Backyard - Equipment Testing Ground

[Bradley]

How many others test gear before heading out on the trail ?

Always . . . and I think we should set up a POLL.

I think testing equipment is what makes for a well prepared trip.

It may seldom come close to happening . . .
. . . but would hate to die because something didn't work out of the box.

I realize that is a little extreem . . . but that is just me . . .

. . . If I'm not just at the Meadow's Edge . . . I am over the edge.

[waddy]

Wow, I just voted and I'm in the 100% majority!!!

Of course, I'm the only one who has voted so far.

[BLUEFIN 774]

Thanks for setting up the poll, this should be interesting.

[gunner76]

In the Marines we would call it training and conducting field exercises and every one would complain. The real purpose is to find out what works, what doesn't and how to fix it and improve it so when the S*** hits the fan we would have a good idea what to expect from our gear and the people using it.

Its always a good idea to checkout and use your new gear in a controlled environment so if something goes wrong you have a chance to figure out why and fix it before it becomes a life or death situation.

The last new piece of gear I got was a REI backpack. I tested it on the Hot Springs hang when a group of us went for a 5 mile hike on the AT. I loaded the pack down to simulated a 3 day load and the pack worked fine so now I feel comfortable taking it out on a real multi day hike.

I am currently testing an old down sleeping bag, blue wallyword pad and self inflating pad to see what is the the best combination where weight is an issue for back packing or is not an issue for car camping.

[G.L.P.]

i'v been hiking a long time...and to this day i Still test EVERYTHING befor it hits the trail.......
you don't want to be miles away from your car...and find out that your stove doesn't work...or your UQ doesn't fit the hammock right....
or your pack had a rip in it...and everything is spead out over a few miles

[Indy]

Great idea cant wait to see the results .

[tjm]

I go a bit farther with testing my sleep system and other gear for winter camping.

I backyard test them but I also do an "almost in the woods" overnight test where I dayhike with my pack, then set-up near the car, and then dayhike with my pack again the next morning.

Since the goal is to simulate being in the backcountry, the car is not opened and all gear is brought on the dayhikes. The car is just for an emergency.

This might seem extreme but, one time, I was 4-5 hours from the nearest trailhead without adequate insulation. Made for a long and kind of scary night.

NEVER want that to happen to me in Jan or Feb.

.

[Alamosa]

I end up testing everything just because I am impatient. When I get new gear, I want to see it in action so end up using it in the backyard or garage long before my next adventure.

[rigidpsycho]

I'd rather test my equipment in the backyard before going out. Especially testing my cold weather setups. It's alot easier to come in the house if the equipment is not working properly than having to hike in the dark to go home or suffering and freezing.

[gRaFFiX]

you call it testing, I call it running home to play like a kid after christmas morning.