Anyone into Backpacking?

[GoSharks]

Yes, you may find stuff cheaper elsewhere bu REI has an awesome return policy. If it doesn't work, bring it back. No questions asked. Not getting stuck with something you don't like saves you quite a bit of money.

Backcountry.com

Not stoked on your gear? Looking to return it or make an exchange? No problem, we have an Unlimited Return Policy: we guarantee complete satisfaction and an unlimited lifetime warranty. If at any time -- now, next month, in 30 years -- you're not 100% satisfied, send your gear back for a full refund. No questions asked.

Mountaingear.com

Returns & Exchanges: Satisfaction Guaranteed On Every Purchase

We guarantee every product we sell. If a product does not meet your expectations during its useful life, we promise to repair it, replace it or give you a refund.

Altrec.com

We want you to be 100% satisfied with your Altrec.com purchase. If something isn't right, we guarantee total satisfaction by offering a 100% no-questions-asked lifetime Satisfaction Guarantee on everything we sell. Our unlimited returns policy means we will refund your purchase in full at any time. We want to make sure you have the right gear for your next outdoor adventure.

REI's return policy is not anything special these days.

 

[GoSharks]

For REI members (which anyone who ever intends to shop there, even infrequently, should be) you get 10% off. So their items are "similarly priced"--plus 10% off.

For me personally I also have an REI credit card, for an extra 5% off. So the baseline REI offers is 15% off regular prices, regular prices being basically equal for them, online retailers, and mom and pops.

On top of that twice yearly they have 20% off one item sales. This helps with bigger purchases, skis or boots or whatever.

While there are a lot of deals to be found elsewhere, as far as a starting point to find gear I don't see how REI can be beat. Like I said it is my first and last--I'll go there first to see what something costs, look around for a deal, but most of the time come back to REI last because it is the best deal.

Tax pretty much kills the 10% rebate. And since the rebate is only given on full price items, you're still pretty much paying full price any way you put it. Even at full price, online is AT WORSE equivalent on price with REI.

Places like Moosejaw have a unexpiring 15% off coupon code on full priced items plus their own rewards program. (PM me if you want the code). Toss in no tax and free shipping makes them significantly cheaper.

 

[davmat787]

Haven't done much of it myself, but I know there is a ton of stuff around the Olympic Peninsula. Just need to make sure it's not raining.

The Olympic Peninsula is where the rainforest is. The clouds coming off the pacific build up against the Olympics, and produce a lot of rain. No doubt there are nice days, but they do call it a rainforest for a reason. But you are right, there are some nice trails. Shi Shi beach trail is spectacular, and an easy hike. You endup on some amazing beaches.

This is a great book for the Olympic Peninsula too: http://www.amazon.com/Day-Hiking-Olympic-Peninsula-Washington/dp/159485047X/ref=pd_sim_b_1

 

[goobernoodles]

Shi Shi looks awesome.

I'm trying to plan a trip for this weekend. Some suggestions I've gotten include:

Thunder Creek
Lena lake
Various Olympic National Park beaches
Duckabrush river (olympics)
Ingalls creek

Anyone have any experience with these areas? Any thoughts?

 

[natto fire]

I'm pretty sure I've never needed a knife once in the 10+ years that I've backpacked.

Seriously?! You have never had to cut rope/string/fishing line? Never needed to spread peanut butter, etc.? Sharpen a pencil? Clean your fingernails? WHIDDLE?!

That seems odd to me because I use a knife everyday even now, but I remember it coming in handy A LOT last summer when I was living out of my car and doing lots of backpacking trips.

 

[illusion88]

I want to bring up a few etiquette points.

You fuck up my woods I'll fuck up you!

- Pack out your trash. This includes your toilet paper. If you need TP to wipe, you need to pack it out with you. Don't bury it, don't burn it, pack it out. Your local backpacking shop will have bags that are designed to contain this type of waste. Or you could use a series of ziplocks if you are worried about it.
- Dig a hole when you poop. This takes a little bit of planning, unless you are pretty fast with your spade. Six to eight inches deep, no exceptions!
- Don't wash yourself in a stream or lake. Carry that water several hundred feet away and wash on the dirt. If you are going to be jumping in any lakes or rivers, make sure they are fucking big. Lakes = big enough to water ski on, rivers = big enough to drown horses in
- Leave the stuff you find. You find a cool looking animal skull? Sweet, I want to see it to so leave it there!
- If you build something you best break it down in a way so that no one would know it was there. It's pretty awesome to build your own structure to sleep under, just break it down when you are done
- Fires OMG do I hate seeing a firepit way out in the woods. If it's a high traffic area, then yes they make sense. For god's sake man don't make your own fire ring or pit. If there is one already there then feel free to use it. Don't break branches off of trees, "dead and down" wood only please. This means branches that you can pick up without having to destroy anything! And for fucks sake, if you do build a fire outside of an established fire area SCATTER YOUR ASHES! This means of a 50yd radius. For fucks sake man!
- Don't disturb, or feed, wildlife. Period. You see two animals fucking? You GTFO. You see a birds nest on the ground, you GTFO!
- If you make a fuck tonne of noise while I'm near you I'll fucking shoot you!


Lastly, I'm gonna pull a page off the LNT website
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.

Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. Can't stress that one enough.

Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
-Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
-Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
-Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
-Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
-Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. If you can see evidence of other people you should go camp somewhere else!

 

[Bignate603]

REI's return policy is not anything special these days.

Even if websites have decent return policies its still a hell of a lot less convenient then buying something Friday, trying it out, trying it out on Saturday and deciding you don't like it, then returning it on Sunday.

Also, there's no replacing actually touching and trying out the gear before you buy it. Why would you buy a set of boots, a pack, or a tent that you're going to rely on to keep yourself comfortable without actually touching it?

 

[GoSharks]

You have never had to cut rope/string/fishing line? Never needed to spread peanut butter, etc.? Sharpen a pencil? Clean your fingernails? WHIDDLE?!

No to all of the above.

A knife is extra weight and unnecessary for me. My baseweight for summer at 10k feet is roughly 17 pounds.

 

[GoSharks]

Even if websites have decent return policies its still a hell of a lot less convenient then buying something Friday, trying it out, trying it out on Saturday and deciding you don't like it, then returning it on Sunday.

Also, there's no replacing actually touching and trying out the gear before you buy it. Why would you buy a set of boots, a pack, or a tent that you're going to rely on to keep yourself comfortable without actually touching it?

Shoes: yes because I know what works for me.
Pack: No. But at the same time, a B&M such as REI can only carry so many packs.
Tent: absolutely. I bought both of my tents sight unseen.

Don't get me wrong, I've been buying from REI for years now, but for any specific item, they usually do not have the best prices around.

I think I've only ever returned something to REI, under their satisfaction guarantee, only once. A cheap stove that refused to auto-ignite.

 

[BabaBooey]

I thought you were asking if anyone was into backpeddling.

I thought something very different......:awe:

 

[KillerCharlie]

No to all of the above.

A knife is extra weight and unnecessary for me. My baseweight for summer at 10k feet is roughly 17 pounds.

Good luck if you're at 10k ft in Washington. If you don't have crampons, an ice axe, and a glacier rope, you're screwed.

 

[GoSharks]

Good luck if you're at 10k ft in Washington. If you don't have crampons, an ice axe, and a glacier rope, you're screwed.

Well I never said anything about WA.