Edit: so it turns out that every hobby can be expensive if you do it long enough.
Also I love how you talk about your hobby as some addicts.
Edit: so it turns out that every hobby can be expensive if you do it long enough.
Also I love how you talk about your hobby as some addicts.
Hiking.
This.
You get some gear. It’s nice, but heavy…then you realize there’s so much lighter stuff out there.
$100/lbs later your congratulating yourself that your base weight is 15lbs until you add food and water, and you realize that your pack still is too heavy. You finally shave off another 2 lbs by buying all new luxury items at $30-$50 a pop, and getting a lighter stove.
Then winter comes, and that 4 season, dyneema tent looks mighty appealing. Not to mention you need a better rated sleeping bag (cause that hammock ain’t gonna cut it) and a pad, a better puffy and fleece, crampons, maybe an ice pick, and another stove that works in the cold…
Edit. Damn it, I forgot I need new shoes…even if I wanted to brave it using my summer pair, those trail running shoes are destroyed over the course of 1 season.
I’m an ultralight hiker. Not as in I carry a light load, but as in I buy all ultralight gear - so that I can compensate by carrying more of it!
Only partially joking…
No joke I am totally comfortable with a 40L, 20-25lbs base weight, where I get to bring more shit like an ultralight pop out lantern, an extra foam pad to sit on, a flask, an extra tarp to string up for hang out space, camp flip flops, etc.
Each choice is purposefully selected for weight and such, but I include more of them.
Quilts ftw! So cozy. Not cheap.
Married to a quilter, can confirm both statements as facts!
Ugh same. I decided to upgrade my very uncomfortable sleeping pad recently which led me to the ultralight subreddit. I went from not having a clue how much my bag weighed to a 10lb base weight, tarp camping, a $400 quilt, 27oz backpack, making my own gear. I don’t even want to count how much I’ve spent in the last year.