Here, this is a gift for backpacking ...

**theinfamousj** · 03-08-2009, 20:23

At some point, we've all had someone give us a well intentioned gift for backpacking that ended up being amusing, to say the least. What are some gifts that folks have given you for your backpacking where the gift was just "all wrong"?

Example: Mom gave me a paper lunch sack filled with twigs so that I'd have some kindling. Not to be outdone, Dad bought me waders for stream crossings.

**JAK** · 03-08-2009, 20:35

I was given one of those 6 pound pop up chairs.
Actually I think I got two, just in case I bumped into a friend I suppose.

**rickb** · 03-08-2009, 20:43

A Glock entrenching tool.

Part of me thinks it could come in handy someday.

**garlic08** · 03-08-2009, 20:56

One of those hand crank radio/flashlight/emergency flashing beacon things. Horrible thing.

**modiyooch** · 03-08-2009, 21:33

1981 a police billy club for my protection from my brother the cop
recently, a bear bell from a concerned friend

**shelterbuilder** · 03-08-2009, 21:46

Back in the mid-70's, when I was MUCH younger and stronger, and very new to backpacking, my Mom bought me a Bernzomatic "backpacking" stove and lantern. Heavy as the dickens, and not very good in winter (they ran on pure butane)...but she meant well, God bless her!

**catfishrivers** · 03-08-2009, 21:53

I was given rather weighty survival rations brick as an xmas gift intended to bring along on my upcoming thru hike as emergency "backup"...I swear the there's gurth to that thing. I could see it being a weapon in the game Clue.

**Ox97GaMe** · 03-09-2009, 00:16

On my thru hike, I got one care package from my parents.

I am in a small town in Vermont, which I had picked out from the data book as a mail stop before I started hiking. This town consisted of a general store, a gas station, and a post office; all in the same building. To say the least... it was a very small town in the middle of nowhere.

I get to town and the postmaster is happy to see me and hands me a medium size box. I open it to find a very nice note that says...... 'Was reading a story about the Appalachain Trail and that candy bars become a staple of a hiker's diet. Hope you enjoy the snacks. Love, Mom'.

In the box is not one, not two, but 10 - 6 packs of King size snickers bars. 120+ ounces of candy bars.

There were a lot of happy hikers on the trail that day.

**prain4u** · 03-09-2009, 01:21

When I was a teenager (30+ years ago) , a family member bought me a used (two burner) Coleman camp stove that they had found at a rummage sale or auction. They said they bought it for me to use when I went camping and hiking. They meant well.

Those old Coleman stoves were made out of a pretty heavy steel--and they burned a fairly large amount of fuel. That stove was much better suited to car camping than backpacking. I THINK that it was a version of the Coleman 413 series of camp stoves.

**Mrs Baggins** · 03-09-2009, 05:24

I mentioned wanting to try to do some sketching while hiking so my daughter's (now ex) boyfriend gave me a thick heavy professional style spiral bound sketch pad, a whole package of sketch pencils and a package of erasers. I tore some of the pages out of the book and took one pencil and one eraser. Never used them.

**Jayboflavin04** · 03-09-2009, 09:44

Originally Posted by garlic08

One of those hand crank radio/flashlight/emergency flashing beacon things. Horrible thing.

Are we brothers!!!! My mom got ethan and i one of those for christmas. Ethan loves the siren sound that thing makes.

**flemdawg1** · 03-09-2009, 09:48

A 6lb 30deg SwissGear sleeping bag.

**4eyedbuzzard** · 03-09-2009, 09:52

Originally Posted by catfishrivers

I was given rather weighty survival rations brick as an xmas gift intended to bring along on my upcoming thru hike as emergency "backup"...I swear the there's gurth to that thing. I could see it being a weapon in the game Clue.

It was Sgt. Rock, in the shelter, with the MRE's! (sorry Sarge

)

Clue-the AT edition. An idea whose time has come.

**Waterfall** · 03-09-2009, 10:01

When I was 12, I asked for a tent. My parents went to Pier 1 and got me some mosquito netting to hang over my bed. In my bedroom. In my house. Inside.

**squirrel bait** · 03-09-2009, 10:31

I was given by a friend a Pelican Heads UP Lite Model 2600 headlamp with strap. You know for hiking at night or around the camp site he said. Thanks I replied, right on the outer housing it states, "submersible to 500 feet". It runs on four double A's.

**Bare Bear** · 03-09-2009, 12:16

I got a stainless steel flask with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers LOGO on it and my name engraved! I did not bother weighing it.

**wcgornto** · 03-09-2009, 13:33

Rick Steves pack towel with its own mesh pouch

Portable saw

Heavy hard back book titled "How to Survive in the Wilderness"

Twist handled tooth brush for dispensing toothpaste

**cathy** · 03-09-2009, 14:29

my husband bought me cooking utensils that folded in half. a 1 lb flash light that clipped to your belt that had a revolving light socket. a strobe function and a flashing function, a extra large thermarest pad (I'm 5'2"), And a device so I can pee standing up! He means well, but now I tell him want I want or need.

**wrongway_08** · 03-09-2009, 14:42

Originally Posted by wcgornto

Heavy hard back book titled "How to Survive in the Wilderness"

Got the same one, mine had the waterproof cover to it - a thick, grippy coating of flexible rubber all over it. It was about 10" x 6" across. Large book.

**boarstone** · 03-09-2009, 15:36

Gosh...I'm feeling left out. Nobody buys me anything! (thank god!)
Oh..wait..Christmas..my daughter did get me a new cook pot. Of course I had to run right out and get the old one and my scales and weigh it the next chance I got. It's the same weight so I'll use it. Plus it's non-stick...I hope,...I see a trip coming up very soon...testing, testing...............

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