#96497 - 06/04/07 12:03 AM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: digimark]
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Old Hand
Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 763
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Why don't you buy from Mountain Equipment Coop(MEC) in Canada? it will ship to US too. MEC makes its own tent. I buy alot of MEC gear. Their stuff are made from state of the art material and cheap too. I am also a coop member. You only pay a small $5.00 membership fee to join the Coop. http://www.mec.ca
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#96500 - 06/04/07 01:53 AM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: LED]
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Cranky Geek
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 4642
Loc: Vermont
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Horseflies are the bigger version of a deerfly. I hate those things with a passion, one tried to pierce my ear once.
_________________________
-IronRaven
When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.
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#96569 - 06/04/07 08:17 PM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: digimark]
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Enthusiast
Registered: 03/28/06
Posts: 358
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Hi Mark,
There's been a lot of good advice so far. My advice is do not buy anything. Rent or borrow everything. It doesn't sound like you or your wife all that enthusiastic about camping (although I admire you for trying), so there's no point in buying anything if you're not going to use it. Reviews and opinions on different products probably aren't going to be very helpful for you, since your needs are different than everyone else's.
If you decide you do want buy your own gear, don't be seduced by all the fancy name brand equipment out there. Most likely you won't need it, in some cases, it might actually be worse for you. For example, there is some very lightweight high end backpacking gear, but for a car camper most of the stuff is harder to use, more delicate, and much more expensive than you need.
For a beginner camping family, I think you could probably outfit a family of 4 for about $200 with tents, sleeping bags, and stove. Costco sells family sized tents for approximately $100, sleeping bags can be as cheap as $20 (for mild weather), and there are decent single burner stoves for about $20 (double burner for about $40). None of this stuff is what you would consider top quality, but it's not junk either. It'll definitely last you long enough to decide whether or not you want to pursue camping as a family activity, and might last you a lot longer than you want (so you won't have an excuse to go buy new gear)
Also, I've taken a lot of beginners camping, the most important thing to remember is not to try too much too soon. You don't want to scare them off if this is their first time camping. Start them off in a nearby park, with full amenities. That means pay showers, toilets, maybe running water and other luxuries. Showers and toilets are a must for anyone not used to camping, the quickest way to turn off your wife to the outdoors is to hand them a roll of TP and tell them to dig a hole. Don't forget that they're not interested in practicing their survival skills, they're just there to have fun. If you know any friends or family that have been camping before, ask them if you can tag along. It will make life a lot easier for you if there's someone with a little bit of experience to show you the important things.
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#96635 - 06/05/07 03:53 AM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: KenK]
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Old Hand
Registered: 04/05/05
Posts: 715
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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KenK, Great camping gear advice! Preparing meals, eating, and sitting around a campfire at night and on cold mornings are some of my fondest experiences with the Boy Scouts. Committee Member Webmaster Troop 824
_________________________
Thermo-regulate, hydrate and communicate.
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#96824 - 06/07/07 12:48 PM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: digimark]
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Member
Registered: 09/28/05
Posts: 133
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Like a lot of things on this forum the answer is 'look at dougs gear advice'. You'll spot one mistake straight away: You want a bug out bag but are thinking of a down one. Trail mag in the UK found just 6 months of being stored rolled can reduce a down bags effectiveness by over 50%. Whereas Wiggys for instance are so compaction resistance the Alaska National Guard actually use them in their survival kits vacuum sealed.
It's nice having these forums to kick ideas around in. But stick to the experts advice when it comes to survival. Simon
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#96980 - 06/08/07 04:26 PM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: KenK]
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Journeyman
Registered: 09/23/05
Posts: 73
Loc: VA, USA
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I just have to chime in with KenK on the Eureka tents. I used a Eureka Timberline as a scout in the mid 80's and it was great. Lasted for a long time (with proper care & storage), kept me dry in most seasons camping (Virginia area, plus some High Adventure in Maine). The fact that the Timberline model is made by them today and it is nearly the same as what I had is testimony for this tent.
I'd like to contradict Ken on the ground cloth. I like to make sure to get a ground cloth that is the same shape as the footprint of the tent, but a little _bigger_. Then, after the tent is set up, roll the cloth under so that it does not stick out from under the tent (or it will act like a big bathtub). The roll helps to keep runoff from coming up onto the ground cloth.
I have always preferred tents like the Timberline that have the rain fly that extends all the way down the side, as opposed to covering just the top vent.
When practicing setting up the tent prior to the trip (you are planning to practice, right :-) I tie some bits of construction marking tape or other ribbon to the lines that will be staked out. This helps keep them visible (during the day at least) to cut down on tripping.
Have fun!
_________________________
It may not be our fault, but it is our problem. -- Mike
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#96983 - 06/08/07 04:33 PM
Re: Which sleeping bag and tent manufacturers?
[Re: digimark]
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Journeyman
Registered: 09/23/05
Posts: 73
Loc: VA, USA
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One thing we did last spring (me, wife, 4 daughters) is a "Half Campout". We got a spot at Bull Run Campgrounds and packed the camping gear up and went down before lunch time. Set up the tent, the hammock, the chairs. Had lunch, hiked around, etc. Had a fire in the fire pit, cooked dinner & dessert. The kids got to get familiar with the tent & the whole atmosphere, but we packed it up after sitting around the fire for a while and and came back home around 10:00 (only about a 30 minute drive).
It was good as an introduction (oldest was 8, youngest were 3), without an actual overnight. Gave us a chance to try our gear, learn some safety lessons, & get a feel for camping.
_________________________
It may not be our fault, but it is our problem. -- Mike
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