Dumbest outdoor gear purchase

camhead wrote:#1 forged friend Any BD harness.

I'll second you on the BD harness. Poorest quality harness I've every purchased. Makes me never want to run it out.

FoamFinger wrote: +1 for a dumb piece of gear! For me its probably... those stupid yellow egg carriers that let you take eggs camping with you. Who the hell takes eggs with them backpacking?!

On my first backpacking trip ever, we actually did backpack a dozen eggs (in original carton) 9 miles into the Linville Gorge. Tried cooking eggs on the cliff we slept not 20 feet away from. Was absurd.

For me, it's my down jacket without a hood. I wrap myself up in scarves and hats and stuff is constantly getting tagged by rhodos and falling off. It's like a yard sale.

My 70m 10.5 rope. Pretty much unusable unless your top-roping, which I don't do that often. If I want to top-rope something that usually means carrying it or leading something easier which I don't want to do with that rope anyway.

csproul wrote: I'm still driving my '97 Ouback...150k later and it's been relatively low- maintenance.

We sold our 1995 at 280,000 miles, and it was never any trouble. I suppose any model has the occasional lemon, but Subies generally will run until they're so old you forgot when you bought 'em.

Dumbest purchase: La Sportiva Miuras one size too small. When I was new to climbing, an "expert" convinced me my shoes were too big and I'd climb better with more "aggressive" sizing. No knock on the Miuras, I did well in them when I went up a size. Live and learn.

idahomike wrote:My dumbest gear purchase: any inflatable mattress I've ever had, whether thermarest or another brand. I've never had one that didn't pop, and I literally don't know a single person who has ever owned one that didn't pop. Foam pads for life!

I agree, I have never had one that did not leak and I cannot find the leak even in a tub of water. I just know that I wake up effectively sleeping on the ground. I bought another one last week hoping for a different outcome this time. I think that is the definition of insanity. :)

Foam is much more reliable and better value. I am glad to see someone with the same experience.

metolius big wall gear sling. the little pack compartment is too small to hold a water bottle. literally the only thing you can put in it is something the size of a clif bar. I was hoping for a camel back with a racking system for all day climbs. I can put a clif bar in my pocket.

I feel particularly taken on this purchase because metolius is a real climbing company and I cannot imagine what purpose they thought this pack was good for.

http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/multi-loop_big_wall_gear_sling.html

^it holds your weed and weed accessories.

jTaylor wrote:^it holds your weed and weed accessories.

thanks, now I understand.

climber pat wrote: I agree, I have never had one that did not leak and I cannot find the leak even in a tub of water. I just know that I wake up effectively sleeping on the ground. I bought another one last week hoping for a different outcome this time. I think that is the definition of insanity. :) Foam is much more reliable and better value. I am glad to see someone with the same experience.

Its actually due to the expansion and contraction of air as it changes temperature. Sure, you may be fairly warm, but the ground is not. Thus, the mattress flattens as the night goes on.

According to Wesley, all climbing purchases are dumb!

http://rockclimbinglife.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/climbing-gear-is-a-rip-off/

csproul wrote: I'm still driving my '97 Ouback...150k later and it's been relatively low- maintenance.

Agreed, I'm still in my 97 legacy, it's got 260k and it's never needed any engine work, just regular maintenance and she still runs like champ

My dumbest outdoor purchase would definitely have to be my climbing shoes, I bough them online without trying them on first and they still hurt 2 seasons later

sapiecha wrote:According to Wesley, all climbing purchases are dumb! rockclimbinglife.wordpress.…

hhahah... this dude is either being sarcastic or is a moron haha

Prana shants.

White Ski Pants. Like a true crazy person, I have 2 pairs of freaking white snow pants. Or white fronts with beautiful mud splattered backs.

Brian Scoggins wrote: Its actually due to the expansion and contraction of air as it changes temperature. Sure, you may be fairly warm, but the ground is not. Thus, the mattress flattens as the night goes on.

It actually does leak. I compared it with my wife's new one and, sure enough, mine is flat in the morning and hers is not. Both were blown up the same amount a left on a table in the back yard overnight.

My former girlfriend/partner got us a pair of 2-way radios for multi-pitch routes that are hard to communicate on.

So frickin annoying. I'd be pulling a crux move, placing a piece, stacking the rope, building an anchor.... and she would ask a question, expecting me to promptly key the mic with a reply.

^^^thats her being dumb, not you

doak wrote:My former girlfriend/partner got us a pair of 2-way radios for multi-pitch routes that are hard to communicate on. So frickin annoying. I'd be pulling a crux move, placing a piece, stacking the rope, building an anchor.... and she would ask a question, expecting me to promptly key the mic with a reply.

Hahaha.....classic!

sapiecha wrote:According to Wesley, all climbing purchases are dumb! rockclimbinglife.wordpress.…

that blog has to be the most complex troll ever.

Black metolius cam, doesn't fit anywhere