In a couple weeks I will be celebrating my 55th journey around the sun. Over the years, I have loved buying gear, but I am at a point where I really do not need anything at all.

That said, I treated myself to a new sleeping bag last night when browsing the REI site. It is a Nemo Riff 30, and I am excited to get it! I think I now have 8 sleeping bags, and it is pretty rare when I use them all at the same time...

Curious what stuff you folks buy even if you do not really need it (Butthead need not reply; he buys new tents every other week).

Congratulations on scoring a very nice bag! When are you going to get a chance to take it for a test run?

I keep trying to justify a new, lighter summer weight quilt, but have so far resisted. Like you I do not need any more gear, but it's still fun to fine tune the kit from time to time.

quote HappyHuskies: "Congratulations on scoring a very nice bag! When are you going to get a chance to take it for a test run?


I keep trying to justify a new, lighter summer weight quilt, but have so far resisted. Like you I do not need any more gear, but it's still fun to fine tune the kit from time to time."

I have a quilt I purchased from Enlightened when they first opened, and I love it! That is my go to from May through October. I am taking my 6th graders on an overnight on 9/30, and that is when I will give the Nemo a run. Can already imagine myself selling it here for a loss...will not be the first nor last time!

The trip with your 6th graders sounds like a hoot! Great time of the year too ... usually.

Which Enlightened Equipment quilt do you have? I've looked longingly at the 40 degree Enigma several times and come close to pulling the trigger. Thing is, I do not do a lot of trips June through August, so it would not get a lot of use. Most of my trips are taken in spring and fall. On the other hand, being able to shave close to a 1/2 pound off my pack weight is real appealing. Currently I use a 20 degree Hammock Gear quilt for everything except winter and it serves me pretty well, but I'd still like a summer weight quilt.

Packs are my real weakness. At last count I had 10, not counting day packs. Really only use 3 on a regular basis, but can't seem to commit to thinning the herd.

Anyway, congrats again on your new sleeping bag. Looks like a really nice bag. It really is nice to have the luxury of choosing the right piece of gear for the specific needs of a specific trip.

Really a sucker for sleeping pads! This one is a little overboard...

The Fry Bake pan just arrived today.

Mike

quote Campcraft: "The Fry Bake pan just arrived today.


Mike"

Very nice acquisition!

New Nemo Bug Our 12 x 12- arrived while I am in Ely - no chance to "hide" it before it was discovered. oops -

I'm on the brink of ordering a Marmot Limelight 4. I have the limelight 3 and love it. Also thinking about a go pro. Yesterday I ordered a crystal photo sphere hoping to get some awesome BW photos with it.

Just ordered another Helinox Camp Chair. So, so comfortable!

And a Hubba Hubba NX 2 person tent. This is one I really do not need but have always wanted. Will probably give it to my daughter Allie.

Damn it! Also another Exped Synmat 9. Must stop shopping...

Shell jackets are my weakness. New arc'tryx one arrived late last week.

I don't really have a particular weakness, but tend to buy major things that are better, lighter, more efficient . . . things that will make my trip simpler, easier, better.

I have several shelters, bags, pads, packs, stoves, water filters, clothes, etc. I've got enough decent stuff to outfit 2 or 3 other people.

Just got the new Klymit Insulated Double V for those times my wife and I are together in the wilderness. We've used a pair of Klymit's single pads -- the identically designed Insulated Static V -- for two years and they're the best in every way except how they shift around so easily on the plastic innie sheet. Got them ~38% off at massdrop.com

quote ParkerMag: "Shell jackets are my weakness. New arc'tryx one arrived late last week."

Good choice! I love, love, love jackets!!! I am the Imelda Marocs of jackets!!!

I have a friend who rationalizes gear purchases by claiming that it does not count as "extra" or a "new" item if it is an upgrade of an existing item. I have started to put that one to use.

Mike

My most recent purchase was Helinox Chair Zero. I already have 2 Chair One's but might hike the Sioux-Hustler next fall and "What if they quit selling the Chair Zero by then?" Otherwise, I may never use it.
I've always been fine for tents, but I keep thinking that this next one is 'lighter and better/bigger'. I have sewn up several 'hot tents'. One of which I have yet to use - just thought the design was fun. Next is a cabin style nylon (9x9 w/7' peak height, 3-4 lbs). For these I have made a couple different ti stoves. Just because I made these doesn't mean they were cheap. It costs money to make things as well as buy them. And of course I have been eyeing up the
Zpacks Duplex tent lately...

Ropes: "You can not have too many ropes." Wrong! I finally swore off and used what I had for years. Loaners, cut to fit, lost to trees, etc. have just about allowed me to get in the market for a size or two. Maybe by 2019.

I love jackets. I buy a new one every year at least. Either fleece or shell. I don't need any more, but I'm always looking for something in an awesome orange color, so I troll The North Face, Patagonia, Marmot, etc. for new style/colors every fall.

Too bad I live in Dallas, and jacket season is only about 6 weeks long.

My favorite jacket ever was my black north face fleece denali vest. It's a little threadbare and if I'm honest, I'm not a 2X any more. I'd love to see the Denali vest come back, in orange, and in 3X.

I'm kind of digging on the recent down puffball type jackets and will probably be looking for one of those this year.

I am definitely a charter member of the gear junkie club... Recent purchases include my 5th Marmot sleeping bag and a Nemo cosmo pad.

I definitely am a gear junkie, I rationalize it by trying to sell off the gear that I am upgrading. I got so bad for a while I actually had a few members on this site jokingly say they don't buy new gear they just wait for me to upgrade to buy my used gear...which is an upgrade for them :) I have been better lately but I am always looking for a good deal to upgrade!

My most recent purchases were Helinox chairs which I plan on doing a review of soon. I have gotten by for 20 years with no chairs but still bought a couple this year to try... probably will be on sale here in a few years :)

T

Damn it! I resisted reading this thread for a while. Now that klymit double wide pad is calling to me.....buy me...buy me.....

After years of backpacking and now BW trips for the last 3 years, I miraculously find myself darn near capable of outfitting an 8 person crew.....4 canoes, 7 paddles, 2 2-person (rated at 4) and 1 4-person (rated at 6) tent, 7 sleeping pads, 4 sleeping bags, cookware, stoves, and enough packs and dry bags to certainly accommodate. Anywhere else I would post this I'd fear being ridiculed by the masses....but not on BWCA.com!

quote timatkn: "I definitely am a gear junkie, I rationalize it by trying to sell off the gear that I am upgrading. I got so bad for a while I actually had a few members on this site jokingly say they don't buy new gear they just wait for me to upgrade to buy my used gear...which is an upgrade for them :) I have been better lately but I am always looking for a good deal to upgrade!


My most recent purchases were Helinox chairs which I plan on doing a review of soon. I have gotten by for 20 years with no chairs but still bought a couple this year to try... probably will be on sale here in a few years :)


T "

You have crossed over to the Comfortable Side!! Congrats, and looking forward to your review.

When we went to Woodland Caribou in 2012 I outfitted my family group of 7 for the trip, goosedown sleeping bags, therma rests,, stoves, packs,tents,canoes, paddles,premits, bought all the gas, even all the fishing gear, food,the only thing the kids brought was their own clothing. Cost a bunch but it was worth every penny to spend a week with my crew. FRED

Hey Mark, pppphhhtttttttttttttt!

Always need new gear cause I forgot where the old stuff is.

butthead

The problem I am experiencing, especially with some of the shells, jackets and vests, is that the stuff is so nice I cringe at the thought of wadding it up and stuffing in a dry bag or getting it dirty. Now I have several pieces which sit on a hanger and rather see urban usage instead of their original intended use.

quote butthead: "Hey Mark, pppphhhtttttttttttttt!


Always need new gear cause I forgot where the old stuff is.


butthead"

Not possible; your garage is more organized than the Library of Congress!

Snowtrekker tent

Snowtrekker tent