Sorta new, need some advice

[kawasa]

Okay, I did some research on tents and I came up with these two:
the ALPS Mountaineering Comet 2.0 (http://www.rei.com/product/722840?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-datafeed-_-product-_-722840&mr:trackingCode=0B4A7A95-5283-DD11-873B-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA)
and the ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2 (http://www.backcountry.com/store/ALM0049/ALPS-Mountaineering-Zephyr-2-Tent-2-Person-3-Season-Tent.html)

I know they're sorta cheap but from a lot of different reviews apparently they work okay. What do you think? I sort of am thinking the Zephyr because it's freestanding. Oh, if you have any suggestions I need a two person tent. Needless to say I don't have a huge budget.

Pack: I was looking at these two:
Jansport Bigbear 63 (http://www.buy.com/prod/jansport-big-bear-63/q/loc/16234/206834715.html)
Jansport Klamath 85 (http://www.jansport.com/js_product_detail.php?pid=TFB2)

Each of these seemed to fit me correctly(as I was told by a guy at the Osprey dealer). I just wondered if Jansports packs are as good as their backpacks. Do you think the extra weight of the Klamath is worth it? Ideally I'd get the Osprey Atomos 65 but that's way out of price range... :(

When it comes to sleeping bags I don't really know what to get. I want something decent and light, preferably down, but not like $200 that performs decent in the cold. I'd like to spend around $100 and if I could find a discount one or SOMETHING I don't know. Any help on these three things would be GREAT.

[swoosh]

hi bro and welcome.

may i strongly suggest you look to buy a used tent and pack. some hikers go through new gear every couple of months. there's great deals to be had if you are patient and search

you should be able to find each under $100 if you go used. in the past year i bought a used SD clip flashlight for $30 and gregory z55 for $90. both great buys. places to search:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=69
www.geartrade.com

here's a few i'd recommend over the ALPS for comparative prices:
http://www.spadout.com/p/the-north-face-rock-22/
http://www.spadout.com/p/sierra-designs-sirius-2/
http://www.spadout.com/p/sierra-designs-clip-flashlight/
http://www.spadout.com/p/kelty-gunnison-2/


here's a great bag for a great price:
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___40065

you'll be hard pressed to find a better bag than that for that price (you'll get over the purple :D)

keep us posted

[natchez]

Kawasa, welcome to the forum :)

[kawasa]

Thanks for the advice swoosh.

Thanks natchez, I hope to be around longer and I assume there's somewhere for trip reports? :)

[swoosh]

np.

saw a good pack for sale and thought i'd link ya. don't know your waist size though :D

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41255

[kawasa]

When it comes to bags how big, relatively speaking, is a 13''X6'' stuff size?

[swoosh]

think as tall as and 2x as wide as a nalgene

[kawasa]

Is that an alright size for a thirty degree synthetic?

I'm looking at these two bags for some fall hiking.

The Lafuma X 950 Pro 30 Degree Sleeping Bag (http://www.backcountryedge.com/lafuma-x-950.aspx?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc) that the synthetic

and a down one:
Kelty Light Year Down 20 (http://www.backcountryedge.com/kelty-ly-down-20.aspx?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc) I can get that cheaper but the specs are on that page.

also this down one, it's a Lafuma (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017M7HUQ) I think the specs are just about the same as the Lafuma synthetic but I forget where I saw the specs.

What do you think? Sorry for all the questions...<br><br>Post edited by: kawasa, at: 2008/09/19 01:42

[swoosh]

kelty's bags were too restrictive for my liking. i'm not big by any means, but it was really a body condom. so i will only comment on the lafuma's.


i actually have a synthetic lafuma +40 for my late spring/summer/early fall bag and really like it.

full length zipper on a bag is a must for me. if it's too hot you can always unzip it the whole way and use it as a quilt. both of these have full length zippers.

the down one is 7 ounces lighter, will pack smaller, last longer, and be more true to the temp rating (plan on your synthetic only being warm to about 40 unless you suppliment w/ extra clothing). down is a bit more hassle to clean, but is the better option if you can get either for the same price. you must take extra caution though if you go w/ down to not get it wet. this is the only situation where synthetic is superior.

it's a euro company and make quality stuff.

editted to add this:
if you're on a budget my recommendation is to shoot for a +20 bag instead of the +30. if you get the +30 and really enjoy hiking and camping, you'll end up wishing you had the +20 towards the middle of fall and the beginning of spring<br><br>Post edited by: swoosh, at: 2008/09/19 03:42

[swoosh]

if you don't like the campmore one i posted then maybe look into this:

http://www.sunandski.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9312061708510

quite a few thru hikers use it

[kawasa]

Oh, how about this one (http://www.wildernessexchangeunlimited.com/product_detail.cfm?Product=LA%20Fuma%20%20WARM%20N %20LIGHT%201000%20DOWN&CatID=53&PID=1776)

It's a lafuma down to 20 degrees.

[swoosh]

that looks pretty good bro - i'm pleased w/ my lafuma. i couldn't find out if it's full zipper or not. if that's important to you i'd give em call or email em. something worth noting about lafumas. they make most of their bags to fit 6'9". so if it's pretty cold be prepared to stick a fleece or something similar down in the bottom of the bag to kill the dead air space. good news about taht is if it's really cold you can keep your water and shoes down there so they don't freeze and aren't touching you all night :D

either that or fold it underneath you

[swoosh]

here's a pack worth checking out:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=15907

pretty good price for an osprey

[kawasa]

Well I made some decisions and did some ordering.

I bought the Zephyr tent. I know that it doesn't sound like a good idea but I can send it back if I want to(the site had an unlimited guarantee and warranty with no questions asked)Might end up being too heavy but we'll see

I went with the Lafuma bag that we were talking about.

For my pack I went with the Osprey Atmos 65. I'm really excited for it to get here, I tried it on at a store and it felt incredible

I sold one of my cars to a scrap yard for some extra cash :laugh:

Shoot I forgot to get a sleeping pad! lol<br><br>Post edited by: kawasa, at: 2008/09/20 20:28

[swoosh]

nice bro. you can pick up a cheapo sleeping pad at wallyworld to tide you over until you can afford a nice pad. pretty sure you'll be pleased w/ the bag and definitely pleased w/ the pack. by all means give the tent a go. if you can sleep comfortably and dry in it, and don't mind carrying it then i'm all for it!

[kawasa]

I was thinking about the Thermarest Prolite 3, the 4 is more expensive and I really don't think I need that much padding.

[kawasa]

I got all my gear. I got all the things I mentioned except instead of a Therarest I got a big agnes. It was smaller, cheaper, lighter, and has more cushion.

Everything fits in my pack like a charm with PLENTY of room for other stuff. Now this weekend it's supposed to rain but I'm prepared for that too! :laugh:

[swoosh]

excellent. i have the BA insulated airmat as well and thoroughly enjoy it. it slides a little though if you set up on uneven ground. i've woken up a few mornings spooning the side of my tent. now i just stuff something soft on the downhill side of my pad (a fleece, empty pack, etc) to keep it from happening