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Expensive gear for beginners

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  • 02-04-2014 8:41pm
    #1
    hmmm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭


    I've come to the conclusion from a long time hiking that buying cheap gear is usually a false economy - my strategy now is to identify the best gear, and buy it when it's cheap/on sale.

    I know nothing about camping, but would love to get started. Based on the criteria listed in the stickied thread, could you suggest the very best gear for Irish conditions, without considering price at all?

    As I say, I know very little about camping. Best I can suggest under lighting is if you're interested in a headtorch, the Black Diamond icon is super with a strong and reasonably consistent light, and takes AA batteries. If you want ultralight, best I've found is the Petzl Zipka.


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    #2
    Pat Mustard
    Registered Users Posts: 9,554 ✭✭✭Pat Mustard


    hmmm wrote: »
    I've come to the conclusion from a long time hiking that buying cheap gear is usually a false economy - my strategy now is to identify the best gear, and buy it when it's cheap/on sale.

    Most of the gear noted in the sticky is not cheap gear. It is inexpensive gear, of reasonable quality. There is an important distinction. It's not a case of 'buy cheap pay twice' when you don't buy cheap gear in the first place.

    I don't think that it is necessary for someone who is starting out to get the best gear; just adequate gear. Conditions in Ireland can be wet and windy, but we do not suffer from the extremes of weather that prevail in other countries, generally. Unless you plan on going mountaineering in the Alps, I think that there may be a certain amount of overkill in insisting on the best equipment, at the outset.

    In any case, I might suggest the following as top gear for an Irish climate:

    RUCKSACKS:
    For instance:
    Macpac
    Lowe Alpine
    Osprey


    SLEEPING BAGS (for instance):
    Summer sleeping bag:
    Mountain Equipment (weighs 823g with stuffsack)

    Winter sleeping bag:
    Mountain Equipment Snowline
    Weighs 1.3kg, comfort temperature -9 celcius, fill power; 850 goose down.
    Cost: £437.50 plus p&p.

    SLEEPING MAT:Check out the R Values
    Exped Downmat 9
    Exped Synmat 7
    Thermarest NeoAir

    TENT:
    Mountain tents are the toughest tents. They are built to withstand the most adverse conditions. These include brands such as Marmot and Mountain Hardware. If you want the best tents, these are the types of brands that you need to check. Probably overkill for Ireland, unless you are going to camp on the side of a mountain.

    For less extreme conditions, there are options like the Marmot Grid II, which is designed for the wet conditions that prevail in Ireland and the UK.

    The Outdoor Shop     website is not cheap, but there is value to be had in their sales, sometimes. The Live for the Outdoors website is good for reviews.


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    #3
    hmmm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭hmmm


    The Mustard wrote: »
    Probably overkill for Ireland, unless you are going to camp on the side of a mountain.
    That's exactly where I'd like to camp. Thanks for the suggestions, plenty of reading to do.


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    #4
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,692 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    Tents:
    http://www.hilleberg.com/

    Rucksacks (and clothing)
    http://bergans.eu/
    https://www.maxpedition.com/

    Sleeping bags
    http://www.mammut.ch/en/products_sleepingsystems.html

    Sleeping mats
    http://www.cascadedesigns.com/en/therm-a-rest

    Clothing
    http://store.berghaus.com/

    that lot would provide quality gear for a sizeable amount of money.


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    #5
    Carawaystick
    Registered Users Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    The Mustard wrote: »
    Most of the gear noted in the sticky is not cheap gear. It is inexpensive gear, of reasonable quality. There is an important distinction. It's not a case of 'buy cheap pay twice' when you don't buy cheap gear in the first place.

    ...

    Winter sleeping bag:
    Mountain Equipment Snowline
    Weighs 1.3kg, comfort temperature -9 celcius, fill power; 850 goose down.
    Cost: £437.50 plus p&p.


    I have to say this seems extremely expensive.
    I got my sleeping bag in 2000, and it weighs <1.2kg. it was about 120 pounds

    I've slept in it on glaciers on a fivers worth of closed cell foam mat in a gore tex bivvy bag in blizzards around -10

    I'd imagine hollow fill has become cheaper and lighter since, considering how much fleeces have dropped in price.


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    #6
    Pat Mustard
    Registered Users Posts: 9,554 ✭✭✭Pat Mustard


    You do realise that the OP asked for expensive gear? :pac:


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    #7
    sheesh
    Registered Users Posts: 4,080 ✭✭✭sheesh


    expensive?

    have a look at Dakine snow backpacks for hiking day packs

    http://eu.dakine.com/w/backpacks/snow-backpacks

    They seem to be well thought out and expensive


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    #8
    hmmm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭hmmm


    sheesh wrote: »
    have a look at Dakine snow backpacks for hiking day packs
    Never heard of them. Best I've seen in Irish stores for hiking at least are probably Deuter rucksacks, but the best one I've seen abroad was an Arcteryx Altra.


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    #9
    sheesh
    Registered Users Posts: 4,080 ✭✭✭sheesh


    hmmm wrote: »
    Never heard of them. Best I've seen in Irish stores for hiking at least are probably Deuter rucksacks, but the best one I've seen abroad was an Arcteryx Altra.

    Oh they probably not the best they do seem to be a quality brand though.


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