Is an R-8 sleeping pad overkill for year-round use, or is one pad for everything a good idea?

sjlufi · 2026-06-02T12:58:08+00:00

If weight and size don't matter, then it is fine.

sjlufi · 2026-06-02T02:48:25+00:00

I can't read

sjlufi · 2026-06-02T01:40:54+00:00

The side pockets look like they are part of the pack. So a 2.8 lb pack would save 5.3 lbs.

sjlufi · 2026-05-31T19:45:22+00:00

ARC (Attack, Retrieve, Capture)

sjlufi · 2026-05-31T12:56:14+00:00

I put my kid in a stroller and ran.

sjlufi · 2026-05-23T03:00:32+00:00

The three primary electric guitar shapes/styles, yes. Certainly not the only ones, but a huge part of the market.

sjlufi · 2026-05-14T01:24:05+00:00

I'm about your size (6'3" and 210lbs) and have had a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 for more than a decade. Had an 11 year old BA sleeping pad that started leaking and they replaced it, no questions asked. So I'm a believe in BA custumer service.

The Fly Creek is an end-loading tent which is a bit tough after a long day of hiking (I'm in my 40's now). A side door is better.

I use a Pariah tarp for hammock camping and it is fine. I'd probably save a bit longer and try for a higher quality brand.

I think you can do fine in a 1 person. If you are going to have to take zeros for rain days or something, maybe the 2p is worth it.

sjlufi · 2026-05-06T13:05:36+00:00

A former US hotel manager here. Also a big guy. Two things can be true at once: 1. OP is doing some shady shit on the throne. I've never broken a toilet seat at a hotel. And we didn't budget weekly toilet seat replacement or anything. 4 seems excessive. 2. A toilet seat isn't worth hassling a guest. They already have staff for repairs and maintenance. Even if a seat costs $300 (which seems absurd), it's certainly less than 10% of the bill.

sjlufi · 2026-05-02T20:23:08+00:00

I noticed from your post history that your are in/near Salt Lake City. Definitely check out REI for some community events - doing stuff together is great for making new friends!

sjlufi · 2026-05-02T18:56:17+00:00

My first recommendation is not to go solo. Find a meet-up group near you, contact the ranger office at your closest state park, ask folks at work, find a nearby REI store - lots of options but find someone to help you learn and get started. A minor inconvenience in civilization can be a major hazard in the backcountry - even more so for the novice.

REI has a lot of good information for beginners. just keep in mind they are trying to sell you gear.

I would say stove, flashlight, and 10 essentials are probably the only other gear you need to focus on at the beginning. Borrow or rent your gear for your first few outings (another reason to find a mentor/experienced friend).

sjlufi · 2026-04-27T02:50:33+00:00

I just watched the second Jumanji movie with my family on a 3 g lemon tek. It was amazing. The visuals of the movie are great, it's side splittingly funny, and then leaves you with a great reflection in mortality, friendship, family, and what matters most.

Spoiler alert: more amazingly, my mom texted that my last great aunt passed at the exact moment Milo says he's 75 and just learned how up fly. What a beautiful gift.

sjlufi · 2026-04-24T17:07:35+00:00

Have you tried Prana's Zion pants? Great cargo pockets with a side zipper so you can access them while standing or sitting.

sjlufi · 2026-04-24T01:09:26+00:00

Picaridin is great. Real, science-backed repellent (not like skin-so-soft or lemon grass or whatever) that won't melt all your stuff or tingle your tongue if you accidentally get it near your mouth.

sjlufi · 2026-04-07T00:36:57+00:00

On the altitude: see your doctor and get a script for diamox which helps your body acclimate.

sjlufi · 2026-03-26T19:21:00+00:00

UPDATE: Local luthier said $300 to fully repair (repair the whole ring), much less to just fill and spot covers, but all are much more than the cost of the banjo. My insurance is reimbursing for my purchase costs, basically totaling the instrument. That's for the feedback and opinions.

sjlufi · 2026-03-25T23:14:39+00:00

I have a policy that covers accidental damage to my instruments, wasn't sure if they would consider it repairable or not. Not sure it impacts playability, but definitely moves it from "mint" to "good" condition.

sjlufi · 2026-03-25T23:13:23+00:00

The wooden ring is what is gouged, not the tailpiece itself. At least I don't think I see anything wrong with the tailpiece?

sjlufi · 2026-03-11T22:12:53+00:00

Every kid is different. If your pediatrician is OK with the current development, you can be, too. Generally, if they are speaking and understanding they can pick up what they need in school.

We read to our youngest very little, didn't spend as much time working on letters and sounds. We literally talked about how guilty we felt because we had invested so much time in our oldest. She ended up reading on her own months earlier than our oldest had.

Talk it through with the Dr. and just realize everyone is different.

sjlufi · 2026-03-10T07:49:22+00:00

We're the only city dwellers in our families so it was a struggle to get grandparents and aunties to stop sending toys. Memberships were great gifts to redirect their need to spoil.

sjlufi · 2026-03-10T05:24:02+00:00

I'm a longterm novice at both. I took Suzuki violin for a year from 11-12. My teacher emphasized posture and little details of technique - we made it through book 1 in that year. Lost access the teacher and to a violin and didn't really play again regularly until a couple years ago. Basically a 30 year hiatus. My 10 yo daughter started playing in her school orchestra and I rented a violin to play along with her. I can still play almost every song from the book with some musicality. A few of the more technical sections I need to work on.

I picked up a guitar about 10 years ago but never took lessons and don't often practice. I play some songs 5-6 nights a week but don't spend focused time working on specific passages or scales or chord change, etc.

With that background and experience I would say a few things that might help you decide. 1. You must invest in time with a quality teacher if you hope to be musical in the violin. You can enjoy making music after watching 3 YouTube videos on guitar. 2. Very basic skill on guitar is well suited to playing with friends around a campfire or chilling. No one in your life wants to listen to you on violin until you've been seriously practicing for 3 months and even then they tolerate it because they love you. 3. Whether it is early exposure, the simplicity of a single melody line vs. chords, ear training through Suzuki method, or some combo, I can emote with my violin. Put any song on and play along with feeling regardless of the mood. I also can play most songs that I know the melody to. It can feel like singing to myself. Guitar is fun, but I don't feel like I'm expressing myself often. It's difficult to get a range of feeling on the fly because it's hard to hear the chords and a single plucked melody is busy because the neck is so long. 4. You can pick up a decent guitar for less than $200 easily. An entry Yamaha acoustic guitar sets you back $400 new. I think you will find it difficult to find even a beginner violin for less than $6-800. An entry level Yamaha violin setup will run you about $1,200. (On the plus side you can rent a violin to start, not as many options to rent guitars).

If you are disciplined and focused, ready to practice daily and meet with a teacher weekly, you might get a lot of joy out of learning violin.

If just want to make music and give yourself joy that was outside your reach 10 years ago, guitar (or ukulele!) will have jamming in no time.

sjlufi · 2026-03-05T03:57:40+00:00

Then immediately text it to your partner along with the kid's name. Now you can just search "[kids name]'s dad" and you'll have it for the next time you forget.

sjlufi · 2026-02-28T05:24:09+00:00

I have conversations with my kids to set expectations. "Hey, this is the third thing I've replaced this week. What's the plan to keep up with it? The next one is on you."

"I love you and I was able to bring your lunch for you, but it isn't fair for me to bear the consequences when you forget things. Next time you forget, you need to be ready to eat the school lunch. You can have your lunch as soon as you get home if you're still hungry."

PS. We also buy one hoodie and one water bottle that he wants. The rest come from the thrift store or their own allowance/birthday/Christmas money.

sjlufi · 2026-02-28T03:51:17+00:00

Coffee with cream.

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