# Recommend some hiking / camping gear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104 "2011-09-12T22:41:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/81 "2011-09-17T21:33:33Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > For the OP, you can safely ignore the ultralight details. There’s nothing wrong with paring down your gear but it takes some experience to really know what is important to you and what your safety margins are. A few pounds won’t kill you over a long weekend trip. Agree 100% – I was just being a bit of a pisser (but also genuinely impressed that a lot of base pack-weights got down so low). Shoes – you’ll have to make your own call. I like runners, and doubt that proper hiking boots, especially when not broken-in, give any real protection except maybe against snakes or some psychological peace of mind. No way you need to spend half a G for a short trip – just wear sensible (polyester is your friend!) clothes, a pack that fits you correctly, and some bedding/shelter that will keep you dry. Any stove will do – I more and more like the small alcohol stoves, but I never got around to making one myself. For only a few days, it might make more sense to eat dry goods, and, if wanted, save the stove to have some cocoa or tea or some coffee. Good for keeping critters away, too (though I wouldn’t worry about scavengers too much – you’ll probably stink to high hell after day two and scare them right away!). ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/82 "2011-09-18T03:26:24Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > Go to REI and get fitted for a nice pack and talk to those folks there. It’s worth it to buy the membership even if you only spend $100 there. The REI brand for just about any/all gear is usually a good bargain for quality and weight - especially if you catch stuff on sale. THIS. REI is awesome. And the people there are the most knowledgeable of any place there is. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/83 "2011-09-18T04:08:31Z")
I just saw an ad on TV for the [Mighty Saw.](https://www.ordermightysaw.com/?tag=im%7Csm%7Cgo%7Ctm&a_aid=011&a_bid=14ff1df4) This looks like it would be a **great** solution for anyone who doesn’t want to carry an axe. It weighs almost nothing, and looks like it can cut through most firewood branches and logs rather easily. Consider this if you want a way to cut up wood but don’t want to bring an axe. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/84 "2011-09-18T04:19:04Z")
+1 to getting a pack fitted correctly – it’s one area where it’s best to go in person and have somebody (including maybe just yourself) make sure everything is right, as opposed to just buying off the internet. No, I’m not some elite backpacker, and although I do log about 1000 miles per month (or try to) in wooded areas around Portland, very rarely do I have the time to go for a proper backpacking trek. So, I’m probably about your level of stamina and experience, as opposed to a lot of the real backpackers around here. Cum grano salis, just my two cents, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/85 "2011-09-18T07:40:16Z")
I don’t recall if I’ve said this yet or not, but to all the folks who think that an axe would be too big/bulky/unwieldy to carry on a backpacking trip… maybe a hatchet instead? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/86 "2011-09-19T03:59:34Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I don’t recall if I’ve said this yet or not, but to all the folks who think that an axe would be too big/bulky/unwieldy to carry on a backpacking trip… maybe a hatchet instead? 😃 Pistol in 0.44 magnum? Bazooka? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/87 "2011-09-19T09:38:19Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > Pistol in 0.44 magnum? Bazooka? A bazooka? Don’t be silly. An AT4 has much better penetration. Very important if you get attacked by a Grizzly Bear. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/88 "2011-09-19T14:21:13Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I don’t recall if I’ve said this yet or not, but to all the folks who think that an axe would be too big/bulky/unwieldy to carry on a backpacking trip… maybe a hatchet instead? 😃 I don’t burn wood when I backpack, so any saw, hatchet, axe is too much weight. I’d much rather go lighter or use that extra weight to bring more useful gear. Fires may be very important for some backpackers but not for me and they are often forbidden in areas. A backpacking stove is much more efficient for cooking and I don’t need to sit around a fire at night. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/89 "2011-09-19T16:49:00Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > A bow saw?!? No - do not do this, BlackKnight. It is silly and foolish. I cannot conceive of any area of Minnesota that does not have ample firewood, should you be in an area where you are able to fire up a campfire. In my experience hiking, a bowsaw would be hurled as far as I could throw it within 2 hours for being the most extraneous piece of equipment ever imagined, outside of a flatscreen television. If you think you need a saw, you should get a Sven Saw [http://www.svensaw.com/](http://www.svensaw.com/) Extremely light, compact and very well built. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104/90 "2011-09-20T03:04:15Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > Pistol in 0.44 magnum? Bazooka? Neither. I’m taking a Ninja Sherpa with me. Not only can he break branches with his hands, he and his pack weigh less than the weight of himself plus the weight of his pack. This is because he is both a ninja and a sherpa. He can deflect bullets with his fists, destroy grizzlies with his feet, and can tear off his own head. I bought a nice Kelty backpack and a Kelty down sleeping bag rated for 0 degrees. I found an old pair of boots which should work fine. I’ll keep my eyes open for any good deals on boots, but the ones I have are comfortable and durable. It turns out my father’s hunting trip _doesn’t_ coincide with my camping trip as I had thought, meaning I’ll be able to borrow an awful lot of stuff. In fact, I could probably borrow 90% of what I’ll need. :smack: Still, it doesn’t hurt to have some of my own gear. Also, now I know he’s available to check on the cat while I’m gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-hiking-camping-gear/596104.md?page=4)