BRANDS

Down Jackets"

MHW Ghost whisper
Patagonia makes some great down

Thats a start. can't go wrong with either depending on needs

Down Bags:

Western Mountaineering

Tents:

TarpTents (highly recommend)
MLD
zpacks
REI (depends on model, watch the weight on those)
MSR

I've been on a patagonia bender lately…. Recently purchased a nano puff hoodie, houdini, shirt, pants, hat….

Best for me, or at least what I've bought and use in the High Sierra

Down Jackets – Montbell
Down Quilt – ZPacks
Tent – ZPacks

best for you, don't have a clue.

"Yeah links are being useful. Not so much mean comments."

Sorry that you feel that the comments are mean but there's a breakdown in understanding. I think that my Zpacks tent is wonderful but it's not the best tent for all conditions and I can't recommend it if you'd spend time in the snow. Certainly can't recommend it if your budget cannot exceed $250. Likewise, no one can recommend an Arcteryx shell or a Feathered Friends sleeping bag to you if your budget is $100 and $175 respectively.

With the exception of a few grumps who'll remark "this has been discussed before try using the search feature," you'll find that the large majority of people here at BPL would genuinely like to help you narrow down your search if you'd simply explain the anticipated conditions and more importantly, a better understanding of your budget as the sky is the limit.

Somewhere out there, Tom is laughing at all of us.

Personally I would forgo a tent and a tarp in south South America and use a jungle hammock for the lowlands, keep off the ground where all the creepy crawlys are and stay much drier as it rains much. In the high mountains a double wall tent would be best such offerings from The North Face, Mountian Hardwear and Big Agnus are all good brands.

But how many times do I need to explain the conditions I'll be in? I feel like I have written the below other 5 times already, as a minimum. And I have merely asked for a few brands to look at for a sleeping bag, a down jacket and a tent, so that I can, from their websites, narrow down some choices.

"I'll be backpacking throughout the whole of central and south America for the next year and a half or so (extremes of climates and temperatures – all 4 seasons, min. temperature to be considered for now 25F.) and that I have a 50L backpack, so stuff will have to be as lightweight and compact as possible, as well as, as sturdy and durable as possible (first 4/6 months in CA, next 9/12 months in SA).
I have no experience on the road whatsoever, I'll be mostly camping and/or doing couchsurfing or adventuring myself in the wilderness on my own; I suffer the cold a lot more than the average person, I'm a 6.1ft tall, skinny, 28 years old woman of 70kg with big bones and big feet (but I guess this doesn't matter!). :-) I'm NOT planning on doing any mountaneering, nor serious hikes, as I will be mostly living out of my pack, rather than hiking with a pack on my shoulders. "

Western Mountaineering

Western Mountaineering

Hilleberg

OK I took too long to post my response and you've answered some of the questions I had. Mountaineering requires more specialized gear, which you can rent when you need it, so I'll limit my answers to the lower elevations.

"Central and South American's ground levels and hills."

Sounds like you'll be touring with your gear more than hiking with it. I'd go with a lightweight free standing tent from REI, MSR, or Big Agnes. Understand that site selection is critical in Central/South America and you can go from dry ground to standing in a river in mere minutes. Get a tent with a good waterproof bathtub floor. MSR Hubba Hubba, Big Agnes Fly Creek/Copper Spur, and REI Quarter Dome is a good start. TarpTent has some good options also.

"What time of the year? All year."

Get the lightest three season down jacket you can find as it'll spend most of it's time packed away. Quite honestly, I'd skip it altogether and just buy a cheapie fleece from a flea market just before climbing to the higher elevations. If you still want a down jacket, Montbell has a great reputation and some lightweight offerings.

Edit "But how many times do I need to explain the conditions I'll be in?"

A brief one or two sentence synopsis every time you start a new thread would be helpful.

But aren't choices like the Big Agnes Fly Creek not too durable for an 18 months trip? I also tent to prefer the mountains to the beach, even in tropical weather…

>>Hey, whats with the bashing of the novice on the forums.

See the previous post history/previous threads. ;)

>>I already explained all this in a previous post.

Not on this thread. :D

In any case thanks for additional info. Sounds more like hosteling with some hiking and the occasional camping/backpacking thrown in?

Go to REI, buy the mid-range and mid-weight gear there and you'll be fine esp if you are doing "non-serious" hiking as you put it. GoLite and Sierra Designs are also good, all-purpose brands that will fit your needs.

I wouldn't bother with a down jacket as you may need more versatility. A light, 100 wt fleece and a synthetic puffy probably work better for the traveling and more humid conditions.

"But aren't choices like the Big Agnes Fly Creek not too durable for an 18 months trip?"

Dunno since I've walked away from traditional tents years ago with the exception of the occasional car camping trip when we don't bring our RV for some reason. I've owned my Hexamid Twin for less than a year so can't speak to its long term performance.

Use a ground sheet, pitch it in the shade so it's not getting too much direct sunlight, dry it out when it gets damp, and you should get some serious mileage from it. My shelter for most of my 10 years in the Army was a USGI sinylon poncho pitched as an A frame tarp. Used them for hundreds of nights without problem or material degradation and did absolutely nothing to reapply seam seal to it ever. I have an REI tent that's from the '90s which is still fine.

"Not on this thread. :D"

I did in this thread too. So you can referr to my previous posts saying there is a history behind all this, but I can't referr to them re. my conditions and style of travels?

I would not consider a Big Agnes tent for an 18 month journey in central and south America. From my experience the zippers will stop working and the floor material is not all that durable (although a ground cloth helps). They fill their niche and I have enjoyed mine but if you're worried about long term durability I would look elsewhere to the likes of Hilleberg.

I assume you haven't read her past posts/threads? If not then you wouldn't understand.

"
Somewhere out there, Tom is laughing at all of us."

:0))

Hi Alexandra (I'm married to an Alexandra from Europe, so I'm sympathetic to your need of information),

If you read the responses on the previous thread, really good suggestions were made for tents and bags. You should pay attention to those. As to a jacket, in that rainy environment, you may find synthetic will work better than down.

Yes, Sierra Designs makes some good gear, as do Mountain Hardware, North Face, Patagonia, Marmot and even REI for the types of needs you've explained.

Sorry you had bad customer service at an REI. I've never had anything but pleasant, helpful experiences there. I don't think you should judge the coop (REI is a coop, not a corporation) because of one bad employee or store or day. Stereotypes do a disservice.

Good luck.

Alexandra,

I see you are looking for high-quality and lightweight items, but you do not have a lot of money.

Backcountry.com lets you sort multiple brands by price. Moosejaw is similar, but I do not like their customer service.

Some brands that offer items on the lower end of the price spectrum:

Fleece:
Mountain Hardwear
Columbia

Synthetic Jacket:
Mountain Hardwear
Stoic
Marmot

Sleeping Bag:
EMS (Synthetic, Solstice 20 is perfect for you)
Mountain Hardwear (Synthetic)

If you would like a down bag, you will get more durability and warmth for the weight. It will cost you. Western Mountaineering is the way to go. Read about care on their website, it is important. I still suggest a synthetic like the Solstice 20.

Tent:
The Fly Creek will be plenty durable for your trip if you care for it carefully. I suggest getting a different tent since you are 6'1". Perhaps a Big Agnes Copper Spur?

Tent Brands:
Big Agnes
Tarptent
Marmot (cheaper)

I HIGHLY SUGGEST using Outdoor Gear Lab at outdoorgearlab.com to check on how different brands measure against eachother.

Thanks for joining our forum :)

P.S. as a taller woman, you will almost certainly find that LONG sleeping bags and men's jackets will fit you better and keep you warmer. Ignore "women's" labeling for outdoor gear and wear what fits your body type best. At 6'1", this will be men's clothing, most likely.

[..]

I did. That's why I asked for BRANDS suggestions and not PRODUCTS suggestions on this thread.

Thanks to all anyway!

Alex

Alexandra…

You are witnessing plenty of snarkiness here at BPL – I've found the best way to deal with it (especially if there is a bit of a language barrier) is to smile, laugh at the rest of us – and yourself – and sift through to get the advice you want/need.

As for brands – I know you had a bad experience with REI on the phone, but honestly, ignore that. They really are a good company and I think their tents are probably exactly what you are looking at price and durability wise.

Go for the REI quarter dome single person. Honestly. You'll love it, it's cheap, it's easy to use, it's bomber (2 years with my huge dog and not one hole ever…I've torn something on every single tent I've had since then). Just go pick it up.

Look at the Kelty Cosmic Down bag, or maybe Sierra Designs, REI, Marmot etc for your sleeping bag. Unless you have a lot of cash, in which case the list gets a lot longer.

When are you leaving?? You may be able to pick up the down puffy – ANY down puffy – on your travels once the weather starts to turn cold.

And I agree – it's tough to give brand recommendations because what one person simply LOVES will get a whole lot of hating from others.

Good luck! Your trip really does sound awesome! While I was in Patagonia I met a woman from England, newly divorced, doing the same thing. She basically made it all the way around the world – including a trip to Antarctica. Highly recommend your adding it if your SA travels take you to punta arenas or ushuaia.

I really like REI's Kimtah eVent parka and pants
for the quality and price, esp. on a 20% off sale.

Down the list a step in breathability but still good quality and price is Cabela's Rainy River GTX PacLite Parka and pants, sometimes on sale.

In both cases get a Long size or at least one size larger than normal and be SURE the parka fits over your down jacket or sweater without binding.