two different animals. here's another old thread.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=23877
two different animals. here's another old thread.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=23877
"Tenting is equivalent to a bum crawling into a cardboard box, hammocking is an art" KK
When I go car camping I think the only items that change on my kit is the cooking items I bring. Car camping allows me to bring the heavier propane grill/stove plus a cooler that carries my fresh foods. Sleeping arrangements typically stay the same with the exception of who is with me. When the family come along, sadly a tent comes with...
The whole lightweight habit has definitely crossed over when I car camp or off-road.
I also take my normal gear when car camping plus MAYBE two additional things - folding chair and small cooler for reasons stated earlier. I can wear the backpack, and carry one item in each hand and still make one trip.
I can set up, cook dinner, and be relaxing and be in chill mode within 30 minutes. Others spend an hour setting up a brand new (took out of box - never set up before) 3 room tent. They then cook a full meal in the iron skillet and other pots and pans (now in the dark), then have to clean up, do dishes, etc. Then they wonder why they are so tired. (true story, btw - we won't even talk about breakfast/breakdown - that was another two hours).
To me, backpacking/camping should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience regardless if it's in the middle of nowhere or from a car. If I wanted to work that much, I would have stayed at home. It's also normally much louder/more people when car camping which takes away from the experience IMO.
"There's not much of a learning curve with a tent. Lay on the ground and suffer; repeat as often as necessary." - Silvrsurfr
http://jnunniv.wordpress.com
My buddies and I have been car camping together (sometimes with the kids sometimes without) for the last eight years. We bring more crap with us than you could ever imagine. From cast iron cookware to stoves and grills, big tents for the kids, lanterns, flashlights, gadgets, hammocks, chairs, coolers and more coolers, extravagant food and so on.
After years of daring ourselves to do it, we are going backpacking next month in Black River Falls WI. The hardest thing for us is to pare down what we bring. We are having a very good laugh at our lists and such. We won't be hiking terribly far but still cannot carry 100 pounds with us. Should be an interesting time to say the least.
I do much more backpacking than car camping but I like them both. When I car camp I still bring everything in my backpack and then I bring a cooler and chair as well. Not much more stuff comes with for car camping.
Motorbike camping is the best of both! I try to use light weight stuff but can use heavier (cheaper) stuff as well. Titanium stove that weighs next to nothing and huge warm sleeping bag.
Carpe noctem!!
My problem seems the reverse. I try to take the car camping gear when I hike. At least it feels that way.
Oh My Gosh. When we car camp we carry so much stuff that I'm surprised we can still fit in the car. When I backpack I try to get everything under 15 pounds.
Yeah, it's a dichotomy.
When I fly to hike I have a travel bag plus my hiking kit. Car camping is my hiking kit, travel bag plus a chair and cooler. I do substitute a cook kit that will fry - but I sometimes carry a cook kit that can fry when hiking.
Hiking allows me to simplify life and recognize the difference between wants and needs. I do not want to lose that life view just because I have room.
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.
- Mark Twain
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