New found love for CAMPING. (equipment talk)

Hey guys, as many know I recently got back from Fort Lewis and we spent a lot of time in the field. This was rough at the time, but somewhere in the mire of being out in the suck, I kinda found solace in the great outdoors and found some odd enjoyment of being up on fire guard, patrolling around the patrol base at 0300 hours. (have I gone crazy) This kind of reignited the flame of camping in my heart. I have always liked camping but never as passionately as I do now.. I have decided to share with my Dogs here some equipment I have been checking out and tentatively planning to purchase here within the next 3-4weeks.

First, the type of camping I will be doing... I will be doing the traditional camping with my battle buddies, drinking beer, smoking cigars, and just hanging out; far cry from what we did this summer at LDAC. However, I actually plan on sleeping and bedding down the way I did in the patrol bases this summer.. Where there is no hooch or tent, rather just you, your sleeping bag, and your bivvy. I really found a liking for this style of camping. Its kinda nice to be able to just throw a good warm sleeping bag inside a bivvy and zip it all the way up and crash out after a long day/night. I was in my local outdoors shop yesterday and saw some neat gear, which inspired me to come home and do some research online. Here are some of the things I plan on getting to accommodate my camping through the winter.

This brings me to another topic... Winter camping. I have never really done it because of the cold.. However, I think after investing in some quality gear, this might be something that I can kinda get into. Im looking forward to it. Here is some of my new gear Im looking at. Feel free to chime in if you have any of this or have any suggestions...

Lightweight Tarp:
http://www.pacoutdoor.com/2008/index.cfm...&familyID=2


I think this will be a good thing to have as far as a shelter over head... It has various ties that afford you the chance to tie the shelter virtually anywhere and it allows for some sturdy shelter. I saw this tarp for $100.00.

Dry Sacks:
http://www.pacoutdoor.com/2008/index.cfm...&familyID=2


I have one of these that I took with my to LDAC and kept in my rucksack, and it kept all contents inside TOTALLY dry and this was an invaluable asset to me because no matter the rain, I always had dry ACUs, underwear, and other essentials.

Sleeping Bag:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Pro...7&cat=1482&viewAll=False


Cold weather bag: 5-20 degrees F. It seldomly gets colder than 5 degrees here in East Tennessee at any given time of the year so I think that this bag will be perfect for me. Its built sturdy and has enough room for movement to get dressed in the mornings when it is cold out. This bag is for me!

Bivvy:
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/Pro...0&cat=1453&viewAll=False


This bivvy is the one I saw at the outdoor shop yesterday... It looked very neat and only weighed less than 2 pounds, all stuffed up. It would go perfectly with my sleeping bag and would provide for great warmth and comfort on cold nights in the east Tennessee nights. Cold, moisture, frost, etc, ?? No problem, this baby will keep me warm and dry. I think this is the ticket for me!



I also will be carrying a pack of some sort. I have so many pakcs its not even funny. However, I dont own one BIG pack that I can throw everything into.. I might invest in a good pack as well but Im not sure at this point. The plus to getting a big bag would be that I could throw it all in there and move out. But the style of camping we do, we drive the trucks up to the spot, build the fire, and leave the CD player going, hanging out easy style... So I would not be rucking into my spot, like some hard fellas do. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Given, as always, I will have my Scrapper 6 and my Busse Scotch Dispenser as my discrete back-up steel. (the S6 does virtually all of my work when it comes to cutting (who wouldnt task all cutting duties out to the mighty mighty S6 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) I really like the Busse SD. Not many give it much credit because its by far, the smallest, however, I really like having a strong, tough fixed blade that can be called upon at anytime. The plus with this knife for me is that I can ALWAYS have it on me, no matter where I go and since Jerry designed it for a backup law enforcement blade, I think its the perfect EDC for me. Not to mention, Jeff Law made me the best sheath in the world for it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> !!! I loved this knife so much, I bought 3 of them back a few months ago <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> Aside from the new gear I am going to be getting, I will always have my Busse-kin knives on me. I never go outside without a piece of Busse steel! I am also trying to figure out a good, economical way to utilize some sort of makeshift pillow, that I can use that wont be too much extra bulk or weight.

Long thread, sorry guys, just wanted to share. Give your inputs please... This is a good thread for us to discuss our favorite camping gear.

I have a couple of those dry bags for canyoneering, there very nice. I really like the valve's on them. I also have a MH Lamina bag, very nice.

Tyvek is a good lightweight tarp material. You can buy it from home improvement stores (it’s used as a house wrap) or sometimes get some free scraps from a construction site. You can run it through a dryer to soften it so it doesn’t crackle so much. It’s fairly waterproof and lightweight. You can also use a tarp. Either are much cheaper than the one you posted.

For a lightweight pillow, you could use some folded up clothing, or an inflatable pillow.

Tyvek is some great stuff. My piece is on it's way to CO, or some where, LOL

Very good ideas Andy. At LDAC i used one of my stuff sacks. I will probably do the same thing when I go camping with my buddies. I want one of those WXTEX tarps though man... They are high speed and neat. Made very tough as well from what I felt last night at the local outdoor shop... They are also the recipient of good reviews as well.

There is a nice Canadian issue goretex bivybag i would love. One thing you are going to see a lot more of is northern military maneuvers near the pole now that we are not friends with Putin and global warming has made the area more habitable .
The CF makes some great winter gear.
Here are the mukluks I wear when it is -50 and I am doing 60MPH on a SKIDOO.
The woolliners are amazing and are great for around a winter camp on their own.


Here are the new issue goretex pants but I prefer the old 2 layer ones.

These fleece pants are the greatest thing an army has ever issued in the history of man including the 1911 and the brits rum ration.

They go under a pair of outer waterproof pants in extreme cold but are perfect on their own all winter.

Winter camping rules so long as you are well equipped. No bugs and no sweaty tents.

first of all winter camping is some of my favorite although new york winters a bit different that tennessee winters.

their is no bugs first of all,less people and i hate being soaking wet with sweat before i even get to camp.in the winter you need more gear and stuff like cold weather sleeping bags are heavier so i buy a "deer drag" which is a harness you wear around your torso and tie to the deer and you can drag them out that way instead i just tie it to a sled.i can lug 120 pounds like nothing if needed be like this.

as far as gear goes you already had some of the best.that ARMY 3 piece sleeping bag system with the gortex bivvy is better than the stuff your gonna find in the stores imo.

you may of used one of these or seen'em.they are USGI water proof bags and the inside is all rubber.completely water proof and can even be inflated,sealed and used for flotation.their better and more durable than anything i've been able to find.

here is one folded up,its between the hank of 550 cord and the pair of pack straps.



here it is full of sand.



and here's a smaller folded up on the left of the compass



a lot of the gear i use is military because i have found it to be more rugged at least and a lot of times just better and with a lot of it being surplus i can get good deals.

another piece of military gear i use is the U.S.M.C. 2 man tent that was contracted with Eureeka.i have never seen a tent even think about coming close to the ruggedness of this thing.in the pitch black i can put a 60 lumen surefire lens touching right up against the rain fly from the inside and you wouldnt even be able to see it from the outside.they want it this way so any light from the outside wont give the position away.if light cant get through than rain aint either.sorry no pics.i'll get on in a week or two when i go back out.

for me i'm always thinking how to make my kit lighter and more efficient.

my favorite pices of camping gear are:

DFLE,ASH-1 & GB 20in hatchet
Surefire E2L Outdoorsman or 6P LED
U.S.M.C. Eureeka 2 man tent or ARMY Catoma 1 man tent
Snugpak jungle bag or Northface cold weather bag
Katayden water filter
MSR stove
Kifaru packs {Zulu,X-ray,E&E}
lotsa alcohal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here's my Catoma 1 man tent:



left to right,top to bottom:
gortex rain suit
snugpack jungle bag
stove w/fuel kit
fire kit
first-aid kit



all packed up before the kifaru days,i dont miss them.spec-ops brand pack and CSM Gear waist pack


my neck of the woods


at the car.this isnt winter camping either.this is april camping.

wow northern1, nice shots!!! even nicer gear... i use those waterproof bags all summer. they are pretty good stuff too. if that is april camping i dont know how bad WINTER camping will be on you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Get youself a pair of poly pros also.
Don't just wear your all leather boots, they freeze.
You need some muk-luks or mickey mouse boots.
A arctic canteen would be another good thing to buy, unless you like defrosting water.
I also carry a wool blanket, it has multiple uses like laying on top of your sleeping pad to add insulation.
You want to be in a tent, wind is not fun.
I recomend catoma tents, snugpak sleeping bags, and the old down m1949 mountain bags.

I find that winter camping can eather be really neat, or cold and miserable.

yup,poly pros are great and micky mouse boots are one of a kind.

up state new yorks "snow belt" region is some of the worst in the country,over 100 inches in 2 days 2 winters ago,and right in that snow belt is FT.DRUM,home of the 10th MTN. DIVISION.

those boys need some serious winter gear and i'm lucky enough to live 40min from base.i get all that good winter gear on surplus.goretex suits all day too.

i gotta get some of those USGI snow shoes.

disclaimer:

dont just go out and try winter camping in harsh conditions.take it slow and know your gears limits and capabilities.

good advice northern1.

mac - you are right on about poly pros. they issue them to us and are a beloved part of our TA-50. i cant tell you how many times i wore them in the field in the wee hours of the morning. however, i personally like my underarmor better. it isnt as thick but it is far better when it comes to sweating and wicking the sweat from the body, while still giving an ample amount of warmth.

with the waterproof and windproof bivvy, you would be surprised at how warm and cozy you are inside of these things, not being in a tent. i think the wool blanket is a very good idea, one that i hadnt previously thought of... i was thinking more along the lines of some type of rolled up cushioned sleeping mat that can tie to the bottom of the backpack/rucksack. any experiences with good sleeping mats fellas?

I use a german army sleeping pad because its nice and long and wide and folds up into a square that fits pretty much anywhere.
The wool blanket is to add insulation to the sleeping pad, most pads are to thin and cold in the winter.
I do not recomend the therm-a-rest ridgerest, its very short and I got frost bite on my big toe using it in november one year and lost feeling in it.
The GI pad is very nice, its big and long and thick.
Although it does take up some space.

You by any chance have a link to the kinds of sleeping pads you are saying NOT to get? Here within a few weeks, money will be here, and I will be making some purchases and I want to utilize every bit of help from the fellas patrolling the Yard when doing so. Thanks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

the therma-a-rest pads come in a few different lengths.you just have to get the right one.

as far as insulation i dont expect much from a piece of foam regardless.i do find the therm-a-rest to be a bit softer than the GI ones.i've got a bunch of both.

remember,you cant go wrong with the GI stuff you've been using.

Does anyone know where I can find more info on this 3 piece system? Or where I can purchase one on-line? Thanks

They tell you all about it here, plus you can buy it.
http://www.imsplus.com/ims61b.html

thanks northern1 and mac. Good thread.

still trying to decide if I should buy that tarp up there.... I think I am going to go over to the outdoor store and look at it again... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For sleeping pads try either the Pro-Lite 3 or Big Agnes, pretty light and do not take up that much space in your pack. How much weight are we talking about anyways, and for how many days?

2 night 3 days, tops...

i will check into this gear you suggest Shaolin.

Cool. How much weight? What season?

I am buying gear for winter camping. So Im thinking of dropping about $300 on a NICE sleeping bag. I have been looking at some of the best sleeping systems on the planet; Western Mountaineering.

Then a $100 bivvy to throw the WM sleeping bag in. I can sleep all winter outside, on the mountain. Snow and all, I will be all warm and cozy, with my Hogs and Dogs <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Western Mountaineering makes some awesome bags, so does Marmot. Sorry, but you will not find a new winter bag from either, but if you can sleep really cold, 0 degrees or less for that price, more power to ya, lol

A new bag from either????

Either company for $300.

Oh. Well I beg to differ. I found some at the local outdoor shop. I will get back to you on the models that I saw. I think they were 20 or 35 degree bags. Very nice stuff.

I think the point is that most folks in the west (especially in the intermountain like Shaolin) don't consider 20F+ bags to be 'winter bags'. My lightest summer bag is an 800-fill 32F. On the other hand, I just saw a Marmot 0F/600-fill bag for $230 online (so it is possible if you want to go 3.75#)

I guess it all depends on the application and what you're willing to carry vs. what you're willing to spend. For car camping where weight doesn't matter, you can't beat a real tent with a flannel/canvas bag. If I'm packing it, I go for the lightest (smallest packing) bag I can afford with the required warmth. If you're going to wear a bunch of clothing at night, you can go with a warmer rating.

And btw, I'd be curious how a bivy does with condensation in the winter - I've never tried a bivy in extremely cold conditions.

My Marmot Arroyo is a 30 degree bag, but it is not a winter bag, and it cost $285 around 6 years ago.

Post deleted by rooikat

In East Tennessee, it very seldomly gets below 20 degrees at anytime, middle of night or anytime during the day. So I will be just fine with a bag rated for this weather and above. Plus, when in the field, and at FT. Lewis too, I sleep in full cold weather gear from underarmor and you would be amazed at how toasty I saty in my bag and bivvy.


Interesting thought on the winter bivvy and in the cold weather... I will get back and let you guys know when I get the bag and the bivvy and get the chance to get out in the woods and do some sleeping in my new sleeping system. Hooah.

Just remember with sleeping bags you need to take their thermal rating with a grain of salt. Do some research of reviews of the bag if you can. Try some cool weather camping prior to the real cold stuff.

Remember sweat can kill in the winter. Layer your clothing and if you feel that you are starting to sweat peel some layers off. Once your clothes and you get damp it can be real hard to dry out in winter. If you are wearing boots with removeable liners, it can be a good idea to have two sets of liners so you can have one dry out while you are wearing the other.
I personally cannot stand mummy bags, so for me I need the old fashioned rectangular bag. I like the fact that I can store the next days clothes in the foot of the bag so they are warm when I but them on. This does come at a price, the bag is heavier and not so compact and I have to wear something on my head. I wear what my kids call my "dork hat" it is a winter liner for a hard hat and covers my ears and keeps my head warm at night.

I would also suggest the first couple of times you go out, you don't go to far off the beaten track just incase you need to bug out if something doesn't go as planned

All very sound advice coyotebc.

I agree with almost all of what coyetebc said, other than that I don't really mind mummy bags. I dont use them as intended because I fine it hard to sleep on my back, but I enjoy how compact they are. Most of the camping I do is backpacking, which means that I must often sacrifice the ruggedness of the gear in favor of decreasing weight. Military gear is great, but I often find that its durability is made to withstand abuse I never encounter, and thus merely adds weight.


Even the inflatable ones are still pretty bulky. My norm is a balled-up fleece jacket, but down is best. I often use the next days cloths as a pillow and to warm them, but the suggestion of keeping them at the bottom of the bag is also a good one. This also helps to keep your feet warm, if you wrap the cloths around them a bit. Here in Oregon, the temps usually stay above zero unless you're at high altitude, but I've been fine sleeping with a hat and jacket on in a 15 degree bag when its around 10*F. outside. Then again, I prefer to sleep very cold. In general though, you can get away with a more compact and colder bag if you dont mind sleeping in your full winter wardrobe. After I (hopefully) get my knife fix taken care of at blade west, I plan to get a new backpacking pack. I will most likely go for something technical outdoors, rather than something military, but my mind isnt made up. I know kifaru is the accepted favorite in these parts, but thats a bit beyond my price range. Again, we'll see

great post cloak

Here is a link to Buffalo Systems....you should look at the Super S sleeping bag and their Mountain shirt in OD Green...you can leave the liner and use the shirt instead...the bag has shoulder zips which make it perfect for military and climbing use as you can keep it on and use your hands...it works like a poncho then....it works soaking wet through....you just wring it dry and it dries out quickly...it washes in a machine wash....I got this system in 1980...they started in 1979...this stuff lasts!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/index.htm

The sleeping bag is a bit heavy though....if you want a lighter two bag system try the Snugpack military bags

http://militarykit.com/product_categories/sleeping_bags_snugpak.htm

thanks steel fan. i am going to book mark these and read them when i get done with this paper i got to do, due before midnight.. just a 4 page essay so it shouldnt be TOOO bad. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Recon,

On the snug pack systems....google them and they may be available Stateside.
The special forces double bag is the one to look at as you can tailor this for different levels of climate....take what you need...no more. They are the Gucci gear now over here because they pack up smaller and are lighter than the Buffalo system. If you need to sleep in boots Snugpak also do a square military bag which has more foot room and can be used better like a duvet as it unzips all the way. A useful bag for a mechanized military role but is a bigger package for a Bergan. Not sure if some of these tips would help you but here is some of what I have found useful over the years:-

- Look at using natural wool to tie off your basher/poncho system. You want it strong enough to hold the basher but easy enough to pull and snap when you need to bug out fast on a contact. You can buy green wool at any knitting shop and just ask to test some. Far quicker than bungees or untying para cord.
- I used two old Hessian paymaster postal bags cut down to go over my boots before getting into the bag if sleeping with boots on. They allow the boots to breath and dry and stop mud messing up the bag.
- Some guys took trainers for camp/sleeping...I had two pairs of boots...one dry for bag use and these had a zip attachment instead of laces so quick to zip up and GO. Sometimes though both pairs are wet....and the Hessian sacks are useful.
- SOP's vary on a stand to...my situation was to avoid a contact and run and hide ( again! )...I worked a LOT on my bug out drill...which in turn dictated how I slept....I tied off a lot of the kit to my bergan before sleeping and was always ready to go...bundled bag,mat and bivi into poncho and threw it over my head like a parachute carry after a drop once I had the Bergan on. Sort my stuff out later but the speed of doing it like that was VERY quick if I needed to disappear. If they slipped out my grip before tying the bundle off I could still find them in the dark because of the tie off's. But YMMV depending on your unit.Hammocks needed for the jungle can be used the same way....but bash the Poncho well before pulling it...there are always some "bugs" on them. The point of this last tip is to emphasise keeping your kit with you....we would here about a lot of guys...even our Special Forces...who would leave kit on a contact and then be down to survival from their belt kit. Some died later because of the exposure or hypothermia....how you sleep is one of the most overlooked fundamentals on training IMO.
- Belt Kit Survival - if you HAVE to ditch the Bergan the one thing you will miss is cold weather gear...Mountain Equipment did a jacket called the "Mountain Lite"....it was a down jacket which folded into a stuff bag about the size of a Coke can...I had one of those in multiple waterproof raps in my belt kit...the only "down" garment I had but the only one which folded so small and could give huge warmth when used to sleep with or warm up after a river crossing. That bit of kit was so brilliant when needed I would seriously advise you consider one. Other companies may do the same thing...mine was bright blue and yellow...so I dyed it dark green...came out a bit of a mess but was still tactical and still worked.

HTH'S

S/F.

great post Steel Fan!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Much to learn here. Great post, everyone <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> .