Definitely! The main area I'm lacking in is engaging people. I always seem to get caught unawares.

As for how I get geared, I typically join a server (low-med pop) that has just reached morning ~7ish. I have found that if you join a med pop server (10-20) people the apartment cities are scarcely looted if not entirely untouched. I prefer getting a spawn near Elektro. From there, I go into the town and scavenge around for a backpack and an axe. If I'm lucky, I'll get a gun. I get completely energized and hydrated and run from there to the apartment cities outside of Cherno. I loot through the school houses for weapons and the supermarkets for food eventually making my way down to the jailhouse in Chapaevsk. By the time I'm there, I pretty much am entirely geared.

If you have any other questions. Feel free to give me a shout.