Steals
http://www.steepandcheap.com/ : One deal at a time - briefly; causes impulse purchases. Some outstanding deals make all the other crap you buy here worthwhile. Or at least that is what I tell myself.
http://www.geartrade.com/ : Mostly returned products from http://www.backcountry.com/. Some individual sellers.
http://www.ebay.com/ : If you get lucky.
http://www.spadout.com/, http://www.spadout.com/, http://www.froogle.com/, products.live.com : Comparison shopping websites. Spadout listed twice because it is gear focussed :)
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/ : Limited selection - you sometimes get lucky.
Regular Stores with unquestioned returns
http://www.rei.com/ : Free online order delivery to REI stores.
http://www.ems.com/
http://www.backcountry.com/ : Free shipping >$50. Fantastic customer service.
Friday, March 12
Snowshow Tips
Buying snowshoes
#1: Get the shortest (and lightest) snowshoes you believe you can get away with.
Snowshoes make it impossible to be elegant on the mountain. The shorter they are, the easier they are to manage.
Even on a mountain like Denali - you spend most of your time following in a trail, while briefly taking a turns breaking trail. Closer to home, you are often following an established trail in the snow. Consult the manufacturers recommendation on snowshoe length required for your weight (including pack) and buy the shortest snowshoe you will typically need.
Do not buy the longest snowshoe you will ever need. You are choosing between being slightly miserable when conditions are terrible and being slightly miserable most of the time :)
#2: If you live in the Pacific Northwest, buy a 22" snowshoe
My wife and me learnt this the hard way, after getting 25" snowshoes and then later switching to 22" snowshoes. The snow in the PacNW is typically wet and heavy. 22" snowshoes work just fine in "soft PacNW powder" unless you're pushing ~250lbs with your pack.
Using snowshoes
#1: Strap your shoes into your snowshoes starting at the front.I quickly learnt to do this after doing it the other way, and getting my new snowshoes to squeak. The front lip of the sole was rubbing against the snowshoe platform when I walked, because I'd strapped in my shoe a few inchoes ahead of where it should have been. This happened, because I started out with the straps on the back.
#1: Get the shortest (and lightest) snowshoes you believe you can get away with.
Snowshoes make it impossible to be elegant on the mountain. The shorter they are, the easier they are to manage.
Even on a mountain like Denali - you spend most of your time following in a trail, while briefly taking a turns breaking trail. Closer to home, you are often following an established trail in the snow. Consult the manufacturers recommendation on snowshoe length required for your weight (including pack) and buy the shortest snowshoe you will typically need.
Do not buy the longest snowshoe you will ever need. You are choosing between being slightly miserable when conditions are terrible and being slightly miserable most of the time :)
#2: If you live in the Pacific Northwest, buy a 22" snowshoe
My wife and me learnt this the hard way, after getting 25" snowshoes and then later switching to 22" snowshoes. The snow in the PacNW is typically wet and heavy. 22" snowshoes work just fine in "soft PacNW powder" unless you're pushing ~250lbs with your pack.
Using snowshoes
#1: Strap your shoes into your snowshoes starting at the front.I quickly learnt to do this after doing it the other way, and getting my new snowshoes to squeak. The front lip of the sole was rubbing against the snowshoe platform when I walked, because I'd strapped in my shoe a few inchoes ahead of where it should have been. This happened, because I started out with the straps on the back.
Backpack Tips
Buying a backpack
Tips coming soon
Using a backpack
#1 Get a white trash compactor bag to line your backpack. Super cheap insurance to keep the contents of your backpack safe from water (whether from rain - or from setting your pack down on snow). Trash compactor bags are thicker/sturdier - and last far longer than typical garbage bags. Them being white makes it easier to see stuff within your pack when you're rummaging inside. They are available at Safeway in sets of ~10 and each bag typically lasts a whole season.
Bonus feature 1 - you have a waterproof bivy for for your feet in an emergency.
Bonus feature 2 - sliding things in and out of a stuffed bag is easier; stuff slides easier against the plastic bag (vs against the backpack material).
Tips coming soon
Using a backpack
#1 Get a white trash compactor bag to line your backpack. Super cheap insurance to keep the contents of your backpack safe from water (whether from rain - or from setting your pack down on snow). Trash compactor bags are thicker/sturdier - and last far longer than typical garbage bags. Them being white makes it easier to see stuff within your pack when you're rummaging inside. They are available at Safeway in sets of ~10 and each bag typically lasts a whole season.
Bonus feature 1 - you have a waterproof bivy for for your feet in an emergency.
Bonus feature 2 - sliding things in and out of a stuffed bag is easier; stuff slides easier against the plastic bag (vs against the backpack material).
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