The thread about Ideas for Lightening the Load made me think that staying off this forum might be a good strategy! :-)

A few of the things I have purchased because of information found here include:
Propane stove
Alcohol stove
Sheath knife
Guide Gear tarp
Exped Synmat
Thermacell Bug repellant device
and probably a lot more.

I love reading this forum!

So true!

Did you just join last week…that list is way too small LOL or you have way more self control than I do :). I am not going to post my list for fear of depression. I’ll just mention my first couple and my last.


First item was the CVCA portage pads. They were brand new by a former poster on this site, Kevin. Great guy, I bought a pre-production prototype, he has since modified. Unfortunately just didn’t work for me, I carry too heavy of loads, but they are great pads. Second item was Purcell Grill. A former poster Maverick and I went in together to split cost of the shipping. Thought it was way too expensive at $40 LOL.

Last purchase was my Stealth Northstar 17. I was already saving for a Savage River, had sold my previous Q18.5 to a fellow poster to prepare, when someone posted Northstar came out with their stealth line. I called Piragis and they had one, went and picked it up. Probably never would have heard of the Stealth line if not for this site. Was exactly what I was looking for and the timing was perfect.

Might be a case of don't shoot the messenger :)

The first thing that came to mind as I saw your list...

You bought a Guide Gear tarp instead of a Cooke Custom Sewing tarp? I don't think I've ever seen a Guide Gear tarp mentioned on this site. The CCS tarps are not only the golden standard for top quality tarps, they've been mentioned here somewhere in the range of 10,000 times. :)

One thing is for sure... The Gear Forum has caused more expenditures on camping and canoeing gear that most spouses realize. LOL

Jackfish: "You bought a Guide Gear tarp instead of a Cooke Custom Sewing tarp? I don't think I've ever seen a Guide Gear tarp mentioned on this site."

Well, that was a long time ago, maybe 2011? and I definitely was going for price. I have read so much about CCS here and I have spent quite a bit of time on their site being tempted. Especially the Lean tents.

Traveler: "

Jackfish: "You bought a Guide Gear tarp instead of a Cooke Custom Sewing tarp? I don't think I've ever seen a Guide Gear tarp mentioned on this site."

Well, that was a long time ago, maybe 2011? and I definitely was going for price. I have read so much about CCS here and I have spent quite a bit of time on their site being tempted. Especially the Lean tents."

I too have a Guide Gear tarp, same age probably and is still going strong. Off of the Sportsman's Guide Site, no affiliation. Was very inexpensive as I remember.

The Guide Gear tarp was more of a hammock thing IIRC. It was kind of a fluke, a perfect size for the hammocks of the time, it seemed to be of good quality, a reasonable (even inexpensive) price, but a one time thing. After that first offering, the same thing for the same price and the same quality never showed up again.

I found this 2020 Advantage on this site at a good price. I'm primarily a kneeler and have had trouble finding a sitting boat that I enjoy as much as a kneeling boat and I was influenced by people on this site that were passionate about their Advantage (like butthead). I really enjoy the boat.

I have also gotten lots of great ideas from this site. I generally pinch my pennies but I did splurge on a Warbonnet Ridgerunner last year and a DD hammocks tarp to cover it. I also bought a Crazy Creek canoe seat because of this site as well as countless fishing lures.

Jackfish: "The first thing that came to mind as I saw your list...

You bought a Guide Gear tarp instead of a Cooke Custom Sewing tarp? I don't think I've ever seen a Guide Gear tarp mentioned on this site. The CCS tarps are not only the golden standard for top quality tarps, they've been mentioned here somewhere in the range of 10,000 times. :)

One thing is for sure... The Gear Forum has caused more expenditures on camping and canoeing gear that most spouses realize. LOL"

Oh, there was a time here when the run on Guide Gear tarps was about equal to that run on Taj3 tents. I bought one before I got my CCS 10x14 as well. And it's a very good value tarp, worked well. Not needing it any longer and needing a little cash, I sold mine here two Canoecopias ago.

This forum introduced me to Cooke Custom Sewing - a company I have come to truly love. So far I have two seat covers, a thwart bag with map case, two backpacks (a canoe pack and a bushcraft rucksack), a custom case for my saw, a griddle cover, and a few smaller organization bags that I got as part of a package with the rucksack. Great company with great gear!

Howard - LOVE how you keep time - by the number of Canoecopias!

BTW - many things I bought because of this forum were purchased at Canoecopia. I learn about the items here and then get to see the items in person at Canoecopia and then lighten the bank account. Have done that several times - CCS tarp, canoe accessories, CCS pack, sleep mats, clothing, cooking gear.

Jackfish: "The first thing that came to mind as I saw your list...


You bought a Guide Gear tarp instead of a Cooke Custom Sewing tarp?

For people who like good quality at a low price, I recommend Unigear tarps over Guide Gear. 3000mm coating, $24 for 10' x 10". Very happy with mine. If you need poles, the "San Like" brand on Amazon are great quality, low price. No need to spend a lot of money on MSR poles.

One thing is for sure... The Gear Forum has caused more expenditures on camping and canoeing gear that most spouses realize. LOL"

TRUTH!

ccs tarp and a Polar dawg for my optimus stove ,Bobs Bungees