Getting it Right

[sweeper]

I just bought a 3 cup Bialetti Espresso maker. Pulling it out of the box I got to thinking how many different coffee brewing things I've used, Perk, Cowboy, Press...
Sleeping pads are another item I keep buying trying to find the prefect fit.

So what piece of gear have you made multiple purchases of trying to get it right?

 

[latremorej]

Coffee and sleeping pads are top on my list! Best pad upgrade for me was my hammock!

Cooksets are my ongoing struggle. I must own about 10 or 15! For solo use, I keep going back to my GSI soloist. Family camping I have not had to replace my giant MSR flex 4. 4 mugs, 4 bowls, 2 pots with lids.... all nested into the one large pot.

for coffee, I still use my lexan coffee press. Used to use the camp perk. Have tried everything under the sun...

then you have the great stove debate....


Jason

 

[Jatfomike]

Two of my biggest quandaries as well! I converted to hammocks about 10 years ago and have not looked back. I use individual components instead of a hammock where the fly, netting, and hammock are all one piece. It is more weight, but, I like to be able to hang without the fly and bug netting when possible so I can fall asleep counting the stars. I still have not found the perfect coffee set up. For now I go back and forth between my French press and Starbucks Via which is the best instant I have found. I have heard rumours that Trader Joes has a really good instant under their own label and keep meaning to pick some up to try. It is allegedly much cheaper than Via as well which I try to buy on sale. We tend to stay away from easy meals when we are canoe tripping. At least the first couple of days. We always carried at least one cast iron Dutch oven and skillet with the lid of the Dutch being our second skillet. We than converted to aluminium Dutch ovens. About three years ago one of my buddies got a set of Frybake pans and we have not looked back! Unless we are doing a basecamp trip, The dutch ovens stay at home. The Frybake ware is super light, we can fry fish and bake to our hearts content! May not look as nice as the cast iron ware, but works extremely well!

Mike

 

[sweeper]

@Jason, Stoves: I've had far too many from a Esbit to a Big Cast Iron 3 burner w/20# tank we took on one Allagash River trip.

mike There's a thread somewhere here on Frybake pans, lots of people like them. I've settled in with Cold Handle Pans. They are not convenient to pack as the Frybakes.

 

[Guest]

So what piece of gear have you made multiple purchases of trying to get it right?

Um, most of them.

We have had, and I will count only the last 25 family paddling years, and try to estimate accurately, if on the low side
5 stoves
12 tents
8 tarps, not counting the blue poly stuff
At least a dozen sleeping pads, from foam to self inflating.
A t least a dozen sleeping bags. Maybe more, we still have every one, filling a 6 foot wide closet.
And etc.

Funny thing is, we still have most of that gear, and it is still in good working order. But I am not taking the old Optimus when I have a Jetboil and fuel canisters, or an old polyfil bag when I can take a down bag one third the size.

Same with tents, although my wife still likes the old Timberline for set up familiarity. Boats and paddles, eh, lets not even go there, but we have only kept half of them.

There are a couple of multiple purchases that still need improved replacement. And likely will not see it.

Better quality, more durable, breathable waterproof rain jacket and pants. I know the materials and design features that make high quality raingear. I have been tempted, but I am just not willing to spend that much on a freaking rain suit.

The perfect multi use canoe. I have a pretty good idea of my ideal dimensions and shape, materials and weight. I have not been tempted, my wallet would need to weigh as much as the boat.

 

[gumpus]

For me it's canoe paddles. I've got about 4 "go to" paddles, a few that may go out once a year on special occasions, and a whole lot of very nice back-ups.

Maybe we can organize a gear swap event some time. I'm in the market for a good sleeping pad and I could trade a fine canoe paddle.

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

My name is sweetfancymoses and I'm a knifeoholic. After going through the 12 steps, I've been dull for 5 years now.

 

[Cookannapurna]

Like others have stated, a sleeping pad. Im a big guy (6'7", 300#), and a combination of weight vs comfort always eluded me. That is until I tried my first hammock. I use the biggest that Hennessey makes with an under quilt from Jacks R Better. I use a very light Western Mountaineering bag as a top quilt. Seeing as most tents are/were not made for a guy my size, I netted a significant weight savings considering it is my tent, sleeping bag, ground pad, and many times camp tarp. Plus I sleep very comfortably.

The other thing that has probably changed the most is my stove. I enjoy cooking, but I also enjoy single trip portages. The system I seem to have settled into is the smaller full size kit from Trangia. I like that I have flame control to cook. The size works well for two (my usual tripping number), but is manageable for one, and has been very durable. I love the little tea kettle! Plus, after years of mountaineering and listening to stoves that sound like jet engines, the only thing that come close to the silence of an alcohol stove, is the crackle of a small campfire.

 

[Odyssey]

So what piece of gear have you made multiple purchases of trying to get it right?

Everything. Ha.
Starting off with borrowed and bargain basement buys worked well in the beginning, up until I tried to focus on the final target of acquiring "the perfect collection of tripping gear". I've since learned that I've been aiming at a moving target. In some cases, what worked for me 30 years ago no longer does now. I've moved through the progression of bubble wrap pads to dense foam to self inflating finally to air mattress type. I'd love to be able to just throw a blanket on the ground like I once did, but I'm forced to listen to my body these days. Only took 3 steps to get to down bags, and I'll never go back. Some things though go in circles, like stoves. I started strictly with open fires, and after 3 different fuel stoves, have returned to cooking (mostly) on fire, though with a twigstove. Altho' it's been many years since I last camped during a fire ban, I still have a small fuel stove just in case. Same with tents; started with a small one and have returned to small and light. I've learned that there's not much of a penalty to upsizing our tarps, besides the price. A luxuriously large well made 1.9oz silnylon tarp is worth every penny. We no longer hunker down under a small one. That only took me several years of thinking about it and one purchase to get here. Coffee. The cheapest instant was fine in my 20's, but I'm in a different coffee bracket now, and there's no going back. Trouble is, there's so many options. Not counting my tea billy, I'm up to 3 coffee pots. I'm almost afraid to try the Via packets, else I might close the circle and go back to instant. Would that be a bad thing? I would miss my perky little pot burping away on the morning fire. Packs. I swore off the canvas canoe pack many years ago, "upgrading" to dry packs, and have since fallen in love with old canvas and leather again. That was an unexpected and strange circle trip back to Go.
Exploring different choices has been a trip experience in itself; one of learning and individual decisions. Soaking up advice and opinions from others has been invaluable along the way, but at the end of the day one has to make a decision what might work best for oneself. It might've worked for me being a slow procrastinator-prognosticator. As it is, I have a small gear pile I've progressed thru, and have few if any regrets. Except maybe water filters. I won't talk about those.

 

[sweeper]

I started in the canvas and more traditional gear direction in the beginning, but once I started to move off the river and out into the backcountry a lot of the traditional gear started to collect dust. If you have a Prospector, a tradition canoe design, but it's made of Carbon Innegra in a Textreme weave one might as well keep going new and light.
I haven't made the jump to Down yet, I own too many bags that work, but I'm thinking about it.
This post could go south quick with all the stoves and coffee brewing methods I've tried.
My trip back to GO may be with a tent. I like my hammock but thinking that I my go back to a tent in the early and later part of the paddling season.

 

[riverstrider]

I'm not generally a gear hound. Once I have something that works I generally stick with it. I did go through a phase of trying to find that perfect small, lightweight, packable camp chair until I decided why the hell own a canoe if I can't bring along a big comfy chair with 4 legs, a back and a beverage holder? Problem solved.

I did try to find that perfect pack (or combination of packs) to fit all my gear for a trip, until I realized that what really matters to me is to have enough options that I can combine what I have to work well with any particular trip I do. I just make it work.

And I'm pretty happy about that. I accept what I have and try not to be disappointed with my gear if something newer and better comes along that might (MIGHT) work better for me. As it happens, I just today read an article in this years "Paddling" magazine's 2018 Annual Buyers Guide ("Buyer Beware", pg. 138 by Kaydi Pyette) that explains this. In summary, humans are generally happier with fewer choices, and when we make a choice that is "good enough" as opposed to pursuing perfection. Also, humans will generally deny this is true, lol! This has been called "The Paradox of Choice" by Barry Schwartz in his 2004 bestseller.

Of course, that has not yet stopped me in my endless quest to find the perfect canoe-trip-worthy craft beer. So many to try...

-rs

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Stoves - check. Sleeping mats - check. Knives......why heck - they're all "right". I've retired several stoves and mats, but the knives all get their turn from time to time.

 

[Erica]

I'm not generally a gear hound. Once I have something that works I generally stick with it. I did go through a phase of trying to find that perfect small, lightweight, packable camp chair until I decided why the hell own a canoe if I can't bring along a big comfy chair with 4 legs, a back and a beverage holder? Problem solved.

I did try to find that perfect pack (or combination of packs) to fit all my gear for a trip, until I realized that what really matters to me is to have enough options that I can combine what I have to work well with any particular trip I do. I just make it work.

-rs

Me too (although I don't use a chair). I don't like change much, so when I find something that works, I stick to it and don't like to buy every new gimcrack. My two canoe paddles are 30 years old and I can't imagine paddling without them. Old age is forcing me to make some new (lighter) selections and I am setting out next week with a hammock instead of a tent. It is one where I can set it up with hammock only, hammock and bug screen, or the whole nine yards hammock, bug screen and tarp. Will see how it goes. I don't do much cooking. Generally too tired - mostly going solo - and simple is good. I use a Trangia for light weight, compact, QUIET, and simplicity. I don't much like fires - puts too much between me and the rest of the natural world. Instant coffee is better when mixed with unsweetened cocoa; sugar and creamer to taste. The fewer things in the canoe, the happier I am.

Erica