Gear

[JWren]

Me and my dad are going on a hiking trip this summer and plan to do more, i eventually plan to do a thru hike, or tim is the last two days in June and the first couple in July, about 3-5 days on the trail, Me and my dad need some crucial gear, i have a pack and two sleeping pads, we need a pack for my dad, both sleeping bags and a tent basically, everything else is fine, we have a $800-$1000 limit, including more things like a pot, and various loose ends that i am fine with, what i am more concerned is the big ones i have lined out, if you can give some reccomendations and include the price, and your experience with the item, not too much concerned on weight, and if possible could you possibly "outfit" the Big items that i mentioned
thanks



Ps: My dad is a Lawyer and i write like one

[karoberts]

I love the REI SubKilo sleeping bag. I think it is very light and comfortable.
I would recommend a Gregory pack as I think they are very comfortable (though tend to be heavy).
I would go with the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL3 for a tent, or perhaps a Hubba Hubba.
For cooking, I think that there is nothing more convenient that a Jetboil.
Consider buying some hydration pouches, which make drinking while hiking very easy.

[Wags]

i use a gregory pack (z55) and a BA tent (cheaper knockoff, muddy slide 2) as well and highly enjoy both.

pack - used $90
tent - new $160 on sale

i'd keep your eyes peeled in "selling used gear" section. although i personally would NEVER buy a used sleeping bag, i wouldn't mind a used tent and i already have a used pack :D

i personally use a pretty cheap syntethic bag, but it's only good to +40. dunno if that'll be what you're looking for - would only be good for the 2nd half of your thru, but it may be perfect for your pops in summer. lafuma +40. under 2 lbs and under 80 bucks

[buz]

Campmor.com 20 degree down bags $109 each will serve you long time for small investment. They pack up small and are pretty darn light. Our scout troop uses them and they are a good product for the money. Many packs to choose from there also. Possibly ebay for packs as well. You can see the pictures of them and they can be very reasonable.

[taildragger]

How light are you comfortable going and how warm do you sleep?

The campmor bags are hard to beat, if you wait a while you might be able to pick up another sort of cheap 20* bag (cheap as in money out of your wallet, don't get a crappy bag)


All of that will keep you within your limit and give you both a good three season setup.

Also, you might be able to pick up some gear on the cheap as the NOBOs decide that they really don't like backpacking and need to sell their gear to make some $

Stove: feed a cat and then make an alkey stove

Tent: tarptents are nice, tarps are sweet if your willing to learn how to use them, someone will probably try to convince you to be a bear pinata, but to each their own. If you want a traditional tent, then Hubba Hubba

Pack for the dad, take him to an outfitter if you've got one. Different packs for different backs. Just a warning, most will try to sell you something in the 5000CI range, for summer camping you can get buy with much less. I wouldn't go over 4500 if I were to buy a pack for all seasons.
Check out ULA catalyst, they seem to make good packs, or at least theres a lot of hubub about them.

[JWren]

Pack for the dad, take him to an outfitter if you've got one. Different packs for different backs. Just a warning, most will try to sell you something in the 5000CI range, for summer camping you can get buy with much less. I wouldn't go over 4500 if I were to buy a pack for all seasons.
Check out ULA catalyst, they seem to make good packs, or at least theres a lot of hubub about them.

I have an atmos 50 and i have enjoyed it for being my first pack, i have never packed it to its capacity and for what we will be doing it is almost too much, i already have a whisperlite stove, i sleep somewhat cold, i want an all around good bag, people have told me to go with a 20 bag, if my dad agrees, we will probably get a tarptent and if not it is either HubbaHubba or BA Seedhouse SL 2, my main concern is the sleeping bag because i would love to get a WM bag but that is a big expense and i probably will have to let that go for a while and buy a cheaper (price) most likely the Lafuma, i am sure my bag is going to be down

[taildragger]

I have an atmos 50 and i have enjoyed it for being my first pack, i have never packed it to its capacity and for what we will be doing it is almost too much, i already have a whisperlite stove, i sleep somewhat cold, i want an all around good bag, people have told me to go with a 20 bag, if my dad agrees, we will probably get a tarptent and if not it is either HubbaHubba or BA Seedhouse SL 2, my main concern is the sleeping bag because i would love to get a WM bag but that is a big expense and i probably will have to let that go for a while and buy a cheaper (price) most likely the Lafuma, i am sure my bag is going to be down

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=86896&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1

http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_vertical.jsp?STYLE_GROUP%3C%3East_i d=1408474396003557&bmUID=1209151858105

http://spadout.com/store.php?stpr_id=38926

http://spadout.com/store.php?stpr_id=1919

http://spadout.com/store.php?stpr_id=38924

http://spadout.com/store.php?stpr_id=38922

http://spadout.com/store.php?stpr_id=1921

[Blissful]

You could go with summer weight bags (we had 20 degree bags for early in the hike and then summer weight). 20 degrees is too hot for the summer, IMO, even as a quilt. The marmot pounder at 40 degree is a great summer weight bag. You can get the older model at a pretty good price online (aorund $100) from what I have seen. And at 1 lb, can't be beat. Or my son had the 30 degree Lafuma for his summer bag.

Take your dad to an outfitter to try on some packs (make sure he takes his gear)