Recessionary Spending

Even before these sad economic times, I've always been the kind of girl who hunts for a deal. Maybe it's being raised by an Asian mom used to bargaining and negotiating for deals, but I invariably get twinges of doubt and regret when paying full price for expensive gear. The good thing about the recession is that there seems to be some deflation going on - more and more deals to be had. My mailbox has been flooded with 20% off coupons, free shipping, buy x get y free type of promotions. In light of the recession I thought I'd share my two cents on looking for discounted outdoor gear.

Outside of these offers, I usually buy discounted gear through two major websites: SteepandCheap and Chainlove. I have absolutely no affiliation with these sites (which are all web portals for backcountry.com). But the kind of things you can buy, and the deals you can get are awesome. The key is downloading the add on applications for the browsers, NOT the desktop alert which is too too slow. It's the easiest way to keep an eye on the deals and to act quickly before things sell out. Steep and Cheap is great for basic outdoor gear and clothing and Chainlove for all your biking needs. The customer service is pretty good too. You can count on seeing some good deals on sunglasses, shoes, and clothing on Steep and Cheap. There's an occasional sleeping bag. More infrequently seen are deals on packs and tents. Chainlove is heavy on the clothing as well, but recently I saw a Titus Racer X frame for 1/2 price.

Another website for biking gear is Pricepoint. I've yet to purchase anything from them, but their prices are pretty good. Not everything is on sale, but the items that are seem to be significantly discounted.

What seems like everybody's go to site for outdoor gear discounts is Sierra Trading Post. I've found them to carry great brands, usually 2-3 seasons old items. Signing up for mailings from the different online retailers (i.e. Moosejaw.com, Backcountry.com, Mountaingear.com) seems like a great way to get junk mail - but overall, I've received more coupons (ranging from 15-30% off) than spam. Also, buying from certain websites also gives you early access to some of their web sales.

Finding deals on climbing gear has been more difficult. I usually check out Northern Mountain Supply for ropes. Most sites will also give you a bulk discount for biners. If you live in SoCal like I do, it's also highly worth the gas money to make the trip out to Redlands, where the FiveTen Pro Shop is open Friday afternoons after 1PM. They also have an awesome sale around Thanksgiving - last year I bought a pair of approach shoes for $25 and climbing shoes for $15. It looks like they have an online outlet now too! I've also found that many local stores are also willing to give you a bulk discount as well, which can be helpful if you're building a rack.

Anyways, those are some of the ways I try to squeeze more gear of my limited funds. If anyone has any other recommendations, share the wealth!

Toasteeeeeee!!!

Holy crap! For someone who is a cold cold sleeper, I can't believe I've found a sleeping bag that is TOO warm for most of my camping. The REI Women's Kilo Plus is rated to -5 degrees F, making it perfectly warm and comfy for those nights below 32 degrees. Which was perfect when I was still living on the East coast, but now I'm on the left coast..... a little overkill. This is the first sleeping bag that's actually made me break out in a sweat. Nothing close to -5F temps where and when I camp but I'm the kind of cold sleeper who shivers in her 20 degree bag on 40 degree nights. This bag has been great for nights in the Sierras at altitude and in the winter in Joshua Tree. For a warm bag, it packs down nicely for multiday backpacking trips (thanks to the 750 fill down). I also love that this 5'2" girl no longer has to deal with an icy cold footbox area because this bag is the perfect length. There's also a little draft collar that you can snuggle around your shoulders to keep extra toasty warm. And speaking of shoulders, it's definitely a women's bag that's contoured for smaller shoulders - so less dead space to have to heat up. On the minus side, it's pricey, but I guess that's what your yearly coupon and dividend is for...

Wild Country Women's Vision Harness

Having gotten almost 8 years worth of wear out of my old Black Diamond Momentum Harness, it's long past time for me to replace it with something new. After trying on many, many harnesses, this one wins the prize for the most comfy. Nice wide swami that's padded, as are the adjustable leg loops. And pretty affordable, around $55. Also lots of safety features, like wear indicators on the belay and leg loops. It also has a little haul loop rated to 10kN that can be occasionally handy. What's really great about this harness is the truly female fit - the rise in the front is definitely longer than men's/unisex harnesses. And it actually has made a significant difference in the comfort and fit for me. What I haven't loved about the harness is the gear loop placements. The two rear loops unfortunately lie too close to, well, my rear. It's been tough to rack up gear in an organized way and reachy for me too. Which means unfortunately, I'm still looking for a comfy, all around harness.

On the road to Ultralite

Last fall, my good friends and I went on a week long backpacking trip in the Sierras. We had a great time. But the sight of my dear friend Christina skipping down the trail with her Golite pack carrying around 20 pounds of weight (only that heavy as she got assigned the bear canister) inspired envy in the rest of us who trudged along with our 30+pound packs. (That's how she got stuck with the canister). Inspirational enough for me to really start planning a gear overhaul. Fortunately for me on that trip, I had already made the switch to an ultralight tent.

My issue with ultralight camping has always been the tarp. Apparently, I am a natural homing beacon for mosquitoes and other blood sucking insects. And I am not about to slather myself in a chemical as nasty as DEET every night. While I realize that not every trip involves heavy insect infestations, it only takes one mosquito for one very restless night. So how to tent ultralight? I trolled the backpacker.com forums and found a strong following for Henry Shires Tarptent

I opted for the Rainshadow 2. It's big - sleeps 3 - and weighs 42 oz. That's less than 3 pounds! I wanted a larger tent as I usually backpack with friends, and needed a tent that could fit my boyfriend and my dog. Entirely enclosed yet also ultralight, it is a great option for the bug-phobic like me. After getting it in September, I've used my tarptent for multiday trip in the Sierras, at Joshua Tree in October, and a overnight trip in the Angeles National Forest. Overnight temps have ranged from 50s to the 20s, with windy days and calm days.

My biggest problem with the Rainshadow 2 has been the setup. I'm a pro with freestanding tents (it doesn't take much), but a complete novice pitching a tarp. It requires a really taut setup, especially on those windy or rainy nights. Otherwise you'll be cursed with the loud sound of constant flapping, or pooling puddles of rain in the wrong places. If the ground is hard and rocky (like the campground at JTree) and you have to resort to using rocks to guy out the lines rather than stakes.... UGH! This isn't an issue with the Rainshadow per say, more of a learning curve involved with tarps in general.

PROS:
Lightweight (duh)
Roomy - enough space for 3 as well as enough vestibule space for boots
Enclosed - mesh doors and sidewalls
Bathtub floor - great for those rainy days

CONS:
Setup- Actually the issue with setup is an issue for most tarps - it takes some practice and skill to get a really taut setup, and can be difficult in very hard/rocky ground
Durability - it just doesn't seem as bomber as my old Marmot traditional tent/fly combo.
Big Footprint - the flip side of roomy

Overall, I really like this tent for backpacking. I wouldn't go through the hassle of setup though if I'm car camping as weight isn't an issue. On those nights, I use my trusty Marmot Equinox. I would however, choose a smaller tent like the Rainbow (which is freestanding!) or the Contrail (only 24 oz and entirely enclosed) if I had to do it again. The footprint of the Rainshadow 2 can be challenging to accomodate at times, depending on the site.

Falling Off the Wagon

I was doing pretty well the last few years.... I had my tent. Backpacks. Hydration systems. Stove. An entire Capilene wardrobe. But since moving to California, the land of 365 days of outdoor activities, living a day's drive of J Tree, the Sierras, and Yosemite to name a few, I've succumbed to an old problem. Spending significant amounts of money on outdoor gear. Of course, I have excuses - I need to transition to Ultralight backpacking. I started mountain biking. And I've finally got the guts to start lead climbing. Which means I've got my eye on some new gear. And being a 5'2" woman, I'm on the lookout for equipment made for the likes of me.