c/camping-gear-reviews

Pro tip: watch for that new 'ultra-light' tent fabric at the big box stores

I was at the REI in Boise last weekend looking at a new 2-person tent. The sales guy was really pushing this new model with a 'revolutionary' 7D nylon. He let me set it up in the store, and I could literally see my hand through the fabric when I held it up to the light. I'm all for saving weight, but that felt like a single hard gust or a sharp pine needle would shred it. Has anyone actually taken one of these out for a full season yet? I'm worried they're selling gear that won't hold up.

My tent pole snapped in a storm and I fixed it with a $1.50 part from the hardware store

Honestly, I was camping near Lake Tahoe last fall when a huge gust snapped a pole segment on my old dome tent. Tbh, I thought the trip was over. Instead of buying a whole new pole kit, I went to a local store and got a 6-inch piece of aluminum tubing for a buck fifty. I cut it to size and used it as a splint with some heavy-duty tape. It held strong for the rest of the weekend and three more trips since. Has anyone else pulled off a cheap field repair that actually lasted?

Vent: I spent $90 on a fancy camp pillow and it was a huge mistake

I got it for a week long trip in the White Mountains last fall, thinking it would be a big upgrade from my rolled up jacket. After the first night, my neck was killing me. The thing was way too firm and didn't pack down small at all. I ended up ditching it on day three and went back to my old method. Has anyone found a good soft pillow that actually compresses well?

My old way of packing a tent was a total mess...

I used to just stuff my old 4-person dome into its bag any which way, which always took forever at the campsite. After a rainy trip to the White Mountains last fall, I watched a friend roll theirs tight and it clicked. Now I fold and roll my new Marmot Tungsten 3P the same way every time, and it takes me under two minutes to set up. Anyone have a different method that works for them?

Question about the Coleman 2-burner stove fuel line

Spent a solid 45 minutes at a campsite near Bend trying to figure out why my stove wouldn't light. Turns out the tiny O-ring in the fuel line connector had shrunk from the cold. I had to warm it up with my hands for like ten minutes before it would seal properly. Anyone else have a weird fix for a propane stove that just wouldn't cooperate?

Heard a guy at the trailhead say his new sleeping pad was 'too warm' for summer

I was packing up at the Mount Hood trailhead last weekend and overheard a guy telling his friend his fancy new insulated pad was making him sweat in 60-degree weather. It made me realize I've been over-insulating for years on my own summer trips. I dug out my old, basic foam pad for a trip two days ago and slept way better. Anyone else find they need way less pad insulation for warm-weather camping?

I finally gave those little backpacking pillows a real shot

I always thought they were a waste of space and just used a stuff sack with clothes. Last month, I got a Sea to Summit Aeros as a gift and figured I'd try it for a three night trip. I was shocked that I slept through the night the first time, which never happens. It's not like a bed, but it kept my head still and my neck didn't hurt in the morning. I'm a convert now, but I'm curious if the foam ones are any better for side sleepers like me.

Serious question, how much does your sleeping bag actually weigh?

I was cleaning out my gear closet last weekend and decided to weigh my old 20-degree down bag on my kitchen scale. The tag said 3 pounds, but it actually came in at 3 pounds, 9 ounces. That's a full 9 ounces heavier than advertised, which really adds up on a long hike. I found this out just before a trip to the White Mountains, and it made me think about all the other 'specs' we take for granted. Has anyone else checked the real weight of their gear against the manufacturer's claim? I'm curious how common this is.

Tried a cheap foam pad vs my old Therm-a-Rest Z Lite for a week in the White Mountains

Honestly, the difference in warmth was huge. The cheap pad from the big box store said it had an R-value of 2, but I was cold every night below 50 degrees. My Z Lite, which is rated at 2.6, actually kept me warm and packed down way smaller. Anyone have a good budget pad that actually works for cooler temps?

My old tent's waterproofing gave out in a downpour at Lake Tahoe last month

I've had this same two person tent for about five years, and it always kept me dry. Last trip, a storm rolled in fast and I woke up to drips on my face. The rainfly was soaked through, and water was beading up but then just soaking into the fabric instead of running off. I got damp, not soaked, but it was a bad night. I realized I'd never re-treated the waterproof coating. Did it at home with a spray can kit, let it cure for a full 48 hours, and tested it with the hose. The water just sheets right off now like it's brand new. How often do you guys actually re-waterproof your tents? Is there a better way than the spray stuff?

I swore by my old canvas tent until a storm on Lake Superior last August.

My 15-year-old tent, which I thought was solid, leaked so bad at Pictured Rocks that I had to sleep in my car, and now I'm finally looking at modern waterproof fabrics, so what's a good 3-season tent that can handle real rain?

My old way of starting a fire was a total joke...

For years, I'd just pile up some damp twigs from around the campsite and try to light them with a single match, which never worked. The change happened after a freezing night in the Adirondacks where I spent an hour failing to get a flame going. Now I always bring a small bundle of fatwood sticks I bought for like $5 and a Bic lighter... it takes 30 seconds. Anyone else have a fire-starting upgrade that saved them from a cold dinner?

My tent zipper blew out in a windstorm at Joshua Tree

I was camping near the Jumbo Rocks last spring when a sudden gust hit around midnight... the main door zipper on my 3-person tent just split open, letting in a ton of sand and cold air. I had to use a bunch of mini carabiners from my pack to clip the door shut for the rest of the night, which worked but was noisy. That tent was only about 2 years old, so I was pretty bummed. Has anyone else had a zipper fail like that, and did you find a good way to fix it for good?

My tent zipper failed in a downpour near Lake Tahoe

I was camping at Fallen Leaf Lake last month when a sudden storm hit around midnight. The main door zipper on my three-year-old tent just gave up, letting in a steady stream of water. I had to use a roll of heavy-duty duct tape from my repair kit to seal the door flap shut from the inside. It worked, but I was stuck in there until morning. What's a better tent brand that won't fail like that in wet weather?

My brand new sleeping pad got a slow leak on its first trip, right in the middle of a cold snap in the Adirondacks.

Met a guy at Crater Lake who changed how I pack my tent.

This older guy, Frank, saw me wrestling with my 4-person dome. He just said 'You're fighting the poles, not the fabric.' Showed me a simple fold technique, takes 90 seconds now. Anyone else have a random tip that saved them major setup time?

My buddy swore by those $20 inflatable solar lanterns, I thought they'd be junk.

Brought one on a 4-day trip in the Adirondacks as a joke, and it charged fully on a cloudy day and outlasted my old battery pack. Anyone have a piece of gear you totally misjudged at first?

A comment on my gear video made me rethink my sleeping bag review style

I posted a video review of a new 20-degree bag I used on a trip to the White Mountains. Someone pointed out I only talked about comfort in dry, calm weather, and asked about its loft after a damp night. They were right, I hadn't tested that. So now, for the past month, I've been leaving my gear out in my humid garage overnight before I film, to check for real moisture issues. It's a small change but it shows the bag's performance better. Anyone else adjust their review process after getting a specific piece of feedback?

Pro tip: That 'must-have' ultralight tarp is not worth the hype for most people

I just got back from a 4-day trip in the White Mountains and saw at least a dozen people struggling with the same fancy, 8-ounce Dyneema tarp. The wind kept whipping under it, and one guy's setup completely collapsed in a light rain after 2 hours. Everyone online says it's the best shelter upgrade, but for the $300 price tag, you get zero bug protection and a steep learning curve. My old, heavier 3-season tent kept me dry and sane for a third of the cost. Has anyone else switched back to a basic tent after trying to go super ultralight?

TIL those $20 solar-powered lanterns from the discount store actually work after leaving one on a stump for 3 nights straight.

I was sure the battery would die after one dusk, but it was still glowing on the third morning, so what other cheap gear have you all tried that actually held up?

My tent choice for a rainy weekend in the Smokies

I was packing for a 3-day trip and got stuck between my old 4-person dome tent and a newer, smaller 2-person model. The forecast said 80% chance of rain, so I went with the smaller one because it has a full-coverage rainfly... the dome tent's fly leaves a gap. It poured all Saturday night, and I stayed completely dry while my buddy in a similar dome tent got a damp sleeping bag. That extra fabric coverage made a real difference. Anyone have a go-to tent for wet weather that isn't a tiny coffin?

Finally decided on a new camp stove after a week of back and forth

I was stuck between a compact propane burner and a heavier two-burner white gas model for my solo trips. I went with the propane one and it boiled a liter of water in under four minutes on my first test in the backyard. For those who cook more than just water, is the propane canister waste a real issue or just something people talk about?

My old sleeping bag hit 150 nights and I'm shocked it's still warm

I kept a log in the back of my field guide and just tallied it up. The fill is totally flat in spots, but it still got me through a 28-degree night in the Adirondacks last fall. Has anyone else pushed a piece of gear way past its supposed lifespan?

Update: My old camp stove versus a new one with a wind shield

I took my basic Coleman stove and a new Primus OmniLite Ti on a trip to the White Mountains last month. The Coleman took over 8 minutes to boil a liter of water when it was breezy. The Primus, with its built-in wind shield, did it in under 3 minutes with the same wind. I wasted so much fuel with the old one. Has anyone found a good add-on wind shield for older stoves, or is it just time to upgrade?

TIL my old sleeping bag was way too heavy for summer trips

Honestly, I was stuck between buying a cheap 40-degree synthetic bag for $60 or saving up for a nicer down one around $180. I went with the cheaper one for a weekend trip to the White Mountains last month. Ngl, it was fine for warmth but took up my whole pack and weighed over 3 pounds. After that trip, I realized I should have just waited and got the lighter one. Has anyone else regretted going too cheap on a piece of gear right away?