Kansas BHA Podcast/ Cheap Travel

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

Thought (at some prompting) there might be some interest here in discussing camping and cheaper, I mean, less expensive ways to travel. I’ll be happy to answer any questions I can. On the most recent Kansas BHA Podcast episode (sponsored by Walton’s!!) my wife and I sat down and explained how we do several trips each year without spending tons of money. If you like to be outdoors a lot in wild places, but can’t figure out how to do it efficiently, this is the episode for you. Here is a link: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/kansas_bha_podcast

[Jonathon]

They do travel more than anyone I know of, I thought it was just cause Kurt was Mr Moneybags until they dropped this podcast!

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

I guess the secret’s out!

[Tex_77]

Jonathon how do you think he got all those bags of money?

[Tex_77]

Kurt Ratzlaff thanks for posting this.

What sleeping pad do you recommend for backpacking? Hot weather and cold weather.

What would you recommend for a backpacking tent for a family of 4?

Do you have a water filter recommendation?

Do you recommend buying quality camping gear once, or cheap gear and replacing as needed?

Do you have an opinion on the Garmin InReach Mini?

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

Tex_77 You do want me to write a book like your recommendations, don’t you?? HA! How about a response to the quality vs economy routes on equipment to get started? And even that is a hard one. Will you be drowning worms while car camping at a local lake or are you hunting big game in a high-altitude backcountry setting for a week with no one else around for miles? I do and love both! Those are, to me, the two ends of the equipment spectrum. The real difference in my mind is how truly dependent are you on your equipment? And I’m talking about what could be life and death stuff. If you are in our worm scenario, your camping equipment can be pretty basic and economical. If everything goes bad in a hurry, you can take three steps over to your vehicle, turn the key and drive yourself to safety. Or to the nearest store to replace what just gave out. No problem. But, if you are out chasing elk in the mountains out of your backpack and something gets ruined, there is no one out there to help you, it will probably take you days to get to a store and so your stuff has to be reliable. Which usually costs more.

The trick is to find your happy place on that line between, or on, those two extremes. If you spend your time at the local lake, buy inexpensive stuff! And please keep some trash bags available and use them! Also, keep it simple. Buy the absolute essential pieces only. I beg you. You don’t need to buy one of each thing in the Walmart camping department. There is some pretty good, essential stuff there. I use some of it. But go camping to be in a place that is different than being at home. Go outdoors. Don’t try to bring the indoors out with you. Sweat. Shiver. Get muddy. Be uncomfortable for just a little bit. I promise, it’s good for you. And way more fun! Then set aside that money you didn’t spend and maybe bump up your equipment level next time and then you can set your sites on a trip when conditions are more difficult. Colder. Or hotter. Whatever. You’ll have the better equipment next time around to handle it! And that’s when the fish are biting more and the game is more active anyway. Right?

And if you are chasing high backcountry elk out of your backpack, you probably already have strong opinions about your equipment or very specific questions. For you folks, I’ll be happy to moderate debates on things like the usefulness of zippers on pants. Not that one! The long ones on the side of the leg. Those kinds of debates. But if you have a guide that sent you a list of items to bring, you are already covered. Do what your guide says. That’s why you paid that money you worked so hard for.

Having said all that, there is something that should be the first of the real quality purchases. And this goes for the folks drowning worms and the folks breaking the bank on a high dollar guided hunt. A clear number one to me is quality boots. The best you can afford. Because feet are feet, no matter who the owner is. If you do any hiking or walking at all in your outdoor adventures, your absolute best friend is a broken in pair of good fitting, quality boots. You can patch up a tent, sew up ripped clothes, eat cold food when your stove quits, on and on, but boots? If they go out on you, it’s a bad scene. If you are out in the wilds at all, it’s a terrible problem. So, there’s your first real quality purchase. And don’t you dare EVER show up for any adventure at all with a pair of boots that aren’t broken in.

You’ve probably already started working on finding that happy place with your equipment. To me, it’s part of the fun and extends your outdoor adventures to the time you are home! I’m always fixing up stuff or searching for replacements or upgrades or downgrades. It’s a large part of my entertainment! No movie theatre or concerts needed! Hey! I just saved some money for more trips!!!

[Tex_77]

Kurt Ratzlaff What brand of boots do you wear? I know there is a lot of debate about between hiking boots or trail runner shoes which do you prefer?

Would you have a sleeping pad recommendation for an Elk hunt?

Also do you think Jonathon could survive a night camping in his backyard alone? Or would he have his tent shot full of holes at the slightest noise he heard from the outside?

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

Tex_77 , all I can say is that I’m glad Jon doesn’t live in my neighborhood if he’s spending a night outdoors! Yikes!
On boots, I currently wear Kennetrek Mountain Extremes. They are a great boot for an old man who has literally worn out his feet doing all this stuff for a lifetime. They are super expensive! Easily two or three times what I used to pay for my Cabela’s Meindl boots I wore for decades. With the recent change in ownership to Bass Pro, I noticed a change in the quality of those boots so had to look around. I also tried some Schnee’s Beartooth and really liked them, but the Kennetreks just fit my particular foot better. These are definitely expensive boots, but I use them constantly. I wore them at a river clean up Josh Palacio and I did last weekend. I wore them snowshoeing in Colorado right before that. I wore them on every hunt from September to February. They are awesome. And you can have them truly repaired, which is huge for me.
For regular hiking in the mountains, I wear a pair of Vasque St Elias FG GTX. So as you can tell, I wear heavy boots. Always have. I do now see all the thru hikers covering 2,000 miles over a summer wearing trail runners, for sure. I wear some trail runners around the yard and in town. All I can say is that I still leave those at home and take my real boots on trips.

On elk hunting sleeping pads, the best news of all is that most pad makers recently unified and now have the pads tested for their R value, just like the insulation in your home!! So now there is a reliable method of comparing the warmth of each pad. I use an old ThermaRest NeoAir XLite. It’s not the latest and greatest, but it’s the one that all others get compared to. I have had it for years. Its crinkly when you move and doesn’t pack down as quick as some, but it’s pretty bombproof and very warm for its weight. You have to really take care of your pad, no matter what brand or model you take and also take a patch kit and know how to use it.

[Tex_77]

Kurt Ratzlaff you weren’t kidding those Kenetrek boots are pricey!

It does seem the ThermaRest NeoAir XLite is the pad all others get compared to. I’m about to pull the trigger on either a Big Agnes RapideSL or their new Boundary Deluxe. I was sold on the RapideSL until the Boundary came out and it offers a 30" width and 4" height. R Value is 4.3 so it should do well in colder weather. My wife just got a Big Agnes Air Core Ultra pad and I was impressed with the quality and comfort of it.

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

Tex_77 For sure on the boots! Super expensive. This pair is the first ones I bought that are so high priced. I’m two full seasons in and I’m closing in on thinking I’ll be back when these ever do wear out. Slopping around in Cowskin Creek with Josh last weekend, I was in water that gave them a good check, and I had a tiny amount get in once. First water I’ve ever felt in them. I haven’t done any maintenance to them yet, but they are due for some.
On the pads, I answered about the pad I would carry in to a camp. I do have a Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated pad that I use for camping by the vehicle. It’s a 25" wide version and rectangular so it’s pretty warm on its own. I like it a lot. But since I’m not backpacking in, I usually put a ThermaRest ZLite under it for protection from abrasion and sticks and such.

[Tex_77]

Kurt Ratzlaff Do you have any experience with backpacking quilts vs mummy bags? Considering purchasing a quilt.

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

Tex_77 I am a confirmed and committed quilter. I own two quilts, both from Enlightened Equipment. I have a 20 degree down and a 40 degree synthetic fill. I love them! I think they are way more comfortable than conventional sleeping bags. I rarely use my old sleeping bags anymore.

[Tex_77]

Excellent thanks for the brand recommendation

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

Tex_77 One of the things I like about my quilts also appeals to my ‘cheap’ side. I regularly use my 40 degree quilt for summer camping. My 20 degree quilt gets used anytime I go to high elevation or for spring/fall trips. Then in winter, I can put the 40 degree over the 20 degree and have a setup comparable to a -10 degree bag! So you really get three quilts instead of two. My wife prefers a sleeping bag for general use, but I bought her a 40 degree quilt like mine and she loves to put that over her sleeping bag in the winter for extra warmth. All of this assumes you don’t mind sleeping in a beanie to keep your old dome warm, because quilts stop at the shoulder. But I always carry a beanie anyway and have no problems wearing it at night.

[Tex_77]

Kurt Ratzlaff I hadn’t thought of pairing them up, but that is a great idea. It appears good quilts aren’t exactly cheap either, but I guess like you said you can buy two, and sorta get one free.

[jstacalguy]

Good Morning,

I just watched a video, yesterday from the Stone Glacier app regarding quilts. Honestly I had no idea of the uses… but with warmer weather outdoors around California it seems like a valid option.

[Kurt Ratzlaff]

jstacalguy I love Stone Glacier stuff! I literally just got a notification that they are shipping me the shooting gloves I ordered a while back! Can’t wait to give them a try. My old leather shooting gloves have finally shrunk up a bit and are not quite big enough any more. Plus, SG has one of the greatest commercials ever! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxHuyPu_EzE I literally crank the sound up and watch that probably once a week and it gets me pumped up every time. My wife now hates that commercial. It’s the best ever! (Yeah, I just watched it)

[Tex_77]

Kurt Ratzlaff I’m exhausted just from watching that commercial

[Denny O]

Kurt Ratzlaff I agree with Tex, and I could not do that anymore! 30 years ago sure but not now.

[jstacalguy]

Ha. Awesome commercial! I mean… there at least was some downhill in it! I’ve never hunted like that…. One would think it would be awesome… and then Remi would creep into your head… “the suck is part of the experience!!!”