Friendly expertise on camping. Please READ!!

“What I’d really like to know is how come REI stores MOVE STUFF AROUND so much?”

I bet they’ve learned the IKEA technique. Similar to windowless, clockless casinos, they want you to spend as much time in there as possible. If you walk by something that interests you several times, you’re far more likely to impulse buy it…
Ikea: Flatpack furniture stores are ‘designed just like a maze’

The actual research paper:
Space Layout Affects Search Efficiency Penn, A. and Turner, A., 2003, Space layout affects search efficiency for agents with vision. In Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Space Syntax, University College London, London pp. 9.1–9.16

Yeah, I was on the visual merch. team as well and a lot of it filters down from corporate. We have a little bit of play in it. I know that some of the moves are seasonal, i.e. you would see the tent section get larger in the summer. Other reasons are due to efficiency. We would move things around to test how well it worked, then move it again if it didn't. Or, if we had a ton of new product come in and we didn't have enough room where it was at,we had to move it to a new area. We got "complaints" quite regularly.

@Tohru I can think of at least one REI which definitely follows the Ikea model in Roseville, MN. Doesn't have the herd direction power of an Ikea, but you have to see a lot of the store if you want to walk in the front door and exit near the cashiers.

I have to go eat dinner…but I've been laughing at a very unhealthy level for the last 20 min reading all the posts.a bit of everything popped up here..it was a veritable cornucopia of gram weenie jesting..I actually had tears while laughing….. Also a big welcome to a fellow lover of outdoor pursuits !
I'm leaving on Monday for a A.T thru attempt – something I would have never even thought possible without the copious advice and knowledge gleaned from 5 months of massive research on this site and others. These people are amazing. Cheers and Happy Trails (and best of luck with grad school !) Seth

Good luck Seth!

Do you have a trail journal or anything set up??

For anyone interested my journal is at: http://www.trailjournals.com/ctwhistler

Thanks for the thought Matt – hopefully I'll learn even more good good BPL lessons while I'm out there ! Hope to run into fellow BPL'ers Found (Jack Haskel (outside365.com)) and Ice-Axe (Matt Edwards) (on PostHoler.com) . Though, with the speeds they are going I doubt I'll even see a trace of them outside of the possible shelter log ! Carpe Diem !

Cheers !

Godspeed, Seth. Have a great time!

"…(no matter what, I like being in a tent).
Ahren"

Oh, boy…wait till he discovers the Hammock Forums!!!!

BF
P.S.
Can you get me De-Black listed at my local REI? They have my picture up behind the counter on a wanted poster for "returning too much heavy CRAP". I'm only half joking….

So is it just my computer, or has Ahren's name taken over another avatar? When looking at this thread, I see Ahren's avatar, and "biointegra's" avatar, and Ahren's name is there too.

Anyone else seeing this?

And, yes, I'm being totally serious.

Travis, I don't think that you are dreaming.

–B.G.–

Probably something gone wrong with Aaron trying to set Ahren up with his BPL membership?

> Why does the non-BPL-style crowd and the sales people who attend them, possibly the vast majority of backpackers/hikers, insist on big ol' boots?

Why do the gear stores sell boots rather than joggers?
Profit margin.

cheers

The profit margin is probably why salespeople are alway pushing Goretex shoes on people as well.

I had one salesperson that strongly insisted until he was red in the face, that I should buy the Goretex version of the shoes I wanted for summer hiking:-(

Thanks for some much needed entertainment during an incredibly boring class. I'm only about half way through the thread too! This site is great though. I hope you do stick around. I know I have learned a lot over the last few months of reading posts and the posts are well meaning.

Oh, and I had this question in a computer science class as part of an interview. So that they can't fall in on themselves if they flip on their side (cause the diameter is the same across it). I may not be able to help with making your pack lighter, but if you need help making a manhole, I'm your guy. May not have been a real question, but if I was taught the answer at some point, I felt like I should use it. Hopefully I wasn't told the wrong answer. Back to reading now.

"…(no matter what, I like being in a tent)."

I often do in rain and snow, but my tent is made out of an ultralight tarp:-)

"Oh, and I had this question in a computer science class as part of an interview. So that they can't fall in on themselves if they flip on their side (cause the diameter is the same across it). I may not be able to help with making your pack lighter, but if you need help making a manhole, I'm your guy. May not have been a real question, but if I was taught the answer at some point, I felt like I should use it. Hopefully I wasn't told the wrong answer. Back to reading now."

HA! Thanks for taking the time to answer that question: Why are manhole covers round?

As I'm guessing that many of you know, it's a question that is designed to show HOW a person thinks rather than to have a simple answer. Some people will think about the benefits of the design, while others will focus on the methods of production or some other aspect of a manhole cover. When I was presented with the question, I began by questioning the basic assumption that manhole covers are round, since I've seen quite a few that are rectangular. I guess that's why my GF thinks I'm such a PITA.

So is it just my computer, or has Ahren's name taken over another avatar? When looking at this thread, I see Ahren's avatar, and "biointegra's" avatar, and Ahren's name is there too.

REI SS may be going under cover, subverting accounts here – watch out!

@Travis, Bob, & Ben (and attn: BPL web staff) – thanks for catching that. Evidently, when I ordered the card to have it sent to his address, it automatically made his address and contact info as my default account info when I used it as a "ship to" even though my billing or account info didn't change. Wierd. His shipping address got checked as default shipping address, most likely, without me catching it, but it is strange that it changed my profile.

…

For rough weather I prefer a double walled tent made out of an ultralight tarp and ultralight bivy:-)

I totally love my Tarp Tent (Moment), but often lazy day dream about moving to a tarp.

I wonder, after you add a bivy (i.e. casket), wouldn't the weight be close the Tarp Tent? What if the millipedes crawl on me?

Peace,
j

Two nights ago, I got a little chilly while sleeping in the Columbia Gorge in Oregon, and had enough room in my "casket" to put my down jacket on that I was using as my pillow. Additionally, I didn't let any drafts in! Bivies can truly be more comfortable than without in some instances.

Also, this thread is phenomenal.

"wouldn't the weight be close the Tarp Tent?"

I'm talking about an ultralight bivy with bug net. My standard tarp and bivy with pegs and line weighs approximately 16 oz.

And as far as bugs crawling, that is one of the reasons for a bivy with a bug hood, to keep bugs out?

But usually not an issue, even with the top of the bivy open.

Mike, I'm going to have to say double wall. Double wall because of the option of going lighter if I need to by leaving the screen portion at home. Double wall because it breathes better (less condensation) than a single wall. Double wall because You have venting options when you do bring both parts with (and "windows"). And Double wall because now there are two layers to protect me from bears. ;)

I'm trying to take over this site. Yesterday it was a thread, today it's avatars. Tomorrow, the world.

Re:
"Bivies can truly be more comfortable than without in some instances."

Yes, flexibility, comfort and less claustrophobic than being enclosed in a tent.

I brought a friend along on one trip, he didn't have his tent so I made him use my Meteor Bivy under tarp. He was very unhappy about the thought at first.

He raved about it the next day and was one over the first night.

He was even more happy with the combination when we got stuck in really nasty weather and he made it through the night without issue.

Now that is all he wants, he loved the combination and always borrows my setup when possible.

He's too cheap/poor to replace his tent though:-)