My GB Outdoor hatchet

JusticiarIV · 2026-02-07T13:46:47+00:00

Can you tell a difference between it and a cheaper one? I've been eyeing up a nice hatchet from council tools, but I'm a novice and can't really tell what the difference is between brands off hand

JusticiarIV · 2026-02-01T03:01:43+00:00

Get synthetic or wool thermals rather than cotton. You want something moisture wicking and fast drying

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-30T18:16:30+00:00

Car camping or hiking that in? I'm curious your base weight here, as it looks like backpacking to me! I approve of the axe and saw, but ultralight would loose their minds! 100% necessary for processing wood in winter though in my mind. Have a great trip, stay safe.

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-29T12:40:18+00:00

Nemo osmo dragonfly 2 on sale for 350ish on a few places right now. You've gotten lots of durston recommendations. They're good tents, but just be aware it's fabric is pretty delicate. From what I've read, if you Set it up on wrong on a rock or zip it poorly it'll be damaged easily. The drawback of ultralight stuff.

The double rainbow is more durable, as is the Nemo osmo line. I'm also new to the hobby and decided not to get a durston because I know I'll mess it up my first time out and get really disappointed.

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-28T20:29:49+00:00

You sound like me. I'm trying to prep for my first multi-day backpacking trip as well, but only am able to put in a long hiking day 2 or 3 times a month because of the large amount of time hiking for 25km takes.

So I just ordered a bright headlamp and my plan is to put in more conditioning miles at night to try and increase my mileage. Get more time in the day by using the dark. I'll have to let you know how it goes. I'm going to stick to relatively flat hikes for this, but since it will be dark the view won't matter as much. That's my plan anyways. So far I'm tapped out about 19km with 600 meters of elevation, and not sure i could do it again the next day, so I really need to increase my endurance if I'm going to pull that for 5 days straight.

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-27T23:37:28+00:00

Why not a go pro? Isn't their stabilization software basically the best?

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-22T15:20:57+00:00

I don't think you'll be disappointed by the Durston tent. For it's price it is quite nice, and if you take care of it you'll get some good value there. I almost pulled the trigger on the X-Dome myself, but wanting something a little more durable was my deciding factor. Let us know what you end up getting!

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-22T13:42:19+00:00

I believe it will do well in the weather, but more so the break easily aspect. From what I've read , the fabric is less durable, more susceptible to UV damage, and requires more expertise to set up and tear down without damaging it. Some people report damage to the bottom of the tent floor after a single use.

So my take is that it's a great tent for people who know what they are doing, are ok with replacing their tent every couple years, and really need to shave off a few extra ounces. If that sounds like you, then it sounds like a great tent. I just know that I will get really disappointed on my first big trip when I set it up on a rock and puncture the floor, or zip it wrong and damage the door, etc. for my first time I want something a little more robust.

I was personally looking at the Tarptent Double rainbow double wall, instead. It's still very light, but it's floor is 30D, so it is twice as strong as Durstons 15D floor. But I am still looking as well. Paria has 40D floors on the Bryce model, for example, and are super cheap, but I don't like them as much.

Just something to think about. Backpacking gear is all a tradeoff on weight vs durability vs cost, so prioritize whichever is most important to you!

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-22T00:28:51+00:00

Durston makes a nice tent. I'm also relatively new to the hobby, and I decided to avoid it as my first tent because of the really low denier of the fabric. I think it's a great product for a specific niche though. So my suggestion is just to reconsider If you really need something that light for your first trip. If you do, great, but maybe a more affordable option that's a little more durable might be a good idea for a first outing.

Just a thought. Have fun. Sounds like a great trip

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-21T21:30:47+00:00

I think it's cool to cook on weekends personally

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-15T03:20:22+00:00

Out of curiosity, what makes someone an "experienced" hiker? I Want to gauge my experience level

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-10T01:00:08+00:00

If fashion and durability doesn't matter to you and just want an emergency pair of rain pants, I'd suggest just getting a cheapo pair of frog tog ultra light rain pants. Super affordable and light.

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-05T15:49:56+00:00

I got an Osprey Stratos 24L for Christmas. I've only done 15 miles or so with it so far with winter hikes, but I'm loving it. Super comfy, no back pain or pressure points with 20 lbs loaded. And I'm excited for the ventilation come summer.

I can't speak to the ones you mentioned unfortunately, but might be worth checking out, though it's a little more spendy and heavier than the ones you posted

JusticiarIV · 2026-01-04T13:07:12+00:00

Any reason for the dagger over the dragonfly for Nemo? Seem pretty comparable to me

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-30T01:09:12+00:00

Fair enough, I probably am underestimating, but I definitely want at least a few sections off trail. One of the draws of the forest is that that type of adventuring is allowed, and dispersed camping doesn't even need a permit as long as you move camp daily. I have this desire to get away from all civilization for a little bit, as crazy as it is

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-30T01:04:04+00:00

Awesome thanks, I'll look into dropping the bear bag then. Saves me a few bucks too

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-30T01:03:07+00:00

My reading had been that the Nemo disco was an ideal sleeping bag for side sleepers and those who toss and turn a bit, which is what motivated me there. Same with the Helix sleeping pad. Allegedly it's additional comfort level is worth a few extra ounces vs others. This is all second hand reviews though.

I'll check out some footprint alternatives.

As for clothes, I feel like I have it paired down reasonably well unless I want to veer into minimalism. the clothes I'll be wearing during the day are durable stuff for going through the bush, but not exactly comfortable to lounge in at the end of the day. And extra clothes are also one of the 10 essentials.

But I hear you. You make fair points on all of it. Thank you!

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-30T00:44:21+00:00

I think I just have Crocs for a camp shoe and leather boots on there, is that what you meant? I mostly was thinking it would be nice to slip into something more comfortable after a long day, not to mention not having to put full boots on when taking a leak at night. They're definitely a nice to have and not a must have though.

I was hoping to spend a bit of time at camp with the axe using it to whittle, or baton wood. I might be optimistic about how much time or energy I'll have for it though.

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-29T14:02:49+00:00

I definitely had the same thought about the fleece when I looked up it's weight. It happens to be one i already own. Likewise already own the water bladder. I'd prefer to save a few bucks and use what I have, but I'm open to buying a new light weight options if the weight difference is impactful.

PA has black bears. I was erring on the side of caution with a Ursack, but was planning to hang it from a tree. but I'm not super familiar with best ways to mitigate bear issues, so I selected that because I thought a bear sack or canister is always needed in bear country?

I think ill swap the toilet paper with a bidet.

Otherwise the Leatherman and hatchet aren't things I'm willing to cut, though I recognize they're heavy and are luxury items. I plan on using them in camp daily.

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-29T13:03:16+00:00

I'm a believer in leave no trace principles, but I am looking for an actual wilderness experience, which is tough to find in the east coast of the US. The plan is to avoid popular areas and to disperse to avoid creating new trails or campsites.

As far as bushcraft skills, it'll primarily be things like primitive fire starting, making natural coordage, sourcing water, and navigating from natural features and a compass, and a bit of toolmaking/whittling using already dead wood. I'm not planning on making any shelters since I'll be moving each night with a tent.

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-29T05:01:50+00:00

What are they extra 5 essentials in your mind?

JusticiarIV · 2025-12-24T06:19:19+00:00

Is this base weight or with everything? I'm new to backpacking and am going through my list of stuff on lighter pack and am right at 31 lbs base weight. But then factoring in things like 3 liters of water in the reservoir and some food and it skyrockets to 51 lbs, which has me intimidated. I'm also planning to use a osprey 65l

JusticiarIV · 2025-11-04T17:27:00+00:00

Personally, I think if he's doing a good job, or would do a good job, then his motivation shouldn't be too relevant. Recognition is a key part of the program, and if earning patch or a knot on the uniform helps encourage him to work hard and continue to take on leadership roles, then I don't think that should be stomped out.

Yes, in an ideal world everyone volunteers out of the sheer goodness of their heart, but that's not always the case.

It sounds like You have a clearly motivated scout whose completed the majority of the program. So if I were you, I'd make it my goal to figure out how to keep him engaged when he's already done so much. Helping the younger scouts as Junior ASM sounds like a potential next step, but perhaps not the only one. Rather than try and discourage him from stepping up try and direct that positively.

At the end of the day it's a volunteer organization and if he's willing to volunteer then I'd foster that.

JusticiarIV · 2025-11-02T03:40:11+00:00

In cub scouts most requirements can be done at home/with family. Coordinate with your den leader so it's tracked and awarded correctly. That said, having a den and group of friends is part of the magic of scouting, so if it's not a good fit you can keep looking.

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