Favorite brands for different pieces of gear?

O

outofgum

Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Messages
56
Since there is so much practical experience on this board, I'm interested in what brands people here trust for different parts of their gear. Basically, what is your go to brand that you look for first. The brands I list are not the most expensive, and they may not even be the best, but they are the ones I use, and the ones I trust when I'm out.

Pack: Lowe Pro Alpine
Sleeping bag: Marmot (have a down bag which is fantastic)
Tent: Mountain Hardware
Folding Knives: Spyderco
Multitool: Swiss army
Hiking Boots: Vasque
Base layer: Nike Dri-fit
Insulating layer: The North Face (fleece)
Lighters: Zippo
Lights: Pocket light - Fenix, Headlamp - Princeton tec
Hydration: Camelbak


There is a lot of gear that I have little experience with (stoves, poles, pots, etc), so I can't comment on those.
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Just to clarify, I don't buy blindly based on brand, but I've found these brands to provide quality products when I've used them.
 
Whats the pro's and cons with the Vasque boots? I see them at REI all the time but stick to mine.

Pack: Kelty Redwing 1100
Sleeping bag: Target Special
Tent: LOL!
Folding Knives: Spyderco Manix
Multitool: Swiss army Trekker
Hiking Boots: Montrail w/Shock Doc Inserts
Base layer: REI poly
Insulating layer: REI Fleece
Lighters: Brunton
Lights: CheepO LED from Home Depot 4 for 20 bux
Hydration: Camelbak
 
Pack:North Face
Sleeping Bag: Sierra Designs-wild bill
Tent:Hennessey Hammock, Kelty
Folding Knives: Spydie and Benchmade
Multi-tool Leatherman
Hiking Boots: Raichle
Base layer:Patagonia
Insulating layer: Patagonia
Lighters: Zippo 3 stooges
Lights: Petzl headlamp, Photon keychain light
Hydration:Platypus
 
I like to go with small companies for outdoor gear.

Packs: ULA Equipment
Shelter: Six Moons Designs, Henry Shires Tarptent
Bag: Nunatak USA
Boots: Limmer & Sons

Anything else, if the weight is right and the quality is good I go for it. Researching gear is part of the fun.
 
Pack: camp trails external frame or cammel back commander
Sleeping bag: kelty light year 3D
Tent: Mountain Hardware 2 man
Folding Knives: Spyderco pac salt, buck 110
Multitool: Swiss army
Hiking Boots: Wolverine
Base layer: t-shirt/wife-beater (I live in SOCAL for right now:confused: )
Insulating layer: :eek: if i wanted to die...sunscreen
Lighters: Zippo, mini-bic, helios torch
Lights: plain old mini-mag w/ extra bats
Hydration: Camelbak + nalgenes

WSK: becker 7" (if i am far enough away from the sheeple in SOCAL)
 
Just about anything Mil-Spec here. Used it while I was in and use it still. It's not the best but it functions and is made to last. As far as hydration and that camelbak. Knives and multitools; Spyderco, Victorinox, KA-BAR, and Anza come to mind.
 
The Chef said:
Whats the pro's and cons with the Vasque boots? I see them at REI all the time but stick to mine.

I've been wearing a pair of Vasque Zephyrs for the last 5 or 6 years. They've trekked Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and California and are beat up pretty good and will probably go another couple years before I pick up another pair.

When I bought them, I spent a day wearing them around the house and then took a 7 mile hike the next day. Not one hot spot or blister. I still havn't had any trouble with them and they are comfortable and have been since I first put them on.

Would I recommend them, sure I would. But ultimately it's up to your feet and today's boots.
Click to expand...
 
Pack: German military surplus
Sleeping bag: Slumberjack
Sleeping pad: Ridge Rest
Tent: Kelty
Tarp/poncho: German military issue/USGI
Folding Knives: Victorinox
Multitool: Leatherman
Fixed blade knives: Becker, BRKT, Frost, Eriksson, etc.
Axe: S.A. Wetterling
Saw: Buck knives
Hiking Boots: Vasque
Base layer: N/A
Insulating layer: N/A
Lighters: Unknown & Bic
Firestarters: Spark-lite, Swedish Firesteel, BSA Hotspark
Lights: Dorcy, Maglite & Inova
Hydration: USGI canteen
Water filter: PUR
Purification tablets: MP1
Stove: German military surplus Esbit
Pot: USGI Canteen cup, German issue messkit
Cordage: unknown make paracord, unknown make Jute twine
 
now this is the kind of thread i like. I have two different sets of gear depending on how disgusted I am with civilization.
Pack: military ALICE
Sleeping bag: Coleman
Tent: nylon tarp
folding knife: CS voyager
Multi tool: leatherman
fixed blade:P.I. Bolo
Boots Bates
Cloths: Fatigues
Lighter; Wood strike anywhere matches
Light: Mini mag
Hydration: Surplus canteens
Everything else: military surplus
Now heres the real deal. When I've hit the end of my rope and just can't take civilization any more.
Pack: ash pack basket
sleeping bag: Pendleton wool blanket
Tent: Home made Oil cloth tarp
Knife: Home made Neck knife
Boots: Hard sole mocks of my own designed
Cloths: Wool & Linen
Lighter: Bow & drill. Flint & steel backup
Lights: Stars
Hydration: Gourd Bota
Axe: Home made Tomahawk
Knife: Bowie Made from a farriers rasp home made.
Other Longbow,Wood arrows
 
bikermikearchery said:
now this is the kind of thread i like. I have two different sets of gear depending on how disgusted I am with civilization.
Pack: military ALICE
Sleeping bag: Coleman
Tent: nylon tarp
folding knife: CS voyager
Multi tool: leatherman
fixed blade:P.I. Bolo
Boots Bates
Cloths: Fatigues
Lighter; Wood strike anywhere matches
Light: Mini mag
Hydration: Surplus canteens
Everything else: military surplus
Now heres the real deal. When I've hit the end of my rope and just can't take civilization any more.
Pack: ash pack basket
sleeping bag: Pendleton wool blanket
Tent: Home made Oil cloth tarp
Knife: Home made Neck knife
Boots: Hard sole mocks of my own designed
Cloths: Wool & Linen
Lighter: Bow & drill. Flint & steel backup
Lights: Stars
Hydration: Gourd Bota
Axe: Home made Tomahawk
Knife: Bowie Made from a farriers rasp home made.
Other Longbow,Wood arrows
Click to expand...


mike... nice to see a fellow stickbow shooter on here.... from cali. too....:thumbup: :D
 
Pack: Dana Design
Sleeping Bag: Western Mountaineering
Bivvy: Bibler
Tent: Bibler
Folding Knives: Not Applicable
Fixed Blade Knives: Busse, SwampRat, Scrapyard
Multitool: Leatherman (but I'm not entirely happy with the offerings from any brand)
Hiking Boots: Not Applicable
Base Layer: Montbell, Patagonia
Insulating Layer: Marmot
Shell Layer: Marmot
Lighter: Firesteel, Bic
Flashlight: Avexa
Headlamp: Petzl
Hydration: Ultimate, Platypus
Stove: MSR, home made
 
I HATE my Vasque Sundowners. They are durable, solid, and waterproof as hell, but the rivets on the inside aren't cushioned and dig right into my ankle bones. It only took an hour of wearing them laced properly (read: ANKLE SUPPORT) to cause a pressure bruiise sensetive enough to render my entire leg incapacitated! I still wear them cuz they were expensive as hell, but I have to lace the ankles in way that provides minimal, if NO, ankle support.

I realize that it just might be my feet, as some people swear by these boots. But they're not for me.

They also have flat arches. REALLY flat. The wide size is identical to the regular size. I checked side by side. And the sole is narrower than the boot itself on all models.

Heh Heh. . . I should have put this in whine and cheese! I got a bit carried away!
But everything about these boots, on me, just seems WRONG. . .
 
Pack: L.L bean
Sleeping bag: North face
Tent: Kelty
Folding Knives: leatherman
Hiking Boots: vasque
Base layer: patigonia wool
Insulating layer: mt. Hardwear

Ive had my sundowners for a year, and i have to say, they are great boots, i guess they git some and not others, i took the on a 20 moutian hiking trip, and i only got 2 small blisters.
 
Folding knife: Benchmade Mini Griptilian 556
Multi tool: Gerber, Leatherman Squirt P4
fixed blade:Swamp Rat Howling Rat or Bark River Woodland
Boots: Wolverine, Columbia for Michigan winters
Cloths: Carhart denim, Cabelas flanel and cotton shirts, Columbia BoneHead shirts, GI BDU's.
Lighter: Bic mini or full size. Zippo
Light: Mini mag w/LED conversion
Hydration: Camelbak
Firearm: Ruger Mark II 678, Remington 870 12ga.
Fishing line: Stren Magna Thin
Compas: Brunton
Sleeping Bag: Coleman, North Face
Cold Weather coat: Carhart Polar Duck
Above freezing jacket: Carhart Squal Jacket
Hat: Akubra Snowy River
Gloves: Thinsulate lined deer skin
Day Pack/BOB: 10 year-old Cordura pack bought at Target on sale and still bulletproof.
Longer than that: SIGG Duffle (again, no longer offered)
 
Pack: Kelty redwing
Sleeping bag : slumberjack (dont know the model had it since scouts)
Sleeping Pad: Thermarest
Folder: Spyderco Endura
Multi Tool: Leatherman Wave or Sak Fireman
Fixed Blade: Ka Bar (currently looking to upgrade)
Light: Princeton Tech EOS (Head) Mini Mag (LED Version) Pelicain
MIghty Light

Hydration: camelpak, us mil 1qt
Compass: Silva Trecker
Coat: wool shirt, Ems Fleece Vest, Columbis parka shell
Hat: Summer Us MIl Boonie Winter Acrylic Watch cap (Wool balaclava for sleep)

Gloves: Wool Mitten Gloves
Under layer: us Mil Polypro bottom Ems Whicking shirt. or under armor
 
Pack: Tatonka (Apogee 40)
Boots: Meindl (Island Pro MFS)
Socks: Lorpen
Fixed knife: Fallkniven; KJ Ericsson
Multitool: Victorinox
Hydration: Katadyn; Camelbak
Headlamp: Petzl (Myo XP)
Billy: Tatonka (Sherpa pot 1l stainless steel)
Underwear: Quechua polypro (Decathlon brand)
Insulating layer: GeoLogic (Decathlon brand)
Pants: USMC or US Army BDU
Raingear/Shelter: German Army Poncho
Shelter n.2.: US Army Gore-tex Bivy bag
 
Pack: Large: REI Mars, Small:Kelty Redwing 3100
Sleeping bag: Big Agnes
Sleeping pad: Big Agnes
Tent: Marmot Aeolus 2P
Tarp/poncho: military issue/USGI
Folding Knives: Victorinox
Multitool: Leatherman
Fixed blade knives: Becker, BRKT, Rat, Fallkniven
Axe: S.A. Wetterling
Saw: Gerber
Hiking Boots: Asolo 520 once you break them in, they are incredible
Base layer: depends on weather
Insulating layer: Poly or fleece
Lighters: Brunton Helios
Firestarters: magfire, blastmatch
Light: Inova
Headlamp: Princeton tec
Hydration: Camelback insulated unbottle
Water filter: MSR
Purification tablets: Chlorine type
Stove: Jetboil
Pot: USGI Canteen cup, jetboil cup
Cordage: 550 cord, small waxed seine twine
Firearm: S&W 686 with 4" bbl
Compass: GI or silva ranger
 
Pack: REI or Deuter
Sleeping bag: Big Agnes or Marmot
Sleeping pad: Big Agnes
Tent: MSR
Folding Knives: Spyderco and Kershaw
Fixed blade knives: Gerber or Kershaw
Multitool: Leatherman or Swiss army
Hiking Boots: The North Face or Solomon
Base layer: Under Armor Cold Gear
Insulating layer: The North Face
Lighters: Bic
Flashlight: Surefire
Headlamp - Petzl
Hydration: Camelbak
Tarp/poncho: Outdoor Products Coated Nylon
Axe: Gerber
Saw: Wyoming
Firestarters: Strike Force/ Firesteel
Water filter: MSR
Stove: MSR
Pot: GSI
Compass: Suunto
 
Some of my gear choices:

Larger pack: Dana Design
Smaller pack: Camelbak
Ski pack: Dakine
Ropes pack: Osprey
Tents: The North Face
Bivy: Outdoor Research
Sleeping bags: The North Face
Sleeping pad: Z-Rest
Gas stoves: Coleman/Peak 1
Wood stoves: Sierra Zip or Pocket Cooker
Hydration: Nalgene and Camelback
Water filter: MSR
H2O Proof: The North Face or Military issue ECWS Gore-Tex parka/pants
Headlamp: Petzl
Compass: Silva Ranger
Cookware: Stansport SS pot, GSI SS Bottle Cup
Freeze-dried food: Mountain House
Boots: Currently Danner Radicals. They're decent for me.
Misc clothing: Acquired Prana Mantis Knickers last year. I really like them.

Edged tools I use the most:
-Leatherman Charge or Wave
-Gerber 14" hatchet
-Becker TacTool
-Cold Steel Master Hunter
-Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel
 
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