Camping Gear Specials

[RonK]

My cheeky quip "a tear to Ronk eye" was more to do with following in the spirit of your weight mantra (compared to mine) and not a suggestion that you might like the microlight as I know your very happy with your Soulo.

Yeah, got that - but had no effect on me because I don't slavishly follow an ultralight mantra. Ultralight is only good if the inevitable compromises are acceptable.

[rifraf]

Macpac Autumn Sales now on.
Worth mentioning (IMHO) as the sales are the only time I can afford to shop there

[bagelonabike]

Macpac Autumn Sales now on.
Worth mentioning (IMHO) as the sales are the only time I can afford to shop there

I hear ya...I love Mapac but it's not cheap! In the sales I picked up a Microlight tent for my next tour http://www.macpac.com.au/autumn-sale/tents/microlight.html. It was either that or an MSR Hubba http://www.kellysbasecamp.com.au/p/1210385/msr-hubba-hiking-tent.html but I know nothing of the brand and the reviews were not so good.

The last Macpac product I brought was a pack that lasted 15 years with some pretty heavy punishment...hoping the tent is of the same high standard and worth the investment!

[rifraf]

Hi Bagelonabike
My Cascade pack, still in great nick, is from around that same era.
Macpac put on some new harness straps a couple of years back for me and it was a speedy and cheap service.

I personally think you'll be fine with the microlight.
I've taken Ronks point about wind and the single pole however and I think it would be wise to point the rear into the wind and use all the guy ropes if its more than just breezy.

My wild camping experiences riding from NSW to Perth suggest its easier to find a pitch for a small then rather than a large tent. Many is the night I was glad for having my bivybag and tarp as I reached my milage limit where, the only sleeping spots were in areas of tightly spaced scrub.

When visiting the Macpac shop in Perth, I thought hard about my choice of Minaret, and if I hadnt been buying the new bivybag as well, would have opted I think for the microlight. I'm still seriously looking at the Microlight as an option for shorter trips where I want the luxury of a tent but without the bulk of the heavier 2 man Minaret.

I recently put my old Minaret (17yr approx I think) on gumtree. As it wasnt green I'd only ever used it once, recently on a trip with Aushiker. I was amazed at the response for the old tent and that someone in Queensland wanted to buy it and pay the shipping. I had a hell of a lot of emails and calls with people keen on it.

I have yet to christen the new bivybag or Minaret tent yet but am hoping to put them to the test when my Ogre is complete.

Let us know how you get on with the Microlight and your impressions.
I've always been happy with my Macpac gear and with their service, so anticipate you being happy with yours. Any problems or issues talk to blacksheep (Cambell) on http://bushwalk.com/forum/index.php
Happy spinning.

[rifraf]

I thought I'd better retract that last suggestion about contacting Cambell about Macpac issues as he is now no longer associated with Macpac.
I have no opinions on the hows or whys of the matter but hope there is a worthy substitute as I found Cambell an extremely helpful and professional person to deal with regarding all matters Macpac and one hell of an ambassador for the company. I'm sure his loss will be felt at Macpac and he'll be a hard pair of shoes to fill. As a customer and aficionado of their gear, I hope they try hard to fill them.

On another note, despite lots of good advice to the contrary, I couldn't resist a special low price offer of a Microlight tent which I picked up today from the Perth store. I've been wanting to try a "light" (I didnt define how light Andrew - lol), well lighter than my Minaret with a smaller floor-size due to my remembering thinking about pitch issues in scrubby areas which I found abounded on the roadside during my NSW to WA tour.
Lots of areas I camped at just weren't suitable for a 2 man tent due to numerous plants/scrubs etc.
Not sure how suitable for the job my new Microlight will turn out to be but I dont think I'll lose much dosh if I choose to sell it after a trial run, assuming I don't damage it. The biggest drawcard to me is the after market service I've always received from Macpac in the past and recent present. Its my confidence in any wrongs being put right in a timely manner (even here in WA )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... A4ogIgf-DU

That aside, Mainpeak are having a sale (well they are in WA) with 50% off stickers on all the Mont gear.

Campsaver.com might be worth a current look with according to a post on Bushwalk, "Restricted Brands: Western Mountaineering, Hilleberg, Arc'teryx.
20% off on full price and additonal 20% off outlet use code : loyalty20

[misterios]

Haha rifraf I hear ya, I'm the same.

How are you liking that tent? I tend to buy cheaper alternatives but have to replace them. Think I might save up to upgrade all my gear so they last long like u said. Although sometimes you get lucky with the cheap stuff lasting far longer than u expect -- expensive does not always mean better -- learnt the hard way.

[rifraf]

Haha rifraf I hear ya, I'm the same.

How are you liking that tent? I tend to buy cheaper alternatives but have to replace them. Think I might save up to upgrade all my gear so they last long like u said. Although sometimes you get lucky with the cheap stuff lasting far longer than u expect -- expensive does not always mean better -- learnt the hard way.

Hi Misterios,
welcome to the forum
Dont just do things I say as I'm as likely to get things wrong as anybody else.
I try to throw out ideas in here to get a consensus of educated opinions, or at least some with experience,
and then see if it gels with my gut feeling.
Theres a wealth of experience and opinions in here and many of them will work for you on some level.
Theres some good logic used often and sometimes a side of the equation will be put that you've not considered.
The good thing is gear is getting better and lighter all the time making touring more and more a joy.
Happy spinning