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Posted by Chumango on September 20, 2006 at 10:42:18 am EDT
In reply to Re: Anyone else have wishy-washy decision making habits? posted by Blackbeard on September 20, 2006 at 8:06:53 am EDT

The only way to know is to get out and use it.

There are reputable manufacturers who make good tents (stoves, filters, etc), stick with them. The differences between them are not as great as you may suspect. By and large the stuff out there works. If you were heading out on some heavy duty expeditions you should try to get a lot of feedback, but otherwise don't sweat it that much.

Much of what works for you will be personal preferences. The tent (or any other gear) that you rave about I may hate, for highly personal reasons. It's not that the tent is bad (most of the time), it's just that I may want different things from my gear.

So look at what types of outings you will be doing, and see what equipment seems to have the best compromise of features that you want. Then get it and use it. You may find that you made great choices, and use the gear for years. You may dislike it right off the bat.

Rent equipment if you can, that is a low risk way to do it.

If you know people who spend time outdoors, ask them, but weigh their input against the type of trips they take, and their preferences, especially if their style of camping is a lot different from yours.

Check reviews on the web and in magazines, but take it all with a grain of salt. Much of it is personal opinion. But you can glean good information, especially if there really is a glaring fault with the equipment. And remember that many reviewers are mechanically challenged. I wonder how some of them manage to change the light bulbs at home.

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