$600 shopping spree at REI...spend it

[Frank]

Family & Plans
-Family of three, but plans to expand (2 adults, 1 toddler) + 1 small dog
-Off the beaten path tent camping; Primitive camping; What we can carry on the Jeep, we take in/out

What I have
-I have cast iron cookware (large dutch oven, small and large skillet) which is the only thing I used while camp ground camping. I would like more cookware though
-I plan to build a chuck box this winter
-I have 2 large dry bags


What I don't need
-I do not need a tent; that's another budget

Bottom Line
-I am starting over with my camp gear. When my wife and I camped before, we would use my military gear. Those days are gone...so now its time for civilian gear.


Spend my money. $600 to spend at REI.

Go!

 

[Fireman78]

MSR Exo Cookware Set
Marmot Down Sleeping bag
Gregory Backpack
New Hiking Poles
Merrill Boots and/or new Teva's
Frisbee

:sombrero:

Actually I recently dropped 6 bills at REI, and it was on one little thing. A new GPS. What your doing seems way more fun!

 

[nwoods]

Lots of areas need some attention I guess. Perhaps consideration should be given towards: stove, sleeping bags, pads, lighting, seating, water storage, water filtration, first aid, cutting tools, camp shovel (for primitive camping) tarps/awings, general purpose nylon cord, etc...

I'd budget about $350 for three synthetic sleeping bags, another $150 for sleeping pads (they are way too expensive, but so worth it!), $75 for head lamps, plus one for the kid, $50 for a decent gas lantern. $100 for a decent camp stove with griddle pan accessory. My wife and I LOVE ourCamelbak water bottles ($14 each). Also love the Gerber camp shovel ($21). Figure about $100 for three semi-decent camp chairs.

and so on....

 

[Frank]

I'm thinking:

-Gerber Gator Combo Axe II
-Gerber Gorge Folding Shovel
-REI Backpacker Plus Extended First-Aid Kit
-Reliance Desert Patrol - 3 Gallon (x2)
-Century Matchless Ultra 2-Burner Stove
-REI Campware Percolator - 9 Cup
-GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Camper Cookset

this leaves me with about $250 +- for sleeping bags and other items. My wife says we have blankets...I say bags. We will see who wins that one...:wings:

Chairs and such, I feel are frivolous items, can be bought at about any time.

I am thinking about "larger ticket" items. I also forgot...I have some items such as a gerber multi-tool, we will probably be using our air mattress which we already have, power inverter, I have many flash lights but will probably purchase a nice LED gerber type flash light...etc. etc.

Im still ready to hear how you would spend $600-

 

[ddog45]

sweet head lamps
led lantern
gci chairs
smoking mittens "fold back mittens"
maps
msr wisperlite stove
thermarests
booties
a good cooler

 

[Moody]

I'd buy 4 Ridgerest closed cell foam pads (the big ones), and buy 3 of the best 20 degree rated bags you can find (down preferably) with the other 500. Then, save another 600 for the next round.

 

[nwoods]

Also need a cooler. The Marine version of the Coleman Extreme line of coolers is pretty good. Typically known as a 5 day cooler.

 

[DesertBoater]

Definitely go with headlamps over regular flashlights...make life way easier. I'd recommend Petzle over the Black Diamond ones hurt my eyes.

My partner and I just got a double sleeping bag from REI...definitely worth it. It can zip apart to become two separate bags, one 30 degree and on 40 degree, and has more than enough room for the two of us.

Good cookware and stove are also a must.

MSR does good higher end cookware, GSI is a bit of a step down in price (and quality?)

If you're a coffee drinker I'd highly recommend a Big Sky Bistro and/or a tumbler thermos

Personally, I'd save the cash on a stove and pick one up at your local goodwill/thrift store. At least here in Prescott, the thrift stores always have at least one or two to choose from. My $5 coleman thrift store stove has been all over in the back of the truck, and doesn't look any worse for wear.

The blue aqua-tainer jugs are sufficient for water, I use a 3 gallon model and that works for short trips. Still working on the longer solution though.

Hope this helps


Cheers,
West

 

[MarcFJ60]

As much as I used to love (and still do) primitive camping, I have greatly scaled back my expectations with a small child. My son (5 y.o.) loves camping - but we go to campgrounds with playgrounds and other amusements. In other words, the places I NEVER would have previously gone. The attention span of a toddler doesn't lend itself to enjoying the beauty of the outdoors for more than a moment - so he needs to be occupied (playground, s'mores, boat rentals, flashlight games, soccer ball, brief fishing, even an IPod touch for games, etc).

This is not my ideal camping situation, but it is great fun - just different than what my ideal is. But I do have ulterior motives: My son loves the outdoors now because he equates it with fun and as he grows we can do more adventurous outings since he will have a good base of appreciation for the outdoors.

At least that's my theory. Maybe there's books somewhere that say otherwise. These are OUR trips - the last thing I want to do is take him out on one of MY trips and have him hate camping because he finds it boring or we forced a trip in miserable weather. Even if you like going outside your comfort zone, I'm not sure you want to take a toddler out of his.

I bring this up, and I'm probably preaching to the choir, but you mention a toddler. I would invest a decent amount of that $600 in stuff to ensure the little one enjoys the trip as much as possible. You have probably already thought this through, but i figured I would post for others as well.

 

[450 DUDE]

As much as I used to love (and still do) primitive camping, I have greatly scaled back my expectations with a small child. My son (5 y.o.) loves camping - but we go to campgrounds with playgrounds and other amusements. In other words, the places I NEVER would have previously gone. The attention span of a toddler doesn't lend itself to enjoying the beauty of the outdoors for more than a moment - so he needs to be occupied (playground, s'mores, boat rentals, flashlight games, soccer ball, brief fishing, even an IPod touch for games, etc).

This is not my ideal camping situation, but it is great fun - just different than what my ideal is. But I do have ulterior motives: My son loves the outdoors now because he equates it with fun and as he grows we can do more adventurous outings since he will have a good base of appreciation for the outdoors.

At least that's my theory. Maybe there's books somewhere that say otherwise. These are OUR trips - the last thing I want to do is take him out on one of MY trips and have him hate camping because he finds it boring or we forced a trip in miserable weather. Even if you like going outside your comfort zone, I'm not sure you want to take a toddler out of his.

I bring this up, and I'm probably preaching to the choir, but you mention a toddler. I would invest a decent amount of that $600 in stuff to ensure the little one enjoys the trip as much as possible. You have probably already thought this through, but i figured I would post for others as well.

Just to add another POV on camping with the small ones, my daughter is 7 and we have camped over 50 times with her and only 15% of trips have been in "campgrounds" . She has good clothing and warm and comfortable sleeping gear, a couple of small games flash light ,glow sticks and some books.
She does enjoy "playgrounds" but I just wanted to say its not absolutely necessary.

ken

 

[MarcFJ60]

Just to add another POV on camping with the small ones, my daughter is 7 and we have camped over 50 times with her and only 15% of trips have been in "campgrounds" . She has good clothing and warm and comfortable sleeping gear, a couple of small games flash light ,glow sticks and some books.
She does enjoy "playgrounds" but I just wanted to say its not absolutely necessary.

ken

I totally agree. My intent wasn't to say you can't primitive camp with young ones. But my plan is to ease him into it. He's only camped 3 times now, but I am fairly certain by the end of the next camping season we'll have a more rugged trip under our belts. But I do think you have to plan for more than the essentials with the young ones.