Going on now at REI, and it kind of bums me out that I cannot think of anything I want/need to buy.


Was chatting about this with Ragged (e.g. William) earlier today. For me, it is nice to not really need anything anymore other than basically to replace clothing items. That said, I miss the excitement of new purchases! I miss the smell of new gear! I miss trying out new stuff in the woods!

Am I the only one...?

Going there tomorrow to buy a bike for one of the boys, a map, and a couple waterproof bags. My last two trips there I left empty handed. Of course, the hockey store next to REI drains my wallet every time.

Hey, Frenchy19, I'll send you a list (LOL)!

Frenchy I feel the same way. Plus we backpack and snowshoe besides canoe camp so we have even more gear that we are always looking for or at. In fact my wife is always shocked that I walk out of the store without buying anything anymore.

I feel your pain... lol

Unfortunately I know the feeling.

I still have almost $500 in unused dividends. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can think of to use it on. I bought their REI Dome Hammock just for fun with some of my other dividends

quote Scout64: "I still have almost $500 in unused dividends. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can think of to use it on. I bought their REI Dome Hammock just for fun with some of my other dividends"

That would supply plenty of food for your next trip.

Happy trails

You can always cash the REI dividends in you know. As for getting other items you can always get more clothing like a new rain coat, winter coat, socks etc.

quote OldFingers57: " You can always cash the REI dividends in you know. As for getting other items you can always get more clothing like a new rain coat, winter coat, socks etc. "

Yep. Somehow, though, these purchases are not as sexy as new gear!

I do want a new tandem, but nothing REI carries. Same with a paddle.

I broke down and bought some of those little collapsible stools. Not sure I'll bring them but they'll be useful in other places. Also picked up a couple more of those led "light sticks" lighter than a lantern and plenty of light in a tent.

yes it is weird. just have gotten to that point myself. you can always buy some emergency supplies.

I get the same feeling. There is always stuff I would like but it seems I don't wan't or need it enough to actually buy it.

With my kids almost out of the house, I've been downsizing. I figure I still have 3x as much stuff as I really need. My plan right now is to sell and give away 90% of my gear over the next 3-5 years, then get a new minimalist setup to use in old age. So in the meanwhile, sigh, I can only look and not buy. And, think of what to get rid of next.

I went to the sale yesterday and still found a few things:
Big Mo stove (attaches to butune cannister) and has the built-in igniter
GSI coffee filter that hooks to top of your mug
Some food
I also have to say, their new road bikes are really nice. If you have $500 in dividends you could buy down the price significantly.

I had been saving gift cards and dividend specifically for the sale..... got a Kingdom 8 w/footprint, garage, 2 6' tarp poles, and an additional GSI mess kit. I had been lusting over the Kingdoms ever since I had seen them and while I wish they had kept the old design of opposite side mesh I'm still happy with what I have.

Oldest & I are going camping this weekend so we'll give it its first outing. The real tests will been in July and August when I take the whole family canoe camping & campground camping.

Went to the Maple Grove store on Saturday afternoon to play with stoves. They didn't have a Dragonfly, but I fiddled around a while with an MSR Whisperlite (International?) and a PocketRocket 2. Just to work with the different connections, handle the differences between the canister and liquid fuel setups, fold them up for storage and set them up again, etc. Along comes a sales rep who worked his darnedest to convince us that the MSR WindBurner 1.8 liter system and theWindBurner Skillet was the way to go for the two of us. He sold my wife and she's reminding me every day that the sale will end soon. (I'm actually seeing these -- and a number of other items -- discounted for even less at MooseJaw.) Now, what to do?... what to do?...

Anyway, and the checkout lines were out the door. Otherwise, I'm sure we would have walked out with this WindBurner system for my wife. And I've never really even considered any of the integrated canister stoves until now, figuring they were pretty much only good for boiling water. The optional skillet moves that needle a bit.

It does get some impressive accolades, like this one from OutdoorGearLab...

quote Scout64: "I still have almost $500 in unused dividends. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can think of to use it on. I bought their REI Dome Hammock just for fun with some of my other dividends"

You can buy me a tent if you want... I'll even let you open it up and experience the new tent smell.

Went to REI today. Nothing in the store that I wanted to buy qualified for the 30% sale discount nor my 20% off coupon.
I was a little disappointed.

I left the Maple Grove store 6 bills poorer. Bought a bike for one of the kids, some waterproof bags, a raincoat for my wife, and some other odds and ends.

quote A1t2o: "

quote Scout64: "I still have almost $500 in unused dividends. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can think of to use it on. I bought their REI Dome Hammock just for fun with some of my other dividends"

You can buy me a tent if you want... I'll even let you open it up and experience the new tent smell."

That is tempting, I don't need a 5th tent, but I do love the smell of a new tent. Mmmmm...

Bought a Big Agnes 15° down sleeping bag and a Granite Gear cooler pack to use in my CCS Explorer. Can't justify a dedicated food pack for one trip per year, especially when I bring mostly freeze died.

Haha--too funny! While I am happy to be fully-outfitted for awhile now, I also miss the excitement of all the new gear purchases I made to get there...

I just got the LL Bean 20% off your entire order coupon in the mail... still don't think I'll buy anything. (LL Bean has hunting, fishing, etc that REI does not).

Interesting thread!
We have almost everything we need too. I have yet to buy a tarp though. We've been really lucky!!

quote pilot: "Interesting thread!
We have almost everything we need too. I have yet to buy a tarp though. We've been really lucky!!"

I bought a tarp but haven't "needed" it since I got it. One time it rained but it was done raining before we got back to camp. It has come in handy though for keeping the dew off our gear, and for giving us a place to sit in the shade. Its one of those pieces of equipment that is always handy even if you don't use it for its intended purpose.

For me, I've purchased all the main items I need except for the big ones like a light weight tent or a Kevlar canoe. If it costs less than $200 then I either have it or decided I don't need it. Those big ticket items though are ones I just can't justify.

quote Frenchy19: "Going on now at REI, and it kind of bums me out that I cannot think of anything I want/need to buy."

Dude, don't be a quitter - you just aren't trying hard enough.

quote Jaywalker: "

quote Frenchy19: "Going on now at REI, and it kind of bums me out that I cannot think of anything I want/need to buy."

Dude, don't be a quitter - you just aren't trying hard enough.
"
Love it! That made me laugh out loud! I did find something to use the 20% on...permethrin. Not sexy, but needed every year.

Here's the Kingdom 8 along with garage drying out in the front yard after it's first weekend outing at Scout camp -