View Full Version : What useless gear did you buy?
Kasandra
07-16-2018, 09:55
What useless gear did you buy?
Gambit McCrae
07-16-2018, 10:29
Wood stove, casted espresso maker, mechanical water filter(best they had at the time), clunky boots, cheap sleeping pad
And on a second thought Nalgene bottles, a northface bivy(what a disaster), and sinking money into trying to revitalize a worn out tent when I should have just bought new
trailmercury
07-16-2018, 11:06
a Nalgene bottle
T.S.Kobzol
07-16-2018, 11:37
Camp chair
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Berserker
07-16-2018, 12:00
Useless is a relative term as I can still use a lot of my old stuff, but I don't want to carry it (because most of it is too heavy). With that said I could fully outfit 2 people with my excess gear. I guess I need to actually go through it and either get rid of it or sell it.
GoldenBear
07-16-2018, 12:33
After one use, I've never used the collapsible candle lantern again.
https://blog-imgs-116.fc2.com/k/0/8/k08a12/702017_0913_124042_thumb.jpg
Complete waste of weight, space, and energy.
It does what it says it does, you just don't need it.
I have never bought anything I have considered useless. Lots of stuff that just gets used less.
nsherry61
07-16-2018, 14:03
My 8th spoon. I certainly don't need it. But if you don't try it out, you might be missing a desired upgrade.
My 5th stove. Again, I certainly don't need it. But, if you don't try it out, you might be missing the next great upgrade to your system.
None of this is useless. It's just completely unnecessary.
I've never backpacked with my camp chairs, but I do use them on car trips sometimes.
I don't ever use any of my compression stuff sacks. These may be the only completely useless gear I have.
I never use all my stuff sacks, but most of them get used once in a while. They're not useless.
My -40 degree winter expedition down bag has been used, but not in the last 30 years. I'd say it's pretty useless for any of my year-round use these days. Maybe I'll have to plan a winter trip to AK or Yukon to have an excuse to use it again.
Big knives, of which I have several, have never really been used and are essentially useless in my book.
Sarcasm the elf
07-16-2018, 14:14
An engagement ring. ;)
nsherry61
07-16-2018, 14:20
An engagement ring. ;)
Hadn't even thought about that. I've been married almost 30 years now and I haven't worn my $2500 wedding ring in the last 25 years. I don't even know where it is for certain.
Wow, think of the amount of other useless gear I could buy with that $2500 now!! Plus, I'd probably still be wearing one of those cheap $25 silicon wedding rings if I had one. Hmm.
With a decent rate of return on investment, that $2500 would be $160,000 today. Oh, the foolish romantic things we do when we are young and stupid . . . or old and stupid for that matter.
A 70L bag when I thought I wanted to be able to haul my whole life up a mountain.
peakbagger
07-16-2018, 16:07
I have a couple of large tote bins with gear bought but not used over 45 years of hiking. I used to do group trips where weight was less important and have quite bit of group gear. Real nice stuff but doubt I will use it again. I think I have regular size backbacking oven and a mini version. They both work great but the days of the backcountry blueberry muffin cook offs are long gone. Over the years my backpacking tastes have gotten much simpler, basically easy to do one pot meals that need far less gear.
An engagement ring. ;)
Hadn't even thought about that. I've been married almost 30 years now and I haven't worn my $2500 wedding ring in the last 25 years. I don't even know where it is for certain.
Wow, think of the amount of other useless gear I could buy with that $2500 now!! Plus, I'd probably still be wearing one of those cheap $25 silicon wedding rings if I had one. Hmm.
With a decent rate of return on investment, that $2500 would be $160,000 today. Oh, the foolish romantic things we do when we are young and stupid . . . or old and stupid for that matter.
Hey if you find that useless ring I'll give ya 50 bucks for it. ?
nothing too expensive. I've got a 6l bladder I'll never use. and a plastic thong big enough for 8.5X11 paper that you can hang around your neck. Wanted to be able to look at my map without having to dig it out if my pocket, unfold it, etc... But this plastic thing is just a lot of trouble.
Puddlefish
07-16-2018, 17:40
A kettle shaped pot, with sharp edges that didn't nest with anything else.
A too thin sleeping pad. I did chop it up and use a piece for a sitting/vestibule kneeling pad.
Way too many stuff sacks.
A bunch of material to build an alcohol stove, which while kind of fun, never resulted in an efficient stove.
A sleeping bag that's so narrow it pinches my shoulders. I was so focused on reviews, temperature ratings, weight and such, I never thought about the width.
DuneElliot
07-16-2018, 17:52
I'm not sure I can pin down any gear I've bought that was useless. I either use it for backpacking or car camping. Maybe I'm just lucky or just not that into gadgets and new stuff. I was given most of my first backpacking gear and did a lot of research on the rest.
Sarcasm the elf
07-16-2018, 18:22
Hadn't even thought about that. I've been married almost 30 years now and I haven't worn my $2500 wedding ring in the last 25 years. I don't even know where it is for certain.
Wow, think of the amount of other useless gear I could buy with that $2500 now!! Plus, I'd probably still be wearing one of those cheap $25 silicon wedding rings if I had one. Hmm.
With a decent rate of return on investment, that $2500 would be $160,000 today. Oh, the foolish romantic things we do when we are young and stupid . . . or old and stupid for that matter.
Nsherry, My attempt at humor was that while I love my life right now, getting married and settling down has been brutal to my section hiking. :D
Also, it it makes you feel any better, it would have been almost impossible to turn $2,500 into $160,000 in a 30 year period, as it would require an unrealistic long term rate of return over over 14%. A more reasonable (but still ambitious) rate of return of 8% would have left you around a $27,000 today based on the $2,500 initial investment.
nothing too expensive. I've got a 6l bladder I'll never use. and a plastic thong big enough for 8.5X11 paper that you can hang around your neck. Wanted to be able to look at my map without having to dig it out if my pocket, unfold it, etc... But this plastic thing is just a lot of trouble.
That’s a plastic "THING" - NOT a plastic THONG!!:D
nsherry61
07-16-2018, 20:09
That’s a plastic "THING" - NOT a plastic THONG!!:D
Darn, I was really having a lot of fun trying to picture that plastic thong! There's some pretty interesting products found when you google plastic thong and then imagine you wearing them around your neck. :D
Pictures?
Burrhead
07-16-2018, 20:11
That’s a plastic "THING" - NOT a plastic THONG!!:D
Too late... secrets out. Nothing completely useless but I have to agree with the nalgene bottles. Some cheap stuff sacks. I didn't buy them but I have been gifted about 10 of those magnesium fire starter blocks.
nsherry61
07-16-2018, 20:11
. . . A more reasonable (but still ambitious) rate of return of 8% would have left you around a $27,000 today based on the $2,500 initial investment.
Thank you. I feel much better now. Missing out on $27,000 in backpacking gear (and travel) is a lot less painful than missing out on $160,000. ;-)
Heliotrope
07-16-2018, 21:43
That’s a plastic "THING" - NOT a plastic THONG!!:D
Plastic thongs are totally useless. Now a silk thong..
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nsherry61
07-16-2018, 21:48
Plastic thongs are totally useless. . .
I don't know about that. There seems to be a pretty healthy market for them on aliexpress.com.
Sarcasm the elf
07-16-2018, 21:50
Thank you. I feel much better now. Missing out on $27,000 in backpacking gear (and travel) is a lot less painful than missing out on $160,000. ;-)
Trust me, if it were reliably possible to turn $2,500 into $160,000 in a 30 year period then I’d have lived deliberately spent my 20’s living on rice and beans and invested all of my income. :D:banana
Wise Old Owl
07-16-2018, 21:56
I am a huge fan of that lantern... but it stays at home.
funny thread.... getting me to think......
I've always had gadget rich hobbies. With those sorts of things, always comes a certain amount of experimentation. Especially for a gadget guy like me, one that likes to be prepared with maintenance and safety items. So often though I really feel like an idiot for wasting the money after.
like the oxygen tank set-up I bought for use when flying, that I never ended up using.
Several scuba diving timer/computers and other tools and equipment
old film camera lenses that I rarely used. All I really needed was one.
The first cheap backpack I bought that turned out to be way too heavy and, well just a plain old bad design for me.
oh, a really nice kelty baby carrier backpack that I think was used once or maybe twice.
and yeah, I've got one of those barely used candle lanterns too!
I could go on and on if I thought about it.
...and yeah, the ring. Why is it that we have a general tenancy to buy into 'suggestions' and trends... such as an engagement ring budget should be x number of months salary? I don't even remember what it was 15 years ago....but it ended up eating up almost all of my savings. I view that right on up there with all the "made by hallmark" holidays that we are obligated to buy useless cards for....
Anyway, we're still happily married...but she never really liked the ring, and when her fingers swelled to emergency levels while she was pregnant with our 3rd... I was on my way out the door to go out of town and I had to cut that thing off her finger. We intended to reset the diamonds, but she's just as happy with the fake she picked out as a temporary...so at some point we looked into just selling the stone & destroyed ring for melt value. Turns out like that it's barely worth anything. Makes me sick to see how much money was wasted on that thing....
oh, that reminds me of another one.... the wedding videos that have never been watched.
I don't buy useless gear. I just have awesome extra gear I sell on WB.:D
It's my GF buying that $140 bread maker, that I paid for, that sits in a kitchen cupboard after only being used twice in three yrs that's next to useless. I don't tell her that though. I'm going to trade it for some Ti tent stakes. Tell her it had a short almost causing a fire. It wasn't under warranty. I trashed it. Hun, see the new TI tent stakes I have?
TwoSpirits
07-17-2018, 07:31
I have gear that is generally useless to me now, as my current interests have turned more towards hiking than from canoe camping & backpacking -- and as I've gained experience, knowledge, and confidence.
Conversely, I have a lot of gear that is great for a variety of outdoor pursuits, be it car camping, canoe camping, cold weather camping, or backpacking. Perfectly good (often excellent) stuff with a lot of useful applications -- just not for distance hiking.
And as my daughter and son-in-law are growing more interested and developing their own outdoor "style", I'm able to help nurture that by having gear that they can use.
That’s a plastic "THING" - NOT a plastic THONG!!:D
LOL!!!!
Prove it!!!
Have a great trip. Standing by for the photos and report.
Wayne
Pondjumpr
07-17-2018, 15:34
Being a big guy, 6'5" and 235#, I often struggle to find a comfortable chair that is both lightweight and handles my weight capacity. With that said, a fellow backpacker, who weighs even more than I do, decided to buy one of those air bag chairs. We were about to go on a 3 day, 2 night trip so I thought I would try it. It weighs les than 2# and was $20 so I figured it was worth a try. I had him order me one. Well, it was somewhat comfortable but awkward at times and was tough to get the right amount of air in it. It was indeed better than a small foam pad but I will likely never take it on a trip again. It was also bulky to pack. So, fairly useless for me. Maybe the kids will get use out of it.
43185
see the new TI tent stakes I have?
try the carbon fiber:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/carbon-fiber-tan-stake-convenient-outdoor-products/32807232996.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.50044c4df2n BRR
20-25 hits the sweet spot for reasonable shipping
Starchild
07-17-2018, 16:49
Vargo Ti alchy stove. Heavier then most Ti stoves, large flame circle that needs larger diameter pots, and finicky to get it to 'bloom'. Very durable though. Never used except for test hikes.
Wood gas stove, works well but too damn heavy. Esbit stove, light but just can't provide the heat. Magnesium fire starter, yeah, for survival yes, not for a walk in the woods.
Jesshiggins
08-04-2018, 02:11
I don't buy useless gear. I just have awesome extra gear I sell on WB.:D
It's my GF buying that $140 bread maker, that I paid for, that sits in a kitchen cupboard after only being used twice in three yrs that's next to useless. I don't tell her that though. I'm going to trade it for some Ti tent stakes. Tell her it had a short almost causing a fire. It wasn't under warranty. I trashed it. Hun, see the new TI tent stakes I have?
Hahaha, I am also guilty in this kind of stuff
MuddyWaters
08-04-2018, 03:29
Nothing is useless.
Everything .....increases your knowledge or experience in some way.
Some way that is beneficial in future.
Chalk it up as education
Its a process
Even if only a realization of what not to do again.
Mistakes are the best teachers.
A plastic egg carrier. I never used it once. Also, a compact broom and dustpan for sweeping out my tent.
NY HIKER 50
08-04-2018, 10:29
Titanium pots. I mostly don't cook and when I do I try to use my Trangis.
NY HIKER 50
08-04-2018, 10:36
A plastic egg carrier. I never used it once. Also, a compact broom and dustpan for sweeping out my tent.
Ans oh yeah, just saw this. one of those and most eggs bigger than medium don't fit.
And one of these:
Vargo Ti alchy stove. Heavier then most Ti stoves, large flame circle that needs larger diameter pots, and finicky to get it to 'bloom'. Very durable though. Never used except for test hikes. (starchild)
Sorry didn't give the writer credit. It's up above.
I'm having a brain freeze thinking of meeting up with someone wearing a plastic thong. Ahhhhhh!!!!
Candle lantern still works, I take it with me since I've had too many times where flashlights and headlamps died.
DuneElliot
08-04-2018, 10:53
Titanium pots. I mostly don't cook and when I do I try to use my Trangis.
I had one of those. Didn't use it for backpacking but did use it for car camping as my parents wanted to eat well while out in the boonies. It was good for RVing too.
A double hammock tops my list! I bought it when my wife and I first started backpacking thinking it would be a good way to hang together, wrong! Since I outweigh my wife by a 100 lbs. it never hung right and it was a heavy beast. As Muddy Waters said, just chalk that one up as a learning experience!
BuckeyeBill
08-04-2018, 12:40
I don't buy useless gear. I just have awesome extra gear I sell on WB.:D
It's my GF buying that $140 bread maker, that I paid for, that sits in a kitchen cupboard after only being used twice in three yrs that's next to useless. I don't tell her that though. I'm going to trade it for some Ti tent stakes. Tell her it had a short almost causing a fire. It wasn't under warranty. I trashed it. Hun, see the new TI tent stakes I have?
(A happy wife = a happy life) = a happy hike.
NY HIKER 50
08-04-2018, 23:12
BuckeyeBil (https://whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php/45182-BuckeyeBill) (A happy wife = a happy life) = a happy hike.
I don't have a wife and I really have a happy life. No problems, Just pack up and go.
BuckeyeBill
08-05-2018, 11:10
BuckeyeBil (https://whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php/45182-BuckeyeBill) (A happy wife = a happy life) = a happy hike.
I don't have a wife and I really have a happy life. No problems, Just pack up and go.
No wife (pasted away 2001), no girlfriend to speak of and the only problem is my hot rod shop and my bar. But I am truly living the dream and I am very happy.
Oh yea,you really need to try that bread maker. I have one, and find it great. Just dump the ingredients in and it does every thing else. Nothing compares to fresh baked bread.
rocketsocks
08-05-2018, 11:13
Them metal tent pole couplers
TMathers
08-11-2018, 09:40
Far more than I care to admit.
BuckeyeBil (https://whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php/45182-BuckeyeBill) (A happy wife = a happy life) = a happy hike.
I don't have a wife and I really have a happy life. No problems, Just pack up and go.
So so so true!
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Scrambler35
08-11-2018, 19:44
I have lots of stuff that was once very useful, but all of it has now been rendered useless because it's all been replaced with much lighter stuff...
MtDoraDave
08-12-2018, 10:15
Oh yeah. When I first decided to try this backpack camping thing, I bought a 9 lb surplus pack, a single burner propane stove, MREs... Lots of poor choices.
Trial and error - and this web forum - have taught me much.
SawnieRobertson
08-12-2018, 14:55
A backpacking shower recommended by a woman who used hers regularly. I was unable to get it to work.
Harrison Bergeron
08-12-2018, 17:32
A guy I was hiking with talked me into buying Jameson Irish whiskey for my flask when the Cutty ran out. I could have filled that thing three times for what I paid for that stuff! And I wouldn't have had to share so much of it!
2nd worst thing I ever bought was a Big Agnes blow-up pillow for $30 at Mountain Crossings. Didn't work worth a damn and I wound up carrying it to all the way to Fontana. I kept trying to give it away and it kept boomeranging on me!
DuneElliot
08-12-2018, 17:51
I have to add in an inflatable pillow since someone else mentioned it. I like my Thermarest compressible pillow a lot, or even my Walmart travel pillow. No air pillows for me...they make too much noise
Elaikases
08-13-2018, 08:00
I have to add in an inflatable pillow since someone else mentioned it. I like my Thermarest compressible pillow a lot, or even my Walmart travel pillow. No air pillows for me...they make too much noise
My inflatable pillow worked well enough I had to buy a second one because my wife/hiking partner swiped the first one.
DuneElliot
08-13-2018, 09:09
My inflatable pillow worked well enough I had to buy a second one because my wife/hiking partner swiped the first one.
I know a lot of people love them...just wasn't for me
My inflatable pillow worked well enough I had to buy a second one because my wife/hiking partner swiped the first one.
I know that feel....