what things have you replaced with others and are happier :)

[Honu]

OK kinda like the uxury items list

for me going from trailer to no had to cut down but did not want to give up

so curious what others have done and does not have to be going smaller it could be going bigger even like replacing a RTT for trailer etc.. whatever you have changed and are happier with for whatever reason


mine are
1) replaced zero gravity chairs with eno double nest hammocks the kids love the hammocks so much more and they are a lot more fun and of course pack tiny compared
2) replaced our big heavy chairs with smaller lighter helinox and came up with a head rest for them went form 8-12 lbs a chair to under 2 lbs a chair with 4 chairs our 4 weigh less than 1 we had
3) replaced all our sleeping gear so pads self inflating with inflatable memo and big agnes, our sleeping bags with better down and pillow with camp pillows
4) no more carrying or buying wood with propane campfire ring now I have a known pack size and I don't worry about bans so common here in AZ
5) breaking up our charcoal kit into a thing we can take or leave depending on burn bans

 

[JHa6av8r]

Does replacing your first two wives with one that would rather go camping than shopping count? ;-)

 

[MANUCHAO]

Replaced
Cooler for fridge
bottle beer for draft beer in growlers.
ground tent for RTT
Gas lamp for LED lamp
Totes and bags for sliding drawers
eeze up shade for awning
Replaced mentality as in, "Less is More".

 

[Doc Foster]

Replaced my ~30 year old Gregory daypack with a newer one, again a Gregory Z30 daypack.
I don't know why I waited so long, so much more comfortable with tons of features and storage.
Replaced "hard stiff leather" hiking boots with soft sided ones - Merrell Moabs - plenty of traction, lighter and much more comfortable.

 

[TenaciousTJ]

Replaced regular ratchet straps with Front Runner Stratchits
Replaced my Engel Fridge with a National Luna Weekender
Replaced Rubbermaid Action Packers with Wolf Packs
Replaced my MSR Dragonfly with the MSR Reactor for backpacking

I did all of my upgrades after months of research, figuring out what would work best for me. No regrets and I love all of the new and improved gear.

 

[CCH]

Does replacing your first two wives with one that would rather go camping than shopping count? ;-)

Not if you're trying to reduce your load...

 

[stioc]

Replaced:
-Foam pads with REI self-inflatable pads
-Bulky synthetic sleeping bags with down sleeping bags
-Cooler with fridge
-Folding table with Roll-a-table (mainly for easier storage)
-5gal spectre water container with std 2.5L arrowhead jugs (easier storage and usage in my case but I still bring the Specter for harder trails where the arrowhead containers can get damaged).
-wooden, collapsable, low height chairs with the common soft-folding chairs (lower weight, easier storage)
-3 Person Coleman tent with a 6 person Eureka tent so we can have the dog crate inside
-Dog bed with a Large soft/collapsible crate that we bring into the tent at night
-Coleman 2 burner stove with an 'Asian' butane stove
-I'm thinking of going back to the 3hr firelogs instead of carrying the propane firepit (bulky) - except when necessary (fire restrictions).

 

[Ramjet]

Replaced my 90 lb Serengeti canvas tent with a 9 lb Nemo
Replaced two coolers for one fridge.
Replaced my Milwaukee tool bag for an ATC tool roll.
Replaced two sleeping bags for a Nemo Tango Duo System. Saved 5 lbs

 

[Hilldweller]

Traded a Power Wagon on a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the zen overfloweth.

 

[4x4junkie]

Replaced a 100qt Coleman cooler with EdgeStar 43qt fridge...
Gas two-mantle lantern with an even brighter LED lantern (home-built)...
Supposed non-stick ceramic-coated fry pan with a Teflon-coated one...
Goodyear MT/R-K Wrangler tires with BF Goodrich MT KM2 (not exactly real-super happier, but at least the coins don't shake in the ashtray from all the vibration anymore)

 

[fjrohrs]

Replaced regular ratchet straps with Front Runner Stratchits
Replaced my Engel Fridge with a National Luna Weekender
Replaced Rubbermaid Action Packers with Wolf Packs
Replaced my MSR Dragonfly with the MSR Reactor for backpacking

I did all of my upgrades after months of research, figuring out what would work best for me. No regrets and I love all of the new and improved gear.

If you don't mind my asking, what were your primary drivers for switching from the Engel to the Luna? Thanks!

 

[TenaciousTJ]

Freezer option, that's pretty much it. And now that I have the freezer, I absolutely love it and it opens up a whole new category of food I can bring and cook, much like switching from a basic cooler to a fridge.

 

[Cee-Jay]

Replaced a $15 Therm-A-Rest RidgeRest foam sleeping pad with a $200 Exped MegaMat air/foam sleeping pad. Significantly improved sleep and comfort has been worth every penny of that price difference.

 

[concretejungle]

I think replacing my ice cooler with a fridge made the biggest difference. It's the one thing that i think allowed me to go further with no worry of food spoilage or hot drinks.

 

[AlbanyTom]

I think replacing my ice cooler with a fridge made the biggest difference. It's the one thing that i think allowed me to go further with no worry of food spoilage or hot drinks.

Can I ask how you power the fridge when you're camping? Asking because I've done the back of the envelope math, and it looks like the weight of batteries to run a fridge for X hours is several times that of the equivalent amount of ice. Are you already running a generator, or do you have solar...or use the vehicle engine most of the time for the trip?

(the math, if my numbers are right - energy from melting ice is about 42 watt-hr/lb, which would be about 3.5AH from a 12v battery, if the fridge is 100% efficient. That would be 210 AH at 60lbs, which is about the weight of my 90 AH group 27 marine battery.)

Not trying to second guess or suggest it's a bad choice, just curious as to how it lets you run longer.

Tom