Best Places for Switching Out Gear

I'm planning a thru hike attempt in 2019. I have an REI Dash tent that is going strong, but I don't think it has enough life left to complete the entire AT. I'm thinking I would be doing really well to get through half of the trail with it. My plan is to get as much use as I can out of it, and then buy a new tent along the trail. Does anyone have any areas that would be good to mark on the map for this? Maybe larger outfitters, not necessarily as big as REI, but somewhere that would have more than shoes and clothes in stock??

Thanks!

Since you can get a new tent shipped to you at 100 different places along the trail, I'd wait until it starts to fail in a week a month or never, then have a new tent mail-ordered and shipped ahead to the next good place to resupply. There is not way to predict when or where a good place will be. Heck, you might quit the trail at some point and not need or want a new tent.

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Originally Posted by nsherry61

Since you can get a new tent shipped to you at 100 different places along the trail, I'd wait until it starts to fail in a week a month or never, then have a new tent mail-ordered and shipped ahead to the next good place to resupply. There is not way to predict when or where a good place will be. Heck, you might quit the trail at some point and not need or want a new tent.

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^^This. There are full service outfitters along the trail in pretty much all of the major trail towns. The down side is you'll be paying full MSR and will have limited choices. If you don't think the Dash will go the distance, it could be worth while to shop for and buy a tent between now and then. At least get a idea of what you'd want.

What's the problem with the current tent? Fabric getting worn and starting to leaks? Problem with the poles or fasteners?

easy to pick out what you want beforehand and save it to a shopping cart - makes ordering from the trail convenient

that being said - you will get to see lots of practical gear and get first hand reviews while on the trail

I’d definitely wait till you’re own the trail to decide.

You’ll see so many lightweight tents from cottage industry vendors that will pique your interest and possibly influence your decision.

Also, your hike is almost a year away, the big companies will come out newer and cooler gear.

this is just a side thought....I can't answer your question....
But I was just watching a through hiker's vlog who recently finished the trail, Scoutmaster. He mentioned that he only used his tent a small number of times, I forget how many times it was, but it was a very small number. Apparently early on in his hike he determined that he liked the shelter,and ended up shelter hoping. He mentioned that if he was doing it over again he probably wouldn't carry a tent.
point is, who knows?....maybe you'll find out that you're the same....or maybe you'll decide you want to switch to hammocks or something....

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Originally Posted by blw2

this is just a side thought....I can't answer your question....
But I was just watching a through hiker's vlog who recently finished the trail, Scoutmaster. He mentioned that he only used his tent a small number of times, I forget how many times it was, but it was a very small number. Apparently early on in his hike he determined that he liked the shelter,and ended up shelter hoping. He mentioned that if he was doing it over again he probably wouldn't carry a tent.
point is, who knows?....maybe you'll find out that you're the same....or maybe you'll decide you want to switch to hammocks or something....

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Even if you become a shelter dweller, you really need to keep lugging the tent, as you never know if you'll need it or not. But if your not using it very often, it will last a long time. Scoring shelter space in GA and NC during March and April is like winning the lottery - the power ball if it's been raining for a week. The tent gets a lot of use then.

Never mind if rain is expected; then the shelters fill up fast.

Some people like shelters but I found last year that early on most people start avoiding sleeping in them. Camp near them absolutely; it’s nice to enjoy the water source, privy, and social scene that a shelter provides. But sleeping shoulder to shoulder with snorers on neoairs isn’t the best.

Much later, in the north, I noticed my friends would start gravitating towards them again. I think it was because they were mostly empty and it was easier to just blow up a pad and leave the rest of your stuff in your pack.

We were all quite tired by then

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Originally Posted by blw2

Apparently early on in his hike he determined that he liked the shelter,and ended up shelter hoping. He mentioned that if he was doing it over again he probably wouldn't carry a tent

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Which is ironic coming from a Scout master who’s organizations motto is “Be Prepared”. The problem with one and done AT hikers is they are specialists on how THEY hiked their hike but lack the bigger picture of the trail. Had he started in March, when 50 people were starting each day, his view on shelters may have been drastically different.

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Originally Posted by capehiker

Which is ironic coming from a Scout master who’s organizations motto is “Be Prepared”. The problem with one and done AT hikers is they are specialists on how THEY hiked their hike but lack the bigger picture of the trail. Had he started in March, when 50 people were starting each day, his view on shelters may have been drastically different.

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I'm not sure that I understand what you meant by that. If you are trying to say that he was saying he'd go out unprepared in some way..... well that was not the case. He didn't say he'd go out without any shelter. Additionally, as I recall he also didn't say that it's what others should or must do, just what he would do.... and yes, I'd bet the same thing about a different opinion based on crowds.

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Originally Posted by blw2

I'm not sure that I understand what you meant by that. If you are trying to say that he was saying he'd go out unprepared in some way..... well that was not the case. He didn't say he'd go out without any shelter. Additionally, as I recall he also didn't say that it's what others should or must do, just what he would do.... and yes, I'd bet the same thing about a different opinion based on crowds.

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I was going off your previous post where you paraphrased him saying if he were to do it again, he probably wouldn’t take a tent. I took it to meant he would shelter hop, in which if he were to start during the big bubble, could be disastrous.

Isn't Scoutmaster the idiot who proposed feeding shelter mice so they leave your food alone while you sleep?

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Originally Posted by egilbe

Isn't Scoutmaster the idiot who proposed feeding shelter mice so they leave your food alone while you sleep?

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yep


12345678910 <<- for charr count

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Originally Posted by blw2

this is just a side thought....I can't answer your question....
But I was just watching a through hiker's vlog who recently finished the trail, Scoutmaster. He mentioned that he only used his tent a small number of times, I forget how many times it was, but it was a very small number. Apparently early on in his hike he determined that he liked the shelter,and ended up shelter hoping. He mentioned that if he was doing it over again he probably wouldn't carry a tent.
point is, who knows?....maybe you'll find out that you're the same....or maybe you'll decide you want to switch to hammocks or something....

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First thing I want to say is let the shelters fill up. I will be swinging between two trees. No mice, bugs, snoring, farting, people crawling over you to do the 3 am potting run or worse peeing into a bottle in front of everyone. I would advise what someone said about researching online the new tent and putting into your shopping cart or wish list. Then find a place to drop ship it to along the trail that hopefully will arrive the same time as you or a few days before. That way you won't be stuck waiting on your new tent to arrive. Also don't wait to long before replacing your old tent, because you don't want a complete failure before ordering. Best of luck to you.

Actually, I don't think he was "proposing" the idea. I watched most of his videos.. I've been watching a few vlogers.......If I'm recalling it correctly he was telling a story about an old timer that told him earlier in the day that it was a way to distract the mice....or something to that effect.... I think it was that older fellow that has throughed the AT several times.
Anyway, I do believe that he said something about doing it that night, and I took it to mean more like he did it that one time...like a funny experiment if you will. I don't recall any indication in any of the videos that I saw after words that he ever did it again. The way I took it, it was no more being an "idiot" than many of the challenges I see folks doing...eating a half gallon of ice cream, or eating 3-day old refrigerated McDonald's burgers....
granted it could be viewed as irresponsible to mice and the future hikers coming through....viewed as poor judgement even....we all have used poor judgement from time to time.

That's a good point. From what I'm hearing, high-priced outfitters are the rule, not the exception. Getting a deal on the trail is pretty much non-existent. That being the case, I'll probably end up picking out a tent before I leave and have it delivered to a re-supply point when the time comes.

There isn't anything wrong with the Dash, which is a tent I love, right now. However, I've had it for almost 5 years, the fabric is a tad more stretchy than it used to be, there are two Tenacious Tape patches on the rainfly along the zipper line. Overall, the tent is still running strong. Just not sure it's got 2000+ miles and 5-6 months of constant use left in it. Just wanted to get ahead of the game if it starts to look like it's going to fail.

Thanks for all of the advice from everyone!

have a spare for 40$ delivered:

https://rivercountryproducts.com/pro...kpacking-tent/


I will get this on monday and give a quick review/ contrast high end/ low end of basically the same tent:

one person half pyramid design
zpack altamid for 600 vs river country trekker tent one for 40

There's also a difference in what you plan to do. Someone, like mentioned above who plans to sleep in a shelter whenever one is available could be just fine carrying a very light option (even just a tarp with a little rope and stakes), since they would only use it when needed, where someone who prefers a tent over the shelter might want an easier to use option, since they'd have to set it up far more times.

OP,
The best place to swap out your gear is at home before you leave. If you aren't satisfied or think your gear is inadequate swap it out before hand. If you thought about not carrying a shelter or using one on a minimal basis you outta reconsider and use an UL tarp w/tyvek ground sheet and be done or... With that being said; don't sleep in the shelters at all and get yourself an awesome UL tarp tent or venture into the hammock world. Many setups under two lbs. and durable to boot. Shelters breed disease, are usually crowded along with the areas immediately surrounding them. Plan ahead and blow right by them setting up a mile or so out. Try it either way.
Deals at outfitters near the trail are like finding the end of the rainbow. Rarely happens. You will always be swapping out smaller items but the big three should be set before you depart.

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Originally Posted by George

have a spare for 40$ delivered:

https://rivercountryproducts.com/pro...kpacking-tent/


I will get this on monday and give a quick review/ contrast high end/ low end of basically the same tent:

one person half pyramid design
zpack altamid for 600 vs river country trekker tent one for 40

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Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!! Please post!