have enough for a small army. I think it came from 20 years of leading large group trips. So, I probably have 6-7 sleeping bags, 5 MSR XGK stoves, 6 tents, and the list goes on and on. It occupies one room in my house. If I had a nickel for every headlamp I owned, I would be a rich man.
–B.G.–

"If I had a nickel for every headlamp I owned, I would be a rich man."

Ebay?

eBay was probably started originally by somebody cleaning out his closet.
–B.G.–

I wouldn't be surprised at all. But Ebay is a godsend for me.

I recently traveled around the world (seven months) carrying just a day pack with a total pack weight of 12 lbs or so. But my virgin trip back in 1996, I had a matching hardside American Tourister suitcase and duffle bag — with traveling size hair dryer, iron, 7 sets of clothing… Most everything then sat unused and unloved in my gear closet for the next 10 years until I discovered Ebay! Amazing what people will buy!

Packs – 2 Jams, a Pinnacle and an REI UL65. All good packs.
Tents – Tarptent and MSR Sidewinder 2.
Bags – UL-20 and (3) REI 15deg bags.
Pads – 3 total
Plus the accessories.

I ended up with all this because of "evolution" and the fact that my major trips the last two summers have been with my son and needed a second "almost top of the line" set.

I have often wondered how I and frankly most of us on this site can call ourselves ultralight when we have a hundred pounds of total gear.

Got to go, need to find a tarp and bivy to further "evolve into. Know any more boyscouts?

I never thought much of eBay until one time I got some killer deals on a travel size hair dryer, an iron, and some clothing. :-)
–B.G.–

LOL!

Many of us live near REI stores. I agree that REI is not perfect, but at least it is a known quantity. Many REI stores have a "scratch and dent sale." They sell returned gear, scratched gear, and all sorts of stuff "as-is."

For decades now, I have purchased stuff that way, especially if it is stuff that I know I am going to need soon anyway. For example, a Sigg fuel bottle. At times, I have needed as many as eight liter-size Sigg bottles. The REI store would have a sale and unload dented Sigg bottles for $1. Geez! They work just as good as a perfect one. So, I would accumulate stuff that way, and it still comes in handy now and again. I don't use white gas stoves so much anymore, so I don't use Sigg bottles so much.
–B.G.–

I have enough gear to outfit myself and three other people. Plus an additional three tents, three packs and six head lamps that wouldn't be used. I can now show my wife that I am not the only one.

We have talked about selling some of it. My thoughts are 1. I wouldn't get enough money to make it worth the time and energy and 2. If I want to hike with any of my friends and would like to give them a fighting chance of keeping up they'll need to use some of my gear to lighten their load (which they do, all the time).

Tell your friends that you are going to dump it all on eBay unless they want it first, and offer them killer deals to take it.
–B.G.–

Spent a night out in the teens in Southern Indiana Friday and had a friend with 0 gear outfitted Thursday night with my single man tent, old 20 degree bag, MSR whisperlite, pot, Lowe 6lb pack, some foam pads, mess kit, water bags and enough clothes to handle the windchill and freezing temps. Also my boots since I have switched to shoes.

Going lighter has definitely helped me in this regard. My girlfriend has light pack, down bag, and Neoair all ready for her first lighter backpack.

We do, but not by my choice. Every time we get something new, I'm the one saying "let's sell the old stuff". My spouse says "No, let's keep it in case one of the kids gets into backpacking one day (the "kids" are now 18 and 21 and gave never shown the slightest interest). OK, but lets sell the rest I say. NO! The "Kids" friends might need stuff too!!!! Grrrr.

Methinks your spouse may be just a pack rat. There's always a "reason" for keeping stuff. We all have our foibles. Sigh…

Why oh why did you make me think about this :)
Let's see: 2 GG packs; 1 ULA pack; 1 Mountainsmith pack, oops, 2 mountainsmith packs; 1 outdoor products external frame and assorted day packs.
1 20 degree down bag, 1 30 degree down bag, 1 35 degree rated down bag, 2 BPL quilts, 2 other synthetic bags.
2 neoairs 1 montbell UL90, GG pads,
GG one, TT contrail, BPL stealth tarp, SMD lunar solo, 2 campmor silnylon tarps and an MLD Duomid on order.
Assorted bought and homemade alcohol and fuel tab stoves, a pocket rocket.
Yes, I do use everything at least once every year. I do lend some to friends. Would I part with any of it, hmmm, Nope.

Reading this I'm so glad I found this site before buying most of my gear.

storage is full of extra gear. right now i have a gregory palisades 80 extra, about three stoves, three pads etc…….want to be ready whenever so someone can come! :)

Funny, but I started taking newbies on trips last year. One particular trip I loaned out 8 packs,3 sleeping bags, 2 stoves, 1 tarp, 2 tents and a couple of mess kits. Good news is after the trip a couple of the guys started acquiring their own gear…..and so it begins again:).

I have 3 backpacks, 3 tents, 3 or 4 sleeping bags and pads…

I have loaned this out to people though so they won't go out an purchase the wrong stuff before finding out if they really like it. I also have stuff that I purchased thinking my wife would want to go…. wrong!

Hmmm, well, like a few others, I have extra gear, not for the purpose of outfitting someone else, but as a natural evolution in trying new gear as I figure out what works for me and what doesn't. But I sell quite a bit of what doesn't work for me, so while I do have a room dedicated to my gear, I go through it and try to winnow it down regularly. Currently, I have enough to outfit another person fully, and another two after that somewhat, but I'll be putting some stuff back on Gear Swap soon!