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Split decision: Do you trust expensive ultralight gear or old-school heavy stuff more?

Out at Olympic National Park last month, I saw a guy with a $400 tent fail on him while another dude with a 20 year old canvas tarp setup was fine in the same storm. Is the weight savings worth losing reliability, or am I just being paranoid with my gear choices?
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2 Comments
ryan952
ryan9522d ago
... and honestly that canvas tarp guy probably didn't care if his stuff got a little wet. People act like a tent failing in a storm is some life or death thing, but it's just a wet night. Most of the time you'll be fine, so I'd rather save the weight and take my chances with the ultralight stuff.
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garcia.quinn
Are you really going to sit here and pretend a soaked sleeping bag at 2 AM isn't a big deal? I've been there, shivering in a puddle because my "ultralight" fly ripped, and let me tell you, it's not just an inconvenience. Hypothermia can sneak up on you faster than you think, especially if the temps drop overnight. One wet night can turn into a car ride home or a trip to urgent care if you're not careful. So yeah, some of us actually care if our gear fails.
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