What our gear says about us…

I asked my husband what he thought my gear said (I did the original post and thought it was about warmth) he made me lay everything out on the living room floor. I preened a bit, I have nice carefully thought out gear.

Then he went and got
1. my box of other travel, backpacking and camping gear,
2. my rucksack of bushcraft vintage hiking gear (which I use for car camping – he drives me somewhere I camp for the weekend or week on some kind of bushcraft craziness – it's got an axe, a canvas tipi, a Swiss army stove, a canvas bed roll, a folding saw, lots of paracord, knives, you get the idea),
3. my box of old stoves and fuel,
4. my other rucksack which has day sacks in it, then
5. my small tent for parties and festivals where I'm staying over, and
6. the other big pop-up tent which we use when he and I go camping (rare but none of the other things are big enough he's 6'3") and
7. the gear which I used to use which he has now inherited – 3 season bag, old style thermarest, big rucsac, climbing sack, pillow
8. the nylon tipi which I've just sold on eBay and is being picked up this week, then
9. the terra nova which has always been my backup tent and actually never been used, 10. he got the two tarp ponchos I have,
11. then he found the tiny backpacking tent which has been my main tent and which is going to a friend when my new Cuben arrives
12. Finally he went round the house and picked up water bottles – 8 of them, fleeces, hard shells, walking shoes, sets of thermals

We looked at the small mountain of gear in the living room. It even had foothills and we think Sherpas climbing up one side.

And then he said that what he thinks my gear is about is that I have laid in camping stores for every survival situation possible not just for me and him but for about half the people on the street! And that basically I just like gear. And I like to have the right gear for the right thing – the above list didn't even touch the camping gear that goes with cycle camping like the trailer, the Brompton, the bigger stove because that stuff is hidden in my office. I like gear. So, like the person who admitted they were a gear snob, hello, name is Lizz and I am a gear addict.

And welcome to Gearaholics Anonymous.

You crack me up Liz! That was hilarious and had me in stitches.

" I met someone who had four ways to purify water – they'd had a very bad experience in India, and feared the incapacitation again."

Greetings from New Delhi! I have a Steripen, Sawyer mini, and chlorine dioxide within arms reach as I type this. I caught a bad bug in Pakistan back in the '90s and I don't care to revisit. I've been burned by re-bottled water so every bottle I've had has felt the wrath of my steripen since I've been here.

This has been a much more fun thread than I thought it would be. A few of the responses have been priceless.

Like Kat, I have never been a "packing your fears" person either. In fact, my over-packing is the opposite, it's packing for my hopes and expectations. Let me give some examples:

Pack that full frame camera, beefy tripod, and two lenses, because you're about to get that landscape shot of a lifetime (I honestly suck at landscape photography, and am worthy of a cell phone camera), in fact, bring spare memory cards and batteries because you won't be able to stop taking photos of "The One!"

Pack the heavy Hilleberg 2 person tent that could make it to the South Pole with ease, because maybe I'll get lucky and in the Sierra in September, I'll get a blizzard, and can relax in comfort for days on end and then tell my friends and family of my great adventure.

Pack 7 days of food because even though I'll likely only be out three, I may be having a blast and decide to double the length of my trip (and yes, the wilderness permit gets filled out with 3 or 4 phantom days just in case).

…and on and on. And of course what ends up happening is that I am so exhausted by the end of the first day hiking, with my 50 lb pack, that I end up cutting the trip shorter, not making it longer. I end up being too tired to get more than a handful of photos, and decide to skip many great photo ops because it's such a pain to take the pack on and off, and because they are not "the one" shot that will blow me away.

So yeah, my next trip out I'm vowing to bring less, and enjoy more. ;-)

So you pack your fear of a normal trip.

edit: n/m

My tents say: I fear–o.k., hate–bugs. No way I'll use a tarp. When you turn on a headlamp in your tarp, every weird bug from miles around makes a bee-line for the light. And then ants are everywhere.

but I also fear those high elevation lightning/rain storms in the Sierra that send a river of water under your tent. So I carry a 2 lb. solo double wall tent if there's any chance of extended rain in the forecast, instead of my solo Hexamid. Unreasonable perhaps but there ya go.

Hmm, not sure I am ready to talk a bout this, but my name is Pat and I am a (apparently fear-filled) gear junkie. Here is a sampling of my psychoses….

Tents: I must fear bugs/animals/weather, because until recently I was carrying an 8lb NF Mtn24 on all of my trips — even though I knew very well it was stupid. But I NEVER got wet, bitten, or mauled in that tent. I am attempting reform — just purchased a BA FC UL2 and have my mind set on a cuben mid (eek, floorless!!). Course, i'll probably still get a nest for the mid. You know, just in case….

Packs: (1) "Wait, I might need this ____" Ridiculous, massive 8000ci Lowe top stuffer expedition pack from the 80s until recently because, you know, I might need that second camp chair if mine breaks. Finally got a Dana Bridger (smaller but still heavy)in an effort to force reductions. Now I have a GG Mariposa in dyneeema and am loving it. Of course, its still a fairly high volume pack — maybe will go to Gorilla. (2) Then there are the Mammut summit pack, the Goruck GR1 ( for bricks — don't ask), the ski packs, the day packs, etc, etc. I have a serious bag problem — Did I move too many times as a child?

Stoves/fire: I have at least one of every type of camping/pack stove. Not much more to say — I WILL NOT starve. I also carry three types of starters on my trips and there is a bic in the pocket of basically every piece of outerwear I own. No cold for me. Blame Jack London, Robert Service and (more recently) the Outside mag article on freezing to death.

Well, you get the idea. I guess I am a messed up individual. Can anyone recommend a good psychiatrist? Or discount coupon codes… those always make me feel better….

some of you are two tents.

"So you pack your fear of a normal trip."

If that's a normal trip for you, we've got to start backpacking together! ;-)

My gear doesn't talk, it's been sworn to secrecy….

.

I need to join Gearaholics Anonymous as well.

I have almost every piece of gear I've purchased for backpacking and car camping since the 1970's other than items that completely disintegrated or things I gave away when the kids outgrew them. And I fixed the items that stopped working, including re-waterproofing tent flies on tents I haven't used in years.

I outfitted myself and my wife through three paradigm shifts in gear, from traditional/heavy to lighter to pretty light to mostly UL. I've outfitted three children through most of those shifts AND through size changes as well.

I could outfit a large scout troop.

I further like stoves, and now own every stove type I've ever used over 40 years, plus a few others just for fun (my current favorite is a Fire Maple Ti canister stove). And of course my old standby, a Svea 123R, which I fire up on occasion just to hear the sound (same with a many pound Optimus 111B, which I use for car camping…it can boil water in an enormous pot).

My wife keeps asking why I don't sell or give away all my old frame packs and heavy internal frame packs and such, but I just can't part with them…most of them were my old friends.

And I actually HAVE (partially) outfitted large groups…a couple of times a bunch of visiting Russian scientists where I used to work wanted to go backpacking, so I supplied them with 7 or 8 packs and other items (but not my best UL packs!).

The worst part…I'm not sick of myself. The others who make themselves sick of themselves are at least on the path to redemption…

So I had a serious heart to heart gear talk with my husband after the gear mountain scaling evening yesterday. We talked about why I love gear, why I have six bistro cookers (I used to teach an outdoor camp cooking class and these are left over from that), why my favourite rucsac has been stolen three times but is always the thing that is recovered by the police (strange but true – the volume is such I think they use it to carry other stuff away), why I hang on to goretex gaiters which are filthy and I almost never wear but have a strange affection for (they've gone a lot of miles with me), and why I love some of my friends so much that I bought them camping stuff for Christmas even though one of them really doesn't like to camp at all.

It partly came to a head because of the mountain still to be cleared away, more on that later, and partly because of what happened on Friday and Sunday. You see he went to play complicated board games with his mates on Friday night and came back at five in the morning to find I'd bought a second hand Echo2 and a gatewood Cape and serenity nest thing. That's ok I'd been saving for a new shelter for the last six months and he could understand why I might want a bit of variety (he's awfully tolerant).

On Sunday night he went off to band practice (he's a bassist and is in much demand in our bit of Wales) and encouraged by this site I got the scales out and weighed some of the stuff in the mountain. I was horrified by how heavy my goretex coat is. I took it to the shower and thoroughly soaked it, then I weighed it again and somehow shorted the electronic scales. So I had to borrow scales from my downstairs neighbour who I also work with, and she was a bit bemused about what I was doing and came to see the gear mountain. It turns out, and I cannot believe I did not know this but she is a gear nut too! This is fantastic. So after a cup of tea and a two hour natter about our favourite gear she pootled (technical UK word) off to go and weigh things too. She's going to do us a spreadsheet!

anyway I then had to sort of buy a new soft shell to make up for the scales disaster and because I read the review on here. Now fortunately it was payday last week – my husband he says payday is now m'aidat (mayday) so my account is healthy. So after work today I went and bought a new beanie, a new petzl, a dry sac, a cliff bar (never had one before -wow yummy) a jet boil stand (I bought mine before they did stands and they worked out the bloody things fall over) and some thingys (also technical UK word) for locking a cord (are they called cord locks?).

It was raining, a lot. And I was feeling very virtuous as I had walked from work when I just sort of happened to pass the outdoor shop – hence the lovely little things. In there I had conversations with each of the gear guys on each floor about Cuben, Berghaus, titanium stakes, cliff bars, dirty girl gaiters, hats (I had to do a bit of negotiation because I was so wet I didn't want to try them on and wanted to find out if it fitted and didnt make me look like too much of an idiot) and the joy of different packs. We talked a lot about packs. And our favourite tents – my first tent was a Lichfield a UKncompany now gone the way of the dodo.

After the gear shop I dropped Into another shop so I could bring home nice food for my husband. This helped with the gear conversation which basically came down to the gear mountain, the weekends purchases and the little tiddly things from today- he is used to me buying and devouring books but I'm usually very frugal about stuff. And he, bless him came up with three things he thought I needed to do – one go on a long distance walk at Easter, two go to a camping events with some mates in March, and that he would book for both of us to go to a big bushcraft festival too. Gosh amazing, what a nice person. And then he pointed at the mountain, and remember he'd got this lots out of cupboards, boxes, wardrobes and kitchen cabinets, and he said 'your punishment is that you get to put it all away.' Outrageous!

Not sure what mine says about me…

I have literally dozens of jackets: puffies, synthetics, fleeces, LOVE 'EM!…and I live in one of the hottest places on earth. Seriously. How in the world to people live in the south??!!

I also can't seem to commit to anything…shelters, packs, stoves, cookware, utensils, headlamps, trekking poles…why, oh why can't I just settle on something? I'm sure they're all just fine and I'm just being too picky. Hmm…I think my mom may have said that to me once or a hundred times.

…

Hmmmm.

Ms. Mitol:

This: "I can't seem to find a guy who WANTS to go on these multi-day, multi-week adventures like me. Third world countries, wilderness, international treks….Not that I DON'T like a good resort every now and then, but I prefer a type 2 and type 3-fun type of trip instead. I seem to have a hard time finding guys who want to spend 3 weeks without a shower."

And this: "I also can't seem to commit to anything … why, oh why can't I just settle on something? I'm sure they're all just fine and I'm just being too picky."

I think I'm beginning to see the issue here…..

Dont tell us you've been messing around with another stove on the side?….;)

"How in the world to people live in the south??!!"
The South(east) has year-round hiking, a 100 degree temperature variation, and challenging conditions like regular rain and high humidity. Tons of navigable water, one of the world's largest concentrations of caves, mountain bike trails all over the place, and inexpensive direct flights to places with weather that's the opposite…endless justification for gear purchases ;)

I have had my burgundy coloured Berghaus goretex for about fifteen years. It's almost still waterproof though very heavy and the Elastic went years ago. I think this means I am frugal. But I find it hard to leave behind now I have a poncho. It must have travelled thousands of miles – when I was younger, fitter and had a heavier pack. I know it's seen good service, I lived in Northern Ireland for two years and wore it every single day except for one day for the whole time. It's a faithful friend. I also think I would look daft going to meetings wearing the poncho. But even a goretex dies eventually. Big sigh.

I did a first post about carrying a synthetic layer, sort of a learning from experience thing. But as I look closer and think about it more, when I look at my gear I see signs of aging.

First, my gear is better than when I did my thru in 2010. I have been updated ALL of it, from socks to sleeping pad, and am at a point where I can afford (or choose) to spend more for very good, very light gear. Maybe not the best, but damn close, spending lots of money to shave a few ounces. And some choices that don't seem that well thought out, like do I really need three different solo caldera set ups? But it is fun, addictive and as I get older I can indulge more.

At the same time my pack reflects some choices where I carry more weight now than I used to. Half way through my thru I conceded that my z rest wasn't padding enough and was keeping me from getting the sleep I needed. I bought a 1/2 length inflatable to use with it to finish the trip and now regularly pack a full length synmat ul. I also pack more clothes than I used to, and my brand new, high end quilt is rated 10 deg colder than I would have gotten a few years ago. These choices are not because I value my comfort more, or am afraid of being cold, but because my body demands it. I can't sleep without padding anymore and can't stay warm for beans without the extra layer. On the same note, everyone of my packs; week, day or fanny has a stash of ibuprofen in it, just to keep me moving.

Hi im darren aka Bigfoot and i have a serious gear problem. At the moment i seem good on gear however the issue starts whenever i look on and gear manufacturers site then i see something that id like to have. I eventually purchase said item and then i have something else.

Well at least i can admit i have a problem, also this is my first post on here.

my collection of items is reasonable. It's all the gear items in my head that's the issue. I'm addicted to the research.

Late to the party on this one but enjoying this thread..

Just looking at my gear wouldn't say much. It is a blend of simple, inexpensive, expensive, high tech, free, homemade and sometimes even found gear.

Now if it could talk it would certainly reveal my multiple struggling personalities of frugality bordering on CAS (cheap a$$ syndrome) vs my wanna be big spender personality that lusts after all that high end huge $'s per oz gear. Thankfully I have a moderating personality that has kept the other 2 in check, keeping life from becoming completely miserable at either extreme.

On second though if my gear could tell of how many hours of researching and deal hunting and bargaining down prices went into my kit it would show that CAS has an edge up :) So be it.

jimmyb