Back Country Hiking Gear
Been discussing it with a couple of mates for a while now and it looks like we might actually go do a hiking trip next weekend into the main range and stay the night out there. Now I have done plenty of camping in the past but usually with a car there as well so no requirement to take everything I need on my back.
One of the guys I’m going with is pretty experienced out there but his only recommendation for where to buy gear was Kathmandu which I could only imagine is dear as poison even with the sales. I’m basically looking to score the following items at a reasonable price
Backpack: Something that is capable of carrying tent, sleeping bag and other paraphenalia
Sleeping bag: I have one but for these purposes I suspect it will be garbage, needs to be big, I’m 6’3 and like a bit of space.
Thermarest: Apparently these are a necessity on top of your bed roll when sleeping on the snow.
Any ideas on here to pick these items up for a decent price?
Any hazards for new players with this stuff? Had a look on OZBC.net but he doesn’t really list where to pick the stuff up from.
try anaconda
cheaper for most things than kathmandu
the store
online shop is pretty bad
members special is the things to look out
joining is free
if you know what you want
sleeping bag/bag wise
Bagworld.com.au has good pricing/selection brand-wise (perth based..free delivery i think on everything though)
i think ive got a coupon lying around ill dig around for it
i went into a kathmandu once and was amazed at the more-expensive-than-top-brand-name prices on no-name gear
nup sorry no coupon for Bagworld
sorry only Blackwolf sleeping bags at Bagworld so not as extensive as i thought lol
but good range of bags
Definitely a lot more than Kathmandu or anaconda
yeah do not like kathmandu one bit
dodgy “sale” which ive busted them on
RRP 39.95 (which was blacked out with a marker) they will put the RRP as $50.00 then give customers 50% discount
ie sell it for 25 bucks
giving a false impression of 50% off
**actually ive caught anaconda do this too
inflated RRP to give a false sense of discount
I do a few 2-3 day hiking trips each year. Love being out in the bush and knowing there’s nobody around for miles.
I pretty much stay away from Kathmandu. Most of the time I go to either Anaconda, Ray’s outdoors, or Aussie Disposals.
Anaconda Are having their Adrenalin sale atm. They currently have 30% off tents, and packs.
As far as the pack goes, I normally sling my tent on the outside of the pack, at the bottom. I take my sleeping bag out from it’s stuff sack, and stuff it into the bottom of the pack, via the bottom entry.
If you want a cheap and compact cooking option, grab a hexi stove from Aussie Disposals. They’ll sent you back about $10, and they cook really well with a mess kit. Plus the stove fits inside the mess kit.
The biggest issue I have been having is finding a bag of decent size, eg: around 50L or more that has snowboard carrying ability. Is that a must have or do most ppl rig up their own snowboard carrying rig on the pack?
hey NBG
i have a Dakine Guide pack (carries board vertical only) it is 50L if ya wanna borrow it is cool
i also have a Alpine Lowe 65/70 L pack (has straps on front - not made for board, but has worked)
if you buy any gear, buy the lightest weight gear you can ( i have a MEC -10oC bag only weighs 900g or something)
light weight means more expensive though
F-stop Tilopa BC (48L) or keep an eye out for the soon to come out Satori EXP which is closer to 60L (I think).
Awesome straps and internal frame. Good snowboard carry. You don’t need to get the camera blocks for the inside.
TBH, I’ve never carried a snowboard on my pack. I know one pack I had, had straps on the sides that compact the pack, but if you loosened them, they could go around the front of the pack. I’d just run them under the bindings.
Otherwise, if your pack has those loops on the front, you could maybe just run some straps through those?
Caboose I might take you up on that, seeing as I have never used a backpack hiking it would be nice to borrow one, get the feel for it and see if it’s big enough etc before throwing dollars at my own, will let you know but I really appreciate the offer.