Scott Lostetter

GET THE GEAR… CHEAPLY.

Gear. This is a passion of mine. I love to read about, purchase, use, and sell camping gear. It used to be an obsession at one point and Keri has helped me to take a step back and realize that 6 tents and a dozen sleeping bags is too much for a family of 4. In my quest to make sure that I had the right tent for potentially a last minute trip to Everest or a stove that will never blow out in the winds of Patagonia I’ve figured out how to get the highest quality gear at the lowest price possible. Here are some tips to finding great deals on used and new gear.

First you need to decide if used gear works for you. If it does, you can save a whole lot of money. In years past I bought only new gear, until it dawned on me, with Keri’s help, that I’m buying things to use in the dirt, so who cares if it has someone else’s dirt on it. She’s a genius that woman. When you’re starting out I recommend buying used, but if you are looking for more specialized equipment that is not so common new might be the only option.

Camping isn’t for everyone and that’s great news for anyone who does enjoy it. Time and again I’ve bought gear that someone purchased for a trip and only used it for a weekend. People decide it’s not their thing and you can score some amazing deals on like new items. Scour your local craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

REI

If you’re not a member of REI, I’d recommend becoming one. They have everything imaginable needed to get outside. By becoming a member you’ll get a 20% coupon for regular priced and outlet items a couple times a year, which is nice. The real benefit to me is access to the member’s only garage sales. Our local store probably has 3-4 a year and you can score some great deals. REI has a generous return policy and everything that has been brought back, but can not be sold as new will be offered to member’s there. Some of the things you will see are super hammered and are not worth your time, but if you know what you’re looking for, amazing deals can be had. Also, sign up for their email list as they have periodic sales in there Outlet where you can get really good deals.

GEARTRADE.COM

One of my favorite websites is geartrade.com. This is a site where people can unload new and used gear. I’ve had over 25 purchases there and gotten some super cheap things. Almost everything I’ve purchased has come from one seller: Backcountry. That’s right, Backcountry.com. They have an account and post new items every weekday. Because Backcountry has a return policy similar to REI they receive all sorts of returns. Some returns get listed on their eBay page and some on their Geartrade account. I’ve bought Western Mountaineering sleeping bags that never go sale for 40% off because they were missing tags or a MSR tent 50% off because it didn’t have stakes. Another cool thing is that Backcountry offers free shipping. They also list a lot of apparel and shoes. When looking for things this is the first place I go.

LOCAL THRIFT STORES

A great place for outdoor clothing and gear is your local thrift stores. I can usually find an old Coleman stove, dishes, silverware, and a Nalgene water bottle without breaking a sweat. There are tons of treasure to be found in the clothing areas as well. Keri likes to hike in Patagonia tights and they run like $80, but she has thrift store tights that work just as well for $5. Synthetic hiking shirts can be expensive, but a shirt from some random marathon you didn’t run will suffice for $3 bucks. Getting kids clothes for camping here is a great idea because you know they don’t think twice about sliding down that rocky hill on their butt or playing in the mud and getting covered. You’ll feel a lot better about it when you know those shorts were $3 and the shirt was $2. Another tip is to get a cheap fleece for sitting around the fire. I’ve burnt a few holes in expensive jackets from flying embers and it really bummed me out. I don’t feel too bad about a thrift store jacket getting singed.

PURCHASE USED ITEMS

One of my favorite tips for used gear is not be afraid to buy a tent that might have a hole in the rain fly and a broken pole or a sleeping pad that has a small hole in it. These things will happen anyway as you start to use them more. By learning how to repair things you’ll be ready when it occurs again in the future. Down jackets are expensive and they tend to be somewhat fragile. It’s easy to get a rip or tear and many people don’t know how or don’t want to learn how to fix them and will list them cheaply on eBay or donate them to goodwill. There are a lot of videos on youtube that will outline how to fix anything. It’s really not that hard and the savings can be intense. By doing this you’ll save some things from the landfill and that feels good.

When it comes to buying new gear at a discount I like to look at a few different websites:

Steepandcheap.com – They have a lot of last season and discontinued styles. 30-50% off retail is the norm.

Sierratradingpost.com – Similar to Steepandcheap as they also have a lot of last season and discontinued styles. 30-50% off retail is the norm.

TheClymb.com – They have sales on featured brands for a week or two and then another brand will be featured. 30-70% off retail.

REI-Outlet.com – Some deals can be had on all sorts of outdoor gear. They also have daily deals.

Amazon.com – They have everything that is offered at all of these other websites and more. One thing that they offer is cheap chinese knockoffs of high end gear. You can get a backpacking chair at REI for $100 or an exact replica by some unheard of brand for $40. They have a chinese knockoff of every piece of gear you could imagine. The quality might not be the same so be cautious and read the reviews carefully.

I’ve seen some decent deals on things at Costco like coolers and trekking poles. If you see it in store, buy it. They change their inventory constantly and it might not be there next time. They also have gear on their website.

OUTDOOR RETAILERS

Lastly, if you happen to work in the outdoor industry or have a job that requires you spend a lot of time in the outdoors you might be able to qualify for special discounts from different manufacturers. Check out expertvoice.com and outdoorprolink.com to see if you qualify.

I’m sure I missed some great places to get gear, so don’t be afraid to reach out and let me know some of your favorites places to shop and tips to save some cash.

-SCOTT

SLEEPING PADS

June 2, 2020January 23, 2021 Scott Lostetter Car Camping Gear, Gear, GEAR REVIEWS, Learn

When Keri and I first started camping, she would be having a great time until we crawled into the tent to sleep. The party was over. She would toss and turn throughout the night and just could not get into a deep sleep. This really bummed me out because I felt like I had let her down. I was the gear guy. If something didn’t work I had not done my research properly. I set off to make sure that every night moving forward she would sleep like a baby in a kid carrier. That’s a weird way to put it, but if you’ve ever carried a child on an extended hike through nap time, you know what I’m talking about. I set to work and over the years have tried most major brands and different styles of construction and materials. I think we’ve settled on two sleeping pads that have ticked as many possible boxes for us and we’ve been sleeping soundly for years.

Our family backpacks and car camps, so we found it works best for us to each have two sleeping pads.

The car camping pad can have a focus more towards comfort with packed size and weight being less of a concern.

Backpacking pads need to be light and pack small with comfort coming in behind those two.

What we use for car camping:

EXPED MegaMat

This mat is the real deal. We have three that we use to fill the entire tent floor. It makes the tent into a giant bed and has been great for wrestling with the kiddos. Each mat is 30” x 78” and is 4” thick. The pack size is a little big as they are a self inflating foam mat. Each mat comes with a repair kit and stuff sack which is nice. These are in top three of the best camping equipment I’ve ever purchased. We sleep so soundly on them and look forward to going to be each night we’re out. They’ve been super durable and we’ve put over 100 nights on them. Another nice option is they make a great bed for when company comes or if you want to make a large mat at home and watch a movie as a family. I couldn’t recommend these any higher.

What we use for backpacking:

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite

When the NeoAir was released it was a game changer. How could a mat pack this small, be so light, and still be warm? It’s all those things and more. The kids use the “women’s” version which is smaller, lighter, and has a higher R-value than the regular X-light. Because they are so light and small they easily fit in the kid’s backpacks. Keri and I use the large sized mats for a little more wiggle room in the torso area. They are 2.5” thick and that is plenty to provide a comfortable night’s rest. Therm-a-Rest designed these with packed size and weight in mind, so there are some tradeoffs that had to be made. The thin reflective material does make some noise when you move around and it is a little more fragile than other pads. Some people compare the noise to wrinkling a chip bag. They are rather expensive as well. Beyond those things, this is one of the best backpacking pads out there.

When looking at sleeping pads there are numerous things that need to looked at before making a purchase.

They are: Thickness, R-value, Weight, Size/Shape, Material/Construction, and Price.

Thickness in pads can vary from 1 inch to over 5 inches. Usually the thicker the mattress is the more comfortable the pad will be. If you tend to sleep on your back you can typically get away with a thinner mat. Side sleepers need a little more cushion to keep their hip off the ground. We use a car camping mat that is 4” thick and a backpacking pad that is 2.5”.
R-Value has to do with the insulating properties of a sleeping mat. This year a standard was set in the outdoor industry that now requires all manufacturers to test their pads in the same manner which makes it much easier to compare different models. It’s important to know what temperatures you will be camping in and buy a mat that is rated for those temps. It really sucks to have an under-insulated mat when the temperature drops below freezing. Most companies that make backpacking pads will make different versions of the same pad that will be insulated and uninsulated, so be careful when shopping. The uninsulated mat will be lighter and would be great for summer desert trips, but in the mountains it’s not always your best bet. Here’s a chart that gives a basic outline of what value is appropriate for a given season:

Weight is a very important consideration for backpacking, not so much for car camping. It’s not hard to find a 3-4 season pad that easily weighs under 1 pound nowadays. The pad that our kids use weigh only 12 oz! It’s pretty crazy how light they have become. Our camp pads lie on the other end of the spectrum at 70 oz (5 lbs. 10 oz). Understand that the lightest pads will be made of more fragile material and durability goes down along with the weight.
Size and shape are important in relation to how big or small a mat is when inflated and when it is packed away. The “regular” backpacking pad size has been 20” x 72”. In the past 5-10 years sizing has really expanded you can get the exact size that you need. This is great as you don’t have to carry a larger pad that can weigh more when you only need a torso pad. For backpacking our kids use a “Women’s” mat which is 66” x 20” and Keri and I use a large mat that is 25” x 76”. Mats also come two different shapes: Mummy and Rectangular. A mummy shaped pad will taper from the torso down to the feet. A rectangular pad will carry it’s width from top to bottom. It’s also possible to get double mats which are great for couples that like to cuddle and cut down on weight. Keri and I prefer two mats 😉
The construction and materials of sleeping pads also varies greatly. The most basic pads are just closed cell foam. They’re cheap and can’t pop because they contain no air. Self inflating mattresses contain open cell foam that is covered with a air tight material. These are nice because they don’t require too much air when inflated, but you can fine tune the firmness. Next we have air mattresses. They pack small and when inflated can be pretty comfortable. They need a lot of air depending on the size and if they start to leak, you’ll wake up flat on the ground. As you go towards the lighter side of sleeping pads you’ll be looking at air mattresses with very thin outer material and super small pack sizes. To push the envelope on weight manufacturers have come up with amazing innovations in construction with welding seams and creating reflective materials to boost the R-value without adding bulk and weight.
Price can be the #1 determining factor when buying a sleeping pad. Buy what you can afford and get out there. With that said, a good night’s sleep can pay major dividends when on an extended trip or when you’re enjoying strenuous days outside. I have been through many pads trying to save money and buying something that might be good enough. Personally this where I would not skimp and spend the money. Don’t ever pay retail though. REI, Backcountry, Campsaver, and many other companies offer deals around major holidays and 20% off coupons are usually available at these times. I personally prefer to buy used gear when I can and look on eBay, craigslist, and geartrade.com. At REI garage sales you can save a lot of money when you buy a used pad that has a leak. This is great because they are not hard to fix and you’ll learn the skills you need when leaks crop up again.

A lot of people get turned off to camping because of sleeping like crap. I think a good pad goes a long way to changing people’s mind.

If you have a small car I would look into buying a backpacking pad because the size difference can be substantial between that and a dedicated car camping mat. That will free up more room for other gear and food. Some air mats are even available with a separate memory foam topper to increase comfort when weight is not a concern and they can be left behind when weight is. If possible head to your local outdoor store and they might have a good selection of mats that are already inflated for you to test out.

As far as brands go I’ve had good luck with Therm-a-Rest, Exped, N.E.M.O, Sea to Summit, Big Agnes, and REI. They all have extensive lineups and should be able to meet your needs.

I love all things related to camping gear, so if you have any questions or suggestions to make this article better please let me know!

– SCOTT

STOVES

May 31, 2020January 23, 2021 Scott Lostetter Car Camping Gear, Gear, GEAR REVIEWS Kitchen

For some reason I’ve always really enjoyed camp stoves. I don’t know if it hearkens back to my pyromaniac stage of youth, but I dig using them. We’ve used quite a few different ones over the years, but I feel we’ve settled on good solutions for our different needs.

We have three stoves that we carry in the Sprinter, each with it’s own specific purpose.

FULL TIME TRAVEL: ELECTRIC DAY TO DAY USE

For day to day use in the van we have an induction cooktop that runs off of our lithium batteries.This has been an excellent stove as it allows us to cook without having a combustible fuel burning inside and carbon monoxide is a non issue. We also don’t have to worry about figuring out where to get more and transporting propane. As long as we keep the batteries topped of through solar or with our alternator when we drive, we’re good to go. Another bonus has been the temperature control and instant heat when cooking. I used think induction stoves were a gimmick, but I’m sold now.

OUTSIDE COOKING – BEACHSIDE

The next stove we have is a Snow Peak Baja Burner. I’m a sucker for nicely made things and this is a piece of gear that I lusted after for awhile. It’s a single burner that runs off the small isobutane canisters that are commonly used with backpacking stoves. It has a preheat generator in the flame so it can be used with the canister inverted and that allows it to get good fuel flow in colder conditions. It can be used inside the van as a backup if we have any electrical issues, but we carry it mainly because it drops into Snow Peak Iron Grill Table. We use this setup when we want to cook outside or away from the van. It’s pretty awesome.

CAMPING / BACKPACKING

The final stove we keep on board is the MSR Reactor. It’s not made for traditional cooking, but if you need boiled water there’s nothing better. We have the 1 liter version, but you can also get it with a 1.7L and 2.5L pot. It’s perfect for backpacking when you bring along freeze dried meals. There are other options that are lighter and pack smaller, but when your tired and hungry the simplicity and speed of this setup is appreciated. It’s basically impervious to wind and uses isobutane canisters just like the Snow Peak stove above.

These stove won’t work for everyone and there are so many other options that might be ideal for your use case.

Just like everything in life you can spend a lot or you can spend a little. You can easily spend upwards of $3-$400 on a fantastic Partner Steel stove or $5 on a Coleman white gas stove at a garage sale. They’ll both get the job done, but they each have some tradeoffs.

I’ll break down some of the options that are available.

Let’s talk fuel.

The most common fuels are: White Gas, Propane, Isobutane, and Butane.

The classic green Coleman stove with the red fuel tank runs off of white gas. This can easily be purchased at Walmart and most hardware stores usually in a gallon or 1 quart container. It is a liquid fuel so you need to careful when transporting it so it doesn’t leak and also when filling up your stove. It takes a little more practice to master the liquid fuel stove as it needs to be pumped up and primed to work. This can be a hassle if you just want to pull your stove out and click it on. Once it’s burning it will need to be pumped up again and the flame adjustment will not be instantaneous. White gas stoves also require a little more maintenance than others. If you like to tinker with things this is your stove. These stoves can be found at garage sales and thrift shops on the cheap.

Propane is the most common fuel for car camping stoves. It is easily found anywhere that sells camping supplies and they typically come in 1 pound canisters. Stoves that burn propane tend come in the 2 burner variety. Many companies like Coleman, Primus, Camp Chef, and Stansport make comparable models. If you are cooking for larger groups and have room to transport a large stove, a two burner Camp Chef with a griddle can kick out some pancakes in no time. The only bummer about propane is that you are left with empty canisters that need to be disposed of properly when empty. There are adapters that allow you to refill them from a standard 25# tank used with a home grill, but I haven’t tried it. These stoves fire up quickly, some with built in igniters, and usually have good flame adjustability. One other option that we’ve really enjoyed is our Blackstone griddle. It’s like a flat top you would see at a little diner and allows you to cook amazing breakfasts and smashed burgers. Our little 17” version has been awesome for smaller groups, but they have larger versions available.

Isobutane is usually the go to fuel for backpackers. The canisters are not as common as propane and may require a trip to a specialty outdoor store to find them. We’ve had good luck with our local Walmart though. I really like these stove because they pack small and can do double duty for car camping and backpacking. If you have a smaller vehicle this can be a great option. You can choose a stove that mounts on top of the canister or one that has a hose that runs from the top of the canister out to the stove. If you only plan to boil water a top mounted stove is great, but for more involved cooking I would recommend a remote mount setup. I’ve had many different stoves and they all seem to perform well. You can’t go wrong with MSR, Jetboil, Snow Peak, and Kovea.

Butane is a fuel that is not as commonly used, but if you plan on camping in warmer conditions you should totally check into it. Butane is easily found in a lot of asian markets or restaurant supply stores and can be pretty cheap. The compatible stoves are usually a single burner and are pretty compact. The nice thing about a butane stove is that it can adjusted down to a super low simmer or a raging flame. The setup is quick as a single fuel canister is typically stored inside the stove. There are many different brands out there, but we’ve had good luck with the Japanese brand Iwatani. Gas-One makes a cool butane stove that can be adapted to also run on propane which gives you the ability to run either fuel. Butane tends to struggle when the temperature drops below 40 degrees, so keep that in mind.

I enjoy talking about stoves, so if you have any questions or recommendations on improving this article please reach out and let me know.

– Scott

THE TANKS TRAIL

May 30, 2020June 3, 2020 Scott Lostetter Adventures, Capitol Reef National Park, Car Camping, Hikes, National Park, Utah

In the course of just one mile, the trail passes a petroglyph panel, several hundred historic signatures, a small natural arch and a sequence of water-filled potholes, and a narrow, rocky side canyon that also has potholes, and dryfalls.

We have attempted this trail twice. Once was when the kids were younger and it was\

LENGTH:

2 MILES –
ALLOT AROUND 1.5 HOURS

TRAIL DETAILS:

The parking lot at the end of the road is often quite crowded; arrive early or late in the day to secure a spot. Two trails take off from the Capitol Gorge Trailhead: a steep, moderately strenuous climb to a viewpoint of the Golden Throne and the easy stroll through the gorge. The Capitol Gorge hike begins at the covered picnic area at the road’s terminus and strikes out east into the slender canyon.

Follow the wide and sandy track for around ¼ mile the trail does indeed drop into the wash bottom, where most of the remainder of the hike will stay. Scan the right-hand wall for a peculiar sight of the Pioneer Register of a jumble of names and dates. From here, Capitol Wash slices through the Navajo sandstone, carving a canyon that thins to as little as 15-20 feet wide in several places. The etchings continue—and pick up in frequency—as hikers approach the Pioneer Register, a jumble of names and dates on the left-hand wall roughly 6/10 mile from the trailhead.

After the register, two minor ravines enter from the left and right, followed within minutes by another pair of larger side canyons. To the north is Tanks Draw, which hosts a series of waterpockets accessible by a short spur trail.

The side trip to the Tanks is well-marked and begins approximately 8/10 mile from the trailhead. The trail is rocky and rugged and climbs more than 100 feet over the course of ¼ mile, ending at an attractive drainage boasting—at most times—a half-dozen potholes full of water. The Tanks support one of Capitol Reef’s most interesting microenvironments—check for tadpoles and fairy shrimp, as well as lichens and mosses. The kids loved them and didn’t want to leave! However, when we were there their was only 1 tank with water and it barley had any. Somehow there were tadpoles still living and flourishing in it!

LOCATION

From the Visitor Center, drive south on the Scenic Drive for eight miles, turning left onto the unpaved Capitol Gorge Road. There are spectacular views from the road itself as it hugs the canyon walls.

GPS COORDINATES

38.2095986, -111.1694514

GEAR CLOTHING WE NEEDED

With climbing up and down on sandstone it’s best to have good grip hiking shoes or sandals. Here are our favorites.

During those warm summer months just make sure to bring sun screen, a hat, and always extra water. We always like our Days packs with our hydration bladder. Here are a few of our favorites.

CAPITOL REEF GALLERY

FUN FACT:

On the walls before the Pioneer Register are the names of six surveyors near the top of the vertical face—Stewart, Stewart, Hayes, Hurst, Ollrton, Gifford—and the date: September 24, 1911. How—and why—did these adventurous contractors carve their names so high up the canyon wall? The story told today involves what amounted to a pioneer prank. The six contractors conceived an idea: lower one of the members down from the top in a bucket to carve the names, then return a few years later with their families, to whom they would explain with astonishment—lying that they once etched the names standing in the wash bottom—“look at how much the canyon has eroded!” Whether the trick achieved its desired effect remains a mystery.

BACK TO:

Click here to return to our Complete Guide to Capitol Reef National Park

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Author: Scott Lostetter