This forum is going to put me in the poor house…

Welcome to the club.

Welcome to the club?? You mean, welcome to the disease

“Since I started frequenting this place, I’ve picked up a sleeping bag, platy hoser, down vest, a mess of stuff from U.S. Plastic, and a handful of other things!”

Now is a good time to consider replacing your pack with a lighter, smaller volume UL version. ZPacks is well worth a look. Also, have you thought about replacing your boots with a pair of trail runners?

Ben.
The Gear Enabler.

lol-> The Gear Enabler

I hear you!! I am just glad I have a second address so my wife does not know half the gear I have bought since I have started using BPL ! ;)

I thought backpacking was a cheap lifestyle once someone bought all the ideal gear. Well, I bought all the gear and am finding myself replacing the gear I already had to replace the gear. Now I am trying to get rid of the stuff I really don't need. It appears to be a death spiral that BPL sucks you into. MAKE IT STOP! Oh how I wish I could go into the past and tell myself "buy this, this, and this and everything will be good." At least there is Gear Swap and eBay.

Rotate the gear Posted 04/14/2011 21:15:55 MDT by Ryan Christman (radio_guy)
I thought backpacking was a cheap lifestyle once someone bought all the ideal gear. Well, I bought all the gear and am finding myself replacing the gear I already had to replace the gear. Now I am trying to get rid of the stuff I really don't need. It appears to be a death spiral that BPL sucks you into. MAKE IT STOP! Oh how I wish I could go into the past and tell myself "buy this, this, and this and everything will be good." At least there is Gear Swap and eBay.

It's funny, I don't remember things being this bad, before the Internet started. It's not just hiking gear either, it's everything and it's because it's all at the tip of our fingers. I don't even want to think about how many thousands I've dropped into the ever evolving digital camera market, over the past ten years. I just want to get off this expensive ride, ha ha, but I think the only way off, is to stay off this dang computer. :)

Buying more gear is the punishment we get for being online instead of being outside. How many of you have bought stuff you ended up upgrading before you had a chance to use it? :)

Mike
Who wishes he had more outside time

>> Now is a good time to consider replacing your pack with a lighter, smaller volume UL version. ZPacks is well worth a look. Also, have you thought about replacing your boots with a pair of trail runners?

They're both in the works… I've picked out the pack (SMD Traveler). Just waiting for it to go on sale at a time when I actually have money. I'm waiting to drop another 40 pounds before trying trail runners.

>> I hear you!! I am just glad I have a second address so my wife does not know half the gear I have bought since I have started using BPL ! ;)

If I don't knock it off, I'll have a second address, too. The one I'm living at, and the one I'm sending the alimony to.

>> How many of you have bought stuff you ended up upgrading before you had a chance to use it? :)

Guilty.

I console myself in the knowledge that I'm not alone in this… And more importantly, as I upgrade my gear, I can always find a home for it with one of my Boy Scouts. Just re-purposed two more packs and two sleeping bags this week!